34. Why is Noona coming out of there?
34. Why is Noona coming out of there?
The center was briefly cleared.
Our comrades charged through the gap, screaming their heads off.
They clenched their teeth, running without even the energy to make a sound.
The orcs swarmed in from all directions, trying to surround our single-point breakthrough.
Gongnyeo-nim jammed her shield under an orc's jaw and shoved it back with force, while the knight sliced at the fallen orc's ankle.
-Kwadudeuk!
Magna scooped up Jenin and kicked an orc right in the groin, shoving it away.
-Kwajijik!
"Grroaaargh?!?"
"No magic? What the hell are you waiting for!"
"Fire Ball!!!!"
-Peng!
We shoved them back and kept shoving until we finally reached the forest entrance.
Of course, the fight wasn't quiet by any means.
Orcs popping out from between the trees, and kobolds with their backs hunched up huge.
The kobolds, grinning like sneaky bastards, started loading their crossbows.
If only we could just charge straight in... but now we had to worry about ranged attacks too.
If even one of us got injured here, we were screwed.
I yelled at the knights.
"Shields! Got any shields?"
""Yes!""
"Everyone, shields up and follow me!"
The knights sheathed their longswords and drew short swords and shields.
Right now, our only ranged attack was Jenin's magic.
"Magna! Protect Jenin—no, force that Mana Potion down her throat if you have to!"
"O!"
Magna pulled out a blue potion and jammed it into Jenin's mouth.
"Ububub?!?"
Potion sprayed from her nose and mouth since she was hanging on, but even with tears streaming, Jenin steadily cast her spells.
"Weed Cutter! Pugup!"
-Sheeng!
Seeing the kobolds' throats sliced in an instant, Magna grinned.
"Excellent, you bitch!"
I nodded and charged forward.
"Hey! Jang Ryu-o..."
-Tteoreong!
"Urk!"
Gongnyeo-nim's shout was cut off by an incoming arrow.
I dumped all my remaining points into agility and focused my mind.
Circulating my internal energy, my body warmed up, and my field of vision widened.
Roots, rocks, fallen leaves, thorns, vines—didn't need to worry about any of it.
I could use even that as footing.
An orc behind a tree, not even fully hidden.
It raised its club to intercept my flying approach.
Twisted waist for the swing, spread armpit for power, shoulder and wrist adjusting the angle.
The wrinkles in its palm gripping tight.
A strike loaded with malice to turn a person into mincemeat.
As if it believed a human in midair couldn't dodge, the blow came at me.
Whether from agility or training, the path looked way too obvious.
I twisted direction in the air, and the club sliced empty space.
I stabbed the soft flesh visible between the orc's open jaws and slashed sideways.
-Pugeok!
Yanking the sword out while powering through its cheek.
-Chwahak!
A strike done in a flash, my body still airborne.
With the thought that slowing down meant death, I took out the oncoming orcs one by one.
Like a bee circling, I slashed around my comrades.
The orcs, forgetting to go berserk, hesitated in panic.
-Sheeiik!
I dodged the incoming arrows with minimal movement.
For some reason, the sound of arrows whistling was crystal clear.
-Swaeak!
Something brushed my ear, but no sensation—must've been just the wind.
Weaving between trees, I unleashed a massacre...
"Jang Ryu-o, you're insane!!"
-Ttang! Ttang!
"Urk! We can't fall behind!! Kyahaha!!!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"Kueruk! Fire Bruuh!!"
As the blocked path ahead opened bit by bit, a mad glint of hope mixed into my comrades' eyes.
Is this what flying feels like?
Blood oozing from my torn palms mixed with sweat, foaming up on the hilt...
-Sheeririk!
-Puhwaaak!
No pain, no sting—just a snug grip in my hand.
[LV.8 Basic Swordsmanship]
Lost in the trance of cutting down enemies, the fatigue in my body and mind faded.
Power draining from my body, using strength only when needed—my sword path felt fluid.
"Portal's almost here!!"
I tossed the oil barrel behind the comrades, and Magna aimed Jenin at it.
Jenin, at max concentration, instantly got the idea and cast.
-Peoreong!
-Ding!
[Level Up!]
Watching the orcs swept in flames, we dove into the portal.
Now only on the 9th floor. Had to do this shit two more times.
Heat rising to my head, a hollow laugh escaped.
But still...
'This is doable.'
Is this adrenaline? One wrong move and we're all dead, but I just wanna laugh.
Maybe instinct's forcing the smile to keep the momentum...
Like moths to a flame, we charged on.
Twisted elbows, heads leaking blood, dented armor everywhere, scraped wounds all over.
Our comrades looked like hell after the march from hell.
The silver lining...
"Last floor..."
Was the spark of life in their eyes peeking through swollen, bruised lids.
You know that feeling, right? Exhausted to collapse, but your limbs keep moving.
Eyes addicted to the drug called hope, forgetting the pain.
Everyone in their ragged state, eyes shining, waiting for my command.
Being someone's pillar... feels pretty damn good.
Forcing down potions that barely go down, the moment we moved into the forest...
-Woodudeuk! Ppajijik! Woodudeuk!
A chilling sound came from the forest entrance.
Like something being forcibly stretched and pulled.
The source shoved trees aside, asserting its presence.
Right before our eyes, one orc changed color and grew massive.
Despair pushed out the madness in our comrades' eyes.
"That thing... what...?"
"Ha, hahahaha! No... n-nooo!"
"Huu..."
A massive orc with a red body covered in black tattoos.
Ominous light flickered in its fierce golden eyes glaring down at us.
It hadn't moved an inch, but the real problem was...
"Hi~ You're Jang Ryu-o, right?! What the hell are you? Huh?"
The pink-haired girl swinging her legs on the orc's shoulder.
As if the orc was totally under her control, she patted its cheek with her palm.
"Hng, this guy's pretty useful, huh?"
"..."
I kept my mouth shut, and her eyes curved slyly.
"Hehe... It's the Orc Hero! Weak points? Neck and heart? Same as regular orcs!"
The giant orc pointed to its face and heart.
At the hopeless sight, one Apprentice Knight dropped to his knees, laughing hollowly.
-Thud!
"Huhuhuhuhu... We're all dead..."
"Kyahaha! This guy's scary-looking, huh! If Sabunim finds out I used it, she'll flip... Eh, gotta hide for a few days! So then..."
I yelled to everyone.
"Run..."
"No way!"
At that moment, the Orc Hero grabbed the massive hammer at its waist and roared.
"Oooooooo!"
-Kugugugugu
"Kyaaaak!"
My head shook, legs went a bit weak.
The pink-hair had vanished.
Noticing no one on its shoulder, the Orc Hero charged us.
-Kung! Kung! Kung! Kung!
If I ditched everyone and ran alone here...
I shoved the weak thought aside and yelled.
"Just fight!!!!"
Charging the orc, it raised its huge hammer high.
The gruesome sound of muscles straining filled my ears.
-Ppadudeuk! Huwoong!
Squeezing every ounce of strength to dodge sideways, dirt exploded from the ground, covering me.
-Kwaaaang! Hudududuk!
No way to parry that.
If that hit, I'd mix with the dirt into clay, huh?
My internal energy coursing through made my spine chill anyway.
"Fire Ball!!!"
-Peng!!!
Jenin's magic, predictably, didn't even scratch it.
As the flames hitting its face died down, the Orc Hero glared at Jenin.
"Hiiiik!"
While it looked away, I yelled to the comrades.
"Magna! Gongnyeo-nim's right leg! Knights, left leg!"
Chaotic instructions, but they got it instantly and charged.
Protecting the mage while fighting? We'd be fucked.
The orc swung its foot like kicking roadside trash.
"Little one!!!!"
"Hueup!"
Magna grabbed Gongnyeo-nim's back and used Divine Power, but...
-Kwadudeudeuk!
"Krheok!!"
Their strength was way too feeble.
No sign of caring as comrades flew off with their crumpled shields.
I ran circles around the orc with all my might.
"Kraar!"
-Kwaaaang! Kwaang! Kuung!
Like whack-a-mole.
Every gust of wind chilled my guts, but spinning, I closed the distance.
Even dumped my last 1 point into strength, stabbed the Achilles tendon.
-Puk
"Kruk!"
So damn tough, sword only went an inch, but...
-Sheeririk!
Twisted my wrist, shoved in the Bug Sword.
"Kraeaea!!"
Hope. I pulled distance again, away from its grabbing hand.
Jumped high again...
"Krung!"
-Swaeaek!
'Huh?'
All those previous hammer swings were child's play—the hammer was plummeting at insane speed toward my head.
Thrust sword at hammer, jammed fingers into wrist, forcibly triggered Bug Sword.
-Chaejaejaejaeng!
Hammer slowed, but...
'Screwed...'
-Pueok!
HP: 220/790
"Krheup!"
Intercepted midair, I slammed into the ground at massive speed.
Pain was bearable. Couldn't help the breath exploding out, though.
Real problem...
-Suwuuk!
"You crazy bitch!"
For the first time, not my head—my torso hit first.
Definitely pitch black below...
Just as my face was about to sink into the dirt, I thrashed wildly.
Trusting the lightness skill I'd trained, moved my legs like a duck swimming in a lake.
Nails scraping dirt, flailing ugly...
-Tong! Hwiwoooo
-Ding!
[Transmigrator title activated! Strength +3]
'Huh?'
Suddenly shot into the sky, free-falling.
'What the...'
Swallowed the scream trying to burst out, looked down.
Wind drying my eyes hurt like hell, but I forced them open.
Caught a glimpse of the Orc Hero's crown, thinking I was done.
Too perfect a body to fear fall damage.
Fresh stat in strength—couldn't ask for better.
Kicked off the air.
Fall speed ramped up, eyes stung more.
So I closed them. Recalled Master's teachings over and over.
[You can use more than just your eyes.]
Wind wrapping my body too fierce to tell.
Eyes shut, razor wind on skin, tongue parched, ears ringing, nose—what's the point.
Still, I just knew—the Orc Hero was there. I could see it.
Sensing the ominous vibe from its crown, the Orc Hero looked up.
Thought I was fast, but it twitched its body slightly.
Aimed for crown, I slammed sword into nape instead...
-Puuk! Jjajajak! Puhwaaak!
"Kraeaeaerea!!!"
Gripped hilt hard, used fall's momentum to rip back and legs wide open.
-Kung!
"Kreuk!"
HP: 90/790
Hit ground, but speed way down—surprisingly fine.
Landed feet-first, no breaks anywhere.
Slime Body for the win.
Climbed the falling orc's back, jammed Bug Sword into the wound.
-Sheeririk! Kkagagak! Puhwaak!
Burrowed flesh, shredded tough muscle, shattered bone.
"Kreurureuk!!!!!"
-Sheeririk!
Jammed sword into bone shards again, triggered Bug Sword.
No more death cries, and...
-Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
[Level Up!][Level Up!][Level Up!][Level Up!]
[LV.9 Basic Swordsmanship]
No time to savor achievement—something yanked me off the Orc Hero's body.
-Tzupueok!
"Huh? Wha... hey..."
Fist-sized orb touched my solar plexus, floating up.
I came out with the orb.
First things first... into Inventory.
Essence? Gotta grab the loot.
I flopped flat on the Orc Hero's back.
-Cheolpeoreok!
Blood sprayed, fishy stench wafted...
"We... won..."
"Jang Ryu-oooo!!! Front! Front front!"
No time to bask in victory—a shadow loomed over my face.
"What are you really? Second dungeon run, right? Arin's husband? Disciple? Where from? East-born? Outside? Empire? Where?"
Shadow's identity: pink-hair who knew too much and was too curious.
Ha... still here, figures...
Pink-hair stared at me with sparkling eyes.
"I, I like you. Love it. Gotta have you."
"Get... lost..."
The moment I said it...
-Puhwaak!
"...?!?!?!?!!"
Pink-hair's torso exploded into chunks.
Crazy situation froze my thoughts.
'Didn't mean explode, damn...'
Why does shit always go this way?
Another enemy? Phase 2? The 30-day deadline creeping up?
Barely turned my head to look...
"..."
Cheon Hwa-ryeong stared at me with a terrifying face.
No, why is Sis here? No clue.
"..."
"..."
"Si... sis...?"
"...... Haa..."
Cheon Hwa-ryeong pressed her brow like her head hurt.
Felt like something in me snapped loose.
Frowning, she approached and scooped me up.
-Swuk
"How... did you... know..."
"... Hoo... What the hell did you do to me."
"???"
"Whatever. Sleep."
-Tok!
'Huh?'
Please... someone explain...
I don't know shit a...
"Kuuul..."