Chapter 55

As the tendrils recognized the car as an enemy and changed direction, Tae-un, with his entire legs enveloped in white light, reached the front of the rift.

Kwaddeuk!!!

Even with an attack using all his strength, the 1st-grade rift only made a subtle vibrating sound. The gaping interior of the rift was an unpleasant black color that made him feel nauseous.

Behind his back, there was a sound of something exploding with a bang! When Tae-un turned around, Soram was running and leaping, moving the airplanes.

Swish!

Soram landed, scraping the ground, and stood facing the opposite side of Tae-un.

"I won't let anything pass behind my back, so break it!"

The airplanes flew up again, and Soram fended off all the attacks pouring on the two of them.

"I specialize in multiple attacks, and Han Tae-un ssi is the type to heavily strike with a single attack, so this is right."

"..."

Although he was worried about Soram, as he said, the top priority now was to break this rift that wouldn't budge.

Tae-un gripped his sword and struck the rift again. Kang! Even though the attack clearly went in, his arm and shoulder throbbed as if it had bounced off. He gritted his teeth and immediately struck the rift once more.

Tae-un had exerted destructive power equivalent to striking with an aircraft with just a brief attack. However, he had to strike the 1st-grade rift with enough force to almost break his arm to barely see subtle movements.

Close, close!

Blood seeped from his right hand's fingernails and palm, gripping the sword with all his might. With each attack, it felt like his knuckles were being crushed, but the degree to which the rift closed was minuscule. If he paused even for a moment, the rift tried to open its mouth again.

This ability is said to be attraction and repulsion?

Tae-un pulled the sword handle to his hand, which was starting to lose strength. And he pressed the sword as if pushing it away from his body.

Kaang! Kaang!!! Every time the sword made a crying sound, Tae-un's arm screamed along with it.

As he forcibly drew out his strength to the limit, the auditory hallucinations he had heard when he explosively used his strength a moment ago came back. The hallucinations gradually became a specific voice. The countless ringing sounds made even his vision dizzy.

The 1st-grade dungeon was far more dangerous and powerful than he had thought. If he hadn't been there, Soram would have climbed up here alone.

Because that image came to mind too naturally, he must be hearing these damn hallucinations.

'Soram-ah.'

His own voice calling him like this and saying something he couldn't understand kept repeating. This fact alone, he would probably never be able to confess to him.

What broke the hallucinations each time was the sound of the person fighting behind his back, blocking all attacks.

Even when he was with other people, Soram seemed to stand apart. He often suddenly went off in an unpredictable direction. That back view was as if he was carrying a lot of something. It occasionally made him, who was smiling at ease, look precarious.

Tae-un raised his sword and struck the rift once more.

"Ugh..."

His face turned pale from the pain. Blood dripped down the blade. As soon as Tae-un realized that his right hand could no longer move, he switched the sword to his left hand. It was gripped tightly as if the sword was tied to his hand. The white aura gathered on the sword again.

"Close! Close!!!"

He wanted to look back, but he couldn't turn his head away from the rift because of the fear that was similar in size. Soram, who had always been all talk, kept his promise this time of all times. No attack from the mutants reached Tae-un, who was breaking the rift.

Just a little more, just a little more.

Tae-un lifted his unmoving arm with his repulsive force and struck down. Even though it was the first time he tried this method, it felt familiar. It felt natural as if he had known this method before.

The rift now had only about a span length remaining. Both of Tae-un's hands were covered in blood to the point where it was impossible to distinguish which one had been poisoned. Some fingers had their joints bent in the wrong direction.

The moment he raised his sword again, a white light, whether a mirage or not, burst at his fingertips. It moved Tae-un's sword to a different trajectory than he originally intended to stab and made him slash the rift diagonally.

Creak―

Then the rift moved a little more noticeably.

"...!"

Unable to even feel the pain anymore, Tae-un attacked the rift in the same direction.

Kadeuk! Kaddedeuk!!! Kadeuk!!!!

Finally, the thin gap of the rift became a hairline crack.

Kuwoong―...

It completely closed.

"Ha..."

Tae-un confirmed the spot where the pitch-black darkness had disappeared and turned his head with a face filled with joy.

And he had to harden his expression and run out immediately. Without even knowing how he gripped the sword again, he swung it and sliced the tendril that was about to pour all its sap towards Soram.

Kwaaang!!!

After the roar, black smoke rose. The mutants that had surrounded them like a birdcage scattered into the mountains when they realized the rift they had to protect was gone. However, their numbers were not many.

What had blocked the numerous mutants in this area were the few crumpled paper airplanes on the ground, and...

"Did you break the rift?"

It must have been the achievement of this person.

"...Yes."

"You did well."

Soram, whose entire body was not intact, smiled.

"...I wanted to return what Han Tae-un ssi said earlier, what was it... Ah."

Soram raised his lips with blood flowing down.

"I'm sorry for startling you. I'm fine."

"..."

"Was it like that?"

"Jin Soram..."

"Now do you understand how much of a jerk's words those are to the listener?"

With a choking cough, a mouthful of blood poured from Soram's mouth. His body, having reached its limit, leaned forward. Tae-un ran and caught Soram. Blood stained his clothes.

* * *

Chiiik―!

The fiercely attacking mutants' momentum subsided. The threatening flames raging above their heads also quieted down. Ga-eul turned her head and looked towards the mountain peak. The loud noises coming from that direction had died down.

They must have safely broken the rift.

She had faith that Jin Soram would succeed safely. Although Soram had often disappointed her in terms of personality, he had never failed to meet expectations in terms of skills.

Ga-eul tapped the communication line connected to the director, deputy director, and team leaders.

"Chief Jin-ah, did you destroy the rift?"

―...

There was no answer from the other side. It seemed like the reception was properly turned on.

Then, the in-ear device Ga-eul had on the opposite side rang. This one was connected to Team 1 members.

―Chief Ga-eul nim! The mutants' power has weakened. Shall we push forward and climb up in earnest?

"Wait a moment. I'm confirming with Chief Jin right now..."

Chijik―...

Soon, a brief noise was heard, followed by a soft sigh in a lower voice than Soram's from the opposite ear.

―Ah, hurry, hurry! Quickly relay my words!

―...I understand, so please stay still for a bit. This is Team 7 Chief Han Tae-un. Chief Jin Soram nim said to ask if you know that "Did you destroy it?" is a spell to revive the enemy. ...Those words are a bit, ugh, don't move...! Haa, ...He says if a new rift appears, it's Chief Kim nim's fault.

Near Tae-un, who had taken over the in-ear device, a chattering voice could be heard. To be heard at this volume without being the wearer... They were either cozily linking arms, looking at each other from about 10 cm away, or being carried on the back. It was one of the three. It was probably the last one, meaning Jin Soram was in a situation where he couldn't even directly receive the communication, let alone move.

He must be badly injured. Ga-eul clicked her tongue.

Still, she thought it was amazing. To think that just two people had broken through the center of a 1st-grade dungeon and shattered the rift.

"Chief Han nim, don't indulge that guy's words too much. It's true that you broke the rift, right?"

―Yes. Will cooperation be needed to eliminate the remaining mutants?

In the dark mountains, as the helicopter that had now found stability extinguished the remaining wildfire, even the light gradually disappeared. The only thing that brightened the view was the sky that had begun to turn bluish with the arrival of dawn.

"No. From now on, it's the ground team's job. You've really worked hard, flight team."

Ga-eul looked around the mountain. The mutants were hiding in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity. However, in Ga-eul's eyes, their existence and the points where they would die instantly were all visible.

If Jin Soram was the strongest hunter under the blue sky, Ga-eul was the strongest on the ground, in the pitch-black darkness.

"So the injured should quickly leave and rest. Ah, right. Jin Soram. Can I take Ayoung along to give her some real combat practice? Please relay that to him."

―He says to do so.

No, it's not. It seemed like he was muttering something.

Unlike Tae-un's simple answer, nonsense like "No! You're trying to take our Ayoung away!" could be heard. Ga-eul also let it flow in one ear.

"Well then... Shall I try to make up for the enthusiastic cursing at the camera? I need to at least get 1st place for everyone to shut up."

In Ga-eul's left hand was a knuckle, and in her right hand was a whip as thick as her wrist.

On the rising morning, the wildfire and 1st-grade dungeon that suddenly occurred on Bukhansan were safely resolved.

The morning news delivered the news related to that.

<Notification of Dungeon Destruction No. 1142>

Grade: 1st-grade dungeon

Form: Siege dungeon

Dungeonification: Eliminated at approximately 75% progress point

Number of mutants appeared: Incalculable*

*Plant-type.

Time taken until the elimination of the source rift: 6 hours after the occurrence of dungeonification

Time taken until the complete elimination of mutants: 11 hours after the appearance of the first mutant

<Major Contributors>

― Mutant Elimination

1. Kim Ga-eul (1st-grade) Operations Bureau Team 1 Leader

2. Yoo Tae-kyung (1st-grade) Operations Bureau Team 2 Leader

3. Kang Hyun-won (2nd-grade) Operations Bureau Team 2 Deputy Leader

4. Jin Soram (1st-grade) Operations Bureau Team 7 Leader

5. Shin Chan (1st-grade) Operations Bureau Team 3 Leader

6. Lee Ayoung (1st-grade) Operations Bureau Team 7 Member, No Rank

7. Park Song-ji (1st-grade) Operations Bureau Team 2 Manager

8. Kim Dan-ah (2nd-grade) Operations Bureau Team 1 Deputy Leader

9. Choi Seon-il (2nd-grade) Operations Bureau Team 3 Deputy Leader

10. Han Tae-un (1st-grade) Operations Bureau Team 7 Chief

11. ...

...

― Rift Destruction

1. Han Tae-un (1st-grade) Operations Bureau Team 7 Chief

2. Jin Soram (1st-grade) Operations Bureau Team 7 Leader

Injured: Undisclosed

Deaths: 0