Chapter 80
“Seems like we’ve found the right place.”
The ground rumbled as a massive crater split open. Black, viscous liquid flowed out between the cracks, emitting steam. A hideous form that had been hiding deep below the ground revealed itself on the surface.
It had a bulging body like a Western pear with four pointed, spiky legs attached. The head attached to the body was round like a human face, but there were multiple faces of irregular sizes protruding, making it revolting. Each opened its mouth wide and wailed, doubling the unpleasantness.
“It’s the lord of the giant bedbugs straight from hell.”
“Ah, shit. Just hearing that makes my whole body itch.”
Several hunters watching the appearance of the large monster together managed their tension with joking remarks.
“This time, let Hunter Baek Mujin take the lead.”
Eunseong’s gaze landed on Choi Seongdo, who spoke as if doing them a favor. He could see that Seongdo had wounds that couldn’t be treated with items and recovery medicine, causing his energy flow to be distorted.
When everyone found out that the grade prediction was wrong, they seemed to treat it as a routine matter, but quite a few were injured like Choi Seongdo. Eunseong briefly reflected on what role he had played in this battle.
“Let me check those who are injured for a moment.”
There was no need to wait for a response. Having become more accustomed to distributing his power, Eunseong began reinforcing buffs, selecting only the precarious energy connections among those linked to him.
“It won’t work immediately like a healer, but it will help.”
“Oh my, thank you. I’ll gratefully accept it face down.”
Mujin, who had been frowning at the joking Choi Seongdo, deliberately turned his attention to the other uninjured combat members.
Mujin made simple hand signals and leaped down the rock wall. Using his flames like limbs to gain propulsion, he charged toward the large monster without hesitation. The hunters following him spread out in formation, cutting down monsters that blocked their path.
The rock wall shook at the roar of the large monster engaged with Mujin, causing dust to fall.
“According to the records, this is Hunter Han Geumseum’s first battle, right?”
Eunseong, who had been following Mujin with his eyes, turned to Choi Seongdo. According to the records?
“This is my first rift.”
It wasn’t a lie since the first time was an accident, and he had no memory of it.
“Your skill feeling changes drastically in such a short time. Did you level up or something?”
“I just adapted to the situation.”
“Hmm, are you some kind of genius?”
“…That’s too much praise. I’m just about finished now.”
Eunseong neatly finished buffing the last injured person and gathered his energy. During combat, he had focused on buffs tailored to the characteristics of energy flowing through each target’s body, but this time he changed direction toward enhancing vitality.
Remembering Mujin saying he was jealous and not to use buffs made his heart flutter a bit, but he didn’t feel dizzy like before. Eunseong secretly hoped that he had indeed grown as Choi Seongdo suggested, in that short time.
Choi Seongdo, who had been standing close to Eunseong and watching how he operated his buff skill the entire time, rolled his tongue inside his mouth.
When participating in rift battles, it’s common to meet and part with numerous hunters. While Han Geumseum’s ability was surprising, the other hunters easily accepted the unfamiliar buff skill since Baek Mujin was by his side, assuming they were a team.
But Choi Seongdo had examined Han Geumseum’s records right before entering the rift. Pressing his abdomen where the pain was gradually subsiding, he once again surveyed Han Geumseum’s energy.
Ability stats far exceeding the records, unusual buff skills, friendship with Baek Mujin, unfamiliar appearance… all were strange elements. Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had seen this person somewhere before. Without ever suspecting that an item was interfering with his thoughts, Choi Seongdo kept tapping his forehead with his fist, thinking it might help him remember.
The split crater was still bubbling with black liquid. The tar-like sticky substance continuously welled up, covering the ground with a shiny layer. Mujin was pressuring the monster by setting fire to the entire crater, burning away the poisonous energy.
“…Is that really human?”
Suddenly looking back at the battle scene, Choi Seongdo burst into laughter. He stuck out his tongue, thinking that both Baek Mujin and the Han Geumseum he brought were monsters. Today’s rift was full of surprises in many ways.
The fire of the Baek family lived up to its name—it was destructive. Watching him, Choi Seongdo could understand why the Rift Control Agency wanted to keep him in check. He had thought it was just a fight between the wealthy over money and power, but seeing it firsthand, it seemed like something from a non-human entity. It felt like a power requiring suppression rather than control.
If he had properly gone berserk back then, the entire residential area would have been wiped out…
“Hunter Choi Seongdo.”
Eunseong spoke, breaking Seongdo’s contemplation.
“Everyone seems to be feeling better, so let’s join them. Hunter Baek Mujin appears to be struggling.”
Despite the deep concern in Eunseong’s voice, the hunters present didn’t quite agree. However, they had no objections to joining the battle. A hunter like a huge boulder approached Eunseong and extended his hand.
“Climb on my back, Hunter Han Geumseum.”
After hesitating briefly, Eunseong climbed onto his back.
“Let’s go!”
With a shout full of fighting spirit, the massive body leaped off the rock wall. Feeling like he was riding a launched boulder, Eunseong firmly gripped the hunter’s clothes.
The battlefield seen up close was like the fires of hell.
The closer they got, the more the overwhelming heat made even breathing difficult. The black liquid was burning so red it turned blue, and Mujin stood at the center, on top of the monster.
He maintained his balance well while bursting the monster’s heads one by one, looking no different from a demon. Trapped in a prison of flames, the monster spun around in place, going berserk trying to shake Mujin off.
“Mujin!”
Eunseong straightened his upper body on top of the running hunter and shouted. Though quite far, Mujin’s gaze immediately turned to Eunseong as if he had heard. His golden eyes, which had turned bright yellow from using his power, flashed and emitted light.
“The main body is below that thing! Under the black liquid!”
With much less energy than in the previous battle and in much less time, Eunseong read the full picture of the battlefield. All while being carried on the back of a running hunter, as naturally as breathing. The tangled presences and energy flows were felt in detail, as if seeping into his skin.
The main body itself seemed weak. The problem was that endless flowing liquid.
“Find a way to get underneath!”
All the hunters on the scene heard Eunseong’s shout. Choi Seongdo, who was watching in the same direction nearby, quickly raised his hand to give instructions.
“That liquid looks poisonous, so we’ll break through the floor and go around!”
But faster than that, Mujin dove in. He plunged into the sticky, tar-like undulating liquid with flames wrapped around him like armor. His body, burning away the poisonous energy, swirled toward the center of the monster’s nest. The black mass rippled greatly, and Mujin completely disappeared from view.
KWANG-! The large monster howled and stomped on the ground. The earth inside the rift shook as if an earthquake had struck.
“Cover him!”
At the climax of the battle, adrenaline surged. The hunters rushed at the monster before them all at once. They mercilessly cut off the monster’s legs, neck, and body that blocked their way. Blood and poison raged everywhere.
The boulder-like hunter who had been carrying Eunseong put him down on the ground, then inflated his massive body like an iron ball and flew toward the battlefield. With a crash, the monster’s outer shell was shattered.
Not losing momentum, many rushed in and tore off the monster’s legs, causing the poison inside to spurt out like a fountain. Choi Seongdo shouted a word and instantly erected an ice wall, creating a thick mist as the poison and heat collided.
Meanwhile, Eunseong, who was supporting the battle, realized something inadvertently. It was the first time since entering the rift that he had witnessed Choi Seongdo manifesting his power.
Was he hiding it? Why? Along with a strange sense of incongruity, the scar on his palm inexplicably came to mind.
That’s when it happened.
Among all the presences and energies, one alien thing raised its head. It was sinister and eerie. Eunseong’s instinct immediately identified the name of something he had never experienced before.
‘Killing intent…?’
Amidst the monster’s roar, poison, flames, and eardrum-shattering explosions. Without time to calculate, Eunseong instinctively reached out his hand.
THWACK!
A dull sound of something colliding rang out. It was near Choi Seongdo’s neck. He turned around, clutching his neck. Choi Seongdo also sensed what Eunseong had deflected, but his reaction was much slower.
Choi Seongdo stared at Eunseong with eyes mixed with bewilderment, humiliation, and confusion, then suddenly froze.
It was because he saw a Rift Control Agency hunter in a white uniform staggering behind Eunseong. The man looked down at the red blood spreading across his chest, astonished. He clearly hadn’t expected to be hit by his own power reflected back at him.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
