Yggdrasil (3-53)
“Ugh…”
Min Hayeon endured the pounding headache and slowly lifted her eyelids with great effort.
The weight pressing down on her brows felt like something extra was hanging there, but the moment she regained her senses, she instinctively forced her eyes open.
And what appeared before her was a dimly lit underground sewer packed with gray brick walls.
“Ugh… Wh-where is this?”
“Ugh… Ar-are you okay?”
“Hye… Hye-eun? Wh-where are we?”
Min Hayeon strained her eyes, gradually bringing her vision into focus.
Everyone else was in the same state—lying down, clutching their heads as they came to.
Among them were Park Jin-hee, Park Seon-hee, and Han Yeoreum.
Han Bom, meanwhile, showed no signs of waking, just lying there snoring away peacefully.
Only after looking around did she realize something was off.
He was gone.
“Su-ho! Right, Su-ho!!”
“Calm down.”
“Hye-eun! Su-ho… H-Hye-eun, above your head…”
“…”
Wondering if she'd seen wrong, Min Hayeon rubbed her eyes hard and stared again at Son Hye-eun's head.
A orange gem hovered there, slowly rotating.
Only then did it all come flooding back to Min Hayeon.
In the desperate chaos, the moment she'd acted on impulse alone—the blow to her head.
And when she'd turned around, the face she'd seen.
“N-no way… here…”
“Yes, we escaped.”
“How could you do that!”
Min Hayeon grabbed Son Hye-eun by the collar in her agitated state and shook her roughly.
Park Jin-hee and Park Seon-hee rushed over to intervene, but Son Hye-eun—actually being choked—remained calm, merely bowing her head.
As the scuffle unfolded, one earnest plea from Son Hye-eun quelled her rage.
“I couldn't leave Hayeon in that danger. I'm sorry.”
“Hnnngh… how… could you…”
Unable to contain her bewildered hatred, Min Hayeon collapsed right there and burst into tears.
As she wept endlessly, a fairy suddenly popped out of thin air and started yelling.
“What the hell! Six humans made it out!?”
Everyone stared at the fairy in shock—except one, who didn't flinch at its sudden appearance and rushed right up, shouting desperately.
“One! Where's the other one!?”
“One? Hah… was there another one?”
The fairy shook its head at Min Hayeon's words, grumbling.
“Why do you cling to life so desperately and make things hard for us… Couldn't you have just compromised and died midway…”
“…What?”
Even Min Hayeon, frantic over Seong Su-ho's life, felt her mind reel at the fairy's whining.
After all that struggling to survive… just die?
As the party glared at the fairy with hatred, it gestured into the air and muttered.
“Alright… time remaining. 20 seconds…”
Everyone hid their resentment from moments ago and leaned in to listen.
“15 seconds…”
Min Hayeon clasped her hands in desperate prayer.
“10 seconds…”
The party members placed hands on her shoulders, eyes closed in shared hope…
“5 seconds…”
Amid it all, Han Yeoreum faintly smirked, clenching her fist.
And then, the finale.
“Time's up.”
“…”
They scanned around with eyes full of desperate hope.
But nothing had changed—the same place, the same people.
Disappointed faces fell, heads drooping.
“No… that can't be…”
“Hayeon…”
“Waaaaaah!!”
As Min Hayeon wailed in despair—
“…What!? A glitch?”
“…?”
Everyone turned to the fairy, confused—
Fwaaash!
“Urgh!”
“What now!”
Suddenly, a brilliant light burst from one corner, drawing every eye.
But it faded quickly, vision returning just as fast.
And from that spot came the voice they'd all been waiting for.
“Damn… feels like I landed on my tailbone.”
Perfect! It worked even better than expected.
Kyaaang! Kee-yaaah!!
I released the rampaging, screaming Cerberus and bolted again.
[It seems more effective than anticipated.]
No matter the berserk state or whatever, the damage was landing, turning things in my favor.
And my efficient attack strategy wasn't just hitting the head.
First, tie up its feet. Think a beast like that can charge with sore paws?
I'd shot an arrow straight into the charging Cerberus's sole.
Level 2 might've wrecked the foot entirely, but I figured it'd just enrage it more and amp the speed.
Besides, Level 2 guzzled mana like crazy—best saved as a last resort.
As I distanced myself with its foot hobbled for now, Armonia signaled.
[Su-ho, everyone has reached the exit.]
What? Hayeon just left?
I wasn't too worried about the others, but Min Hayeon bailing without a fuss? Doubtful.
I half-expected her to throw a fit and stay if I wasn't around.
Relief that she'd escaped mixed with a twinge of hurt—like she'd ditched me.
But learning how she left washed that away instantly.
[Son Hye-eun knocked her out and carried her out.]
Good thing.
I didn't know the full story, but it sounded resolved.
Everything was done. Time to choose.
Armonia.
[Yes, warping right aw—]
No. Hold off a sec.
[…?]
The original plan was simple.
Lure it away as bait so the others escape, then warp solo to the exit once far enough.
If evasion failed midway, Armonia would force-warp me—but berserk mode let my arrows land, buying extra time.
Cerberus seemed to deem the foot arrow irremovable, eyeing me anew before charging.
But rage-fueled or not, its speed was noticeably down.
Let's test a shot.
[…]
I was curious.
How much could my abilities really hurt this monster…?
Level 1 pierced its lining but lacked penetration.
Wondering just how far Level 2 could push it.
I took a deep breath, nocked an arrow, and focused.
Armonia. Prep for mana exhaustion.
[…Understood.]
Even with safety nets, she clearly disapproved of the risk.
But testing now meant overcoming crises later.
Arrow nocked, I activated the Level 2 magic circle.
One line each side… then two…
Level 1 was familiar now, but two lines for Level 2 drained my soul like it was fleeing my body.
As all mana sucked out, Cerberus's distant howl and incoming recovery snapped me awake.
Ku-eeeeeng! Kiiiaaak!!
The beast charging to devour my soul.
Aiming for every creature's vital core.
The hub of worldly connection, the center.
Firing!!!
I locked on its eye, released the taut string.
A wall-shattering whoosh erupted as a massive yellow beam lanced out.
Baaaang!!
Urgh!
A mini-sun blinded me, pupils dilating.
Pain seared my eyes; muscles screamed like bursting.
I collapsed.
But the agony faded as I fell—Armonia's recovery.
Tinnitus drowned everything; I couldn't grasp the situation.
Struggling up amid the cacophony, I checked.
“Hah… hah… hah…”
The yellow glow cleared, revealing…
Kwa-boom! Kwa-kwang! Kwa-kwakwang!!!
Kyaaaaang!!! Kyaaaaaaaang!!!!
Cerberus thrashing wildly into walls.
Not anger—pure agony, writhing in torment.
And something caught my eye.
Hm? What's that glowing green on the floor?
Even in crisis, it drew my gaze.
[Su-ho! Ability verified. Warp now…]
No! Hold!
[!?]
I dashed to the glowing form on the ground.
Cerberus still thrashed in pain; luckily, it was closer to me.
Legs shaking, I snatched it up.
Item?
The one eye of Cerberus, hell's gatekeeper over the dead.
Cerberus instills fear even in soulless corpses and binds free spirits without flesh.
Using this item freely controls undead and spiritkin races. (Ineffective against gods, demigods, or higher beings' commands.)
Whoa, this is busted. Rip out the other eye too?
Excitement surging, I raised my bow toward Cerberus—
Survivors: 1
[Death's Eye], [Death's Nose], [Death's Ear], [Death's Whisper], [Death's Illusion]
Berserk from agony has ended.
Death's movement speed reduced by 200%. Death's strength reduced by 300%. Death's focus reduced by 500%.
Death's inner lining thickness increased by 50%. Death's defense increased by 40%. Death's vision increased by 50%.
An escape exit has appeared. Escaping via it counts as success regardless of time limit.
Berserk modifier vanished; old ones reapplied.
[Su-ho! With increased thickness and defense, prior attacks likely ineffective. Warp now…]
Wait!
That instant—
Cerberus's central head swiveled, glaring with its remaining eye.
The right oozed green tears or blood, shut tight.
Unlike its blind rage before, now it stared calculatedly.
Good thing—I was getting used to it, meeting its gaze squarely.
Or maybe just missing one eye?
I finally studied Cerberus closely.
Central head: one eye gone, green tears, glaring fiercely with the other.
Side heads: eyes closed.
Right sniffed the air; left twitched ears, sensing sounds.
Obvious now—center's main, sides handle smell and hearing.
[Su-ho?]
That thing… looks kinda scared now, unlike before?
It glared sharply.
But hesitated to charge.
“Hup!”
I feinted drawing my bow—
Kiiing!
Central head flinched, turning away.
Ooh… stall like this, might outlast without warping?
[Atmosphere feels off.]
Huh?
Central whined after turning; sides bared teeth, snarling.
Krrrar! Kyaaang!
Clearly scolding the center.
…Internal strife?
[Likely the visible head feels fear, but the unseen two can't gauge your power fully.]
Plus, only center felt direct pain.
Under 30 seconds left.
Threaten and stall—no warp needed.
Whew… basically done.
But… mouth ran ahead, as always.
After heavy scolding, center reluctantly glared and prepped to charge.
Sigh…
[…Su-ho.]
At least clip the other eye lightly.
Two full lines barely got one eye.
Ideal to nab both, but mana wouldn't allow another Level 2.
Firing!
Confident release toward the last eye as it charged.
Central flinched, squeezing eyes shut.
And then…
Kwachik!
Kyaaaak!!
Arrow hit the eyelid.
Good. Now it should—huh?
Expecting a halt, but it accelerated blindly, eyes closed!
Armonia!!!!! Warp!!!! Warp!!!!
I'm dead—
Shwaaak!
Multicolored lights danced like balloon figures in a flashy whirl—
Kwa-dung!
—slamming me to the floor.
“Ow!”
I rubbed my butt, grumbling as I stood.
“Damn… tailbone again. Ack!”
As I groused, someone tackled and hugged me.
Dazed by the sudden embrace, I soon recognized her.
“This isn't a dream, right!?”
“Haha… my tailbone hurts, so probably not?”
“You bastard! Hnnngh…”
“…Sorry.”
No excuses—I just stroked Min Hayeon's head as she clung.
Before me: the trio tearfully joyful…
That look at her savior? Gotta school her later.
And Han Yeoreum, glaring teeth gritted.