You shall witness, and the retribution of the wicked shall be seen by you.
I will witness it, the retribution of the wicked shall be laid bare before me. Torn by an indomitable sense of guilt, I lingered in this world. I could not bring myself to leave. Not until those monsters were dead, not until the aggrieved souls could be set free. Their sorrowful wails would never cease..
Their eyes were filled with nothing but hatred and resentment as they glared at the Jangsanbum. And they begged him, desperately, urgently. “Revenge for us.”
Amid the pitiful sobs, that fervent plea slipped through, sharp as a blade.. Their voices came through loud and clear. “KRUHEONG!” From behind, the Jangsanbum lowered its body low, eyes gleaming with anticipation. Then it launched itself forward, slamming its feet into the ground with explosive force. Its silver fur, soaked in blood, bristled like needles. Its two legs shot out straight, razor-sharp claws flashing lethally through the darkness. Hwan ducked his head and dodged the claws aimed for his skull. In the same instant, another Jangsanbum launched itself at him from the front. It roared like thunder, fangs gleaming wickedly, lunging straight for Hwan’s throat.
Boom! A heavy thud echoed. The Jangsanbum’s massive body slammed onto Hwan, crushing him. He crashed backward, but instead of resisting the crushing force, he rolled with it, then drove his legs upward with all his strength. Crack! The heavy impact sounded as his right leg swept the Jangsanbum’s belly away, sending it flying. Using the monster’s own momentum against it, its body tumbled through the air and slammed into the wall behind it.
Bang! With a deafening crash, even the remaining wall collapsed in an avalanche of rubble. While that was happening, another Jangsanbum charged again, but Hwan twisted his body like a ghost and rose in one fluid motion, easily sidestepping the attack. He gripped his sword tightly. His form moved beyond human limits. Like an arrow released from a bowstring, he closed the distance in a single step and struck upward with the hilt of his blade. Zap! A trail of blood painted the air. Another deep gash appeared across the Jangsanbum’s body. “Kaaaa!” it howled in agony. It staggered back, looking on the verge of collapse, weeping pitifully.
It tried to look pitiful and pathetic, but Hwan only sneered at the creature. He kicked off the ground again, driving his leg forward with raw power. The bloody Jangsanbum’s chest exploded under his heel. Pow! “Kyaaaa!” It let out one last wretched scream as it crashed into the remaining wall, then tumbled out into the open air with the last surviving Jangsanbum. A thick cloud of dust erupted. At the same time, the slate roof above them collapsed in pieces, revealing the ugly steel rebar inside. Through the gaps, the dark sky loomed.
Hwan walked calmly toward the fallen Jangsanbum. He still felt relaxed. And he quietly whispered a Scripture passage. “With God we shall do valiantly: and he it is that shall tread down our enemies.” — Psalm 44:5. He raised his sword and pointed the tip at the terrified Jangsanbum. A bloody, sinister aura swirled along the blade. And from him poured an immense wave of rage. “Lord, I implore You with all my heart—let these souls be freed from all bondage and suffering and find eternal rest. Let their grievances be fully resolved by the justice of heaven, and grant them a sanctuary in the peaceful light.” He did not forget to pray for the sorrowful wailing ghosts. The two Jangsanbum struggled to rise. Stubborn beasts. Even though their faces were deathly pale with fear, they did not run. “KRUHEONG!” They roared together and charged. One on each side.
The first swung its massive claws with terrifying speed. The second stretched its neck and lunged at Hwan’s nape again. Hwan did not move a muscle until they were right in front of him. Instead, he continued the prayer for the pitiful, wretched souls. “Grant that this tragedy never repeats, and plant within us all the hearts of justice, love, and compassion. Please welcome these souls that left so unjustly into the embrace of peace. Amen..”
The flying claws were blocked by the raised sword. For the face that tried to bite his neck, he stretched out his empty hand and seized the enormous snout. “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” — Ephesians 6:11. Crunch.. A bone-chilling sound came from the Jangsanbum’s head being gripped. “Kyaeng.. kyaaeng!” The creature began to scream in pain. It whimpered in a daze, “Sa.. Save me.. please..” It was clearly mimicking the voice of the one it had eaten. It only provoked Hwan’s rage even more.
Meanwhile, the Jangsanbum still blocked by the claws roared again and charged, but Hwan swung the one it had grabbed like a whip and slammed it with all his might toward the other attacking Jangsanbum. Crack! Another bone-crushing sound echoed. The Jangsanbum crashed into its companion and coughed up blood, crushed to the ground. At the same time, the other was broken with its neck snapped. Before them, Hwan’s eyes burned with red fury. “Do not give the devil an opening.” The gripped sword. Without hesitation, he thrust the blood-drenched blade straight into the heart of the remaining Jangsanbum writhing beneath its dead companion. “Overcome evil with good.”
“So-hee!! Where are you! So-hee!!” Jun-hee’s urgent voice echoed through the dark boiler room. How had the warehouse turned into a maze? In front of him, Jun-hee’s face was twisted in despair as he kept calling out for So-hee. “So-hee!!” His throat was raw. His eyes burned. Blood was almost coming up from coughing. But he could not stop. “Daddy…” He was getting closer. Aah! His daughter was right there. Following that voice, Hwan ran again. Calling out So-hee’s name over and over, he chased the sound for what felt like forever. After ten minutes of wandering through the underground maze, only So-hee’s voice guiding him.
Above, it sounded like bombs were exploding in succession, and occasionally a roar echoed. The body instinctively shrank from that terrifying sound. Still, he forced his trembling legs to move. Over and over he called his daughter’s name. Then it happened. “Husband…” Jun-hee startled at the voice from behind. He turned. There… Aah… So-yeon stood there. Her body hung limp, no strength left. Her clothes were just as disheveled. Fear crept in like smoke. “S-So-yeon..” “Husband… I’m still… I’m still fine. There’s still time.” “What? W-what are you talking about? What time?” “Still..” she said. She slowly lifted her head. The shaky light of Jun-hee’s phone touched her face. Through the trembling light, So-yeon’s smile looked so chilling it gave him goosebumps. And.. “Die for So-hee..” She said it, then started running toward him. On all fours like a beast.. “Uwaaaah!” Jun-hee screamed in terror and fled desperately. Behind him, So-yeon kept repeating the same words. “Die.. Die.. Please die.. I beg you! Die! Die!”
Jun-hee ran with tears of pure terror. At the same time, So-hee’s voice calling for help came from not far away. He ran toward the sound. In that instant, a loud boom echoed from above again. The vibration spread through the ground. The walls and ceiling shook violently. Then.. “Die!!” So-yeon launched herself at him. Her eyes were wild with madness as she flew through the air. Her hands had turned into those of a beast. “Aaah!” Jun-hee stumbled and fell. Aah! He could not escape. As he squeezed his eyes shut in a scream, kwak! The continuing vibration.. At the same time, the ceiling collapsed with a deafening crash.. Jun-hee’s eyes widened in shock. Instinctively, he staggered backward. Crreeee! The roaring ceiling fell directly onto So-yeon’s body. “Hah.. S-So-yeon!!”