Teamwork (1)
Pi Yu-jun gazed out the office window, rolling the lollipop in his mouth. I wonder if those kids are doing okay.
The tunnel he'd shoved Seo Tae-yun's team into wasn't some ordinary controlled zone. The spirit lurking there was a full-fledged Gashin grade.
Sorcery threats fell into four main categories: Yeong-ryeong, Ma-mul, Yo-mul, and Jujul-sa. And within those, they were ranked: Mongju, Gaek-gwi, Gashin, Teo-ju, Seong-ju, Dokkaebi.
Even if Yeong-ryeong and Ma-mul are the same rank, Ma-mul usually have the edge—but either way, the higher the rank, the trickier they get.
For first-year freshmen at Cheongram, the practice opponents were at best Gaek-gwi grade—and only under strict supervision. Sending newbies against a Gashin was downright vicious.
No, vicious didn't even cover it. Tossing fresh academy chicks into a Gashin spirit was straight-up overreach, pure madness.
But that guy... Pi Yu-jun's lips twisted into a smirk.
Do-gyeol, who'd grasped the basics of Sigyeong. If he could control the barrier spirit's power he'd devoured, he might shake off the cognitive distortion.
Of course, expecting that much from a guy who's just starting to handle Sigyeong is a stretch.
But if he pulled it off, the rest wouldn't be a big worry. Seo Tae-yun was with him, after all.
Come on, shatter your limits.
Growth was a flower that bloomed in trials. But blooming it was solely up to the individual.
A bloodshot eyeball peeked through the crack Do-gyeol had spotted.
That's the main body.
His mind raced. Should I use Sigyeong and devour the whole thing?
The impulse hit hard, but he shook his head. No. That's insane.
This wasn't a controlled exam site. It was real combat, zero safety nets.
Not like that sleeping one.
This thing's eyes were wide open—blood-red and glaring. Touch its yeong-ryeok, and if it resisted, who knew what'd happen.
No greedy screw-ups that'd drag everyone down and get him killed.
Stick to the surefire method.
Do-gyeol drew the longsword from his waist. A school-issued combat Juggu, its blade gleaming sharp and blue.
"Gyeol-ah, what's wrong? You really seeing something?"
Do-gyeol didn't answer. He lunged forward instead.
Puuk—!
A sickening rupture echoed as the longsword plunged deep into the crack. The impaled eyeball squeezed shut.
Ching-grang!
With a sound like shattering glass, the hallucinatory barrier shrouding the space crumbled to pieces.
"It's gone!"
At Yun Ga-eun's shout, the tunnel's concrete walls grotesquely swelled.
Ugrrrgh!
A monstrous shape crawled through the wall. It looked like a giant leech fused with a toad. Worst of all were the hundreds of big and small eyeballs studding its skin.
"What the hell is that? Gonna give me eyeball phobia."
Do-gyeol regripped his sword, squinting.
"Anyway, thought it'd die once the hallucination broke. Why's it still kicking? Thought killing it dispels this crap."
Yun Ga-eun's face went pale.
"I-I misjudged from the symptoms. But that's Gashin grade...!"
She whipped around to Seo Tae-yun in a panic.
"Tae-yun-ah! Teacher didn't tell you?!"
"Nah. Just said catch a spirit and come back."
Gashin grade? Didn't know the details, but her tone screamed danger. And if this was the mission...
"Seo Tae-yun! This is your fault for being too damn good! Why drag us into this hardcore test?!"
"Gyeol-ah! Sorry, but no time for that!"
Yun Ga-eun cut off Do-gyeol's gripe urgently.
"The spell's broken for now, but max a minute! Hallucination reactivates then! Gotta blind every eye on that body before that! Won't die otherwise!"
"What? One minute?!"
"Yeah! Eyes are the medium! If it hits again, find the entry eye and stab it!"
Do-gyeol stared blankly at the spirit. Hundreds of eyeballs rolled madly atop the writhing tentacle-like flesh mass.
"You're kidding. How the hell do we pop all those in a minute!"
No sooner had he yelled than a thick tentacle whipped from the spirit's maw like a lash.
"Dodge!"
Kwaang!
Do-gyeol rolled, swinging his sword. Puuk! One eye on the tentacle burst, splattering black ooze.
But just one. Endless more to go.
"This is nuts!"
As Do-gyeol gritted his teeth blocking tentacles, Seo Tae-yun stepped forward. He spoke calmly.
"Just gotta burst all the eyes, right."
"Y-yeah, but... Tae-yun-ah, dangerous!"
Even with the shout and one-minute limit, he didn't waver. His eyes sank into deeper calm.
That instant.
Wooong—!
Vast yeong-ryeok erupted from Seo Tae-yun, shoving the tunnel's dank air aside. The surrounding space rippled like submerged water, refracting.
And then.
Dark, murky tunnel air birthed lines like ink-wash painting strokes. Blue spread like blooming ink, staining space. Riding those beautiful waves, something swam forth.
Pororong!
Vibrant tropical fish in soft blue glow. They multiplied.
The school swam the void, illuminating the pitch-black tunnel.
Seo Tae-yun extended his hand stoically. At the gesture, the leisurely fish wheeled and charged like arrows.
Whiiiish—!
Beautiful fins sharpened to blades, piercing the spirit's eyes.
Pang! Pang! Ching!
Each collision shattered eyes like premium crystal, sparkling shards flying.
The spirit thrashed in agony, tentacles flailing—but Seo Tae-yun's face stayed steady.
From his feet, over his shoulder, ink-wash patterns endlessly spread, spawning fish like a fountain.
Pum-bum-bum-bang!
The tunnel filled with blue light and red blood in seconds.
Less than a minute later, every eye on the spirit burst.
Pung—!
The last eye exploded under a blue fish. The massive body dissolved into thick mist.
Pushuuu—.
Ink-wash faded, fish dissolved into air.
"......"
Dank silence returned to the tunnel. Glowing blue yeong-ryeok remnants floated like fireflies.
"Is it... over?"
Yun Ga-eun staggered, legs buckling.
"Yeah. Done."
Seo Tae-yun replied flatly, face serene, not a drop of sweat.
"Whoa......"
Do-gyeol clapped, mesmerized. This guy's a monster!
Yun Ga-eun finally exhaled in relief, voice shaky.
"All done? Let's head back quick."
Seo Tae-yun nodded, turning—but Do-gyeol's gaze went opposite.
"Hold up."
His lips curved up. He approached where the spirit had scattered into mist.
Leave this behind? This prime yeong-ryeok?
Zero-risk feast of high-quality power. Passing it up would be idiotic.
Bon appétit!
Do-gyeol stretched his arm into the void.
Suuuup—!
Invisible suction vortexed from his palm. High-density yeong-ryeok, soon to dissipate into ambient, poured into him.
As the chat buzzed, Do-gyeol felt full. Way heartier than last time.
Seo Tae-yun, watching, spoke up.
"Owe you again."
Do-gyeol turned. His expression was sincere.
"Without you breaking the hallucination, I wouldn't have had a shot to cast."
Do-gyeol grinned back.
"I owe you more. Without you, I'd be looping hallucinations till my yeong-ryeok ran dry and I withered."
Yun Ga-eun chimed in timidly.
"Feels like I owe you guys though......"
Do-gyeol tilted his head.
"What? Without your info, we'd all be dead. You were the key."
Seo Tae-yun nodded agreement.
Yun Ga-eun's ears flushed red.
"R-really...?"
A bright smile bloomed on her face.
"Je-ryeong Class Team 1 students completed mission. All returned."
Pi Yu-jun nearly spat his lollipop at the TA's report.
...Already back?
His eyes flicked to the clock. He'd believed they'd pull it off, but this fast?
Broke the cognitive distortion in that time...
Do-gyeol popped into his head. A thick grin curved his lips.
This'll stir up a storm in the upcoming team showdowns.
Pi Yu-jun's eyes sparkled with interest.