Phase One Complete
At that moment, atop the two Haren Sauruses that had entered the light barrier raised by the dealer in place of the buffer...
Neither Do Jin-yong nor Kim Hong-tae were riding them.
Yoo Min-jeong, leader of Uramata's Pink Team, and carrier Kim Jun came charging in astride the Haren Sauruses.
Kim Jun leaped down from the back of his Haren Saurus and shoved his way right up to Seo Sang-cheol, who had jumped to his feet in shock. He then slammed a fist into the man's solar plexus.
Seo Sang-cheol, caught completely off guard, doubled over and crumpled forward but didn't pass out.
Kim Jun wrenched Seo Sang-cheol's arms behind his back and bound his wrists with Absorption Tree roots, twisting them tight like handcuffs.
In the meantime, Yoo Min-jeong had subdued the dealer Lee Hyo-jeong. With a fire arrow blazing right in her face, Lee Hyo-jeong had thrown both hands up in surrender.
She spotted the Domoto Ring on Yoo Min-jeong's finger.
"Th-that's...?"
"Wonder why it's on my finger?"
"No way?"
"So just stay put if you don't want to end up like your team leader."
Yoo Min-jeong said coldly.
* * *
"Untie me, and I won't hold you responsible."
Do Jin-yong shouted. His wrists and ankles were bound tight with Absorption Tree roots, and even yelling took effort—sweat beaded on his forehead from the strain alone.
Choi Muhyun glanced at him after tossing more brush into the fire but dismissed him without a second thought.
"You bastard! Untie me right now! If you don't..."
"And what'll you do if we don't?"
Choi Muhyun reached toward the purple flames. The heat was so weak it barely warmed his hand.
"If you don't... you and your whole team won't make it out alive. Not a chance."
"If we can't get out alive, then neither can you—since you're our prisoner."
"Th-that..."
Do Jin-yong shut his mouth.
After coming to his senses, he'd wondered if it was all a dream. But the Absorption Tree roots wrapped around his wrists and ankles were all too real.
He glanced at Kim Hong-tae, who was also bound.
Kim Hong-tae shook his head. Bound by the roots, he couldn't cast any magic either.
"Three o'clock, 45 meters out. Small monsters approaching."
It was Yeom Sang-taek.
Choi Muhyun stood and threw up a protective barrier around the space that included Do Jin-yong, Kim Hong-tae, and Yeom Sang-taek.
Soon, two more Haren Sauruses entered the light barrier. Yoo Min-jeong and Kim Jun rode together on one, while on the other, Seo Sang-cheol and Lee Hyo-jeong—bound like salted mackerel—clung desperately to keep from falling off.
Choi Muhyun grinned and dropped the barrier.
Do Jin-yong's jaw dropped. He realized how they'd taken down Seo Sang-cheol and Lee Hyo-jeong.
Yoo Min-jeong used the Domoto Ring! That thing takes practice to handle—how'd she...?
The tanker and buffer, dragged down from the Haren Saurus's back, slumped beside their team leader and dealer. The looks they exchanged were equal parts disappointment and despair.
Yoo Min-jeong and Choi Muhyun shared a down low five.
The moment Yeom Sang-taek and Kim Jun clapped palms the same way, Do Jin-yong jolted in surprise.
The buffer's high-fiving the carrier?
When Kim Jun followed up with down low fives to Yoo Min-jeong and Choi Muhyun, Do Jin-yong glared at them like his eyes might pop out.
"Phase one was a success."
Yoo Min-jeong said.
"What's next?"
Choi Muhyun asked.
Instead of answering, Yoo Min-jeong looked to advisor Kim Jun, deferring to him.
"We wait for An Seong-ho's team. Could take a while."
Kim Jun said, settling by the campfire. Not liking the heat, he tossed in an armful of brush. Purple flames leaped up, but they offered little warmth.
Yoo Min-jeong, Choi Muhyun, and Yeom Sang-taek joined him. Rain pattered down, but they laughed as they recounted how they'd taken down the Blue Lightning team.