Shadows Bind and Flames Devour
Darkness blanketed the warehouse.
Shadow vines erupted from every direction, binding the limbs of their prey and twisting viciously.
Crack! Crunch! Snap!
"Gaaahhh!"
"S-spare me! Stop, st— aaagh!"
The agony of bones shattering at the joints.
It was like watching dolls warped into grotesque poses by the touch of a malicious child.
John Well, team leader of the US Intelligence Agency's elite A-Team.
Staring through his scope at the hellish scene, his mind went blank for a moment.
What the hell is this...?
An Awakener's skill...?
Cha Minhyuk and his aides—weren't they just your run-of-the-mill physical enhancement types?
Did they have some hidden power? Even so, wasn't this going way too far?
His legs trembled.
It was a sight he couldn't comprehend—and didn't want to.
Drip.
Cold sweat trickled down his back. He snapped back to reality.
He bolted up the stairs, sprinting along the passageway hugging the wall.
His destination: the small window at the far end. A hole of light amid the gloom.
While the others bought him time as sacrificial lambs, he had to escape and report.
Thud!
Light was right in front of him.
As he fumbled with his radio, a relieved smile on his face, stepping onto the windowsill to leap—
Whoosh!
"...!"
Looking down, John Well saw the vine coiling around his ankle.
No time to react.
"Aaaagh!"
Bang! Crash! Thud! Thump!
He slammed into surrounding structures and was yanked to the floor in an instant.
Screams, wails, furious shouts. As the clamor died down—
Clank! Creak—
Cha Minhyuk flung open the door, exposing the interior in stark relief.
"Ugh... k-kill... Cha..."
"Guh... grrrk...! Cough!"
It was pandemonium.
Dozens of men lay in twisted poses, eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth.
The floor was slick with blood, spit, and sweat.
The aides who had been hiding behind crates emerged, mouths agape.
Cha Minhyuk spoke.
"You saw nothing."
"Y-yes, sir!"
"Understood!"
Better than a long explanation. Clean and simple.
His longtime loyalists— their patriotism and devotion were proven.
After a quick scan of the interior, Cha Minhyuk radioed in.
> May I begin interrogation?
Master! Interrogation! Extract info!
Why even ask? Of course.
With permission granted, Cha Minhyuk moved swiftly to the center of the scene.
Carmina called out brightly.
Feels so good! Master!
She must've really hated their guts.
For a vampire informant to stomach this level of bloodshed.
Thud.
Cha Minhyuk halted then.
He addressed the tights-clad man whose helmet was off, his eyes relatively sane.
"You're the one in charge."
"...!"
His pupils quaked.
How the hell did he know right away?
"You get a feel for it after doing this long enough."
He splayed the man's hand flat on the floor and fixed it in place. Then pulled a cleaver from his coat.
Why's that coming out of there?
"Fellow pros—no need to waste each other's time."
> Apologies. Things might get rough.
No problem. Proceed.
Relayed via Carmina.
Cha Minhyuk's eyes turned fierce.
"Sent by Director Gail?"
"I don't know anyone b—!"
Bam!
The cleaver slammed down on his index finger. Shredded in one go.
"Asking again. Sent by Director Gail?"
"Guh... Who the hell are y—!"
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The interrogation proceeded swiftly.
Carmina's mental assault magic.
Team Leader Cha's physical assault magic.
Cast broadly on the tights guys and gang members alike.
US instigation, gang kidnapping plot.
Full picture grasped.
Confirmed the scenario he'd pictured in his head.
But.
They're tough as nails! Won't admit the final boss is the US octopus even at the end!
Context's crystal clear, but they won't spill their affiliation. Even their spy agency won't budge.
The agents had real grit.
Definitely not like the Chinese knockoffs.
Still got plenty of useful intel otherwise.
For instance, the US was reaching out to the Central Asian Union with its 2 billion population.
Or rushing to clear floor 75 to trigger the next trial.
Trial of Speed! Faster! Even faster!
When do they plan to trigger it?
My guess?
Right after the voting event kicks off.
That way,
they can maximize public support for Killdragon.
Ooh! Master’s so smart!
One reason I serve Your Majesty.
Sigh, no need to gild my face like that.
Anyway, the Trial of Speed.
No need to worry.
From our side, it's like the US is setting the table for us.
Then Cha Minhyuk said,
> Best to pull out now. Support forces likely en route for cleanup.
Agreed.
Gang boss Albert Rothart.
US Intelligence team leader John Well.
Including them, a few key ones stowed in Carmina's shadows.
Why keep the front guy?
Turns out he's tangled deep with Chinatown connections.
Plan to squeeze more intel, then uproot the rest in one go.
> May I handle the rest?
Approved after briefing.
A bit brutal, but their own karma, right?
Black Hole could've cleaned it neat.
But risk of leaving clues to my abilities, so nixed it.
No need to watch. Handled all cleanup like this to Cha Minhyuk.
I'll close my eyes!
Such a shame. Wanted to watch the sinners writhe and scream.
You close your eyes too, Hati.
Only look at pretty, beautiful things.
Dopamine! Stimulation! Dopamine!
Hey, no using words like that.
Cha Minhyuk and his two aides hurriedly took the wheels, moving the vehicles.
Vrooom—!
All gang vehicles except one shoved inside the warehouse.
"Wh-what the hell...!"
"St-stop that!"
The gangsters and agents sprawled helpless on the floor.
A foreboding chill hit them. They squeezed out their last strength, screaming.
"Eugh! Euuugh!"
"Puh, stop, puh! Can't st—!"
Splatter! Splash!
Only oil poured over them.
Cha Minhyuk's voice was ice cold.
"Consider this mercy. I'd rather chain you in a basement for eternal torment, but circumstances demand a shortcut."
Desperate curses flew.
But Cha Minhyuk and the aides didn't pause a beat.
"Team leader, edges done!"
"Central area's finished!"
Click!
Cha Minhyuk flicked his lighter.
"You fucking bastard! Stop! I said stop!"
"Don't! Don't do it! Can't you hear? Shit!"
A torrent of screams.
He tossed it without hesitation.
Whoosh!
Crimson flames roared up, shredding the warehouse gloom.
Spreading instantly via vehicles and oil at intervals.
Screams? They couldn't even scream.
Lungs burning first.
────!
─────!
Soundless screams and agony. Burned alive in horrific torment.
Leaving the heat behind, Cha Minhyuk and aides boarded the spare gang vehicle.
Thud!
"We're off!"
"Straight to the air base. Through high-traffic areas max. Contact the hotel team too."
"Yes, sir!"
They hit the road, abandoned warehouse engulfed in flames behind.
Oncoming vehicles rushed past in the opposite direction.
US Intelligence forces on standby, converging for control.
Too late.
Everything incinerated.
No matter how thorough, they couldn't even guess what happened.
And.
'Director Gail.'
Mud-slinging fight? If you want it, bring it.
Since Hitchhiker commanded.
Gail bustled through Management Agency halls.
As top dog, reports poured in nonstop.
"Director, Killdragon surveillance report."
"Central Asian Union brass contact results."
"Director Gail—."
Gail kept walking, grabbing every file.
Bureaucrats trailed, gauging his mood.
Flip— flip—
[Lately, frequent unauthorized solo actions defying handler orders.]
[Psych eval: Believes no longer needs agency support.]
(...)
Killdragon.
The nation's manufactured hero Awakener.
"Tch."
Thinks he's hot shit now?
Forgetting who raised him.
Well, control levers exist.
Past files on Killdragon, locked deep in the secret vault.
One yank on the leash, he'd snap to.
Guy's cautious with media, addicted to fame but guards his spot.
Still, for safety.'
Until Next Event: 8 hours 3 seconds
'Keep him leashed till event wraps and dust settles.'
Voting event looming.
Killdragon: an insurmountable wall for Korea's Hitchhiker.
Tiny East Asian speck.
50 million pop—what could they do?
Variables exist. Like allied unions.
But no easy feat.
Korea built friendly global image.
But this ain't popularity contest.
Votes tie to national interests.
Decisions ultra-cautious.
System-voted too—no gov rigging possible.
US holds massive edge.
Prepped public opinion solidification domestically.
Plus anti-Korea China and Japan as allies.
What they want?
Korea and Hitchhiker downfall.
US-China-Japan hegemony reclaim.
Killdragon votes inevitable.
Thud!
"Signed. Take it."
"Yes! Thank you!"
Next report opened.
All-S-rank artillery squad.
US-China-Japan core force.
After Tokyo and Beijing Tartarus clears.
"Here, live feed, Director."
Deployed reclaiming US homeland.
Precise spot: Rhode Island.
US's tiniest state by area.
Weakest monsters, fewest numbers among global infested zones.
"Wrapping up."
"Yes, prototype Z3 upgrade's power undeniable. No variables, expect clear declaration in 2 hours."
"Broadcast status?"
"All major networks live-streaming worldwide."
Gail smirked, satisfied.
World would witness US tech might.
Hitchhiker's Meteor Fall?
Radio silence post-Jeju.
Obviously long cooldown.
US leads territory reclamation.
"Watch tower on clear. White light proves land regen ain't Hitchhiker's."
"Yes, sir!"
Gail's stride unbroken.
Signing, directing.
Schemes tightening.
Sensation of total control: pure bliss.
But.
'Cha Minhyuk.'
Crunch!
Yesterday's humiliation boiled his blood.
First uncontrollable variable in his life.
"Hoo."
Exhaled rage down.
Fine. Good news soon.
Just then, Deputy Director Elliot Hesson emerged from ops room.
Gail grinned, calling out.
"How'd it go?"
Answer predetermined.
Confirmed Cha's car to wasteland warehouse.
By now, Korean captured, framing underway.
Heh.
Silly question.
Closing in on Elliot.
"Prep articles on schedule. Extremist gang hate crime. Tragic accident. First frame decides half the narrative."
"D-Di, Director."
Elliot pale as ghost.
Frantic explanation.
Agent comms cut after final screams in dark.
Support at warehouse, but fire hampers assessment.
Gail's face hardened.
"What? Our elite agents downed by three A-ranks?"
"F-First, suppressing fire, checking roads—."
Then.
Bang!
A bureaucrat burst from ops.
"J-Just now, Andrew Air Base called! Korean officials boarded charter and took off!"
"Wh-what?"
Military tried blocking at first.
Something fishy.
But no pretext amid chaos, plus foreign press swarm.
"C-Couldn't stall long, permitted takeoff!"
Cold silence in hall.
What happened...?
Am I dreaming...?
Stagger!
"D-Director!"
"Y-you okay?"
Spike in blood pressure.
Legs buckled; supported, Gail gripped wits, ordered.
"Suppress fire, then investigate site ASAP. Track Cha's movements too. For now—Rhode Island focus."
Rhode Island reclamation.
Game-changer for world order.
In ways, bigger than Cha issue.
Shooo—!
Charter jet over North America.
Cha Minhyuk's tablet blared reporter.
Damn, they're trying hard.
One meteor'd end it.
Carmina, peek outside.
Shifted from broadcast to window view.
Tiny below.
East US coast, Rhode Island.
Zoom vision, please.
Yessir!
Magic-enhanced sight.
Vivid view: alliance facing last monster pack.
They'll wrap it soon enough.
Somehow unsatisfying.
US gift-wrapped it.
Should Korea reciprocate?
Tuned ear to lizard commander preserved in subspace.
Hm? What? Stuffy, wanna go out? Corpse revival your specialty?