Chapter 628
Chapter 628
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 628
Chapter Title: God's Atlantis
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I stared at the sleeping Seira, observing her like a specimen under glass.
Even in slumber, Seira's body twitched faintly. It seemed like she might wake, but she didn't.
When the time came, I drew closer to her. The moment the distance between us shrank to about three meters, her eyes snapped wide open.
"Lady Seira. Time to switch shifts. Were you already awake?"
"No... I just woke up. The instant I sensed your presence, my mind sharpened."
"...You don't look well. Wouldn't it be better if you slept more?"
"No issue. My senses are just a bit heightened, that's all."
Seira sat up. A cold wind blew, battering her body. She shivered violently, furrowing her brow.
"You. Did you feed me Yett powder while I was asleep?"
My heart skipped a beat. I'd turned it into a gas and made her inhale it—essentially forcing it on her.
"If I had, you'd have woken right up, Lady Seira."
"Just testing. No reason for you to slip me Yett powder anyway."
"Is this what it feels like after taking Yett powder?"
"Worse. My senses are so sharp that even the air brushing my skin feels disgustingly vivid. There's so much input it's giving me a headache. Did you mix a ton of it into the emergency rations we ate for dinner?"
"Do you see me as that kind of guy? You know Yett powder takes effect immediately. If it'd been in the food, you would've noticed instantly."
"Sorry. My nerves are on edge with everything so heightened. I just can't figure out what's wrong with my body."
"If it's too much, sleep again. I'll take watch."
"It's not that bad. It'll pass soon enough. I'll stand watch—you sleep."
"From my position, I'm worried about you, Lady Seira..."
"I won't go far. That's an order. Planning to refuse again?"
"I'll sleep."
I lay down where Seira had been. Her warmth still lingered.
"The stars are beautiful."
"Yeah. Falling asleep stargazing isn't half bad."
Pretending to close my eyes, I cracked them open just a slit. Through the narrow view, I focused solely on her.
"Sleep."
Seira spoke. Her heightened senses must have picked up my gaze. I'd have to be careful. Ogling her chest or ass could ruin everything.
'Even after a few hours, her condition should stay the same. Yett powder's effects and duration scale with dosage. The gas I used on her equates to about 300 grams of powder... Even accounting for most of it blowing away in the wind, the gaseous form is more potent anyway.'
Anticipating her reaction tomorrow, I closed my eyes and drifted off.
???
A cold droplet splashed my cheek.
I opened my eyes.
Fog had thickened around us, and the sky was choked with storm clouds.
Looking around, I spotted Seira easily. She sat with her back against a rock a short distance away, her face twisted in clear displeasure. Her wavy ash-gray hair hung limp, heavy with moisture.
"Awake? I was just about to wake you."
"How's your condition?"
"I'm fine. The weather isn't. Raindrops are starting to fall, one by one. It'll pour soon. And when it does..."
"The Yett Slugs will go wild."
Humid conditions were perfect for slugs to thrive.
"No time to waste. We need to find and kill the Yett Slug Queen fast. It'll ease the pressure on the city."
"Yes. Let's move now."
Less than twenty minutes later, a drizzle began. The fog made navigation treacherous, with obstacles everywhere.
And Seira's state worsened by the minute. Her coat's hood blocked some rain, but not all. Especially now, with her senses several times more acute than normal.
The sound of raindrops, their touch, their chill—she felt it all. The flood of sensations must be cluttering her mind, wearing her down mentally fast.
'The rain's actually good for me. Yett Slug Queen, please, stay hidden. Don't come out.'
I gazed intently at Seira from a step behind.
Sssslither. Sssslither. Sssslither.
Yett Slugs crawled toward us through the fog. Invisible in the mist, the sounds alone evoked a horror flick.
Seira drew her Zweihänder with both hands and swung it forward. The fog parted as a massive sword beam cleaved five Yett Slugs in one go.
She resheathed and pressed on silently. Fluid streaked her face—was it sweat or rain?
'She's pushing too hard.'
Her swing had been overly forceful. Normally, she'd wield that greatsword far more efficiently.
I could've stepped in but held back. I wanted her exhausted.
As time dragged, her condition deteriorated further.
"Lady Seira. We should rest a bit."
"...Yeah."
We sat under a large tree. Thick drops still fell through the leaves, but it offered some shelter.
"You've been staring at me this whole time. Something to say?"
"Your breathing's off, milady. It's ragged. Why not find a spot to settle and rest properly?"
"I'm fine. Just awkward breathing with senses this sharp. More importantly, I think I figured out why this is happening."
Seira changed the subject deliberately. If she were truly okay, no need.
"What do you think it is?"
"Killing those Yett Slugs. I took down more than usual. Before you could act, I jumped in first. Something from them must've affected me."
"Explains why I'm fine. Then I'll handle the Yett Slugs from now on."
"What if it happens to you too? I'll deal with them."
"You could get hurt."
"Better than both of us down. Think efficiency."
"..."
I nodded silently.
One compromised was better than both, especially as a contingency. And for my plan, I had to go along.
Her state kept declining.
She no longer fired sword beams, closing in to swing her greatsword instead. Her skill still shone, dispatching Yett Slugs effortlessly.
By afternoon, the fog thinned slightly. And we found the Yett Slug Queen.
Surrounded by over a hundred Yett Slugs, just as her name implied—like a queen under guard.
Hers was pink, not yellow, making her stand out. Easily twice their size, with a volcano-like crater on her sleek back.
Yellowish fluid oozed from it. Focusing, I realized they were tiny Yett Slugs.
"...I see why they call her queen."
"A Yett Slug Queen births over twenty a day. Regular ones split every ten days or so. With her around, they grow ferocious and multiply uncontrollably. That's why you eliminate queens fast. Wasn't supposed to be a big mission... Sigh. Too many curveballs getting here."
I felt a pang of regret inwardly. Killing the queen meant heading back to the city.
'I was hoping to score with Seira... Queen, you bitch, stay holed up somewhere. Why crawl out now...'
Seira finished prepping and turned to me.
"You. Can you drop lightning on the Yett Slug Queen? Once she's down, the rest'll scatter. Saves us pointless fights."
"I'll try. Storm clouds are perfect for it."
No half-assing with her watching.
Rumble rumble crash!
Lightning writhed in the clouds. Reality had nothing on my current power.
I gathered it and hurled it at the queen.
A deafening boom and blinding flash lit everything like a grenade.
BOOM!
The bolt cratered the ground.
But the queen survived. She writhed and crawled from the pit. Antennae spun, then she gaped her massive maw threateningly at us. Thousands of chainsaw teeth whirred inside.
"...Untouched. I used over half my mana... Shocking."
No visible damage on the lightning-struck queen. Truly shocking.
"Don't be down. She's coated in mucus for protection now. Your bolt, most attacks—won't faze her. Worse, she knows our position. No more ambushes. Frontal assault only."
"Fall back and plan?"
"Can't let her slip away. I'll handle the queen—you cover me and clear the slugs."
"Got it."
Seira kicked off in a straight line. I followed, raining lightning on the surrounding Yett Slugs.
BOOM! Crack! Crack!
Thunder echoed nonstop. Her sensitive ears must ache, but she showed no sign.
Slugs swarmed before the queen.
"I'll clear a path."
Blue sword aura and crimson lightning crackled on Hwaryeonbido.
Yeongcheonryu: Thunder Flash.
I unleashed the blue beam wrapped in crimson lightning.
Dozens of Yett Slugs sliced apart, collapsing.
I aimed for the queen, but it fizzled just before contact. Even if it hit, unsure if it'd finish her.
"Thanks."
Seira charged. I fried slugs lunging at her with bolts.
Reaching the queen, she gripped her Zweihänder tight. Blue aura surged into a sword beam.
Just as she swung, the queen's maw gaped wide, spewing mucus.
Seira dodged sideways. Evading cleanly, she closed in and slashed. Her blade halved the queen, who crumpled in two.
'It's over.'
Seira seemed to agree, staggering once before planting her sword and leaning on it. She forced herself upright.
Then—the bisected queen's antennae twitched.
"Lady Seira!"
Seira gripped her sword in alarm.
Too late.
The queen swelled and exploded. Mucus engulfed Seira.
"Aaaarghhh!"
Her agonized scream echoed. Her clothes melted away instantly, leaving her naked and collapsing.
Startled, I rushed to her. No slugs blocked me. From the queen's suicide, they ignored us, scattering like it was none of their business.
At Seira's side, I checked her. Breathing—passed out, that's all.
'Her already hypersensitive nerves hit with extreme pain? Fainting's natural.'
Her clothes, underwear included, dissolved completely. Her skin blazed red.
'Full-body burns. Can't leave her like this!'
The moment I reached for a potion.
Sssslither. Sssslither. Sssslither.
Slugs approached with hostility. Their demeanor flipped suddenly.
'Damn.'
I stowed the Zweihänder in my inventory, scooped Seira up.
'Acceleration! Moment!'
And bolted at full speed.