Global Awakening: Only I Can Respawn

"Since you, morons fought and lost to us," YuWon said, surveying the group. "Whether you live or die depends on me."

Fear flashed in everyone's eyes, and some even tried to protest. However, as they moved, the soldiers struck them down. They weren't people anymore, but YuWon's prisoners, and he didn't tolerate any defiance.

But there was someone else they couldn't silence.

"YuWon, you can't do this!" Min-Ji yelled.

On Yeji's insistence, YuWon had let them be. But when Min-Ji heard the horrifying words coming out of her son's mouth, she couldn't hold back anymore.

First, he killed a person by throwing them inside the cage, and now he was acting as a dictator, picking the next target. She couldn't take it and stepped forward to reason with him.

But as usual, YuWon ignored her and continued addressing the group as if she hadn't spoken at all.

"As you know, in three hours, the giant will wake up again and we'll have to feed it," he said, looking at the prisoners. "So to make it easier for all of us, I'm looking for brave volunteers who will turn into food for the giant."

Silence followed YuWon's words. Not one person dared to move or speak, fearing the maniac would throw them into the cage if they did.

"No one?" YuWon asked, his eyes scanning the crowd. "Well, that's a shame."

"That's enough!" Min-Ji yelled as she rushed towards YuWon, her hand raised to slap him.

Unfortunately, YuWon wasn't the kind son she used to know. As she swung her hand, YuWon caught it in mid-air. Min-Ji was stunned, but soon her eyes widened as his grip tightened.

"Try interrupting me again," he snarled, staring straight into her eyes. "And you'll be the first one I'll feed to the sleeping ugly."

Before Min-Ji could react, YuWon shoved her back. Seok glared at YuWon from where he stood, but that was all he could do. Unlike Min-Ji, he had understood that YuWon had all the power in the situation.

"You should be thankful to your only child," YuWon emphasized the word only with a smirk, "offered her life for yours. Otherwise, you'd be down there with the rest of them."

Upon hearing those words, Seok's eyes widened in disbelief. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Finally, Min-Ji mumbled first.

"What do you mean, Yeji gave her life?" she asked, looking even more frightened of her son.

YuWon smirked and looked at Seok before saying, "She's my slave. That was the price for your lives."

"Lies! My Yeji would never—!" Seok yelled but got cut off by YuWon.

"Go on Yeji, tell him," YuWon shrugged. "Tell him about those photos and our compromise."

Since YuWon had three hours to spare, he decided to use them to put an end to their family drama once and for all.

Yeji confidently nodded before turning towards Seok.

"Those photos... YuWon wasn't responsible for taking them," she said. "It was all Hoon's doing. He framed YuWon and… I willingly became his slave to pay for my indiscretions."

"What...?" Min-Ji mumbled, staring at YuWon.

She looked like she had aged ten years in ten minutes. But at the same time, there was some relief on her face, as if an enormous burden had been taken off her.

However, YuWon wasn't looking at her. His eyes were fixed on Seok's reaction. Despite the revelation, his face remained stone-faced. Unlike Min-Ji, there was no turmoil or remorse in his eyes.

But he was avoiding YuWon's gaze like a kid caught sneaking around with candy. Seok's shoulders slumped ever so slightly, and his nose flared up.

Over the years YuWon had picked up on Seok's habits when he was nervous or lying. At the moment, all those signs were present.

"You knew," YuWon growled, pointing his finger toward Seok. "You knew about everything."

"How dare you—?" Seok said, shaking his head.

But for YuWon, it was clear he was lying, and he wasn't the only one who noticed his reactions. Min-Ji had once found those small habits of Seok endearing. But now she could only stare at him in disbelief.

However, she forgot about Seok when her eyes met YuWon's. She rushed towards YuWon, still on her knees.

"Please, son! You have to believe me!" she begged, holding onto YuWon's hand. "I didn't know about it."

But YuWon didn't respond. His jaw clenched as he brushed past her, walking straight toward Seok. His eyes burned with fury as he grabbed his stepfather by the collar and lifted him off the ground.

"You were the one who put Hoon up to it, weren't you?" YuWon snarled as his fingers tightened around Seok's neck.

Yeji's eyes widened in shock as she rushed forward, trying to pull YuWon away from her father.

"No! Please, brother, don't do this!" she begged. "It must be a misunderstanding."

But this time, YuWon didn't hold back. He backhanded Yeji across the face. The brother who had protected her a few minutes ago was nowhere to be seen.

"Stay out of this!" YuWon shouted at her.

Yeji clutched her cheek, tears welling in her eyes as she looked up at YuWon. Seok saw it too, but he couldn't do anything as he gasped for air. Seok's eyes bulged as YuWon lifted him higher.

"Answer me!" YuWon roared. "Did you put Hoon up to it?"

Seok choked, but still shook his head.

"Liar," YuWon spat, throwing Seok to the ground.

Seok landed hard, gasping for breath, but even then he had the energy to smirk. Meanwhile, Min-Ji sobbed on the sidelines, and so did Yeji. But YuWon didn't spare them another glance.

"Fine... I got other ways to make you talk," YuWon said, turning his icy gaze towards Yeji. "Confess to what you did, or your precious daughter will suffer in your stead."

Perhaps Seok thought YuWon was bluffing, so he didn't speak. Little did he know he could come to regret the decision.

"Fine," YuWon snapped his finger. "You forced me to do this."