Chapter 116: Flames of Ambush

A few hours later.

After dropping Mira and Donghyun off at home, Jinhoo got back into his car and continued his journey toward the Eul-wong building.

He could have arrived there much faster using his powers, but instead, he chose to drive calmly, enjoying the scenery along the road.

The city lights stretched endlessly before him, illuminating the streets with a warm glow. The hum of the engine, the faint music from the radio, and the passing view of the city gave him a rare sense of peace.

For a moment, everything felt… normal.

But that feeling didn’t last long.

As Jinhoo reached the middle of the road, he suddenly noticed a long line of cars ahead.

Traffic.

A heavy one.

“Hm? What’s going on? It shouldn’t be this congested at this hour…”

He leaned forward slightly, trying to see what was happening ahead, but the rows of vehicles blocked his view completely.

Without hesitation, Jinhoo opened the door and stepped out of his car.

He walked forward, weaving through the vehicles, heading toward the source of the congestion.

As he got closer, he noticed a group of civilians gathered near the front, held back by police officers.

“Everyone, please step back! There is a superhuman battle taking place! For your safety, please move away immediately!”

One of the officers shouted.

However, the civilians refused to leave.

Curiosity had taken over.

Jinhoo walked behind the crowd and looked ahead.

What he saw—

Was a battle.

A fierce one.

A clash between a Hero and a Villain.

Lightnova.

She stood calmly in the middle of the road, facing a monstrous man.

The man wore what remained of a professor’s outfit, but his left arm had transformed into something grotesque—covered in fungi and extending into writhing tentacles.

The monster lashed out.

His tentacle arm swung violently through the air.

Each strike created sharp wind slashes, powerful enough to slice an ordinary human in half.

Yet—

Lightnova didn’t seem serious at all.

She dodged every attack effortlessly.

Her movements were smooth.

Relaxed.

Almost… playful.

She avoided each strike with ease, as if the monster before her was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

’This man… he’s no longer a match for me… what is this feeling… I feel… excited…’

The monster growled in frustration.

“Fight me seriously, Lightnova!!”

From within the crowd, Jinhoo watched quietly.

He observed Lightnova’s movements.

Her composure.

Her overwhelming confidence.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“This woman… just because she’s grown stronger, she treats her enemies like toys now…”

His tone carried a hint of amusement.

After watching for a while, Jinhoo turned away.

He had seen enough.

“Good thing I didn’t just teleport here… otherwise, I would’ve missed something like this…”

He muttered as he walked back toward his car.

Meanwhile—

Lightnova suddenly paused mid-movement.

Her expression shifted slightly.

It was subtle.

But noticeable.

She felt something.

Something… familiar.

She turned her head toward the crowd.

But the moment she did—

The feeling disappeared.

“…Strange…”

She muttered softly.

At that exact moment—

A tentacle shot toward her at high speed.

Without even looking, Lightnova caught it with one hand.

She turned her gaze back to the monster.

“Alright… playtime is over.”

“W-what did you say!?”

The monster’s voice trembled—anger mixed with fear.

Lightnova tightened her grip.

Then—

She pulled.

The force dragged the monster forward, pulling him directly toward her.

As he was pulled in—

Her other hand clenched into a fist.

Golden light gathered around it.

Dense.

Brilliant.

Blinding.

The moment the monster reached her—

She struck.

Her fist slammed into his abdomen.

A powerful, devastating blow.

Golden light burst out from his back, as if her punch had pierced straight through him.

The monster’s body froze.

His consciousness faded instantly.

The light slowly dimmed.

And when it disappeared—

There was no wound.

No hole.

Nothing.

Yet—

His tentacle arm began to rot and decay rapidly.

Lightnova’s power had purified him.

The monster collapsed onto the asphalt, unconscious.

Lightnova turned toward the police.

She called one of them over.

A police officer approached her quickly.

“He’s no longer a villain. He’s just a normal human now. You can take him to a regular prison.”

“Understood!”

The officer signaled the others.

They quickly moved in and carried the unconscious man away.

For one last time—

Lightnova glanced toward the crowd.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

’I’m sure I felt his presence earlier… was he watching me? Disguised among the civilians…?’

She said nothing more.

Meanwhile.

Inside his car.

Jinhoo had taken another route toward the Eul-wong building.

Soft music played on the radio.

He hummed along quietly.

“Ah… what a peaceful day… everything feels so calm…”

But then—

Something changed.

As he continued driving, Jinhoo noticed something strange.

Two black sedans.

One on his left.

One on his right.

They were driving unusually close.

Blocking both sides of his car.

“Hm? What’s with these guys…?”

At first, he didn’t think much of it.

He simply increased his speed.

But—

The two sedans matched him.

They stayed close.

Too close.

“…What the hell is wrong with them?”

Jinhoo’s expression darkened slightly.

Then—

Without warning—

Both sedans swerved.

They slammed into his car from both sides.

“Ugh! What the hell!?”

The impact shook his vehicle violently.

Jinhoo tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

He tried to speed up—

But at that exact moment—

The window of the right sedan rolled down.

A man in a suit and sunglasses leaned out.

In his hand—

A gun.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Gunshots rang out.

Bullets struck Jinhoo’s car window repeatedly.

Cracks spread across the glass.

Jinhoo’s control over the steering wheel faltered.

The car swerved wildly.

“Damn it!!”

The vehicle began to spin.

Uncontrollably.

Seeing no other option—

Jinhoo yanked the steering wheel to the right.

But that only made things worse.

The car flipped.

Once.

Twice.

Rolling violently across the road.

Inside, Jinhoo’s body slammed against every surface.

The sound of metal crushing echoed.

The oil tank was torn open.

Oil spilled out onto the asphalt.

Sparks flew from the friction.

And then—

Fire.

The oil ignited.

Flames began to spread rapidly toward the car.

For a moment—

Jinhoo lost consciousness.

But—

The smell of smoke and burning heat brought him back.

“Ugh… damn it…”

He groaned.

His vision blurred.

The world spun.

He looked around.

The car was upside down.

The door—

Still locked.

He reached for it.

Tried to push it open.

It wouldn’t budge.

He kicked it.

Again.

And again.

Nothing.

“…What the hell…?”

Then—

He looked toward the window.

Outside—

A man in a suit.

Wearing glasses.

He looked like a bodyguard.

The man held a locking device.

With a single motion—

He sealed the car door shut.

Jinhoo’s eyes widened.

“…You’ve gotta be kidding me…”

He slammed his fist against the window.

“Hey!! Open it!! You bastard!!”

No response.

The man turned away.

Calm.

Unbothered.

He walked back to the black sedan.

Both cars drove off.

Leaving Jinhoo behind.

Trapped.

The flames grew stronger.

They crawled across the car’s surface.

Smoke filled the interior.

Jinhoo coughed violently.

His breathing grew heavier.

His body ached.

Still—

He didn’t stop.

He kept trying to force the door open.

Again.

And again.

And again.

The heat intensified.

The fire roared louder.

The air grew thinner.

The flames reflected in his eyes.

Burning.

Just like his resolve.

Inside the burning car—

Jinhoo continued to struggle.

Not as a victim.

But as something far more dangerous.

Waiting—

To break free.

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