◈ Episode 148

Filstein Prison, 1st floor, multipurpose room.

The numbers on the electronic wall clock pointed to 2:00 PM. Beeps rang out everywhere without a single second of error. It was the sound coming from inside the researchers' pockets.

"Hey, I should go to work."

"Chief Blonya. This is a report on the administration of Pebotox-D to prisoner number 2011…."

"Huh? Why are you telling me that…."

In stark contrast to their unblemished gowns, their eyes are dark. They are the busiest people in the prison, as they are treated the best. Like a researcher at a lab, they are the owners of a mindset where they sleep until they are dead.

"Let's talk again later! Definitely!"

The researchers who had gathered during lunchtime nodded and left one by one. Synapse saw them off with a pleasant smile on his face.

After the crowds have cleared away, I let out a weary sigh.

"Haa. I'm so tired, I'm so tired."

It was no exaggeration. Synapse, who had unintentionally remained in Ishrad, became a celebrity for Philstein. It was because she belonged to a rap group.

Cellbrotics Lab. Like Ishrad, this is a group that studies spells and disasters. It's hard to see your family while living in prison, so what if you meet an outsider who walks the same path?

The reaction is obvious. It's bound to make your eyes roll.

It was so burdensome to see him excitedly talking about this and that. But it was also difficult to just dismiss him, so it was a real headache.

"How much can a single operative know…?"

"Really? You always answer well."

Asterique drank carrot juice through a straw and frowned. It was a prison-use drink with no nutritional information. He stared at the pack and put the straw back in his mouth.

'It's been like that for almost 30 minutes.'

From the perspective of an observer, I felt more curious than frustrated. If it didn't taste good, why didn't they just throw it away? But it seemed too late to interfere, so I just left it alone.

"What? I heard it over your shoulder."

Synapse, although not as much as Leila, was one of the more academically knowledgeable agents. If the conversation had not been successful, they would not have arrested him. They would have lost interest long ago and gone off to do their business.

Actually, not much attention was paid to Asterike. The fact that she was called Pecatum may have had an effect, but the decisive factor was her pure brain.

"I'm jealous. I like smart people. They sound cool even when they just talk."

"I'm not that smart… and isn't it scary?"

"Are you scared?"

"There are a lot of scammers in the world."

Synapse's blue eyes were languid. His gaze was fixed on the opposite side, but he was looking at something other than Asterike.

"If you're stupid, you're bound to get fooled. And you only realize that you're being fooled after you've been fooled. It's so miserable. You feel so pathetic."

"Oh my," Asterike gasped.

'Is this a sniper?'

But it was just a coincidence. Synapse had no way of knowing about the past where he was almost taken over by the mafia. Hyun was not the type of person to go around talking about other people's embarrassing experiences…

"I get what you're saying, but I don't really relate to it."

"Is that so?"

"There are people who are both smart and kind."

Synapse's eyes widened. Soon she smiled mischievously.

"Like Mr. Hyun?"

"Huh? Honestly, Hyun, you can't really say he's kind…."

There was laughter again at the hastily spat out answer.

"That's really unexpected. I thought I was going to be obsessed with Mr. Hyun."

"There was a time when I was reckless."

Now I know that I can't affirm all aspects of others. I don't think his stubbornness in seeking his own gain is a weakness, but I've learned to say what I need to say.

Asterike's shoulders slightly tense up. Synapse finds her strangely proud appearance cute.

This was also an unexpected aspect.

"Mr. Asterike, you're more interesting than I thought. From now on, we'll..."

Let's be friends.

That was the moment I was about to suggest that.

─Wheeing!

The sound of a siren pierces the eardrums. The red light on the alarm flashes rapidly. A rumbling noise is heard from beyond the door.

There was no need to figure out what was going on. He had been informed in advance of the commotion that would occur in the prison. Even though he had known about it in advance, Synapse could not hide his surprise.

'… … It really happened like that.'

Kim Lee-hyun's prediction was right this time too. And,

'The transition is fast.'

Asterike's once innocent face had become dry and indifferent. She threw the carrot juice, which she had finished drinking, into the trash can and got up from her seat.

"Can I go out now?"

"wait a minute."

Synapses sent signals to someone through their own networks. Instructions to prepare. She nodded, hearing the tense voice in her head.

"I'll protect you."

"No, it's okay."

So, the synapse that was about to rise stopped in an awkward position. It was because it sounded like it was being disturbed. Asterike answered firmly and walked away with brisk strides.

Jiiing.

When I pressed the touch button, the door to the multipurpose room opened.

The lobby came into view. The prison scene was noticeably different from an hour ago. The alarms on the walls here and there were glowing red. The once-white structure was painted red.

"Wh, what's the situation!"

"Move, quickly! Evacuate the researchers first!"

Some were panicking, if not panicking. Others were shouting urgently or threateningly, with their batons out. They were unprepared.

Bang, bang bang!

Gunshots echoed through the walls. From the basement and the top floor, out of nowhere, the assailants appeared and started shooting indiscriminately. They had a distinctive appearance, wearing gas masks.

"Where did it come from, ugh!"

"Ahhhhhhhhh!"

"Come this way!"

Even in the midst of chaos, Asterike's feet did not stop. She walked in a straight line toward the central pillar. The current prison had many elements that reminded her of a scene from the past.

Metro City.

The memories from there are as hazy as water mist. Did you fight with your own people? I heard that there were many casualties in the aftermath of the battle. Hyun didn't say it out loud, but it was impossible not to know.

She had been through quite a bit of mental anguish. Now she was in a similar situation. However, Asterike realized that her mental state was extremely stable.

'If there is still no Hyun, it is only worth half a penny.'

It's not a mental issue like self-reliance or anything, it's a fact. Because Asterike can't control her spells without her [Vibranium Composite Sword].

But don't worry.

There is a current arrangement here.

"...Haha, hahaha…!"

A loud laughter erupted. Footsteps were heard. It wasn't guards or researchers. Prisoners in white uniforms were walking out of the wide-open prison cell.

"What are you guys doing lying around? Get out, you little shits!"

The grim-faced man urged the prisoners who were watching closely. The prisoners were hiding in fear even though the opportunity was right in front of them. It was pitiful, but I could understand their intentions.

"Is this scary?"

He grabbed the restraints around my neck. He can inject poison remotely without confirming the use of the spell. He has the power of life and death, but there is a loophole.

The fact that it is impossible to control it once it gets too far away. If you think rationally, you can just deal with it immediately before it runs away, but it is not an issue that can be decided so easily.

"If you have a head, think about it. You can't kill us anyway. Why? It's an experimental animal that stops. If one or two people will be discarded. But what happens."

It wasn't difficult to infer the aftermath.

"No matter how you roll, you'll end up eating a ton of shit. Ha, shit! I don't know who you are, but I'm so grateful."

Boom, boom!

The man, unable to contain his excitement, banged his fist on the wall. He hit it so hard that blood gushed out. The prisoners who had been hesitating were stirred up and began to come out one by one.

"What the hell…."

A look of frustration appeared on the guards' faces.

On the contrary, a distorted smile appeared on the corner of the prisoner's mouth. The intruders did not attack the prisoner. This gave him courage, and he was about to rush in to relieve the resentment and humiliation he had suffered so far.

"Phe, Pecatum sir!"

Someone shouted from upstairs.

Asterike's head tilted back. On the third floor. The man she had seen in the interview room was leaning against the railing, looking down at her. He was holding something long in his arms.

"Take it straight!"

Boooo ...

It fell with a heavy wind sound. It spun around as it accelerated due to gravity. The moment it hit the floor, the sound of impact shook the entire prison.

For a moment, the surroundings became quiet.

In the sudden silence, Asterike picked up her sword. She didn't like it very much. A sword forged by the hands of a man she barely knew. A familiar feeling from the handle she held.

'… … It's similar.'

Noctane's spell is copy. While Pereira was fooling the CCTV, Kim Hyun made Noctane remember it, and he was able to replicate the [Vibranium Composite Sword].

Everything was as Kim Ihyeon thought.

'It's Hyeon, after all.'

The corners of Asterike's mouth rose slightly and then fell back down. Her golden eyes stared at her enemies. She spoke softly, the tip of her sword hanging down.

"I'll give you 10 seconds."

A lava-like flame erupted. The vision was rippled. Noctane, who had been watching, swallowed dry saliva. Even from a distance, he could feel the heat bursting out from Asterike.

"Go back to prison quietly. If anyone is still there after the count is over…."

Jiiing!

Walker came down from the upper floor on a wire. He aimed his pistol at Asterike. The bullet he fired as he descended flew with amazing accuracy towards Asterike's crown.

Before it could even reach him, he was engulfed in flames.

BAM─!

[The vibranium composite sword] slammed into Walker's head as he fell, collapsing his gas mask and entire skull, before the flames reduced his bones to ash.

"It's going to be like this."

There was nothing left that could be considered a human form.

Noctane thoughtlessly weighed the options. Death as an accident after a human experiment, and death like an insect through overwhelming violence.

Which of the two would better preserve human dignity?

* * *

The riot was easily suppressed.

It was a great feat achieved thanks to Asterike's efforts. She burned and killed all the invading Legion troops. As expected of a group of psychopaths, there were no survivors because no one escaped.

It was obvious why the Rags attacked Kim I-Hyeon and his group instead of the prison. If everything went according to Legion's plan, the prison wouldn't have needed that many people in the first place.

All they had to do was open up the prison and release the soldiers to set up a board. The prisoners would have moved on their own and turned the prison into a mess.

'It would have been the same if the rags had gone towards the prison.'

Usually, one-on-one battles with bosses are not possible. However, there are exceptions. In particular, Ast is a character that is very sensitive to compatibility. While its versatility is ambiguous, its high score is ridiculously high.

At this point, the types that Asterike can compete with have been decided.

Edwin, whose limbs can be regrown even if burned, is an exception. If he were to fight Ghost or Kim I-Hyun, he would surely be defeated.

'Because I won't fight.'

You just have to mentally push yourself and shoot yourself in the head.

But to put it another way, it means that you can't fight him head-on. The only way is to use Helixivir or roll the dice with [Lame's Index].

In short, Asterike is strong against ignorant enemies.

Edwin is also a bit thoughtless, but as I said, he is an exception. If he were to kill him instantly without giving him a chance to recover, things might be different.

Anyway.

The battle on both sides ended smoothly.

However, there was still one matter left to be dealt with.

Step, step.

Footsteps echoed through the underground sewer. They seemed to be in a hurry, walking quickly. Two shadows approached. Kim I-hyeon crouched down under the tarpaulin and waited for them to pass.

After a while, the backs of the magpies came into view.

"What the heck! You still haven't heard from me!"

"We have no choice but to be cautious right now. First, please cross the border and…."

Swish.

As they raised their lowered posture, the polyurethane-coated fabric flowed down. Their heads turned back at the noise they had not intended.

It was already too late. The ambush worked so well that I couldn't help but use it.

bang!

A pistol with a silencer fired a somewhat suppressed shot. A familiar figure fell to the ground, bleeding from his temple. It was the man who had guided Kim I-hyeon to prison.

And the remaining one.

"Oh, how...!"

Kamael's wide-open eyes were wrinkled. His trembling hands were somewhat pitiful. Kim Yi-hyun gave him a kind smile as a sign of respect for the elderly.

"What a coincidence, we all meet in a place like this."

It's time to take care of the last thing.