Chapter 145
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Isolation (1)
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"What... what do we do?"
Everyone wore despondent expressions as they asked.
We'd almost cornered the White Devourer.
But no one had expected it to flee into the lake, leaving us all stunned and at a loss.
"Damn it, won't that thing just recover again? If so, it'll be on high alert..."
Monsters weren't mindless unless they were the lowest tier—they possessed a certain level of intelligence.
The White Devourer we'd been fighting was no exception.
If we tried the same tactic next time, it probably wouldn't work so easily.
Kim Seok-ho spoke up, frustration etched on his face.
"Ugh... this is maddening. We can't just dive to the lake bottom to kill it."
We weren't fighting from boats on the surface; battling it underwater was out of the question.
"Ha Yu-ri... any ideas?"
"...I don't know. Even if we froze the lake, we couldn't freeze it all the way through."
Now, not even the shadow of the White Devourer was visible inside the lake.
'...Are we just going to let it get away?'
I racked my brain for a solution, but nothing good came to mind.
As we all fell silent, unable to find an answer, Seo Yu-ju spoke up.
"What if we all use fire magic to evaporate the lake water?"
Her suggestion drew question marks over everyone's heads.
"...Evaporate it?"
"Yes. The mages could all cast fire spells on the lake. Once the water's gone, it won't have anywhere to hide, right?"
Those who heard her mulled it over thoughtfully.
"That's... not bad."
"Evaporate the water..."
'...It's a solid idea. It'll consume a ton of mana, but it's not impossible to boil off the whole lake.'
I wasn't the only one who thought it was good—everyone else did too.
We'd come this far; letting it escape would be too regrettable.
With our numbers, we had more than enough firepower.
'And since it came from Seo Yu-ju, there's no way it's impossible. The mages will burn through their mana, but it's better than letting it go.'
It was infinitely better than facing a healed-up, battle-hardened monster again.
Ha Yu-ri nodded, agreeing it made sense.
"All mages who can use fire magic, step forward. We're evaporating the lake."
"Got it."
Roarrrrr—!
Soon after, the massive flames conjured by countless mages began vaporizing the lake water in an instant.
Hiss—!
Steam billowed as the evaporating water met the cold air.
Our vision was completely obscured.
"I can't... see... the steam's blocking everything!"
"Damn it, zero visibility!"
"Just keep the spells going! It'll show itself eventually!"
'Shit...'
He was right, but the blindness made it frustrating.
Crack—
"What was that?"
Something cracked. Right beneath where I stood.
'Huh?'
The ground gave way, and I felt myself falling—it wasn't my imagination.
Cha Hyun-jin and Wi Ho-yeon were nearby, and by some rotten luck, both he and I were plummeting over the edge.
"Hyung! The ground—!"
"Crazy!"
My eyes met Seo Yu-ju's for a split second. She realized we were falling.
She rushed toward us immediately.
It was impossible to save both; only one could be grabbed.
'Can't... keep my balance...!'
Seo Yu-ju glanced between us frantically...
"Grab my hand! Hyun-jin!"
"Yu-ju noona! Hyung, hyung's—!"
'What...'
I was falling alone.
"Lee Yun-seong!"
The last things I saw were Seo Yu-ju pulling Hyun-jin to safety and Wi Ho-yeon leaping after me too late.
"Lee Yun-seong!"
"Ugh..."
Wi Ho-yeon's voice snapped me back to consciousness.
"A-Are you awake?"
"Ah... wait, ugh!"
Pain like crushed bones shot through me as I tried to move.
"Are you okay?"
'Damn it... what got hurt?'
"Ugh... Ho-yeon, where are we?"
"It looks like an underwater cave that was exposed. I grabbed you mid-fall and got us here."
It was too dark to see well, but it was definitely a cave.
The problem wasn't just that—it was the pain wracking my body.
'Just bruises?'
No punctures or anything visible on the surface.
Some scrapes and minor wounds, but nothing life-threatening.
'...Lucky break.'
Thankfully, it hadn't been a straight drop; I'd tumbled down a wet, sloped dirt incline.
'Ha, should I be glad the ring didn't activate?'
It would have if my life were truly in danger.
Mythic-grade ring or not, its ability was one-use, so mixed feelings there.
'Damn, why'd the ground collapse?'
I could guess.
It looked like a lake from above, but there were underwater caves below. Evaporating the water removed the support, and it caved in.
'Can't see up top...'
Faint light filtered through rocks and dirt, but the ceiling was unclear.
'Fuck...'
Cursing was natural in this shit situation.
I hadn't anticipated getting trapped like this.
My worst-case scenarios involved monsters, not the ground swallowing us.
"Ugh..."
"Lee Yun-seong, let me help you up..."
"I'm... fine."
Standing brought even worse pain.
'Fuck... I can endure this...'
Even if I couldn't, I had to.
We couldn't just sit here.
'And I hear sounds.'
Magic blasts and monster roars echoed from above—probably the fight with the White Devourer resuming.
'They've drawn it out. Now for here.'
The badly wounded White Devourer would fall soon enough.
"You okay, Ho-yeon?"
"Yes. I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about..."
Wi Ho-yeon eyed my injuries with concern.
"...I'm good. Just bruises, and luckily we landed in a mid-level cave, not the lake bottom."
A straight drop to the bottom would've been fatal, even tumbling.
"More importantly, what were you thinking jumping after me? You could've gotten seriously hurt."
"I couldn't leave you alone, as your guard."
"...Thanks, Ho-yeon."
I meant it for her.
As for Seo Yu-ju...
'No, no. She panicked and saved Hyun-jin—that makes sense from her view. Useless to dwell now.'
Some indefinable emotion stirred, but it wasn't important.
"Let's move first."
"Okay. Need support?"
"I'm fine. Hurts, but I can walk."
Reassuring her, I took slow steps—then my vision blacked out.
'Wha—what?!'
Thud!
"Ugh..."
Wi Ho-yeon touched me worriedly as I collapsed.
"L-Lee Yun-seong? What's wrong? Leg injury?"
It was inevitable after sudden blindness.
'Why's it so dark? I can't see anything...'
A chill ran down my spine.
'Wait... no way...'
Even in darkness, some shapes were visible.
There was glowing moss too; it hadn't been pitch black before.
This was total blackout.
'...Did I lose my sight?'
Dreadful thought, but reality was cruel.
'Damn! Fuck! Now of all times...!'
Unbelievably bad luck.
'Vision, of all senses...! Shit, what now?'
Trapped, injured, and now blind.
This insane mess drew a hollow laugh.
"Fuck...!"
Blind in this situation? Nothing I could do.
"Lee Yun-seong? Did you..."
She seemed to catch on.
"No way... you lost your sight?"
"Damn it, looks like it. I can't... see anything."
"Oh no..."
She had to feel helpless too, even if less than me.
If this was a monster nest, she couldn't protect me like this.
Evading monsters blind was near impossible.
No guarantee it was, but worst-case, this was disastrous.
Hands gripped my arm and shoulder.
"For now... I'll support you. Be careful walking, Lee Yun-seong."
"...Yeah, thanks, Ho-yeon."
Leaning on her, I moved slowly and spoke.
"Ho-yeon, you haven't lost any other senses, right?"
Simple reason: if she went blind too, catastrophe.
"Ah... I'm missing taste right now."
"Good."
"Yeah, no one's lost more than two senses. I should be fine."
Losing taste was negligible.
"Damn, still... this is hopeless. What do we do?"
"Hold on, Lee Yun-seong."
Her tone turned grave.
"...What is it?"
"I hear faint sounds."
'Sounds?'
Her sharp senses picked it up.
Curious, I focused—and soon heard it too.
'This is...'
"Lee Yun-seong, looks like there are Shades here too."
'Fuck, monsters here?'
"Is this the only path? Can't see..."
"Yes... from what I checked, yeah."
"Then..."
I was about to suggest something when—
Crack!
'What?'
"Hraaah!"
Crunch!
A man's shout and combat with Shades.
"Ho-yeon, did you..."
"Yes, I heard. Someone else fell in besides us."
"...Let's check it out. Lead the way."
"Got it."
The fighting grew louder as we approached.
'Can't see shit, so fucking frustrating.'
"...Lee Yun-seong, I'll help that guy quick."
"Yeah, go."
Blind, I could only judge by sound.
'Sounds over.'
Monster noises faded; footsteps approached, then a man spoke to us.
"Thanks for the assist. Eternity owes you another one."
'This voice...'
It was our reliable Seok-ho hyung.