Ch.94Hypnos 4

My sister and I headed for the emergency stairs.

The stairwell was very dimly lit since it wasn’t regularly used.

We climbed the stairs blindly, relying only on the dim emergency lights.

But after climbing about four floors, my breathing became extremely labored.

Perhaps I had pushed my already weak body too hard.

My body was gradually giving out.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes… I’m fine.”

I closed my eyes tightly and tried to regulate my breathing.

I barely managed to lift my head to look at the emergency light.

Basement level 6.

We still had four more floors to climb…

While staring at the number 6, my thoughts suddenly froze.

A shadow that wasn’t ours had covered the number.

In that moment, I instinctively remembered.

The black shadow that had constricted her body when my sister had swung her sword in the past.

“Look out!”

At my urgent cry, Jisoo quickly twisted her body.

The black hand barely missed her and retreated back into the wall.

“You…”

Number 08 emerged from the thick darkness.

He no longer had unrequited feelings for me.

Those feelings of love had transformed into hatred, giving birth to resentful eyes.

But he too had drunk Hypnos, evident by the dark circles under his eyes.

He was definitely in the laboratory earlier…

How did he get up here before us?

The Ranker didn’t give us time to be surprised.

Number 08, who must have felt the greatest betrayal, swung his fist at me.

But his punch was too slow and clumsy.

The debuff from Hypnos had reduced his composure and judgment.

My sister’s arm firmly caught his oncoming fist.

Intense flames erupted from her arm.

“—!”

Thanks to the flames, the emergency stairwell brightened.

At last, my sister could clearly see the face of the enemy who had killed her.

“So it’s you…?”

Jisoo’s voice was very calm and cold.

Number 08, his arm caught, glared at my sister with a startled expression.

“Yes, I remember now.”

Flames flickered in my sister’s amber eyes.

She had been wronged for so long.

Hunted and preyed upon just because she was weak.

Forced to say hurtful things to someone she cared about.

The small dream she had cherished in her heart had been trampled.

And the cause of all these incidents was now right in front of her.

“People like you all need to die.”

Just standing near her made my whole body feel hot.

Her body glowed red, as if the sound of her boiling blood could be heard.

Jisoo released 08’s arm.

Then she spun her body toward the staggering boy.

Her shin struck his side with tremendous force.

The impact caused a sharp cry of pain to burst from the Ranker’s throat.

The boy crashed into the number 6 painted on the stairwell.

He clutched his side and barely managed to get up.

“A mere test subject…!”

The boy, true to his Ranker status, didn’t just take the beating.

With a gesture of his hand, the hidden black hands surged forth again.

Number 08 concentrated with all his might, his forehead tense with effort.

The shadows he summoned merged into one, becoming as large as a giant’s hand.

That black hand didn’t retreat from the bright flames.

Instead, it overwhelmed my sister.

When she collided with the hand, dust erupted with a loud noise.

The stairs collapsed, and she was buried down to the seventh basement level.

“Sister!”

I shouted loudly.

But from the seventh floor, I could only see the giant hand covering my sister, with no response coming back.

“This isn’t the time to worry about that prey.”

Number 08 glared at me, breathing heavily.

His black pupils trembled.

As my sister’s flames disappeared, the hiding shadows once again engulfed the stairwell.

The emergency lights went out completely, and darkness covered everything.

Soon, 08 appeared behind me, traveling through the shadows.

His cold hand gripped my throat.

“You dare toy with me?”

I was lifted into the air by his hand.

With my feet off the ground, I could only struggle helplessly.

“You’re the one I can never forgive.”

The force choking my neck gradually increased.

I looked at 08 with a dying face.

“…”

I was certainly facing death.

But strangely, I wasn’t afraid of 08 at all.

Instead, I found him ridiculous.

“What’s so funny? Do you think this is a joke?”

The boy asked me with a face full of anger.

In response, I pulled up the corners of my mouth even more, as if mocking him.

“So you’re capable of anger too?”

The boy furrowed his brow, as if he couldn’t understand my question.

“What do you mean…?”

“You killed people like they were insects, so I thought you had no emotions.”

“You felt nothing when killing us, but now you’re angry just because of ‘betrayal’?”

Compared to Anna, you’re all just children.

I grabbed 08’s hand that was choking my neck.

Then I released a radiance from my fingertips.

Angelic Hand.

The bright light gradually began to transfer to his hand.

08’s eyes flashed at the light.

The boy quickly released me, as if avoiding the light.

But even after letting me go, the light didn’t disappear.

Instead, it climbed up his arm.

Perhaps because its master was flustered,

The black hands at the bottom began to writhe like 08.

Thanks to this, flames rose through the cracks.

My sister leaped through those cracks.

She landed back on our floor.

And swung her flame-filled fist at 08.

The intense heat rushed toward him.

Taking the full impact, 08 was finally smashed into the wall.

“…”

But even though he had fallen, I felt neither joy nor satisfaction.

I just stared down at my hand.

When my hand touched him just now…

Just transferring light to him had been a critical hit.

If I had found the courage back when everyone was still alive…

Couldn’t my sister have killed 09?

“What are you doing?”

Lost in foolish thoughts, my sister’s shout helped me come to my senses.

“We need to get out quickly!”

“You’re right… let’s go.”

The emergency lights had returned.

We quickly climbed the stairs following that light.

We passed the wall marking the first floor.

My sister forcefully opened the thick emergency door.

Though we had only been underground for half a day,

The light of the surface was as welcome as if decades had passed.

“Where do we go now?”

“We need to get out of the resort and down the mountain!”

I pointed my finger toward the resort lobby.

My sister turned her head following my gesture.

But her face froze cold again.

Soon, the silhouettes of two people appeared at the exit I had pointed to.

Women.

And both with faces I knew.

It would have been better if they were Anna and Jeoksa.

But they don’t even know I’m here.

Then…

“Mr. Siho.”

Councilor Park approached leisurely with her hands behind her back.

Misha followed beside her with a worried expression.

“How fascinating. My children should have been blocking you…”

“How did you escape with that insect?”

Insect…?

I suddenly remembered how they used to call me an F-class insect in the past.

My brow twitched at the memory.

“How could someone from the Association… orchestrate something like this?”

I glared at her as if I would kill her right then.

But the councilor didn’t seem afraid of my gaze at all; instead, she smiled.

“The Association? We’re just cooperating with them because our goals happen to align.”

She speaks as if she and the Association are completely different entities.

“Actually, we have a separate affiliation. I was going to tell you after fully recruiting you, but—”

She shrugged and avoided my gaze.

The councilor’s single braid swayed.

“Well— since you’ve caused this trouble, I’ll have to use another method instead of recruitment.”

Councilor Park’s mouth opened wide.

Her sharp teeth revealed themselves, dripping with saliva.

“I’ll have to extract that ability from your body.”

Extract my ability…?

I glared at Councilor Park with disgust.

“Your expression shows you understand. That’s right, from the beginning, I wanted your ability, not you.”

The councilor placed her hand on Misha’s shoulder, who was standing beside her.

Misha flinched at the touch.

“I had this child watch over you. Until your ability awakened.”

Misha’s expression grew gloomy.

Her clenched hands trembled.

“Actually, once you succeeded in awakening, I planned to kidnap you and turn you into a test subject. But…”

Councilor Park grabbed Misha’s chin.

And forced her to look at me.

“This child somehow fell head over heels for you. She begged me not to kill you.”

“Oppa… she says she’ll just extract your ability and return your body intact. I’ll take care of you safely for the rest of your life…”

Misha pulled up the corners of her mouth, telling me not to worry.

Her eyes looked deeply affectionate, as if she truly cared for me.

“Mother promised me. So… surrender now…”

03 seems to fear Councilor Park.

Even weakened Rankers were incredibly strong, yet Misha is terrified despite being unharmed.

Misha stretched her hands toward the air.

When she pointed her palms downward, all the shutters on the first floor came down.

In an instant, all escape routes were blocked.

Only intense sunlight poured in from the second-floor windows.

I looked up, following that light.

With the first floor completely sealed, Councilor Park approached me with leisurely steps.

The sound of her heels echoed clearly on the floor.

“Take our hand even now. If you willingly give up that ability, I’ll spare your life.”

“Just your life? Under my protection, you’ll never have to worry about money for the rest of your life.”

As she approached, I gradually moved closer to my sister.

And whispered in a small voice.

“Sister, we need to escape while she’s off guard.”

Jisoo nodded slowly, indicating she understood.

“Take this.”

I slipped a small potion between her fingers.

My sister skillfully received it and gripped it tightly.

“When I give the signal, throw it toward the glass window. We’ll escape using the ice that forms.”

I still don’t know the councilor’s ability.

But it’s clear she’s powerful enough to make Misha tremble.

We need to move with as few variables as possible.

First, I’ll approach her while she’s off guard and use Angelic Hand to knock her out.

The councilor still thinks I can only buff objects,

So I’ll use that to my advantage.

After leaving these instructions, I walked toward Councilor Park.

And mumbled in a frightened voice, like my usual self.

“Um, is it true…? Will you really let me live if you just take my ability?”

“Of course.”

The councilor nodded at my words.

And extended a hand of reconciliation, as if persuading a child.

With each step I took, my heart pounded.

I reached out toward her extended hand.

Now’s the time.

Our palms met.

In that moment, I shouted loudly.

“Run!”

At my shout, Jisoo immediately started running toward the second-floor window.

Misha and the councilor turned their heads toward her escaping figure.

My sister threw the blue potion I had given her with all her might.

The glass vial shattered on the floor.

<Crevasse>

Grade: ☆☆☆☆☆ (Artifact)

Effect: Summons massive ice crystals in the area where it falls.

Information: The highest version of the Alaska Cocktail. Completely freezes the area. It would take dozens of days for this massive ice to melt.

With a sharp sound, massive ice flowers began to bloom.

Misha and the councilor’s lips parted at the magnificent sight.

“Indeed… an amazing ability…”

The councilor murmured with an expression of wonder.

Her face looked ecstatic, as if she had already obtained my ability.

Meanwhile, I channeled Angelic Hand through my grip on the councilor’s hand.

Just like when I knocked out 09.

The councilor, like her, momentarily stopped all movement.

As if she had crossed into another world.

Yes, reminisce for a while.

Though I doubt you have any happy memories.

The councilor’s body swayed.

She staggered and fell to her knees.

Thanks to this, I was finally able to release our clasped hands.

Finally free, I ran with all my might toward my sister.

“Hurry!”

I reached out toward her extended arm.

Our hands were about to touch.

This is truly a new beginning.

I can travel with my sister…

That’s what I believed.

That’s what I believed, but…

Pain gradually rose from the hand that had shaken the councilor’s.

That pain soon turned into numbness.

The numbness climbed up my arm and spread throughout my body.

My burning gaze gradually became clouded.

Eventually…

With my long-missed sister right in front of me, I collapsed.

I could see my palm that had touched the councilor.

A red mark of unknown meaning was engraved on it, glowing.

I stared at it before losing consciousness.