The Beacon of Neo Seoul
Neo Seoul stood enclosed within towering walls.
Built a century ago from rocks that were now nearly impossible to obtain in the modern world, these walls had been meticulously carved into rectangular blocks and fitted together without a single gap, then reinforced through special methods.
Even the mightiest monsters dared not attempt to breach them.
Thanks to these walls, the people inside Neo Seoul could devote themselves to research and daily life without fear of monster attacks.
Combining the scientific legacy of the pre-Great Cataclysm era with the magical abilities of Awakeners, Neo Seoul had advanced at a terrifying pace.
Though limited to the city itself, it had constructed a new world surpassing the old civilization.
The city hall at the center, serving as Neo Seoul's control tower, rose more than fifty stories high.
Fifty stories might not seem impressive, but in an era where building materials were scarce, it represented an enormous investment.
Even with ample resources, they likely wouldn't have built it taller. Excessive height could attract the attention of flying monsters.
Invisible to human eyes, various flying monsters soared high in the skies above.
Repelled by the anti-magic field surrounding Neo Seoul, they kept their distance—but if the city hall grew any taller, curiosity might draw them closer.
On the current Earth, humanity's domain was but a tiny fraction. Despite much progress since the Great Cataclysm, monsters still demanded caution.
A diminutive old man gazed out the window at the city hall building.
"Damn it! That's style."
The fusion of magic and science in the city hall overwhelmed all other structures in Neo Seoul with its majestic presence.
Just looking at it from afar made one's chest swell with grandeur.
"I need to get that magnificent building under my control soon. What the hell is that old bastard still doing alive?"
The old man clicked his tongue and turned away. His face came into clearer view.
Deep wrinkles etched across his face from the hardships of time, and white beard framing his mouth and chin told of the storms he had weathered to survive.
The old man wore a hat embroidered with intricate golden patterns. It was a style from his father's homeland in the intact old world.
The hat symbolized his identity.
Though he had never once visited his homeland, he never forgot the origin of his bloodline. He always wore it, and now it had become his signature.
The old man's name was Shaorun.
He was the overlord dominating Neo Seoul's South District.
Behind Shaorun stood a young man who appeared to be in his early twenties.
With a slender build and an icy demeanor like carved ice, he left a striking impression.
Shaorun spoke to the young man in a gentle tone.
"So, what did you say earlier? My memory isn't what it used to be—I can't retain things after hearing them just once."
"Contact with the Crocodiles has been lost."
"Any idea on the cause?"
"It seems there's been a disturbance in the slum ecosystem."
"Is that so?"
The old man raised his white eyebrows.
It was rare for him to show such interest.
He had already achieved nearly everything he desired.
Not owning that magnificent city hall was regrettable, but the one on the throne was a monster beyond his reach.
Seizing that building could unravel everything he had built in Neo Seoul.
He had no desire to take such a risk.
Call it greed without the courage to challenge the ultimate prize.
Unable to aim for the most coveted seat, his life had grown tediously boring.
Now, for the first time in ages, intrigue lit his expression.
"Where exactly is the problem?"
"Shinchon."
"Shinchon? That's..."
"Goran controls it."
"Right! Goran. He was closely tied to the Crocodiles, wasn't he?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"We suspect both he and the Crocodiles are dead."
"Suspect?"
"Their deaths aren't confirmed. But since no one can find any trace of them, we assume they're gone."
The young man's words were perfectly logical.
Shaorun asked,
"Do you know who did it?"
"We're about to find out."
"Good! I trust you'll handle it well."
"I'll also scout a new passage while I'm at it."
"You'll go personally?"
Shaorun looked surprised.
The young man's name was Tajik.
He was one of Shaorun's most trusted subordinates.
"Very well. I leave it all to you."
"I won't betray your faith."
"Go."
With a wave of Shaorun's hand, Tajik bowed and exited.
Alone now, Shaorun turned his gaze back to the city hall.
"I wonder what small fry is stirring the waters this time."
Watching the slums might prove entertaining.
Zeon wrinkled his nose.
A pungent medicinal stench filled the house.
"Hum-hum-hummm!"
In one corner, Briel was humming a tune as she lit a fire under her cauldron.
Inside the small cauldron bought from Dokkaebi Market bubbled a liquid of unknown origin.
Briel was boiling a concoction of various ingredients from Dokkaebi Market using her secret formula.
The unidentified materials emitted a foul stench as they boiled.
It was so bad that even Zeon, who rarely grimaced, furrowed his brow. Yet Briel's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
She spent nearly half a day tending the cauldron, adjusting the flame.
The liquid that had filled it mostly evaporated, leaving little behind.
Suddenly, Briel placed both hands on the cauldron and muttered something. A brilliant light poured from her palms.
Her alchemy ability had activated.
Moments later, the light faded, and about a dozen small pills remained in the cauldron.
"It's done!"
Briel let out a triumphant cheer.
Zeon eyed the pills curiously.
"These ease the withdrawal symptoms?"
"One lasts about ten days..."
"Ten would cover around a hundred days?"
"After that, we'll need better ingredients to make more."
Long-term use built tolerance in the body.
The stronger the drug, the faster the tolerance grew.
For now, this weakened the symptoms adequately, but later she'd need something more potent.
Briel was satisfied with this much.
A hundred days was plenty of time to find alternatives.
She swallowed one pill immediately. Her complexion improved noticeably. The hard-earned medicine took effect right away.
As the effects coursed through her, her eyes lost focus.
"Ugh! F-fuck!"
Even her speech slurred.
The potency made her body react like she was drunk.
Only after a long while did Briel regain her senses. Her eyes still lacked focus, but her mind was sharp.
Aware of this, she pulled her conical hat low to hide her face.
A powerful surge of mana emanated from her entire body.
It was a temporary spike, visibly rising.
Zeon noticed it at a glance.
"Can alchemy boost mana too?"
"To some extent. But dramatic changes from just one or two doses are beyond my level."
Briel had awakened as an alchemist.
But captured by humans during her growth phase and forced to make drugs, her development had stalled.
She needed time to grow into a proper alchemist. Once she did, she could brew elixirs that exponentially increased mana.
Of course, that required first restoring her broken body to perfect health.
No easy task.
But not impossible.
Having cleared one major hurdle, the others seemed surmountable in time.
"Hehe! Just watch. The moment I hit S-rank, I'll bring Neo Seoul to ruin."
Briel cackled with hands on hips, like a drunkard spouting nonsense.
Zeon flicked her forehead.
Snap!
"Impossible, kiddo!"
"Ow!"
Briel clutched her swelling forehead and groaned.
"How dare you flick a noble High Elf."
"You're just a drug-addicted brat."
"Just you wait! Once I'm S-rank, you're done."
"That's why even S-rank won't cut it."
"Don't make me laugh!"
Briel shrieked.
Elves awakened like humans, gaining rank badges on their wrists.
Seven lines distinguishing F to S-rank.
She had awakened too, with her badge showing two glowing lines.
E-rank Awakener.
Lowly for now, but with experience and breakthroughs, she'd grow.
She believed reaching S-rank might let her break the High Elf soul oath.
Then she'd use her alchemy to destroy this human city.
Zeon smirked at the young High Elf.
Her youthful overconfidence was evident.
Alchemist wasn't suited for combat. She could make dangerous items, but not enough to topple Neo Seoul.
Above all, S-rank wasn't the pinnacle.
Dayton proved that.
Some possessed strength beyond what badges measured.
As long as such beings existed in Neo Seoul, Briel's ambitions stood no chance.
Zeon glanced toward Neo Seoul.
The distant city hall loomed clearly.
'Guess I should visit there sometime.'
He had clearance through Mandy, but hadn't felt compelled yet.
Then—
"Wooo! Inspiration strikes!"
Briel suddenly went wild.
Bouncing like a madwoman, cheering ecstatically.
Zeon frowned.
Ignoring him, Briel bustled about.
"Yeah, that'll work. Iron ant fangs, sandworm tentacles, and..."
She pulled items bought from Dokkaebi Market onto the table, followed by her tools.
The room turned into chaos in seconds. Zeon clicked his tongue.
"Tch! Shouldn't have picked up this crazy elf..."
If not for that damned High Elf soul oath, he'd have kicked her out long ago. Regrettable.
Briel's mania filled the house.
The overflowing madness made it hard even for Zeon to breathe.
Shaking his head, he stepped outside.
Zeon climbed to the rooftop.
He lived on the eighteenth floor, but this was his first time on the roof.
Fortunately, no one occupied it.
Sitting on the railing, Zeon gazed at Neo Seoul.
The city hall stood out sharply in the distance.
To Zeon, it resembled a lighthouse from old tales.
A beacon guiding ships at sea.
But whether this massive lighthouse led the era in the right direction was uncertain.
Zeon had traveled far more than Dayton.
No one alive had seen more places.
He'd experienced countless colonies and people.
Yet none matched Neo Seoul's advancement.
Most colonies barely protected their people from monsters.
They lacked the will or capacity to guide the era forward.
Only Neo Seoul had that potential.
And leading it was Mayor Jin Geum-ho.
Zeon spoke as if the man stood before him.
"What kind of world do you dream of?"