Resurrection Chapter 18 - Will you be my partner?

The primary and sole apostle!

This meant that the transcendent being calling itself Wolfheddin was satisfied with just one apostle.

In other words, Heesoo hyung had monopolized its power.

I, too, was the primary and sole apostle of the Golden Emperor, but in truth, it was highly unusual for a god to take only one apostle. Even the White Goddess, who once showered Heesoo hyung with all sorts of favor, had numerous apostles.

“No one but my apostle may now set foot in the sanctuary.”

As soon as Wolfheddin’s declaration ended, the light dimmed. Conversely, the ground-shaking vibrations grew stronger.

Rumble!

I realized the sanctuary that had risen from the ground was sinking back into it. At the same rapid pace it had emerged, the ancient towers, colonnades, pillars, and walls sank back into the earth.

If I wasn’t careful, I’d be buried underground with the sanctuary. Younghyun immediately kicked off the ground while holding me. Without considering his own weight, he leaped toward the distant ground below.

As he jumped from such a height, blood rushed to my head, and a dizzy sensation set in. Instinctively, I curled up in his arms and shut my eyes tightly.

Contrary to my expectations, Younghyun landed lightly on the fortress wall. His movements were inhumanly agile.

Oh, right—he wasn’t entirely human. Infected with the werewolf virus, he was half-monster.

With nimble steps, Younghyun dashed along the ramparts and leaped into the air again.

“Hold on tight!”

The ground was collapsing as the sanctuary sank underground. The earth broke apart like chunks of cake. Younghyun stepped on the falling debris, repeatedly leaping toward solid ground. He managed this feat, which would be difficult even alone, while carrying me.

Thanks to his flexible joints and powerful thighs, he successfully escaped the collapse. Even after landing on solid ground, he kept running for a while, reaching his comrades who had taken refuge in a safe spot. As soon as he arrived, he shouted.

“We’re getting out of here now!”

Only then did I realize I was still in Younghyun’s grasp. His rush to move was to evade Heesoo hyung, who would soon emerge from the sanctuary.

“Let go!”

Thud!

I threw all my strength into a punch to Younghyun’s jaw. With a dull sound, his jaw tilted upward.

Despite the punch, he didn’t flinch. Slowly lowering his jaw, he grinned.

“You’ll need something stronger than that to get out of my arms.”

I contorted my face and said.

“You idiot, don’t you get why I’ve kept my skill a secret? It’s because of guys like you!”

If Resurrection became known to the world, people wouldn’t leave me alone. They’d likely try to seize it by any means necessary.

I’d kept my ability secret, never revealing it, fearing I’d become a revival bot and suffer who-knows-what. Even while half-doubting whether I could truly revive the dead, I was too busy hiding it to test it.

Hearing my words, Younghyun asked as if it just occurred to him.

“So that’s why Yacha kidnapped you before…”

“Yes, Yacha knows about my ability too.”

At the mention of Yacha, Younghyun’s expression darkened.

I knew what he was thinking. Yacha was one of the few S-rank hunters in the world, overwhelmingly powerful. Even among S-ranks, typically above level 60, his strength stood out. His story of defeating Lee Cheong, the special task force leader, was legendary.

In truth, Yacha was more infamous for his obsessive and cruel personality, which contrasted with his beautiful appearance, than for his abilities. If Younghyun took me, he’d have to brace for pursuit not only from Heesoo hyung but also from monsters like Yacha.

I twisted my lips into a smirk and said.

“Even if you drag me off, you won’t last with your skills. Give up.”

Younghyun pursed his lips.

“What about Seo Heesoo?”

“You bastard, you think you’re on par with Heesoo hyung?”

“Seo Heesoo—do you think he can protect you, Yitae sunbae?”

At that moment, a welcome voice came from behind Younghyun.

“I will protect him.”

A low, calm tone.

In a voice unwavering in any situation, I brightened.

“Heesoo hyung!”

As I thrashed vigorously, Younghyun reluctantly set me down. But instead of letting go, he gripped my arm and turned around. There stood Heesoo hyung, silent as a shadow.

He didn’t look much different from when we parted. He seemed unscathed, not like someone who had just faced a final trial.

There was no trace of excitement, anticipation, or pride at becoming Wolfheddin’s primary apostle. His focus was solely on me and Younghyun, who was holding me.

Facing him, Younghyun looked uneasy. Teleporting away would have simplified things, but since Heesoo hyung had stolen his scroll earlier, escape wasn’t an option.

His only choice was to defeat Heesoo hyung.

Younghyun seemed to be assessing whether he could take him in a fight. Instead of responding, Heesoo hyung stared only at me.

As if making up his mind, Younghyun signaled with his eyes, and his team members lined up to surround Heesoo hyung. I warned Younghyun, who had resolved to fight him.

“Stop it. He was once a holy warrior. Now that he’s regained his power, you’re no match for him… You’ll only get your team hurt!”

Younghyun glanced down at me and said.

“Strictly speaking, he didn’t regain his old powers. He’s not yet accustomed to his new strength, so we have a chance. After all, he’s alone, and we’re many.”

“You’re going to sacrifice your team for your greed?”

“As long as you’re here, Yitae sunbae, a sacrifice isn’t really a sacrifice. You’ll bring them back, won’t you?”

I clamped my mouth shut at Younghyun’s words.

This was one of the things I feared.

Even in an era where superhumans roamed the world, death remained absolute. Awakeners were humbled before the primal fear that had existed since the beginning. They could only help and protect each other from death.

But if they knew a skill could overcome death, death would lose all value. As I saw with those fools earlier, people who treated even their own lives lightly would only increase.

I gritted my teeth.

“No, I won’t.”

Younghyun stared at me as if questioning whether I meant it.

“You’re saying you won’t use Resurrection, even if someone dies in front of you?”

“Yes.”

“Even if I die?”

“Yes!”

Younghyun’s eyebrows twitched. His grip on my arm tightened.

He might drop the junior act and show his true colors, but I couldn’t say something I didn’t mean just because I was scared. I knew that overusing the resurrection skill would not only endanger me but also throw the world into chaos.

I looked straight at Younghyun and said.

“I’ll only revive Heesoo hyung. That’s my decision.”

Younghyun’s face contorted. As if my words weren’t worth hearing, he yanked me closer.

At that moment, a sudden burst of energy erupted.

It was Heesoo hyung.

A domineering aura surged from him like a wave.

Startled, Younghyun froze, and even I flinched, looking at Heesoo hyung. Seeing him sent chills down my spine, my breath catching. An inexplicable fear gripped my body, blanking my mind.

This sensation was familiar.

It was none other than Fear!

High-level monsters used Fear to subdue prey, paralyzing them like a frog before a snake. My current symptoms were exactly the same.

Sweating coldly, I stared at Heesoo hyung. This wasn’t what I wanted. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him, even though he was looking at Younghyun.

Younghyun, meeting Heesoo hyung’s gaze, looked in immense pain. His body trembled, and he began to sweat profusely.

It wasn’t just him—his team members were the same, convulsing and groaning.

Soon, Younghyun’s body bristled with coarse hair. His face turned ferocious, his ears pointed, and his jaw twitched, elongating.

Younghyun was transforming into a werewolf, clearly against his will.

Those infected by the werewolf virus couldn’t control their condition without medication. Countless were put down when even medicine failed.

The werewolf virus made the human body larger and stronger, but that wasn’t exactly an advantage. Once transformed, they became cannibalistic monsters craving human flesh and blood.

Seeing Younghyun transform, unable to withstand Heesoo hyung’s Fear, I hurriedly shouted.

“Hyung, hyung! Stop it!”

Despite my cry, Heesoo hyung didn’t retract his Fear. Meanwhile, Younghyun’s transformation progressed, his clothes tearing with a ripping sound.

It wasn’t just Younghyun. His team members, equally massive, were the same.

They must have taken illegal drugs made from Younghyun’s blood to become stronger. If left alone, they’d all turn into werewolves and go berserk.