Chapter 20 — Before The World Burned
The First Blade of War
A Mountain Highway — Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Midnight
The mountain road was drowned in darkness.
Only a few abandoned streetlights cast a dull orange glow across the asphalt.
A black SUV moved steadily along the curve of the highway.
Behind the wheel sat Sol.
His face was calm.
Too calm.
He was responding to the global Perfect mobilization order—
a directive issued only hours ago.
Then—
BANG!
Something slammed into the windshield.
The vehicle swerved violently.
Sol slammed the brakes, muscles tensing, instinct taking over.
The SUV spun—but stopped.
He looked into the cracked glass.
Two vans blocked the road behind him.
Six men stepped out.
Black tactical suits.
Silver masks.
Weapons fully armed—energy rifles, knives, electrified batons.
One of them shouted.
“That’s him! Sol! Big bounty tonight—open fire!”
Energy rounds tore into the SUV.
Sol exhaled.
“…Annoying.”
And vanished.
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Sol vs. The Gigi Mercenaries
The next second—
Sol stood on the roof of his own car.
His blade slid from its sheath in a single fluid motion.
Streetlight reflected off steel, drawing a thin silver line through the air.
Three mercenaries rushed from the front.
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Three more flanked from behind.
“You people really love numbers,” Sol muttered.
He dropped.
Slash.
The first man’s energy rifle split cleanly in half.
Sol’s heel struck the man’s neck—
CRACK.
Two more fired.
Sol spun.
Every shot deflected by his blade, blue light scattering like shattered glass.
Without looking—
he thrust backward.
The blade pierced straight through a mercenary’s abdomen.
The man collapsed instantly.
In front—
a diagonal cut.
The fourth mercenary’s throat opened halfway.
He fell without a sound.
The last man tried to run.
Sol leapt.
One downward strike.
The body split cleanly down the center.
Fifteen seconds.
Six bodies lay still on the road.
Sol flicked blood from his blade.
Then paused.
“…These aren’t Korean,” he murmured.
“And not government units.”
The air shifted.
The silence felt wrong.
As if something—
was watching.
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The True Shadow Steps Forward
The forest beside the road moved.
Darkness flowed outward—
like ink spreading through water.
A figure emerged.
Black, form-fitting armor.
Pale eyes.
A swirling aura of shadow clinging to his body.
A smile—not friendly.
A hunter’s smile.
“Well done, Perfect,” the man said calmly.
“You cleared the trash easily.”
Sol raised his blade.
“Who are you?”
The man bowed slightly.
“Name’s Vapor,” he said.
“Sent directly from Thailand.”
Sol’s eyes narrowed.
“…By Death Cheetar?”
Vapor smiled wider.
“Yes.”
“And you’re very lucky,” he added softly.
“You’re alone.”
The wind stirred.
Leaves spiraled around them.
As if the mountain itself sensed what was coming.
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First Contact
Vapor vanished.
Sol reacted on instinct—
his blade swung backward—
CLANG!
Steel met black metal.
The impact cracked the asphalt beneath their feet.
Sol’s mind raced.
Too fast.
At least ten times human speed.
Vapor disappeared again.
Left—blocked.
Right—blocked.
Front—
Sol countered with a diagonal slash.
Vapor barely slipped away.
They moved faster than vision allowed.
Blades collided again and again—
a storm of metal echoing through the mountains.
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Sol Gains Ground
Then—
Sol stopped.
He waited.
Watched.
Read the shadow’s rhythm.
When Vapor emerged again—
Sol struck.
SHHKK!
The blade tore through Vapor’s shoulder.
Blood sprayed.
Vapor staggered back three steps, eyes widening.
So—you can be read.
He wiped blood from his arm.
“…I get it now,” Vapor said slowly.
“Your ability copies others temporarily.”
Sol didn’t respond.
His grip tightened.
Vapor laughed.
“That sword of yours is dangerous.”
“But if that’s the case…”
“I’ll exploit your weakness.”
Sol frowned.
“…What weakness?”
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The Water Trick
Vapor stepped back.
Pulled out a small bottle.
He poured water onto the road.
Sol stiffened.
Something felt wrong.
Vapor smiled.
“You know… my shadow doesn’t move well in water.”
“Moisture disrupts it.”
Sol’s eyes sharpened.
“Then why tell me?”
Vapor’s smile turned manic.
“Because the unlucky one tonight…”
“…is you.”
He crushed the bottle underfoot.
Water splashed across the asphalt—
flowing toward Sol’s shadow.
The shadow trembled.
Flickered.
Sol’s eyes widened.
“…What—!?”
His Copy ability—
shut down.
Vapor exploded from behind.
Three times faster than before.
Sol couldn’t read him.
“FAREWELL, SOL!!!”
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The Blade That Ended a Fate
Sol turned.
Too late.
Vapor’s black blade swept across his neck.
SLASH.
Blood sprayed in a thin arc.
Sol stood still.
His sword slipped from his fingers—
clang…
His body collapsed onto the roadside.
No final words.
No scream.
No prayer.
Sol—
one of South Korea’s strongest Perfects—
was dead.
Vapor breathed heavily.
Blood soaked his armor.
But he smiled.
“One kill,” he muttered.
“That should earn me a promotion.”
Shadows wrapped around Sol’s body.
The corpse vanished.
Vapor reached into the SUV—
and retrieved a file marked:
MIRROR
He disappeared into darkness.
And somewhere far away—
a report was transmitted.
“First Perfect eliminated.”
The war had truly begun.
—Fade out—
