Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: 058. Code: XTK
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"That pig bastard... used Toxcid."
Hyunji spat the words out like they tasted foul.
Toxcid was a drug in this world. The kind you injected straight into your veins. One of the top drugs around, with top-tier pleasure and addiction rates. It even gave a slight boost to your physical body.
If you were lucky and your body meshed well with it, you could even turn back the clock a bit.
The problem was Toxcid's side effects. Once you crossed a certain threshold, it triggered Bioforce in the body.
'Almost 90% chance of side effects. And the remaining 10%... well, they turn into mutants.'
Success meant mutation. And a high chance your body would rejuvenate. Failure? You ended up like the beast in front of me—a monstrous wreck. Less than a wild dog.
I glanced at Hyunji's profile. Her sister had died after Toxcid triggered Bioforce, turning her into a monster. That was her backstory.
"Ughhh..."
The Woodgod boss staggered to its feet. Yoo Geun-tae and I instinctively backed away. The thing was too repulsive. Its protruding gut was translucent with guts showing through, and pus dripped steadily from its neck.
"Argh! Fuck, it looks like total shit! Hyunji, get out of the way! We gotta burn that thing! Incinerating it is humanity's best bet!"
"I'll kill it."
"Whoa, she's at it again!"
Hyunji moved before Yoo Geun-tae could stop her. She closed the gap in an instant with her high mobility, swinging her blade at the bloated mass. But her ultra-vibration blade barely sank halfway into the monster's flesh.
"I... am... the boss...!"
The monster swung its arm with a nauseating rasp. The motion looked sluggish, but it struck with blinding speed.
Boom! Hyunji's body flew backward, smashing through the door, shattering a hallway window, and plummeting to the ground below. Yoo Geun-tae glanced toward the window.
"Hyunji!"
I looked out too. She was writhing on the ground but seemed to have used her mechanical arms and legs for a proper landing roll.
"...She looks okay, but she's not getting up anytime soon."
Yoo Geun-tae said. I turned back to the monster.
Can I win if I fight it?
No. It shrugged off an ultra-vibration blade. No way.
Needed something heavy like a missile.
"That fucker! Must've dosed at least three times the normal amount!"
Yoo Geun-tae thrust both hands toward the monster. Holes opened in his palms, spewing flames that engulfed the beast.
"Haha! My flames are pretty damn hot!"
It worked at first. The monster froze. But after five seconds, it shrugged it off like nothing. The thing had insane fire resistance.
"Wha—what?"
Flustered, Yoo Geun-tae cut off the flames. He shot me an awkward grin.
"Taker! Let's bail!"
"..."
Yoo Geun-tae bolted. I caught on quick. He'd deliberately aggroed it to buy Hyunji time.
I followed, glancing back as I ran.
"That monster's huge, but damn fast."
"This is like some cheap horror flick!"
We sprinted full tilt, but the distance wasn't growing—it was shrinking. I still had Acceleration left. Using it would shake this freak easy.
Problem was Yoo Geun-tae beside me. I wanted to keep Acceleration hidden. And ditching him? That'd be betrayal.
Maybe pop a few shots.
I swapped magazines and fired at the monster.
Bang bang bang bang bang!
The bullets hit its legs dead-on, flash-freezing with a sharp crack! Not regular rounds—cryo ammo.
It worked. The iced legs halted it cold.
"Whoa, cryo rounds?! Nice one! How's that feel, you freak? Legs frozen solid, huh?!"
Before Yoo Geun-tae finished, the monster lifted its leg. Simple reason: its strength laughed off mere ice.
"Goddamn it!"
"Whoa. That's borderline troll territory."
I muttered, impressed. Trolls were D-rank monsters with insane physical stats.
"Troll? What's that?"
"Monster. You see 'em in novels and games."
"I don't know that crap, so no clue! Anyway, Taker, you seem chill?"
"Just running. No sweat."
"Not even a cyborg, and you've got that stamina? Mutant or what?"
I glanced sideways at him. His breathing was ragged already.
"You're the cyborg, and you're gassed?"
"My arms are cyber! Rest is plain old human! Huff! You know the gas tanks on my back weigh over 10kg? Heavy as hell!"
"Just ditch 'em."
"No way. Custom job—pricey stuff!"
We bantered mid-chase. I could ditch the monster anytime, but not him. Guy was a bit nuts.
"Uwaaah! What the hell is that thing?!"
"Fuck! Blast it!"
Woodgod Family goons spotted it en route and freaked. They unloaded blindly, even lobbing grenades.
Lucky break. Aggro shifted. We ran freer.
"Fragging their own? Mafia's gone full rogue."
I muttered.
"Hey. Hey. Wouldn't it be weirder if they recognized their boss like that?"
"They lived together long enough. Shouldn't they?"
"See your wife of 20 years turn into that. Recognize her?"
"...Nah."
We escaped the building clean.
"Hyunji?"
I asked. We'd jumped windows instead of leaving normally for her sake.
"Not knocked out, so she'll make it back."
"You said she's not okay. Woodgod guys spot her?"
"She's outside. Ulla's got her."
"Right."
Forgot. We weren't three—we were four. Sniper Ulla covering from afar.
"Mission done then?"
"Yeah. Bioforce kicks in, it's not human anymore—just a monster. Dead either way. But Taker, first Bioforce for you? You're cold about it."
"Heard rumors online."
"True. Everyone knows Bioforce. C'mon, chicken and beer, then split."
"Chimaek? Sweet. Your treat, right?"
"Yeah, yeah."
Thud!
Something heavy hit the ground behind us, shaking the earth.
Yoo Geun-tae and I exchanged looks. Bitter smile on his face. Mine probably matched.
"Cryo pissed it off?"
"Nah. Your fire for sure."
We blamed each other pointlessly and turned.
Sure enough, the monster. Staring us down. Covered in blood. Right hand clutched a human head. Legs shattered—from jumping high.
"I... am... Woodgod's... master..."
Mumbling nonsense. Don't misread—it was gibberish. Bioforce fried its brain.
"Run?"
Yoo Geun-tae asked. I got his worry. Fleeing meant it'd chase, endangering civilians.
"Gotta. Not enough firepower to kill it."
"Ah~. Knew you'd say that."
He scratched his head.
The monster lumbered toward us. Legs busted, yet walking fine. Ridiculous. Troll-level body and regen?
"Damn. Ru—"
Bullets whizzed from behind us, slamming its chest. Burrowed deep. Exploded.
Kaboom!
Massive blast. Body shredded, chunks raining down.
"...What was that? Explosive round?"
"Ulla's special HE. Two mil a pop. Owes me now. Gotta cut her a fat share."
"Wait, one bullet with that power? Weird."
"Not really. Eclrus makes it easy these days."
"...Got it."
Eclrus clicked for me.
Eclrus was like mana—a special energy. Even the finished original story left it mysterious.
My target, the Illuminator, runs on Eclrus too.
Not quite mana. Both unknown energies, but mana was human-usable; Eclrus wasn't directly.
Damn, sniping's scary. Neck hairs standing.
I rubbed my nape. No clue where Ulla was till impact.
"Chimaek time~!"
Yoo Geun-tae slapped my shoulder and led on.
"Uncle, I'm doing three birds. Fried, seasoned, soy."
"Three?! Saw you crush pizza too... Big eater, huh?"
"Quality and quantity. That's me. Hyunji?"
"Her and Ulla skip. Ulla hates afterparties; Hyunji's pride's bruised."
"Just us guys? Tsk."
"Dude, that hurts!"
"Uncle, hit up Tenpro or something."
"Tenpro? Kids these days hit clubs."
"Most girls there are artificial humans anyway."
"Artificial? Oh, plastics. Can't avoid it. Harder finding natural ones now."
"Clubs got no normals."
"You're the weirdo normal. Get flak at work for being a loner?"
I clicked my tongue.
This godforsaken world treated non-cyborgs like outsiders.
???
I'd been taking Raffles gigs daily since.
To build trust, show my skills.
Hit jobs, theft, tailing, info grabs—every illegal deed.
Learned hacking's near-omnipotent here.
Hacking had no impossibles. Drain accounts, erase traces. Just avoids mass victims drawing cops.
Vs. cyborgs? Instant win. Fight ends on hack.
Hot babe? Hack and hit it. But fuck, why all cyborgs and synthetics?
Hooked up with a cyborg beauty once.
Restaurant pickup. Joked I'd pay 3 mil for a one-night. She bit. Decent face, killer deal for her.
Prostitution sealed. Motel straightaway.
Could've backed out... Fell for the face! Arms aside, normal body! Tits were fire!
Face like a celeb, natural F-cups. Minor plastic hints, but fine.
Issue? Pussy was artificial.
Labia synthetic. Even artificial womb—for safer babies, apparently. Cyber pussies trending.
Grip was nuts... But onahole much?
One pop, I bolted.
Turned to toys after.
Code: XTK had futuristic gadgets galore. Post-Raffles routine: shop with earnings.
Factory? Quit. Luxury hotel life now.
That robot vac slayed. AI so good, house sparkles unattended.
Today, strolling the city. Spot a shop, buy, stash for reality. My bliss in Code: XTK.
Bzzz.
Smartwatch vibrated. Message.
Son Jeong-hu.
Son Jeong-hu - Big news. Cafe, all hands 9 PM tonight.
I smirked quietly.