Dirty Sweet Baby Chapter 121

The target, the α-creature, was already unconscious. The transport unit would be here soon, so Cha Moogyul’s mission was over. The β-creatures were originally the special task force’s responsibility; it was their fault for losing them, and their responsibility to pursue them.

Even so, wasn’t it right to chase down the β-creatures scattering in every direction and kill at least one more before losing them completely? The α-creature’s unique wavelength was already disrupting the detection system, making it difficult to pinpoint the fleeing β-creatures’ locations, and now they were scattering like this.

If even one of them made it past the bulkhead of Residential District 2, there would be casualties. And the shelters were packed with people. He had to stop them.

“Hyung.”

Cha Moogyul grabbed Heeheon’s shoulder and turned him around.

His grip was strong and desperate.

“Do you really have to go?”

“I do.”

“You can’t just stand by and not jump in.”

“I can’t…”

Amid the urgent chaos, their eyes met.

In a battlefield tangled with the sounds of gunfire, explosions, and shrieks, amid the flying dust and rock fragments, their eyes pierced each other with perfect clarity. For this moment, it was as if the surrounding noise had vanished and they were all that existed.

Cha Moogyul had said he didn’t care about human lives, that only Baek Heeheon’s life and death mattered, but he must have understood Heeheon’s feelings too.

That must have been why he had mouthed those words before they moved out.

‘Be careful.’

Be careful.

That was what Cha Moogyul had whispered. Worried about Heeheon.

There was only one thing Heeheon could say in return.

“I’ll be careful.”

It was a promise.

“I’ll survive. I promise.”

He was probably just anxious, after all.

Just as the old Baek Heeheon always had been. Cha Moogyul needed reassurance.

“I’ll die someday, but it won’t be today. We’ll return safely, we’ll imprint, and we’ll die together.”

Cha Moogyul’s brow furrowed for a moment. A subtle anguish flickered in his dark eyes.

Heeheon did not miss it.

A true emotion beyond passion had been revealed. It meant that the conflict they had kept clashing over and pushing aside, never resolving, had now reached the realm of desperation.

“Hah… Why did it have to be Sung Ahwon?”

Cha Moogyul murmured quietly.

“Right now, I feel like throwing that guy, down to the very last piece of his bones, to the creature swarm as prey.”

“There’s no need for that. I’m your guide.”

“I even want to take you right in front of that bastard’s eyes.”

“Wha-what are you saying… I only want to do it with you.”

“Right. I’m a psychopath.”

“It’s okay.”

Having quickly reloaded, Heeheon fired his rifle indiscriminately at the backs of the creature swarms fleeing into the tangled caves.

“I only love you.”

He hit them with every shot, but countless more were getting away. Some had already gotten so far that he could no longer hear them. Heeheon shot and hit the head of a centipede-creature that was flying toward Captain Sung’s back.

Saved from the crisis, Captain Sung spotted Heeheon who had covered him and smiled widely. Seeing that bright smile, a blue power erupted from Cha Moogyul.

The power he shot out like lightning pierced and blew up all the creatures around Captain Sung.

He had annihilated every creature within a several-dozen-meter radius, making it so Heeheon didn’t even need to bother covering him, let alone worry. Captain Sung, now covered in black blood, looked startled for a moment before running toward another group of creatures fleeing ahead.

Cha Moogyul muttered coldly, retorting to Heeheon.

“You said we should provide support, didn’t you?”

At that, Heeheon let out a small chuckle.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

They had to annihilate the escaped β-creatures as quickly as possible.

Heeheon chased after the special task force members, again shooting the creatures in front of Captain Sung to help him advance. At the same time, an overwhelmingly powerful ability began to pour out of Cha Moogyul.

A strong power condensed around him, and flashing lightning bolts went on to slaughter the fleeing β-creatures.

Even in the midst of the urgency, he was happy. He was overwhelmed with emotion. It felt like if he was with Cha Moogyul like this, they could catch all the creatures heading for Residential District 2 without any trouble.

But, in that moment of relief.

Crack…!

An ominous noise, heralding despair, tore through his ears.

‘Don’t tell me.’

Everyone present acted on instinct, all in the same way. Everyone in this space, from the special task force members to the creatures. All heads turned toward the α-creature.

It was an almost unnoticeable change.

Like an egg or a fruit cracking, just a small split at the edge of the enormous, pure-white membrane.

But it was only the beginning. In an instant, the crack widened, and the membrane split in half. A sticky, amniotic fluid-like mucus spilled onto the floor, and from within it, the α-creature that had been unconscious until just a moment ago unfurled its curled body.

Kiyuuuuuuuu!

The twenty eyes embedded in the roaring monster’s belly all flashed open.

They were eyeballs as deep as black marbles, and within them was an endless abyss of hatred and violence.

Its massive body, as large as a house, was so huge it reached the cave ceiling, and each time it moved, boulders shattered and fell, creating new tunnels.

A hot and ominous breath, a lower body like tree roots that trampled and crossed over corpses and pools of blood, a body packed with scales that deflected bullets, and hard claws.

It was as if an ancient god, filled with wrath, had manifested before them to punish humanity. It was both overwhelming and horrifying.

“Hah…!”

He didn’t even realize he had been holding his breath.

His blocked breath was released, and time, which had stopped, began to flow again.

The scattered β-creatures were fleeing in separate directions toward Residential District 2, the unconscious α-creature had woken up—the battle situation was driving him crazy.

Thud, thud, thud.

The earth-shattering tremors that seemed ready to rip apart the very ground shook his mind. A distinct killing intent, a premonition of death with a single misstep. Cold sweat seeping out.

Heeheon gripped his rifle, and they both acted without a word.

Cha Moogyul’s power flared up, creating countless spears made of pouring lightning. Heeheon also fired, aiming for the eyeballs, while simultaneously operating his goggles to relay the situation to headquarters.

“Should have cut off its arms and legs.”

“Where are its arms and legs? More importantly, can you capture that thing alive?”

“It’s not difficult.”

What in the world wasn’t difficult? It was an obviously hopeless situation to anyone watching, but even now, Cha Moogyul was composed. It was the attitude of someone who had never once considered the possibility of his own failure.

He once again began to focus and condense his power, and the α-creature flinched at the flow of profound energy. Perhaps the memory of being hit once remained in its body even though it had been asleep, as the creature lowered its stance and became wary. The β-creatures once again ran wild, fleeing chaotically.

Cha Moogyul must have been controlling the output of his power just a moment ago. He could subliminally sense that the delicate and precise control of his power had subtly changed.

It seemed he had been careful before because it was wrapped in the membrane. But this time was different. If he just struck it down like this, it would be over in an instant…!

Kiaaaaaaah!

Suddenly, sensing its own fate and cornered, the α-creature began to struggle violently.

Like a lizard abandoning its tail to flee, its body split and tore into two pieces, and both sides began to move independently.

It was difficult to tell which was the main body and which was the discarded flesh. Nevertheless, Cha Moogyul maintained his composure and raised his other hand.

An identical power began to swirl and gather in both of his hands. If the target split into two, then he just had to strike it with two bolts of lightning.

Krooooh…! Aaaaah…!

Realizing that splitting its body was useless, the α-creature let out a shriek. It had recognized that it could no longer fight back.

This was the end.

The power being drawn into Cha Moogyul’s palms was emitting a tremendous light, and it was now time to see the foregone conclusion.

However.

Just before the clear result, an unexpected anomaly occurred.

The α-creature chose to flee. Just like the β-creatures, it was abandoning its territory and trying to run away from Cha Moogyul. And it was taking a hostage.

Its tentacle-like legs instantly stretched out like ropes and snatched the human standing closest.

“Keuk!”

Heeheon’s body was dragged toward the creature, and he crashed into its hard, armor-like scales with a thud.

The creature wrapped Heeheon in its thick, root-like limbs, abandoned its clone, and began to flee alone.

Along the tunnels, intricately tangled like an ant farm.

His vision swam with a gray haze.

Before he could figure out what it was that was slowly swaying from side to side, a severe pain shot up from his side. It felt like two or three of his ribs were broken. It was so swollen he couldn’t even touch it.

“Heuk, ugh…”

‘Was I knocked out for a moment?’

Heeheon grit his teeth, groaning in pain as he checked his condition. Fortunately, despite the agony of his broken bones, he was still gripping his rifle tightly. Dropping one’s gun on the battlefield was the worst mistake one could make. While he did have a pistol in his harness, its power was no match for the rifle’s.