Unseen Flames

Hae-won's breath came in ragged gasps, his blood sizzling as it dripped onto the hallway floor. The violet veins crawling up his neck pulsed in time with the heavy footsteps climbing the stairs. Min-jun dragged him inside, kicking the door shut just as a meaty fist slammed against it.

"Open up, little rats!" a voice growled. "We know you're in there!"

Min-jun pressed Hae-won against the wall, his hands already moving. The system's prompts flickered at the edge of his vision as he tore open his friend's sleeve.

"[Blood Analysis Complete]"

"[Contaminant: Aurora Mutagen (Strain Gamma)]"

"[Recommended Counteragent: Cryogenic Stabilization]"

"Cold," Min-jun muttered. "I need something cold."

Hae-won's head lolled. "F-freezer… ice packs…"

The door shuddered under another blow. Splinters flew from the frame.

"Won't hold," Min-jun said, yanking open the mini-fridge. A half-frozen pack of dumplings tumbled out. He pressed it against Hae-won's arm, watching the violet veins retreat slightly.

"[Emergency Triage (Lv. 2) - Proficiency: 34%]"

"Stay here."

"Where… you going…?"

"Distraction."

The door exploded inward as Min-jun lunged sideways. Two hulking figures filled the doorway—black-market enforcers with grafted metal fists still smoking from the blast.

"Where's your friend?" the lead thug demanded, his voice distorted by a rebreather mask.

Min-jun backed toward the window, hands raised. "Gone. Jumped to the next building."

The second enforcer sniffed the air. "Liar. I smell mutation."

They charged.

Min-jun ducked under a wild swing, his system highlighting weak points in glowing blue.

"[Improvised Combat (Lv. 3) Activated]"

"[Target Analysis: Reinforced Dermal Plating (Weakness: Joints)]"

He grabbed the fire extinguisher beside the stove, yanking the pin as the first thug swung again. White foam blasted into the man's visor, blinding him.

"[Environmental Utilization (Lv. 1) Acquired]"

The second enforcer lunged, metal fist crackling with stolen guild tech. Min-jun rolled beneath the blow, feeling the heat of the energy discharge singe his back. His fingers closed around the corrupted core's empty casing under the sink.

"Still playing hero?" the enforcer sneered, charging his gauntlet. "Mudeok should know their place!"

Min-jun threw the casing into the overloaded wall socket.

"[Electrical Systems (Lv. 1) Activated]"

Sparks erupted. The enforcer's gauntlet short-circuited, energy feedback surging up his arm. He screamed as the smell of burnt flesh filled the room.

The system pinged:

"[Corruption Level: 63%]'

"[Warning: Fire Affinity Instability Detected]"

Min-jun's vision swam with embers. He stumbled toward the fire escape, the surviving enforcer's curses following him into the night.

---

Ji-woo arrived as the first guild sirens wailed. She found Min-jun crouched on the rooftop, clutching a bleeding arm, Hae-won unconscious beside him. Below, black-market enforcers fled into alleys, their ruined tech sparking.

"You're full of surprises," she said, frost spreading from her boots.

Min-jun gestured to the smoldering apartment. "They had faulty gear."

"Convenient." Her gaze lingered on Hae-won's ice-packed arm. "Your friend needs a guild hospital."

"He needs to stay off scanners."

They stared at each other in the flashing red light of approaching guild vans.

"There's a clinic in Mullae-dong," Ji-woo said finally. "Discreet."

"Why help?"

"You're more useful alive." She tossed him a silver chip stamped with Ironfang's wolf. "For when you stop lying."

---

The clinic reeked of antiseptic and regret. A chain-smoking surgeon stabilized Hae-won's mutation with black-market suppressants, no questions asked. Min-jun sat in the alley afterward, watching his system's warnings pulse.

"[Corruption Level: 67%]"

"[Skill Developed: Elemental Suppression (Lv. 2)]"

Hae-won stirred on the stretcher. "Did we…?"

"They're gone."

"You're a terrible liar."

Min-jun flexed his hand, feeling the fire writhe beneath his skin. "Rest. We've got work tomorrow."