Sloth's Third Eye
In a desolate wasteland somewhere in northern Korea, reduced to ruins by the Satan Cult executive Wrath, dozens of crows were squabbling with a lone man.
"Chang-sik, you damn lazy Chang-sik."
"Ack, ack! Why, you crazy bastard!"
Peck, peck! A massive crow, big enough to swallow a person whole without a second thought, hammered the man's head with its beak. The man bolted across the barren plain to escape, while the crow flapped its enormous wings in pursuit. Blood streamed from the pecked spots on his head.
His blood splattered across the blackened, rotting wasteland, corrupted by the demonic energy left behind by Wrath.
"Huff, huff...! W-wait a sec! At least tell me what I did wrong! I didn't do anything...!"
"Doing nothing is your crime."
Crunch! The crow sank its beak into the man's arm and tore it off. His shoulder ripped free, spraying blood across the ground. The man groaned in agony, his face twisting in pain. The crow chewed the severed arm with wet, smacking sounds before gulping it down. Despair washed over the man's face as he watched.
"M-my arm! Spit it out, you psycho! Now!"
"Can't you just reattach it? Lazy Chang-sik."
"Hm, fair point. It's just a bit of a hassle."
The man scratched his head sheepishly and stood up. Blood dripped steadily from his stump, but he didn't seem to care. Those chosen as vessels for Satan wouldn't die from wounds like this. Death wasn't permitted to them. Just like Gu Jun-hyeok, who had survived even after his body was shattered to pieces, leaving only his head.
The man opened his mouth wide. Demonic energy oozed out like thick slime—dense enough to look like he was vomiting up dozens of slugs. The spilled energy drew a massive circle on the ground.
A black magic circle.
Kyaaaaah—!
Kwaaak, aaaah...!
With screams like those of the damned rising from hell, the black magic circle activated. Hundreds of forearms—some bluish and rotting, others charred black—wriggled up from the circle. They supported a single massive, grotesque arm and offered it to the man. He accepted it and pressed it against his stump.
Whoosh! Black flames erupted, fusing the arm seamlessly. The man tested it by swinging it around, then nodded in satisfaction. It was superior to his previous one.
"Looks good att—"
Peck, peck-peck! But no sooner had it attached than the crow thrust its beak in, pecking wildly at the new arm. The man writhed in pain.
"Ack, aaack! Hey, I just attached it!"
"Chang-sik, what the hell are you doing? Is doing nothing your job? Are you slothful?"
"Ah, shut up and wait! I've got something prepared!"
Tears of inky black streamed down the man's face at the crow's scolding. He wiped them with his arm, and upon contact, the demonic, hideous limb transformed into a normal human one. Frowning, he pressed his forehead. A pale, milky eye engraved itself there.
"Once I find that damn bitch..."
As the man muttered, the milky pupil began darting left and right, searching for something. It was the black magic of the Third Eye, allowing him to peer through the eyes of his minions.
Through the Third Eye, the man scanned dozens, hundreds of worlds.
"My fault, my fault, my great fault..."
"Hey, Hee-jin. Go grab me some cup ramen."
"Ah, he saw me! Through those white pupils...!"
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..."
Sounds from a church he'd memorized for disguising as a cleric. The Eastern Holy Knight Order captain's office. A secret gathering spot for the 13th Coven and Satanists holding a revelry. All these scenes flooded in at once: Mass chants, the captain ordering a subordinate, Satanists weeping in rapture.
Then, one scene caught his eye. An island in the middle of the Han River—a demon placed there to terrorize priests and citizens, signaling the faithful Satanists in hiding of the return. Through its eyes, he saw priests praying for miracle recreation and holy knights aiming their guns. Among the masses of knights, the woman he sought appeared.
Unlike usual, she wore full holy knight armor, layers of gear obscuring her face—but he recognized her instantly.
"Ah, found you."
Kim Jin-seo, the perfect vessel he hunted, was right there.
*
Kim Jin-seo gave me a quick greeting before joining her holy knight squad. No time for more talk. I stared at her back as she donned her armor and plate.
Han Dae-ho strode up and clapped a hand on my shoulder. "That girl from back then? The one stuck to you during the missionary trip."
I stood there blankly, unable to answer. Still reeling from seeing Kim Jin-seo. Two reasons. First, the sheer coincidence. She wasn't the only familiar face. Among the Central Priest Order group handling blessings, Seong Ha-yeon was there too.
Second, someone had predicted this twisted coincidence.
"..."
I recalled the day Gu Jun-hyeok's crow visited me. Shortly after the birthday party in the worship hall. If it'd been his usual pointless check-in, I'd have crushed it with Bosu's power or whatever. But he skipped the chit-chat.
"A Satanist entered Korea. Not a weak one."
"..."
"Demons will pop up everywhere. Target: Kim Jin-seo. Soon... you, her, and a demon will converge."
Why tell me? Could be a lie to mess with me. But what'd he gain? If true, huge help. If false, no real harm. Pointless lie if fake. Probably true. Confirmed my hunch: Satanist targeting Kim Jin-seo.
More: If Gu called it "not weak..."
"...Stronger than you?"
The crow tilted its head like it didn't get it. It stared with its milky eye, then narrowed it in a grin.
"Pfft, as if."
"Then cannon fodder."
"That a compliment?"
I stared past the milky eye at Gu watching me. If this Satanist was weaker than him, no sweat. I'd grown way stronger since getting the staff—could take Gu now.
"Why tell me?"
That was my real question. Gu was Satanist. I was Voodoo Cult Leader; we'd fought to near-death. To him, I was enemy. Yet he fed me useful intel. Baffling.
Then black embers flickered in the crow's milky pupil. No beak movement, but Gu's voice echoed in my head.
"For a swift reunion."
"..."
With that cryptic line, the crow flapped away. I wondered if Gu wanted this Satanist dead too. He hasn't visited since.
"Do Seon-woo!"
Han Dae-ho's shout snapped me back. He patted my shoulder. "Dude, no response. That's her, right? Why so spaced out all sudden?"
"Ah... Yeah. Seeing a school friend here threw me."
"Happens on dispatch training. Get used to it. Can't zone out every time."
I nodded, glancing at Kim Jin-seo. She nodded to her squad captain's orders.
"Captain, mind if I use a spear?"
"Spear? Hmm... No reason not to. You handle spears too?"
"Better than bare hands."
"Fine then."
Han Dae-ho sent O Hui-jin to fetch a spear from the car. O Hui-jin asked why a spear of all things—neither he nor Han specialized in them. Han Dae-ho glanced at me, grinned at O Hui-jin.
"This guy's itching to try one."
"Hm... Spears are cool. Got it."
O Hui-jin fetched it without complaint. Normally unthinkable for a superior like him. But my merit finding Jeong Yun-ah during the long-term missing persons op earned their kindness.
"Thanks."
"No biggie. Was gonna grab one anyway. Feels lame empty-handed against those things."
O Hui-jin pointed his flail at the distant huddle of holy knights briefing, then gestured to his squad.
I fiddled with the spear. Examined the tip—razor-sharp for demons and beasts, leagues beyond training ones.
"..."
Stroking it, Gu's words echoed unwanted: Satanist targeting Kim Jin-seo. The central Han River demon was still idle, but trouble brewed. That's why the spear request.
That demon was huge. Matching brute strength, even with Bosu, bare hands might fail. Decapitation Sword would work, but too many priests around. With Bosu on the spear? Different story. Bosu was top Loa spear-master.
—Found you.
Screeeeech—!
A stranger's voice boomed across the area. Priests prepping miracles bled from eyes, noses, mouths. Those drawing blessing circles clutched ears, staring at the demon. The roar came from its maw; a new milky eye engraved on its forehead locked on Kim Jin-seo.
The dormant demon rose, unfolding massive wings from its back.
"Bosu."
I gripped the spear, calling him. Blood boiled. Demon still roared, but my overheated heart thumped louder via Bosu's power. Vision narrowed. No Han Dae-ho, O Hui-jin, priests, knights. Only one thing: the demon. Specifically, that milky eye between its brows.
Grip the spear tighter. The stance is etched in my power.
Recent offerings? Or the spear? Bosu's voice was dead serious. I gripped harder, assumed position. Just thinking of throwing aligned it perfectly. Power remembered.
"Form ranks, form ranks!"
"Ugh, grrr...! Captain... can't hear well...!"
"Kuhk...!"
Holy knights scrambled into formation mid-briefing. Captain barked orders; they plugged ears, struggling. Demon flapped closer threateningly.
Don't break eye contact with the prey.
Commune with the spear... and the wind.
I felt the spear in my hand, the blowing wind. Gusts from demon wings whipped everywhere, dust stinging eyes. But I didn't blink. Locked on that forehead eye. Until thrown.
Become one with the spear. Rip it from your shoulder.
Thud—!
Demon landed. Milky eye scanned knights, stopped on Kim Jin-seo. It reached out. She raised sword to block.
"Bade."
I called. Wind halted.
Throw.
Grit. Threw.
Crunch!
"Aaaahhh—! Kyaaahhh—!"
Spear pierced forehead dead-on. Demon clutched head, thrashing, screaming. Kim Jin-seo pulled back. Roar stopped; knights recovered, formed ranks. Priests shook off daze.
"Aaaah, kyaaa...!"
I watched. Spear hit perfect, yet demon lived—screaming, flailing meant strength left. No complacency.
Headed to blessing circle priests. Seong Ha-yeon there, nosebleeding from roar, slumped. Approached.
"Seong Ha-yeon."
"..."
No response. Just blank stare. Still processing. Divine power gleamed unfinished at her fingertips. Knelt eye-level.
"Bless me."
(To be continued)