BP 28

“It’s an OniCube. This is a rare occurrence.”

Muttering a small curse, Jae-il hurriedly started the engine. Usually, Oni with strong earth attributes generated a specific magnetic field called a pulse as a precursor to their appearance, similar to an earthquake. However, an OniCube had appeared without any pulse detection. The situation was abnormal and urgent.

“The location is the Center.”

Hearing those surreal words, Seung-hyun’s gaze slowly drifted toward his phone. Now that he thought about it, Joy hadn’t answered the call.

* * *

Rowan, who had arrived at work slightly earlier than usual, was walking toward the Guiding Room while tapping on his tablet. This was because the B-Class Psychic Esper under his care had complained of a severe headache the previous night.

Psychic Espers, who frequently use psychokinesis, found even small pains caused by minute numerical changes particularly difficult to endure. Having managed him for a long time and knowing his condition better than anyone, Rowan had willingly carved out time from his schedule upon the request to come in a bit early.

On the other hand, Joy, who had to hitch a ride in his car to get to work, was slightly dissatisfied. Upon entering the Center, she felt it would be a pity to go straight to work, so she headed for the cafe. Her destination was the cafeteria cafe, which had fewer menu items than the central center but had the advantage of opening early.

The interior of the Center was quiet. Exchanging morning greetings with the occasional staff member on duty, Rowan stepped off the elevator and walked [visit our site]toward Guiding Room 5. The appointed location was at the very end visit our siteof the hallway. Since he still had some time, he called the Psychic Esper.

“Where are you?”

[I’m almost there.]

“Then I’ll be waiting in the room.”

[Thanks, Rowan.]

“It’s fine. How are you feeling, Esper-nim?”

[Same as always. Can I hold you today?]

“Yes. You may hold me for as long as you wish.”

[You’re a lifesaver. Is there anything you want to eat?]

“Oh, it’s fine. This is my job.”

If not for that last sentence, anyone overhearing them would have mistaken them for lovers. Rowan tended to allow skinship regardless of gender, provided the request was polite. While it rarely escalated to sex, he would suggest it first if the situation was urgent or if the other person seemed to be struggling severely with Rut.

Since his favorite Esper was asking today, he intended to hold him tightly until he was satisfied. But that was as far as it went. To Rowan, guiding was work. Sex was an extension of that work. As Joy had said, Rowan was more serious and devoted than anyone when it came to guiding. And as an experienced Guide, he knew how to control his emotions. He was remarkably rational, possessing a mindset entirely different from the ability users who bonded through physical and emotional intimacy and occasionally underwent Imprinting.

He was wondering whether to tell Joy to buy him a coffee while walking when a sinister vibration suddenly spread beneath his feet, as if an earthquake were occurring. Rowan looked around the trembling building and tilted his head. He felt a sense of déjà vu more than fear.

This vibration.

It was then that Rowan’s gaze turned toward the window.

“Uh…?”

An unrealistic scene, something he believed could never happen here, unfolded before his eyes. Rowan covered his mouth. Masses of black mud were wriggling upward, covering the windows. They were Oni. And of the highest grade. Despite their massive size, they had low attack power due to their difficulty in external transformation; instead, they served to surround the building, preventing entry.

Oni.

That single word filled his mind. The surroundings grew darker as those undulating masses rose. Slowly lifting his gaze beneath the shadow [unauthorized copy]style="position:relative;display:inline;">[Read on Read BL Novels]cast by the mud, Rowan finally began to tremble violently.

Instinctive terror enveloped his entire body. This place would soon become an OniCube. Electricity and communications would all be cut off. When a darkness without a single speck of light arrived, lower-grade Oni would enter the building to hunt, evolving into Gon to accelerate the slaughter. Everything that breathed would be swallowed whole.

“Oh, my god.”

An OniCube at the Awakener Center. Had the pulse not been detected? There were many questions, but this was no time for them. Escaping to the first floor was already out of the question; the entrance would be completely occupied. He had to find a place to hide before it got darker. Rowan entered the nearest Guiding Room. He hurriedly locked the door and switched his phone to silent. Then, he placed a call. After five rings, the call was disconnected, but a message was sent immediately.

[Rowan Lee. Rescue Grade 1. Coordinates, Haon Sector 5-1-1. Haon Branch Awakener Center East Wing.]

Now, he had no choice but to hold his breath until the Espers found him. Entering the bathroom inside the Guiding Room, he locked the door and crouched in the corner of the shower booth. His pounding heart felt as if it would burst through his chest.

Rowan tried his best to soothe his trembling body. The saving grace was that this place was teeming with Espers—meaning a swarm of heroes who could save him were gathered here. It would be okay. He just had to hold on a little longer. His fingers moved busily across the screen. There was one last thing he had to do.

[Don’t worry. Let’s see each other alive.]

As soon as he sent the message to Joy, a “No Service” indicator appeared on the top menu bar. It meant he was severed from the world, and it was the signal that the hunt had begun.

* * *

Looking at the gear that continued to emit sharp mechanical sounds as he turned the steering wheel, Jae-il momentarily doubted his eyes. The code flashing busily indicated that a person of Rescue Grade 1 was trapped in the OniCube, and that person was none other than Rowan Lee. Though he rarely wavered, his mouth went dry this time. He frowned and grit his teeth.

Inside the car speeding through ignored signals, Seung-hyun calmly checked his phone. Even when the car jolted abruptly while driving over poor road conditions, he remained unfazed. Ji Seung-hyun was from the 13th District, where unpaved roads were far more common.

“They’re telling me to gather at the training hall.”

“That’s because it’s the emergency assembly point. I’m heading there as well.”

The car entered the Center’s entrance and drove straight to the training hall without stopping at the parking lot. It barely slowed down, cutting across the lawn and riding over the curbs. Gunshots echoed in the distance. Seung-hyun, who had been gripping his seatbelt tightly, gaped at the sight outside the window.

In the dead city of the 13th District, OniCubes no longer occurred. This was the first time Seung-hyun had seen a freshly formed OniCube. Black mud was wriggling, surrounding the walls without a single gap.

Armed Physical-Type Espers and special forces soldiers were already on guard around the training hall.

Getting out of the car, Jae-il gave Seung-hyun a brief greeting.

“See you later.”

After the man left, Seung-hyun headed to the temporary meeting room on the second floor. A considerable number of Guides were there, exchanging opinions with serious faces. Team Leader Lee Ju-yeong, whom he had seen before, seemed to be in overall command.

Seung-hyun gave her a slight bow. Noticing his presence, she gave a stiff nod of acknowledgment. Spotting a pale Joy at the back of the meeting room, Seung-hyun approached her immediately.

“Mentor.”

Her clouded pupils turned toward the sound. As soon as she recognized Seung-hyun, Joy’s face crumbled. The woman who had always been confident and energetic now muttered in a daze.

“My brother… is trapped.”

“…….”

“Rowan is gone….”

“……?”

Seung-hyun, who hurriedly supported her as her legs gave out and she sank downward, was equally shocked. Rowan was trapped in an OniCube? [Read on Read BL Novels]He looked around. Some were watching Joy with concern, some didn’t care, and some [visit our site]viewed her as being dramatic. Seung-hyun held onto the trembling, distraught Joy and rubbed her back. The shaking did not subside.

“Since this is the first OniCube in Haon, you may be flustered, but let’s proceed calmly according to the manual,” Team Leader Lee Ju-yeong said.

“From now on, the entire second floor of the training hall will be used as the guiding area.”

A large screen beside her lit up.

“The Beta Team has already been deployed, and the Alpha Team, composed of high-ranking Espers, is on standby for full-scale operation.”

“…….”

“Since the assigned Esper may change frequently if casualties occur, please all keep a close watch.”

As she touched the screen, a table containing information on the Espers performing the operation and their assigned Guides appeared in sequence.

The person at the very top was Backsplash Ha Jae-il. Since early suppression is most critical before an Oni evolves into a Gon, it was natural for a high-ranking Esper to go in, but the situation was different now. The half-Guide could not guide Ha Jae-il. Wiping away tears, her face turned ghostly pale as she looked at the table.

“Tea… Team Leader.”

Joy walked forward, groping the table for support. She was practically crawling, so Seung-hyun held her waist firmly.

‘He can’t do it. Since Rowan is inside right now, if something happens, I can’t do it alone. We might lose both of them.’

As she tried to say this, tears welled up in Joy’s eyes. Just imagining it made her throat tighten and her heart constrict. It was impressive that Joy was even remaining conscious. Just as she cleared her throat to add more, someone on the opposite side shouted abruptly. It was right after the window showing the Guides assigned to each Esper had appeared.

“Why the hell is it me?!”