Erhil (3): The Shadow Serpent's Lair

Korea Hero School manages the fields with drones and cameras built from magitech that fuses magic and science. But no matter how meticulously they observe, the school is simply too vast. That's why gaps inevitably exist. And in one such gap on the grassland field lurks a monster too much for students to handle.

'It'll be controlled by the demons during their invasion here someday anyway.'

Best to take it down while we can. With that in mind, I led Erhil and Kim Ara toward its hiding spot.

"Hmm, this hunting ground feels oddly barren of prey, doesn't it?"

Swoosh—

Erhil finely tuned her mana threads to pierce a small monster's heart, dragging back the corpse. Her smile deepened. Saying the prey was mysteriously absent was tantamount to saying a predator lurked nearby.

"So, what's the profile on our target monster?"

"...I'm curious too."

"Snake."

Their puzzled gazes turned to me at my answer.

"Not your average snake."

Obviously, if it were ordinary, I wouldn't have brought both Erhil and Kim Ara. I could handle a regular one solo, no problem.

"It's a snake on the verge of becoming an Imugi."

"...Hmm."

"You think we can take that down?"

Kim Ara fell silent, while Erhil eyed me dubiously.

"We can. Erhil provides overall support, Ara tanks up front, and I finish it in one strike."

"...".

Kim Ara gave me a look like I'd lost my mind. Erhil's expression was equally strange—as if she couldn't believe I'd claim to one-shot an Imugi.

But they knew I wouldn't lie, so this had to be close to the truth.

"One-striking an Imugi... What nonsense. Anyone else, and I'd call it a blatant lie."

"Right?"

A new glint entered their eyes—something like anticipation at finally witnessing my true power.

Well, I'll give it my all.

"And even if I fail, you two can survive, yeah?"

I said to Erhil, who froze mid-smile for a split second.

"Oh? Does that mean Seoha would sacrifice himself to protect us? How touching~."

"Get real."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I wasn't worried about Erhil or Kim Ara. If Erhil's life were truly threatened, the Transcendent's soul slumbering within her would descend. Sure, there'd be some risk—not zero—but she'd pull through, and for the price of her life, it was negligible.

Kim Ara had her Root Force too, so she'd be fine.

"Hold up."

I halted the group, eyeing a black scale-like thing stuck to the ground. About the size ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of my palm.

"This... is from our target, the Shadow Snake?"

"Yeah."

"Shadow Snake?"

Kim Ara looked confused.

"Shadow Snakes are tricky. Monsters awakened to shadow attributes leave no traces, excel at ambushes, and hide easily—tough opponents overall..."

Erhil explained in my stead.

"And you said it's right on the cusp of becoming an Imugi?"

"Yep."

Probably within a year it'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rack up enough karma to transform. In second year, demons swarm the Trial Tower to conquer it, and some guy called Beast Lord uses this snake as a minion, causing massive casualties.

Normally, students wouldn't touch this. Seo Wooju the instructor, plus assistants, and a couple Mid Grade professors would handle it.

A quest window popped up before my eyes. Too perfect to be coincidence.

'Not bad.'

With the multidimensional paid shop, points are always good. Just... whoever sent me here seems to be watching, which is creepy.

Ffft.

I chuckled lightly. Worrying about that was a luxury for now. I led the group to its lair.

No need for concern. Kim Ara and Erhil were top-tier. Among my best current assets.

And I was confident in this hunt.

'Around 1,375 times?'

I recalled how many times I'd farmed it in Epic World for achievements.

Erhil narrowed her eyes, watching the boy ahead. Lee Seoha. A person of interest.

His power was unknown. He'd cleared the Trial Tower first, and from subtle "pranks" on those who'd dungeoned with him, he'd navigated like he knew every inch inside out.

'Unclear.'

Erhil peered at him with her "eyes." But she saw nothing.

—Staring like that isn't wise.

Her mentor spoke from within.

—He's an utter enigma. Even this close, I can't read him. Something blocks his info.

'Even you, Master?'

Erhil was shocked. The world called her a master of illusion magic, but it was just appearance—she wielded perfect illusion from another system. Thanks to Melanie Merhen, the transcendent soul from another world wholly transplanted, aiding her earnestly.

Her eyes were leagues beyond ordinary "magic eyes." A Transcendent's karma-sight pierced all creation.

"We're here."

At Lee Seoha's words, Erhil scanned around. A small underground space, but unlikely. Yet he stopped, staring right at it.

"...No way, here?"

"Yeah, snake den."

Lee Seoha grimaced slightly, prodding the ground with the Black Heaven Demon Sword to widen the entrance. Barely enough for him to slip through.

"Dungeon-like structure. Widens as you go deeper."

"Exactly. Follow me."

He headed in. Erhil wove a mana barrier to block dirt and descended.

"Ah, I'll give Ara a lift too."

"Thanks."

Ten minutes of walking. The path widened.

—Erhil, incoming...!

"Battle stations, everyone."

Before Erhil ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could warn, Lee Seoha called it.

Vmmm!

Kim Ara summoned her Giant's Sword, taller than her. Erhil drew her Tome of Illusions, the half-person-sized grimoire floating aglow.

At the same instant—

—Shaaaaaaa!

A chilling hiss echoed.

"Kim Ara, smash the ground full force. All you've got."

"Got it."

"Wait, hold on. Shadow-attribute monsters resist normal physics..."

"Doesn't matter."

Dismissing Erhil, Lee Seoha nodded to Kim Ara. She nodded back. Power swelled within her—unlike mana, invigorating life force, steeling the body.

Root Force.

Recalling what he'd called it, Kim Ara swung.

──────────────!!!!

A wave crushed space itself.

—Kieeeek!

A black serpentine form writhed up from below in agony.

"Erhil, bind it."

"Ugh, fine!"

Grumbling, Erhil poured mana into her grimoire. Dozens of threads shackled the Shadow Snake. Her eyes stayed locked on Lee Seoha.

Against this, he'd need real power. What would it be? Rumors swirled, but even her master couldn't guess.

If he slipped, she'd illusion-escape them out. Mana rising, she watched intently.

Vmmm—!

Black power emerged, denying all.

'What...?'

—Heavenly Demon!

Before Erhil could ponder, Melanie screamed.

—A Heavenly Demon heir? How?! She died without successor!

Ignoring them, Lee Seoha unleashed. Still clumsy with Reverse Heaven. Black Heaven Demon Sword muddled qi flow.

Black qi coalesced in his hand, forming a sphere. Perfect orb pulsing ominous negation.

Lee Seoha leaped at the Shadow Snake.

Black Energy (黑勁).

The black sphere struck true.