Bzz... bzz... bzz...
A man is lying down on a pile of garbage at the alleyway, waking up from his unconsciousness as blood dripped from the corners of his mouth.
Flies were swarming onto his bruised and injured body, he let out a groan and opened his eyes slowly.
He registered the reeking smell of garbage first, causing him to wince and then the injury on his stomach.
"Damn!"
He hissed in pain as he touched the injured part. The wound was bad, but it completely missed his vital parts. Great, he still has a chance to live as long as he doesn't bleed out in the dark alleyway.
"Pouch, how long have I been... out?" he called out as he heard a noise beneath the garbage bags, he lifted it and picked up a small, white fluffy creature.
"Pu... bu..." Pouch whimpered as it curled up into a protective ball, instinctively curling tighter as it trembled onto his palm.
"Shh... Don't worry, Yujun is here,"
Yeon Yujun looks around his surroundings as he puts Pouch to his pocket, is he back at Seoul after the explosion from the vortex?
A sharp pain began throbbing on Yeon Yujun's head, memories started flowing through his mind.
The vortex, the screams, the monsters... It's all coming back to him like a flashing light.
He could hear the echoing voice of his friend. The one who stabbed him with no hesitation or guilt.
The one who killed all the hunters in that vortex alone, the man who caused an unnecessary massacre when they had already defeated the final boss.
"Just die already, Eight. They will forget you tomorrow,"
His grey eyes traveled up towards the buildings in the distance — a huge bulletin board ahead caught his gaze instantly.
[Song Dohyun, the sole survivor of the Great Vortex Raid and savior of Seoul!]
Yeon Yujun let out a humorless chuckle and shook his head. "Unbelievable," he muttered underneath his breath as he got up from the pile.
That pitiful look from Dohyun's face made Yeon Yujun's stomach churn in uncertainty and disgust.
He's anything but a saviour.
Yeon Yujun couldn't believe he trusted that man.
He dragged himself until he was out of the alleyway, once he emerged from the darkness, he almost bumped onto someone.
"Oh dear!" the old woman jumped out of surprise as she dropped her groceries to the ground with a thud.
Yeon Yujun instantly swiped at the thin air and a hologram screen displayed in front of him.
( "[S] Concealment" cannot be activated at the moment! )
( YOUR MANA IS CRITICALLY LOW, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING YOUR SKILLS. )
All of his passive skills are deactivated.
"Are you alright, young man?"
"...Huh?" Yeon Yujun snapped his gaze to the confused woman as he shook his head in pain.
"Y-you're bleeding! I'll call the—"
"Please don't..."
Yeon Yujun begged as he struggled, he could feel his wound bleeding against the torn fabric of his clothing.
He couldn't ask for any help now, they might recognize him as Eight... Yeon Yujun can't let anyone know he's still alive.
But, it seems like the old woman doesn't know Yeon Yujun.
Suddenly, Yeon Yujun felt his own stomach growl in hunger, making him flinch.
"Oh! Are you hungry?"
Yeon Yujun nodded slowly.
"Come with me, young man. I'll prepare something for you at the café... You look like you got dumped here like a lost cat," the old woman sighed in concern as she grabbed her bag of groceries before she started walking, expecting for Yeon Yujun to follow behind.
Yeon Yujun had no choice but to follow this clueless and kind old lady who's offering him food. He needed help anyway.