Chapter Text
Going for a supply run after midnight in Korea was like a death sentence to all human beings. You either come back traumatized, or you don’t come back at all.
Kang Dae-ho, a man hungry for ramen, has decided to risk those odds. And to make matters worse, he’s new in town. It didn’t take him long to realize that navigating through an unfamiliar town at night can be difficult.
He’s a man who thinks with his heart, not his brain. And also his stomach, because he’s hungry as fuck.
"Damn it... I can't find the store anywhere!" he mutters under his breath, frustration creeping into his voice. It was like every building had their lights off, hiding behind the darkness in order to blend in with the rest. Christ, was the store even open?? According to Google Maps, it SHOULD be. This is what he gets for listening to Siri and not an actual person.
He let out another frustrated sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose in mild annoyance. He had no choice but to keep going. There’s probably a reason why the store was so close on the map, he figured.
He began to walk again, keeping his guard up and eyes wide.
“I could be in bed right now, nestled under my warm sheets with my cat… but nooooo… I just HAD to go out and get a midnight snack for myself…”
The streets were eerily quiet, the only sounds being the soft crunches of his footsteps and the occasional passing car. He tried to remain calm, but the uneasiness was slowly eating at him.
He began to feel like he was being watched, a shiver running down his spine once more. Dae-ho began to scan his surroundings, searching for any signs of movement. But he couldn’t find a single sign of life, apart from the leaves on trees rustling nearby.
The silence was beginning to be unbearable. Dae-ho was starting to believe he was just paranoid; his eyes darted anxiously from left to right as he began to pick up his pace, trying to get to the damn store as fast as he could.
Every second that passed only fed the growing anxiety that was bubbling inside of him. Dae-ho's heart rate increased as the feeling of being watched grew stronger by the second.
Eventually, his ears began to pick up the sound of faint thumping, which he thought was just his heartbeat at first. But the rhythm was going too fast, and as he continued to walk forward he started to notice colorful patterns coming from an alleyway on his right.
A party..? More like an opportunity to ask for directions!
"Oh man, thank god--!"
He quickened his pace, his heart beating erratically as his body felt like ice. This just had to be a party—it HAD to be some teens getting drunk together and playing games. But his logic was telling him something else and as he approached the alleyway, he began to hear the faint sound of voices coming from behind the corner…
“Your opponent looks like weak sauce, bro. He came all the way from the 6th ward to face you!”
Then, a small fit of laughter came from whoever the guy was talking to.
"Yeah, yeah, I heard." said one of the guys with a slight hint of irritation in his voice.
Dae-ho couldn't see much as he stood at the corner of the alleyway, trying his best to remain unseen. He kept himself out of sight, staying as silent as possible while he listened in.
“Thanos, he looks out of his depth. Is this even worth it, dude?” The other man gave a scoff.
“Shut it, Nam-su.”
“It’s ‘Nam-gyu’, man.” The other male mumbled.
The men went quiet for a moment while Dae-ho continued to stay hidden, his heart hammering in his chest. He took a shuddering breath and leaned against the wall, trying to collect himself.
He was trying to remain calm, but with every passing moment, his anxiety was increasing by the second. He tried to tell himself he was being ridiculous, that nothing was wrong—he was just being stupid. But deep down he knew something was wrong.
He waited a few more seconds before slowly peaking around the corner to try and get a better look.
Standing at the end of the alleyway were two men, both of them facing each other. One of the men was slightly above average height, but his body was slender and had a smaller build compared to the other one. He had dark messy locks of hair falling in his face.
The other man looked slightly more threatening than the one on his left. He had a slim frame and a tall stature, but what really caught Dae-ho's eye was his facial features. The guy was attractive… but dangerous. The biggest thing that stood out was his purple hair, which looked freshly styled to stick up.
The guy on the right spoke out once again. He began to speak again, breaking Dae-ho from his trance.
"The newbie, huh?" he said in a mocking tone. "He looks like he's one bite away from vomiting blood."
"You sound quite confident, Thanos." the other man, possibly Nam-gyu, piped up. "Don't start getting your panties in a twist."
"Wanna bet how long he’ll last on stage?” The purple haired male snickered, shoving one hand in his pocket while the other fiddled with his cross necklace.
There was clearly some intense history here. But who were these guys and what were they talking about? He felt like an intruder on something he shouldn't be a part of and as much as he didn't wanna leave, he felt the need to keep away for a bit longer.
The first guy, presumably Nam-gyu, kept a calm and relaxed expression on his face. He stood with a slight smirk on his lips, clearly keeping his cool as he stood tall against the other man. “No, I don’t wanna bet shit. I know you’ll win, because I have high hopes for you.”
The man on the right, Thanos, rolled his eyes and let out a scoff. He started tapping his foot impatiently on the floor. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Can we get going now? Or are you too busy admiring my skills, huh?" he said.
Nam-gyu let out a chuckle and shook his head, giving his friend a playful shove.
"Shut it, prick."
Thanos groaned, letting out a huff under his breath. “I swear, I'm gonna knock half your teeth out one of these days." he mumbled, narrowing his eyes at the other male.
Meanwhile, Dae-ho could only wonder what these two were up to. He felt like an audience member for a drama he didn't ask for, watching as the two young men headed down the alleyway and straight toward the music and flashing lights.
He had to bite the inside of his cheek to stifle the urge to gasp, but it was too late.
He could practically hear the heart beating rapidly in his chest, the blood rushing in his ears making everything sound distant and muffled. His heart began pounding like it was going to burst right out of his chest. He was suddenly aware of the rapid rise and fall in his breathing.
Panic gripped Dae-ho's stomach.
"…What's going on..?" he muttered to himself, as he continued to stay hidden behind the wall. This wasn’t going to be a normal everyday party, was it? Not if there’s going to be fights involved…
He felt like an idiot for getting so scared over some random dudes he never met before, but he couldn't find himself to calm down in the moment. He could still hear the faint voices at the party coming from around the corner, but the thumping in his ears was getting harder to ignore each passing second.
A sudden sound of footsteps from the front of the alleyway snapped Dae-ho back to reality, causing him to freeze in his spot.
“Hey. Are you going in there or what?” A woman behind him spoke, sounding gruff and annoyed. “You’re blocking the way.”
"Oh-! H-Huh?!" The sudden sound made Dae-ho jump in his spot. His mind scrambled to think of a response in a panic, his hands covering his face momentarily to hide the look of terror on his face.
"I...uhhh…" he mumbled to himself, racking his brain for an excuse, before finally managing to pull his face away and look at the woman standing in front of him.
"The... brawl..?" Dae-ho repeated her words, a look of confusion on his face. "Wait, w-what do you.. You mean, like a real, actual fight?"
Dae-ho couldn't understand. This woman spoke of a brawl like it was a regular, every day occurrence. The realization sent chills down his spine. The thought of people fighting to the death was enough for Dae-ho's heart to skip a few beats.
"Who.. who's even fighting..?" he managed to stutter.
The woman stops in her tracks and turns her head, staring at him like he’s just grown a third eye. “…Oh god, are you new here or something?” She rolled her eyes at him and sighed, that tough gaze of hers dropping momentarily.
“I’ll dumb it down for you. Every Friday night, a bunch of people gather around to watch a bunch of idiots try and fight each other. Whoever wins is crowned champion. But this guy, Choi Su-bong… he calls himself Thanos, and he absolutely sweeps the floor with anyone who challenges him. Nobody has beaten him yet, and it’s doubtful that anyone ever will.” She cocks her head, looking him up and down suspiciously. “…You don’t got any ulterior motives here, do you?”
"Ulterior motives..?" Dae-ho said, a look of offense written all over his face. "No, of course not. Why would you even ask that?"
Dae-ho tried his best to keep up an innocent facade, but it was getting hard for him to keep up the act when he was being stared down so intensely. This woman had the look of a bloodhound who could smell his lies from a mile away.
"I just wanted t-to get a drink, and maybe some…uuh…" he fumbled. "Some ramen, too."
The lady stilled, blinking once… and then twice. “…A drink and maybe some ramen.” She repeated, looking him dead in the eye.
“…Do yourself a favor and turn around. Leave, go back to… wherever you came from. This place ain’t for you, trust me.” Her voice grew lower as she approached, shoving a finger against his chest. “You don’t want to be here.”
"Wait, wait, wait, wait!" Dae-ho desperately protested, holding up a hand to try and stop the woman before she shoved him back.
"I swear, I just want a drink! I mean it! It's not like I'm here to start anything!" He protested, his heart rate rapidly rising as his panic began to set in. “You've got to believe me, I just… I'm thirsty! That's all!"
The woman chuckled dryly before shaking her head at the ground. “You aren’t gonna find any drinks here, pal. Whatever you’re looking for isn’t here, believe me.”
"No, no, I-" Dae-ho began in protest, before cutting himself off mid-sentence. He began to sweat again. He was out of his comfort zone; the city life was all too much to handle. How was he suppose to just give up and leave after walking through a sketchy, dimly lit alley in the middle of the night alone?
"Wait, what do you mean by that..?" he questioned, his voice slightly wavering.
She gave him another skeptical look, leering her eyes before taking a small step back and shoving her hands into the pockets of her black leather jacket. “There’s nothing here that someone like you can handle, let alone stomach down. How did you even find this place, anyway?”
"I… I was just…" Dae-ho trailed off for a moment, thinking of a feasible excuse to explain how he stumbled into the place. It was only for a few seconds before he gave up and sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I wanted a midnight snack!" he answered. "I have… a huge appetite at night. And I saw directions to a store from my phone, y'know, the one with the ramen sign!" Dae-ho paused for a few moments, his expression slowly becoming more and more embarrassed.
The woman goes to pinch the bridge of her nose. “The one downtown? That’s a few blocks from here, but it’s definitely not open at this hour.”
"That's the one!" Dae-ho confirmed, his voice a little more high pitched than usual from embarrassment. He sheepishly looked away from the woman, scratching the side of his face. “Now that I think about it… it's kind of weird there would be a store open at midnight…"
The woman bit at her upper lip and suppressed the urge to roll her eyes again, instead looking away. “Look, whoever you are, can you just go home? I don’t have time to babysit.”
"I can't just go home!" Dae-ho protested, his frustration growing. "It's too late already, I can't just go all the way across the city this time of night! There's no way I'll make it back in one piece."
He looked at the woman with pleading eyes, trying to keep his voice from sounding too desperate. “Please, just… let me get that drink at least! I won't be here for too long, I promise… I just- I just need to quench my thirst a little…"
A sour look momentarily appeared on her face before dissolving into something more defeated and tired. “God, damn it…” she grumbled under her breath. “Fine! Fine. You know what? Fine. I’ll try and get some water for you in there, but then you need to leave . And don’t wander off! You stick by my side, and not a foot less.”
"R-really?" Dae-ho was quick to perk up, a look of excitement washing over his expression. "Yeah! Yeah! Yes, yes! I'll stay close and stick by you, I promise! Thank you, thank you! I really, really want a drink…"
He couldn't help but smile with glee, before the realization of the situation hit him. "Wait… why? Why are you doing this for me?"
“Because you’re exhausting to be around and I want you gone as quickly as possible.” She deadpanned, reaching out to grab him by the sleeve before tugging him along. “….Call me Se-mi. You are?” She asked, guiding him down the alley and toward the music.
"Oh, r-right, sorry." Dae-ho felt a little embarrassed that he didn't think to ask the woman for a name. He shook off his shyness as best he could, walking with her and staying just as close to her as possible. "My name's Kang Dae-ho…"
As the music grew louder and louder, Dae-ho couldn't help but feel a little more anxious. "Se-mi… do you come here often?”
She gave him a shrug, staring forward. “Not often, but my girlfriend works the bar sometimes. I like paying her visits when I can.” She reaches out to knock on the metal door in front of them, waiting a moment before a tiny slider moves and a pair of eyes pop into view. “Password?”
Se-mi scowled at them. “Just let me in, jackass. I know where you sleep at night.”
The person’s eyes widen before they go out of view momentarily, door unlocking as they open it with haste. Se-mi grumbled something under her breath before resuming forward, pulling Dae-ho along into the chaos.
The sounds of screaming, cheering, and shouting all in one room was a lot to handle, but he tried to keep up with Se-mi through the crowd. “A password?" he mumbled, his voice barely audible. "Why on earth would you need a password? Just who are these people…?" He couldn't help but wonder how he managed to get himself involved with such a sketchy setting.
Music was being blasted from the speakers on the walls, and the strobe lights were flashing multiple colors at once, lighting up a wide, empty stage near the front.
"I… I don't know what I got myself into here…" The music was a little too loud for his liking. He began to feel overwhelmed with people screaming all around, and the constant flashing of the light bulbs on the walls was starting to make him a little dizzy.
"Uhh…" he started, looking up at Se-mi, "is it always this loud in here..?"
“Pretty much, yeah.” She yelled back, continuing to drag him like luggage up to the bar near the right side of the room.
He looked around at the various people all around the room. People were all gathered together in groups, laughing and shouting and having a good time. Dae-ho couldn't help but feel a little out of place.
"How can you deal with all of this..?" he mumbled.
The cheering from the fans was growing louder around them, and Dae-ho couldn't help but turn his focus over to the stage, intrigued.
“Oh, give me a break…” Se-mi mumbled to herself, turning back towards the bar as she reached over the counter to grab a bottle of something red. Like, a really, REALLY dark shade of red.
“H-He’s talking about that Thanos, right?” Dae-ho asked, though not taking his eyes off the stage just yet.
Finally, another familiar voice boomed over the speakers, as the crowd cheered for the man walking out onto the stage as well.
"HELLO, SEOUL!" Thanos' voice rang out over the speakers, causing the audience to go wild with excitement. Thanos stood there, soaking in the attention he loved receiving from the audience. He smiled broadly, the purple hair and silver earrings on display, as the lights flashed around the stage.
Nam-gyu inched his way closer to him, smiling as well before raising back up the microphone. “Who’s ready to see the legendary Thanos kick some ASS?!”
The crowd exploded into a frenzy of cheers and yelling, and Dae-ho felt a bit overwhelmed by the reaction. He could feel his palms becoming sweaty from all the tension, as he could only imagine what the upcoming fights would be like.
"What's the deal with this guy, anyway?" Dae-ho asked Se-mi, before pointing casually toward the stage where Thanos was showing off.
Se-mi huffed and raised her head up, rolling her eyes. "What do you mean, 'what’s the deal with this guy’?" she asked in bewilderment. “He’s a mildly attractive guy who beats people up for entertainment. Obviously people are gonna go crazy for that.”
“Alright, let’s get this show moving! Up first we have a very confident guy who’s looking to take on Thanos himself! Give it up for… Ji-ho Duri!” Nam-gyu exclaimed, pointing to his right as a male with bleached blonde hair stepped onto stage, the crowd booing and shouting at him almost immediately.
Dae-ho watched as the young guy confidently stood in the center of the stage, a cocky smirk plastered on his face as his eyes looked around at the audience.
“How we feelin’ tonight, man?” Nam-gyu asked him, turning the mic in his direction momentarily. The blonde in question bowed his head and smirked. “I’m feeling great, bro! I’ve been training hard for this moment!” The microphone squeaked loudly as he got too close, causing nearly everyone to curse and wince in annoyance. Nam-gyu’s nose scrunches as he quickly pulls the mic away and looks back over at Thanos.
“And what about you, man? Is killing this chump worth it?”
Thanos, once standing quiet, immediately burst into laughter in response. He had clearly been looking forward to this moment the moment was announced.
After wiping the side of his face to clear away the tears, he finally composed himself enough to speak into the microphone, his voice booming out over the crowd. “You think you got what it takes, blondie?” he asked, narrowing his eyes as he looked over at the cocky man.
Ji-ho, standing as straight as a board as the two looked over each other, only smirked in response. He was clearly overconfident, as he was absolutely positive he was going to win.
“Nah man, I know I got what it takes!” he said confidently. His eyes sparkled with determination, as if he thought this was all a joke.
Thanos, now growing increasingly agitated by the other’s brazen confidence, couldn’t help but start letting his anger show through his expression.
He huffed, before speaking again, “You think you’re better than me, man? You think you’re stronger than I am?” He looked the guy up and down, as if he was sizing him up. “Lemme take you to the Thanos world, brother.”
Ji-ho scowled, taking a big hop backward before bending his knees slowly. Dae-ho took notice of his clenched jaw, but even more so of the fact that the male’s scleras were sinking into blackness, his iris’ turning a bloody red. Veins were popping out of his neck, traveling down his collarbone while he snarled.
The blonde's transformation was… quite frightening.
Se-mi leaned against the bar, her eyes narrowing in irritation and annoyance as the crowd of people around them cheered and hollered at Ji-ho. "What in the world… is going on with him?" Dae-ho asked to her. "He's... changing?"
Se-mi let out an irritated huff, rolling her eyes. "Oh, for the love of all things…" she muttered under her breath. “You don’t get it yet, do you?” She sounded like a disappointed mother.
"What don't I get?" Dae-ho asked, looking at her incredulously. "Like, he's turning into... a completely different person, I think!"
Se-mi pinched the bridge of her nose, taking a deep breath before she started to explain. "Let me guess... You're a pretty naïve guy, huh?"
"What-" Dae-ho was a little offended at being called naïve, but he didn't protest. He tried his best to listen intently to Se-mi. "Uh, yes..." He mumbled. “Maybe! So what!?”
Se-mi looked over at Dae-ho, and a look of pure exhaustion was on her face. "Just listen, will you? You clearly don't know how this stuff works..." She muttered. "That guy? He’s a ghoul.” She then pointed over to Thanos. “Him? Ghoul.” And then to Nam-gyu, “Ghoul.” Then, to herself. “Ghoul.”
Her hand goes to twist open the bottle she was holding, popping open the cap and taking a swig.
Dae-ho goes completely pale.
The number one creatures on the food chain, the thing the world fears the most and hides from… the creatures that try to blend in amongst humans, just to kill and eat them later…
He’s surrounded by hundreds of them. He’s in an ARENA specifically for them to fight in.
Hell, he’s been chatting with one this whole goddamn time!
Se-mi takes another swig of whatever dark liquid is in that bottle, before looking over at Dae-ho again, noticing his expression. "Agh, get it together, man. You’re fine, it's not a big deal…" She muttered, before setting the bottle back down onto the black countertop in front of her. "That was a little much for a newbie, it seems like…”
"I-I…" Dae-ho swallows, taking a second to recover and try to process this new information. He goes to lean against the countertop, limbs shaking.
Se-mi sighs and rolls her eyes. "Listen bud, you're the only non-ghoul here." She spoke, "You can’t start freaking out now, otherwise they’ll all know something’s up about you. And then, they’ll murder you.”
"You-" Dae-ho's voice is a little shaky as he attempts to calm himself. "I won’t…" He mutters. He takes a deep breath, trying to clear his head. "I won't freak out. I-I'll be fine."
But he could’ve sworn that he felt his own heartbeat stop as the sound of skin breaking apart echoed throughout the room, coming from the blonde on stage. He snarled and yelled as something thick and sturdy stood tall from behind his back, seemingly coming out from the end of his tailbone maybe. Dae-ho held back a gag, watching the kagune whip and slither impatiently while the ghoul began to circle around Thanos almost hungrily.
Thanos watched on, an amused and sinister smile on his face. He stood perfectly still, his eyes locked onto the blonde, studying him.
"Well, I gotta say," he said, his voice dripping with a mix of arrogance and sarcasm, "You're a sight to behold.” Thanos' gaze shifted from the blonde to the crowd, getting a read on their reactions.
And then, the blonde finally lunges, kagune whipping forward to try and pierce through the purple haired male like a stubborn, angry snake. “RAAAH!”
Thanos, in a moment, darted to the side, his movements fast and calculated. He effortlessly evaded the kagune's strike, his eyes never leaving the blonde. He chuckled, an almost mocking sneer on his face. "Impressive," he said, his voice dripping with sarcastic praise. "Very impressive. Brute force, huh?”
The crowd, still in awe, watched as the showdown between Thanos and the blonde continued. Every move was met with a swift dodge or unexpected counterattack from Thanos, who was having a good time toying with his opponent. He spun around to face the blonde, a sinister glint in his eye. "Let's see what else you've got," he taunted, clearly enjoying the challenge.
The blonde, however, was not pleased. He growled, his bikaku whipped back and forth, as if trying to correct his mistake. His anger was palpable. “Fuck you, scumbag!” He roared out, charging forward out of spite to slice at seemingly at the air at first, but then the pointy end of his bikaku goes to quickly wrap around the poll that’s hanging from the ceiling above them, raising his entire body up.
Thanos, now caught off guard, wasn't expecting the blonde to be so resourceful. He watched in a mix of surprise and begrudging admiration as the blonde stood proudly, balancing himself.
"Not bad, not bad," he mused, his eyes narrowing. "But not great, either.”
“SHUT. UP!” The man shouted, forcefully swinging his body upside down to slice across Thanos’ chest. In a moments notice, blood began to flow from the intense wound, seeping through his shirt and staining the fabric.
Thanos stumbled back and clutched his chest. "Ah, crap!" he exclaimed, warm blood slowly seeping out of the injury. “Son of a… THIS SHIRT WAS EXPENSIVE, DICK!” He shouted, turning his head to spit a wad of blood out onto the stage.
The audience gasped in unison, their eyes wide with shock. Se-mi's eyes widened in a bit of surprise, while Dae-ho, on the other hand, looked mortified. He felt his own mouth go dry as he took in the sight.
Thanos, trying to brush off the pain, managed to regain some composure. He clutched his injured side, gritting his teeth as the bleeding continued. "Damn you, Blondie… that'll take hours to fully heal…" He huffed through gritted teeth.
The man in question goes to charge again, bikaku at the ready as it tries to slash and slither at him once more, aiming for the throat. Thanos’ hands ball into fists, clenching his palms tightly until his knuckles turn white. It was like the atmosphere in the room changed, feeling and understanding his rage and sheer energy.
The bikaku lunges forward, and Thanos jumps into the air. The height he reaches is inhuman, causing the blonde to tilt his head up in surprise and slight awe as something red began to sprawl out across his shoulders, taking on the appearance of dark red, blue, and black feathers… a bright flame illuminating them all.
Dae-ho didn’t know what the hell it was, but it looked… terrifyingly beautiful.
The crowd, still in awe, watched in shock as Thanos took flight, the dark feathers on his shoulders almost like wings, and then sent a barrage of razor-sharp spikes towards his opponent. The blonde, caught off guard once more, tried to dodge, but the speed and precision of Thanos' attack seemed superhuman. A few spikes managed to graze him, drawing more blood.
The fans and audience members cheered and shouted, their excitement and anticipation growing exponentially.
Seeing the damage he had inflicted, Thanos looked down from his aerial vantage point to the blonde, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Not so tough now, huh, Blondie?" He taunted, his voice filled with a mix of arrogance and confidence as he darts forward, diving swiftly to land on Ji-ho’s shoulders like a bird before smiling down at him. “Hiiiiii~”
The blonde, still visibly hurt, scowled up at Thanos, his expression a mixture of pain and anger. He tried to push Thanos off, but the weight and strength of the purple-haired man kept him pinned. He eventually goes to whack Ji-ho across the jaw with his shoe, sending him tumbling onto the ground while Thanos lands on his feet.
"Heh, not so tough now, are you?" Thanos teased, dusting his clothing as he looked down at the blonde, who was still sprawled out on the floor. The audience roared in approval; they loved the show he was putting on.
He slowly walked up from behind him, bending down to grab Ji-ho by his blonde hair and tugging his head up. “Why did you come here? How stupid can you be?” One foot goes to press down against the back of Ji-ho’s neck, his other foot standing on his kagune to keep it from swishing at him.
Ji-ho whimpered in pain, struggling to move. He tried to fight back, but it was no use against the purple-haired giant.
"Please…" He croaked out, his voice weak and hoarse. "Let me go…"
But Thanos just laughed, his smirk growing more sinister. "Why should I?" he taunted, his eyes gleaming with a sadistic delight.
The audience watched in anticipation, loving the power play that was happening. Some were screaming, a few were whispering to each other, and one or two even took out their phones to record the spectacle.
Ji-ho groaned softly, his eyes tearing up in pain. "Please…" He pleaded again, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. "I'll do anything…"
Thanos bent down, leaning forward until his mouth reaches the blonde’s ear. “Anything? Then… die for me, won’t you?”
A struggled grunt came from Ji-ho as Thanos tugged his head up violently, curling and twisting as the man screamed and thrashed around in agony while his neck audibly snapped and popped apart. The purple haired male gritted his teeth, yanking forward as the blonde’s head finally came right off his neck, spouting out blood from below as he goes to hold it up like a trophy for the crowd to see.
And of course, the crowd went ballistic.
“AND THE LEGENDARY THANOS STRIKES AGAIN!!!” Nam-gyu exclaimed through the microphone, the people below stage pumping their fists into the air and screaming for him.
The sight was gruesome, and even Se-mi couldn't keep her face straight. But the audience absolutely loved it, many of them screaming with excitement and cheering for Thanos.
Nam-gyu's excited voice boomed through the speakers, the sound of it almost echoing off the walls and the audience's cheers, adding to the atmosphere of the entire thing. The crowd went batshit, some even reaching out towards the body of Ji-ho, hoping for a memento or something. Maybe an arm or leg.
Dae-ho's eyes widened at the gruesome spectacle unfolding right in front of him. He couldn't believe the brutal display of power that just played out on stage. His mind was racing with a flurry of emotions: shock, fear, and a hint of awe.
Se-mi, however, seemed more intrigued than anything else, her eyes fixated on the scene unfolding before them. She took a swig of her dark liquid, swallowing before speaking to Dae-ho.
"Not what you were expecting, huh?" she asked, her voice casual.
He watched as Thanos pushes a hand through his dyed hair, staining it with red. The color almost contrasted well with the purple.
"I-I had no idea," Dae-ho managed to say, his voice still shaking. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the scene. "He just... he just tore his head off like it was nothing. Like he didn't even care."
Se-mi let out a low chuckle, her lips forming a small smile. "He doesn't care," she stated matter-of-factly. "He enjoys this. The thrill of the hunt, the power he holds." She took another swig of her drink, watching as the crowd cheered happily. "You don't get to his level without being a little... crazy."
Dae-ho turned to look at her, his eyes wide. "How can you be so okay with this?" He couldn't understand how she could just sit there, so calmly, while watching such brutal violence.
Se-mi shrugged. “Welcome to the life of ghouls, my friend. You see this shit all the time.”
"I can tell…" Dae-ho mumbled, still staring at the scene unfolding. "So you know him? Thanos, I mean."
Se-mi nodded, a small smirk on her face. "Yeah, I know him," she replied. "We go way back. He's... an interesting character. He wasn’t always like this, y’know. But it doesn’t surprise me that he went down this path.”
Dae-ho turned to look at her again, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?" He asked. "What made him into... this?"
She paused for a moment, a hint of uncertainty crossing her expression before she shrugged. "Fuck if I know," she finally said. "He doesn’t like talking about his personal life.”
"I guess that figures..." Dae-ho mused. "With the whole... killing people for fun thing." Despite his morbid curiosity, he couldn't help but feel slightly intrigued by the idea of Thanos even having a personal life. Thats when his eyes started to drift back to the ghoul’s kagune, stuck to his shoulders like a pair of deadly wings as he moved around.
Se-mi noticed his staring, a knowing smile spreading across her face. "You like those, huh?"
He looked away quickly, a slight blush on his cheeks. "What? No, I just-" He stumbled over his words, trying to find a way to explain himself. "I just think they're cool, that's all."
She chuckled, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "You can't fool me, you were practically drooling." After taking another sip of her drink, she smirked. "It's alright, you know. It's okay to admire. They are pretty kickass, aren't they?" she said, her voice slightly teasing.
Dae-ho's blush deepened, and he looked away, embarrassed. "I... I guess they are..." He mumbled, his fascination evident. "I mean, I've never seen anything like it before. It's just... impressive, I suppose. They aren’t… actually wings, are they?”
Se-mi took another swig of her drink before answering. "Not exactly, but they act like it," she replied. "They've got some pretty incredible properties, lemme tell you. You’ve heard of a kagune before, right? Well, his is called a ‘ukaku’.”
Dae-ho nodded, intrigued. "Uke…ukuaku," he repeated the word slowly, trying to remember. "Yeah, I think I've heard of those before. But I don't really understand what they do, exactly."
"They're like, a secondary set of arms or wings," Se-mi explained, waving a hand lazily as she spoke. "They're made of RC cells, so they're basically a living extension of yourself. They can move like... like a limb." She mimicked the shape of a wing with her free hand, flexing the fingers in an imitation. "And they can be pretty damn versatile, too. They can be used for defense, attack, or even defense. And sometimes, they can just look really cool, like this guy's." She gestured towards Thanos.
Dae-ho nodded, his eyes widening as he listened to her explain. "Wow... That sounds pretty incredible," he said. "I mean, to have such a power... I can't imagine what it would feel like to have those things." He couldn’t help but stare in awe at Thanos' kagune again, the way they twitched and moved in perfect harmony with his body, even when he’s holding a man’s head up and swinging it around like a toy airplane.
Se-mi chuckled, shaking her head slightly. "You're in luck... you get to watch his every move up close and personal." She followed his gaze and looked back at the ghoul, a small smile curving her lips.
"Yeah, I guess you're right…" Dae-ho watched, unable to tear his eyes away from the spectacle. Despite the gruesome nature of what he was witnessing, he couldn't look away. It was like he was entranced, hooked by the sheer power on display. His stomach churned when Thanos flashed another toothy smile to the crowd. "Is it... normal to think this is cool?" he asked, his voice slightly shaky.
Se-mi shrugged, taking another sip of her drink. "For some people, yeah. Some of them get off on this kind of thing. They love the blood, the kills, the drama." She took another, this time almost finishing the glass. "To some ghouls, this is as normal as watching a football game."
Dae-ho nodded, his mind trying to process all the information. "But... but this is different, isn't it?" he mumbled. "It's not like they're just killing in self-defense... this guy, this Thanos... he's just... toying with them."
Se-mi sighed, her smile faded. "Yeah," she agreed. "He's a twisted bastard. He enjoys the pain and suffering of others, and there's no denying that." She took another long sip of her drink. "But... you know, his reputation precedes him. He's a force to be reckoned with." She glanced back at the stage. "And for some ghouls, that alone makes it thrilling to watch." She gave a heavy sigh, a grim look passing over her face for a moment. “They don't care about the rules, they'll kill just because they like to play god." She gave Dae-ho a sidelong glance. "Don’t start getting addicted to the bloodlust. This ain't good, y'know. This can warp your mind."
Dae-ho shuddered at her words. "I... I know. I'm not interested in bloodlust or anything like that," he protested. "I was just... I just thought it was kind of fascinating, that's all." He fidgeted uncomfortably, his eyes darting back to the stage to continue watching Thanos twirl around while the crowd praises him.
Nam-gyu spoke up into his microphone again, the excitement in his voice palpable. "What a performance! Thanos really outdid himself today." Thanos rolled his eyes and reaches over to lightly punch his shoulder. “Ah, it was nothin’! The guy barely lasted ten minutes.”
Nam-gyu chuckled, rubbing his shoulder jokingly. "You call that a fight, Thanos?? You didn't even break a sweat."
"Yeah, yeah, I know... I know..." Thanos said, waving him off. His eyes drifted back over to Ji-ho, still sprawled out on the floor with his head missing. He looked at Nam-gyu and smirked. "This guy was a real joke, you know. When will I have to put up an actual fight??” He looked back out into the crowd, scanning the area for any potential opponents. “Come on! Don’t be pussies!”
Nam-gyu sighed, looking out into the crowd. "Sorry, man… You've fought like twenty guys in a row last week and no one has managed to take you down. You'll have to just be patient."
"Booooring…" Thanos groaned, crossing his arms. "This sucks. I'm bored." He glanced over at Ji-ho's corpse and chuckled, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Hey… you think I ought to keep the head as a trophy?" His eyes flicked back up to look over at the bar. “Actually, scratch that. I’m gonna need a drink after th—“
His gaze lands on Dae-ho, who was already staring right at him first.
The ghoul's intense gaze sent a shiver down his spine, and Dae-ho found himself frozen, unable to look away for a moment. The way Thanos stared at him... it was like a dark pool of mixed emotions. His face started to heat up a bit, a faint hint of a blush appearing. Why was he getting so flustered by a ghoul’s stare of all things?
He swallowed hard, trying to find his voice. "Um…" he stammered, slowly raising his hand to wave.
Se-mi snickered, her eyes flicking back and forth between the two. "You've gotta be kidding me..." she muttered, taking another sip of her drink.
Thanos tilted his head, studying Dae-ho with a sort of predatory interest. His eyes traveled up and down his muscular frame, taking in every detail. He took a few quiet steps towards the bar, his steps light and easy, like a cat stalking its next meal while also shoving people out of his way, eventually settling for tossing the blonde’s head into the swarm of ghouls, who then start to claw and smack at each other to get it.
He stopped in front of the bar, hands on hips. "Well, well..." he said with a curious gaze. “It’s not everyday that I see a new face here.”
Dae-ho felt his heart skip a beat, his low, deep voice sending a chill down his spine. He swallowed hard, trying to control his growing panic. "I'm... I'm just a visitor," he managed to say, his voice coming out slightly higher than intended. He shifted a bit on his barstool, not quite able to meet Thanos' intense gaze. "I don't plan on staying for much longer."
Thanos smiled, a slow, deliberate movement of his lips. "Just a visitor, huh?" he echoed, stepping closer to the bar. He leaned in, arms resting on the counter, his body language casual but his gaze intense. "And what brings you to such a... interesting establishment?"
Dae-ho swallowed again, his eyes unable to avoid Thanos as he leaned closer. He could feel the heat of the ghoul's presence, the air around him practically crackling with tension.
"I just... wanted to satisfy a curiosity," he said, his voice coming out slightly shaky. What he was about to say next was a complete lie. "I heard about this place, and it sounded... interesting."
Thanos hummed, the edge of his lips curling up in a smirk. “And did you get your curiosity satisfied?" he asked, his eyes flickering up and down Dae-ho's frame again, before settling back on his face.
"I... I think so," Dae-ho replied, his voice coming out a bit more choked than he intended. "I've definitely got a lot to think about…" He cleared his throat, trying to keep his breathing steady as he went to stand. “Actually, I gotta get home. It’s already pretty late, and I didn’t mean to stay here for so long…”
Thanos reached out and grabbed Dae-ho's arm, his grip strong and firm. A smirk formed on his lips as he held him in place.
"Not so fast," he said, his tone almost playful. "I think I have a proposition for you."
Dae-ho froze in place, his heart racing even quicker. His eyes widened as he stared at Thanos' hand holding onto his arm, the grip tight and unyielding. A shiver ran down his spine, and he swallowed hard. "What… what kind of proposition?"
Thanos leaned in closer, his body practically pressed against Dae-ho's now. His breath was warm against the other's ear as he spoke in a low, deep voice.
"How about… you join me?"
He loosened his grip on Dae-ho's arm slightly, his fingers slowly trailing up and down his bicep in a light, teasing motion. His gaze flicked up, locking eyes with Dae-ho's in the low lighting. He studied his face for a moment, his eyes flickering up and down. "Seems you're pretty strong, you could handle yourself just fine."
The words echoed in Dae-ho's mind, a million thoughts racing through his head. He froze as he met the ghoul's gaze, his eyes locked in a mixture of fear and surprise.
He was going to immediately get himself killed. “I... I don't know… I—"
"You don't know?" Thanos echoed, his lips curling up into a smirk once more.
He chuckled, his hand moving up Dae-ho's bicep to his shoulder, his fingers gently tracing the muscle as he did so. "What's the problem?" he asked, his voice deep and smooth. "Scared that you won't be able to handle yourself? Worried that I'll overpower you? You seem like a strong enough ghoul. I mean, look at those muscles!”
Dae-ho's heart was racing so fast, it felt like it might pound right out of his chest. The way Thanos kept grabbing for him, running his hand over his muscles… he was making it incredibly difficult to keep his cool.
"It's not... I'm not…" he protested, his voice cracking slightly as the ghoul kept playing with his arm. "I'm just... I-I don't do that kind of thing."
"Oh, really?" Thanos said, his smirk widening. He moved his hand from Dae-ho's arm, and trailed up his neck, gently grabbing his chin and forcing him to turn and meet his gaze.
"Don't do 'that kind of thing,' huh?" he echoed, his voice a low, rough whisper. "You mean getting a little personal with someone? Are you afraid of me?”
Dae-ho let out a low, panicked whine. He swallowed, his heart hammering in his chest. He was so close, almost too close. Dae-ho's eyes flicked up to the ghoul's face, struggling to meet his gaze.
"I…I…" he started, his voice cracking. "I'm not afraid, per se... it's just… it's not something I do… I don’t wanna fight you.”
Thanos chuckled again, his thumb tracing the line of Dae-ho's jaw. His body was still pressed up close enough to feel the other's warmth.
"What a gentleman…" he said, his tone light and almost mocking. "You're worried about hurting me, are you? Don't worry, I can handle myself. I've fought off far worse than you." He paused for a moment, his gaze flicking over Dae-ho's face before going lower to his neck. He leaned in, his lips almost ghosting against his throat.
Se-mi sat up straight, a slight look of worry suddenly etched into her face. “H-Hey wait, maybe don’t do that—“
Thanos inhaled Dae-ho’s scent slowly.
Dae-ho's heart thumped so hard, it felt like it might just burst out of his chest. He could feel the ghoul's breath against his neck, the heat of his body against his own. A shiver ran down his spine as he swallowed hard. "I-I… I just—"
Thanos tilted his head, the tip of his nose tracing along his neck as he did so. It only took a few seconds to process the scent before his cocky demeanor suddenly deflates completely, replaced by bewildered confusion.
“What… the fuck…?” He whispered against Dae-ho’s neck. He leaned away and stared at him in silent surprise. He was at a complete loss.
“Are- Are you a…?”
Dae-ho felt the air get stuck in his lungs. He swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly feeling dry.
And then, a wave of fear washed over him as he started to back up quickly, bumping into a few stools in the process. “N-No! No, n-no, i’m not a human! I’m just- I’m just a uhhhh….” He whipped his head to face Se-mi, who looked just as nervous.
Ah, fuck it.
Without saying another word, Dae-ho swerves his body around and bolts for the exit, shoving himself past a few people who gave him annoyed glances in return.