The Ultimate Villain: Cheol-su Kim

The docks in In-san Metropolitan City loomed, a chaotic expanse of shipping containers stacked haphazardly.

Under the stark white lights, gangsters stood in a line with their backs to the containers. Their silhouettes were sharp and distinct even in the darkness, hinting at the significance of the container they guarded.

From a distance, Cheol-su scanned the interior of the container. A faint light flickered through the slightly ajar door, casting eerie shadows within. Inside, two chairs were placed. On those chairs sat two figures bound tightly. They were his mother and father. Their mouths were taped shut, and their heads hung lifelessly without a single movement.

Don't worry. I'll rescue you soon, he promised himself, steadying his resolve.

Meanwhile, the gangsters appeared relaxed, unsurprisingly confident given their hostages.

It's time to move.

Fixing his gaze on the container one last time, Cheol-su cautiously advanced, one step at a time.

"You're here, kid,"

Dong-hun Choi said, his mocking grin spreading as he slowly lowered his sunglasses.

"What's with the mask? Playing dress-up?"

The gangsters burst into laughter, but Cheol-su remained unfazed.

"Hah, what a prick. Reminds me of someone."

Dong-hun thrust his hands into his pockets and glanced at Jun-su Seo.

"You wanna fight—"

Before Jun-su could finish speaking, Dong-hun raised his hand to silence him, turning his attention back to Cheol-su.

"Do you even realize your situation? And still acting tough?"

"Release my parents. I'm the one you want,"

Cheol-su said, keeping his voice as calm as possible.

"What we wanted was the drugs and the cash."

Kang-hyeok's composed voice interrupted. His gaze burned with rage.

"But you handed all that over to the police."

"I couldn't just let that much circulate in Korea. Even I have a sense of patriotism."

After all, I used to be a city government employee.

Cheol-su's casual tone caused Kang-hyeok's jaw to clench. His teeth ground together audibly as suppressed fury became impossible to conceal.

"You're meddling. Now you'll have to pay for what you did. Give us the cash you stole and your life, and we'll let your parents go."

"Wait, wait. But who gets to kill him?"

Dong-hun interjected.

"Obviously, I—"

"Why should it be you? I'm here too."

Dong-hun interrupted Jun-su once again.

"Are you trying to start something?"

"Maybe it's time to see who's on top."

"Fine by me."

Cheol-su stood silently, as though invisible to them. They raised their voices, arguing amongst themselves.

"If you kill my parents, there's no money. Beat me in a fight, and I'll give you the cash,"

Cheol-su interjected reluctantly.

It felt strange to provoke someone, something he'd never done in his life.

"Hahaha! You'll give us the money if we beat you? Alright, sounds fun!"

Dong-hun moved first, his body twisting grotesquely as he transformed into a massive tiger. Muscles bulged, claws gleamed, and thick fur covered his beastly frame.

The scene resembled the birth of a monster defying the laws of nature.

Why is this escalating so fast? Is he just obsessed with fighting?

"Amazing, isn't it?" Tiger Dong-hun asked Cheol-su.

Of course, it was amazing. Seeing human words emerge from the mouth of a massive tiger was surreal.

But wonder quickly turned to caution.

"Let's get started."

Dong-hun's tiger paw sliced through the air with a sharp sound, heading straight for Cheol-su.

Cheol-su instinctively ducked and reacted swiftly, clenching his fist and aiming for Dong-hun's face. However, Dong-hun dodged with remarkable speed.

As expected, he's no pushover, being a mutant like me.

Another threat approached. Jun-su Seo, the leader of the White Panthers, swung his arm, which had transformed into a massive sword, at Cheol-su.

"Don't forget about me."

Cheol-su barely dodged Jun-su's blade by rolling to the side, but there was no time to rest. Dong-hun leaped into the air and came crashing down toward Cheol-su.

"Predator jump!"

Dong-hun's speed was incredible. Cheol-su narrowly avoided the attack, but the impact of Dong-hun's landing caused a massive shockwave. Cheol-su braced himself, barely staying on his feet.

"Lucky kid,"

Dong-hun sneered.

Simply dodging wouldn't win this fight.

Cheol-su clenched his fist, focusing his mind. The faint energy he'd always sensed became clear at his fingertips.

"Stop running and fight back! This is boring!"

As Dong-hun swung his claws again, Cheol-su read his movement and exploited an opening.

It's time to end this.

Cheol-su channeled all his focus into his hands and moved without hesitation, aiming a decisive blow at Dong-hun. But before he could finish, Jun-su intervened again.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Jun-su's arm transformed into a flamethrower, spewing intense flames at Cheol-su. Cheol-su stepped back to avoid the fire, buying Dong-hun time to attack.

"It's over, kid!"

As Cheol-su evaded the flames, Dong-hun's massive tiger paw came hurtling toward him.

Smack.

[Nullification activated.]

A resounding impact echoed, yet Cheol-su felt no pain.

"What the hell?"

Dong-hun muttered, confused.

Seizing the moment, Cheol-su countered with all his strength, landing a powerful punch to Dong-hun's face.

"Damn it…"

Dong-hun's words were cut short as he crumpled to the ground.

[The target's soul absorption is complete.]

[The target's soul purification is complete.]

[Memories of the target's life have been stored.]

[New ability unlocked.]

[Ability name: Tiger Form]

[Description: Transform into a giant tiger. The size depends on the user's ability and proficiency.]

Cheol-su had gained another ability.

So that's how it works.

He realized how his powers functioned. By defeating mutants, he could absorb their abilities.

Jun-su's remaining henchmen had already fled. Cheol-su thought everything was over. But he was wrong. One last foe remained.

"Cheol-su Kim. Because of you, everything is ruined. If I die like this, I'm not Kang-hyeok."

Kang-hyeok's voice tore through the air. He pressed a knife against Cheol-su's mother's throat.

His's mother desperately tried to say something, but the tape over her mouth muffled her words. Her trembling eyes and pleading gestures were all directed at Cheol-su.

Cheol-su's heart stopped. He instinctively dashed toward his parents, but Kang-hyeok was faster.

"Die!"

Kang-hyeok roared, his knife gleaming ominously as it arced toward his victim. But before it could strike, a series of deafening explosions erupted, shaking the ground beneath their feet.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The area where Cheol-su's parents were held erupted into flames, consuming the container in an instant.

"Mom! Dad!"

Cheol-su screamed, racing toward them, but it was too late.

The flames devoured everything like a wild beast. The container collapsed amidst the relentless explosions.

[Nullification activated.]

[Nullification activated.]

[Nullification activated.]

Thanks to his abilities, the flames couldn't harm Cheol-su physically. But his heart was in shambles.

The container melted into an unrecognizable heap. The intense heat turned metal into molten liquid, pooling on the ground. Smoldering remnants emitted wisps of smoke.

Among the ashes lay the faint forms of his parents. The unbearable heat had left their bodies charred beyond recognition, but their posture—still bound to the chairs—revealed their final moments of resistance.

Cheol-su approached with trembling legs, reaching out his hand. His mother's remains crumbled to ash at his touch, leaving only warmth and fragility behind. A gentle breeze scattered the ashes, carrying the faint scent of burning.

"This can't be real…"

Cheol-su's voice trembled. He watched as his father's form disintegrated into nothingness. His hands grasped at empty air, but there was nothing left. Everything had been swept away by the wind.

Alone in the desolate space, Cheol-su took a shaky breath. Nothing remained. The wreckage, the flames, even the faint traces of life had been consumed, leaving only a haunting silence. Darkness enveloped him, as if the world itself mourned alongside him.

"Damn it!!"

Cheol-su's scream ripped through the still night, raw with despair. His knees buckled as he collapsed, clutching his face. His anguished cry reverberated in the emptiness, a sound of utter hopelessness.

His anguished wail echoed in the desolate emptiness.