The Abyss (2)
Two days after the Rift Eruption, the world remained frozen in shock while South Korea moved with startling speed. The most notable development was the government's official recognition of the Awakened. A nationwide emergency alert blared across every phone: [All Awakened are requested to register at the nearest administrative office in their residential area.][Failure to self-report may result in punishment under special legislation.]
The Awakened certification system was implemented almost overnight. Through a spokesperson, the government announced that it would manage the Awakened's bases and the disasters they controlled. In a particularly absurd twist, Awakened serving in the military found their discharge dates postponed by several years.
Some voiced their grievances, but the world had only changed a little over a month ago. People's mindsets still clung to the old system. Perhaps that was why the Awakened, fearing state authority, chose to register rather than resist. The government then selected the most promising among them to deal with the Hellfire Watchdog nesting on Namsan.
“Um… will this really be okay?”
“It'll be fine, man.” Yu Junseo patted the soldier's shoulder with exaggerated confidence. “If we just capture a 4★ disaster, even the president won't be able to complain. Hell, they might even shorten our service period.”
“R-really?”
“Look over there. That guy bowing to us is a Grade 5 civil servant. A section chief, no less. Normally he'd be looking down on us, but now he's bending over backwards. From now on, the Awakened will be at the center of power. We need to secure our share while we can. You know what? I'm going to become the director of the Awakened Management Bureau soon. Once that happens, I'll make sure all of you—”
Yu Junseo launched into an impassioned speech. It sounded like empty bravado, yet the soldier swallowed hard as he watched the 2★ disasters circling around him. The world was no longer what it used to be. With this Awakened, reaching the top might actually be possible.
“Sir, as expected of the Flame King, you are different.”
“Hey, stop calling me that.”
Despite his protest, Yu Junseo's lips curled upward. With two Embers Foxes flanking him, he had already earned the grandiose title of Flame King—thanks entirely to their fire attribute. Server's strongest had a nice ring to it. In a single day, the former ordinary citizen had become the representative of all Awakened.
“Be careful. The dog's territory begins here.”
“I know.”
They were heading toward Namsan to eliminate the Hellfire Watchdog. Before long, the group spotted the beast curled up asleep in a basin.
[4★ Hellfire Watchdog is falling asleep.]
“It's definitely 4★.”
“Doesn't look that strong, sir.”
“No, that's impossible. That mutt killed over a thousand people during the last eruption.”
Yu Junseo, ever the cautious everyman, ordered his Embers Foxes to fall back and signaled the soldier-Awakened. He had no intention of taking unnecessary risks. They would kill the sleeping Hellfire Watchdog in one strike.
The soldiers summoned their disasters—Leaf Fairies and Forest Imps poured forth. But the commotion proved too much.
[4★ Hellfire Watchdog opens its eyes.]
[4★ Hellfire Watchdog is watching you.]
“Shit! That bastard's awake!”
“Fire!”
Bullets riddled the Hellfire Watchdog, yet it merely twisted its body as if annoyed. Then it roared.
[4★ Hellfire Watchdog is enraged.]
Its mane blazed like the sun, sending waves of scorching heat even to their distant position.
“Send your disasters! Don't let it reach us!”
The Forest Imps and Leaf Fairies charged, but fire-attribute disasters were no match for plant-attribute ones. The imps melted from a single snort; the fairies were torn apart by a single kick.
“Aaaaargh!”
“Shoot! Keep shooting!”
Crunch! After killing one soldier, the Hellfire Watchdog turned its glowing eyes toward Yu Junseo.
“Shit, it's insanely strong!”
Yu Junseo gestured.
[2★ Embers Fox attacks.]
Before the Hellfire Watchdog could lunge, the two foxes bit into its legs. Same attribute meant reduced damage, but it was enough to slow it down. The baton passed to Yu Junseo. He had to kill this disaster, even if it cost everything—not out of noble justice, but pure self-interest.
Just as the resolved Yu Junseo drove his weapon into the Hellfire Watchdog's open maw—
[2★ Embers Fox is terrified.]
[4★ Hellfire Watchdog is terrified.]
Something appeared over the ridge. A feminine figure. A woman cloaked in a veil of flame, her ash-gray hair cascading down her back. Even the Embers Foxes—and the Hellfire Watchdog itself—recoiled in fear, lowering their heads.
“W-what the hell is that woman?”
“An Awakened?”
“No way. That's… a disaster.”
“A disaster? In human form?”
“It's strong as hell, so of course it can look like that!”
Yu Junseo, closest to her, clearly saw the name tag floating above her head.
5★ Scorched Saint Selene
A name the entire world likely knew. One of the four great pillars that composed this world. The Scorched Saint Selene had appeared.
The flames she wore did not merely burn the surroundings—they melted the surviving Forest Imps and Leaf Fairies as well. This was fire of a different order. The Embers Foxes stood no chance against it.
Selene drew her sword toward the Hellfire Watchdog. Yu Junseo checked the weapon's information.
5☆
5★? And it has equipment? Why? Wild disasters had never used equipment before. That meant someone was controlling her. Who could farm a 5★ disaster and 5★ equipment in just ten days?
[5★ Scorched Saint Selene scatters hellfire.]
A vortex of flames engulfed the Hellfire Watchdog. It couldn't even scream before turning to ash.
[4★ Hellfire Watchdog has been defeated.]
[Reward: 20 Exp]
Experience points flowed into Yu Junseo and the soldiers as well. Selene's gaze then turned toward them.
“…Hrk, hrk.”
Yu Junseo stumbled backward and tripped over a rock. Was this the end? But Selene merely turned away, disinterested, and began walking back the way she came.
Just as he sighed in relief, a potbellied civil servant who had been watching from afar rushed over and shouted.
“E-excuse me, Awakened! May I ask your name?”
Awakened could recognize other Awakened and disasters, but this desk-bound official was not one. He mistook the great disaster for a powerful Awakened—one strong enough to kill the Hellfire Watchdog in a single blow. Naturally, he wanted to recruit her.
“Hey! Stop! That woman is—”
Before Yu Junseo could finish, Selene turned her head. Meeting her eyes, the official plastered on his best business smile.
“I-I'm from the Awakened Management Bureau. If it's all right, perhaps we could discuss this over coffee at a nearby café…?”
“…”
“Ahaha. The Bureau has prepared various facilities for the Awakened. If you join the government, you'll become… a hero. We can offer an annual salary of 500 million won—”
“…”
“N-no, one billion!”
“…”
“W-we'll pay whatever you ask…?”
The official's voice trailed off as cold reason returned. He finally realized the woman before him was not human. What human would walk around in a torn nun's habit in broad daylight? And this chilling atmosphere…
“You.”
A voice filled with heat finally spoke—hoarse, yet unmistakably beautiful.
“…Are you trying to force a second master upon me?”
“Pardon?”
“My lord is the master of the Abyss, the ruler of the rift—Lord Actor. How could one sword serve two masters? That is blasphemy, an insult to both me and my lord.”
“Uh…”
The moment the official tried to force an awkward smile—
Thud! The Wedge Sword of Hellfire burst from his chest. Blood gushed forth.
“This is your punishment. Never again reach out with those filthy hands. My one and only lord is Lord Actor. That is all.”
Selene flicked the blood from her blade and turned away. Flames engulfed her body. In the next instant, she was gone.
Only the potbellied man's corpse remained.
“…”
Both the soldier-Awakened and Yu Junseo stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened. After some time, Yu Junseo, regaining his composure, repeated the words the Scorched Saint Selene had spoken.
“…A-Actor?”
Those two syllables were more than enough to dominate every headline for months to come.
“…I'm screwed.”
Overnight, I had become the world's public enemy. Not the master of the Abyss—the one who got screwed by it.