Chapter 73: Relentless Search

 

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Arson awoke with a jolt, the remnants of Jae-ho’s power coursing through his veins. His body felt stronger, more alive, but his mind was consumed with panic. Jae-ho was gone, and the weight of that reality pressed down on him like a crushing force.

The room was silent, save for the sound of his heavy breathing. He could still feel Jae-ho’s lingering energy, a faint pulse within him, but it was incomplete. His heart pounded, knowing Jae-ho had transferred most of his power into him, yet a fragment still remained with Jae-ho, tethering them together like an invisible thread.

“Jae-ho…” Arson whispered, his voice cracking with desperation. He staggered to his feet, his vision blurring as he tried to make sense of the situation. The memory of Jae-ho’s tearful farewell haunted him, his kiss still burning on Arson’s lips. He couldn’t believe that Jae-ho had sacrificed himself.

Without wasting a moment, Arson bolted from the old house, his mind fixated on one thing—finding Jae-ho. The streets were empty, the city engulfed in a quiet that felt unnerving. His power surged, brimming with the energy Jae-ho had given him, making his senses sharper than ever before.

Days blurred together as Arson’s search became an obsession. He didn’t sleep; he barely ate. The power within him grew with every passing hour, filling him with a dangerous intensity. His eyes glowed faintly with the blue energy of his power, a constant reminder of Jae-ho’s sacrifice. Every time he used it, he felt closer to Jae-ho, but also farther away, knowing that Jae-ho had left him for a reason.

He could destroy anything with just a thought now. In moments of frustration, he felt the raw, untamed power flare up, shattering objects with a mere gaze. Buildings cracked, trees splintered—anything in his path fell victim to the force he barely controlled.

Despite the immense strength, there was only one thing he cared about—finding Jae-ho.

Arson moved through the city like a man possessed, asking anyone if they had seen Jae-ho, describing him in frantic detail to strangers who stared at him with fear. He followed every lead, every rumor, no matter how small. His body ached, and exhaustion weighed on him, but he refused to stop. The thought of Jae-ho suffering, alone, tore at his soul.

As the days turned into sleepless nights, Arson found himself wandering the empty streets, his powers surging uncontrollably. His desperation was palpable, and with each passing moment, he became more dangerous. The blue energy that pulsed through him crackled in the air, and the slightest flicker of anger sent shockwaves through the environment. Once, when he thought he had found a clue, only for it to lead nowhere, his anger erupted, and with a single glance, a nearby building collapsed in on itself, reduced to rubble.

He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the surge of energy inside him, but it was becoming harder and harder. The more time passed, the more unstable he felt. His power was overflowing, overwhelming him. Without Jae-ho by his side, it felt like a curse.

“Where are you?” he muttered under his breath, eyes wild with worry. “Jae-ho…”

He couldn't bear the thought of losing him, not after everything they had been through.

On the fourth day, after countless hours of searching, Arson stumbled upon a lead—a small, quiet rumor about a stranger who had appeared in a neighboring city, someone who matched Jae-ho’s description. Without hesitation, Arson followed the trail, his energy crackling dangerously around him. His eyes glowed with a fierce blue light, and people began to avoid him, sensing the power and danger that radiated off him.

As he entered the new city, his heart raced with both hope and fear. He knew that Jae-ho was close; he could feel it. The tether between them had grown stronger, the fragment of power within Jae-ho still connecting them.

Arson’s body was on the brink of collapse from exhaustion, but his resolve never wavered. He hadn’t slept in days, and his face was pale, his eyes red from lack of rest. Yet the power inside him kept him going, pushing him forward with an almost unnatural force.

He wandered the streets, his energy pulsing in waves. Anyone who saw him felt the sheer intensity of his presence, as if the very air around him was vibrating with power. He didn’t speak to anyone—he simply moved, driven by instinct and the faint pull of Jae-ho’s presence.

The city was vast, but Arson was determined. His feet carried him to every corner, every hidden alley, every place where Jae-ho could have gone. He searched relentlessly, refusing to give up. With every step, he whispered Jae-ho’s name, as if calling out to him would somehow make him appear.