Ch.110Huh…?

Jericho Amael sighed. “That drug again.”

While Cage was sighing, Yeo Un-jae took several pills from a medicine bottle into his hand and swallowed them.

With crunching sounds, Yeo Un-jae built up his momentum, and the camera screen crackled as it faced the wave of his special ability.

“I think it’s impressive that such a drug can move a body in such terrible condition, but haven’t you already confirmed its limits? You can no longer fight.”

“You’re the one who said a superhuman is someone who challenges the impossible.”

I focused my digestion to identify the nature of the drug.

The name of the drug, the process of making it, the content of the experiments, the joy when the tests succeeded.

“…Sacrificing innocent people is not a necessary sacrifice.”

“Go home and rest while I’m still asking nicely.”

“Being so hostile to humans! No one will trust superhumans anymore! Was your goal to create a world only for superhumans?”

“I told you we don’t have time. Don’t let those you’ve sacrificed die in vain, Yeo Un-jae.”

The fusion of human and monster.

It involves transplanting small pieces of monster cells and cores into a human body.

Using the regenerative power of the monster core, it gradually adapts like grafting a plant.

In the end, as it regenerates the dying body, mistaking it for its own,

the monster core takes over the human body.

“Please, cool your head. Ho-young… this method can’t be the answer.”

“Huff… let’s stop talking.”

A hypothesis gradually taking shape while creating experimental subjects.

For a synthesized human to withstand a powerful monster core, they must possess equally strong regenerative abilities.

A strong superhuman becomes a strong monster.

Then, the strongest superhuman.

What kind of monster would they become?

“Send in the superhumans first, Baskerville.”

The elderly Yeo Un-jae’s fatal injury, a penetrating wound to the heart, the center of his special ability.

The researchers were excited by the news that Yeo Un-jae’s heart could be operated on.

An unexpected stroke of luck—they succeeded in inserting part of a monster core into Yeo Un-jae’s heart.

“Come, old man.”

Contrary to expectations, Yeo Un-jae’s heart began to fight against the monster, nearly losing the experimental subject.

However, by having him consume small portions of the core bit by bit, they were able to prolong the life of the weakened Yeo Un-jae.

The higher the ratio of the core, the more the core recognizes Yeo Un-jae’s body as its own.

Taking shape within his body.

Devouring Yeo Un-jae.

“Honey? Despair-rank monsters in City A…”

I opened a space, ignoring Gu Seo-ryong’s words as she was processing different information.

The destination was the center of City A, where Yeo Un-jae currently was.

But unlike when I came to the laboratory, there was no target to extend the distance by connecting my ability.

At this rate.

I’ll be too late.

#

W City was struggling with the increasing number of monsters since Black Cat disappeared.

The monsters had grown to a point where a single S-rank hero could no longer handle them easily.

More precisely, it became difficult to prevent even a single casualty.

To completely eliminate civilian casualties, an overkill strategy was needed—excessive deployment of forces.

This was a strategy already demonstrated by City A, with proven effectiveness.

This required many S-rank heroes, but W City solved this by having Yu Anna move around more busily.

In the headquarters building, Yu Anna, exhausted as before, would take short naps in the operations room before heading out.

In contrast, Electris would glow with radiance whenever she appeared in the cafeteria.

This led to rumors among heroes that it was unfair, and the day after Iron Might publicly announced he would try to persuade Electris himself despite everyone’s concerns.

Against all worries, Iron Might succeeded in persuading Electris.

And so, Yu Anna finally got some rest time.

“So, what exactly are you making?”

During her break time, Yu Anna spoke to Meister while escorting her during mealtime.

Recently, Meister had been busy making something with W City’s technicians.

“When I asked what should be made first in W City, my ability said this needs to be made.”

“What is it?”

“A rail gun for launching superhumans. Um… Cage called it a hero cannon.”

“Ah, that… so this is what it looks like in person…”

Unlike Electris or Baskerville’s magic bullets, it would reduce the time it takes for Cage, who has to run directly, to arrive at the scene.

It would also be useful when providing support to other cities… but it wasn’t really necessary for Yu Anna, who could fly at speeds second only to Electris.

“I don’t really need it, but Iron Might could use it. He’s the only one in W City who could withstand this anyway.”

“Anna, you could move much faster if you used it too. Theoretically, about 1.8 times your normal speed…”

“I guess that might be useful in emergencies when going to other cities?”

Well, it’s a helpful device anyway.

Yu Anna ate her sandwich while looking at Nam Gyeong, who was doing something helpful.

“You’ve really changed.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yes, you seem more relaxed. Your dark circles have faded a lot. More than anything, you’ve barely used your ability lately, right?”

“Ah… yes, I’ve been… using it less. And sleeping well.”

Nam Gyeong’s face, as she checked the cannon’s program, was brighter than before.

Despite all the times Yu Anna had told her to use her ability in moderation and she never listened, why was she suddenly listening now?

Maybe it’s because there’s no one in W City pressuring her to use her ability.

“See, W City is fine even when you don’t use your ability. Like I said before, you don’t have to shoulder everything alone.”

“…Thank you, Anna.”

Whatever the reason, it was very pleasing to Yu Anna.

She hoped Nam Gyeong would rest well and find peace of mind.

“Is there anything I can help with? Like welding something?”

“Ah, it’s fine right now. I’m programming it, so only I can do this.”

“Senior!”

Just then, a hero rushed into the workshop.

“Right now, on, on the broadcast! City A!”

“What’s happening?”

“City A…?”

Sensing something serious from the urgent expression, Yu Anna and Nam Gyeong left the workshop and headed to the operations room.

All the heroes on standby had gathered in the operations room, watching TV.

On the TV, two female heroes who always stood by Cage were broadcasting from a station in City A.

The content of the broadcast was truly shocking.

“Citizens of City A, and citizens and heroes of all cities, we inform you that the heroes of City A are currently fighting against the long-standing evil acts and corruption of high-ranking government officials. They are essentially no different from monsters wearing human disguises…”

“Is this real?”

“Aaah…! Ho-young…!”

Led by Cage, the heroes of City A had begun purging corrupt politicians and executing those who cooperated with them, both humans and superhumans.

Cage’s two close female associates were busy moving on screen, broadcasting the process.

Along with a promise to handle matters transparently, hiding nothing from all citizens.

The screen displayed a real-time tally of the names and numbers of those killed by Cage and Baskerville, as well as innocent victims caught in the chaos.

“We extend our condolences to the late citizen Oh Hyun-wook and his family, who were sacrificed as living shields in the hands of the security chief. Also…”

“A coup? Should we call this a coup? A hero’s…”

“This is why superhumans can’t be trusted…!”

“Heroes harming citizens, how is that different from villains?”

“Using powers that should be used against monsters like this…”

The heroes of W City, some heroes from City A who had come to W City to guard Meister, and soldiers from City A.

As the broadcast continued, everyone’s opinions were divided into two camps.

“Environmental Minister Kim Chi-san, this person would lure hungry citizens from slums whenever he visited other cities, torturing and raping them in private rooms…”

“Deputy Finance Minister Yu Jung-hyuk, in the past, forced citizens’ families into sexual services as a condition for providing loans to those who lost their homes to monsters…”

“Family Department Director Sung Tae-sik, under the pretext of protecting orphaned children, turned orphanages into sexual service facilities, exploiting citizens…”

“What the hell are these trash people?”

“Are they insane?”

“I knew there were many government officials doing terrible things, but this is beyond imagination.”

On TV, Cage’s secretary named the targets of this purge, revealing their crimes and reasons for execution to everyone.

The disclosure of information so secret that it would never have been known without Cage.

The unimaginable evil acts made everyone acknowledge that these people deserved to die.

“How can you believe that? It’s just what Cage is claiming.”

“Some might be true, but there are probably also people who just get in the way of his power grab.”

“How are they going to handle the aftermath if they cut out so many at once…”

“Either way, they’re humans who need to be removed.”

“They’re not killing everyone, some are just being forced to resign.”

“The Technology Director? The embezzlement amount is large, but that person really shouldn’t be cut…”

“Jang-hyuk is truly innocent! That was a false accusation from before. I know it!”

The reason for some resistance was that all this was being carried out by superhumans, especially those following Cage.

Also, the broadcasters themselves did not deny that there might be innocent people among those they were killing.

“Once again, we apologize that there may be innocent victims despite our investigation. Nevertheless, these are necessary sacrifices. We are currently living in the age of monsters. Despite this, these people only think of their own safety, growing fat, being lazy, and greedy.”

“Bullshit…!”

“What necessary sacrifice? That’s not something people who are killing should say!”

“The damage, inconvenience, and numerous casualties caused by their betrayal and wrong choices. To honor the spirits of those victims, we cannot delay any longer. Citizens, please believe in us.”

“Believe that? After they just announced they’re going to kill people from now on?”

“No… actually, that’s why it’s somewhat believable. I think this broadcast is quite transparent.”

“What? Are you in your right mind?”

“They’re not killing behind closed doors and notifying afterward, right? They’re saying they’ll do dirty work, but it’s necessary. I think this is better than doing shady things and hiding them like government officials.”

“They’re both doing dirty work either way!”

“It’s realistic.”

As the operations room grew louder with conflicting opinions, Yu Anna realized why Cage was broadcasting this.

The very purpose was to create division among citizens and even soldiers, making them oppose each other.

Preventing them from moving rashly while he quickly finishes his work.

Afterward, he would claim he handled everything transparently, trying to make public opinion as favorable as possible.

Because he knows what he’s doing is wrong, he doesn’t hide it.

“Jung Ho-young…!”

Yu Anna, as an S-rank hero, also knew how many dirty deeds high-ranking government officials had committed.

Yet she couldn’t touch them because of the master code that manages everything in the city.

Especially since the high officials of City A, who had access rights to all cities, were essentially holding Meister, who created the code, hostage.

Those officials temporarily released Meister because they were greedy for the unusual monster called Black Cat.

If there was a time to deal with them, it would be now.

This is necessary work.

But it’s also something that shouldn’t be done.

An act that breaks the fundamental framework of heroes and citizens, protectors and those protected.

Once committed, citizens can never truly trust heroes again.

Despite knowing all this, Cage went ahead with it.

With the thought that he could handle everything himself.

With the idea that it would be fine if citizens trusted only him, even if they couldn’t trust all heroes.

“This, crazy bastard…!”

A superhuman is not a god.

It’s impossible to handle everything alone.

No matter how strong one is, after enduring and enduring, what awaits at the end of exhaustion is a predetermined outcome.

“Nam Gyeong, prepare the hero cannon! Right now…!”

Just as Yu Anna thought that Ho-young couldn’t be left like this,

the screen switched to a hero cam of some hero, broadcasting Cage’s current situation.

In front of him was a figure Yu Anna knew well.

The strongest hero of the previous generation, Yeo Un-jae.

“It’s, it’s Yeo Un-jae.”

“Could he be here to stop Cage?”

“He should have come later, if the government officials use the master code to do something strange while time is being wasted…”

Yeo Un-jae, who must have had the same thought as Yu Anna, had a conversation with Cage and then took a stance.

A medicine bottle taken from his pocket—Yu Anna, who had heard about the drug during communications with Cage, realized that Yeo Un-jae had decided to fight.

And seeing that drug, Nam Gyeong covered her mouth with both hands.

“Can Yeo Un-jae stop Cage?”

“Is he planning to die? Why?”

“He’s probably risking his life to tell Cage that what he’s doing is wrong.”

Yeo Un-jae’s injury was already widely known.

A critical blow to the heart, the source of superhuman power, during combat.

In a situation where death was certain, Yeo Un-jae’s body was no longer normal after surviving a long heart surgery.

Therefore, no one watching this scene expected Yeo Un-jae to win.

“Ah…”

“As expected…”

As predicted, Yeo Un-jae was knocked down by Cage’s shield.

Just a little bit of time bought—that was Yeo Un-jae’s current limit.

Cage, armored from head to toe, turned his back on the fallen Yeo Un-jae.

At that moment.

Yu Anna sensed something ominous in Yeo Un-jae’s appearance on the screen.

“Huh?”

“Yeo Un-jae is…”

The screen crackled, a noise phenomenon caused by the wave of powerful special ability.

Yeo Un-jae, who had risen again, slowly raised his head toward the sky.

Horn-like pointed front hair on both sides, head bowed deeply, body twitching.

The moment Cage turned around again and raised his shield.

“Huh…?”

In an instant, Yeo Un-jae’s hand shattered Cage’s ability.

And pierced his heart.