Chapter 188

***

Jjaejaejaejaek! Jjak! Jjaejaek, jjak!

The small birds that came out of the crack scattered among the hunters. The beak of a bird persistently attacking one hunter's face deeply pierced their temple.

"Aak!"

The one who covered their wounded injury shuddered, thinking that if it had been just a few centimeters to the side, it would have pierced their eye, more than the bleeding wound itself.

They couldn't let their guard down just because these were smaller than the house-sized mutants that had rushed in until now. Basically, mutants were said to have high lethality and aggression, but these birds seemed to have no purpose other than attacking people. They didn't even think of retreating in the face of swinging blades.

"What are the long-range hunters doing! Shoot down these bastards!"

―Th-the distance is too close to the hunters, making it difficult to aim!

―Be careful! Another one is coming from behind!

"Ak! Uwaak!"

It was natural that they couldn't easily launch attacks as hunters and mutants were tangled in a melee. In this situation, the most efficient method was for long-range attackers to approach closely and eliminate them with precise aim.

Chaeng―

Just like now, when a bird about to strike down with its beak was surrounded by ice.

"Ha, I'm alive..., heuk, Director-nim."

"It'll break out soon. Eliminate it in this gap."

"Yes sir!"

Kwajik!

A bird trapped in ice, unable to move, thus turned into black smoke. The director quickly moved his steps while freezing nearby birds one by one.

Keureuk, keueoeo―!

If the hunters' defense had been disrupted by the sudden appearance of birds, the beasts were stimulated by the chaotic scene. The largest elephant among the current mutants raised its huge tree trunk-like front leg while roaring.

Buuu―!

It was just about to pour its massive weight onto hunters who couldn't dodge in time. The director stepped on an ice platform he created in mid-air and leapt onto the elephant's head.

Chwaaak!!

His sword sliced straight from the crown to the neck. Yet as it still didn't stop breathing, dozens of sharp ice chunks appeared behind his back.

Chaeng, chaechaechaechaeng.

Puuuk!

The ice chunks accurately pierced into the wound the director had cut. Fortunately, the elephant turned to black smoke before bringing down its front leg. The director immediately moved by stepping on platforms he created in the air.

The light movements going back and forth in the air, and the simultaneous execution of long-range and close-range attacks. Most hunters were reminded of someone as they watched this.

'...It's exactly the same as Jin Soram.'

Since he had always been in the position of the strongest throughout all the times Soram had repeated, it was natural for Soram, who had struggled to become stronger, to resemble him. Because the current Jin Soram was formed by countless accumulated times of observing him.

Though he didn't know that fact, Seo Min-ki, who had a similar relationship with his superior, felt a strange feeling. Although he and his superior couldn't resemble each other much due to their opposite abilities and personalities, it seemed they had a great influence in shaping who he was now.

For example, in not knowing how to avoid overdoing it in situations like this.

Paseut, seut, seut.

Moving to the side of a bird, Seo Min-ki cut its body with his sword. Then he eliminated the next bird, and the next. Appearing with unpredictable paths and inflicting fatal wounds in the blink of an eye, he became the natural enemy of the small bird mutants.

"Keup!"

However, as he had already used quite a bit of power in leading people here from Busan, his breath started to choke as he continuously used his ability.

"Haah..."

The black towering crack was still far from over.

Looking at the pitch-black crack reminded him of the black volcano that had risen in the middle of the sea. The 3rd Great Rift, where they had to endure vaguely without knowing when a lull would come, was like hell. But facing such a seemingly unattainable distant goal right before his eyes like now was also torture.

Even while thinking this, Min-ki continued to use his ability to eliminate the bird mutants attacking the hunters. Though signs of overload gradually intensified, he couldn't watch others die before his eyes.

The number of birds rapidly decreased under the attacks of the two, whose speed no one could match. Hunters who had been flustered by the attack barely regained their composure. And they charged again towards the mutants and the central crack.

The rise in fighting spirit was greatly influenced by the two people struggling to block the giant eagle flock in the sky. Soram and Tae-un caught all the birds of prey that the ground hunters couldn't handle. Without that, the casualties would have been double what they were now.

The crisis situation caused by the sudden appearance of the bird flock gradually showed signs of being overcome.

...Wait. Wasn't there one more bird flock?

Around the time the small bird flock's attack subsided due to Seo Min-ki and Director Park Jae-seon's efforts, an even more desperate battle was taking place in the sky.

"Han Tae-un, keup. Don't hurt your face. I'm dating you just for that one thing."

"...There will probably be, haah. A few scars left."

"What?! Shit, which bastard was it! I'll kill that one with my own hands at least."

"I already eliminated it earlier."

The two people with their backs pressed together were covered in large and small cuts all over their bodies. The giant eagle flock surrounding them made the two not-so-small men look like people dropped into a land of giants. Thanks to the eagles being so large, they could avoid fatal wounds by dodging this way and that, but their sharpened talons tore clothes and drew blood even with just a graze.

Pudeuk― Pudeudeuk―

The eagle flock circled around, flapping their wings. Though they couldn't recklessly charge in after losing a considerable number to Tae-un and Soram's swords, it was clear that the battle would resume again after a brief psychological warfare.

Amidst the tense atmosphere, Soram raised the corner of his lips.

"...I'm really pathetic."

"What is?"

"Ah, I mean me. I've been confidently proposing solutions as if I knew the past well. But as soon as something I don't know happens, I can't think of what to do."

"..."

"Even how to deal with those eagles now... I only know to eliminate them one by one."

"Then that must be the best method."

Tae-un exhaled a long breath and pointed his sword. An eagle made a threatening sound, Kaaak―!

"Not every life would have been exactly the same, and I know your judgment well enough. If only one method comes to mind, that must be the best."

"You only act like an obedient team member who listens to the chief at times like this."

Though they couldn't see each other's faces, they could now tell what expression the other was making. Soram opened his mouth in a slightly more cautious voice than before.

"When they stretch out their talons to attack, their wings also spread, leaving the inside defenseless. If I cut their joints with my airplanes then, you can with your sword......"

Kaaaak―!!!

Cutting off his words, an impatient eagle sprang forward. As it spread its huge wings wide to the sides, the view was completely blocked as if a blackout curtain had been drawn.

Seizing the gap, an airplane flew precisely between the body and wing and stuck in. Tae-un whispered as he flew past Soram's side.

"See. Still the same."

Puuk!

Kak―..., kaak―...

The eagle flapping with one wing ended up giving its neck to Tae-un, who had dug into its inner body. The mutant that received the attack tried to hurriedly retreat, but Tae-un's attraction force instead pulled its head. The long sword cleanly cut off its neck.

Pushing back some resentful feelings, Soram also rushed forward.

Unlike earlier when various animals had sprung out scattered about, the eagles were in flocks of the same species. This way, though they might fumble a lot at first, they would soon grasp the fighting method.

"Ugh...!"

Kaang!

Of course, it only meant the odds had increased slightly, not that they could win carelessly.

The two's weapons steadily cut down the eagle mutants. Knowing exactly when to attack, retreat, and go in again without any signal was thanks to the memories of their previous life returning, in addition to the time they had spent together in this life. Tae-un who had devoted himself to overcoming the Great Rift, and himself who couldn't say it would be useless.

So for now, a strange excitement came over him. He also felt a bit of unfitting relief. Was it because he felt like he was somewhat comforting the Tae-un who had given up what he wanted to do and despaired in front of the Great Rift in the previous life?

Or maybe... he was the first to sense that hope was starting to waver. Soram smiled bitterly.

The two's swords kept moving, and finally the eagle flock was reduced to single digits. After that, it decreased even further to five, three...

Kaak―...!

They simultaneously stabbed their swords into the body of the last eagle, turning it into black smoke. The breathing of the two who had finally lowered their sword-wielding arms became rough. The eagle flock had completely drained the energy of Soram and Tae-un, who were already half exhausted.

That's when something caught their attention at once. The remaining flock of birds was gathered together chasing something. And at the very front was a familiar dog. The dog flew without reducing speed even as buildings drew near.

A giant white dog leading the bird flock.

Aila returned to a small size just before collision, and Ayoung riding on top of the dog broke the building's window with her weapon and went inside. Dozens of birds in the flock she had led crashed their heads into that wall surface one after another.

The expressions of the two people completely hardened.

"...Ayoung-ah!"

***

Dududududu!!!

One side of the building hit by the bird flock was completely half-destroyed. Starting from near the windows, pillars broke one by one and the ceiling collapsed. Ayoung kicked off inside the collapsing building. The window reflecting the sky on the opposite side was now ten steps ahead.

Without Aila, Ayoung was not a flying hunter. So she couldn't fly, but instead she held Aila tightly in her arms and ran desperately.

"Aaaak!"

This time there was no chance to adjust her posture. With a scream, Ayoung broke the opposite window with her shoulder. And she was flung out of the building.

Ayoung turned her body in mid-air. The giant birds were stuck, jammed into the building, and those few floors had completely collapsed.

"Heua, heuk, haah......"

Realization came a beat later.

She had succeeded.

Udeudeudeudeudeu―!!!!!

With a thunderous sound, the building's collapse began in earnest. The mutants crushed under the collapsed debris couldn't rise and fly again. Black smoke rose thickly all at once.

Kieek― keok, kiek―...

That species had reinforced beaks and skulls to catch prey by descending at powerful speeds. Then their bodies and wings must have been relatively weakened. The method of attacking the opponent's body by extending their long beaks... this was the best solution.

"Aila, we did it big time."

"Woof......"

"It's the first time I've felt like falling since awakening with you."

Aila poured all her remaining strength into the dog in her arms. Receiving that, Aila was barely able to enlarge her body. It was smaller than the size Ayoung usually rode, but the current goal was to land safely...

"Keuheok. Keup, heup."

Wow...

When she removed the hand covering her mouth, it was covered in blood. Her vision swayed as if hypnotized.

So this is real overload. I hadn't properly experienced anything at all. A little headache was nothing.

Still, she felt very good. This time she had really accomplished something as a hunter of the headquarters.

Kudeudeudeudeuk!

Kkakkkakkkakkkakkkakkkak!!! Kaaaak!!!!!!

"?!"

Where Ayoung raised her eyes, she saw beaks protruding out. They were individuals that had managed to pass through the building even in that catastrophe.

"Uh..., keup."

This is bad.

'I don't think I can block them now...'

She thought she was tired to the point of losing sensation throughout her body, but a chilling fear brushed her mind. Birds torn in various parts of their bodies shook off the building debris and charged at Ayoung with their mouths wide open. Ayoung was defenseless, having even dropped her weapon inside the building.

Kaaaak!!!!!

Hwiik―

At that moment, the wind blew. Ayoung and Aila's bodies were suddenly pulled back all at once. As if drawn by a magnetic force, they fell into someone's arms.

Ah, thank goodness.

She knew because she had seen it up close several times. This was her teammate's ability.