Forced Liberation (3)
The moment Nam Gi-tae saw the flames bursting from Yeong-sik's arm, he twisted his body on pure reflex.
It wasn't that he knew what Yeong-sik was trying to do to him. His instincts simply screamed that the arm was extremely dangerous.
A deafening roar echoed through the air.
Yeong-sik's right arm shot forward at blinding speed, hurtling straight toward Nam Gi-tae.
Nam Gi-tae stared in disbelief as the arm detached from Yeong-sik's body and rocketed toward him.
-Crunch!
Yeong-sik's right arm grazed past Nam Gi-tae's left shoulder. The skin split open, blood pouring out.
A sharp pain raced up Nam Gi-tae's left arm.
But he had no time to focus on the pain.
The terror of nearly dying just moments ago made his entire body tremble.
"Huff... huff..."
Ragged breaths escaped Nam Gi-tae's lips. He glanced down at his shoulder, where blood continued to stream from the gash.
That was close. Really damn close.
If he hadn't trusted his instincts and dodged, that right arm would have surely smashed his head to pieces.
A chill ran down his spine, goosebumps prickling across his skin.
He'd never felt his life in such peril—not even when fending off orcs with a crude wooden stick, or when surrounded by enemy gang members in the past.
What the hell is that guy?
Nam Gi-tae looked at Yeong-sik with trembling eyes—the man who had just launched his own right arm like a projectile.
Yes, it was his right arm. He'd never heard of anyone firing their arm like a rocket.
"Haat!"
While Nam Gi-tae was still reeling in confusion, Yeong-sik snatched the sword from the ground and charged at him. Anxiety and urgency twisted his face.
I failed to kill him in one shot!
Yeong-sik bit his lip hard, glaring at Nam Gi-tae.
He lacked the confidence to take on ten enemies at once. Their numbers made retreat difficult.
That's why he'd targeted Nam Gi-tae.
From their faces alone, it was clear the surrounding thugs heavily relied on him.
A gang built around a central figure falls into chaos the moment that core vanishes.
So Yeong-sik had lied.
He'd shoved A-ra aside and pretended to kill Gil-su.
To lower Nam Gi-tae's guard and finish him in one strike.
But he'd failed.
Nam Gi-tae had twisted away the instant he saw the flames from Yeong-sik's arm.
A beast-like reaction speed.
I need to kill him as fast as possible.
Yeong-sik's eyes sharpened as he rushed toward Nam Gi-tae.
If he could just take out Nam Gi-tae, his minions would plunge into disarray.
That gap would let him grab A-ra and Gil-su and break through the encirclement at full speed.
For that chance, Yeong-sik swung his sword.
The blade in his left hand arced toward Nam Gi-tae's head—a crude chop like splitting firewood, but more than enough to kill a mere human.
Nam Gi-tae was still stunned, staring at the 'arm' in shock.
No ordinary person could dodge this, Yeong-sik thought.
"Hup!"
-Clang!
But Nam Gi-tae wasn't the ordinary person Yeong-sik imagined.
He was a natural at fighting, having danced on the edge of life and death countless times.
21st-century gangsters didn't fight bare-handed either, so he was used to swinging weapons.
-Thud!
Nam Gi-tae leaned back as if falling, then lashed out with his foot.
It slammed precisely into Yeong-sik's gut.
Yeong-sik swallowed a groan and staggered back.
Nam Gi-tae panted heavily, glaring at him.
"What the hell are you? You even human?"
He growled, staring at the cross-section of Yeong-sik's right arm—clearly a sophisticated mechanical device.
"B-Bro! You okay?!"
His minions paled at the blood gushing from his shoulder.
Nam Gi-tae bellowed in a savage voice.
"Kill that bastard... no, capture him!"
He'd changed his mind mid-sentence.
Curiosity about the secrets of that right arm had sparked.
After barking the order, Nam Gi-tae backed away warily.
He couldn't predict what outlandish attack Yeong-sik might pull next.
"Grab him!"
"How dare you touch our boss!"
His minions charged at Yeong-sik with weapons raised, faces tense. They too felt fear and curiosity at the rocket-like arm, but their loyalty to Nam Gi-tae burned stronger.
-Slash!
"Gah! Ack!"
Yeong-sik swung his sword clumsily at the thugs closing in from all sides.
One minion's chest was deeply gashed. Crimson blood sprayed like a fountain.
But blocking one didn't solve anything.
-Thud! Thump!
Kicks rained down from every direction. An axe handle cracked against Yeong-sik's head.
His vision shook from the impact as he tumbled backward.
A pained groan escaped his lips.
Agonizing pain surged through his body.
Whether because he was mechanical or because it was the handle, not the blade—no blood flowed from his head.
But the shock was so severe he couldn't even stand.
"Yeong-sik!"
Gil-su called out urgently.
Gripping his axe, he rushed to Yeong-sik's fallen form.
Yeong-sik's breaths came faint and ragged, like he was on the verge of death.
Gil-su clenched his jaw, staring down at him.
Seo A-ra approached slowly, clutching her stomach, and bit her lip at the sight of Yeong-sik on the ground.
"...Sorry."
Her voice trembled faintly as she recalled hurling abuse at him, unaware of his plan.
It wasn't really her fault—he'd tricked his own allies too.
"Hah, hah. What a shitty day."
Nam Gi-tae grimaced at the blood still pouring from his shoulder. He spoke lowly.
"Kill the old man. Tie up the girl."
He'd originally planned to assault her right there, but the wound killed his mood.
Leaning against a nearby tree, he eyed Yeong-sik's group.
"You scum...!"
Gil-su raised his axe, face twisted in rage.
Kind to everyone by nature, he drew the line at trash trying to commit atrocities like this.
I have to protect Yeong-sik and A-ra.
Gil-su glanced at Yeong-sik's shallow breaths, then glared at the surrounding men.
Short as their time together was, this bond wasn't disposable.
Yeong-sik had risked his life for him—now it was Gil-su's turn.
"Hah! What're you babbling, old fart?!"
"Shut your trap and crawl away, geezer!"
They snickered at Gil-su, trembling with his awkwardly gripped axe.
He looked mid-40s, pushing 50.
Age didn't matter in a weapon fight, but to the young thugs, he seemed pathetic.
"I'm still spry in my 40s, you punks!"
Gil-su roared and charged Nam Gi-tae's minions, swinging his axe with fierce momentum.
-Thud! Thump!
"Whoa!"
But an axe wielded by someone who'd never properly fought posed no real threat.
One minion circled behind and shoved-kicked him down.
Gil-su crashed to the ground.
Then came an endless barrage of kicks.
He curled up, desperately enduring.
Excruciating pain wracked his body.
"S-Stop it!"
A-ra rushed toward them in panic.
But unarmed against over ten men, what could she do?
One minion grabbed her from behind.
"Whoa! Feel that soft skin!"
"Body's killer too, right?"
"She's a model—of course it's this good!"
They leered, eyes raking her up and down like predators.
Her beauty was one thing, but her perfect S-curve figure ignited their lust.
"Kyaa! Let go, you bastards!"
A-ra twisted desperately.
But that only made their laughter louder.
Living to see this day... They'd only ever ogled her on TV or magazine covers. The thought of having the real thing excited them, hot breaths puffing out.
Their eyes gleamed with desire.
"Hey, don't say I—nah. Do what you want."
Nam Gi-tae started to speak but shook his head with a tsk.
Stopping minions whose fires were already lit risked shattering trust.
He stanched his shoulder wound and watched.
"Heh heh heh."
"Thanks, boss!"
His minions grinned idiotically and seized her shoulders.
"Kyaaa!"
She squeezed her eyes shut and screamed.
Usually calm and composed, even she couldn't stay cool here.
I'm sorry... A-ra thought, glancing at Gil-su and Yeong-sik on the ground. This happened because she was Nam Gi-tae's target.
A strange guilt bloomed—she'd dragged innocents into this.
A single tear traced down her cheek.
"Stop... you trash."
Yeong-sik staggered to his feet, gasping raggedly from the ground.
The axe handle's impact lingered, clouding his mind.
He stared at A-ra in the men's grasp and Gil-su twitching on the dirt.
"Ah... ugh."
Desperation twisted his face as he reached out with his remaining left hand.
But it only trembled uselessly.
White-hot rage boiled through him, like his head was aflame.
Checking surrounding danger level.
Raising security level according to danger.
Current status cannot unlock Security Level 1 or higher.
Forced Security Level unlock to respond to emergency.
Overload possible. May cause temporary or permanent performance degradation.
Proceed with forced unlock?
Yeong-sik nodded unconsciously at the mechanical voice in his ear.
Unlocking Security Level by force.
-Click.
A sound like gears meshing rang out.
Red light poured from Yeong-sik's eyes.
His back split open, mechanical devices protruding.
Black, grotesque, and somehow eerie machinery.
"What the hell is that...?"
Nam Gi-tae gaped.
He vaguely remembered seeing that black weapon.
But...
He hesitated to name it.
It was too absurd for this situation.
"Gatling Gun...?"
Nam Gi-tae uttered the name of the black device, his face a mask of utter incomprehension.