The Sword That Answers
The sheer rock cliff offered no foothold. How were they supposed to scale that wall stretching into the darkness? And Yoo Min-jeong was injured, barely able to walk.
"Can't we use Moon Shadow Rope?"
"It won't even reach. And I can't throw it that far anyway. Even if I could, I'd need trees to wrap around. But we saw it before we fell—no trees, just grass."
"There has to be a way."
Skyla said.
Choi Muhyun kicked a tentacle hard with his foot, then let out a sigh.
"For a second there, I really thought it was a Killita."
"Me too. I was so excited."
Skyla chuckled.
She'd thought no raider could keep their cool in front of a dungeon lottery jackpot, but Kim Jun had stopped the team cold, pointing out the lack of footprints.
While everyone else stared at the Killita, picturing their wishes, Kim Jun had been thinking differently.
Then, the ground shook like an earthquake.
The two nodded at each other. Even if tentacles swarmed, they could lure them in and tie them into knots.
A massive tentacle burst from the earth, halting at the light's boundary. Unlike before, it didn't approach to sniff or sense vibrations—it held back.
Instead, black shapes climbed the tentacle and lunged forward. Not just one or two.
"Big Bugs?"
Skyla instinctively stepped back.
She'd seen those worms in private raid footage. They parasitized mid-to-large monsters, fighting in place of their host when threatened.
Big Bugs had cockroach-level vitality, turtle-shell hides, and mantis-like jaws—annoying pests. One or two weren't a problem, but they always swarmed.
"What's their weakness?"
"Fire."
Choi Muhyun stepped forward and unleashed a Geumgang Fist at the approaching Big Bugs. Seven or eight flew back, but they shook their black legs and stood right up—the impact wasn't enough.
Skyla fired an Icicle Bolt in the gap.
Three or four froze solid. But from the hole behind, hordes more Big Bugs were pouring out.
The two exchanged glances and bolted backward.
Kim Jun chugged half a water bottle.
Too much would sap his stamina instead. His thirst lingered, but his mind cleared.
End this in three minutes.
Steeling himself, Kim Jun gripped the Cheonroegeom and moved stealthily. He had one minute to close in on the main body as quietly as possible.
He leaped, using four horn-like protrusions as steps.
Naturally, three Big Bugs confronted him—he'd targeted them from the start. Kim Jun swung the Cheonroegeom horizontally.
White sparks flew, cleaving two charging Big Bugs in half on the spot. The third lost legs, writhing and screeching.
More Big Bugs swarmed.
No time to play with you.
Kim Jun executed Mokhonbo Tan, bounding up the Formicans' legs. Waist, shoulders—with three leaps, he reached the top.
Calmly eyeing the swarm, he plunged the Cheonroegeom deep into the Formicans' crown.
"Die."
Sparks raced along the blade into its core.
The Formicans shuddered, roaring—a heavy bass that vibrated floor, walls, and air, echoing everywhere.
"No..."
The Cheonroegeom wouldn't budge.
Kim Jun focused his mana on it. Another surge of sparks drove deeper.
Kueeeee!!!
The scream dwarfed the first. Still, the sword stayed lodged.
"Damn it!"
Releasing the Cheonroegeom, Kim Jun drew his belt dagger.
Big Bugs closed in.
He held position without striking first, then kicked the lead charger. It slid off the body and tumbled below.
He jammed the dagger into the second's maw.
It thrashed, then plummeted. Kim Jun stepped back and grabbed the Cheonroegeom again.
"Why won't you come out?!"
The Big Bugs advanced slowly now.
"If you won't budge, I'll kill it like this!"
Kim Jun poured inner power into the blade. It flashed again.
The Formicans shrieked madly!
But it didn't die, and the sword stayed put. As Kim Jun turned dagger in hand, he froze.
A massive tentacle plummeted from above.
He hurled himself sideways.
Thud!
The tentacle smashed the crown. Surrounding Big Bugs burst flat; the Cheonroegeom, a third buried before, sank hilt-deep.
The Formicans writhed in agony.
The tentacle retracted.
Does this thing not have a brain?
As Kim Jun scanned for cover, three Big Bugs latched onto his legs. He shook violently—they clung.
Then, another massive tentacle descended.
"Attack prep—one! Two! Three!"
Yeom Sang-taek shouted.
Choi Muhyun dropped the barrier; Yoo Min-jeong thrust her hand forward, firing Fire Arrows.
Red flames split into three, streaking at the clustered Big Bugs.
Boom!
A massive explosion ignited them all. The slime from their shells caught fire on contact.
The swarm retreated.
Choi Muhyun re-erected the golden Moon Wall over the team.
"Huff... huff huff."
Yoo Min-jeong gasped.
"You okay?"
Skyla, supporting her, asked.
"Yeah... fine."
Blood seeped through her bandages.
Skyla sat her down, tore her collar, and rebound the wound.
"Team leader—no, Min-jeong can't fight anymore."
Skyla yelled to Choi Muhyun.
Yeom Sang-taek approached, placed a hand on Yoo Min-jeong's shoulder, and cast Help buff. His face paled from mana drain.
"Drink some water."
Skyla offered a bottle.
"Thanks."
Yeom Sang-taek wet his throat, then handed it to Choi Muhyun, who gulped without looking away.
"I'll handle it."
Yeom Sang-taek said.
"What?"
"I can use fire too. Not like Min-jeong, but enough."
Choi Muhyun turned.
"Don't look at me like that. I've practiced. Four times, at least—I can hold them off."
Skyla chimed in.
"I'll help. Can't deal much damage, but if I shatter bolts into the wounds, it'll make your attacks hit harder."
Choi Muhyun nodded, tossing the canteen aside.
"How many? How many can you do?"
"Four for sure. Five might drop me."
"Good."
Choi Muhyun eyed ahead.
"Skyla, fan shape forward?"
"Yeah."
"Two seconds—Sang-taek, same direction. Then barrier two seconds later. Repeat on openings."
They nodded.
"Here we go! Attack prep! Three, two, one!"
Barrier down. Big Bugs surged; Skyla unleashed Icicle Bolts. Yeom Sang-taek hurled fireballs.
Not as fast or sharp as Yoo Min-jeong's, but enough to repel them.
As attacks ceased, Bugs charged again. Choi Muhyun panted, erecting the barrier just in time.
Bang! Bang!
Each impact rocked him.
"How long can you hold?"
Skyla asked nearby.
"...Until team leader returns."
He grinned manfully, but the gold barrier flickered. One more push, and it might shatter.
"You sure?"
"Gotta be."
Big Bugs swarmed again.
"Round two."
Yeom Sang-taek counted soon after.
Perfect timing—barrier dropped.
Skyla thrust hands forward; Icicle Bolts shredded, spraying blood. Yeom Sang-taek followed with fireballs.
"Ngh!"
Choi Muhyun groaned mid-barrier.
Yeom Sang-taek whirled—Choi Muhyun sprawled on the ground.
Overdrawn inner power.
Barrier collapsed; Bugs frenzied. Skyla shoved Yeom Sang-taek aside, raised a white wall beside Choi Muhyun.
Big Bugs slammed into it.
"Ice Wall?"
Yeom Sang-taek gaped at her.
Blood streamed from her nose and mouth—Disorder, a mage's nightmare. Unfamiliar with the spell, the Bugs backed off warily.
Choi Muhyun recovered, taking over.
"Support Skyla!"
Yeom Sang-taek caught her crumpling shoulders.
Skyla tried smiling, then vomited blood.
Big Bugs battered the barrier boldly, circling.
Two dealers down.
Buffer exhausted.
Tank good for ten minutes, tops.
Choi Muhyun stared into the dark beyond.
Kim Jun, hurry.
Kim Jun dove sideways.
Thoom!
The blow dwarfed the first—self-inflicted by its own tentacle.
The Cheonroegeom vanished completely.
In the chaos, Kim Jun dropped his dagger.
Damn, this is tangling up.
Big Bugs approached.
Kim Jun glanced at them, then the Formicans.
"Looks like you win, huh?"
Kekeke...
The Bugs wailed like a reply.
Kim Jun extended his right hand toward the Formicans. He began erasing thoughts one by one.
Memories flashed: mom and sister he might never see; Pink Team waiting above; Guild Master Go Cheolmin; patrons Choi Min-su and Yeon Un-jae. He rejected them all firmly.
Only one shining sword remained.
He focused his mind on it. His head held nothing but the Cheonroegeom and himself.
A strange sensation tingled his fingertips.
The Cheonroegeom wasn't here—buried in the Formicans' crown. Yet it felt gripped in his hand.
He felt the sword approaching him.
Kim Jun seized the Cheonroegeom.
Simultaneously, the Formicans' body crumbled like scattering dust. Thrashing ceased. Tentacles sagged limply.
It's dead! Formicans is dead!
Kim Jun gripped the sword, glaring at the Big Bugs.
"Still wanna go?"
They scattered like they had no such plans.
Drained, Kim Jun collapsed. Ragged breaths escaped. Such focus had rigidified his body.
Joy at survival faded quickly.
He had to get out fast. No telling his comrades' plight outside.
Groaning, Kim Jun rose, clutching the Cheonroegeom tight.