Chapter 4
Louise and her team moved first, slipping into position with quiet precision, while Rudolf and I stayed behind for a moment, watching the building and thinking through our approach.
Rudolf glanced at me and spoke in a low voice. "Lee, I think I should use my ability later. If I move through the walls at the right time, no one will notice me."
"That's good," I replied, nodding slightly. "But wait for my signal. I'll stop time first and create an opening. Take this earpiece so I can call you when it's ready."
He took it without hesitation.
I turned my attention back to the building.
'First, I need to use my time stop to get into position. Those snipers are still out there, and one mistake will get me killed.'
I exhaled slowly.
'I need to move carefully so I can catch them off guard.'
"Rudolf, I'm stopping time now," I said quietly.
I raised my hand.
Snap.
A deep vibration spread through the air as everything froze.
The world fell into silence.
'Time has stopped. I need to move quickly.'
I scanned my surroundings and spotted a garbage dumpster near the adjacent building.
'I can use that to get higher.'
Without wasting a second, I sprinted forward, my steps light but fast, then pushed off the ground and jumped toward it.
The moment I left the ground, my eyes widened.
'What the hell... I'm flying.'
My body arced through the air farther than I expected.
I twisted instinctively and landed straight into the dumpster.
Trash exploded around me.
Rotten food.
Stagnant water.
The smell hit instantly.
"Ugh, what the hell... this smells disgusting."
'This is worse than I expected.'
I steadied myself, trying not to react too much.
Release.
Time resumed.
"Dude!"
I heard Rudolf's voice from above. I looked up and saw him staring down at me, his hand moving in exaggerated gestures.
His expression clearly said, What did you just do?
I smirked and gestured back.
Yeah. I jumped.
Then I pointed at the dumpster, signaling him to follow.
'There's no way he's actually going to do it.'
I looked away for a moment, already preparing to move.
Then I heard footsteps.
Fast.
I turned back.
'Wait... where is he?'
A shadow moved above.
Rudolf ran forward and jumped exactly like I did.
'This idiot is trying to kill himself.'
But instead of panicking, he twisted mid-air, performing a clean backflip before landing beside me in the trash.
He immediately stood up, grinning like a kid.
"Dude, did you see that? That was crazy, right?"
I stared at him in disbelief.
"What is wrong with you? I gave you the earpiece so you could coordinate, not copy me."
He laughed.
"Relax, Lee. I just wanted to try it."
'This man has the mind of a child.'
Before I could respond, the earpiece crackled.
"Mic check... mic check..."
I tapped it.
"Yeah, I hear you."
Louise's voice came through, slightly irritated. "Where the hell are you two? We're already in position, but we can't see you."
"Oh, Louise. We're nearby," I replied. "And yes, Rudolf is with me. He decided to follow me instead of listening."
"I heard that," Rudolf muttered.
"Just be ready," Louise continued. "They're starting to move."
"The hunters?"
"Yes."
'We need to act now.'
"Wait for us," I said quickly. "We're moving in."
I ended the call and turned to Rudolf.
"Climb to the fourth floor using your ability. Move through the walls and scout from above."
"Got it."
Without hesitation, he ran straight toward the wall and phased through it, disappearing instantly.
I moved toward the emergency entrance.
'I'll support him from below. Someone is definitely guarding the upper floors.'
I pushed the door open and rushed inside, heading straight for the stairs.
"There."
I started climbing quickly, taking two steps at a time while keeping my senses sharp.
'I need to stay close enough to support Rudolf if something goes wrong.'
Then suddenly—
Boom.
The explosion shook the entire building.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
My eyes widened.
'A bomb... from above?'
My grip tightened.
'Don't tell me Rudolf made a mistake.'
The earpiece crackled again.
"Tyron, what was that?" Louise asked. "We heard an explosion."
"It came from the upper floors," I replied while running faster. "Rudolf is there. I'm going to him."
"Be careful."
The line went silent.
I reached the floor where the explosion had occurred and pushed the door open.
My breath stopped.
Rudolf stood there, barely upright.
Blood covered his body.
"…What?"
My mind struggled to process what I was seeing.
'It's only been minutes. How did he get injured this badly?'
Then—
A voice echoed from the side.
Low.
Calm.
Dangerous.
"Well... it seems we have new company."
My eyes shifted instantly.
A figure stood in the shadows.
Rudolf forced a weak smile.
"Hyung... help me. This guy is strong."
I stepped forward, placing myself between Rudolf and the enemy.
"Where is he?" I asked.
Rudolf lifted his hand weakly and pointed.
"There... he's been playing with me. I couldn't fight him alone."
I followed his finger.
Then I saw him clearly.
An old man.
But the pressure he gave off was anything but weak.
'No way...'
'I didn't expect to meet someone like him here.'
"…Gregory Scander," I muttered.
One of the Ten Rulers of the Hunters.
Rank eight.
'This is bad.'
Rudolf suddenly spoke again. "Hyung, be careful."
I glanced at him briefly.
"…Did you just call me hyung?"
"Forget it," he replied weakly.
Scander chuckled softly.
"Interesting," he said. "At your age, you've reached this level. Impressive."
His eyes scanned me from head to toe.
"But your attitude... it doesn't suit someone in front of me."
'Typical hunter arrogance.'
The earpiece activated again.
"Tyron, we're still holding our position," Louise said. "What's happening there? I heard another voice."
I hesitated for a second.
"If I tell you, you might not believe it."
"Just say it."
"…It's Scander."
Silence.
"…What?" Louise's voice dropped. "One of the rulers? Be careful."
I ended the call.
Scander stepped forward slightly.
"Enough talking," he said calmly.
Then in an instant—
He was in front of me.
A long shotgun pointed directly at my head.
'Fast.'
Even at his age, his movement was terrifying.
"I'll give you a chance," he said. "Walk away, and I might let your friends live."
I ignored him.
Instead, I moved Rudolf to the side and helped him sit against the wall.
"Stay here," I said quietly. "Don't move."
Then I stood up and faced Scander again.
"You're strong," I admitted. "Fast too."
He smiled faintly.
"I know."
Then his expression turned serious.
"But I told you to stop talking."
He pulled the trigger.
I moved instantly, dodging just in time.
'I reacted. Good.'
"Impressive," he said. "Most people can't avoid that."
"But that just means..."
His grip tightened.
"I should take you seriously."
I smirked slightly.
"Try it, old man."
'Let's see how I deal with this monster.'
Gunshots echoed again.
I moved behind cover, keeping my breathing steady.
"Stop hiding," Scander said. "I can see you."
My eyes narrowed.
'He knows where I am?'
"My vision goes through walls," he continued. "You can't hide."
'I see. That's his ability.'
I raised my hand again.
Snap.
Time froze.
Or at least, it should have.
Scander smiled.
"So this is your power," he said slowly.
"…Time stop."
My eyes widened.
'He's moving...'
"Don't underestimate a veteran," he continued.
The shotgun lifted again.
'This is bad.'
Boom. Boom.
The shots came even in frozen time.
I barely managed to move out of the way.
'His bullets... they have resistance too.'
'I can't win like this.'
I clenched my fist.
'Then I need to change the flow.'
Release.
Time resumed.
Scander looked at me with interest.
"You released it," he said. "You realized it wouldn't work."
I stepped forward, facing him directly.
"Old man," I said calmly.
"Let's make this interesting."
He tilted his head slightly.
"…Oh?"
I smiled faintly.
"How about we fight without weapons?"
[ GREGORY SCANDER ]
Supernatural Power: X-Ray Vision
Ability: Can see through walls and obstacles
Age: 64