— Inside the Unknown Base —
The vast hall buzzed with quiet tension.
Lawrence and Juice stood, their eyes fixed on Fang, who seemed ready to speak.
Before he could, Sonia walked in, her gaze low, her tone calm yet serious.
"Hey, let's gather everyone and inform them of what we found out," she said, nodding to Fang before walking away.
Moments later—
— The Assembly Hall —
The echo of footsteps filled the enormous, stadium-like hall.
[Step] [Step] [Step]
Every member of the Unknown had gathered.
The teenagers chatted among themselves, laughter and whispers rippling through the air.
"What's going on?" one asked.
"Are you sure it's not about the last operation?" another whispered suspiciously.
Suddenly— [Tap] [Tap] —Sonia stepped onto the stage.
The hall fell into a hush.
Her sharp eyes scanned the crowd… and landed on Lawrence, who sat lazily, looking half-asleep.
"I guess some of you are wondering why you're all here," Sonia began softly. "You should know—it's about the last mission."
Her gaze turned toward Lawrence.
"De," she said calmly, "what was the end game of this plan, if I may ask?"
The tension in the room thickened instantly.
Dozens of eyes turned toward Lawrence.
He sighed. [Exhale]
"Why ask me? I thought you all knew. It was to see the GLD's reaction… and to get information."
Sonia's voice cut through.
"We know that. But what's your end game, Lawrence? Don't you have a specific motivation?"
Lawrence's sleepy eyes opened slightly, his tone turning cold.
"Sonia… what happened in Jeju Island? Because your questions are getting more personal."
The air froze.
Everyone could feel the tension between them.
Sonia exhaled, breaking the silence.
"I don't think we can stop the GLDs," she said quietly. "I think… we're going to fail."
Lawrence smirked.
"Fail? Don't tell me that's what Divenchy told you all."
Sonia lowered her head.
"Fine," she muttered. "I'll tell everyone what happened… in Jeju Island."
---
— Flashback: Jeju Island —
The room dimmed as her voice filled the hall.
"After letting Divenchy out of his cell," Sonia began, "we felt… crushed. His power—it was overwhelming. None of us could breathe or move. Divenchy wasn't human. He was a beast… a monster in human form."
His eyes, she recalled, were like endless voids.
Divenchy spoke to her calmly.
> "One-way ticket, huh? Who sent you kids here?"
Sonia glanced at Linda, still trembling from fear, and forced herself to answer.
> "Well, sir… we weren't sent by anyone. We're actually an independent organization."
"Independent organization?" Divenchy repeated, his tone laced with disbelief.
Fang spoke next.
> "We were experimented on by the CODE organization—built as weapons for war… but we escaped."
Divenchy raised an eyebrow.
> "Escaped?"
Ray stepped forward, his heartbeat pounding. [Thump] [Thump]
> "We rebelled," he shouted. "Killed every one of them. Because we were tired of their shit! You gonna judge us for that?"
The room went silent.
Divenchy didn't answer immediately. Then, finally—
> "Judge you?" he said. "If you kids did what you had to do to survive… there's no need for judgment."
Relief washed over them.
Sonia smiled faintly.
> "For real… thanks. It's hard finding someone who gets us. People either judge us or try to turn us in."
Divenchy stepped closer, his shadow stretching across the floor.
> "You kids have been through hell. But why go as far as breaking me out of prison?"
They exchanged glances.
Tracy hesitated, then Edge spoke first.
> "The GLDs—they control CODE."
Sonia continued.
> "We know you've faced them before. We wanted your advice… or help… to take them down."
Divenchy's gaze darkened. He turned his back to them.
> "No. I'm not helping. Because the GLDs can't be defeated."
The room froze.
Linda's voice trembled.
> "What do you mean? Aren't they human? Don't they breathe and walk like us? Why can't they be stopped?"
Divenchy's tone turned grave.
> "Because every GLD is beyond human capability. Not even a hero can handle their power. And if you don't know—"
"—the GLDs run this world. When they say you're dead… you're dead."
Fang clenched his fists.
> "So what? I don't give a damn! You faced them before—why not again?"
Divenchy's red pupils shifted across the room.
> "Because… they defeated me," he said coldly. "I never even reached their high rankers—and I was destroyed."
He paused, his voice dropping.
> "Years ago, I was part of an organization called The Rebels. Our goal was to bring them down. In the end, I was the only one left standing."
> "They don't just fight you. They break you. They twist the world against you. They make sure you suffer before you fall."
Sonia spoke again.
> "Then why are you still alive? Why didn't they kill you?"
Divenchy closed his eyes.
> "Because… in the Rebels, I was the one who snitched. Sold our information—for my family's safety."
Linda's voice cracked.
> "You betrayed your team… how could you?"
> "I hate myself for it," Divenchy said. "But at least my wife and daughter lived."
He knelt, his voice heavy.
> "In your organization, there will be people like me. People who have something to lose—something they'd trade your lives for."
Fang stammered.
> "T-That's—"
Edge interrupted.
> "I don't believe that."
Divenchy smirked faintly.
> "Believe what you want. But do yourselves a favor—forget the GLDs. Forget everything. Live in peace."
Tracy's eyes burned with fury.
> "No way! Never! If it weren't for those bastards, I wouldn't have been in CODE! You know how it feels to be abused, to be told it's training?! Raped every week and told to smile?! DO YOU?!"
Divenchy's eyes widened in shock.
"She's barely sixteen…" he thought.
He exhaled slowly. [Sigh]
> "Forget about it," he whispered. "The GLDs are hell. Worse than you imagine. You can't handle them."
—
The sound of Korean voices echoed. [Shouting] [Clatter]
They turned toward the entrance.
Five soldiers raised their weapons—
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Bullets tore through the air.
One struck Linda in the chest.
Divenchy stepped forward. [Step] [Clang]
The bullets bounced off him harmlessly.
In an instant—he vanished. [Swoosh]
The soldiers didn't even scream before their heads fell.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
One tried to run.
Divenchy caught his arm—CRACK!—ripping it off.
Screams filled the air.
Divenchy's eyes glowed like a demon's, aura cold and merciless.
Sonia stared, frozen.
> "Such a cold, dangerous man… and yet he fears the GLDs? What are they?"
Ray's voice snapped her back.
> "Sonia! It's Linda—she's hit!"
Sonia knelt beside Linda, whispering.
> "Don't worry. She'll make it… she just needs to eat."
Dragging Linda's body toward Divenchy, she looked up.
> "Hey, do us a favor—don't kill that one."
Divenchy frowned.
> "Why?"
Sonia smiled darkly.
> "Because my teammate's hungry."
She swung Linda's limp body toward the surviving soldier.
Blood splattered across Linda's lips.
Her eyes snapped open—pupils dilating.
Her stomach split open like a monstrous maw lined with fangs.
The soldier's scream tore through the hall.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
The sound of bones snapping and flesh tearing echoed endlessly. [Crunch] [Rip] [Gulp]
Divenchy's face hardened.
> "What… is she?"
Sonia's voice was calm.
> "An experiment. CODE made her—and others—from birth. Most died. She was 'incomplete,' so they marked her for extermination."
Divenchy exhaled.
> "How sad… but I'm still not helping you."
Sonia clenched her fist.
> "Fine. We get it."
Divenchy floated slightly, his tone changing.
> "I'll blow the prison up. Some prisoners might escape—but you'll have an opening to get out."
Black and red energy formed in his palm—swirling like a black hole.
> "Stand back."
Everyone obeyed.
His voice boomed—
> "Ráfaga de Carnicería!"
A crimson storm exploded upward—BOOM!—tearing a hole through the ground, up to the surface.
Tracy coughed.
> "He drilled the prison open! We could've just teleported out!"
> "You didn't tell me," Divenchy replied dryly.
> "You didn't ask," Edge shot back.
They all sighed, watching the destruction.
Floating above the rubble, Divenchy looked down at them one last time.
> "Listen, kids… try to live peacefully. Forget the GLDs. You've got bright futures—don't waste them. Just… have fun."
With that, he ascended through the opening and vanished. [Whoosh]
Fang turned to Sonia.
> "What now?"
Sonia scratched her head, sighing.
> "I don't know… let's just report what happened."
---
— Back to the Present —
The hall fell silent.
Everyone stared at one another, whispers breaking through.
> "No way…"
"Even a legend like that feared the GLDs?"
"Then who are we to confront them?"
Eyes slowly turned toward Lawrence.
He sat quietly, eyes closed, breathing calm. [Heartbeat] [Heartbeat]
Sonia's voice echoed across the hall.
> "Demon?"
The room held its breath.