Rachel knelt beside Hyon Hyung, her trembling hands hovering over his mangled leg. Blood seeped from the wound, pooling beneath him in a grim testament to the brutality he had endured. His face was pale, his breathing shallow and ragged.
Fear clawed at her chest. He's on the brink of death… If I don't do something now, he'll die.
"There's no time to panic," Rachel whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. She clenched her fists, forcing herself to stay calm. There had to be something she could do.
She leaned closer, her voice soft but firm. "Hyon Hyung-ssi, don't move… It's me, Rachel. Can yu still hear me? I've come to help. Don't you dare fall asleep on me."
He didn't respond, his eyes fluttering shut as if the effort to stay conscious was too much. Rachel bit her lip, fighting back the tears threatening to spill. For all of this to happen… It can only be them.
The Djinns.
Someone was hunting Cube cadets within the Mock Dungeon, and Rachel had been powerless to stop them. She recalled the chaos that had unfolded when she became separated from her group—the sudden ambush, the overwhelming numbers, and the relentless attacks. The Djinns had moved with precision, their leaders commanding their subordinates like pieces on a chessboard.
Rachel had fought back with everything she had, but it hadn't been enough. Her thoughts had spiraled into despair until she stumbled upon Hyon Hyung, his battered form a stark reminder of her own helplessness.
Her chest tightened as she looked at him now, his body broken and bleeding. "And here I thought you were strong…" she muttered, her voice tinged with frustration and sorrow.
But there was no time for self-pity. Rachel forced herself to focus, pulling the small vial from her pocket. It was the last healing potion she had, and she didn't hesitate as she uncorked it, ready to pour its contents into Hyon Hyung's mouth.
Just as the liquid was about to touch his lips, his hand shot up, weak but firm, gripping her wrist.
"Don't… use it on me…" His voice was faint, each word strained as though it cost him everything to speak.
Rachel froze, her eyes wide with shock. His words were in English, the language cutting through her thoughts like a blade.
"W-what are you saying?" she stammered, her grip tightening on the vial. "You need this. You'll die if you don't—"
"No…" He interrupted her, his eyes half-open but filled with determination. "Save it… for yourself…"
Rachel's heart clenched. His breathing was ragged, his body trembling from the effort of staying conscious. Yet here he was, refusing the one thing that could save him.
"You're being ridiculous," she snapped, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. "I can't just let you die!"
Hyon Hyung's grip on her wrist weakened, but his gaze remained steady. "Rachel… you'll need it more… later."
Tears blurred her vision as she shook her head, refusing to accept his words. "No! I can't—"
"You… can," he whispered, his hand falling away as his strength gave out.
Rachel sat frozen, her mind racing. The potion felt heavy in her hand, its contents suddenly symbolic of the impossible choice before her. She wanted to save him, to pour the liquid down his throat and watch as his wounds healed and his color returned.
But his words echoed in her mind, planting seeds of doubt. What if he's right? What if I'll need it later?
The thought filled her with guilt, but she couldn't ignore it. She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to make a decision.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. Carefully, she placed the potion back into her pocket, her hands trembling as she reached for the makeshift bandages in her bag.
"I'll stop the bleeding," she said softly, more to herself than to him. "I'll keep you alive. I promise."
As she worked to bind his wounds, her thoughts swirled with anger and despair. The Djinns had done this—had turned the Mock Dungeon into a battleground, forcing cadets like her and Hyon Hyung into impossible situations.
"They're Djinns," she muttered under her breath, her voice hardening. "Killing them will only do the world a favor."
It was a cold comfort, but it was enough to steel her resolve. She wouldn't let Hyon Hyung's sacrifice—or her own—be in vain.
With his wounds bound as best as she could manage, Rachel lifted him onto her shoulder, gritting her teeth against the strain. "Stay with me," she whispered, her voice fierce. "We're getting out of here. Together."
She took a step forward, the weight of her injured companion and the burden of her choice pressing heavily on her. But she didn't falter.
There was no room for hesitation. Not now. Not ever.
***
Blood loss dulled my senses, but the throbbing pain in my leg kept me conscious enough to process what was happening. Rachel knelt beside me, her face pale with worry and determination. I wanted to laugh, or maybe cry—she was wasting time and effort on someone who wasn't worth it.
"Smarty pants, you should know better," I muttered weakly, my voice barely audible. "Using it on yourself is the logical choice…"
I wanted to explain, to reason with her, but my body betrayed me. I was too weak, too drained to make my point clear. Still, I tried again. "Please… protect Yeonha…"
The hidden camera I'd placed in Yeonha's room had gone dark. That could only mean one thing—she was in danger. My mind raced despite my exhaustion. This couldn't be a coincidence. Someone was targeting Cube cadets, and now Jonghak had decided to ambush me? The pieces didn't just fall into place—they were shoved.
Rachel hesitated, her doubt plain on her face. "I…" she began, uncertainty lacing her tone.
I sighed inwardly. Damn it, I'm not convincing at all. Some fancy liar I turned out to be when I can't even fool one honest, good-hearted girl.
"Go," I begged, desperation creeping into my voice. "Please protect Yeonha."
Even if I drank that potion she had, it wouldn't make much of a difference. Potions could mend flesh and close wounds, sure, but they couldn't replenish blood. I'd still be a liability, combat-ineffective and half-dead. So why are you still here, Rachel?
But she didn't listen. With gentle but firm hands, she helped me drink the potion. I swallowed, resigned to the fact that it would be more of a waste if no one used it at all. The liquid burned slightly as it went down, a sensation that quickly spread through my body.
Regret weighed heavily on me. I should've skipped class. I should've stayed by Yeonha's side instead of playing by the rules.
The effects of the potion kicked in. My breathing steadied, and the bleeding stopped. My leg still felt weak, but at least it wasn't a gaping wound anymore. Rachel hoisted me up, her small frame supporting my weight as I leaned heavily on her.
"I'll call for help," she said quickly, ready to dash off.
"No." I grabbed her wrist, holding her back. "Go to Yeonha. She needs your help more than I do."
Her hesitation was brief. "…Yes. I will," she replied with a determined nod.
Relief washed over me as she left. At least someone was on their way to Yeonha. As for me, I had my own battle to fight.
I pressed the earpiece lodged in my ear, hoping it still worked. "Yo~ my best friend… still kicking?"
"Thank goodness," Hajin's voice crackled through the device, tinged with genuine relief. "I tried contacting you, but you weren't responding. What happened?"
"Got knocked out," I explained, my words slurring slightly. "Jonghak's targeting me for some reason. Probably Yun Hyuk's silver tongue. I bet the idiot got manipulated into thinking I'm his mortal enemy or something."
"Yun Hyuk, huh? Yeah, I wrote him to be cunning, but he's really leaning into it now," Hajin said, his tone contemplative. "What's your plan?"
I didn't need to think. "Do what you need to do. I sent Rachel ahead to protect Yeonha. I'll stay here in the artificial dungeon, steer Jonghak in the right direction, and then get back to my actual fucking job."
"Got it. I'll leave Yeonha and Rachel to you. What about Jonghak?"
A smirk tugged at my lips despite the pain. "Oh, I'll deal with him. Let's just say he's going to help me exterminate the Djinns inside this Mock Dungeon… whether he likes it or not."
Hajin chuckled dryly. "And I'll take care of the Djinns outside. But Hyon… zero casualties."
I snorted at his absurd demand. "Zero casualties? Seriously? You think that's realistic?"
"Make it happen," he said, his tone brooking no argument.
I couldn't help but laugh, a dry, humorless sound. At this point, I could say anything is possible with the power of friendship… but let's be real.
"Fine," I said, shaking my head. "Team effort makes teams work. Let's go win."
Hajin's response was short but resolute. "Let's."
As the line went silent, I shifted my focus back to the dungeon around me. The fight wasn't over, not by a long shot. But at least now, I wasn't alone.
***
"Witness the power of…" I sidestepped Jonghak's spear thrust, cutting him off mid-attack as I rolled to the side. "ROLLY POLLY!" I added, letting my words drip with mockery as I rolled away, stopping only when I was a few meters from him.
The incredulous look on Jonghak's face was priceless. His grip on his spear tightened, his knuckles whitening as if trying to crush his frustration into submission.
I didn't know what logic had wormed its way into his thick skull to convince him I was a Djinn, but at this point, why not play along?
"Heh heh heh heh heh…" I let out a laugh straight from the archives of every third-rate villain in history. "You got that right! I've been the Djinn you've been looking for! The mastermind behind it all! The one responsible for everything!"
Jonghak didn't waste time with a retort. He shot toward me with a speed that could rival lightning, his spear a blur in the dim dungeon light.
Thankfully, Suho's relentless sparring sessions had prepared me for this. My body reacted instinctively, activating and deactivating [Always Here] to mess with Jonghak's aim. His spear thrust through empty air where I'd been a moment ago.
"Your spear will never reach me! This is futile!" I taunted, throwing myself backward and landing in a squat. My calves tensed, ready to spring at the first sign of his next attack.
Jonghak pulled back, adjusting his stance and steadying his breath. His aura shifted, becoming sharper, more controlled. "So this is your true strength. You've been playing the fool all along! Nayun and Yeonha might have fallen for your act, but I see through you!"
What the actual fuck? My brain scrambled to process his words. Did he seriously believe this nonsense?
"Yes, you got that right," I said, deciding to roll with it. "Wanna guess what I'll do next?" I juggled my daggers playfully, the blades flashing as they spun through the air.
Jonghak's aura flared dangerously, his magic power swirling around him in hues of blue, orange, and red. His intensity made the air around us feel heavy, oppressive.
"You pathetic scoundrel," he spat. "After poisoning Yeonha, what else do you hope to achieve but chaos, you madman?"
"Poison? Yeonha?" I blinked, momentarily thrown. What the hell is going on?
"You Djinns are all the same," Jonghak growled, his voice a low rumble. Magic pulsed from his spear, the energy radiating from it making my skin prickle.
I needed to defuse this—or at least survive it.
"You talk too much," I said, throwing my daggers at him with as much flair as I could muster.
Jonghak responded instantly, ejecting his spear like a railgun. The weapon shot toward me with a deafening crack, leaving a trench in its wake.
Frantic, I activated and deactivated [Always Here] and [Not Here], slipping into invisibility just as the spear grazed past me. I rolled to the side and reappeared a safe distance away, though the shockwave from the spear's impact still made my ears ring.
"I can still do it one more time," Jonghak muttered, his voice carrying a grim promise.
My muscles screamed in protest, but I couldn't let him see that. Instead, I faked a snicker, letting my exhaustion mask itself as confidence.
"Pfft… As if. I've been dodging this whole time. Imagine what I could do if I took this seriously."
"… Your bluff won't work on me," he said, though his narrowed eyes betrayed a flicker of doubt.
"Bluff or not… Why don't you try and see?" I vanished again, combining [Not Here] and [Always Here] into one of my favorite tricks: Quadruple Afterimage.
From the north, south, east, and west, my afterimages emerged, each indistinguishable from the real me.
For a moment, Jonghak hesitated, his eyes darting between the apparitions. Then, with a burst of magic power, he sent a wave of energy outward, clearing the air around him.
Clang~!
My daggers met his spear in a sharp collision, the sound echoing through the dungeon. I retreated with a flurry of movement, creating distance between us.
"Wow, you blocked that! Still, it proves my point. My stealth abilities are amazing, don't you think?"
"I've seen your trick once. Try it again, and I'll end you," Jonghak declared, his voice dripping with Murim-level gravitas.
"Oooh~ so scary," I mocked, clutching my chest as if feigning a heart attack.
Then my tone shifted, dread and gloom seeping into my voice. "But imagine if it were any other cadet. What do you think their chances of survival would be?"
"You bastard!" Jonghak snarled, his noble facade cracking.
"Chaos? Terrorism? Sure, those are great buzzwords, but murder?" I paused, my voice lowering. "Murder is art. Bodies will fall. Cadets will die. And I shall be the executor."
I let my gaze drift to one of the cameras, knowing it was capturing every word. "Oh, and maybe it won't just be bodies that fall… but ash."
With that, I vanished, leaving Jonghak alone in the dungeon, his anger simmering in the heavy silence.