“BACK UP, RATS!” Rows upon rows of Ruined stood gathered around a lone wooden cross erected in the middle of the district.
A man hung from it.
Beside the crucified figure stood three men clad in classified military uniforms.
Two remained perfectly still with their hands clasped behind their backs, while the one at the front surveyed the crowd with a calm yet burning gaze.
His golden eyes were devoid of even the slightest trace of sympathy.
Encircling them stood thirteen patrol officers.
Batons in hand, they forced the crowd back.
“MOVE!” “MOVE IT, YOU FILTHY PESTS!” A sickening crack echoed through the district as one officer slammed his baton across a Ruined’s back with enough force to send him sprawling across the ground.
The man cried out in agony.
Instead of mercy…
He was kicked away.
“I SAID BACK UP!” Fear spread through the crowd like wildfire.
The Ruined stumbled over one another as they desperately retreated, terrified of earning another blow.
Not even the children were spared.
Fathers threw themselves between the batons and their sons.
Mothers screamed and begged.
Brothers shielded their younger siblings with their own bodies.
The only reward for their desperation…
Was another beating.
Meanwhile, I stood near the back of the crowd with Lev and Stephanie.
The color slowly drained from my face.
Not because of the brutality unfolding before me.
Not because another corpse had been put on display.
But because…
How?
How the hell did that bastard’s body end up here?
I left him inside the Iron Fortress.
So…
Who brought him here?
And more importantly…
Who had been watching us that night?
Damn it.
As the crowd continued to retreat, I nearly lost my footing.
Thankfully, Steph caught me before I hit the ground.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice trembling with concern.
I hesitated.
“…Nothing too bad.” The deafening crack of another baton striking flesh exposed that lie immediately.
Steph’s face went pale.
Without thinking, I pulled her into a gentle embrace.
“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered.
“You’re going to be fine.” Another sickening impact rang through the district.
Yeah.
Not exactly convincing.
My gaze shifted toward Lev.
For some reason, he stood unnaturally still.
His expression remained calm.
Indifferent.
It was as though the violence unfolding before him didn’t affect him in the slightest.
I was just about to call out to him when…
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
A piercing shriek erupted from the loudspeaker clutched in the commanding officer’s hand, silencing the district almost instantly.
The tall man took a single step forward.
His voice was calm.
Disciplined.
Utterly devoid of emotion.
“Attention.” “To all residents of the 242nd district of the Ruins.” “I am Major Kenith Fronaliss of the Common Defense Force.” “This morning, a member of the Common Defense Force was found brutally murdered within the boundaries of this district and seemingly hung on a wooden cross for the world to see.” He paused.
“The victim was not merely am ordinary officer.
No.” “He was Lee Entarius Barca.” “The adopted son of the distinguished sovereign house known as the Barca Clan.” A wave of silence swept through the crowd.
Even the officers standing guard remained motionless.
…
My blood ran cold.
So…
The bastard wasn’t merely acquainted with one of the Sovereign Families.
He…
Was the adopted heir of one.
And I had just gone ahead…
And killed him.
Damn it.
Damn it all to hell.
Major Kenith remained silent.
The patrol officers, however, did not.
“BACK UP!” The formation tightened as batons swung once more.
Crack.
Crack.
The sickening impacts echoed through the district as the Ruined were driven farther and farther away from the wooden cross.
I gritted my teeth.
Those sons of bitches…
Every instinct in my body screamed at me to charge in and cave their jaws clean in.
But…
I couldn’t.
Not now.
Not like this.
I was barely able to stand.
Besides…
I was the one who killed Lee.
If I suddenly attacked the officers, I’d be overwhelmed in seconds.
Worse…
The mere thought of exposing myself sent a chill down my spine.
No…
They couldn’t possibly know it was me.
There was no way anyone would believe that a crippled Ruined and his little sister had managed to kill a Superhuman.
…Right?
Still…
Who was to say they hadn’t brought some kind of high-tech device capable of identifying the killer?
If they did…
Then I needed to be ready if push came to kill.
I looked down at myself.
My body looked like a grotesquely carved painting messily wrapped in layers of bloodsoaked gauge and bandages.
…
Yeah.
There was no way in f*cking hell I’d be able to defend myself.
As a low sigh escaped my lips, Major Kenith raised the loudspeaker once again.
“Lee Entarius Barca was not merely an officer of the Common Defense Force.” “By special authorization from the House of Barca, he was elected to serve within the Common Defense Force rather than the Special Defense Force.” “The Barca Clan has not yet been informed of his death.” He allowed that sentence to settle over the district before continuing.
“When they are…” “I have little doubt they will demand the complete extermination of every Ruined within these walls.” A ripple of terror swept through the Ruined.
“If the individual responsible for Officer Lee En Barca’s death willingly identifies themselves…” “I will personally ensure this matter is resolved before it reaches them.” A wave of silence fell upon the crowd.
My gaze fell low until I stared at the ground.
…
The best outcome…
Was obvious.
I turn myself in.
Whether they executed me on the spot or dragged me away didn’t matter.
Steph would live.
The elders would make sure she left the Ruins.
She was a Superhuman now.
Surely someone from the Nexis would be willing to adopt her.
She would finally have a real family.
She…
She could finally have the life she deserved.
I smiled faintly before another thought crossed my mind.
Lifting my gaze, I began scanning the crowd in search of the Elders.
The Elders…
Where the hell were the elders?
My eyes darted through the sea of familiar faces.
Nothing.
Not Elder Nam.
Not Elder Jin.
Not Elder Mel.
Not…
Anyone.
A strange unease settled in my stomach.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
“They’re lying!” A middle-aged Ruined suddenly shouted from somewhere within the crowd.
“We couldn’t have killed a Superhuman even if all of us attacked together!” Before another word could leave his mouth…
Crack!
A patrol officer’s baton smashed into his jaw, sending him sprawling across the ground.
“YOU WILL SPEAK ONLY WHEN YOU ARE ADDRESSED!” The officer’s cold voice cut through the district.
I frowned.
Where…
Where were the Elders?
I turned toward Lev who somehow seemed to still remain indifferent.
“…Lev, do you know where…” Before I could finish…
Major Kenith spoke once more.
His voice remained calm.
Emotionless.
“You will now be given an opportunity.” “You have five minutes.” “If, by the end of those five minutes, the perpetrator has not been identified…” He paused.
“…One Ruined of the 242nd District will be executed.” Another pause.
I saw one of the two officers standing behind him lean forward and whisper something into his ear.
“And every five minutes thereafter…” “Another.” “Until the murderer has been identified…” His pause lingered longer than it should have.
Major Kenith’s gaze sharpened on the crowd as he spoke his final words.
“Or…
until all of you lay dead.” My entire body tensed.
Shit!
God…
Damn it.
Beside me, Steph’s face turned ghostly pale.
I instinctively reached for her.
Before I could…
A hand closed firmly around my arm.
I looked over to see Lev pulling me forward.
“Come on,” he said quietly.
“Let’s get some space.” Lev led us away from the crowd in complete silence.
None of us spoke.
The sirens.
The shouting.
The screams.
They slowly faded behind us until all that remained was the sound of our footsteps against the fractured pavement.
Eventually, Lev pushed open the crooked door of a small abandoned house.
The interior was empty.
Dust covered the floor.
A broken table rested against one wall, while sunlight seeped through countless cracks in the decaying structure.
Steph’s trembling fingers wrapped around my arm.
She was…
Scared.
I gently patted her head before guiding her toward the wall.
“Sit.” “…B-But…” “It’s going to be okay.” The words came out almost automatically.
Whether I believed them anymore…
I honestly wasn’t sure.
Steph slowly nodded and sat down, though her grip on my sleeve lingered for another second before finally letting go.
I turned toward Lev.
He stood by the doorway, staring outside with an unreadable expression.
“What do we do now?” I asked carefully.
“If this keeps going…” The words got stuck in my throat.
Damn it all.
“Where the hell…
are the Elders?” My gaze swept over him.
“They should’ve been the first people there.” “Elder Nam wouldn’t ignore something like this.” “Elder Jin.
Elder Mel.” “…None of them showed up.” “Where the hell are they?” Lev remained silent.
He simply stared at me.
Seconds passed.
Then, with a quiet sigh, he looked away.
“…Maybe,” he muttered.
“You should just drop it already.” I frowned.
“…Drop what?” Lev raised an eyebrow as though the answer was painfully obvious.
“The act.” He looked directly into my contrasting eyes.
“You were the one who killed him.” “…Weren’t you?” …
My heart stopped.
…
How…
How did he…
No.
No…
That wasn’t possible.
Beside me, Steph blinked in confusion.
“…Mr.Lev?” “What are you talking about?” I forced my breathing to remain steady.
“…Even if that were true,” I replied.
“It wouldn’t work.” I spread my arms.
“Look at me.” “I’m barely standing.” “They’d never believe someone like me killed a Superhuman.” Lev nodded slowly.
“You’re right.” For a brief moment…
Relief washed over me.
Then he spoke again.
“They wouldn’t.” “…Unless another Superhuman fought beside you.” His eyes drifted toward Steph.
The room froze.
“So…” “They should both surrender.” Something inside me snapped.
I took a step forward before forcing myself to stop.
No.
Not yet.
Steph moved before I could.
She planted herself between us, glaring at Lev with burning eyes.
“Stop spewing bullshit!” “If anyone killed that officer…” “It was you!” I gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Steph.” She looked back at me.
“…Calm down.” Lev stared at her for a few seconds.
Then…
He smiled.
“You know…” “You would’ve grown into quite the lovely young woman…” “…if not for that biting attitude.” His gaze shifted back to me.
“Kuon.” “What exactly have you been teaching her?” I felt my jaw tighten.
“…Why are you saying all this?” Lev merely shrugged.
“It doesn’t matter anymore.” “The elders aren’t coming.” “…Not this time.” A chill crawled down my spine.
“…How do you know that?” For the first time since we’d entered the house…
Lev smiled.
Just…
A tiny smile.
With a soft sigh, he spoke.
“F*ck it…” He chuckled.
“What is even the point in keeping secrets anymore?” “If you must know…” “It’s because their all dead.” “I killed them.
I killed them all.” …
My vision went blank.
Then…
BOOM- A deafening bang shook the entire district.