The Shelter is Safe!
The commander shouted toward Nam Gyuil.
"The shelter's safe! Even if those fifteen escaped Werebeasts are gunning for it, they can't get in!"
"No matter how strong the Werebeasts are, they can't smash through the shelter's thick concrete," the commander pointed out logically.
He was right. No matter their monstrous strength, Werebeasts couldn't break reinforced concrete like that.
The commander emphasized another key fact. "There are ten armed soldiers guarding the shelter. They've got guns, plus riot gear for if the civilians cause an uproar."
It sounded like nowhere was safer. Hard to breach, and even if they did, the armed guards would gun them down.
Nam Gyuil knew that too. But even so, the Werebeasts would definitely target the shelter.
Hunger was their instinct. And there was one trait about Werebeasts still unknown to the world.
A trait only Nam Gyuil, who had accessed the Akashic Records, knew.
"Some Werebeasts are mutants. They can transform into the animals they've eaten."
"What?!"
"They can even change the appearance of their kin, not just themselves. I remember reading it in an overseas monster research paper."
Nam Gyuil added a white lie to make them listen. There was no such paper.
The commander recoiled in shock. "You mean there's a Werebeast disguised as a human mixed in with the people?!"
"Yes."
The commander's face drained to a sickly yellow. If true, things would spiral into utter chaos.
He immediately called the shelter. The soldiers guarding the civilians picked up.
"How's the shelter situation?!"
"Citizens are complying well. No signs of intrusion from outside."
"Any suspicious activity among the shelter civilians?"
"None. Except..."
"Except?"
"A few days ago, some late arrivals came in. They wouldn't say why."
"What?!"
The commander's heart sank. Late arrivals? They could be Werebeasts in human form.
Then, murmurs erupted over the line.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"Something happening?"
"Huh? Huh?!"
"A person's turning into a monster!!"
Rat-tat-tat.
"Aaaagh!!"
Gunfire and screams mixed chaotically. Static crackle. The call cut off.
Cold sweat beaded on the commander's brow as his hand trembled. "Damn it all!!"
With the crisis escalating, curses flew from his mouth. He barked orders. "Move to the shelter now! Everyone, hurry—time's short!!"
They piled into the military Dodge. Engines roared as they sped down the road.
They arrived near the shelter. The doors slid open, and civilians poured out in a panic. Gunfire echoed from inside.
Worst-case scenario.
Nam Gyuil drew the longsword from his back. "R-run away!!" the people screamed.
A Werebeast lunged at the civilians. The commander and soldiers hesitated to fire.
They had to save the people. But the Werebeast was too close—bullets might hit civilians too.
They could end up killing innocents instead.
Nam Gyuil stepped up. In a stray-bullet risk like this, a blade beat a gun.
He leaped from the Dodge, mana reinforcing his legs as he vaulted toward the Werebeast. His speed was blinding—like flight, not a jump.
Some soldiers gaped, jaws slack, as if watching a movie.
Nam Gyuil swung his longsword down. The Werebeast couldn't react. He closed in instantly, cleaving its skull perfectly. No time to fight back.
Thud. It crumpled backward, blood pooling.
One down.
More civilians fled the shelter, Werebeasts bounding up the stairs after them.
They charged Nam Gyuil mindlessly, fangs and claws bared like spears.
Nearby evacuees screamed at the sight. "Eeeek!!"
Nam Gyuil glanced at the crowd and switched weapons fast. Too many people now—even the longsword was risky. One wrong swing could hit civilians.
'Perfect chance to test this.'
He drew the Poison Knife. Its jade blade gleamed wickedly.
Slash!!
He sliced the Werebeast's face—not deep. But,
"Keeeeng."
It shrieked, staggering back, body convulsing. Eyes rolled white, face turning blue-green.
Poison symptoms.
One more down. Nam Gyuil methodically cut down the rest.
After six, no more emerged. Gunfire continued inside.
He shouted to the commander. "There might be Werebeasts disguised as humans. Gather the civilians so they don't scatter—check for Werebeasts."
"Got it."
The commander nodded at his explanation. Soldiers herded and controlled the crowd.
Nam Gyuil rushed inside. Plenty of people still trapped, panting soldiers amid Werebeast corpses. The floor was slick with crimson blood.
"Huff, huff, huff."
"You okay?!" Nam Gyuil asked. The soldiers flinched, whipping guns toward him in confusion.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"I'm from the Seoul Hunter Agency..."
"You're a Werebeast in human skin!! We ain't fooled!"
Fingers tightened on triggers. Nam Gyuil clicked his tongue. Fighting disguised Werebeasts had shattered their judgment.
Then,
"Uuheheheek!!"
A bystander warped into a Werebeast with a grotesque cry, lunging at the soldiers—who were aimed at Nam Gyuil, slow to react.
They were in danger. He hurled the Poison Knife.
Thunk!!
It buried in the Werebeast's nape. "Keeeeng." It collapsed screaming.
Nam Gyuil restated clearly. "Sergeant Nam Gyuil from Seoul Hunter Agency. Reinforcements here—stand down."
The soldiers, cornered like rats, exhaled in relief, breaths steadying.
Nam Gyuil led them and the civilians out. The crowd trembled anxiously.
"What if someone else turns?"
"We won't all die, right?"
"Mommy, I'm scared." Kids clung to legs.
The commander bustled controlling the chaos, prioritizing treatment for the wounded—civilian and soldier alike. No fatalities, luckily.
'If not for the national hunter from Seoul, it'd be disastrous.'
Deaths inevitable otherwise. Thanks to Nam Gyuil, only injuries.
"Now the real problem starts," the commander muttered, scratching his head at the gathered masses. Too many to count. More disguised Werebeasts could lurk.
"How do we tell Werebeasts from humans?"
Tricky. No way to detect.
They needed something to force transformations. His eyes landed on Nam Gyuil—expert on Werebeasts. Maybe a solution?
"You."
"Sergeant Nam Gyuil. What is it?"
"Can you distinguish human-disguised Werebeasts?"
"Yes. I can."
"Even you can't...? Wait, you can?!"
The commander's eyes bulged.
"There's a way to spot human-disguised Werebeasts," Nam Gyuil repeated.
"Really?"
"Yep."
He explained confidently. "Werebeasts have acute senses—even transformed."
"Senses? How does that help?"
"Humans can't hear it, but there's an ultrasonic frequency only they detect."
"Oh?"
"It causes them agony. Gather everyone in the shelter, blast the frequency through speakers—their disguises will break."
The commander was skeptical but tried it—no other options.
Soldiers herded civilians back in, then speakers emitted the inaudible tone. Torture to beasts.
Humans heard nothing, no reaction. But not the Werebeasts.
"Keeeeng."
A disguised one revealed itself—clothes ripping as its massive frame burst free.
Nam Gyuil eyed its fur. Normal Werebeasts were leopard-spotted. This one: zebra stripes.
'Mutant Werebeast!!'
He crouched, thighs bulging with power. Leap. He soared, landing atop it and stabbing its throat with the longsword.
No death cry. Just limp, cooling corpse.
The others lost disguise too—without the mutant, they couldn't hold human form.
"Kiiing." Clutching heads in migraine agony.
Nam Gyuil smashed skulls effortlessly. Slash, thunk. No resistance amid pain. All dead.
Mission complete. Fifteen infiltrators eliminated.
"Monsters all down. You're safe," Nam Gyuil announced.
Relief washed over them, cheers erupting for his heroics.
"Thank you!"
"You saved us. We'll never forget."
"Big bro, you're awesome!"
Nam Gyuil smirked, sheathing his sword. Crisis over, the commander sighed in relief and radioed HQ.
"Our position rhinoceros one, our position rhinoceros one—mission success."
Nam Gyuil skinned the mutant Werebeast promptly.
'Gotta grab this. Form Change material.'
Item to change into others. One ingredient: mutant Werebeast hide.
'Lucky break. Item mat from a routine support gig.'
Like Hunter Agency policy, military granted national hunters rights to their kills. The hide was his.
He rolled it up tight.
The commander approached, eyes admiring. "Impressive. Didn't know you knew monsters so well."
"Thank you, sir."
"Your smarts saved the day with minimal losses. Truly grateful."
"Just doing my job."
Nam Gyuil bowed humbly. The commander chuckled. "Too modest is rude too. With skills like yours, you're probably top national hunter."
"Appreciate it."
"Wish we had someone like you locally..." Trailing off.
Crackle. Radio call: New gate in Sejong City Gowon-dong—move out.
"No rest, huh." Grumbling, he acknowledged, then grinned at Nam Gyuil. "Thanks for the help. Oh, rumor: fun new system coming."
"What's that?"
"Local Hunter Agencies awarding top teams with commendations and prizes."
"For real?"
"Yeah. Your team's Chungcheong support seals it—practically guaranteed."
"What prize?"
"Dunno details. But Hunter Agency prizes ain't small. Look forward to it."
The commander led his unit to Sejong. Nam Gyuil rejoined his team—who'd cleared the gate—and headed back to Seoul.