March 12, 2023, 5:32 pm, Dalseong Park, Daegu, South Korea.
Jihyo felt something trickle down her forehead. She wipes it off and looks at her palm, now smeared with a maroon-colored liquid.
It was her blood.
She has seen her blood before. She had injuries before. Cuts, bruises, even a dislocated knee that required treatment. Those were from her days of performing as an idol, days in which those injuries meant they were signs of hard work, a sign of a great performance.
All to make their fans happy, contented, and proud.
Now, it was different.
She was injured because she's fighting for her own life.
She looks at her enemy in the distance--- A Koul'in general named Vesper--- who controls the icy winds around him. An entity that will kill for the sake of power. One of the living testaments that humans aren't alone in the universe.
She has been only fighting him for at least five minutes, but to her, it felt like hours. Her arms were starting to get tired. Her strength was slowly fading. Worse off, she can barely penetrate his Typhon Barrier --- a razor-sharp, impenetrable, tornado-like barrier that violently rotates around him and has the power to slice everything in its path.
Vesper was fighting Jihyo using his environment, jumping from tree to tree as he attacks Jihyo from unexpected directions. Jihyo was having a really difficult time blocking his attacks, and the dim surroundings didn't help, either.
But she keeps trying.
Vesper charges again, narrowly missing Jihyo. He uses another tree next to Jihyo to gain momentum and flings himself toward Jihyo once more.
"Crystalline Blanket!"
Jihyo unleashes a blanket of crystalized slashes towards Vesper. The slash collides with his violently rotating Typhon Barrier, having little effect.
"That didn't work.." Jihyo thought. "Prismatic Burst!"
Jihyo follows up with a short-burst crystallized laser, which, didn't have any effect as well.
"Damn it..." Jihyo said to herself. "His barrier has no openings... I can't get a clean hit on him. If this keeps up... I'll..."
Vesper misses Jihyo again and uses another tree to launch himself towards Jihyo again at full speed.
Jihyo braced herself as she let out her palm. It glows and forms a crystallized barrier made of pure light, clashing with Vesper's intense wind barrier.
Vesper immediately retreats and removes his barrier by separating his arms, and quickly rushes toward her again, readying his wind-infused fist.
"Fortress-Shattering Wind!" He delivers a devastating punch that shatters Jihyo's crystalline shield.
The force of the punch sends Jihyo a few feet away from Vesper, and she crashes towards one of the benches in the open area of the park.
Jihyo kneels in pain and exhaustion. She has wounds all over, and she can't take another step without healing herself first. She concentrates as she faintly glows, trying to close up her wounds with her powers.
But before she could completely heal herself, Vesper rushes in and kicks her to the ground, which makes her lose her concentration. Her wounds open again as a result.
"I never actually understood why the Artificer chose this race to wield his creations," Vesper said, walking towards Jihyo. "You're no challenge, and your attacks are utterly predictable."
"Ugh..." Jihyo writhes in pain and agony as she held her waist, tightly gripping the Manifest on her hand.
"More importantly, I don't understand why are you clinging on to a weapon that you don't technically need.." Vesper continued.
"I... need it... to protect my family and friends.." Jihyo said as she tried to stand up.
"Tsk. What a waste of power... Those kinds of weapons are to be used in conflicts. Full-scale wars. Not in some dumb, heroic sounding reasoning like protecting friends or family. It's utter nonsense. Manifests are literally built for destruction. Built to make beings stronger so they can rule over others. And if you're just using it for such a mundane concept like that, then clearly, you don't deserve it. It should belong to me." Vesper said with a disgusted tone.
"Yeah..? And what makes you think YOU, out of all beings, deserve this..?" Jihyo said.
"Because I'm stronger than you. Isn't it already obvious? I mean, look at you. Already beaten and bloodied in just a few minutes of fighting. Do you seriously think you're even worthy of wielding that Manifest with what strength you have? Let alone fulfill your so-called "goal" of protecting your loved ones? " Vesper said.
"..." Jihyo didn't reply.
"You're laughable. And I kind of pity you now, too. You came here to save and protect the people around here, am I right? But, so far, you haven't saved nor protected anyone, and now, no one's coming to protect you. That's sad." Vesper said as he readied to slam Jihyo onto the ground with his wind-infused fists.
Suddenly, from a distance, a car appears out of nowhere, mowing the scattered benches down as it continued to head towards Vesper at full speed. The injured Jihyo's eyes widen as she sees Hangyeol driving the car, with Zeke seating next to him.
"Take this, you cheap, knock-off Airbender!" Zeke shouted.
Vesper notices the incoming vehicle and immediately folds his arms to create a wind barrier, but fails to do so as he gets hit by the speeding car first. Hangyeol drives the Koul'in general toward a small stone clock tower nearby. They hit the tower with a loud crash, and the stone tower collapses on Vesper.
The airbags in the car popped out just in time and saved Zeke and Hangyeol's body from sustaining damage.
Jihyo then saw the two crawl out of the destroyed car, sustaining little injuries.
"T-told you it was a bad idea.." Hangyeol said to Zeke as he groaned and held his back and stood up.
"Ugh... But we did land him a good one, hmm?" Zeke replied as he slowly stood up as well.
They then both look at Jihyo, who was faintly glowing as she focused on slowly healing her wounds. They both limp toward her.
"Jihyo!" Zeke checks the injured idol. "Jihyo, are you okay...?"
She looks at Zeke for a while. She couldn't believe Zeke came to her rescue this time. She breathes a sigh of relief and faintly smiles.
"Y-yeah. A couple of bruises here and there, but they're healing." Jihyo replied. "You..? You good?"
"Yes... We found survivors and took them back to Mr. Minhyuk's settlement... We saw Mr. Seojun, too, and he said he's going to be okay and that we should go ahead and help you." Zeke replied.
Hangyeol sat immediately on the ground, groaning in pain as he held his knee.
"Hoooo... I'm going to sue you, Zeke." Hangyeol said.
"What? What did I do?" Zeke replied.
"You coerced me into doing this... insane plan!" Hangyeol said.
"Coerced?! You said, "Okay then"?! I didn't even convince you, not one bit!" Zeke replied.
"That's because I thought YOUR PLAN was to use this car to save Jihyo-ssi by grabbing her and escaping, not to run over a very powerful space alien like an absolute madman!" Hangyeol replied as he stood up.
"Hey! I knew you enjoyed it anyway! You can add it to your list of achievements!" Zeke exclaimed. "And besides. Admit it. It was cool."
Hangyeol froze at his remark as he thought of what he said.
Jihyo just chuckled at their witty banter.
"Ugh... you're right," Hangyeol replied. "It is cool to run over a murderous alien, so.."
They suddenly hear a rumble from where the car was. Vesper bursts out from the rubble as the winds glow around him.
"I've had enough of you weak humans." He said as he grabs the whole car and hurls it towards them.
"Move..! Heaven's Descent!" Jihyo stands, ignoring the pain on her body. She immediately pushes Zeke and Hangyeol behind her and slashes downward, slicing the car in half. Vesper follows up by generating an extremely powerful gust of wind that sends the three flying far, toward the trees and benches behind them.
The three immediately stood up from where they crashed. They see the Koul'in general from afar, now folding his arms once more to activate his Typhon Barrier. Its winds violently rotated as the trees around them started swaying.
"The hell is that..?" Zeke said.
"His so-called "Typhon Barrier". It's an impenetrable, wind barrier he activates whenever he folds his arms in an X-position..." Jihyo replied. "It only disappears when he separates his arms. It's razor-sharp deadly too, so I wouldn't advise being anywhere near that..."
"Oh, boy, we are going to die..!" Hangyeol said as he shuddered in fear.
"We won't die." the wounded Jihyo said as she readied her blade once more, trying to keep a sturdy fighting stance. "I'll protect you two, just... stay behind me. Alright..?"
Zeke sees Jihyo smile at him, then looks away. She wobbles a bit and gives a pained sigh. Zeke was worried. Surely, the fight has taken a toll on her body.
"Let's see if you can do that... Jihyo. Typhon Barrier: Tackle!" Vesper said as he charges toward the three with his wind barrier.
Jihyo tries to make her crystalline shield once more, but Vesper was quicker this time. He tackles her with so much force that he sends her crashing towards a very small building nearby. Half of the structure collapses as the tiled roof caved in on Jihyo.
"No...!" Hangyeol screamed.
"Jihyo!" Zeke said as they try to go to her, only to get blocked by Vesper.
Zeke flinches at the sight of the enemy right in front of him. He slowly felt fear as he backed a little, trying not to look scared as the Koul'in general walks towards them.
"Eek! Zeke, what the hell are you doing..! Don't just stand there!" Hangyeol said as he tries to frantically shoot Vesper, but the Koul'in general was too fast. He launches himself again towards Zeke and Hangyeol, tackling them both full-force with his barrier.
Zeke and Hangyeol felt like getting slammed by rotating steel blades as Vesper tackled them. Parts of their clothes get ripped off as the steel-like winds pierced through their flesh.
Zeke lands on his back. Hangyeol lands further away from him, immediately losing consciousness due to the force of Vesper's tackle.
"Your friend has failed again," Vesper said as he deactivates his barrier. "As I've told her, I'm stronger. And I deserve to have that Manifest because I am."
"It's not going to end like this..." Zeke exclaimed as he writhed in agony.
"Hmph. Just admit it, you humans are just incapable of combat... weak species that will soon be devoured by the Koul'in. Because the weak... will always get beaten by the strong." Vesper said as he then walks toward Jihyo, grabbing her by the neck.
"Hngh..!" Jihyo tried to pry free, but Vesper's grip was too strong.
"Now... to end your suffering and claim what was meant to be mine.." Vesper muttered as he tightened his grip on her neck.
Zeke mustered all his strength in trying to stand up. His body was screaming pain all over, with blood trickling from his arms and upper extremities. It has been a long night--- and it was turning worse for the three of them.
Hangyeol was down. Minhyuk's reinforcements haven't arrived yet.
And Jihyo was literally on the brink of death.
They were losing.
He was adamant about beating the Koul'in general at first. But when he saw the threat just next to him, all his courage suddenly went down the drain as he began feeling what he felt before they came here: fear.
Surely, it wasn't supposed to end this way. Jihyo still needed to find her members. He needed to go home to his family.
He wanted to do something. He badly needed to.
But he can't do anything.
Just then, when he felt all hope was lost, Jihyo's voice echoed in his head.
"...sometimes, we have to do things even if we are afraid, you know? Because it's in those times where we figure out what we truly want to do, whatever that is."
Zeke's eyes widen. His mind was suddenly flooded with different ideas---ideas that might help him aid Jihyo even in his wounded state. One particular idea came into his mind, and it was going to be extremely risky.
And probably crazy.
But he felt like it was the only way, and now, he only needed to act on it.
Zeke takes a deep breath, and with all his courage, spoke.
"Let her go, organic electric fan," Zeke said.
"Shut your mouth, weakling." Vesper scoffed. "I came here for the Manifest and that is my only objective. If you want to die, you'll have to wait." Vesper said as he kept grabbing Jihyo by the neck.
"Do I have to wait..."
"....or you just can't do it 'cause... y'know... you're a weak coward?" Zeke mocked him.
Vesper stopped and slowly looked at him.
"Yeah. You heard it right. You don't want to kill me cause you're a coward." Zeke added.
Jihyo's eyes widen at his remark.
"I'm not wasting time on weaklings like you," Vesper replied.
"Really. Is that the reason why?" Zeke replied. "If you're that strong, you could've killed me already when you had the chance earlier. Why haven't you killed me yet? Because you can't. I may even assume that you're scared of me because of that."
"What in the world is Zeke saying..?!" Jihyo thought. "He's going to get himself killed!"
Jihyo notices the Seraphim glow brighter.
Vesper just looked at him.
"What?" Zeke said. "Why do you have that look on your face? Is it true?"
"Don't make me laugh. You're just trying to distract me from my actual objective." Vesper replied.
"Oh, if you're really strong, you shouldn't be even listening to me, right?" Zeke said as he crossed his arms. "But you are. That means you're affected. It's true. It's just obvious."
Vesper now glares at him.
"It just makes sense you know.." Zeke said as he began pacing back and forth. "Your powers consist of blowing people away from you... protecting yourself from getting harmed using your... what was that? "Typhoid Barrier techniques?" Come on. Even the attack name screams absolute loser... My friends can do better."
Vesper drops Jihyo to the ground as he begins walking towards Zeke. She coughs as she worriedly looks at him. Zeke notices this, and faintly smiles, mouthing the words, "Heal up as fast as you can and follow me, alright?"
"Bold of you, a weak human, to insult the likes of me," Vesper said as the winds around him picked up the pace. "But I admire your courage, so for that, I'll grant you a swift death."
"Bold of you to assume I'd die easy, though," Zeke remarked as he held his pipe wrench tightly. "And yeah, try to make it quick. I don't have time to chitchat."
Despite Zeke's strong stance, deep inside, he was extremely panicking.
There was no turning back from this one.
"Putangina," Zeke cursed at himself. "This was a horrible idea. I'm going to freaking die."