Season two, chapter seventy-six

"And the only solution
was to stand and fight"

UPON OBSERVING A subtle hint of amusement on Mr. Hwang's countenance, Thea involuntarily tightened her fists as he became cognizant of the absence of the territory's lights to aid the Counters team. Thea understood that victory would be difficult to achieve without the support of their territory, potentially resulting in significant consequences. Consequently, faced with the realization of being cornered and unable to flee, they had no choice but to prepare for combat and confront their adversary head-on.

"So I really don't see it" Mr. Hwang said with a small smile "What you call... the 'territory', that you summon" he continued with a mocking smile, trying to provoke the team "You need it so much yet you can't have it here. On the other hand, we don't need it"

"We?" Mun questioned with confusion, and almost as soon as those words left his mouth, Ma Ju-seok stepped out from behind the Counters team, at the end of the hallway just as Mr. Hwang had done a few seconds ago

They were suddenly encircled by two immensely potent evil spirits. Thea felt a tumult of emotions in her stomach, her hair bristling as she attempted to formulate a plan to overcome the pair. Yet, she found herself unable to conjure any solutions.

"So you've come all this way. You followed me here" Ma Ju-seok exclaimed confidently, acknowledging his suspicions as he saw the group in front of him

Mr. Hwang expressed dark and eager anticipation as he stated "I'm glad you're here. This will be... your gravesite"

"What do we do now? There's no territory here" Jeok-bong questioned anxiously, scanning the area where the two men were watching them with a predatory gaze, ready to pounce

"I'll take Ma Ju-seok" Mun decisively announced and began to advance towards the man without waiting for the team's response. Thea observed with concern, hesitant to abandon Mun in confronting Mr. Ma by himself and desiring to shield him from any potential danger

"We'll take Hwang Pil-gwang" Hana confidently stated, making Thea pause for a moment as she observed Mun engaged in a fight with Mr. Ma, uncertain of the path to follow

She found herself in a predicament, torn between helping her boyfriend and her other companions. The situation forced her to make a choice, with no luxury of time or resources for deliberation.

"Damn it..." Thea cursed under her breath, her face creased in frustration, as she witnessed her companions being forcefully thrown against the wall by a telekinetic attack

Thea expressed her frustration with a groan, lifting her hand and swiftly moving it to the right. This caused Mr. Hwang to be flung backwards, his back hitting the door heavily, causing it to break and him to fall into the room. He grunted in pain, a unique sparkle appearing in his eyes as he watched Thea coming towards him through the large hole in the wall.

"Show me how strong you are," Mr. Hwang teased her while removing the dust from his elegant black jacket as he got to his feet

"What?" But Thea's body unexpectedly hit the ceiling before falling to the floor

Mr. Hwang exhibited a powerful smile, causing Thea to experience a sense of intimidation, giving the impression that he had long awaited this encounter with her. Thea let out a shocked gasp as the man suddenly positioned himself on top of her, firmly holding her throat in his grasp.

"If I were to take your life and absorb your soul, I would undoubtedly gain immense strength," remarked Mr. Hwang through clenched teeth, his fingers tightening around Thea's neck as she weakly struggled to break free. "You possess great power, yet you conceal it from the world, and I am perplexed as to why," he stated, narrowing his gaze and tilting his head. "Could it be that the desire for vengeance still lingers within you, that primal urge for blood runs deep within your veins? Why do you resist? Why not align yourself with me instead?" With Thea's face turning red from lack of oxygen and her legs flailing in an attempt to push him away, Mr. Hwang's other hand eventually came to rest on the one clutching her neck. "Joining forces with me is the only means by which I will spare your life," he declared

Thea emitted a sharp cry and with a sudden closure of her eyes, a potent surge of telekinetic energy emanated from within her, propelling the man atop her to forcefully collide with the mirror in the background, resulting in him spewing blood.

Thea closed her eyes in reaction to a sudden and intense wave of pain that coursed through her body, causing both Mo-tak and Hana to collapse one after the other when she reopened them. Locking eyes with Mr. Hwang, she saw him smiling at her as he motioned for her to stand and defend herself. Acting promptly, she was on her feet in an instant with one hand poised for action, but he swiftly overpowered her by thrusting her against a wall, then another, continuing until she was ultimately left lying on the ground like a discarded item.

"Thea..." Jeok-bong quickly made his way towards Thea, his face showing clear concern as he crawled towards the girl who was in agony on the floor

"Get up"

"Thea"

Mo-tak successfully executed a kick towards Mr. Hwang with the assistance of Ms. Chu. Subsequently, the group of five individuals made another attempt to approach Mr. Hwang, only to be swiftly hurled through the air. Amidst the chaos, Thea found herself in distress on the ground, yet managed to rise to her feet while Ms. Chu was propelled towards Mo-tak, who shielded her from danger. Thea then leaped forward with intent to attack, but was abruptly intercepted in mid-air by Mr. Hwang, who forcefully slammed her against one wall, then another, before allowing her to descend once more with the same aggressive method.

Jeok-bong furiously mounted Mr. Hwang's back, only to be forcibly propelled into the ceiling before tumbling to the ground in discomfort. Mr. Hwang casually straightened his jacket as he calmly surveyed the team strewn on the floor, emitting anguish.

"I am of the opinion that your strength does not measure up to my initial estimation," remarked Mr. Hwang contemptuously as he advanced towards Thea, who lay on the ground visibly injured and coughing up blood. A malevolent grin spread across his face as he delivered an awkward kick, eliciting more blood from the girl's mouth

The man had intended to kick Thea in the stomach again, but as she prepared for the impact, his foot stopped halfway, hindered by a mysterious force. This sudden interruption captured the attention of everyone present.

"Touch her and you'll burn" Mun declared resolutely, his tone grave and his audience attentive. Even with his strained breath, his gaze remained unwaveringly on Mr. Hwang, who responded with a sly grin. At that instant, Mr. Hwang discerned Mun's weakness, thus affirming his previous suspicions

Despite the current circumstances where Mun is surrounded, he remains steadfast in his resolve to protect Thea at all costs, as he had solemnly vowed to do. No matter the transgressions she may have committed against him, his unconditional love for her compels him to shield her from any harm, unwavering in his duty.

Because he was distracted, he failed to maintain his guard against his adversary, thereby enabling his adversary to take advantage and launch a surprise attack from the rear.

"Mun!" Ms. Chu exclaimed in shock as she witnessed Mun being hurled through the air and crashing onto the ground with his face downward

"No..." Thea murmured softly as Mr. Hwang advanced towards Mun with nefarious motives. Despite repeatedly attempting to unleash a burst of telekinesis by raising her hand, Thea found herself unable to do so, causing her to cry out in despair as memories of her inability to save SuHo and others flooded her mind

"No!" Mo-tak firmly grabbed hold of Mr. Hwang, immobilizing him against the wall with a tight embrace, as Thea bravely disregarded her pain to swiftly make her way towards Mr. Ma. She slid across the floor and seized hold of his foot, just as a powerful telekinetic blast struck her in the face, momentarily disorienting her

Nevertheless, Jeok-bong acted promptly by swiftly positioning himself behind the assailant. Upon feeling Jeok-bong on his back, Mr. Ma quickly threw himself to the ground in an attempt to gain an advantage, but unwittingly aided Jeok-bong in subduing him further as Thea took control of Mr. Ma's other arm and firmly pinned it to the ground, resulting in his successful immobilization. At the same time, Mo-tak, Ms. Chu, and Hana collaborated to restrain Mr. Hwang on the ground, affording Mun the necessary time to recuperate.

The elevator doors suddenly opened again, revealing Gelly this time, who observed the scene with a smile. She then decisively grabbed Mun by the hair and neck, effortlessly applying pressure with her sharp gloves. Thea was momentarily stunned, causing her to loosen her grip on Mr. Ma, however, she promptly regained her composure.

"Whats wrong?" Gelly chuckled with a sense of amusement as everyone's attention shifted towards her "Surprised to see an unexpected guest?" With a firm grip on Mun's neck, she commanded him to stand up "Hold still" she then uttered sternly, delving into Mun's recollections "I knew it. You had it too. A moment of rebirth"

The two of them engaged in a physical confrontation, with Gelly initially gaining the upper hand over Mun, but eventually switching positions with Mun coming out on top, both grappling and restraining each other.

"I'm not powerful enough to kill you" Gelly admitted with difficulty, a hint of amusement in her voice "But how about this?" She then delivered a swift kick to Mun's face and grasped his hair forcefully, rendering him breathless and unable to flee "What if I erased the memory of your rebirth?" She snarled, closing her eyes without hesitation "What'll happen once the power you've acquired disappears?"

"No!" Thea expressed her distress as she witnessed Mun's hair reverting back to its original straight state, exclaiming "No!" She voiced her helplessness and frustration at being unable to intervene or rescue him, resigned to simply observing as events unfolded before her eyes

"Mun!" Mo-tak exclaimed with a sense of distress, his face glistening with sweat and his breath quickened. His words trailed off midway, but lingered in the air for a brief moment

"Mun!" Ms. Chu exclaimed, echoing the same inflection as Mo-tak, with her eyes widened in shock and dismay evident on her face, her voice tapering off with a sense of hopelessness

Mun tumbled to the ground after receiving a forceful blow, his eyes struggling to stay open. A single tear streamed down his cheek as he locked eyes with Thea, who was frantically trying to get his attention. Despite her desperate pleas, Mun could only hear a deafening ringing in his ears, hindering him from comprehending his girlfriend's soothing voice.

"Mun, stay with me!" Thea pleaded urgently, tears streaming down her face in torrents, a storm of feelings overwhelming her. Nevertheless, she emitted a prolonged cry of fright as Mun shut his eyes and slipped into unconsciousness. Everything appeared to be happening in a deliberate and unhurried manner

"Mun!"

"Mun!"

Gelly stood up from the ground with a contented expression, as Thea stood motionless, watching her unconscious boyfriend lying on the floor. She felt her breath quicken and tears welling up in her eyes, feeling uncertain about the next course of action.

Mr. Hwang asked sternly "What have you done!?" in a heightened tone, as Gelly responded by chuckling even more, satisfied with her accomplishments

Gelly expressed with great passion "It would've been a waste!" as she tightly clenched her hands into fists and raised them triumphantly in the air. She questioned, "How could I let you take his power?"

Mr. Hwang sequentially propelled Mo-tak, Ms. Chu, and Hana away from the scene. Thea and Jeok-bong then stood up from the ground, freeing Mr. Ma who was positioned beneath them, yet they were promptly propelled into the air once again by Mr. Hwang before they could react. Thea experienced a strong impact as she collided with the edge of the columns, resulting in a gasp of pain. Her vision became distorted and her surroundings began to spin, all while Gelly's laughter resonated in the background, gradually increasing her agitation.

Mr. Hwang lifted his hand abruptly, employing his telekinetic abilities to throttle Gelly with a lack of regret. She had deprived him of something valuable, which motivated him to enhance his own strength.

"How dare you ruin my plan?"Mr. Hwang furiously declared, his anger clouding his judgment, as he was resolute in his mission to obliterate Gelly's spirit in pursuit of power

"I've never seen you look so mad before" Gelly remarked, squirming slightly as the man's grasp around her neck grew stronger by the moment

Ms. Chu vehemently exclaimed "No!" as she swiftly struck Mr. Hwang's hand, causing him to release the white-haired woman who gasped for breath as she stumbled to the ground

"Ms. Chu!" Hana recoiled in horror and concern at the sight of Mr. Hwang forcefully seizing Ms. Chu by the neck

"He'll become even stronger if he consumes her soul" Ms. Chu labored to convey before being cut off by Mr. Hwang abruptly pushing her against the wall. Jeok-bong quickly intervened to prevent the collision with the wall, resulting in their forceful separation and subsequent collision with the wall anyways

"Thea, protect Mun!"Mo-tak cried out to the girl, who lifted her head with difficulty upon hearing her name, blood trickling from her nostrils. Despite her weakened state, she immediately stood up and unsteadily made her way towards the unconscious figure on the ground

Tears welled up in her eyes as she knelt by Mun's unconscious body, her hands trembling with emotion. Gently placing her unsteady hands on the boy's cheek, she noticed he remained still, unlike his usual response to Thea's comforting touch while he slept.

"No" Gelly emphatically stated  "You're not going anywhere. Don't you get it? We're all going to die here!" Her voice raised in volume, Thea redirected her gaze toward Gelly, firmly rising to her feet and delivering a series of punches that were skillfully avoided. Gelly retaliated by hitting her in the stomach, causing her to stumble backward. In response, Thea intercepted Gelly's fist mid-air, the sharp spikes of her gloves piercing through the palm of her hand. Thea winced in agony as she observed blood spurt from her hand, quickly saturating the floor

Even so Thea delivered a powerful punch to Gelly, causing her to fall to the ground, where she observed the woman's expression of pure rage and animosity towards her. Despite this, Thea proceeded towards Mun. However, upon seeing Mr. Hwang once again posing a danger to Gelly, she quickly intervened using telekinesis to compel him to release her immediately. She was determined not to allow him to gain any more power.

However, this action only served to further infuriate Mr. Hwang, prompting him to quickly grab Thea by the neck as well, exerting pressure in order to restrict her breathing.

"Thea!" Hana cried out in shock, putting aside her physical discomfort as she swiftly moved to save her younger sister, only to be stopped abruptly when she too was grabbed by the throat

"Thea..." Jeok-bong murmured with a gasp while observing both sisters being executed by a single individual, one hanging from each of his hands. Subsequently, Jeok-bong moved towards Mun's unconscious body, "Mun! Mun!" urgently calling out his name before endeavoring to rise with Mun in his arms. However, Mr. Ma emerged to thwart his efforts, seizing him by the throat in a fit of rage

Nevertheless, Thea stopped resisting against Mr. Hwang's grip on her neck as she started to experience dizziness and a lack of air in her lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

"I am of the firm belief that in the end, you are fated to remain in my grasp," uttered the man firmly clutching her neck, a subtle grin playing on his lips as he locked gazes with Thea, whose eyes were now filled with determination to resist succumbing to unconsciousness

Hana's apprehensive gaze fixated on Thea's countenance, noting her gradual descent into unconsciousness, which heightened her sense of urgency as she endeavored to extricate herself from Mr. Hwang's hold.

"Whats going on?" Mr. Ma asked loudly, holding onto Jeok-bong's neck tightly as he struggled to breathe "I asked you a question!"

Mo-tak and Jeok-bong were swiftly pushed to the ground. Following this, Mr. Ma advanced towards Mun's body and grabbed him by the neck, raising him up and strangling him. A tear trickled down Thea's face, revealing a mixture of pain, distress, despair, and resignation. Were their options truly limited in this dire circumstance? The absence of their crucial team member left them unsure of their next course of action.

Surprisingly, the elevator doors abruptly reopened, exposing Jangmul brandishing a firearm. Behind him stood an unknown individual dressed in a red Counter tracksuit, exhibiting a serious and resolute demeanor, prepared for a confrontation.

Jun-seo....

"Get down!" urged Mo-tak, quickly pushing Mr. Hwang away from the two sisters in order to separate him from them and guiding Hana and Thea to the floor as the sound of gunfire reverberated and bounced off the walls of the corridor

"Mun!"

"Hurry!"

"Help Mun!"

"Mun"

"Help him!"

Jeok-bong expressed with astonishment "That's a gun" as he sat immobilized on the ground, his eyes widened in shock from the sudden fear and surprise that gripped him

"Indeed it is" Jun-seo smiled faintly as he agreed, then proceeded to gently steer the man towards the elevator by placing his hands on his shoulders

"Didn't I tell you that I had the best equipment?" Jangmul muttered, unleashing chaos as he fired down each corridor with precision

"Let's go!"

"Mun!"

"Hurry!"

Meanwhile, Thea successfully lifted Mun from the ground, encountering some difficulty as they stepped into the elevator while Ms. Chu gestured approval to Jangmul after they were inside the lift. Thea observed her surroundings, looking for a specific person she had previously noticed, hoping to verify that it was not just a figment of her imagination.

Jangmul declared "Dont mess with us, you evil spirits!" The alarm was then triggered, causing water to gush from the ceiling and quickly saturate everything in its path

"Chairman Choi!"

"Chairman Choi!"

"Come here!"

"Hurry!"

After exhausting his ammunition, Jangmul stepped into the elevator with a drenched body, yet he carried himself with an air of triumph and superiority.

"Close the door!"

"Is everyone alright?" Ms. Chu questioned, as the elevator doors paused just short of closing completely before abruptly reopening. Mo-tak was being tugged by an unseen energy, prompting his companions to swiftly clutch his jacket

"No!"

"No!"

Jangmul found himself with an empty gun and facing unforeseen circumstances beyond anyone's expectations. Thea nervously bit her lower lip as she gazed at the peaceful face of her boyfriend, now unconscious and likely facing a permanent slumber, causing her distress.

Mo-tak asserted, "Let me go," causing both of the women to promptly comply with his order and release him. He then jumped into the air and delivered a powerful blow to Mr. Ma's face, resulting in him tumbling harshly to the ground

With admiration, Hana exclaimed "Sunbae!" as her eyes widened and she leaned out of the elevator

"Mo-tak!"

"This is the power of Ga Mo-tak!" claimed Mo-tak as he observed the water cascading from above, drenching his body

"Hurry up!"

Mo-tak hurried back to the elevator, his face beaming with pride as he enthusiastically exchanged high-fives with his team, who gazed at him with admiration.

"Are you okay?"

"Am I okay? No" Mo-tak crumpled onto the ground as the elevator doors shut seamlessly, without any interruptions this time

"Jun-seo!? What are you doing here!?" Hana expressed surprise and confusion upon recognizing Jun-seo's presence in the elevator, his hands crossed and a smile on his face as he leaned against the metallic wall

"Oh, I encountered him on my way here," Jangmul casually remarked. "He expressed a desire to join us, so I decided to bring him along. In my opinion, the more the merrier"

Everyone was left in awe as they gazed upon the young man they had previously been introduced to by Hana, noting his attire of a unique red tracksuit that differentiated him as a member of the Counters.

Ms. Chu inquired with uncertainty and astonishment, grappling to make sense of the unfolding circumstances, "Did you also loan out that tracksuit to him?"

Jun-seo shook his head and then bowed in front of the team "My name is Park Jun-seo and i'm a Counter" With a smile, he introduced himself, causing chills to run down the spines of the entire team

This signified that...

Thea's voice trembled as she asked, "Is that you, Jun-seo?" Her eyes welled up with tears quickly, her heart racing as she struggled to process the information that had been disclosed

"Hello, little sister"

The girl's body fell backwards, hitting the metal wall behind her, while Mun's body also fell to the ground with her.

Author's note;

I don't know what to say about this chapter, I just know that it ended up being longer than I expected, so I hope you enjoy it. Likewise, there are only a few more chapters left and the story will reach a conclusion 😭.

Question of the day: Christmas or Halloween? 🎃 🎄

I prefer Christmas because during Halloween I am not allowed to go out at all 💀 See you in the next chapter! 🩷

New character introduction: Park Jun-seo (25 years old, soon to be 26)
Face claim: Rowoon