013. The Fuse of Rage

Director's Office, Universe Special Investigation Bureau

Afternoon sunlight poured through the wide windows of the director's office, but Geon-woo Lee's eyes stayed fixed on the large screen mounted on the wall.

On the news, the anchor reported in a tense voice about the incident that had shaken South Korea's criminal underworld.

"This morning, the leaders of two of South Korea's three largest criminal organizations, the Tigers and the White Panthers, were found dead. The prime suspect is the serial killer known as the 'Executor'..."

Geon-woo's index finger tapped rhythmically on the desk as he listened intently.

"There is growing speculation that the serial killer may be a mutant criminal, raising concerns that the Universe Special Investigation Bureau could face severe criticism for..."

Beep.

Geon-woo turned off the TV, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"A criminal hunting criminals? Fascinating. Is it for amusement... or part of a larger game?"

He murmured to himself, his gaze analytical as he pondered the situation.

Just then, the phone on his desk rang. The screen displayed the name "Chairman". Geon-woo answered the call through his smartwatch, greeting the caller in a soft but composed tone.

"Have you seen the news?"

—If this goes on, the reputation of Universe Group will be in shambles. You know I hate pressuring the media, don't you?

Despite the reprimanding tone, Ho-jin Beom's voice carried a trace of warmth.

"No need to worry. I'm assigning agents to the case soon."

—When did the police chief hand over the case? And you're just assigning agents now?

"Did the police chief really say that?"

—Do you really think that man is on your side? Or are you just being naive?

"The Judges spreading NeoGen—a deadly drug that warps human abilities—has left us critically understaffed."

A hint of frustration crept into Geon-woo's voice.

—I know you're short on manpower. But isn't catching mutant criminals your job, even with limited resources?

Geon-woo didn't respond, silently acknowledging the truth of the statement.

—And what about the new agent? Why haven't I been updated? Do I have to dig into how this bureau, which runs on my money, operates?"

Geon-woo stared at his smartwatch screen, taking a slow breath to calm himself.

"She's in the process of mutation."

—Do you think it'll work?

"You know better than anyone that rage is the key to successful genetic modification."

—So that's why you chose that girl? Because her entire family was massacred?

Ho-jin Beom's voice, though calm, dropped to a sharper and colder tone.

"Exactly. If my predictions are correct, she won't just gain enhanced physical abilities but also develop superhuman powers."

There was a brief silence.

—Don't take too long with this serial killer case. Don't skip meals. I'm hanging up.

As the call ended, Geon-woo set down his smartwatch and lifted his head slightly. Beyond his office window, the neon lights of Seongun Special City shimmered against the dark sky, a constant reminder of the city's restless energy.

"I can't wait to see the powers she'll unleash."

***

The dimly lit warehouse reeked of rust and machine oil, the acrid stench hanging heavy in the stale air. A single, aged bulb swung gently from the ceiling, its flickering light carving erratic shadows into the oppressive darkness. Somewhere in the distance, the soft creak of metal echoed, amplifying the unnerving stillness.

At the center of the warehouse stood a man wearing a red metal mask. His glowing crimson eyes bored into the large screen before him. Behind him, Spark leaned casually against the wall, snapping static sparks between her fingers as she watched the news with a faint smirk. The anchor on the screen spoke in a tense, measured tone:

"This morning, the leaders of two of South Korea's three largest criminal organizations, the Tigers and the White Panthers, were found dead. The prime suspect is the serial killer known as the 'Executor'..."

"Damn it!"

With a thunderous crash, Red Mask slammed his hand onto the desk, the force rattling nearby metal tools. Heat surged from his fingertips, warping the air in a shimmering, almost tangible wave.

"Killing off all the people we managed! Whoever this serial killer is, I'll find them and tear them apart with my own hands!"

His voice boomed through the warehouse, the rising heat choking the air around him.

Unfazed, Spark shrugged, her silver hair shimmering faintly with static electricity.

"Red, calm down. If he catches wind of this, we won't just be in trouble—we'll be dead. And I'm not in the mood for a funeral today,"

she quipped, her voice light but edged with warning.

"Oh? The unshakable Spark, showing concern? This must be a historic moment,"

Red Mask sneered, his crimson eyes narrowing dangerously. Spark pushed off the wall, her smirk unfaltering.

"Concern? Not quite. I just don't enjoy cleaning up messes."

Red Mask tightened his lips and turned back to the screen, his voice low and menacing.

"Don't worry. Whoever this damn killer is, I'll find them. No matter what."

Spark unfolded a map on the table and began tracing lines with her finger.

"Alright. Then I'll start by tracking electrical signals. Let's dig through CCTV footage and communication records. Once I find a lead, you can take action."

Red Mask nodded and stepped beside her.

"Just find them. I'll handle the rest."

As the blue glow of Spark's electric core lit up the map, a wicked smile crept across her lips.

"Good. Let's make them regret every penny they've cost him. We'll burn their world down, piece by piece, until there's nothing left but ash."

***

The shadowy alleys of Gwangcheon Metropolitan City were a labyrinth few dared to enter. Flickering streetlights sputtered weakly, casting jagged beams of light that only deepened the suffocating silence. Somewhere in the distance, the soft creak of metal echoed, a sound quickly swallowed by the oppressive darkness.

A trembling voice broke through the stillness.

"Help me!"

Night Wolf froze in the shadows, his acute hearing pinpointing the source. His instincts flared, painting the scene in his mind before his eyes even found it.

"The night is always cruel to the weak."

At the end of the alley, a burly man pinned a woman against the wall, his hand gripping her arm with predatory intent.

"Stay quiet. No one can hear you, so just—"

A low growl interrupted him.

"Enough, Cheol-min Kang."

The man spun around, startled. His bravado faltered as he faced Night Wolf.

"You… How do you know my name?"

Cheol-min Kang stammered, his hands fumbling as he adjusted his pants. His glare flickered with unease, the false bravado crumbling under Night Wolf's piercing gaze.

"You were a physical education teacher at Seongil High School before you went to prison for sexually assaulting a student. After 12 years behind bars, you enhanced your body with NeoGen and assaulted 25 more women. Now you're a fugitive with an $88,000 bounty on your head. Am I wrong?"

The air seemed to thicken as Night Wolf stepped forward, his presence oppressive.

"Well, you know a lot about me. Bounty hunter, huh?"

Night Wolf's response was a transformation. Bones snapped and reshaped, his face elongating into a wolf-like snout. Razor-sharp fangs glinted under the flickering light. His hands twisted grotesquely, the bones snapping audibly as they reshaped into lethal claws, metallic and glinting like blades. Thick black fur rippled across his body, each strand bristling with latent energy. His height surged past two meters, and the faint scent of singed air clung to his massive frame.

Cheol-min Kang staggered back, his voice trembling.

"What the—? A mutant?"

A deep growl rumbled from Night Wolf's throat, low and menacing.

"Let the hunt begin."

In a blink, Night Wolf lunged forward, his massive frame a blur of speed and precision. The air crackled as his claws sliced through the space where Cheol-min Kang had just stood.

Despite his enhanced strength, Cheol-min Kang's movements were sluggish compared to the predator's practiced ferocity.

"Night Wolf?"

Desperation flickered in Cheol-min Kang's eyes as he grabbed the woman, using her as a shield.

"If you want my head, you'll have to kill her first. Ha ha!"

"That's easy enough."

"What?!"

Night Wolf showed no hesitation. His massive claws slashed through the air. The woman, sensing Cheol-min Kang's momentary lapse, ducked quickly. The claws missed her and tore through Cheol-min Kang's chest instead, leaving a deep and brutal wound.

Blood gushed as Cheol-min Kang collapsed to the ground. Night Wolf approached slowly, gripping his throat with one massive hand. With a single, swift motion, he tore Cheol-min Kang's head from his body.

He placed the severed head into a prepared sack. A tedious process, but the most reliable way to claim the bounty. Cheol-min Kang's lifeless body twitched no more.

Night Wolf turned his attention to the unconscious woman. Her pale face was frozen in fear, her shallow breaths trembling in the cold air. Gently, he lifted her, his massive claws retracting slightly as if afraid to harm her. He carried her to the alley's entrance, setting her down in the faint glow of a streetlight—a fragile island of safety in the darkness.

After checking her condition one last time, he picked up the blood-soaked sack. The dark stains spread further across the fabric.

"Hunt complete."

With the sack slung over his shoulder, Night Wolf disappeared into the shadows of the alley. His footsteps faded into the darkness, and soon, he was one with it.

Back on the rooftop of the city's tallest building, Night Wolf waited for his radar to pick up another bounty target. As he waited, he scrolled through the latest news on his phone.

Photos of the bosses of South Korea's three largest criminal organizations flashed on the screen.

"This morning, the leaders of South Korea's three major criminal organizations were found dead."

The anchor's cold voice carried on the rooftop breeze.

"The prime suspect is the serial killer known as the 'Executor.'"

Night Wolf's eyes narrowed, unease flickering like a dying ember before hardening into cold resolve. Executor wasn't just a name—it was a challenge, a shadow that dared to rival his own.

Executor.

The name wasn't new to him. He had encountered traces of the Executor in other cases before.

The signature method—bursting the victim's head—stimulated his senses. But this was more than mere serial killings.

The murder of the three bosses suggested meticulous planning and unshakable confidence.

"Tigers, White Panthers, Black Dragon…"

He muttered the names under his breath. The names were all too familiar.

He had crossed paths with them in the past—dangerous individuals with high bounties he had been reluctant to confront.

Now, the so-called Executor had dealt with them all at once. His pride was wounded.

"I don't like it…"

The screen shifted to a reporter.

"The Executor appears to carefully select his victims, planning each move meticulously. Experts speculate that he sees himself as a kind of vigilante, attempting to replace the justice system. However, his actions have caused considerable public concern…"

Night Wolf turned off his phone. Silence returned to the rooftop, but his mind remained far from quiet.

"You prowl in the shadows, Executor, but my darkness runs deeper. When your bounty is set, I'll be there—tracking you, hunting you. And when I find you, there will be no escape."

Night Wolf's figure dissolved into the shadows, his form vanishing like smoke caught in the breeze. The faint echo of his footsteps lingered for a moment before silence reclaimed the night.