Even after I checked the message, the alert rang five more times. The sound was loud enough to make my ears ring.
I stared at the holographic text on my watch like someone who couldn’t comprehend what they were reading. Even though I was seeing it with my own eyes, it felt impossible—yet Ji-han spoke in a tense voice, confirming it was real.
“What the hell? Why did Yu-geon suddenly go berserk?”
I quickly checked Yu-geon’s biorhythm graph and wave level again. Just three minutes ago, he’d been stable in the 40% range.
[19%]
It was clearly a first-stage berserk event.
“Is this some kind of mistake? I was watching Baek Yu-geon’s graph and wave level. It was stable just three minutes ago.”
“He probably got hit in the head or the heart. When you take a critical hit, your wave level drops instantly.”
His head? Or his heart…? Then what happens?
My heart, which had been frozen in shock, started pounding violently. Just imagining something serious happening to Yu-geon felt like someone was squeezing my heart in their fist.
My mouth dried up, and chills ran across my arms and the back of my neck. The mere thought that I might never see him again sent a scorching panic through my skull.
The image of my prey being torn apart by a feral Creature—his blood spilling—flashed across my mind in a horrifying panorama.
“Shit…”
A harsh curse slipped out before I could stop it. A murderous urge toward the Creature that had harmed him surged in my chest.
I wanted to rip apart the jaws that had bitten Yu-geon. To claw at the throat that had swallowed his blood.
The idea of his blood being soaked into another Creature’s organs was revolting. A fierce jealousy climbed up my chest like thorny vines, choking me.
“Where’s Baek Yu-geon’s gate?”
First, I had to make sure he survived. I spoke as if I was ready to rush over immediately, but Ji-han answered firmly.
“You’re banned from approaching the gate until it’s cleared. The message said the top 30 matched guides must respond, and up to 50 can volunteer. We wait.”
Trying to steady my trembling hand, I checked the list—and sure enough, Sua’s name was listed as the top match.
Aside from me, she had the highest compatibility with Yu-geon, so it was expected. But her match rate was only 34%. Not even 50%.
Even a three-stage guiding attempt probably wouldn’t work, and Yu-geon would never accept it.
Calling in 30 guides first suggested they were planning to overwhelm the berserk with numbers.
But would it even work? If dozens of guides couldn’t stabilize him… then what?
I’d heard there had never been an Esper in the Center’s history with as low a match rate across the board as Yu-geon. No one knew what came next.
“I’ll go.”
“What?”
“If it’s a critical injury, the wave level can plummet. And if he enters second-stage berserk, neither Sua nor Ji-soo will be able to stop him.”
First-stage berserk is the final deadline for guiding. From the second stage onward, even the diagnostics team stops recommending it. When an Esper’s wave hits 0%, it creates an explosive release—just like a gate opening.
If a guide still insists on attempting it during a second-stage berserk, the Center doesn’t stop them… but unless they’re a pair-bonded or marked guide, it rarely happens.
If no one volunteers, the Esper is frozen using a nature-type Esper’s ability before they explode. Then they’re transported to an underground bunker in Region F and thawed later.
But no body or mind could remain intact after being frozen solid for hours and then revived. A second-stage berserk Esper is fated to die—alone, and far away from anyone.
“If the Captain finds out… shouldn’t we report this to him?”
Gyu-hyeon looked ready to send a report, phone clutched tightly in his hand.
“You think Han-gyeol would allow it?”
Ji-han snatched the phone from him.
“But Baek Yu-geon is Captain Han-gyeol’s brother.”
“And if he doesn’t give permission? Then what?”
“Then we can’t go.”
Gyu-hyeon’s reply made my brows rise sharply. He must’ve felt my glare, because his lips twitched nervously.
“Gu, Guide Gu Sa-weol. According to regulations, S-Class guides are not allowed to enter active gates.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
“As the one assigned to protect you, I can’t let you go.”
Brave words for someone who was shrinking back. From the way Ji-han stayed quiet, it looked like he wouldn’t try to stop me. The problem was Gyu-hyeon.
“You think I can’t take down one Esper Seong Gyu-hyeon?”
He stepped back. Covering his nose with his arm, he watched me warily.
He could stop me physically if he wanted to—but I could also knock him out with my resonance.
Wave energy is absorbed fastest through the respiratory system, and covering the nose won’t stop it. An Esper’s cells, craving a guide’s wave, betray their master’s will and absorb it anyway.
Would he move faster, or would my wave hit first? Tension charged the air between us like a crackling storm.
“Esper Seong Gyu-hyeon.”
Before long, I was the first to let out a shallow breath, calming my excitement.
“The gate progress is at 97%, so it should be cleared soon. If we’re lucky, it might even be finished while we’re on the way. Since this is a special situation, I’ll report and explain it later. I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll do my best not to cause trouble for either of you.”
I chose to persuade them with reason. If I threw a fit just because I was desperate, we’d only waste time.
Letting me approach the gate would mean both Gyu-hyeon and Ji-han, who were assigned to protect me, would be disobeying Han-gyeol’s direct orders.
Since my actions wouldn’t be solely my responsibility, I had to consider their positions too.
It was clear this would involve all kinds of risks. Still, I wanted to go guide Yu-geon. If I didn’t go and the worst happened… I’d regret it for the rest of my life.
Before being an S-Class guide, I was the one with the highest match rate with Yu-geon. For him, who didn’t have a single guide with a match rate over 50%, I was the only lifeline.
Besides, a first-stage berserk wasn’t nearly as dangerous as a second-stage one. If I went right now, I had a 99% chance of stopping it. The gate in Zone A7 wasn’t far from Branch A either.
Knowing all this and still not going, just because of the rules, would be idiotic.
“Alright. If we do get caught, we’ll just say we already left. Esper Seong Gyu-hyeon, you stay behind and report to the Branch Chief. He’ll understand.”
“……”
The Branch Chief of Branch A was Yu-geon’s father. Even if he was someone who took his duties seriously, he was still a father. He wouldn’t try to stop us when his son’s life was on the line.
Gyu-hyeon fell silent, clearly conflicted. Ji-han’s logic was hard to argue with.
Since there were two guards, one could stay behind and report while the other accompanied me.
“No.”
Just when I thought Gyu-hyeon might give in, his answer came sharp and firm.
“I’ll go with you. I can’t leave Guide Gu Sa-weol to Esper Kang Ji-han alone.”
A question mark popped up in my head at that. Why not? Did he not trust Ji-han?
But hadn’t he just said earlier how reliable Ji-han was, especially while eating ice cream? Was that all just empty talk?
“Do whatever. Let’s head back to the Center first—we’ll take a military vehicle.”
“Yes.”
Ji-han didn’t respond to that directly. He just looked relieved that Gyu-hyeon wasn’t going to stop us anymore.
We left the Center in one of the military SUVs used by Alpha Team. Espers usually took military trucks to gates, but since we weren’t joining the mission, we opted for a midsize vehicle.
Gyu-hyeon and I sat in the back seat while Ji-han drove. He said it was the same model he used a few days ago on another mission, so he was familiar with it.
Sure enough, a white uniform he’d left behind was still crumpled up in the back. Espers usually only wore uniforms for formal occasions, and they often treated them carelessly.
Ji-han told me to toss it in the trunk, but I folded it neatly and placed it on my lap. If I left it in the back, he’d just forget it again.
“As we get closer to the gate, the area might be a bit scorched or desolate due to the initial explosion when it formed.”
“Okay.”
“Sometimes signs or steel structures can fall, but this vehicle is durable. Even if a utility pole landed on top, it would hold, so there’s no need to worry.”
“I’m not worried.”
Gyu-hyeon, more nervous than me, kept talking about the situation near the gate. He meant to warn me to be careful, but it felt more like he was trying to calm himself down by talking.
“The gate in A7 is a Time Attack gate, so there may be residual creature fluids near the area where the Espers fought. Creature fluids are toxic—please avoid getting too close. And if a Creature or Cremon suddenly attacks, don’t worry. I’ll protect you with my life.”
“…Thank you.”
When I first heard about Yu-geon’s berserk, I was completely stunned. Just the thought that he might’ve been injured in the heart caused a violent possessiveness to rise up in me, making my hands shake.
The sheer intensity of those violent emotions had shocked me. It was a serious situation, yes—but not something worth panicking over like death.
More than anything, I was confident that if I got there, Yu-geon wouldn’t be facing death today.
We must’ve been close now. The car jolted like it had run over some stones. Probably debris from buildings damaged in the explosion.
The ride was bumpy, but I told myself to bear with it. Suddenly, the car lifted and slammed back down violently. Seemed like Ji-han hadn’t slowed down at a speed bump.
“Esper Kang Ji-han, should I take over the driving?”
Gyu-hyeon immediately asked, half-reproachingly.
“No, I didn’t see it because of the dust.”
Ji-han defended himself, clearly not wanting to give up the wheel. Just as he said, the outside view was clouded in dust.
