Kang-hyeok Lee couldn't stay at the warehouse for long. He had just received an urgent call about trouble at a club he managed.
"Make him talk. Just get him to tell you where the stash is," Kang-hyeok instructed the "Gentleman" in the white waterproof apron. The man had earned the nickname 'Gentleman' for his unsettlingly graceful methods of killing.
"After that, can I kill him?"
The "Gentleman" grinned at Kang-hyeok, flashing his gleaming gold tooth, which added a chilling effect to his expression.
"Do whatever you want after getting the information."
"Hmm."
Exhaling deeply, the Gentleman gave a thumbs-up.
"Alright, I'll handle it."
With that, Kang-hyeok rushed off to the club to address the pressing issue.
Kids these days really don't know their limits.
When he arrived, the club was a mess. Instead of being packed with customers, the stage was overrun by local thugs. The employees and security guards lay sprawled on the floor, having been beaten into submission.
"Security guards… pathetic, absolutely pathetic."
Kang-hyeok strode toward the thugs without hesitation.
"Alright, playtime's over. Get out of here."
At his cold words, one of the thugs, sitting on top of a male staff member, looked up. His gaze was defiant.
"Are you the boss here, old man?"
The audacious question from the young punk made Kang-hyeok chuckle dryly.
"What's so funny, huh? Can you even fight, old man?"
"Leave now, and you can walk out alive."
"Screw you, grandpa."
"Grandpa? I'm way too young for that."
"Hey, guys, did you hear what the old man just said?"
The thug leader laughed mockingly and addressed his crew.
"We're taking over clubs in the area, old man. This is the third one, and it's been the easiest so far. Isn't that right?"
The thugs erupted in laughter.
"You're not listening, huh?"
Lighting a cigarette, Kang-hyeok continued.
"You've just thrown away your last chance to live. Don't blame me for what happens next, got it?"
"Shut up, you old bastard!"
The thug who had been talking lunged at Kang-hyeok, throwing a punch straight at his face with no hesitation.
"Your punches are all anger. Kids these days really need to work on controlling their emotions."
Kang-hyeok easily dodged the incoming fists.
"Not bad for an old man. Let's see how you handle this!"
A sudden spinning kick followed. The move was unexpectedly fast.
"Not bad, kid. But that won't work on me."
Even as he countered the thug's moves, Kang-hyeok had enough composure to talk. He retaliated with a swift counter-kick that met the thug's leg mid-air.
Thud.
Blood and teeth flew from the thug's mouth as he crumpled to the ground.
"Ugh…"
The punk collapsed instantly. Kang-hyeok brushed ashes off the thug's face and asked,
"Are you the leader of this little gang?"
The thug didn't respond—he was already unconscious.
The remaining thugs didn't back down. Instead, they readied themselves to fight.
"Looks like these kids can't read the room."
With a gesture from Kang-hyeok, figures in black suits emerged from the shadows one by one.
"Do you know what separates amateurs like you from professionals like us?"
Laughter rippled through the suited gangsters.
"Professionalism. We're experts at what we do."
Dropping his finished cigarette to the floor, Kang-hyeok stomped it out and said,
"I've already taken down your leader. No need for me to do more, is there?"
With just a glance, his subordinates sprang into action. Kang-hyeok left the club, confident in their abilities. Once in his car, he called the "Gentleman."
-Beep. The number you dialed is currently unavailable.
"Looks like he's started."
He tried calling his other men at the warehouse, but none of them answered.
"What the hell is going on?"
One or two not answering might be excusable, but no one picking up was a bad sign. Kang-hyeok's gut told him something had gone wrong.
"Dammit!"
He yelled at the driver,
"Get us to the warehouse, now! "
***
"Think you can handle that?"
Cheol-su Kim asked the man wearing a white waterproof apron.
"What did you say?"
The man looked at him incredulously.
Cheol-su casually stood up, dusting off his dirty clothes.
"Huh? How'd you pull that off?
The man asked calmly.
"It just came undone," Cheol-su replied nonchalantly.
"And you decided to act cocky because of that?"
The man stepped toward Cheol-su. Standing up, the man was much larger than Cheol-su, completely dwarfing him.
Damn, he's massive. No wonder he's the one running this place.
The sheer intimidation he exuded made it obvious why he was in charge here.
"Get cocky, and you're dead,"
the man muttered.
"I'm not going to die," Cheol-su said confidently.
The man grinned, his gold tooth glinting ominously.
"We'll see about that."
The man set down the pliers he'd been holding and picked up a large axe.
'Where the hell did he even get that axe?'
Though Cheol-su wondered briefly, the man's expression was one of satisfaction, as if he'd finally found the perfect weapon.
"They all come in here so full of themselves. But once I show them a bit of my skills, they finally learn humility. Too bad you didn't start humble, huh?"
By now, the man was well within striking range.
"Well? I'm giving you a chance. Show me what you've got."
This was the perfect opportunity for Cheol-su. Instead of relying on instinct, he could test a punch driven purely by willpower.
"Alright, here I come."
Cheol-su tightened the muscles in his thighs and calves, then leapt forward.
Before the man could react, Cheol-su's fist struck his head.
Squelch.
The man collapsed instantly, leaving only his body behind.
[The soul of the deceased has been absorbed.]
[The soul of the deceased has been purified.]
[The life memories of the deceased have been stored.]
"Humility's important, but you didn't exactly practice what you preached, did you?
The fight ended anticlimactically.
I guess I was wrong to expect anything impressive.
Cheol-su quietly exited the building, taking care of the remaining gangsters—seven in total.
"If I stay put, they'll keep coming. There's too much at stake for them to give up."
The best defense is a strong offense, and Cheol-su resolved to make the first move.
***
By tapping into the memories of the dead, Cheol-su tracked down the Black Dragon gang's base.
Wow, gangsters these days stay in hotels like this? It's nothing like the ones in movies.
Staring up at the massive hotel, Cheol-su couldn't help but be impressed. That the hotel belonged to a gang seemed unbelievable.
Cheol-su strode toward the Black Dragon boss Tae-su Jang's suite on the hidden top floor—a sanctuary known only to the boss and his closest subordinates.
When the elevator doors opened, dozens of gangsters were already waiting for him in the hallway, as if they had anticipated his arrival.
"Get him!"
They didn't bother asking who he was. The gangsters charged at him without hesitation, their sheer numbers too overwhelming to count.
He sighed.
Focusing on the enemies before him, Cheol-su's senses sharpened, and time seemed to slow.
Whoosh. Thud.
With a light swing of his fist, the heads of gangsters standing in a line exploded in an instant. The previously quiet hallway was now filled with their lifeless bodies.
Even Cheol-su was taken aback. He hadn't realized just how much his power had grown.
[The souls of 15 deceased have been absorbed.]
[The souls of 15 deceased have been purified.]
[The life memories of the deceased have been stored.]
Swish. Thud. Swish. Thud.
[The souls of 21 deceased have been absorbed.]
[The souls of 21 deceased have been purified.]
[The life memories of the deceased have been stored.]
In the hotel hallway alone, Cheol-su eliminated a total of 44 gangsters. It didn't take long.
When he reached the door, there was no need to knock. Tae-su Jang himself stepped out into the hallway. His demeanor was calm and composed, exuding confidence.
He's over two meters tall.
It was impressive. Modern gangsters seemed to have exceptional physiques.
They all looked overweight on YouTube videos.
Tae-su's sharp black hair was neatly styled, and his well-maintained appearance made it almost a shame to call him a gangster. His piercing gaze was the most striking feature, as if he could see straight through Cheol-su.
"Kid, who tipped you off about this place? Was it Han-soo?" Tae-su asked with a grin. His smile radiated a palpable menace.
"No. I found out through other means."
"You're fearless, aren't you?"
"I came here first. I figured you'd keep chasing me."
"What's your name?"
"Cheol-su Kim."
"Cheol-su Kim? Never heard of you. What's your bounty?"
Cheol-su hesitated for a moment, unsure what kind of price Tae-su was referring to.
When Cheol-su didn't respond, Tae-su burst into hearty laughter.
"A kid with no bounty managed to get here… I must be losing my edge."
Tae-su crooked his finger, motioning for Cheol-su to come closer.
"Then again, if you were on the list, I'd know who you are."
"I don't know what you're talking about―"
Swish.
Suddenly, Tae-su vanished from sight. But Cheol-su's body was already reacting instinctively.
Tae-su reappeared behind him, and Cheol-su's fist flew toward Tae-su's face.
Swish. Thud.
Cheol-su expected Tae-su's head to explode, but it remained intact. Tae-su had dodged the attack perfectly.
"Not bad. Your reflexes pass," Tae-su remarked.
What the… how is he this fast?
The unexpected turn of events left Cheol-su's mind racing.
"Judging by your expression, this must be your first time facing a mutant human. Makes sense, given you don't even know what the list is."
Mutant human.
Cheol-su knew the term referred to people who gained supernatural powers through genetic modifications or mysterious phenomena.
Who wouldn't know that?
But this was his first time encountering one in real life.
"The opponents you've faced so far must have been easy, right?"
Once again, Tae-su vanished from sight, reappearing right in front of Cheol-su.
"Explosion."
Instinctively, Cheol-su dodged. As he moved, a strand of his hair grazed Tae-su's fingertips. A small explosion erupted in the air, scattering sparks.
What the…?
Cheol-su frowned slightly.
"Surprised? My ability is explosion. Anything I touch, I can make it explode."
Pointing a finger at Cheol-su, Tae-su smirked.
"Did you think I became the boss of one of Korea's top three gangs, the Black Dragon, without any abilities?"
With those words, Tae-su moved swiftly.
"Explosion!"
If he touches me, I'm toast!
Just before Tae-su's fist connected, Cheol-su twisted his body to evade the attack.
Certain he had dodged successfully, Cheol-su was stunned to find Tae-su right in front of him again. His fist struck Cheol-su squarely in the stomach.
Damn it! I let my guard down!
Cheol-su braced himself for the pain.
"Explosion!"
Boom!
As Tae-su's power activated, a deafening sound filled the air, and flames erupted. However―
[Nullification has been activated.]
A voice echoed in Cheol-su's mind, and he remained unscathed. Tae-su's face twisted in surprise.
"You… you bastard."
Tae-su glared at Cheol-su in shock.
"What kind of trick are you pulling, kid?"
It was an ability Cheol-su had acquired recently. He hadn't expected it to come in handy like this.
Tae-su's expression contorted with disbelief, his anger growing. He swung another punch, aiming directly at Cheol-su's face.
Boom!
An explosion erupted from the point of impact, but―
[Nullification has been activated.]
Once again, Cheol-su emerged unharmed. At that moment, he realized he had the perfect counter against Tae-su's ability.
Thud. Squelch.
[The soul of the deceased has been absorbed.]
[The soul of the deceased has been purified.]
[The life memories of the deceased have been stored.]
[New ability unlocked.]
[Ability Name: Explosive Touch]
[Description: The user can make any object they touch explode. The range and intensity depend on the user's skill and proficiency.]
Cheol-su had gained yet another ability.