Chapter 36
Drip, drip.
A viscous liquid dripped onto the floor like rain in the darkness.
Everyone looked up as one. Something was peering down at them.
A craggy, rock-like face with crown-like horns, saliva dripping from its parted lips, and hands scraping against the walls.
But more terrifying than its appearance was the overwhelming pressure emanating from the monster.
A heavy pressure, as if it were crushing them.
Like a wall encountered at a dead end.
The fear of an insurmountable wall collapsing on top of them.
“Ah…”
One of them collapsed. But no one could attend to him.
Sehyun’s hands trembled.
She had never encountered such an overwhelming monster before. This single monster was more terrifying than the countless monsters that had surrounded her aunt’s house.
Grrrr.
The smaller monsters froze and stared at them at the giant monster’s growl.
“Why… Why… aren’t they moving?”
Dongwoo asked in a trembling voice.
“…It seems to be enjoying itself.”
It was Sehyun, dazed, who answered.
She was the only one who had been looking directly at the monster’s face while everyone else couldn’t bear to look, so she knew.
Just like a predator cornering its prey and slowly approaching, gauging the timing, this monster was also testing the waters.
Nausea welled up in her throat from the intense tension.
Just then, the giant monster’s gaze shifted.
Someone, looking around with a terrified expression, quietly stepped back.
“No!”
Sehyun shouted.
A small monster, which had been lurking nearby, lunged at the man and bit him. Dongwoo rushed forward and pushed the monster away.
The battle resumed abruptly. Hye Ryeon raised her hand. Sharpened flower petals bloomed in the air.
A surge of blood.
Blood spilled from Hye Ryeon’s lips.
Mi Young restrained the legs of three monsters that were approaching them. It was fortunate that her ability had improved, allowing her to restrain more than one monster, but the cost was severe. The blood vessels in Mi Young’s eyes burst, turning her eyes bloodshot.
“Ugh!”
One of the C-grades created a gust of wind, pushing away the monsters that were swarming around them.
The combat-type Guards charged at the monsters that had momentarily lost their balance. Even as they fought, gritting their teeth, they couldn’t shake off the overwhelming pressure from above.
Despite the chaos, the giant monster just watched them like a fish in a tank. It didn’t even blink as the smaller monsters were killed.
Is it… watching us?
Waiting for us to exhaust ourselves so it can pick us off one by one?
Is it that intelligent?
Bang!
But Sehyun couldn’t continue that train of thought.
“Ugh!”
Someone next to her collapsed.
“Aah!”
Another person fell like a leaf.
“Why… Why… Why!”
Someone screamed, collapsing onto the floor. The scream, filled with an unknown resentment, brought a wave of despair over everyone.
Dongwoo gripped his hammer and glared at the giant monster. His legs trembled, and his hands shook as their eyes met.
Dongwoo tightened his grip on the hammer.
“…Everyone, run while I distract that big guy.”
“…!”
Sehyun stared at Dongwoo, forgetting that she was in the middle of a fight.
“You said my daughters are waiting, right? Actually, my daughters like heroes more than Bling Bling Miracles.”
“…”
“They’re brave girls who love heroes.”
“…”
“How happy they would be if their dad became a hero.”
Dongwoo smiled and jumped through the broken window. Sehyun stared blankly at the window where Dongwoo had disappeared.
“Is he crazy? Does he think this is a war movie? Miracles don’t happen just because you throw your life away…! I’m talking to you! Mister! Mister!”
Hye Ryeon shouted, seeing what had happened. Amidst the commotion, Sehyun instinctively dealt with the monster that was charging at her.
When she came to her senses, she was facing a wall. She felt a strong sense of déjà vu.
Growl.
A growl from beyond the wall.
“Haaa!”
Someone’s battle cry from beyond the wall.
‘…Our daughter.’
A voice that shouldn’t be there.
Even though it was just a wall, she saw Dongwoo’s back as he jumped away.
‘How happy they would be if their dad became a hero.’
…No. A hero has to come back alive to be a hero.
At least, that’s what a dad is.
Sehyun, losing her rationality, jumped through the window without a second thought.
“Kim Sehyun!”
Hye Ryeon’s shout came from behind her. Sehyun shouted inwardly as she jumped through the window.
Change slots.
Transforming Weapon
Acceleration
Strength
The hammer in Sehyun’s hand transformed into a sharp weapon. She slashed at the approaching monsters.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, there weren’t many smaller monsters left, intimidated by the aura of the giant monster.
Sehyun quickly reached Dongwoo’s side and looked up.
“I told you to run!”
Ignoring Dongwoo’s shout, Sehyun looked up at the monster. The giant monster raised its fist.
Acceleration!
Sehyun quickly grabbed Dongwoo and pulled him out of the way of the fist.
Dust, illuminated by the faint light of the flashlight, filled the air. Amidst the dust, she saw the giant monster staring at them. A chill ran down her spine, and she felt the urge to run away.
Grit.
Sehyun clenched her jaw.
The giant monster raised its fist again.
Using the recoil from ‘Dodge,’ Sehyun pushed off the ground, jumped onto the monster’s fist, and struck it with her hammer.
Clang!
“…!”
Sehyun’s eyes widened. It felt like she had hit solid ground with a hammer.
Sehyun quickly distanced herself from the monster.
At that moment, flower petals swirled around them, obscuring the giant monster’s vision.
She turned her head and saw Hye Ryeon standing beside her, panting.
“What are you doing here?”
“Because Kim Sehyun is here.”
“…”
“I think my chances of survival are higher with you. Look, there aren’t even any small monsters here. We just have to take care of that big guy. You have a plan, right?”
Hye Ryeon looked at Sehyun with a confident expression.
“No, I don’t.”
“…What? What?”
“I followed him too.”
“Are you crazy? What is this, tag?”
“…”
“I’m going back.”
Hye Ryeon turned around.
“I think it’s too late for that.”
The giant monster turned its body completely and looked down at them, as if it had lost interest in the building.
“…Damn it, I was going to escape quietly.”
Hye Ryeon grumbled, but her eyes twitched nervously.
“Focus. It’s about to move.”
As if in response to Sehyun’s words, the giant monster raised its hand again. As if to sweep them away.
“Hye Ryeon, you do what you were doing, from the back. Mister, you’re in front. Got it?”
They both nodded at Sehyun’s question.
“Got it!”
At the same time, Hye Ryeon raised her hand. Despite her confident reply, blood spilled from her lips.
Flower petals bloomed in the air. The sharp petals began to spin rapidly.
Dongwoo took a deep breath and bulked up his body. The flower petals, flying through the air, attacked the giant monster’s face relentlessly.
Dongwoo pushed off the ground and stepped onto the wall of the building. He jumped as high as he could and punched the monster in the chest.
Boom!
The surroundings echoed with the sound. It was a powerful blow.
But that was all. The giant monster didn’t even flinch and just looked down at Dongwoo through the flower petals.
As if looking at an insignificant insect.
“Grrk!”
The giant monster waved its hand as if swatting a fly. Dongwoo instinctively knew he couldn’t dodge it.
Thwack!
At that moment, Sehyun appeared and pushed Dongwoo out of the way, then quickly climbed onto the monster’s body.
“Sehyun!”
Dongwoo, who had fallen to the ground, shouted. Sehyun gripped her hammer.
Transforming Weapon!
As soon as she used the skill, the hammer transformed into a sword. It wasn’t exactly what she had envisioned, but it was close enough.
Sehyun stepped on the monster’s shoulder and jumped up. The monster’s hide was tough, so she had to attack its weakest point.
Its eye, for example.
A dangerous but effective spot.
While it was distracted by the first attack.
The sharp, swirling flower petals scratched Sehyun’s skin as she passed through them.
But Sehyun’s gaze was fixed on the monster through the petals.
Finally, she saw it.
The eye that was staring at her.
A chill ran down her spine, and her hand trembled slightly.
Sehyun bit the inside of her cheek and endured it.
The monster quickly raised its hand.
Acceleration!
Sehyun’s body plummeted downwards. At that moment, a shadow fell over her. The monster’s hand, which had changed direction, surged towards her like a giant wave.
She was still quite far from the eye.
Transforming Weapon!
The tip of her weapon extended, becoming thinner and longer.
Thud!
The tip of her weapon finally pierced the eyeball. But Sehyun’s face hardened instantly.
Although it had connected, although the tip of her weapon had pierced the eyeball, it hadn’t penetrated deeply. It had only grazed the surface.
“Grrr!”
The monster let out a long growl, as if in pain.
Bang!
The giant monster staggered.
“You bastard!”
Dongwoo’s eyes were bloodshot as he struck the monster’s knee from below. The giant monster’s hand, losing its direction, barely grazed Sehyun’s head.