The Scavenger's Final Stand
Zeon's question was simple.
"Tell me about all the nests you know."
"Fuck you, you little shit!"
The scavenger snarled viciously.
Veins bulging on his forehead, he screamed like a demon from hell.
Even gravely wounded, the scavenger's unyielding glare was intimidating enough to make Briel shrink back.
But it didn't faze Zeon one bit.
"Do we really have to do this the hard way?"
"Don't make me laugh! You think I'm scared? Ptoo!"
The scavenger spat a glob of blood-mixed phlegm. But Zeon casually summoned a flame that incinerated it mid-air.
"You fucking bastard!"
Even his last desperate act had failed, yet the scavenger's spirit remained unbroken.
Zeon conjured flames in his hand.
"No choice, then. I didn't want to use this method."
"Heh! Bluff all you want, you little—"
"Whether it's a bluff or not, you'll find out soon enough. Bite down on this."
Zeon grabbed the scavenger's wrist with his flaming hand.
Sizzle!
The intense heat seared flesh and melted muscle.
The scavenger's mouth gaped open in agony beyond human endurance.
He tried to hold it in, but the scorching pain was unbearable.
"Gaaahhh!"
Finally, he let out a guttural scream.
He thrashed wildly to escape Zeon's grip, but it was futile.
Zeon's hand clamped down like a hydraulic press, crushing with immense pressure.
As the bones themselves began to burn, the scavenger couldn't hold back.
"Guuh! Fine, I'll talk! I'll fucking talk...!"
Only then did Zeon withdraw the flames.
"So, about those nests?"
"The only ones I know are this one and Nest 3. Nest 3's location is..."
Bang!
In that instant, a gunshot rang out, and the scavenger's head exploded.
Zeon was splattered with blood before he could even dodge.
"Zeon!"
Briel cried out in shock.
But Zeon showed no panic, staring calmly toward the source of the shot.
Rat-tat-tat!
Gunfire erupted in rapid succession.
Zeon scooped up Briel and pressed against the tunnel wall to avoid the bullets.
But the bullets weren't aimed at them.
They targeted the fallen scavengers on the ground.
The merciless barrage shredded their bodies.
The firepower was terrifying.
These weren't ordinary bullets.
Only enchanted rounds could pulverize an Awakener's tough body like tofu.
"A magic gunner?"
Zeon peered toward the direction of the gunfire.
Regular bullets were useless against Awakeners or monsters.
Their bodies could shrug off most physical attacks.
Guns had fallen into obsolescence, ceasing further development.
That was until enchanters revived them spectacularly.
Enchanters discovered ways to infuse firearms and ammo with magic, dramatically boosting their power.
They still couldn't fell large monsters, but against small ones or low-rank Awakeners, they were devastating.
Awakeners wielding enchanter-made guns were called magic gunners.
Magic gunners specialized in handling firearms.
The gunner's ruthless fire had wiped out all the scavengers who might have spilled the truth to Zeon.
"Destroying the evidence, huh."
Bang!
As if in response, an especially powerful shot echoed.
Briel stepped forward, arms outstretched.
"Shield!"
A translucent barrier materialized in front of them, blocking the bullet.
The shot's force shattered the shield like glass, but the bullet fragmented against it and clattered to the floor.
Zeon launched himself toward the gunner's position.
Briel followed close behind.
Tap-tap-tap!
They sensed the gunner fleeing into the darkness.
Eliminating all evidence and escaping.
Zeon and Briel pursued at breakneck speed.
The tunnel opened into a wide space.
About ten meters across.
A simple living area with a bed, sofa, chairs, and fridge.
A nest.
On the opposite side, a man in black combat gear bolted through the door.
Zeon and Briel gave the nest only a glance before chasing him.
They were nearly at the door he'd fled through when—
Kaboom!
A massive explosion rocked the nest.
Zeon grabbed Briel and leaped away just in time.
Intense heat and a powerful shockwave blasted at their backs.
A split-second later, and they'd have been engulfed in the inferno.
Zeon gritted his teeth and accelerated.
Light appeared ahead.
The exit to the outside.
Without hesitation, Zeon hurled himself out.
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from the exit right after him.
Having narrowly escaped, Zeon caught his breath and scanned for the gunner.
The gunner was fleeing down a narrow alley.
Zeon set Briel down.
"I'll track him. You follow behind."
"Got it."
Briel nodded immediately.
She couldn't keep up with Zeon's speed anyway. Better to trail at her own pace.
Zeon shot forward in pursuit.
As he ramped up his speed, the gunner came into view far ahead.
Sensing the chase, the gunner fired blindly behind him.
Bang! Bang!
He didn't even look back, yet the bullets zeroed in on Zeon's forehead with deadly precision.
Frightening marksmanship.
But the Superheat Gauntlet blocked them.
Ting-ting!
The bullets ricocheted as metallic fragments.
"Tch!"
The gunner clicked his tongue as his attack failed.
His fleeing face was etched with dismay.
'Who the hell is this monster? How'd he raid the nest?'
His name was Jacob.
A scavenger and overseer of Nest 7.
The moment he learned other scavengers had fallen to Zeon, he initiated evidence destruction.
Blowing the nest and finishing off the wounded. Then he fled after completing the mission.
'Fuck! Where'd this freak come from?'
A whole nest wiped out in an instant.
First time for everything.
The opponent was that strong.
Even a magic gunner's attacks bounced off harmlessly.
He'd never expected to encounter such a powerhouse in the slums.
Hence the shock.
'Just a bit farther.'
Scavengers always prepared escape routes.
Jacob was no exception.
His ace in the hole: the bustling plaza where slum dwellers gathered most.
'Fuck, didn't think I'd have to use this.'
He pulled a detonator from his pocket.
He'd hidden a bomb underground in Dongdaemun Plaza.
A special item designed for hunting large monsters.
Its power was immense.
When it blew, everyone in the plaza vicinity would die.
Chaos would ensue, perfect cover for escape.
Sure, countless deaths, but survival came first.
Zeon was closing in fast.
Distance: barely twenty meters.
Two or three seconds, and he'd be caught.
No time to hesitate.
As Jacob thumbed the detonator—
Crash!
A colossal impact slammed into him.
"Guhk!"
He flew like a bowling pin, crashing into the ground.
A sneak attack.
The shock felt like his body was disintegrating; he couldn't even scream.
His attacker spoke.
"You traitorous fuck. Finally found you."
A black man in a long black coat and sunglasses.
Sword on his back, bulletproof vest under the coat.
Submachine gun holstered inside, pistol on his thigh.
Jacob's face twisted upon recognizing him.
"R... Raven."
"Fancy seeing you. Feels good, right?"
Raven spat on the ground and muttered.
Zeon arrived then.
Raven raised a hand to halt him.
"That's far enough, kid. This one's mine."
"You barge in uninvited and now claim rights?"
Zeon eyed him incredulously. Raven flashed white teeth in a grin.
"Kid, you know who I am before mouthing off?"
"And do you know who I am before flapping your gums?"
"Ha! Some slum rat who doesn't know his place. Shut your trap before I rip it off."
Murderous intent pierced through his sunglasses.
Raven wasn't your average Awakener.
His gear, eyes, and aura screamed elite.
He continued.
"I'm taking this fucker. Forget everything you saw and heard today. Might spare your life."
"Judging by your gear, you're from Neo Seoul. Why take him?"
"Want reasons? Knowing them means death."
Raven smirked.
Not mocking Zeon.
Just that confident in his skills.
Jacob struggled to rise, but the bone-shattering pain pinned him down.
He coughed blood and rasped.
"Guhk! East... District's lapdog."
Raven's eyes flashed dangerously.
Jacob had spilled the secret.
Zeon murmured, piecing it together.
"East District's hunter, huh. So this guy's tied to the East District too."
"Tch! Smartass. Yeah, he's an escapee. Fled our district and turned scavenger."
"What if most of these scavengers are East District escapees?"
"Ha! Un-fucking-believable."
Raven looked genuinely floored.
Zeon's deduction from a single phrase astounded him.
And it was spot on.
Many of the problematic scavengers hailed from the East District.
Unlike the West District's mechanized Awakeners, the East was built around combat specialists under the absolute ruler Sedn Price.
Descendants of U.S. troops stationed in Korea and exchange students.
Led by ex-military bloodlines, they blended weaponry, magic, and superhuman physiques.
Not mere Awakeners—trained soldiers.
They swore absolute loyalty to Sedn Price, executing orders with machine-like precision.
This bred a rigid, oppressive atmosphere.
Those who rebelled formed the scavengers' leadership.
They secretly built nests and backed existing scavengers.
No big issue at first.
Kept under wraps, no stain on Sedn Price's reputation.
Trouble started when scavengers armed up with items leaked from the White Bear Caravan.
Emboldened raids lit a fire under the East District.
If word got out their leaders were high-rank escapees, it'd tarnish Sedn Price.
So he unleashed hunters like Raven.
Mission: one.
Eliminate the core East District deserters among the scavengers.
Raven drew the pistol from his thigh holster.
"Told you. Knowing why I'm here means you die."