# Chapter 98
“He’s following us!”
Jiwoon, Hyeono, Dr. Yoon, and the Esper assigned to guard him were heading toward the east entrance at full speed. Shortly after leaving the building, they could feel a massive wave of energy pursuing them—enough to make anyone tremble with fear.
The Esper protecting Hyeono and Dr. Yoon knew it well. If Choi Geonwoo had been properly receiving guidance, they would have been caught long ago!
“Hold on tight!”
After moving a short distance from the building, Hyeono immediately released his ability control device and, together with the Esper assigned to Dr. Yoon’s protection, carried Jiwoon and Dr. Yoon while moving at maximum speed. Just a little further and they would reach the Center Director and the group of Espers.
That’s when it happened. Suddenly, three monsters jumped out from behind the building. The monsters’ gazes, looking for weak prey, fixed on Yoo Jiwoon.
Just as Hyeono’s face crumpled with frustration at the sudden appearance of monsters while they were already busy escaping—
BOOM!
Abruptly, one of the monsters collapsed, spewing blood. Behind the monster stood five Espers.
“We’ll handle this, hurry and go!”
Hyeono nodded and quickly turned around.
Soon they arrived at the east entrance. There, Center-affiliated Espers were all in formation, preparing for battle. There were hundreds of them. Soon the Espers who had finished dealing with the monsters joined them as well.
Thus, all the Center’s forces gathered.
“Dr. Yoon! Guide Yoo Jiwoon! Come this way.”
At the center of it all was the Center Director. Everyone waited tensely for Geonwoo, who was approaching while emitting a massive wave of energy. Everyone was preparing for battle.
“We cannot leave the only top-tier Esper at risk of going berserk.”
The Center Director hoped that the Center would regain stability through the bond between Choi Geonwoo and Yoo Jiwoon.
That’s when it happened. An immense killing intent dominated the surroundings.
All the Espers raised their weapons. They pushed their abilities to the limit. Their opponent was a top-tier Esper unlike any they had seen before. However, he was also in a state where he was limiting his own abilities due to the risk of going berserk.
If so, there was a sufficient possibility.
When they went to the S-class building where Geonwoo was, they had failed with a small group, but now all the Espers in the Center had gathered. Regardless of the outcome, they wouldn’t go down easily.
No, rather, if they could subdue Geonwoo here, there might be an even better ending.
***
Dohyun felt the wave of energy that had been making his whole body shiver gradually moving away. A sigh of relief escaped from Dohyun’s lips. His tensed body relaxed.
As expected, Geonwoo was chasing after Jiwoon, following Jaehee’s energy.
If that was the case, they just needed to cross the south entrance. Dohyun steadied his wavering consciousness and picked up speed.
Monsters appeared one by one in front of Dohyun, but he dealt with them one at a time as he gradually approached the entrance.
Not much further now. He just needed to cross that door.
Just as he was about to cross the entrance…
“…!”
Horror filled Dohyun’s face. He could see a gate forming around the south entrance. There had definitely been no reports about a gate forming here!
Growl—!
Wolf-like monsters. Numerous packs were emerging from the gate. It was a recently formed gate. That’s why it hadn’t been included in the report.
Dohyun immediately hid himself.
‘Why now of all times!’
There were too many of them. Dohyun gradually retreated. It would be too dangerous if he was discovered now, unable to use his abilities. He was also carrying Jaehee. Dohyun chose to retreat.
However.
Growl! Bark bark!
The massive wolf-like monster that appeared to be the leader had already noticed Jaehee. Drooling, it stared at where Dohyun was hiding.
***
At the same time.
Cracks began to form on the Center Director’s confident face. He had thought there was a good chance of winning this fight. He naturally believed they would be a match.
After all, on their side were hundreds of Espers from the Center, with Guides supporting from the rear to maximize their abilities.
But they were no match. Just as monster screams had echoed from the west entrance, now Esper screams echoed from this east entrance. Despite Geonwoo limiting his powers, they weren’t even close to being his equal.
CRASH!
Geonwoo threw the body of the Esper he was holding. A loud noise reverberated in all directions.
Countless gazes filled with fear focused on Geonwoo. But Geonwoo seemed not to notice those gazes. He was just searching for someone among the crowd. His urgent gaze desperately looked for the person he wanted. It was clearly Jaehee.
But Jaehee’s energy had already disappeared from Jiwoon’s body. Not knowing this, Geonwoo was now in an anxious state. These people who couldn’t even protect Jaehee had taken him away on their own and hidden him as they pleased. These people who had never, not even once in his dreams, erased Jaehee’s death!
‘Please, Guide-nim…!’
And now, he couldn’t even feel Jaehee’s energy anymore. Geonwoo was not in his right mind. He couldn’t be.
‘Where are you, Guide-nim…?’
He needed to protect Jaehee, only he could protect him… but he wasn’t by his side.
‘…Should I kill them all?’
Geonwoo’s gaze gradually sank into darkness.
‘Would that stop them from coveting Guide-nim again? Would that keep Guide-nim by my side?’
Emotions that had settled to the bottom whispered to him not to leave those who had taken Jaehee from him unpunished. Killing intent filled Geonwoo’s eyes. The wave of energy, influenced by his emotions, wildly surged.
Everyone tensed. Despite being in the middle of battle, they all unconsciously stepped back.
Geonwoo’s eyes were gradually turning red.
That was the sign of an imminent berserker state.
At this point, if even a little guiding energy touched him, he would absorb that guide’s energy to its limit—the worst possible state. The guides didn’t want to become his target. They all trembled with fear and stepped back.
But not Jiwoon. Rather, he wanted this situation. The opportunity to overlay the one-sided bond with his own guiding energy!
So Jiwoon stood still, watching Geonwoo. He didn’t even blink.
“…!”
That’s when it happened. Suddenly, Geonwoo grabbed his head and made a pained expression. Blood trickled from his mouth. The excessively raging energy waves were causing wounds on Geonwoo’s body.
‘Now is the chance…!’
Jiwoon stepped forward.
“Guide Yoo Jiwoon!”
Dr. Yoon tried to stop him from behind, but Jiwoon didn’t listen. He approached while looking at Geonwoo. Geonwoo briefly looked at Jiwoon as he approached, then turned away. He didn’t even show interest.
Seeing this, Jiwoon twisted his lips. And at the same time, he released the energy inside his body. A vast amount of guiding energy enveloped the surroundings. The fallen Espers tried to stand up again, relying on Jiwoon’s guiding energy. The Espers still in battle did the same.
But not Geonwoo. He found the guiding energy touching his body—energy that wasn’t Jaehee’s—repulsive. So Geonwoo used his ability to push Jiwoon away. Jiwoon’s body flew through the air.
“Ugh…!”
Minhun, who was nearby, immediately caught Jiwoon. He held Jiwoon from behind to prevent injury, but soon crashed into the wall with a bang!
Jiwoon clutched his chest in pain. Nevertheless, his gaze remained fixed on Geonwoo.
But Geonwoo paid no attention to Jiwoon. He was only anxiously searching for Jaehee. He mercilessly cleared away anyone blocking his path.
And soon Geonwoo’s gaze fell on Dr. Yoon.
“Guide-nim.”
Geonwoo approached Dr. Yoon. Espers blocked his way, but it was useless. They couldn’t stop his steps.
“Where are you?”
Dr. Yoon trembled. There was no mercy in Geonwoo’s eyes. Dr. Yoon thought he would die right there.
That’s when it happened. Suddenly, Geonwoo’s gaze quickly turned.
The same was true for Jiwoon.
‘…!’
They felt the energy of someone who shouldn’t be felt. Kang Dohyun’s wave, which had been forcibly suppressed by the ability control device, surged strongly.
‘No!’
Jiwoon immediately turned toward Geonwoo.
But Geonwoo had already vanished before his eyes.
