The Deadly Game Begins
Through the screen showing Pulse, I could see people bustling about frantically. Just moments ago, they'd been stomping their feet in confusion, spitting and arguing over whose responsibility it was—what a total contrast. Humans really are creatures that only snap to attention when disaster's breathing down their necks.
My little performance earlier was a bit over the top, but thanks to it, this ragtag bunch finally pulled together as one. In the end, it laid the groundwork for peace, so that's good enough.
Damn, my inner thoughts must've slipped out again. Through the hologram, Makina was glaring at me like she was about to punch through the screen.
"Haha, sorry about that, Makina. But you didn't like what those guys were doing either, right? I just got a little heated and..."
We had agreed beforehand to detonate a warning bomb, sure. But I hit the button without any signal, so no wonder she's pissed. Ugh, gonna take some serious effort to cheer her up later.
She looked like she had more to say, but given the situation, she let out a deep sigh instead.
We've only been together a month, and she's already got my Resonance ability figured out. This kid's got razor-sharp instincts.
Can't even think freely around her anymore. Anyway, like Makina said, even with a Core Relic, taking over a massive tower like this in one go isn't easy. Theoretically possible, maybe, but summoning giant vines instantly? No way.
But I know how to push a Core Relic's output to the limit through shapeshifting. Call it a power-up or awakening. In the original novel's mid-game, the protagonist pulls something like, "Ahh, so this is the true power of the Core Relic," merging his ego with it. That requires sharing a mind with that scrap-metal punk full of thug vibes—impossible for a sensible, cultured modern guy like me living in this era.
But with my unique Resonance ability, I can make the impossible possible. Last time against Flare, I'd never ridden a horse in this life or my past one. Yet I handled Phurung like it was my own body by resonating and becoming one with it. Add the Core Relic's Accel function, and it was a perfect trinity.
In short, combining the novel's knowledge with my Resonance hack lets me release the Core Relic's limiter. A bit tiring, but to show overwhelming showmanship as an S-rank villain, it's a small price.
"Alright, Makina. The game's about to start— you ready?"
She grumbles, but she's clearly getting into the villain role now. Tormenting Nova, raising awareness of the greater evil to come, and giving us a dopamine hit—triple win.
"Good. Then let's start the game..."
Makina cut me off like she'd spotted something, pulling up a new screen. I checked the feed—first puzzled, then grinning as interest piqued.
"Well, well, check this out."
She looked pretty serious, but it didn't change the plan.
"Stick to the terror for now."
Didn't expect to see that here, but leave it to the Hero Association guys. My top priority is setting up an epic stage for our protagonist diving in headfirst.
"Greetings, everyone."
The L City Tower pierced the Jamsil sky like a spear. Filling its massive outer LED screen was Sigma, lounging arrogantly in a chair. His appearance swallowed the gazes of countless news cameras, agents awaiting rescue signals under tight security, and civilians stomping anxiously beyond the barricades.
Sigma continued calmly, savoring their attention.
As he spoke, the screen switched. A precise cross-section of the tower's complex structure appeared, red dots blinking ominously in five specific zones.
People gasped at the idea of a 500-meter steel-and-concrete behemoth crumbling. Normally dismissed as mad ranting, but after witnessing the tower crushed by bizarre vines and trees, common sense was out the window.
Far from simple, despite the zones marked—the tower was vast, a maze trapping 30,000 hostages. Even with heroes and pros, searching crowds and defusing in 60 minutes? Near impossible. Miss one, and catastrophe.
Unfair rules, but everyone had no choice but to play.
Sigma raised his hand theatrically. The massive vines coiling the tower writhed with eerie sounds.
Crunch-crunch-crack! The entrance-sealing vines split like a giant maw, opening the main doors.
"Th-the exit's open!"
"Uwaaaah! Save me! I gotta get out!"
Screams and shouts erupted from inside, as the trapped masses surged out the breach. Nova froze before even entering, at the hellish sight.
The grand entrance couldn't handle tens of thousands pouring out. Panic stripped reason; they shoved, forming a human wall blocking themselves.
Shed expected this when Sigma announced opening the doors, but witnessing the inferno firsthand made her vision blur. Just a B-rank hero a month ago, she wasn't ready for this carnage. Her spot among top brass and S-ranks was thanks to her Core Relic and stopping Sigma before.
Shed steeled herself knowing it was Sigma, but reality dwarfed resolve.
"I'll leave it to you, Pulse."
The Hero Association chairman's calm voice cut through. The S-rank hero, silent as a statue till now, stepped forward heavily.
One of Korea's two active S-ranks with Flare, he drew a deep breath. His chest swelled, blue veins pulsing on his thick neck.
"...Hup!"
What burst from his lips wasn't mere sound—a transparent sonic wave slicing air. His breath shattered molecules into ultra-low-frequency pulses, fanning out.
Miracle: The raging crowd halted in one breath. Screams faded, grips loosened. Sanity returned to adrenaline-mad eyes.
This was S-rank Pulse's power: sonic waves. Crowd control via mind-interfering frequencies, or ultrasound for X-ray vision. Perfect for this chaos.
But.
"Hah, hah... Fuck. This shit's brutal."
Drained, Pulse collapsed, panting.
"Good work. We'll take it from here."
The chairman patted his shoulder. Flare nearby double-checked.
"You're really going in too, Chairman?"
"Heh, retired or not, I was S-rank once. Can't sit like an old fogey in a national crisis."
Chuckling, he rolled his shoulders—now in his old hero suit, eyes burning with youthful fire.
"While military and police control the scene, let's move. Count on you, Flare. And Nova."
"Y-yes! Please!"
Nova clenched her fists, voice trembling. Following Pulse's path, she stepped into the tower's yawning vine maw with Flare and the chairman.