"I'll be honest..." Zeke began. "E-World Tower isnt really part of my itinerary, based on my South Korea package tour brochure. Is it okay to tour this place? What do you think...?"
"Zeke... you gotta stop pretending we're your tour guides and you got lost in your tour," Minji said, giggling. "You've been at it since we left."
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I know that. I'm just trying to lighten the mood, because, you know, we are in a very, very hostile place right now... and it's way too early for this kind of menacing aura..." Zeke said as he looked toward the Koul'in base.
April 19, 2023, 5:30 am, E-World Amusement Park, Daegu, South Korea.
[MAJOR EVENT: OPERATION SHIBA]
The team's caravan stopped beyond the parking lot of the park, where the fog was no longer hampering their field of vision. They look around, and they realized they were in the plaza of the park.
A once, lively place, the plaza was now nothing but piles of bricks and steel rubble. The arching entrance that serves as one of the landmarks of the park has fallen, and the fountain pool nearby now completely frozen in solid ice. Barren trees surround the area, as if the place was just... dead.
"This is the part where we split up, right, Mr. Seojun?" Zeke asked.
"Mhm. Your team will head toward the tower, while we cover the rides area." Seojun replied.
"Will you guys be okay...?" Zeke asked.
"Yes. Ofcourse. We will." Seojun replied.
"Seojun-nim wouldn't bluff in a crucial moment like this. We are prepared this time. I believe we can do this, so I'll help him!" Minji added.
"I wanted to make up for the time I couldnt protect Sana-unnie. So if this is the way... Even if I'm nervous, I'd fight for this." Miyeon said.
"Well, I'm part of this team, so I guess I'm joining this battle, too. Don't worry about us, Jihyo-unnie. This is a battle we choose to participate in, and we will be fine." Ryujin smiled.
"Well, that's more than enough validation that we can do it, hmm?" Seojun said. "Now, you should be off."
"Take care, Seojun. Minji. Ryujin. Miyeon."
"You as well, Minhyuk-nim!" Minji replied.
Before Zeke and Jihyo's team finally departs for the tower, they were stopped by Seojun.
"Zeke, Jihyo." Seojun suddenly spoke as the two looked at him.
"A word of advice. In this particular situation, you should choose your battles. Not every enemy is worth wasting sweat on. It's all about increasing our survivability 'til we get to our goal, and that is to rescue those who need to be rescued. We can't save them if we are exhausted, or worse, dead."
"How do we know if the battle isn't worth it, Seojun-nim?" Jihyo asked.
"For me, it's when you expend so much energy on an opponent that you think would only waste your time. You'll just... know." Seojun replied.
"...We got you, Mister Seojun." Zeke replied as they both nodded. "Please take care."
Seojun smiled as he turns to his team. "Ryujin, Minji. Miyeon. Follow me, and ready your weapons." Seojun smiled as he began to walk towards the rides area, while Zeke and Jihyo's team ventured toward the tower.
April 19, 2023, 5:41 am, E-World Amusement Park, Daegu, South Korea.
Seojun, Minji, Miyeon, and Ryujin walked towards the rides area. There was nothing but leftovers of what was once a beautiful theme park, and there was no noise but the sound of the cold, desolate wind, seemingly screaming sadly for what was lost.
As they progressed, the audible winds defean, and they soon hear footsteps. And there were plenty of them.
"Are those...?" Seojun asked.
"Yeah, Seojun-nim. Koul'in footsoldiers." Ryujin replied.
Same as their superiors Vesper and Shintel, the Koul'in footsoldiers walking around were humanoid in shape, pale in complexion, and have blue eyes. They were sporting alien armor that looks a little less advanced than Ryujin's and wields a variety of weapons, such as spears and swords.
"Oh god..." Miyeon trembled. "There's too many of them..."
"So... Seojun-nim... How are we going to deal with them...?"Ryujin asked.
"Easy. I'll use my Manifest abilities to take them out." Seojun replied as he rolled up his sleeve.
"E...eh?" Minji said in surprise. "But how...? The Seraphim is no longer yours, right...?"
"You may not know this but... while it's true that Manifests cannot be used by non-wielders, and wielders who have their own existing Manifests cannot use another unless theirs gets destroyed... It's a different story for former wielders. We can still use a slight portion of our former Manifest's power. The only reason I lost to Vesper back in Dalseong Park was that my mind wasn't in battle. I admit I have lost my mental strength back then. So I meditated. Thought about this threat we are in... about the welfare of saving other people in this apocalypse... And then... I felt my power returning without it taking too much toll on my body. Now... all I need.."
Seojun raises his hand.
"...is to manifest it once more."
The Seojun's palm began generating a faint light. Suddenly, it creates a light orb that seems to distort and become static, much to Ryujin and Minji's amazement.
The air around them started glitching as well.
A soldier gasped. "A wielder! He's dangerous! Soldiers, take him out now!" He exclaimed as five soldieers advance toward them.
Seojun took a deep breath, and raised his fists. They began to flash in static light.
"Fickle Haywire."
Seojun then advances forward, and unleashes quick glitched strikes on the bodies of the attacking enemies.
The five soldiers attacking the team were mostly unharmed by Seojun's attacks, thanks to their armor. But suddenly, they felt a buzzing sensation all over their body. Soon, all of their senses buzz as well, and the three Koul'in soldiers all topple down on the ground.
"W...what just happened...?! He's...!" The Koul'in soldier said to himself. "What did you do?!"
"Overloaded their sensory functions with static light, putting them to sleep. That's all." Seojun replied calmly.
"So Seojun-nim's attacks... cause obdormition and severe paresthesia..." Minji uttered to herself.
".... huh? Ob...what now?" Ryujin asked. Miyeon looks at Minji as well.
"Oh, sorry. I sometimes speak medical jargon. Let me explain, Ryujin-ssi! Obdormition is a medical term for limbs that "go to sleep", due to pressure applied to it for a long time. What comes after is paresthesia. The abnormal tingling of the skin. You know, when you get that... static-like feeling in your leg when you sit on it for a long, long time..." Minji explained.
"Yeah, I've had alot of those moments. It's like my legs lost TV signal." Ryujin said.
"RIIIIGHT! Now imagine that... but ten times worse. And its all over your body, including your sensory organs. That's what Seojun's power looks like."
"Young one, I do not know your medical terms that much, but I can keep up with what you're saying. I'm confirming that's the actual effect of my static light abilities." Seojun said as he smiled.
"So that's his Manifest ability... Amazingly scary..." Ryujin thought.
"Soldiers, keep attacking!"
More of the soldiers charge towards Seojun's team.
"Ryujin, Minji, I may need some assistance. I'm still old, after all. I can't take all of them alone." Seojun said.
"Yes! Definitely!" Ryujin said as she readied her guns, and placed muzzles on them. Miyeon just stands there, holding her gun. Minji, on the other hand, picks up a spear from one of the fallen Koul'ins, and the four soon charge directly towards the advancing army.
Seojun does a quick flurry of glitched punches towards a group of foot soldiers, knocking out some of them.
Ryujin follows up by shooting a handful of soldiers that Seojun just knocked out. Miyeon brings out her MP5 and wildly shoots at the incoming enemies.
Minji, running just behind Ryujin, stabs a Koul'in in his abdomen. The Koul'in writhes in pain.
"Hey, hey, are you okay?!" Minji said to the Koul'in. Ryujin comes and punches him in the jaw and knocks him out.
"Really? Asking him if he's okay?" Ryujin exclaimed.
"Oh! My bad! Force of habit, Ryujin-ssi... because I work in the medical field, remember? Oh, and I'm a Red Cross member too... I am supposed to heal and not harm, after all."
"Then.... you're a harmacist..." Ryujin joked as she tackled a Koul'in to the ground. Miyeon giggles.
"HAHAHAHAHA! Nice joke, Ryujin-ssi, but sadly that joke doesn't work well because I'm no pharmacist..." Minji said as she scratches her head, trying to pull the spear out of the now fallen alien soldier.
"Wait, you aren't a pharmacist?" Ryujin asked as she pummeled another incoming Koul'in with a powerful kick.
"I'm a nurse," Minji replied. "I've mentioned it before."
"Oh... clearly I wasn't paying attention..." Ryujin muttered.
As the attacking Koul'ins dwindle in number, Ryujin notices a glowing cube on the snowy ground. It suddenly bursts in power, making the area around the store freeze and collapse.
"Guys...? What's that?" Ryujin asked as Seojun, Miyeon and Minji looked at the cube as well.
The cube continues to glow, and an icy, mechanical core rises from it.
Minji's eyes widen. She has heard of this before, from his brother, before they left for the Daegu Baseball Stadium.
"We're going to try to lure the enemy with this cube. It's core should draw out a Koul'in from hiding if we cause enough trouble in a specific area, in this case, we choose the baseball stadium just an avenue away." Hyungwon said as he shows Minji the high technology icy cube.
"It can... do that?" Minji asked.
"We theorized it can detect conflict." Hyungwon replied. "If a conflict is big enough in a specific area, a Koul'in subordinate might appear through this cube. This is because they think ordinary humans can't cause such massive conflicts against their kind, and only wielders are capable of it. We plan on baiting one right away and ask about Sana-ssi's whereabouts. We are taking this opportunity as a way to also learn how the enemy works."
"...A Koul'in subordinate is coming." Minji said.
"Hmm." Seojun and his team backed a few feet, and the remaining soldiers retreated toward the icy mechanical core.
"Sir Alstone is coming... You're dead, humans!" One of the wounded soldiers exclaimed.
The icy core generates a masculine, pale figure, with massive, maroon colored inscriptions on each side of his arm. He had red eyes, and a crew-cut hairstyle. He wasn't armored at all. Rather, he was wearing a sleeveless trench coat.
Miyeon gasps and trembles in fear.
"I...it's him..." Miyeon said.
"What...?" Seojun asked.
"The one that... took Sana..." Miyeon continued to tremble as all of them looked at the Koul'in enemy.
"So there's another intrusion, eh? What is it again, a small, feeble human resistance trying to be heroic?" Alstone said.
"It's different this time... That old man... he has powers..." A soldier commented.
"....Oh?" Alstone looked surprised as he observes Seojun. "You're a wielder, aren't you?"
"..." Seojun didn't reply.
"Oh, how stupid of me to ask. Of course you are. I mean, why do you have your own abilities, right? Humans are weak on their own. Without their Manifest-given abilities, they're next to nothing. Am I right?"
"..." Seojun just remained quiet.
"I wonder, though. Where is your Manifest...? Usually, human wielders hold their Manifest, or attach them into different places in their body. Where's yours...?"
"..." Seojun's team just continued keeping their silence.
"I like the silence you all are giving me. It's nice, it's nice. Well, get used to it, then. Because that's the only thing you and your allies will hear when you're dead." Alstone remarked as he clenched his fist, and the pale muscles around his body tighten.
Seojun readied his glitchy fists, Ryujin drew her dual alien pistols, Minji readied her spear, and Miyeon stood behind pointing her gun, quivering at the sight of the Koul'in subordinate.
"I'm Alstone, one of the head guards of this place, and a loyal subordinate to General Khera. I do not take kindly to intruders, and I kill them on the spot, but since you're a wielder... I'll be kind enough to demonstrate you my abilities before you die."
April 19, 2023, 5:55 am, En route to E-World 83 Observatory Tower, Daegu, South Korea.
Zeke and Jihyo's team kept running toward the observatory tower as they soon hear faint clashes where they left Seojun, Ryujin, Miyeon, and Minji. Jihyo was worried about him and she wanted to help, but he was right. They have to conserve energy for the tougher battles.
They immediately stopped infront of the tower. Zeke was at awe at how tall it was.
Despite the apocalypse that was raging on, the observatory tower stood tall and proud, save for a few dents and damages along its pillar. The building below it, however, wasn't looking good. Atleast half of the building already collapsed, and clearly, there was only one way inside the premises, which is the entrance of the building itself.
Around the building were a few construction materials, such as neatly piled otherworldly metal and some steel foundation rebars.
"I hope she's here... And I hope we aren't too late..." Jihyo said to herself, worry visible on her face.
"Hey! Who are you?!" A voice suddenly said.
Thy look at the direction of the voice, and their eyes widen at the sight of ten pale figures coming at them, their weapons pointed towards them.
"Koul'ins!" Zeke declared. "And they're alot!"
"Humans!" A Koul'in said. "You'll regret going here!"
"We should be saying that to you instead." Jihyo said as she readied her cane. "This was our home, and you ruined it!"
"We don't care. Soldiers, advance!" The soldier said as they charge at the team.
Zeke lunges forward managed to quickly grab a Koul'in and knocked him out with a two quick concussive strikes using his pipe wrench. Jihyo yanks another one toward her using her cane and takes him out. Hyungwon shoots a few Koul'ins using his muzzled gun, Minhyuk low kicks a Koul'in and strikes him on the neck, and Hangyeol manages to take out another by smashing his rifle on it's face. Soon, the ten soldiers were all down.
"Come! We caused too much commotion already. It'll attract more enemies. Go!" Minhyuk instructed as they all soon get inside the building with extreme caution.
The inside of the tower was a bit darker, save for a few parts of the building that were illuminated thanks to the lights above it that were still working. Alot of the foundations were broken, stores were barely noticeable due to the destruction, and heaps of snow flood the whole area. There were construction materials too, and around them lay alien machines that were too complex to tinker around.
There were no enemies in sight.
At least, that's what they thought.
There was a "ding!" sound from behind them. As they turned around, they see a reinforced elevator. It looked like it was modified, and there were inscriptions on its doors.
The otherworldly doors seem to open slowly, and out comes a pale female with an otherworldly armored lab coat. She was short--- approximately 5"2 in height, and had her brown hair tied to a bun.
"So, you found out where we are hiding, huh. Took you a while." She spoke. She then brings out a remote and presses the button. The doors on the elevator slowly close.
The team readies themselves and brandishes their weapons.
"I'm the one who talked to you at the baseball field. I'm Zheri, one of General Khera's subordinates." She said. "We've been expecting you."
"Expecting... us?" Zeke said.
"Yes, yes. You see, we know that you'll come to this place eventually because your friend is here with us. Sana Minatozaki, yes?" Zheri said.
Jihyo's eyes widen.
"Where the hell is she?!" Jihyo said as she unleashed the Seraphim, it's power glistening as it lights up the whole area.
"Oh, hoho. Don't worry. Rest assured she's safe with us, upstairs, with General Khera. But you sadly won't be able to get there. This elevator can be only accessed with this remote..." Zheri said as she places the remote on her side belt. "...and it's extremely durable against your attacks, so you can't force your way in."
"We'll just beat you out of it, then." Jihyo replied.
"You underestimate me, wielder. I don't really like fighting you. We could make an impasse! If you want her back, well... what I want is--"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah you want our Manifests, and then we give it, and then you give us back Sana, but then you'll eventualy kill us. We know how this goes already. You're not getting our Manifests. Never, not in a thousand years. Hindi. No. Nada." Zeke scoffed.
"....it's actually more than that, mister. I need you two wielders alive. The General has taken a liking to you two..." Zheri exclaimed.
"Tell her we ain't available." Jihyo said. "
Zheri sighed.
"I tried reason, but nothing happened. Oh well... too bad... It's not like you have a choice, anyway." Zheri said, and she snaps her fingers, and the place starts rumbling.
"Uh-oh... This doesn't look good..!" Hangyeol exclaimed as they all wobble.
The snow started gathering around Zheri as she rises from the ground. It also carried away massive chunks of solid ice and scrap metal toward her, creating a giant mound of snow that slowly forms into a Scraper.
It was twice as large as a regular Scraper. Standing fourteen foot tall, the gigantic Scraper has metal all over its body. Massive steel beams slightly protrude from its back, steel chains flow around its its body, and the compacted snow on its body fused with more steel scraps.
Zheri stood at the giant Scraper's nape, holding a metal handle that was fastened on it.
"What do you think of my magnum opus, humans?! Are you impressed?!" Zheri declared as the Scraper roars.
"Yeah. I must say... I am." Zeke said as his mystical scissor burns into the fiery switchblade. "Visuals are good and all. But performance matters, too!"
"Then let me show you a grand one!" Zheri laughs as her Scraper roars and charges towards them, it's feet making the ground quake underneath it.
Minhyuk, Hyungwon, and Hangyeol fired their rifles toward the gigantic enemy, but it doesn't do anything but slow it down a bit.
It was extremely durable. Worse off, it was surprisingly quicker than the Scrapers Zeke and Jihyo normally face.
"MOVE!" Jihyo declared as they jumped on the side to dodge the charging enemy. The Scraper slams into the wall behind them, causing the whole wall to cave in.
"It's crazy strong...! Yikes...!" Hangyeol panicked.
"Tsk..." Hyungwon tried to concentrate, trying to devise a plan to beat it.
Zeke looks at Jihyo, and she looks back as they all stood up and faced the gigantic snow monstrosity in front of them.
"What?! It's good, right?! Better than my other creations?!" Zheri shouted.
Jihyo looks at the elevator, then to Zheri. Suddenly, she had an idea.
"All of you, please stand back. Zeke, back me up." Jihyo said in a very serious tone.
"Okay." Zeke replied as Jihyo took the initiative to charge at Zheri and her monstrous Scraper. Zeke follows just close behind.
"Finally making your move, huh?!" Zheri and the Scraper charges as Jihyo's Seraphim radiates with great power and she jumps towards the Scraper's head.
She swings downward, attempting to strike the Scraper's head. But to everyone's surprise, it dodges quickly by tilting it's head and upper extremities to the left.
"That Scraper.... despite it's huge size... it is faster than Jihyo!" Minhyuk gasped.
"HAHA! You really think you could hit us? My magnum opus is undeniably faster. You can't strike it too easily!" Zheri said.
Jihyo doesnt keep her eyes off at Zheri as she turns her whole body toward her. She was now positioned behind the Scraper itself.
"Zeke, the seal! Now!"
Jihyo suddenly blitzes toward Zheri's location, with a trail of fire behind her back.
"Wha--"
The Scraper percieves Jihyo's attack and it attempts to dodge again, but this time, Jihyo was faster. She nearly lands a powerful blow towards Zheri, and she misses only by a centimeter.
"She just went toward me in mid air! She didn't even had the footing or momentum to launch at me like that...!" Zheri remarked as Jihyo whizzed past her. She notices a rocket seal behind her back.
Zheri's eyes widen.
"I understand now... It's the rocket seal that the other wielder did! But..."
Jihyo crash lands near the elevator.
"...Clearly, wielder, we are still faster, and you haven't even injured me!" Zheri triumphantly said.
"Oh, sweetheart, I wasn't aiming at you." Jihyo said as she revealed Zheri's remote on her hand.
"WHAT?! She didnt intend to hit me, but instead grab the remote...?!" Zheri thought.
"So that was her plan all along..." Hyungwon said to himself. "She's really smart..."
Jihyo clicks the remote as the elevator door opens and she remembers what Seojun told them.
"Not every enemy is worth wasting sweat on. It's all about increasing our survivability 'til we get to our goal, and that is to rescue those who need to be rescued. We can't save them if we are exhausted, or worse, dead."
"How do we know if the battle isn't worth it, Seojun-nim?" Jihyo asked.
"For me, it's when you expend so much energy on an opponent that you think would only waste your time. You'll just... know." Seojun replied.
"You're only going to waste my time, Zheri." Jihyo scoffed. "For me, you're not worth fighting, and my priority is saving Sana. And I WILL SAVE HER." She then runs toward the open elevator and she successfully enters, pressing the button again as it began slowly closing.
"Tsk... you...!" Zheri trembled in anger.
Jihyo then looks at Zeke, Hangyeol, Hyungwon and Minhyuk.
"I'll leave her to you, guys..." Jihyo said. They all nod in agreement as the elevator doors finally close.
Zeke, Hyungwon, Hangyeol, and Minhyuk all glared at Zheri and her monstrous pet as they all readied their weapons. Zheri glared back as well, clenching her fist.
The gigantic Scraper roars violently, and without hesitation, all of Zeke's team charges towards it.