Ruins of the Past

The sound of the wind cut through the scene, breaking the deadly silence. Beneath the chaos, the fire crackled, and the roar of falling debris mixed with the desperate scream of the flames. A house once full of laughter and life was now just a pile of smoking wreckage. Among the rubble, two figures fell, in absolute silence. The face of one of them was covered in dirt and blood, his eyes still closed, as if he were trying to block out the inferno around him. The other, equally immersed in shadows, seemed more like a shadow of himself, his breathing weak and irregular.

They were alone, surrounded by destruction, but the vision showed nothing else, except devastation. Time seemed to have stopped there, as if the world had turned upside down for both of them. The wounds were deep, but the greatest damage was what had happened to his soul, still not fully aware of the tragedy that was unfolding. Their faces, obscured by dust, still did not reveal their names, nor the looks that could one day carry life. They were simply there, survivors of a cataclysm that would change them forever.

The scene suddenly changed, and the echoes of fire and destruction gave way to a cold and lifeless environment. A high-tech laboratory, filled with work tables and illuminated screens. The smell of chemicals and newly assembled circuits filled the air. The walls, white and impeccable, reflected the light of cold lights hanging from the ceiling.

Seo Min-kyu, a normal-looking young man with straight brown hair, was leaning over a control panel, his eyes focused on rapid calculations that filled the screens in front of him. His face was closed, his lips thin and still, as if the world outside was nothing more than a distant noise. Around him, other scientists, older and more experienced, circulated, talking to each other in respectful tones.

"Min-kyu, do you have any other suggestions for the project?" asked Kang Ji-hoon, a middle-aged scientist known for his calmness and precision. He waited patiently as Min-kyu adjusted yet another variable on the screen.

"We're almost there, Ji-hoon," Min-kyu replied softly, without getting distracted. "There's still one critical adjustment to the timing of the molecular structure. I'm perfecting the atoms."

The veteran scientist nodded, impressed. "You always have a certain perfection in every detail. You're impressive."

On the other side of the lab, a junior scientist watched the scene, wide-eyed. The young man, named Park Joo-won, was visibly curious and looked awed. He approached Kim So-yeon, a veteran scientist who was working alongside Min-kyu. Park Joo-won hesitated for a moment, but then asked with a tone of admiration, "You know, I always see Seo Min-kyu so… focused. He's really amazing. But why doesn't he ever interact much with others? He's so… reserved."

Kim So-yeon looked at the young man with a slight smile, and her eyes softened as she spoke. "Min-kyu is a rare case, Joo-won. He's not only a genius, but also a man who carries a lot. He grew up without a family, did you know that? He was adopted by the head of the lab when he was still a boy, after losing everything in a tragedy."

Park Joo-won frowned in surprise. "A tragedy?"

"Yes, a tragedy," So-yeon confirmed, pausing. "He never talks about it much, but everyone here knows. And despite his reserved nature, he's never been just another scientist. He's become a role model. He's the kind of person to look up to. The seniors here, all of us, see him as a kind of idol. He doesn't do it for fame or recognition. He just works. So the best thing to do is learn from him, Joo-won."

The newbie nodded, absorbing So-yeon's words. His eyes shone with respect as he watched Min-kyu work. The aura of mystery surrounding the scientist only made him more fascinating.

Meanwhile, the sound of a television turning on filled the room. The screen displayed a news report about the heroes and their battle against the subversive forces that were ravaging the country. The images showed well-known heroes in action, facing villains and natural disasters, and the words were filled with praise for these individuals who protected the population.

Everyone in the lab stopped for a moment to look at the screen. Except for Seo Min-kyu. He didn't even look away from the screen in front of him, focused on calculations and calculations, as if the display of heroic deeds was nothing more than an unimportant distraction.

So-yeon, watching the scene, commented to no one in particular, "Min-kyu never seems to care about these things. He's always been like this." "Maybe he just doesn't want to be distracted by something so trivial," Kang Ji-hoon suggested with a soft smile, before returning to his own workstation. The other scientists, though intrigued, continued with their tasks. But it was clear that their respect for Seo Min-kyu didn't come solely from his skill. He was somehow above everyone else here, a reflection of a difficult life and a past that none of them quite knew how to comprehend. He was, in many ways, a distant figure, but his genius made him unstoppable. As everyone returned to their work, Min-kyu's voice cut through the silence of the lab. "The next phase requires further adjustments. I'll need more data on the chemical reaction of the compound." The veteran scientists, already accustomed to his direct manner, moved quickly to follow his instructions. But in their eyes, a deep reverence still lingered. The lab was slowly emptying as the workday drew to a close. The sound of keys being pressed faded as the scientists began to pack up their equipment and prepare to leave. Seo Min-kyu was still focused on his workstation, adjusting one last graph on the screen. When the door opened, he glanced up briefly to see the veterans gathered at the door, their expressions friendly.

"Min-kyu, are you coming with us tonight?" Kang Ji-hoon asked, his tone casual but full of expectation. "Let's go to the bar after all that work. We deserve a break."

So-yeon smiled welcomingly. "Yeah, let's go. The boss always says we should rest when we can. And you're the genius here, you need to relax a bit too."

Min-kyu looked at the friendly faces before him, but quickly turned away from any intention of company. "I already have plans for tonight," he replied without further explanation. His tone was firm but polite. He wasn't the type to share his personal life. "I'll need some quiet time to work on my own projects." Kang Ji-hoon smiled, recognizing the determination in Min-kyu's eyes. "Always so focused… But okay, another day then. Take care, Min-kyu." The other seniors also said their goodbyes, some with a wave and others with a word of encouragement. When they were finally alone in the lab, Min-kyu packed up his materials and prepared to leave, heading towards the exit. Min-kyu walked through the streets of Seoul, the cityscape lit up by the neon lights of the shops and buildings. The city was alive, but at the same time, there was a sense of coldness in the air, as if something was lurking in the shadows. He walked down a narrow alley, where the lights were dim and the shadows thicker. It wasn't the kind of place any ordinary person would feel comfortable in, but due to his reclusive nature, he didn't mind. He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the street. Something caught his eye. Two familiar heroes, both dressed in flashy uniforms, were entering a seedy-looking bar. Their names were Solstice and Ignition, heroes known for their elemental abilities—Solstice, with the ability to manipulate light and heat, and Ignition, capable of raising his body temperature to extreme levels. Together, they made an unbeatable duo, but at that moment, they seemed more like ordinary street figures, quietly entering a dingy, poorly lit bar.

Min-kyu watched from afar, without moving, without even making a sound. He knew something was wrong there, but he decided to leave discreetly without any interest in getting involved.

Inside the bar, the atmosphere was dense. The room was permeated with the smell of alcohol and smoke, and the sound of muffled conversations seemed like a distant whisper in the face of what was happening. Solstice and Ignition were meeting with a shady-looking man, dressed in a dark suit and with an air of power. His name was Victor Saldini, a well-known mafioso who dealt with valuable information for the heroes and criminals of the underworld. The chair he occupied seemed to be that of a man accustomed to controlling everything around him.

"So, you say that the Remnants of the Ruins are getting closer and closer, huh?" said Saldini, with a malevolent smile as he observed the heroes.

Ignition, the more impulsive of the two, spoke impatiently. "You know the Remnants are a danger. We need this information to neutralize them before it's too late. And we'll pay handsomely for it."

Saldini chuckled softly. "Oh, sure, I know how much you're willing to pay. But I also know that behind that heroic facade, you have your own intentions. I'm not interested in knowing how you're going to use the information, I just want the payment. And only then will I tell you what I know."

The conversation continued with increasing tension, but the atmosphere was interrupted by a deep and enigmatic voice that suddenly echoed through the bar, coming from nowhere in sight. "You talk too much."

The three people in the room stood still for a moment, trying to locate the source of the voice. But there was no one there, until a hooded figure, wearing a black suit with red and silver details, as if they were kinetic patterns, appeared in the middle of the room. His movement was quick and silent, as if his own shadow had materialized before them.

Solstice and Ignition immediately moved to attack. Solstice released a blast of intense light, attempting to illuminate and disintegrate the hooded figure, while Ignition increased his body temperature, creating a wave of infernal heat around him. However, something was wrong. Their bodies did not move. Their legs were stuck to the ground, as if an invisible force was immobilizing them.

The hooded figure moved his fingers almost imperceptibly, and the thin, almost invisible wires began to move around him. He controlled them with precision, causing the wires to stretch and intertwine around the heroes and mobsters. The two heroes tried to fight back. Solstice intensified the light, and Ignition tried to increase his temperature even further to melt the wires, but the hooded figure's response was calm and cruel.

"It's useless," said the hooded figure's somber voice. "These wires are coated with graphene. The strongest material in the world. There is nothing you can do to cut or burn them."

The hooded man broke the silence with a cold and precise voice: "We will play a simple game. Four questions. For each lie, you lose a body part. If you want to prolong your lives, I suggest you be honest." The black wires vibrated slightly in the air, threatening. The loan shark tried to swallow hard, but his throat was too dry for that.

First question: "Who are the main sellers of information about the Remnants of the Ruins?" The mobster tried to maintain his posture, forcing a nervous smile. "I don't know anything about that…"

The snap came before he even realized it. In the blink of an eye, his arm was ripped off, blood gushing as a desperate scream echoed in the room. The hooded man just tilted his head, watching him as if he were a failed experiment.

"He's already started lying. My wires don't just cut flesh, they also analyze their bodies. Heart rate, muscle contractions, blood flow... everything gives away when someone is lying." The heroes shuddered. Now they knew they couldn't bluff.

The mobster, now in shock and writhing in pain, choked on his own blood before spitting out the truth: "Dante Vasquez... he's one of the biggest information brokers! But he doesn't work alone!" The hooded man was silent for a moment. Then he continued.

Second question: "Who protects these informants? Who keeps them safe?" This time, one of the heroes tried to challenge the situation. "Nobody protects these scumbags. They hide alone."

The wires glowed for a second, and the scream came right after. The hero fell to the ground, clutching his knee, where a chunk of flesh was now missing.

"I have no patience for wrong answers." The other hero, panicked, shouted: "They are government officials! Some of them work directly with the high-ranking heroes!"

The hooded man nodded. Third question: "Which elite hero is directly involved in corruption and sells information to the underworld?"

The heroes hesitated. They knew this was a dangerous answer. But one of them gave in first. "Cinder Knight. He... he covers up government operations and profits from selling data on investigations and targets considered dangerous!"

The name hung in the air, heavy with weight. The hooded man remained still for a moment, absorbing the information. His tone became even colder.

"Last question." The silence became unbearable. "Where can I find Cinder Knight?"

The three men remained silent. Fear was written all over their faces. They knew that if they spoke, they would seal their own fates. But it was too late for hesitation.

"He frequents a base exclusive to the Top 10 heroes... that's where he keeps confidential information about various operations. But you'll never get in there!"

The hooded man didn't answer right away. He just watched them as his wires began to move again. "You don't have to worry about that anymore."

With a gentle movement of his fingers, the wires began to pull hard, cutting the air like sharp blades. The mobsters and heroes tried to resist, but the wires were relentless. The hooded man showed no expression as he manipulated the wires with deadly precision. With each movement, bodies were cut in half, without a trace of emotion on his face. There was no pleasure, no hatred, only the coldness of a mission accomplished.

When he finished, all the fallen bodies were in pieces, scattered around the room. The hooded man didn't even bother to look at them as he stood up, straightening his cloak and adjusting his hood. He took a step toward the door before speaking, still in his calm, emotionless voice, "Clean this up."

Two figures, who had been standing somewhere in the shadows, stepped out and began removing the bodies and any other evidence that anyone had been in the room, without question, as if it were just another part of the process.