- Unbreakable Chain
The warden whistled, and Jin stepped up, raising a hand to halt the line of prisoners walking through the scanner.
"Jin, darling," the warden said with an amused voice. "You're one of our strongest, aren't you?"
Jin nodded. "Yes, madam. I am."
"Fight her," the warden said. "If she truly has the potential to become a level Z, maybe she can put up a fight even with the handcuffs."
Jin smiled at this opportunity. Reaching to his side, he pulled out a baton. He examined Hyunji closer, but she didn't move.
In a quick motion, he hit her in the legs with the baton with extreme force. The cylinder of metal was resilient, and Hyunji felt her left leg shatter at the knee.
"Hyunji!" Min-jun yelled, rushing forward.
The warden glanced at him and he froze in his tracks, as if every muscle in his body was frozen.
Hyunji sat down on the ground, trying to ignore the pain. Her leg felt like it was being torn to shreds.
"What're you doing to him?" She asked, her voice cracking. "Let Min-jun go!"
The warden looked surprised. "Oh? I'm sorry, I seem to have that effect on weaklings. They just…freeze in my presence."
Hyunji reached out towards Min-jun. She needed to save him.
*******
"You're one of our strongest, aren't you?" Warden Gahana stuttered. She glanced around visible confusion growing on her face.
Jin nodded. "Yes, madam. I am."
"I…should....fight…her?" The warden mumbled, scratching her head.
Something's not right. That wasn't my line, she thought.
Her eyes moved to the girl, Hyunji, who was watching Jin warily.
"What was that, Warden?" Jin asked, his hand naturally moving to his baton.
He's still stuck in the routine of it, she realized. But I've already snapped out of it. What I thought was real just a moment ago…no longer is. I must re-experience this orchestrated moment a second time.
"Because of you," she said aloud, stepping forward.
Hyunji looked over, frowning. "What's because of me?"
There you go. Play dumb. You know what you did. I felt what you did. She stepped toward the girl. "You don't know what you're capable of, huh? Z levels aren't easily assigned to normal people. It seems I'm lucky enough to catch you before you reached your full potential. I'd estimate you have enough power for a level J currently."
"What're you saying?"
Warden Gahana sighed. "Fine. You can get what you wish. A fight, just me and you. Bear witness! Just a glimpse of my true power…UNBREAKABLE CHAIN."
Thousands of circles began to open in the sky, glowing portals of orange, like miniature suns. They grew so bright, the people around her began to squint.
Metal chains shot out from each of them, slinking back and forth like snakes.
Hyunji looked in every direction, unsure what to do.
Warden Gahana raised her arms, bringing them down in a sudden motion. The chains spiraled down, all at once.
Hyunji fell to her knees, as if pushed and weighed upon by a monstrous force of gravity. "What…what is this?"
Two chains wrapped around her wrist, pulling taught.
"Come on," Warden Gahana said, sending another two chains down. "Fight me. This is what you wanted, girl."
"You're fucking nothing. I'll just…I'll…," a chain wrapped around her neck, pushing against her mouth like a gag.
"Potential is nothing," Warden Gahana said. "True power…that is all that matters. And you have nothing. You have no idea what I am. What I can do. So shut your fucking mouth and go to hell."
The chains began to glow, and Hyunji's eyes widened with surprise. Smoke began to pour off her clothes, and her body began to melt. The chains tightened, sinking into her flesh as if they were sliding through water.
With a snap and a pop, Hyunji vaporized into nothing.
"NOOOO!" Min-jun screamed.
Warden Gahana frowned, looking at the pitiful boy. "That's enough out of you. Straight to Floor D. Let's get this line moving again!"
"Of course, Warden," Jin said, moving to carry out her orders.
Warden Gahana sighed and turned back to the penitentiary. A fun, if short lived, mission. It seems we now have two on Level Z. Good luck surviving down there with him.