As her words settled, the woman with the princess cut drew a slow, steady breath.
Her hands trembled faintly at her sides, not from fear, but from something far sharper. Shock.
She was not afraid of death. Neither she nor the man beside the shattered window had ever feared it. If anything, they had spent their lives moving toward it.
From childhood, they had been locked in sterile rooms, passed between cold, indifferent researchers. Each experiment carved pain into their bodies until resistance faded into numb acceptance. Even now, their fragile freedom came at a cost. Monthly injections kept the agony at bay. Without them, the suffering returned.
They were birds allowed to fly, but never free of their cage.
Death, to them, was release.
So the trembling came from something else entirely.
Axel.
The power he had displayed shattered everything they thought they understood.
While the woman steadied herself, the man stepped forward, stopping beside the ruined window. He stared at Axel, unable to mask the disbelief on his face.
Behind them, the fractured floor slowly reformed, reconnecting with the building.
Axel walked toward him at an unhurried pace, lips curling in amusement.
"Hey, what happened to that confidence? You were loud a second ago. Where'd it go?"
The man forced a strained smile, somewhere between laughter and despair.
"You think after seeing that, I'd come crawling to you?"
"I thought about it," Axel replied casually. "Didn't matter either way."
He turned slightly toward Ci Yun.
"You know him. Want to handle it yourself?"
Ci Yun flexed her fingers, testing the strength surging through her body.
"I don't care. Knowing him doesn't mean anything."
Despite the serum's cost, despite the ticking clock over her life, the power felt intoxicating. For once, she was not helpless.
Axel chuckled, then waved his hand.
A sharp crack split the air.
His palm slammed into the man's face. The impact obliterated his head instantly, blood bursting outward like a ruptured balloon. The force carried through, piercing both the woman and another man standing farther back.
The headless body collapsed without resistance.
Silence followed.
The woman looked down at the holes torn through her body, blood seeping steadily. Then she laughed, a genuine, almost relieved sound.
"Wow…"
Her voice faded as she fell forward, lifeless.
Behind Axel, Ci Yun closed her eyes.
"Am I the same to you?"
Axel glanced back. "Same how?"
She smiled, wide and stained with blood.
"Someone you can kill without effort."
He laughed softly and ruffled her hair.
"Some thoughts are better left unsaid. I'm not claiming I dominate every world out there, but in yours, no one here comes close to being a threat. You included."
He paused, then smirked.
"But you're not like them. You're a lot more interesting."
He turned away and waved dismissively at the remaining people in the room, who were frozen in terror.
"I'm done here. You're all too boring."
With a flick of his hand, the slab beneath him descended rapidly.
Moments later, it landed smoothly on the street below.
Axel jumped down, Ci Yun following close behind.
Panic erupted among the nearby civilians. People scattered, shouting, tripping over themselves to escape.
Ci Yun stepped closer to him.
"So I'm following you now?"
"Yeah," Axel said, then added, "not glued to my side. I don't carry dead weight."
He glanced ahead.
"This world doesn't suit you. I'll take you to mine. My city fits people like you. Once you're there, you can do whatever you want. Just don't mouth off to me."
Ci Yun nodded slowly.
"I don't understand your world or your city. But I know I'm leaving Korea."
She looked at her hand, concern flickering across her expression.
"I only have a month like this. I need a real cure."
Axel shook his head.
"What are you planning to find? A miracle? It doesn't exist here yet. That doctor and her team haven't figured it out."
He shrugged.
"But where I'm from, there are people who can. Real experts. Once they examine you and your serum, your problem will be solved within a month."
He smirked.
"And if that somehow fails, there's always backup. Ever heard of Batman? If he took an interest, this wouldn't even be a challenge."
He threw an arm around her shoulder and walked forward.
Ahead, police officers were gathering, their movements hesitant and fearful.
Ci Yun raised her hand. A pistol flew from one officer's grip into hers.
She approached him calmly, then forced his mouth open with a gesture. The gun slid between his lips.
The officer trembled violently, muffled cries escaping him.
"Didn't you see what happened up there?" she said coldly. "Why would you come closer?"
The officers broke instantly, turning and fleeing.
She shoved the man away, sending him crashing across the pavement.
"I really wanted to kill them."
Axel smirked.
"No, you wanted to let them go. You just didn't want me to notice."
They continued walking.
"You're not convincing as a villain," he added. "We'll fix that. Maybe get you some acting lessons."
He extended his hand.
"Come on. Walking is a waste of time."
Ci Yun hesitated for a fraction of a second, then placed her hand in his.
Flames ignited around them.
In the next instant, they vanished.
They reappeared inside a cramped dormitory.
Several young women froze mid-conversation, their expressions shifting from confusion to terror.
Ci Yun blinked, then frowned.
"I thought you were looking for something valuable. Why are we here?"
Before the women could fully react, Axel raised a pistol and fired into the ceiling.
The light shattered.
Screams died instantly.
Axel grinned.
"See? Still effective."
He lowered the gun toward them.
Fear surged again.
Ci Yun clenched her teeth.
"You came here for them? Do you want me to stand guard?"
Her voice carried a sharp edge.
Axel ignored her, focusing on one girl.
"So you're Lisa."
The girl trembled violently.
"Please… let me go…"
"Speak properly," Axel snapped, firing another shot near her feet.
She flinched, tears streaming down her face.
"Please… let me go…"
Axel frowned, irritation creeping in.
"I asked for a striptease. Why are you acting like this is complicated?"
He stepped forward and kicked her lightly.
"Hurry up."