TTOA Chapter 147

Time passed, and the stench of blood grew stronger. They struggled to subdue the creatures, stepping over mountains of corpses and even crossing the outer perimeter wall.

Humans had their physical limits, but the creatures did not. No matter how much they hurried, they couldn’t rest until every last one of the approaching creatures was eliminated.

“Huff…”

“Kugh, huff…”

The sun in the sky began to set, and the shadows of those standing on the ground grew longer.

The shell casings Kwon Jae-jin had fired were scattered at his feet like grains of sand, so numerous they couldn’t even be counted.

Now, even pulling the trigger with his fingertips was exhausting.

His shoulders trembled, his elbows shook, and his aim was off. His tired eyes complained of dryness, and the inside of his combat uniform was soaked with sweat, like a sauna.

Looking around, he could see that the other Espers were also showing clear signs of exhaustion. Gun barrels drooped toward the ground, bullets went astray, and the Espers had squeezed out every last drop of their abilities. As they reached the final stages of the battle, even Seo Eui-woo’s immense power was on the verge of depletion.

However, the end was in sight.

All the Alpha Creatures had been dealt with, and not a single Beta Creature from the endless, black wave had been allowed to cross the outer perimeter wall.

The last remaining groups were sparsely visible in the front. If they could just cut off their breath, they would succeed.

They would have successfully stopped the Creature Wave.

The Espers faced the enemy with their tattered bodies.

With desperate perseverance and determination, Kwon Jae-jin squeezed out his last bit of strength and raised his rifle. Seo Eui-woo gathered the last of his dwindling abilities like claws, preparing for a final strike.

“…Jae-jin, step back.”

A majestic, ominous, and awe-inspiring power swirled within his palm.

A high-pitched ringing hammered at his ears with dissonance.

An invisible force left Seo Eui-woo’s grip and crushed the still-living creatures, executing them.

The scene flashed, and a bright light wrapped in power spread out, turning the ground stained with black blood white. The world was enveloped in white.

Just then, something sharp flew toward Seo Eui-woo’s back.

*Pshoo!*

Power disguised as a ricochet was fired with murderous intent and great force.

*

With the combatants deployed due to the Creature Wave, and the Center emptied, secret directives were being issued at the Military Strategy Headquarters.

About six bodyguards of general-rank officers stood in a row with their hands behind their backs, and Brigadier General Oh Seong-hwa stood in front of them, dressed in his officer’s uniform.

The bodyguards were selected in their youth from among the most talented A-rank Espers, and they completed training courses different from those of combatants. Their top priority was to safely protect key figures and eliminate threatening enemies.

Unlike regular Espers who were assigned to special task forces and trained to target creatures, bodyguards were trained with all sorts of targets in mind. Those targets could be fellow Espers, researchers, or even civilians, and they had to be able to stop anyone without hesitation.

“Alright, this is a top-secret mission. From this moment on, you are to eliminate Captain Seo Eui-woo, who is currently on the front lines.”

Brigadier General Oh lowered his voice and gave his orders, scanning the bodyguards.

“Captain Seo illegally infiltrated the headquarters and used his abilities to attack officers without permission. You all saw those old men being carried to the infirmary one after another, so you must know what’s going on.”

“No, sir, Brigadier General!”

“We know nothing!”

“Good, your security is thorough. You all are well-trained. You’re useful fellows, heh heh.”

Brigadier General Oh patted each of the bodyguards on the shoulder, praising them. Even if the bodyguards saw or heard something while at the side of a key figure, they had to act like they didn’t know. If they acted like they knew something without permission, they would face at least disciplinary action or even dismissal.

“Then you all know that you must forget what orders I gave you today, right? And that you must succeed in your mission secretly, without being detected…”

There was no need to exchange lengthy words.

Brigadier General Oh sent detailed instructions to the bodyguards’ personal channels.

To put it simply, it was like reaping the benefits, or watching two dogs fight over a bone.

Their mission was to assassinate Seo Eui-woo, whose abilities were depleted from fighting creatures. The creatures and Espers would do the fighting, and they would stay behind and easily pick up the victory.

“As you can see, such an opportunity will not come again. The Creature Wave, which we had doubts about, has become a reality. Alpha Creatures have appeared, do you understand?”

“Yes, Brigadier General Oh.”

“Understood, Brigadier General.”

“Good, good. I’ll give you a military helicopter, so hurry and get going. Even if you are exposed, you must never reveal your affiliation.”

“……Yes.”

“……We will follow your orders.”

The order to keep silent usually meant to shut one’s mouth, but in such times, it had a slightly different meaning.

It meant to commit suicide in time to prevent their memories from being read using Mental-type abilities.

“No, what do you mean keep silent… There can be no failure in this mission. Isn’t that right? Ehehehe.”

Brigadier General Oh quickly sent the bodyguards out. It would be troublesome if the progressive generals caught wind of it and traced it back to him.

‘That’s right. It must succeed. Yes, indeed…’

Brigadier General Oh’s path to advancement was at stake.

He wasn’t sure if getting in line with Lieutenant General Hwangbo Gi-cheon of the conservative faction was the right choice, but he couldn’t afford to hesitate and weigh his options right now. Brigadier General Oh Seong-hwa, who had been failing the missions he was assigned, was desperate. If things continued this way, he would have to quietly resign and retire next quarter.

‘Tsk. I need to give the Lieutenant General a report worth hearing this time…’

Brigadier General Oh clicked his tongue unhappily and slowly went back up to the headquarters. He eagerly hoped for good news.

*

*Pshoo!*

Power disguised as a ricochet was fired with murderous intent and great force.

The power, charged with blue electricity, spun in a spiral and struck Seo Eui-woo’s back directly. It tore through his combat uniform, smashed into him, and pierced his flesh.

“……!”

Fortunately, it slightly missed his heart. A deep wound was left on Seo Eui-woo’s shoulder.

“Seo Eui-woo! Eui-woo!”

Kwon Jae-jin urgently opened his chest pocket and took out a Healing Factor. He tore off the cap with his teeth, opened it, and injected it into Seo Eui-woo’s neck.

“Ah, it’s okay, it’s okay. It’s nothing.”

Kwon Jae-jin was so shocked he felt like his breath had stopped, but Seo Eui-woo only frowned a little and seemed fine. Well, Seo Eui-woo was an Esper. Having an arm or leg torn off was commonplace…

As the effects of the Healing Factor took hold, his wound began to heal little by little. However, another attack came without giving him time to recover.

The bodyguards, who had mixed in with the special task force members and hid themselves, unleashed their abilities with the aim of killing. It was the end of the battle, and Seo Eui-woo was exhausted and his body was in a dangerous state of imbalance.

His vision was blurry, his brain was boiling, he heard a high-pitched ringing, and he felt like he was going to retch from unpleasant auditory hallucinations.

Seo Eui-woo roughly furrowed his thick eyebrows and scraped up the darkly twisted power from the depths of his abyss.

An unstable and dangerous power was forced out. It was a sinister and fierce power.

“Keuheuk…”

As Seo Eui-woo frowned and responded with his power, even the A-rank bodyguards were no match for him. All the incoming power was devoured by Seo Eui-woo, and he returned the attacks.

The bodyguards who were directly hit by Seo Eui-woo’s power collapsed in various places, kneeling. Kwon Jae-jin exclaimed in horror.

“Stop it!”

Above Seo Eui-woo’s collar, a dark stain-like thing was visible on his straight neck.

Lieutenant Park came to mind.

When an Esper’s runaway risk level reached its limit, at times like that…

“Don’t do it! Stop it, stop.”

Kwon Jae-jin hurriedly threw down his rifle and took off both his gloves. He cupped Seo Eui-woo’s face with his bare hands and pressed down hard on the darkening area with his palms.

“Just stay like this for a moment…”

“Ugh, I’m okay, I told you.”

“Shh, shhh. Stay still, just stay! Just!”

In his urgency, Kwon Jae-jin kicked Seo Eui-woo in the shin. Seo Eui-woo distorted his eyebrows in a strange way, then burst out laughing.

“…I don’t runaway with just this much.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m teetering, but I still have leeway.”

“I said shut up. Close it. Don’t use your ability.”

Seo Eui-woo shut his mouth.

He said he had leeway, but in fact, he was at his limit. To the point where his vision was so blurry he couldn’t even see Kwon Jae-jin’s face properly.

“Ha…”

Seo Eui-woo glanced at the fallen bodyguards. When they showed no sign of getting up, he finally relaxed and hugged Kwon Jae-jin tightly. Both of their bodies felt like they were on fire.

“Jae-jin… Should I keep closing my mouth?”

“Yeah. Close it.”

“Wow, scary…”

“Close it tight.”

“Um.”

“……”

Kwon Jae-jin carefully removed his palms. His neck, which had been darkly stained, was clean as if it had been an illusion. Perhaps the Healing Factor had also taken effect, as the wound on his shoulder was gradually healing.

Jae-jin trembled his dark eyes finely and barely let out a faint sigh. Seo Eui-woo said he was okay, but Kwon Jae-jin wasn’t so sure.

Even though their skin was touching, he didn’t know if the Guiding was working properly, or how effective it was. He couldn’t resonate with his Core or read its waves, so he couldn’t gauge how bad his condition was, or how much he had recovered.

He thought that even as a Mutant, it wouldn’t matter in becoming Seo Eui-woo’s Guide, but at times like this, it was frustrating.

Would just skin contact be enough? Should he make mucous membrane contact? Should he kiss him? His head was exploding with thoughts like that.