The light swallowed everything.
It wasn't just bright—it was blinding. A violent surge of white and red energy burst from the machine's core, expanding outward in a wave that devoured sound, air, and space itself. For a split second, the world became nothing but heat and pressure.
Then—
Impact.
The helipad collapsed.
Concrete shattered like glass beneath their feet, steel beams twisting and snapping as the entire structure gave way. The ground dropped violently, dragging everything with it into the darkness below.
"Seo-yeon!"
Ji-hoon's voice tore through the chaos as he tightened his grip on her hand.
For a moment, that was all that mattered.
Not the explosion.
Not the collapsing building.
Just her hand in his.
They fell.
The wind roared in their ears as gravity dragged them downward through layers of broken concrete and debris. Chunks of metal and shattered glass rained around them, slicing through the air like blades.
Seo-yeon's vision blurred.
The world spun.
Her body felt weightless—
And then unbearably heavy.
"…Ji-hoon…" she called, her voice barely audible against the storm.
"I've got you!" he shouted back, his grip tightening painfully around her wrist.
A massive steel beam fell between them.
Ji-hoon twisted his body mid-air, pulling her closer just in time as the beam crashed past, missing them by inches before disappearing into the darkness below.
His heart slammed violently against his chest.
"…Stay with me!" he said.
They hit something.
Hard.
The impact knocked the breath from Seo-yeon's lungs as they crashed onto a lower level of the building—an unfinished floor filled with construction debris and exposed framework. The force sent them rolling across the rough surface, pain exploding through their bodies.
Everything went silent for a moment.
Then the sound came back.
Faint at first.
Then louder.
Crackling fire.
Falling debris.
Distant alarms.
Ji-hoon groaned as he pushed himself up, his entire body protesting the movement. His head spun, vision unsteady, but he forced himself to focus.
"…Seo-yeon…"
His voice came out rough.
Urgent.
A few feet away, she lay motionless.
His chest tightened.
"…Seo-yeon."
No response.
He stumbled toward her, dropping to his knees beside her. His hands hovered for a moment—afraid—before gently touching her shoulder.
"…Hey… wake up," he said, his voice softer now.
Nothing.
For a split second—
Fear took over.
Raw.
Uncontrolled.
"…Seo-yeon!" he said sharply, shaking her lightly.
She coughed.
Relief hit him instantly.
Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first, then slowly finding him.
"…You're… loud," she muttered weakly.
Ji-hoon exhaled sharply, tension leaving his body all at once.
"…You're alive," he said.
She blinked slowly, wincing as she tried to sit up.
"…Barely," she replied.
He helped her up carefully, his hand steady on her arm.
"…Don't move too fast," he said.
"…Since when do you give gentle advice?" she murmured, a faint hint of her usual tone slipping through.
He paused.
Then—
"…Since you almost died," he said quietly.
That wiped the faint smile from her face.
Silence settled between them again.
But this time—
It wasn't heavy.
It was… real.
The building groaned around them.
A deep, ominous sound.
Ji-hoon's eyes snapped upward.
"…We're not safe here."
Seo-yeon followed his gaze.
Cracks spread across the ceiling above them.
Dust fell in small streams.
"…No… we're not," she agreed.
Another tremor shook the structure.
Stronger this time.
Closer.
"…We need to move," Ji-hoon said, standing and pulling her up with him.
She steadied herself, her legs shaky but holding.
"…Where?" she asked.
He scanned the area quickly.
Broken walls.
Collapsed beams.
A narrow corridor partially intact to their left.
"…There," he said.
They moved.
Slow at first.
Then faster.
Every step was a risk.
The floor shifted under their weight.
Debris crunched beneath their feet.
The air was thick with dust and smoke, making every breath harder than the last.
"…Ji-hoon," she said between breaths.
"…Yeah?"
"…If we don't make it—"
He stopped.
Turned to her sharply.
"…Don't finish that sentence."
She held his gaze.
"…I need you to listen."
"…No," he said immediately. "…We're getting out. That's it."
Another violent shake cut her off.
A section of the ceiling collapsed ahead of them, blocking part of the path.
"…We go around," Ji-hoon said quickly.
She nodded.
But her expression—
Changed.
"…He's still alive," she said suddenly.
Ji-hoon froze.
"…Adrian."
A cold realization settled in his chest.
"…You're sure?"
She nodded slowly.
"…I can feel it."
His jaw tightened.
"…Then this isn't over."
They reached the end of the corridor.
A partially collapsed stairwell came into view.
Above it—
A faint opening.
Light.
"…That's our way out," Ji-hoon said.
But before they could move—
A voice echoed behind them.
Calm.
Unshaken.
"…Running already?"
They both turned.
Adrian stood in the shadows.
Unharmed.
Dust clung to his clothes, but his posture remained relaxed, his expression composed.
Like none of this had affected him at all.
Seo-yeon's eyes narrowed.
"…You survived."
Adrian smiled faintly.
"…Did you expect anything less?"
Ji-hoon stepped forward slightly, placing himself between them.
"…This ends now."
Adrian tilted his head.
"…No," he said softly. "…Now it begins."
The building shook again.
Harder.
Closer to collapse.
But none of them moved.
The air grew heavy.
Tense.
Charged with something far more dangerous than the collapsing structure around them.
Seo-yeon stepped forward.
"…You used me," she said.
Adrian's eyes met hers.
"…Yes."
"…You threatened my family."
"…Yes."
Her fists clenched.
"…You manipulated everything."
Adrian smiled slightly.
"…And I'd do it again."
Ji-hoon's voice cut in, cold and sharp.
"…Not this time."
Adrian's gaze shifted to him.
"…You still think you're in control."
A faint rumble echoed beneath them.
Deeper than before.
Seo-yeon's eyes widened slightly.
"…Ji-hoon…"
He felt it too.
Something—
Was still down there.