The Skeleton's Crossroads

After recovering a sliver of stamina from their brief rest, the group resumed running at a light jogging pace.

"Huff—huff— If I—get out of this—alive—I'm never—stepping on a treadmill—again."

Among those who had already hit their physical limits, only Helen could still manage to speak.

Hoo— Focusing is getting difficult.

The path they were on was Course C. Just because it was a route frequented by hunters didn't mean the roads were smoothly paved like proper highways. More than half the time, they had to weave chaotically through dense forest undergrowth, and checking messages while being chased by monsters in terrain like that was no easy feat.

Still, the desire to confirm the details of his class change was hard to suppress.

What should I do with this... hmm...

He forced his concentration higher and read through the options, only to clutch his head as his thoughts grew even more tangled than before.

The final option presented was far more ordinary compared to the others. It was the very first choice that had come to mind when he'd imagined what routes might appear during a class change. Yet because it was so plain and straightforward, it also felt strangely appealing.

Skeleton Swordsman...

What troubled him now wasn't simply choosing among the four options, but the message that had appeared right after them.

First, the description for Skeleton Swordsman read as follows:

'So that white space where I obtained [Penetration] is called the Realm of Martial Arts. That's what sets it apart from the other options...'

The shocking premise of discarding every ability he had built up until now. Yet his future growth would be rapid, and he would even receive one chance at a stat reset.

'A stat reset... that's genuinely precious...'

The opportunity for a stat reset, something the earliest Awakeners had searched for with burning eyes. Choosing Skeleton Swordsman would grant him that.

But then another line appeared that blew away all those intriguing descriptions at once.

- You have encountered a life-or-death crisis unlike any you have faced before. If you overcome this crisis with your own power, one of the currently available options will transform into a new form.

'...One of the given options... will change...'

The four choices available so far were Skeleton Bomber, Skeleton Pyromancer, Skeleton Assassin, and Skeleton Swordsman.

'If I overcome this crisis without changing classes, it'll offer something better than the current options?'

The condition made it highly likely, though he couldn't be certain. Even so, greed surged within him. The desire to walk a more unique path, one no one else had taken. It wasn't because he was strange. Anyone would be conflicted in this situation.

'If things go according to my plan in the canyon... I can win without changing classes. But if they don't, it'll be total annihilation...'

Hoo— It was a difficult choice. Whether to push himself for the sake of the future, or to take the safer path right now.

After wrestling with the dilemma and reaching a conclusion, another twenty minutes passed.

"Nothing detected yet... right?"

Ilwol nodded. By now, No Hayun had already realized he possessed an unknown detection ability. That chatterbox of a troublemaker had blabbed about it, so of course she knew. Or perhaps she had noticed from the beginning.

A grin spread across No Hayun's face at his nod. What on earth went through that girl's head when she lived her life? Did she even think at all?

"The connection's been cut! Roughly two ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hundred meters!!"

Yeonhee's confident shout cut through the gaze between Hayun and Ilwol. What did the two hundred meters she mentioned signify?

Back when Sang-cheol and Hyeong-jik had left the party, Yeonhee had approached Ilwol and told him that upon surpassing level 40, she had gained a new ability. That ability allowed her to share vision when a summon's summoning was released.

'That's huge.'

It was an ability with high utility. Right now, it let them share the moment the Lizardmen and Ttungi left behind in the rear were attacked by orcs, allowing them to gauge how close the enemy had gotten. Of course, the information gained from sporadically placed summons was limited, but combined with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his own abilities, it could be properly supplemented.

Based on the information obtained so far, the orcs had narrowed the distance to between 120 and 200 meters.

"This isn't going to work! We'll be surrounded before we even reach the canyon!"

"Heek?! Damn it! Damn it!"

"Aaaah, please save me!!"

Watching the party members' despair slowly rise, Yeonhee wore an expression of serious contemplation.

'She still can't use the summoning tome...'

Even though her level had risen several stages, Yeonhee had yet to use the summoning tome. It was understandable while they were moving, but she could have used it during their breaks. Then again, those breaks had only lasted one or two minutes, so it might have been difficult. Ilwol could only guess that, aside from not wanting to reveal the summoning ritual in front of others, there might be some other restriction.

"Yeonhee, how's your mana?"

"It's below half!"

Even so, the distance between them and the orcs was slowly closing because Yeonhee kept deploying summons in the rear to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠block their advance.

"Haa... haa..."

Her ragged breathing brushed between his bones before rushing forward and escaping. Total mana consumption was proportional to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fatigue. The mana she had used today was comparable to what she had expended over the past several days. Of course she would be exhausted. Even while being carried on his back, there was nothing she could do about her mental strength declining.

"How much farther to the canyon?"

At Helen's question, Ilwol held up five fingers, and everyone's brows furrowed deeply.

"Haa— I... I really can't run anymore."

Eventually, even Jin-gyeong collapsed.

"Lizardman Number 17! Carry Jin-gyeong unni!"

After sprinting at near full power for nearly thirty minutes, everyone except Helen and Ilwol ended up being carried by summons. Of course, this only hastened the moment they would encounter the orcs.

Kwoooooooar—

Now, when they looked back, the orcs' heads were visible, they had gotten so close. The creatures licked their lips greedily, their bloodshot eyes flashing.

Stored Bombs: 23/62

'Should I buy us some time with bombs?'

Just as the thought crossed his mind, an Ice Field—the seventh one he had seen today—covered the rear area.

Crackle-crackle-crackle...

"Krrk?"

Dozens of orcs appeared to be frozen, but—

Crash!!

"Th-this!!"

Watching the orc warriors easily break free from the ice, No Hayun let out a rare flustered voice.

'She rushed it too much.'

Casting magic was an extremely delicate task. Because she had been unable to properly focus her mental strength in her haste, her spell manifested at less than half its usual power. As a result, the orc warriors had only received what amounted to an ice massage. A massive amount of mana had been wasted, and the spell had only served to boost the enemy's confidence—the worst mistake a mage could make.

Yet no one could bring themselves to resent her. Everyone knew that while being chased by the orcs, Yeonhee and No Hayun had worked the hardest.

Ilwol pulled out potion bottles filled with water from Irma Lake and tossed one each to No Hayun and Bae Jua.

"Ah! Isn't this the one from earlier?"

He nodded.

"Waaah—!"

Bae Jua, the rock-attribute mage, downed hers in one gulp and soon began trembling.

"Ah... I feel alive again!! This is amazing! It seems to reduce fatigue too?"

"Definitely... I've never heard of or seen a potion like this."

No Hayun stared longingly at the empty bottle.

'Now that you've drunk it, get to work.'

Ilwol signaled the two mages by pointing behind them, and they obediently began chanting again.

"Rock Rain!!"

"Multiple Ice Spears!!"

'You two... even if you pour all your mana in like that...'

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh—!!

Shrieeek—!!

Of course, the two mages' spells were incredibly powerful and proved effective at checking the orcs' front line that had pushed right up to their noses.

"Just a little more!!"

"Lizardman-nim, please run just a little faster!!"

Slurp...!!

'We'll make it to the destination by the skin of our teeth.'

...

"Huff— haa— W-we made it."

The place they arrived at was a canyon seven meters wide, its sheer walls stretching so high the top was invisible. This location was perfect for setting up a defense. They moved to the widest section at the end of the canyon and established their defensive position there.

"What if they throw rocks like before?"

The moment they arrived, Jin-gyeong wrapped her arms around herself and asked worriedly. Bae Jua reassured her.

"I couldn't do anything earlier because I was flustered, but next time I'll be able to handle it properly. Don't worry. Besides, throwing rocks that size while imbuing them with mana must be a burden even for that guy. He won't be able to use it often."

"That would be a relief, but haa..."

"L-let me reorganize. First, Summon Ilwol is on free role. The combination is No Hayun-ssi freezing them with ice magic, then Ilwol blowing them up with bombs. Everyone else, focus on preventing the orcs from pushing us back however you can."

Following Yeonhee's words, No Hayun added,

"Additionally, the core of our defense is Mage Jua here, so please protect her as much as possible with summons."

Ilwol nodded.

Rumble—

Just as he was about to leave his position—

"Heh heh heh, stupid humans. Can't run away."

"Trapped yourselves. Stupid."

"Blue-haired female. I eat."

The orcs, grinning lecherously, began licking their lips and pressing forward.