Episode 6-The Scorch Trial (3)

Chungmuro Station:

"Sskkaaaahhh..."

"I don't want to die!"

"Kill that man!!"

"HahaHA! DIE, YOU BITCH!!"

It was loud. Due to Gong Pildu's turrets, there were many explosions. I could still hear everything, so I felt my ears shrivel from the loud noises. I was currently observing Kim Namwoon, as he fought the 2nd Apostle, the woman.

She was using her mana nullifying shield to block his stabs and black flames; it was annoying to watch Kim Namwoon fail. Namwoon was trying to get closer to stab her, but she was quick and nimble.

(Namwoon, I want you to do an acrobatic jump, get behind her, and shoot her with your Black Flames stigma. It will be a shock to her system, and you can slit her throat.)

Kim Namwoon kept on struggling while cussing loudly.

(Stupid kid. Let's see if Lee Jihye is doing better.)

Kim Namwoon and Lee Jihye were fighting as a duo; Lee Jihye was fighting the ugly bastard, the 7th Apostle. He wasn't as strong as Jihye, and his weight was causing him to lose balance.

I gripped my fist into a hard ball.

(I... remember something... I don't like you...)

For some reason, I didn't like the 7th Apostle.

(Which novel were you from?)

Numerous fat, ugly bastards came into my mind. Which character were they? I knew a lot about ugly bastards, and the memories were blending.

(Were they a character in some weird-ass hentai? Someone in a gross ero-novel?)

The 7th Apostle kept on smiling as he fought Lee Jihye.

Suddenly, a small paragraph entered my mind: "He was a man with the number '7' on his shoulders. He had thick eyebrows and looked at Lee Jihye's white legs like they were to his taste."

I began mentally profiling the man.

[You have unlocked a hidden skill of yours!]

(What the hell is this?)

[You gained a skill called: Physical Analyzation!]

[You are analyzing a man with this skill!]

Information from the ugly bastard began spilling into my mind. His entire body was morphing into an X-ray image, and information was being displayed as blue windows. There was so many displays, but I made sure to look at specific areas, such as the lower half of their body.

[This man's penis is currently erect.]

(I want to view their sexual orientation, medical history, and any prior records from the official police system,) I commanded.

[You cannot view this information. Please narrow down your search inquires.]

(Fine then.)

I stepped closer to the fat man, and began searching his brain.

(I want to check his limbic system.)

Images from the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippo campus, and limbic cortex began appearing in front of me. I felt like a doctor, looking at X-rays. I was trying to see if the 7th Apostle felt sexual arousal, but I didn't understand the information in front of my eyes. I wished I could've studied human biology, or have a private attribute related to the medical field, but that wasn't my talent.

(I'm only good at killing people. I would most likely be an AoD. It's a good thing that I never entered the medical field.)

I went back to studying the man.

(I want to view his memories,) I commanded the skill.

[You cannot view this person's memories.]

(I want to use Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Stage 1 and read their mind.)

[This person is not an applicable character!]

(Damn, this is useless right now. I'll just watch the fight.)

I turned to Kim Namwoon and made sure to read his thoughts.

[You have activated Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Lv.3!]

(Shit.. these people are good. I might not be able to last long...) Namwoon thought.

[Constellation "Abyssal Black Flame Dragon" has sponsored Incarnation "Kim Namwoon" with 1000 coins.]

[Constellation "Abyssal Black Flame Dragon" says that he can descend into Incarnation "Kim Namwoon" and kill everyone here.]

(Flame Dragon-ah, that sounds like a lot of work, tell me later...) Namwoon thought.

Kim Namwoon kept on fighting the 2nd Apostle.

(Namwoon... listen to me,) I thought to him.

(Why are trying to talk to Namwoon?)

The mysterious man from before was back to harass me.

(I want to descend into Kim Namwoon, similar to a Half-God Advent,) I replied.

(That's crazy, it's only the 4th Main Scenario. How would you even do that?)

(The Constellations do it.)

(You are not a Constellation,) they quipped.

(I'm trying to be,) I replied angrily.

(Wait a minute.... Are you trying to become a Constellation?)

If this man could see my face, would they be able to see my thin smirk?

(Yes. I'm trying to gain five legendary stories. You need at least five to become a Constellation.)

(Heh. That only applies to people who aren't enslaved by the Constellations.)

(I'm not sponsored by any Constellations,) I added. (Although, I'm under the protection of The Black One, Lord of Muspellheim.)

(Let's watch the fight,) they said.

***

Kim Namwoon and Lee Jihye had horrible coordination, and didn't work well with each other.

If I had to add a story tag to Lee Jihye, I would title it "Tsundere." If I had to add a tag to Kim Namwoon, I would title it "Chunnibyou." The setting they were in didn't allow for easy capability; Lee Jihye was actually a kind person, while Namwoon was quite murderous and reckless.

(Kim Namwoon has developed an abrasive fighting style due to the influence of his sponsor. Lee Jihye's true potential isn't on land, and she's a land-based fighter that favors speed,) I thought.

I heard an explosion, and many people died.

[H ey... you o kay?] Fragment of the 4th Wall asked me.

(It's okay, I don't feel any emotional attachment to those people. I feel nothing.)

The surprised Kim Namwoon and Lee Jihye looked back and yelled:

"Gilyoung!"

"Sangah-unni!!"

The duo turned their back against the Apostles for a split second, which allowed the fat man to use his pole-arm, and thrust the butt of it into Kim Namwoon's back.

"G~~ahh!!! Fuck!"

Kim Namwoon flew forward and slammed into the subway platform.

-!CRACK!-

Kim Namwoon's slender body promptly collapsed.

(Did they break their bones?) I thought.

(Maybe they did,) the other man replied.

Kim Namwoon gasped out in pain; his bones were bent at horrible angles.

I used my Physical Analyzation skill, and saw that Namwoon fractured one bone in his right ribcage, and he broke three bones in his left arm.

(It seems that Namwoon has fractured his wrist, his ulna and his radius; all in his left arm,) I stated.

(Are you a doctor?)

(I just learn and study a lot,) I thought back. (It's nothing useful though,) I added.

I turned my attention to the fight between the 7th Apostle and Lee Jihye.

It was two against one. The 2nd and 7th Apostles were tired, but they were much more coordinated than Lee Jihye. The 2nd Apostle threw her knife at Jihye's face, while the ugly bastard took a swipe at Jihye's legs. She backed up, but the heel of her sneakers tripped against the subway tracks.

"Gah!"

Lee Jihye's back was against the ground. The 7th Apostle used the end of his battle-axe, and slammed it into her stomach several times.

"Jihye!! Namwoon!!"

Yu Sangah entered the scene, and tried to help, but she was heavily wounded by the bomb from earlier.

She jumped from the platform, and saw that Namwoon was crumbled onto the ground, barely breathing. She saw the two Apostles stand above the crying Lee Jihye.

"You... bastards," Yu Sangah gasped out.

"Hey! Another pretty lady wants to fight!" the 7th Apostle boasted.

"Deal with her quickly, Seven," the 2nd Apostle said.

There was a weird glint in the 7th Apostle's eyes. The way he looked at Sangah-ssi, and Jihye.... I stared intently at him, while stepping in front of Sangah.

(Come any closer, and I'll rip your heart of your chest, Seventh.)

He walked through my conscious form.

"A pretty lady like you shouldn't be walking around alone..." The Seventh Apostle said this as he thrusted his polearm into her stomach.

Yu Sangah tripped backwards, and fell. Yu Sangah was incredibly dazed, but she made sure that she didn't fall onto Namwoon.

(Even in this world-line, even in a Apocalypse, you're still kind,) I thought. (Sadly, people like him... like this ugly bastard, they'll take advantage of you.)

I looked at the 2nd Apostle and thought, (Please, if you're a true woman, then you'll understand that you shouldn't leave.)

"I'm going to check up on One," the 2nd Apostle said.

The 2nd Apostle jumped over Yu Sangah and Kim Namwoon, and landed onto the platform. All the people that were left were the 7th Apostle, Yu Sangah, Lee Jihye and Kim Namwoon.

The 7th Apostle began to speak when no one else was around.

He said, "Huhu, the Delusional Demon is finally on his back."

The 7th Apostle began to abusively kick Namwoon several times in the lungs. Kim Namwoon tried to cry out, but nothing escaped his lungs and throat. Namwoon was out of breath. Literally, and physically. The 7th Apostle began kicking Namwoon in the mouth, until they couldn't speak anymore. The Apostle aimed for Namwoon's chest, and kept on slamming their weapon into them. Only tears leaked out from Namwoon's eyes, as he stared towards the sky.

"I never liked you in the original novel," the 7th Apostle said. "You were so annoying..."

[You mentality has shaken due to your excessive immersion!]

[Your Anger Lord attribute is on the brink of activating.]

I stared at Kim Namwoon, as he stared towards the heavens.

(Black Fla...me Dra--gan-ah... Save me... save them...)

Kim Namwoon thought this as he stared at Yu Sangah and Lee Jihye.

"I'm going to enjoy this," the 7th Apostle said.

The 7th Apostle looked at Lee Jihye and Yu Sangah, as if he was a butcher at a cattle ranch. He began to speak aloud. He knew that no one would hear him. The fight was still raging.

"Let's see, which one should I choose?"

He grabbed Yu Sangah, and placed her next to Lee Jihye.

"You two are pretty. Placing you two together; it's like something out of my favorite... Never-mind," the 7th Apostle said perversely. "But... I prefer younger girls..."

The 7th Apostle dragged Lee Jihye farther from the commotion, and into a private, darker area.

[Constellation "Maritime War-God" is staring at the ugly bastard.]

(Jihye!!) It was the man from before, who seemed to hear me. His voice was tinged with worry.

The 7th Apostle began to unzip his pants, and mutter perverted things. Before he did though, he opened Lee Jihye's mouth.

I felt my heart quake from fear.

(I know what you're going to do, you son of a bitch...)

The 7th Apostle wouldn't be able to understand me. He was a South Korean, and I was just a dirty U.S. boy, but I decided to insult him with the worst slurs I knew.

(You bloody n###a! I'll rip you APART!!) I tried to grab the man's neck, and choke him.

My hands passed through his greasy neck. Still... I was still nothing. Nothing was happening to this man. I warped my mind to Kim Namwoon. Namwoon was alive enough to use his body.

[Your understanding of character "Kim Namwoon" is immense!]

(I need to warp myself into Kim Namwoon's mind!!)

[N o...] Fragment of the 4th Wall said.

Why were they trying to stop me...?

(Is it due to the probability?) I quickly asked.

[You ca n't fi gh t th e feasibility it ' s too str on g... a sto rm will ha pp en...]

I tried to insert my mind into Namwoon's skull; I was trying to descend into him. Sadly, a message I've never seen appeared.

[Your Fragment of the 4th Wall is too small!]

[Gain other Fragments to increase your power!]

[A Fragment Holder is nearby!]

The 7th Apostle was having trouble undressing Lee Jihye. He was actually hesitant to go through it. I don't know if he was afraid of the consequences, or the Constellations.

(What can we do!?!)

It was the fellow Fragment Holder. If he had a Fragment of the 4th Wall, then he was also blessed with future knowledge.

(We have to take a risk. We have to merge our Fragments, and descend into Kim Namwoon,) I explained.

(But... what will happen to us?)

(Does it really matter? Something horrible is about to happen to the people we care about. No sacrifice, no victory,) I said.

The fellow Fragment Holder came near me. They held out their hand, as if accepting my proposal. They seemed worried, as if they were an actual person. It was... interesting.

[Fragment Holders are resonating!]

***

Kim Namwoon stood up. His body was stiff from bruises. He bit down his tongue, and kept his mouth shut.

His muscles were constricted, and his cranium was suffering from a horrible headache. He felt something akin to a burning knife press against his body, but he knew he wasn't stabbed. Kim Namwoon almost fell to the ground in agony, but he felt something control his muscles.

(Go forth, Kim Namwoon.)

Kim Namwoon heard a dark, sinister voice whisper in his mind.

(Kill the 7th Apostle, Kim Namwoon. Embrace the darkness, and burn them.)

The dark voice in Kim Namwoon's mind felt malicious.

(Why are we doing this?)

There was a second voice in Namwoon's head. This one sounded older, and sounded as if they spoke actual Korean. The other voice... it sounded raspy, and inhuman.

(Don't pay any attention to the other voice, Namwoon,) the dark voice rasped. (That person is your guilty conscious. I am your murderous urges. Do not speak. To save Lee Jihye, and Yu Sangah, you must give your motor control to me.)

"U-gh-"

(SHUT UP!!!) The dark voice demanded. (Succumb to my will!!)

Kim Namwoon felt his consciousness become suppressed. He didn't know what was happening, but he heard system messages, and saw screens appear in front of his eyes.

[Incarnation "Kim Namwoon" has momentarily synchronized with Incarnation "Ethan Nakamura."]

[Stigma "Black Flames" and Stigma "Flames of Muspellheim" are synchronizing.]

(Go forth, Namwoon. We will rip and tear, until it is done...)

The voice began forcing Kim Namwoon forward. If anyone saw this scene, they would assume that Namwoon would've arisen as a zombie.

(Sneak carefully. You must learn the art of shadows.)

The voice began maneuvering Namwoon's body in certain ways. They made sure to avoid gravel, and step onto smooth surfaces only. Namwoon wanted to scream in pain, but he saw a new message.

[Fragment of the 4th Wall has momentarily suppressed Character "Kim Namwoon's" pain!]

Kim Namwoon felt something sharp enter his brain, but his pain evaporated soon after. As that happened, dark images flooded into Kim Namwoon's mind. They showed burned corpses, dying people, and bleeding humans. Namwoon saw planets explode, and angels fall from the sky.

(Interested, Namwoon?) The dark voice asked.

(Don't show him that...) The human voice demanded.

Kim Namwoon came near the 7th Apostle. Nothing had happened to Lee Jihye. It seems that the 7th Apostle was being persuaded by Jihye's Constellation. Sadly... it wouldn't be called persuasion....

[Constellation "Maritime War God" is willing to give 1000 coins to the Incarnation that is harassing Lee Jihye.]

[They wish for this Incarnation to leave their Incarnation "Lee Jihye" alone.]

"Oho, Constellation-nim? Nah... I don't want money. Instead, you're going to watch..."

The 7th Apostle made their decision. It seems that they wanted to make a scenario, and gain coins from it before they...

(Let's kill him with our bare hands, Namwoon.)

[Character "Kim Namwoon" has had their skill "Blackening" forcibly activated.]

(We are currently gathering dangerous heat in your hands, Namwoon. You were quite foolish, trying to project bigger flames,) the dark voice whispered. (You must conserve your energy, and savor these moments.)

The time it took for Kim Namwoon to sneak up on the 7th Apostle was only a few seconds. For the voices within his head, it felt like an eternity. The 7th Apostle unbuckled their pants, and let it drop to the ground. Kim Namwoon saw the man's white under.

(I hate the color white....)

Kim Namwoon felt new words enter his mind, and escape his throat. When he finally said it, he whispered it out.

"Watashi wa konton to fukushu odesu..."

Kim Namwoon heard the translation in his mind.

(I am the King of Chaos and Revenge...)

The 7th Apostle turned around in fear; he wasn't expecting Kim Namwoon to rise so quickly. English words began to spew forth from Kim Namwoon.

"I will burn this world."

With that last statement, black and red flames began to gush from Namwoon's hands; he rushed forward and clamped them around the 7th Apostle's neck.

"Gaaqqqqkkkkqq!!!!"

The 7th Apostle squealed like a pig as the flames of a dragon, and jotun scorched him.

(You have done well, Kim Namwoon. I wish I could've sponsored you...)

The dark voice in Kim Namwoon's subsided, and they felt this inexplicable pressure release from their physical body. Kim Namwoon looked at the ugly bastard, who had their eyes sealed together by the fire.

"Haha... fucker..."

Kim Namwoon finally collapsed.

***

(Where are we?)

(We are in Yu Junghyeok.)

(WHAT.)

(We are currently controlling Yu Junghyeok.)

It was difficult. The other Fragment Holder was currently residing in the left hemisphere of Yu Junghyeok's brain, while I was in the right hemisphere. We were currently taking Yu Junghyeok's body on a walk; we descended the steps of the Cinema Dungeon.

(How are we doing this?)

(You're a reader, correct? You read TWSA, right?)

(Yes.... I did.)

(I read TWSA as well. I admire Yu Junghyeok. You're lucky that you get to fight with the protagonist.)

(He... can be pretty annoying sometimes. He always says he's going to kill me when he sees me...)

(Make sure to protect Kim Namwoon as well...)

(That chunni kid?)

(I know you hate them for what they did in the subway car...)

(How do you know about that?)

(As Fragment Holders... I think we can see into each others mind and memories...)

Yu Junghyeok's body began to falter.

(Focus. Imagine Yu Junghyeok as a puppet.)

We left the Cinema Dungeon completely, and walked along the tracks. With Yu Junghyeok's ears, we began to hear anguished screaming. We walked by the injured Yu Sangah, who fainted from fatigue.

With Yu Junghyeok's body, we saw a group of three. They were Lee Jihye, Kim Namwoon and the 7th Apostle. Nothing happened to Lee Jihye. I felt relief from the fellow Fragment Holder.

We stared at the 7th Apostle. His lower half was only protected by underwear, and we saw his disgusting, hairy legs. The 7th Apostle was making pathetic noises. He tried to open his eyes, but Kim Namwoon's flames sealed them shut by burning the skin together.

I pulled a sword from Yu Junghyeok's scabbard.

(I'm going to enjoy this,) I thought.

I swiftly cut the feet of the 7th Apostle, and he cried out.

"Gah!! Wha-wha-what the hell...?"

I used all of my power, and had Yu Junghyeok lift his leg up. I felt so incredible. Yu Junghyeok's body was strong. How did this bloody Regressor die so much?

(Ah, I'm thinking too much.)

Using all of my mental power, I swiftly brought Yu Junghyeok's boot into the air and... promptly kicked the 7th Apostle in the genital area. He grunted out from the agony.

(Oh.... I'm going to enjoy this....)

The 7th Apostle would die in the most painful way possible. With Yu Junghyeok's body, I would beat them to death.

[Constellation "Secretive Plotter" has sponsored Incarnation "Yu Junghyeok" with 1000 coins.]

[They wish for the death of the Incarnation that hurt Incarnation "Kim Namwoon."]

[They wish for the death of the Incarnation that hurt Incarnation "Lee Jihye."]