Chapter 69

EP.69 Turning Point

Behemoth.

In the original story, the black substance is taken away by Dr. Kim Seon-woo.

This small, black, multi-layered tentacle adheres to the user's body, enhancing the area it touches.

Of course, the usefulness of Behemoth is not limited to this.

Since it can move freely according to the user's thoughts, there are many ways to use it.

For example, it can be clenched into a fist and launched like a rocket punch, and it doesn't have to be attached to the body, making its applications endless.

In the original story, Kim Seon-woo uses this to fight Stardust.

In other words, with this, even an ordinary person can fight a superhuman.

So, if I have this, I can also have a one-on-one battle with Stardust, right?

"....Aren't you going to put that down?"

"Why should I put it down?"

With a stern expression, she growled at me, and I smiled and said,

By now, Behemoth had completely enveloped my right hand.

Since my right hand is made of tentacles—

I clenched my hand into a fist once.

"Good."

Good.

I felt a surge of power in my right hand.

Especially, since these tentacles are directly connected to my brain, they move exactly as I want, which is a great advantage.

...Yeah, with this, fighting Stardust might not be so difficult, right?

She still looked at me with a stern expression.

She seemed to want to rush at me and tear this thing off, but that was impossible.

She knew that if I just teleported away, it would be over, so she just stood there.

Teleportation is great.

"Stardust. I have some advice for you. Do you know what it is? It's to never trust a villain! Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't know this. Hahahaha!"

As I said this with a smirk, her face twisted even more.

Yeah. I originally planned to stop here and say, "Now, let's have a good night~" and teleport away.

But.

*Click*. This way, it might be a bit much, right?

Since I've gained a new ability,

To give Stardust a sense of caution,

I waved my blackened right hand at her and said,

"If you really want to take it... come and try."

As I said this with a smile, she couldn't hold back any longer.

"...I'll only beat you up enough so you don't die."

*Boom*—

She flew at me from her spot.

"Brace yourself."

At the same time, she started to extend her fist towards me.

I?

I had already been ready with my fist for a long time.

However, a man doesn't fight a woman directly with his fists.

The moment she swung her fist at my nose,

I teleported back a step, readied my fist,

And launched it at her.

Aegoryu secret technique—

Rocket Punch.

*Bang*.

The black tentacle-shaped fist launched from my hand headed straight for Stardust,

And collided directly with the fist she swung.

*Boom*—

The sound of the collision.

Stardust seemed slightly surprised by the fist that could withstand her strength.

Yeah. This is the power of Behemoth.

...Of course, I can withstand her strength because I condensed all the tentacles into a small-sized fist, not because I'm physically fighting with my right arm. And Stardust probably isn't trying to kill me here, so she's also controlling her strength to some extent.

But does that matter?

What matters is that I can fight her on equal terms.

"Hey!! Fight fair!!"

"When have you ever seen a villain fight fair?"

She shouted at me as I kept dodging and launching tentacle fists from a distance, but I ignored her.

...And didn't Stardust's character just break? She should have said, "You! Fight fair!"

Hmm. She must be a bit angry. Why is she angry?

As the battle continued, I saw her face filled with anger and a sense of betrayal.

...Betrayal? Why does she feel betrayed? Betrayal by a villain is common sense. I don't understand. No matter how I think about it, she seems to have had a sheltered life.

So, I continued the fight.

Continuously teleporting and launching cowardly tentacle jabs.

No matter how big the room was, the walls were being destroyed as we kept dodging and punching each other.

...It's getting a bit repetitive.

I'm getting tired from teleporting too much. It's exhausting.

Have I ever moved my body this much in a fight? No. Actually, it feels more like Behemoth is fighting for me...

But, is this enough? Has she learned her lesson?

Seeing her still flying at me with anger, I readied my fist again.

When she extended her fist towards me, I did the same.

*Bang*.

This time, instead of attacking from a distance, I wrapped Behemoth around my right arm and took her punch directly.

My arm tingled a bit, but I could withstand it.

This will be my last attack.

Now, I need to make a quick escape. Seun will be worried.

So, with our bodies touching, our fists colliding, I delivered my final words.

"Today's lesson. Got it? Don't trust a villain..."

Yeah.

Don't trust a villain.

As I was about to give her one last piece of advice to avoid getting betrayed in the future,

It happened suddenly.

Stardust, standing right in front of me, looking like she was about to kill me.

And behind her, there was nothing.

Yeah, it was empty.

Until something suddenly appeared behind her.

It had a huge white face.

It was about 2 meters tall, with a mouth grotesquely torn open.

It had a white, sharp arm that looked like a giant scythe.

It appeared suddenly, out of nowhere.

No one expected it. It appeared in the blink of an eye.

The moment it appeared, it was already swinging its scythe-like arm towards Stardust's back.

I froze for a moment.

Stardust, unaware of what was happening, was still looking at me defenselessly.

And before I could do anything, the white scythe was already flying towards her neck.

One of the monsters we failed to kill.

*

《RKCB-1107》

[Provisional Name] Teleporter

[Precautions] Maintain A-level security as they can teleport to escape. Be cautious of attacks from behind.

*

Yeah, I think I read something like that.

But I didn't worry about it. I didn't even notice it.

I had been killing other monsters so easily.

And my complacency was now a sharp dagger aimed at Stardust.

What should I do?

It's too late to say anything. The tentacles are already clashing with her fist. My telekinesis is too weak.

Grab and teleport? I can't grab her because I'm clashing fists with Behemoth.

So, there's no choice.

I teleported.

To her back, where the monster was swinging its scythe.

And I took the hit instead.

*Thud*.

"What...! What is this!"

Her scream from behind me.

I was back-to-back with her, taking the hit for her, and I launched the fist aimed at her towards the monster.

*Crack*.

It was so easy. Its head shattered and turned into white powder.

Yeah, it was so easy to kill.

It would have been better if I hadn't been stabbed in the chest.

"Wh-What's happening! Wh-Why... Why are you..."

Her voice, stammering in shock, came from above me.

Of course, she must be shocked. The villain she was just fighting suddenly moved behind her and took the hit.

My current state is not good at all.

Lying on the ground, a hole in my chest, bleeding profusely.

Damn. What a mess.

It really hurts.

"Cough."

I coughed up blood.

Blood from my chest. Blood from my mouth. What a mess. Ha, ha...

"No... Why... Why... Damn... Why... What... What is this..."

Stardust's voice from above.

I can barely hear it now because of the ringing in my ears.

I need to get back home quickly.

If I don't, I might really die. Ah.

Wait, but before I go... I need to say something. It would be strange not to.

I mustered all my strength to say one last thing.

"Cough. This time, you owe me one."

Looking at her, still very shocked and unsure of what to do, I teleported away. Back home.

I hope I'm not too late.

Ha, ha, ha.

***

Late at night.

A large mansion hidden deep in the mountains.

In the kitchen, three people were gathered.

"Hey, when is he coming back?"

The girl with white hair, looking at her smartphone with puffed cheeks, was Han Seun.

She was worried about Da-in, who had lost contact after going underground.

"...Let's wait a bit longer. And Hayul, don't you have school tomorrow? You should go to bed soon."

Hayul shook her head with a bitter smile at Seubin's worried words.

"No, I'll wait a bit longer too."

"Sigh. This guy always makes us worry..."

As the three women's sighs deepened,

*Bang*.

A loud noise from the living room.

"Ah! He's finally back!"

Seun ran out as soon as she heard the noise,

And the other two followed her to the living room.

But as they approached, they heard Seun's scream from the living room.

"Ahhhhhhhh!!!"

"Seun! What's wrong!"

Startled by the sudden scream, the two rushed to the living room.

What they saw was

A hole in his upper body.

Bleeding profusely.

Da-in, leaning on Seun, collapsed.

"Brother, brother! What do we do. Brother!!"

Seun, in a state of panic, crying by his side.

Seeing him lying there, barely breathing and bleeding, the other two

Were also in shock and panic.

"This, this... A, a. We, we need to call, call... 911... 911..."

Seubin, in shock, trembling hands, tried to take out her phone from her pocket.

But her hands were shaking so much that the phone slipped and broke on the floor.

"No."

As Seubin, still in a daze, knelt and fumbled for the broken phone,

Hayul was already moving towards him.

"Seun, move."

"Huh? Oh, okay..."

With a determined look, Hayul's words made Seun, who was crying, crawl away from him.

Hayul knelt down and placed her hands on Da-in's body.

And then,

*Flash*.

The living room was suddenly filled with a bright light.

***

In the fading consciousness, a sudden sensation.

A warm feeling spreading through my body.

Ah.

Hayul is taking action.

Thankfully, it's not too late.

I'm alive. That's all that matters.

Ha, ha. I almost died.

Living as a man, you have to experience something like this at least once. It becomes a good memory later. "Ha, ha. That was really intense!"

...But the problem is what happens after I wake up.

Seun and Seubin, and Hayul, will all be shocked.

Stardust...

I'll think about it when I wake up.

With that thought, I lost consciousness.

Fight, future me....!