Free Web NovelWasn’t the first train barely large enough to fill even half the tunnel? But now, it looked like it filled nearly two-thirds. He had no idea when it had grown that much.
BwaaAAAAANG! The sound of it charging forward tore at their eardrums.
Lee Hyunmook, who had been staring sharply at the subway, gauged the distance between the wall and the train—then leapt into the air.
Yohan’s arms, wrapped tightly around Hyunmook’s neck, tensed with all their strength.
Using the grooves in the wall, Hyunmook climbed upward and clung to the ceiling.
Beneath their backs, the subway roared past, sharp wind trailing in its wake.
Yohan’s heart thumped violently. Judging by the size of the subway, if they hadn’t clung to the ceiling, they would’ve been hit directly.
Still hanging from the ceiling, Hyunmook began to move. How long had they been advancing like that? Once again, flashing headlights approached from afar. But this time, the subway was clinging to the ceiling!
A shrill scream welled up inside Yohan at the surreal sight.
The subway—was running on the ceiling.
Even the station attendant inside the front glass of the train was upside-down, steering from an inverted position.
Hyunmook dropped soundlessly, swiftly. Then he turned Yohan to the side and laid him flat on the ground.
Only after the subway passed did Yohan realize Hyunmook had carefully positioned him so his backpack wouldn’t get crushed.
'It’s not a subway...'
He’d already known that, but the realization struck him again like a shock.
Only then did Yohan understand he’d been oddly entranced by that subway.
Even in a world like this, where he should’ve known there couldn’t be such a thing as a normal subway or ordinary citizens.
At the same time, he realized that that ‘subway’ was actively searching the tunnel for him and Hyunmook.
He felt like he might cry again—or scream—but Yohan bit down hard and resisted, desperate not to become a burden.
The subway didn’t grow any larger.
However, perhaps because it still hadn’t found them, it became rougher, more vicious—like a beast, enraged and frothing.
Hyunmook stayed alert, maintaining their pace while ensuring they didn’t touch the subway.
That was when it happened.
A terrible feeling crept up Yohan’s spine.
He turned, joints creaking, to look back at the source of that dread.
At the same time, Hyunmook clicked his tongue and granted permission.
“We’ve been spotted. You can make noise now.”
It wasn’t “It’s okay,” but “It doesn’t matter.”
As if everything up until now had been for the sake of remaining hidden, Hyunmook suddenly broke into a run.
His previously soundless, catlike footsteps became loud and sharp.
He no longer avoided the charging subway.
Hyunmook sprinted straight toward the subway’s front.
Yohan, who had been holding back, finally screamed.
The moment it seemed they would collide, Hyunmook leapt.
CRASH!
Yohan couldn’t tell what he’d just done. A deafening roar and monstrous scream echoed around them.
KAAAAAAAK!
Only when that horrid shriek rang through the long tunnel did Yohan finally realize the truth—
That it wasn’t a train at all. It was something else, inducing hallucinations and mimicking a subway.
And in that moment of realization, the bizarre headlights flickered out, plunging everything into darkness.
Yes. From the ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) start, Yohan hadn’t been surrounded by light—only darkness.
That was why the headlights, though seemingly blinding, never truly illuminated anything...
“Hrrrnnn...”
Where the headlight once was, an enormous, eerie red eye faintly glowed.
Yohan nearly passed out at the sight, but forced himself to stay conscious.
Perhaps judging the opponent’s strength after Hyunmook’s devastating attack, the monster hesitated to strike.
Hyunmook was the same.
But the real problem lay elsewhere.
The goosebumps crawling over Yohan’s body became unbearably intense, and he began to tremble violently.
Did Hyunmook not realize what was happening?
“L-Lee Hyunmook... behind us—flood’s coming from behind—”
“I know. Don’t look back.”
Ssssshhhhhh...
From deep within the tunnel, the flood surged forth.
And in front of them stood that massive creature.
Following Hyunmook’s command, Yohan didn’t look back, forcing himself to endure—
but his mouth was completely dry.
Hyunmook was still.
The monster was still.
And then—the monster moved first.
Shockingly, it didn’t attack Hyunmook. Instead, it turned away.
“Yeah... a creature that size must’ve lived a long time. I bet the flood scares it more.”
Watching the monster rumble away, Hyunmook muttered in a flat voice.
Then he began to run, maintaining a cautious distance.
Even without seeing, Yohan knew the flood was right behind them now.
The tunnel slowly began to light up.
But it wasn’t a radiant, shining light.
It was the Abyss’s signature glow—dark, red-black, and eerie.
Even so, it was welcome now.
If they just ran a bit farther, they could escape that terrifying flood.
But just before they reached their goal—
The monster blocked the exit.
And then, despair came crashing down over Yohan.
The flood was right behind them now.
Lapping, crawling, silent doom creeping ever closer...
“No, no, no...”
As he muttered in a panic, consumed by a fear he’d never known before—
Hyunmook spoke. ƒreewebɳovel.com
“I’ll... try to get as hurt as I can.”
Even though he heard it clearly, Yohan couldn’t immediately comprehend what Hyunmook meant.
“When I... can’t move anymore... run. From now on...”
And suddenly—
A strange, almost cheerful laugh rang out. frёewebηovel.cѳm
Then, in a chilling voice, Hyunmook whispered:
“...Die.”
And with that—
A burst of dark red light erupted.
Wind howled around Yohan’s entire body, and a violent blow struck his side.
Before he could even scream, he slammed into something and tumbled across the ground.
His arm throbbed with searing pain. Gasping, he crawled forward.
A thunderclap boomed behind him.
Only then did Yohan realize—he’d exited the tunnel.
KWAAAAANG!
Barely lifting his head, he saw it—
A massive, twisting creature silhouetted against the blood-red sky.
Slimy, revolting skin, dotted with gaping mouths.
And at the very front—
Exactly where Yohan had thought the subway doors were—
One enormous mouth opened wide.
From it spilled twitching things and dark red dirt.
It dug through the ground to create its path, then devoured any hallucinating victims who followed.
That was the true nature of the “subway” Yohan had seen.
And now, Hyunmook was fighting that monster.
KWANG! Another thunderous noise shook the air.
Not a metaphorical thunder—but real lightning.
Tumbled far from the battle, Yohan finally remembered Hyunmook’s nickname.
Thunder God. Lord of Lightning...
Until now, he had only fought with his fists and feet—
but originally, Hyunmook wielded weapons and commanded lightning.
Still, unlike before, his lightning was no longer radiant.
It was dim—black bolts flashing against the monster’s body.
But they didn’t damage the monster—only enraged it.
When Hyunmook tore open its shell, the monster ripped his arms.
He struck again, crushing and tearing at it repeatedly.
Despite the overwhelming size difference, Korea’s strongest Awakener fought on even terms.
Black lightning flashed over Yohan’s wide eyes.
“L-Lee Hyunmook...”
Even from afar, Yohan could tell—
Hyunmook was completely out of his mind.
More than ever before.
And it was getting worse.
Yohan forgot his pain, paralyzed by that sight.
Did Hyunmook touch the flood earlier?
Yohan looked back—
The flood had risen to the tunnel’s mouth, but didn’t spill past it.
Instead, it was retreating like an ebbing tide.
No—that wasn’t it.
Hyunmook wasn’t like this because he’d touched the flood.
The monsters had gone berserk just from being near it.
Hyunmook, already deeply contaminated, had been affected just by its proximity.
He had been holding on—for Yohan’s sake.
“I... I need to run...”
When Yohan finally whispered Hyunmook’s earlier words—
The sky ripped apart.
Lightning, jagged like a tree’s branch, fell upon the monster’s head.
KWA-GWAAANG! KWAAAAANG!
Every time the black light flashed, Yohan saw it—
Hyunmook’s silhouette standing atop the monster’s towering body, laughing madly.
Like the Grim Reaper.
But—
Once the lightning ceased, so did the stalemate.
Hyunmook was bitten by one of the monster’s side mouths and slammed into the ground.
The mouths screamed.
Blood poured from the upper half of his body.
THOOM!
The earth trembled like an earthquake.
Dust exploded into the air.
Yohan covered his mouth and nose, coughing.
“Kh... khhk, khrrrk... L-Lee... Hyun... mook...!”
When the dust settled enough to see—
Yohan realized the monster had stopped moving.
Hyunmook was still twitching, coughing harshly.
Yohan shook with fear, unable to move.
He remembered Hyunmook charging him like a monster.
Surely, he was even more unhinged now.
He also remembered Hyunmook’s wish not to become an even worse monster.
That’s why he’d told him—
He’d get hurt on purpose. So Yohan could run away.
But—
Instead of fleeing, Yohan clutched his injured arm and stumbled toward Hyunmook.
Tears streamed from his eyes.
“I... I don’t want to be alone...”
He even threw away the backpack he’d cherished so dearly.
Without even thinking to wipe away his tears, he walked toward the horrifying scene.
Sobbing, Yohan muttered once again—
And behind him, faint glimmers of light rippled—without him realizing.
“You don’t want to be alone either... right, Lee Hyunmook?”
After living with him for a while, Yohan had come to recognize a certain emotion clearly.
A deep, crushing loneliness.
Even in madness, or fleeting moments of clarity—
Yohan always saw it in Hyunmook’s eyes:
That desperate, aching longing for human connection.
