The Light That Follows Darkness

The twins were brave, but they were no match for Zane.

He was bigger, stronger, and more ruthless than them. And he knew that they cared about me, that they were distracted by my condition. He used that to his advantage, exploiting their weaknesses and openings.

He lunged at them with a ferocious speed, landing a series of punches that sent them flying back. He kicked and stomped on them, not giving them a chance to recover. He laughed maniacally, enjoying their pain. Blood stained his clothes and his knuckles, but he didn’t care. He was having fun. Yet, the twins refused to give up.

They kept getting back up, their eyes determined and defiant. They fought not only for themselves, but for me. They wanted to protect me from Zane’s wrath, and that gave them strength. They coordinated their moves, trying to catch him off guard. They used their agility and their wits, hoping to outsmart him. They even used some of the tricks I had taught them, like aiming for his weak spots and using the environment to their advantage.

However, it was not enough. Zane was too experienced and too powerful. He anticipated their moves and countered them with ease. He grabbed Ha-Eun by the hair and threw her against the wall. He punched Hana in the stomach and kicked her in the face. He towered over them, triumphant and cruel.

He looked at me with a wicked grin, as if to say: Look at what I’m going to do next.

With an inhuman smile etched on his face, Zane closed in on Hana, who lay on the ground battered and bruised.

He pinned her down, his eyes fixed on me as he uttered his vile words, "You think your hell is over? NO, NO, NO, your hell has just begun. I'm going to ravage them in front of you. Make them beg for death and then kill them right before your eyes. How do you like that, you piece of shit?"

Fury surged through me, overpowering the pain that had reached its apex. How dare he lay a hand on my twins? How dare he harm the very people I had fought so hard to protect? That despicable monster had the audacity to tear off their clothes and violate their dignity. It was unforgivable.

My rage swelled like an impending storm, my body trembling with a mixture of anger and pain. I yearned to tear Zane apart, to obliterate him for his heinous actions. But my body refused to respond, leaving me helpless and incapacitated. "Move, goddamn it! Move!" I screamed internally, but my pleas fell on deaf ears.

As Hana struggled and screamed, and Ha-Eun cried and begged, their voices pierced through the darkness that enveloped me. I was slipping further into the abyss, my consciousness fading away. It felt like drowning, unable to stay afloat, sinking into the depths of despair. How could it end like this? My loved ones, my mother, my sweet little sister Lana, the twins fighting alone outside, and even Eve, whose existence was intertwined with mine. How could I leave them all alone?

Amidst my thoughts, a voice resonated, accompanied by a gentle yet powerful light.

The voice spoke, "I never intended for Earth to become like this. The greed of humans has tainted it. I can see your anguish and hear your pain. Let me ask you this: What would you become if given power?"

"What would I become if given power?" I pondered. "A hero? No, heroes are hailed when needed, only to be discarded and condemned later. A villain? No, becoming a villain would mean a life of hatred and isolation, consumed by vengeance and bloodshed. Then what do I desire? If given the choice, I want to be something different from humans. I want to be a..."

Taking a deep breath, I turned towards the light and declared, "A monster. I will become a monster."

The voice, seemingly amused and intrigued, responded, "Ah, a monster indeed. Your choice is resolute. If that is your decision, I shall grant your wish. From this day forward, you shall become a new breed, a humanoid, a fusion of monster and man. But remember, my creation, every action has consequences. Life must be measured on a scale. If your evil deeds outweigh your righteous ones, you shall bear a debt of karma so immense that neither heaven nor hell will claim you. You will be left adrift in time and space, forever to live in oblivion. Keep your loved ones close to your heart. Good luck, my creation. I have high expectations."

In a flash, I found myself back in the room, the pain still raging within me. But something was changing. My organs reconstructed themselves, and from the ruins emerged something new. Euphoria coursed through my veins, and I felt an immense surge of power. My screams ceased, and all eyes turned towards me as Zane's clothes tore and Ha-Eun and Hana's struggles halted.

Blood rushed from my throat as I spat it out, my skin repairing itself and growing stronger than before. Black gunk oozed from my body, emitting a putrid odor that I could barely tolerate. Yet, the power within me continued to surge. It was incredible, overwhelming, causing my body to shiver and writhe. A radiant glow enveloped me, my eyes flickering with golden and red hues. Information flooded my mind, like a series of steps or instructions, though their purpose remained unclear for now. There was no time to dwell on it.

Rising to my feet, I released a murderous aura mixed with my newfound power. It was suffocating, overwhelming, causing the ground to tremble beneath me. Zane, frozen in fear, paled at the sight before him. He stammered, "Impossible! Weren't you on the verge of death? Weren't you... no, no, stay away from me, you monster... stay away!"

Driven by fear, Zane lunged at me, desperate to end my existence.

However, his efforts were in vain. For today a monster was born.