Chapter Text
Kim Rok Soo died.
In his final moments, he had been fighting a giant SS+ class monster in the apocalyptic streets of what was once the thriving city of Seoul.
An anomaly that should never have appeared near the city's safe zones.
However, accidents always happen in this catastrophic era, and someone has to be responsible for resolving the situation.
Unfortunately, Rok Soo and his team were chosen for this mission.
As the leader of one of the teams responsible for the citizens' safety, Rok Soo was deployed to fight this monstrosity that no one expected to appear.
Rok Soo's team is powerful; that is something his colleagues and superiors have to admit.
But no matter how powerful they are, an SS+ class monster cannot be fought by a single group of hunters. At least four of these groups are needed to be able to kill an anomaly of this size.
Unfortunately, Rok Soo lacks both the assertiveness and the connections needed to make decisions about his own life.
The leaders of the hunters’ organization knew that this was a suicide mission that would not only endanger the safety of Rok Soo and his team, but also that of hundreds of civilians located in the area who had no way of escaping.
However, the organization's leaders are motivated solely by the pursuit of greater profits, not by protecting the lives of innocent people.
Kim Rok Soo is a talented hunter with unique powers that make him stand out from the rest. Furthermore, his leadership ability and decision-making in critical moments have earned him the loyalty and admiration of other hunters.
The organization's executives, fearful that Rok Soo would rebel against them and their unjust policies, decided that this hunter had to die as soon as possible.
A dog is only useful when it can be controlled by its master; if it becomes more powerful than its owner, it must be eliminated.
The appearance of a high-ranking monster in an area under their jurisdiction gave the superiors the perfect opportunity to completely eliminate this threat, which was beginning to strike fear into their hearts.
That is how Rok Soo ended up in this precarious situation.
Covered from head to toe in open wounds, viscous blood running down his body and forming a pool on the cold asphalt.
The sweat pouring from his body—the result of overusing his powers—seeped into his wounds, causing excruciating pain throughout his entire being.
Although his body was screaming in pain, and his head was throbbing as if it might explode at any moment, Rok Soo felt that his mind possessed, at that moment, an inexplicable clarity.
To him, the plan that the organization’s higher-ups had orchestrated to get rid of him was all too obvious.
Although Rok Soo possesses unique abilities that set him apart from others, none of them were specialized in combat. His powers were used primarily for reconnaissance and analyzing combat patterns.
So, how was he supposed to fight a monster of this magnitude when his team consisted of only six people, of whom only two were direct combatants?.
It was basically impossible.
Rok Soo knew full well that he had no choice but to accept this mission.
He had tried to keep a low profile at work until he could save enough money to retire and build a farm on the outskirts of Seoul.
That has been the plan all along.
Because of this, Rok Soo always obeyed his superiors’ orders, thinking that if he acted more submissively, they wouldn’t stand in his way.
'It seems my life choices were wrong.'
Before reaching the area where the monster was running rampant, Rok Soo knew he would not be able to escape death this time.
However, his teammates weren’t to blame for being led by a man who couldn’t protect them.
For this very reason, he decided it was better to die alone than to drag the whole team into their deaths.
Although Rok Soo’s powers weren’t specialized for attacking, he was an experienced hunter and had other ways to fight this monster, even if that meant he had to use his powers to the limit, destroying his body and sustaining multiple injuries in the process.
Even though he could not stop the monster on his own, at least he could wound it enough so that his subordinates would not have to die fighting it.
That's the last attempt he could do as their leader.
His companions tried to stop him on multiple occasions, but one of his powers involves speed. If he is willing, no one can block his path.
After some time, Rok Soo was so badly injured that he could no longer move.
He knew his time had come.
He watched as the anomaly rapidly approached him while his teammates tried to stop and block the monster, using all of their powers until they were exhausted.
His subordinates’ attempts were obviously unsuccessful.
"If they could kill it easily, that thing wouldn’t be an SS+ class anomaly".
Although they have never been close with each other, in the final moment Rok Soo was able to make out some emotions on his companions' faces.
Fear.
Frustration.
Despair.
And deep sadness.
'Why are they reacting that way?'
'I have always been an incompetent man who can’t even protect them'.
'…'
'Watching a comrade die is a very painful experience. Although it’s an unfortunate situation, I’m sure they’ll soon be able to get over my death and move on.'
'I wish you all the best, my companions.'
That was the last thought that crossed Rok Soo’s mind, when suddenly the monster was right in front of him.
Now, everything was completely dark.