Jinhyuk ran through the dim corridors of Babel Fortress.
It wasn't pitch black like before.
Flare shells shot into the sky and torches lit up along the hallways.
Even without night vision, visibility was decent.
But none of that brought any relief to Anastasia or the Russian forces.
*CRAAAASH!!*
A tremendous sound of shattering echoed from a distant corridor.
There was no need to check what had happened.
They had witnessed it firsthand moments ago.
A heavy greatsword tearing through their armored unit's cutting-edge materials like paper.
*RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT! AARGH!*
Gunfire mixed with the screams of their comrades.
Of course, those screams didn't last long.
They were cut short by the dissonant crunch of breaking bones.
'Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. DAMN IIIIT!!!'
Anastasia gritted her teeth as the pursuer drew closer.
She couldn't understand it.
Why was she running away like this?
-You weakling!
Before her awakening, her days had been a miserable streak.
Among her peers, her performance was particularly poor, and she had to endure constant beatings and bullying.
Back then, it felt natural that everyone looked down on her and belittled her.
But everything changed when the Tower appeared and she awakened.
*CRACK!*
The first thing she did after gaining control over light was to massacre the peers who had looked down on her.
She still remembered it vividly.
The faces of her superiors, a complex mix of fear, surprise, and joy at the birth of a monster.
After that, no one ever looked down on her again.
Everyone revered and praised her, sparing no resources for her Tower climb.
Her rank rose rapidly alongside her superior Tower climbing performance, achieving two stars.
She became someone who bowed to no one, not just in personal combat power, but in authority and prestige as well.
She thought all of this would last forever, that she would never have to feel fear again.
*FLASH!*
So why was she breaking out in a cold sweat from the presence chasing her from behind?
"General Anastasia! This way! We'll hold the rear!"
Russian Sergeant Lamirov gasped for breath.
Anastasia passed him without a word of thanks.
Everyone, including Lamirov, hated her.
Yet they had to protect her.
Anastasia was Russia's most critical asset, built with enormous funding.
If that asset got so much as a scratch, they would be held responsible.
*CRAAAASH!!*
A blue trail arced through the dark corridor.
Those who had been blocking that spot moments ago were sent flying out of the fortress.
And soon, the trail of energy vanished.
The corridor fell silent, and the soldiers, including Lamirov, swallowed dryly.
Where did it go?
Had it retreated because its resources ran out?
"Deploy a flare."
He said quietly, tossing a flare toward where the pursuer had been.
Everyone's eyes focused on that spot.
They all secretly hoped for one thing.
That there would be nothing there.
Seconds later, the flare burst into light.
Thank goodness.
At the end of the corridor, there was no one... *CRAAAASH!!*
The pursuer shattered a window from outside, and his knee caved in the head of the soldier in front.
"You insane bastard!! Kill him!!"
Charging straight into the heart of enemy territory.
He needed to be punished.
Everyone, including Lamirov, lunged forward simultaneously.
"Sssssss."
Jinhyuk breathed slowly, wrapping himself in energy.
Soon, the enemy unit entered his detection range.
He instantly prioritized and extended his fists and feet in rhythm.
The Russian troops were slammed into the ceiling, floor, and walls indiscriminately.
*BOOOOM!!*
A cannon fired from the front, and he kicked off the floor, clinging to the ceiling.
And before the barrel could be raised.
*SWOOOSH!*
He moved forward and snapped its neck.
Lamirov crashed through a window, his body going limp.
Jinhyuk dusted off his hands and walked down the corridor again.
Light seeped through the windows.
Babel Fortress had regained its light as the erosion from Gwangshik ended.
But strangely enough.
Anastasia, who should have been at an advantage in the light, stood motionless at the end of the corridor.
"That's surprising. I thought you'd smash a window and bolt right out."
He spoke casually as he walked leisurely.
Anastasia, who had been staring at the corridor wall, slowly turned around.
She brushed back her blonde hair and sneered.
"Me? Run from the likes of you?"
"Are you usually this shameless? You were running away pretty pathetically just now."
*GRIT.*
The mockery stoked her anger, but she had to endure for now.
Anastasia had lived in a position of superiority for a long time.
But that didn't mean she had completely forgotten the past.
She remembered enduring long moments of humiliation and finally trampling everyone to victory.
Reviving that memory, she began to endure.
Going outside, where the light was abundant, as her pursuer had said.
She hadn't ruled out that option.
But after careful calculation, she decided against it.
She didn't know how that man devoured light.
Whether that one time was the last or if he could do it again was uncertain.
She couldn't throw herself into such variables.
Instead, she planned to finish him now, while he was deluded into thinking he was the hunter, while he misjudged that this dark corridor would remain without light.
At the speed of light, imperceptible, in an instant.
'Just a little more.'
She fingered the sphere at her waist.
A portable light source with output similar to a lighthouse.
It hadn't worked earlier, but it would now.
The external light that had vanished had returned.
*STEP.*
Three steps forward.
That would put him squarely in the light's range.
At that moment, she would ride the light and shatter that stiff neck.
"Which organization are you from?"
"No organization. I'm unemployed and jobless."
*STEP.*
Two steps.
At the name that brushed past her mind, Anastasia spoke.
"A Runner?"
"Good instincts."
*STEP.*
One step.
"A big fish."
Anastasia's lips curled up.
If all she got from this ordeal was just one Ranker from a small country, it wouldn't be satisfying.
At the very least, she should catch the current hot topic of the world to make the struggle worthwhile.
As the Runner's steps gradually slowed, Anastasia moved her hand to her waist.
And the moment that foot landed, she activated the light.
Light burst forth, illuminating the entire corridor in an instant.
"I'LL KILL YOU, YOU PIECE OF TRASH!!!"
Anastasia erupted with pent-up fury and merged into the light.
In a flash, she mapped out her teleportation path and confirmed the strike point.
Then she shot forward through the light.
She would pass by his side, circle behind him, and shatter his neck... *CRACK!!*
"????????"
Her eyes shook as a hand clamped onto her face.
Impossible.
She was light itself.
Something that couldn't even be tracked by sight, so how?
"I was curious. How fast light really is. Whether it could be caught."
At the voice, she slowly raised her eyes.
He was looking down at her.
Just like her peers had looked at her long ago, with a sneer and a gaze that said, 'Is that all you've got?'
*BOOOOM!!*
Jinhyuk spun his body and slammed Anastasia into the wall.
Someone might say.
That he gave the enemy light just because he was curious about that.
That it was an incredibly dangerous gamble.
But he had his own reasoning.
If she was faster than he thought and he couldn't catch her, allowing the attack to land? Karak's Ring would activate and block it.
Then what? Nothing.
He would just devour the light again with Gwangshik and beat her down.
"Kugh!"
Anastasia spat blood, merged back into the light, and teleported to the end of the corridor where she had been standing.
As she glanced at the window, he spoke.
"The moment you step out, the light will vanish."
He spread his arms.
"This is all the light you're allowed. Do your best. I'm curious. How far I can catch you."
"You arrogant bastard!!"
Anastasia gathered the light.
As she prepared to launch, Jinhyuk closed his eyes.
Earlier, he hadn't been able to track her with his naked eye.
He had only caught her thanks to his energy sense.
He was going to try once more.
To see if his reaction speed, following his sense, could catch that light.
"I'LL KILL YOU!!!"
He focused all his nerves through the energy wrapped around his body.
And the moment a sense of dissonance touched its edge, he drove his fist downward from above.
*CRAAAASH!!*
He had aimed for the back of her head, but he was a bit late.
His fist slammed into her nape, driving Anastasia into the floor.
*WHOOOOOSH!!*
A tremendous roar and shockwave followed.
That was the result of Anastasia kicking off the wall just now.
He had to admit it.
She was fast.
But regardless.
"Guh... Guhruk..."
The game of cops and robbers was over.
With the robber's retirement.
He was about to crouch down and speak to her.
'Just in case.'
Being cautious, he took care of an exception.
*CRACK!*
He quickly ran over, stomped the light at the end of the corridor into pieces, and returned.
The corridor was swallowed by darkness again.
Maybe because of his memories of playing games in a dim room, he finally felt a bit at ease.
"You alive? I want to ask you a few things."
"Pfft... Pfft..."
His brow furrowed.
With broken bones all over, she was laughing.
Had she lost her mind?
"You think... it's... over?"
"You're all talk for someone bleeding and lying flat on the ground."
"You foolish... bastard. No matter how strong you are... you're just an individual."
Anastasia took a few breaths and continued.
"The one in front of you... is a Major General... of the Russian Army."
She moved like a worm, barely turning her body over.
Her breathing seemed to have recovered a bit, and she was even smirking now.
"Even if you drag me away, do you think it'll last a day? I guarantee I'll be released before we even cross the border."
"That's a beautiful hope."
"Do you know why other countries don't mess with Russia?"
Anastasia drew a finger across her throat.
"They die quietly, in various places, by various methods. You'll be the same. Your family, friends, coworkers, and that bitch Valikits who betrayed us. All of you will meet a gruesome death."
Anastasia's eyes blazed with terrifying intensity.
"Our division will hunt you for life. Until everything around you turns to ashes...!"
"Ooh..."
Honestly, it was chilling.
So this was the kind of grudge Kamela had talked about.
"But."
He tilted his head for a moment and continued.
"Why are you so sure? That you'll walk out of here alive."
"Don't bluff. If you kill me, you won't be able to handle the consequences..."
"Did I look like someone who cares about that?"
A chill ran down her nape, and Anastasia's body trembled.
And as she was about to say something belatedly.
*CRAAAASH!!!*
The flying fist cut off Anastasia's breath.
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T/N:
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