Chapter 386: National Forensic Service |
The National Institute of Forensic Sciences, commonly known as the INCF.
The INCF is an institution that primarily conducts crime-related investigations and performs autopsies.
It was standard procedure for the body of the religious leader, responsible for numerous deaths, to be transferred to this institution due to his involvement in crimes.
Clang!
“Look at this. The hardness is incredibly high.”
A researcher struck a black rod that had emerged from the religious leader’s body with a hammer.
Clang!
“Look. It doesn’t even scratch. How could something like this form in his body?”
“I don’t know. How can we understand an extraterrestrial creature?”
“He looks human, but in reality, he’s an alien creature. Remember the video? He absorbed people as if they were mummies.”
“Yeah, really creepy.”
Although the security camera footage shown in the news had censored parts, the researchers had seen it clearly.
The religious leader was absorbing people’s life energy in real-time.
“They say he already slaughtered thousands of people on a mountain 5 km away, right?”
“Yeah. I heard there was a gathering of the Celestial Order. Although CCTV couldn’t be obtained, it’s assumed that this alien is responsible, judging by how they ended up mummified.”
“It’s impressive. Who would’ve thought alien creatures would appear in this world...?”
“Well, conduct a Brinell hardness test. This doesn’t seem like a common substance.”
“Understood.”
“We suddenly have thousands of corpses... I wish I had ten more bodies to handle this.”
Sighing, the researcher continued working tirelessly.
The opportunity to study an alien creature that had committed a massive massacre inevitably stirred his curiosity, given the nature of his work.
“Look at this, chief. The cut on the neck is extremely clean.”
“Hmm, to cut something with this hardness so cleanly, you’d need incredible force...”
“I heard Black Scythe showed up, according to the media.”
“Yeah. Seems like that scythe isn’t just for show.”
“Black Scythe?”
The two researchers turned in surprise at the unfamiliar voice.
A man was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
“Who are you?”
“I’m from the Uijeongbu Police Station.”
“How did you get in here? Leave right now.”
“Why don’t you keep talking? Is it true that Black Scythe killed the subject?”
“Didn’t you close the door properly? How did someone from outside get in?”
“I did close it...”
The man frowned at being ignored.
“I said keep talking.”
“Why should I tell you anything?”
“It’s necessary for the investigation. Please cooperate.”
“I have nothing to say to you. Leave right now.”
“You can’t be here during an autopsy.”
When the researcher tried to push him out, the man who claimed to be a police officer smiled.
“Looks like I won’t get information just by talking.”
“What are you...?”
Suddenly, the man’s hand was covered in a black substance.
The hand, transformed into a rod, moved like lightning.
Slash! Thunk!
In an instant, one of the researchers’ heads fell to the floor.
“Ahhh...!”
“Don’t scream. Do you want to die the same way?”
The remaining researcher trembled in fear at the threat of the alien who appeared to be a police officer.
“Continue what you were saying. Is it true that Black Scythe killed him?”
“Y-yes...”
“Tell me more about the Black Scythe.”
“E-e...”
“He’s in total panic. He can’t speak properly.”
The alien, who had taken over the police officer’s body, crumpled like a doll.
Thump!
From the fallen officer’s body, a black substance began to ooze and gathered together.
“Ahhh!”
The researcher, terrified, tried to flee, but it was already too late.
The black liquid entered through his nose and took control of his brain.
“Hmm.”
The alien, now in the researcher’s body, tilted his head.
“I switched to a human body, but there’s no additional information.”
Though he murmured, he had obtained significant information.
“Black Scythe... So the being that killed my host is a player named Black Scythe.”
Both the police officer and the researcher had the same information in their minds.
Black Scythe had killed the host sent to this timeline.
“A player is an entity that surpasses humans. It seems Black Scythe is the strongest among them. I’ll have to be cautious with him.”
Saying that, the researcher extended his hand.
The remaining black liquid in the religious leader’s body began to gather and was absorbed like a vacuum cleaner.
The researcher clicked his tongue in disappointment.
“The host was a fool. He didn’t collect enough life energy.”
The reason the host sent to this Earth didn’t collect enough energy was clear.
“Black Scythe. It was because of him.”
Aware of the need to eliminate Black Scythe, the alien left the body.
Gloop, gloop!
Transforming back into liquid, it slid through the ventilation system, leaving only human corpses behind.
————-
‘It’s time.’
The cooldown time for the Rune of Light Speed is one hour.
It seems like a long time, but considering it allows movement at light speed for only three seconds, it’s quite short.
‘I must find the hosts settled in this world, even if I have to search on foot.’
An hour ago, when he encountered the religious leader, Ryu Min gathered much information about them.
Thanks to the Rune of Mind.
‘They’re called hosts and move solely to collect human life energy.’
Basically, as a black liquid form, they can harden and become sharp.
They can parasitize and control the human body, as well as read its memories.
‘Most of all, they can absorb human life energy, turning them into mummies.’
The hosts are extraterrestrial creatures that seek humanity’s annihilation.
To prevent the collapse of the timeline, it’s crucial to find and eliminate them as soon as possible.
As he prepared to leave, his brother Ryu Won looked up from his phone.
“Brother, where are you going?”
“It’s time to search for the hosts.”
“Those aliens that appeared at the mall?”
“Yeah. I don’t think there’s just one. They’re probably scattered worldwide.”
“Though I’ve been researching, I haven’t found relevant incidents in other countries. I don’t know if it’s because articles about it haven’t been published yet...”
Ryu Won said that while fidgeting with his fingers. It wasn’t necessary to read his mind to realize he felt guilty for not being more helpful.
“Don’t worry. If you don’t find them, I will.”
“But you can only use that Rune of Light Speed for 3 seconds, right? What if the hosts aren’t active during those 3 seconds? You said they can parasitize human bodies.”
“I know. But there’s no other option for now.”
It was a mission like searching for a needle in a haystack. Ryu Won raised his fist, trying to cheer up his brother.
“Brother, good luck! I’ll keep looking for articles to help you.”
“Alright. Thanks. Take care of the house. I’m off.”
Ryu Min opened the window and jumped outside. Ryu Won, wide-eyed, quickly looked out.
The wind whistled, but there was no trace of his brother.
“Already gone?”
Moving at the speed of light wasn’t a lie. Then, the phone began to vibrate.
“What’s this? An international call?”
Ryu Won answered and was shocked to hear his brother’s voice.
-Brother.
“Brother? What’s going on? Why are you calling from an international number...?”
-I’m in the United States.
“What? In the United States?”
-I called to tell you I found a host.
“You’re already in the United States? How did you get there so fast?”
-Using the Rune of Light Speed, I can walk on water and even fly. There are no movement restrictions.
“You already found a host? That fast?”
-Yes. A suspicious figure is in front of me. I’ll finish the job and return. Wait for me.
“Alright, brother. Take care.”
Ryu Won hung up the phone and smiled. His brother truly was incredible.
—————-
Montana, USA.
“Save me!”
“A monster!”
“Oh my God!”
People fled in terror at the sudden appearance of a monster. It wasn’t hard to understand why: the monster’s body inflated like a balloon and floated in the air.
“Die and become my fertilizer, humans.”
Then death began to rain down.
Papapapap!
“What is that?”
“It’s melting everything.”
“Aah! Watch out!”
“Damn it! We can’t escape from that!”
The black droplets the monster released melted everything they touched: buildings, cars, people, everything.
The acid was so potent that just a few drops were enough to bring down a building. The people trapped underneath dissolved, and their life energy was absorbed.
“Hahaha, I’ll take all your energy. All of it.”
The monster’s target didn’t discriminate. Men, women, children, all were its prey.
“Claire!”
“Mom!”
When the child running hand-in-hand with his mother stumbled, she quickly lifted him. But luck wasn’t on her side.
The monster had noticed them.
“I can’t let a child’s energy go. Hahaha.”
The monster formed black droplets on its skin and aimed at the child. The mother, terrified, hugged her son and pleaded with the monster.
“Please, save my child. Please...”
“I can’t do that. Your energy, along with his, is mine.”
The monster mercilessly unleashed the toxic droplets.
Just before they disintegrated, a black barrier appeared and deflected the droplets.
“What?”
The monster was surprised to find something it couldn’t dissolve. It didn’t realize that above its head, someone was spreading the wings of death.
“Hey.”
The monster looked up, startled by the voice.
“Who are you...?”
“Why do you collect human life energy? What do you plan to do with it?”
“...”
“No need to answer.”
Although he had already read its thoughts, the hosts were only focused on blind slaughter.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Electricity crackled in Ryu Min’s hand.
“Kuaaaak!”
The black balloon burst into flames and plummeted to the ground.
“We must exterminate the hosts.”
The fallen monster disintegrated into a pile of ashes.