Flames of Awakening, Shadows of Loss

Lee Seung-hyung opened his eyes to the warm sunlight touching his face. "…?"

He recognized the ceiling. It was the special ward of the hero-exclusive hospital attached to the Hero Association headquarters—a place only A-rank and above could enter. He'd already been here several times.

Seung-hyung tried to sit up, only to collapse back down under the crushing pressure weighing on his entire body.

"Mana exhaustion, they say."

Sitting on the bed opposite him was a blonde woman with a gaunt face, greeting him.

An IV drip filled with pale green fluid was connected to her arm.

Seung-hyung recalled her name from memories a few years back.

"Tempest Lady Yang Seon-u?"

"Tempest Lady now. Knocked out the commander and changed my name."

"…Ah."

A hero's epithet rarely changed unless they reached S-rank. Seung-hyung could guess why A-rank Yang Seon-u had switched hers and fell silent.

Her position had been vacant for three years this year—

"You look like you're thinking something unpleasant."

"No way."

Seung-hyung barely managed to prop himself up and extended both arms forward. His right arm was wrapped tightly in white bandages.

"Uh…"

"Burns, they said. Man, pyrokinetics getting burned? First time in my life. How much mana did you slam into it?"

"Ah, ahaha."

Seung-hyung scratched his neck with his left hand. He'd just poured mana beyond his limits, thinking only of taking down the monster.

"Ah! Fire Demon Dragon?!"

Seung-hyung startled and tried to leap from the bed, but pain shot through his legs, leaving him slumped back down.

Seon-u looked at him with a mix of admiration and pity, then pointed to the TV between their beds.

The news channel she'd left on showed a familiar face entering a press room.

"Ah."

"Your uncle, right?"

Seung-hyung nodded.

At the podium mic stood a middle-aged man with a sharp overall impression and a long scar running down under his left eye.

Seung-hyung gripped the blanket with his left hand.

The iron-fisted ruler. The cold-blooded one. A man who didn't hesitate to bloody his hands under the banner of national interest. The ruthless schemer who had packaged his wandering son, grieving his father's loss, as a promising rookie ability user to boost their approval ratings.

Though his uncle, Seung-hyung hadn't voted for him.

But building immense power from New Seoul, he'd ascended to the presidency on the backs of its citizens.

"He's capable, but every time I see that face, it turns my stomach. …Oops."

"It's fine."

Seung-hyung turned from the TV with an understanding smile. The clock already read 10 AM.

"How long was I out?"

"More than half a day."

"That long?"

Even when thrown into monster subjugations nonstop, three hours of sleep had kept him fine.

Startled at how depleted his mana had been, Seung-hyung placed his left hand on his chest.

Thump.

His heart beat hot and strong. More precisely, the blue flames flickering inside hadn't gone out.

"Phew."

Seung-hyung let out a deep sigh of relief. The traces of those blue flames that had threatened to incinerate his body still danced before his eyes.

"Huh? Seung-hyung? Your eyes?"

"Yes?"

Seon-u pointed at his pupils. Seung-hyung glanced at his smartwatch screen and was shocked.

His irises, set in white sclera, had turned blue.

"Your awakening is really unique, Seung-hyung. Others get hair or fur color changes, but yours is eye color."

"……Yeah."

Seung-hyung mumbled evasively. Seon-u didn't know, but he'd clearly seen the flames burning in his own pupils.

"Ah. What about the Fire Demon Dragon?!"

As Seung-hyung fidgeted anxiously, Seon-u pointed back at the TV.

The president gestured to the side screen mid-speech, playing footage.

Shaky vision. Amid black flames roaring and acrid smoke billowing in the evening dusk, white flames charged in.

The heroes' urgent shouts and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the demon-type Fire Demon Dragon's roar tensed viewers immediately.

The man slicing through the black flames leaped high toward the dragon's head.

The Fire Demon Dragon lunged, swallowing him.

"Still scary every time. What were you thinking, charging like that?"

"Ah, ahaha."

Seung-hyung chuckled awkwardly, touching the bandages on his right arm.

In the footage, the heroes' despair-filled screams echoed.

Then, briefly—white flames erupted from the back of the Fire Demon Dragon's neck.

The video even dimmed brightness momentarily for viewer eye protection.

"Really white, huh. Know how all your fan nicknames on the community have 'white' now? White Flame Lord, White Flame."

"…Yes?"

Seung-hyung's eyes widened round.

White was strong, sure. But hadn't the pale sky-blue flames rising within stood out more?

"Ah. You prefer Fire Fist? It's what your mentor the Executioner named you."

"Ah, yes. The name's better that way…"

"Good timing then."

Seung-hyung tried to straighten up at the voice from the door but collapsed back from muscle pain.

Entering with a coffee scent, Yu Yeong-ho scanned the room with eyes shadowed by dark circles.

"Where are the others?"

"Reviewing battle footage. I stayed 'cause it was my turn."

"Told you to go once you're all recovered."

Seon-u tapped her smartwatch, nodding toward Yeong-ho.

Seung-hyung got it immediately.

"You were waiting for me to wake?"

"Can't force the great hero who felled the Fire Demon Dragon to wake early."

Yeong-ho frowned at the TV while searching for a seat.

As the footage ended, the president's face returned.

Click. Yeong-ho severed the mana line to the TV.

"Ruining my morning mood."

"Still hate the government, huh, Executioner? Oh, right—what about the Countermeasures Minister?"

"Fled to Japan already. If he has any conscience, he'll never return."

Yeong-ho plopped onto the bed beside Seung-hyung. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠His eyes, reflected in his sipping tumbler, scolded him.

"Lee Seung-hyung."

"I'm sorry…"

Too exhausted to even turn his head, Seung-hyung stared at the ceiling to reply.

"You know how many times you nearly died, right?"

"…Yes."

It was a survival beyond miracles. Direct clash with a demon-type, luring it from Gwanak Mountain to Anyang, tanking a breath head-on, exploding mana inside its mouth.

"And you ignored orders at the end."

"Saw the timer and panicked…"

Any Korean hero would feel the same, but Chinese or Japanese heroes setting foot on the peninsula—even for travel or goodwill—grated. Especially those who'd abandoned Korea for citizenship there; it made his teeth grind.

"I reflect. But if it happens again, I'll do the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠same."

"Why?"

Seung-hyung closed and opened his eyes. Faint white flames flickered before his forehead.

"For those who entrusted this power to me."

"…What?"

Yeong-ho's face hardened. Seon-u stared like he'd been possessed.

Seung-hyung looked between them puzzled.

"Why? You all know. The one who gave me power at Gwanak peak to close the gate."

"Seung-hyung… what are you saying?"

Seon-u's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠voice trembled.

Yeong-ho leaned in, meeting his eyes.

"Description?"

"Uh, well."

Seung-hyung dredged his memory. His head suddenly throbbed, wrinkling his brow.

"Agh…"

"Take it slow, no rush."

Soothing him, Yeong-ho prompted. Seung-hyung blinked, then described.

"Hooded, gray hood on a huge guy. Face hidden. He said… ugh."

Sudden vertigo convulsed him briefly.

After, the images from Gwanak peak refused to surface.

"Lee Seung-hyung. Look at this."

Yeong-ho tapped his smartwatch grimly, tilting the screen for Seung-hyung to see from bed. He pointed to the burn's center.

"Gwanak peak the moment the gate closed and the Fire Demon Dragon appeared."

First satellite photo. Heavily distorted by mana waves from the gate.

"And this is the mana wave scan from then."

A massive red circle and a faint green dot. Seung-hyung knew the owner of that green mana pattern well.

"That's me?"

"Playing it back."

The still image animated. The Fire Demon Dragon rampaged; Seung-hyung's signal stayed put.

Then it intensified, moving south toward Anyang.

Seung-hyung's face stiffened. Something was missing.

"Just the demon-type and you. Only two mana patterns on Gwanak peak that day."

"But… that man was clearly there."

"Awakenings to S-rank vary. Some just awaken, some see dead parents, some get power from a third party. Looks like you had a hallucination of receiving power from someone."

"Ah. Is that it?"

Seung-hyung smiled in relief. The giant entrusting him power and world peace—it was just a hallucination from his awakening.

"But is that such a big deal?"

"…Seung-hyung. Listen."

Yang Seon-u said tearfully.

"Your last love, Cheon Ga-eul. Most of the film crew survived."

"Then great—most?"

Seung-hyung bolted up anxiously despite his body's screams, enduring for the unease rising in his chest.

"…Three dead."

Yeong-ho swiped the screen. A newspaper article ranked third in entertainment news.

"Ah?"

Seung-hyung forgot his pain.

"Joking, right?"

With trembling hands, he tapped the screen. A mosaicked photo showed a celebrity van attacked by monsters.

"S-rank now, so hazing prank? Right?"

He scrolled down.

"See? Not Ga-eul."

- Meanwhile...

Seung-hyung's vision blackened.

But Yeong-ho continued.

"And this is the rooftop photo estimating Cheon Ga-eul's 'murder'."

Blood splattered across the rooftop. Drag marks from the iron door led to a massive pool.

"…Cheon Ga-eul is dead."

God asks no price. If power demands one, it's a devil deceiving with sweet words.

The devil stole Seung-hyung's final love.

Seung-hyung lost consciousness.

Off the West Sea.

"They retreated."

Xiao Lin turned her mount amid sea wind mana brushing her mask.

"Who'd have thought an S-rank awakening would pop up."

"Good for heroes, no?"

Red Hare blinked, skimming the waves.

Xiao Lin nodded affirmatively.

"Others don't seem to think so."

She inwardly clicked her tongue at the heroes on deck, on the verge of exploding.

"Ah! What the hell?!"

"Ugh! Joseon tricked us!"

Just a bit more and they'd land on the peninsula, but the sudden S-rank hero awakening ruined it.

Some measure was needed to quell their unrest.

"…Gonna be chaos returning."

"Still gotta go back."

"Yes…"

Xiao Lin glanced back, eyeing distant land.

"……"

"What?"

"Nothing…"

Suddenly, chills ran down her back. Like it was burning in hot flames.

"……"

No way. It couldn't be. Reactions had vanished after falling into the sea.

"Something wrong?"

"…Training right away on return. Hya!"

Red Hare dashed across waves.

The rider yearned to swing her spear in the training grounds immediately.

To shake off the fear.

Thus retreating, the assault ships all turned tail.

"They retreated."

"Out of nowhere, what?"

"No, some scary woman was glaring."

Phoenix grinned, infusing mana into the collapsed Cheon Ga-eul.

The spirit's pure mana settled in her body, skyrocketing recovery and regeneration.

"Can't you just heal? Use some heal skill."

"I'm a glass cannon, can't."

"……So you can't heal at all?"

"Yep."

Phoenix placed both hands on Ga-eul's chest, regenerating her wounds.

Deok-bae pointed out, eyes closed per Phoenix's order.

"Then what's this now?"

"Just patching excessive bleeding with mana. Temporary—can't do it twice."

Phoenix smiled bitterly.

"There, healing done! Let's move while Ga-eul comes to."

Phoenix scooped up Ga-eul. Her petite frame carrying a much larger woman looked comical.

"Where to?"

"Original destination, duh?"

Phoenix nodded west.

"Guro."

"……Wasn't original Yeouido?"

"Yep. Guro then Yeouido. Puhuhu."

Phoenix's smile wouldn't fade.

"Got someone I absolutely must kill."