B1’s helmet clattered across the floor with a loud racket. He stood motionless, dazed like someone who had lost all awareness.
“Come play with me!”
Without a word, he followed the child who had taken his hand.
“Everyone, be careful not to lose your helmets. Looks like a psychic-type Esper. One glance, and you’re done.”
C1 murmured low enough for only the team to hear. Ho-eun subtly pressed down on his helmet and scanned the area.
“Then those others too…?”
“Most likely…”
There were still two more anti-government members on this floor. Just then, the lights flickered violently with a loud pop, shutting off and then coming back on.
“See? Broadcast guiding’s on another level.”
“…Tch. Just a bunch of government dogs.”
Two more people stepped in front of Ho-eun. Both were men of the same height and build. Their traditional masks partially revealed their hairstyles, which were identical in cut but opposite in color—one had black hair fading to white at the tips, the other had white hair fading to black.
“Shall we finally get the guiding we’ve been dying for?”
“The government’s dogs piss me off, but… we’ve been starving long enough.”
As the two drew closer, the C-rank Espers quickly stepped forward to block them.
“We agreed to your terms. Release the hostages first.”
Ho-eun quietly edged toward the emergency stairwell behind him while the Espers and anti-government faction squared off. The hostages seemed in relatively decent condition aside from the ropes. There were three enemy Espers on this floor. As for guides, excluding himself (A2) and the captured B1, A1, B2, and B3 should be enough to provide support.
Ho-eun’s guide watch was synced with Do In-ho and monitored his condition in real time. The guiding level was still at 40%. He wanted to wait until the hostages were all evacuated before heading upstairs.
But if Do In-ho used his ability, the guiding drain would spike fast. Anxiety gnawed at him, pulling his focus back toward the stairs.
“Where you goin’?”
A mischievous voice whispered in his ear, making Ho-eun flinch. When did he—?! He had only looked away for a few seconds. The one with white at the bottom of his hair had snuck up behind him and wrapped his arms around Ho-eun, pressing a small dagger into his hand.
“Here. If you’re so eager to save them, better get a move on, huh?”
“…”
“Not fair, Hyung. You’re trying to hog the guiding for yourself!”
“I’m the older brother. Obviously I get first pick of the good stuff.”
Their laughter behind him sent chills down his spine. Ho-eun pressed his helmet down harder with one hand. His palm, wrapped around the icy hilt of the dagger, was slick with sweat.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw C1 had turned his body toward him—ready to charge in at a moment’s notice. Maintaining his composure, Ho-eun carefully approached the hostages.
The people still looked out of it. Most likely due to the Esper who’d appeared first. Ho-eun quietly cut the ropes from each hostage’s wrists with the dagger, then gently tapped their cheeks.
“Hey. Can you hear me? Snap out of it!”
No reaction. Escorting hostages in this condition past five anti-government Espers would be impossible.
What the hell are we supposed to do in situations like this?
He stood there, scanning the restaurant interior. There were three enemy Espers on this floor. One of their own guides had already been mind-controlled. The hostages numbered in the dozens. The government Espers likely couldn’t use their powers recklessly with civilians present.
Which meant there was only one real possibility right now on the 59th floor:
The government guides would have to quietly provide guiding to the anti-government Espers. The worst-case scenario.
Had the 60th floor negotiations not gone through yet?
“Cancel your ability and release the hostages immediately!”
“Not until we confirm the government kept its promise first, hmm?”
C1 took a step forward, raising a gun infused with his ability. The man with black hair suddenly vanished downward.
He slipped into the shadows like he’d been sucked under, then reemerged right atop C1’s shadow. In an instant, he was beside C1, trailing a gloved hand across his arm.
“Ugh. Gross. Are you C-rank? Lame.”
C1 calmly responded as he stared at the man who could move freely using shadows.
“Now I see. White hair must be Seon Yul, black hair is Ak Yul. Light and shadow abilities… If you really are blood brothers, it’s an unnervingly well-matched combo.”
“So you’ve been digging around, huh? Must’ve done your homework if you’re throwing our full names around. Then you should also know—we leave no room for escape.”
“Is that so?”
“Cheeky little bastard. Hyung, can I kill this C-rank? Please? I’m gonna lose it.”
“Yul-ah, you still need to get guiding. Just break his arms and legs. Otherwise, Boss will be pissed.”
“Tch. Fine.”
“Well then… how should I cook you?”
Ak Yul pulled a revolver from his waist and aimed it at C1. It was a simple gun—just cock and fire. In contrast, C1’s weapon was a rifle that required more time to steady.
Like a kid playing a game, Ak Yul sang a tune—“Which one should I shoot~”—as he aimed the barrel at C1’s arms and legs.
“Ding. Dong. Bang. Boom. Jackpot!”
Four gunshots rang out, just as S1’s voice came through the comms: “Contract complete.” It was drowned out by the gunfire, but unmistakable.
At the same time, Ho-eun dashed toward C1. He aimed to grab Ak Yul’s arm and redirect the barrel upward. Even as he lunged, the four bullets sped toward C1. But just before impact, it was as if an invisible wall stopped them.
“Confirmed.”
Unfazed by bullets aimed at him, C1 calmly responded over the radio. He snapped his fingers, and the bullets dropped harmlessly to the floor.
Seon Yul and Ak Yul muttered in disbelief, “…Esper?”
“You bastards. You tricked us?!! Shin-ah! The hostages—NOW!”
All hell broke loose. With no reason to play along anymore, the government Espers dropped the act and activated their abilities.
Ho-eun rushed to help the Esper who was freeing the hostages.
First, he slashed the tablecloth with his dagger and used it to blindfold the dazed hostages. As soon as their vision was blocked, their heads drooped—they could no longer hold out after being exposed to an Esper’s power for so long in ordinary bodies.
—Zzt. First phase complete. Requesting response from backup team.
—Backup ready. Begin phase two.
—Confirmed.
The backup team had arrived outside to support the hostage evacuation. The Esper who’d approached Ho-eun pulled out a long yellow cord—clearly an Ability Tool. He used it to bind the hostages together in a circle, then held his hand out to Ho-eun.
“Teleportation Esper. Let’s get out of here first.”
The building shook violently, swaying like it would collapse at any moment—an effect of multiple abilities going off.
The government Espers launched into battle, subduing the enemy with their powers. A guide approached to help the teleportation Esper prepare for mass transport.
It all seemed to move in slow motion—a battlefield transformed into chaos. To say he wasn’t scared would be a lie. This was Ho-eun’s first time in the field, and it smelled thickly of death—a razor-thin edge between life and the abyss.
C1 used his ability to block Seon Yul and Ak Yul while rushing toward the area where B1 was still held.
An Esper backing up C1 raised a gun and fired at “Shin,” the anti-government Esper. The bullet flew with immense force, but Seon Yul darted forward like lightning, scooping Shin into his arms and disappearing in the opposite direction.
C1 reached out and grabbed B1, then hurried over to where the hostages were gathered.
“Grab on quickly!”
“But… S1 and C4 aren’t here yet.”
“It’s fine. S1 has an Ability Tool that carries my power—he’ll make it out on his own.”
Ho-eun looked down at his trembling guide watch. Do In-ho’s guiding percentage was plummeting.
What the hell’s happening up there? Why hasn’t he come down yet?
As Ho-eun stared blankly at the emergency stairwell door, the teleportation Esper grabbed his right hand tightly.
“Where’s C4? Is he escaping with S1? He’s still using his ability up there…”
“C4’s been excluded from this mission.”
“…!!”
Ho-eun yanked his hand away. C1 stepped in, grabbing him by the shoulder.
“That was the plan from the start.”
The building groaned, the ceiling cracking open. In an instant, flames and scorching heat swept through the space. Blue fire. Do In-ho’s ability.
—S1 is out. The rest of you, get those hostages out—NOW.
Hearing the voice over the comms, the teleportation Esper nodded. Ho-eun gasped for breath, unsealing his helmet. The heat made it nearly impossible to breathe.
The smoke stung his throat, choking him. Out there, there would be no fire, no pain, no suffocating smoke.
“I’ll count to three. One, two…”
The teleportation Esper reached out. But just before the final count, Ho-eun raised his arm to block his face, then pulled down the helmet visor.
“Three.”
Holding his breath, Ho-eun mustered all his strength and tore his hand free. The Esper tried to grab him again, but missed.
Ho-eun didn’t look back. He sprinted toward the emergency stairs.
If I don’t reach him soon, I might collapse from the smoke.
He hadn’t seen the three enemy Espers since the moment the noise started upstairs. That alone said everything. No one wanted to be left in this building. Because this building was going to collapse—with Do In-ho still inside.
“That was the plan from the start,” huh?
Why? Just because Do In-ho’s a Crystal Implant?
These people were insane. Did they really feel no guilt pushing someone to die?
Coughing violently, Ho-eun forced himself up the stairs. His eyes burned from the smoke. His lungs felt like they were shrinking. The flames spreading from the center hadn’t reached the stairwell yet, but that could change at any second. Still, he didn’t stop.
BOOM.
A deafening explosion echoed from somewhere. His breathing grew ragged. With heavy steps, Ho-eun reached the 60th floor and reached for the emergency door.
“Gah…!”
The handle was scorching hot. His gloves melted.
How hot is it…?
Pain shot through his hand, like he’d been burned.
He let go, biting his lower lip hard. He had to endure. The heat, the pain, the smoke—it wasn’t just him suffering. Whoever was behind that door was enduring it too. Maybe even worse.
When I find Do In-ho, I’m slapping him. Hard. How many times did I tell him not to overuse his ability?! His guiding percentage was dropping—why would he still use it? He said he’d wait until the overload date! Why?! Why now?! I’m not letting this go—I’m going to chew him out for this.
“Aaagh!!”
The pain lasted only a moment. Ho-eun grabbed the burning handle and yanked the door open. A blast of hot air whooshed out. A coughing fit tore through his lungs.
Doubling over, Ho-eun gasped for breath and kept low to the ground, crawling as he searched for Do In-ho.
“Do In-ho… where are you?”
His palm screamed with pain—far worse than he imagined. As he crept through the smoke, trying to shield himself, dizziness overtook him.
He hadn’t found Do In-ho yet. He couldn’t collapse now.
And then—someone appeared before him.
“Hahh… Hah… Do-Do In-ho?”
“…Are you the guide?”
Suddenly, someone grabbed him by the collar.
A traditional mask loomed before him—barely visible through the haze. It wasn’t Do In-ho.
