Chapter 10: Calm before the Storm

  A golden mask hovered in the darkness, pulsating with a sickly light. Yaejin reached for her spear, for her strength, for anything—but her limbs felt like lead. Her powers were gone, drained into the void. As the mask drew closer, it shattered down the middle, and Wonjung lunged through the shards, her eyes glowing a predatory crimson.

  Yaejin sat up with a gasp, her heart hammering against her ribs.

  She wasn't in a temple. She was in a tent, the air smelling of pine and damp earth. A beautiful blonde woman sat nearby, sharpening a blade with a rhythmic shing, shing.

  "So, you’re up," the woman said, her voice steady.

  Yaejin exhaled a shaky breath of relief. "Jiwon..."

  "Found you drifting in the river after a massive explosion went off at the coordinates we were supposed to meet at." Jiwon shook her head, her expression grim. "Obviously, you guys lost... because you didn't wait for me."

  Yaejin’s face crumbled. "They’re gone, Jiwon."

  Jiwon’s hand froze on the whetstone. "What?"

  "Wonjung... she killed Cheol and Soyeon."

  Something snapped inside Yaejin. Desperate to prove her nightmare wrong, she lunged forward, grabbed Jiwon’s dagger, and sliced a shallow cut across her own forearm.

  "Yaejin, no!"

  Yaejin didn't listen. She focused every ounce of her will, trying to spark the blue light in her cells, trying to make the skin knit back together. But the wound stayed open. The blood kept dripping. Her eyes remained a dull, powerless brown, and the only thing that flowed from them were hot, bitter tears.

  ***

  SLAM.

  Shade’s head bounced off the metal table in the interrogation room. He groaned, a bloody smirk spreading beneath his gasmask. "Hehe... that’s all you got?"

  Rin stood over him, her knuckles bruised. "Maybe," she grinned dangerously. "Where are the other soldiers you stole from Flux?"

  "Did we steal them?" Shade laughed, the sound hollow. "Or did we just enlighten them?"

  Rin delivered a sharp kick to his jaw, snapping his head back. Shade just laughed harder. "Please... do you really think the ANTIs would just lose like that?"

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  The heavy steel door creaked open. San entered the room, his presence alone making the air feel thick and heavy. He wore thin, obsidian armor and carried a long, slender claymore sheathed across his back. He radiated an intimidating energy that silenced the room.

  "Ahhh, the great San," Shade whispered. "I haven't seen you since... the Warlock incident."

  "Hey Shade. It’s been a while indeed," San smirked, his voice like grinding velvet.

  "You won't find them," Shade spat. "And if you do, they’d already be dead."

  "We found Leeseo," San countered calmly. "We’ll find the rest."

  "Do it, San," Rin commanded, stepping back.

  San’s eyes flared a brilliant, cold blue. He flicked his wrist, and Shade suddenly convulsed. An agonizing, grudging corruption surged through Shade’s veins, a power that turned his own nervous system against him.

  "GAAAHHHHH!!!!!" Shade’s screams echoed through the soundproof walls.

  ***

  In a neon-lit arcade across town, a "K.O." flashed across a screen.

  "What? How did you beat me? You’re literally just slamming the buttons!" Seonho complained, looking at his controller in betrayal.

  Leeseo laughed, a bright, genuine sound. She leaned over and hugged his arm. "You just told me to press... I don't know. Am I good?"

  Seonho looked at her, his annoyance melting into a soft smile. "Yes, Leeseo. You're very good."

  They moved to the racing cabinets. "I do remember driving motorcycles," Leeseo said, her hands gripping the plastic handles.

  "You're a natural. Look, you have a green shell. Press that button to use it," Seonho coached.

  Leeseo pressed it. The shell zipped across the screen and hit Seonho’s character, sending him spinning as Leeseo crossed the finish line in 1st place.

  "Hey! I didn't say hit me!" Seonho ranted, though he was grinning.

  "Wait, why am I winning?" Leeseo giggled, her eyes sparkling.

  They moved to the high-striker punching bag. Seonho wound up and launched a massive punch. The machine whirred and dinged: 999.

  "Booyah! Beat that!"

  Leeseo stepped up. She pulled her fist back and launched a punch with her enhanced strength. There was a sickening CRACK as the entire machine buckled, the metal frame snapping under her weight.

  "Shoot," Seonho hissed, grabbing her hand. "Let’s get out of here before they call the cops."

  Outside, the night was cool. Seonho handed Leeseo a stick of Tanghulu. She stared at the candied fruit, completely clueless.

  "Just have some," he encouraged.

  Leeseo licked the sugar coating. "It's sweet."

  "Bite it. Don't be scared."

  She took a bite, her teeth cracking through the shell. "Hard... but sweet."

  Seonho laughed, looking at her with an expression that was far from just "responsible." "You're so cute."

  Suddenly, fireworks exploded in the distance, painting the sky in vibrant colors. Leeseo ducked slightly. "Wow... is that bad?"

  "Just enjoy it, Leeseo."

  Seonho’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out.

  The message was from San:

  Shade gave in. Send Leeseo home and meet me at these coordinates.

  Seonho’s playful energy vanished. "Leeseo, it's time to go home."

  He led her to a black car where a Flux soldier sat in the driver's seat. Seonho had already swapped his casual hoodie for his combat suit.

  Doyun smiled. "Get in, Leeseo. I'll take you home."

  "Seonho, stay with me," Leeseo said, her voice small as she sat in the back seat.

  Seonho leaned in and gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm sorry, Leeseo. I have to go. But don't worry... I'm always one blink away."

  The car pulled away. Seonho watched the taillights disappear before turning toward the shadows.

  ***

  In a distant, abandoned street, a bar had been turned into a slaughterhouse. ANTI soldiers lay dead across the floor, blood pooling under the pool tables. One man was still alive, hung from a meat hook by his collar.

  The man in the silver mask approached him, his white robes spotless despite the carnage. He sheathed his katana with a metallic click.

  "You..." the dying man wheezed. "You will never be a god like her."

  The Silver Mask scoffed. He reached up and lowered the hook, dropping the man to the floor.

  "No," he said, his voice cold as ice. "I will kill gods."

  Through the eye slits of the silver mask, his eyes didn't glow blue. They glowed a fierce, terrifying Purple.

  ***

  Back in the car, Doyun suddenly slammed on the brakes.

  "What's wrong?" Leeseo asked, her heart racing.

  Doyun's eyes glowed blue. He looked out, his hands transforming into massive stone fists. "I will protect you!"

  Suddenly, a red surge of energy swept through the street like a shockwave. The stone crumbled from Doyun’s hands, his blue glow extinguishing instantly. "No!"

  Wonjung landed on the hood of the car with a heavy thud. Without a word, she drove her broadsword straight through the windshield and into the Doyun's chest.

  Leeseo screamed, pressing herself against the back seat.

  Wonjung leaned over, looking through the shattered glass at the terrified girl. Her eyes were red, glowing with the power of the gods she had consumed.

  "Let’s go, Leeseo," Wonjung said, her voice eerily calm. "Time to come back home."

  Purple.