Arc 5: The Veil of Betrayal Chapter 11: A Glimpse of True Power
The air felt heavy, charged with something unnatural. Jae-min could barely keep his balance as Orion's energy pulsed through the room. His ears rang, and a dull ache spread through his body. This wasn't ordinary power—it was something far more terrifying.
"Yuna, get up," he said through gritted teeth, forcing himself to his feet. Beside him, Yuna struggled to rise, one hand clutching her side.
Orion watched them with mild amusement, his hands tucked neatly behind his back. "Impressive. You're still standing. Most would have passed out by now."
Jae-min ignored the taunt, his mind racing. The device behind Orion continued to hum with energy, its core glowing brighter by the second. If they didn't act fast, it wouldn't matter whether they escaped—Project Nexus would be complete, and the consequences would be catastrophic.
"We need to finish this now," Yuna whispered, pulling out a small EMP device from her belt. "If we can disrupt the core for even a few seconds, it might give us an opening."
Jae-min nodded. "I'll distract him. You get close enough to plant it."
"Distract him? How exactly are you planning to do that?" Yuna asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jae-min gave her a crooked grin. "By doing what I do best—winging it."
Without waiting for a response, he stepped forward, clenching his fists as he faced Orion. The man's calm demeanor didn't waver, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
"You're brave, I'll give you that," Orion said, tilting his head slightly. "But bravery alone won't save you."
Jae-min charged forward, his movements swift and deliberate. He wasn't foolish enough to think he could overpower Orion, but if he could keep him occupied long enough, Yuna might have a chance. As he closed the distance, Orion raised his hand again, sending another wave of energy toward him.
This time, Jae-min was ready. He dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the blast, and rolled back to his feet. He launched a flurry of attacks, forcing Orion to step back, his calm expression finally showing a hint of irritation.
"Persistent," Orion muttered, blocking Jae-min's punches with effortless precision. "But ultimately futile."
Jae-min grinned, panting slightly. "Yeah, well… I've been called worse."
Meanwhile, Yuna crept along the perimeter of the room, her eyes locked on the glowing core. She moved quickly but silently, keeping low to avoid drawing Orion's attention. The EMP device in her hand felt heavier with each passing second.
Almost there…
Just as she reached the base of the core, a loud crack echoed through the chamber. Yuna froze, her heart pounding. She turned to see Orion gripping Jae-min by the collar, lifting him off the ground with ease.
"Enough games," Orion said coldly. "You're out of your depth. Did you really think you could stop me?"
Jae-min struggled, but Orion's grip was like iron. He could feel the air being squeezed from his lungs.
Yuna didn't hesitate. She activated the EMP device and slammed it against the core. A high-pitched whine filled the room as the core's energy field flickered violently.
Orion's eyes widened in shock. "What have you done?!"
The energy around them crackled and sparked, and for a brief moment, Orion's grip loosened. Jae-min took the opportunity to kick off Orion's chest, pushing himself free and landing unsteadily on his feet.
"Nice timing, Yuna," he gasped, catching his breath.
"Don't thank me yet," Yuna said, backing away from the core as it began to destabilize. "We need to get out of here before this whole place goes up."
Orion's expression twisted with fury. "You think you've won? This is far from over!"
He raised both hands, channeling raw energy toward them. The walls trembled, and cracks began to form in the ceiling. Jae-min and Yuna exchanged a quick glance—there was no time to fight, only to run.
"Go!" Jae-min shouted, grabbing Yuna's hand and pulling her toward the exit. They sprinted down the hallway as alarms blared around them, the building shaking violently.
Behind them, Orion's voice echoed, filled with rage. "You can't escape me! I'll hunt you down!"
They burst out onto the street just as the ground beneath the headquarters rumbled. Jae-min and Yuna stumbled to a stop, turning to watch as the entire building began to collapse in on itself.
"We did it…" Yuna breathed, her voice filled with disbelief.
Jae-min nodded, still catching his breath. "Yeah… but something tells me this isn't over."
As the dust settled, a single thought lingered in Jae-min's mind. They had disrupted Project Nexus, but Orion was still out there—and he wouldn't stop until he had his revenge.
For now, though, they had bought themselves some time. Time to regroup. Time to prepare for whatever came next.
Because deep down, Jae-min knew this was only the beginning.
End of Chapter 11