The deal

The Mullae-dong clinic was quieter than usual when Min-jun returned. The flickering neon sign buzzed faintly, casting erratic shadows across the cracked pavement. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and something sharper—ozone, maybe, or the faint metallic tang of blood.

Kim Seung-ho, the grizzled surgeon, sat behind his cluttered desk, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His scarred face was unreadable as Min-jun approached.

"Where's Hae-won?" Min-jun asked, his voice calm but edged with steel.

Seung-ho exhaled a plume of smoke. "Transferred. Needed specialized care."

"Where?"

"Another facility. Better equipment."

Min-jun's system flickered:

"[Social Perception (Lv. 3) Activated]"

"[Target Analysis: Deception Detected (87% Confidence)]"

"You're lying."

Seung-ho's eye twitched, the only sign of discomfort. "Watch your tone, kid. I saved your friend's life."

"And now you're holding him hostage. Why?"

The surgeon stubbed out his cigarette and leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low growl. "Because you're useful. And because I don't like wasting resources on ungrateful brats."

Min-jun's fists clenched, the fire in his veins flaring.

"[Corruption Level: 73%]"

"[Warning: Stabilization Required Within 36 Hours]"

"What do you want?"

Seung-ho smiled, revealing yellowed teeth. "A trade. You do a job for me, and I'll stabilize both you and your friend. Permanently."

---

The surgeon led Min-jun to a back room filled with monitors and maps. A red dot pulsed ominously over a location in Gangnam—an abandoned research facility marked 'Aurora Hotspot #7'.

"Guilds used this place for experiments," Seung-ho explained. "Core fusion, mutation trials, the works. When things went south, they sealed it up. But something's still active in there. I need you to retrieve it."

"What's 'it'?"

"A prototype stabilizer. Guilds were trying to create a device to control Aurora mutations. If it works, it could cure your friend—and you."

Min-jun's system pinged:

"[Quest Updated: Retrieve Prototype Stabilizer]"

"[Reward: Corruption Resistance (Lv. 3), Hae-won's Safety]"

"[Failure Penalty: Mutation, Hae-won's Death]"

"Why me?"

"Because you're expendable," Seung-ho said bluntly. "And because you've got a knack for surviving things that should've killed you."

Min-jun stared at the map, the fire in his chest simmering. "If anything happens to Hae-won—"

"You'll what? Burn down my clinic?" The surgeon chuckled. "Relax, kid. He's safe. For now."

The research facility was a crumbling monolith of concrete and steel, its windows boarded up and its gates sealed with guild-branded locks. Min-jun approached under cover of darkness, his system highlighting weak points in the perimeter.

"[Environmental Analysis (Lv. 2) Activated]"

"[Weak Points Detected: East Wall (Structural Damage), Sewer Access (Unlocked)]"

He slipped through a gap in the fence and descended into the sewers, the stench of stagnant water and decay assaulting his senses. The tunnels were eerily silent, save for the occasional drip of water and the faint hum of machinery.

The system's map guided him to a maintenance hatch leading into the facility's basement. The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit corridor lined with broken equipment and shattered glass.

"[New Skill: Stealth (Lv. 2) Acquired]"

Min-jun moved silently, his senses on high alert. The air grew colder as he ventured deeper, the walls slick with condensation. Strange symbols—Aurora glyphs, maybe—glowed faintly on the walls, pulsing in time with his heartbeat.

He reached a sealed door marked 'Lab 7'. The keypad was dead, but the system highlighted a manual override lever.

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

The door hissed open, revealing a lab frozen in time. Tables were strewn with half-finished devices and shattered vials. In the center of the room stood a cylindrical pod, its surface cracked and leaking a faint violet mist.

"[Item Identified: Prototype Stabilizer (Damaged)]"

"[Function: Aurora Mutation Suppression]"

"[Status: Operational (Barely)]"

Min-jun approached cautiously, his system scanning for traps.

"[Trap Detection (Lv. 1) Activated]"

"[No Threats Detected]"

He pried open the pod, revealing a small, disc-like device. As he reached for it, the room shuddered.

---

A low growl echoed through the lab. Min-jun spun around, his system highlighting a massive, wolf-like creature emerging from the shadows. Its fur shimmered with Aurora energy, and its eyes glowed violet.

"[Enemy Identified: Mutated Guardian (B-Rank)]"

"[Threat Level: High]"

The creature lunged, its claws tearing through the air. Min-jun dove behind a table, the fire in his veins flaring as he activated his affinity.

"[Fire Affinity (Lv. 1) Activated]"

"[Warning: Corruption Level Rising (74%)]"

He hurled a burst of flame at the creature, but it shrugged off the attack, its fur absorbing the heat. The system pinged:

"[Weakness Detected: Frost Vulnerability]"

Min-jun cursed. Of course it was weak to cold—and he had no way to exploit that.

The guardian charged again, its claws shattering the table. Min-jun rolled to his feet, grabbing a broken pipe from the floor.

"[Improvised Weapon (Lv. 2) Activated]"

He swung the pipe at the creature's legs, aiming for the joints. The impact jarred his arms, but the guardian stumbled, giving him an opening.

"[Combat Analysis (Lv. 1) Activated]"

"[Target Vulnerability: Neck (Exposed)]"

Min-jun lunged, driving the pipe into the creature's throat. It howled, thrashing wildly, but he held on, pouring every ounce of strength into the strike.

The guardian collapsed, its body dissolving into violet mist.

"[Combat Victory: +15% Proficiency to Improvised Combat]"

Min-jun grabbed the stabilizer and bolted for the exit.

---

Seung-ho was waiting when Min-jun returned, his expression unreadable.

"You got it," the surgeon said, more statement than question.

Min-jun tossed the stabilizer onto the desk. "Now fix Hae-won."

Seung-ho examined the device, his scarred face lighting up with a rare smile. "This'll do nicely."

He led Min-jun to a hidden room where Hae-won lay on a medical bed, his breathing shallow but steady. The surgeon attached the stabilizer to a console and began adjusting the settings.

"This'll purge the mutation," Seung-ho explained. "And stabilize your corruption. But it's a one-time fix. You'll need to find a permanent solution."

Min-jun watched as the device hummed to life, its violet light enveloping Hae-won. The veins in his friend's arm receded, his breathing deepening.

"[Corruption Level: Stabilized at 70%]"

"[Hae-won's Condition: Stable]"

"Now your turn," Seung-ho said, gesturing to the stabilizer.

Min-jun hesitated. "What's the catch?"

"No catch. Just remember—you owe me."

The surgeon activated the device again, its energy coursing through Min-jun's body. The fire in his veins subsided, the corruption receding to a dull ache.

"[Corruption Resistance (Lv. 2) Acquired]"

"[Fire Affinity Stabilized]"

-------------