"I don't know... I also don't know what my fate will be later..."
Hyun Jin whispered in his heart, his eyes fixed on the ceiling of the subtly trembling carriage. His fingers gripped tightly, his breathing slow and calm, but within his chest, a storm of anxiety raged.
Kreek... krak...
The sound of grinding metal began to be heard on the roof, heavy, slow, as if something of unimaginable weight was stepping there.
Suddenly
CRASH!!!
A wild impact crushed the carriage roof. Metal shards flew into the air, raining down on the floor along with sparking embers. Thin smoke spread, filling the space with a suffocating, burnt smell.
Hyun Jin flinched, falling to a seated position, his knees trembling violently. From the smoke, a figure emerged, pitch black, large-bodied, and muscular. Its face was submerged in red shadow, but its sharp teeth were prominent, shining eerily in the darkness like the moon in the sky.
Hyun Jin crawled, trying to retreat to the rear carriage. He gasped for breath, every movement slow and panicked. Fear swallowed his mind, but the instinct to live forced him to keep moving.
Closer to the door...
Crap!
A large hand lunged from the dark shadow, gripping his leg tightly and dragging him back forward. His body was roughly dragged, the floor shaking beneath him.
"NO! LET GO OF ME! LET GO!!!"
His scream echoed through the carriage, but only an echo replied.
"ARRGHH!!!"
His leg was pressed with strength that defied logic. His bones felt crushed, a wild pain spreading throughout his body. He screamed again, his voice nearly torn by the suffering.
In one cruel motion, the creature threw him towards the carriage's steel door. Hyun Jin's body slammed hard, his breath caught, his chest struck mercilessly.
He staggered. The world spun, but his eyes kept searching, looking for any chance to escape.
Hyun Jin couldn't get up. His body lay on the carriage floor, only capable of sobbing, with pain and terror consuming him.
"AARGH! IT HURTS! IT HURTS..!" he screamed, his voice nearly breaking. His right hand hugged his right leg, which the creature had just gripped tightly, while his back felt like it had been shredded. Tears mixed with sweat soaked his face; his body was weak, almost paralyzed, able only to whimper.
The monster paid no attention to Hyun Jin's crying or pain. Slowly, it stepped back towards him, each step echoing in the carriage like a death knell.
Hyun Jin dared not look at the creature. His eyes were fixed on his right leg, which felt like it would break at any moment, his right hand holding tight to suppress the pain.
When the monster was close enough, its large hand reached out for Hyun Jin. In the blink of an eye, its hand gripped Hyun Jin's neck, lifting his body from the floor. Panic and pain multiplied, the air felt squeezed from his lungs, his heart pounding violently.
Hyun Jin's head was partially out of the carriage, choked at a height that made the world feel like it was spinning. The already destroyed carriage roof allowed the wind to penetrate without hindrance. His hair and face were whipped by the fierce wind from the speed of the train as it passed through a dark, long, and endless tunnel.
Hyun Jin's pain increased, his neck was pressed by the creature's incredibly strong grip. His trembling right hand couldn't reach his aching right leg.
"AAAAAA! AAAAAA!!!!!!!!" he shrieked, his neck feeling almost broken, his veins and arteries seemingly about to explode from the pressure.
Hyun Jin began to cough, choking, his vision blurring, the world spinning and darkening at the edges. But the monster remained silent, its large hand not letting go of Hyun Jin's neck, as if waiting for a certain moment, uncaring if Hyun Jin died in its grasp.
Hyun Jin started to feel his head grow heavy, unconsciousness was nearing... or maybe death. That was all that circulated in his mind now. His body was weak, the instinct to give up on life growing stronger. The world around him felt hazy, just dark, hot, and painful.
But suddenly, something dazzling appeared before his eyes; the blue screen from before lit up brightly, piercing into the darkness of the tunnel. That light seemed to whisper to Hyun Jin that there was still hope.
[SYSTEM: WARNING] LIFE LEVEL TOO LOW.
[SYSTEM: EMERGENCY] REQUEST FOR STRATEGIC ASSISTANCE.
You may request a hint to subdue the monster. ACCEPT [Y / N].
Hint reward only available 3 times. Usage: 0/3.
Hyun Jin raised his half-open eyes, his blurred vision still fixed on the monster that was choking him. His body trembled, pain and exhaustion pressing on every muscle, but his heart slightly jolted by the system, like a glimmer of light in absolute darkness.
It's not over yet... there's still a chance.
Hyun Jin began to speak slowly, his voice hoarse, barely audible.
"Y... yes...," he mumbled, every word coming out with great difficulty.
[HINT OBTAINED] USAGE: 1/3.
[SYSTEM: STRATEGY] TARGET THE MONSTER'S EYES WITH A DIRECT HAND ATTACK.
[SYSTEM QUERY] NEED MORE INFORMATION?
"Is... is this real...?" Hyun Jin asked slowly, his tone filled with doubt and pain, his voice almost lost to the wind.
[SYSTEM: RESPONSE] VALID
Suddenly, the pain that had previously consumed his body vanished, as if his entire body had gone numb instantly. His weak knees, his seemingly broken leg, even the choking around his neck, it all seemed to disappear.
For the first time, Hyun Jin felt a flicker of hope, as if a new chance had opened before his eyes. His breathing was still labored, but the suffocating despair in his chest began to lift slightly.
Hyun Jin's eyes glowed sharply, staring directly at the monster still choking him. His body was still suspended, but his eyes focused on his right hand, alternating glances at the monster's right eye, searching for an opening.
"Oi...", Hyun Jin called out, his voice hoarse but bold.
The monster turned, its piercing gaze boring into Hyun Jin's face hanging above, its choke hold still strong. It was surprised, Hyun Jin had not collapsed, still alive despite being choked with immense strength.
"You...", Hyun Jin began to open his mouth, intending to say something. His hair covered half his face, but he paused momentarily, considering his next move.
The monster grew increasingly puzzled. It pressed harder on Hyun Jin's neck, its large hand gripping brutally, seemingly intent on crushing Hyun Jin's last hope. However, Hyun Jin remained calm amidst the panic, his eyes still scrutinizing the monster, waiting for the precise moment to attack with the system's strategy.
Suddenly, Hyun Jin laughed loudly, his voice echoing in the carriage.
"ARE YOU WAITING FOR ME TO DIE, YOU BASTARD?!"
In the blink of an eye, his finger attacked the monster's right eye, piercing directly into the target. The monster shrieked in pain, the sound reverberating throughout the carriage. In its agony, the hand that was choking Hyun Jin finally let go, allowing him to crash to the floor with a resounding thud.
"Huk!.. huk!.. huk!" Hyun Jin coughed, trying to regain his breath after his neck was released, his face wet with sweat and tears.
The monster now lost focus, reeling from the inflicted pain, slowly writhing and rampaging.
Hyun Jin, though his body was still aching, quickly got up.
"Huh? My body... the pain has lessened, but I can still feel it!" he muttered to himself. The reduced pain gave him new energy to attack.
With hasty but sure steps, Hyun Jin ran towards the monster. As he neared the creature, he began punching its body with incredible force, left and right alternating, each strike thundering, making the monster stumble.
Hyun Jin's body swayed slightly; his leg still hurt and hadn't fully healed. Yet, his resolve never wavered. With burning fury and courage, he continued to punch the monster brutally.
RARRRHGHHHHH!!!!!
The monster screamed, blood spurting heavily from its injured right eye. The shriek was so loud it created a fierce wave of wind, nearly knocking Hyun Jin to the floor, and shattering all the glass in the carriage windows. He gasped for breath but held his body steady, saying nothing, focused only on one goal.
RARRRHHH!
The monster screamed again, and this time, Hyun Jin put all his strength into it, lifting his left leg as high as possible and kicking directly at the monster's face.
"SHUT UP!" he asserted, his voice full of rage.
The kick struck the monster's face, making it stumble and fall to the carriage floor, exhaustion and pain shattering its focus. The monster was now confused, injured, and unable to get up immediately, giving Hyun Jin a chance to act further.
Hyun Jin said nothing more. His breathing was heavy, his eyes were red, and his body was covered in wounds. Without hesitation, he slowly walked towards the monster now lying on the carriage floor, still weakly groaning.
Without any mercy, Hyun Jin punched the creature's face repeatedly, each blow accompanied by a burst of blood and shattered flesh. Bones began to crack, break, and splinter, but Hyun Jin did not stop.
He then stabbed the monster's eye with both hands, his fingers penetrating deep, blood gushing wildly, soaking the entire floor.
"DIE! DIE! DIE!! DIE!!!" Hyun Jin screamed, his voice echoing between the metal walls, filled with vengeance, terror, and despair mixed into one.
The monster, which had been roaring loudly moments before, now slowly fell silent. Its body went rigid. Its final breath vanished in silence.
Hyun Jin stopped, his shoulders rising and falling with his heavy breathing. His hands and face were smeared with blood, his eyes watery.
He sobbed, the sound of his crying mixed with relief.
In his mind, only one thing echoed.
"I... I'm still alive... I didn't die... I managed to kill it..."
Tears flowed again down Hyun Jin's face, but this time not from pain. This time, his crying was pure relief; he was still alive, after nearly dying at the monster's hands.
The blue system reappeared before him.
[SYSTEM] MONSTER HAS BEEN SUBDUED 1/6.
[LEVEL UP] LEVEL: 10
Your Strength and Endurance have increased.
"Huff... huff... huff... huff...", Hyun Jin let out a long, heavy exhale, his eyes still fixed on the screen.
"There are still... 5 more... I almost forgot about them...", he whispered softly.
"What I'm facing... it truly feels like a game... but a real game..."
He looked around, checking his surroundings.
"But... where are the others? I don't see them... no footsteps, no signals..."
Hyun Jin slowly got up from where he lay, his shirt damp with the blood of the monster he had just killed. His eyes and hands were still stained with blood, but his resolve had not faded.
"Maybe they're in another carriage...", he thought.
Slowly, he prepared to move to the next carriage, every step cautious, but his determination remained firm. The fight wasn't over... and this real game had just begun.
Hyun Jin walked slowly toward the door of the next carriage. His steps felt heavy, each one producing a squelching sound on the blood soaked metal floor. Beside the door, he noticed a small engraved number, Carriage 8.
His goal was now clear, Carriage 9 awaited ahead.
The blue screen still floating in front of him suddenly changed, displaying new information.
[ITEM COLLECTED] [White Fang]
Material has been added to the inventory.
Rarity Level: Common
Obtained from: Black Monster
Probability: 100%
Hyun Jin's steps paused for a moment. His eyes were fixed on one word.
"Inventory?" He repeated slowly, letting out a short breath.
[SYSTEM: EXPLANATION]
All enemy entities have a Probability Rate of dropping materials when defeated.
Hyun Jin fell silent. The blue light from the screen illuminated his weary face.
The blood on his shirt was starting to dry, leaving dark patches. In silence, his mind worked, evaluating every piece of new information, trying to understand the strange rules of this world that now bound him.
"So... every time I kill a creature like that... I can get something?"
Hyun Jin slowly clenched his left hand, observing his fingers which were still covered in dried blood. His breathing was heavy, his gaze empty as he stared at his own palm.
"This game... seems to be more than just survival. But this isn't a game... I still bleed... I can still feel the pain..."
The blue screen blinked slowly.
[SYSTEM QUERY] NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Hyun Jin swallowed, then spoke slowly but firmly.
"Can you show me the inventory you mentioned? I... I want to see it myself."
The blue screen vibrated slightly, blue light began to spread from the center of the air, indicating something was about to be displayed.
A moment later, Hyun Jin's vision suddenly blurred, and in the blink of an eye, his surroundings completely changed.
He was now in a pitch-black space, so thick he couldn't see his own feet touching the floor. His breathing echoed faintly in the space.
"Huh?" Hyun Jin fell silent, his eyes scanning around. "Wh-where am I?"
Zzz... zzz...
An electrical sound began to resonate throughout the space, followed by flickering blue light sparks in the air. Moments later, a large blue screen appeared in front of him, shining brightly, dazzling his sight.
"Ughh! It's so bright..." Hyun Jin raised a hand to slightly cover his eyes, blocking the glare that stung his vision.
Slowly, the blue light began to recede. Darkness returned to envelop the space, but this time with a soft glow from the large screen still floating before him.
[SYSTEM] Player, this is the designated Exchange Domain for you.
Access to your inventory has been granted.
"Domain? Woah... that's a cool name," Hyun Jin said with a small smile, a mixture of awe and excitement.
The blue screen then switched display. In the center now appeared an image shaped like a gray bag with a grid pattern next to it, each box seemingly representing a storage slot.
Hyun Jin was momentarily fixated, his eyes observing every detail on the screen. "So... this is my 'inventory'?" he whispered softly, half amazed, half disbelieving.
One of the boxes on the screen caught Hyun Jin's attention, inside, a small icon resembling a white fang was visible.
"Eh? That's... the White Fang I got earlier!" he said with a surprised but excited tone.
He leaned down slightly, observing the icon carefully before speaking again.
"I have a question... what exactly is the function of this White Fang? What can I do with this thing?"
His tone was full of curiosity, even though his face still looked tired.
[SYSTEM: EXPLANATION]
All obtained materials have potential uses.
Designated usage includes: Crafting.
Hyun Jin raised his eyebrow slightly. "Crafting?" he repeated softly.
Suddenly, a second blue screen appeared to the left of the main screen, accompanied by a subtle zzzt electronic sound. There were now two screens floating in front of Hyun Jin, one showing the inventory, and the other displaying in large letters.
[WEAPON CRAFTING]
On this screen, an image was displayed, a small knife with a white blade resembling a fang, while the handle was dark black like charcoal. The blue light from the screen reflected on Hyun Jin's face, making his eyes look focused.
[SYSTEM: EXPLANATION]
To obtain [White Fang Knife]: You need 6 White Fang Materials and 600 Gold.
Hyun Jin frowned as he read the display slowly.
"600 gold?.. and 6 White Fangs?.. that's a lot..." Hyun Jin spoke softly, a tone of surprise mixed with weariness. His eyes were still fixed on the writing on the blue screen. "How much gold do I have right now...?"
[SYSTEM] Current Gold Balance: 100.
"100 gold... and only one White Fang Material." He took a deep breath, then whispered softly, "So I still need five more... to fulfill both."
Hyun Jin pondered, his eyes staring blankly at the dark floor of the domain. His face was dimly lit by the blue light of the screen, while his mind began to spin, searching for a way. If this really was a game-like system... there must be info about every enemy and the rewards they give... he thought to himself.
He raised his head again and stared at the screen in front of him. "Can you show me the information about the enemy... the Black Monster?"
The electrical sizzling sound was heard again.
Zzzztt
A third blue screen suddenly appeared on the right side of the main screen. Now, three large screens floated in front of Hyun Jin, forming a vast and mysterious panorama of blue light.
[SYSTEM: NEW ENEMY PROFILE]
NAME: BLACK MONSTER
RANK: Very Weak
MATERIAL DROP: White Fang Material, 100% (Common Grade)
REWARD: 100 Gold per kill.
KNOWN VARIANTS:
1. Dark form with only white fangs visible.
2. Black body that crawls with a long, protruding tongue.
3. Large, dark physique with two separate heads.
Hyun Jin read every line carefully, his eyes narrowing slowly. "So... if I kill five of them, I won't just get enough White Fangs, but also 500 gold..."
He smiled faintly as he let out a breath. "Ha... it's as if the system really wants me to keep killing."
A moment later, the dark space of the domain began to vibrate violently. The blue light from the screens flickered.
"Eh... what is—" Hyun Jin managed to say, but before he could finish his sentence,
Zzrrrtt... zzzt!
The entire space severely glitched, blue and dark shadows mingling.
"Why... why is this place shaking?" Hyun Jin started to feel uneasy. His breathing became heavy, his eyes wildly searching for an exit.
Fwusshhh...!
Thick purple smoke suddenly enveloped the entire space, and in the blink of an eye, everything vanished.
Hyun Jin was now standing back inside the train, in the same carriage. His breathing was still rapid, his chest heaving, and he gripped his shirt, which was damp with dried blood.
Suddenly, the train lights turned red, flashing and flickering erratically.
WEEEOO!! WEEEOOO!!
A siren blared loudly, forcing Hyun Jin to cover his ears with both hands.
"Arghhh! What is it now!?"
In front of him, the blue screen had now turned a blazing red, just like the light in the carriage. A large warning message was displayed with a fast beep beep beep! sound.
[SYSTEM: ATTENTION!]
15 MINUTES REMAINING.
ELIMINATE THE 5 REMAINING BLACK MONSTERS.
FAILURE TO COMPLY BEFORE TIME EXPIRES WILL RESULT IN INSTANT EXECUTION.
Hyun Jin's face froze. His eyes widened, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
"Fifteen minutes...? And five more of those creatures...?"
He bit his lip slowly, his gaze now changing, from fear... to sharp determination.
Hyun Jin began to walk slowly towards the door of Carriage 9, but suddenly stopped halfway. His still-heavy breathing slowly began to calm, and he looked down slightly, thinking.
"Wait... the system said my level had increased to 10, right?"
He stared at both his hands. His fingers, still stained with dried blood, clenched tightly.
"If I've leveled up... something must have changed. Maybe strength, maybe also—"
SHHLP!
Before he could finish the sentence, a powerful pull snagged his wrist!
"What?! Arghhh!!"
Hyun Jin's right hand was now wrapped by something long and wet, like live muscle. It tensed, writhed, and pulled him with incredible strength.
"A tongue...?! That's a tongue!"
Hyun Jin tried to cling to the metal floor of the carriage, but his still-injured leg failed to resist the pulling force. The sole of his shoe screeched hard on the blood-soaked floor, producing a screeechhh! sound before his body was roughly dragged backward.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHH!!"
In the blink of an eye, half his body was dragged out through the train's left window. The fierce wind slammed into his face, making it difficult for him to open his eyes.
Outside, in the darkness of the tunnel, a pitch-black creature was seen crawling along the side of the carriage. Its long tongue was wrapped around Hyun Jin's hand, and from its wide-open mouth, a terrifying hissing sound was heard.
Ssshhhkkhhh... hhhrrhh...
The creature's eyes glimmered faintly in the red light of the train, sharp, hungry, and staring directly at Hyun Jin, who was now fighting for his life.
The tongue stretched long and taut, glistening in the reflection of the flickering red light from inside the carriage. When Hyun Jin opened his eyes slightly, he could see that the black creature was over seven meters away, yet still capable of pulling him with extraordinary strength.
"Seven... meters... but the pull feels so close!"
Hyun Jin gritted his teeth hard, trying to pull back his hand that was entangled by the tongue. Veins in his neck and arm bulged, but it was useless, the more he pulled, the stronger the creature resisted.
Hyun Jin's body was now even further out the window, half of him already outside, swaying precariously in the air. The fierce wind slapped his face, making his hair and clothes flap wildly.
"Arghhh It's pulling so hard!"
Hyun Jin screamed while his left hand gripped tightly onto the slick, bloody edge of the window. The grip loosened bit by bit, his palm rubbing against the sharp metal edge until his skin tore and blood began to drip downward.
Meanwhile, the long-tongued Black Monster was now crawling quickly along the side of the train, its eyes glowing faintly red in the dark. Its tongue continued to writhe, tightening the coil around Hyun Jin's hand, as if wanting to pull him completely out of the carriage at any moment.
Hyun Jin's breathing quickened, each gasp accompanied by alternating pain and panic.
"I can't... if I fall... I die..."
His bloodied left hand was now trembling, but he held on, holding his ground mere inches from death.
Due to the increasing pain and bleeding in his left hand, coupled with the increasingly pressing situation, Hyun Jin's anger finally erupted.
"I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO MY ROOM, AFTER I WENT TO THE TOILET!!!" he screamed with all his might, but his voice was swallowed by the raging wind.
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE! BUT I STILL WANT TO GO HOME! EVERYONE I CARE ABOUT IS WAITING FOR ME EVEN IF THEY DON'T KNOW IT!"
In that scream mixed with anger and despair, a fragment of memory suddenly slipped into his mind: the time he fought the monster before the appearance of the long-tongued black creature. That monster had roared so fiercely it broke all the windows of Carriage 8.
Hyun Jin looked down, his gaze falling on his left hand clinging to the broken window frame. Blood flowed between his fingers, sharp glass pricking his skin, but his eyes blazed, as if the pain offered inspiration.
In his mind, a crazy idea was born.
Slowly, Hyun Jin's head turned back towards his right hand, which was now tightly coiled by the Black Monster's black tongue. He stared at the repulsive tongue wrapped around his wrist, then shifted his gaze to the broken window beside him, alternating glances, as he gasped for breath.
A few seconds later, his gaze refocused on the creature, getting closer, its horrific face shape clearer.
"If I can't fight you with strength..." Hyun Jin endured the pain, his jaw trembling. "...then I WILL FIGHT YOU WITH MY MIND!"
His scream resonated simultaneously with the creature's greedy movement that was close to snatching his body. But before it could touch him, Hyun Jin pushed his body to the side and swung his right arm, still coiled by the tongue, straight towards the broken window glass!
SREEEEETTT!
The sound of the tongue scraping on the sharp glass echoed loudly.
GHRRRRRAAAHHH!!!
A terrifying shriek reverberated throughout the carriage. The creature's long tongue was sliced bit by bit, thick black blood spurting wildly into the air.
Hyun Jin covered his ears, but the roar was too loud, making his eardrums feel as if they would burst.
The black blood splattered wildly into the air, struck by the fierce wind before hitting Hyun Jin's face. He winced in pain, his eyes squeezed shut against the sting.
At the same time, the grip of the tongued creature finally released from the edge of the train. Its body was flung backward, crashing away by the rush of fierce wind outside the carriage.
But before Hyun Jin could breathe a sigh of relief,
The long tongue tensed again, pulling Hyun Jin's hand with all its might!
"NOOOO!!!"
His scream echoed as his body was pulled out from above. In the blink of an eye, Hyun Jin was thrown onto the roof of the train, which was speeding rapidly through the dark tunnel.
He gasped for breath. The sound of metal vibrated beneath his body. All around was only darkness and the deafening rush of the wind.
Before he could get up, BOOM!, something slammed hard onto the roof.
It was the long-tongued Black Monster!
The creature crawled quickly on the roof, its face contorted with rage. It immediately pinned Hyun Jin's body down and shrieked hoarsely, its injured tongue still smeared with thick black blood.
The creature tried to bite Hyun Jin's neck, but Hyun Jin managed to block it with both hands, pushing the sharp jaw away from touching him.
"DON'T!!!" Hyun Jin screamed, his hands trembling as he resisted the immense strength.
Suddenly, the Black Monster raised its right hand, and from its fingertip, long, sharp claws began to grow, shining faintly in the darkness of the tunnel.
It was ready to crush Hyun Jin alive.
"THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY! THERE MUST BE! THERE MUST BE!!" Hyun Jin screamed in his heart, trembling under the pressure from the long-tongued Black Monster. His breathing grew heavier, and his joints were close to giving way.
"BLUE SCREEN!!" he suddenly screamed. "SHOW MY LEVEL INFORMATION! IT'S LEVEL 10, RIGHT!?"
Beep!
A blue light flashed in the air, a screen appeared in front of his face.
[SYSTEM: STATUS]
Skill Unlocked: Head Smash
Level Required: 5
Current Level: 10
"I PASSED! I HAVE THAT SKILL!!"
Hyun Jin panted, nearly losing the energy to push away the creature's sharp jaw.
"HOW DO I USE IT!? HURRY UP!!!"
The screen vibrated then changed display.
[INSTRUCTIONS]
Method of Skill Activation:
[Head Smash] can be activated by punching the enemy's head with your hand while shouting the skill name.
(Say the name... and the power will be unleashed.)
Hyun Jin swallowed. His eyes and breath trembled.
His still-bleeding left hand began to tighten its grip on the creature's head.
"...Head... Smash..."
The small voice echoed softly, but Hyun Jin's eyes began to shine, signaling that something big was about to happen.
The blue screen flickered for a moment before disappearing completely.
Hyun Jin froze, staring at the black creature that was still glowering at him with blazing red eyes.
"...So, I just need to put my hand on the enemy's head... and say the name."
Hyun Jin's voice was slow but trembling, as if he were holding his last breath.
Without waiting long.
BAM!
His right leg kicked the chest of the long-tongued Black Monster with all its might.
The creature was flung backward, slamming into the metal roof of the train speeding through the dark tunnel. The sound of the metal impact merged with the strong rush of wind that almost knocked Hyun Jin off balance.
He crouched slightly, trying to slowly stand up again. Both his feet braced against the wind. His breathing was heavy, his chest heaving rapidly.
In front of him, the creature had already gotten up, now crawling with long claws scraping the metal surface.
The two faced each other, with only the roaring wind between them.
Zzzhhhhhkkk!
Sparks flew from the electrical cable on the roof as the train sped by.
The Black Monster tensed the claws on both its hands, ready to tear him apart.
Meanwhile, Hyun Jin clenched his right fist tightly, blood from his wound dripped onto the floor, but his eyes were now sharp, full of determination.
He adjusted his stance, left foot forward, right foot back, a perfect fighting position.
His hair whipped in the wind, his breath visible in the cold air.
Two beings, one human, one monster, prepared to clash on the vibrating roof of the accelerating train in the darkness.
Hyun Jin spat to the right, but the fierce wind pushed the spit forward, hitting the face of the long-tongued Black Monster.
The creature paused momentarily... before roaring loudly with full rage. Its voice echoed in the tunnel, resonating with the rumble of the metal wheels beneath them.
"You really can't stay quiet, huh?" Hyun Jin smiled cynically, the blood on his lip beginning to dry.
He took one step forward, his body low, ready!
Finally.
Both launched toward each other, like two black shadows on the trembling roof.
The long-tongued Black Monster leaped and lunged with its sharp claws, cutting through the wind.
Meanwhile, Hyun Jin ducked low, quickly dodging the direct attack.
The wind exploded.
The blue light in his eyes glimmered.
TO BE CONTINUED