The air in the cavernous laboratory was thick with tension, an oppressive weight that seemed to settle over everyone. Myeong stood near the entrance, the cold stone walls around him reflecting the flickering light from overhead lamps. The water that had flooded the room still pooled around his feet, its chill seeping through his boots.
Mistress paced before him, her eyes darting between the array of monitors and the bustling scientists. Her usually composed face was marred with a flicker of impatience, a sharp contrast to Myeong's calm detachment. He watched her movements, waiting for the right moment.
Outside, the sounds of preparation echoed: the rhythmic clank of metal as soldiers readied their weapons, the hurried footsteps of personnel moving to their stations, and the low hum of generators filling the background. The air buzzed with anticipation, every sound amplified in the silence of waiting.
Myeong's eyes followed Mistress as she barked orders, her voice cutting through the din with an edge of authority. The scientists obeyed without question, their fear palpable. He knew she would eventually tire of overseeing the chaos and retreat to her office, where they could finally be alone.
His system interface remained in the corner of his vision, a constant reminder of the power he held in reserve. Notifications blinked, offering updates and new abilities, but he dismissed them with a thought. His focus was on Mistress and the opportunity that was slowly unfolding.
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours, the noise and movement around them a chaotic backdrop to his stillness. Finally, Mistress glanced at him, a signal that she was ready to move.
"Come, Myeong. We need to discuss our strategy," she said, her tone brooking no argument.
Myeong followed her through the labyrinthine corridors, the sounds of the main chamber fading behind them. The walls here were rough, the stone cool to the touch, lit by the occasional flickering torch. They reached her office, a small, sparsely furnished room that served as her sanctuary.
Mistress closed the door behind them, the click of the lock echoing in the confined space. She turned to face him, her expression expectant.
"Now, let's talk about how we handle Kwan," she began, her voice steady but laced with underlying tension.
Myeong's eyes narrowed as he looked at Mistress. "Why should I help you? Kwan is the one person I trust. You've tortured me for months."
Mistress's eyes darkened, her lips curling into a slight smile. "Because if you really think about it... we aren't too different." She paused, letting her words sink in. "Myeong, I could have joined a clan and become a mindless sheep like everyone else, limiting myself. I chose to gain power for myself. The chamber made you stronger, did it not? Tough decisions produce the best outcomes. There will come a time when you too will need to choose, because in a world full of monsters, sometimes you need to become a monster yourself."
A powerful gust of wind surged through the room, ruffling papers and shaking the furniture. Myeong braced himself, the force pushing against him.
"This power... was not given to me. I earned it! People preyed on my downfall, tried to stop me, and failed. They locked me up in my room, beat me until I was down, but I stood up and rose where they couldn't."
Mistress's voice softened, a calculated move to reach him. "The work we're doing here, Myeong, it's for the greater good. We're on the brink of a breakthrough that could change everything, fix the world. You know the chaos out there. Trust me, join me, and we can end it."
Myeong's expression remained impassive. "And leave Kwan?"
"Yes. Leave Kwan and join me. Together, we can make a difference."
Myeong shook his head, his resolve unwavering. "No. Kwan has never lied to me. He never broke me. You? You stripped me of everything and expected loyalty in return. I won't be your pawn."
Mistress's eyes flashed with frustration. "You're making a mistake, Myeong."
"Perhaps," he replied, his tone firm, "but it's my mistake to make."
Myeong's eyes flickered as he activated his system interface, scanning Mistress. The readout identified her as a green target—an easy fight.
Mistress, oblivious to the impending danger, continued to speak. "You have no idea what you're refusing, Myeong."
But Myeong wasn't listening. His mind was focused on one thing: making Mistress feel even a fraction of the torment he had endured.
[Myeong has activated (Legendary) Absolute Domination]
A sudden, invisible force gripped Mistress, lifting her off the ground. Her eyes widened in shock as she was slammed against the stone wall with a bone-jarring thud. The air crackled with the sheer power of Myeong's telekinesis.
"What... what are you doing?" Mistress gasped, struggling to break free from the unseen force.
Myeong stepped forward, his eyes cold and unyielding. "You wanted power, Mistress? Feel mine."
He intensified the telekinetic grip, crushing her against the wall. The stone cracked under the pressure, splintering around her. Mistress screamed, a sound that echoed through the small room, but it was drowned out by the rage burning in Myeong's eyes.
"You think you're strong?" Myeong's voice was a low growl, filled with a menace that sent shivers down her spine. "You think you can control me, break me? You have no idea what real pain is."
He tightened his fist, and Mistress's body contorted in agony. Her limbs bent at unnatural angles, her face a mask of horror. Myeong watched her, his expression unchanged, as if her suffering was a mere inconvenience.
"Stop! Please!" Mistress's voice was barely a whisper, choked by the invisible force constricting her throat.
Myeong ignored her plea. He released his grip slightly, letting her drop to the ground, only to lift her again and slam her into the opposite wall. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the room, rattling the furniture and shattering a nearby lamp.
"You wanted to make me a monster, Mistress. Congratulations. You've succeeded."
He released his hold momentarily, letting her crumble to the floor. Mistress lay there, gasping for breath, her body broken and bruised. But Myeong wasn't done. He reached out with his telekinesis, lifting her once more, this time pulling her towards him.
"Look at me," he commanded, his voice icy and commanding. "Look at the monster you created."
Mistress's eyes, filled with terror, met his. For a brief moment, there was silence, a stillness that hung in the air like the calm before a storm. Then, with a flick of his wrist, Myeong sent her crashing to the floor again, the impact sending a crack through the stone tiles.
Mistress's eyes, filled with terror, met his. For a brief moment, there was silence, a stillness that hung in the air like the calm before a storm. Then, with a flick of his wrist, Myeong sent her crashing to the floor again, the impact sending a crack through the stone tiles.
He released his telekinetic grip, letting Mistress lie on the ground, defeated. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her body trembling from the pain. Myeong stepped back, the cold detachment returning to his eyes.
The room fell silent, save for Mistress's labored wheezing and the occasional creak of settling debris. Myeong surveyed the destruction around them - cracked stone, shattered furniture, the stench of ozone hanging thick in the air. This had been her sanctum, her refuge, and now it lay in ruins, a fitting metaphor for her downfall.
He turned his gaze back to Mistress. Her eyes, clouded with pain and fear, met his intense stare. For a long moment, neither moved, the air thrumming with an unspoken truth. She had created this monster before her, honed him into a weapon through unspeakable cruelty. And now that weapon had turned on its master.
Myeong's lip curled ever so slightly. "Your end was inevitable," he said, his soft tone laced with finality.
Shards of glass crunched underfoot as he walked towards the door, leaving Mistress's crumpled form behind. His path was clear now. Myeong wasted no time after leaving Mistress's broken form behind. His sole focus was getting the hell out of this place and finding Kwan as quickly as possible.
Kwan was waiting for him somewhere out there, the only person Myeong truly trusted. Reuniting with him was the key to finally escaping this nightmare for good. No more torture, no more lies - just freedom. He could almost taste his hard-earned freedom on the air. Nothing would stop him now.