“Absolutely not! How could two S-rank Awakened individuals leave Korea just like that in an instant!”
Naturally, the government was in a panic.
It was unimaginable for the two Awakened who were the key to Seoul’s defense to leave for a foreign country, especially to China, which had been rumored to be in turmoil.
It was understandable that they opposed the idea.
But.
“Does the government have the authority to control Awakened individuals? Isn’t it the association that oversees them?”
The groundwork had already been done behind the scenes.
With the Special Law for Awakened being abolished, there were no longer any means for the government to control us.
Ultimately, what they came up with was persuasion.
“But still, if something happens to the two national treasures in China, the country will be in danger. Please, make a choice for the nation…”
“It’ll be fine. Don’t worry. We’ll definitely return before the next eruption begins.”
I had already planned for the journey to last about a week.
With Mirien’s tracking magic, finding Karne wouldn’t be that difficult.
“And if the country is shaken just because two people are missing, can you really call that a country? Besides, what did the nation do for the Awakened last time? We saw how it stopped the eruption on its own, without any damage.”
“Ugh, uh…”
When I shot back at him, the government official could no longer find any words to argue with.
Yoo Junseo looked between me and the man, then gave an awkward smile and scratched the back of his head.
“Hey, that was supposed to be my line…”
“I don’t mind.”
I picked up the receiver.
Before leaving for China with Yoo Junseo, there was one more person I needed to bring.
Finding him wouldn’t be hard, as Kang Sena had already located him.
A moment later, I smiled as I saw the man being forcibly dragged in like a criminal.
“Why am I being brought along?”
“Well, because you know China better than anyone.”
Lao Ying, the Chinese scout, was our guide and interpreter.
“We needed someone who knew the situation in China well. You know it best, right?”
“Well, that’s…”
Lao Ying reluctantly nodded.
And so, the three of us boarded a private jet.
I would have liked to bring Selene and Mirien along, but since there were eyes watching, I planned to summon them once we arrived in mainland China if necessary.
“But Yoo Junseo, do you think the government will just let us go? What if they shoot us down with an anti-aircraft missile or something…?”
Yoo Junseo looked anxious.
“That won’t happen.”
The government wouldn’t be foolish enough to go that far.
I wasn’t traveling alone, and I brought Yoo Junseo along for safety.
As I said earlier, the government wouldn’t be stupid enough to kill two key S-rank Awakened to maintain their power.
Besides, I had a five-star defensive armor on me, and just in case, Mirien and Selene would be watching with sharp eyes, so there was no worry of death.
“By the way, do you know this is my first time on a plane?”
“I didn’t know, and frankly, I didn’t need to know.”
“Ugh, sorry.”
The plane took off, and as I chatted idly with Yoo Junseo, I turned my gaze toward Lao Ying.
With two S-rank Awakened in front of him, he looked like a mouse in front of a cat.
“So, Scout.”
“Yes! Yes, sir!”
“How is the situation in China? Is it the same as what I heard a few weeks ago?”
At my question, Lao Ying scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed look before speaking.
“Well, the thing is, we can’t really gather the details of the situation.”
“What do you mean?”
“About a week ago, the Party issued a directive. They told each of the 22 provinces to figure out their own way to survive…”
“…It’s like the Warring States period.”
“Yes. It’s similar. The association managing Awakened individuals in China has almost become irrelevant, and most of the Awakened who were part of it have fled to the provinces. Some have even escaped to India, Russia, or Mongolia.”
“Is the situation in China really that bad?”
“Because of the large population, there have been many disasters erupting from the cracks. The crow disaster has also increased, and half of Hebei Province has fallen to the hands of the disasters. It’s no longer something one country can stop.”
“Huh.”
I had unleashed the great catastrophe.
The mother of the ominous omen, Karne, was causing havoc in China, making quite a mess.
It could be called the Taiping Rebellion of the 21st century.
“Nam Jooyeon, we’re going to China to chase the actor, the master of the abyss, right? Does that mean all the chaos happening in China is also the work of the actor?”
Yoo Junseo, who had been listening, chimed in.
I answered with a wry smile.
“Yes, well. It’s not an incorrect guess.”
It was, in fact, a sharp deduction.
*
Wherever the black wings passed, there were no survivors.
In places touched by the mother of the ominous omen, Karne, it had always been that way.
The ground was filled with the stench of decay, and the streams of blood gathered into one place, transforming into Karne’s followers.
“My children. Let us stain the world with our feathers.”
Karne, with a faint smile, adjusted the lips hidden beneath her veil.
She had long since let go of past regrets.
She wasn’t strong enough to cling to severed relationships.
The title of “Mother of Life, Mother of All” had long turned into a mockery.
Having been abandoned by the actor, who was her last refuge, Karne was left with nothing but the instinct for destruction.
“…”
―It was at that moment.
A strange yet familiar feeling swept through the air, a sensation so small and faint, but undeniably one not to be missed.
Karne possessed the most developed senses among all the disasters she had caused.
Her bright yellow eyes narrowed dangerously.
The vertically slit pupils were fixed to the east.
“Actor, my child, you have finally come to find me.”
Her voice was low and soft, yet emotions that could not be hidden were tangled within it.
She had expected him to come.
But she hadn’t thought it would be now.
“How interesting.”
This was land thoroughly tainted by death.
No one dared approach this place.
The reason Karne spread the curse of the ominous omen was to block the actor’s approach.
Yet, that man, her repulsive child, had come to find her.
“…Actor.”
Though not yet fully there, it was a being she would soon face.
Her former master, now just a mere mortal.
Karne’s lips slowly curled into a smile.
She licked her lips and raised one hand, causing the crows that had been crouching around her to take flight.
Karne quietly muttered, filled with considerable interest.
“Yes. Let’s hear the story.”
A dark red energy began to slowly rise from her fingertips.
Karne had no intention of waiting.
She would just go to find him.
And with that, her bare feet began to move lightly toward the east.
*
The flight itself didn’t take long.
We arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport, and as soon as we stepped off the charter plane, we were immediately met with a chaotic atmosphere.
“Was China always this deserted?”
“The airport has been closed for two months. Apart from cargo flights, you two are the only customers.”
“Say it properly. There are three of us, including you.”
Lao Ying’s expression crumpled.
He looked like he was trying to get out of this situation.
I grabbed the back of his messy neck and headed toward the crowd waiting for us at the airport.
Before I could even speak, a man stepped forward from the crowd.
Being a fellow awakened person, I knew immediately.
That man was an awakened one.
“…That guy, could he be S-rank?”
“Yes… He recently became an S-rank awakened. His codename is Lei Fu.”
“Lei Fu. That guy’s look is kind of bothering me.”
I frowned.
Lei Fu had the appearance of what one might call a thug.
Short-cropped hair, a sharp jawline, and a scruffy beard.
His face was a science.
I had experienced this several times before.
The first encounter with Nailgun, the second with Hantaegeon, and the one in Daejeon with Jeontae Min.
I manipulated the status window to prepare the Rockbreaker.
Yoo Junseo also tensed up.
Eventually, the awakened one, Lei Fu, arrived in front of us and spoke.
Since it was in the cursed language of Chinese, I couldn’t understand, but from his harsh tone and strong pronunciation, it was clear that he harbored hostility toward us.
“Hey, what the hell is that spicy-smelling guy saying?”
I slapped Lao Ying on the back of the head and demanded a translation.
Lao Ying, glancing at us cautiously, asked carefully.
“Should I translate it exactly as it is?”
“Of course, translate it exactly, why are you trying to paraphrase it?”
“Ah, ahaha.”
With an awkward smile, Lao Ying relayed the message exactly as he had heard it.
“Thank you for coming all this way. My name is Lei Fu, and I’ve come to greet you as the representative of the Chinese Awakener’s Union. I hope this meeting will lead to a good relationship.”
“I told you not to paraphrase,” I said.
“No, no! I swear he said exactly that!” Lao Ying protested desperately.
I furrowed my brows and looked at the awakened one, Lei Fu.
He extended his hand for a handshake with a faint smile and said something.
The interpretation was as follows:
“It’s an honor to meet the heroes of Korea in person. Please kindly accept my inadequate guidance.”
Lei Fu’s eyes were filled with respect for us.
“…Uh.”
He was a thug.