Chapter 10 - Cradle of the Broken Pilgrim (2)
Ten years.
That was how much time had passed since Kim Sun-woo entered the hunter industry.
He had no notable abilities, no solid backing, and no exceptional skills. The reason he'd managed to survive as a hunter all this time without incident was his uncanny knack for detecting danger.
A red glow shot up from the cracks in the shattered floor.
In the past, he wouldn't have courted danger like this.
Hunter deaths and injuries during raids were commonplace.
He'd mourn the fallen out of pity, but he'd never reached out first to help someone.
···But.
Things were different now.
He could do it, and he wanted to.
After paying off all his debts and beginning his martial arts training, his life had turned 180 degrees.
He'd found a goal, started dreaming again, and for the first time in ages, felt the emotion of hope.
That was why Kim Sun-woo kicked off the ground and reached for Han Su-ah—not out of some shallow sense of justice or duty.
It was to prove his changed self···.
“···Kuh!”
Kim Sun-woo tumbled across the ground.
The moment he snatched Han Su-ah's body, the red glow engulfed them.
With a strange sensation of his body being sucked in, he was flung somewhere.
“······.”
Grimacing fiercely, Kim Sun-woo clutched his shoulder and pushed himself up.
His whole body throbbed like when he'd first learned the White Flow Step.
His left shoulder in particular felt severely injured; every movement sent stabbing pain like a knife twisting in it.
Cracked bone?
At least it was his left arm. Still, any limb injury was a major penalty in a raid.
“······.”
Crouching low to steady his breathing, he stared into the pitch-black void with eyes wide open.
Only after his eyes adjusted to the dark could he faintly make out his surroundings.
Where are we?
It was completely different from the stone chamber of the first gateway.
The red glow must have teleported them somewhere in the temple.
The problem was they'd been separated from their biggest firepower, the C-rank hunter Kim Jin-cheol.
First, check gear···.
Confirming his body was otherwise fine aside from his shoulder, Kim Sun-woo checked his equipment next.
Since the incident happened during a break, he'd left his bag of food and spare gear behind.
Aside from his basic armor and sword, all he had was the pouch at his waist.
···Two days' emergency rations, water capsules, a few potions, and minor meds.
It was his survival kit, always carried for worst-case scenarios.
Without the bag, he was glad for even the pouch.
“···Wait, where's Han Su-ah?”
Kim Sun-woo furrowed his brow.
He'd definitely felt her in his grasp before the light vanished.
If they'd been teleported together, she should be nearby.
Moving cautiously, he groped through the darkness.
After a few steps, faint breathing came from close by.
Moving slowly to avoid noise, he found Han Su-ah lying on the floor.
Just unconscious.
No visible external injuries.
He must have cushioned her fall.
Kim Sun-woo approached and lightly patted her cheek.
“······!!!”
Her closed eyelids fluttered open wide.
Kim Sun-woo immediately clamped her mouth and whispered softly.
“Quiet. We don't know where we are—noise could bring danger.”
“······.”
Her shoulders heaved; she'd nearly screamed in shock.
If sound had escaped, nearby monsters would've swarmed.
“If you're calm, I'll let go. Keep your voice down.”
Han Su-ah nodded faintly.
Kim Sun-woo released her. She gasped raggedly, clutching her chest.
Looking around with trembling eyes, she whispered to him.
“Wh-where are we?”
“No idea. Probably a teleport spell—seems like another floor.”
The annex temple had five floors.
Standard strategy was to clear up to 2 or 3 and retreat.
From floor 4, difficulty spiked, and monster numbers surged.
The floor 5 boss was too strong for low-rank hunters.
Not a place for rookies, even with veterans.
“···Sorry, so sorry. This is my fault—you got dragged in because of me.”
Han Su-ah bowed her head, voice breaking.
She was blaming herself for her reckless curiosity endangering others.
But Kim Sun-woo shook his head coolly.
“Blaming over what's done is pointless. What matters is what we do next.”
“···Okay.”
Han Su-ah bit her lip, swallowing tears.
Her first guild raid since joining, and it was a mess—her mind raced.
As a utility healer/buffer, she'd rarely been separated like this.
With weak direct combat, the party's strength now hinged on Kim Sun-woo.
Nothing to do but hope Team Leader Kim Jin-cheol comes quick.
Kim Sun-woo let out a short breath, watching her steady herself.
The moment they vanished, experiential training would've halted.
Other hunters evacuated, support called from outside.
Or Kim Jin-cheol might solo-clear to search—he could handle the annex easily as a C-rank.
“Support's coming soon. We just hold out till then.”
“···Okay.”
“Heal me first?”
“Heal? You look fine.”
Clank.
Kim Sun-woo shed his armor, lifting his shirt to reveal his left shoulder.
“Feels like a broken bone. Can you heal this too?”
“Oh! Right away.”
Han Su-ah reached out.
Green light poured, soaking into his bruised shoulder.
···Hurt because of me?
Her last memory before blacking out: Kim Sun-woo charging like lightning from afar.
He must've shielded her.
She healed with utmost care.
“Thanks.”
“No, it's my fault···.”
Kim Sun-woo smiled faintly, re-donning his armor.
An F-rank getting healed? A rare treat.
“Let's move now.”
“Move? Wouldn't waiting here be safer?”
“Too many welcoming guests for that.”
Click.
Kim Sun-woo flicked on his flashlight, illuminating the passage ahead.
It revealed ghouls and zombies packing the corridor.
Similar numbers to the stone chamber—Han Su-ah paled.
“R-run!”
“Was planning to···.”
Scanning with the light, he shrugged.
“Only one path, looks like.”
“No way···.”
Shing.
Setting the flashlight down, Kim Sun-woo drew his sword slowly.
“Melee capability?”
“Learned basic staff arts. Fine against ghouls or zombies. Healing damages undead too.”
He glanced at her, shaking his head.
“Save abilities for emergencies. I'll lead—finish off stragglers.”
“Got it.”
Han Su-ah gripped her staff, nodding firmly.
E-rank meant basic competence.
Exhaling shortly, Kim Sun-woo rolled his sword wrist and advanced slowly.
Roughly 40.
Conserve stamina and internal energy.
Who knew what lay beyond.
But he'd turn this crisis into opportunity.
Clank.
He angled his sword tip sharply.
Recalling the White Flow Sword Technique forms from last night's lecture, he kicked off lightly.
Tat!
Ghouls and zombies were slow but strong.
A normal person caught would have bones crushed.
Strategy: Hit vitals or joints swiftly.
Weakest point: Low-defense neck.
Slash!
A zombie's head flew.
As the headless body toppled, Kim Sun-woo stepped into Illusion Flow Step, dashing amid them.
Slash!
Second zombie, third ghoul—necks severed near-simultaneously.
As nearby undead reached, he'd already vanished like lightning.
“···Wow.”
Han Su-ah murmured in awe from behind.
On floor 1, teamwork allowed efficiency.
Solo against dozens? Most would flail and die.
But Kim Sun-woo danced at eye-blurring speed, carving foes.
“···Really F-rank?”
Beyond common sense.
No F-rank she knew fought like this.
Slash.
Half-tranced, Kim Sun-woo swung.
Seemingly wild, every path traced the master's White Flow Sword Technique forms.
Faster.
Practicing forms without internal energy.
Steps alone added speed and power—no worry.
He sought only to recreate the lecture's perfect forms.
Splatter!
Black blood sprayed from severed necks.
Zombie blood was corrosive contagion.
But stepping evaded sprays; he gripped tighter.
Almost···!
Normally, he'd climb the mountain, swing all day to refine.
Hours of forms and oral formulas to complete.
But real combat accelerated assimilation beyond training.
Minutes of slashing undead neared completion.
Crunch.
His anchored step cratered the floor.
Sparing energy, minimal internal power overwhelmed the ground.
Power rose from anchored foot, amplified by twisting waist, internal energy flowing through arm to blade.
All converged at tip, howling with air-rending force.
White Flow Sword Technique
First Form
Flying Thunder Flash
A thrust at ultimate speed. Like a massive thunderbolt crashing, shockwaves rippled everywhere.
Boom!
The sword pulverized upper bodies of all zombies and ghouls in its path.