Park Chang-Hyun gazed sorrowfully at Park Jung-Woo’s limp body.
A deep gash ran across his chest, but the wound on the back of his head was far worse—gruesome enough to send a chill down anyone's spine.
Awakeners dying to monsters was so common that it had almost lost meaning. But seeing a body left in such a brutal state weighed heavily on Park Chang-Hyun's mind.
“Where do you think the other Awakeners on his team went?” he asked.
“I’m not sure,” Kwon Oh-Jin replied, shaking his head with a troubled look. Though, of course—
I know exactly where they went.
Using the Stigma of Canes Venatici, he could sense that Choi Jong-Cheol and the bald man were moving toward Sokcho's center, the same way all the demonic beasts tried to flee.
“By the way, Oh-Jin, did something happen between you and him before? Things seemed a bit tense earlier.”
“Yes, we had gotten into an argument once at the association.”
“I didn’t have any fond feelings for him... but seeing him still doesn't sit right with me.”
Did the idiot think he wouldn't fall victim to a demonic beast?
Kwon Oh-Jin reached out, gently closed Park Jung-Woo’s eyes, and carefully adjusted his body into a more dignified position.
“We can't afford to deal with his corpse right now, either.”
Alright, let's get this over with.
Black clouds started to appear around Park Jung-Woo’s chest.
Kwon Oh-Jin quickly glanced around, but the others didn't seem to notice even though he had used it right next to them, thanks to the Black Curtain; it was truly an incredible skill.
Once the Black Heaven's clouds reached Park Jung-Woo’s chest, a blue system window popped up.
[The Black Heaven is absorbing the Stigma of Scorpio.]
Nice. The more, the merrier.
The Stigma of Scorpio was the best assassin-type Stigma out there, granting its Awakener explosive agility and the ability to generate hundreds of kinds of poisons. Though it couldn’t compare to the Stigma of Lyra, Scorpio was still a mighty force as one of the Twelve Zodiacs; there was no downside to adding it to his collection.
After fully absorbing Park Jung-Woo’s Stigma, Kwon Oh-Jin bowed and said, “May he rest in peace.”
Park Chang-Hyun offered his respects as well, while Song Ha-Eun turned away, having mixed feelings.
“Alright, let’s get moving again,” Kwon Oh-Jin urged.
The trio resumed their journey in a somber mood.
“Oh-Jin!” Park Chang-Hyun shouted.
Another demonic beast had emerged, with mantis-like arms, four legs, and the ability to fly.
“Not so fast!” Park Chang-Hyun bellowed. The Stigma of Taurus on his chest flared to life as he stomped and swung his hammer.
A shockwave blasted through the air, slamming the airborne monster headfirst into the ground.
“Let’s hurry up and get it over with, it’ll be a pain once it gets in the air again.”
“Got it,” Song Ha-Eun replied. She dashed forward and snapped her fingers, creating a net of red flames that enveloped the demonic beast. Then, Kwon Oh-Jin swung his silver spear down on it, charring it with his blue lightning.
The wounded beast staggered up and flapped its wings, attempting to flee.
“These fuckers sure know how to run away,” Song Ha-Eun groaned, gritting her teeth in frustration. She stretched out her arm, and flames surged around it, ready to explode.
Kwon Oh-Jin called out, “Ha-Eun, wait.”
He kept his eyes fixed on the fleeing demonic beast. Once again, the demonic beast was running off toward Sokcho's center.
“Let’s follow it,” Kwon Oh-Jin declared.
“What are you planning to do?” Song Ha-Eun asked, cocking her head. As they followed behind the demonic beast, she closely observed its movements.
“... Huh? Doesn't that thing seem... off?” she asked.
Whenever the demonic beast pulled a certain distance ahead, it would zig-zag erratically, deliberately slowing down—almost like it was waiting for its pursuers to catch up.
Kwon Oh-Jin clicked his tongue.
He raised his arm, locking onto the staggering demonic beast, and fired his lightning-charged wire shooter.
The demonic beast collapsed onto the ground.
“Only one of them has been showing up at a time, and now... Oh-Jin, are they...?”
“It’s probably exactly what you’re thinking, Ha-Eun.”
They’re luring us toward the center of the city. Are demonic beasts smart enough to do this?
Kwon Oh-Jin furrowed his brow.
Mutated monsters, otherwise called demonic beasts, were known to be more aggressive than regular monsters. They were powerful but lacked intelligence like their regular counterparts.
Yet these things are baiting us in?
A sense of foreboding crept over him, clinging to him like a damp shirt.
“Uh, I don’t really get what’s wrong,” Park Chang-Hyun said, scratching his head.
For even a seasoned fighter like him to miss it meant the demonic beasts were moving exceptionally stealthily. Only Kwon Oh-Jin, skilled in deception, and Song Ha-Eun, who had once fought on the front lines, could recognize something was amiss.
If they’re pulling the same trick on the others...
There was a high chance that other Awakeners were being lured toward the center of Sokcho without realizing it.
Is that why Choi-Jong-Cheol went there as well?
“Oh-Jin,” Song Ha-Eun called.
He nodded, turning towards her visibly tense face.
“Chang-Hyun, let’s head back,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.
“Sorry?” Park Chang-Hyun gave Kwon Oh-Jin a puzzled look. “Head back already? We’re still in top shape...”
“The demonic beasts have been luring us toward the city center since the beginning.”
“They’re smart enough to do that?”
“It’s not certain, but going any deeper seems risky,” Kwon Oh-Jin warned.
“But there are still so many demonic beasts left to deal with...”
Park Chang-Hyun parted his lips, still doubtful.
“We’re not ending the mission. Let’s take care of the demonic beasts on the outskirts,” Kwon Oh-Jin suggested.
“Exterminating them is important, but so is keeping them from leaving Sokcho and attacking other cities. Right?” Kwon Oh-Jin reasoned.
“Hmm. I guess you have a point. Okay, then, let’s move to the outskirts. We’re gonna leave right away, yeah?”
Kwon Oh-Jin turned toward the city center and smiled slyly. He still had something to take care of.
I can’t miss this chance to gain the Stigma of Aquarius.
“I’ll just give the other teams a heads-up and let them know what the demonic beasts are up to,” he said.
Park Chang-Hyun and Song Ha-Eun moved closer to him.
“I’ll come with you.”
“No, I’ll go alone. If something goes wrong, I can escape the quickest.”
Kwon Oh-Jin had already proved his unmatched mobility with the aid of the wire shooter, leaving no room for objections.
“Hmm. If you say so,” Park Chang-Hyun replied, nodding in agreement.
Song Ha-Eun drew closer to Kwon Oh-Jin with a worried expression.“Ugh. If anything feels off, you have to get out of there right away, okay?”
Kwon Oh-Jin chuckled and nodded.
“Don’t worry. I’m good at looking out for myself.”
“Promise me that you’ll come back without getting hurt,” Song Ha-Eun urged, extending her pinky.
Hooking his pinky with hers, he replied, “Well then, I’ll contact you soon.”
He raised his arm and aimed his wire shooter at a nearby building.
Kwon Oh-Jin flew between buildings and eventually landed on a suitable rooftop, then activated the Stigma of Canes Venatici.
He analyzed a myriad of smells until he recognized Choi Jong-Cheol’s scent.
It’s that way. He's not far.
Kwon Oh-Jin's eyes glimmered.
Amidst the ruins of the city center, a middle-aged man wore a sly grin, surrounded by dozens of demonic beasts.
“Hehe. No matter how many times I see it, it's still unbelievable.”
He cautiously extended his arm toward the surrounding demonic beasts. The normally ferocious monsters were motionless next to him and accepted his touch like docile lambs as he patted them.
“To think I can control these beasts...!”
A shiver ran through Choi Jong-Cheol. He looked at the dark orb in his other hand that radiated an unsettling, eerie light.
As long as I have this power...!
He smiled wickedly as he clenched his empty fist.
“Haha, life really does turn around.”
Three months ago, he had hit rock bottom.
All because of that damned bastard...!
His gut churned with rage as he thought of Kwon Oh-Jin’s face. Having lost everything, he had wandered around aimlessly, desperate for any opportunity.
“But at least that led me to meet that man, hahaha.
When he had stumbled into the office of the Pandinus Guild, he met a man named Ashad Khan.
“You’re looking for a place to take you in?” Ashad Khan had asked.
“Hmm.” The man with bronze skin had nodded with a sly smile.
“Alright, but on one condition.”
“Take this and follow my orders.”
Ashad Khan had handed him an Astral Relic infused with the power of the Black Star—an item that could control wild demonic beasts.
But that’s only a fraction of this Astral Relic’s true power.
Choi Jong-Cheol chuckled, caressing the black orb like he was in love with it.
Ashad Khan's words echoed in his mind like an incantation.
“When the Black Star takes over the night sky, this unreasonable world will meet its end.”
They were grim, foreboding words, but...
Choi Jung-Cheol didn't care what the Black Star was. All he could think of was...
I now have the chance to get revenge on that bastard.
With sparkling eyes, he tightened his grip on the orb.
“Demonic beasts, continue luring the Awakeners here!” he commanded, striking an unnecessary, dramatic pose.
The motionless demonic beasts violently roared and scattered in every direction. At that moment, a bald man cautiously approached.
Choi Jong-Cheol frowned and asked, “What is it?”
“Do you think Park Jung-Woo will be okay?”
“Again with that nonsense?”
The bald man bit his lip anxiously before blurting out, “Do you have any idea how much money that guy owes me?!”
Choi Jong-Cheol clicked his tongue. “Didn't I explain this before? To avoid suspicion, we need some casualties on our side too.”
The Pandinus Guild could not be seen as the mastermind behind the upcoming massacre. They needed to leave this operation as victims, and for that to happen...
“Someone has to be sacrificed,” Choi Jong-Cheol asserted.
The bald man scratched the back of his head.
“But don’t worry too much. I only injured him just enough to keep it non-fatal. He might have some lasting damage, but he won't die.”
“Now, please continue probing the area until the Awakeners gather at the center.”
“Understood, ” the bald man replied and left.
About fifteen minutes later...
“Huff, huff! Mr. Jong-Cheol!”
Choi Jong-Cheol frowned at the bald man panting heavily and asked, “What now?”
“P-Park Jung-Woo! That bastard’s dead!”
“What?” Choi Jong-Cheol muttered.