Chapter 71
Dowoon headed toward the battlefield and spread his energy widely, lifting the enemies into the air.
As the balance of those focused on combat collapsed, Espers from the Association quickly began engaging the organization members through the opening.
Han Sejun’s barrier was still effective, but they began flailing and panicking just from the change in gravity.
The tide of battle shifted in an instant. In the distance, Dowoon could see Han Sejun gritting his teeth and extending his hand.
He was trying to draw out power to defend against Dowoon’s ability.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
Dowoon closed the distance in an instant and charged at Han Sejun. Organization members sprang out from all directions to protect him, but Dowoon pinned them all down with gravity, restricting their movements.
“Damn it.”
Han Sejun gritted his teeth and erected a new barrier. But Dowoon fired even more energy at the barrier.
This brute force approach was something he should have avoided against someone with an unfavorable compatibility, but things were different now.
Having received plenty of Guiding from Seoyul, Dowoon poured out energy freely as he threw his punch.
BOOM!!!!
The moment his fist touched the barrier, a tremendous sound erupted as it shattered. Dowoon’s fist continued straight toward Han Sejun’s face and made direct impact.
THWACK!
Not expecting it to be broken through so quickly, Han Sejun took a powerful hit and flew far away.
“Kuhuk!”
But it wasn’t over yet. Dowoon and the Espers had already coordinated a combination attack to deal with Han Sejun.
As the surroundings quickly organized, one of the Espers who had coordinated with Dowoon created a massive spear of flame and fired it at Han Sejun.
True to his S-class status, Han Sejun quickly erected a barrier to block the attack. However, blocking physical attacks required more energy, which naturally weakened his defense against Dowoon.
‘Now.’
Dowoon drew the gun from his waist as he had practiced and fired repeatedly at Han Sejun.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The weapon, specially made to counter him, was highly effective. The barrier soon cracked and collapsed, and in that gap, Dowoon manipulated gravity to lift Han Sejun’s body.
Immediately, an Esper specialized in hand-to-hand combat leaped out and threw a punch.
THWACK!!!
“Kuhuk!”
With a tremendous impact sound, Han Sejun was launched high into the air.
Dowoon extended his hand, creating a massive vortex like during their past sparring match, and engulfed him.
The vortex that swallowed Han Sejun soon transformed into a tremendous hurricane, absorbing other organization members as it continued to grow.
The barriers surrounding the organization members quickly shattered, and the hurricane turned everything into a wasteland, swallowing everything except allies.
“Ha… to think I’d see this in actual combat.”
An Esper who had been staring blankly at the scene muttered quietly. Though he hadn’t expected such a crude method to be used, the effect was impressive.
“Aaaagh!!”
“Kuhuk!”
Enemies trapped in the hurricane struggled to maintain their balance. They had to avoid all kinds of debris caught in the massive vortex.
But Dowoon made it even more difficult by manipulating gravity. The human body becomes disoriented with even slight changes in gravity.
They were helplessly battered by numerous concrete chunks, broken furniture, tree roots, and various other objects.
‘The effect is good, but is the energy holding up?’
Just as everyone began worrying about energy depletion, Dowoon stopped the hurricane with a single gesture.
It felt as if time had stopped throughout the world, and in the distance, bloodied organization members and Han Sejun could be seen floating in midair.
If they fell now, they would become entangled with debris in the air and take massive damage.
But Dowoon, thoroughly angered, first manipulated only the gravity of Han Sejun and the organization members, dropping them down.
“Kuhuk!!”
“Urgh!”
“Kuluk!”
Groans began pouring out as bodies heavily collided with the ground. Among them were some who had already lost consciousness, but there were also those struggling to get up to survive.
Noticing this, Dowoon, as if determined not to let a single one escape, rapidly dropped the remaining debris.
“Ah, no.”
“Damn it!”
“Run!!”
The organization members began scattering in panic across the ground that had turned into a scene of carnage. But they couldn’t escape Dowoon’s hand.
The debris rained down at frightening speed, attacking the organization members, and with screams echoing from all around, they began to pile up.
Before long, the island had instantly transformed into a disaster zone. All that remained around was dust in the wind and a deathly silence.
But Dowoon didn’t let his guard down. There was a high possibility that Han Sejun, an S-class barrier ability user, had still managed to protect himself even in this chaos.
‘I can’t let him escape.’
All dangerous elements to Seoyul needed to be eliminated here.
Dowoon quickly opened his senses and began searching for Han Sejun. The terrifying sensing ability unique to S-class Espers swept around in all directions, searching for energy of the same rank.
‘Found him.’
Dowoon immediately lifted the debris around the area. As if on cue, the Espers began concentrating their attacks on that spot.
KWAAAANG!!!!
With a tremendous roar, the area was engulfed in bright light. This level of power would break through even the toughest barrier.
But Dowoon, cautious until the end, moved toward the area shrouded in the aftermath of the attack while loading bullets.
He saw Han Sejun, reduced to rags, writhing before him. Dowoon aimed his gun at him.
Then, his exceptional Esper hearing caught a quietly muttered voice.
“I haven’t lost. I just… lost a gamble.”
Han Sejun, struggling to raise his body, truly seemed to believe this.
There was no anger toward Dowoon in his eyes, nor any regret for his actions. He simply accepted the situation stoically.
‘What unnecessarily good hearing I have.’
Dowoon cursed his hearing as he placed his finger on the trigger. He wasn’t generous enough to listen to nonsense.
But Han Sejun, as if making a final struggle, poured out words like a curse to Dowoon with manic eyes.
“Although I lost the gamble, that doesn’t mean you’ve won. Eventually, you too will die in the future…”
-Bang!!
Dowoon pulled the trigger without hesitation. The bullet instantly penetrated his head, delivering death.
“I only listen to nonsense once.”
Dowoon finally put the gun back at his waist and turned around.
It was finally over.
Han Sejun was dead, and the others were dead too. Those lucky enough to survive would face legal judgment. The main culprits who kidnapped Seoyul had also been caught earlier and were paying for their crimes.
Now all dangerous elements were essentially gone. And yet…
‘Why do I feel so uneasy?’
Was it because of Han Sejun’s unfinished words? Dowoon couldn’t shake the feeling that he was missing something.
‘What… am I missing?’
Just then, he heard the sound of urgent footsteps approaching. Strangely, hearing that sound gradually calmed his anxious heart.
Dowoon unknowingly raised the corners of his lips and called the name of the person who threw himself into his arms.
“Seoyul…”
* * *
Seoyul had been anxiously watching Dowoon fight. Though he seemed about to collapse from having used too much energy, Seoyul couldn’t take his eyes off him for a moment.
What if Dowoon got hurt? What if he needed Guiding again?
He watched the battle in tension.
Fortunately, Dowoon and the Espers had performed well, showing tremendous power and quickly resolving the situation.
-Bang!!
As the final shot aimed at Han Sejun was fired and the situation ended, Seoyul immediately dashed out.
There was only one thought in his mind: Dowoon’s safety. He wanted to quickly confirm that Dowoon was safe.
Seoyul ran through the debris-strewn disaster area. Then Dowoon’s figure filled his vision.
As the distance grew closer and reached a point where he could touch him just by extending his arms, Seoyul threw himself into Dowoon’s embrace.
“Seoyul…”
Strong arms wrapped around him and pulled him close. Only then did Seoyul truly feel that everything was over and he had finally returned.
“Heu…”
Was it because of the warm embrace? Hot tears threatened to well up in his eyes again. Whether aware of Seoyul’s feelings or not, Dowoon embraced him warmly and whispered in his ear.
“It was hard, wasn’t it? Sorry I was late.”
Seoyul didn’t want to cry. But faced with the gentle voice and the warm hand patting his back, he crumbled helplessly.
“Hueeeeeng…”
Finally breaking into loud sobs, Seoyul began crying profusely in Dowoon’s arms. This time, Dowoon didn’t panic and slowly consoled Seoyul.
“Esper-nim… Esper-nim…”
Seoyul, finally losing strength in his legs, continued crying while sitting on the ground. Dowoon followed him down and calmly patted his back.
“Hueeeeeng.”
His chest felt like it would burst from the overwhelming sense of relief.
Relief that Dowoon was safe.
Relief that they had finally returned.
Countless emotions dissolved into tears and flowed endlessly. Seoyul poured out his emotions, crying and crying.
How long did he cry like that? Seoyul’s sobs gradually stabilized and became quieter.
“Heu, eup…”
Seoyul raised his head, fidgeting with tears still pooling in his eyes.
Before him, he saw Dowoon pouring out the same emotions. Those emotions were so clear that he couldn’t ignore them.
A loving gaze that could melt his entire body, along with a sense of relief at finally having recovered something.
Why hadn’t he realized?
‘It was this clear all along…’
Seoyul melted under Dowoon’s gaze. His tensed body and mind dissolved and softened in the warmth.
He felt like he could say it now.
No, he wanted to say it now.
Seoyul slowly formed the words he had regretted not conveying all this time.
“I like you.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
