Phantom Serpent's Deception
Leysia's face, overcome with shock beyond mere bewilderment, came into view.
The composure that had defined her expression until now was gone, replaced by utter astonishment.
A satisfied grin bloomed involuntarily on my face at her reaction.
Finally, I've landed a proper hit.
No matter how capable she was, she could never have imagined I possessed something like precognition.
"Shhh───"
The ninth head let out a pleased hiss.
The future sight ability of the ninth head seemed incredible at first glance, but it wasn't actually all that extraordinary.
The glimpses it offered were limited to fragmented moments just a few seconds ahead, and it consumed not only mana but also strained the eyes considerably.
Even brief uses in combat built up significant fatigue.
Purely in terms of efficiency, Instinct was superior.
However, while Instinct only warned of broad dangers, future sight revealed more concrete threats.
Above all, the ability to prepare in advance made it invaluable.
Each had its strengths and weaknesses.
But that's not what's important right now.
I'd certainly struck a blow to Leysia's confidence, but strictly speaking, it wasn't a decisive one.
I could rattle her mentally, but I hadn't inflicted any direct physical damage.
Don't forget.
I'm still the one on the defensive.
Unless I closed the distance, I had no way to attack her.
Not that I have zero options.
"Shhh───"
Leysia, her composure restored in an instant, pulled a blue potion from her item pouch and downed it.
I knew full well it was a mana recovery potion.
She's about to unleash another barrage.
I had no idea how many more she had left, but I couldn't afford to sit idly by until she ran out.
Whether my stored energy would hold out that long was questionable, and more importantly, time was running short for me too.
The sounds of battle echoing from beyond the ridge were reaching a fever pitch.
My goal here was solely to rescue Arde.
I didn't want to use this if possible, but...
This wasn't the time to hesitate.
Take care of the body, kids.
[Leave it to us─!]
[Hun─gry─...]
The voices of my longtime partners, responding on behalf of the group, didn't inspire much confidence, but I trusted them nonetheless.
Save Arde, no matter what.
I murmured the command like a vow, and they nodded firmly in response.
[Of course.]
The unusually calm voice from the right head put my mind at ease.
Skill Soul Separation SS is activated.
The soul departs from the body.
The left-behind body may be in danger.
Multiple 'sub-personalities' detected in the left-behind body.
One of the sub-personalities takes control of the body.
With the status window's clear chime echoing in my mind, I left my body behind for a time.
* * *
Leysia released the bowstring.
She stared blankly at the arrow as it flew, then nocked another.
How did it dodge?
No one—monster or hunter—had ever evaded her shots before.
Anticipating them might allow a block, but cleanly dodging like that was impossible.
Did it know in advance?
How? How could a monster?
Doubts swirled endlessly, but Leysia's attacks continued unabated.
Thwip─
Her mechanical motions suddenly halted.
A strange sense of wrongness drew her gaze to the opposite ridge.
Even her far-seeing eyes barely made out a faint, white, elongated shape.
Something unidentified approached at a moderate speed.
"...A wraith?"
A ghost-type undead monster.
Leysia frowned slightly at the apparition-like figure.
According to her knowledge, no wraiths inhabited the lava zone.
Another anomaly?
The situation kept defying her expectations, and her delicate brows refused to smooth.
She ceased her assault on Nix entirely and turned her bow toward the new threat.
She decided to eliminate the presumed wraith before resuming with Nix.
No more variables.
Her face twisted with uncharacteristic irritation as she drew the string.
The moment her bow locked onto the anomaly...
"......!"
The faint figure vanished in an instant.
An illusion? That thing's doing?
Her gaze snapped urgently to Nix.
The moment her offense paused, it had begun moving—the massive bulk already cresting the ridge.
Leysia grimaced.
Far too many abilities for one monster.
It had to be exterminated eventually, if not now.
To prevent Nix from crossing, she drew her bowstring taut.
And then...
"Hup...!"
A dizzying sensation pierced her mind.
ZZZing─ Her instincts screamed, and she dodged urgently.
Sharp ice shards embedded where she'd stood.
Not an illusion...!
As she leaped aside, Leysia spotted it.
The vanished figure had closed right up to her.
"Shhh───"
The eerie snake's hiss sent chills across her skin.
She landed lightly, facing the ghostly serpent staring her down.
"This is... too much."
She muttered hollowly with a wry smile, raising her bow.
The situation had spiraled out of her control, eroding her calm, but surrender wasn't an option.
She still had her mission.
"Too late to stop it now?"
She glanced at Nix lumbering beyond the ridge, then back at the spectral snake.
"Even so, weaker than the main body, right?"
This one's purpose was mere delay.
Realistically, she couldn't halt the hydra anymore.
Judging coldly, Leysia leaped away.
A searing pillar of fire erupted where she'd been, as if lying in wait.
"Don't know the skill, but ghost-type by the look."
Physical attacks without mana would be useless.
Mana gathered in her bow.
A pure white arrow of light formed; she loosed it skyward without hesitation.
Not at the foe.
The snake form glanced up warily.
Guarding against an unknown attack?
Leysia smirked at it.
"Wrong. Not an attack."
Her murmur accompanied the arrow's explosion in midair.
Boom-boom─
Like fireworks, it burst with brilliant light and thunder—more signal than strike.
Not for those present, obviously.
For the raid team beyond the ridge.
Mission accomplished, Leysia gripped her bow with satisfaction.
"Not great at close range, but I can manage... Let's play a bit, monster. Wonder how long you'll last."
The serpent hissed "Shhh───" sinisterly in response.
* * *
Boom-boom─
Leysia's signal reached the raid team, deep in their assault.
Park Han, mid-spell, glanced skyward and frowned.
'Leysia Hunter failed?'
No, "failure" didn't fit.
Her task was delay.
Holding an SS-rank solo this long already exceeded expectations.
'We're the ones who failed.'
His gaze swept the embattled team.
All poured everything into felling the beast.
The massive wyrm lay in ruins, barely clinging to life.
"So close to the end..."
Regret welled; Park Han sighed.
A bit longer, and even this indomitable monster would fall.
Success dangled before them, breeding hesitation.
Not for loot or fame—though valuable.
But the hunters who'd died to reach here... their lives were too precious to waste.
How many had perished without rest or remains?
Thinking of them, he couldn't end the raid here.
Not without honoring their sacrifice...
Slap─
Park Han struck his own cheek hard.
His foggy mind cleared.
"Hoo..."
He'd nearly forgotten the true priority amid greed and delusion.
His eyes flicked rearward.
Numerous fallen hunters lay in relative safety, untended as healers focused forward.
Potions stabilized the critically wounded, but delay meant doom.
He couldn't dawdle and abandon them in retreat.
'Seong Jae-myeong once missed the retreat window, costing countless hunters and Korea's future.'
A perfect cautionary tale.
He wouldn't repeat it.
As raid leader, Park Han chose lives over glory.
"Full raid retreat!"
His mana-amplified voice boomed across the plateau.
No hunter missed it amid the chaos.
Choi Sang-hyeok, at the vanguard, scowled.
"What? Retreat? You're kidding! We're almost done!"
"Another monster incoming! SS-rank! I repeat: All raid members, retreat immediately!"
The second SS-rank's revelation shook even Choi Sang-hyeok.
"Damn... So close!"
"Guild master, we must move. Gather the guild."
Cha Won-taek persuaded quietly.
Choi Sang-hyeok glared regretfully at the magma wyvern, then clicked his tongue and turned.
"By guild master order: Vice-master Cha Won-taek, stay rear and buy time."
"...Understood."
Choi leaped off, leaving Cha's bow.
Not just him regretted the retreat.
"Retreat?"
"...I heard."
Kwon Je-na sighed, eyeing the wyvern hesitantly.
Mangled beyond recognition, it teetered on death's edge.
Just a little more time...
Tsk─
She thumped Yoon Myung-ho's back roughly.
He grunted "Urk─."
"Gather the guild, Myung-ho."
"...And you, raid leader?"
"I said once: one title. Don't confuse me."
"Can't help it; doesn't stick."
Yoon grumbled softly, pressing.
"So what about you, vice-master?"
"I'll hang back, take it slow."
"What? Crazy? Dangerous!"
Kwon Je-na frowned at his outburst, tucking back stray hair.
"Even if it's dying, it'll lash out as we flee—breath attack or worse. Someone's gotta block it. Has to be done."
"Doesn't have to be you!"
"Anyone below SA-rank stays, they're cannon fodder. Might as well save as many as we can fleeing. Our old man would've done the same."
Recalling their guild master, she smiled faintly.
Yoon, thinking the same, fell silent.
"Guild master would've, sure, but..."
"Don't worry, Myung-ho. Who am I? Kwon Je-na. Your eternal raid leader, vice-master... big sis."
"...Come back quick."
"No plans to die."
She chuckled lightly, patting his shoulder "tap-tap."
"Go. Save the guild."
Yoon dragged his reluctant feet away, glancing back constantly—very him.
'Acting all hunter-like lately...'
But still so green at times.
Kwon Je-na grinned, scanning approaching hunters.
"Not going?"
"Heh—heh. That wound from earlier keeps throbbing. Can't sleep if I leave it."
Hong Jun-yeol joked; she grinned back.
"Heal?"
"No thanks. Save mana. Already potted up."
She nodded at his hearty laugh.
"Rear guard just us?"
Richard approached quietly, addressing Kwon Je-na, Hong Jun-yeol, and Cha Won-taek.
She nodded.
"Yeah, us three for now."
"Then include me."
"Huh? Richard Hunter? Why?"
"Haha, that's hurtful. Aren't we battle brothers? Can't leave me out of the fun..."
He feigned teary offense; Kwon Je-na laughed "Ha."
"Boss approved?"
"President would pat my head, say good job."
"...Leysia Hunter? Your head?"
"Yeah, acts tough but loves cute things."
"......"
Kwon Je-na averted her eyes wordlessly.
"Everyone."
Park Han approached the four.
"On signal, raid retreats fully. Buy us time."
"No breath blasts from behind?"
He smiled faintly, nodding.
"Count on it."
"...Yes. I'll trust you. I'll pin it with magic as best I can."
"Cover fire, please."
Park Han paused at Kwon Je-na's grin, then bowed deeply.
"Please. And thank you."
They shook heads at his courtesy.
"Heh—heh, catch up soon."
"Tell our president to go ahead if you see her. No need to wait."
"Raid's yours till we return."
"Keep an eye on our guild master—no funny business."
Park Han nodded at their varied words.
Short exchange ended; retreat began.
The wounded wyrm roared savagely at the fleeing hunters.
───