Ch.120120. Master of the Red Powder

The Apocalypse Cult was currently preparing for the Seoul Vacuum Operation and the Busan Port Operation.

In an underground facility directly beneath the cult’s religious building, a clandestine conversation was taking place.

A senior official of the Apocalypse Cult, with his deep, solemn voice, was giving instructions to his team leaders.

“Dokgo Jun will be called away to handle a terrorist incident at our Mexico branch. He’s scheduled to be out of the country in December. This is your opportunity to inflict serious damage.”

“What about Park Tae-sang or Jo Sung-hee?”

“Jo Sung-hee is also scheduled to go to Japan in December to provide assistance. That leaves only Park Tae-sang. Understand? This is different from before. We’ll deal with the heads of the three major guilds one by one.”

As his heavy voice resonated, the subordinates attending the meeting bowed their heads.

“Understood. We’ll request more powerful monsters by then.”

“It will be handled within the deadline. Our assassination operations haven’t been very effective, but we’ve been able to conserve our strength by using the red powder to create confusion among them. I expect great results from all of you.”

After the deep voice finished speaking, the subordinates bowed their heads.

“Astro, sir. There’s something I don’t understand.”

“What is it?”

“What exactly is that red powder? How does it enhance ordinary people’s physical abilities to the level of low-grade Jaegers?”

The man with the deep voice, called Astro, immediately noticed his subordinate’s desire for power.

“While foolish desires deserve punishment, I should teach you if you don’t know. That monster powder is made from the remains of ‘Mahanaga.’ It was distributed quite some time ago before disappearing.”

“Mahanaga?”

They trembled at the name.

One of the strongest among SS-class monsters. Famous for being barely repelled by Jo Sung-hee when she activated her priestess powers.

“From that monster’s remains? That monster…”

“It has incredible regenerative abilities, and even a single cell can possess will and launch mental attacks against enemies. Another characteristic is that it can absorb objects with magical power to accumulate strength and can also transfer power to other monsters. That’s why, although it’s SS-class, it’s different from other SS-class monsters. What Jo Sung-hee faced was beyond SS-class level.”

“Are you saying the Jaegers tried to utilize such a monster?”

“Monster remains can be used in various ways, but it’s already proven that monster attacks are effective against other monsters. In that sense, they wanted to utilize Mahanaga’s absorption power. To become stronger. But applying monster power to humans is like starting ‘humanization experiments’ from scratch. Naturally, it failed.”

The deep voice spoke of failure and then began to laugh.

“Failure is the mother of success. What I just mentioned was from a time when magical combinations and research were incomplete. At this point, by fusing it with other entities, we can apply it to human bodies. Or rather, the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“It gradually transforms while consuming human vitality. Ordinary people have their energy drained and either die or age rapidly, but Jaegers are different. They have their energy drained too, but they can potentially undergo ‘monsterization.'”

The team leader was about to object that it should be called “demonization” but kept his mouth shut.

Because the term “monsterization” wasn’t wrong at all. Demonization is when humans borrow a monster’s body.

But monsterization? The deep voice deliberately paused for a moment before speaking.

“Monsterization is when the body changes to become like a monster due to the red powder. The cells in the body are gradually replaced by the power of Mahanaga and the fusion slime we’ve combined.”

Yes. The strange monsters fused with slime that Doh Jong-hyun had encountered several times were the results of the Apocalypse Cult’s experiments.

They had scattered them around to collect data. They were crude for now and had to be recalled, but later they would emerge in more perfect forms.

“Energy is drained, and in that state, if the user employs magical power, it starts consuming their body. Though the principle hasn’t been fully revealed yet, techniques that consume the body are uniformly powerful. That’s why it’s not strange that users become stronger. But eventually, they can no longer use magical power as their bodies are consumed.”

“What happens to the user then?”

“With their magical power already absorbed, only an empty shell remains, and they can never use magic again. Then, due to the body’s intense reaction, the monsterization I just mentioned progresses. Since the cells have already changed to become like a monster, even a small mistake will trigger monsterization.”

The team leader could only close his mouth in fear of the terrifying outcome.

Astro warned the team leader once more.

“Even if you pursue power, you shouldn’t rely on such evil means. If you want to shine for a moment, there are other ways. This is a pit where you can’t shine even for a moment. Remember that.”

“Yes, sir!”

They hastily nodded and never thought of coveting the red powder again.

However, one question lingered in everyone’s mind.

If Mahanaga’s cells steal magical power, where does that stolen power go?

The distribution of this red powder is currently active in the underground world. How powerful would the combined magical power from all those users be? The team leader felt fear.

*

Yu Deok-min was now a fugitive. Before escaping from the hospital, he had identified the police and Jaegers who had come to investigate him from outside.

Red powder is illegal.

The moment this thought crossed his mind, Yu Deok-min sensed his end approaching.

‘I still have things to do.’

[You can use your wild nature as much as you want.]

A single phrase struck Yu Deok-min’s mind. He moved his body instinctively, like a newborn seeking its parent.

He threw himself out of the hospital room window.

From the eighth floor, it would normally be suicide, but he wasn’t worried.

Somehow, he landed safely. At the same time, he felt his body become lighter.

‘Has my magical power returned?’

While rejoicing, he looked back at the window he had escaped from.

‘They came to investigate me for illegal drugs. But that drug only reveals latent abilities. And they’re coming to arrest me? Don’t make me laugh! They’re just jealous! Because I’m doing well.’

His mind was filled with baseless delusions.

‘But what should I do now? Like this…’

Escape was impossible. Just as serious crimes decrease with societal advancement, various CCTVs and high-tech devices were closing in on him.

If a detection-specialized Jaeger moved, he would certainly be caught and humiliated.

If he submitted to investigation, it might end more quietly.

‘But my story would still get out.’

The difference was whether he’d be known as a fugitive nationwide or just within the school.

Obviously, the latter would be better, but Yu Deok-min’s emotions were far from calm.

‘I’m in the right. Yes, if I explain properly, everyone will understand. Yes, isn’t this situation quite romantic? Aerial will notice me in such a dire situation.’

Rambling incoherently, he didn’t even know what he was saying.

He was just moving as his heart dictated.

He stopped by his home and changed back into his school uniform.

School was almost over, which meant Aerial would be returning to the dormitory.

With apparent confidence, he entered through the main gate. This was possible because the news of his escape hadn’t reached the academy yet.

Less than three minutes after he entered, the academy received news of Yu Deok-min’s disappearance and began searching.

However, Yu Deok-min was deliberately hiding near the girls’ dormitory, so he wasn’t immediately spotted.

Just then, Aerial and Yu Ji-a appeared.

Yu Deok-min revealed himself and glared at Yu Ji-a.

Yu Ji-a looked at Yu Deok-min, who had suddenly appeared, with curious eyes.

Of course, they didn’t know about Yu Deok-min’s situation, that he was a fugitive.

“Wow, Yu Deok-min, right? You’ve been discharged? Are you okay?”

Yu Ji-a casually addressed him, true to her character.

When Yu Deok-min didn’t respond, Yu Ji-a awkwardly ran her hand through her hair.

“I guess it’s not my business.”

“Do you have business with me?”

Aerial detached Yu Ji-a, who was clinging to her.

“Ji-a, go ahead. This seems like an important conversation.”

“Can’t I stay?”

“It seems like a serious talk.”

Aerial’s perception was quicker than it appeared. If she ever seemed oblivious, it was usually because she was ‘deliberately’ acting that way.

So she had already understood what Yu Deok-min was up to.

After Yu Ji-a left, Aerial looked around.

“Someone might pass by at any moment.”

“It doesn’t matter. This won’t take long.”

“Speak.”

“Aerial… I like you.”

It was too lacking in mood to be called a shy confession. Yu Deok-min nervously looked at Aerial.

There wasn’t even a change in her expression.

‘Why are you like this? You can be happy. Why are you so cold only to me!’

An inexplicable anger surged within him.

Aerial neither rejoiced nor showed contempt at his confession.

“I see. I appreciate your feelings, but I don’t like you.”

She simply stated the facts precisely and clearly.

Based on her usual impression of Yu Deok-min, she might have wanted to ignore him, but she judged that there was no need to disregard someone who had put their heart into it.

So she didn’t mock or tease him as usual. She gave a straightforward answer to his confession.

Yu Deok-min lowered his head.

“Is it Doh Jong-hyun? You like Doh Jong-hyun, right? That’s why…”

“What? Doh Jong-hyun? Don’t be ridiculous! He’s the one who likes me!”

Seeing Aerial’s agitated response, Yu Deok-min smiled bitterly.

“…I see. Your reaction is different when it comes to Doh Jong-hyun.”

“Doh Jong-hyun has nothing to do with this.”

“He does!”

Yu Deok-min shouted so abruptly that even Aerial was startled.

His body trembled, and his emotions were speaking.

“I… I tried too! I became strong like Doh Jong-hyun, learned knowledge! But you never looked at me! Even when I took Doh Jong-hyun’s place, you didn’t see me! Why?”

“Yu Deok-min, I think you’re misunderstanding something. I don’t stay close to ‘Doh Jong-hyun’ because he’s strong or smart.”

“Then why?”

“I don’t know either.”

At this absurd answer, Yu Deok-min froze, and Aerial shrugged.

“…It’s hard to say specifically because we gradually became close while spending time together.”

“Lies. You’re lying right now. There must be a reason why you like him. The usual you would have said it clearly.”

“Even if there is, do I have any reason to tell you? It’s my own standard. Are we done now?”

Aerial turned away. Yu Deok-min, filled with self-loathing, wept bitterly.

But due to Yu Deok-min’s outcry, several people were watching.

Naturally, it caught the instructor’s eye as well.

As Aerial was indifferently walking away, the instructor suddenly stood before her.

“Yu Deok-min! What were you trying to do! You need to be investigated!”

At the instructor’s voice, Aerial turned back in surprise.

“Investigation?”

She looked at him with suspicion at the word “investigation.”

Yu Deok-min’s self-loathing exploded even more. And someone mockingly called out.

[Rage and reveal your instincts. Entertain me more, I say.]

“Aaaaargh!”

A passionate fury erupted, and his entire body began to transform.

“Huh? Now?”

While the instructor was taken aback, Yu Deok-min’s body started changing into scales and a strangely twisted face.

“No… Accept me! No! I have talent… latent ability…”

But the instructor’s attack immediately pierced Yu Deok-min’s throat.

“You monster!”

Revealing his hostility toward monsters, the instructor terrifyingly destroyed his student.

Yu Deok-min collapsed, coughing blood.

In that state, Yu Deok-min never rose again.

Aerial was shocked, and everyone watching was shocked.

The incident of Yu Deok-min transforming into a monster and dying spread throughout the academy in no time.

Naturally, the person who feared this fact the most was the remaining user, Min Gang-su.