"This same mountain again?" In-su groaned, his voice dripping with frustration and exhaustion. He tilted his head back, squinting up at the imposing peak that seemed to scrape the heavens. The trail ahead was a winding, punishing zigzag of rocky paths and sheer inclines, each turn promising another bout of torment. It was as if the mountain itself had a personality—a cruel, sadistic one at that. He swore he could almost hear it chuckling at his misery, its jagged cliffs and uneven paths taunting him with every step.
The air was thin and biting, each breath clawing at his lungs. Sweat trickled down his temples, pooling at the nape of his neck and making his already damp clothes cling to his skin uncomfortably. Every muscle in his legs screamed in protest, and his boots, caked with mud and grit, felt like they were lined with lead.
"Why am I doing this? Who in their right mind thinks, 'Hey, you know what sounds like a great time? Climbing Mount Torture for hours on end!'" he muttered under his breath. Oh, right, he thought bitterly. It's because I didn't read the fine print on that damn job application. Monster-slaying gig, my ass. Should've gone for that desk job like Mom said.
He glanced around at the others in the group, hoping to find some shred of solidarity in their expressions, but to his dismay, they all looked annoyingly unfazed. The more experienced members of the unit climbed with an effortless grace, as if their bodies had long since adapted to this kind of punishment. Even the other recruits seemed to be faring better than he was, their determination overshadowing any signs of fatigue.
Meanwhile, In-su felt like he was dragging himself through purgatory. His thoughts raced as he trudged forward, the mountain's steep incline sapping every ounce of his energy. I'm gonna die here. They're gonna find my body halfway up this stupid trail, and the coroner will say, 'Cause of death: being a complete dumbass.'
Ahead of him, Dylo stood tall and composed on her Grav-Glide, the sleek device humming softly as it hovered just above the uneven terrain. She leaned casually on the handlebars, her posture relaxed, as if she were on a leisurely stroll instead of leading a grueling ascent. Her silvery-grey hair fluttered lightly in the breeze, adding an almost ethereal quality to her already commanding presence.
"Move your butt, rookie!" Dylo barked, her voice snapping him out of his self-pity spiral. She didn't even look back at him as she accelerated slightly, the Grav-Glide's thrusters glowing faintly.
In-su gritted his teeth and tried to quicken his pace, though his legs felt like they were made of jelly. His gaze locked onto the Grav-Glide with a mixture of envy and resentment. Seriously? She gets to float up the mountain like a damn queen while the rest of us peasants have to sweat and struggle? How is this fair?
"Miss Dylo," he called out, his voice strained from both exhaustion and irritation.
"What?" she replied sharply, finally turning her head slightly to acknowledge him. Her tone was clipped, as if she couldn't be bothered to deal with his complaints.
"Can't we, uh… also get one of those things you're riding?" he asked, gesturing weakly toward the Grav-Glide. His desperation was palpable, his pride long forgotten.
Dylo smirked, an amused glint in her eyes. "Nope," she said bluntly, not even bothering to elaborate before turning back to face the path ahead. She pressed a button on the device, and it zipped forward effortlessly, leaving In-su in a cloud of dust.
"Of course not," he muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes. "Why would she make this easy? That'd be too humane."
The next twenty minutes were pure agony. Every step felt like a Herculean effort, his legs trembling with each movement. He could feel blisters forming on his heels, and his lungs burned as if he'd been breathing fire. The trail seemed endless, each switchback revealing yet another stretch of steep, unforgiving incline.
By the time he reached the summit, he was a sweaty, panting mess. He collapsed onto his knees, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. "Ngh… haah… I finally made it," he groaned, wiping his forehead with a shaky hand.
His moment of relief was short-lived, however, as he noticed the ominous red mist swirling around the area. It hung low to the ground, thick and eerie, moving with an unnatural fluidity that sent a chill down his spine.
"What's this red mist?" he muttered, squinting at it warily. His instincts told him that whatever it was, it couldn't be good. He stumbled to his feet and joined the others, hoping someone would explain the unsettling phenomenon.
And then, without warning—
DUDUN!
A deafening sound echoed through the air, and In-su froze, his heart lurching in his chest. Slowly, he turned to see the source of the noise, and his eyes widened in sheer terror.
Lying a few meters away was an enormous, grotesque creature. Its body was covered in jagged scales that gleamed menacingly in the dim light, and its massive claws looked sharp enough to tear through steel. Though the creature was very clearly dead, its presence was still overwhelmingly terrifying. The same red mist that filled the area seemed to be emanating from its lifeless form, swirling like smoke from a dying fire.
"Holy fuck, what the hell is that?" In-su screamed internally, his hand flying to his chest as if to steady his racing heart. His entire body was on edge, every nerve screaming at him to run, but his feet refused to move.
He glanced around at the others, expecting them to share his panic, but to his dismay, they all looked unfazed. Some of them even seemed bored, casually chatting or inspecting their weapons as if this was just another day at the office.
Are these people insane? How is no one else freaking out? That thing is massive! And it's still giving off that creepy red mist—what if it's not really dead?
His thoughts spiraled into a whirlwind of panic as he struggled to maintain his composure. Okay, In-su, just act natural. Pretend you're not about to piss yourself. Maybe if you blend in, they won't notice you're a complete coward.
But deep down, he knew he was in way over his head. This was no ordinary job—it was a nightmare come to life. And as he stood there, staring at the monstrous corpse, he couldn't help but wonder if he'd made the biggest mistake of his life.
In-su took a deep breath, trying to calm himself amidst the chaos. Breathe in, In-su. Breeeeeathe. Everyone here is insane...completely off their rockers. Why was I even brought to this future or universe or whatever this is? Oh yes, stupid me thought it was a good idea to apply for a random job online without reading the fine print. Now here I am, surrounded by monster slayers and mist-spitting creatures. He glanced around nervously, trying to stay inconspicuous. No biggie, just a regular guy trying to survive in a world that makes no sense.
Dylo's voice cut through the misty air like a whip.
"ALRIGHT, VANGUARDS! THIS IS DAE! SOME OF YOU MIGHT KNOW HER AS ONE OF THE WELL-KNOWN MONSTER SLAYERS..."
Dylo continued speaking, her voice full of authority, but In-su was only half-listening. His stomach gave an audible growl, and he suddenly felt a strange sensation washing over him—his mouth began to water uncontrollably. A hunger like he had never felt before clawed its way through his body. It wasn't normal hunger. No, this was primal, animalistic, and terrifying.
He felt his eyes lock onto the Wraith, the grotesque monster snarling as it oozed mist. Its shimmering, translucent form seemed to glow with an otherworldly allure. In-su's thoughts spiraled out of control. What...why do I feel like this? That thing looks like a soggy pile of rotten fish guts, yet all I can think about is biting into it?
Then, like a whisper at the edge of his consciousness, a voice echoed in his head.
EAT...EAT...EAT.
"What the hell?" In-su muttered, wiping his mouth, but his hand came back wet with saliva. He felt his body unconsciously lurch forward a step toward the Wraith.
A sharp voice broke through his daze.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Hye-min's disgusted tone jolted him back to reality.
"Oh, nothing!" In-su stammered, forcing a nervous laugh. "I was just...uh, slightly hungry. Hehe." He awkwardly wiped his mouth again, trying to look anywhere but at the Wraith.
Hye-min rolled his eyes with an exaggerated sigh. "Freak," he muttered under his breath as he strode past In-su.
In-su felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment. Great. Now even Hye-min, the guy who glares at sunshine like it personally insulted him, thinks I'm a weirdo. Could this get any worse?
Hye-min let out a dramatic yawn as he walked to the front of the group. His eyes gleamed with a mischievous light.
"This is getting boring," Hye-min muttered to himself, smirking. "Time to spice things up."
Without warning, he removed his gloves using his teeth, his movements deliberate and almost predatory. The air around him seemed to thicken with tension.
In-su squinted. What is he doing? Is he about to throw hands with the Wraith? No gloves? That's...unsanitary.
Crack. Hye-min flexed his fingers, and with a sickening snap, his fingertips turned black as coal. The energy around him pulsed ominously, and the Wraith, which had been lying dormant, suddenly rose to its feet with a horrifying screech.
"SSSSSSRRRRKKKKKKK..."
"How...?" Dae muttered, her voice tinged with disbelief as she instinctively leapt back, gripping her arm tightly. Without hesitation, she bit into her own hand. Blood poured from the wound, but instead of dripping to the ground, it morphed into a massive, gleaming sword that pulsed with red energy.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" In-su screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice cracking halfway through.
"EVERYONE SCATTER AND USE YOUR ABILITIES!" Dylo bellowed from her perch on the grav-glide, her voice steady despite the chaos erupting around her.
The rest of the team sprang into action, unleashing their abilities in an explosive display of power. Flames roared, shadows twisted, and the air crackled with energy as the Vanguards engaged the now-rampaging Wraith.
Meanwhile, In-su was doing the only thing he was confident in—running for his life.
Nope, nope, nope. I didn't sign up for this! I didn't even read the job description properly! Why did I think "exciting opportunities" sounded fun? I don't have powers! I'm just a guy who applied for a stupid job to pay rent! And now I'm stuck in a dystopian nightmare with blood swords, finger magic, and mist monsters! I need a refund on my life!
As he zigzagged through the battlefield, narrowly dodging a stray fireball, he caught sight of Hye-min smirking. The guy looked like he was enjoying himself. Of course he's smirking. He's one of those edgy types who probably practices dramatic poses in the mirror. And here I am, the comic relief in a horror movie.
"Keep running, In-su!" he muttered to himself, panting. "You've got this! Just...don't look back. Definitely don't look back..."
Naturally, he looked back.
The Wraith's glowing eyes locked onto his. It let out a guttural roar, its jagged claws stretching toward him.
"OH, COME ON!" In-su screamed again, running faster. "Why me?! I don't even taste good! I'm all bones and regret!"