Military Strategic Command Headquarters, Main Office.
Empty seats were noticeable around the large table. Some generals were on medical leave, and the number of participants joining via hologram, including Supreme Commander Choi Yul, had increased.
Amidst the heavy atmosphere, the remaining personnel proceeded with the strategy meeting. The generals raised their voices, engaging in heated debate.
“Seo Eui-woo has already been contaminated! He used unauthorized abilities inside the center, threatened researchers, and disobeyed direct orders from his superior. An uncontrollable awakened individual must be eliminated.”
“That’s true. A confrontation is inevitable. However, the timing is the issue, isn’t it? If we recklessly purge him, the damage will be catastrophic. Tsk.”
“It’s not just about timing; the method is also a problem. A direct confrontation must be avoided at all costs. If Captain Seo rebels, another disaster like the last one will occur. If we can resolve this quietly…”
“Exactly. For example, if he were to die in the line of duty inside a gate, wouldn’t that be the cleanest solution? It would be the best possible outcome.”
At the mention of Seo Eui-woo, the expressions of the generals changed. Some twisted their faces in displeasure, while others hardened their expressions.
Having recently suffered at Seo Eui-woo’s hands, an instinctive fear surged within them. The memory of nearly being devoured by a predator was etched vividly in their minds, leaving a deep, painful trauma.
Of course, no general was foolish enough to openly display their fear. Regardless of their internal turmoil, they all maintained a composed facade and even projected hostility toward Seo Eui-woo.
“No, that’s not right. The symbolic importance of an S-Class Esper is significant. The government is focused on S-Class individuals, and disposing of an Esper with such immense abilities would be a tremendous loss. Rather than elimination, the best course of action is recruitment.”
“Recruitment? And how exactly do you propose we do that? Are you planning to put a bell around a tiger’s neck?”
“We have Kwon Jae-jin. Espers inevitably crave guiding. If the military secures Kwon Jae-jin, Seo Eui-woo will also be swayed.”
“Absolutely not. Kwon Jae-jin is a mutation! Employing a mutation is unacceptable. It shakes the very spirit—the very foundation—of the military!”
“However, as the ranking test results have shown, Kwon Jae-jin is an S-Class Guide. His numbers are so monstrously beyond the normal range that he was tested three times. Moreover, it’s said that his guiding enhances an Esper’s abilities.”
“The enhancement of abilities hasn’t been definitively proven. Seo Eui-woo refused the ability assessment and fled, didn’t he?”
“No, it has been proven. Please direct your attention to the screen.”
A series of blue holographic screens simultaneously lit up in front of the seated generals. The screens displayed the ability test results of Major Mateo, formerly demoted but now reinstated as Captain Mateo, with detailed records.
“The right side contains Captain Mateo’s testimony, while the left displays the test results. Compare the recorded values.”
“Hmm…”
The generals carefully examined the screen. They could clearly see the significant increase in ability scores. The strength, radius, and duration of the protective barrier had all improved drastically.
“Major Mateo was originally an A-Class defensive Esper, but now he’s exceptional even among A-Class. This change occurred after coming into contact with Kwon Jae-jin.”
With the test results presented, undeniable proof had emerged.
Kwon Jae-jin wasn’t just the first S-Class Guide—his guiding ability was both unparalleled and enthralling. His potential utility was limitless.
“This is an opportunity! If we recruit Kwon Jae-jin and Seo Eui-woo, the power of the new military regime will reach an all-time high. It would be an unprecedented, historic achievement.”
If the abilities of all existing Espers could be enhanced…
And if Seo Eui-woo stood at the forefront of that transformation…
“Can you handle it? Can you control those two?”
“This is about efficiency! Eliminating them would be an obvious waste of valuable resources.”
As the strategy meeting continued, voices grew louder. The generals, faces flushed, fiercely clashed in debate, yet even after hours, no conclusion was in sight.
A major reason was that Supreme Commander Choi Yul, the one with the final authority, had remained silent from the beginning, merely observing.
The hologram of Choi Yul, seated at the head, flickered slightly.
He was contemplating something entirely different from the others in the room.
‘Who is pulling the strings from behind…?’
Choi Yul was chasing a ghost with no form.
‘One of them must be harboring ulterior motives.’
He was certain that among these high-ranking officers, one was a traitor colluding with Seo Eui-woo and Kwon Jae-jin—someone close enough to know about the classified Creature Wave operation and even Choi Yul’s habitual phrases. That was why he refrained from actively leading the discussion.
‘Until I can identify the traitors, I must tread carefully.’
Rather than making rash moves, he needed to be patient, biding his time to expose the rebel. No one had shown any suspicious behavior yet, but soon enough, someone would slip.
“At this rate, we won’t reach a decision.”
Choi Yul subtly shifted the topic.
“Why don’t we move on to another issue? What’s the status of the Creature Wave?”
The moment his words fell, a loud alert sounded. It was an emergency call.
The holographic screens in front of the generals updated, displaying a notification with a flashing red border.
[ Urgent! ]
LEVEL 3
Northernmost region of the Second Pioneer District—creature horde moving south.
Outer perimeter wall impact detected.
The generals’ eyebrows twitched as they read the alert window.
A Level 3 emergency call.
Could it be? Was the predicted catastrophe of the Creature Wave actually unfolding?
If the grim news they had just received truly signified the onset of the Creature Wave, there was far too little time to respond. Nothing had been prepared yet. This was no time to be bickering over what to do with Seo Eui-woo or Kwon Jae-jin. The immediate priority was grasping the situation—determining the scale of the creature horde and assessing the extent of damage to the outer perimeter wall.
Supreme Commander Choi Yul clenched his jaw in silence.
<The damage will be catastrophic. Three pioneer districts and one civilian residential district will be shut down, and the death toll will be the highest recorded during your tenure, Commander Choi. Furthermore, half of the officers present in this room will be forced into disgraceful resignations—and you, Choi Yul, will be one of them.>
A chill spread through the pit of his stomach. A wave of belated regret crashed over him.
It felt as if he had been given a blatant warning right to his face, yet had still missed the opportunity to prepare.
His deep, commanding voice rang through the headquarters with a heavy force.
“Mobilize the Special Operations Unit immediately. Every single member, without exception!”
***
Seo Eui-woo’s nose scrunched as he checked the call signal.
The twenty-year-old pup that had been idly playing with Kwon Jae-jin’s foot mere moments ago suddenly transformed, his gaze sharp with the intensity of a trained combatant. His dry, stark eyes carried the scent of gunpowder, as if they had absorbed the battlefield itself.
Kwon Jae-jin, watching Seo Eui-woo silently memorize the details of the summons with unnerving seriousness, asked in a calm voice.
“…What’s going on?”
Of course, there were plenty of possible reasons.
Was it because of the ranking test? Because of the guiding? Because of Seo Eui-woo’s insubordination? Because the two of them had suddenly vanished via coordinate transfer…?
But judging by Seo Eui-woo’s expression, the reason for the summons seemed far more severe than any of those.
And sure enough, Seo Eui-woo answered in a voice that had sunk into a cold monotone—like the sound of something scraping the bottom of a black, endless swamp.
“Jae-jin. Was the Second Pioneer District included in the projected damage area for the Creature Wave?”
“Yes, it was… Wait, don’t tell me—”
Kwon Jae-jin’s gaze wavered like a candle flickering in the wind.
He had known the Creature Wave was imminent, but already?
“No, this is too soon.”
“The future you knew might have changed. Or maybe the Center acted faster than expected.”
“…”
“A summons has been issued. We need to check it out ourselves.”
Seo Eui-woo tilted his head slightly, scanning the interior of the house with his eyes before adding, almost as an afterthought—
“You too, Jae-jin.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re coming with me, Jae-jin. It’s safer that way.”
There was no way Seo Eui-woo was going to leave Kwon Jae-jin behind like before. The security system was broken, and their location had been exposed. If the Special Operations Unit launched a raid while Seo Eui-woo was gone, Kwon Jae-jin would be in immediate danger.
He’d be dragged away without resistance, and they might even force him into guiding.
…Both were things Seo Eui-woo himself had once done to Kwon Jae-jin, and he couldn’t afford to make that mistake again.
Seo Eui-woo grabbed Kwon Jae-jin’s wrist and pulled him into the dressing room. There was no time to waste. He quickly changed into his combat gear, armed himself, and dressed Kwon Jae-jin in a spare set of combat wear.
“Wait, do I really need to wear this too?”
“Just in case.”
Kwon Jae-jin had always borrowed Seo Eui-woo’s clothes, but this was the first time he was putting on his combat uniform. The stiff, jet-black material wrapped around his freshly showered body. Since the uniform was tailored to fit Seo Eui-woo’s frame perfectly, it was slightly loose on Kwon Jae-jin.
“…”
Jae-jin blinked slowly.
His heartbeat, which had been steady, began to slow as if he were sinking into deep water, his ears muffled by an inexplicable pressure.
Suddenly, a memory from his dream resurfaced—a dream where he had worn combat gear, held a rifle, and donned goggles while shooting down creatures.
It felt as if that dream was becoming reality.
Like he had been waiting for this moment all along.
And yet, at the same time, like it was still too soon.
A strange, indescribable feeling stirred and tangled in his mind.
