Midnight Ultimatum
May 7th, 11:50 PM, New Seoul Government Building.
BAM! The desk shook violently. The fist that slammed down on the ebony wood was red-hot, as if it could burst into flames.
"Still no word?!"
Seon Ui-cheol twisted his face in fury. The scar over his left eye twitched menacingly, as if he were about to devour the person sitting across from him. The Chief of Staff, dragged out in the dead of night and unfairly bearing the brunt of this rage, wore a woeful expression.
"We're searching everywhere, but the damage in Daejeon is so extensive..."
"The Jijeonggwan has become a cripple! You know their relationship, don't you?!"
The disappearance of Kang So-yeon, an Association staffer without abilities. With her last known destination being the Daejeon Research Complex, many harbored reasonable suspicions. Had Team Leader Kang So-yeon gotten caught in the aftermath of the battle? Had she failed to escape the clash of two S-rank ability users, vanishing without even a body?
"What about Gwanggeom?! He'd have noticed if someone got caught in the crossfire!"
"Ah, we finally got a response today. He said there were no traces of any humans during the fight..."
"Then tell me who the hell he was fighting!!"
Seon Ui-cheol exploded again. His rage showed no signs of subsiding, piercing the heavens.
"Find her! Do whatever it takes to find her! Force that Jijeonggwan still digging around Daejeon to rest, and at least bring back a body. Got it?!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
The Chief of Staff bowed his head hastily. Seon Ui-cheol grabbed his herbal tea with trembling hands and gulped it down.
"Fuck!"
With the curse, the teacup shattered against the wall. Yet Seon Ui-cheol's anger didn't subside; he covered his face with both hands and threw his head back.
'Cheongsong... that bitch.'
Seon Ui-cheol knew. He knew who Cheongsong was and what her motives were for helping him. But he wasn't some pushover to be easily taken down by a greenhorn like her. He'd stroked her ego just enough, used her, and seized power. The problem was that Cheongsong had now vanished without a trace, without even a single contact.
It couldn't be death. The Pine Tree Unit was still under mental restraints, functioning normally. That left two possibilities: Cheongsong had betrayed him and fled, or someone had captured her.
In Korea, there was only one group with the guts to defy the government and the Association.
"...Those heroes went into Yuseong, right?"
"Ah, yes! This morning, Yuseong officially announced they're starting development on next-gen suits with help from retired heroes..."
"What nonsense. A corporation harboring private soldiers? Chief of Staff, summon Eun Jae-min first thing tomorrow morning. This is a declaration of war. Against the Republic of Korea government."
The Chief of Staff hemmed and hawed before replying.
"Chairman Eun Jae-min left for the US on yesterday's flight. So did President Eun Jae-yoon of Yuseong Tech and President Eun Jae-hwan of Yuseong Bio. The only Yuseong bloodline left went to Seoul—"
"That worthless brat?"
The Chief of Staff nodded. The spoiled fool who had insisted on personally touring the ruins of Seoul, snatching the one government-assigned slot like a child. Eun Jae-min had bowed his head and begged Seon Ui-cheol directly: Please let Eun Yu-ha represent Yuseong.
"...Damn. Not even worth taking hostage. What good would summoning her do?"
The wild filly who had mocked and rampaged right in front of the president. Without Yuseong's protection, the Pine Tree Unit would have kidnapped her long ago, never to be seen again.
"No. Summon her anyway. Even if the Yuseong men shield her, just the gesture will get a reaction."
"...That might be difficult too."
The Chief of Staff brought up a screen. It showed smiling blonde and white-haired girls posing affectionately.
"...Looks like she'll be sticking with Seolhwa Gongju for a while."
"Were they that close?"
"Chairman Eun Jae-min and Seolhwa Gongju have had plenty of scandal rumors. Even during the Seoul reclamation op prep meetings, someone saw them alone in the break room."
"Future sister-in-law, huh. Ugh. Can't even make a move."
Beep. At that moment, an urgent dispatch arrived on the Chief of Staff's smartwatch. Seon Ui-cheol grabbed the water bottle from the desk edge and chugged it.
"What is it?"
"...Your Excellency, Gwanak."
The Chief of Staff turned the screen with a stiff face.
"......What?"
Gwanak Mountain summit. There, numbers made of blue flames appeared.
The clock had just ticked past midnight into May 8th.
* * *
"...I see."
Gwanggeom stared at the screen while sipping a canned beer. The drone feed showed a blue flame timer ticking down like a countdown.
He had no choice but to understand. He's calling me. The Dark Legion cadre, Phoenix of the Azure Flame.
"......."
Gwanggeom clenched and unclenched his fist. His hand trembled as if afflicted with Parkinson's. Alcohol had no effect on him due to mana, but this time, his whole body shook like he was drunk.
"......Karma, is it."
Gwanggeom set down the beer can.
Beep.
"......."
Gwanggeom read Seok Ha-rang's message with a blank expression. Another arrived soon after.
"......This."
Gwanggeom chuckled softly, covering his face with both hands. He didn't want anyone seeing his expression now.
"......Yeah."
Gwanggeom didn't reply. Instead, he stood, took the iron sword from the wall.
"......I'll survive and reveal all truths."
Before Phoenix could lay a hand on Seok Ha-rang, he'd kill Phoenix. That was his final mission, Gwanggeom repeated to himself.
And a day passed.
* * *
May 8th, 11:55 PM, Haeundae D Island.
Waves crashed against the cliffs, surging. Amid the quiet sea breeze, footsteps approached.
Thud, thud.
The blue-haired girl in a black suit and pants clutched a bouquet of white chrysanthemums as she headed into the hills. The pure white bundle resembled funeral flowers or a bride's bouquet.
In the middle of the hill-like path stood a grave. No coffin, just a lonely tombstone. No name, only "~2000.10.13." etched as the date of death.
Phoenix knelt, placed the flowers before the stone, then stood, clasped her hands in prayer, and bowed.
"......."
The man stood silently beside her, waiting for the prayer to end. Black suit, black tie. His neatly groomed hair and beard suited his mature age well.
Phoenix finished and descended the path. The man—Gwanggeom—followed.
In the deserted nighttime park, Phoenix pointed to a bench. Gwanggeom sat beside her.
"Here."
"......."
Phoenix handed him a canned drink from her pocket. Gwanggeom accepted silently. Freshly bought from a convenience store, the cola was ice-cold. Phoenix held an identical one.
Silence. They had much to say. Only wave sounds and fizzing carbonation filled the park.
Phoenix spoke first.
"Sorry."
"For what?"
"That I have to kill you."
Gwanggeom let out a hollow laugh. The carbonation soothed his throat.
"So my death is already set in stone?"
"Obviously. You're out in every way. Dark Legion standards, society, the fate of this world... Well, still."
Phoenix clinked her can against his mid-sip. Gwanggeom obliged.
Clink.
"No last words for your daughter? Like a final call right before dying? I won't listen if you ask."
"No need. And you? You didn't come to arrest me."
Gwanggeom pointed to the iron sword at his waist. Dull and plain compared to moonlight blades, but it was his soul's partner through every battlefield.
"I came to kill you."
"I see."
Phoenix downed the rest of her cola.
"One last question?"
"One."
"Rusalka."
Gwanggeom's face hardened for a moment.
"Did Rusalka go peacefully at the end?"
"......Yeah. She left smiling."
"I see...?"
Phoenix giggled uncontrollably. Trying to hold it back but failing, her demeanor unsettled Gwanggeom.
"Good thing. I was worried about her in so many ways."
"...Not the time to be so relaxed?"
"Why?"
"Because an hour before you arrived..."
Gwanggeom's eyes flashed. Light barriers enveloping the island revealed themselves.
"I've had my ultimate at the ready like this."
"...Fight here?"
Phoenix pointed to Rusalka's tombstone. Gwanggeom smiled for the first time, tapping his chest.
"The stone's symbolic. The real one's buried in my heart."
"Whoa, cool guy act. But comin' from you, father-in-law, it's kinda hot. Prime middle-aged hottie supreme."
"......What?"
"Puhuhu. Flustered with the enemy right in front."
Gwanggeom showed confusion for the first time. Phoenix waved it off and stood from the bench.
"Just messing around. Right? You're dragging this out till your ultimate finishes anyway."
"......You knew, so why walk into it?"
Phoenix looked up at the night sky. Light swords densely woven, blocking escape. A light curtain severing all external ties, even mana. Once the barrier completed, even mini-Phoenix spirit transfer would fail.
"Because."
Phoenix assumed stance. Fists raised, knees bent, center low.
Whoosh—!
Gwanggeom drew his sword. Golden light gleamed on the blade.
"Once the ultimate activates, even you can't escape. Right? Mad Dog."
"Didn't expect to hear that title again."
Gaps in the island's light curtain vanished. The island was now a severed world.
"Right? A technique that revives even from death if your will holds. You think that's realistically possible?"
"That's why."
Gwanggeom raised his sword into position.
"It's the ultimate."
"Power-hoarders, man."
The man who surpassed 96 affinity first, even beyond Round Table. Had he revealed it, he'd have been the first SS-rank. The monstrous light-affinity 99 foe only in Seok Ha-rang route. Recruiting him would've made the game true Gwanggeom rampage.
"Hiding power normally, unleashing only when crucial. Not embarrassed deceiving people?"
Blue flames ignited in Phoenix's hands, forming gauntlets—Azure Flame.
"Same here!"
Waves crashed on cliffs, soaring skyward then falling. Tick. The park lamppost clock's hour hand moved. Hour, minute, second hands overlapped at midnight.
That instant, both kicked off, charging each other.