<Episode 85>
“Urgh…!”
A suppressed groan echoed from far away. I hurriedly put my outerwear back on and looked around.
The lake had disappeared, but the faint sacred aura lingering in the area remained. If it were here, Hanyang would probably be safe even if left alone.
“Hanyang, I think it’s better if you wait here. I’ll go to Hunter Lee Hyunwoo by myself.”
Without waiting for Hanyang’s response, I grabbed my clothes and items and kicked off the ground.
As soon as I moved, I could clearly feel the effects of my reawakening. Not only was I not out of breath, but it felt as if I was stepping on the air itself before my feet could even touch the ground.
Soon, an unbelievable sight unfolded before my eyes.
“Haa… urgh. It’s all my… my fault. Because I… couldn’t save them…”
Lee Hyunwoo was leaning against a wall, covered in blood, muttering incomprehensible words.
After mumbling with a pained expression, he staggered to his feet and picked up his sword. But before he could swing it properly, his body collapsed to the ground once more.
Around him, a thick black mist that hadn’t been visible before wavered like a mirage.
Could that mist be…?
Instinctively, I realized that was the mental manipulation skill affecting Lee Hyunwoo.
Then I need to get rid of that mist first.
Carefully, I pulled out a gun from my inventory. I intended to distract his attention.
“…!”
At that moment, a murderous aura so intense it sent chills down my spine pierced my skin.
Flash!
Without thinking, I threw myself into a roll across the ground.
A horrifying tearing sound split the air beside my ear, and several strands of my severed hair fluttered away helplessly.
I barely steadied myself and lifted my head.
My gaze immediately landed on the ground.
Thunk. Roll, roll…
The handgun I had been holding only moments ago.
The solid metal barrel had been cleanly sliced off and was rolling across the floor.
So fast!
My heart pounded wildly.
I had reawakened as an SS-rank, but I was still an ordinary person who had never undergone professional combat training.
Lee Hyunwoo, on the other hand, was the strongest hunter in South Korea.
There was no way I could be his opponent.
“Grrr…”
Lee Hyunwoo growled like a beast.
Blood dripped from the hand gripping his sword and splattered onto the floor.
Those were wounds he had inflicted upon himself to maintain his sanity.
Pull yourself together, Jung Ha-neul. You’re the only one who can save him right now.
With trembling hands, I pulled out the S-rank item from my pocket.
Wish Ribbon.
A defensive item that activated when it detected its wearer was in danger.
Since its protection covered not only physical attacks but also mental-type skills, it would surely help him.
I only have one chance.
Hoo…
I took a deep breath.
I had no chance in a confrontation.
I needed a brief opening… a split second when he couldn’t react.
Lee Hyunwoo kicked off the ground once more.
BOOM!
His blade slammed into the floor, sending shards of stone flying like shrapnel.
Pretending to stumble and lose my balance, I closed the distance.
“Urgh!”
Whoosh!
He raised his sword again.
But instead of fleeing, I threw myself toward the side holding the sword.
Faced with my unexpected movement, he hesitated.
Now!
I seized that 0.1-second opening and dove into his guard.
Sharp sword energy tore through my clothing, but I didn’t care.
“Please!”
At last, I succeeded in fastening the item around his free wrist.
Grabbing his wrist tightly, I prayed desperately.
That this item would sever the brainwashing that had burrowed into his mind.
That he would no longer have to suffer.
Fwaaaaaash!
A brilliant light exploded before my eyes.
Squinting carefully, I saw radiant light pouring out from the ribbon.
The holy glow slowly drove away the black mist surrounding Lee Hyunwoo.
“Urgh…!”
The blood-red eyes that had been clouded like those of a beast gradually regained their original color.
Finally, after exhausting all its remaining charges, the item crumbled into a handful of ashes and scattered away.
The strength left his hand.
His sword slipped from his grasp and clattered to the floor.
“Ha… Neul… Hunter…?”
Lee Hyunwoo panted as he looked down at me.
His eyes trembled with an emotion I couldn’t identify.
The terrifying killing intent pouring from him had vanished as if it had never existed.
“Hunter! Are you back to your senses? Ah, thank goodness…”
Relief washed over me, and my legs nearly gave out beneath me.
But then…
Shhhhhk.
A horrifying scraping sound echoed.
A gigantic shadow descended upon us.
Now that Lee Hyunwoo’s mental manipulation had been broken, the true master of this tomb, which had been hiding in the deepest depths, finally coiled forth and revealed itself.
“A Basilisk…!”
Two enormous yellow eyes glowed vividly within the darkness.
It was a colossal serpent wrapped in poisonous mist capable of corroding even the surrounding rocks.
KIEEEEEK!
Apparently enraged that its mental control had been broken, the basilisk shrieked and bared its long fangs toward us.
“Hunter Haneul, do not make eye contact with that monster.”
At that moment, Lee Hyunwoo stepped in front of me.
His voice was astonishingly clear for someone who had been suffering under mental manipulation only moments ago.
Picking up the sword lying on the ground, he unleashed a chilling surge of magical power from his entire body.
At the same time, black poisonous fog spilled from the basilisk’s fangs.
“Watch out for that black mist!”
I grabbed Lee Hyunwoo’s arm urgently.
Turning back toward me, he gave a small, reassuring smile and nodded.
“I’m not foolish enough to fall for the same trick twice.”
The moment he finished speaking, he swung his sword horizontally.
The blue sword energy released from the blade instantly split the mist into two.
Flash!
He kicked off the ground and shot into the air.
KSHAAAAAAK!
Momentarily losing sight of him, the basilisk panicked and lashed out with its massive tail while spewing more poisonous mist.
But it couldn’t even come close to touching him.
KWAAAAANG!
As he appeared in midair and swung his sword, a deafening explosion shook the cavern.
The basilisk’s tough scales were torn apart by the sword energy colliding head-on with them, exposing bloody flesh beneath.
Grrk… grrrrk…!
Lee Hyunwoo mercilessly tightened his grip on the monster’s life.
Every time he stepped through the air and swung his sword, dark red blood erupted from the basilisk’s massive body like fountains.
Unable to mount even a proper counterattack, the monster was completely butchered.
Eventually, it lost its balance and collapsed.
Not missing that fleeting opening, Lee Hyunwoo leapt high into the air.
Pointing the tip of his blade downward, he plunged like a bolt of lightning.
STAB!
His sharp sword pierced directly through the basilisk’s gigantic yellow eye and drove deep inside.
KIEEEEEEEEK!
The basilisk’s scream, sharp enough to rupture eardrums, reverberated throughout the cavern.
Writhing in agony, the monster crashed to the ground.
The basilisk twisted and thrashed like an eel.
KIEEK! KIIIK!!!!
Every time its massive tail slammed into the walls, the entire cavern trembled.
After several minutes of desperate struggling, its movements gradually slowed.
Finally, its enormous head slammed onto the ground with a heavy thud.
“…Wow.”
An involuntary gasp escaped me at the overwhelming victory.
Panting heavily, Lee Hyunwoo pulled his sword from the monster’s eye and slowly turned toward me.
“Hunter Haneul. Are you injured anywhere?”
I nodded blankly.
Covered in blood and walking toward me, he looked like a hero straight out of mythology.
“I’m fine–”
“This one is completely unharmed, nya!”
Hanyang, who had somehow arrived beside us, swished his tail and answered in my place.
Apparently, he had noticed the battle was over and hurried over.
I let out a small laugh and stroked Hanyang.
Then…
Rumbleeeee…
A violent tremor shook the ground beneath our feet.
What was that?
Another monster?
Startled, I looked around.
Lee Hyunwoo sheathed his sword and spoke calmly.
“The master of the gate has died. The exit leading outside has opened.”
“So… this is what people mean when they talk about clearing a gate?”
“That’s right. Shall we leave?”
Lee Hyunwoo extended a large hand toward me.
Looking at him, I smiled in relief.
“I’m really glad we made it out safely.”
But strangely, his face suddenly split into two images.
Then three.
The figures blurred and scattered.
I blinked slowly.
“Hunter, your face looks weird…”
The last thing I saw was his face rushing toward me in alarm.
Then everything faded away, and I lost consciousness.
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