Axel glanced at his freshly cleaned hand, then at Dr. Bai's bewildered expression and the blood splattered across her chest.
Ci Yun took a quiet breath, raised her pistol, and walked toward Dr. Bai.
As she approached, Axel lifted his hand with obvious disgust.
"Damn it, I got it wrong. This old hag's drool is even more disgusting than your nosebleed. I'm starting to regret using her filthy mouth to wash my hands."
"Shibal..."
Hearing his comment, Ci Yun muttered a curse under her breath. Even with her self-control, she was struggling to keep her temper in check.
Although she spoke quietly, Axel still heard her. He frowned.
"Who the hell are you talking about?"
"Don't you understand Korean?"
"Bullshit. I don't understand Korean, but I understand swear words, you little brat."
Before she could react, Axel grabbed her cheek and pulled.
Pop!
Her soft cheek made another crisp sound before he let go and turned toward Dr. Bai, who remained frozen in shock with blood staining her teeth.
"You're Dr. Bai, right? Sorry for making you witness that. You're not exactly a good person, and the kid you raised isn't much better.
"She's full of trouble at such a young age, constantly yelling 'shibal.' I'm getting tired of hearing it. She acts like she's me, throwing curses around all day."
As he spoke, Axel casually swung out a kick.
It looked completely harmless, almost playful.
Then, in the next instant, his leg sliced cleanly through Dr. Bai's knees as though cutting through thin plastic.
Because he had barely used any force, Ci Yun finally managed to follow his movement.
To her eyes, Dr. Bai's flesh and bone simply vanished wherever Axel's foot passed.
Most horrifying of all, her meniscus shot away like a tiny projectile, smashing through a distant restaurant window before disappearing from sight.
The speed was beyond belief.
Even after Axel had already lowered his leg, Dr. Bai remained suspended in the air.
It looked almost comical.
In reality, the force had been so precise that gravity had not yet begun pulling her body downward.
For nearly a third of a second, she floated motionlessly.
Then she finally collapsed onto the floor.
Staring at the empty space where her knees had been, and at the detached lower legs lying beside her, Dr. Bai could not even process what had happened.
"Aish... my legs... what happened? What's happening?"
She crawled toward them in complete confusion.
Only after clutching both severed legs and recognizing her own high heels did reality finally sink in.
"My legs! My legs! I don't have legs anymore!"
Terrified, she looked toward Ci Yun.
"Don't kill me! You can't do this!
"Child, tell him you're going to die!
"Without me, you'll die horribly. If you keep using your powers, your brain will destroy itself.
"Blood will pour from every opening in your body, your eyes, your nose, your ears, your belly button, everywhere.
"You'll become just as disgusting as I am now!
"Do you want that, you shibal lunatic? You took my legs! Damn you!"
Her emotions finally shattered.
With all her strength, she hurled one of her severed legs at Ci Yun.
Ci Yun watched it fly toward her without moving.
It struck her stomach, splashing blood across her school uniform.
She brushed the blood away and looked at Axel.
"She's disgusting now. Why not just let her die? That would be cleaner."
Axel chuckled before pinching her cheek again.
"Are you telling me what to do?"
He draped an arm around her shoulders.
"You know why I'm keeping her alive?
"To me, you're like a pet I happen to like.
"This stupid woman caused you plenty of suffering. If someone beats your dog, they should at least consider the owner first. She completely ignored me.
"So unless she suffers enough, I won't be satisfied.
"Look at her. Her adrenaline is blocking all the pain.
"So we'll wait until it wears off.
"Then the real pain begins."
With that, Axel wrapped an arm around Ci Yun and walked toward the restaurant entrance.
He pushed open the doors.
"Anyone still alive? Send up two more steaks."
"Damn it! Intruders!"
"There are only two of them!"
"They're superhumans!"
"Something happened to Dr. Bai!"
"Mr. Cui is dead!"
"Shibal! We can't handle them! Where's the response team headquarters promised?"
"Only superhumans can fight superhumans! Contact them now!"
The surviving security personnel stood frozen, too frightened to approach.
Axel slowly slid his hand down from Ci Yun's shoulder.
Smack!
Her skirt swayed as she stared at him in surprise.
Since escaping at the age of nine and reaching nineteen, Ci Yun had never even held a man's hand.
She was a ruthless assassin and a dangerous superhuman.
Yet regardless of how cold she appeared, she had never experienced anything resembling romance.
Her expression remained composed, but her heart was no longer completely still.
She smiled faintly.
"You or me?"
"You."
Axel shrugged.
"I'm going to find the kitchen and cook us a couple of steaks.
"Dr. Bai and Mr. Cui were probably important enough that more people will come looking for them.
"We might catch some bigger fish."
He patted her on the rear one last time before grinning.
"You really are something. Your butt's just as round as your cheeks.
"Try not to get yourself killed. I'll have dinner ready."
Ci Yun sighed.
"I know.
"But if you can't say something normal, maybe don't say anything.
"People would like you a lot more if you learned when to stay quiet."
She raised her pistol.
Blood streamed from her nose, then her mouth.
Ignoring it, she calmly eliminated every remaining guard on the floor.
When she entered the kitchen moments later, covered in blood, she found Axel humming cheerfully while frying steaks.
He waved without turning around.
"Go sit down. I'll bring them over when they're done.
"And wipe the blood off your face. It doesn't look bad, but it'll make eating annoying."
"I know."
Even after spending so little time with him, Ci Yun realized she genuinely enjoyed being around Axel.
Returning to the dining room, she passed the endlessly screaming Dr. Bai before sitting back down.
Only then did understanding dawn on her.
Monsters could only truly understand other monsters.
That was why being around Axel felt strangely comfortable.
Just like Joker and Harley Quinn when they weren't trying to kill each other.
Or Penguin and the Riddler, whose constant rivalry never stopped them from understanding one another.
Even Lex Luthor and Batman, despite standing on opposite sides, understood each other better than most people ever could.
Deep down, they shared the same nature.
Ci Yun still had no idea what kind of future awaited her.
But as she wiped away the last traces of blood from her face, a bright smile spread across her lips.
She had finally found someone like herself.
Meanwhile, beneath the skyscraper, a black commercial van rolled to a stop.
The short-haired driver stepped out and opened the rear door.
A handsome man sitting inside ended a phone call with a grin before showing the screen to the other three passengers.
"We've got an interesting delivery.
"Mr. Cui died miserably, and Dr. Bai's barely alive."
He laughed with genuine delight.
Suddenly, several battered security guards stumbled out of the skyscraper and ran toward the van.
Panting heavily, one of them gasped,
"There are intruders upstairs!
"They're incredibly strong!
"Especially the girl! She killed more than sixty people herself!"
"Oh?"
The handsome man stepped out of the van.
Smiling broadly, he placed a hand on the guard's shoulder.
"You people disappoint me.
"You're supposed to fear me.
"Did they really scare you enough to forget that?"
His smile never faded as he increased the pressure.
Bones cracked.
Ligaments tore.
The guard's body compressed until the man who had once stood over six feet tall was crushed to less than three feet.
The handsome man casually shook the blood from his hand.
"Let's go.
"I'd like to see who has the courage to attack one of our Korean branches.
"Even the President of South Korea wouldn't dare.
"Our cooperation with the American military stationed here has lasted for years."
He flicked his black trench coat and strode toward the skyscraper.
Behind him, a fierce woman with a hime haircut sneered.
"The organization isn't invincible.
"Have you forgotten her?
"Someone already escaped once.
"If she could do it, why can't I?
"The only reason we're still here is because we enjoy this life."
As she reached the entrance, she glanced toward the shattered window high above.
A strange chill crawled across her scalp.
Back inside the restaurant, Ci Yun suddenly curled into herself.
Sweat instantly soaked through her clothes.
She was used to this agony.
The side effect of her superpower caused her own body to begin destroying itself whenever she overused her brain.
Simply processing too much information accelerated the damage.
That was why she avoided crowds whenever possible.
The more people around her, the more information her brain instinctively analyzed.
Every second became torture.
Now, while trembling in unbearable pain, she looked coldly at the unconscious Dr. Bai.
She had believed revenge would give her the strength to endure.
Instead, with two of her enemies already gone, the pain only became harder to bear.
Because what she truly wanted was release.
At that moment, the restaurant doors opened.
"Ding dong, ding dong."
Axel walked in carrying two freshly cooked steaks.
He placed them on the table before lifting Ci Yun into his arms.
Sitting down in her chair, he settled her comfortably on his lap.
He gently rubbed her head like he was petting a kitten.
"It hurts that much?
"I should've found medicine before cooking."
"It's... it's nothing..."
Realizing she was pressed tightly against Axel's chest, Ci Yun blushed for an instant.
Then another wave of pain crashed over her.
Her instincts were unconsciously analyzing Axel, forcing her brain to work even harder.
"Ah!"
She cried out before grabbing his clothes tightly and burying her face against his chest.
"Kill me!"
Her entire body shook violently.
"If you're going to avenge me... then kill me... ah!"
Blood poured from every opening on her face as painful cries escaped her lips.
Axel rubbed her back while watching thoughtfully.
"You're not messing with me, are you?
"By all rights, you should've lasted a few more months.
"But... is it really this painful?
"I should've looked for medicine first.
"Damn it, and Dr. Bai's unconscious."
He clicked his tongue.
"Forget it.
"I'll try something else."
Axel raised his right hand.
"I don't know what medicine cures this little girl, but wherever it is, get over here."
A flash of light appeared.
A syringe filled with pale blue liquid materialized in his hand.
He examined it for a moment before shrugging.
"Looks good enough.
"Ci Yun, Uncle's about to give you a shot."
The needle pierced her neck.
Axel slowly injected the pale blue medicine.