As Kim Jeok-woo and the others were discussing intensely, not far from the Base, a woman was stumbling back toward it, blood flowing from her nose…
“Right, where is A-ko?” Kim Jeok-woo asked Fr. Phano.
A-ko was the one who once saved Kim Jeok-woo’s life. Strong-willed by nature, she had forcefully dragged him away from the roulette table during the chaos so the corruptors in the casino wouldn’t leave bite marks on his face.
“A-ko is on a Wanderer assignment today,” Fr. Phano replied.
A-ko was both Kim’s colleague and the one who taught him everything about survivalism. Together they founded a hobby group called “Let’s Go Camping!”, though this rather odd off-duty group had already drawn the Federation’s attention — because they constantly needed survival gear that normal people would never use.
“Hope she had a good haul today…” Kim murmured, lost in memories.
On the day the small city fell into madness, the Federation quickly dispatched the stationed soldiers in large numbers. They fought monsters on the streets alongside local police, while also using inhumane methods against residents under the pretext of suppressing terrorist attacks launched by foreign religious groups. At that time, a soldier stopped Kim and A-ko to check their IDs.
“Make sure you capture that man and woman. Whatever excuse you use — alive or dead, bring them in,” the soldier’s walkie-talkie whispered an order.
“…Understood.”The soldier hesitated not at all. He didn’t ask why. He was merely a machine of the Federation — thinking was unnecessary.
“You two, take off your clothes in front of me! Especially you, woman — remove your bra and underwear! There is evidence that your chest contains chemical weapons. Extremely dangerous lethal weapons!”
Humiliated, A-ko suppressed her anger and, with deliberately seductive posture, stepped toward the soldier to comply.
But Kim would not tolerate such degradation. With a shout, he threw a right punch toward the soldier’s temple while thrusting a screwdriver from his left hand toward the soldier’s chest. The soldier had never imagined that the city’s sheep-like residents would resist; he staggered back, blocking the screwdriver with his forearm while drawing his handgun. But what shocked him even more was that A-ko pulled out a stun baton and pressed it against him, releasing a surge of high-voltage electricity. Seizing the moment, Kim drove the screwdriver into the soldier’s neck, twisted, and pulled it out.
As the soldier clutched his wound, A-ko immediately picked up his dropped handgun and shot him in the chest. Later she told Kim he acted impulsively — but from other survivors they learned that soldiers were ordered to shoot any non-compliant citizen. Kim’s pre-emptive strike had been absolutely the right choice.
“Actually, I must thank Warrior Kim and A-ko. Not only are they heroes of Fog City — they are my protectors,” Fr. Phano said to Sophia.
“Why?” Sophia looked intensely curious.
“Because I became the alleged leader of four scandalous cults. They wanted to kill me. Any sane person would know the Federation was talking nonsense — nobody believed it.”After speaking, Fr. Phano drew a cross over his chest and prayed:“Lord, I serve You with all my heart — why did I become the leader of false idols? Amen.”
“Hey, Father, don’t pour out your heart to God just yet. Aren’t you familiar with other survivors? Didn’t I tell you over the radio earlier about that girl named Yayoi?” Kim interjected.
“Oh? You mean the girl with the same eyes as Wen-wei?” Fr. Phano pushed up his glasses, thinking for a moment.“…Ah. I remember now. The girl with eyes like near-transparent blue — clear, faintly sorrowful, as if she sees through all things, like a seeker of truth?”
Kim narrowed his eyes and said, “You speak so abstractly. I’m not a bug living inside your stomach…”
At that moment, the radio crackled:“A-ko has returned, but her condition looks bad…”
Everyone rushed out to receive A-ko. She was covered in grime, her nose still bleeding, and tiny shimmering dots densely coated her skin.
“Xiao-Kim…”A-ko saw him, then collapsed.
Just as Kim reached out to lift her, Sophia immediately blocked him.“I’ve seen this… in my world. Last time, it appeared on a general-purpose humanoid biological weapon…”
“Move!” Kim growled — his voice a beast roaring inside his chest. Ignoring Sophia’s warning, he lunged toward A-ko.
Sophia didn’t hold back this time. Using her abilities, she forcibly separated them.“I’ve traversed many worlds. I don’t care what happens to people in this one. This world merely gave me freedom from being hunted — and you happened to meet the conditions of the pact. If you continue being reckless and insist on approaching her, I will directly rewrite your cognitive structure. Not a threat — just my obligation.”
Before Kim could retort, A-ko suddenly burst into radiant seven-colored light. Heat and steam erupted from her skin, forming a vapor layer that evaporated anything too close. Sophia shouted, and a dome of golden light formed around her, shielding most of the Base’s survivors.
When the light faded, A-ko’s eyes had turned completely white. Bulging veins crawled across her skin. Her body swelled massively. Her teeth and nails elongated into sharp points. She muttered like chanting an ancient curse, the final line:
“Heaven births all things to nourish man; man returns nothing to Heaven! Kill! Kill! Kill!”
Sophia stared, utterly shocked, forgetting to use her powers. Trembling, she whispered:
“Xian… Zhong Emperor.”
The creature known as Xianzhong Emperor emitted prismatic light that instantly transformed the remaining survivors into ghost moths — but unlike yesterday, their eyes had become red lightning-shaped patterns instead of oval ones. Fortunately, most people were protected by Sophia; otherwise, the consequences would have been catastrophic.
“Long time no see, Sophia.”This was Xianzhong Emperor’s first line.
“Yes… long time no see. Are you still carrying your hockey mask?” she asked.
“In this world, my power has greatly strengthened. I no longer need fantasy power to amplify my urge for slaughter,” Xianzhong Emperor growled like a beast.
“From the moment I first saw a clean human neck, a strange desire awakened in my heart. Now, whenever I see any living thing, I want only to destroy. Death, tearing, devouring… these thoughts cling to my core like shadows — this is the source of my power. Hahahaha!”
Sophia tried to move, but her body felt drained, like an airless balloon — weak and flimsy. She staggered, nearly collapsing. Barely holding herself up, she converted her consciousness into brainwaves and transmitted a message to the remaining survivors:
“Run!”
Xianzhong Emperor noticed and mocked her:“Without the concepts of good and evil, called eternal and immortal — yet you use fantasy power for the sake of a single minor world? You are a disgrace to the Realm of Fantasy.”
Then he inhaled, forcing down his fury, speaking with a strained smile:“Lord Mephist has commanded: if you join him in seeking the Ankh, he will stop the hunt and restore your honor.”
Before he could finish, Kim hurled a beer bottle at Xianzhong Emperor’s eye. Just before impact, a yellow energy shield deflected it. The bottle shattered on the ground, releasing orange gas.
“What is this? A stench I despise!” Xianzhong Emperor roared.
“Polysulfuric hyposulfonic acid. It’s used against monsters like you,” Kim replied coldly.
The moment the gas touched the ghost moths, they liquefied on the spot.
“It’s just something I extracted on the spot and altered with my equipment. Not as strong as the lab-grade version.”
“You human! How dare you mock me?!”
Xianzhong Emperor roared. The thin fog surged skyward, forming thunderclouds. Lightning roared; rain poured fiercely…
“Enough nonsense — give me back A-ko!”
Kim’s voice was low and trembling — the roar of a man pushed to his limit.
For the first time in his life — he was truly angry for the sake of a woman.
ns216.73.216.33da2
and then Add to home screen.