PRT | Prologue

A gate had burst open.

It was a large-scale gate with a danger level reaching A-class. The monstrous maw spewed out grotesque creatures without pause. The strange beings, with appearances that seemed to mockingly grin, filled the air with a dark, oppressive energy, engulfing the streets.

Those exposed to the liquid secreted by the creatures writhed in agony, their bodies burning unbearably. Soft, agonized groans echoed everywhere. It was a scene utterly bizarre and disturbing.

“Hah… ugh…”

Kim Heeseo bit down on his lips hard enough to draw blood, but it didn’t make much difference. Ragged breaths and sharp groans escaped against his will. Even taking a single step was excruciating. It felt like his sanity would snap at any moment.

Creaaak. Bang!

Having slipped away unnoticed, Heeseo stumbled into a dimly lit storage room and collapsed as soon as he entered. His body burned with fever so intense it left him curled up, trembling uncontrollably. Yet the most tormenting part was the relentless, maddening heat building below.

“Hah… ngh…”

If he let his guard down for even a second, his hands might stray downward of their own accord. Completely at a loss, Heeseo clutched at the waistband of his pants, his eyes reddened and glistening with unshed tears. His cheeks were streaked with tears that had pooled and overflowed.

Why did I come here…

His blurred vision focused on the firmly shut steel door. More precisely, he pictured Seo Yigyeom’s office that lay beyond it. Though it was sheer coincidence that he had been near the headquarters, it was a cruel twist of fate that he had ended up here while desperately wandering in search of a safe place.

That door wouldn’t open. The person he unconsciously yearned for wouldn’t come to help him.

“…”

At least no one would see him like this, such a wreck. That was a small relief. At his breaking point, Heeseo let out a bitter laugh and closed his eyes. Even the slightest stimuli sent shivers coursing through him, and the rising heat quickly erased his brief smile. The tormenting sensations, sharp enough to resemble pleasure, seeped into his mind, clouding his thoughts and heightening his sensitivity to unbearable levels.

And then, suddenly—

Bang!

The door swung open, and light from the corridor spilled into the room. The sound of hurried footsteps, heavy and sharp, pierced his overly heightened senses. Unknowingly, Heeseo activated his ability, a desperate reflex to protect himself.

“Move this, now.”

But the low voice effortlessly shattered the barrier he had instinctively erected. That voice was unmistakable, shaking his already fragile composure. His body trembled, and the throbbing heat below flared uncontrollably in response.

When Heeseo opened his eyes and saw who it was, he instinctively shifted backward, crawling. Seo Yigyeom, who had been approaching with a menacing aura, abruptly stopped in his tracks. Heeseo’s muddled mind registered it as a relief.

Yigyeom’s gaze, dark and sharp, glinted dangerously. His ash-gray irises shimmered with an almost unnatural light, and his tightly pressed lips formed a harsh line.

“Please… just go.”

His trembling voice sounded pitiful, his fists clenched so tightly his palms ached. If he didn’t do this, he might grab onto Seo Yigyeom and beg for help.

Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—Seo Yigyeom didn’t move. That forced Heeseo to watch him, panting heavily.

Even through his blurred vision, Yigyeom looked impeccable. His intense, angered aura only added to his natural allure. Shadows formed along the sharp line of his nose, accentuating his striking features. As their gazes locked, the muscles in Yigyeom’s jaw tightened.

The redness in Heeseo’s tear-filled eyes deepened, and more tears pooled, dampening his large, light-brown irises. He blinked slowly several times, the faint spark in his eyes reflecting like tiny droplets of light.

“Damn it.”

With a furious expression, Yigyeom slammed the door shut, locking it tightly, and strode forward. His agitated hand ran through his hair, his movements betraying his impatience. When he was close enough, he pressed down firmly on Heeseo’s trembling shoulders.

“Kim Heeseo.” Seo Yigyeom’s voice, low and biting, carried his name like a sharp blade.

“Do you know who I am?”

How could he not? Even in this state, he had come here—seeking safety, unconsciously drawn to him.

“S-Seo… Yigyeom.” Mouth dry, Heeseo managed to pronounce his name, sweet like honey on his tongue.

“Good. That’s all I need.”

Letting out a short breath, Yigyeom leaned down. The space between them shrank until Heeseo could feel his breath. Without thinking, Heeseo acted on instinct and lightly pressed his lips against Yigyeom’s. It was a fleeting, almost childlike gesture.

“Ah…”

The small act brought a momentary release, enough to make him feel like he could breathe again. Yet paradoxically, the relief made his torment even worse.

“Guiding initiated.”

Yigyeom’s tolerance snapped there. His predatory gaze fixed on Heeseo, he gripped the back of his neck firmly and captured his lips. The kiss was deep, their breaths mingling as Yigyeom invaded without hesitation.

Heeseo, trembling and desperate, clung to him. The warmth of Yigyeom’s embrace and the firm pressure against his back were searingly vivid. He felt like he would suffocate, like he was on the verge of death.

And yet, for the first time, he felt like he could live.