Chapter 18: The Monster Called Kwon Yiyul

Low gasps echoed quietly throughout the center lounge that had fallen into silence.

News reports announcing that two children trapped beneath the collapsed remains of a building had ultimately died overtook the headlines of every broadcast station.

The mournful voices of the people watching the news added even more weight to the responsibility already pressing down on my shoulders.

As though rebuking the selfish part of me that had briefly resented being dragged into the disaster site.

‘Right. While other people are risking their lives fighting out there, hesitating just because I want to spare my own body is ridiculous.’

“Uh, Jaeyoon…”

“…Understood. I’ll go.”

“The Director also said that if anything happens to your body afterward, the center will absolutely compensate you accordingly.”

“That’s fortunate, then. At least I’ll get paid properly.”

Pretending to stay composed, I nodded and swallowed the painkillers I’d been prescribed earlier with a mouthful of water.

This should let me endure for at least half a day.

Thud-thud-thud-thud—

“Once you arrive at the scene, follow the staff members there and move directly to the shelter. Team Leader Kwon will head there immediately after resolving the incident.”

“Have the equipment and support facilities already been installed?”

“…The basic systems are there, but compared to the center, the conditions are still much worse.”

“…I see.”

After boarding the military helicopter waiting on the rooftop helipad, I received a parachute, bulletproof vest, and various emergency supplies from one of the personnel already onboard.

From the center’s perspective, Guides were valuable assets that had to be protected at all costs.

But disaster sites were always unpredictable.

So without complaint, I gathered everything handed to me.

Soon the mountaineering backpack hanging from my shoulders swelled heavily with supplies.

“Then we’ll depart now.”

“…Please come back safely, Jaeyoon.”

“Yes.”

With a heavy mechanical sound, the helicopter doors shut.

Storm winds raged outside.

Some regions were even experiencing hail, making the aircraft’s route dangerously unstable.

Every time the helicopter lurched violently, I instinctively gripped the seatbelt strapped across my chest.

The overwhelming fear momentarily paralyzed my mind.

“We’ve successfully entered the airspace above District 5’s Special Relief Zone. Until further instructions arrive from the control room, all personnel and pilots will remain inside the aircraft.”

An alert sounded announcing our arrival over District 5.

Moments later, orders came directly from the control room.

Below us, gray ash drifted endlessly through the air while an entire city burned beneath the flames.

Countless center-affiliated Espers fought desperately throughout the city to exterminate the Earthshades.

The scale of the battle resembled an actual war.

For a moment, I could only stare blankly out the window, unable to speak.

KWA-BOOM—!!

Then suddenly, an enormous barrage of lightning crashed down across the city with the deafening roar of artillery fire.

The helicopter shook violently in the raging wind and nearly lost control between the forest of skyscrapers.

But the assault didn’t stop there.

The lightning suspended in the sky shifted shape in an instant, lashing downward like giant metallic whips.

Buildings struck by the lightning split cleanly in half under the overwhelming voltage and current.

The Earthshades failed to recognize the omen of death approaching them.

Crushed beneath collapsing debris, they writhed helplessly before eventually going limp.

“Approximately half of the Earthshade population has been exterminated. Begin lowering altitude gradually. Remaining personnel are to provide cover fire so Guide Han Jaeyoon can safely enter the shelter.”

“Jaeyoon, please slowly unfasten your seatbelt and move toward the exit.”

“Ah… yes.”

Lightning and storms collided once more, unleashing another explosive roar.

The Earthshades clinging to the towering buildings turned into charred black corpses within seconds and scattered into ash.

Blinding flashes accompanied the unbearable heat pouring through the battlefield.

I had barely managed to steady myself when another lightning strike slammed against the aircraft’s wing.

The shock sent me collapsing hard onto the floor.

My temple struck the edge of the window frame, and pain rang sharply through my skull.

“Warning. Team Leader Kwon has stated the incident is not fully resolved yet, so all personnel are to remain at a safe distance.”

“How much longer until completion?”

“He says approximately ten more minutes.”

Unlike his usual perfectly tailored suits, Kwon Yiyul now wore a combat uniform designed for movement.

And true to the title of monster dominating the battlefield, he radiated terrifying power.

Even amid the massive war unfolding around him, he maintained the overwhelming presence of a ruler while scattering electric currents freely through the sky.

Lightning crashed down from impossible angles, disrupting the Earthshades’ senses before driving them mercilessly toward destruction.

Even the pregnant Earthshades carrying offspring inside their bodies during breeding season emerged from their nests to continue fighting.

But they were still no match for Kwon Yiyul.

“Warning once again. Increase altitude immediately and retreat outside the lightning range. Repeat. Put as much distance as possible between yourselves and the lightning zone.”

“Team Leader Kwon says he’ll finish the final cleanup himself! All personnel, remain seated and do not move!”

The helicopter engine caught fire, releasing thick smoke into the cabin.

But remaining within range of the lightning was even more dangerous.

The pilot risked everything and raised the aircraft higher into the sky.

Slowly, the city beneath us drifted farther away.

Rumble—

“Ah…”

The lightning surged upward violently like a dragon ascending into the heavens.

From such a high altitude, the city below felt unreal.

Inside that surreal landscape, the lightning wielded by Kwon Yiyul swallowed even the clouds as it rapidly tore the world apart.

The clustered lightning gathering tightly at the center suddenly exploded outward at regular intervals, igniting fires everywhere.

It truly resembled the power of an SS-rank Esper.

No—purely in terms of ability alone, perhaps even something beyond that.

“Han Jaeyoon? You are Han Jaeyoon, correct?”

“Yes. That’s me.”

“I apologize, but you’ll need to head to the guiding chamber immediately. Esper Kwon Yiyul’s condition is extremely unstable right now. We haven’t detected signs of a full overload yet, but he’s clearly struggling.”

After the control room finally announced the situation had been resolved, I barely managed to arrive at the shelter platform.

Before I could even catch my breath, an employee rushed out of the building and immediately led me toward the deepest part of the shelter where the guiding chamber was located.

Just as they said, Kwon Yiyul’s condition was clearly unstable.

Even from outside the building, I could feel the sharp pressure of his brainwaves piercing through the air.

At this rate, even if I poured every ounce of energy into guiding him for an hour straight, calming him down wouldn’t be easy.

“This is the room. As Esper Kwon requested beforehand, no one will observe the guiding session directly, so please finish comfortably and come out afterward.”

“Understood.”

“We’re counting on you.”

Standing before the guiding chamber, I swallowed dryly.

Pain stabbed through my skull as though something were scratching viciously inside my brain.

A chill spread instinctively down my spine.

“…Excuse me.”

After knocking twice, I quickly slipped through the opening door and locked it behind me immediately.

If the situation worsened beyond control, it would be better if only I suffered the consequences alone.

But the moment I entered the room, I realized how completely different it was from outside.

Unlike the brightly lit corridors, the interior was almost entirely dark.

Thud.

“Ah— ngh!”

A black arm suddenly wrapped around my waist from behind.

The faint warmth of skin brushing against me made me instinctively realize the person holding me was Kwon Yiyul.

“Kwon Yiyul. It’s me. Han Jaeyoon.”

“…Hah… hngh…”

As though he’d completely lost his reason, Kwon Yiyul breathed heavily while crushing me against his chest hard enough to break me apart.

The body heat beneath his clothes felt dangerously hot.

Almost burning.

“Your brainwave condition is extremely unstable right now, so once you calm down a little more, I’ll continue the guiding properly. So even if it’s difficult, please follow my instructions— mmph.”

The unexpected contact made me forget how to breathe entirely.

Kwon Yiyul held me tightly while pressing his lips against mine.

Then, almost immediately, he swallowed my lips hungrily as though devouring me whole.

The strength left my legs in an instant.

Without hesitation, Kwon Yiyul lifted me into his arms and turned sharply toward the wall.

Thunk.

“Ah— hng…”

The hard surface pressing against my back felt unfamiliar.

For a brief moment, only our rough breathing filled the darkness while heated gazes collided between us.

Kwon Yiyul’s condition was obviously unstable.

Yet his hands moving across my body were gentler and warmer than ever before.

Every place his fingers touched sent sharp tremors through me, making it impossible to stay still.

I struggled desperately to escape from his arms.

But Kwon Yiyul pressed his forehead softly against mine and whispered quietly,

“…Don’t push me away. I’m hurting a lot right now.”