Chapter 376
Chapter 376
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 376
Chapter Title: Clash of Formation Masters
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The duel between formation masters was a battle to see whose control was superior.
In that regard, Jin-un was Behemoth's perfect counter. In their world, defeating a superior formation master was harder than taking on the Heavenly Demon himself.
"Your uncle... he's no joke."
Si-woo watched the match in awe.
He'd been a bit worried since the opponent was Behemoth, but Jin-un made those concerns look foolish with his overwhelming skill gap.
"It's not 'your uncle' anymore—it's our uncle."
Jin-un had officially joined the guild. That meant he was an official comrade now.
Of course, it would take time.
Unlike Soo-hyuk, Si-woo, Ye-ryeong, and Hyo-min hadn't spent as much time with Jin-un. They couldn't help feeling a bit distant compared to the others.
But would they ever shun him?
When Soo-hyuk corrected him, Si-woo nodded right away.
"Yeah. Our uncle's amazing."
"He is. No one can touch him in that field."
If the opponent hadn't been Behemoth—or even if it had just been a mid-tier high-ranker—things might've been different. Maybe sheer luck could've taken Jin-un down.
But against another formation master? Jin-un couldn't lose. Soo-hyuk was actually relieved the opponent was Behemoth.
What if it were me?
Si-woo imagined himself in that spot, facing Behemoth—or even Jin-un.
Freezing the golems, closing the distance in one burst. Thrusting with his spear.
Would that end it? Or would the opponent's next move follow?
Fights with formation masters were unpredictable. Even piercing their throat might not end it—nothing was guaranteed.
Soo-hyuk clicked his tongue at Si-woo, whose eyes sparkled blue.
Thinking about fighting again.
He might look cold, but Si-woo had the hottest blood among them. Right now, he was probably battling imaginary foes like Jin-un and Behemoth.
Well, he'd held back long enough.
Twenty years. A damn long time. After hiding that whole period, jumping back into the interdungeon league? No wonder his blood was boiling.
That made it all the more exciting.
How would this guy—scorching hot one moment, ice-cold the next—perform in this league?
The previous match had been boring. Some newbie challenging Si-woo for attention, and it ended in seconds.
He'd already fought once, but winter hadn't come for him yet.
"...I lost."
Behemoth could've struggled more, but he didn't. Faced with the vast skill gap, he admitted defeat.
Jin-un soon returned from the arena.
"Good work."
Si-woo greeted him first.
Meeting his eyes, Jin-un instantly knew what Si-woo was thinking. That lame match had left him burning for more.
"It's been a while since your last league match, right? How was your debut?"
Jin-un shot Soo-hyuk a glare at the question—clearly for the stream—but answered without his usual prickliness.
"Tough opponent. I learned a lot."
He even showed respect to his foe. Behemoth had probably learned far more.
There was nothing cooler than humility backed by real skill. Jin-un's attitude charmed the viewers.
The new Blue Eyes lineup so far—known members Si-woo, Ye-ryeong, Hyo-min, and the fake Lee Soo-hyuk—formed a guild of one-man armies.
That identity matched the original Blue Eyes perfectly.
But what about the rest?
Partial strength didn't make a Blue Eyes. Every member had to be the best in their field.
That was Blue Eyes.
As long as unproven members remained, they couldn't shake the half-baked title.
But with a grand magus revealed, and Unhyang and Jin-un's skills confirmed, perceptions flipped.
Many held their breath at the chat message.
Deep in their chests, they felt something slowly rising.
Undeniable anticipation.
Blue Eyes' debut was a success.
The first round of the interdungeon league wrapped up over two days.
"Cheers!"
Soo-hyuk clinked glasses with his comrades back at the lodging. Liquor spilled from the full cups.
Jin-un, who loved booze most, chugged his beer and grimaced.
"What's the point of this swill? Tasteless with all that foam."
"Uncle, this is beer."
"I know. You think I don't? It just tastes bad."
"It's not about taste—it's a celebratory drink. For everyone's safe debut."
At Soo-hyuk's words, eyes lit up—especially the three who'd returned after 21 years.
It finally felt real. Time, frozen for so long, was flowing again. Hearts were beating once more.
Then Kindred, sipping her beer, doused the heated mood.
"Not me, though?"
Lacking confidence in combat, she hadn't joined the league. Her role was boosting guildmates' power, not fighting.
Still, her reaction suggested she wanted in.
Soo-hyuk clinked her glass to cheer her up, her ears drooping like a sad puppy.
"You can join if you want."
"What could I even do?"
"Does it have to be useful to count?"
Kindred blinked, tilting her head.
"Doesn't it?"
"Some people do, some don't."
It was a simple line, but it seemed to lift her spirits. She smirked faintly and took another sip.
She downplayed herself, but Soo-hyuk never saw her as useless.
Who'd skip Kindred? Her mystique rivaled anyone's. Different field, but she was hailed as the top blacksmith.
Her guild affiliation would stir up a storm.
They drank together.
The light session deepened. Little booze, mostly talk, laughs, and chatter.
The one who'd vowed not to get drunk suffered most: Si-woo.
Growing quieter than the rest, Soo-hyuk checked on him.
"You good?"
The vague question hit home. Si-woo had obsessed over one thing all day.
"Now that it's started, it's not great. Holding back is tough."
Si-woo had seen Kim Il-su more than anyone today.
He'd probably wanted to face him in the first match. After enduring so long, having to wait more must hurt.
But what really grated wasn't that.
"No guarantee we'll win."
Soo-hyuk smiled at Si-woo's words.
Good.
Half a year ago, after meeting Kim Il-su, Si-woo had burned with unnatural heat, melting his usual chill.
Soo-hyuk had worried he'd slip up. This eased his mind.
Even aflame, Si-woo kept his cool reason.
"That's what matters. Hang in there a bit longer."
"You?"
You're holding back too. Plus, Soo-hyuk had seen Kim Il-su first.
"Your wait was way longer than mine. I'm at an advantage here."
It still felt unreal. Like blinking and losing twenty years.
Not like a deep sleep. Waking multiple times, his and Hyo-min's sense differed from the others'.
"My wait wasn't long. Compared to you guys."
Soo-hyuk glanced at Ye-ryeong laughing with Unhyang and Hyo-min.
"Same for her, probably. She just doesn't show it."
"Worse than me. She's got less patience."
"Nah. She said it herself: patience is first, second, and third in assassination."
"That's why I had to stop her so many times from going after Kim Il-su."
Si-woo had caught Ye-ryeong multiple times at midnight, masked, standing under the moon with dozens of daggers.
Staring at the night sky, debating whether to kill Kim Il-su now.
Yet she stayed. Fear of losing Hyo-min kept her tossing sleeplessly.
Si-woo had talked her down. Maybe she'd wanted stopping.
"We hit the limit of patience those nights. Now it feels like we're at the edge of a patience cliff."
Cold and hot.
Hot and cold.
Staring into those eyes, Soo-hyuk cracked another beer. No heavy drinking, but he couldn't resist.
"Just a bit longer."
Si-woo clinked his glass against the bottle. Clear chime rang out.
Soo-hyuk downed it and met Si-woo's gaze.
"The longer we held, the fiercer it'll burn."
While comrades drank, Hailz stood atop the city's tallest building.
She stared somewhere. Wind chill and whipping hair didn't faze her.
How long?
"Out here alone again."
A tipsy-faced Soo-hyuk followed her up.
Hailz startled. Sudden appearance aside, how'd he find her?
"How'd you know this spot?"
"Open view. Saw you from anywhere."
He offered the bottle: Join me.
Being around him revealed Soo-hyuk's surprises. He looked after people well.
"Thanks."
"Don't overdo it. Matches tomorrow."
"Drunk or not, results are the same. Magic sober-up if needed."
"True."
Soo-hyuk chuckled, sitting beside her. She'd been staring somewhere.
"What're you doing up here?"
"Looking for something."
"From here?"
Panoramic city view. Meant scouring the whole sprawl.
Soo-hyuk knew what.
"Even if I don't go, they'll come."
She was certain. Dragon Lord dead, demons would move.
But this fast?
Then he caught her expression.
Fiercely reddened eyes. Faint killing intent.
"...They're here. For real."
Buzz vanished. He set the half-empty bottle down.
The moment it hit the ground, Soo-hyuk and Hailz vanished.