The sound of slamming a rampaging individual into the ground always brought joy to Ha-eun. The moment the cement floor shattered lightly as a person broke apart never failed to give him a thrill of satisfaction.

  Naturally, he felt no guilt about the assault. These people were merely taking responsibility for their own foolishness—blinding themselves with greed for power and trying to obtain Tools they weren't qualified to hold.

  The Vice-Leader had recently, and most graciously, reaffirmed why Ha-eun had to do this work.

  The members of the Cult were the chosen ones. They were the ones who could properly draw out the power without being consumed by it. But those outside the Cult were different. God would provide good connections for those who might one day become members, but for those who wouldn't, He would strike them with divine punishment.

  The people being crushed by him now deserved such punishment. Therefore, no hesitation was needed. He only had to break them.

  Yet, Ha-eun knew well that taking the fallen back to the Cult was the Vice-Leader's way of following the will of the ascended Leader—pitying them and creating possibilities for them.

  So, Ha-eun showed no mercy. He simply did his best to smash, smash, and smash again. Once they were no longer able to resist, he would load them up and take them away. Without hesitation or mercy, Ha-eun took down those who came at him with all their might.

  Only a few remained. Once they were all defeated and loaded into the car, it would be over. Ha-eun turned his head with that thought. At that moment, he felt a jolt of thrill from a powerful impact he hadn't tasted in a long time.

  It was a punch to the face. And it came from someone enhanced by a Tool. Ha-eun never let his guard down while working. If someone could strike him without him noticing, it was proof they were quite strong.

  Fighting such a person was a pleasure. Though no teeth were broken, blood pooled in his mouth. Since he had no hobby of enjoying unpleasant tastes, Ha-eun spat and turned his head.

  He was curious to see the face of the one who dared swing a fist at him. But the moment he saw that face, Ha-eun couldn't help but be flustered.

  "Why are you here?"

  Ha-eun was shocked by the face. It was none other than his younger brother. Although he had severed all family ties upon joining the Cult, Ha-eun still cherished his family.

  But what was his brother's current state?

  His brother, having activated the power of a Tool, was filled with a savage aura like that of a wild beast. There were no physical mutations, yet he harbored a strength an ordinary person couldn't even imagine.

  Looking at his brother, Ha-eun muttered to himself repeatedly as if in shock. Perhaps it was because he couldn't accept this reality.

  Ha-eun didn't know why his brother was there. However, he could tell that his brother was deeply connected to the people he had come to "clean up" today.

  His brother had likely drawn out all the power of his Tool to protect his comrades. If so, Ha-eun thought, his brother must not be in his right mind.

  Berserk.

  Usually, the Tools circulated on the market drive the user into a frenzy the moment they draw out significant power. Considering that low-grade Tools couldn't properly damage Ha-eun, he deduced that his brother was currently in a berserk state. It wasn't a difficult inference to make.

  Seeing this, Ha-eun lamented. Whatever the reason, his brother had been cursed by a Tool. Like all those who weren't chosen, his brother must have taken an inferior Tool and been consumed by it.

  "Why you... Oh, God... Why do You give me such a trial?"

  Ha-eun spoke as if praying. But his brother reacted to his words.

  "God? To hell with your God! Do you think you have any right to say that, brother?"

  Ha-eun was surprised once more by the reaction. This wasn't the response of someone consumed by a berserk Tool.

  However, it brought a small spark of joy to Ha-eun.

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  "You are a chosen one. You are a chosen one!"

  Ha-eun rejoiced as he spoke. His brother, like himself, was one chosen by a high-grade Tool of a different caliber. With such a destiny, his brother could surely live a magnificent life as an Apostle of God.

  His brother looked at him with an incredulous expression. It was a natural reaction to an older brother who had abandoned his family for a cult and was now speaking nonsense.

  "You're insane. Right, that's why you threw your family away."

  His brother took a stance as he spoke. He was prepared for a fight. But Ha-eun was not flustered. Those who hadn't encountered proper teachings were always bound to rebel. Once he used that power only for God under proper guidance, he would fulfill his calling as a chosen one.

  In that case, he would simply lead his brother to the right path. With that thought, Ha-eun looked at his brother with eyes full of fanaticism. That gaze was enough to make even his angry brother feel a flicker of fear. But anger soon erased that fear.

  The two men, each using their respective Tools, began to clash with all their might.

  Another hospital visit today. He couldn't look after her forever, but Jihyeon couldn't help but care about Lee Young. He knew Min-ah was unhappy about her looking after Lee Young, so he let out a sigh of resignation.

  He also knew Min-ah's feelings were complicated. She pitied Lee Young, but at the same time, she was jealous of how close Lee Young had become to Jihyeon since waking up.

  Jihyeon felt sorry for Min-ah. Knowing her feelings, he understood he had to be careful in his relationships with the opposite sex.

  But Lee Young had nowhere to return to. That was the biggest problem right now. The debt issue could be settled somehow, but that wasn't the end of it. Min-ah knew this too. Leaving the underage Lee Young alone was something she couldn't do, no matter how much she saw her as a rival.

  Nevertheless, human emotions aren't controlled by logic alone. Jihyeon knew that well. So, he had to think about how to soothe Min-ah's heart. Thinking he might need to get her a gift, Jihyeon sighed.

  But that was one thing, and this was another. For now, he had to provide enough mental care to ensure Lee Young wouldn't contemplate suicide. The culprits who ruined her life were already dead, but she still had no place to go.

  Both of her parents were only children. She didn't have grandparents either. She had no one to rely on but herself. In such a situation, Jihyeon's daily visits were one of her few comforts. But that couldn't go on forever.

  Someday, Lee Young would have to become independent. He would help to an extent, but she would have to endure the world on her own. Jihyeon knew that if he were to get involved at all, he had to take responsibility until she was completely independent.

  Still, his feelings were complicated. At the same time, he couldn't help but smile bitterly, noticing how much he was worrying about Min-ah. He thought he wouldn't pursue romance, but it seemed he was human after all.

  He seemed to have emotions he couldn't help. Of course, he didn't want to affirm them. It would surely return as a great sorrow. But on the other hand, he couldn't deny them either.

  That was only natural since Jihyeon was also a human being. With that thought, Jihyeon walked slowly. Since he couldn't go to the hospital empty-handed, he needed to buy something.

  It was then.

  His phone rang. The moment he checked it, Jihyeon's expression changed again. And in an instant, he vanished.

  Seok-yeong let out a sigh as he stepped out of the hospital doors. He had been receiving counseling because he couldn't bear the recent events, and it felt like it was helping more than he expected.

  Of course, quitting his job would bring him freedom. But Seok-yeong's current work involved the lives of others. The moment he quit for his own comfort, others would get hurt. The heavy truth that always pressed down on his shoulders offered him no alternatives.

  Seok-yeong could only give a bitter smile. Fortunately, coffee was permitted. It wouldn't be bad to buy a good cup of coffee before heading back in. Recently, coffee was one of his few pleasures. He couldn't get a prescription for medicine, and he had been told repeatedly that alcohol was out of the question.

  In the midst of that, coffee was one of Seok-yeong's few indulgences. Although he was told decaf was recommended, that was asking too much. A person needs a proper amount of caffeine to work. Seok-yeong thought so as he headed to a nearby cafe.

  It was then.

  The sound of something breaking echoed. Simultaneously, people screamed, and Seok-yeong turned his head to assess the situation.

  "Dammit!"

  A curse burst from his mouth automatically. It was a reaction proportional to the gravity of the situation.

  "Jihyeon, come quick! You need to hurry!"

  Seok-yeong contacted Jihyeon immediately. There was no need to explain where he was. This much would be enough. With Jihyeon's abilities, he would arrive instantly.

  At the same time, Seok-yeong ran toward the scene. He did his best to evacuate people. With his strength, he couldn't stop that fight. But he could move people to safety.

  Even so, Seok-yeong clicked his tongue in disbelief.

  Two people were creating this mess. To an outsider, it might look like a clash between two berserk individuals. But the truth was different. Both of those currently fighting had maintained their sanity. That's why they were talking to each other as they fought.

  The problem was that Seok-yeong couldn't hear what they were saying, and regardless of their sanity, the two were only focused on smashing everything around them.

  Their power was terrifying. The way they broke things without a care was reminiscent of a battle from mythology. The road shattered just from them stomping their feet, and nearby streetlights became their weapons.

  In an instant, everything turned into a shambles. Though he had experienced it several times, Seok-yeong could only sigh as he watched the surreal scene.

  Suddenly, something flew toward him. Some citizens warned Seok-yeong of the danger, but he had no time to dodge. He could only close his eyes and endure. Seok-yeong braced for death and squeezed his eyes shut.

  Fortunately, it seemed today was not his day to die. He felt no impact. Instead, he heard a welcome voice.

  "It seems I'm not too late."

  Blocking the danger flying toward him, Jihyeon—the man in the hood—had arrived just in time.