Arrival in the Megacity
Zeon was a force of nature in the desert.
Nothing in the wasteland filled him with fear—not the monstrous beasts prowling the dunes, nor the unidentified horrors lurking underground.
But the megacity was a first for him, and it stirred a vague dread in his chest.
The massive wall encircling Neo Seoul loomed like an insurmountable barrier of despair.
He knew a new world lay beyond it. Yet he had never been granted the right to pass through those colossal gates.
So Neo Seoul had always felt like a mirage to him.
Now that he was actually inside, it didn't feel real.
It was like that hazy state right before waking from a dream. But Zeon quickly pulled himself together.
"Getting all sentimental, huh," he muttered with a smirk, stepping forward.
Neo Seoul, seen up close, was enormous.
Far grander and more dazzling than he'd vaguely imagined from the slums.
The streets stretched out like a chessboard, lined block after block with towering buildings.
Vehicles of all sizes zipped along the roads, while garish signs and flashing neon billboards assaulted the eyes.
It was the perfect setup to leave any newcomer lost and wandering. But Zeon moved ahead without hesitation.
He'd gotten the lay of the land from Mandy and Kim Sang-sik.
Neo Seoul was divided into five main districts.
The central district around City Hall, plus the east, west, south, and north districts.
The central district with City Hall was the true heart of Neo Seoul.
All roads led straight to it, spiderwebbing out from there to the surrounding areas.
There were no hard boundaries between districts.
People just knew implicitly: this is the north district, that one's the south, and so on.
Zeon was heading to the border between the central and east districts.
This area, packed with apartment complexes, was where most common folk lived.
Apartments had always been ideal for packing in the masses on limited land.
At a glance, they looked no different from slum shacks, but in convenience, security, and comfort, they were leagues ahead.
"This is it."
Zeon approached one of the tall apartment buildings.
"Hey, hold it right there."
But before he could even reach the entrance, someone blocked his path.
It was the apartment guard.
The man was armed with a personal firearm—useless against monsters or Awakeners, but intimidating enough for civilians.
Every apartment and public building had guards like this on duty.
They strictly controlled access.
The guard eyed Zeon up and down. "New face. What's your business here?"
"Here to see someone."
"Who?"
"Mandy Sistine. Lives in this building."
"You got an appointment?"
"No."
"Then you can't come in."
"Can't you at least contact her?"
The guard scowled. "No contact from inside, no entry—for anyone."
"I'm a friend of hers. If you call, she'll tell you to let me up."
"Hmph! No exceptions."
The guard snorted dismissively.
Guards held real power in these buildings. Without their say-so, no one got in or out.
Zeon made a troubled face.
He hadn't expected trouble right at the front door.
He could overpower the guy easily, but that would draw unwanted attention.
"Tch!"
As Zeon clicked his tongue and glanced around—
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted nearby, flames shooting skyward.
The guard's expression changed instantly.
"Fuck! Again?!"
"What do you mean, again?"
"You don't know? It's the district wars."
The guard snapped at Zeon's question.
"District wars? You mean the districts fight each other?"
"Fuck! You seriously clueless? Happens every damn day around here."
"Hm."
Zeon's eyes darkened.
From the slums, Neo Seoul had looked so peaceful.
No hint of conflict.
But this was a city of people, same as the slums.
Humans clashed here too.
The difference? Conflicts were confined to the four outer districts: east, west, south, and north.
City Hall tolerated no disturbances in the central district—not from any faction or human.
Trouble there brought immediate response from City Hall's Awakeners.
If it escalated, the mayor's execution squad mobilized.
When the execution squad moved, blood flowed through Neo Seoul.
No district lord dared ignore them.
The squad consisted of A- to S-rank Awakeners, each with devastating abilities.
Even the district rulers regarded them warily.
BOOM!
Another huge blast rocked the air.
Flames lit up the sky, painting Neo Seoul red.
This one was much closer.
The guard stared toward it with tense eyes.
"Fuck! Hope the fight doesn't spill over here."
Guards existed to fend off external threats, but they were powerless against Awakeners.
Then another explosion—
Bang!
"Argh!"
"Gah! You crazy bitch... Run!"
Desperate screams followed.
Moments later, the commotion died down as if nothing had happened.
"It's... over?"
The guard loosened his grip on his gun, muttering.
His clothes were soaked with sweat.
That's how tense he'd been.
Then—
"Ugh! What a mess these assholes made."
A grumbling voice approached, along with footsteps.
A woman walked up, wiping blood from her hair and shoulders. She carried a massive spear.
She touched the shaft, and the blade folded in, turning it into a short baton.
She tucked it behind her waist and brushed off the blood on her clothes.
"So damn sticky. Shower first."
Muttering, she headed toward the apartment entrance where Zeon and the guard stood.
A smile tugged at Zeon's lips.
"Long time no see."
"Who? Oh! What the hell are you doing here?"
The woman widened her eyes at Zeon.
Zeon stepped closer.
"Mandy? Or should I say Eloi?"
"Whoa! Fuck, it's really you. Not seeing things."
"Eloi it is. That fight just now—you, right?"
"Yeah! Bumped into some elf bastards. But how'd you get in here?"
"Came to see you."
"Oh? Then let's head inside."
Eloi led Zeon toward the entrance.
Gulp.
The guard swallowed hard watching them.
If Eloi found out he'd stopped Zeon, who knew what she'd do.
She looked strong as hell—those feral eyes, the overwhelming presence, the blood staining her red.
Far too intimidating for a mere guard.
Zeon patted the guard's shoulder.
"Relax. Nothing's gonna happen."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
"We good to go in?"
"Of course!"
The guard replied loudly.
Zeon flashed a grin and walked past.
Eloi asked Zeon, "What happened here?"
"Nothing."
"Hmph. Right."
"You said you fought elves?"
"Yeah. They've been stirring shit lately."
"North district trouble?"
"Dunno! Whether the Ice Queen’s letting it slide or some rogues are off the leash, doesn't matter—they're causing problems more than ever."
Eloi's eyes sharpened at the mention of elves.
Her hatred for them burned as fierce as ever.
Click.
"This is my place!"
She said, opening the door.
Eloi's apartment was about the size of Zeon's.
The interior was spartan—no decorations, just essential furniture and appliances. It felt stark.
"Kinda bare, huh?"
Her tone shifted suddenly.
A different personality had surfaced. But Zeon wasn't surprised.
"Mandy?"
"Yes!"
"Sorry for dropping by unannounced."
"No problem. But what brings you all the way here?"
"Got a favor to ask."
Mandy's eyes lit up with interest at Zeon's polite request.
The Zeon she knew wasn't one to casually ask for help.
"What is it?"
"Look into someone named Tajik for me."
"Tajik? A person's name?"
"Yeah."
"Anything else?"
"That's all I got right now—just the name."
"Hm."
Mandy frowned.
Neo Seoul had over twenty million residents.
Finding one Tajik among them was near impossible.
For a regular person, anyway.
Mandy wasn't regular.
She was a super supervisor whose skills were recognized even in Neo Seoul.
If she wanted, she could access the central district database.
Of course, it came with risks.
After a moment's thought, she replied cautiously.
"Got it. I'll check it out."
"Really? Thanks."
"I owe you anyway."
Without Zeon, she wouldn't have survived the desert.
Repaying the debt now put her mind at ease.
"How long till you find something?"
"Shouldn't take long. If he's important or dangerous, City Hall will have records."
"Yeah?"
"At latest, by tomorrow afternoon. Stay here till then."
"Can't impose that much. Any decent spots nearby?"
"Two blocks north—big hotel. Skip the underground casino, and it's fine."
"Casino? They have those?"
"Where the well-off go to blow it all. Best to avoid from the start."
"Got it. I'll crash at the hotel—contact me when you know."
"Sure!"
Zeon gave a slight bow and headed out.
He made for the hotel Mandy mentioned.
Two blocks north, a stunning building of reinforced glass came into view.
The hotel.
Zeon entered.
The lobby buzzed with people.
Made sense with a casino downstairs.
As Zeon pushed through the crowd toward the front desk—
"Hm?"
Something caught his eye.
A group of Awakeners approaching from ahead.
A middle-aged man with a massive claymore on his back, followed by a sharp-faced man, a blue-haired woman, and a towering giant.
Zeon recognized them instantly.
The world really is small.