Chapter Text
[ EMERGENCY ALERT!!! ]
[ TOP-RANK ESPER LOSES CONTROL!!! ]
[ ACTIVATE DEFENSE!!! ]
A loud warning alarm echoed throughout the building, its shrill, relentless sound bouncing off the thick steel and glass walls, which trembled with unstable energy fluctuations. Emergency lights alternated with flashing red lights, signaling a high-level crisis. People ran through the corridors with tense faces; some were directed toward evacuation routes by security personnel, while others, including key staff and special forces, remained inside, as they had no choice but to deal with the threat. On the large screens in the control room, psionic waves surged sharply, breaking through safety limits and continuing to rise with no signs of slowing.
A priority access door opened with a sharp mechanical hiss, revealing a stern-faced woman stepping in with quick, steady steps. Several men followed behind her, carrying data tablets and portable communication devices, clearly indicating that she was the command center in this critical situation.
“Chief, you’re here,” said one of the staff in a relieved but still tense tone.
The woman didn't waste a second. "Report the situation now."
“It’s getting worse,” an analyst replied, zooming in on the graph on the main screen. “His control level continues to decline. His mental waves are becoming increasingly unstable and aggressive. We’ve already sent two B-rank Guides to perform emergency guidance procedures, but both encountered severe resistance from the Esper when they attempted to guide. This resistance caused a strong enough energy backlash that the Esper and the two Guides’ conditions deteriorated rapidly.”
“What are the conditions of the two Guides?” the Leader asked in a cold but measured tone.
"They have been secured and placed in a protective room. The medical team is treating the effects of reverse guidance. Their lives are currently not in danger."
“Good.” She nodded curtly. “What about the A-Rank or S-Rank Guides in this area?”
Another assistant swallowed hard before answering. “There are no Guides of that rank currently in our operational area. Their assignments are in other districts.”
“Shit.” The Leader clenched her fists, her jaw clenched. “What about his sister?” She paused, then shook her head slowly. “No, that’s too long. Even with the fastest plane, we don’t have enough time. Find a Guide in another city, contact all the regional branches, and inject Esper with additional sedatives. That might at least slow his rampage, although we all know he won’t completely pass out.”
“Roger, Chief.”
A few seconds later, one of the technicians called out, “There’s an S-Rank Guide registered in the next city. We’ve sent an emergency request. Estimated arrival time is approximately fifteen minutes using priority air traffic.”
“Fifteen minutes is too long,” the Leader muttered in a low voice, her eyes fixed on the ever-increasing graph.
"Chief," another assistant called out, opening additional data. "I confirm that an A-Rank Guide is currently on field duty in the neighboring city. Should we summon him as a precaution?"
The Leader let out a short sigh. “In these conditions, an A-rank Guide likely won't be strong enough to stabilize him. It would only waste time and risk increasing casualties.”
“But...” The assistant hesitated for a moment before continuing. “The guide underwent an energy matching test some time ago. Their compatibility rate was recorded at ninety-eight percent.”
The room suddenly felt quieter.
“What?!” The Leader turned sharply. “Ninety-eight percent? Is he one of those rumored Guides? Show me the data now.”
Holographic data appeared in the air, showing the profiles of two individuals with compatibility indicators that were almost touching the perfect number.
"Not only that," the assistant continued, his voice firmer. "There's another Guide who has a high compatibility with Esper Yoo Joonghyuk. They're currently on duty together on the same team. If we summon one, we can summon both of them at once."
The Leader was silent for a split second before making her decision. "What are you waiting for? Contact them now and send them the location coordinates."
“Yes, Chief. The request has been received, and they have expressed their willingness to come. The estimated arrival time for the A-rank Guide and C-rank Guide—” the assistant paused, correcting the data, “—excuse me, the A-rank Esper on their team will arrive in approximately five minutes.”
“Five minutes?” The Leader raised her eyebrows, clearly not expecting that.
"Yes. One of the Espers on their team has medium-range spatial displacement abilities. They'll immediately open a teleportation path to the coordinates of this building."
The Leader stared at the screen that still showed the dangerous energy surge, then let out a long sigh with a mixture of tension and hope.
“It went better than expected.”
But deep below the building, in an isolation chamber whose walls were beginning to crack under the ever-increasing energy pressure, five minutes felt like an eternity.
It had been really annoying lately. The headquarters seemed to find a new pastime in constantly sending him to various locations under the pretext of “emergency assignments,” when in fact all he was doing was mundane tasks that even mid-level staff could handle. From cleaning up minor resonance debris to calming down rookie Espers who were simply panicking at the first surge, it all felt like a waste of his energy and abilities. Not that he could refuse. His employment contract had clearly stated that he was willing to be a field Guide—not just an office Guide who sat quietly behind a desk, handling administrative documents and boring synchronization reports. Still, that willingness didn’t mean he was willing to be treated like a hunting dog, called and ordered to run around without proper explanation.
"Kim Dokja? You were called too?"
A very familiar voice made him stop walking. He turned around.
Oh. “Han Sooyoung?”
His eyebrows raised slightly. Why was this woman being summoned? Wasn't a sudden guiding call like this usually reserved for a Guide with a decent rank? It wasn't that Han Sooyoung wasn't capable of guiding—she still had the qualifications to be a Guide—it was just that her rank was relatively low for such a major crisis. From the look on her face, it was clear that she wasn't sure why her name had been dragged into this assignment. There was a thin line of confusion hanging between annoyance and curiosity. Without another word, the woman preceded him, pushing open the door to their unit leader's office at the end of the corridor with an air of ready-to-demand answers.
“You two came together?” asked the Unit Leader as soon as he saw the two of them enter the room.
“Just cut the small talk,” Han Sooyoung cut in without hesitation, her tone flat yet sharp.
The Unit Leader chuckled softly, rising from his chair and resting his hands on the table. “Straight to the point as usual, Esper Han Sooyoung. Alright. You two are tasked with handling a rampaging Esper. I’ll give you three minutes to prepare. After that, I’ll open a portal and send you directly to the isolation location.”
“Wait a minute,” Han Sooyoung raised her hand, clearly dissatisfied. “Don’t you intend to explain it in more detail?”
“I just explained—”
"I understand why Kim Dokja was summoned. He's an A-rank Guide, which makes sense for emergency situations," she interrupted. "But why was an Esper like me dragged into it?"
“Officially,” the Unit Leader interrupted emphatically, “you are publicly registered as an A-Rank Esper. But you haven’t forgotten, have you, that you are also an Esper-Guide?”
Han Sooyoung snorted softly. “Yes, Guide. C-Rank Guide,” she said with barely concealed sarcasm. “And I’m pretty sure my presence there will be very helpful—probably in instantly draining your energy or experiencing an embarrassing rejection.”
"Don't worry. You won't be rejected," the Unit Leader explained, his voice too calm to even reassure his subordinate.
A look of confusion immediately appeared on Han Sooyoung's face. She narrowed her eyes, staring intently as if trying to read something behind their superior's face. Kim Dokja fell silent, sensing that important information was being deliberately withheld. The Unit Leader sighed softly, looking away for a moment, seemingly considering how to deliver this explanation. It was this pause that made the atmosphere even more suspicious.
“He is Esper Yoo Joonghyuk.”
“What the hell?!” they both exclaimed almost simultaneously, their voices overlapping in unfeigned shock.
“As I said,” the Unit Leader continued, his tone now much more serious, “the Esper who is currently on a rampage is the S-Rank Esper, Yoo Joonghyuk.”
The name alone is enough to explain everything.
Dokja and Sooyoung exchanged glances, silently reading each other's reactions. No further words were needed to understand the reason for their summoning. Their near-perfect compatibility, their history of energy matching tests, and the fact that Joonghyuk was no ordinary Esper. Everything combined to create an answer they didn't like. If Yoo Joonghyuk had truly lost control, then this wasn't just a minor incident. This was a disaster waiting to erupt.
Seeing no further objections from either of them, the Unit Leader immediately took action. He activated a device on his wrist, and the space in the center of the office began to vibrate gently before folding like a cloth being pulled from two opposite sides. A circular portal slowly opened, revealing flashes of light and the shadow of an isolation structure on the other side.
Han Sooyoung growled softly, her jaw clenched as she held back the emotions churning in her chest—a mix of irritation, anxiety, and something more complicated when that name was involved. Without another word, the two of them stepped toward the portal that pulsed with unstable energy.
While Han Sooyoung took firm steps despite her obvious displeasure, Kim Dokja could only take a deep breath, his mind already racing to the worst possible scenarios that awaited them on the other side with cracked walls, uncontrollable energy, and an S-Rank Esper who might already be on the verge of collapse.
The portal, spinning with flashes of bluish light, finally stabilized, and from the folded space, two figures emerged, stepping out with determined strides. A thin wave of energy swept across the floor as they finally set foot in the isolation building's control room. The unit leaders and staff who had been holding their breaths visibly expressed relief; some even subconsciously quickened their pace to greet the two, as if their mere presence was enough to ease the stifling tension in the room.
"We have prepared additional protective clothing and resonance-blocking equipment for you two," said one of the staff while gesturing towards a long table filled with special equipment such as anti-resonance jackets, gloves coated with mental insulators, and communication equipment connected directly to the monitoring room.
Kim Dokja glanced at her briefly before shaking his head slowly. “Thank you, but I won’t be wearing it,” he said calmly yet firmly. “That kind of gear is useful for basic protection, but in this case, it would actually slow me down. The protective suit impedes the flow of energy and will make the guiding process less efficient than I need it to be.”
Han Sooyoung nodded without hesitation, agreeing with his statement. “If the situation is already this dire, additional obstacles will only be a burden. We need swift guidance, not excessive caution.”
Seeing their conviction, the staff stopped insisting. They immediately led Dokja and Sooyoung down an underground corridor that led directly to the main isolation room where Esper Yoo Joonghyuk was currently being held. As they approached, the air around them grew heavier, as if the air itself were being compressed by something invisible. The lights in the hallway flickered occasionally, and subtle vibrations could be felt from the walls, a sign that the energy waves within the room had not yet fully stabilized.
But before the isolation room door opened, Han Sooyoung suddenly stopped and reached out. “Give me the serum.”
Several staff members looked shocked. “Serum?” one of them asked skeptically. “If you mean the Esper power neutralizer serum, it’s extremely dangerous. Esper Yoo recently used it. If injected again within a short period of time, it could cause permanent damage to his power control center. Even after he recovers, his control could become much worse.”
“I know the risks,” Sooyoung replied evenly. “I won’t use it carelessly. Only if the situation is truly beyond what we can handle.”
The staff looked at each other, then turned to their leader, awaiting a final decision. The leader was silent for a few seconds before nodding slowly. “Give it to her. But only use it if there's absolutely no other option. If it can still be stabilized through normal guidance, don't touch the serum.”
A small box containing a transparent ampoule with a faintly glistening liquid was immediately handed to Sooyoung. She accepted it without much expression, carefully slipping it into the inside pocket of her jacket.
The isolation room door finally opened with a heavy, creaking sound, revealing conditions far worse than anyone had imagined. The supposedly sturdy metal walls were now covered in fine, spiderweb-like cracks, and some panels even appeared to be lifting slightly from their frames from the constant pressure of energy pounding from within. The air in the room felt thick and vibrating, as if an invisible storm were swirling around in one spot.
In the center of the room, an Esper sat strapped to a dental chair specially modified for high-level restraint. Various cables and monitoring devices were connected to his body, while a thick harness and additional restraints held his shoulders, chest, and legs immobile. He wore a straitjacket that restricted the movement of his arms, which were now also fitted with force restraints—metallic devices with a faint glow that were supposed to absorb and dampen the Esper's energy. But from small gaps around his wrists, flashes of energy still seemed to leak out, pulsing unsteadily, evidence that the device was barely able to contain such a force.
His eyes and mouth were covered with a special mask to prevent him from seeing targets he might unknowingly attack, or from activating any visual or verbal abilities. His messy hair slightly obscured his face, but even in this bound state, the oppressive aura emanating from him remained dominant and dangerous.
As soon as Dokja and Sooyoung actually entered the room, the isolation door slammed shut again with a heavy, resounding thud, sealing the three of them inside. Now it was just them and an S-Rank Esper on the verge of collapse, while the staff watched from the control room through cameras and energy sensors installed everywhere.
The voice over the loudspeaker was soft but clear. "We'll be monitoring you. If there's an extreme spike, we'll activate emergency protocols."
The sentence sounded like a guarantee of safety but also like a reminder that if they failed, the consequences would not be light.
"Can you handle this?" Han Sooyoung asked quietly, her eyes sweeping across the room and returning to the bound figure in the center. The cracks in the walls, the sparks of energy still leaking from the restraints, and the mental pressure that felt like an invisible weight on her chest. All of it was proof that the situation was far worse than the written reports they had received.
Kim Dokja glanced at her, then snorted lightly. “Are you looking down on me?”
His tone sounded relaxed, but his gaze had turned serious, carefully observing Yoo Joonghyuk's energy leakage pattern.
“I know you’re a great Guide,” Sooyoung continued without looking at him, still focused on the Esper in front of them. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Dokja smiling slightly, clearly overly satisfied with just one brief compliment. “Don’t get cocky just because I complimented you a little,” she added quickly, not wanting to give him a chance to gloat any longer. “You know, after we ran the guiding match test on him and the results showed that ridiculous compatibility rate, we haven’t even once actually guided that bastard Esper who’s currently on a rampage.”
He vividly remembers the day of the test. The sterile room, the monitor displaying 98%, and the researchers' expressions of disbelief. Such a high score was nearly impossible, especially for two people to achieve against a single Esper.
“You’re right,” Dokja finally replied, this time without joking. He sighed softly, then extended his hand toward Sooyoung.
Sooyoung frowned. “What?”
But despite her confusion, she accepted the outstretched hand. As soon as their fingers touched, a gentle yet powerful guiding current flowed from Dokja into her system. It felt warm and steady, like the flow of water filling empty spaces without forcing or hurting. The tension that had been weighing on her shoulders slowly eased.
"How?" Dokja asked slowly.
“As usual,” Sooyoung replied after a few seconds of fully experiencing the flow, “your guidance is the best.”
“Of course,” Dokja replied with a hint of pride that wasn’t hidden in the slightest.
Sooyoung snorted softly in response, but she didn't let go of his hand. She knew all too well how precise Dokja's control was—how he adjusted the intensity, adjusted the frequency, and ensured there was no backlash. It was the reason he was able to survive as an A-rank field guide even though the center often treated him like a tool.
“We both have a high level of compatibility,” Dokja continued, his voice now more analytical. “That’s why the guidance I gave you was easily accepted. There was no resistance, no interference.”
He turned to Yoo Joonghyuk who was still tied up, his body occasionally shaking gently as the surge of energy that had not yet completely stabilized.
“The same goes for him,” he continued quietly. “Both you and I, Sooyoung. We both have a high level of compatibility with Yoo Joonghyuk. Even though this is our first time guiding him directly, theoretically, with such a high level of compatibility, the process should go much smoother than with other guides.”
He was silent for a moment, staring at the restraint on Joonghyuk's wrist that creaked softly every time the energy pushed out.
"I just hope," he said more quietly, "that Esper Yoo doesn't push back too hard on the guidance we give."
The pressure in the air suddenly vibrated, as if responding to his words.
But Dokja still smiled faintly. "Whatever happens, I'll make sure that stubborn Esper receives my guidance."
There was absolute confidence in his voice, not empty arrogance, but the confidence of a Guide who knew his own limits and capabilities.
“Let me do it first,” he added then. He tightened his grip on Sooyoung’s hand, not as a force, but as a clear request.
Sooyoung could see it. That unwavering confidence, reflected in his eyes and in the way he stood his ground despite the mental pressure of an out-of-control S-Rank Esper pressing down on them both. After a few seconds, she gave a small nod.
She slowly released their grasp, and the guiding current that had connected them was gently and without interruption. The warm sensation faded, leaving only a complete awareness of the situation ahead.
“I’m right behind you,” Sooyoung finally said, her tone more serious than before.
If anything happens whether it's a sudden rejection, an uncontrolled surge of energy, or even a mental backlash, she will be the second buffer.
Meanwhile, Dokja took one step forward towards the restraining chair in the center of the room, preparing to open his guiding channel directly to Yoo Joonghyuk for the first time.
Kim Dokja approached cautiously, each step measured to avoid triggering an additional surge of the already unstable energy. As the distance between them narrowed, a low growl erupted from Yoo Joonghyuk's throat—an instinctive warning sound more beast-like than human. The pressure in the air immediately increased, causing Dokja's hair to rise slightly in the vibrating psionic waves.
“Calm down,” Dokja said in as low a voice as possible, trying to keep his voice steady and non-threatening. “I just want to guide you.”
But instead of subsiding, the growl grew deeper and heavier, as if Joonghyuk rejected even the idea of being touched by another person's energy. His shoulders tensed under the straitjacket, and the restraints on his wrists buzzed louder, resisting the surge of power that was trying to break through.
Dokja ignored the objection and began to carefully open the front of the restraint jacket, making sure not to touch the restraining device on Joonghyuk's wrist. He knew full well that he could technically perform guidance without direct skin contact by directing his energy from a distance through open resonance, but that method was much slower and risked failure if the target continued to resist. Under these circumstances, they didn't have the luxury of time.
The more he opened the straitjacket, the louder Joonghyuk's growl grew. The energy around them vibrated violently, as if the Esper were struggling desperately to keep himself from harming the person standing before him. There was something about the way Joonghyuk's body tensed, not just aggression, but forced self-control.
Dokja had always wondered why Yoo Joonghyuk so vehemently refused to accept guidance from anyone else. Unless it was an emergency, he would only accept periodic guidance from his younger sister, the only person he could tolerate because their blood relationship minimized the risk of rejection. Was Joonghyuk afraid of backlash? Afraid that his rejection would hurt his Guide? Dokja knew all too well that such cases were not uncommon. He himself had experienced rejection from several Espers—the pain was real, like an electric current searing through his nervous system, but afterward, he simply needed to rest and recover his Guiding energy until it returned to normal. It had never been fatal.
Finally, the straitjacket opened enough to reveal the skin on Joonghyuk's forearm. Without further hesitation, Dokja touched it—warm skin that felt taut beneath his fingertips—and immediately began guiding with the precision he had practiced for years.
Joonghyuk's body tensed up the first second of contact. His muscles stiffened, his breath hitched, and the energy in the room vibrated wildly as if awaiting an explosion of rejection. But the second passed.
There was no backlash.
There were no aggressive waves hitting Dokja.
Instead, the guiding current flowed in relatively smoothly, as if finding a path that had been aligned from the start. After a moment, the tension in Joonghyuk's shoulders began to loosen slightly. The growls gave way to more regular, heavy breathing.
Dokja glanced at Han Sooyoung and smiled a small, all too obvious smile of triumph.
Sooyoung rolled her eyes in response, clearly disgusted by the unnecessary arrogance, though she couldn't deny that the situation was indeed going better than they had anticipated.
Several minutes passed in silence, filled with the sounds of heavy breathing and the hum of the restraints. Guidance continued, steady and consistent. The pressure in the room gradually decreased, and the cracks in the walls stopped increasing.
Then Joonghyuk moved again. This time, not in resistance, but in an attempt to speak. With the gag still on, a faint, indistinct murmur could be heard.
Dokja raised his gaze to one of the surveillance cameras in the corner of the room. “Can I unmask his mouth?”
A few seconds later the sound from the loudspeaker was heard.
[ “You can do it.” ]
Carefully, Dokja untied the gag that held Joonghyuk's mouth shut. Once the gag was removed, Joonghyuk took a deep breath, as if he had just emerged from underwater. He paused for a moment, gathering what little control he had left, before finally speaking in a low, hoarse voice.
“You ... are an A-Rank Guide.”
He stopped for a moment, his face facing the Guide who was guiding him, even though the Esper's eyes were still closed, he could feel exactly where the face in front of him was.
“Kim Dokja.”
Dokja smiled faintly. “Yes, that’s me. Long time no see. Nice to see you again, Esper Yoo Joonghyuk.”
“I doubt that,” Joonghyuk replied flatly.
Dokja chuckled softly. “Yeah, the current situation isn’t the ideal time for a reunion.” He increased the intensity of his guiding slightly, ensuring the energy flow remained steady without forcing it. “How does it feel? Does my guiding feel comfortable? After all, this is the first time I’ve actually done it to you.”
He looked at Joonghyuk with a hint of accusation mixed with teasing. “You keep refusing to accept guidance from others, even after knowing how compatible we are.”
Joonghyuk snorted softly. “I don’t really believe in such uncertain statistics.”
“You’re right,” Dokja replied calmly. “Sometimes the results aren’t always accurate.”
But his hands never stopped guiding, and the flow of energy between them continued—too steady to be a coincidence.
“Can I get the second stage of Guiding?” Joonghyuk asked in a low but clear voice, as if the question was as simple as asking for an energy boost.
Those words made Dokja's hand, which was still touching Joonghyuk's arm, suddenly stiffen without him realizing it. The slight change in his guiding flow—a mere vibration for a split second—didn't escape the sensitive senses of an S-Rank Esper. Joonghyuk could sense it. He didn't open his eyes, but the corners of his lips twitched slightly, as if understanding the reaction.
Since there was no immediate answer, Joonghyuk came to his own conclusion. “It seems ... I still don’t qualify for your second round of guidance.”
“It’s not like that,” Dokja replied quickly, but his voice sounded a little hesitant. Somehow, he could feel a wave of heat spreading from his neck to his own ears—a reaction more akin to embarrassment than energy pressure. The request came so suddenly, so matter-of-factly, and from someone who usually refused guidance even at the first stage.
Guiding is generally divided into three stages. The first stage involves physical touch—simple skin-to-skin contact like holding hands, touching an arm, or even a brief hug. At this stage, the Guide and Esper's energy exchange is stable and relatively safe. All Guides will guide through the first stage; it's standard procedure, the most common, and most accepted method.
The second stage involves the exchange of energy through saliva. The quickest and most efficient way to do this is through kissing. Not all Guides are willing to use this method. Some will stop at the first stage, limiting themselves for professional reasons or personal comfort. Others are willing to move on to the second stage, but only if certain conditions are met—usually detailed in their employment contracts. Dokja falls into the latter category. He allows second-stage guiding if the situation is an emergency and the Esper's condition meets formally agreed-upon criteria. Judging by Yoo Joonghyuk's current state, with his energy surge still not fully stabilized, he technically meets all of those requirements. In fact, in terms of efficiency, the second stage would be far more effective in accelerating stabilization.
The third stage involves the exchange of energy through reproductive fluids—sexual intercourse. This stage is extremely rare and is almost always limited to Guide and Esper couples who have established a permanent relationship, either contractually or romantically. The risks involved in this stage are much higher, so additional protection and contraception are mandatory. However, this is completely irrelevant to Dokja. He never agreed to this stage in his contract, nor is he listed as a permanent partner to any Esper.
What was at issue now was not theory or regulations, but the fact that Yoo Joonghyuk—the Esper who had stubbornly refused guidance from anyone—had consciously asked for the second stage from him.
Dokja subconsciously watched Joonghyuk's now silent lips, waiting for an answer. The request didn't sound urgent, nor was it said in a forceful tone. It was simply a straightforward and direct statement of need.
Heat crept up Dokja's face again as his mind, despite his professional efforts, continued to imagine the procedure he would have to perform. He was thankful Joonghyuk's eyes were still covered by the visual shield, because otherwise, he might have noticed the redness that was starting to appear on Dokja's skin. It wasn't like this was the first time he'd done the second stage of guiding. He'd done it before in other situations. But somehow, every time he got to that point, he never really got used to it.
“Are you sure?” Dokja finally asked, his voice softer, reassuring himself that this wasn’t a half-conscious decision.
“Yes,” Joonghyuk answered without a moment’s hesitation. “Absolutely.”
There was no wavering in his tone. No trace of rejection.
Just certainty.
Dokja took a deep breath before finally leaning closer to Joonghyuk. The distance between them slowly narrowed, so close that he could feel the Esper's warm breath against his skin. The air in the room felt heavier, not only because of the residual psionic waves that had not yet fully stabilized, but also because of the subtle tension that had built up between them. Dokja stopped centimeters before their lips touched, giving Joonghyuk one last chance to refuse—a small movement, a brief word, or even a shift in energy flow that indicated objection.
But there was nothing. No resistance. No aggressive surge.
Cautiously, Dokja finally pressed his lips to Joonghyuk's. The first touch was brief and measured, more like a test of response than an actual kiss. He felt the tension in Joonghyuk's jaw, then slowly deepened the kiss, sticking out his tongue to try and break through any remaining resistance. But Joonghyuk remained still, not resisting, but not responding either.
Dokja stepped back a little, “Joonghyuk?” he called softly, reconfirming.
Joonghyuk was silent for a few seconds before slowly licking his own lips, right where Dokja had just kissed him. The movement was simple, but it was enough to make Dokja doubt whether it was a sign of discomfort or something else, and he unconsciously licked his own lips too.
“Sorry,” Joonghyuk’s voice sounded lower than before. “Can you continue?”
Dokja growled softly, more to himself than to Joonghyuk, before moving closer. This time he didn't stop. He pressed their lips together again, and when he tried to stick his tongue out again, Joonghyuk finally responded. His lips parted, accepting without resistance. The saliva that served as the medium for the energy exchange began to flow more freely, and within seconds the intensity of the guiding increased dramatically. Joonghyuk adjusted his movements, letting Dokja lead the rhythm and depth of the exchange, completely handing over control of the guiding process to the Guide.
The energy in the room shifted. Where before it felt like a storm trying to be contained, now the currents began to flow more directionally. The resonance between them was stable, synchronized, and far stronger than in the first stage. The cracks in the wall no longer vibrated, and the restraint device on Joonghyuk's wrist hummed more quietly.
All of this did not escape Han Sooyoung's attention.
She stood a few steps behind Dokja, watching with sharp eyes and an unreadable expression. She watched as the two exchanged a kiss—not as a romantic act, but as a professional procedure filled with an exchange of energy. Still, there was something different about seeing it in person.
Unconsciously, Sooyoung bit the corner of her lip. She knew exactly what Dokja's second stage of guidance felt like. She'd experienced it before. She knew how the energy felt far deeper, more pervasive, and more intense than the first stage of guidance, which was simply through touch. The second stage always brought a sharper, more difficult-to-ignore sensation of resonance.
On one hand, she analyzed the situation rationally—noting how Yoo Joonghyuk's stability had significantly improved, how his energy fluctuations had decreased. But on the other hand, her mind briefly wandered to another possibility. With the same high compatibility rate, she could theoretically also perform a second stage of guidance on Yoo Joonghyuk if needed.
The thought just popped into her head, then she immediately dismissed it.
This is not the time to think about such things.
She refocused her attention on the changing energy flow in the room, making sure that if there was a sudden surge, she was ready to intervene. Still, her gaze occasionally returned to the two figures before her—to the synchronicity now so strong it was almost tangible in the air.
Sooyoung tried to take a step closer, just a small, almost imperceptible half-step, as if she was afraid of disturbing the delicate balance that was currently being maintained between the Guide and the Esper. But the slightest movement in the isolation room felt like a spark on a pile of fuel. Yoo Joonghyuk, still in a hypersensitive state from the rage, reacted immediately. His jaw muscles tensed involuntarily, and in the next split second he bit Kim Dokja's tongue that was still between their lips. The faint metallic taste of blood filled Dokja's taste buds, making him pause for a moment.
The bite wasn't a deliberate attack—more like the instinctive reflex of an overwhelmed Esper. But the effect was far greater than a minor cut. Panic crossed Joonghyuk's face as he realized what he had done. A surge of his Esper powers erupted uncontrollably, like an invisible wave crashing across the room. The restraints around his wrists trembled violently, fine cracks spreading across them before they finally gave way with a sharp snap.
In an almost incalculable instant, the power expanded wildly. Joonghyuk grabbed Sooyoung with an invisible energy thrust, her body lifted and suspended in the air by a suffocating pressure. Dokja, realizing the worsening situation, immediately tried to approach, but the same energy returned to him. A powerful pressure slammed into his chest, causing him to stagger. Joonghyuk's eyes were blank yet stormy—the gaze of an Esper who had lost control of himself.
'Stop.'
The voice didn't float in the air, didn't echo off the walls of the room, but struck Joonghyuk's consciousness from within. A sharp, clear, and absolute command. He recognized the tone—not through his ears, but through something deeper. The command cut through the fog in his head, cutting off the nearly unstoppable flow of power. The invisible hand gripping Sooyoung loosened just before the pressure was enough to fatally injure her. The power aimed at Dokja also stopped an almost unfathomable distance from the Guide's body.
“INJECT A SEDATIVE!!”
The scream echoed loudly, filled with panic and command at once. Within seconds, the emergency system connected to Joonghyuk's body activated. Cold fluid flowed through the attached tubes, infiltrating his bloodstream. A heavy sensation began to creep from his fingertips, slowly spreading throughout his body. His vision blurred, the edges of the world seeming to soften and lose focus.
In his semi-conscious state, Joonghyuk realized that his hood had been removed during his earlier outburst. For the first time in a long time, he caught a glimpse of the isolation room where he was being held—the cold metal walls, the overly bright white light, the shadows of uniformed men behind the surveillance glass. It all felt both strange and painfully familiar.
“Han Sooyoung!”
“Hey, are you okay?”
Dokja's voice sounded panicked, his footsteps pounding against the floor as he ran toward someone. With his remaining consciousness fading, Joonghyuk forced his eyes open. He saw Dokja kneeling, cradling a woman's limp body in his arms. Her short black hair was loose, her face pale but stubborn even in her semi-conscious state.
A woman. Han Sooyoung.
The name echoed in his mind, triggering whatever fragments of memory he could still grasp. Esper-Guide Han Sooyoung. One of the individuals with whom he had a high degree of compatibility—on par with Kim Dokja. That fact should have felt neutral, but for some reason, it now gave him a strange sensation in his chest.
Something else bothered him even more. The command he'd heard earlier—the tone, intonation, emphasis—was exactly the same as Han Sooyoung's voice. He was sure he hadn't mistaken her. But wasn't Han Sooyoung, according to official data, an A-Rank Esper with the ability to control Black Flames? No other abilities were ever mentioned.
Except...
Unless the center was deliberately hiding it. Mind Control, or a form of advanced suggestion, was something too valuable—and too dangerous—to be publicly announced. The center would surely keep it under wraps, exploiting it discreetly. The thought made his jaw clench even as his body grew heavier.
But beneath all the analysis and suspicion, there was one more honest truth he couldn't deny. He didn't resent the order. He wasn't angry at being stopped. If Sooyoung really had done it, he would have been grateful. Without the order, he might have hurt them both.
Again and again, he nearly became a threat to those around him. The bitter feeling creeping up in his chest was more painful than the effects of the sedatives that had now completely taken over his nervous system. His gaze remained fixed on Dokja, who was hugging Sooyoung with a panicked expression, as if the world consisted only of the two of them.
Joonghyuk's consciousness finally crumbled slowly, like a curtain being pulled back on a stage. Before the darkness swallowed him completely, a simple hope crossed his mind that neither of them would be hurt more severely because of him. If someone had to pay the price, let it be him.
Han Sooyoung could still clearly hear the panic in Kim Dokja's voice, even though the world around her felt like it was spinning slowly and unsteadily. Her head was throbbing violently, not just a simple headache, but a deep, stabbing pain, as if something had been forced in and then violently pulled back from her mind. The effects of the mental command she had just used had not only drained her energy, but also left strange traces—fragments of sensations that were not her own. Like fragments of another consciousness that had come into contact with her when she had penetrated Yoo Joonghyuk's mental defenses.
“Sooyoung, you have a nosebleed.”
Dokja's voice sounded closer now, filled with worry that he didn't try to hide. Sooyoung slowly raised her hand, touched the base of her nose, and felt a warm liquid drip down her fingertips. When she pulled her hand back, the redness was clearly visible on her skin.
She really had a nosebleed.
You must be kidding.
She had used only one simple command—'Stop'—and that too on a single target. Granted, the target was an Esper who surpassed S-Rank and was in a berserk state, but still ... just one word. One impulse of will. Yet the side effects were immediate; a severe migraine, momentary memory loss, a nosebleed, and the sensation of having her mind forcibly pulled through a wall of spikes.
How much effort would she have to expend if Joonghyuk hadn't stopped at the first command? If she had to repeat it? Or worse, if she had to force a more complex suggestion?
She felt like she was going to faint. Her vision darkened at the edges, and she lost her balance before Dokja swiftly supported her. In this state, she couldn't suppress the sarcastic thoughts that usually served as her shield.
Actually, why did she have to get involved in such a mess?
She was only a C-rank Guide. Technically, her role in the guiding division wasn't particularly necessary. While her compatibility with certain Espers was high, her guiding rank remained below the elite standard. As an Esper, on the other hand, her rank was much higher. She was more often sent out to exterminate monsters in dungeons than to sit in isolation like this, watching a top-tier Esper lose control.
But still, she is here.
Just as her body began to feel lighter and her consciousness was about to slip away, she felt a warm, steady wave of energy touch her body. A gentle yet purposeful, guiding current flowed through her, calming the wild throbbing in her head. Sh knew it without even needing to see its source.
Kim Dokja.
Sooyoung forced her eyes open and caught a rare look on Dokja's face—worry, genuine worry. His brows were furrowed, his hands holding her body carefully as if she might break if he held her too tightly. The guidance he provided through his touch was enough to steady her shaken system.
That's right. It was because of that idiotic Guide Kim Dokja that she ended up in this situation.
She wanted to complain. She wanted to say that none of this was her business.
But her body was too tired to even open her mouth.
At almost the same moment, when Yoo Joonghyuk finally showed no signs of consciousness—his body slumped and his psionic powers reduced to a minimum—the door to the isolation room opened with a mechanical hiss. Several staff members rushed in, donning additional energy restraints. Their steps were swift and practiced, some heading straight for Joonghyuk to reattach the restraints, others approaching Dokja and Sooyoung.
Someone tried to take Dokja's place to check on Sooyoung, but Dokja seemed reluctant to let go until he was absolutely sure she was stable. Meanwhile, the indicator light on the wall changed from emergency red to warning yellow.
The chaos subsided.
But amidst all of that, Sooyoung could still feel the lingering echoes of the command she had just given swirling around in her mind and she knew that, sooner or later, the questions about her abilities would no longer be hidden.