Chapter 72:
Ji Yeon-seo, the Wind Manipulation Esper, quickly created a gust of wind, scattering the sleeping powder. The fine particles, resembling mushroom spores, were swept away by the wind.
“So that’s why we needed gas masks.”
Unlike Espers, who had some resistance, Guides, with their ordinary physical abilities, would have been knocked unconscious. It would have made the subjugation much more difficult, as they wouldn’t be able to receive Guiding.
“Leader, how did you know?”
Seo Jae-yi puffed out her chest at Moon Soo-hyun’s question.
“Call me the dungeon plant expert from now on.”
“A rotten mackerel is still a fish. You’re actually useful.”
“What did you just say?”
Seo Jae-yi grabbed Moon Soo-hyun by the collar and shook her.
“Such a dense concentration of sleeping powder means there’s a plant with that ability nearby.”
The other Guild members, accustomed to their antics, ignored them and started analyzing the situation.
“The Guides are all wearing gas masks, and we have spares, so it’s not an immediate threat, but should we eliminate it anyway?”
Kim Yoo-sung scanned the surroundings silently instead of answering.
“We don’t see any noticeable monsters, right?”
“No.”
“We haven’t encountered any danger until now, and the first attack was sleeping powder. It’s as if their goal was to knock us unconscious.”
Their faces hardened at his deduction.
What was easier to consume than prey that couldn’t resist?
“It’s highly likely that the main inhabitants of this dungeon are carnivorous plants.”
But there was still nothing visible. Then there was only one possibility left.
Below.
‘There’s definitely something there.’
He had sensed it a bit late, as it was cleverly concealing its energy among the life-force-filled plants. If the Guides had been knocked unconscious by the sleeping powder, they wouldn’t have noticed it at all in their disoriented state.
‘It’s a good thing she brought that dragon.’
There was a reason why Seo Jae-yi had been so confident.
“Moon Soo-hyun, overturn the ground.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Everyone, fall back!”
At Kim Yoo-sung’s command, Ji Yeon-seo used her wind to carry the three Guides to a safe distance. Seo Jae-yi and the Guide protectors stood beside them as Moon Soo-hyun activated her ability.
Rumble! The ground shook violently, making the Guides stumble.
Cracks appeared on the ground, revealing what lay beneath. Thick, dark brown vines, unlike anything that belonged in a well-maintained garden, were spread out under the surface.
“Ugh, that’s disgusting!”
Not only the color, but the vein-like patterns on the surface of the vines were truly repulsive.
“They’re moving!”
The vines started moving before Moon Soo-hyun could blast them apart. Vines, as thick as tree trunks, shot up from the cracks in the ground.
Grotesque flowers bloomed at the ends of the dozen or so vines. They were large enough to swallow a human whole, with fuzzy bright yellow petals and red and green spots.
One was disgusting enough, but seeing so many of them was even more horrifying.
And that wasn’t the end.
“Holy shit, what is that?”
Noh Kang-woo, the Guide standing next to Seo Jae-yi, shuddered.
The green pistils in the center of the flowers were constantly moving as if they were alive. And the dark brown stigma in the center had sharp teeth, capable of crushing a watermelon.
“Those teeth could crush our heads! I’m so glad we weren’t knocked unconscious by the sleeping powder.”
“Don’t say such scary things!”
Noh Kang-woo trembled at Kwon Ye-na’s calm analysis.
“We delicate Guides would be easy prey. We’d be in big trouble if we weren’t wearing gas masks.”
Even Moon Soo-hyun, who was slicing through the approaching vines with her telekinesis, clicked her tongue, seeing the teeth on the stigma.
“Those teeth are dangerous for us too, not just the Guides. We need to eliminate them quickly.”
Jeong Yoon-ah, agreeing with Moon Soo-hyun, shouted towards Seo Jae-yi,
“Leader! You don’t want to cultivate these carnivorous flowers too, do you?”
“No one would buy such ugly things!”
Jeong Yoon-ah sighed in relief at her firm rejection.
“Guild Leader.”
Moon Soo-hyun and Jeong Yoon-ah, who were blocking the flowers’ attacks from the front, looked back. Kim Yoo-sung, standing in the center, casually swatting away vines, nodded.
“Get ready. We’re starting.”
“Everyone, stay alert!”
“We’ll eliminate them in one go! Anyone who falls behind will be writing a reflection essay!”
“Yes, sir!”
The ground started shaking again, just like when Moon Soo-hyun had split the earth. No, it was even more intense.
The source was Kim Yoo-sung.
“There are still many left.”
His light green eye, not covered by the eyepatch, sparkled.
He had lost his left eye to a monster at nineteen, but in return, he had gained the ability to detect life-force-filled beings like an infrared camera, just like how Seo Jae-yi could withstand heat.
He could see the carnivorous flowers, hidden from view, through his eye. They were waiting for the right moment to ambush them, but he couldn’t let them.
Kim Yoo-sung clenched his hand, as if pulling something out of the air, and raised it.
Rumble!
The ground split open, and vines shot up everywhere. It was three times larger in scale than what Moon Soo-hyun had done.
The enraged vines writhed and then bloomed, revealing those grotesque flowers.
Sharp teeth targeted Haeil.
But no one was intimidated, even though they were surrounded by countless flowers, their view of the sky blocked.
“Everyone take the right side. I’ll handle the left side alone.”
They simply followed their Guild Leader’s orders.
Jeong Yoon-ah unleashed a blizzard, engulfing the flowers. Their movements slowed, as they were still plants, despite being monsters.
The Espers seized the opportunity and started eliminating them one by one. Telekinesis sliced through the flowers, and enhanced fists shattered them.
Their teamwork was impeccable, honed from years of working together.
But the flowers on Kim Yoo-sung’s side remained motionless, as if frozen, even though he wasn’t doing anything.
“Why are they like that?”
Gong Ju-hyun asked curiously.
“Are they overwhelmed by the Guild Leader’s S-rank power?”
“It’s more likely his ability. Life Force sounds gentle and peaceful, but it’s actually one of the most brutal abilities.”
“Huh?”
“With Life Force, plants can grow, bloom, bear fruit, and spread their seeds. Then what happens when you take it all away?”
Kim Yoo-sung’s hand touched the stem of a grotesque plant as soon as Kwon Ye-na finished speaking. It was just a light touch, but the stem started to wither rapidly, as if poisoned.
And it spread like a plague.
“Ah…”
Everything around Kim Yoo-sung withered – the carnivorous flowers, the grass, everything.
It wasn’t just drying up like a desert. Their life force was being drained.
Gong Ju-hyun covered his mouth, horrified by the sight.
“You don’t have to be so scared. It only affects plants; he can’t do that to animals or humans.”
“R-really?”
“The life force of animals and humans is too strong compared to plants; he might injure himself if he tries. If he could use it on humans…”
He could have saved Seo Jae-yi long ago.
But he hadn’t dared to try, fearing it might kill both her and him.
“…Well, anyway.”
Gong Ju-hyun swallowed nervously and nodded as Kwon Ye-na smiled.
“It’s still a dangerous ability.”
Seo Jae-yi muttered, watching the battle. The others looked at her.
“Draining life force is difficult to control. Look, it’s affecting other plants besides the carnivorous flowers.”
Even the ordinary grass had withered and turned yellow.
Gong Ju-hyun gulped.
Bang!
Seo Jae-yi, who had been crouching, suddenly punched the ground. Her right arm sank into the earth.
She pulled her hand out, a thick vine clutched in her hand. It seemed like it had been trying to grab her as a hostage.
“Hmm.”
Seo Jae-yi stared at the writhing vine, pondering.
She didn’t know what other plants were in this dungeon, so she couldn’t let everything wither.
She made a decision, stood up, and yanked the vine. It was connected to a flower some distance away from Kim Yoo-sung.
“Stay alert; there might be more coming. I’ll be back.”
Everyone’s eyes widened at her casual announcement.
“What? Wait, Leader!”
It wasn’t difficult to understand what she meant. The vine pulled her away. Seo Jae-yi didn’t resist and flew off, holding onto the vine.
Oh, this was fun.
“Seo Jae-yi!”
She smiled and waved at Kim Yoo-sung, who had finally noticed.
“I wasn’t calling for a goodbye!”
She lowered her hand dejectedly.
She had reached the area where the flower was. The green pistils writhed, trying to grab her, and the stigma, eager to devour its prey, dripped a liquid, either honey or saliva.
“Wow, it’s even uglier up close.”
But the moment the pistils touched her bag…
Kyaaagh!
They shrieked and retreated.
“You’re scared of this too, huh?”
Seo Jae-yi grinned, stroking her cute crossbody bag, which looked out of place with her combat gear.
A dragon, capable of crushing a carnivorous flower with a single claw, was baring its teeth inside.
Thanks for the chapter!