Fallen Lightbringers' Return

"Everybody, grab something to fight with," Lee Dojin shouted at the group. He dashed forward, grabbing the young child and jumping away. A hand that was about to grab her, grabbed air instead.

Kim Jyejin looked around. There was still the metal rod left by the young woman. She turned to the left and caught the sight of the floating doll parts. Her body turned numb from fear. A wave of doubt washed over her. Did she really want to fight these monsters? Had she gone insane? What could she as a mere human do against such supernatural sight? Yet, her eyes met Lee Dojin, who, while holding the small child, grabbed the other dolls with his bare hand and crushed them.

She slapped her face twice, on both cheeks. "Wake up," she shouted to herself. "Wake up, wake up!" Jyejin propped herself up and grabbed the rod. Adrenaline pumped into her body, and she swung the stick of metal like a baseball bat. A floating hand crumbled, getting hit by her.

She took a deep breath, then stabilized herself. She had seen it from Lee Dojin. There was no use being afraid. Whatever it takes, she will survive this to see another day.

Lee Dojin was fast and precise. He hadn't even used any of his abilities yet. In this small space, Cosmic Steps wasn't that effective, and he hadn't tested Novas' End before (and its description gave quite the dangerous picture). But more than anything these dolls weren't any challenge to him.

Still, the anger in him could not subside. One, for letting his mother die once more. Two, for being utterly powerless against the Inciter and the arrival of the Mirage. Three, for letting the people in this room get butchered by these monsters and playing into the hands of that detestable guide.

He grit his teeth. His eyes glowed red. His fist punched straight through a doll's head, skewering it, and hitting the wall to cause a crack on it. The whole room shook for a second. Blood seeped out his hand.

Lee Dojin breathed out to calm down. Still, his mind continued rumbling with impure thoughts. He looked at the little girl and laughed half-heartedly. "Ah, sorry, did I scare you?" He placed her down. "Don't worry, you are safe now."

".. ." The girl didn't say anything. She just nodded absentmindedly while tears kept flowing down her reddish cheeks.

Kim Jyejin hit another head and cracked it in two. The surrounding arms fell limp too, following that, and she came to a sudden conclusion. "Dojin, I just realized something!" They did not worry about the noise anymore. "If you destroy their heads, the rest of the body parts fall apart."

Lee Dojin smiled. "Is that so? Great observation." His eyes moved rapidly. At once, he caught three heads and destroyed them. A few other body parts in the distance stopped moving too. "It seems to be correct."

"W-Wait, let me join too!" Park Hansoo walked out of the toilet while wiping the spit off his mouth. He grabbed a wine bottle and swung it down on a doll. "As if I'd let these pieces of garbage walk all over me. I am Park Hansoo, god damnit!"

However, contrary to his expectations, the doll did not die. Instead, it reached its arms out and grabbed Hansoo by the shoulder. It squeezed tightly, and moved its unhinged jaw closer, ready to take a big bite.

Park Wonho came from behind and quickly pulled the rich kid aside, flinging him a few meters. "Are you stupid," he shouted. "How'd you let yourself be caught like that? You were almost dead meat!"

"Eh, ha.. .haha, thanks," Hansoo coughed twice. His face flushed red, thoroughly embarrassed. He had been saved twice now, and all in front of Jyejin. What great shame. Meanwhile, Lee Dojin was showing off, moving in lightspeed and doing quick work of these weak dolls. He bit his thumb. "So annoying! So annoying! You, I forgot what your name was, but let's go together. They can't catch both of us."

Park Wonho vehemently shook his head. "I refuse."

"Are you joking? No, seriously, are you?" Hansoo felt his jaw drop. By the looks of it, that guy had the size of a panzer. He had to be several times stronger than that Lee Dojin, as he was also a famous delinquent of the school. But as it turned out, he was a coward the whole time? "Bro, this ain't no time to be selfish. Tell me, what do you need? Money? I have a lot. Just get your ass moving. Come on."

"No way. You trust me too much," Park Wonho answered steadfastly. "I'm just a loser with a slightly better build. I am a weakling, who can't do anything."

"This isn't the time to be humble! get your ass mov—" his voice was cut short, as two dolls appeared next to him. He shrieked as if jump scared, then swung the bottle wildly and with no regard. 

Park Wonho bit his lips and clenched his fist enough for it to bleed. He watched on as these people fought. This was fine, he thought. The dolls were getting less and less. And as he watched Lee Dojin, and the way he moved so inhuman yet elegantly, he felt incredibly powerless. Like this, he'd only get in the way. "It will be fine, even without me."

Lee Dojin looked at Wonho. He didn't say anything. His hands continued moving, with every swing, a body part got destroyed and turned to dust. In a way, he was a lot more destructive than the knight.

"This is what true strength looks like, Taewon," Wonho muttered to himself, thinking about his friend who had visited him at the hospital. He once again believed steadfast, Dojin was a mountain he'd never reach, as this was a power that defied responsibility and social burdens—the ultimate freedom to him.

"3 minutes remaining," Latania, the guide, broadcasted.

Wonho felt something tugging his pants. He quickly jumped back. However, looking down, he saw it was only the little girl who Dojin had saved. She was currently grabbing his leg and hiding behind him. Park Wonho laughed. ".. .did you come to me because I looked tough? Sorry to disappoint you then." 

The child continued gripping onto him.

He sighed, as he thought he could not live up to her expectations. "Hey, the one you should really go to is that guy over there," he pointed at Lee Dojin. "He has what you need."

The child shook her head. Her mouth opened, but she could not say anything, as she looked to the left with terrified eyes. Park Wonho followed her sight, and right in front of him, there was a female doll reaching its arm out. "Shit!" When did that thing appear? He did not notice at all. One moment of absence spelled his doom. He looked away and lifted both of his hands and one leg, in an effort to hide. He quickly forgot about the child, and only hoped to protect himself.

Yet, even after a few seconds, nothing happened. It was Kim Jyejins scream that woke him up, "Wonho, you fucking bastard! Save that child!"

He opened his eyes. The doll was on the floor, leaning over that young girl, with its long black hair draped over her face. Her thumbs were wrapped tightly around her neck, while her mouth drooled saliva down. The child kicked its small legs but obviously held no strength to break free.

Park Wonho felt as if lightning had struck his whole body. 

In the first place, that doll never went for him, but the young girl. He could have saved her. However, stuck in his brooding, he was blinded by what was happening. No matter if strong or weak. This was only pure cowardice. He grabbed the chair next to him and screamed loud enough to hurt his throat. With all his might, he slammed down on the doll. It was not only filled with the strength of his fist but also the weight of his emotions.

The doll's back broke together with the chair, creating an incredible explosion of debris. Its hands let go of the girl. Park Wonho's chest rose up and down. He shuddered a little. "I did it."

Lee Dojins' head rapidly turned, it almost looked unnatural. "You fool! Aim for the head!"

"Huh?" Wonho stepped away, suddenly, the doll's head appeared and bit down on his shoulder. He yelled in agony, as its teeth sunk into his flesh. He writhed around, but the doll held a tight grip.

The young girl grabbed the nearest cup and shouted, "duck!" she threw and hit the doll, who shrieked loudly, as it let go. The glass shattered, and she took a plate this time. Her aim was impeccable.

Park Wonho ran away, holding his wounded arm. He turned around and congratulate her with a happy smile, but his face quickly darkened as he saw the child hitting the doll's fallen head repeatedly, breaking many tupperwares, the shards cutting her hands. 

Wonho pulled away. "Stop, stop, it's already dead," he spoke in alarm.

The kid cried. "I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry." She continued flinging her snall arms, hoping to get out of the guy's hold. "I'm sorry," she bawled as she looked at the shattered head. "Mom, I'm sorry, for killing you."

The party did not say anything. They held no words of consolation, nor anything hopeful. Even Park Hansoo, who usually was so full of himself, remained silent.

"Let us continue," Lee Dojin broke the silence. "Or the knight may return." Those words got them moving.

The next floor was worse than before. Here, people fought for their lives, swinging whatever they had, crying in despair, begging for salvation, sabotaging each other, and dying left and right. Some even tried jumping out the window. But there wasn't even a dent on it as they tried to break it.

Lee Dojin's group, however, never said a single word. They marched silently, not minding anyone's business, as they reached the top floor.

There, they saw a red-haired woman in the middle of the room, sitting on a floating chair. She had her legs crossed and smiled happily. "Looks like you are the last ones; that's a lot more than I thought. Now, shall we start the tutorial?"