Chapter 36: The Flame of the Yeon Family (5)
"Pocket. Hwarang, connect me to Luf."
"..."
I tried connecting just in case, but—of course—no response came back. Then there was no point in hesitating any longer. I spread my wings and soared to the highest altitude I could reach. The farther you rise, the farther you see.
"…Interesting."
This was a massive uninhabited island floating on the sea of the 21st floor. And far, far away—I could see the section where the test participants were gathered. The moment I spotted it, I used my wings and accelerated at maximum speed toward it. I had to hurry before the Ranker they mentioned showed up. Increasing my speed further and staring at the slowly approaching test-taker zone, I bit my lip.
'I was too careless.'
Even though both I and Hwarang warned ourselves to stay cautious… I assumed the worst they would do was some sabotage using the other examinees. I never imagined they'd mobilize dozens of A-rank candidates—and even bring in a Ranker.
Wait—Hwarang said he wasn't taken by those guys.
Then someone else got involved?
I'll find out when I get there.
It feels like something had been moving behind the scenes… things we didn't know about.
A bad feeling crawled up my spine, and I pushed my speed even harder. No, my speed couldn't go any higher—but I still kept trying. Again and again, I slammed into the ceiling of my limits. I increased my Shinsu output to the extreme—dumping everything I could operate right now. Only then did I feel a breakthrough. My Shinsu wings grew longer, radiating a white light. Like a comet. From afar, I must look exactly like one.
Shinsu Limit Break — White Comet
My wings stretched like a comet's tail, leaving trails of white light. A speed incomparable to before—breathtaking, overwhelming. In an instant, I drew close to the test-taker zone and located the workshop's facility.
Found it.
A research facility positioned near the shore.
Reaching almost right above the workshop, I raised my altitude sharply. Then—without hesitation—I dove straight down toward the workshop's research building. Like a falling meteor heading for the workshop.
BOOM!
"W-What the?!"
With tremendous physical force, I broke through the roof in a single strike and crashed inside. Calling it a "landing" would be generous—I practically shattered the floor on impact.
I spread Shinsu throughout the entire building.
I couldn't feel Hwarang or Luf's presence at all—but down below… something was interfering with my senses.
"Hey."
Guide me down there.
....
Workshop Underground — Secret Research Facility
"Oh, you're awake. The preparation should be finished soon, so please wait."
As his vision slowly returned, Hwarang saw strange machines around him and found himself submerged in some unknown liquid. Though he wasn't restrained, he couldn't muster any strength at all.
"…The Workshop, huh?"
At his question, the lead researcher nodded lightly, then continued as he installed bizarre syringes into each machine.
"As you know, the prestigious Yeon family entrusted you to me. They want you disposed of. So I thought—why not use this opportunity to conduct the experiments I've always wanted to try on a direct descendant of the Ten Great Families?"
He signaled to the researchers after setting the final syringe.
"Truly, interests are such complicated things. The Yeon family asked us to 'clean up' after you, and FUG commissioned us to use you and your data to develop a weapon. The Ten Families and FUG—though they pretend to be at odds, they unconsciously depend on each other to survive. That is the Tower. And we, the Workshop, profit nicely in between."
Whirrrrrr—
Machines began to activate.
The first one stabbed a syringe into Hwarang—not inserted, stabbed, with a force and speed that fit the expression.
"The Yeon family's flame. Such a fascinating thing. What connection does it have to the ancient elemental powers? Are they the same? Different? Why does it manifest? Isn't it simply irresistible to find out?"
The director's face twisted into a grotesque smile as he spoke. Watching him silently, Hwarang suddenly widened his eyes.
Agony came without warning.
A pain so intense it felt like his entire body would explode. Hwarang bit down hard on his lip—so hard that it tore and bled—yet the pain didn't subside.
"Grr…hh—!"
"Oh? To endure this? Excellent—I'm glad we skipped anesthesia. If we used it, observing your reactions would be difficult. Now then… you should feel the next response soon."
As if waiting for those words, Hwarang's whole body ignited. His subconscious, sensing danger, triggered the Yeon family flame as a defense. The fierce blaze gradually reduced his pain—and at the same time, the director's face brightened.
"Yes! I knew Solution No. 25 would induce the Yeon family's flame!"
"As expected of the director!"
"Let's go all the way! And just in case—hey, you! Clear space in Containment Chamber 3 like we talked about! You haven't used it yet, right?"
"Yes, sir!"
The researchers cheered and clapped as the director continued the experiment, excitement rising.
"Now, let's extract the Yeon family flame. That's why we induced it in the first place."
Five machines moved, stabbing syringes into his chest and limbs as they injected a solution. The intense heat melted and destroyed the machines—but they had already completed their purpose. They were disposable anyway.
"It's a diffusion-based extractor. It shouldn't hurt, so please wait."
As the extractor solution entered his body, Hwarang felt his strength drain away. Even if he wanted to resist, he couldn't move. The flame weakened. No—it wasn't weakening. It was being pulled out of him.
'Good. Let it happen.'
This cursed flame…
Was it finally leaving him?
Good.
Get out of me as quickly as you can.
Hwarang barely clung to consciousness, cursing his flame until the very end.
And finally—the Yeon family's flame completely left his body.
"So that is… the Yeon family flame."
The researcher, who had been admiring its beautiful flicker as if entranced, regained his senses and quickly isolated the flame and transferred it out of the chamber as safely as possible.
"This is top-priority classified material. Set the highest security code and take it to the vault."
Now then, time to examine the empty shell…
His gaze shifted back to Hwarang. According to the readings, his heartbeat and vitals were weakening, but he was still alive. Even by eye, he looked like he was struggling—but he was breathing.
"Hmmm… So once the flame is extracted, they die shortly after? I suppose this needs to be tested on other Yeon family children to confirm… As for you…"
While pondering, the director suddenly remembered FUG's request and clapped his hands.
"Ah—right, right. The living ignition weapon. I almost forgot, distracted by the flame. Prepare it."
The researchers immediately sprang into motion. They modified the exterior of Hwarang's flask, attaching a glass conduit that connected it to the flask containing the weapon. After preparing several other devices, they signaled the director.
"So your name is Hwarang, was it? Don't worry—you won't die. You'll simply dissolve into the weapon forever, becoming the catalyst that allows it to activate. In other words, you'll become a living ignition core. I've heard the Ten Families love to fight—so a life of eternal battle doesn't sound so bad, does it?"
Nonsensical garbage.
Hwarang had no strength left to argue, so he simply listened to the madman's babbling in silence.
Now that he had finally escaped that cursed flame… was he now destined to live forever without even being able to die, trapped as a weapon?
Truly a wretched, unlucky life. He could no longer even say he had a reason to keep living… except for his companions.
This miserable, unforgiving existence—he had only just begun to believe he'd found a sliver of happiness.
"The solution you're submerged in is our special dissolving fluid. Until activation, it merely drains your power—it doesn't fully work yet. You will dissolve into the fluid… and seep into the weapon. You aren't dying, so don't worry."
"Begin dissolution."
At the director's words, a researcher pressed a button. Bubbles began to rise as the liquid stirred.
Hwarang felt a faint stinging across his body. Soon, as the acidity increased, he would completely melt.
'Once the weapon is destroyed someday… I'll finally find rest.'
Letting go of everything, Hwarang slowly closed his eyes.
But then—far across the room—something familiar entered his fading sight.
A boy, just like him, submerged in another flask.
"…Luf?"
No.
No, no, no.
Hwarang's eyes shot open as he screamed internally. Luf must not suffer this.
He had to save him—but no flame rose. With the Yeon family flame extracted from him, his hands produced nothing.
Please. Please, just once—move. Burn.
No matter how desperately he willed it, no flame appeared.
If only I still had the flame…
He could have done something. Anything.
And only then… did Hwarang finally realize.
…Ah.
So it wasn't a curse after all.
Across the room, the extracted Yeon family flame suddenly flared.
It wasn't a curse.
It wasn't misfortune—it was a right, and the weight that came with it.
His flame had existed for this moment.
Fwoooosh—
The Yeon family flame swelled, roaring to life.
The containment unit holding it melted in an instant.
Hwarang needed his flame.
And if the master calls, the flame must answer.
The flame surged outward, burning the researcher who tried to restrain it and flew straight toward Hwarang.
My flame is not one that burns everything, nor one
that saves everything.
It only—protects.
'Protect Luf.'
Hwarang commanded his flame.
Immediately, the fire streaked toward Luf, shattering his flask and enveloping him protectively.
"W-What is that?! Re-secure the specimen!"
The director and researchers panicked at the sudden turn of events.
Hwarang, meanwhile, felt a heavy burden lift from his heart.
Luf would soon awaken—and under the protection of his flame, he would escape this place safely.
A flame that protects, huh…
If only I had realized sooner.
The dissolving fluid grew more acidic. Hwarang felt heat biting through his body, as if he were burning alive—but he didn't mind.
He blamed himself for accepting the flame so late, yet encouraged himself knowing that at least, in the end, he could save his companion.
And so, amidst the agony of his body slowly melting away, Hwarang felt peace and closed his eyes.
"…"
The last thing he saw was a massive sword rising upward.
…A sword?
Rising—?
RUMMMMMMMBLE—
A deafening roar shook the entire underground.
Ten colossal swords burst upward from beneath, piercing the entire underground lab—and instantly shattering Hwarang's flask, launching him outward.
"Ugh—!"
Confirming his master's survival, the flame awakened Luf's consciousness and swiftly returned to Hwarang's body.
"What… is this…?"
The underground research facility beneath the Workshop was being dragged upward, impaled on ten enormous swords erupting from below.
The ground cracked, the buildings collapsed—an apocalyptic symphony of destruction—until the submerged lab finally broke through to the surface.
"W-What in the—?!"
Above the panicked director and researchers, a white radiance illuminated the sky.
"Ah. Finally dug it out."
Hoaquin floated high above, looking down at everyone.
The moment he spotted Hwarang and Luf, he encased them safely in Shinsu droplets.
Then his cold eyes swept toward the others.
"You. You. You. You… and you. No—actually, all of you."
Pointing at every single Workshop employee in sight, Hoaquin declared:
"You're all dying today."
– Heavenly Judgment Swords
With a single gesture, ten colossal swords pierced through the clouds.
"Descend."
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