Chapter 67
[The God of Life boasts about the human under their protection.]
[The God of Death shouts at you not to lose.]
The gods, who had been silent during the battle, started chatting again.
"Still, Seo Chae… Yoon Seo's shield blocked most of it. This is the first time I've fought alongside Kwon Jihan and come out without injuries."
They had been quiet when everyone was loudly questioning whether Yoon Seo was really Seo Chaeyoon, but now they suddenly reacted like this.
It was only after he blocked Kwon Jihan's attack skill that they became certain, he was indeed Seo Chaeyoon.
"Hunter Park Soobin, we're fine now, so take care of the redhead and the others."
"Yes."
Park Soobin drank a mana potion and repeatedly used his healing skills. Cold sweat formed on his forehead. While he was healing even Hong Euiyoon's minor scratches, the Team 2, who had been fighting near the cave entrance, approached and joined them.
"It looks like the phase has transitioned, doesn't it?"
"Seems like it. It's in a TUN state."
"TUN? What's that?"
"Simply put, it's a state where all life-sustaining activities have temporarily stopped. It's neither alive nor dead."
Alec picked up a rock and threw it at the massive snake. A barrier, similar to a shield, shimmered and deflected the rock.
Boom!
The sound of the rock hitting the cave wall was deafening. It had been a small rock, but upon bouncing off, its impact seemed ten times stronger.
"It's close to invulnerable defense."
"The outer layer is tough. So it wasn't a giant snake but a giant larva?"
Before them was an enormous pupa. The snake's form had completely disappeared, leaving only a brown cocoon. Hunters tried testing some light attack skills, but they were all reflected. Whatever chaos had been happening outside, the cocoon inside the barrier remained completely still in its TUN state.
"S+ grade barrier."
"The prophecy was right. Usually, when a cocoon hatches, a butterfly emerges. The boss must be a flying-type monster."
"If it flies, it'll be a hassle. We should fight it inside the cave."
"Thinking about past butterfly-type monsters, it might release poison powder or sleep powder. Is there any way to kill it now and end this before phase 3? This seems like the best chance to take it down while it's in a suspended state."
"The TUN state is slightly different from a suspended state, but that's not the main issue, we need to figure out an attack method."
This was the problem with boss monsters. Each phase brought a completely different situation, requiring them to retreat, reassess strategies, and launch a new attack plan. That's why dealing with bosses could take several days. However, they didn't have that kind of time.
[
In an hour, lava would rise again, and the atmosphere would become sulfurized. Since the boss monster was in its cocoon state, it would sink into the lava, leaving them with two choices: either enter the lava themselves or wait for the boss to naturally emerge from its cocoon and enter phase 3, which could take an unknown amount of time.
"For now, let's pour attack-enhancing buff skills onto the S-rank hunters so they can use S+ grade or higher attack skills. Alright, those with offensive skills off cooldown, gather up. We don't have time, so let's strategize quickly."
The S-rankers, including Hong Euiyoon and others who could use skills, gathered in one place. Even Kwon Jihan, who had been staring at the cocoon, joined in, but one person was missing.
The person who should naturally be part of the strategy meeting was instead shamelessly mingling with the healers.
"..."
The healers looked at Yoon Seo with teary eyes. Though their eyes seemed on the verge of tears, they were all physically larger than Yoon Seo, making it a somewhat grotesque sight. The Team 2's leader cautiously spoke.
"Seo Chae… Yoon Seo, please come over here and join the meeting…."
"My skills are all on cooldown, and because of the shield I'm maintaining, it's difficult to use other skills."
"Ah."
"How are we supposed to believe that? You've been hiding skills up until now. That bastard—"
"Argh!"
Soo Jaehee quickly covered Hong Euiyoon's mouth. He did it to prevent Hong Euiyoon from being murdered by Seo Chaeyoon's die-hard fans.
Hong Euiyoon's eyes widened in fury as he struggled violently, but he couldn't break free. That was the difference between an A-rank and an S-rank.
"Seo Chae… Yoon Seo Hunter, I know it's a hassle, but if you could help us just one more time…"
"I told you, I can't."
Yoon Seo frowned in frustration. It was true that he had incredibly powerful skills, but now, he was completely drained of mana.
Even at this moment, maintaining the cave was consuming a significant amount of his energy.
'Are they thinking of Seo Chaeyoon as a deus ex machina?'
It had been ten years since people last looked at him as if he were someone who could solve everything.
'Don't dump everything on Chaeyoon.'
'But if Chaeyoon doesn't step up, we're all going to die!'
'Try saying that after you've thought it through. Don't you feel anything when you see Chaeyoon zoning out every day?'
'I want to make it out alive. My family is waiting for me.'
'Chaeyoon is just a kid!'
'There are no kids here anymore. How much time do you think has passed? Face reality. Without Chaeyoon, we won't survive. We all agree on that!'
That exhausting dispute resurfaced in his mind. Now, there wasn't even anyone left to tell them to stop relying on him.
As Yoon Seo sank deeper into thought, a low voice broke through.
"Leave hyung alone. Why are you bothering someone who's already exhausted?"
Yoon Seo lifted his head. The one who spoke was Kwon Jihan.
"Ah, Hunter Kwon Jihan. But Seo Chae… Hunter Yoon Seo—"
"If everyone pours their buff skills onto me, and I use the most destructive skill, it's over, right? The whole point of this meeting is just to arrange the buff order based on cooldowns. If anyone here thinks I'm not enough, raise your hand."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"No one? Thought so."
"…I apologize. Then, let's proceed with the strategy meeting. First, let's go over how much cooldown time is left for each skill and distribute buff items accordingly…"
After an icy silence, the leader of Team 2, sweating profusely, gave up and moved on.
For a brief moment, Yoon Seo and Kwon Jihan's eyes met. Kwon Jihan smirked.
'…Oh, come on.'
Why does he have to act cool all of a sudden?
Yoon Seo almost shook his head but gave up. His head was already pounding just from sitting still, moving even slightly would feel like getting hammered.
This meeting needed to end quickly.
There wasn't much time left on
Nor was there much mana left to keep the cave intact.
***
The emergency meeting proceeded quickly.
"That's definitely an S+ rank or higher. It might even reach the theoretical S++ rank… But the problem is, its destructive power is too strong. The range is so wide that we could get caught in it."
"The cave is currently protected by Seo Chae… Yoon Seo's shield. Are you saying Kwon Jihan's attack could actually break through Seo Chae… Yoon Seo's shield?"
"So is Kwon Jihan's skill stronger, or is Seo Chae… Yoon Seo's skill stronger?"
At Alec's murmuring, silence fell.
"Haa."
Suddenly, Lawrence clutched her chest.
"Honey! What's wrong?"
"Babe, I'm trembling at the thought of witnessing the battle of the century. Do we have any popcorn or cola?"
"Does anyone have popcorn? My honey desperately wants some."
No one reacted to the couple's ridiculous antics.
"Seo Chae… Yoon Seo, how long can you maintain the shield protecting the cave?"
The leader of Team 2 asked respectfully, as if speaking to a senior. Under everyone's gaze, Yoon Seo opened his mouth.
"Ten…"
"Ten hours?"
"Ten minutes."
"...."
People stared at Yoon Seo with stunned expressions.
"Oh, fuck… We're screwed."
Surprisingly, the one who cursed wasn't Hong Euiyoon, it was Yoon Seo. He frowned as if looking at a system window in the air, then rubbed his forehead.
"Kwon Jihan…"
Yoon Seo couldn't even finish his sentence.
"Hyung!"
"Yoon Seo!"
"Seo Chaeyoon Seo!"
"Hey!"
His body slowly tilted to the side. Soo Jaehee reached out to support him, and Park Soobin rushed forward. The couple jumped up, Alec immediately attempted to use
"Hyung, what's wrong?"
Kwon Jihan's tone was puzzled, but his hands were already securely holding Yoon Seo.
With one arm wrapped around Yoon Seo's waist and the other firmly supporting his back, he held him close. Park Soobin hurriedly pulled out a portable bed from his subspace inventory and told him to lay Yoon Seo down, but Kwon Jihan simply sat on the bed with Yoon Seo still in his arms. Park Soobin frowned but quickly dropped it, this wasn't the time. Instead, he knelt on one knee beside them.
"Yoon Seo, are you okay?"
"Hyung, you were fine just now. What happened?"
"Ugh…"
Yoon Seo groaned and curled up. His mana was currently at 3%.
At this point, he wasn't sure if his mind was collapsing due to mana exhaustion or because he was wrapped in Kwon Jihan's firm embrace.
'Are you hurt? What's wrong?' Various voices of concern poured in, but to Yoon Seo, it felt like dozens of voices at once.
"Oh, damn it…"
Yoon Seo scrunched his brows and squinted, scanning the surroundings.
"Why are there so many people here…?"
"Hyung?"
"Why the hell are there so many… fuck…"
"Hyung, your language got rougher."
Kwon Jihan smirked. Park Soobin glanced between the two before quickly addressing Yoon Seo.
"Yoon Seo, what's going on? Are you feeling unwell?"
"There's not much time left."
"Time? Are you talking about
"My head feels like it's going to explode…"
"Yoon Seo…"
Yoon Seo let out a painful groan and raised his fist. He then tried to slam it against his own head, but Kwon Jihan caught his wrist just in time, stopping him. It was only because it was Kwon Jihan that he managed to stop him. The others' reaction speed wasn't fast enough, they only realized what had happened after Kwon Jihan had already caught his wrist.
"Let go of me, damn it. My head hurts."
"You're planning to blow yourself up just because your head hurts?"
"So what? I can't? It's my damn head. Can't I do whatever I want with it?"
"What the hell is wrong with you, hyung?"
As Yoon Seo struggled, Kwon Jihan could no longer maintain his smile. It had been a long time since Kwon Jihan looked this flustered.
Alec knelt down and checked Yoon Seo's condition.
"Poison?"
"No, his shield is still intact. There's no way he was poisoned. And it's not an external injury either."
"A headache and the urge to self-harm…."
Everyone immediately thought of the same condition.
The one that had driven two surviving Revengers to their deaths.
The state where they couldn't hold themselves up properly, suffered from extreme headaches, and ended up harming themselves.
Mana exhaustion.
Seo Chae… Yoon Seo was experiencing mana exhaustion.
Haa… People let out sighs of relief.
"Oh my god, this is the first time I've seen someone suffer from mana exhaustion."
"Same, babe. You're the cutest, but our Seo Chae… Yoon Seo is seriously adorable."
"Honey… Just this once, I'll agree. The fact that he's experiencing mana exhaustion is just too cute."
"What the hell is wrong with this guy, getting mana exhaustion like it's nothing? Is he trying to show off how old-fashioned he is?"
"Hey now, don't call someone who might be Seo Chaeyoon 'this guy.' And back when Seo Chaeyoon was active, mana potions didn't exist, so of course he wouldn't be used to using them. It makes sense he'd get exhausted."
While Yoon Seo was in a life-or-death situation, the others didn't seem to think mana exhaustion was a big deal. Park Soobin pulled out ten mana potions from his subspace inventory and brought one to Yoon Seo's lips.
"Yoon Seo, open up."
"I'm not drinking that."
"It's sweet and tasty. It's chocolate-flavored."
Yoon Seo turned his head away from the potion, squirming further into Kwon Jihan's arms. He buried his face entirely into the firm chest. Park Soobin wanted to shove Kwon Jihan aside and take his place. If he were at least S-rank, he might have tried.
"Hyung, there's no time for this. Just drink it already."
Kwon Jihan forcibly turned Yoon Seo's head. While he pried Yoon Seo's mouth open with his fingers, Park Soobin poured the potion into his mouth. A few drops trickled down his chin.
"Ugh, seriously… Just leave me alone…."
Even after finishing a whole bottle, Yoon Seo mumbled with glazed-over eyes.
"It doesn't seem to be working. If he really is Seo Chaeyoon, we'll need an S-rank potion."
"That was an S-rank potion."
"Then maybe a few more…."
Park Soobin pulled out more potions and forced them into Yoon Seo. However, his condition remained unchanged.
"So that's how it is."
Kwon Jihan let out a short sigh. His forehead tensed as he held Yoon Seo tightly, securing both of his arms so he couldn't hurt himself.
"For some reason, potions don't seem to work on hyung. Otherwise, he would've already recovered."
"No effect? But this was an S-rank potion from our Seokyoung."
"There's no time. Just use a mana recovery skill."
"Oh, right."
['Park Soobin' has activated the
A bright light poured from Park Soobin's hands and seeped into Yoon Seo's body. Mana recovery skills were incredibly rare, and on top of that, Park Soobin's skill was S-rank. Everyone expected Yoon Seo to snap out of it soon. They hoped he'd wake up quickly since time was running out. But Park Soobin's face froze.