The darkness was absolute, suffocating the street like a heavy blanket woven from night itself. For a moment, there was only the sound of panicked breathing and the scuffing of shoes on rough asphalt. Do hyun stood frozen, his eyes straining to pierce the void, but the shadows seemed to absorb all light rather than just block it. The warmth of the market was gone, replaced by a chilling draft that smelled of ozone and rotting meat. The silence was heavier than the noise had been, pressing against their eardrums with physical weight.
Cypher asked: "Can anyone see anything?"
Do hyun did not answer. He could feel the presence looming in front of them, a dense concentration of malice that made the hair on his arms stand up. The rings on his fingers began to vibrate violently, heating up against his skin until they felt like branded iron. He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the reaction, knowing that unleashing whatever was inside him would endanger his friends more than the enemy. He wanted to protect them with his own strength, not with the curse flowing in his veins.
Okasaki said: "Stay behind me. I will handle this."
Okasaki moved forward, his large frame acting as a shield for the others. He swung his heavy iron hammer, which he always carried in his bag, into the darkness. The metal whistled through the air, but it connected with nothing solid. The sound of the swing echoed away, swallowed by the oppressive silence. Okasaki frowned, gripping the handle tighter as he scanned the void, his muscles tense and ready for impact.
Okasaki asked: "Where did it go?"
A low growl emanated from above them. Do hyun looked up just as a pair of glowing red eyes ignited in the air. The creature dropped from the darkness like a stone, landing heavily on the pavement just inches from Okasaki. It was humanoid but distorted, its limbs too long and its skin resembling charred bark. It did not have a face, only a smooth surface where features should be, except for those burning red eyes that pulsed with hateful energy.
Me ri screamed: "Look out!"
The creature lashed out with a clawed hand, moving faster than the eye could follow. It struck Okasaki in the chest, sending the large man flying backward. He crashed into a metal trash bin with a deafening clang, sliding down to the ground unconscious. The impact sounded sickening, like bones snapping under pressure. Do hyun felt a surge of rage boil in his stomach, overriding his fear. He could not let his friends get hurt because of him. He had to intervene before more damage was done.
Do hyun said: "Run! Get out of here!"
Yoo han grabbed Me ri's shoulder, pulling her back toward the alley entrance. Cypher was already backing away, clutching his broken device. They hesitated, looking back at Do hyun, who stood alone between them and the monster. Do hyun knew he could not win, but he had to buy them time. He stepped forward, raising his fists in a defensive stance despite knowing his bare hands were useless against such a foe. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, refusing to yield an inch.
The creature ignored everyone else and locked its empty eyes on Do hyun.
It did not move toward the fleeing friends. It did not pursue the unconscious Okasaki. It turned its head slowly, the movement jerky and unnatural, until it faced Do hyun directly. The red eyes narrowed, studying him with an intelligence that was far too human for a beast. Do hyun felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. The rings on his hands were now burning hot, searing his skin, but he refused to let them break. He wanted to fight this as a human, not as a monster.
Do hyun asked: "What do you want?"
The creature did not answer verbally. Instead, it lunged. Do hyun tried to dodge, but his movements felt sluggish, as if the air around him had turned to water. The creature's claw slammed into his left shoulder, digging deep into the flesh. Do hyun cried out in pain, the sound tearing from his throat before he could stop it. Blood sprayed onto the pavement, dark and slick in the dim light. He stumbled back, clutching his shoulder, feeling the bone grind against itself.
He tried to punch the creature with his right hand, aiming for where a head should be. His fist connected with the hard, bark like skin, but it felt like hitting a concrete wall. The creature grabbed his wrist mid swing and squeezed. Do hyun heard a sickening crack as his radius bone snapped. He fell to his knees, gasping for air, the pain blinding white and overwhelming. He looked up through blurred vision, seeing the creature loom over him.
Yoo han shouted: "Do hyun, move!"
Do hyun tried to stand, but his legs refused to obey. Blood flowed freely from his shoulder and wrist, pooling around his knees. He felt weak, his human limitations exposed brutally against the supernatural threat. The creature leaned down, its face inches from his. The smell of decay was overpowering, making him gag. He could see strange runes etched into the creature's skin, glowing faintly purple, similar to the energy he felt within his own blood.
The creature lifted a clawed hand, preparing to strike a fatal blow to Do hyun's chest. Do hyun closed his eyes, waiting for the end, but the strike did not come. The hand hovered over his heart, trembling slightly as if resisting an invisible force. The rings on Do hyun's fingers flared with a bright silver light, pushing the creature's hand back. The monster growled in frustration, a sound like grinding metal.
Cypher asked: "What is happening to the rings?"
Do hyun did not know. He only knew that the pain was becoming unbearable. The light from the rings was not protecting him; it was feeding the creature's interest. The monster stopped trying to strike and instead leaned closer, its void like face pressing against Do hyun's bloody cheek. The heat from the creature's body was freezing cold, sapping the warmth from Do hyun's skin. The friends watched in horror from the alley, unable to intervene without getting killed themselves.
Do hyun whispered: "Just kill me... leave them alone."
The creature paused at his words. It seemed to consider the offer, tilting its head to the side. Then, it opened a slit in its face where a mouth should be. No teeth were visible, only a dark abyss that pulsed with shadow. The air around them grew still, the wind dying completely. The only sound was the dripping of Do hyun's blood hitting the asphalt. The creature's voice emerged, not from the mouth, but from everywhere at once, vibrating in their chests.
It whispered his name in a voice that sounded like grinding stone.