Min-Jae crouched behind a broken car. Dust and debris filled the air. The street was a ruin.
The Stone Brute stood across him. Cracks spread across its stone skin. Crimson energy pulsed from the fissures.
"Not good," Min-Jae muttered. His rod was the only weapon he had.
Inside the brute's forehead, a dark humanoid figure writhed. Limbs pressed against stone. Glowing red.
[Boss Evolution Stage 2 – Incoming]
Min-Jae's stomach tightened. Stage 2 meant full evolution. Faster attacks. Deadlier strikes.
"Everyone get back!" he shouted toward the café. Survivors peeked through shattered windows. "Move away from the glass!"
A woman screamed, "He's going to die!"
"No!" Min-Jae growled. "I'm not letting this thing touch you!"
The brute slammed both fists into the street. BOOM. The ground cracked. Asphalt flew into the air. Min-Jae rolled aside.
The humanoid inside twisted violently. Its red eyes glowed. Min-Jae narrowed his eyes.
"It's… alive," he whispered. "And it's controlling him."
Weak points flickered. Chest. Neck. Forehead. Three seconds each. Timing was everything.
The brute lunged. Fist swung downward. Min-Jae rolled under a broken car. Sparks flew as metal met stone.
"Too fast…" he muttered.
System Glitch – Ready
He activated it. The world flickered. Weak points glowed red again. Min-Jae sprinted toward the forehead.
"Come on… show me your weak spot," he muttered under his breath.
CRACK. The rod hit the forehead. Sparks burst outward. The humanoid writhed violently. The brute froze mid-step. Energy pulsed outward.
It spoke. Voice deep, echoing in his mind.
"I… will… break… this world."
Min-Jae froze. Monsters didn't talk. Not in the tutorial. Not like this.
The brute slammed the ground again. BOOM. Shockwave threw Min-Jae backward. He rolled and landed on his feet.
The café windows rattled violently. Survivors screamed.
"Is he… still alive?" one man whispered.
"Yes," Min-Jae shouted back. "Stay down! Don't come out!"
The humanoid inside writhed harder, cracks spreading. Min-Jae studied every movement. The creature was learning. Adapting mid-fight.
Another lunge. Faster this time. Min-Jae slid under its arm. Rolled past debris. Sprinting. Weak point glowing. One strike. That's all.
He leaped onto the brute's shoulder. Rod raised.
"Let's see how you handle this!" he yelled.
CRACK. Sparks flew. The humanoid pressed outward violently. The brute screamed. Min-Jae landed lightly on the street.
System Glitch – Cooldown 8 seconds
"Damn it," he muttered. Timing was tight.
The brute stomped the ground. Cracks spread across the street. The humanoid twisted inside, energy spilling like molten lava.
Min-Jae backed up, eyes sharp. "Okay… think."
He realized something. Stage 2 evolution wasn't just strength. The humanoid inside wanted to emerge. If it did, the fight would change completely.
The brute charged again, fists swinging. Min-Jae dodged a smashing blow and landed a quick jab to the chest weak point. Sparks flew.
"Got you," he whispered. The humanoid shrieked inside the forehead.
The weak points flickered. He had seconds. Seconds to strike again.
Min-Jae leaped at the forehead. Rod swung. CRACK. The humanoid twisted violently. Energy surged outward, shaking the Stone Brute.
The brute froze. Min-Jae crouched, breathing hard.
"Not done yet," he muttered.
The humanoid inside lifted its head. Red eyes locked onto him.
"Soon… everything will be mine," it hissed.
Min-Jae swallowed. "Not if I stop you first."
The street fell silent. Survivors inside the café watched, frozen.
The humanoid's form writhed, cracks spreading. Stage 2 was fully triggering.
Min-Jae tightened his grip. "Alright… one more move."
The system window popped up:
[Warning – Emergence Imminent]
He took a deep breath. The monster's roar shook the ground. But Min-Jae's eyes were fixed on the glowing weak points.
The next strike would decide everything.