4.

The empty plain...

On the wide-open field of snow, Kim Tae-hoon stood silently with his left-hand high. His left hand was holding a white cloth. The thin cloth, which looked like a wrapping cloth, flapped in the wind.

A man came toward Kim. The middle-aged man, who appeared with his hand pressing his beret against the wind, stopped walking two meters away from Kim.

"Major Kim Tae-hoon."

After checking Kim's face, he stepped forward again. One step, about a meter away, he stood at a distance that would be gone if they reached out to one another.

"You are alive. No, you'd have to survive."

"You are Lieutenant Colonel Yoo Dae-hyun."

Lieutenant Colonel Yoo Dae-hyun. In Kim's memory, he belonged to the Capital Defense Command.

He was the Battalion Commander of Commandos; the 35th Commandos, under the Capital Defense Command, tasked to protect Seoul, the heart of South Korea.

'I'm glad I don't need to identify myself, but I'm confronted with someone who's hard to deal with.'

Lieutenant Colonel Yoo was not a strange man because he knew the existence of Kim Tae-hoon as a secret national weapon. He had that kind of power. The purpose of the Commandos protecting Seoul was to protect those who lived in Seoul. The position of the Battalion Commander of Commandos was not for those who did not want power.

"I don't know what your situation is now, but it's nice to see you like this."

Lieutenant Colonel Yoo extended his hand to Kim. However, Kim did not respond to the handshake. He still holding his hand high up in the sky with the white flag.

The reason he came here was not to express his joy.

"I'm here to negotiate."

On the contrary, Kim came here to settle with the survivors who had settled in the capital, including Lieutenant Colonel Yoo. He was determined not to avoid bloodshed if necessary.

'It is always hard to deal with him. Major General Chang Young-sung has created a really scary monster.'

When he read Kim's temperament, Lieutenant Colonel Yoo withdrew his hand. The distance between the two still remained about a meter.

"Negotiation…"

"The city of Bucheon and its surrounding areas are currently managed by the Mac Guild. I'm the head of the Mac Guild."

"Guild… That's a funny name."

"I want to establish a peaceful alliance with the forces that currently occupy the capital city, Seoul."

The expression 'A peaceful alliance' did not surprise Lieutenant Colonel Yoo very much.

'After society collapsed, I felt bitter that a human being is a social animal. Even Major Kim Tae-hoon came out like this.'

He had already experienced this situation several times.

'Even when society collapses, survivors try to survive. In the process, they realize that they cannot survive alone, and they create groups. Instead of equality, there are ranks and classes in that group. Of course, those who hold a vested interest will not let it go.'

There were such groups all over the fallen country now, and Lieutenant Colonel Yoo had made several contacts with them. Each time, they said similar things in front of Lieutenant Colonel Yoo and the special forces he led.

'Let's settle it peacefully. Let's make a deal. I'll be glad to cooperate if you recognize my vested interests.'

"I can't make bargains in my position." The Lieutenant Colonel Yoo never negotiated or traded with them. "I don't have the authority to negotiate with anti-government groups."

It was his job to deal with gangs that committed crimes.

'As expected.'

Kim was not surprised by the threats of Lieutenant Colonel Yoo.

'A command system seems to have been established.'

What Lieutenant Colonel Yoo did now was a very reasonable and proper action to do.

The presence of the Capital Defense Command was proof that the Republic of Korea had not completely collapsed yet. Of course, they should act to protect the nation. They should remove monsters, and crack down on the anti-government forces that committed illegal acts and wickedness.

Kim Tae-hoon and the Mac Guild were also anti-government forces from that point of view. There was no such thing as a negotiation. There was the only extermination.

'That is how it works.'

That was why Kim came here in person.

"Then I'd like to talk to someone who has the right to decide."

"Why?"

"It's because we have to avoid the exhaustive wars."

"The exhaustive wars… I don't know how much power you've secured, but I doubt how much you can afford to wage exhaustive wars against all those in the Capital Defense Command.

"If we lead an armored unit and come to Bucheon City, we will be able to kill most people in the city."

He came here to threaten them in case negotiation fails.

"But if I survive, then you will have an exhaustive war."

"What is that-"

Only then did Kim lower his hands. He took off the glove on his right hand. He showed the mark of an Awakener.

The expression on Lieutenant Colonel Yoo hardened.

Meanwhile, Kim focused on the person approaching from a long distance.

'Someone's coming.'

He heard a man approaching from a long distance. He did not bother to show an interest in the man. Of course, Lieutenant Colonel Yoo still did not notice his appearance.

"Lieutenant Colonel, I'm sorry for being late!"

Soon a voice passed between Kim and Lieutenant Colonel Yoo. At the voice, they both turned their heads in the direction of the voice.

"I overslept when I took a nap. I'm so sorry." There was a young man there whose voice Kim heard in his dream.

'It's him.'

5.

Oh Se-bum.

At the young age of twenty-five, he was a man with admirable good looks. He was also tall. Even if he was not wearing tight clothes, he had a model figure.

The short, cut-off hairstyle was also very well suited for him, and the figure putting out smoke and breathing with a cigarette in his mouth in the middle of winter was the same as a scene in the movie.

"So this gentleman is a king in Bucheon City, and he wants us to help him stay like a king? He is a funny guy."

Oh Se-bum was also one of the most talented of the survivors of the current capital city of Seoul and the Awakeners of the Capital Defense Command. That's why his nickname was Road Maker. He was a monster who made a road for people to move on to the land that was dotted with monsters. That's why the charismatic Lieutenant Colonel Yoo permitted him to bite a cigarette in front of his eyes and talk.

"But from the look of the Lieutenant Colonel, I don't think he's a nut to talk rubbish."

"Who is he?"

"Major Kim Tae-hoon."

"Major? He looks young. Is he really young?"

"He has been affiliated with a unit, but there is no name for the unit. He was under Major General Chang Young-sung, and was usually called a ghost."

"It's like a secret special unit. That's great. So how great is he? They don't even have the same level because they wear the same uniform."

"If I had to hire only one person to remove someone, I would hire him unconditionally."

"Wow, he is a great man."

When he heard the story, Oh Se-bum spat out the cigarette smoke with an exclamation and then threw the cigarette butt on the ground.

"What do I have to do?"

"It's a test."

"So, you want me to fight a human being who was a human weapon before he became an Awakener? What if I die?"

Oh's eyes were laughing, and in return, surprised. The eyes were telling Kim clearly: he was not worried about his own death, he was worried about killing Kim.

"It's just a simple test. You don't have to kill," Lieutenant Colonel Yoo warned him briefly because he also had a similar thought with Oh.

'Major Kim cannot win against Major Oh.'

Oh had already killed a yellow-grade monster alone, and he had also succeeded in hunting a green-grade monster.

In the case of the green-grade monster hunting, it was thanks to the relics obtained from securing the National Museum of Korea, but it was not an exaggeration to say that he was the hope of the Republic of Korea even with that.

Lieutenant Colonel Yoo did not think Kim could do anything about Oh, even if Kim was such a great man. The world had changed anyway.

'But Kim is not a bit of a deal.'

The problem was that Kim's real scary thing was not just his strength.

The days he had lived have been proof of that. He has won a victory against an enemy that could not be dealt with by simple power.

If he told Hollywood film officials about his achievements, none of them would believe it.

'Because he is an Awakener, he is more powerful than before.'

It was already a tough thing that Kim was an Awakener.

Awakeners could strengthen their abilities and acquire new abilities by eating monster stones.

There was plenty of reason to be wary.

'He's not a man to covet power.'

On the one hand, he was curious.

He called himself the head of a group called the Mac Guild, which managed Bucheon City, and now he was showing his teeth in front of a hard opponent to keep his position.

It could be. There were too many people who gave their lives for power and vested rights.

However, the Kim Tae-hoon who Lieutenant Colonel Yoo knew, was never a man who tried to do something to become a ruler in a collapsed world.

'Anyway, if he is an enemy, he will be a troublesome enemy.'

In addition, Kim was not given the rank of Major just because he did dangerous things. They gave him the rank of Major to direct the crowd.

'We have to check his abilities first.'

Regardless, what mattered was how much of a threat Kim could be. 'If he is stronger than I think, I should keep the negotiation in mind. In fact, it is too much to protect the capital area right now.

'Although the land of Bucheon was given to us, we cannot manage it. Moreover, there is no oil from Bucheon, no important munitions factory, and no power plant. If he collects survivors from the land of Bucheon and removes monsters, we are willing to aid him. However, we don't have to show that much so soon.'

"How do I test him rather? We can't use a gun or a sword."

"Do it with your fists."

"I think it's better to just fight with a gun. You know what kind of fist I have."

"Be careful. I want to see his abilities. You don't need to kill your opponent."

"Yes, I'll keep it in mind."

Of course, there was no such thing as Oh's defeat in the mind of the Lieutenant Colonel Yoo, who knew there were countless kills behind him.

6.

'This is how things work.'

From Bucheon to Gimpo International Airport, Kim had thought a lot while walking the never-short distance. But he didn't want to take a test.

If negotiation was done as desired, he would only negotiate, and if the negotiations broke down, he would only have to show evidence that he could threaten if threats were necessary.

In the meantime, there was no room for a test, a frivolous act.

'Oh Se-bum.'

However, Oh's appearance shattered all of Kim's scenarios without mercy.

'I don't think he is the same person.' This was the name Kim said clearly in his dream.

'A traitor.'

Kim Tae-hoon of the future spoke clearly to Kim Tae-hoon of the past, who dreamt of himself being killed by a traitor.

And at the same time, he advised, "Use him."

'I didn't tell myself to kill him as soon as I saw him.'

It was Kim Tae-hoon himself who knew Kim Tae-hoon best.

So he could believe it. That Kim Tae-hoon of the future included the word "use" among the few allowed words before he died, had a reason to do so.

'It's worth to use him, so I will use him.'

Furthermore, the current situation showed that Oh plays the same role as an ace of the Capital Defense Command.

It was not difficult to grasp.

- In what way do I test him…

- With fists…

It was easy for Kim to listen to the conversation between Lieutenant Colonel Yoo and Oh from a long distance at the quiet Gimpo International Airport.

The sound of Oh blowing out cigarette smoke in front of Lieutenant Colonel Yoo was clearly heard.

'By Lieutenant Colonel Yoo's tolerance, it means that he cannot help it.'

Lieutenant Colonel Yoo was quite strict. First, the 35th Commandos were not a clumsy organization. It is a unit where only the elite of the elites could be placed, and where someone who became a soldier as a job to eat and live could not be a Commander.

He was not a man who could not readily tolerate a novice who was a subordinate and smoking in front of him.

'Major.'

However, the fact that he, who seemed to be in his mid-twenties, was already ranked Major meant that he has already made the right contributions. There was only one contribution in this world: killing monsters.

'I'll check his abilities first.'

That's why Kim was taking the ridiculous test. At the same time, he also created a benchmark.

'And if I really think he's a threat to me… I will remove him anyway.'

7.

"Hello, my name is Oh Se-bum. My Rank is Major, the same as you. Ah, you're not a soldier now."

Oh threw his left fist into the air with the words.

A light jab...

But the sound of the wind was frightening. It felt like pulling the trigger of a gun, not a punch. It was already beyond human standards.

"Let's just play the first round of five minutes. Don't be too hard, because we're just looking at our abilities. What's good about hurting each other? If you get hurt, you can't get insurance and a pension."

Naturally, that punch wouldn't stop him from getting sick and bruised.

Above all, he only fought with his bare hands.

'The purpose is to ascertain what power he has.'

There were no words not to use the powers acquired from the monsters. And that was the point.

What Lieutenant Colonel Yoo wanted was to check the cards Kim had.

And that was also what Kim wanted. He was checking the cards Oh had.

"Now, when we are ready, we start."

Therefore, neither Kim nor Oh played any games.

"Start!" The moment Oh's voice sounded, he instantly narrowed the distance from Kim and jabbed out his left hand.

The fist that flew towards Kim's nose was swift. Kim did not avoid the fist and raised his arms to block it.

Whack!

Kim's body did not shake at all.

'He must have eaten the monster stones properly?' Oh thought.

The two deduced two facts from this attack and defense. Their Strength and physical Defense were similar.

At that moment, Oh raised the Energy in his gut. His Energy spread to his whole body with the force, and his spirit changed quickly.

The spine of Kim Tae-hoon, who looked at Oh Se-bum through his arms to play guard, also chilled.

'Oh's Energy rank is at least… above B rank.'

When the short thought crossed Kim's mind, the right fist that Oh put out came to Kim's nose. It was much faster than the previous punch. With his basic skills, Kim could not avoid it. So, at this moment, Kim used his Telekinesis to pull his body sideways.

Paat!

Oh's right straight punch ripped through the air and generated its own wind.

The place where Kim had been, showed traces of wind pressure, and the snowfield behind him was blowing around.

'He is going to kill me.'

Kim had enough reason to avoid it urgently. He was tense.

'He avoided my punch by pulling his body with his Telekinesis? This?' At the same time, Oh was nervous, too. He was also willing to kill Kim if necessary. However, Kim avoided the attack easily and was widening the distance between them.

'His Telekinesis rank and skills are no jokes.'

Furthermore, Kim definitely used Telekinesis. Otherwise, such avoidance was impossible.

'I don't know what's going to happen if the distance is widened.'

'It is not a good idea to widen the distance to those who use Telekinesis.'

Naturally, the eyes of the two changed.

The playfulness disappeared from Oh's eyes, Kim's pupils were black.

With that spirit, Oh ran towards Kim, who was widening the distance between them.

Oh's physical ability was strengthened through Energy, and it was virtually impossible for Kim to escape.

It was also practically impossible to avoid all of the punches which Oh would start pouring out from now on with only his basic ability, even if he had the Eyes of Black Snake. Of course, he used his Telekinesis.

'I'll catch him.'

He caught Oh's body with his own Telekinesis and pulled his arms into a chain of Telekinesis.

Gnash!

There was a gnashing sound of teeth from Oh Se-bum, who was doing his best to break the Telekinesis that bound him.

Of course, it was impossible to stop Oh's body completely. Oh's hands repeated a one-two punch. However, it was not too fast for Kim to avoid.

'Okay!' In the end, Oh collected his whole power to strike a clear blow, a right-hand straight, not only to shatter Kim's Telekinesis which tied him up but also to shatter his skull.

Oh's punches, which were pouring toward Kim, stopped.

At that moment, Kim poured out a huge flame as if he had been waiting for this moment.

Fwoosh!! The flame filled Oh's vision, and furthermore, wrapped around his body.

'Fuck!'

The flame clung to Oh's body like sticky liquid. If he left it like this, he would not be able to avoid being burned. He released his Energy all over his body.

Paat!

The flame that stuck to Oh's body was thrown off.

'I'll kill you!' After shaking off the flame, Oh flashed his eyes to find Kim. This was already no test in his mind. He was fully thinking of killing Kim.

'Where is he?'

But Kim was not visible. Oh's eyes turned to the ground reflexively, following the footprints.

'What?'

However, Kim's footprints were not anywhere. At that moment, Oh looked up reflexively as if he had felt something. Kim's right fist, which had turned black, fell on his face.

Oh's memory stopped right there.