Ji Hayeon had collapsed by the window. The squeaky toy was crushed in the trembling hand gripping the railing.<04:55:02>When Sawon swung his sword, the Deater impaled on the blade flew into the corner of the lab. The body, thrown like a bowling ball, struck two others and knocked them down. Sawon kept his eyes fixed on the lab while focusing his hearing on Ji Hayeon. The sound of his labored breathing was growing faster.<03:52:37>The two Deaters hit by the impact turned toward him at once. One was reptilian, using its long tongue as a weapon, and the other was insectoid, with dozens of legs. Behind them, Sawon saw the black sphere — a Heukgu — trapped in a blue, jelly-like net that pulsed and shuddered. The Deaters inside were trying to escape but were stopped by the sealing barrier.<03:01:22>What the hell. Someone already set up a seal? Who did it?He had no time to find out. Gripping the sword again, Sawon moved toward the far corner of the lab, away from the sphere.<02:50:03>“This way, you idiots.”He taunted as he flourished his sword, and the two creatures immediately turned toward him.Skreeeeeeee!The eardrum-splitting sound hit a second before they charged.Beep, beep.The squeaky toy sounded again. Sawon frowned and drove his sword toward the reptile. Before it could fully extend its tongue, the blade split its body cleanly down the middle.<01:45:19>Thud!The severed torso toppled onto a table. Clang—crash! Chemicals spilled in a rush over the corpse.Skreeee!<01:14:41>The insectoid Deater running along the right wall was caught by the throat. Sawon slammed his right hand down; Boom! The Deater smashed into the floor. The marble cracked, leaving a round dent. Sawon climbed onto the fat creature’s belly and tightened his grip around its throat.<01:02:54>It writhed, hissing and shrieking like a nest of insects struggling inside.“I’m so damn sick of Deaters.”Crunch, cr-r-runch!The more it struggled, the louder the tearing of its connected neck became.Skreeeeee!Thick fluid began to ooze from the insect’s throat.<00:36:54>Skreeeeeeeeeeeeee!With a final convulsion, Sawon ripped its head off.<00:16:01>Its fluids sprayed like a fountain, and its twitching body slowly went still.<00:00:00>Beep-beep-beep-beep, beep-beep-beep-beep.The alarm rang, signaling the end of the time limit.“Ugh… disgusting. It’s all over me.”Sawon wiped the Deater’s fluids off on his clothes. Ji Hayeon was clawing at his own chest in pain. Sawon walked slowly out of the lab, thinking he should get that guy out fast. He stopped in front of him.“Chief. Chief Ji?”He lifted Ji Hayeon’s blood-soaked face for the first time. Through tear-blurred eyes, Ji Hayeon looked faintly up at him.Not the time to think it, but… he looks…With fine features and long lashes, Ji Hayeon’s build was closer to a boy—or even a girl—than a grown man. Sawon quickly shook off the fleeting thought and slipped an arm around his side.“Get up. Grab the meds and we’re leaving.”Ji Hayeon clutched Sawon’s shoulder and pushed himself up, but his legs wobbled like those of a newborn deer. Sawon gave a short laugh.“You tried to send me ahead in this state? I don’t know whether to call that brave or stupid. What were you thinking?”He asked as he helped Ji Hayeon back into the lab. He set him down where the man gestured and folded his arms, studying the sealed black sphere.This seal’s different from the ones I use.It was structured in a way he’d never seen before. Even a glance told him it was stronger than his usual work. It could probably hold not for minutes, but for days.Don’t tell me he did this himself.While Sawon was lost in thought, a loud clatter came from Ji Hayeon’s direction. Approaching, Sawon saw a small pill container in his hand. Ji Hayeon struggled to open it, but his blood- and fluid-slick fingers kept slipping.“Give it here. I’ll open it.”When Sawon opened it, ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Ji Hayeon brought the plastic bottle straight to his mouth.“Hey, hey, wait. You sure you’re supposed to take that much?”“Ugh…”“Can you even take that? Chief, are you in your right mind?”Researchers were, by nature, intellect-type Awakened. When they overused their abilities, the damage hit the nerves and mind, not the body. There were already enough oddities, but since he held a researcher’s title, Ji Hayeon being an intellect-type was certain. So Sawon couldn’t help doubting his mental state.“You really need all of this?”Ji Hayeon nodded slowly.While they wrestled, drops of blue liquid kept falling onto the reptile’s corpse. The fluid spread across the table, seeping into the body. It gathered form like a worm, slithering toward the creature’s brain. The process made no sound, no sign.Even while gagging, Ji Hayeon kept bringing the container to his mouth, swallowing pill after pill. With each one, he seemed to recover slightly. As his breathing began to steady, Sawon turned back to the black sphere.There can’t be two black spheres in one place. Reporting this should be enough.He opened a comm channel.Crackle.“This is CODE 16. Black sphere found on the 43rd floor. A sealing barrier is already installed.”Crackle.–CODE 17 receiving. Gu Sawon, are you serious?It was Mok Geonho’s voice — the leader of the upper-floor team.“Yeah. Looks like a few Deaters escaped, so don’t provoke them. If you run into one out there…”Sawon glanced over the ruined lab and continued.“Since the seal’s holding, I’d say we withdraw.”Deaters reacted to light and humans. In darkness, without contact, they’d drift around like debris. The first objective — sealing the sphere — was complete; best not to provoke them. Director Kwon seemed to think the same.Crackle.–This is HQ. Only one non-hunter life sign detected on the 43rd floor. In five minutes, the entire building will undergo blackout and barrier lockdown. Evacuate with the survivor before then.They meant to isolate the entire building, preventing Deaters from escaping and humans from entering — minimizing damage for now. As the transmission cut off, a holographic display appeared in Sawon’s vision. Another five-minute countdown began.“What is this, instant noodles? Everything’s five minutes.”Grumbling, Sawon stood.“Chief. Let’s move. They’re locking the place down in five.”He stepped past the bisected reptile toward the door. As he calculated their exit route, the guard on his wrist vibrated violently, bone-deep. The moment he sensed something wrong—Shhk!The reptile’s severed half sprang up, charging at Ji Hayeon on one arm and one leg. The other half lunged at Sawon. He cut it cleanly in a flash and turned toward Ji’s side—just in time to see the reptile snatch Ji Hayeon and leap out the window.Damn it!“Nine!”Sawon shouted as he ran. The guard on his arm pulsed and extended outward. The organic matter anchored into the wall and floor, forming a chain. Segments tore the Institute apart like rags.Shrrr! Clang!The chain-form Nine wrapped around the Deater’s leg. Standing on the windowsill, Sawon yanked hard — the creature severed its own leg. It hurled Ji Hayeon away and climbed into another lab through the wall. Ji Hayeon’s body plummeted straight toward the ground.“Ah, shit!”Without hesitation, Sawon leapt out the window.“Nine, grab him!”The chain shot out again, this time wrapping around Ji Hayeon’s body. Rrrrmm! The surfaces Nine touched were gouged deep. Sawon pulled the chain mid-fall, catching Ji Hayeon in his arms, then morphed Nine into a board, gliding into a smooth landing. As soon as they hit the ground, he looked down quickly.“Chief, you all right?”Ji Hayeon was unconscious. Sawon bit his lip and pressed an ear to the man’s face. Thankfully, he was breathing.Crackle.–Countdown, three seconds.Sawon steadied Ji Hayeon in his arms and moved farther from the building.–Countdown, two seconds.–Countdown, one second.I got careless. Never thought a corpse would move.–Countdown, zero.A blue barrier surged upward from the base of the building.Boom, boom, boom!Explosions erupted in rapid succession from the 43rd floor, shattering every window.Bang!The last, loud blast came as the barrier sealed. Then silence. Only smoke drifted from the shattered windows of the 43rd floor.…We’re screwed.“Ugh…”A groan came from his arms. Sawon quickly looked down. Ji Hayeon’s eyelids fluttered weakly. Sawon pushed the chaotic view of the 43rd floor aside and focused on him.“You okay?”In the distance, he spotted medical vehicles. Sawon pulled Ji Hayeon closer and headed that way.“Hunter! Over here!”A medic waved them over.“Hospital first, Chief. Just hang in there.”Sawon laid Ji Hayeon onto a stretcher and climbed into the medical van himself.“From here, we’ll take—”“I’m going with him.”“Sir?”“Go.”Clatter, thud.Ignoring the medic’s protest, Sawon shut the door. The rescued hunters stood outside, staring blankly up at the 43rd floor.

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