Kidnapping (End)
In this godforsaken world, if you asked me to name the three strongest beings, I could answer simply: Hwang Young, leader of the Shyot-eum youth group; Lee Moo-hyuk, now called the Unemployed Killer; and finally, Christine Yang, head of the Hongryeonhoe and CIA agent.
Among them, when it came to pure one-on-one combat prowess, Christine stood head and shoulders above the rest.
"Hmm... she looks kinda familiar."
Hwang Young stared at Christine, a vague sense of recognition nagging at her. Then it clicked, and her face lit up with an "aha!" expression.
"You're that Christine from the joint investigation back in the day, right?"
"Finally remembering, yo! Inspector Hwang."
Back when Hwang Young was still on the force, she'd teamed up with Christine, the CIA agent hunting international criminals.
"You know that guy?"
"Ae-ri's my friend-da."
"Heh~ Friends, huh? Guess you're not backing down then?"
In an instant, Hwang Young's stance blurred as she charged straight at Ae-ri.
"I can't let you capture her like that-da!"
Christine swiftly countered Hwang Young's kick with one of her own, blocking it cleanly.
"Just like I thought when I saw you before—you're one tough bitch."
"Still got those vicious kicks, yo. Inspector Hwang."
Their exchange was dead even, blows raining back and forth without mercy.
Ae-ri could only watch the spectacle in a daze.
I was gonna look for an opening to bolt, but from that speed she showed earlier, she could ignore Christine and grab me in a heartbeat.
Ae-ri shelved any thoughts of escape after witnessing Hwang Young's superhuman feats. Running off and getting caught would just drag Christine down.
"Disappointed it wasn't the Unemployed Killer, but glad you've got Christine here. This is fun."
Hwang Young unleashed a barrage like a battle-crazed berserker reveling in the fight. Each movement cratered the ground and crumbled nearby walls.
Even with cyberbody corrections, is that kind of power possible?
Ae-ri watched in awe. Sure, cyberbodies offered enhancements, but could they shatter reinforced concrete? Superalloy ones might dent it, but not demolish it like a walking disaster—Hwang Young was on another level.
And Christine...
Matching her blow for blow? Incredible.
Hwang Young fought like a natural calamity, yet Christine held her own.
But why isn't she using her fists?
Something felt off to Ae-ri. Christine had stuck exclusively to kicks since the fight started. It was enough to keep up, but Ae-ri knew Hwang Young's real weapon was her dragon-pattern prosthetic arm for short-range palm strikes. No fists, no arm activation at all—it was weird.
Is it busted?
The situation screamed malfunction.
Of all the damn times for it to break-da.
Just as Ae-ri suspected, Christine's prosthetic was out of commission. She'd planned to drop it off for repairs during their shopping trip and grab a temp, but the kidnapping alert had her rushing over without a chance.
That was why she was countering with kicks.
This is hitting its limit soon-da.
It wasn't as even as it looked. Outwardly a dragon-tiger duel, but Christine was gradually being pushed back.
"What's wrong? Can't use your arm? I knew something was off."
"Shut up-da!"
Christine tried a palm strike with her organic left arm instead. But Hwang Young wasn't that easy.
"A weak palm strike like that won't pierce my cyberbody."
Hwang Young's frame was almost entirely prosthetic—no damage registered.
"Guess it's time to end this."
Up until now, she'd been playing. Her aura surged, white flames enveloping her legs—her signature move and ace, the White Flame Kick, hurtling toward Christine's head.
Bang!—
A gunshot rang out, bullet screaming toward Hwang Young.
She twisted mid-air, incinerating it, a ecstatic grin splitting her face as she shouted toward the source.
"The real deal's here. Unemployed Killer!"
There stood a man in a black coat and mask: Lee Moo-hyuk.
* * * *
What the hell is going on?
Ae-ri couldn't process the sudden chaos. The world's top three powerhouses gathered in one spot was wild enough, but being caught in the middle felt suffocating.
Why's Lee Moo-hyuk crashing the party now?
She just resented him at this point.
Moo-hyuk scanned the room.
Hwang Bo... why's Ju Ae-ri here?
He was puzzled by her presence but tabled it. Turning to Hwang Young, he said,
"Hwang Young. Where's Hwang Jin?"
Moo-hyuk had come to capture Baekseonggyo prince Hwang Jin—not assassinate, because Amy said she had a use for him.
"Jin? How the hell should I know? We're not exactly chatty siblings."
Hwang Young shot back snarkily. Moo-hyuk read her micro-expressions and judged it truth.
"I see. Nothing for me here then."
He turned to leave, but Hwang Young dashed forward, blocking him.
"Where you going? We finally meet, and you're bailing?"
"Move."
"Nah. Fight me!"
Pure battle-maniac energy, but Moo-hyuk brushed past like she was nothing.
"I'm not leaving till we fight!"
"I don't waste time on pointless scraps."
"Pointless? I need this fight!"
"That's your problem, not mine."
What are they even doing...?
Ae-ri watched the childish bickering in disbelief.
That's when Christine tapped her shoulder.
"Chance-da. Let's slip out-da."
"Right, got it."
With Hwang Young's focus on Moo-hyuk, Ae-ri and Christine snuck out of the abandoned building.
"No helping it. If you're this clingy, even I've got limits."
Hwang Young's face lit up.
"For real? So you'll fight me...?"
Her words cut off. A neural shock disrupted her cyberbody-brain link, blacking her out cold.
"Finally quiet."
Moo-hyuk strode out, coat billowing, leaving her collapsed. He dialed Amy.
"Amy, it's me."
"Yeah, your call means Hwang Jin wasn't there, huh?"
"Yes."
"Weird. GPS says he's nearby."
"Is that so? Hmm... I think I know roughly where. See you at the lab soon."
"Okay. Don't push yourself."
Moo-hyuk hung up and headed where he suspected.
In the basement of a nearby ruin, he opened the door.
"Hey~ Been waiting."
A macho guy resembling Hwang Young but buffer lounged in a chair, greeting him.
"Knew I'd come?"
"Obviously. Sis is obsessed with you—I keep tabs."
The man, Hwang Jin, stood, cracking knuckles, eyes gleaming as he glared.
"Don't think you can keep breathing just 'cause Sis likes you."
Hwang Young denied any closeness, but Jin was a hardcore siscon.
"Sis's attention is mine alone!"
His Bullet Time Rush—hyper-accelerating his central nervous system for a boar-like charge—exploded toward Moo-hyuk.
Moo-hyuk remained utterly calm.
"Too crude."
Another Blackout. Jin's brain module rattled, acceleration failed, vision went dark—he pitched forward.
Moo-hyuk hoisted him over his shoulder and called Amy again.
"Hwang Jin secured."
"Fast work. Good job. Head back now."
"Understood."
Moo-hyuk carried Jin to Amy's lab.