20XX Love Chapter 14.1 - 13. EXPLOSION

“Jungin-ah. Let’s rest for a moment. You’re sweating too much…….”

Seo Jungin shook his head with a bewildered look and tightly gripped Hwang Woohyun’s hand again. They had been sitting side by side on the bed, holding each other’s rough, large hands for an hour already.

Hwang Woohyun looked at Seo Jungin, who closed his eyes again, with worry-filled eyes.

Seo Jungin concentrated, deeply immersing himself into Hwang Woohyun’s interior. He could grasp Hwang Woohyun’s condition at once. The white power flowing through Hwang Woohyun’s body, and the sparks of lightning flashing in vermillion and yellow. Even the tingling energy that brushed his fingertips was vividly real.

However, no matter how much he concentrated, he couldn’t make Hwang Woohyun’s ability work. Even though he could see everything transparently, he couldn’t reach that ability, as if blocked by a glass wall. He couldn’t guide.

He knew instinctively. That the power filling and flowing through his body now wasn’t meant to be used this way. That the nature of the ability contained within his body had completely changed.

This power wasn’t meant to enter an esper’s body and manipulate the ability flowing within. It couldn’t be activated by entering an esper’s body and caressing every nook and cranny like his original guiding ability.

This power wasn’t like that. How to put it… it was a power that couldn’t be used alone and was energy used by mixing it with other powers. Energy that was infused into an esper and fused with their power.

He didn’t quite understand how to use it yet and was confused, but one thing was for sure: This power had nothing to do with guiding.

What these kids needed right now was guiding. That meant the power he currently possessed was of no help in detoxifying the members’ toxicity, was completely useless in escaping the ward, and was a useless power that a guide like himself had no need for.

“Huff, huff, huff.”

Seo Jungin opened his eyes wide and gasped for breath. He pulled the clasped hand and checked the toxicity level on Hwang Woohyun’s wristwatch. It hadn’t changed at all from the level he’d just checked. Seo Jungin’s confused eyes wavered, unsure of what to do.

“Jungin.”

Seo Jungin stared at the floor without speaking, then suddenly lifted his head to face Hwang Woohyun. Or, more accurately, he stared at Hwang Woohyun’s lips.

“Jungin, mmmph!”

Seo Jungin lunged at Hwang Woohyun and abruptly kissed him.

“Nn, Jungin… mmmph.”

“Chup, chup, peck, peck,”

Seo Jungin pulled Hwang Woohyun’s hands and arms closer, frantically sucking on his tongue. Since it didn’t work with his hands, he was trying to guide by touching his mucous membranes.

“Peck, haa, peck, chup.”

Seo Jungin diligently sucked on his tongue, then pushed his tongue into Hwang Woohyun’s mouth and furiously licked and swept across the roof and mucous membranes of his mouth.

Hwang Woohyun was very surprised and flustered, but knowing Seo Jungin’s intentions, he gently accepted Seo Jungin’s aggressive kiss.

“Ung, chup, haa, chup, chup,”

“Chup, chup, sob, sniffle, uh huh, uh huh huh.”

Seo Jungin slipped from Hwang Woohyun’s lips and began to sob. His shoulders shook as he sobbed heavily, making Hwang Woohyun’s heart plummet.

“Jungin. Seo Jungin. Jungin.”

“Sniffle, sob, it won’t move. I can see it. I can see everything. Uh huh.”

“Jungin. It’s okay. Don’t cry. It’s okay, so don’t cry.”

“Sniffle, I can’t guide. Sob, I can’t guide you guys.”

Hwang Woohyun grabbed Seo Jungin’s shoulders and bent down, looking sadly at his small, tear-streaked face.

“Don’t cry. Jungin. Don’t cry. I don’t care about guiding. Okay?”

“You don’t care? Sniffle, sniffle.”

Seo Jungin lifted his tear-stained face to look up at Hwang Woohyun’s anxious face.

“We’re trapped here right now. We don’t have a neutralizer, and I’m the only guide. We don’t know when a battle will break out, and if I can’t guide you guys… you guys…”

Seo Jungin clutched Hwang Woohyun’s collar and pulled him closer.

“All of you… all of you.”

Seo Jungin looked despairingly at Hwang Woohyun’s beautiful blonde hair and his sea-colored eyes.

This beautiful golden hair would all burn and stick to his scalp. His skin would fry and turn black, becoming dry and brittle. Sores would fester all over his body, his lips would melt, his eyelids would peel back, and the lightning fire would burn him inside and out, making him scream in agony and turn into a monster.

Seo Jungin’s fear-filled eyes rolled to the side. Where his gaze landed, Jo Heechan sat awkwardly on a chair, watching them with concern.

Those eyes that sparkled between his red hair would become bleached white. His smooth skin would necrotize, turning green and pale, and ooze, while the moisture in his body would freeze, causing all his blood vessels and organs to burst. His fingertips and toes would rot and become soft, his nails dangling and falling off, and his numb limbs would swell black and become hideous.

What about Nam Taeyong? His body, inside and out, would boil with toxins, blisters forming and bursting in his eyes, esophagus, and internal organs, yet he would continuously regenerate, screaming in agony for an even longer period. Unable to lose consciousness, he would be tortured by the pain and very slowly turn into a monster.

He wouldn’t even be able to bear looking at Yikyung Hyung. After experiencing the vivid agony of his outer skin inverting and being sucked in, he would transform into a horrific form, nothing but inner flesh clinging to his skeletal frame.

And Suhyuk… Suhyuk…

Suhyuk’s beautiful, guilt-ridden eyes would melt in the flames, and as he thrashed in the hellish fire burning from within, he would finally become the very embodiment of the burning flames himself.

He would burn us. Everyone. Everything. He would burn brightly in eternal agony.

“No… No…”

Seo Jungin began to tremble, falling into a panic.

“Jungin. Seo Jungin…!”

Seo Jungin trembled convulsively and suddenly pushed Hwang Woohyun down onto the bed.

As a flustered Hwang Woohyun tried to get up, Seo Jungin pushed him down again and started unbuttoning his shirt. His trembling hands couldn’t properly undo the buttons.

“If I put it inside… if I thrust it in… it might work, even a little. It might work.”

“Jungin.”

Hwang Woohyun couldn’t bring himself to push Seo Jungin’s hands away and could only watch. His trembling hands kept failing to unbutton his shirt and then started to undo the buckle of his pants at his waist.

“Jungin, stop…!”

“If I put it in, then it might work. That’s what the hole is for. So it will work. It definitely will.”

Seo Jungin’s urgent hands unbuckled his pants and zipped them down with a rasping sound. At that moment, Seo Jungin was suddenly embraced from behind, flinching in surprise before struggling to break free from the embrace.

“Let go. Let go of me. I have to put it in. I have to try if it works. Quickly.”

“Jungin, stop… Stop it.”

The agonizing whisper belonged to Choi Suhyuk. He held Seo Jungin tightly in his crossed arms, burying his pained face in his thin shoulder.

“Please stop. Jungin. Please…”

“Let go… Let go of me. I have to put it in quickly, sob.”

“It’s my fault. It’s all my fault, so please, Jungin.”

“Uh huh, uh huh, uwaaa… uh huh.”

Seo Jungin started crying loudly like a child.

When Kim Yikyung saw Seo Jungin crying with a devastated look on his face while embraced by Choi Suhyuk, his heart pounded madly at the sight that overlapped with the illusion of the Separator.

Seo Jungin, unable to bear the guilt of not being able to guide properly, had swallowed the Detoxine capsule. He himself hadn’t been able to stop him. He couldn’t let something like that happen again. He couldn’t let him even harbor such thoughts.

Originally, they might have all turned into monsters much earlier. They had made it this far thanks to Seo Jungin’s guiding. That was enough. Seo Jungin had given them everything, had given them the ultimate gift.

It’s not your fault. We’ve survived this far thanks to you. Even if we all turn into monsters, even if we don’t survive, it doesn’t matter. So, Jungin. Don’t suffer. Don’t make that face. Don’t cry with that face. Please.

“….?!”

Nam Taeyong was the first to react. He smelled the scent that had mixed into the air. Nam Taeyong jumped to his feet, the chair he had been perched on clattering backward.

“Fuck… Hey. There’s no time to be crying. Get up. We have to go.”

The color drained from Jo Heechan’s searching face, leaving him pale.

“Ha, of all times, in this situation…”

“A Bloodhole has opened. Fuck.”

The coppery scent of blood permeated the air.

“Ah… Aah… Ah…”

Choi Suhyuk held Seo Jungin tighter as he felt the trembling start in the body he held in his arms.

Nam Taeyong approached the bed and looked down at Seo Jungin, who was trembling with his head bowed, before crouching down in front of him.

“Let’s go. Stop crying. We can’t stay here.”

“You’ll all… turn. You’ll all turn into monsters. You’ll die.”

“We won’t die. We won’t become monsters. We just won’t use our abilities. We won’t fight.”

Seo Jungin trembled as he lifted his head to look at Nam Taeyong. Nam Taeyong’s upturned eyes seemed strangely gentle. Instead of the usual cynical sneer, a soft, faint smile graced his pale face.

“Let’s hide until the Bloodhole closes. We’ll hide and then find the Separator.”

“The Separator…”

“I’ll kill it.”

Nam Taeyong wiped the tears from Seo Jungin’s cheeks with his hand. He continued to wipe away the tears that kept flowing, speaking in a low, confident voice.

“I’ll find that monster bastard and kill it, and then we’ll get out of here.”

“Sniffle, sob.”

“When we get out, fuck, I’ll get us a fucking expensive hotel room instead of this shitty hospital bed and fuck you senseless. So stop crying.”

“…….”

The tears in Seo Jungin’s eyes receded for a moment, then his eyes rolled.

“If we get out of here… there’s no need to…”

Nam Taeyong grabbed Seo Jungin’s wrist and yanked him to his feet.

“Ah…!”

“What’s with the coyness, you’ll be cumming and moaning like crazy when we fuck you. Don’t worry, even if other bastards don’t fuck you, I’ll keep fucking you. Let’s go.”

He stumbled after Nam Taeyong’s hand as he was dragged along relentlessly. The other members also rose and surrounded them, heading for the hospital room door.

As Seo Jungin was pulled along by Nam Taeyong, surrounded by the members, the guilt and despair that had filled his mind gradually dissipated. Somehow, it felt like it would really work out that way. Like it would turn out as he said.

If he trusted Nam Taeyong and did as he said.

Right. Yikyung Hyung is smart, so if we just follow Yikyung Hyung’s strategy.

Heechan is also really good at thinking on his feet. Woohyun and Suhyuk are also cautious and amazing guys.

I’m not alone. I’m not alone. We’re a team. Because I’m with these guys.

We’ll definitely get out. No one will die, no one will turn, and we’ll get out safely.

‘We’ll escape this ward!’

Seo Jungin grabbed Nam Taeyong’s hand, which was gripping his wrist, with his other hand.

“….?!”

Nam Taeyong glanced back, then looked at his hand held by Seo Jungin, and smiled, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards.

“No one’s going to die. Let’s get out of here together.”

“Yeah.”

Right.

Okay, I understand. Let’s get out of here together. We’ll definitely leave this place alive, all together.

Without losing a single person, I will definitely get out of here with all of you.

💘

The moment the hospital room door opened, everyone was blinded. Crimson vapor filled the hallway. It was truly a bloodbath.

The vapor was pouring in from the direction of the lobby on the first floor.

Until right before they left the hospital room and checked the sensors with their watches, there had been no unusual movements. If Creepions had swarmed out, the sensors would have immediately reacted, meaning there was only a crack for now. However, with this much bloody vapor swirling, it was only a matter of time before it became a full-fledged hole.

Team K814’s destination was the infirmary on the 5th floor. The 5th floor, engulfed in flames during the Obsidian Hole battle, had suddenly reset. Since both the 24-hour reset time rule and the rule that spaces in contact with Team K814 wouldn’t reset had been broken, they hypothesized that there might be some clue to find the Separator on the 5th floor.

They moved swiftly through the hallway, thick with red air, covering their noses and mouths with their forearms. As they reached the end of the hallway, they saw a torn crack in space at the center of the lobby, spewing out a bloody mist.

“To the emergency exit…!”

With Kim Yikyung in the lead, everyone quickly headed for the emergency exit. However, the moment they tried to open the emergency exit door, the bone conduction alarms on their watches began to ring. Movement had been detected by the sensors installed on each floor.

Kim Yikyung, barely able to see through the blood-red mist, checked the widget on his watch and couldn’t hide his shock. Numerous movements were being detected at the emergency exit. Not just numerous, but a dense, teeming mass of movement. The number of moving lifeforms, displayed as dots, kept increasing.

The alarm continued to ring. As movement continued to be detected, he zoomed in on the widget and saw that movements were also being detected on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors.

“Crazy… That fucking monster bastard. That fucking bastard.”

Kim Yikyung, unable to maintain his composure, cursed. At the same time, the bloody mist pouring from the lobby began to intensify. The vertical crack was about to become a hole.

There was no time to hesitate or ponder. They needed to make the best decision possible for survival in the current situation as quickly as possible.

“Let’s go to the elevator!”

Fortunately, no movement was detected by the sensors installed on the 5th floor. It meant it was still safe.

Team K814 hurriedly boarded the elevator, and Kim Yikyung, unlike his usual self, repeatedly pressed the close button.

“Kraaaak! Kraaaaak!”

With the gentle guidance voice, the elevator doors closed just as the Bloodhole’s crack opened completely into a hole, and the Creepions’ howls could be heard. The elevator car began to ascend along with the panting breaths of the members, covered in blood from head to toe.

However, as soon as the elevator reached the number 4, the hoisting machine stopped with a loud BANG—.

“Huh, what…!”

Bang. Bang. Bang.

The elevator vibrated and shook violently, the inspection lights came on, and a series of banging sounds echoed from the ceiling as if something was falling.

“Kraaaak… Kueeek!”

The monstrous cries of Creepions could be heard from the ceiling. Whether a hole had opened in the elevator shaft or the Creepions were gnawing at the brakes or speed governor, the elevator was vibrating and slowly descending.

Something continued to fall onto the ceiling with thudding sounds. The Creepions were piling up. At this rate, it would not be able to withstand the weight and would plummet.

Should they open the door and go out?

But even beyond the closed door, they could hear roaring cries close by. It was clear that Creepions were also filling the space beyond the door.

“Haha. Fuck… We’re trapped like rats.”

“Let’s go. There’s no other way. Arm yourselves.”

Kim Yikyung immediately opened the control box and pressed the manual open/close switch. Jo Heechan and Hwang Woohyun cast freezing and lightning barriers around the members.

Seo Jungin felt a cool, tingling sensation flowing from head to toe, tensing his entire body and sharpening his senses. His trembling subsided, and adrenaline surged. Was it because of the esper’s ability? Seo Jungin felt exhilarated as he armed himself with a positron rifle and looked around at the members.

He didn’t think of anything else. He only thought of survival.

‘I have to be of some help to them.’

Kim Yikyung replicated Hwang Woohyun’s ability and gathered it at his fingertips.

Heat haze rose from Choi Suhyuk’s hands, and lightning crackled around Hwang Woohyun’s arms.

Seo Jungin ran a simulation in his head.

The moment the elevator doors opened, Choi Suhyuk and Hwang Woohyun would unleash their maximum attacks on the Creepions to clear a path. The moment they stepped out, they would lay down a field attack, and Kim Yikyung would imbue fire, lightning, and wave energy. Jo Heechan would unleash targeted attacks while putting up a freezing barrier, and Nam Taeyong would heal injuries while simultaneously unleashing close-range toxic attacks.

Seo Jungin braced himself for the worst in an instant. Since he couldn’t help with guiding anyway, he would throw himself at the Creepions if necessary to buy these guys some time.

“Open the doors!”

Kim Yikyung signaled and pulled the elevator doors open with Jo Heechan.

The elevator, which had descended to the 4th floor and then plummeted down, was now hovering above the 3rd-floor level. The Creepions, swarming in the 3rd-floor dining area, turned their jet-black eyes towards the elevator all at once.

Crackle. Fwoosh.

Fire and lightning energy erupted from Choi Suhyuk and Hwang Woohyun’s hands. Kim Yikyung layered the wave power he had replicated from Hwang Woohyun onto their ability attacks. The brilliant power of their abilities exploded, engulfing the space.

Bound by lightning and engulfed in superheated flames, countless Creepions within the space were being erased without a trace.

As soon as a path was cleared, the members jumped out of the elevator and formed a circle with their backs to each other. Choi Suhyuk and Hwang Woohyun unleashed their maximum field attacks in opposite directions, and the wave Kim Yikyung imbued expanded their range even further.

At that moment, as Creepions crawled up the walls from the kitchen and swarmed out like insects, Jo Heechan unleashed an explosive chain of freezing attacks, and Kim Yikyung shouted sharply,

“Heechan! Conserve your ability! We need to delay the toxicity buildup as much as possible!”

Then, Seo Jungin, who had been firing particle beams all around, felt the power flowing within him stir. The esper’s power instinctively boiled up, sensing the smell of battle blood. He knew how to use this power. He thought he knew.

A power that couldn’t be used alone. A power used by mixing it with an esper’s power. An overflowing, abundant power.

He wanted to infuse this power into the espers now. If he infused this power into them, this seething power would be activated. It would unleash tremendous destructive power.

Seo Jungin pressed his palms against Choi Suhyuk’s back.

“….?!”

At the same time, he pressed his palms against Hwang Woohyun’s back.

The moment Seo Jungin poured the overflowing power within his body into their backs, the wave of ability emanating from Choi Suhyuk and Hwang Woohyun’s fingertips fluctuated greatly and began to emit a blinding light.

“What the…!”

“Ugh…!”

Bang! Kaboom!

A massive explosion rocked the 3rd floor. If Jo Heechan hadn’t instinctively erected a freezing barrier for protection, even they would have been caught in the blast.

Amidst the thick, blood-red vapor and smoke, within a space crackling with the remnants of lightning and swirling flames, the Creepions were swept away, leaving not even ashes behind.

“Gasp.”

“Holy shit… Jungin Hyung, what did you just do?”

The espers, including Seo Jungin, were speechless as they looked around.

“…Amplification. Jungin’s esper ability…”

Kim Yikyung murmured, looking down at Seo Jungin. At his white face, dripping with blood from the Bloodhole.

The power Seo Jungin possessed was one that amplified destructive power when mixed with other powers. A power that expanded the amplitude of energy traveling from a reference point to a target point. Whether it was lightning, fire, or any other form of power, it was a power that amplified the amplitude by dozens of times, causing an explosion.

That was why the explosion had occurred in the Bloodhole before, layered onto Seo Jungin’s radial guiding. Seo Jungin’s amplification ability had manifested.

Was it a power born from the fusion of Choi Suhyuk’s fire ability and guiding ability? With the power of amplification, the destructive force of abilities could be overwhelmingly increased. If so, they might be able to eradicate the Creepions and find the Separator while minimizing the rate of toxicity buildup. Even in this dire situation, Seo Jungin was becoming Team K814’s last hope.

“Ha… Seo Jungin, you…”

Nam Taeyong chuckled and, unable to resist the urge, pulled Seo Jungin’s waist closer and kissed him deeply. He extended his red tongue, licking Seo Jungin’s lips intensely.

“Chup, chup, chup,”

“Ung, uhng… uhng.”

As Seo Jungin’s face flushed and his lips parted, Nam Taeyong thrust his tongue deep inside, rubbing and teasing his soft tongue.

“Ung, haa, ung.”

“Chup, ha, Seo Jungin. You’re tingling. Are you excited?”

“Nn, haa, this is… haa, because of the lightning barrier.”

He knew. Seo Jungin’s guiding waves were gone now. The tingling sensation when excited, he couldn’t feel it anymore.

But why did he still feel like he would go crazy if they touched? Why did it still feel so incredibly good?

“Kraak! Kuwaak!”

“Suhyuk Hyung! Inside the kitchen!”

At Jo Heechan’s shout, everyone turned to see a Bloodhole, opened in the same location as before, spewing out Creepions. Choi Suhyuk gritted his teeth and extended his arm towards the swarm of Creepions crawling and leaping over the counters and walls.

At that moment, Seo Jungin gripped his firm forearm tightly and pressed his slender body close to Choi Suhyuk.

“Let’s do this together. Suhyuk. Together with me.”

“Uh… Thank you.”

As superheated energy surged from his hands, Choi Suhyuk felt a powerful force surge from Seo Jungin, churning within him and erupting outwards, mixed with his own ability. It felt like a dizzying, climactic moment, as if he were merging physically with Seo Jungin. It was an absurd thought.

A blinding light flashed, and the Creepions were completely erased. The force, projected to the very center of the Bloodhole, began to trigger chain explosions in the spacetime beyond the hole.

Boom. Boom. Kaboom!

What was truly astonishing was that despite unleashing attacks with such overwhelming destructive power, the energy consumption and physical strain weren’t significant. Seo Jungin’s amplification power was increasing the destructive force of the espers’ abilities while simultaneously drastically reducing their energy consumption.

“Jungin.”

A maddening possessiveness surged within Choi Suhyuk. A lustful desire.

He couldn’t feel Seo Jungin’s guiding waves anymore. Yet, his reason wavered, and a powerful urge to penetrate Seo Jungin surged within him. It was nothing short of madness in this situation.

As Choi Suhyuk became lost in a daze, the power in his fingertips faltered, and Seo Jungin stopped channeling the amplification power. Choi Suhyuk barely regained his senses and gasped for breath, his heart pounding with excitement.

“Ha, haa, ha.”

Seo Jungin, completely oblivious to Choi Suhyuk’s state, felt relieved as he looked at the momentarily subdued Bloodhole.

“I guess the attack reached beyond spacetime. Can we buy some time? Attacking the hole directly seems effective.”

However, they couldn’t stay on the 3rd floor indefinitely. The Bloodhole would continue to spew Creepions, and there was nowhere left to hide without fighting on all floors of the ward.

Moreover, he guessed that with Bloodholes open on every floor, the ward wouldn’t be able to withstand the weight of the massive influx of Creepions. The vibrations from the amplification explosions would also accumulate damage.

There was no time.

“We need to get to the 5th floor quickly. The building could collapse.”

Hwang Woohyun was right. The Bloodhole would continue to spew out Creepions relentlessly. The ward had a weight limit, and at this rate, the entire building would collapse.

Since they couldn’t use the elevator, they had no choice but to use the emergency stairs. As Kim Yikyung looked towards the emergency exit, Hwang Woohyun spoke.

“The emergency stairs will be crawling with Creepions.”

“There’s no other way. We have to fight our way through. We have to get to the 5th floor.”

“Right. If we’ve decided, let’s move quickly.”

Six espers, drenched in blood from the Bloodhole, ran towards the emergency exit. Towards a goal they weren’t even sure would offer salvation. Towards a last hope they had to cling to. They had no choice but to run.

As soon as Nam Taeyong opened the emergency exit door, Creepions swarmed in with monstrous cries. Driven by their instinct to devour humans, they bared their sharp teeth and snapped wildly.

“Kraaaak! Kraaaaak!”

Hwang Woohyun pulled Seo Jungin close with one arm and unleashed a lightning attack towards the emergency staircase. The immense flow of power surging from Seo Jungin extended into a blinding flash of lightning.

Ah… how ecstatic that sensation was. This, too, brought Hwang Woohyun to a dizzying orgasm.

Was it because he liked Seo Jungin? Or was it because this power flowing from Seo Jungin also came with this ecstasy? Looking at the Creepions’ bodies burning to charcoal before his eyes, Hwang Woohyun was gripped by a dizzying climax.

This wasn’t the time. No, this was truly a crazy thought. A powerful urge to push Seo Jungin against the wall and penetrate him surged within him.

The desire to thrust violently while simultaneously unleashing lightning from his fingertips to fry all the hideous creatures rose within him.

As bodies piled up on the emergency staircase, clearing a path, Hwang Woohyun suppressed his urges and positioned Seo Jungin behind him. He tried to tell Seo Jungin to amplify his power from behind while he cleared the way, but his voice was hoarse, and his vision swam, preventing him from speaking. Even the lightning at his fingertips seemed to falter. Hwang Woohyun swallowed hard, suppressed the heat coursing through his body, and finally spoke.

“…I’ll clear the way from the front, so amplify my power from behind.”

“Okay.”

Still oblivious, Seo Jungin channeled his amplification power into Hwang Woohyun’s body.

As an even more blinding light erupted from Hwang Woohyun’s fingertips, his blood-soaked blonde hair stood on end, resembling a brilliant golden crown.

Seo Jungin, trembling with awe, pushed his hands further into Hwang Woohyun’s tattered uniform jacket, pouring his power into his warm, firm back.

“Kh… Kgh.”

Enthralled by the exhilarating power flowing from Seo Jungin, Hwang Woohyun unleashed bolts of lightning in all directions.

The power swirling within him, rubbing, mixing, and generating friction before escaping through his fingertips, resembled the pleasure of orgasm. Hwang Woohyun had to constantly fight to maintain his composure. He felt like he would lose control and pin Seo Jungin to the floor at any moment.

“Kuak! Kueeek!”

Horrifying screams followed relentlessly. More Creepions, pouring from the Bloodhole in the kitchen, were charging at them like a horde of zombies, their black mouths wide open. The sound of their teeth snapping in the air echoed ominously.

Choi Suhyuk, expanding his fire field by layering it onto Kim Yikyung’s wave, retreated backwards up the emergency staircase that Hwang Woohyun had cleared.

As monstrous creatures leaped from the 2nd floor, Nam Taeyong and Jo Heechan frantically fired particle beams from their positron rifles. Then, Jo Heechan suddenly had an idea and shouted to Seo Jungin,

“Jungin Hyung! I’ll try to block the passage with my freezing ability, so amplify it for me!”

It was a cool plan, befitting a freezing esper. Seo Jungin immediately removed one hand and grabbed the back of Jo Heechan’s neck, who was facing down the stairs. As he poured his amplification ability without hesitation, a gasp escaped Jo Heechan’s lips.

“Huh!”

As Seo Jungin’s power surged through him, Jo Heechan’s vision blanked, his body went limp, and he was instantly overwhelmed by an ecstatic sensation.

‘What is this? Th-this, what is this, this, this,’

His legs felt weak with dizziness, and he felt like he would collapse. The pleasure surging through him was immediate and intense, leaving no room or time to process.

“Ugh, gasp, huh, gasp.”

If he were submerged in that power any longer, he would probably roll his eyes back and cum right there.

“Huu, ah, haa, ah.”

Nam Taeyong, inwardly impressed by Jo Heechan’s quick thinking and anticipating the impending ice attack, frantically fired his positron rifle. But when the ice stream didn’t materialize, he glanced at Jo Heechan and his eyes widened in disbelief.

Jo Heechan’s face was slack, his eyes half-lidded, completely gone.

“What the fuck are you doing?! Snap out of it!”

Nam Taeyong smacked Jo Heechan’s red head, and Jo Heechan, finally coming to his senses, looked dazed before hurriedly extending both arms and unleashing a swirling stream of ice.

The ice stream, amplified by Seo Jungin’s ability, exploded with intense cold, encasing the Creepions within it and filling the passage with a wall of ice, reaching all the way down to the 2nd floor.

“Block the entrance too, Heechan!”

As Kim Yikyung shouted and quickly retreated up the stairs with Choi Suhyuk, the entrance to the emergency exit on the 3rd floor was filled with cracking ice. In an instant, the ice was filled with Creepions, their mouths agape, trapped within.

“Good job! Jo Heechan!”

“How do you like that, you fucking bastards!”

Jo Heechan, brimming with excitement, clenched his fists and cursed, then suddenly turned and lunged at Seo Jungin, smashing their lips together and darting his tongue inside.

“Mmmph!”

Seo Jungin’s eyes widened in surprise. Jo Heechan, seemingly on the verge of losing it completely, grabbed Seo Jungin’s hair, tilted his head, and licked and sucked on his tongue.

“Mmmph! Mmmph! Mmmph!”

“Chup, slurp, peck, peck, peck,”

Since Hwang Woohyun was still moving up the stairs, firing lightning bolts, Seo Jungin had to inch his way up while keeping his hand on Hwang Woohyun’s back. He was at a loss as to what to do with Jo Heechan, who kept pulling and clinging to him, and how long he had to endure this celebratory display of affection.

He couldn’t even imagine that Jo Heechan had lost his mind due to the amplification power he had infused, and that Hwang Woohyun was also barely holding on to his sanity.

“What the hell, is this bastard crazy? Hey, let go. Let go. Get off me. Are you out of your mind?! Let’s go!”

Nam Taeyong grabbed Jo Heechan’s arm and roughly pulled him away from Seo Jungin. Jo Heechan glared at Nam Taeyong, his eyebrows raised menacingly.

“What the fuck!”

“Huh…”

Exasperated, Nam Taeyong looked at Jo Heechan’s face and instantly understood. He then glanced at Hwang Woohyun a few steps above, his face clenched, beads of sweat on his forehead. The corners of Nam Taeyong’s mouth twitched upwards.

So, Seo Jungin… even after becoming an esper, he’s still bewitching espers.

“Seriously…”

Nam Taeyong chuckled and grabbed a Creepion leaping from the upper stairs, injecting it with his toxicity. The creature vomited black blood that splattered against the wall before collapsing.

He smacked Jo Heechan’s red head, who was trying to cling to Seo Jungin again. Jo Heechan, finally regaining his senses, looked up with a bewildered expression.

“We’ll have time for fooling around later. Let’s go to the 5th floor, you fucker.”

“Ah…?”

Choi Suhyuk quickly moved past the dazed Jo Heechan. Since Hwang Woohyun’s lightning attacks couldn’t completely obliterate the bodies, burnt corpses were piling up on the stairs. Creepions continued to leap onto the pile of bodies, turning into more corpses, making it impossible to clear a path upwards. They needed Choi Suhyuk’s power to erase the bodies as well.

As Hwang Woohyun stepped back and Choi Suhyuk took the lead, Seo Jungin placed his hand on Choi Suhyuk’s back. As he felt the muscles twitching under his palm, a strange melancholy filled Seo Jungin’s chest, making it ache.

As he infused Choi Suhyuk with amplification power, he felt his large body flinch and tense up. The muscles in his broad shoulders and the back of his neck tightened.

As Choi Suhyuk’s explosive power surged upwards, intense heat, exceeding its melting point, filled the boundaries of his power.

The flames Choi Suhyuk projected towards his targets, imbued with Seo Jungin’s amplification power, reached ultra-high temperatures. The intense heat, which didn’t affect the surrounding area, instantly disintegrated the targets into particles. Not only did it leave no trace of bodies or living creatures, but the space overflowed with energy on the verge of explosion.

The culmination of his fire ability was beyond ionization, reaching a state of plasma. Light energy, generated at the boundary of his power and emitted in mystical hues, constantly scattered in rainbow colors.

Choi Suhyuk’s amplified power transcended even awe. The power of the sun, continuously fusing within his hands. Even though the power didn’t affect anything but the target, everyone’s hair stood on end as if an electromagnetic field had formed. It was a breathtaking sight that left them speechless with awe.

“Holy shit… That’s insane. Seriously…”

Only Jo Heechan muttered his honest and pure admiration.

After erasing all life forms in the upward passage, Choi Suhyuk instantly converged the remaining power in the space, leaving the stairs completely and perfectly clean.

As soon as the power subsided, Kim Yikyung quickly took the lead.

“Let’s get to the 5th floor like this. Hurry!”

While Hwang Woohyun, Nam Taeyong, and Jo Heechan quickly ascended the stairs, Choi Suhyuk remained rooted, his legs seemingly giving way as he collapsed to his knees.

“Suhyuk! Are you okay?”

Seo Jungin grabbed Choi Suhyuk’s arm to support him and looked at his face. Choi Suhyuk was gasping for breath with his eyes squeezed shut. Sweat dripped from his pained, contorted face.

“What’s wrong, Suhyuk? Are you in pain? Are you exhausted?”

It wasn’t that kind of pain. Not because he was exhausted.

As Choi Suhyuk opened his eyes slightly, Seo Jungin came into view, his vision tinged with red.

My Seo Jungin, unbearably sweet, with fiery nerve endings beautifully spread from head to toe.

“Suhyuk…!”

Choi Suhyuk pushed Seo Jungin against the wall, buried his face in his neck, and inhaled deeply.

“Haa… Seo Jungin.”

Choi Suhyuk pressed his lips against Seo Jungin’s sweet neck, rubbing and licking intensely, then began to nip with his teeth.

“Ah… Suhyuk, wait…!”

Everyone climbing the stairs turned around in surprise. Choi Suhyuk’s eyes had turned crimson.

“Choi Suhyuk! This isn’t the time…”

“Hyung! That happened to me too! When Jungin Hyung amplified my power, my head spun, and I…”

Interrupting Kim Yikyung, Jo Heechan exclaimed as if to prove his point. Meanwhile, Choi Suhyuk thrust his thigh between Seo Jungin’s legs, pressing against his groin and rubbing their bodies together.

As Seo Jungin tried to push Choi Suhyuk’s shoulders away, his large hands grabbed Seo Jungin’s white hands and pinned them against the wall. As Seo Jungin tried to speak, Choi Suhyuk covered his lips with his own, kissing him fervently.

Hwang Woohyun rushed down and grabbed Choi Suhyuk’s arm. Choi Suhyuk’s eyes flashed menacingly as he grabbed Hwang Woohyun’s throat.

“Kgh…!”

“I’ll kill you.”

As his eyes blazed crimson, muttering ominously, Seo Jungin quickly grabbed Choi Suhyuk’s cheek with his freed hand, pulled his face close, and kissed him.

“….!”

“Chup, chup, chup.”

As Seo Jungin’s lips, which had been rubbing gently and affectionately, parted, Choi Suhyuk’s eyes returned to their original color. Seo Jungin had calmed him.

“Suhyuk. It’s okay. It’s okay, so calm down.”

“Jungin. Haa, Seo Jungin.”

“Yes. I’m still here with you. Right beside you.”

The grip on Hwang Woohyun’s throat loosened. Choi Suhyuk’s confused eyes flickered between Seo Jungin, Hwang Woohyun, and the other members on the stairs. Self-loathing filled his gaze.

Hwang Woohyun coughed awkwardly, clearing his throat before speaking.

“Let’s go. We have to get to the 5th floor. There’s no time.”

“…….”

“You’re not the only one. It happened to me too.”

At Hwang Woohyun’s words, Choi Suhyuk’s gaze dropped. Seo Jungin gently tugged on Choi Suhyuk’s hand.

“Let’s go.”

“Right? Woohyun Hyung, Suhyuk Hyung, it’s not just me, right? It’s the same as before. The moment I touch Jungin Hyung, I lose my mind and…”

“Shut up.”

Jo Heechan, who had been chattering thoughtlessly, was smacked and looked up at Nam Taeyong while clutching his head. Nam Taeyong lowered his gaze and smirked.

“Yeah. Seo Jungin is going to be fucking us senseless even after becoming an esper, so shut the fuck up.”

“There’s no time. Let’s hurry.”

Kim Yikyung, taking the lead, was followed by Jo Heechan and Nam Taeyong. Choi Suhyuk led Seo Jungin up the stairs, his grip tightening on his hand.

“I’m sorry… I always seem to be apologizing to you.”

“Suhyuk. It’s okay.”

Seo Jungin looked up at Choi Suhyuk and smiled. It was a warm and gentle face, like a spring butterfly.

“It really is okay. Suhyuk.”

Seo Jungin continued softly, smiling without shyness or averting his gaze.

“I… I like you too.”

Bang!

The emergency exit door on the 4th floor behind Seo Jungin was suddenly crumpled and blown away.

Numerous hands reached out from the pile of flattened Creepion corpses, stacked on top of the door.

Sharp claws scraped and clawed at the air, then caught Seo Jungin’s body and hair, pulling him away.

“Ah!”

“Jungin!”

The hand Seo Jungin had been holding with Choi Suhyuk was torn away, and he was sucked into the open entrance on the 4th floor. Gripped by powerful hands, Seo Jungin disappeared from the espers’ sight.

“Uwaaaak!”

“Seo Jungin!”

As the espers rushed downstairs frantically, they saw Seo Jungin being dragged into the central hall on the 4th floor. Passed from one grasping hand to another over the writhing bodies of Creepions, Seo Jungin sank into the mass, and then they saw gaping black mouths, howling, lunging towards him.

Creepions swarmed, the sound of their snapping teeth filling the hall.

“No!”

“No, no!”

“Jungin!”

“Seo Jungin!”

“You fucking bastards!”

The espers’ eyes turned wild as they all leaped into the 4th-floor entrance. Creepions lunged, baring their teeth and claws, but the espers were too enraged to notice.

Seo Jungin’s voice echoed.

His cries. The names of his teammates, called out intermittently as if cut short.

The agonized, desperate screams of Team K814’s precious, precious Seo Jungin.

“Seo Jungin! Jungin!”

Excited by the scent of human blood, the Creepions piled onto Seo Jungin like ghouls, layer upon layer.

Jagged bolts of lightning erupted from Hwang Woohyun and Kim Yikyung’s hands, burning and electrocuting the Creepions. Nam Taeyong poured his toxicity like a waterfall onto any body within reach.

“Hyung! Jungin Hyung! Hold on! You can’t die, don’t die!”

Jo Heechan pleaded, firing freezing spheres in rapid succession. Gaping maws lunged from all directions, snapping and biting.

Choi Suhyuk couldn’t unleash a field attack for fear of engulfing Seo Jungin in flames, but he was crushing every target he could reach into bone beads.

The screams stopped. Seo Jungin’s screams.

Choi Suhyuk felt like he would burn. Consume himself and everything around him with rage.

No, it wasn’t rage. It was fear. Fear and terror. The thought of Seo Jungin trapped beneath the pile of disgusting bodies, being torn apart, made his heart stop. His breath caught in his throat.

Jungin, answer me. Seo Jungin, please, make a sound. Please. A single breath to show you’re alive. Even a moan. Please.

Then, as Choi Suhyuk crushed the Creepions blocking his view, he saw a white hand protruding from the floor.

“……?”

Seo Jungin’s white hand, dangling from the gap between the writhing bodies.

“Ah, ah, aah……”

Choi Suhyuk’s eyes widened in horror, a strangled, incoherent sound escaping his lips.

A gaping maw lunged at Choi Suhyuk, sinking its teeth into his shoulder. The freezing and lightning barriers activated, but a chunk of flesh was torn away. Choi Suhyuk didn’t even register the pain, his eyes wide with shock, fixed on the white hand.

“Suhyuk, dodge! Choi Suhyuk!”

He heard Kim Yikyung shout. But Choi Suhyuk remained rooted to the spot, as if paralyzed.

Sharp teeth sank into his thighs and calves. The barriers activated, deflecting the teeth, sparks of lightning crackling, and the Creepions, agitated, snapped and bit even more frantically.

Creepions attacked from all sides, sinking their teeth into Choi Suhyuk’s body, stabbing and clawing with their sharp nails. But even as his uniform ripped and blood splattered, Choi Suhyuk didn’t move. He couldn’t see anything else. Only Seo Jungin’s white hand, dangling there.

“Uwaaaah!”

Choi Suhyuk raised his hand, the one the Creepions were biting, and unleashed flames towards the black mass swarming around him. The Creepions lunging towards Seo Jungin disintegrated into ashes in midair.

He couldn’t bear the sight of Seo Jungin’s body being covered by those filthy creatures any longer. He wanted to kill them all. Reduce them all to ashes. Blinding beams of light erupted from Choi Suhyuk’s hand, erasing swathes of the endless horde of Creepions.

Nam Taeyong, following the path Choi Suhyuk had cleared, finally reached where Seo Jungin was buried, injecting the Creepion bodies with poison and flinging them aside. But despair was already rising in Nam Taeyong’s heart.

The certainty that he was already dead. That the Creepions had ripped open his stomach and devoured his insides. The black despair of never seeing his gentle smile again.

Beep, beep, beep, beeeeeeep.

Beep, beep, beep, beeeeeeep.

The first guiding warning alarms began to blare from the espers’ watches as they unleashed their abilities recklessly. A look of desolate resignation settled on Nam Taeyong’s desperate face as he frantically dug through the pile of bodies.

This place would become their tomb. Right. Without Jungin’s power, how could they escape this place? They couldn’t have come this far without Jungin, and they couldn’t go any further. It was impossible without Jungin.

Ha. They needed Jungin’s power. To get out of here. Jungin’s power. Amplification. The power of amplification.

Nam Taeyong felt his vision blurring. He shook his head, but it remained hazy.

Fuck, what is this? Seo Jungin. Why do I feel like crying? Why do I feel like this?

I don’t care about your power or any of that shit. I don’t care if we can’t get out of here. I have to find your body and pull you out. I won’t let those bastards devour you. I won’t let them tear you apart.

Ha. I’d rather be devoured in your place. Than watch you being eaten. I’d rather hold your corpse and be torn apart myself.

Thump, thump, thump.

Suddenly, the bodies piled on top of Seo Jungin began to twitch and heave with thumping sounds. The Creepion Nam Taeyong was trying to pull away exploded with a thump, splattering black blood and flesh everywhere.

“……?!”

Confused, Nam Taeyong stared at the chunks of flesh flying through the air, unable to comprehend what was happening.

Thump, thump, thump.

Bodies exploded from within the pile with bursts of sound. The exploding bodies resembled black fireworks.

Choi Suhyuk, who had reached Seo Jungin after erasing all the swarming Creepions, also widened his eyes. Seo Jungin’s hand, which had been dangling there, was gone.

“Jungin. Seo Jungin, Seo Jungin!”

Choi Suhyuk rushed forward like a madman, reducing every Creepion he could grab to ashes. Nam Taeyong also dug through the Creepions piled on top of Seo Jungin, flinging them aside. Underneath, it wasn’t the forms of Creepions, but a churning mass of pulped flesh and black blood.

A white hand reached out from the horrific mass of flesh.

“Jungin!”

Choi Suhyuk reached out and grabbed the hand tightly. He pulled with all his might, and Seo Jungin’s body was dragged out from the mass of flesh.

Choi Suhyuk pulled Seo Jungin’s blood-soaked body into a tight embrace. As he felt the heartbeat against his chest, Choi Suhyuk closed his eyes, his face contorted.

“Ah… Jungin, Jungin.”

He was alive. Seo Jungin was alive. He was alive!

“Choi Suhyuk! Is Seo Jungin alive?!”

“Is he alive?!”

“Jungin Hyung! He’s alive! He is, right?!”

Hwang Woohyun and Kim Yikyung, who had been unleashing lightning attacks, and Jo Heechan, who had been firing freezing spheres, cried out one after another. Their cries were filled with joy and hope.

Choi Suhyuk frantically wiped and cleaned Seo Jungin’s face with his hands. Nam Taeyong also rushed forward, placing his hands on Seo Jungin’s body and infusing him with healing energy.

Seo Jungin opened his eyes slightly, gasping for breath.

“He’s alive. He’s alive. He’s alive!”

Seo Jungin smiled faintly, his face wet, and raised his trembling hand to clasp Choi Suhyuk’s hand, which was stroking his cheek.

Amplification energy flowed from Seo Jungin’s hand.

“Ha, haha…… Seo Jungin.”

How long will you continue to protect us?

A dizzying thrill, threatening to overwhelm his senses, washed over Choi Suhyuk.

Choi Suhyuk looked around and shouted.

“Everyone, over here!”

Choi Suhyuk gathered the seething power of fire at his fingertips. And Seo Jungin’s amplification power surged into him.

A silent power of ultra-high temperature activated outside the perimeter of Team K814, gathered around Seo Jungin.

Fwoosh.

The space emptied as Creepions were erased one by one.

The monstrous creatures that had filled the central hall and the two branching hallways disappeared without a trace. The space was filled with a dense mass of energy, the creatures atomized by the power.

Finally, the power extended beyond the red circular hole at the end of the hallway, purifying even the blood-red vapor.

The dense plasma didn’t physically affect the members outside the perimeter, but they could clearly feel the condensed, awe-inspiring power.

A golden halo shimmered at the edge of the space, overflowing with power. Violet, orange, red, blue, green, and other mystical colors shimmered and surged at the edge of the golden border. The border, saturated with intensely emitted electromagnetic waves, resembled Seo Jungin’s eyes, as Choi Suhyuk had seen them.

Once again, they received hope of survival from Seo Jungin. The hope of escaping this place. Of getting out alive.

Overwhelmed by the suffocating power, everyone stared at the highly concentrated energy. And as Choi Suhyuk converged and extinguished the ultra-dense energy, the sound-absorbing silence lifted, and a different kind of silence descended upon the space.

“Huff, huff, huff.”

Choi Suhyuk gasped for breath and hugged Seo Jungin tightly.

Seo Jungin. Jungin. I thought I’d lost you. My guide. My esper. Everything I’ve created.

“Ugh, I can’t breathe…… Suhyuk……”

Choi Suhyuk unconsciously loosened his tight embrace and looked down at Seo Jungin. Seo Jungin blinked his clear brown eyes, looking up at Choi Suhyuk, then smiled softly, melting his heart.

Choi Suhyuk stared at him for a moment, lost in thought, then his face contorted as if he were about to cry. He suddenly began to caress and examine Seo Jungin’s body.

“It’s okay now. You’re all healed. Taeyong healed you, so you’re okay now.”

“Were you badly hurt? Were you in a lot of pain? How much did it hurt?”

“Well… First of all, Taeyong, thank you for healing me.”

Nam Taeyong sighed almost inaudibly.

“I healed you, but Seo Jungin, you had a few broken ribs, but not many bite wounds. The Creepions were biting you so much. How did that happen?”

“Ah! All of you. Come here, everyone.”

Seo Jungin ignored the question and suddenly began to place his hands on the espers, starting with Choi Suhyuk, infusing them with power. They all felt the freezing and lightning barriers surrounding their bodies strengthen, becoming incredibly thick.

Jo Heechan, feeling his own barrier flowing more firmly around him, widened his eyes in amazement.

“Jungin Hyung. What? How did you do that?”

“I didn’t know how to use this power either… but I tried it, and it worked. I can strengthen the barriers.”

When the Creepions bit him, the ability barriers surrounding his body activated, deflecting their teeth and causing sparks to fly. The moment Seo Jungin felt this, he instinctively channeled his amplification power into the esper’s power surrounding his body. He had strengthened the ability barrier.

I can strengthen the others’ barriers too. Thinking this, he let himself be buried under the Creepions.

If I survive, I’ll definitely strengthen them. As he thought this, he felt suffocated by the weight pressing down on him, on the verge of being crushed.

How could he survive? Trapped and unable to even draw his weapon, he recalled the properties of amplification.

The power to amplify an esper’s ability by expanding its amplitude. If he infused ordinary Creepions, not X-Creepions, with amplification power, their bodies, unable to release the power outwards, wouldn’t be able to handle the influx of energy.

Their bodies, filled with power they couldn’t contain or release, would explode.

As soon as this thought occurred to him, Seo Jungin began to infuse all the bodies touching him with amplification power. The bodies in contact with him began to explode, turning into mush. Into a bloody, fleshy mess.

Buried in black blood and flesh, Seo Jungin continued to spread his amplification power in all directions.

Kim Yikyung, listening to Seo Jungin’s explanation, sighed in genuine admiration.

‘So that’s why the Creepions piled on top of Seo Jungin were completely pulverized, and the ones clinging to the outside exploded.’

Seo Jungin had grasped the nature of his power, controlled it, and wielded it all on his own. He had survived, defeated the Creepions, and even strengthened the espers, all by himself.

Even though he hadn’t received any training as an esper. There was no other explanation than that he was a natural-born esper.

Kim Yikyung stroked Seo Jungin’s hair. Then, one by one, the others began to stroke his hair as well.

“I wonder how much more I’ll be amazed by you. You’re truly incredible.”

At Kim Yikyung’s words, Seo Jungin’s face flushed. Incredible? It wasn’t like that. He just wanted to be of some help to the team. A guide who couldn’t guide was simply doing what he could.

A guide who couldn’t guide.

Seo Jungin suddenly lifted his head and grabbed Choi Suhyuk’s wrist.

“Jungin……?”

Seo Jungin’s eyes widened in surprise as he checked the watch. He then pulled Kim Yikyung’s wrist and checked his watch, his face contorting in distress.

He frantically grabbed Hwang Woohyun and Jo Heechan’s wrists, checking their watches as well.

“What about the toxicity?”

As he reached for Nam Taeyong with a desperate look, Nam Taeyong irritably pulled his hand away.

“Why are you checking each and every one? It’s a red alarm, but with this much toxicity from the 1st to the 4th floor, we’ve held up pretty well.”

“Because of me. You all became like this trying to save me.”

Seo Jungin looked as if he was about to burst into tears.

“You all used your abilities here to save me, and this is what happened.”

“Jungin. Seo Jungin.”

Hwang Woohyun embraced Seo Jungin tightly from behind, his mental state shaking and about to crumble. His thin body, drenched in blood. He had almost lost him. It was only natural to rush in and save him. If he lost Jungin…

Ah… Could he even live if he lost Jungin?

“If you die, I die too.”

“What? Don’t say that.”

A startled Seo Jungin tried to turn around, but Hwang Woohyun held him tighter, burying his face in his shoulder.

“What meaning would there be in escaping this place without you, Jungin?”

“Don’t say that. Never say that. Why would you say something like that?”

Nam Taeyong glared at the two of them, then laughed through his nose. It wasn’t because of them. It was a laugh born of exasperation with himself.

‘There would be no meaning in living if I lost Jungin.’

That was the exact image that had flashed through his mind as he dug through the Creepions, searching for Seo Jungin.

[I’d rather be devoured in your place… Than watch you being eaten.]

That’s what he had thought.

Fuck… Him, and Seo Jungin… Since when?

“L-let’s conserve our abilities from now on. The first alarm went off. Is everyone okay? Do you have headaches? Do you feel like throwing up?”

Seo Jungin looked around at the members, then suddenly became aware of a dull, throbbing pain in his own head.

He had been feeling nauseous, but he had dismissed it as a natural consequence of being buried in the Creepions’ flesh and blood.

Headache and nausea. Side effects of an esper’s toxicity buildup.

He was an esper now. Since he was an esper, using his ability would cause toxicity to build up in his body.

‘Then, could it be… Is my toxicity building up right now?’

Seo Jungin discreetly glanced at the watch on his wrist, making sure no one else noticed. The toxicity level was nearing 70%.

Ah… He hadn’t thought of this. He had been relieved that he could help the others with amplification even if he couldn’t guide. He had wanted to use this power without limit to conserve the others’ abilities.

If his toxicity built up, he could also become a variant.

‘Because I’m an esper. I’m not a guide anymore, I’m an esper.’

“Worry about yourself instead of us. From now on, don’t fall behind. Stay in the middle of the group, no matter what.”

At Nam Taeyong’s cynical words, Seo Jungin subtly hid his wrist behind his back.

“Okay. I understand.”

Then, a very familiar and dreadful, throat-grating cry echoed from behind.

“Kuuuuuuh…… Krrrrrr……”

Everyone instinctively tensed up and jumped to their feet. Nam Taeyong looked towards the Bloodhole and smirked.

“Oh, right. It’s a red alarm. Fuck. This wasn’t the time to be messing around.”

Blood-red vapor was pouring out of the hole at the end of the hallway. The Bloodhole, momentarily subdued by Choi Suhyuk’s plasma attack, had reactivated.

“Let’s go. Let’s find that Separator bastard on the 5th floor and tear him to shreds.”

Nam Taeyong said viciously, grabbing Seo Jungin’s arm and pulling him along. He pulled him into the middle of the group, just as he had told him to.

As everyone retreated to the emergency staircase, the 4th floor was filled with crimson vapor, and the howls of the Creepions from within the Bloodhole grew closer.

“Heechan. Block the emergency exit with ice.”

“Got it. Jungin Hyung, amplify me.”

As Jo Heechan stood at the emergency exit and extended his right arm, Seo Jungin discreetly turned off his watch. So that the alarm wouldn’t go off even if his toxicity increased. So that the watch widget wouldn’t glow. So that no one would notice his toxicity building up.

So that he could protect them with his amplification power until they found the Separator.

If the moment came when he had to swallow the Detoxine capsule in his uniform pocket…

‘I will swallow it without hesitation. To protect them.’

As Seo Jungin’s hand touched his back, Jo Heechan felt a rush of blood to his lower body, as if it were a reflex. Even before the power flowed into him, his neck heated up, his earlobes flushed red, and his vision began to blur.