Chapter 48
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Tearing Off the Wings
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The White Wings, surrounded by hunters, clicked its tongue.
“A foolish thing to do.”
Kwaaang! A fierce wind blew, splitting the ground. Several hunters were pushed back by the gust.
I take back what I said about it being S-Rank. It’s beyond that. How could clothes tear and wounds appear just from brushing against the wind? Even the hunter with wind abilities couldn’t do this.
“I was going to kill you slowly, but I’ve changed my mind.”
The White Wings raised high. Then, above its head, five glowing swords appeared, each screaming, “I’m dangerous.” The White Wings seemed to catch its breath for a moment before charging at me with a whoosh!
“You first.”
Kwaduk! Its hand gripped my face. In the sensation of my face being torn off, I grabbed its wrist. My hand glowed faintly, snapping its wrist and making it fall away. But only for a moment—the severed hand dangled before creaking back into place.
“How utterly... useless.”
The hunters behind it attacked the White Wings. Occasionally, its body crumbled like it was breaking apart, but it repaired itself in no time, as if nothing had happened.
‘Its body isn’t the weak point.’
Given how it regenerated, it was clear even attacks on the heart or head wouldn’t faze it.
‘Looks like that’s the only option after all.’
With a flap, its wings moved, and the White Wings shot into the air in one breath.
It didn’t spare me a glance. That meant I wasn’t the main target. I immediately headed toward Yun Sia and Park Woo-yun.
“If I look like I’m about to fall, could you use your abilities just enough to give me something to step on?”
“I can, but... I might not be able to keep up.”
“Don’t worry. Yun Sia the hunter will be right there.”
Hearing that, Yun Sia gave a thumbs-up and beamed. Damn it. Why’d she show up only now?
I rejoined the hunters fighting the White Wings. Its attacks definitely landed. It was just those wings that they couldn’t hit.
‘Everyone else seems to have figured it out too.’
They’d been directing their abilities toward the wings for a while now.
The problem was that the abilities weren’t working.
‘If attacks aren’t getting through...’
I glanced at Yun Sia. They were both watching me intently, ready at any moment.
Too many people for an area-of-effect skill. Imbuing my scythe with power to swing sword energy could harm those around, so no. Linking with others... unfortunately, that wouldn’t work either.
‘Then something that doesn’t launch area attacks.’
Whiric. The scythe scattered like smoke and vanished. Then, a pattern glowing white appeared in my hand. The pattern, filled with star shapes, soon extended past my jawline, covering one cheek.
This was the reason why comprehensive stats weren’t that important to me.
‘Fuel efficiency is as shitty as ever, though.’
No time to think about that. I could feel several times more power draining out than with an area skill.
Tung! The ground caved in, launching my body upward. Without hesitation, I plunged straight toward the White Wings from a height that seemed to touch the sky. It dodged the attack as if expecting it, spinning gracefully to land. But what I focused on wasn’t the attack.
“Why dodge so foolishly?”
Dangling in my hand was a necklace.
‘It doesn’t go into inventory, so it must recognize it as a living being. Which means it’s alive.’
The issue was how to extract it. Couldn’t break it easily either. For now, I wrapped the chain around my wrist twice and tucked it into my sleeve.
“...I’ll praise you for this one. Be grateful.”
“Bullsh—"
Whiik, I smashed my fist into the White Wings’ face.
“Don’t.”
It felt like it sank deep with a crunch, but its gray eyes didn’t even twitch. As I dropped straight down, the White Wings twisted its head grotesquely and opened its mouth.
“Fine. You’re different. I acknowledge it.”
“Die!”
Someone suddenly leaped up for a surprise attack—or not. The White Wings turned its head as if expecting it, raising an arm to block. Then, as it lowered its arm, shiiik! Something dominated the space and slashed through.
I protected the ambusher immediately, but he ended up covered in blood. Not just him—the surrounding hunters had limbs severed here and there.
“Aaagh! My arm, my arm!”
“My leg, my leg! Give me a high-grade potion! Please! I used all mine earlier!”
“Shut up! I need this one—can’t you see my arm?!”
Multiple A-Rank hunters had body parts severed.
I glanced at Park Woo-yun. Yun Sia seemed to have taken the attack instead, her deep slash wound and severed fingers being treated with a potion. Even with Yoo A-han’s potions that could regenerate, using a high-grade one to reattach fingers was probably because regeneration took too long.
On a side note, Yoo A-han was a healer capable of regeneration. Meaning, when the kidnapping incident happened, her claim that she couldn’t restore the arm severed by illegal hunters was a lie.
...Anyway.
‘No healers is a real problem.’
Almost no healers had come in. Even if they did, they lacked self-protection and were useless, so they’d been knocked out or killed on the first floor. The first floor was where they fought hunters, and hunters knew all too well how weak healers were.
“Why interfere! I could’ve killed it!”
“......”
I turned my gaze slightly. A bloodied A-Rank hunter glared furiously. If I hadn’t protected him, he’d be dead.
“...Your wounds look severe. Fall back.”
“Who are you to order me around? Which guild are you from, punk? Move! I can do it!”
“In that state?”
I blatantly scanned him up and down. He flinched, then yelled, “What’re you gonna do about it?”
“Fine, do whatever if you wanna die. I’m not helping anymore.”
“......”
At “not helping,” he immediately backed down. So transparent. People have gotten hurt because of you.
I turned my gaze back to the White Wings. Now it seemed to target me, observing my every move like a curious specimen.
“You really are different. Protecting your body in that time. Good. I’ve decided.”
It noticed I’d protected my body.
Whiriric. The glowing swords above its head spun, then merged into its grasp.
“I’ll kill you especially painfully. Be grateful. It means I’m taking an interest.”
“Don’t need your interest.”
“Hm? Don’t you all crave attention? Well, what do you want then?”
“Dunno. Your wings might come in handy, though.”
“Sadly, I can’t give those. Instead, I’ll grant you a painful death.”
“Won’t reason with you.”
Hwaaak. Light burst from my feet, stars popping up one by one.
It attacked and overpowered me several times like that. Aside from my one dislocated arm and more wounds, no big issues. Everything was going according to plan.
I shot up again with a tuk, plummeting straight at the White Wings.
“A pointless endeavor.”
Just before colliding, I spun, feet downward. Park Woo-yun and Yun Sia, catching on, quickly formed a foothold. Using it, I pivoted behind the White Wings and grabbed its right wing.
“Enough already.”
Keeing. The pattern on my body emitted brighter light.
“It’s over!”
Ttududuk. The White Wings’ wing tore off. A gurgle escaped as it staggered.
‘So the wings were the source of its power after all.’
Didn’t expect this much damage.
The glowing pattern on my body faded. I stored the wing in my inventory. If it’s the power source, maybe I can craft something good.
‘...Should’ve picked up the white mask fragment and rabbit ears too?’
Next time, grab them if they respawn.
“Han Ji-eon hunter!”
Yun Sia shouted. Park Woo-yun and Yun Sia approached to help but were attacked by something. I whipped around at the urgent voice to see countless swords heading my way. I immediately tried to use my ability to erase them. Whiric, the swords veered to dodge. As I kept blocking...
Puk.
“Ah.”
A glowing sword pierced my body from behind, its bloodied blade entering my vision. From the pierced wound, a twisting sensation spread through my body. My strength drained automatically from the feeling.
“Good attack.”
“......”
“But failing to finish it? Disappointing.”
The wings didn’t regenerate. At least the weak point was correct.
“Hm. Missed, it seems. I thought I aimed for the vitals. Did you dodge at the last second?”
Squuk, the sword pulled out, my body jolting. Blood gushed from the hole.
“Once stabbed by this sword, you won’t move. I hoped you’d writhe in pain till death, but time’s almost up.”
Ah, so that’s why I couldn’t move.
‘Guess this is it?’
Don’t know how many floors, but dying on just the third? Pretty disappointing. Pain made my eyes close involuntarily.
Then, a sudden thought hit, and I snapped my eyes open.
‘...Wait. Thinking like this always...’
No sooner had the thought formed than the sword about to strike me got bound by red liquid. The White Wings grimaced at the red liquid creeping up. It swung the sword ignoring it, but kang! It clashed with a black sword, blocked.
“Ji-eon. You okay?”
“......”
From experience, casually saying “this is it” always brought people. Seems the same this time.
“You look okay?”
“Nope.”
“Why show up now? You’re late.”
“...The path was really blocked.”
Teng. The sword bounced, pushing the White Wings back.
“Ah. With the wing torn, it can’t use much power—”
“Don’t. Talk.”
At that, I clamped my mouth shut.
My brother and Ji Hwa-yeon took on the White Wings. Other S-Rank hunters arrived and joined in. Even the S-Ranks demoralized from earlier wounds did the same.
Afterward, other hunters moved my immobile body aside. Fortunately, the surviving healers treated the wounded hunters.
Without the torn wing, the White Wings couldn’t exert its former power. Then.
“...Until next time. I’ll return with perfect power.”
It glanced at me, then whoosh, vanished through a suddenly appeared gate. Others tried to follow, but the closed gate let it escape.
As people milled about with the enemy gone, suddenly kung! The sky turned black, revealing the tower lord’s true form from before. Tension remained with the enemy back. But no use—attacks didn’t work on it.
“Han Ji-eon, the key?”
“...Got it, but the White Wings did something, and it changed like this.”
“What’s inside is from the first floor?”
“Yeah.”
Kurrung. The black hand sharpened its red nails and swung wildly, too fast for its massive body, devastating the surroundings.
“...Breaking it would be too much of a gamble, right?”
“Ji Hwa-yeon, how about counseling for gambling addiction?”
“......”
Ji Hwa-yeon smiled instead of answering.
Kung. Kung. The giant hand rampaged madly. No barriers worked; everyone was helpless.
Somewhat recovered, my body started moving slowly. But not enough to stand yet.
I looked up at the sky. In the black hole, red eyes flickered. Then they rolled, fixing on me.
“...Ah.”
The eyes curved into a smile.
Another hand burst from the hole. Right above my head.
Legs still wouldn’t move from the aftermath. Couldn’t even prop up with arms to roll away. Other A-Ranks were already in the fight, not nearby. Ji Hwa-yeon had just joined my brother.
I saw people leaping from afar. But the black hand was already right above me.
As long as it doesn’t crush me. With that thought, I closed my eyes.
But after seconds, my body seemed fine. Instead of being crushed, a floral scent brushed my nose. Cracking my eyes, I saw shortened turquoise hair fluttering. Flowers swayed above my head.
“I said I’d help, but turns out I’m the one who needs to.”
“...Haha.”
Dam-hwa chuckled softly at my sheepish laugh.
“What happened?”
Pushing back the giant hand and letting her flowers fade, she answered.
“Call it a trial.”
“A trial?”
“Yeah. I wandered a lot. Visions of the dead, of my nanny, kept following me.”
Dam-hwa stepped forward to the center. Flowers bloomed along her path.
“Then your words came to mind.”
“...My words?”
“‘I’ll help, so don’t give up.’”
“Ah.”
“So I didn’t. And now, I’m certain.”
“Of what?”
“What I want to do.”
Dam-hwa turned slightly, smiling. Unlike her noble expression, it was an innocent, childlike smile.