EPISODE 37
Sitting at her desk, the assistant finishes writing a letter.
| (sad, remembers...) |
| - | We could copy your data to another server. Except for the manhwa that's bothering you, of course. |
| - | (depressed) Do that then... |
|
| - | (broken voice) What's the point... (slips letter into envelope) |
|
| - | (crying) Even if you turned off all the servers in the world... ... this cursed manhwa will remain on the Internet forever. |
On the envelope, the three famous characters: "Resignation".
|
| - | (frightened) The publishing business is too terrifying. |
|
| - | The ghost will kill us, just like he killed Hae-Na!!! |
|
| - | !!! |
With a heavy heart, she gets up and walks out, holding the envelope...
... Ready to give up her dream job, what she cherishes most, with her daughter.
The door is open. From the corridor, the assistant sees...
... Publisher Park sitting with his back to her, facing his computer screen.
Toc-Toc! She knocks on the door, out of politeness.
Publisher Park doesn't move. On his monitor, an image of "Butterfly Queen in the Dark".
|
| - | Publisher Park? |
No answer. He's motionless.
|
| - | (?!) ... Publisher Park? |
No answer. Worried, she approaches him and--
He turns around in his swivel chair!
|
| - | AAAAAAHHHH !!!! (terror!) |
Publisher Park no longer has a face! Gray diamonds instead of eyes!
He gets up, goes to the assistant.
|
| - | HAAHH !! HAAHH !!! |
She runs away screaming...
In panic, the assistant runs down the open-space aisle.
Two colleagues arrive at the end of the aisle.
|
| - | HAAHH!! NO! NO !!! |
They too are faceless zombies!
Appalled, she rushes down a side aisle. Barely a step and--
Another colleague in front of her. Faceless!!!
|
| - | HHAARAAAHH !!! |
The zombie raises its arms... to grab her... TERROR !!!
She turns, escapes the other two zombies in-extremis...
... and sprints for the fire escape.
On the verge of madness, the assistant races down the stairs.
She arrives at the door to the lower floor, trembling.
A bar, a TV and a screen showing the company's manhwas.
Several employees stand motionless, facing the screen and TV.
VLAM! The assistant opens the staircase door, sees them from behind.
|
| - | HELP! HELP! |
All at once, they turn around-- None of them has a face!!!
|
| - | (hysterical) AAAAHHHH !!!! ARRAAAAHHHH !!!!! |
The assistant runs down the stairs in front of the building, panicked.
|
| - | HEEEEEEELP !!! |
But on the street... ultimate vertigo...
... "Aaaah!!" People are screaming, fleeing from dozens of faceless zombies.
|
| - | !!! (holds her head, mad) No... No... Noooo!! |
Behind the assistant, her zombie-turned-colleagues emerge from the building.
WooOOOoooOOOoooOOOOOooo... The Seoul siren sounds...
WooOOOoooOOOoooOOOooo... Crossover Capital siren sounds.
Fire, smoke, howls, angry crowds in the streets. TOTAL CHAOS !!!
BRoOoM!!! In the distance, a building collapses in a pyroclastic cloud. Some others burn.
Whop-Whop-Whop... Two military helicopters fly over the city, up to...
... the place of the National Assembly, where the fighting is fiercest.
Whop-Whop-Whop... Helicopters hover.
Police fire flashballs and tear gas grenades, but...
... They are overwhelmed, unable to hold back the Joseon crowd!!
Not ordinary protesters. Perfectly coordinated. No fear, no conscience.
Above their traditional costumes: weapons, helmets, shields, protection, gas masks.
They attack ferociously! Throwing Molotov cocktails, stones, pots of paint, bottles of acid.
They lasso police officers, isolate them, trample them, lynch them with sticks.
The rebels enter the courtyard of the National Assembly.
vvvVVVBBRRRR... A roar comes from antennas mounted on helicopters.
Thick waves disturb the air. A non-lethal low-frequency sound weapon.
Everyone is stopped dead in their tracks, rebels and police alike!
Then they convulse like disarticulated puppets.
They vomit! And lose control of their other sphincters!
Srotch! Shit-stained pants, snot eruptions, streams of piss.
They collapse to the ground, which has become a lake of vomit, diarrhea, piss and snot...
... In which they writhe, agitated by hysterical spasms.
The scatological session dissolves from "real" to "image" on Yoon-Hee's tablet.
Sweating, but calm and focused, she draws an additional helicopter.
Beside her, Soo-Bong draws wildly on his tablet, stressed to death.
| - | How is she?!!!! |
Kang Chul looks at Ren-Bo, passed out on the Sofa.
Apart from her wings, she's translucent, outlined in black, but...
... after a few flashes... her body returns to its normal substance.
| - | She's fine!!! |
In Soo-Bong's arms, Ren-Bo becomes more and more transparent...
| - | (looks at Ren-Bo) How much time does she have left... Fifteen minutes??! |
|
| - | (confident in his judgement) No more than five. |
Shortly afterwards... An atmosphere of panic and peak stress.
|
| ~ | Our plan worked... |
Soo-Bong frantically waves his stylus in "eraser" mode on the tablet...
... But the protesters and the Narrator's frames are not erased.
|
| - | (desperate) There's nothing we can do!! |
| - | (vainly trying to erase) Me neither!! |
Ren-Bo's entire body becomes transparent, except for her wings.
|
| (thinking fast) |
| - | (sudden thought) Forget it!!! Draw something else!! |
|
| - | (realizes) Yes!!! But with a context! Without changing the images of the rebels!! |
|
| - | T... Tanks or cannons or... |
|
| - | Fighter helicopters using infrasound transmitters! |
Immediately, Soo-Bong and Yoon-Hee draw as fast as they can.
As Soo-Bong finishes a sketch... Automatic image change on his tablet!!
|
| - | Shit!!! SHIT !!! Damn manhwa! (starts sketching again) |
|
| - | (finishes sketching) It works! |
|
| - | ("incredible") The rebels and the Narrator can't be thwarted directly... ... But we can still influence the manhwa. |
|
| - | Why?! |
|
| - | Wang Shin was right. |
| - | ... ?!! (flattered) |
|
| - | The plain of the dead!! |
... thousands and thousands of Joseon citizens... standing... completely still.
|
| ~ | They weren't in time stasis... ... They needed a soul to come alive. |
|
| - | The souls of people transformed into faceless zombies. That's why our drawings can't control them directly. |
|
| - | Only the Narrator controls them? |
|
| - | Why aren't they themselves, since they have souls? |
|
| - | They're extras, not important characters. They don't retain their identity after this fusion. |
|
| - | (!!) ... The Queen of Darkness's mind control... ... but multiplied thousands of times. |
Yoon-Hee and Soo-Bong are drawing frantically!!
|
| - | Ren-Bo's annihilation is stopped... ... as long as the "Butterfly Girl" universe isn't destroyed. |
|
| - | (looks at Yoon-Hee and Soo-Bong in dismay) It's impossible to maintain this pace indefinitely!!! |
|
| - | President Kang! We've got to find a way to end this. The Narrator isn't human, he doesn't know fatigue. |
|
| - | (thinking hard, no immediate solution) You are three cartoonists... Yeon-Joo will replace the first exhausted one. |
|
| - | On-call shifts. |
Soo-Bong is so stressed that Tlic-Tloc! he regularly taps his stylus on the tablet.
He doesn't notice that above the tip... the stylus is cracked!!
| - | A curfew is imposed. No one is allowed outside. They are everywhere in Korea and cases have been reported in other countries. |
|
| ~ | Lock up the zombies if you can, but don't take any risks. Some are hostile. We don't know if they contaminate. |
| - | All police units are deployed. Fire, sanitation and veterinary services on standby. |
|
| ~ | They have orders to capture zombies. |
| - | Tens of thousands of cases. The authorities are overwhelmed. The army has been called in! |
|
| ~ | Soldiers set up roadblocks and security perimeters. |
|
| - | And now, the presidential address. |
Soo-Bong suddenly stops drawing.
|
| - | ... ?!! (looks at his tablet, astonished) |
Worried, he tries to draw again, but--
|
| - | Aish! Why that?! |
|
| - | (comes over) What's going on? |
On the tablet: rebels around the national assembly... and an unfinished grid drawing.
|
| - | I'm trying to close this damn grid, to keep the rebels out. |
Soo-Bong finishes drawing the grid but... the grid is erased!!!!
|
| - | This! Again!!! |
|
| - | (?!) ... This isn't the manhwa. Otherwise it would have replaced the whole drawing. |
Kang Chul looks at Ren-Bo. Her arm becomes transparent... then her shoulder.
|
| - | That... Is that the Narrator? |
|
| - | There's no yellow frame. |
|
| - | Scenes controlled by the Narrator always have a comment! |
|
| - | ... Or now he has the power to do without? |
|
| (thinking painfully, eyebrows contracted) |
Increasingly anxious, Soo-Bong sees Ren-Bo's legs become translucent.
He starts drawing again like crazy, consumed by anxiety.
Tlic-Tloc!, he taps his stylus on the tablet out of nervousness... The crack grows!
|
| - | OH !!!! (looks at her tablet, amazed) |
They look at her tablet: strokes of gum finish to erase a helicopter.
|
| - | (distraught) My helicopter just got wiped out!!! |
|
| - | (shaking) No! No!!! |
The mood turns to panic. Kang Chul has nerves on edge, but...
... quickly, he discerns the only hypothesis.
|
| - | These are manual gum strokes. Someone help the Narrator!! |
|
| - | Moon Mi-Ra?!! |
|
| - | No, she doesn't have a supernatural tablet. |
|
| - | Then who?!!! |
|
| - | (exasperated by the jinx) ... (no answer) |
All we see is a stylus waving over a piece of tablet.
In eraser mode, the stylus erases the grid surrounding the National Assembly building.
Yoon-Hee, now stressed, draws a new helicopter.
Soo-Bong draws frantically, reproducing the grid in a rush!!
TLIC-TLOC! He's so nervous that he bangs his stylus on the tablet and--
Crack!! The stylus splits in two, BROKEN !!!
|
| - | AAAAAHHH! Shit! SHIT! |
|
| (sees this, mortified, goes back to work twice) |
Soo-Bong apoplectic!! Raises hand, shows split stylus, UNUSABLE !!!
|
| - | No!!! NOOOOO !!! |
|
| - | (shouts) Get the spare stylus!!! |
|
| - | ??? |
|
| - | (stressed!!) Arrh!! (opens drawer, digs in, two boxes of stylus) |
|
| - | I can't! It was already the spare stylus!!! |
|
| - | !!! (notices the boxes are empty, remembers...) |
She opens it, but the box is empty. Underneath, another similar box, new and closed.
| - | Ah! |
Yeon-Joo unwraps the box, and takes out a brand-new electronic stylus.
|
| - | (shouts) Take the one from my tablet!! |
|
| - | I can't!!! |
|
| - | (while drawing) You had it back!!! |
Ren-Bo cries, Soo-Bong at her side, stylus still in hand.
He promptly tucks it away in his jacket pocket.
|
| - | Now it's in pieces!!! |
|
| - | WHAT?!!! |
|
| (tells...) |
He pulls out from its pocket: Yoon-Hee's stylus broken into a thousand pieces.
|
| - | (?!) But how did this-- |
|
| - | That's how it happened!! (tells...) |
|
| - | I wonder who was stupid enough to break that window. |
| - | !!! (orange wings) |
FLAP! FLAP! Ren-Bo gives him falsely "involuntary" wing strokes.
|
| - | Aaaahh... (falls with the stepladder) |
CRASH!! Wang Shin crashes into a chair... on which is Soo-Bong's jacket.
|
| - | (pale) So... There's no other stylus?! |
|
| - | Soo-Bong!! Where's your usual stylus? |
|
| - | (panicked) I don't know, I lost it. |
|
| - | (exasperated) AND YOU DID NOTHING TO REPLACE IT ?!! |
|
| - | (at wit's end) I THOUGHT I'D LEFT IT AT HOME !!! |
|
| - | (!!) Since when??! When did you lose it?!! |
Soo-Bong watches Ren-Bo becoming more and more transparent.
|
| - | (cracks nervously) Nooo!!!! No!!! (cries) Boo-hoo... |
|
| - | !!!! (sudden rage) |
SPAF!!! Kang Chul slaps Soo-Bong!!
|
| - | SOO-BONG !!! Focus!!! |
SPAF!!! Another slap!
|
| (comes to his senses) |
|
| - | WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR STYLUS ?!! |
|
| - | (lost, tries to remember) It was... maybe... I had it when... when I was drawing the end of "Butterfly Girl"...? |
| - | I'll eat her, if she eat me too! |
Soo-Bong picks up his electronic stylus and turns it on.
| - | Let's get to work. |
|
| - | And then... I can't remember... |
| - | I deserve to rest for two minutes. (closes eyes) |
Soo-Bong's chest swings in circles, and after a few seconds...
He drops his stylus and falls slumped over the tablet, dead drunk.
|
| - | (shouts) We've got to find another stylus!!! FAST !!! |
|
| - | But where?!! It's curfew!!! |
|
| - | (watches Ren-Bo disappear) Even if we robbed a store, we'd never have time!!! |
General despair!!! As Ren-Bo disappears more and more...
... Yoon-Hee draws alone like crazy...
... And her drawings are regularly erased!!!!
Later... No one on the streets, no cars moving, except--
VRRROOOM!!! Racing along, Do-Yoon's sports car!!
"500 km/h" on the speedometer!
Do-Yoon drives focused. Kang Chul as passenger.
|
| - | (annoyed) We had to go through W !! |
|
| - | NO !! This car is the fastest!!! |
Moments before... Extreme pressure!
Kang Chul quickly checks the computer: a list of artists.
|
| - | (stressed) Shit, there isn't their address. Yeon-Joo, who do you know nearby?! |
|
| - | (stressed) Nobody, I don't know!! |
Yoon-Hee draws alone, with the energy of despair, but--
The whole picture disappears, changed by the manhwa. Her drawing is forgotten!!!
|
| - | (cries) No... Nooo. |
Ren-Bo becomes completely transparent, except for her wings.
|
| - | (crying) What to do... what to do... |
|
| - | (!!!) ... (realizes) |
Yoon-Hee quits the manhwa and clicks on "New project" !!!
|
| - | ARE YOU CRAZY ?!!! (tries to click back to manhwa) |
|
| - | NO !!! (Bompf!!! abruptly pushes Yeon-Joo away) |
|
| - | !!! (mad with rage, tries to take the stylus out of her hand) |
|
| - | WAIT !!! (grabs Yeon-Joo and prevents her from intervening) |
Yoon-Hee draws a police tank on a blank project page.
They watch her anxiously...
When finished, she clicks "COPY".
Then she switches to the "Butterfly Queen in the Dark" project...
... An image of an angry crowd. She clicks "PASTE".
The tank appears in the image, as if she'd drawn it in!
|
| - | (stunned) The manhwa accepts her drawing. |
|
| - | (sweating) Maybe we've got time to find a damn stylus! |
VRRROOOM!!! Do-Yoon's sports car rushes along at 500 km/h!!!
But further on, the avenue is blocked by army tanks!!
Whop-Whop-Whop... In the sky, a police helicopter.
|
| - | (angry) Shit!!! I told you so!!! We shouldn't have gone through the real world!!! |
|
| - | KANG CHUL! Trust me!!! |
Do-Yoon slows down and turns the next corner, but the road leads to...
... a driveway with only the river at the end.
Towards which the car is hurtling!!!
|
| - | HYUNG !!! ARE YOU NUTS ?!! (so absurd!) |
VRRROOOM!!! Do-Yoon accelerates...
|
| (determined, clenches teeth) |
FSHOOO!! Car leaves pier, flies over river...
|
| - | YAAAAAH !!!!!! |
... SPLOOF!! Dives into the water.
The car underwater.
|
| - | (??!) ... (remembers...) |
|
| - | ... !!! (enthusiastic, the gift of his dreams) |
|
| - | She must have seen it in a fantasy spy movie. This car can go underwater and has cannons that shoot whipped cream. |
Fins protrude from the sides of the car.
Coming out of the trunk... A propeller!
VVVLOOFF... The car moves forward in submersible mode.
|
| - | Shit... Oh shit... I'd forgotten that crap. |
|
| - | (proud) Now, no roadblock will stop us. |
... copying and pasting so the manhwa doesn't interrupt.
|
| - | We should have thought of this before!! |
|
| - | (biting his nails) Noona... Noona... |
They look at Ren-Bo, entirely translucent except for her wings, but...
... her left wing becomes transparent too!!
|
| - | Really Hyung?! Could you find my stylus? |
|
| - | Maybe... Is there something special about it? |
|
| - | I'm very fond of it, it's precious. A gift from Oh Sung-Moo. He even signed it!! |
|
| - | ... !!! (understands what has happened) |
Kang Chul rushes towards the exit.
|
| - | HYUNG !!! Let's go!! |
|
| - | !!! (hurries to follow Kang Chul) |
On the floor, the stylus. A gold plate on the tip, and engraved on it...
... Oh Sung-Moo's signature "OSM" !!
|
| ~ | That was the last time Soo-Bong had his stylus. |
Young-Sik lifts the bell and picks up the stylus, looking at it in wonder.
| - | My precious... (spins the stylus) |
From a new angle, now we can see on the tip...
... a gold plate engraved with Oh Sung-Moo's signature, "OSM" !!
|
| ~ | And now the stylus is with this guy? Beak Young-Sik??! |
|
| ~ | Remember the radio transmitter hidden by the journalists. |
|
| - | (anxious) President Kang, if you're wrong, Ren-Bo won't survive. |
|
| - | How is she? (doesn't look, focused on the tablet) |
Soo-Bong and Yeon-Joo look at Ren-Bo, ... !!!
They are tortured by the inexorable... her left wing is completely transparent.
The right wing gradually becomes transparent too!!!
|
| - | (mortified) This only slows down the process!! |
|
| - | !!! (draws harder!) |
|
| - | Yoon-Hee, let me replace you! |
|
| - | NO!! I'm in the flow!!! |
|
| - | YOON-HEE !!!!! |
|
| - | (firm) Hu-HO !!! Don't disturb her and listen to her!! |
|
| - | ... !! (mad with anguish) |
|
| - | ... (mad with anguish) |
|
| - | Could you draw as fast as her? |
|
| (cracks nervously, admits by lowering her head) |
|
| - | And you, your emotions will make you break the last stylus! |
|
| (cracks nervously, admits by a sob) |
|
| - | (confident) It certainly happened that way... |
| - | Ah, and this time... |
With a grimacing grin, he switches on the device.
Just as he's about to leave, he notices on the floor... A stylus!
|
| - | ... ?? (picks up the stylus, examines it) |
It looks plain, but when he turns it over, he sees a gold plate on the tip...
... engraved with Oh Sung-Moo's signature "OSM" !!!
|
| : | (!!!) ... (amazed, as if looking at the Holy Grail!) A relic of legend... once belonging to the great Oh Sung-Moo!! |
His hesitant eyes scan the surroundings at random.
|
| : | If Sang-Deuk finds out I stole this, he'll kill me. Its disappearance could alert our targets. |
He shakes his head, reassuring himself.
|
| : | If it's lying around, it's like they've already lost it? |
He stares at the stylus, mad with obsessive admiration.
|
| - | Aish! I don't care!!! (puts the stylus in his pocket) |
VrOomm! Accelerates hard towards a road.
|
| ~ | For the purposes of his investigation or some other stupid reason... |
|
| - | ... This journalist stole the stylus, risking sabotaging his radio monitoring. |
|
| - | How do you know his address? |
|
| - | Just in case... |
Hidden behind a shelf, Kang Chul watches the fingers typing on the keyboard.
|
| ~ | We had erased all traces of Yoon-Hee at the hospital. But we also had to do it at the police station. |
Alone in the room, Kang Chul types in a forged name and clicks "validate".
About to log off... He has a sudden idea...
|
| - | (pulls spy-mic out of her bag) ... What's that?! |
|
| - | (looks) A radio transmitter?! |
¤ Shopping mall: Young-Sik held at the collar by Kang Chul.
¤ Police station: Kang Chul delivers Young-Sik to the detective.
|
| ~ | I remembered that guy I arrested... |
|
| ~ | ... Beak Young-Sik. |
His case: "Released after warning for attempted pickpocketing."
Address: "Seoul. Low-rent residence 'The Fountains'. Building C, 6th floor."
Kang Chul logs off and FZZT! teleports to "W".
Old, dilapidated buildings no higher than seven stories...
Do-Yoon's Car arrives speedily and WriIIik! stops dead in the parking lot.
Kang Chul gets out of the car... spots building C, !!!, sprints towards it.
VrMm! Do-Yoon revs up the engine, hands on the wheel, ready to go.
Translucent Ren-Bo, diverted by black lines when...
... Transparency invades her last solid wingtip.
|
| - | ... !!!!! (paroxysmal anguish!) |
Kang Chul runs up the stairs four at a time. (no elevator here)
After two floors, he hears, coming from higher up...
"Aah Aaaah... Help!!" ... The shouts of a man in danger!
Kang Chul hurries up, but on the next landing...
|
| - | !!! |
Two faceless zombies block the stairs. No time to lose--
Kang Chul grabs a zombie, rushes it forward and trips it.
The zombie falls down the stairs and rolls to the bottom.
"Let me go... For God's sake, let me go!!", the man yells from above.
Kang Chul climbs up but the second zombie catches him!! Wasted time!!
He grabs the zombie, and sends it tumbling down the stairwell.
The zombie falls and SBOM!, crashes three floors down.
Kang Chul continues to climb... More faceless zombies! "Fuck"!!!
He observes how they cluster and their gray diamond eyes.
|
| : | They look like clumsy, unintelligent robots... ... programmed to block the stairs. Why? |
He forces his way through. Too reckless! They catch him!!!
But he advances far enough to see the man in distress...
... who's surrounded by half a dozen menacing zombies!
| - | (in terror) Go away! Go away! Don't touch me!!! |
The zombies corner Sang-Deuk, but don't hit him.
The rest of the staircase is overrun with zombies. Impossible to pass.
|
| - | ... !! (recognizes him...) |
| - | A thief tried to steal my bag, but this good man-- |
Sang-Deuk slips away...
|
| - | What a moron! |
Kang Chul retreats further down. The zombies let him go. He concentrates and...
FZZT! Colorful interference, he disappears!
Suddenly-- The zombies' gray lozenge eyes... turn YELLOW !!
Do-Yoon on the phone with Yeon-Joo.
|
| - | (horrified) She's completely transparent!! |
Ren-Bo is completely translucent... including her wings.
|
| - | (!!) We've just landed where the stylus is! |
|
| - | (devastated) So you have to go all the way back?!!! |
|
| - | ...... ("too late", tortured by tragedy) |
|
| (drops the phone, too overwhelmed) |
|
| - | (consumed by nightmarish apprehension) ... Noona... Noona... What's happening... ??! |
A building similar to Young-Sik, but better maintained. Night lighting.
KZZT! Kang Chul appears by teleportation in W !
He closes his eyes, concentrates and...
KZZT! Lee Sang-Deuk is summoned, higher up the stairs!
|
| - | ??! ("no more zombies?") |
Sang-Deuk sees further down the stairs... Kang Chul running towards him!!!
|
| - | (appalled) Kang... Kang Ta!!! |
Kang Chul climbs and runs past Sang-Deuk without stopping.
|
| - | (frozen in fear) Please... Please, don't hurt me! |
|
| - | (yells) Do I look like I want to hurt you?!? Look around you!! (continues to climb) |
(?!) Sang-Deuk looks around... The zombies haven't just disappeared...
... The stairwell is definitely different, it's... ELSEWHERE !!
|
| - | But... But... How? |
Kang Chul waits for Sang-Deuk, further up the stairs.
|
| - | (angry, impatient) Someone's in danger. Follow me!!! Otherwise I'll send you back among the zombies. |
|
| - | ... !!! |
|
| - | (leaves without waiting) And my name is Kang Chul, not Kang Ta. |
Intrepid by nature, Sang-Deuk goes after Kang Chul.
|
| - | Are you really Kang Chul? Why have the zombies disappeared? What's this place? |
|
| - | (climbing the stairs four at a time) Have you come to see Young-Sik? |
|
| - | ... !! (remembers...) |
|
| - | Oh, but answer the phone. In case I need you to write a release. |
|
| - | Sure, Boss. |
|
| - | Yes, he wasn't taking my calls. How did you know? |
Kang Chul sprints to the sixth floor, followed by Sang-Deuk.
Several doors on the landing.
|
| - | WHICH DOOR ??!! |
|
| - | (points to a door) This one... Well, it looks-- |
SBRACH!!! Kang Chul kicks down the door!!
(!!!) A THUG (30s) is surprised, while watching a boxing match on TV.
Cling! He drops his can of Soju, and sees Kang Chul at the entrance.
| - | (gets up, angry) Fucking bastard, where do you think you are? |
He pulls out a switch knife, Slick! clicks to draw the blade.
|
| ("no time to lose", rushes towards the thug) |
|
| - | (recognizes him) ... Kang... Kang Chul?!! |
BOMM!!! Kang Chul kicks him in the stomach.
|
| - | (bends in pain) AAAAH!! |
|
| - | ... ! (impressed by his brutality) |
Kang Chul locks thug's hand. Bling! makes him drop the knife.
Then he grabs the thug, one hand on his neck, one arm under his throat.
|
| - | Don't struggle, or I'll have to kill you. |
|
| - | Arh... Arh... |
|
| - | ... !!! ("Kang Chul is scary!!") |
Thug faints, Kang Chul drops him, BOM!
|
| - | Wait for me here! (concentrates) |
|
| - | ??! |
FZZT! Colorful interference, Kang Chul disappears!
|
| - | !!!! |
Ren-Bo is totally translucent, diverted by black lines when...
... areas of her body become indistinct dust!!!
The annihilation process in its final phase.
|
| - | NOOOOOOOOO !!!!!! (mad with despair) |
KZZT! Kang Chul appears by teleportation.
He sees Young-Sik drawing on a large luxury tablet.
In his hand, a stylus with an engraved "OSM" tip, however...
... Young-Sik is now a faceless zombie!!!
With lozenge eyes... YELLOW!
Kang Chul hesitates, looks at the stylus, the tablet...
... He approaches discreetly, "taking the stylus by surprise?", but--
Young-Sik's zombie raises its head and looks at Kang Chul.
SUDDENLY--
His yellow diamond eyes turn RED.
Kang Chul, !!!, an irrational fright freezes his blood...
|
| : | The NARRATOR !!! He's HERE ! |
He steps back... tries to tempt zombie away from the tablet.
The zombie puts down the stylus and stands up... moves towards Kang Chul.
Kang Chul, !!, "YES, my trap is successful".
FZZT! Colorful interference, he disappears!
The annihilation process stops, the dust disappears but...
... Ren-Bo remains translucent... Just a tiny wingtip becomes solid again.
|
| - | ...!!!!!!!!!! (heart about to implode... uncertain hope) |
KZZT! Kang Chul appears by teleportation.
He immediately rushes forward several steps and--
FZZT! Colorful interference, he disappears!
|
| - | ??!! |
KZZT! Kang Chul appears next to the tablet, but--
SBRASH!!! The zombie smashes the desk chair over his head.
He jostles the table. The stylus falls. No one notices.
Kang Chul, stunned, understands too late... The Narrator has anticipated!
SBAM!!! Kick to Kang Chul's back. Pushed back several meters.
BOMM! He bumps into a shelf. Filled with manhwas, that collapse.
|
| - | Arghhh!!! (almost knocked out, but no time to breathe--) |
The zombie charges at his back. Strangles him with an arm lock!!!
|
| - | Agh... Agh... (tries to break the grip) |
Impossible! Desperate struggle. Kang Chul uses his last resort...
FZZT! Colorful interference, he disappears! But accidentally, the zombie too!
KZZT! Kang Chul appears WITH the zombie! Who continues to strangle him!
|
| - | Agh... Agh... (out of breath) |
FZZT! They disappear!
|
| - | ??!! |
He puts his foot on the shelf. Quickly unbends his leg...
SVAM!! ... They are thrown several meters away.
Bompf! The zombie falls. Kang Chul escapes its embrace.
He looks at the tablet, "take this, then teleport" but--
No time!!! The zombie rushes at him.
Kang Chul flees! Further into the apartment...
Kang Chul, "no way out". The zombie enters!
|
| : | (!!!) A opponent ruthless, fast, intelligent... |
The zombie approaches slowly...
Kang Chul grabs a knife from the workbench.
The zombie charges at him!!!!
Kang Chul, ?!!, a brief hesitation, then--
SHLACK! Stabs the zombie in the stomach.
He withdraws the knife... No wound!
|
| : | !!!!! (horrified!) ... and invulnerable! |
SBRAM!!! Headbutt in Kang Chul's face!!!
Splintered nose!! Blood!! Kang Chul drops the knife. Sgling! It falls to the ground.
Kang Chul retreats to the kitchen back, barely conscious...
The zombie picks up the knife.
On Kang Chul's suffering face, "I won't win this fight".
The zombie advances slowly, threatening...
|
| : | (gritting his teeth, strengthens his resolve) This bastard wants to force me to flee into W. |
He looks around. A broom nearby! He grabs it.
The zombie rushes to stab him!!
Kang Chul swings the broom into the zombie's belly and--
|
| - | RAAAAAHH... !!! (pushes the zombie with the broom, out of the kitchen...) |
Kang Chul drops the broom. Tears off the shower curtain.
He throws it at the zombie, like a net. Leaves at once!
The zombie wastes time freeing itself.
|
| - | ?!! (no stylus on the table!) |
He bends down, sees the stylus under the table. ZOMBIE ENTERS !
|
| - | !! (QUICK! kneels down, reaches out...) |
The zombie rushes in, brandishing the knife!!!
Kang Chul, !!!, extends fingers... so close to stylus... !
WOSHH... The zombie stabs towards his neck... !!!
Kang Chul, index finger on stylus!!! FZZT!, TELEPORTATION !!!
...OSHHH!!! The knife strikes into the void, an afterimage of Kang Chul.
The zombie straightens... Sht! Its red eyes turn gray...
Motionless... Gling!! The knife falls from its hand. The Narrator is gone.
KZZT! Color interference, Kang Chul appears, sitting on the floor.
He clutches the tablet, and the stylus in his hand. His hard-earned trophies!
|
| - | Agh... (gasps, concussed) |
|
| - | ... !!! (appalled by Kang Chul's disastrous condition...) |
Torn shirt, bruised face, broken nose, mouth and skull streaming blood.
|
| - | What happened? Is Young-Sik going to-- |
|
| - | (!!) ... (realizes) QUICK !!! (gets up and rushes towards the exit) |
|
| - | ??! (too surprised to react) |
|
| - | (turns around, angry) RUN !!! |
Kang Chul and Sang-Deuk race down the stairs.
|
| - | Here!! (points to an area of the parking) |
|
| - | ... ? |
Kang Chul runs towards the parking, followed by Sang-Deuk.
(Note: the car has a back seat, but accessed from the front, no back door.)
In his car, Do-Yoon sees at the building entrance...
... dozens of faceless zombies running out!! Red diamond eyes!
Do-Yoon, ?!!, "what to do?", about to drive off.
KZZT! Kang Chul and Sang-Deuk materialize near the car!!!
|
| - | !!! |
|
| - | (opens door, folds down front seat) Get in!!! (throws tablet in back) |
Sang-Deuk rushes to the back. Kang Chul straightens the seat, enters the front.
The zombies reach the car!!
As Kang Chul closes the door-- A zombie grabs his arm!!
VROOMM!!! Do-Yoon starts off with a bang! SBOM!! Hits two zombies!
Kang Chul can't break free of the zombie, dragged along the ground!
SKwIiiiizz... Do-Yoon skids past other cars.
SBOM!! The zombie hits a parked car and drops Kang Chul.
Clac! Kang Chul closes the door. The car pulls away...
The car is driving on a road along the bank...
|
| - | (excited) It was another world? Was it? That thug recognized you. Are you really from "W"? |
|
| - | If you value your life, don't go to your friend. He's now a faceless zombie. |
|
| - | ... !!! |
Kang Chul points to the side of the road. Do-Yoon parks.
|
| - | (gets out and folds down the seat) ... Out. |
|
| - | (!!) ... (intimidated, gets out of the car) |
|
| - | Tell anyone about this, and I'll shoot you right between the eyes. |
|
| - | ... !!! |
Kang Chul enters the car. Vroom!! Do-Yoon starts up.
Puzzled, Sang-Deuk watches the car pull away...
Yeon-Joo and Kang Chul on the phone.
|
| - | Yes, she's getting better! (looks at sofa...) |
Ren-Bo regains consciousness, in Soo-Bong's arms.
Only her arms and legs are transparent.
|
| - | Ten minutes ago, for some unknown reason... ... Yoon-Hee's drawings stopped being erased. |
|
| - | We stopped the cartoonist who was helping the Narrator. But there's something even more surprising... |
|
| - | ... ?!! |
Yeon-Joo applies antiseptic to Kang Chul's bleeding nose.
|
| - | (upset by his injuries, but happy to take care of him) It's broken, you should go to hospital. |
|
| - | (stoic) What result, Soo-Bong? |
Soo-Bong draws a white balloon... on Young-Sik's tablet!
He clicks "refresh". The balloon is at the foot of policemen, in the manhwa!
|
| - | It works!!! This tablet is just like ours! |
|
| - | ... ("as expected") |
|
| - | ("incredible") How is this possible... ... Where did this tablet come from? |
|
| - | We'll find out eventually, but for now... (looks at Yoon-Hee, exhausted) |
|
| - | ... ? |
|
| - | You and Soo-Bong must replace Yoon-Hee. She needs to rest. |
|
| - | Of course... Is that okay, Yoon-Hee? |
|
| - | Oh yes, thank you. |
|
| - | We have the advantage. Thwart the Narrator as much as you can. If all goes well, Yoon-Hee will be able to keep the night watch on her own. |
|
| - | (smiling at Kang Chul) Hyung!! |
|
| - | ... ? |
|
| - | (holds up his "OSM" stylus) Thank you, it's priceless to me. A unique souvenir from the man I respected most in the world. |
|
| - | ... (smiles empathetically) |
A few hours later... Hiding in a tree near the house...
... Wang Shin, dressed in camouflage, surveys the surroundings.
Do-Yoon changes a bandage on Kang Chul's head.
|
| - | President Kang, your wife is right. Your nose won't heal itself. |
|
| - | Hyung, it can wait... |
Yoon-Hee comes out of the guest room.
|
| - | WaAaAahhh. (raises arms, stretches) |
Ren-Bo is awake, healthy, no transparency on her body.
|
| - | Did you sleep well, Unnie? |
|
| - | Wonderfully!! (makes "ok" with thumbs) |
|
| (amused, smiles) |
|
| - | You look great, they worked hard! |
|
| - | 100% solid!! (thumbs up, makes an Aegyo) |
|
| - | (looks around) Where's my husband? |
|
| - | He's standing guard outside. When conditions will be adequate... ... The Narrator could attack us here. |
A shiver of fear chills them. Heavy silence.
|
| - | Um... (goes to her tablet) Shall I take over? |
|
| - | Oh yes! |
|
| - | We're exhausted! |
Soo-Bong and Yeon-Joo stand up. Yoon-Hee sits down in front of her tablet.
|
| - | Kang Chul, I thought of something... |
|
| - | ... ? |
|
| - | We have three tablets but only two styluses. If a stylus fails, we'll be in trouble again. |
|
| - | We've got time to find one now. |
|
| - | But not before tomorrow morning. |
|
| - | What do you suggest? Do you have any at home? |
|
| - | At Mi-Ra's. I have another stylus at her place. |
|
| - | ... !! |
|
| - | ... (annoyed to hear this, without knowing why) |
No one on the streets, no cars except...
VrOoomm... Do-Yoon's Car speeding through the night.
Do-Yoon is driving. Kang Chul, front passenger.
Ting! Message notification on Mi-Ra's smartphone.
She looks... "Kang Chul" and... no emoticon!
| - | ... ?! (reads the message...) |
|
| ~ | Call me now. |
Do-Yoon parks his car in a large parking lot, below a wide esplanade in front of the buildings.
Kang Chul gets out. He shows Do-Yoon Mi-Ra's window on the 3rd floor, 50 meters away.
|
| - | She lives there. |
|
| - | (looks) High-standing. |
In the shadows at the window, someone spies on Kang Chul in the parking lot...
... The Queen of Darkness!! Fshh... A puff of light in her eyes.
Mi-Ra calls Kang Chul on her smartphone.
Alone in the garden, he immediately picks up.
|
| - | Mi-Ra, it's just for something trivial. |
|
| - | Mmmh... Yes, what is it? |
|
| - | Yoon-Hee left a stylus at your place. I need it back. |
|
| - | m'Oh, okay. Come and get it. And... ... Do you want to sleep here? |
|
| - | Impossible, the Narrator's causing real trouble at the moment. |
|
| - | I know... Faceless zombies... Kang Chul... |
|
| - | ... ? |
|
| - | I'm sorry. |
|
| : | (wry smile) You can be sorry. Will you finish your manhwa now? |
Four shadow killers stand guard.
They let Kang Chul through, as he enters Mi-Ra's home...
All lights out. No one here.
|
| - | (?!) ... Mi-Ra? |
He can't see in the air... a layer of shadow.
He inhales and... smells something abnormal, ??! ...
... His eyes convulse. Too late to understand--
Bompf! Kang Chul collapses unconscious.
The Queen of Darkness's shadowy hand strokes his hair.
| - | I'm so sorry, my love. |
ZRRT! Her hand flashes and becomes translucent, diverted by black lines...
... Then returns to its normal appearance.
A shadow killer approaches, holding a briefcase.
|
| - | Make sure he doesn't wake up before two hours. And keep his sidekick from causing any trouble. |
The killer nods.
WOMPF... The Queen of Darkness disappears in a puff of shadow...
Do-Yoon waits quietly. He looks in his rear-view mirror, nothing special.
He looks out the window, no one. But in the next car's rearview mirror...
... he sees a dozen modern shadow killers!!
They fan out in his direction, hiding behind the cars.
|
| : | (!!!) They've calculated everything to be impossible to detect. |
He's wearing his headset, and his smartphone is resting by the gearshift.
Discreetly, he clicks to call Kang Chul.
BRZZ... BRZZ... The smartphone rings in the pocket of fainted Kang Chul.
Beside him, the Shadow Killer places his briefcase on the floor, then...
He steals the smartphone, switches it off and tucks it away in his jacket.
At Do-Yoon's earpiece, automatic message, "Your correspondent is unreachable".
|
| : | (!!!) Now it's clear. Kang Chul is in danger! |
He looks into the adjacent rearview mirrors, the shadow killers approaching.
|
| : | At least twenty of them. |
He looks at Mi-Ra's building and the esplanade in front, sees furtive silhouettes.
|
| : | And there are even more of them up there. |
He grits his teeth, thinks without finding a solution, gets angry. There's no way...
... except to get as close as possible and fight an unwinnable battle.
|
| - | Aish! (reckless) No matter... |
He picks up a metal Nunchaku, from the bag of weapons on the back seat.
Clack! The Shadow Killer opens his briefcase.
Inside: a syringe and a bottle of sedative. He takes this.
He sticks the syringe into the bottle and fills it with sedative.
VROOMMM!! Do-Yoon starts up and drives towards the esplanade.
Everywhere, killers emerge from the shadows and rush towards his car.
Two parked cars get out and block his path. Do-Yoon, !!!
WiiIIikk... He turns in another lane.
The shadow killers pull out pistols with silencers.
VOP! VOP! VOP! Shoot out his tires but miss.
At the end of the lane, a car speeds up to hit him frontally!
Do-Yoon clicks a button on the dashboard, with a ice-cream icon.
spurt-spurt-spurt... above his headlights, cannons shoot whipped cream!!
Splotch-Splotch!! Enemy windscreen covered! Blind!
Do-Yoon smiles, avoids the enemy car, which CRASH!! crashes into a lamppost.
Do-Yoon slaloms... SBOM!! SBAM!!! hits several killers.
VOP! VOP! The shooting continues. vTok-vTok! Hit the armor.
The shadow killer squirts the syringe to eliminate the air...
... Then he approaches the needle to Kang Chul's arm.
Do-Yoon pulls away, skirting the parking lot towards an alley with no opposing cars.
|
| - | (annoyed) Aish!!! (worried) They're wasting my time! |
His car is at the far end of the parking lot, opposite Mi-Ra's building, 100 metres away.
A lighted outside staircase leads from the parking lot to the esplanade above.
Do-Yoon, !!!, a crazy idea bursts into his mind!!!
Klap-Klap! Gear lever! Handbrake! Accelerator pedal!
VRSSHHH... His front tires roll hard. Rear tires brake. Smoke cloud!
Do-Yoon, !!!, maximum determination, Klap!, stop braking. WITH A BANG--
VROARRRR!!! MAXIMUM acceleration!!!
In one second, 200 km/h and accelerating further...!!!!
The Shadow Killer plants the syringe in Kang Chul's arm.
Finger on the tip, ready to inject the sedative!!
VROOMMM!!! Do-Yoon's Car speeds towards Mi-Ra's building...
|
| - | RAAAHH !!!! (accelerates like crazy!!) |
... reaches the stairs leading to the esplanade in front of the building, and--
(what only a fancy manhwa car can accomplish)
SLOW MOTION:
SBOM!!! Stairs as a springboard, the car takes off up to the third floor...
... FHOO... flies over the esplanade... towards Mi-Ra's Apartment... and--
KRAASSHH!!! Smashes through the window! Explosion of glass and stone!
Do-Yoon, !!!, on adrenaline, WRIIK!! brakes hard.
ZRAashhh!!! The car ravages everything as it spins...
Furniture destroyed, shards of wood, sofa pulverized, feathers flying.
TzaK!! A jet of debris pierces the shadow killer. Killed outright!
The syringe is ejected from Kang Chul's arm.
BRONK!! The car hits a wall. Brutal stop!
Do-Yoon's smartphone is ejected and Sklak!, shatters against the door.
Fffff... The killer vanishes in shadowy smoke.
Do-Yoon shakes his head, recovers from the shock.
Ren-Bo's ultimate sports car isn't even damaged.
He gets out and sees Kang Chul passed out.
|
| - | President Kang!! |
VLAM! Four killers open the front door, armed with clubs.
|
| - | !!! (pulls out metal Nunchaku) |
Fight!! Shaff-Shaff... Nunchaku twirling.
TShoK-TshOk! Do-Yoon strikes to the head. One killer knocked out.
He's overwhelmed, SBOW! SBOW! Takes two club blows.
The fight continues. Several arms passes, parries and kicks.
Do-Yoon gains the upper hand, two more killers knocked out, but...
... a dozen more killers arrive at the entrance!
Despite his tenacity, after a fierce fight...
... the killers get the upper hand, Do-Yoon is brought to his knees.
SBOW! SBOW! SBOW! Massacred by the bludgeoning.
About to fall unconscious when...
... Kang Chul's hand grabs his foot!!!
FZZT! Colorful interference, Kang Chul and Do-Yoon disappear!
A Cadillac in fancy colors goes fast.
A shadow killer drives. Front passenger, Mi-Ra!
She feels discomfort, raises her arm and looks at it sadly...
ZRRT! Her arm flashes, translucent, diverted by black lines.
Her gaze turns cold and dark... That of a killer.
(In W, the residence is different from Mi-Ra's.)
Do-Yoon, bleeding, bruises everywhere... has the strength to stand by Kang Chul.
|
| - | (groggy) Hyung... quick... at Oh Sung-Moo's cue... we must-- |
|
| - | I know!!! |
Do-Yoon looks around at the cars. No sports car.
He sees a man get into an ordinary car.
|
| - | Wait here. (deposits Kang Chul against a car) |
He rushes towards the man...
From behind, one arm under the neck, other hand on the nape.
The man struggles but quickly... collapses unconscious.
Do-Yoon looks at the speedometer. Maximum 180 km/h.
|
| - | Aish! |
Do-Yoon is driving. He speeds past other cars.
Kang Chul is wide awake, cured of the shadow narcotic.
He treats Do-Yoon with antiseptic and compresses (first-aid kit from glove compartment).
|
| - | Faster, Hyung! |
On the speedometer: 180 km/h.
|
| - | I'm going flat out!!! |
The Cadillac drives through a suburban area.
SWROMPH! Mi-Ra becomes the Queen of Darkness.
|
| - | (looks in rearview mirror) Hyung!!! |
|
| - | !!! (looks...) |
Behind them, a sports car catches up. Without hesitation--
Vriiik!! Do-Yoon fishtails it.
The house is unlit, except for a desk lamp in the living room.
Hidden in a tree... Wang Shin spies on the surroundings, keen-eyed.
Quiet... Yeon-Joo and Chul-Moo are sleeping.
PFWOM... The Queen of Darkness materializes in a cloud of shadows.
Silently, she levitates towards the bed, towards Yeon-Joo...
In her hand... Wfomm... a puff of shadow, and materializes...
... A grim sacrificial dagger whose blade is two coiled snakes.
She looks at Yeon-Joo, Chul-Moo in the cradle, Yeon-Joo again.
A whiff of light in her eyes and... silently, she levitates toward the exit.
Yoon-Hee draws on her tablet, lit in chiaroscuro by the desk lamp.
She's erasing a Joseon residence, when slips in front of her...
... like giant black spider legs, the fingers of the shadow hand!!
(!!!) Yoon-Hee is about to scream, but the shadow hand closes over her mouth, and--
WOMPF... She disappears in a puff of shadow.
Three shadow killers stand guard.
PFWOM... Yoon-Hee and the Queen of Darkness materialize in a puff of shadow.
The Queen of Darkness removes her shadow hand from Yoon-Hee's mouth.
|
| - | (trembling) ... Mi-Ra? |
|
| - | Stop being afraid. You'll just stay here for five minutes with them. |
|
| - | Why? What do you want?! |
|
| - | Just to keep you from raising the alarm. |
|
| - | (?!) No!! I have to draw. If I don't, Ren-Bo might disappear!! |
|
| - | (puff of light in the eyes) Don't worry... ... I won't let her end up so miserable. |
|
| - | ... ?! (sees the dagger in her hand) |
|
| - | It was nice to see you again. |
WOMPF... The Queen of Darkness disappears in a puff of shadow.
|
| (worried, looks at the motionless shadow killers) |
PFWOM... The Queen of Darkness appears in a puff of shadow.
She levitates silently to the sofa, pulls aside the curtain.
She sees Ren-Bo asleep, next to Soo-Bong. A gust of light in her eyes.
She brandishes the sacrificial dagger above Ren-Bo, and...
SLOW MOTION:
... She stabs her!!! BUT--
POW!!! - SBLING! A shot shatters the dagger!!!
Paf!! She hits Ren-Bo with the bladeless dagger.
|
| - | (awakened by the shock) Hiiiiiiii!!!! |
|
| - | ?!! (wakes up, eyes closed) |
The Queen of Darkness looks at the entrance...
... Kang Chul, pointing his pistol at her!!!
SHAF! Flash of light. Ren-Bo disappears.
But accidentally, the Queen of Darkness with her!
|
| - | !!! |
|
| - | AAaaah!!! (sees the Queen of Darkness) |
SHAF! Light flash. They disappear!
FSHA! They appear! The shadow arm ready to spring!!
|
| - | RAAAH !!! (rushes at them) |
Kang Chul shoves Ren-Bo, and stands in front of the Queen of Darkness's abdomen!!!
|
| - | !!! (cancels shadow arm in-extremis) |
SHAF! FSHA! Ren-Bo teleports to the other end of the room.
|
| - | AaAahhh!! (sees the Queen of Darkness) |
|
| - | ... ! (enters from the bedroom) |
|
| - | (ditto) !!! (Note: Do-Yoon had gone to warn her) |
|
| - | !!! (in tree, sees light flashes through roof windows) |
|
| - | Are you sure it can be opened from the outside?! |
Wang Shin jumps onto the roof of the house. Zink!, draws his sword.
|
| - | ARE YOU CRAZY ?!! |
|
| - | ... ! (bright puff of light in her eyes) |
SBAF! She pushes Kang Chul and SPROTCH!! The shadow arm springs out!!!
ZLASHHH!!! At thought speed, reaches out to strike Ren-Bo!
FSHA! At thought speed, Ren-Bo teleports elsewhere!
Swrachhh-Kling!! The shadow arm razes a table, knocks over a tablet, breaks a window.
Yeon-Joo and Soo-Bong take shelter further into the room. Do-Yoon, ready to intervene.
|
| - | ... ("it's ruined", recalls the shadow arm in her belly) |
|
| - | (immobilizes her from behind with a combat hold) You have no excuse for this. |
|
| - | Do you think I had a choice?!!! |
|
| - | If you kill Ren-Bo, there's no more promise between us!! |
|
| - | (!!) ..... Scumbag!!! |
Stronger, she forces Kang Chul to let go of her, then turns around...
... Both half-mad. Adrenalin overdose. Emotional overwhelm.
|
| - | You've killed all hope... For me, and for us. |
|
| - | (sticks to her, eyes in eyes) You really want to kill someone? Then kill me. |
|
| - | ... !! |
|
| - | .... (tragically determined) |
|
| - | (broken voice) ... Then let's die together. Mh? |
|
| - | (!!) ... If this is the only way to end this manhwa... Do it! |
Her abdomen glows red... Kang Chul, resolute, doesn't move...
... And too late, he realizes she's not bluffing. She'll do it!!!
Suddenly--
Falling from the roof window onto the Queen of Darkness--
SBAM!! Wang Shin hits her with his foot, just as--
SPROTCH!! The shadow arm shoots out! It's deflected and misses Kang Chul.
SLOW MOTION:
Kang Chul, !!!, sees the shadow arm arc like a whip.
... An automatic trajectory, SLASHHH!!! programmed to kill the Queen of Darkness.
Wang Shin swings his sword at the Queen of Darkness, but--
Kang Chul pounces on her, pushing her out of reach of the shadow arm!!
SHLAK!!! The saber pierces Kang Chul's back, !!!!
SHRAASH!! The shadow arm ravages Kang Chul's back!!
|
| - | !!! (a few centimeters in front of his eyes) |
|
| - | AARH! (doubly wounded) |
Then, the shadow arm sinks into the Queen of Darkness's abdomen.
Kang Chul collapses on her. She takes him in her arms. He breathes hardly...
... Bloody back, bleeding abdomen. The sword has pierced through and through.
SWROMPH! The Queen of Darkness becomes Mi-Ra.
They look at each other tragically. Kang Chul's blood floods her.
Involuntary spasm. He spits blood at her. She is devastated to see him in agony.
|
| - | (sad) Is she that important, compared to us? |
|
| - | (groans, critically wounded) Agh... You'll go... to a place where you won't threaten anyone. |
|
| - | ... ??!! |
KZT! Colorful interference, Kang Chul initiates teleportation for "W".
|
| - | (understands) NO!! |
WOMF... Shadow puff, Mi-Ra initiates teleportation for "Crossover".
|
| - | You won't trap me in W. |
|
| - | (!!) ... Nor you... in the Crossover... Agh. |
KZT! Colorful interference. WOMF... Shadow puff.
The two teleports cancel each other out.
|
| - | (obstinate) It's useless... Agh... Ren-Bo can summon me. |
|
| - | (obstinate) I don't care, as long as it thwarts you. |
KZT! Colorful interference. WOMF... Shadow puff. KZT! WOMF...
As they persist... Their bodies are blurred by interference and shadow.
KZT! WOMF... KZT! WOMF... KZT! WOMF...
An invocation battle. They sizzle, troubled with shadow, more and more indistinguishable.
KZT! WOMF... KZT! WOMF... KZT! WOMF...
They're engulfed in a swirl of ink, colored arcs, shadowy streaks.
The air seems to tear like paper! Pure madness!!!
KZT! WOMF... KZT! WOMF... KZT! WOMF...
An interdimensional hurricane roars. Reality is shredded!!! Absurd vision!!!!!
"AaaAAAaaaahhh...", Everyone screams!!! General panic.
KZT! WOMF... KZT! WOMF-- WHEN SUDDENLY--
SHRSHHH.... Energy is siphoned into the silhouettes of Kang Chul and Mi-Ra.
And.... THEY ARE ANNIHILATED !!!!!
Reality repaired, a few last supernatural particles vanish...
... A moment of silence... They are shocked...
|
| - | What happened to them?! |
|
| - | They went... into W ?! |
|
| - | Or into the Crossover? |
|
| - | (concentrates... then looks around) No, impossible to summon Kang Chul. |
|
| - | ...... !!! (feels something on her hand) |
Yeon-Joo raises her hand, and on her finger... KZT! Her wedding ring sizzles.
|
| - | NO !!! |
They all look... KZZT! Yeon-Joo's wedding ring is annihilated.
|
| - | (!!) They've been ANNIHILATED ?!!! |
|
| - | NooOOoo... !!! |
|
| - | ... (shocked, can't accept) |
|
| - | (cries) Hyung... Hyung Kang... |
|
| - | ... (bitter at having failed, angry at the Queen of Darkness) |
|
| - | (reflexively cries) Boo hoo hoo... |
|
| - | ... (cries silently) |
|
| - | (cries desperately) Boo hoo hoo hoo.... |
