Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Annihilation
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...A passerby?
Han Min-oh slowly examined the man's features.
A gruff voice. A stoic face.
He was dressed in a simple gray plain T-shirt and gray sweatpants, as if he'd just stepped out for a stroll.
Nothing particularly distinctive about him.
'But he subdued five men in an instant.'
He'd taken down the five who'd kidnapped him in the blink of an eye.
Proof that he far surpassed their level.
Not your average person.
Shh. Swish.
Park Chan-woo slowly untied the ropes binding Han Min-oh as he asked,
"Do you recognize them?"
Now freed, Han Min-oh looked at the fallen men with a somber expression.
"...They're my bodyguards. So they were Incarnations."
"That's unfortunate."
"May I have your name? Oh, I'm Han Min-oh."
"Park Chan-woo."
"Mr. Park Chan-woo, thank you so much for helping me. I'll never forget this favor. Well then..."
Han Min-oh bowed deeply and turned away.
'Unexpected.'
He regained his composure remarkably quickly, even in a situation like this.
A normal person would be begging for help, wailing and all.
'I hadn't planned to step in yet...'
The kidnappers had been serious about killing Han Min-oh.
That's why he'd had no choice but to intervene.
He'd intended to watch strictly as a bystander, but now he had to change plans.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Back to my bodyguards."
"Even though there might be more of them?"
"...If I don't go back, over a thousand people will die."
Han Min-oh's voice was resolute.
He'd heard it himself.
If he didn't die, the Incarnations would slaughter everyone outside.
Park Chan-woo silently watched Han Min-oh, who had stopped in place.
'Is he sincere, or is it an act?'
On the surface, it didn't seem like a lie.
But he could be a hypocrite like Han Shin.
It might be a ploy to tug at heartstrings and get help.
Thud, thud.
"So what about these kidnappers?"
Park Chan-woo nudged the unconscious kidnappers with his foot.
"Killing them won't make a difference. They're not the last of them anyway."
From what he'd overheard, there were more Incarnations.
They were weighing Han Min-oh's death against a thousand lives.
If he kept hiding to the end, they might massacre the thousand.
No, they definitely would.
He had to prevent that future at all costs.
"If you go, you'll die."
"Better my one life than a thousand others. Anyway... if I survive, I'll repay this debt someday. Mr. Park Chan-woo."
Han Min-oh bowed again and climbed the stairs without hesitation.
Park Chan-woo watched his retreating figure.
'Not an act, then?'
Not trying to sway his heart for help.
Those steady, unhesitating steps were genuine.
A resolve to resolve the situation, even at the cost of his life.
'Idiot.'
But Han Min-oh was mistaken.
He didn't realize his single life was worth more than a thousand.
No, the value of a Divine Beast contractor surpassed ten million lives.
Stab!
Swoooosh!
Park Chan-woo casually cleaned up.
The five Incarnations soon turned to dust and evaporated.
"Hm."
Park Chan-woo let out a low hum as he watched the scattering dust.
'The contractor's life was in danger, but the Divine Beast didn't show.'
...Strange.
For a Divine Beast not to appear even when the contractor's life hung by a thread.
Not contracted?
But all those Creators couldn't have been wrong.
Only one conclusion.
'He doesn't even realize he's contracted with a Divine Beast.'
Han Min-oh was unaware of his own contract.
A Divine Beast's power could only be used after awareness and awakening.
That explained why something felt off from the start.
Kidnapped too easily, nearly throwing his life away.
'One thing's clear: the Divine Beast is dormant too.'
Why?
Even without awareness, it was too quiet—no presence at all.
Contracting with a Divine Beast meant it had acknowledged him.
It should be awake by nature.
A faint presence would be normal.
'Mana waves and patterns are just like an ordinary human's.'
He'd scanned them while untying him—no changes.
But contracting with any Abyss entity—Incarnation, summon, Divine Beast—always altered the waves.
Yet Han Min-oh's mana waves were eerily calm.
Impossible to believe they came from someone contracted to a colossal tsunami of a being.
Park Chan-woo stroked his chin.
The Divine Beast was asleep.
Han Min-oh unaware.
What did that mean?
Two possibilities.
The Creators were mistaken.
Or.
'...It's incubating an egg?'
...The Divine Beast was brooding an egg.
It might be dormant, pouring all power into incubating its offspring.
That would explain the subdued mana waves.
To hatch the egg, it had to stay utterly still.
The Divine Beast was deliberately concealing itself.
In other words.
'Using Han Min-oh as a nest?'
Han Min-oh might not be a true 'Divine Beast contractor' but a 'nest' being used.
Park Chan-woo furrowed his brow.
A variable.
If Han Min-oh wasn't the contractor.
Just a nest.
And if his theory was right...
'...This is far more serious.'
A brooding nest had to be vast and stable.
In short, Han Min-oh's potential was beyond imagination.
A vessel unique enough for a Divine Beast to use as a nest.
A container for reaching level 99—and beyond.
Fitting for Han Shin's brother.
But that wasn't the issue.
A far bigger problem loomed.
'The egg will hatch.'
And when it did.
'...Han Min-oh dies.'
Without fail.
'Damn it.'
Kim Chan-min stomped his feet in frustration.
He never dreamed someone else would kidnap Han Min-oh before them.
They'd searched everywhere, but no sign of him.
They'd lost their key card: Han Min-oh.
'What do we do?'
The traitors' intent was obvious.
Expose all bodyguards except themselves as Incarnations to the world.
Then swallow the Divine Beast within Han Min-oh among themselves.
"Still no luck?"
"Yes. He's nowhere."
It was already morning.
24 hours gone.
If another 48 passed like this, it was over.
'Time to decide.'
Only one option left.
Those people right there.
"Mom, I'm hungry."
"Just hold on two more days."
"Here, at least drink some water."
"Thank you!"
Over a thousand people huddled together, leaning on each other.
It was cold at night, food scarce.
But the hope of escaping after three days kept them going.
Fortunately, the Blessing of Awakening had descended on all humanity.
Regardless of age or gender.
So enduring was a bit easier than before.
...He had to annihilate them within 48 hours.
If he didn't decide soon, time might run out.
To herd them all at once, hunt without leaving a single one.
"It's about time..."
"W-We found him!"
That's when it happened.
One bodyguard came running, shouting.
Looking over, they saw Han Min-oh strolling back casually.
'...Not kidnapped?'
He looked too fine for a kidnapping victim.
Did he kill his captors and come back?
Possible.
Han Min-oh was a 'Divine Beast contractor'.
He'd never shown Divine Beast-level feats, but he might be hiding his power.
"Thank goodness, young master."
Kim Chan-min rushed over, sighing in relief.
Han Min-oh replied coldly.
"Team leader. Are you an Incarnation too?"
"Pardon...? What do you mean?"
Kim Chan-min panicked for a moment.
Calling him out directly as an Incarnation.
"Two of the five who kidnapped me were bodyguards who'd given me coins. Too coincidental to be chance."
"...It's coincidence. A misunderstanding."
"I heard everything from them."
"Lies. You believe Incarnations?"
"Do I?"
"Yes. I'm innocent."
"Fine. I'll believe you. But."
Han Min-oh put distance between himself and the bodyguards.
"I'll stay with those people. You all stay right here."
"Y-Young master. What nonsense is that? No. By the chairman's orders, we must protect you."
"No. Stay there. If you try to leave, I'll consider you Incarnations."
Han Min-oh spoke coldly and walked into the crowd.
The bodyguards were flustered.
"Team leader. You gonna listen to him?"
"You idiots. Why do a half-assed kidnapping..."
"We're stuck here now?"
Team leader Kim Chan-min smirked.
Han Min-oh.
'Pretty sharp.'
Didn't expect him to counter like this.
Mixing into the thousand to paralyze them.
He wouldn't do that without being sure some were Incarnations.
The kidnappers must've spilled something.
'Can't even kidnap him now.'
Snatching him away was impossible.
How to sneak under a thousand watchful eyes?
Even killing the thousand would alert Han Min-oh. Worst scenario.
"Team leader."
"Time's passing."
"If this continues..."
He knew.
But not yet.
Moving now would ruin everything.
Kim Chan-min's eyes darkened deeply.
He looked up at the sky.
"...Tonight."
Not morning, but evening.
When the moon hung high.
Aiming for the dead of night when all slept.
"Kill them all."
Annihilate every last one.