Chapter 616
Chapter 616
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 616
Chapter Title: Uninhabited Island of Survival
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"Don't get cocky. It's only been ten days so far. The real challenge is ahead."
Han Ha-rin was right. Only ten days had passed. We hadn't even conquered half of the dungeon yet.
On the 20th day of survival, another change occurred.
A storm battered the uninhabited island.
Waves surged high alongside the rain and wind, so tall that we couldn't even dream of approaching the beach.
At least the storm clouds are a silver lining. Those dark clouds blanketing the sky... They're perfect for me since I wield lightning. I can drop bolts from them freely.
Monsters appeared even in broad daylight.
Crackers and Elizads.
Elizads resembled lizards. They were quadrupedal but had wings for flight, and they spat flames or ice from their mouths. They were also nicknamed mini-dragons.
C-grade monsters at best. That nickname's wasted on them.
The Crackers were trickier to deal with.
"Sung Yu-jin! The sky! Three Elizads are flying this way from above!"
"Got it. I see them. I'll handle it. Bold enough to take to the skies in this weather."
I unleashed lightning.
A white flash pierced the thunderclouds, striking the three incoming Elizads. They plummeted downward. But I didn't stop there. I followed up with another bolt for good measure.
Kraka-boom!
The thunder echoing across the island exhilarated me.
"Ha-rin sunbae, the magic stones are too far to collect."
"You think we'd obsess over single stones in this mess?!"
"Even Ha-rin sunbae has no greed for cash right now."
"Shut it and think about what comes next!"
"Thinking or not, our goal is survival. Those things are in our way."
"Don't forget—survival first."
"Exactly. So we wipe them out. They're spawning nonstop across the island. If we don't clear them methodically now... the whole place could swarm later."
"...You have a point. Sigh, normally you'd avoid fights for survival, but..."
"The best defense is a good offense."
Whenever I spotted a monster, I called down lightning from the clouds. Han Ha-rin did the same, unleashing her powers on sight. We hunted them from afar, making full use of our abilities.
By the 28th day of survival.
With five days left until the 33rd, we were exhausted. No matter how many we killed, more kept coming. Two days ago, bipedal fish monsters from the sea had joined the assault.
We couldn't even sleep properly. We took turns standing watch, catching mere naps—two or three hours a day at most. The rest was endless combat.
"Argh, damn it. We'll collapse from fatigue before they get us. You okay, Ha-rin sunbae?"
"...I'm fine."
As if. She looked worse than me—sunken eyes, pale lips. She desperately needed rest.
"Ha-rin sunbae, this won't work."
"No alternatives. Nowhere to run on this island. Our old cave's compromised, and the sea's suicide. Just five days. Hold out five days."
"That's the problem—we might not last those five."
"Hah. Sung Yu-jin, empty words just drain stamina. You got no other plan... Huh...?"
Han Ha-rin's body tilted sideways. I rushed over, catching her before she fell.
"You're at your limit. You've noticed your gravity manipulation faltering, right? You need rest."
"...No safe spot. Nowhere secure on this island."
"Actually, one place. The one spot we haven't checked."
"You mean..."
The island had two caves.
One was the shallow one we'd used until recently. The other plunged into unfathomable depths.
We hadn't explored the deep one. Those often housed boss monsters. Waking a sleeping one inside could spell disaster.
The dungeon's goal was 33 days survival—not killing the boss.
Even if we took it down successfully, the dungeon wouldn't clear. Just a waste of energy.
I scooped up Han Ha-rin despite her protests. She started to say something but clamped her mouth shut. Her cheeks flushed faintly.
"I know it's creepy. Could be a boss... or not. Right now, that cave's our hope."
"Fine. I'll go with your call. Now put me down. Just a dizzy spell— I can walk."
"Ha-rin sunbae, you know my strength's insane, right? You're like a feather to me. Stay put."
I carried her toward the cave, blasting lightning at any monsters en route.
At the entrance, I peered inside. Pitch black. Impossible to gauge the depth.
Before entering blindly, I fired lightning into the darkness. It lit up briefly, but not fully. Deeper than expected.
Fired three bolts, waited five minutes—no reaction, no presence. Empty inside?
Too quiet. Unsettling.
I glanced back.
Over fifty Elizads swarmed the stormy skies, hunting us. Crackers multiplied across the island.
Stay here, and we're done for.
I pulled a lantern from my inventory and handed it to her.
"Ha-rin sunbae, hold this."
"Put me down. I can walk."
"Nah."
"..."
Still carrying her, I stepped inside.
About five minutes in.
Something appeared.
"Ha-rin sunbae, that's a stone door, right? My eyes aren't playing tricks?"
"Looks like one to me."
A massive stone door, slid open sideways. "100" was carved on its surface.
"Why's this here? Nothing man-made on the island before."
"Only one reason—a barrier. But that '100' on it bothers me more."
"No traps, no monsters... Safer than thought. Should've scouted here sooner."
Truth be told, our sex-filled days had us neglecting exploration.
"Don't relax yet. Could be traps or monsters deeper in."
I passed through the open door.
Warm.
Instant warmth hit us. Han Ha-rin looked surprised too.
"Better than expected."
Our storm-battered, monster-fighting bodies welcomed it. My steps slowed. Tempting to crash here. But distant monster roars urged me on.
A second stone door.
Open, marked "200".
Inside.
Trickle-trickle.
A small stream flowed nearby. I eyed it as we walked.
"Thirsty, Ha-rin sunbae? Looks like fresh water."
"I'm good. Your bottled water's safer."
Third stone door.
"300" carved, open.
Beyond: fruit trees heavy with produce.
"Ha-rin sunbae, this place feels like..."
"Built for living. Like a shelter."
"Kinda frustrating. We'd have come sooner if we knew."
"Even if we did, there'd be conditions to open them. Otherwise, why have doors?"
"Related to those numbers?"
"Probably."
"Any guesses on the conditions?"
"Likely opens after killing a set number of monsters."
"Makes sense. We've been slaying steadily since entering—over a thousand easy. Sell the stones, and we're talking billions."
"Put me down."
"Suddenly?"
"If you're carrying me, do it right. No sneaky groping my butt or chest."
"Busted."
I chuckled and pressed deeper.
Fourth stone door: a hut inside, pristine with bed and table. Cozy, but too small for two.
"Rest here?"
"No. Let's check the fifth. Curious what's beyond."
Fifth door, "500", open.
Inside: different. Walls covered in ancient murals.
We froze at the central one.
Black trees and pale humanoids. Or humanoid-like beings.
"That's a Phiron, right?"
"..."
Phiron.
The worst monster from China. Born from black trees, rocketed to A-rank instantly, even capable of speech. Some hunters called them a humanoid species, but to me, monsters through and through.
Han Ha-rin slipped from my arms, stood, and examined the murals.
I scanned too. Faded in spots, hard to decipher fully. One caught my eye.
A massive red tree.
Countless Phirons gazed up worshipfully. Its roots twisted like spheres, sun-like.
Interpreting murals is for the Association experts.
???
Day 33. The final day.
We sat naked in the mural room. My left arm around her shoulders, her head on mine.
Monsters visible beyond the door.
On day 30, they entered the cave. Reached the third door first, fourth by day 31, now swarming the fifth.
But no fear. They couldn't pass it.
Stones materialized before us.
Stone of Survival? That thing?
Grants 3 seconds of total invulnerability.
Powerful, but single-use, personal, short duration—not legendary treasure. Market price around 15 billion.
Like a 3-second invincibility item in a game. Use wisely post-duration.
A portal opened before us.
"Ha-rin sunbae, we got time. Wanna hang out more?"
She scowled.
"Sick of this place. Let's go."
She stood. My semen trickled down her slick thighs from her pussy. With a sigh, she wiped it with a handkerchief, then dressed. I dressed too, regretting a bit, and followed her into the portal.