2. That fateful day (2)

'Pii Pii Pii Pii Pii—'

The emergency evacuation siren announcement alerted through the entire neighborhood. The siren itself ringing so loud it feels like my eardrums are pierced.

That means that a dungeon break is currently occuring.

The surrounding area that were peaceful just a few seconds ago instantly turned into a chaotic ocean of people screaming.

Every single one of them running far away from the abandoned building, which is announced to be the source.

"Oof–"

I stumbled on my feet. Someone even brushed past my shoulder in panic, made me dropped one of the grocery bags on the cement floor.

A dungeon break is an anomality, meaning there's no definitive conclusion that the only damages would be limited to only the small area surrounding the portal.

It's safer to run away from the source as far as possible or quickly get inside emergency shelters provided, which are easily accessible since mostly are the underground stations.

The closest one from here is.. Chungmuro's underground station.

'If I run there now, I'll be safe.'

As I turned around to leave the area, I gulped when screams came from the group of talented people nearby the portal.

The ones staying at the front lines were definitely the Espers, while the Guides stepped back in a safe distance and alerting normal citizens to hurry evacuate.

Each of their expressions looked bewildered by the unexpected outbreak, and a few even fell unconscious with wound traces on their bodies.

Monsters of different levels and species flooding out of the portal like water dam breaking.

The monsters that poured out of the portal are the same ones expected to be inside the dungeon before the anomality occured.

However, defeating all of it inside the dungeon would be a hundred percent better and safer than defeating them in real life when anomality like this happened.

'But it's strange..'

Although each dungeon's appearance time varies, all dungeons regardless of tiers have a time limit of a month before it explodes.

That's why it's undoubtedly important to clear the dungeon before the indicated time runs out.

Dungeon Management HQ, which is the government officials together with the dungeon and awakened researchers, are obliged to professionally manage each of the dungeon's time limit and provide the necessary information to the assigned guilds or completing teams, so why..

'Was there some kind of a mistake?'

I clicked my tongue, were those high political people neglecting their jobs or what?

"You literally had one job."

I gritted my teeth in annoyance.

Although it pricks his conscience to leave them, those fighting in front lines are a group of talented people.

Coming here as Espers and Guides, there's no way they wouldn't know what they should do.

If he went there unexpectedly, he might hinder their teamwork.

The most rational thing right now is for him to not be a burden and evacuate properly.

Just as I was about to run, I took a sharp breath as a weak pleading cries of help catches my ears.

Cold sweat formed on my forehead as I turned my head to the side. That..

A mother with a child in her embrace, most likely her daughter, crouching backwards in fear.

'"...shit."

A terrifyingly huge winged monster closing its distance to them, opening its mouth wide towards them both. The monster baring its sharp fangs menacingly.

How the hell did it get here? Did it got past through the Espers?

'No, it must have fled here by flying using its wings to avoid them..' My sight trailed at the wings on the hideous creature's back that looked like a bat's wings.

The monster is big, huge even. Way bigger and taller than my build. The skin looks tough, full of scales just like a snake.

In comparison, I probably just look like a middle school grader when standing next to it.

I glanced at the group of Espers, but each of them got their hands full, some of them looked tattered being flocked by a swarm of monsters.

'If only I could get the Guides to notice us..!'

Just then, the mother cried while protectively hugging her daughter. A weak sound slipped past her evidently trembling lips, asking for help in a pale complexion.

A sudden memory resurfaced by itself. Blurry images of a pair of a man and a woman in their late 40s stretched their upper limbs towards him.

A stream of red colored liquid flowed nonstop from the woman's forehead. Before he was able to grasp those bloodied hands for the last time, his minds blacked out.

Are you seriously going to let that kind of scenario once again?

Helplessly unable to do anything as people died right in front of your eyes.

Haa—

"Screw it."

I threw the rest of my grocery bag on the floor, some of the contents even leaked out. I'll regret it but I can just buy them again later.

I clenched my fist and ran straight towards the monster in full speed. When the monster is about to pounce on the terrified mother and daughter, I swung my fist as hard as I could.

Wham!

Kueek—

The moment my fist met its face, the winged snake-like monster staggered to the side pathetically.

Damn, I can't feel my hand after I punched that thing. That snake scale's toughness is no joke, my knuckles must have turned red by now.

Not much damage, but the time created and distance is enough considering my physical abilities weren't much different to normal people.

I frantically pulled the mother by her arms and helped her stand up regardless of her shaky legs.

"Ma'am, I'll distract it for a while so hurry up and r—"

Kieeek!

Perhaps dissatisfied with me interfering its meal time, the monster screeched and glared at me sinisterly.

I hurriedly hide the mother and daughter behind me in a protective manner as we're startled by the monster's menacingly loud shrieks.

Chilling goosebumps went up my spine because of the intimidating feeling felt from it, fear arose inside me. It seems the monster itself is of a higher level than I assumed.

'That's not a good sign.'

We stepped backwards the same time the monster got closer. It seemed angry because of my attack just now.

Before the monster able to leapt forward with its fangs look ready to tear me apart, cold energy swirled around my heart.

"I won't let you take another step–!"

My ability activated by my will, and I focused my sight towards the enemy in front.

Translucent and glowing golden colored particles of light gathered around me and the monster which I consider as a 'threat'.

The monster stopped its movement middle track, the body nor its limbs aren't moving at all, yet the suffocating pressure of its gaze stayed on me.

'It worked!'

...more or less.

The monster struggled to break free from my paralyzing skill. It would easily deactivate my ability if it goes on too long like this, and not to mention, the energy consumation is big due to the monster's level.

Unable to move much due to the penalty of using my own abilty to a high grade monster, I glanced to the side in a haste.

"Escape, quickly!"

"B-But what about mister—" the little daughter let out a choked sob.

"I'm an Esper too, so hurry!"

It has been awhile since the last time I activated my skill, so honestly, I'm not sure how much longer I could keep it up.

'At the very least, I must hold on until these two managed to escape.'

The mother stuttered a "thank you" and mumbled "I'm sorry" many times with a quick bow, then turned around.

I could see her daughter hugging her neck with little sobs, eyes closed tight.

It must have been a scary experience... my conscience pricked at me for hesitating to help awhile ago.

As he let out a sigh of relief at the sight of the mother and daughter in a safe distance far from him, the feeling of dread came back as he felt a shadow towered him.

For a few seconds, Moon Jin-soo lost focus.

Bam!

"Kugh–!"

Sparkles of golden dust that surrounded him and the monster just now vanished into thin air.

One of the monster's hands with dangerously sharp looking nails gripped me by my neck and slammed me down the ground. The black baseball hat that covered my head even went flying due to the impact.

"Kohok, cough..!"

My whole body hurts from colliding with the hard cement. The excrutiating pain is unbearable to the point I unconciously deactivated my ability and desperately grasped at the hand clenching on my neck.

The monster seemed to be very agitated because of my sudden attack.

Honestly, if it's not for my slightly higher-than-normal-people endurance's as an Esper, I would've blacked out. At this moment, I'm kind of grateful I awakened as an Esper.

I wanted to scream for dear life but my windpipe felt like being crushed, it's hard and painful just to breathe.

I struggled to kick it many times using whatever power left inside me, but it barely inflicted any damage. This damned thing.

'...Am I going to die like this?'

By pretending to be some kind of a hero to atone my sins?

Melancholy thoughts swarmed around my mind with mixed emotions of fear, sadness, regret, and boiling anger.

What are those Espers doing, still haven't noticed him in such situation? How laughable, none of the Guides were even looking at this way.

It's normal to be flustered by an unexpected situation, but shouldn't you not only focused on what's in front, but also pay attention to your surroundings?

If he's a normal citizen, he would've been ripped to shreds long ago. No medical knowledge and technologies nor even Espers with healing abilities could help him by then.

I grinded my teeth as I seethe.

"Fuck– you... heok—"

The monster sneered wide with its ripped mouth, seemed ecstatic to see its attacker wriggling in pain and struggling underneath.

My eyesight went blurry as the grip got tighter. I can't breathe, it's suffocating.

The lack of air gradually made my body limp and slowly making me lose consciousness.

At that point, I suddenly recalled the sight of my parents, who died in a monster's hands during the first dungeon break.

As if my own memories were mocking me, I laughed bitterly.

'Will I really.. die the same way mom and dad did?'

That is when

Stab

"Gasp–! haa, haa..." all of a sudden, the heavy feeling of the monster on top of me and the grip on my neck disappeared.

As I coughed violently and still grasping for air, I could feel my upper body being supported off the ground by someone's arm.

Even after his neck was already freed from the death grip of the high leveled creature, he still had difficulty breathing normally.

I glanced at the monster which stumbled backwards as it looked down at the sharp object penetrated its chest.

'That's..'

A sword? No, it looked too short for a sword.. something like a dagger?

My deduction was half right half wrong when a gunshot sound startled me.

A splash of the monster's bright red blood spurted out from the wounds, some even splashed onto my face. The monster's body meekly fell to the side when the dagger was removed.

Dark red liquid could be seen on the dagger that is attached to the body of a gun.. no, is that a rifle? Who—

I dazedly widened my eyes as I saw familiar dark brown colored strands that seemed to flutter along with the wind.

Even though my eyesight is blurry due to the psychological tears pooled, I could see the stern face that my savior is wearing as his black colored pupils looked down at my face.

"...P-Park, Hyun-sik..?"

I unconsciously called his name. For a split second, the man looked at me with a strange expression.

"You.."

Kieeek!!

Before Park Hyun-sik was able to finish his sentence, an ear-splitting shriek could be heard from the direction of the previous monster.

Both Espers turned their heads towards the source in an instant.

"–?!"

Despite bearing a stab and bullet hole on its chest, the monster is still alive and has the energy to stand up.

Seems like it fell unconscious previously due to the pain and shock from the surprise attack.

Chokingly ominous aura could be felt from the monster. This time, it looked very angry and ready to pounce on us at any time.

In spite of danger, I could feel it. Pleasant sensation of energy tingles on my fingertips and the place where Park Hyun-sik's arm is placed behind my shoulder.

'This is..'

Yes, Moon Jin-soo knew exactly what this feeling means.

Finally, it activated.

His hidden ability.

"I have a plan, so stick with me." with a determined look, I hurriedly told Park Hyun-sik about my plan.

Park Hyun-sik seemed taken aback for a split second, but he regained his composure in a blink of an eye and nodded at my words.

With Park Hyun-sik's help, Moon Jin-soo stood up shakingly on his feet and leaned close. His light brown colored eyes glowed, making it looked golden.

He wiped the speck of blood on his cheek using the back of his hand.

"We'll kill it together."