Chapter 21

The world seemed to stop for several minutes. All that remained was waiting.

Only the occasional mutter from Gyeonseok proved that time was still moving. A draft climbing the stairwell brushed against the back of Beomjin’s ear.

Flinch.

The stiff fingers of Horyeon, lying beside the operating table, twitched.

Twitch.

Another finger, then her hand, then her whole arm began to tremble. Before Beomjin could even call her name, Gyeonseok was already on his feet.

“Horyeon!!”

Her eyes stirred at the sound of his choked voice.

“Oppa….”

Gyeonseok gathered the limp Horyeon into his arms. He stroked her face, squeezed her hands, shared his breath with hers, and wept openly. Murmuring “thank god” over and over, he looked happier than anyone alive.

Only then did Beomjin breathe easy. But he didn’t stop moving.

“We need to get out of here.”

He pulled a gown off the nearby hanger and draped it over Horyeon.

“She needs time.”

Gyeonseok was still preoccupied with massaging Horyeon’s unresponsive legs.

But Beomjin grew restless. The memory of Guho’s smirking face made his heart pound faster.

“This place is dangerous. Even if she rests, it should be somewhere safe—”

“Just wait!!”

At Beomjin’s repeated urging, Gyeonseok finally snapped. His reaction was understandable, but the relentless dread pressing down on Beomjin left no room for patience.

“I said we have to go now!”

Beomjin forced Horyeon to her feet. Half-conscious, she stumbled and collapsed more than once.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

Gyeonseok shoved him away.

“Don’t touch her! Touch her again and I’ll kill you too.”

On edge to the breaking point, Gyeonseok bared his teeth. Beomjin, however, held onto his calm.

“If you stop me now, you and your girlfriend both die. Reinforcements are already on their way here.”

Almost on cue, a thunder of footsteps echoed. Not just one person—multiple. They charged through the lab without slowing.

Beomjin and Gyeonseok braced themselves, but the ones who burst in were Jinyoung and Uwan.

“How did you find this place…?”

Before Beomjin could finish, Uwan answered.

“We went to recover the aegidol after your call, but the place was already on fire. Then, all of a sudden, your car signal vanished.”

“Signal? You bugged my car?!”

Ah, crap. Uwan averted his eyes and stammered.

“You’re always doing reckless things, running off on your own, so of course I worried… Anyway! What about her?”

Dodging the point, Uwan’s gaze fixed on Horyeon and Gyeonseok. With Jinyoung’s and Gyeonseok’s support, Horyeon slowly rose to her feet.

“There’s a car outside. Let’s get her to a clinic first.”

“I’ll be in your care.”

At Jinyoung’s steady suggestion, Gyeonseok finally calmed down. Carrying Horyeon on his back, he followed behind Beomjin, Uwan, and Jinyoung out of the lab. They passed the stairwell and emerged at the building’s front entrance. Just as Jinyoung said, several cars waited outside.

But there were far too many.

The car doors swung open, and people—Beast-Blooded among them—poured out.

“You brought all these people?”

“No. What’s going on…?”

Even Jinyoung faltered, hesitating in confusion. From the crowd stepped a middle-aged man Beomjin recognized immediately.

The man who had always stood at Dragon’s side, who in the final war had taken Jinyoung’s life.

Park Mugwon, a Bear.

A man far more brutal and curt than Jinyoung. Beomjin had only encountered him three times, but the memory was unforgettable. Death always followed where he stood.

Outwardly, he didn’t look threatening at all.

The face of a kindly gentleman, crow’s-feet etched by age. Hair nearly white. Sportswear like something you’d wear climbing the neighborhood hill at dawn. And always in his grip—a bright red hiking cane.

This time was no different. Mugwon twirled his cane as he appeared before Beomjin.

“What’s this? Who are you?”

His voice was guileless, almost naive. Leaning on his cane, he peered curiously at Beomjin’s frozen group at the entrance.

Beomjin, who had once believed himself fearless, had to hide his trembling hands. Just the sight of that cane, just the scent rolling off Mugwon, made his heart race with dread.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Jinyoung noticed the cold sweat on Beomjin’s face.

“He’s dangerous.”

Beomjin’s reply was barely a whisper.

“I asked who you are. Are you deaf?”

Mugwon tapped his cane as he came closer. Beomjin instinctively backed away, urging the others to do the same. The horrific memory of Jinyoung’s death at this man’s hands burned before his eyes. The cane pointed toward Horyeon.

“That one over there looks like ours. Leave her and go.”

The audacity left everyone stunned.

“What did you just say? Ours? You crazy bastard—”

Gyeonseok flared up, but Uwan jumped in.

“My apologies. We just happened to—”

Wham!!

Uwan was sent flying mid-sentence. Mugwon’s cane dripped blood where it had struck. The imprint burned across Uwan’s cheek.

“You interrupt when I’m speaking?”

His tone carried no emotion. He simply turned the cane back toward Horyeon.

“Put her down.”

“You son of a bitch!!”

Jinyoung roared and charged. Mugwon swung his cane to meet her. But Jinyoung was ready—she caught the weapon in both hands.

“Ugh!”

Contrary to Jinyoung’s expectations, the cane was as heavy as if it were made of lead. The weight and shock staggered her, but Beomjin shoved her aside and stepped in, slamming a kick straight into Mugwon.

“Run!!”

Beomjin roared. Jinyoung and Gyeonseok froze for a beat, hesitant, until he shouted again.

“What are you doing?! Get out of here, now!”

Finally, they moved. Jinyoung rushed to Uwan, while Gyeonseok sprinted with Horyeon on his back. They had no destination—escape itself was all that mattered.

“Heh. What’s this? Have you all lost your minds?”

Mugwon was already back on his feet, laughing hollowly.

Thump!

His cane struck the ground as he squared off with Beomjin, eyes narrowing.

“You think you can handle me alone?”

I can. I have to. Beomjin clenched his fists.

“You clueless little kitten. Do you even know who I am?”

Of course he did.

Instead of answering, Beomjin raised his guard. He steadied his breathing, drawing strength from his toes upward. A few light steps of footwork. His body was near perfect condition.

“So you’ve trained a little. Big deal. Strutting like a fool, you’ll die here.”

The cane jabbed forward. Beomjin slipped in half a beat faster. He swept the cane aside with his left arm and drove his right fist into Mugwon’s ribs. The punch landed square.

Mugwon’s face twisted. Beomjin pressed the assault, darting fully into his guard and snapping his head upward. A headbutt—illegal in boxing, but perfect here. The impact rocked Mugwon’s jaw skyward, and Beomjin’s waiting fist crashed in.

Crack!

Bone thudded against his knuckles. Mugwon staggered back, nearly falling, catching himself with the cane.

Beomjin glanced at the others. They hadn’t escaped the yard yet. Gyeonseok, burdened with Horyeon and the barely-conscious Uwan, was struggling. Jinyoung fought desperately to clear a path.

Beomjin kicked for Mugwon’s face. The cane clattered down, bouncing with sharp rhythm.

He had to choose: finish Mugwon here, or go help his comrades escape?

Too much to protect.

Beomjin bolted toward the yard. He tore a Beast-Blooded attacker off Gyeonseok, smashing his face, breaking his arm, and hurling him aside.

“The car?!”

“Over there!”

Beomjin shoved Gyeonseok in that direction, then turned to help Jinyoung cut through the stragglers.

“Go! Just focus on escaping!”

“What about you?”

“I’ll cover. Start the engine!”

At Beomjin’s command, Jinyoung obeyed without protest, sprinting to the car.

And Uwan? He was slumped against a nearby vehicle, groaning.

“Are you alright?”

Supported, he managed to stand.

“What the hell was that old Bear…? My head’s still ringing. My jaw’s shaking.”

“I don’t know. He’s just… a monster.”

“You’re one to talk.”

Uwan grinned faintly and clapped Beomjin’s shoulder.

“The fox girl, and that guy…”

“I’ll explain later.”

“…She’s a gumiho, isn’t she?”

The widening eyes, the halting steps—Beomjin didn’t need to answer.

“Never underestimate an old man’s experience.”

Honk! Honk honk!

Jinyoung leaned on the horn like mad.

“Can you run? We need to hurry.”

“I can.”

Uwan dragged his injured leg faster.

“Both of you, move! Now!!”

Jinyoung shouted from the car window.

Behind!!

The scream tore the air. They spun around. The monster charged, cane abandoned, racing on all fours.

His hands, his arms, his face—all turned beastlike. Mugwon had become a Bear.

Hands twice their size, arms thick with black fur, a face warped into savage fury. Coarse hair poked from his ripped shirt, claws ripped through his shoes and raked the ground.

Half-man, half-beast, Mugwon barreled like a tank. Beomjin shoved Uwan aside just as the Bear loomed right in front of him.

“What the hell….?”

The paw that swung was bigger than a gloved fist.

A direct hit would kill him. Fear crushed his chest, making him shrink.

Dodging or not, death was certain. In those wild animal eyes—only madness.

Whoosh!!

Fear, not instinct, drove Beomjin’s body. The wind pressure from the missed strike stung his nose.

Can I even beat this?

Where should I strike?

Boom!

Mugwon turned, slamming with his shoulder. Air burst from Beomjin’s lungs. The stench of beast pressed in, suffocating. He hammered at Mugwon’s stomach again, but it was pointless. No impact. No effect.

Cold dread crawled his spine. Death stared back.

He had faced this once before.

Yes—against Dragon. He had sworn never again.

Mugwon rose, shadow engulfing Beomjin. The frail old man was gone—replaced by a towering predator.

“Baek Beomjin!!”

Jinyoung’s shout jolted his frozen legs. He spun and sprinted toward her. She whipped the car around, ready to gun it the moment he jumped in—or even just clung to the door.

If it was a race, he could win. He pushed off the ground. Uwan leaned out the passenger seat, lips moving.

Why? Beomjin glanced back—and saw Mugwon launched like a catapulted boulder. Too fast to dodge. He was crushed beneath him.

Mugwon ignored Beomjin and lunged for the car. Jinyoung floored the pedal, but Mugwon’s hand smashed the trunk, claws clamping the bumper. Tires screeched uselessly. His beast hand reached for the rear window.

Beomjin tackled him from the side, sending them both tumbling.

They rolled together until Mugwon grabbed his ankle and flung him. He slammed into a car, crumpling to the ground.

Mugwon charged after the car again. Uwan blocked his path.

“Senior! What are you doing?!”

“Go! You idiot! The girl is what matters!”

“Then let me—!”

“Seo Jinyoung!!”

At Uwan’s shout, Jinyoung bit her lip hard.

“I’ll come back! Please wait for me!”

Tears streamed as she sped the car out of the yard.

Uwan stood his ground. He twisted aside like a bullfighter as Mugwon rushed. But Mugwon was faster, more feral.

Thud!!

Beomjin clutched his bleeding head as he staggered up. His mouth was torn inside, pain buzzing dull and heavy. Just seconds, but he had blacked out.

The world rushed back in a wave of dizziness.

…What happened? Horyeon? Mugwon?

Then he saw. Uwan, limp in Mugwon’s grasp. His arms dangling, his neck grotesquely bent. A marionette with its strings cut.

Mugwon dragged him like trash toward Beomjin. Their eyes met. Uwan’s gaze was empty, hollow.

A joke, right? Just a prank again?

No. This time, he wouldn’t get back up. Beomjin froze. He had sworn never to see death again.

“You bastard!!”

Despair, fury, grief—everything blurred into tears. Blood surged, his heart thrashed. His breath came ragged, like his veins might burst.

His vision trembled white.

Beomjin hurled himself at Mugwon. His hands swelled, nails thickened into claws.

And then, his consciousness blacked out.