Ch.182182. From Bad to Worse

I was dreaming again. I’m used to it now. The fact that I have these dreams…

[It happens when something big is about to occur, or when danger approaches.]

“You startled me.”

Adult Junhu stood beside me.

“Are you invading my dreams now too?”

[It’s Hermes’ ability, remember? Stories and situations around us, reconnaissance. Even other people’s dreams! Not as good as the original, but similar enough. Big sis is worried right now. She says you and Seo Jinwon are nowhere to be found.]

“I’m screwed. If I’m discovered at the monster attack site, I’ll be under suspicion. How am I going to explain this?”

[There must be something important to see, so let’s just watch. Besides…]

Besides what? I looked at him questioningly, but he didn’t answer.

Anyway, watching the dream’s content, I saw countless fragments.

No, not fragments. Fossils. Forms that seemed to have integrated with ancient soil.

These forms were now moving collectively.

The monsters were retrieving something from the ground, from deep within the soil beneath the water.

Those pieces were trying to regenerate one by one.

Like that giant monster I knew, with its countless fragments.

“These are… ancient species?”

[Looks like they’re trying to resurrect the ancient species. We already knew that.]

“Like those byproducts from before, they must be running low on power.”

But wasn’t this related to lifespan? Isn’t that right? They couldn’t live long in those bodies, so the current monsters are the improved versions.

[The problem is that they specifically chose the improved form for our Earth, but according to what you told me, they just invaded other worlds directly, right?]

“That’s right. Makes you wonder why they ‘specifically’ did that.”

[What comes to mind is that they’re after the energy of immortality, and that it’s connected to us somehow.]

“Because of human size? If they want to absorb that energy, wouldn’t they need to reduce their size too?”

Here, adult Junhu and I reached the same conclusion.

Wait.

“Come to think of it, the World Jaeger Association or Council has been talking about monsters getting bigger. Based on what we know so far, aren’t they just returning to their original state?”

[That makes sense. They were originally much larger. But they reduced their size because of lifespan issues. As we get stronger, the enemy also matches… Huh?]

Adult Junhu’s expression hardened. He probably had the same thought as me.

“The reason they came in human form from the beginning when they were weak…”

[And they’ve been building power to match our development. Plus, with powers appearing that don’t exist in the future, like yours or Dokgo Jun’s, they’re trying to revert to ancient species?]

Everything fits together into one conclusion.

I kicked the innocent ground in frustration.

“Do they think we’re livestock they’re raising? Growing us just right to eat us?”

[Even if we don’t know the true nature of that energy, it’s clear they’re cultivating us. And because of some ‘unexpected strong enemy,’ they’re trying to release the ancient species. That’s why the byproducts appeared.]

It wasn’t 100% certain, but we had formed a rough hypothesis about why they were doing this.

[Still, unless they’re desperate, they won’t release all the ancient species. They modified themselves to match human form too. A small blessing, I suppose.]

“They might release a few ancient species to deal with strong enemies. The situation is getting more treacherous.”

The dream was slowly fading. We had enough information now.

However, regardless of that, today’s flow of events was strange.

“By the way, what happened? Is Rapid Star the strong enemy you mentioned?”

[Didn’t Rapid Star avoid you and only target people? It was despicable and disgusting.]

“On the contrary, Rapid Star marked me while the others attacked people.”

[Well, that’s a bit different from what I expected, but similar. Rapid Star is always like that. The moment it sees someone strong, it takes hostages first.]

“But have monsters ever taken hostages before?”

Adult Junhu maintained his serious expression at my question.

[High-rank individuals have intelligence. They’re different from those that just follow simple commands. You know that monsters appearing in the later stages have stronger intelligence.]

“But what I’m asking is whether low-rank individuals did that. The situation is reversed. Rapid Star didn’t take hostages; it marked me and messed up my body with some strange poison.”

Honestly, I could have endured it, but Seo Jinwon happened to ambush me when I was in human form.

[It might have given orders. Like Mahanaga.]

“Mahanaga…”

The one that controlled Yu Deokmin and absorbed power. Right, a representative intelligent monster.

“It should have been wrestling with the Spiral Goat. Why…”

Alpha species that control enemy monster individuals definitely exist.

“Oh, right. Did Seo Jinwon hit me? What happened?”

I didn’t mention the most important thing. What state am I in now?

Adult Junhu, growing increasingly blurry, shook his head.

[Seo Jinwon is dead. He exploded while touching your card. And…]

“And… what else?”

A classmate died. How many is that now? This is a situation that even the Academy can’t ignore.

But the shocking news doesn’t end there.

[Eun Serin came by. Was that woman also part of the Monster Apocalypse Group?]

“You didn’t know?”

[Well, I only learned here that someone named Eun Serin died at school. When I grew up and went to the Academy, the world was already on the brink of destruction. Did you know?]

She was a woman who had an accident and committed suicide while I was attending. By rights, Eun Serin should have been gone long ago.

But she exists now. And she came to see me?

“What about my card deck?”

[It’s still there. I don’t know why she didn’t take it.]

Did Eun Serin plan this? The dream was increasingly scattering.

And adult Junhu and the dream before my eyes were fading away.

Anyway, one thing is certain: ancient species will emerge soon.

I need to prepare my power for that.

When I woke up, I was in the middle of a forest.

Seo Jinwon’s corpse was nowhere to be found. I just woke up in darkness in the middle of the forest.

I need to move. And as I stood up, I sensed someone approaching.

*

A dim light in the darkness illuminated the two people.

The one with red skin and flowing Milky Way had an unpleasant expression in that light.

Eun Serin was having a private meeting with him.

A bleak space with no desk or chair. The atmosphere between them was equally tense.

“It’s Do Jonghyun. He transforms into a monster.”

“You’ve been reporting otherwise all this time, haven’t you?”

“Maybe I wanted to believe it wasn’t true. Actually, I just realized it. Foolishly, while we were fighting each other.”

Flowing Milky Way showed an angry expression at Eun Serin’s attitude.

“You’ve caused us tremendous damage! What have you been doing since joining the Monster Apocalypse Group? Acting like a traitor?”

“Of course not. I’ve accomplished what you wanted. Reports, experiments. I just held back a bit with that boy.”

“How pathetic to develop feelings for a student younger than yourself. Where is your resolve? Where is the version of you who conducted research with a madness that surprised even us, all for revenge?”

“Shut up. At least I succeeded. Unlike you who only fail. You should be grateful, shouldn’t you? That boy isn’t even the target of my revenge.”

“He is the target of ‘our’ revenge!”

Flowing Milky Way’s angry voice thundered.

“In the end, we must eliminate him to achieve our goal. Countless sacrifices have occurred because of your emotions.”

“So what do you want me to do? I can’t transform into a monster like you. Catch someone stronger than you? How? Besides, Dokgo Jun has transcended your domain. With one mistake from you. Wouldn’t I suffer a similar fate?”

At this moment, a deadly atmosphere like thin ice continued.

Her responsibility for knowingly or unknowingly protecting Do Jonghyun was certainly great.

But they couldn’t strike carelessly because she currently possessed powerful results.

Flowing Milky Way regained his composure. There was no point in being confrontational now that the situation had already passed.

“Fine. There’s no reason for us to have this boring date.”

“Our tastes are opposite anyway. Let’s end this incompatible date quickly.”

“But we must achieve our purpose. Kill that human who uses the power of the ancient species. I already heard from Morgan. Two of the three reasons you’ve been hesitating have been resolved. The remaining one just needs to be investigated. Surely you can do that much?”

“I know. I also know I don’t have much time left. It’s time to leave that place. I’ll make sure about the last one.”

“I’ll be expecting it.”

That was the end of their conversation. Eun Serin left, and Flowing Milky Way stared contemplatively at her.

‘You must have enjoyed your time with a man who could make you forget your revenge. But since you chose this path, there’s only destruction. Our goals may be the same, but our thoughts are different. The consequences are your responsibility.’

He quietly muttered while glaring in the direction she had gone.

*

It was a child about 6-7 years old. A boy with pale skin and snake-like sharp eyes. However, his clothes with rabbit pictures and bright white patterns looked quite distinctive.

These snake-like eyes cautiously approached me.

“Mom… smell…”

“What?”

“Mom…”

He must have lost his mother. As soon as I got up, my entire body was filled with intense pain.

I knew this would happen. Forced to remain lying down, I tried to talk to him.

“Are you here playing too?”

“…No. Mom… came this way….”

Isn’t that playing? No, that’s not the point right now.

“I’m… injured. I’m not feeling well. So I can’t move.”

“Injured? Does it hurt?”

Yes, kid. So call someone… wait. If I call for help in this state, my monster identity might be exposed…

What should I do? But I can’t stay here either.

No, this child is alone.

“Call the police! Tell them… there’s an injured person here who was attacked by monsters!”

I have no choice. Whether the school finds out or not, I need to escape from here first.

But the child just stared blankly after hearing my words.

“Hey… kid?”

“…If it hurts, you need treatment.”

“Y-yes, that’s right. The police…”

“I don’t know police. If it hurts, you need treatment.”

He doesn’t know what police are? While I was wondering what he meant, the boy scurried over to me and suddenly reached out his hand.

“Treatment… doing it.”

“Huh?”

Just as I was questioning this, I suddenly felt magical power.

“This is magical power. You know how to use this?”

“I’m… strong! I’ll heal you with this.”

The muscle pain remains, but I can feel my strength recovering. Enough to neutralize Rapid Star’s powerful curse.

“You awakened magical power at elementary school age? That’s amazing.”

“Did I… do well?”

“Of course. You saved someone.”

“M-mom said to save, not kill.”

Haha, when children awaken, they need proper education. Still, I’m relieved. I can somehow stand up now.

“Thank you. This big brother survived thanks to you. You said you were looking for your mom? Do you know her name?”

“Yes. I know. Eun Serin.”

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

“Who did you say?”

“Eun Serin. Mom taught me. Pretty name, right?”

Eun Serin’s son? Wait, Eun Serin’s child… should still be a baby?

What’s going on?

My mind couldn’t settle down.