The Aftermath III

Second day in confinement.

Now that I have time all for myself, I can spend it on useless things like naming my special moves. This might sound childish, but I like to keep myself organized.

I have my Cube AI to arrange a new tab for my System Interface. I like to be reminded of what I am capable of, and for my notes to be easily within my access. The AI System I have is an OP tool for notes that only I can read. I also use this System to record what I remember from the novel.

"It is game time! I'll be naming my Special Moves now!" I cheer inwardly.

***

Hyon Hyung's Special Combo Moves!

Shadow Clone— Creates Afterimage by deactivating [Always Here] and [Not Here]. The current maximum limit is 4 Afterimages.

Misdirection— Mess with the target's accuracy, by using [Always Here] either on (1) oneself, (2) the target's body part, (3) the target's weapons, or the combination of two or three targets (self, body, or weapon).

Phantom Touch— Attack with an imperceptible weapon by attaching [Always Here] or [Not Here] to a weapon. Optional: Create an Afterimage of an attack by selectively attaching and detaching [Always Here] on a weapon, while activating [Not Here].

Haunting Feels— Attach [Always Here] selectively on a target's body part to the extreme that they lose a sense of that body part. (Skill still being researched. According to Suho's and Hajin's accounts, it sends chills and goosebumps on their skin. Effects of Haunting Feels can be resisted; however, the conditions remain unknown.)

Flash & Increased Evasion Movement— New moves still under research. Combos are still under research.

***

The combos I can use with [Always Here] and [Not Here] are extensive, and I believe they will only expand in the future. Names are very important things to a person. It gives meaning to them. I must give my combo moves a proper name so that I can easily remember them, and so that they can make a greater impression.

According to a study I read back in my spare time, magic power comes from the Gifts or the Soul, and that is the same for identity. Research on Souls nowadays has become a legitimate study of science.

The reason why science is advancing towards the more spiritual side is because of the existence of mages and mystical forces such as magic power. Magic Spells are also being given names for the sake of giving them an identity. The way Gifts are named also has the same principles, and as its wielder's interpretation of the Gift deepens, the stronger he or she becomes.

That is why giving my Special Moves a name is part of the process to get stronger.

The <Shadow Clone> is not perfect yet, as it is still easily recognizable by my standards. I want it to be good enough to fool even Hajin, who has the highest perception among the people I know. After I get out of here, I will also be busy sparring with them.

The reason I did not use <Shadow Clone> in fighting the Djinns and the Devil Seed's host is that I didn't find the need to, as <Misdirection > will do just fine and is much better than an imperfect move. I recall using <Misdirection > to induce consecutive friendly fires among a group of intermediate-rank Djinns. That is only possible with Cube AI's assistance. Still, it is clear as day how powerful this combo is. In fact, <Misdirection > is my favorite combo.

Then there is also <Phantom Touch>, which is almost second nature to me when it comes to ground and pound. I use it in between my attacks. It is the opposite of <Misdirection >, which messes with my foe's accuracy. <Phantom Touch> helps me land hits in a way that my foe will not see my attack coming.

Finally, there is <Haunting Feels>, which I once used on a Salamander back in the Mock Dungeon. I had Suho and Hajin test it before we dismissed from the meeting. According to them, they can feel a chill and goosebumps on their skin as if there is cold air, like a ghost, passing through them. Among my special moves, <Haunting Feels> has the most magic power consumption, and even my new magic power stat worth 6.6 can feel the dent.

Before learning the Great Sage's breathing method, I could only use <Haunting Feels> once, and now, I can use it twice, and thrice if I really push myself.

Lastly, there is <Flash > and <Increased Evasion Rate>, which are the results of my Gift's grade advancing to the next level. The concept of <Flash > is that [Always Here] has taken effect on the wind and light around the environment, thus allowing me instantaneous movement in a short period of time within a limited distance.

Meanwhile, the <Increased Evasion Rate> is much weirder. It is said that I can evade any attack once I cast [Not Here], which frankly is too OP if it is really what I think it is.

It takes me some time to organize my data, but I finish it. A new tab [Special Moves] peeks from my System Interface, where I can skim through with just a thought. The increase in strength excites me.

I can see it now. The gang's training arc is almost upon us.

I smile ear to ear.

"Hyon Hyung-ssi?"

I turn my head around to the respectful address. To my surprise, an unlikely visitor has come to see me. It is the Berserker, Guild Master of Essence of the Strait, and father of Yoo Yeonha, Yoo Jinhyung.

"Sir… It is nice to see you…"

"I've heard from Yun Seung-Ah that you are the main suspect…"

I feel bad for him. I don't know what a father feels like, but judging by the thick eye bags under his eyes, it is very apparent he is not getting the sleep he needs. Considering his superhuman constitution, that just suggests more of the pain he has to go through.

"How may I help you, sir?"

"Do you have anything to do with my daughter's kidnapping?"

"No, sir. I do not."

Lying is almost second nature to me now. Despite deciding to become honest with my colleagues, I cannot still remove this part of me. It is not that I like taking the risk of informing Yoo Jinhyung that his daughter has become a Devil's Seed's host and that I am keeping her captive.

With Yeonha's help, we are able to send the Yoo Residence a blackmail letter asking for ransom for the kidnapping of their daughter. At first, we are just planning to hide Yeonha until we achieve our goals, but on second thoughts, we decide to do this as we desperately need the money.

Yoo Yeonha's cold-heartedness even chills me, but according to her, if she is really to become the future Queen of Seoul, then that amount of money really doesn't matter. Moreover, that money will be for her own benefit too.

I see Yoo Jinhyung waiting for me to say more, but I have nothing more to tell him.

"…" My silence says less of what he wants to hear, but he must get it. That is all that I will tell him.

"I see… I believe you." Yoo Jinhyung painfully smiles. "My daughter has a lot of friends, but you are the first she called a reliable comrade. I haven't thanked you yet for being by my daughter's side back in the museum terrorism incident… For that, I thank you…"

I feel a pang of regret in my heart. Don't be so nice to me, man, I might die of guilt.

"Sir, I am only doing the right thing…"

"I will make an appeal to the Asso—"

"No, sir, please don't!" I shout to him. If he really makes an appeal, and for example, the Association gives me something like bail, then I will not be able to finish hacking this freaking Tower.

[Infiltrating and Hacking the Hero Association's Tower's System at 13%]

I calm myself within a heartbeat. "I am innocent, and I trust that the Hero Association is a righteous faction that will clear my name soon as I truly am innocent. There is no need to do something so useless, sir…" Yeah, I know it is bullshit, and Yoo Jinhyung appears unconvinced.

If he really makes an appeal, then I will just have to intercept it with Cube. If I see any documents or communication requests coming from Yoo Jinhyung, then I must sabotage them.

Finally, Yoo Jinhyung leaves my prison cell.

I lie on a comfy bed waiting for the days to pass by. My prison cell is a see-through-glass containment using the toughest material, only second to Adamantine, which is 'Mythril' as reinforcement. The Association is really rich if they can do this.

On the third day... Yun Seung-Ah comes to visit me.

"I want to talk…" She amicably comes inside my prison.

I nod at her. "Is this another round of interrogation, ma'am?"

"No, this is off the books." She grabs a seat for herself.

The glass prison is quite generous. It has a few pieces of furniture like a table, chairs, a comfy bed, and even a bookshelf with various fiction novels that I can read through. All I've been doing since arriving here is either chilling on the bed or skimming through the internet via my Cube AI.

They might have my smartwatch, but they will never take Cube away.

I sit properly on my bed, as what Yun Seung-Ah wants to talk about seems something serious.

"There were at least four individual silhouettes fighting off the Djinn at that time. As to why these characters are blurred, I don't know. The CCTV footage has more than four blurred silhouettes, which may throw off our investigation. But I saw the aftermath of the fight itself. There cannot be more than four characters heavily resisting the Djinn attack."

"…" Yes, Hajin and I also increased the number of people we blurred in the images to throw off the investigation, but for Yun Seung-Ah to narrow down that number so easily and accurately speaks of her prowess as a hero.

In my mind, she is just a discounted Heroine. But I must keep up my guard with her, lest she actually is a changed character. That is unlikely, though.

I prepare for round 2 of the interrogation, Yun Seung-Ah vs Hyon Hyung.