Healing Castle | TXT Fantasy Novel ft. BTS

35 - Beomgyu

As Taehyun's ice beam blasts the core of the Mage, Beomgyu steadies his ground and summons twin pistols into his hands. He remembers the hours of sitting in darkness. He recalls the love of his team mates, shown in the way Yeonjun was sent all the way into Henesys in order to save him. When BTS broke him free and forced him to perform, they weren't expecting him to fight back.

But fighting back is just what he'll do. And he won't let any other force of evil get between him and the boys.

The Mage pivots in the air as the lightning passes him, shooting straight into the sky. The Arena lights up in blue effervescence, and the crowd's screams escalate to pure mania.

"Everyone!" Soobin calls out. "Stay where you're—"

But his mic is cut out immediately. Beomgyu knows well that this performance is being manipulated, as the Mage wants them to fall under his influence. He wants this part of the plan to go as quickly as possible. But Beomgyu won't take anything lying down. Right now, it's TXT's job to make the most noise and disruption.

Beomgyu fires his pistols, and two massive bullets streamline toward the floating Mage. The Mage tries to pivot again, but he's clipped against the shoulder, and he yells out a scream of irritation.

He's pretty sure the sound is more painful to him than to the monster itself. The sound is like metal being crushed under a thousand tons, like gravel falling down a steep mountainside. While the Mage only gets set back a foot from the blow, Beomgyu feels as though his body is lifted a couple of yards toward the back stage.

The roar of panic continues. The crowd continues to scream while trying to make sense of such an attack that really, no one was expecting. Even Beomgyu, who knows all of the Black Mage's tricks and deceit, could never have imagined such a big explosion of force. It's the same or even greater than a natural disaster floating into the arena.

Beomgyu tries again, forming his pistols and firing, this time four bullets at once. His skill feels easy in his control. Knowing that he's advanced in talent along with his members is enough motivation to keep him moving.

The Mage draws near. His hands are outreached, and the amethyst stone on his staff begins to glow like radiant blood.

"Formation!" Soobin calls out.

Beomgyu falls in the middle, while Huening Kai and Yeonjun move to the front. Taehyun and Soobin make up the back formation and begin to shoot both arrows and magic bolts toward the boss monster.

Yeonjun jumps forward. He slashes with his daggers in a quick motion, slicing off a foot's worth of the Mage's cloak. But right as Yeonjun lands, the Mage strikes him with his staff. The eldest member of TXT goes flying across the stage. He lands beside Beomgyu with a thump and releases a groan of pain.

"You stupid beast!" Beomgyu yells out. All of his anger comes out in adrenaline as he runs toward the boss. He creates brass knuckles, shooting toward the Mage's stomach with a skill that forms blue mana around his hands.

The attack, miraculously, follows through. The Mage actually seems to be in pain as he doubles back, using his weaker arm to check the wound.

No blood, but that's what Beomgyu was expecting of a monster. Instead, some of the dark mist is released from the Mage—like energy is being siphoned out from him.

Then comes a rain of arrows. Soobin's volley succeeds in impaling the Black Mage. Huening Kai follows it up with a sword strike. It doesn't fully connect, but a portion of the blade cuts against the Mage's thigh. With a yell, Taehyun shoots an ice beam that freezes the Mage in his place. The boss' movements become slow, and his eyes narrow as his body seems to expand and release in heavy breaths.

"I don't know what has happened to my power," he says. "But my age and talents reach far back, for many generations. I will not lose to a couple of boys."

"You're losing today," Yeonjun shouts. He's gotten up, and he throws a knife toward the Mage. The blade is infused with an amethyst glint.

The attack pierces through the Mage's chest. And a thunderous roar follows. "What have you done to me? Why must you interrupt my spell? My plans!"

The red glow on the Mage's staff explodes into a vibrant array, a panoramic surrounding the entire crowd of the Seoul Olympic Arena. For a few seconds, Beomgyu feels pain like he's never imagined. It originates in his chest and shoots out toward the farthest inches of his body. He hears his members begin to scream and fold in pain, and the audience seems to be catching the same cursed disease.

But in the anger, in the burning, Beomgyu finds the strength to stand. "You're dying today!" he shouts.

Then he strides forward and pounds the Mage right in his face. The ancient being collapses, falling limp to the ground. Slowly, the red plague is eliminated from the Arena, funneling back into the boss' staff.

"This isn't over," he says. "My partner has taken most of my power, and he'll use it against you in all the ways I've taught him."

Partner? BTS?

Beomgyu is again conflicted by the claim that BTS is someone TXT should antagonize. His vision is clouded in confusion, and the Mage attacks before he can defend himself.

Pain like wildfire stings his brain. He stumbles back as darkness clouds his vision, his muscles go limp, and every word is stolen from his tongue.

He collapses to the floor. "Guys!" Beomgyu shouts right when he's about to go unconscious.

But Huening Kai steps in with an overhead strike. His attack lands true and pulverizes the Mage, letting his top half dissolve into shadow. At the same time, Soobin and Taehyun blast the remainder of the Mage with their powers. Soon, nothing is left of the Mage but the red gem of his staff. Beomgyu stares at it, recovering on the floor as the gem quivers. As if lonely from the disappearance of its owner.

Then, the crowd begins to shuffle back in. The police round them up like sheep. Murmurings rise as the battle fades away into a smokescreen. But the unease in Beomgyu's chest hasn't yet settled.

An ally? The Black Mage has someone he trusts who is stronger or as strong as he is?

BTS' Jin walks out on stage. He's dressed in blood red from head to toe. His cloak is a piece resembling the Mage's outfit. And Jin, who's usually all smiles and laughter, doesn't even glance in TXT's direction while he faces the seventy thousand seats.

Jin flashes a brilliant smile. He's beautiful after all, and he knows just how enchanting he looks right now with the force of a thousand stage lights. From the monitor, Beomgyu notes just how handsome he is. But now, the mystery of his stardom has been impaled with a hidden disease, like a secret kept for too long.

Jin reaches the gem and picks it up. Jin places it near his chest, then attaches the gem to the clasp of his necklace.

"Now," he says into his microphone. "Shall we begin?"

A/N: Thank you for reading!