#50 Neverland Crumbles (2)
#50 Neverland Crumbles (2)
The White Lion was still pursuing the Assault Team. Eun Ja-rim couldn't hide her exhaustion at the sight of that relentless drive and let out a sigh. The one saving grace was the fog. The sense-scrambling mist seemed to work on the beast too, since they'd managed to evade detection this long.
'Just a little further...!'
The entrance to the Maze. The gates of the enormous Labyrinth would come into view soon. She had believed that if they pushed on just a little more, they could shake off Snowell and escape Neverland. That was when a strange note of dissonance prickled at her.
"......?"
Dissonance. It was a sound. A skritch-skritch, an unpleasant noise like something gnawing. Eun Ja-rim turned her head on reflex and narrowed her eyes. If her hearing wasn't scrambled... She moved closer to confirm, a sinking feeling in her chest, and her eyes found two fallen corpses.
"Okyeon Lord..."
Eun Ja-rim murmured, her voice heavy. Unlike her, who had linked up with Dawn inside the Maze, Kim Joo-seop had insisted on joining the Assault Team. Now he lay a cold corpse, sprawled alongside the body of Ju-gyo. A Tunnel Worm, chewing at the flesh, screeched and threatened Eun Ja-rim. She stomped it flat as it leaped at her.
"Disciple of the Spear Saint, what are you doing?"
Time was pressing. When Eun Ja-rim lingered, Kang Tae-ho asked, puzzled. Then he saw the two bodies and his face twisted just the same.
"......Damn it."
―Frozen bodies. Even if he'd been alone, the Okyeon Lord was an exceptional archer. There was no way he'd have died in a section of the Maze the Assault Team had already advanced through. No one that unskilled would have been sent alone in the first place. More than anything, the sword wound pierced through his chest was proof.
"...Fuck."
The Temple's Ju-gyo. Okyeon's Lord. The fact that the two commanders of Daegu had met such empty deaths made Kang Tae-ho press a hand to his forehead. ―At least one thing is certain: Kang Hoon got out before us. Kang Tae-ho moved to retrieve the two bodies, but the ceiling came crashing down and buried them. He ground his teeth.
"......!"
Boom—! Unable to swallow his rage, he swung a fist and a wall collapsed. The structural collapse was accelerating. Eun Ja-rim laid a hand on his shoulder and shook her head.
"I don't think either of them would want us to dawdle here and fail to escape."
"What the hell do you..."
What the hell do you know. Kang Tae-ho caught his breath before the words could fly, and lowered his head.
"...Hoo. You're right. I'm sorry. Let's move."
Eun Ja-rim only nodded instead of answering. Even in this moment, the White Lion was closing in. ―They ran and ran until the two finally reached the Labyrinth's gate. Without exchanging a word, they both frowned.
"Crazy..."
The ceiling had caved in entirely, a rubble barricade blocking the way. Kang Tae-jun, perched atop the debris, rose as if he'd been waiting.
"Everyone else escaped. It's our turn now. Anyone left behind?"
"None. We're the last."
Kang Tae-jun nodded at that, but Kang Tae-ho tilted his head. The Labyrinth gate was firmly shut, and the collapsed rubble was blocking it. How had they gotten out? That question vanished the moment he spotted the exhausted Fairy Dragon.
"Kyuuu..."
―Alpha (Jirisan Warg)'s ally. Kang Tae-ho put the pieces together and nodded. Kang Tae-jun met eyes with the utterly spent, wobbling Fairy Dragon.
"Can you manage?"
"...Kyuuuu..."
If only we had a potion. Though it was dubious whether potions even worked on a Fairy Dragon. Just then, the White Lion, having caught up at last, spotted them and its eyes flared. The three of them linked hands the instant they saw the monster charging without hesitation—
"———!"
—The next moment, they were inside the Labyrinth. On the other side of the gate, the lion let out a frustrated roar. And then, as if truly at its limit, the staggering Fairy Dragon climbed onto Eun Ja-rim's shoulder, let out a few ragged breaths, and sank into sleep.
"Huh. That's a neat trick."
Carrying others with it, not just teleporting alone... Kang Tae-ho shook his head. He'd known, but it hit him once again: this Fairy Dragon was one of the reasons Alpha (Jirisan Warg) had been able to stay a step ahead all this time.
"...Eun Gong. Thank you for your work."
Eun Ja-rim offered the thanks even knowing she wouldn't be heard, then turned her head. Outside the Labyrinth gate, the beast was pounding against it. ―A monster like that wouldn't take long to shove the rubble aside and force the door open. The three exchanged glances and nodded.
"Let's go."
The Labyrinth— After running for some time, shattered bones began to rattle and stir on their own. Not because the dungeon was shaking. Restoration. Soon they would revive and pull themselves upright. Without needing to say it, all three hardened their expressions.
―They weren't on guard against the Steelletons still lying broken. This was the far end of the Labyrinth. They had barely crossed the gate, but if this was only the entrance? The Steelletons shattered earlier would have restored themselves just as quickly. What if the Assault Team that went ahead ran into a Steel Giant?
Their footsteps quickened by instinct. In that instant, the Labyrinth gate burst apart and flew to pieces. The White Lion emerged, trampling the half-restored Steelletons as it surged after them in a frenzy. Its head scraped the Labyrinth ceiling and it didn't stop. Because of that, the distance didn't close, but the sheer tenacity was terrifying.
Silhouettes approaching from ahead— They frowned at the sight of retreating clan members. They joined up, and saw the reason they were falling back. A swarm of countless Steelletons was chasing them. And among them, one conspicuously massive blue giant.
"...Steel Giant."
Kang Tae-ho and Kang Tae-jun adjusted their grips on their swords. The Steel Giant stretched out an arm when the two charged, but the brothers were faster, striking out both its ankles. With no mana coating the blows, it was more like swinging blunt clubs than cutting, but that was enough. The Steel Giant lost its balance and crashed down, and the impact swept away the pursuing Steelletons.
Even so, breaking through an endless tide of them was beyond their strength. And then, with a thunderous roar, Snowell emerged behind them. Steelletons ahead. The White Lion howling at their rear. In a no-way-out situation, there was only one choice left. Kang Tae-ho sprinted, blew a Steelleton's head off in one swing, and caught its arm before it toppled.
"Follow me!"
They had to open a path before the Steel Giant rose. He swung the Steelleton like a three-section staff, and when it broke, he grabbed a new one and swung it, cleaving a trail forward. It seemed smooth at a glance, but there was no way it was. The delay had let the White Lion close in tight. The Steel Giant they'd barely managed to knock down was already rising again. The moment the pursuing White Lion's massive paw cast its shadow over them, the Fairy Dragon forced her eyes open and cried out.
"Kyuuuu..."
―As if welcoming something, even in the midst of all this.
***
The Maze's fog could not obstruct the Wolf. When I tracked the Assault Team with Detection and followed, the only thing in front of the sealed Labyrinth gate was a single giant white lion.
'The Assault Team...'
Apparently they'd crossed the gate with Perry's Blink. ―The White Lion began smashing the rubble in the collapsing dungeon. I watched and gave a nod.
'Breaking through the gate's a tall order.'
If I used Void, I could devour it. But swallowing a gate that huge would take time. The dungeon would collapse before I finished. I kept Stealth up and climbed onto the White Lion's body. The moment I did, Snowell, reaching the gate, cocked its head as if sensing something off. Still, it seemed impossible for it to find me while I hid within its shadow. It kept tilting its head, then raised a forepaw.
Boom— Boom— Boom—!
Each time the White Lion swiped, the gate buckled. Just three strikes and the gate shattered and flew apart. When I spread Detection wide, I could tell the Steelletons had restored themselves and were twitching back into motion. While I hesitated briefly, Snowell shoved through into the Labyrinth and finally caught up to the Assault Team. I clicked my tongue at its tenacity, then spotted the collapsing Steel Giant and nodded.
'Good...'
Seeing Dawn's clansmen—and Perry perched on Eun Ja-rim's shoulder—let me breathe a little easier.
'...And.'
In the distance, the wavering boundary of the dungeon was visible. Faint, as if it might seal shut at any second. I knew there was no more time to waste. The White Lion brought its forepaw down. ―Blocking Snowell's attack was impossible. So I spread shadows over its eyes instead. No matter how outstanding a skill Rock Skin was.
'It doesn't make your eyeballs hard.'
I unfurled my spiritual field over the shadow and Void devoured the White Lion's eyes. It wouldn't hurt, but the animal dread of sudden blindness made Snowell twist its body. The forepaw meant for the Assault Team slammed into the Steel Giant instead. The monstrous force sent it flying into a wall in a single blow, and the Assault Team seized the opening without missing a beat.
'That'll do.'
The path was a straight line, so it would keep chasing even with ruined eyes, but it couldn't help slowing down. I had the greed to eat Snowell. But right now, I was just as pressed as the Assault Team.
No more time to stall. I burst from the shadows and ran through the gaps between Steelletons. While Kang Tae-ho and Kang Tae-jun were breaking a path, I leaped to stop the Steel Giant from rising. I used foothold after foothold to scale up onto its shoulder blade. It sensed my presence and swung an arm. Before it could hit, I detonated a Gust and slipped free. The blue giant's cervical vertebrae were halfway gone when I cleared it. Unable to support its head, it listed to one side and crashed down like a building caving in on itself.
'Probably not dead, but...'
It wouldn't be chasing anymore. As I ran, I met eyes with Perry, who had forced hers open with visible effort on Eun Ja-rim's shoulder. The mana I sensed from her was bottomed out—she really must have given it everything she had. I felt a fresh surge of pride in the little creature.
"Quickly! Get through, now!"
Thanks to Kang Tae-ho and Kang Tae-jun's efforts, the Assault Team finally reached the dungeon boundary. The rift had faded so much it wouldn't have been odd for it to shut at any moment. Kang Tae-ho tossed aside the Steelleton he'd been holding, then grabbed a clan member by the scruff of the neck.
"Wha—?!"
"No time! Sort out your own landing!"
He started hurling them through, one after another, like throwing balls. Screams rang out. Once he'd sent everyone through, Kang Tae-ho looked as though he might glance back for a moment. Then the ceiling came plunging down wholesale. He clenched his jaw and flung himself toward the fading dungeon boundary.
The instant he did, the boundary vanished—snuffed out without a single second's delay. In the end, as Neverland's ceiling collapsed, the lion let out a mournful roar.
"———!"
***
Kang Tae-ho wiped the sweat from his brow. When he looked back, the dungeon had sealed shut completely. It had been close, but now nothing—Steeleton or Snowell—could come through. The Neverland raid had ended in failure, but it was over. Kang Tae-ho craned his neck and stared up at the sky, then let out a sigh laced with profanity.
"Fuck."
―His father, Kang Hoon, had not been inside the Labyrinth. Considering Kim Joo-seop's death, the bastard must have escaped well in advance. Kang Tae-ho ground his teeth.
"Everyone alright?"
At Kang Tae-jun's question, the clan members looked around at one another and nodded. Aside from the dead, no one had failed to get out. Once they'd confirmed everyone was safe, Kang Tae-jun nodded calmly and walked over to Kang Tae-ho.
"What?"
Was something wrong? He stared back at himself with blank eyes... No. That wasn't it. He realized his brother's gaze wasn't on him but on something slightly off to the side. Kang Tae-ho followed that gaze and muttered, incredulous.
"...Fuck? What the hell is this."
Kang Tae-jun let out a short sigh.
"Come out."
Gripping his half-shattered sword, Kang Tae-jun spoke coldly.
"Or would you rather I drag you out?"
The Assault Team, unable to grasp Kang Tae-jun's actions, swallowed dryly when he spoke a name.
"Alpha (Jirisan Warg)."
Where Kang Tae-jun's eyes rested—there, Kang Tae-ho's shadow was writhing with an ominous, undulating light.