Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Third Theme
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The surroundings were eerily silent.
The third theme had finally begun.
Since the first and second had been no joke, tension crept across my companions' faces.
The judges' expressions were solemnly subdued.
Mio Hana and Olena clenched their fists, staring at Luka with anxious looks.
Maxi and Vladimir, who had been chattering away, fell silent and moved to stand beside me.
"......"
Tension built slowly in the silence.
'No wonder.'
Fifty people had entered the first theme.
Only thirty passed.
And now, after the second theme, just seven remained.
Only two of Delilah's six themes were done, and 86% had been eliminated.
Even common sense said this difficulty was absurd.
"First."
A moment later, Luka spoke.
"Before explaining the third theme, allow me to express my personal respect to you all."
Swish!
Luka, who had sheathed his sword at his waist with proper etiquette, bowed his head lightly.
"You are resources of historic caliber in the annals of the trials. Most rankers couldn't even dream of slaying a dragon—you're Dragon Slayers, and by achievements alone, it's no exaggeration to say you've already joined their ranks."
Ranker.
My heart raced at the word.
Not the casual "ranker" a regular hunter might toss around.
This was a true ranker—one at the pinnacle—acknowledging it.
The real deal.
"......"
A swell of pride rose in me.
How much effort had I poured in?
How much suffering had I endured?
All that forward charge toward becoming a ranker, and now the result was right in front of my eyes!
Within arm's reach!
"If you rate us as historic resources, that's all thanks to Team Leader."
Mio Hana replied confidently.
"Honestly, without Team Leader, those feats would've been impossible. Everyone agrees, right?"
"Yeah, true. I admit it."
"I agree. He was the one who took down the Giant Dragon too. And he had the highest contribution in the fight."
"Well, it's obvious. No need to say it—my jaw hurts just thinking about it."
The heavy silence shattered.
The tension on their faces eased away.
As they praised me.
As they recalled what we'd been through together.
They shook off the creeping anxiety.
"Come on, guys, don't say that."
I smiled as I spoke.
"Someone might think I did it all alone."
It wasn't false modesty.
They relied on me as much as I relied on them.
I needed their help too.
"Ha, you're right. Why were we even getting worked up?"
Vladimir laughed.
"Forget the terrifying dragon—that was secondary. I got my heart pierced and lived! Hahaha!"
With his laughter.
The charged atmosphere softened.
All the team members.
Looked at each other and ignited their resolve.
"Hmm......"
Luka surveyed us, then let a faint smile slip.
"Truly enviable camaraderie. Yes. I admit it. Your story has real heart. Impressive."
Not his usual rigid expression, but a softer one.
He nodded.
"As a senior who walked the path of trials before you, I'm impressed and proud. So."
Swish!
Luka let the sword he'd held at attention drop to his side.
Whoosh!
That light motion stirred winds all around.
"Hoping you maintain that spirit, I'll now announce the following."
"Announce?"
Vladimir responded.
Luka nodded.
"First. From now until all six themes end, you are one team. You cannot kill each other. In other words, the initial rule allowing mutual killing is hereby revoked."
"We couldn't kill each other even if ordered to now......"
Olena murmured quietly.
"This means the competitive system is completely eliminated. Up to now, the themes selected ranker candidates. From here on, it's the process of becoming true rankers."
Boom!
At that moment, the sky of the space rippled black.
Luka's gesture caused it.
Rumble!
A black hole-like pit yawned open, slowly devouring the entire space.
Clench!
I instinctively gripped my fist.
Finally.
The real start?
'I thought earlier.'
That I'd soon be a ranker.
That I'd soon achieve my dream.
'But.'
Dreams update, shifting with circumstances.
My dream had already been upgraded long ago.
[Ranking 1st, ???]
That spot existing as a question mark now.
There's a saying: if a man draws his sword, he must cut down the enemy.
The enemy was already cut.
Leave the grass uncut?
No. Cook it. Into something incredibly tasty and sweet.
For me, that dish is ranking 1st.
'Yeah. As Lord Joo Dong-hoon said.'
Nothing is impossible in this world.
Thinking back.
I'd achieved everything others deemed impossible.
Undefeated record.
Whenever a tough path appeared, I challenged it without backing down, endured, and won.
'So from now on too.'
No holding back.
Challenge boldly.
And victory.
As I steeled myself inwardly.
"No need to worry too much. From here, there won't be life-threatening perils. Of course, that doesn't mean the trials will be a cakewalk."
Boom!
The space began reshaping.
The black void writhed and reformed into something new.
A floor appeared, walls, a ceiling.
"It just means if your life is at risk, Delilah will intervene separately. Talent must be protected."
Thud thud thud!
The new space was a sealed chamber.
An unidentifiable white room.
"Then, good luck."
Theme 3 began.
* * *
"Hmm."
In the chamber after Luka vanished.
In that quiet space.
Vladimir was the first to speak.
"This situation now. Kinda like Theme 1, right? The judge gives a half-assed explanation and dips. No messages, nothing—just an unfriendly game."
"Sigh, you nailed it."
Olena sighed deeply as she scanned around.
"And this time, the space is pretty cramped. Doesn't look like there's anything to investigate."
Splash!
She swung her staff, and water surged up.
The water spread out, slapping the walls, but nothing changed.
"Just an empty room. Size-wise, like a wide clearing? Feels like the first floor of our magic tower......"
Tension crept back in.
Gulp.
I could hear everyone swallowing.
Usually, facing a ferocious monster head-on is less nerve-wracking.
Than waiting blindly, knowing nothing.
"Huh? Your magic tower isn't world number one? This cramped?"
Vladimir spoke up.
A light chat to ease the team's tension.
Olena bristled a bit.
"Hey, this is at least 50 pyeong at least....... That's pretty spacious!"
"Oi, a world-class magic tower at 50 pyeong...... That's spacious?"
"You wanna say that to my master?"
As Olena put hands on hips.
"Wait."
Kapu cut in.
All eyes turned to him.
Ooh.
As expected, Kapu.
His eyes glowed green.
Making use of that new SS-grade artificial lens?
"What's up! What! See something?"
Olena asked.
"What's going on?"
"Whoa, Kapu. Score another one? When in doubt, trust Kapu!"
Maxi and Vladimir perked up too.
But.
Kapu, with green eyes, scanned around, then furrowed his brow.
"Damn."
Urgency laced his voice.
"It's a trap."
Out of nowhere.
"Huh?"
"What do you mean?"
"Trap? Nothing happened, and it's a trap?"
The members tilted heads, puzzled.
What?
I tensed and lowered my stance too.
"More precisely, not a trap—a mechanism. To be exact, a device. Anyway, everyone, defensive formation! No time to explain!"
Kapu shouted.
They looked dubious but followed.
Splash!
Olena deployed a water shield.
Boom! Rumble rumble boom!
I summoned my bone legion, encircling the group.
Curious expressions, but no panic.
Each acted on instinct.
Did what needed doing.
"Kapu."
I said from the center.
"Prep's done. Take your time explaining."
"In about 10 seconds, the device activates."
"10 seconds?"
"Damn, you can see it. Something's getting launched—I don't know exactly what. Too complex and numerous!"
Hmm.
10 seconds—short grace period.
I clicked my tongue.
"First, everyone, handle it sensibly as it comes."
No choice now.
Not enough time to think and strategize.
Right then.
[Ding!]
[The 7 participants have formed a team.]
[Team Name - 'Dragon Slayer']
[This generation's team name, set by Delilah.]
"Team name?"
"Heh, whatever it is. Feels like we gotta cooperate again?"
[The mission arrives.]
[Stage: Chamber of Evasion.]
[From now, 'Dragon Slayer' team must cooperate to endure in this space as long as possible.]
[When the game starts, various 'objects' will be launched.]
[The instant a 'object' touches your body, that participant is eliminated.]
[If all are eliminated, the game ends. Team contribution is scored accordingly.]
[Rewards acquired based on contribution.]
"What the hell is this."
"So...... Hmm, like a bullet-dodging game?"
I muttered.
Bullet-dodging game.
A game that briefly trended in Korea when I was a minor.
Also called dodge game.
In a confined space sealed on all sides, you dodge bullets purely on physical ability—known for brutal difficulty.
"Bullet-dodging game? What's that!"
"There is such a thing. Uh, anyway...... Wait! Everyone, be careful!"
Clank!
That was when.
Part of the white chamber's wall flipped open.
[Stage 1 begins.]
At the same time.
Thump! Pong! Pong! Pong! Thump! Pong!
Slow-moving 'spheres' launched from the wall.
"Wh-what?"
Olena panicked, splash! shifting her shield.
But.
The shield didn't block the 'sphere'.
It just slipped through smoothly at low speed, heading straight for her.
"Eek!"
Olena toppled backward in shock.
"Get it together!"
I shouted.
"No skills, everyone! Don't try blocking! Pure physical dodges! Got it?"
"Just physical dodges?"
"Spread out! Clumping hinders! It's stage 1—grab positions while it's manageable!"
"What the...... What kind of trial is this."
The team followed my lead.
Compared to past trials, it felt random.
'But what can you do.'
If it's the rule, follow it.
We're just participants; Delilah holds the reins.
"Take positions, dodge well, and think."
I claimed a spot nearby too.
Bone soldiers already unsummoned long ago.
"How should we proceed from here."