Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: People Who Have Lost Hope (5)
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Several hours earlier.
A woman with delicate features, blonde hair, and striking white skin peered anxiously out from the cave entrance.
"...Where the hell did he go?"
The root of the problem was a boy named Kelvin.
As one of the few children in the village, he was always under close watch, but the kid who'd been visible just that morning had vanished somewhere. Their worries were mounting, but they couldn't just go out looking for him. The people hiding in the cave to avoid the monsters' eyes risked drawing disaster if they pushed their luck.
In this situation.
The blonde woman, Eileen, suddenly felt a pang of sorrow.
'Living like this... we'll all die someday.'
Three years ago.
Isolated by a massive link outbreak, the survivors had faced the reality that rescue wasn't coming anytime soon and they'd have to fend for themselves. So they dug caves. They found spots that were somewhat naturally formed, dug deep into the earth, and created spaces for dozens to live in. Of course, staying too long left behind smells and traces, so they had to endure the hassle of relocating every few months.
And every time, people died.
There had been around fifty people at the start, including Eileen, but now less than half remained.
In truth, they'd long since lost hope of ever making it out alive.
Foraging for food in the wild had reached its limits, and the eyes of those who went out like clockwork each morning grew duller by the day. Thinking back, Kelvin seemed to have matured too quickly amid the adults' hardships. Recalling how he'd steeled himself to go gather food too, Eileen felt she had to go look for him.
Here.
She and Kelvin were the only Westerners.
The rest were all locals, so they treated him like a little brother and even gave him an artifact.
That was when.
As she geared up simply to head out, the villagers peering outside wore panicked expressions.
"W-What's that?"
"The fog's suddenly clearing?"
It was unprecedented.
The world, shrouded in thick fog year-round, seemed to be parting in places.
This was a bad sign.
The fog blocked rescue teams from arriving and kept survivors from venturing out, but ironically, it also veiled their location from the monsters—a safety net of sorts.
For that fog to lift meant...
"Get ready."
"Everyone inside."
The monsters might have caught the humans' scent and be heading their way.
Ominous premonitions never missed their mark.
It started with gut-wrenching screams echoing from afar.
The foragers had been caught by monsters in the absence of fog.
"Aaagh-!"
"Gaaahhh!"
Inside the cave.
The people huddled together, trembling uncontrollably.
Terror swelling beyond control, none dared flee outside or even peek.
They squeezed their eyes shut.
Some buried their heads and plugged their ears, denying reality.
Eileen was among them.
Haruna, a Japanese woman her age nearby, spoke as Eileen tried to stay composed.
"...We're done for."
"No. Don't think like that."
Eileen replied in Japanese.
Having loved Japan and traveled there, she was fluent enough without a translation artifact. Beyond her native French, she handled English and Spanish too—a four-language prodigy.
But her words.
Didn't get through to Haruna.
Gripped by heart-shrinking fear, tears streaked her face.
"We've been abandoned. You know it, Eileen. It's been three whole years. If the Japanese government wanted to save us, there'd have been results by now, one way or another. Emergency rations ran out ages ago, and foraging isn't sustainable. How are we supposed to survive? We'll all die. Eaten alive by monsters—that'll hurt so much. Really, really..."
Her mind was unraveling.
As she repeated words in delirium, Eileen caressed Haruna's cheek.
"Cure."
Whoosh—
White light flared from her hand.
The healing energy soothed Haruna, who clung to Eileen, calming at last.
But it was a stopgap at best.
As Haruna said, there was no fixing this.
In moments like these, negative thoughts crept in.
If only they'd died sooner, spared the agony of scraping by for three long years.
She closed her eyes.
Opened them hoping it was all a dream.
But from that day three years ago to now, reality here was always cruel.
Thud.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The ground shook.
Snapping her eyes open in shock, she saw an ogre poking its head into the cave.
"Ah, aaah...!"
Haruna in despair.
Hell began.
The ogre crammed inside and tore into people, chomping them gruesomely as survivors bolted out—only to meet swarming monsters outside. No one escaped more than a few steps before sharp teeth ripped them apart. True pandemonium.
Eileen thought.
This is really the end.
But they'd said the brain sends false signals before death, conjuring illusions.
Way over there.
Something strange appeared.
A lone man walking straight toward them.
There were so many.
Way too many monsters.
A quick scan showed C- to B-Rank ones swarming, plus even an A-Rank Twin-Headed Ogre among them.
His breath caught.
In this absurd scenario, Kang San knew he had no choice.
"...Damn it. Shield of Trials."
Flash.
Grrr rumble.
Everything in sight.
Bristled with killing intent.
Their gazes locked on him, they dropped half-eaten human flesh and charged.
Kyaaak!
Groooaaar!
Grinding his teeth.
Aware of the 35 foes, Kang San blocked the first charging ogre's strike.
Whoosh.
Bam—!
That was the start.
Assaults poured from all sides.
Block frontal with shield, flanks hit; block flanks, massive club from above; dodge that, monsters lunge with filthy maws. Boom boom—intense impacts shoved him back. He knew he'd crumble fast like this.
"Aura of Glory, Sanctuary."
Whoosh—
Two skills activated.
A halo bloomed from Kang San, enveloping the party, while Sanctuary bathed the area in holy light.
Bam—!
Strikes landed immediately.
The Twin-Headed Ogre's blows had choked him moments ago, but now Sanctuary's debuff and his boosted stats made it manageable. Holy skills doubled—Guardian's Will included. From 70% to a staggering 140% boost.
Grrroooar.
The Twin-Headed Ogre roared.
Raised its club, then smashed at Kang San.
Bam—!
Rumble rumble.
He held.
Kang San deflected the club and beheaded a charging werewolf.
Flash.
Splat.
His sword drank deep of blood.
Blood Demon Art boosted his attack power, the voice confirmed. At the forefront, he met assaults head-on. Jo Han-byeol's arrows pierced gaps perfectly, timing monster headshots. Jeong Chan-woo stayed out of the front entirely.
Strategy.
When overwhelmed, like against the Werewolf Lord, they fell back on it.
Thud.
Thud thud.
Two more Twin-Headed Ogres in the distance.
Three A-Ranks total.
The Red Zone's infamy proven, Yeon Woo-bin's eyes cooled calmly.
The situation called.
For overwhelming firepower.
The kind that rendered numbers meaningless—explosive force!
"Summon Salamander."
Roooar—
Yeon Woo-bin called her spirit.
Sparks coalesced into form: a flame-wreathed lizard flapping wings.
At once.
"Salamander's Breath, Frenzy."
Her strongest combo unleashed.
Frenzy boiled mana explosively; the Breath took new shape.
Avatar of fire.
Salamander swelled.
Inflating like filled with wind, it exhaled a massive blaze.
Roooar.
Boom boom boom boom!
Insane heat.
It swept the swarming monsters; even the A-Rank Twin-Headed Ogre screamed, unable to endure. Meanwhile, Kang San secured position. Shield of Trials herded them together, priming max damage from one spell.
Roooar—
Kang San felt the flames too.
Heat that'd melt normal defenses up close, minimized by fire immunity. Like against the Werewolf Lord, now too—their party's synergy shone. Kang San corrals, Yeon Woo-bin firebombs: impossible for typical tank-led teams.
Only because it was Kang San.
Only because it was Yeon Woo-bin.
Enemies engulfed.
Agonized ogres charged Yeon Woo-bin.
Groooar—!
"Guardian Shield."
Jeong Chan-woo blocked two or three.
One slipped through.
Not a miss—trust in Yeon Woo-bin, let through deliberately.
Whoosh—
Ogre swung club.
Rending air, poised to pulp her.
"Salamander."
Flash—!
Salamander took flight.
Straight at the ogre, swallowed by its gaping maw.
Then.
"Detonate."
Boom.
Boom boom boom boom!
It burst inside.
Salamander dissolving to flames, the ogre clutched its throat, thrashing as fire spewed from every orifice. Staggering from shock. It crashed down. Yeon Woo-bin ignored it, casting to aid Kang San.
Spirit contract.
Changed her utterly since that day.
Already talented, Yeon Woo-bin now exploded onto the scene.
"Hold on. Just hold."
Fwoosh.
Roooar—
Salamander soared again.
Flames blooming like fireworks, unleashing a breath-like inferno.
"I'll sweep them all."
A battle that seemed impossible.
Objectively outmatched, yet they annihilated every visible monster.
Crackle.
Crackle, crackle.
The ground scorched.
Kang San held the front.
Yeon Woo-bin unleashed all-consuming firepower.
Both one-man armies, making it possible.
Then.
As Kang San panted heavily, Jessica bolted past into view.
"Eileen!"
"...S-Sis!?"
They embraced fiercely.
At the same time, the voice Kang San awaited rang out.
Three trials in a row.
They'd overcome that grueling karma at last.