Chapter 4

The Awakened moved away from the group of miners, heading toward the mysterious explosion.

Silence hung heavy in the air.

Three inmates exchanged meaningful glances.

It was the perfect opportunity.

— Our chance has come. This is gonna be easy. — One of them whispered.

Without hesitation, they stood up. The metallic sound of pickaxes dropping to the ground echoed through the place. The miners were already tense with the presence of the criminals, but now, a chilling fear crawled down their spines.

The guard raised his shotgun and aimed directly at Daiki, the first prisoner who had boarded the bus.

— STOP RIGHT THERE! — he shouted, trying to maintain control of the situation. — Daiki, you and your friends, get back to work. NOW!

Daiki simply smiled.

A cold smile. Empty.

Suddenly, his two companions exploded into motion.

Like shadows tearing through reality, they vanished before the guards' and miners' eyes.

Katzo, moving with monstrous speed, charged from the left flank.

The guard pulled the trigger.

Bang!

Katzo dodged at the last moment. An agile leap. His hands glowed in a greenish hue, and then—

Shrrk!

An energy blade formed.

With a single strike, he split the first guard in half.

Hot blood gushed out, painting the ground red.

Silence was immediate.

The miners just watched, frozen, as the metallic scent spread through the air.

Ashora, the third inmate, attacked from the opposite side.

Fire ignited in his hands. Intense flames that burned everything—except him.

His punch struck the second guard's face.

Crack!

The impact was brutal. The officer's skull caved in, completely deformed.

But Ashora didn't stop.

Again.

And again.

Flaming fists crushed flesh and bone, turning the guard's face into something unrecognizable.

As a final measure, he pressed his burning hands against the shattered head, charring what remained.

The last guard, positioned in the center, trembled uncontrollably.

He knew.

He had no chance against three A+ level Awakened.

— DON'T TAKE ANOTHER STEP, YOU BASTARD! — his voice shook with desperation as he pointed his gun at Daiki. — OR I'LL BLOW YOUR FUCKING BRAI—

His voice was cut off.

Something appeared behind him.

Shadows. Spectral hands, the color of coagulated blood, emerged from the void.

Daiki's eyes shimmered in psychedelic hues.

A black smoke escaped his mouth. From it, more hands emerged—like ravenous entities.

The guard was lifted, arms and legs stretched out, completely helpless.

Daiki slowly approached.

His eyes pierced into the man's soul.

Then, he leaned in close to his ear.

— This is the end.

The hands of the void pulled with brutal force.

Crack!

Limbs torn apart.

The lifeless torso hit the ground.

Daiki ran his hand through the warm blood dripping down. He brought his bloodied fingers to his nose, inhaling deeply.

— What a wonderful era we live in. — He murmured, tearing off his own jumpsuit. — Weak humans crawling like worms… HOW MARVELOUS! THIS IS GOING TO BE A MASSACRE!

His laughter was demonic.

Sharp teeth gleamed under the mine's dim light.

Claws grew from his fingers.

— STOP! — A courageous voice rose from the midst of the miners. A man stood up, gripping a pickaxe.

Daiki observed him for a moment.

He blinked.

And vanished.

Before the miner could react—

CRACK!

Cold hands wrapped around his neck.

His skull exploded.

Hot blood sprayed, staining the terrified faces of the miners.

They panicked.

— I'll give you five seconds to run. — Daiki said, raising his bloodstained hand. — After that... the hunt begins.

— ONE.

Desperate screams filled the loot site.

— TWO.

Bodies stumbled over one another.

— THREE.

It was every man for himself. A single misstep meant death.

— FOUR.

Ji-Ho ran with everything he had.

— FIVE.

Daiki smiled.

The three criminals vanished into the dense forest.

Ji-Ho saw Park stumble ahead of him.

— Ji-Ho! HELP ME! — the fallen man begged.

Ji-Ho looked back.

Daiki was advancing.

— Found you. — His voice carried a sadistic pleasure.

— I'm sorry, Mr. Park. — Ji-Ho murmured before continuing to run.

Park's agonizing scream echoed behind him.

Ji-Ho ran.

His lungs burned.

He thought of his mother, his sister.

Tears fell involuntarily.

He couldn't die here.

The forest filled with screams of terror.

Ji-Ho wasn't fast enough.

Daiki's footsteps grew closer and closer.

A massive tree loomed ahead.

Tall, exposed roots.

Without thinking, he buried himself between them.

Daiki stopped.

Sniffed the air.

— You think you can hide from me? — he laughed. — I can feel your fear. Your heart... — he began clapping, syncing with Ji-Ho's heartbeat.

Ji-Ho knew it was only a matter of time.

He seized the distraction and bolted again.

The road!

But before he could reach it—

WHAM!

Something struck his head.

Daiki had slammed his hand against him, knocking him to the ground.

He fell.

The world spun.

The scent of blood filled his nostrils.

A shadow loomed over him.

— You thought you could escape, worm?

Brutal kicks.

Daiki advanced fiercely, his strikes charged with pure destruction.

WHAM!

A savage punch landed square on Ji-Ho, sending him flying through the air. His body crashed violently against a tree with exposed roots.

The impact made the thick trunk tremble. The tree had a golden hue, almost mystical.

Ji-Ho spat blood. The warm liquid dripped from his lips.

His body trembled. His lungs felt like they were about to burst.

"Is this how I die?"

The thought echoed in his mind, drowning in despair.

"Is this the price I pay for being weak?"

Then, flashes of memory.

His mother's face.

His sister's smile.

Tears welled up involuntarily.

It was over.

There was no escape.

Slow footsteps approached.

Daiki.

His eyes gleamed with ecstasy, as if savoring the moment.

Black smoke escaped his mouth, swirling through the air like hungry serpents.

Each step scorched the ground, leaving charred footprints.

Suddenly—

A hand emerged from the darkness.

Long, twisted fingers seized Ji-Ho by the head, lifting him to Daiki's eye level.

The criminal observed him for a moment.

Then, he whispered with a cruel smile:

— This is the end. The last thing you'll see... is me killing you.

Daiki opened his mouth.

The black smoke took shape.

A shadowy dagger materialized from the dark mist. The blade vibrated, dripping with a dense, malevolent essence.

Shlukk!

The dagger pierced Ji-Ho's stomach, pinning him to the golden tree.

His eyes widened. Air fled his lungs. His vision blurred.

Blood dripped from the blade.

His consciousness faded.

Daiki stared at the motionless body for a few seconds.

Then, without a word, he turned away, disappearing into the forest in search of his companions.

Night fell.

Ji-Ho remained there.

Trapped. Silent. Dead?

That's when something changed.

The tree's leaves began to glow.

A pale light spread through the golden trunk.

The wind howled, lifting dry leaves into the air, making them dance under the moonlight.

Then—

The roots moved.

The sound of a heartbeat echoed within the tree.

Veins pulsed inside the wood, as if carrying blood to a long-dormant heart.

The roots gently wrapped around Ji-Ho, pulling him into an unknown embrace.

Then, from the highest branch, a golden butterfly slowly descended.

It landed on Ji-Ho's forehead.

At that very moment—

His eyes snapped open.

Ji-Ho awakened from his eternal slumber.