Chapter 1
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It was a perfect day for Yoo Do-hyuk.
His hard work to lose his weight had finally paid off, and he was down 30 lbs. from his original weight 6 months ago. That wasn't all, his grades for the final exams he checked after confirming his weight were the best out of all 3 years in college combined—even if it was only to Do-hyuk's standards.
"Well, I have finally seen the payoff for being more attentive in my life." He was humming as he took out his cell phone. There, he found his 3rd accomplishment that surpassed the weight loss and good grades.
"Do-hyuk! Where are you?"
Choi Jimin.
She was one of the prettiest girls from this year's freshman class. She had a petite body frame and a cute face, and everyone would think gymnast Son Yeon-Je is her look alike when they meet her for the first time. She had so many guys drooling over her, but it was Do-hyuk who snatched her heart.
"Do-Hyuk: I'm in front of the market. I'm buying veggies to cook with the meat."
Running into Jimin in front of the gym when he was about to work out was crucial. What guy wouldn't challenge himself too well when a girl they have the hots for was keeping her eyes on them?
"I wouldn't have lost weight if it wasn't for you." Do-hyuk placed his phone back into his pocket with a bitter grin.
The sight of a non-athletic guy trying his best and gradually getting better must have left an impression. Around May, Do-hyuk and Jimin were close enough to go for a coffee after a workout, and he courted her back home. In June, it was clear to see they were dating. And today, Do-hyuk talked Jimin into coming over to his bachelor pad to offer her home-cooked chop steak.
"Should I get wine? Maybe I should keep it casual with beer…"
While working his brain at the market, his eyes wandered to a sight. There was a tower.
"Oh, jeez."
Maybe it has been a little over a month. Towers appeared all over the world. It was black and shaped like a long nail placed upside down. They were all a whopping 200 meters long. These monoliths didn't grow from earth or fall from the sky and it caused the world to shake. Experts from all over world had conducted studies about these towers for a long time now, but nothing had come out of it.
A total of 2365 towers, which were thicker than a lighthouse, were standing around with no other effects.
"Humans are creatures that adapt fast."
That was exactly right. It didn't even take 3 weeks for people to get used to the towers. The religious groups and scientists were still up and arms in the media, but the regular people were just wondering about the tower with no hesitation.
Do-hyuk walked into the market. His definition of knowing how to cook a chop steak was to read the recipes online, but he has lived on his own for a few years, so he has, at least, cooked a meal or two for himself.
"First… I need potatoes, butter… do they have asparagus here?"
Including the two thick slabs of meat, a basket worth of half a week of food expenses was being carried by Do-hyuk. But, how could it compare to the worth of a fluttering heart?
Beep—
The cashier was about to hand back his cash card. "Please throw away the receipt."
And while he was packing the grocery bag...
It happened.
"…"
"Uh, excuse me?" Do-hyuk called out with dismay.
The hand of the cashier lady, who was handing back the cash card, has frozen like someone pressed a pause button. Not only that, her dilated pupils lost focus, and her mouth opened.
"Miss!"
'Is she having some cardiac issues?'
Do-hyuk raised his voice and looked around. His shock escalated right after. Everyone in the market was all frozen in place and had the same symptoms as the cashier lady. Thousands of thoughts run through Do-hyuk's head. But before he reached a conclusion,
"Gasp!"
"Haaa!"
People moved again. Everyone seemed shocked. They took a deep a breath while looking over their bodies. Their following reactions were strange.
"I… I'm alive! I'm, I'm alive!"
There were those who raised their hands in emotion, "Honey!"
"Sang-chul!"
Those with their families or significant others embraced one another and cried as if they were apart for years. However, the intense reaction was short-lived. After the brief cheers and hugging each other and crying their eyes out, they soon closed their mouth shut and stared around with vigilance in their eyes, as if they were being hostile to one another.
'Wha-what is this?'
People moved again, However, the movement differed from 'before'. Everyone put their basket down as if no one cared about grocery shopping anymore and left the market. Do-hyuk had to step back in surprise since everyone was ignoring the line at the cashier.
He was blankly staring at the people's movement.
"…" Do-hyuk met eyes with a man.
The man was still inside the market over the cash register. His eyes were wide open like a fish and fixed his gaze at Do-hyuk.
'What is it?'
Do-hyuk felt a chill ran down his spine. The man looked around and dig through the abandoned carts. He finally found a kitchen knife in one cart, and as the man ripped the package off with no hesitation, Do-hyuk subconsciously had an intuition.
Right now…
Stomp!
He felt a killing intent for the first time in his life. The man ran toward Do-hyuk. He pushed everyone in his way and jumped on the counter to run over them. The man's body and the shining blade was definitely facing Do-hyuk.
"!!!" If Do-hyuk didn't turn his body to avoid the man, the knife would have busted his head open.
The man stumbled because of the shock of the landing, but he fixed his posture and swerved the knife again. Fortunately, Do-hyuk was fast on his feet at a time like this. He kicked the man on the side and make him fall. Do-hyuk wasn't stupid enough to fight a guy with a knife with his hand alone.
"Help! He's trying to stab me with a knife!" Do-hyuk screamed on top of his lungs and looked around.
However...
"…"
"…"
Everyone gave him a short glimpse and continued to go their way. No, it wasn't exactly everyone. A few of them stopped after hearing Do-hyuk's voice. However, they weren't coming to help Do-hyuk. Instead, they stood still and stared at Do-hyuk, just like how the knife-wielding man did. Just as expected, they also looked around their surroundings. Do-hyuk knew what they were looking for.
"What the…" Hell was happening.
Everyone was holding a weapon or two. The fallen guy was getting up on his feet. Do-hyuk had no choice.
He began to run as fast as he could.
…
An empty street near the market…
"Haaa… Ha…" Do-hyuk leaned against the light pole and let out his heavy breath. His heart was about to burst from the sprint. "W-Why aren't they picking up the phone…."
He called several times while running, but 911 didn't answer the phone. 'What's happening?'
He could only assume. He had a side view of the streets while running toward here. It was not just the market—something had, in fact, happened to the whole neighborhood. Something Do-hyuk knew nothing about, and that something made people do some weird things. It especially made some of them attack Do-hyuk with weapons in their hands.
Broom—
An old car appeared on the other side of the street. Usually, it was an element that didn't cause fear.
"…" However, Do-hyuk had an ominous thought in his head, and that saved his life. The car pressed the pedal toward Do-hyuk. A crazy speed for a small street like this. For the first time in his life, Do-hyuk threw his body on the floor.
Boom!
The sound a car crashing into a light pole shook the whole street. Do-hyuk let out a sigh and stood up.
Click—
A man in his mid to late forties with a big stomach and bald head came out of the car.
"What the hell, man?"
"… I have nothing against you." He spat out such an obvious fact in such a serious tone. "But you're just weaker than me. That's all."
"What… the hell… does that mean?"
The man lunged toward Do-hyuk with no answers. Do-hyuk didn't run. His anger was bigger than fear.
"Die."
"You die, you f*cker!" Do-hyuk threw a punch to hit the man
Thump—
But it was Do-hyuk who got punched in the stomach and stumbled. The man seemed far from an athletic type, and he was even a head shorter than Do-hyuk. However, he had avoided the punch Do-hyuk threw at him and even jabbed his fist into the latter's body.
"Gasp!" Do-hyuk fell on the floor, and the man looked down on his fists for a moment before opening his car's back door. He held a golf club in his two hands.
"If I kill you, the Nature is mine. Now, I can live off the Phenomenal Nine instead of you! The world will be at my feet!"
"What… the fu… ck... are… you…" Do-hyuk used all his strength to get up and step backward, but it was hard just to stand up, and the man was walking towards him.
The man was about to swing the golf club. "Get down" A very familiar voice came over.
Do-hyuk's body reacted faster than his thoughts. As soon as Do-hyuk ducked his body, shining metal fragments flew over his body.
Remote stun gun. The so-called taser gun shell.
"Heek!"
The man was hit directly by the electrode and trembled to the floor. Do-hyuk looked back to see the owner of the taser gun.
"I saw your last text message, so I ran to the market and heard a loud commotion. I was lucky to arrive on time."
"You…" It was Jimin. "W-Where did you get that?"
"Oh, this?" Jimin collected the taser gun's electrode and answered in a calm voice.
"I jacked it from an empty police car."
"…"
"Don't worry. This won't kill him. Although he deserves it."
Maybe it was just Do-hyuk's imagination, but Jimin's voice and attitude were so different, and she seemed like a completely different person.
"Let's go to your house first."
…
In his room, alone with Jimin, Do-hyuk dreamed of this moment for a long time, but he had never imagined it would be under these circumstances.
Click—
It was only after they locked the deadbolt on the door that they started a conversation.
"Just as I expected." Jimin sighed and began to talk. "You have no recollection."
"About what?" Do-hyuk was still holding on to his throbbing stomach while asking her the question. They haven't spoken a single word while they were walking to his house.
"Recollection of memories before the reincarnation." Jimin began to explain as she watched outside through the peephole. "I'll get to the point. As of the moment, almost everyone in the world came back from the future. Even so, it would only be a memory."
"…" Do-hyuk kept quiet, not because he had nothing to say, but because he had to ponder over the meaning of her words. "That is also the reason people were trying to kill you. Luckily, not everyone recognized you since your image is drastically different from the future. Soon enough, however, they'll be swarming to kill you, Yoo Do-hyuk."
This didn't need much thought to understand. "What did I do to deserve this?!"
"That's one of the rules." She charged across the room to close the curtains, Then, she finally sat on the floor with a big sigh.
"[Every human carries a unique nature]" She continued, "New world's rule: [Each person can only carry one nature]." Do-hyuk had yet to understand the meaning of these words, but he would be able to understand soon enough. "[However, within the 'first kill', you can collect your victim's nature as your own.]"
"… So, they are trying to kill me to get whatever I have? I don't know what that is, but I don't even have anyth…"
"No, you do."
She cut him off and looked up. Do-hyuk lost his words.
"There's no need for any explanation. You'll have an awakening at midnight." Her eyes were different from the 20-year-old girl he knew. "In a few years, you will achieve greatness. You'll be one of the nine people of the world to enter the Realm of the Great Transcendence and lead all the other human beings to succeed in finally killing that asshole."
"Asshole…?" Do-hyuk was caught off guard since it was the first time to hear Jimin curse.
Although it really wasn't a question, Jimin answered him faithfully, "God."
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
It was a perfect day for Yoo Do-hyuk.
His hard work to lose his weight had finally paid off, and he was down 30 lbs. from his original weight 6 months ago. That wasn't all, his grades for the final exams he checked after confirming his weight were the best out of all 3 years in college combined—even if it was only to Do-hyuk's standards.
"Well, I have finally seen the payoff for being more attentive in my life." He was humming as he took out his cell phone. There, he found his 3rd accomplishment that surpassed the weight loss and good grades.
"Do-hyuk! Where are you?"
Choi Jimin.
She was one of the prettiest girls from this year's freshman class. She had a petite body frame and a cute face, and everyone would think gymnast Son Yeon-Je is her look alike when they meet her for the first time. She had so many guys drooling over her, but it was Do-hyuk who snatched her heart.
"Do-Hyuk: I'm in front of the market. I'm buying veggies to cook with the meat."
Running into Jimin in front of the gym when he was about to work out was crucial. What guy wouldn't challenge himself too well when a girl they have the hots for was keeping her eyes on them?
"I wouldn't have lost weight if it wasn't for you." Do-hyuk placed his phone back into his pocket with a bitter grin.
The sight of a non-athletic guy trying his best and gradually getting better must have left an impression. Around May, Do-hyuk and Jimin were close enough to go for a coffee after a workout, and he courted her back home. In June, it was clear to see they were dating. And today, Do-hyuk talked Jimin into coming over to his bachelor pad to offer her home-cooked chop steak.
"Should I get wine? Maybe I should keep it casual with beer…"
While working his brain at the market, his eyes wandered to a sight. There was a tower.
"Oh, jeez."
Maybe it has been a little over a month. Towers appeared all over the world. It was black and shaped like a long nail placed upside down. They were all a whopping 200 meters long. These monoliths didn't grow from earth or fall from the sky and it caused the world to shake. Experts from all over world had conducted studies about these towers for a long time now, but nothing had come out of it.
A total of 2365 towers, which were thicker than a lighthouse, were standing around with no other effects.
"Humans are creatures that adapt fast."
That was exactly right. It didn't even take 3 weeks for people to get used to the towers. The religious groups and scientists were still up and arms in the media, but the regular people were just wondering about the tower with no hesitation.
Do-hyuk walked into the market. His definition of knowing how to cook a chop steak was to read the recipes online, but he has lived on his own for a few years, so he has, at least, cooked a meal or two for himself.
"First… I need potatoes, butter… do they have asparagus here?"
Including the two thick slabs of meat, a basket worth of half a week of food expenses was being carried by Do-hyuk. But, how could it compare to the worth of a fluttering heart?
Beep—
The cashier was about to hand back his cash card. "Please throw away the receipt."
And while he was packing the grocery bag...
It happened.
"…"
"Uh, excuse me?" Do-hyuk called out with dismay.
The hand of the cashier lady, who was handing back the cash card, has frozen like someone pressed a pause button. Not only that, her dilated pupils lost focus, and her mouth opened.
"Miss!"
'Is she having some cardiac issues?'
Do-hyuk raised his voice and looked around. His shock escalated right after. Everyone in the market was all frozen in place and had the same symptoms as the cashier lady. Thousands of thoughts run through Do-hyuk's head. But before he reached a conclusion,
"Gasp!"
"Haaa!"
People moved again. Everyone seemed shocked. They took a deep a breath while looking over their bodies. Their following reactions were strange.
"I… I'm alive! I'm, I'm alive!"
There were those who raised their hands in emotion, "Honey!"
"Sang-chul!"
Those with their families or significant others embraced one another and cried as if they were apart for years. However, the intense reaction was short-lived. After the brief cheers and hugging each other and crying their eyes out, they soon closed their mouth shut and stared around with vigilance in their eyes, as if they were being hostile to one another.
'Wha-what is this?'
People moved again, However, the movement differed from 'before'. Everyone put their basket down as if no one cared about grocery shopping anymore and left the market. Do-hyuk had to step back in surprise since everyone was ignoring the line at the cashier.
He was blankly staring at the people's movement.
"…" Do-hyuk met eyes with a man.
The man was still inside the market over the cash register. His eyes were wide open like a fish and fixed his gaze at Do-hyuk.
'What is it?'
Do-hyuk felt a chill ran down his spine. The man looked around and dig through the abandoned carts. He finally found a kitchen knife in one cart, and as the man ripped the package off with no hesitation, Do-hyuk subconsciously had an intuition.
Right now…
Stomp!
He felt a killing intent for the first time in his life. The man ran toward Do-hyuk. He pushed everyone in his way and jumped on the counter to run over them. The man's body and the shining blade was definitely facing Do-hyuk.
"!!!" If Do-hyuk didn't turn his body to avoid the man, the knife would have busted his head open.
The man stumbled because of the shock of the landing, but he fixed his posture and swerved the knife again. Fortunately, Do-hyuk was fast on his feet at a time like this. He kicked the man on the side and make him fall. Do-hyuk wasn't stupid enough to fight a guy with a knife with his hand alone.
"Help! He's trying to stab me with a knife!" Do-hyuk screamed on top of his lungs and looked around.
However...
"…"
"…"
Everyone gave him a short glimpse and continued to go their way. No, it wasn't exactly everyone. A few of them stopped after hearing Do-hyuk's voice. However, they weren't coming to help Do-hyuk. Instead, they stood still and stared at Do-hyuk, just like how the knife-wielding man did. Just as expected, they also looked around their surroundings. Do-hyuk knew what they were looking for.
"What the…" Hell was happening.
Everyone was holding a weapon or two. The fallen guy was getting up on his feet. Do-hyuk had no choice.
He began to run as fast as he could.
…
An empty street near the market…
"Haaa… Ha…" Do-hyuk leaned against the light pole and let out his heavy breath. His heart was about to burst from the sprint. "W-Why aren't they picking up the phone…."
He called several times while running, but 911 didn't answer the phone. 'What's happening?'
He could only assume. He had a side view of the streets while running toward here. It was not just the market—something had, in fact, happened to the whole neighborhood. Something Do-hyuk knew nothing about, and that something made people do some weird things. It especially made some of them attack Do-hyuk with weapons in their hands.
Broom—
An old car appeared on the other side of the street. Usually, it was an element that didn't cause fear.
"…" However, Do-hyuk had an ominous thought in his head, and that saved his life. The car pressed the pedal toward Do-hyuk. A crazy speed for a small street like this. For the first time in his life, Do-hyuk threw his body on the floor.
Boom!
The sound a car crashing into a light pole shook the whole street. Do-hyuk let out a sigh and stood up.
Click—
A man in his mid to late forties with a big stomach and bald head came out of the car.
"What the hell, man?"
"… I have nothing against you." He spat out such an obvious fact in such a serious tone. "But you're just weaker than me. That's all."
"What… the hell… does that mean?"
The man lunged toward Do-hyuk with no answers. Do-hyuk didn't run. His anger was bigger than fear.
"Die."
"You die, you f*cker!" Do-hyuk threw a punch to hit the man
Thump—
But it was Do-hyuk who got punched in the stomach and stumbled. The man seemed far from an athletic type, and he was even a head shorter than Do-hyuk. However, he had avoided the punch Do-hyuk threw at him and even jabbed his fist into the latter's body.
"Gasp!" Do-hyuk fell on the floor, and the man looked down on his fists for a moment before opening his car's back door. He held a golf club in his two hands.
"If I kill you, the Nature is mine. Now, I can live off the Phenomenal Nine instead of you! The world will be at my feet!"
"What… the fu… ck... are… you…" Do-hyuk used all his strength to get up and step backward, but it was hard just to stand up, and the man was walking towards him.
The man was about to swing the golf club. "Get down" A very familiar voice came over.
Do-hyuk's body reacted faster than his thoughts. As soon as Do-hyuk ducked his body, shining metal fragments flew over his body.
Remote stun gun. The so-called taser gun shell.
"Heek!"
The man was hit directly by the electrode and trembled to the floor. Do-hyuk looked back to see the owner of the taser gun.
"I saw your last text message, so I ran to the market and heard a loud commotion. I was lucky to arrive on time."
"You…" It was Jimin. "W-Where did you get that?"
"Oh, this?" Jimin collected the taser gun's electrode and answered in a calm voice.
"I jacked it from an empty police car."
"…"
"Don't worry. This won't kill him. Although he deserves it."
Maybe it was just Do-hyuk's imagination, but Jimin's voice and attitude were so different, and she seemed like a completely different person.
"Let's go to your house first."
…
In his room, alone with Jimin, Do-hyuk dreamed of this moment for a long time, but he had never imagined it would be under these circumstances.
Click—
It was only after they locked the deadbolt on the door that they started a conversation.
"Just as I expected." Jimin sighed and began to talk. "You have no recollection."
"About what?" Do-hyuk was still holding on to his throbbing stomach while asking her the question. They haven't spoken a single word while they were walking to his house.
"Recollection of memories before the reincarnation." Jimin began to explain as she watched outside through the peephole. "I'll get to the point. As of the moment, almost everyone in the world came back from the future. Even so, it would only be a memory."
"…" Do-hyuk kept quiet, not because he had nothing to say, but because he had to ponder over the meaning of her words. "That is also the reason people were trying to kill you. Luckily, not everyone recognized you since your image is drastically different from the future. Soon enough, however, they'll be swarming to kill you, Yoo Do-hyuk."
This didn't need much thought to understand. "What did I do to deserve this?!"
"That's one of the rules." She charged across the room to close the curtains, Then, she finally sat on the floor with a big sigh.
"[Every human carries a unique nature]" She continued, "New world's rule: [Each person can only carry one nature]." Do-hyuk had yet to understand the meaning of these words, but he would be able to understand soon enough. "[However, within the 'first kill', you can collect your victim's nature as your own.]"
"… So, they are trying to kill me to get whatever I have? I don't know what that is, but I don't even have anyth…"
"No, you do."
She cut him off and looked up. Do-hyuk lost his words.
"There's no need for any explanation. You'll have an awakening at midnight." Her eyes were different from the 20-year-old girl he knew. "In a few years, you will achieve greatness. You'll be one of the nine people of the world to enter the Realm of the Great Transcendence and lead all the other human beings to succeed in finally killing that asshole."
"Asshole…?" Do-hyuk was caught off guard since it was the first time to hear Jimin curse.
Although it really wasn't a question, Jimin answered him faithfully, "God."
It was a perfect day for Yoo Do-hyuk. His hard work to lose his weight had finally paid off, and he was down 30 lbs. from his original weight 6 months ago. That wasn't all, his grades for the final exams he checked after confirming his weight were the best out of all 3 years in college combinedeven if it was only to Do-hyuk's standards. "Well, I have finally seen the payoff for being more attentive in my life." He was humming as he took out his cell phone. There, he found his 3rd accomplishment that surpassed the weight loss and good grades. "Do-hyuk! Where are you?" Choi Jimin. She was one of the prettiest girls from this year's freshman class. She had a petite body frame and a cute face, and everyone would think gymnast Son Yeon-Je is her look alike when they meet her for the first time. She had so many guys drooling over her, but it was Do-hyuk who snatched her heart. "Do-Hyuk: I'm in front of the market. I'm buying veggies to cook with the meat." Running into Jimin in front of the gym when he was about to work out was crucial. What guy wouldn't challenge himself too well when a girl they have the hots for was keeping her eyes on them? "I wouldn't have lost weight if it wasn't for you." Do-hyuk placed his phone back into his pocket with a bitter grin. The sight of a non-athletic guy trying his best and gradually getting better must have left an impression. Around May, Do-hyuk and Jimin were close enough to go for a coffee after a workout, and he courted her back home. In June, it was clear to see they were dating. And today, Do-hyuk talked Jimin into coming over to his bachelor pad to offer her home-cooked chop steak. "Should I get wine? Maybe I should keep it casual with beer" While working his brain at the market, his eyes wandered to a sight. There was a tower. "Oh, jeez." Maybe it has been a little over a month. Towers appeared all over the world. It was black and shaped like a long nail placed upside down. They were all a whopping 200 meters long. These monoliths didn't grow from earth or fall from the sky and it caused the world to shake. Experts from all over world had conducted studies about these towers for a long time now, but nothing had come out of it. A total of 2365 towers, which were thicker than a lighthouse, were standing around with no other effects. "Humans are creatures that adapt fast." That was exactly right. It didn't even take 3 weeks for people to get used to the towers. The religious groups and scientists were still up and arms in the media, but the regular people were just wondering about the tower with no hesitation. Do-hyuk walked into the market. His definition of knowing how to cook a chop steak was to read the recipes online, but he has lived on his own for a few years, so he has, at least, cooked a meal or two for himself. "First I need potatoes, butter do they have asparagus here?" Including the two thick slabs of meat, a basket worth of half a week of food expenses was being carried by Do-hyuk. But, how could it compare to the worth of a fluttering heart? Beep The cashier was about to hand back his cash card. "Please throw away the receipt." And while he was packing the grocery bag... It happened. "" "Uh, excuse me?" Do-hyuk called out with dismay. The hand of the cashier lady, who was handing back the cash card, has frozen like someone pressed a pause button. Not only that, her dilated pupils lost focus, and her mouth opened. "Miss!" 'Is she having some cardiac issues?' Do-hyuk raised his voice and looked around. His shock escalated right after. Everyone in the market was all frozen in place and had the same symptoms as the cashier lady. Thousands of thoughts run through Do-hyuk's head. But before he reached a conclusion, "Gasp!" "Haaa!" People moved again. Everyone seemed shocked. They took a deep a breath while looking over their bodies. Their following reactions were strange. "I I'm alive! I'm, I'm alive!" There were those who raised their hands in emotion, "Honey!" "Sang-chul!" Those with their families or significant others embraced one another and cried as if they were apart for years. However, the intense reaction was short-lived. After the brief cheers and hugging each other and crying their eyes out, they soon closed their mouth shut and stared around with vigilance in their eyes, as if they were being hostile to one another. 'Wha-what is this?' People moved again, However, the movement differed from 'before'. Everyone put their basket down as if no one cared about grocery shopping anymore and left the market. Do-hyuk had to step back in surprise since everyone was ignoring the line at the cashier. He was blankly staring at the people's movement. "" Do-hyuk met eyes with a man. The man was still inside the market over the cash register. His eyes were wide open like a fish and fixed his gaze at Do-hyuk. 'What is it?' Do-hyuk felt a chill ran down his spine. The man looked around and dig through the abandoned carts. He finally found a kitchen knife in one cart, and as the man ripped the package off with no hesitation, Do-hyuk subconsciously had an intuition. Right now Stomp! He felt a killing intent for the first time in his life. The man ran toward Do-hyuk. He pushed everyone in his way and jumped on the counter to run over them. The man's body and the shining blade was definitely facing Do-hyuk. "!!!" If Do-hyuk didn't turn his body to avoid the man, the knife would have busted his head open. The man stumbled because of the shock of the landing, but he fixed his posture and swerved the knife again. Fortunately, Do-hyuk was fast on his feet at a time like this. He kicked the man on the side and make him fall. Do-hyuk wasn't stupid enough to fight a guy with a knife with his hand alone. "Help! He's trying to stab me with a knife!" Do-hyuk screamed on top of his lungs and looked around. However... "" "" Everyone gave him a short glimpse and continued to go their way. No, it wasn't exactly everyone. A few of them stopped after hearing Do-hyuk's voice. However, they weren't coming to help Do-hyuk. Instead, they stood still and stared at Do-hyuk, just like how the knife-wielding man did. Just as expected, they also looked around their surroundings. Do-hyuk knew what they were looking for. "What the" Hell was happening. Everyone was holding a weapon or two. The fallen guy was getting up on his feet. Do-hyuk had no choice. He began to run as fast as he could. An empty street near the market "Haaa Ha" Do-hyuk leaned against the light pole and let out his heavy breath. His heart was about to burst from the sprint. "W-Why aren't they picking up the phone." He called several times while running, but 911 didn't answer the phone. 'What's happening?' He could only assume. He had a side view of the streets while running toward here. It was not just the marketsomething had, in fact, happened to the whole neighborhood. Something Do-hyuk knew nothing about, and that something made people do some weird things. It especially made some of them attack Do-hyuk with weapons in their hands. Broom An old car appeared on the other side of the street. Usually, it was an element that didn't cause fear. "" However, Do-hyuk had an ominous thought in his head, and that saved his life. The car pressed the pedal toward Do-hyuk. A crazy speed for a small street like this. For the first time in his life, Do-hyuk threw his body on the floor. Boom! The sound a car crashing into a light pole shook the whole street. Do-hyuk let out a sigh and stood up. Click A man in his mid to late forties with a big stomach and bald head came out of the car. "What the hell, man?" " I have nothing against you." He spat out such an obvious fact in such a serious tone. "But you're just weaker than me. That's all." "What the hell does that mean?" The man lunged toward Do-hyuk with no answers. Do-hyuk didn't run. His anger was bigger than fear. "Die." "You die, you f*cker!" Do-hyuk threw a punch to hit the man Thump But it was Do-hyuk who got punched in the stomach and stumbled. The man seemed far from an athletic type, and he was even a head shorter than Do-hyuk. However, he had avoided the punch Do-hyuk threw at him and even jabbed his fist into the latter's body. "Gasp!" Do-hyuk fell on the floor, and the man looked down on his fists for a moment before opening his car's back door. He held a golf club in his two hands. "If I kill you, the Nature is mine. Now, I can live off the Phenomenal Nine instead of you! The world will be at my feet!" "What the fu ck... are you" Do-hyuk used all his strength to get up and step backward, but it was hard just to stand up, and the man was walking towards him. The man was about to swing the golf club. "Get down" A very familiar voice came over. Do-hyuk's body reacted faster than his thoughts. As soon as Do-hyuk ducked his body, shining metal fragments flew over his body. Remote stun gun. The so-called taser gun shell. "Heek!" The man was hit directly by the electrode and trembled to the floor. Do-hyuk looked back to see the owner of the taser gun. "I saw your last text message, so I ran to the market and heard a loud commotion. I was lucky to arrive on time." "You" It was Jimin. "W-Where did you get that?" "Oh, this?" Jimin collected the taser gun's electrode and answered in a calm voice. "I jacked it from an empty police car." "" "Don't worry. This won't kill him. Although he deserves it." Maybe it was just Do-hyuk's imagination, but Jimin's voice and attitude were so different, and she seemed like a completely different person. "Let's go to your house first." In his room, alone with Jimin, Do-hyuk dreamed of this moment for a long time, but he had never imagined it would be under these circumstances. Click It was only after they locked the deadbolt on the door that they started a conversation. "Just as I expected." Jimin sighed and began to talk. "You have no recollection." "About what?" Do-hyuk was still holding on to his throbbing stomach while asking her the question. They haven't spoken a single word while they were walking to his house. "Recollection of memories before the reincarnation." Jimin began to explain as she watched outside through the peephole. "I'll get to the point. As of the moment, almost everyone in the world came back from the future. Even so, it would only be a memory." "" Do-hyuk kept quiet, not because he had nothing to say, but because he had to ponder over the meaning of her words. "That is also the reason people were trying to kill you. Luckily, not everyone recognized you since your image is drastically different from the future. Soon enough, however, they'll be swarming to kill you, Yoo Do-hyuk." This didn't need much thought to understand. "What did I do to deserve this?!" "That's one of the rules." She charged across the room to close the curtains, Then, she finally sat on the floor with a big sigh. "Every human carries a unique nature" She continued, "New world's rule: Each person can only carry one nature." Do-hyuk had yet to understand the meaning of these words, but he would be able to understand soon enough. "However, within the 'first kill', you can collect your victim's nature as your own." " So, they are trying to kill me to get whatever I have? I don't know what that is, but I don't even have anyth" "No, you do." She cut him off and looked up. Do-hyuk lost his words. "There's no need for any explanation. You'll have an awakening at midnight." Her eyes were different from the 20-year-old girl he knew. "In a few years, you will achieve greatness. You'll be one of the nine people of the world to enter the Realm of the Great Transcendence and lead all the other human beings to succeed in finally killing that asshole." "Asshole?" Do-hyuk was caught off guard since it was the first time to hear Jimin curse. Although it really wasn't a question, Jimin answered him faithfully, "God."
