As the police investigators prepared to move in, Jihyeon intended to enter with them. Assuming the worst-case scenario, his presence inside was the most prudent course of action.

  However, Jihyeon remained outside. The moment he tried to follow them in, he felt a sharp premonition and stopped in his tracks.

  It was a split-second choice. Jihyeon placed his trust in the others and turned back toward the exterior.

  Simultaneously, a wave of killing intent surged. It was an attack aimed directly at the officers stationed outside. Had Jihyeon not been there, an unimaginable amount of blood would have been spilled in that single instant.

  "How many of them?"

  Jihyeon muttered, deploying a barrier to protect the people around him. It was a simultaneous, multi-directional sniper assault.

  Having used sniping Tools himself, Jihyeon knew—this wasn't the work of one person. The sheer volume of bullets raining down in such a short window was impossible for a single shooter to sustain.

  While maintaining his defenses, Jihyeon struggled to locate the snipers. Since they were firing from a considerable distance, he was limited to defense for the moment. Jihyeon clicked his tongue, his mind working at full capacity.

  He had expected some level of resistance. They were distributors of Tools, after all; they would have made their own preparations. That was why he had called in every active civilian collaborator who utilized Tools.

  But no one had imagined they would project such indiscriminate firepower against the police. Jihyeon gnashed his teeth as the relentless barrage hammered against his barrier.

  This was a declaration. A foul proclamation from someone intoxicated by their own power, declaring war on the state.

  Without Jihyeon, the attackers would have used the blood shed in this one-sided assault to mark their first "victory" in grand fashion. But that tragedy did not occur—not where Jihyeon’s reach extended.

  The police officers were at a total loss before the sniper fire fueled by Tools. Despite Jihyeon’s protection, they were paralyzed, huddled in terror. This wasn't because they were cowards; it was simply cruel to expect more from those exposed to a scenario they had never been trained to face.

  Jihyeon kept his barrier active while scanning his surroundings. He focused his consciousness, searching for the hidden assailants.

  "There."

  At a precarious distance, Jihyeon spotted someone who couldn't quite hide from his piercing gaze. He coldly pronounced their defeat.

  Harnessing the power of electricity, Jihyeon activated his sniping Tool. In a flash, his will, shaped into a projectile, traced a sharp arc through the air.

  Soon, the frequency of the incoming attacks noticeably dropped. The police watched in awe. But that wasn't the end. More snipers remained, and Jihyeon systematically neutralized them. Each time his shimmering will ascended toward the sky, the number of incoming bullets decreased dramatically.

  When the last of the fire finally ceased, Jihyeon felt the immediate threat vanish and let out a heavy sigh.

  "Good grief..."

  Jihyeon couldn't hide his surprise at the level of resistance. Expecting a simple siege had been too naive. If they were willing to slaughter police officers like this, there was no limit to what else they might do.

  Suddenly, a chill ran down Jihyeon’s spine. A nightmare scenario he hadn't wanted to consider flashed through his mind.

  "Damn it!"

  Jihyeon cursed, looking toward the building. If his instincts were right—if his worst fears were becoming reality—he didn't know if he could stomach it.

  But it was already too late.

  A scream tore through the air. It came from inside the building. At the same time, the windows shattered outward, and a stench of blood and rot hit his nose. The foul odor was enough to freeze Jihyeon in place. As he processed the data of what that smell implied, his body trembled with shock.

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  The definitive proof of the tragedy within was soon laid bare before them all.

  Jihyeon watched as a mutilated corpse was tossed out the window like common trash, falling to the ground. The sight was so grotesque it felt surreal.

  However, the perpetrators—men who had abandoned their humanity—continued their work like machines. The eyes of those throwing the dismembered remains were hollow. It was proof that they were entirely governed by their equipment.

  Jihyeon bit his lip. The police and everyone else on the scene fell into a stunned silence. It was nearly impossible to accept what was happening before their eyes.

  Everyone who had entered—not just the police, but the civilian collaborators with their own Tools—had met an unthinkable end. It was evidence of the absolute ruthlessness of the man inside, and a clear signal that no further mercy was required.

  But it was also evidence of the enemy's strength. The civilian collaborators who had entered with the police were not weak; they were individuals with significant combat experience. Under normal circumstances, they should have been able to handle most berserk Tool users. Yet, not a single one survived.

  Jihyeon was reeling from the shock. Even if they were weaker than him, there was no reason they should have faced such a fate.

  But there was no time for grief or anger.

  The ground began to shake. Simultaneously, an unknown power began to unleash itself. Jihyeon watched as something that defied all common sense began to take shape.

  "Damn it! Everyone, run!"

  Jihyeon shouted, pushing his power to its limit and attacking in an attempt to stop the transformation before it was complete.

  But before Jihyeon’s whip of electricity could strike, the building where the Loan Shark had been began to collapse. It looked as though the structure had buckled under a sudden, massive increase in weight.

  Dust billowed out in an instant. A storm of debris blinded everyone, leaving the police and civilians in total disarray. No one could grasp what had happened. Even Jihyeon could do nothing more than desperately deploy his barrier to shield the people.

  As the dust storm finally settled, the horror revealed its true form. The nightmare that would lead the city to ruin had begun.

  The news broadcasts continued their relentless chatter. Anchors described the situation in exaggerated, panicked tones, as if they were providing commentary for a sporting event. Their behavior was nauseating; to them, even human misery was just another source of revenue.

  Ignoring them, the Vice-Leader focused on the footage on the screen. It captured a precious moment—the actual use of the Tool he had recently heard about from So-young.

  It was a creature born of pure imagination, something one might only see in a comic book. A mobile fortress with countless legs and cannons of various sizes. Its very existence was a direct challenge to the laws of physics.

  However, technology related to Tools had long since shattered common sense. So, instead of denying reality, the Vice-Leader simply accepted it and marveled at the sight.

  The Loan Shark, was it? The petty criminal who once worked with their Apostles was now flaunting his arrogance as if he were a king, beginning the systematic destruction of the city.

  It was an unstoppable wave of ruin. Even with the efforts of Jihyeon and a few other Tool users, it seemed their attempts would be futile.

  That thing looked indestructible. Massive walls, blades that allowed no one to get close, and a myriad of cannons and guns made it an impregnable fortress. Furthermore, it didn't just sit there; it moved. Watching it advance slowly but surely, the Vice-Leader couldn't help but be impressed.

  If they had just a few more of those, they could win any war. One could tell just by looking that no modern conventional weapon would be effective against it. Tank shells and helicopter missiles were already proving useless. While the urban setting prevented aerial bombing, it didn't seem as if the situation would change even if the thing moved outside the city.

  But the Vice-Leader also felt a lingering doubt. Could such a thing be maintained indefinitely? That was impossible. Even the best Tools had their time limits. Through various experiments, the Vice-Leader knew this well. Unless used normally, a Tool would eventually cease to function for a set period.

  Did the Loan Shark know this? It was unclear. He might be ignorant of that fact unless So-young had told him. Of course, it wouldn't stop in just an hour or two; he didn't think she would have given him something so flimsy.

  Regardless, the important fact was that if they couldn't stop it, the city would be destroyed and many would die.

  "How is the evacuation of the believers proceeding?" the Vice-Leader asked his subordinates, his eyes never leaving the screen. The fate of the city was one thing, but for now, the safety of the believers was the priority. The Cult existed because of its many followers. Without them, it would be difficult to maintain.

  Furthermore, the police were already looking at them with anything but a friendly gaze. A direct confrontation with authority was inevitable. They needed to gather as many believers as possible before that happened.

  "It is in progress. However, the roads are blocked, so it doesn't seem easy."

  "I see."

  It was only natural. With that thing on the loose, anyone with a car would be converging on the roads leading out of the city.

  "A-another entity has appeared!"

  It was then. The anchor shouted with a trembling voice, unable to hide their excitement. A second mobile fortress had appeared near the highway leading out of the city.

  "Hahaha..."

  The Vice-Leader burst into a hollow laugh at the news. He didn't know how much more blood would have to be spilled to satisfy that man. But as he trembled instinctively at the thought of the slaughter to come, he could do nothing but continue to watch the broadcast.