Call of Abyss

Chapter 8

"Concentrate fire on the ones trying to enter through the front gate!"

"If there are any grenades left, bring them all here!"

On the rooftop of the Marines headquarters building, Marines soldiers were bustling around, shouting.

The area around the headquarters building was already surrounded by more than ten monsters.

Assistant Kim Soo-jung held a pistol handed to her by the Marines commander, guarding Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo with anxious eyes, constantly surveying the surroundings.

The sound of gunfire and grenades exploding, along with the screams and shouts of soldiers, made it seem like a battlefield.

"Assistant Kim Soo-jung, is the phone still out of service?"

"Yes, Assemblyman. Both the unit's emergency phone and personal mobile phones are out of service."

"How could this happen....

How could a mere cult group do something like this...."

Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo looked at the soldiers fiercely fighting the monsters with a dazed expression.

The cult group introduced by intern secretary Lee Ji-hoon, or rather, Cult Leader Giovanni as the Medici Family, clearly possessed unimaginable power.

It was more than just having bombs capable of blowing up a school; they had some force that transcended human common sense.

It was hard not to wonder how a group with such power existed in Korea and how they had hidden it until now.

"Assemblyman, a helicopter is approaching."

At Assistant Kim Soo-jung's words, Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo looked up at the sky.

A helicopter was approaching the Marines headquarters building, making a loud noise.

"Is the rescue team finally here?"

Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo sighed in relief as he spoke.

"It appears to be a civilian helicopter, not a military one.

How did they know to come here?"

"How they came is not important.

We must escape this hell and inform the outside world of this horrific situation."

As Assistant Kim Soo-jung spoke, looking at the helicopter with suspicion, Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo waved his hand to reassure her.

Then suddenly, the sound of a machine gun came from the helicopter, and bullets began to fly towards the rooftop of the Marines headquarters building where Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo and Assistant Kim Soo-jung were.

"Everyone, take cover!"

"What is that helicopter? Is it not on our side?"

In an instant, Marines soldiers began to fall, screaming, and the rooftop of the Marines headquarters building turned into a sea of blood.

"Assemblyman, Assistant, take cover!"

The Marines commander, who had been leading the soldiers in front of Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo and Assistant Kim Soo-jung, shouted as he looked back at them.

At that moment, an arrow flew from somewhere and pierced the Marines commander's head.

"Commander!"

Assistant Kim Soo-jung screamed in shock as she saw the Marines commander fall with an arrow in his head.

Now, on the rooftop of the Marines headquarters building, no one was left alive except Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo and Assistant Kim Soo-jung.

The bullets and arrows from the helicopter had killed everyone on the rooftop of the Marines headquarters building except Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo and Assistant Kim Soo-jung.

The helicopter, as if savoring the gruesome scene, slowly circled around the Marines headquarters building before landing on the rooftop.

"Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo, I gave you an entire hour to hide well, but you only managed to escape to the Marines base?

The innocent Marines died because of you, Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo."

"You.... a mere cult leader....

Do you think such acts can be forgiven?"

As Cult Leader Giovanni, who had alighted from the helicopter, spoke mockingly to Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo, the assemblyman responded with indignation.

"Forgiveness? Haha.... I never imagined such romantic words would come from Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo's mouth.

Who is going to forgive me, and who is going to judge me? God? The devil?

Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo, let me tell you one truth.

In this world, there is no just god or evil devil.

Above the insignificant creatures called humans, there are only beings with great power that appear as gods or devils.

And those beings have no interest in forgiveness or judgment."

"There's no need to borrow the power of gods or devils.

The government and judicial institutions of this country will not forgive you.

One day, they will surely bring you down."

"Perhaps.... such a thing will not happen, Assemblyman."

Cult Leader Giovanni replied to Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo's words and suddenly knelt on one knee towards the helicopter from which he had alighted.

"You may come down now, Mr. President."

Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo and Assistant Kim Soo-jung could not help but be shocked to see a middle-aged gentleman alighting from the helicopter at Cult Leader Giovanni's words.

The person descending from the helicopter, leaning on a trademark gamtanamu cane, was none other than President Choi Sang-beom, the current head of the Korean government.

"So you.... were the true leader of this cult group.

This is why the truth behind the murder cases caused by religious rituals and the Shin Young Girls' High School terror incident has not been revealed."

"Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo, I respected you for being seasoned in politics, but I was sometimes afraid.

I always thought you would eventually see through the truth of all these incidents.

Well.... in the end, we acted a step faster."

"For a president who should protect the lives and safety of the nation's people to commit such a massacre....

It is truly disgusting, President Choi Sang-beom."

"You should call me Mr. President....

Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo, you lack respect for your superiors.

You always have."

As President Choi Sang-beom gave a nod to Cult Leader Giovanni, kneeling on one knee, Cult Leader Giovanni nodded back and raised one hand towards Blaze in the helicopter.

Blaze swiftly drew a Silver Arrow from the quiver on its back and shot the Silver Arrow at Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo's right leg.

Hit by the Silver Arrow, Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo fell to the ground with a groan.

"President! To do such a thing....

Are you not sorry to the people who elected you?"

"The people.... they should apologize to me.

They elected me as president, and for the past three years, all they have done is curse me.

Once, I truly wanted to dedicate everything to the people.

But do you know what I realized over the past three years?

That the people of this country are not worth it.

This country is full of people who love to criticize others, are selfish, and lack consideration or gratitude for others.

So I decided.

If my power alone is not enough, I will borrow the power of transcendent beings to fundamentally change the people of this country."

"Is that why you turned a blind eye to the cult group abducting people as blood sacrifices and pretended not to see innocent high school girls burning to death?

Choi Sang-beom, you madman, get a grip!

You have joined hands with the devil."

"Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo, as I've said many times, you are truly arrogant."

As soon as President Choi Sang-beom finished speaking, another Silver Arrow flew swiftly and lodged in Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo's shoulder.

Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo screamed as he clutched his bleeding shoulder.

"Mr. President, I have one question."

Unable to bear the horrific scene any longer, Assistant Kim Soo-jung stepped in front of Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo and spoke to President Choi Sang-beom.

"The young assistant lady who always followed Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo around.

Well, since you're going to die anyway, I'll allow you one question."

"How do you plan to change this country using the cult and these monsters?

The cult and monsters can change nothing.

They only bring destruction and chaos to the country."

"That's exactly it, young lady.

The fear brought by destruction and chaos, that's what this country needs.

And by controlling that fear, I will create a new order in this country.

An order much stronger than the current weak laws of this country.

With the help of the Medici Family and the transcendent being they serve, I can do what an ordinary human like me alone cannot."

"Mr. President, you are truly insane."

"No, the crazy ones are useless politicians like Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo and the people of this country.

They always have been.

That's why I am going to change them all, even now."

"This is the Neo-Renaissance plan that His Excellency the President and I have been envisioning for a long time."

Giovanni, the cult leader, smiled at Kim Soo-jung, the aide, and added more to President Choi Sang-beom's answer.

"That plan will fail.

After killing so many people, do you really think such a plan can succeed?

Mr. President, you have failed as a president and as a human being.

The citizens of this country, who trusted and elected you, are truly pitiful."

"The plan will succeed.

Offering humans as blood sacrifices for religious rituals, committing terrorism in Sinyeong Girls' High School, and massacring marines and island residents—these will all be blamed on a certain anti-government cult.

And using that as an excuse, I will finally declare martial law, and this country will be reborn under a strong order."

President Choi Sang-beom finished speaking, pointed at Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo lying on the ground, and looked at Giovanni, the cult leader.

Giovanni nodded toward President Choi Sang-beom and approached Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo, who was lying on the ground.

"Rejoice, Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo.

You will become the symbol of a transcendent being and the cornerstone of a new nation.

Although you'll die before fully awakening as an Abyss One due to the Silver Arrow stuck in your body, at least the form will manifest."

Giovanni pulled out a test tube containing black liquid from his pocket, opened the lid, and forcibly poured the black liquid into Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo's mouth.

"What on earth are you doing?"

"Aide Kim Soo-jung, let's watch together.

Witness the moment when a human sheds their physical shell and is reborn as a new lifeform."

As soon as Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo drank the black liquid, his body convulsed nonstop.

A few minutes later, tentacle-like appendages sprouted from his jaw and face, and Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo stopped convulsing, his body going limp.

"So the body couldn't endure, and he died after only changing form?

Well, this should be enough."

Giovanni dragged the body of the deceased Assemblyman Shin Chang-soo and loaded it into a helicopter.

Meanwhile, the monsters outside the Marines headquarters building climbed up the walls, heading for the rooftop.

"Aide Kim Soo-jung, thank you for everything until now.

I must confess, I think I might have liked you a little.

It's truly unfortunate that things have come to this."

"You devil...."

"Haha.... A devil, you say....

Then, I suppose we'll meet in hell someday."

As Giovanni extended his arm toward Aide Kim Soo-jung, the monsters that had climbed to the rooftop rushed toward her.

Aide Kim Soo-jung tightly closed her eyes and recalled her past.

She felt deeply resentful about dying like this, without having done anything meaningful for the world.

If only she could at least reveal the cause of this horrifying tragedy to the world, she might find some solace, but even that seemed impossible, and tears streamed down her face.

At that moment, with a loud bang, something exploded near Aide Kim Soo-jung.

Aide Kim Soo-jung opened her eyes again and looked straight ahead.

The bodies of the monsters rushing toward her had exploded and scattered everywhere, and between her and Giovanni stood a woman in a black dress and black veil.

"Lady Nia, it's been a long time.

I never expected you to grace such a desolate place with your presence."

"Cult Leader Giovanni, what are you doing in a place like this?

I clearly warned you.

I told you not to bring great chaos to the human world until the right time comes."

"There's nothing for Lady Nia to worry about.

What I'm doing is to bring order to the human world.

You will have plenty of time to toy with humans for a long time, so please rest assured."

"The monsters around you don't seem like they would bring order to the human world.

Causing such a massive incident in this way is problematic, Cult Leader Giovanni."

As the woman called Nia finished speaking, a giant black snake momentarily emerged from her shadow and coiled beside her.

"The Death Snake, Apophis....

Lady Nia, are you saying you intend to fight me?"

"You're the one who crossed the line first, Cult Leader Giovanni.

The power of the Great Old One must not yet manifest in the human world."

"That's merely your opinion, Lady Nia.

From the start, I have no obligation to follow your thoughts."

"Do you dare to defy me?"

"How could I possibly dare to defy Lady Nia?

I only worry that if you reveal your power to stop me, the King in Yellow and the Vampire of Fire will appear and cause you considerable trouble."

"Threats won't work on me, Cult Leader Giovanni.

You've borrowed and wasted too much of the Great Old One's power for your personal goals.

I wonder if the master you dream of in the Abyss has allowed all this.

Before your master rises in anger and destroys everything you've accomplished, it would be wise for you to stop here."

As she finished speaking, Nia lightly waved her right hand.

Then, the giant black snake called Apophis darted toward the remaining monsters near Giovanni and began devouring them.

Even the powerful monsters that couldn't be taken down by bullets were mere prey before Apophis.

It didn't take long for all the monsters Giovanni called Abyss Ones to vanish from the rooftop of the Marines headquarters building.

"Lady Nia, if you act like this, I will have no choice but to use all the power I have to confront you."

"It seems unlikely you'll manage that here.

Many people aiming to stop you are heading toward this building right now."

At that moment, the sound of a car approaching from outside the Marines headquarters building could be heard.

Aide Kim Soo-jung turned her gaze toward the source of the sound.

A Dodge Truck was rapidly approaching the Marines headquarters building.

"Can you handle your daughter, the Abyss Hunter, and even me right here and now?"

"I see. Indeed, it seems impossible.

Then, for now, I will retreat from this place, Lady Nia.

However, if you continue to hinder me in the future, know that I have several countermeasures prepared."

Giovanni and President Choi Sang-beom cautiously returned to the helicopter, not letting their guard down as they watched Nia.

Nia gestured again toward Apophis, calling it back into her shadow.

As Apophis disappeared, the helicopter carrying Giovanni and President Choi Sang-beom quickly ascended into the air.

"Hello, Aide Kim Soo-jung, my name is Nia.

People are coming to save you, so let's wait together for a while.

When they arrive, I'll explain in detail the situation you're in and what will happen next."

Nia spoke to Aide Kim Soo-jung as she lifted the black veil covering her face.

Her sharp, prominent nose, alabaster white skin, lustrous black hair, and blood-red lips.

A captivating face, seemingly not of this world, was revealed beneath the black veil.

Aide Kim Soo-jung was momentarily speechless, overwhelmed by Nia's mysterious and enchanting aura.

She felt her heart race in a different way than when she had been on the brink of death at Giovanni's hands moments ago.

Nia gently smiled at Aide Kim Soo-jung, who was staring intently at her.

It was a mysterious smile that seemed to carry many meanings, yet one that an ordinary person could never fully comprehend.