Well Oiled Machine

The group took a defensive stance at once, each of them letting their ears guide their line of sight.

Turning to the sound, Min-ho could tell it was coming from a building not too far from them.

If the sound was anything to go off of, they could all tell that the Spectors were feasting on something… perhaps, someone.

Thinking about it, Min-ho gulped, then he turned to the others.

"Im-hee," he said, but did not need to say anything else.

She nodded, and grabbed Ji-su's hand, leading him somewhere safe.

Min-ho turned to the others, then gave them a nod, which they reciprocated.

Everyone knew what to do without having to be told.

Leading the march, Min-ho made his way to the building with steady and quiet steps. Though they were careful not to make any noise, their speed was not impaired, as they had reached the building in the nick of time.

They climbed up what looked to be a small flight of stairs that led to one of the still standing pillars surrounding the building.

The structure the Spector was hiding inside looked like a bank of sorts. Though it was missing major parts of its entirety, like sections of the roof, some pillars and a door, its design was eerily similar to banks from their world.

Hiding behind the pillar, Min-ho peered into the building. His Z-Eye copied his move, peering ever so slightly out of the pillar so as to not give his location away.

Since the door to the bank was missing, making out what was happening inside was a relatively easy task.

To his relief, the Spector before him was of the same species like the one from before. Also, it was alone and feasting on another Worm Hound. Albeit a smaller one.

Looking beyond, Min-ho could see a passage to the left side of the building. It's western wall having long crumbled away.

He turned back to the others, then whispered.

"Jang-book, there's a way in on the western side of this building. Go in through there and wait for an opening."

Jang-book nodded, then proceeded to make his way to the western side of the bank without being noticed.

"Follow behind me, we'll try to sneak up on it," Min-ho said. Sae-wee nodded, but Dok-su remained motionless.

Min-ho carefully led the path in. He walked in with the steps of an assassin, quiet and precise.

Though he and his peers did a good job at being quiet, the Worm Hound had picked up on their presence and lashed out. Taking swings at them with its razor sharp claws in a frenzied spree.

Having seen the attacks coming, Min-ho and the others evaded each attack. Min-ho was the first to strike at an opening. Though he only managed to awaken the pain his arm, he didn't stop attacking.

Ducking, under an attack, Sae-wee jumped over him, and struck. The Worm Hound came with a backhand, ready to get her as she was within grasp. But Min-ho grabbed her and pulled her back, making the Worm Hound miss.

Coming from the side was Dok-su, swinging his claymore and pushing the Worm Hound back.

Sae-wee tried to circle it to get to its weak spot, but it didn't let her. Somehow, the Worm Hound was protective of its back, as if aware.

Though the Worm Hound put up a good fight, the trio didn't back down. Like a well oiled machine they struck one after the other while evading its attacks.

They didn't relent even a bit. They continued to push the Worm Hound back, closer and closer toward Jang-book's location.

Then, a figure blocked the sun's rays pouring into the bank from the broken down wall.

The shadow fell upon the Worm Hound, and in a split second…

CRUSH!

Jang-book's hammer came down on the Worm Hound's head, crushing it into a fine paste that splattered forward, pouring on Min-ho and Sae-wee. Fortunately for Dok-su, he was at the corner of the Worm Hound.

Grinning, Jang-book lifted his head, basking in their victory. But when he saw Min-ho and Sae-wee frowning, his smile disappeared.

He lowered his gaze and began to rub his neck.

"Oh, sorry," he said.

Min-ho cleaned out his face, then walked toward the Worm Hound.

"It doesn't matter," he said, staring at the creature's corpse.

[Your Subject Has Slain A Tier Three E-Ranked Spector 'Warm Hound']

[You Have Received A 20% Coin Bonus As Monarch]

[You Have Acquired 100 Coins]

"We did it," Min-ho said.

Outside the bank, Im-hee and Ji-su waited anxiously. Im-hee biting the nail of her thumb as she felt her nerves rack.

"Im-hee," Ji-su's voice rang out. She turned to him without hesitation, only to find him cleaning out his eyes.

She reached out both hands to his face.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

He removed his hands from his eyes and blinked a couple of times. Then he looked down at her and smiled.

"My vision is back."

Im-hee's eyes lit up as she saw his pupils turning black once again.

"Thank God," she said, resting her head on his chest.

Ji-su pointed his gaze to the building in the distance, then he gasped when he saw the others returning. Half of them covered in blood.

Im-hee shook, then looked up. She wanted to ask what was wrong before tracing his line of sight. She likewise gasped when she saw Min-ho and Sae-wee covered in blood.

"Sae-wee? Min-ho?" she called, then ran toward them. Ji-su followed behind.

"It's okay!" Min-ho waved with a gentle smile. "It's not our blood!"

Im-hee's and Ji-su's pace did not slow down, even though they were reassured everything was fine.

When they reached them, Im-hee was the first to ask.

"What happened?" She looked at Min-ho and Sae-wee.

"Ask him," Sae-wee said with a point.

Jang-book laughed while scratching his head.

"My bad," he responded.

"Your eyesight is back?" Dok-su said, holding his brother's face.

Ji-su nodded.

Min-ho turned to Ji-su, relief becoming him.

"That's very good," Min-ho said, keeping his gaze on Ji-su for a moment.

"Is your Affinity working again?" Sae-wee asked, getting straight to the point like always.

Ji-su paused for a moment, then his eyes widened. Making everyone tense.

"What is it?" Min-ho asked, his voice shaken.

Ji-su turned to Min-ho, then he said, "There are over a dozen Spectors surrounding us."