Chapter 4

The room was quiet as Hwan-U thought of de-escalating the situation with Si-Woo. Knowing whatever he'd say would just push him to strive to save his sister, Hwan-U decided to take another approach.

"Alright, Si-Woo, we'll go save Mina..."

Si-Woo's face grinned a bit with the thought of having Hwan-U by his side.

"However, there is a condition beforehand. You must come with me to the department of bearers and get assigned your severity."

Si-Woo was hesitant about the request, but it didn't last long as he knew he had to do what he needed to do to save Mina from the Crimson Slumber.

"Deal."

Hwan-U sighed as Si-Woo began following him out of the apartment. As they stepped onto the sidewalk, Hwan-U pulled out his car keys and unlocked his car.

"Red and sleek, sorta sporty for an agency worker, don't you think?"

"Just get in already, Si-Woo."

Hwan-U checks before pulling out onto the road to head towards the Agency's building. As they're on the road, Hwan-U opens his passenger compartment and hands Si-Woo a folder filled with information on the black towers and the scar bearer's abilities.

"Read some of that before we get there; you need to be at least aware of what we expect you to do... You'll also need to know what we've found in the towers as of now."

Si-Woo was confused by holding the files even though he knew it was critical stuff. Why would Hwan-U be sharing it with him?

"Curious one, aren't you? I can tell by your face. You're confused about why I'm letting you look at the agency investigations... I trust you; I know you won't leak this information nor share it with an outside source."

"But aren't you guys going to share it with everyone once you've gathered enough to put it out there?"

"That's correct, but if you think about it now... With whatever we release, people will end up dying, and if we become the cause of so many deaths, then we might as well be known as murders for mass genocide."

"Well yeah, these towers are completely unknown... Even with what you have here, it doesn't feel like you guys have acquired much."

"That's because we can't... We've barely gotten anyone to return after sending them in."

"You mean..."

"They've been killed by something within the tower."

"That's… Horrible, something that can kill us even with our powers, what could do that?!"

Hwan-U held his tongue for a moment. He was thinking about how he should break the news to him.

"Si-Woo, I need to know if you want to save your sister... I mean enough to put your life on the line and potentially die at every possible turn?"

It was a tricky question; anyone would stumble at that kind of question. Even Si-Woo, who's usually timid yet determined… He stopped with words stuck in his throat.

"No matter the answer, I want you to open that folder and look at what we've found..."

Si-Woo opens the folder and begins reading reports. Mostly about observations on the appearance of the tower. But then, as he flipped through the papers, he started seeing photos, which progressed like a scene: First, a picture of the tower's door open, next, a torch-lit tunnel, after that, a maze-like area divided in multiple directions. Si-Woo could see the slight sweat sliding down Hwan-U's temple, yet he couldn't help but look.

Then it started getting worse; cold sweats started forming on Si-Woo's head as he continued looking through the photos. The following image revealed a creature resembling something resembling a wolf's look. It was eating something or someone, but the shot was so dark he couldn't make it out. The next photo shows one of the torches thrown closer to the beast from the walls. As it lit the area around it, the image became clear as day. The horror before Si-Woo's eyes was eating parts of a recent research group member that the agency sent in. But what made this worse, what made it more repulsive, was that the wolf had human arms attached to its body. With a slight hesitation, Si-Woo reached for the next photo... Til.

"Si-Woo, it's best you put it away for now... I don't recommend looking at that last photo."

Hwan-U's sweat was more apparent as he knew what Si-Woo was about to see.

"If I don't see it for myself, I won't know what to expect going into the tower..."

"...It's your call then..."

Si-Woo lifts the last picture and just stares at it. As if he'd become wholly frozen with fear. The concept was a gruesome sight of an accidental take... Part of the photo had the beast eating the researcher, but the rest of the image showed the ceiling itself. That ceiling harbored what appeared to be hanging bodies, but it was so dark that you could only make out their feet. But that wasn't all, as what seemed like another creature was slightly visible as it was attached to them. Even with a somewhat clear shot of them, it was too dark to make them out ultimately.

"What the hell, what could make sure a thing a reality. They're like something out of a creature feature!"

"Oh, trust me... That's the lightest reaction I've heard all day. With this information, the government is currently working on a system to keep people with powers such as you and me in check. From now on, we'll have to follow rules that people without these powers won't."

"When will they go into effect?"

"From what I've been hearing... Very soon."

"Then we need to hurry and get me prepared because I'm going to save Mina, even if I have to fight a pack of wolves with multiple human arms!"

"You're jumping too far ahead!"

Hwan-U shouted with irritation in his voice. Yet he remained silent for the rest of the drive.

Finally, as they arrive at the agency, Hwan-U places the files back in his passenger side compartment and steps out.

"Once we get inside, I'll get you set up with the research team, and then we'll begin your tests."

Hwan-U walks hastily inside, with Si-Woo barely keeping up.

"Jeez! Why are you walking so fast! Hwan-U!"

"This is my normal walking speed; what are you talking about!?"

Si-Woo began pumping his arms heavily to keep up with Hwan-U. Before coming to a complete stop at the front desk.

"Chae-Won, get a severity test ready this instant. I need to get this one checked out immediately."

"Right away, Hwan-U. But can I ask why the sudden urgency? Could he be a severity five?!"

"We won't know unless we test him."

"Right away, sir!"

Chae-Won picked up her phone and punched in a few numbers before connecting to another line.

"Set up a test immediately. We have someone who needs to be tested."

After a bit of confirming and denying, Chae-Won hangs up the phone and switches her attention to Si-Woo and Hwan-U.

"The testing is ready for you. Please escort him to room Six E."

"Si-Woo on me, let's go; we'll make it to the room in no time!"

Hwan-U resumed his "normal" walk speed and led Si-Woo to room Six E. As they arrive, the door instantly opens, and we see Si-Woo bent over, breathing heavily.

"When you said we'd reach the room in no time, I wasn't expecting you to mean we'll race up to six flights of stairs! Like why couldn't we take the elevator?!"

"I worry for you sometimes..."

Hwan-U walks into the room, leaving Si-Woo behind.

"What the hell does that mean!?"

Hwan-U is greeted by the researcher who will be examining Si-Woo's abilities.

"Eun-Jeong, it's good to see you! I didn't know I'd get the pleasure of having you do the test. I must be a lucky guy!"

"Well, seeing as how it's last minute and my shifts almost over. I got unlucky..."

"Oh, come on, Jeong, don't be like that."

"Hwan-U, this is the third time. I swear if he isn't a severity five, I will..."

Hwan-U stepped up to Eun-Jeong's ear and began whispering to her.

"Look, between you and me. I don't think he's a severity five, but I need your help to keep him from doing anything stupid."

"Are you fucking kidding me?! HWAN-U!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Look, I'll buy you lunch for the next month if you just do this for me."

With her finger held in Hwan-U's face, she sighs and pulls back.

"Two months, and we've got a deal."

"T-Two months?!"

Eun-Jeong looked bored and uninterested in the previous offer, pushing her to begin walking to the door.

"Suit yourself; I'm leaving."

Hwan-U bit his tongue for a moment before shouting to Eun-Jeong.

"Fine! Fine! Two months!"

Eun-Jeong mischievously grins before she looks at Si-Woo, still breathing heavily in the doorway.

"You! Come here for a moment. I want you to hold onto this."

As Si-Woo reaches Eun-Jeong, she forces a small oval stone into Si-Woo's hand.

"Now, where is your scar located?"

"U-Uh, my right elbow."

Hastily Eun-Jeong pulls up Si-Woo's sleeve and becomes mesmerized by the scar for a moment.

"Such damage, such... trauma."

It turned eerily silent for a moment before Hwan-U's cough reset things.

"This might sting a little."

"What do you mean by sti-!"

Suddenly black and blue energy began pulling from Si-Woo's scar as Eun-Jeong felt through it with her fingers.

"Incredible... I've... This is interesting."

"W-What's interesting?"

Si-Woo asked through the burning sensation of his elbow.

"You're a dagger user; I can see that clear as day. But... We'll need to run more tests. Especially your combat skills."

Suddenly as Eun-Jeong steps back, the black and blue energy fades and dissolves completely. Allowing Si-Woo to hold his elbow in relief.

"Please walk through that door into the combat testing grounds and I will direct you from the booth."

Si-Woo nods and walks away from Hwan-U and Eun-Jeong and into the combat testing room.

As Hwan-U turns ready to walk towards the booth he feels a sudden jerk and stops in his tracks.

"What is it, Jeong?"

"His ability... H-he doesn't have one!"