Spica's Dramatic Entrance
"Hah, this is hilarious. With this, you're a full-fledged villain now."
I ignore whatever bullshit Nam Hyunsu is spouting. Let's see how long he can keep grinning like that. Charging at him full tilt while his smirk hasn't faded, the orbs orbiting him start flickering as I close the distance.
I suck in a massive breath and unleash it in a deafening roar.
"――――――!!!!!!!"
"Kyaaak!"
"Ugh!?!"
The thunderous boom explodes like a bomb, making Nam Hyunsu clap his hands over his ears while the people around us collapse in shock. I hadn't planned on using it at first—didn't want to scare civilians—but now that I'm branded a villain anyway, this much should be fine.
Nam Hyunsu stumbles from the roar, and the orbs' flickering stops, going dormant. I'd worried they might move on their own, but nope—they're fully under his manual control. Good.
In that split-second opening, I dive into his guard and swing my fist with everything I've got. He snaps out of it quick, backpedaling and firing lasers in resistance, but he wasn't my target from the start.
Bam.
My full-power punch slams into the ground, cracking the asphalt with jagged fissures as the pavement shatters. I scoop up a chunk the size of my torso and hurl it straight at him.
"Kuh!"
He blasts it with a laser, but the beam punches right through without shattering it completely. Idiot. Should've thrown an orb to block. Lasers have great penetration but a narrow impact—useless against a heavy mass like this. Tossing an orb would've left his defenses thin, though.
I lack ranged attacks myself, but that doesn't mean I can't crack him. He leaps aside to dodge, and the asphalt smashes into the ground, kicking up a thick cloud of dust that blinds us both.
In the smokescreen where neither can see, a wolf's nose reigns supreme—and a werewolf's senses blow past any human's. He has no clue where I am, but I know exactly where he is.
That last exchange confirmed the orbs need his direct control, so without line of sight, they're just useless decorations.
"Damn it!"
Sensing the danger, he spins the orbs rapidly to guard his vitals—head, heart... and groin, probably because of how I took down Night earlier. But spreading defenses thin like that always creates gaps, and I exploit the instant one appears, slashing full-force at his head with my claws.
Shrrk.
"Aaaaagh!!!"
My five razor claws rake from his scalp down, carving a vivid gash. He pinpoints my position the moment I strike and flings an orb, but it's too slow off the mark to stop me.
I spot the orbs flickering again and leap back, widening the gap.
"Grrgh... you damn wolf bastard!!"
I didn't kill him with that, but the fight's over. One eye's completely ruined, the other's blinded by blood he can't keep out. Without vision, aiming those orbs at me is a pipe dream. All that's left is him as prey.
He knows he has no chance left and starts edging away slyly, but I'm not letting him slip off that easy.
Glancing around, I see people slumped in despair, thinking a hero got taken down by a villain. Sheesh. If you're gonna run, just go already—why loiter?
I ignore them and stalk toward Nam Hyunsu step by step. Time to finish him quick and check on Seo Chaerim.
"Tch. This chase is going nowhere."
Stormbringer clicks his tongue in irritation at Seo Chaerim, who's constantly slipping out of reach ahead of him. The bipedal frog she's riding is insanely fast—even for him, riding the wind, he can't catch it.
What's really annoying is how the frog maintains speed around corners by kicking off walls, while he's cramped in this tight building interior, unable to cut loose.
She could escape if she wanted, but he's wary of losing his target and abandoning the terror op, so he keeps her at a hair's breadth, circling empty zones in pointless pursuit.
As Stormbringer debates ditching the chase to ramp up the terrorism instead, he spots a trembling little kid huddled in a building corner. Lost while evacuating, or maybe curiosity drew them here—who knows. Either way, he seizes the chance, halts the pursuit, and snatches the kid.
"Kyaaah!"
"Hey! Keep running, and this kid dies!"
Seo Chaerim and her frog finally freeze, having glanced back at him during the escape.
"Fighting's fine, but running? Bad form. Reel in the frog. Or I'll shred this brat to pieces."
"Hic...!"
The kid looks up at Stormbringer in terror and bursts into tears at his savage scowl.
"Hah. Hostage? You think that works on me? I'm a villain too."
"Oh? Then this annoying baggage is better off gone right now."
She plays it cool, but her face twists. Stormbringer laughs, then hurls the kid far away. Wind whips viciously from his hand, slicing toward the child.
Her frog accelerates in a flash, snatching the kid safely—but loses a leg to the blast in the process.
"Kuh!"
Seo Chaerim tumbles across the floor several rolls, clutching the kid tight.
"Stupid choice. Sacrificing that much for one kid? I can't comprehend it."
"Don't need understanding from a psycho fuck like you."
"Hey, how about joining us nicely? I'd prefer smooth relations with potential allies."
"Fuck off."
She flips him the bird and spits the curse. Stormbringer shakes his head with a sigh.
"I really don't get it. Betrayer—no, Baek Seung-ah. Why go this far protecting people?"
"You... how do you know that name...?"
"Heh. Thought no one knew? One of our crew was involved in that incident."
Her face pales in shock, and Stormbringer grins, rambling on.
"Caught by the Association, subjected to human experiments, right? Little Devil rescued you. Don't you resent them? Dragging in innocents for horrific tests. Hell, they put a bounty on Little Devil for raiding the lab to save you and swept it under the rug. The 'national hero' Little Devil got fingered by the whole public overnight. So why side with the Association still?"
"...You're mistaken. I've never been on their side. What do I care if those bastard fucks crumble?"
"Then why block me here?"
"'Cause you assholes are even worse, you fuck. You just said it—one of your 'crew' was involved back then. You think I'd join a shitshow like that?"
"Oops. Misspeak on my part. Regrettable. If you won't come willingly, I'll drag you and make you listen."
Stormbringer unleashes a barrage of wind at Seo Chaerim cradling the kid. Razor gusts shred her clothes, slice skin, and draw blood relentlessly.
"Won't kill you, but I'll pin you down good."
She desperately shields the kid, hugging tight as the hallway soaks in her splattered blood.
"If it were me, I'd have sicced monsters on the Association ages ago. What a waste of power with such a spineless owner."
Seo Chaerim grits her teeth, enduring. Luckily, the kid in her arms passed out earlier and sleeps soundly. I've bought plenty of time now, she thinks, desperately awaiting Jeong Yuseong.
Thwack—!!
"Kuh!!"
A flying kick from nowhere sends Stormbringer tumbling across the floor.
"Hey! You okay?"
"You..."
Her vision blurring from blood loss, Seo Chaerim makes out a young woman's worried face peering down.
"I'm Hero Spica. Hang on—I'll get you out of here."
Spica flashes a bright, reassuring smile.