NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8
Chapter 8
With confidence, Yu Da On smiles.
– Bang!
Of course, that laughter ended as she got knocked back from a headbutt.
Is that what happens when a person hits a steel door like that?
Yu Da On crashed into the wall and, after a short while, let out a grunt before getting up on her two feet again.
“Just because your body comes back doesn’t mean you don’t feel pain, huh?”
“This world isn’t that easy.”
Yu Da On staggers toward me. With each step she takes, a loud crackling sound echoes from her body. Is she realigning her bones or something?
During the time Yu Da On was walking toward me, the Entity did nothing. It simply rotated what could be assumed to be its face between Yu Da On and me.
“For now, it seems I can stall for time.”
After stretching her arms like she was warming up, Yu Da On spoke.
I think I’ve said this before, but seeing her in ragged clothes, I can’t help wondering if it’s okay to look at places that shouldn’t be exposed.
“The problem is, I can only stall for time. I can instinctively tell my body is coming back, but I don’t think I can win against that thing.”
“Seems that way.”
If I were to liken this to a game, wouldn’t that mean my stamina is infinite while its attack power is only around 5? It’s practically a training ground scarecrow, isn’t it?
“But I’ll definitely be able to stall for time. After all, I can attach myself and try something.”
She might be a solid tank, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t variables. Just like earlier, she might get parasitized, and just because she’s regenerating doesn’t mean she’s invincible.
“Anyway, finishing quickly wouldn’t hurt.”
I continue to gaze at the still Entity. Is it observing us?
Once again, I looked at the Entity.
[Name: The Life of a Butterfly – Incomplete Entity]
[Age: ???]
[Specialty: Parasite Creation]
[Talent: ???]
[Background: This entity was on the brink of great evolution but was obstructed by mere vermin.]
[Vulnerability: A butterfly that cannot emerge from its chrysalis will inevitably die without spreading its wings.]
I carefully read the part on vulnerabilities.
A butterfly, huh.
Does that mean it hasn’t fully recovered its strength yet?
I conveyed my thoughts to Yu Da On, and she nodded in agreement, seeming to understand what I meant without me needing to say it explicitly.
“I get what you’re implying, but I don’t think we have the luxury of proper thinking time.”
She moved in front of me, abandoning her previous position.
Slowly, the Entity started to rise, at a pace reminiscent of a person walking.
“I’ll leave it to you. Whether it’s frying or beating, I’ll stall for time, so just focus on capturing that thing, Jae Heon. Use any means necessary.”
Then she boldly stepped forward and collided with the Entity.
– Bang!
Yu Da On’s body crashed to the ground, but like a spring, she bounced back up and charged at the Entity again.
What if I just leave everything to her like this?
I must resolve this quickly.
I have no clue how long Yu Da On can endure, and I don’t want to see her suffer unnecessarily.
In the darkness, I pulled out the Manual.
[Manual for Staff]
BB-Isolation Procedure
1. If the isolation has failed, it’s likely that the system within the isolation room has shut down. In such cases, it is recommended to physically subdue the isolated entity.
2. Weapons for subduing the entity are provided in each isolation room, tailored to the capabilities of the staff.
To use the weapons, pull the lever located near the entrance of the isolation room. From the moment you finish reading this line, the lever should come into view.
Why not inform us about such things in advance?
Ignoring the crashing sounds, I forced myself to run toward the entrance.
According to the manual, a lever that hadn’t been visible before was now clearly in sight.
“Ugh, I don’t know…”
– Creak!
I pulled the lever.
With a click, I heard something engage above my head, and something fell down.
It wasn’t a heavy impact, so it felt kind of light.
I squatted down to pick up the object.
“…Butane gas?”
It was a butane canister for portable gas burners.
Brand new, complete with a red cap.
“…What is this—”
I unintentionally let out my frustration as I stared at the butane canister.
[Name: Butane Gas]
[Age: Manufactured in the 1990s]
[Specialty: X]
[Talent: X]
[Background: This butane gas was made in the early 90s by a certain company to create endless gas. However, they failed to predict that what would emerge from the butane gas was not gas, but an unquenchable flame. Consequently, this item is currently isolated within the Management Agency and will be deployed for personnel assistance when needed. To use it, shake it vigorously before opening the cap.]
[Vulnerability: If shaken too much, the flame fires backward.]
“…”
Is this really the right thing?
What kind of person thought this item would suit me? Even though I work for the Management Agency, there are times—no, almost every time—when I can’t understand what these people are thinking.
Am I not the one who’ll be set on fire if it fires backward?
But now’s not the time to question that.
I slowly shook the butane canister as I approached Yu Da On and the Entity.
Yu Da On was diligently holding off the Entity as she had said.
I can’t tell if she’s actually blocking it or merely getting hit, but it was hard to tell.
– Bang!
Yu Da On, who had been thrown my way, groaned and got up.
Her grotesquely twisted shoulder and leg quickly returned to their places as if it had never happened.
“Did you find it?”
“For now, yes.”
Showing her the butane canister, Yu Da On gave me a puzzled look but then stepped forward again.
“Do I have to hold onto it?”
“It’ll catch fire.”
“Burning hurts a lot though.”
Does getting beaten not hurt? Has this woman really become a human practice scarecrow?
“Just a sec.”
After shaking the butane canister a few times, I stood next to Yu Da On and opened the red cap.
– Woosh!
In an instant, an immense heat surged.
An explosion-like flame. If I had to describe it, this must be what a scientifically made fireball feels like.
The flame shot straight toward the Entity that had been approaching the entrance, engulfing it in fire.
The Entity thrashed about in the flames. Its wings flapped, and its body shook violently, clearly in agony.
But I couldn’t stop. After all, in this world, being careless kills people.
I continued to roast the Entity with fire for about three more minutes, and only after its movements stopped did I close the cap and check on it.
– Sizzle…
The smell of burning protein wafted through the air.
The Entity was still flapping its wings at that spot.
The difference now was the soot covering its body.
The frightening part is that even in that situation, it was still able to fly and hadn’t fallen.
And then—
– Bam!
Yu Da On shoved me aside and vanished right before my eyes.
– Bang!
One side of the isolation room’s wall caved in, and Yu Da On’s neck was caught in the Entity’s grip, bashing her against the wall.
Just a moment ago, it hadn’t been that fast, so what’s going on?
“Gah, cough!”
Yu Da On struggled, repeatedly punching the Entity’s arm, but the Entity merely watched her, without even flinching, then—
Snap.
It broke her neck and cruelly threw her away.
Yu Da On soared through the air like a discarded shoe, and before I could react, the Entity was right in front of me.
“What the—”
– Thud.
This time, the Entity grabbed my neck.
I found myself gasping for breath, my feet starting to flail as I panicked.
Why? Why am I not dead? Could it be that the Management Agency made a grave mistake?
“L-let go of the person…! Argh!”
Before long, Yu Da On, having returned to her original state, clung to the Entity’s upper body, straining with all her might.
But with a mere wave of the Entity’s hand, she was sent sprawling far away.
From the beginning, it felt much stronger that Yu Da On was just redirecting the Entity’s aggression rather than defeating it.
I could feel the Entity’s grip tightening around my neck.
My consciousness began to dim.
Is this how it ends?
In that moment, another thought crossed my mind.
What if the reason they gave me the butane gas wasn’t for this?
What if it means I’m not meant to solve this problem with my own power?
As my consciousness faded, I shook the butane canister and aimed the opening at the ceiling, flicking the cap off with my thumb.
– Woosh!
Just like earlier, flames erupted.
This time, however, they shot toward the ceiling, not the Entity.
The flames struck the ceiling, and as a result, a mechanical voice flowed from the speakers.
< Fire and containment entity have been detected within the isolation room. Beginning forced suppression. Personnel inside are advised to exit as quickly as possible. The Management Agency will bear no responsibility for any issues that arise if exit is delayed. >
– Swoosh!
As soon as that statement ended, a chill ran down my spine.
This sensation is the same as the one I felt in the containment control room.
Darkness suddenly descended in front of my eyes, and as my vision brightened, the Entity’s wings had already been severed.
The Entity fell flat on the ground, and I too collapsed to the floor.
< Initiating isolation procedure. 10, 9, 8, 7… >
I don’t know what’s happening, but I can’t stay still.
I quickly got to my feet and prepared to dash toward the exit.
I glanced at Yu Da On, and she was also running toward the entrance, completely uninjured.
< 6 >
The exit wasn’t far.
< 5 >
I almost tripped over the remnants of the chrysalis but managed to maintain my balance.
< 4 >
Yu Da On waved her hand at me from in front of the door.
< 3 >
The door was just in front of me. At this rate, I should be fine.
< 2 >
Something snagged on my ankle, and I fell to the floor.
< 1 >
When I looked back, the Entity was desperately trying to climb onto me, gripping my ankle tightly.
“Stop!”
I heard Yu Da On’s scream.
< 0. Initiating forced isolation procedure. Please assist in recovering the remaining debris and bodies once physical entry is possible. >
The world went dark.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t see.
Even if I opened or closed my eyes, all I could see was darkness. It felt as if someone had cloaked me in shadows.
– Slurp… Slurp…
I heard something chewing.
It sounded like someone was munching on something with a hard shell.
Occasionally, I heard sounds of resistance, flapping violently, but they soon faded away as if they were meaningless.
– Gulp.
I heard something swallow.
Desperately, I rolled my eyes. I had to think of a way to survive here.
And then I locked eyes with something that was looking at me.
I couldn’t make out the form, but I could tell it was smiling, enjoying itself.
[Name: ???]
[Age: ???]
[Specialty: This is fun.]
[Talent: I didn’t expect you to make it this far.]
[Background: Since it’s fun, I’ll let you go this time.]
My vision began to malfunction.
No, it may not be a malfunction. It appeared as if a dialogue was continuing through my eyes.
[Vulnerability: How about trying to solve it with your own strength next time?]
Soon, the pressure that had weighed me down vanished, and the lights in the isolation room turned on.
Nothing was in the place where the Entity should have been.
It was as if nothing had ever existed here in the first place.
“…”
This time, I didn’t faint. I simply couldn’t lift my head due to the excruciating migraine.
“Jae Heon! Are you okay?”
Seeing Yu Da On collapse beside me while calling out my name filled me with relief.
Anyway, I managed to survive somehow.