"Oh?"
Doyun said with a mocking lift of his brow as the group stood up, dusting themselves off.
"Made it out alive?"
"Damn, that Precision Core must be pretty strong."
"He must be the one who killed the BarbTail."
Jaemin stepped forward slowly, each footfall deliberate—measured. His gaze was locked on Doyun, his tone deathly quiet.
"Apologise to Taeha… Captain."
Doyun stared back, eyes wide for a beat before chuckling.
"Pfft—hah! Alright, alright."
He turned to Taeha and gave a mocking bow, the corners of his lips curled in amusement.
"Sorry, buddy. Hope you didn't mind being our little bait."
Taeha lowered his eyes. The sting was sharper than anything he'd felt in the Rift. He knew the mockery in that voice. The betrayal. The moment they'd all decided his life was worth less than extra profit.
Then another member of the team stepped up, grinning as if nothing had happened. He clapped Jaemin on the back.
"Well done on the kill, bro. Don't worry, we'll still give you a cut of the profit. Taeha's share too."
Taeha's eyes widened.
Even now?
Even after everything?
They wanted him dead either way.
The man took another step forward, toward Taeha.
SHNK—!
A sickening sound tore through the silence. Blood sprayed into the air, painting the ashen floor red. The man's body froze in place, a dagger jutting cleanly through his forehead.
The others recoiled in horror.
Jaemin stood there, unflinching, his hand extended. The glow of his Core flickered in his irises like a dying sun.
He tilted his head slowly, a dark smile creeping onto his face.
"Good job on apologising."
He said softly.
"But now… I'll keep all your money to myself."
Jaemin stepped forward slowly.
Each step echoed like a war drum in the stillness. The others flinched, unsure whether to run or draw their weapons. Blood still dripped from Binary Star.
"I really did forget…"
"Not all humans have humanity."
"Some are devils in disguise…"
"…And some even scare the devil himself."
He came to a halt.
Jaemin tilted his head slightly, hair falling over one eye, his silhouette illuminated by the flickering light of the Rift's unstable aura.
"I went through a lot of problems killing that boss."
They didn't move.
They couldn't.
"And the biggest problem…."
He paused, lifting his chin. His eyes glowed like the last rays of a setting sun, furious and beautiful—unforgiving.
"…was having my time wasted by joining this pathetic excuse of a raid."
A single heartbeat passed.
Then he smiled.
A cruel, calm, broken smile.
"I'll compensate for this."
He raised Binary Star again, its glow returning, sharper than ever, now trembling with rage held barely in check.
"…by gutting each of you."
His voice dropped, a growl now.
"One."
He stepped forward.
"By one."
Two figures lunged from above, growling like beasts, blades poised to carve Jaemin apart mid-air.
But he was gone.
A flicker.
A blur.
Vanished.
"—Wha—?"
The first man didn't even finish the thought before his vision was cut short. His head spiralled away, cleanly severed mid-flight.
SLIK!!
Blood painted the ceiling as the body hit the ground with a hollow thud.
The second attacker landed—barely—only to feel a crushing pressure on his leg.
He looked down.
Too late.
Jaemin stood behind him, foot planted on his thigh, staring dead into his soul.
CRACK!!
With a thunderous stomp, Jaemin caved his skull in. Bone and brain matter sprayed like crushed fruit. The only sound was the wet squelch beneath Jaemin's blood-soaked soles.
THWIP!
An arrow.
Deflected with a flick of the wrist, Jaemin's blade angled like it knew what was coming.
THWIP!
THWIP!
THWIP!
More followed—precision-core snipes meant to kill in a blink. But Jaemin flowed like water between the lines of fire, each deflection smoother than the last. One arrow, however, he caught mid-flight.
He didn't even look.
With a small twist of his fingers, he hurled it back.
THWEEK!!
Right into the sniper's eye.
The man staggered, gasping, arrow buried to the fletching. Jaemin closed the distance in one step, plunged Binary Star deep into the man's chest, right through the heart, and twisted.
"No need to try too hard..."
The body slumped before hitting the floor.
But then—
BOOM!!!
A scarlet fist slammed into Jaemin's ribs, sending him crashing into the wall with a crack of bone and stone.
Doyun stood at the centre of the room, eyes wild.
"You asswipe think too highly of yourself."
He snarled, teeth bared, fists ablaze.
Crimson aura surged around him like a wildfire, the unmistakable flare of a Bastion pushed to its edge. His skin cracked with heat, and the ground beneath him splintered from pressure.
Jaemin slid off the wall, wiping blood from his lips.
There was still one left.
A support Coreborn, hiding just behind Doyun, hands trembling as he silently buffed him, feeding strength into the brute with every pulse.
Jaemin's eyes narrowed.
He leapt high above Doyun, his shadow blotting out the support's light.
CRACK!
His boot crashed into the support's face with a sickening crunch, sending the man sprawling. Jaemin didn't waste a heartbeat—he dropped down, dagger-first.
SHUNK!!
The blade plunged clean through the man's throat. The buff ended. The coward died gasping.
Jaemin stood, eyes burning like coals.
"Sorry, Doyun."
He muttered coldly, gripping the captain by the nape.
"But people like you... don't deserve to make it out of the Rift."
Before Doyun could even turn—
CRACK!!
Jaemin slammed his head into the ground. Blood burst like a fruit split open.
Doyun twitched.
THWAP!!!
The second slam turned twitching into stillness.
Silence fell.
The Bastion was dead.
Jaemin stood, blood dripping from his hands like ink off a brush. He wiped it off with calm disinterest—just another mess to clean.
He said nothing.
Just turned and walked.
Taeha followed behind in shocked silence, limping slightly, eyes locked on the trail of crimson footprints.
They passed the corpses, passed the chamber where death itself had nearly taken them both, and stepped toward the Rift exit—wordless.
Taeha didn't speak. He couldn't.
His mind reeled.
First the boss… now the whole squad?
Did Jaemin-hyung really do all this for money?
And if that was true…Then why?
Why didn't he kill me, too? Why did he save me?
****
They stepped out of the Rift.
The exit shimmered shut behind them like a curtain of starlight folding into itself.
It was sunset now.
The sky was painted in strokes of amber and crimson, and a cold breeze danced through the empty lot around the Rift zone. Taeha stood still, gazing at the horizon as if trying to convince himself it was real.
He never thought he'd see another sunset.
Not today.
His eyes glistened—not just from awe, but relief… gratitude… and the numb ache of survival.
CRACK.
Taeha flinched.
But it was just the sound of a can popping open.
Jaemin stood beside him, a can of cold coffee in one hand. Another in the other, extended toward Taeha.
"Here."
He said flatly.
Taeha took it with trembling hands. The chill of the metal stung—but it grounded him.
Jaemin didn't look at him. He just stared off into the dying light, wind brushing through his short black hair.
He knew the weight in Taeha's heart. Knew how close to death he had stood. How the memory of that moment would never truly leave him.
"Keep quiet about everything you saw today."
Jaemin said, voice low.
He turned to leave.
Until—
"Han Jaemin!"
A voice called out.
Sharp. Firm. Familiar.
He stopped.
Turned his head slightly.
Kim Minsoo stood there.
"…We need to talk."
"About what?"
Jaemin asked, voice calm but hollow, his eyes still fixed on the vending machine behind Minsoo.
"Did you join this freelancing raid?"
Jaemin nodded slowly.
"Yeah. I did. Why?"
Minsoo hesitated for a second.
"Then... where are the others?"
"They all died."
Jaemin said, sipping from his coffee.
"To the boss."
Minsoo blinked.
"All of them…?"
Jaemin shrugged.
"Mm."
There was blood on Jaemin's sleeves. Drying. Caked on his collar, too. His tone didn't match his state.
"And that one?"
Minsoo nodded toward Taeha, who stood nearby, trying not to look like he was listening too hard.
Jaemin glanced over, then looked back with zero hesitation.
"Some rando. I don't know him."
He took another sip and turned to walk away.
Taeha froze.
"…Rando?"
He whispered to himself.
His lip twitched.
Really...? Just like that? After everything...? TT
He puffed his cheeks and looked away, muttering silently under his breath, trying not to look like a kicked puppy.
Meanwhile, Jaemin raised a hand without turning back.
"Ill get going now...I have work to do."
Jaemin returned home just as the sun dipped below the skyline, grocery bag in hand and warm food containers stacked neatly inside. For once, he didn't feel like collapsing the moment he stepped through the door.
On the sofa, Nari was upside down—literally—her legs hanging over the backrest and her head grazing the floor, eyes scanning a textbook held above her face.
"Nari, you okay?"
Jaemin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You look like a bat."
She didn't even look up.
"Says you. This is how I study...You barely studied either way, so shush."
"And still topped my class."
Silence.
She lowered her book slightly, her upside-down eyes narrowing at him. She had no comeback. Because, unfortunately, he was right.
Jaemin chuckled softly, setting the bag down on the table.
"Dinner."
Nari sprang up like a bolt, flipping over the couch in one fluid movement.
"No way. Takeout? Where'd you get the money for this? Wait—did you rob a bank? Are we rich now? You friends with the Kardashians or something?!"
She peeked into the bag and gasped.
"Is this actual tteokbokki?! And—oh my god—is that pork belly?!"
Jaemin sighed, pulling off his jacket.
"You're using your brain too much these days."
Nari squinted suspiciously.
"That's not an answer, oppa."
He ignored her, walking over to ruffle her hair before collapsing onto the floor with a soft groan.
"Eat while it's hot. I'm not carrying your fainting body to your room again."
As Nari dug in excitedly, Jaemin leaned back, eyes half-lidded.
He didn't tell her about the Rift. About the blood. Or the death. Or the fact that he'd left a massive stash of Rift crystals behind, tucked into Taeha's bag when he wasn't looking.
Let the kid have it, he thought. He needed it more...maybe
He didn't want praise for that. Didn't need it.
All Jaemin wanted was this.
This moment. This quiet.
This weird bat of a sister was munching on spicy rice cakes like she hadn't eaten in days.
"Thanks, oppa."
She mumbled between bites, mouth full.
Jaemin smiled faintly.
"…Don't talk with your mouth full."
Jaemin later joined her at the table, opening one of the containers and picking at the food with his chopsticks. He took a bite, exhaled. The spice was perfect.
"So… what's good?"
Nari asked between sips of soda.
Jaemin raised an eyebrow at her.
"What do you mean, 'what's good'?"
Nari rolled her eyes like he was the dumbest genius alive.
"What's up with you. You look different lately—after the Awakening. And you've been earning a lot, like… a lot."
He didn't answer right away, just kept chewing, eyes fixed on the table. She watched him, eyebrows raised, waiting.
"Hm? Hello? Im speaking to you, not the wall...Don't tell me you're losing your hearing cuz of your age...."
He sighed through his nose and glanced at her.
"How's studying? How was your test?"
"Easy. Crushed it."
She said, flipping her hair dramatically before narrowing her eyes.
"Don't change the subject."
He groaned lightly and leaned back in his chair.
"Fine. I got into a few good freelance Rift raids recently. That's all. They paid well."
He shrugged, clearly wanting to dismiss the topic.
"Guess I got lucky."
Nari studied him for a second, then slowly nodded.
"Freelance, huh…?"
She sipped her soda again, lips pressed into a neutral line, as if deciding whether to push more. But eventually she just leaned back and let it go.
"Well, if this luck keeps up, I'm expecting steak next week."
She said with a grin.
Jaemin smirked faintly, still avoiding her eyes.
"Tch. You'll bankrupt me at this rate."
"You already spoil me."
She said with mock seriousness, holding up a piece of pork belly.
"This… is love."
He chuckled under his breath, eyes finally softening.
"Shut up and eat before it gets cold."
They ate in silence after that—comfortable, grounding silence.
And though she let the questions go for now, Nari knew her brother too well.
Something had changed in him.
And she wasn't sure if she should be proud… or afraid.
Later that night, the dishes were cleaned, the table wiped down, and Nari yawned her way to bed.
"Don't stay up too late."
She muttered, already half-asleep as she shuffled down the hallway.
"I won't."
Jaemin lied.
His room was dim, lit only by the pale blue glow of his old desk lamp. He sat in his chair, leaning back slightly, staring at the ceiling as the quiet hum of the city outside filled the silence.
The Rift today—it wasn't just a mission. It was a warning. A glimpse.
"I can't keep waiting for red missions like this."
He muttered to himself.
"Especially not under Covenant jurisdictions. Not with how they're run."
He tapped his fingers on the wooden armrest of his chair, the rhythm uneven, restless.
"They pick favourites. They gatekeep power. They drag their feet and let politics slow everything down. Meanwhile, people like Doyun rise just because of connections and ego…"
He sat up and leaned forward, elbows on his knees. His gaze was sharp now, narrowed in thought.
"I need a way around it. Something outside their leash. Or I'll never grow strong enough—not fast enough."
His hands curled into fists.
"What happened today… it was just one Rift. One mistake. One near-death."
And he'd almost lost an innocent person. He'd almost lost control. But it wasn't enough. Not yet.
Maybe it was time to stop waiting for the system to feed him scraps.
Maybe it was time to break it.
"I can't keep relying on freelance red missions... not with all these Covenant restrictions. I need a workaround. A path of my own."
His eyes drifted toward the drawer beside his desk.
He suddenly remembered. He had kept a few Rift crystals from the raid—just a small stash before giving the rest to Taeha.
Sliding open the drawer, he sifted through the glowing fragments. Most of them shimmered in standard hues—brilliant blues, flickering greens. But one stood out.
A low pulse.
A heartbeat.
Blue. Again.
His eyes narrowed. It was the same hue, the same energy as the one that had awakened his telekinesis days ago. But unlike last time, he wasn't hesitant.
This time, he welcomed it.
"C'mon crystal."
He muttered, half a smirk playing on his lips.
"Better be a power-up."
He picked it up. But it didn't vanish like before.
It stayed.
It trembled.
It resonated with his Core.
Frowning slightly, he clenched it in his hand—and with a sharp crack, crushed it.
The shards didn't fall.
Instead, they melted into a violet surge of energy, spiralling through his arm and chest like a cold wave of static. His fingers twitched. He could feel the energy waiting for something.
He focused hard.
A pulse radiated out from his palm like ripples through reality itself. And then—
A tear opened in front of him.
Dark violet.
Not blue.
Not like any Rift he'd seen.
A rift... summoned.
"Holy shit…"
He whispered, stepping back slightly, staring into its swirling depths. There was no alarm. No Covenant alert. No surge beacon.
No one else knew.
It had appeared in his room. His territory.
By his hand.
"A private Rift...?"
He muttered in disbelief.
It dawned on him slowly—
No Covenant rules.
No politics.
No team.
No one watching.
Just him… and whatever was waiting inside.
His lips curled into a grin.
"If I can summon this whenever I want…"
He murmured, eyes still glowing with violet sparks.
"…then I can grow—without limits."
He took a step forward, letting the Rift's darkness reflect in his eyes.
This was no ordinary crystal.
This was a key.
A door.
To everything...everything he could be.