Chapter 50
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Wyvern's Demise
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Whoosh─
The breath of destruction came crashing down.
The golem enveloping Yeon Sung-hun and Choi Yeon-ah endlessly repeated cycles of destruction and regeneration.
Mana was being sucked away relentlessly, like pouring water into a leaky jar.
Yeon Sung-hun quietly gritted his teeth.
Though it hadn't been long at all, to him it felt like an eternity.
Finally, unable to keep up with the pace of destruction, the regeneration lagged behind. Just as the golem's core was put in jeopardy, the endless breath attack ceased at last.
Having poured out his mana to the limit, Yeon Sung-hun staggered and collapsed.
"Sung-hun...!"
"I'm fine...! More importantly, hurry...!"
As Yeon Sung-hun shouted urgently, the crumbling golem beyond revealed the wyvern charging in.
Choi Yeon-ah hurriedly raised her sword.
"Urk...!"
A sudden assault when they weren't fully prepared.
She managed to block it somehow, but the impact was no joke.
Gritting her teeth, Choi Yeon-ah swung her sword for a counterattack, but the wyvern easily escaped her range with a flap of its wings.
'If only I could use mana...!'
Choi Yeon-ah scowled at the wyvern slyly retreating beyond her reach again.
If her body were in normal condition, taking it down wouldn't be hard at all.
Even if she could just use her sword's ability...
Quietly gritting her teeth, Choi Yeon-ah dodged the wyvern's diving attack from the sky once more and swung her blade.
Her strike missed just as futilely as before.
As if mocking her, the beast let out a low cry and leisurely swam through the air above.
"...You damn lizard!"
Unable to hold back her frustration, Choi Yeon-ah yelled, but aside from that outburst, there was little she could actually do.
Her best option was simply to counter at the precise timing of its attacks.
Yeon Sung-hun, having recovered somewhat, spoke up to the exasperated Choi Yeon-ah grinding her teeth.
"Yeon-ah."
"Ah...! Are you okay, Sung-hun?"
"I'm managing. More importantly, can you get close to it for even a moment?"
"Got some clever plan?"
"Less a plan and more that I can't stand just taking hits like this."
"Funny, that's exactly what I was thinking."
Choi Yeon-ah flashed a sly smile and pulled Yeon Sung-hun along as she swiftly dodged.
"KRaaaaa!"
A sharp gale shot forth with the beast's powerful wingbeat.
At the same moment, Yeon Sung-hun's fallen golem began to rise again.
But unlike before, it wasn't fully restored—only parts of its body had been barely repaired.
As the golem crumbled once more with a rumble, Choi Yeon-ah used it as a shield to evade safely. She then leaped toward the beast, now descending to a fairly close height.
Instead of swinging her sword as before, in that brief instant she grabbed the golem core Yeon Sung-hun had handed her.
With it came a golem arm protruding from the core.
It was just one incomplete arm, but that was enough.
The massive golem arm crushed down on the wyvern in an instant.
True to its S-rank nature, it wasn't enough to finish the wyvern off, but it created a momentary opening.
Choi Yeon-ah swung her sword at the beast twisting wildly to escape the golem's brutish grip.
Puuk─
Her blade pierced its tough hide, shredding one wing.
Losing balance, the wyvern staggered and plummeted rapidly to the ground.
Thud─
As soon as it crashed into the earth, the half-formed golem urgently expanded its size using its single arm.
Instantly regaining its full form, the colossal golem pinned the beast down with its immense bulk.
"KIRaaaaa!"
To break free from the heavy golem, the wyvern thrashed violently.
Even with one wing lost, as an S-rank monster, its wriggling body caused the golem to crumble away.
Downing his last mana recovery potion, Yeon Sung-hun approached the wyvern.
The beast glared ferociously at him and opened its maw again.
Preparing another breath attack?
Of course, Yeon Sung-hun didn't just stand there and watch.
He swiftly shoved a potion from his pocket into its mouth.
Boom─!
The shattering potion triggered a massive explosion mixed with the mana the wyvern had gathered.
Just before the blast engulfed him, Choi Yeon-ah narrowly pulled Yeon Sung-hun to safety.
A colossal flame erupted skyward.
Watching impassively, Yeon Sung-hun soon clicked his tongue briefly.
"Making me work for a puny thing like this..."
It had taken a heavy toll on both him and Choi Yeon-ah, but he didn't mind that part.
Naturally, not even an S-rank wyvern could survive such an explosion.
Yeon Sung-hun spat out a gush of blood rising from his gut and slumped to the ground.
"You okay, Sung-hun?"
"Perfect condition for passing out."
"Saying that means you're still fine."
After checking the wyvern's status, Choi Yeon-ah returned and handed Yeon Sung-hun the recovered golem core.
Having pushed himself so hard, the core was badly damaged too.
Cores like this weren't something you could just replace, so Yeon Sung-hun quietly clicked his tongue.
"The Association will compensate for this, right?"
"Compensate? They'll be begging to shower us with stuff. Honestly, without us, the casualties would've been huge."
Yeon Sung-hun nodded quietly.
"Wonder what they'll offer this time. Any more gear they disposed of separately?"
"Why? Gonna track it all down for me?"
"I'll squeeze out whatever I can. Team Leader Gye can handle the legwork."
Choi Yeon-ah smiled faintly at his words.
"Appreciate it. But we didn't dispose of much through the Association. Most went to other guilds or corporations. Some probably crossed the ocean."
"Hmm. Can't recover through them?"
"...Possible, but no need to push yourself."
"No. If not for you today, we'd have been in real trouble."
He felt it every time, but today Yeon Sung-hun truly realized once more.
How incredible a hunter Choi Yeon-ah was.
Even without mana now, she was this formidable. What level would she reach with her mana and old gear restored?
'Not just master level—maybe beyond.'
In his past life during the empire era, even among aura masters, skill varied widely.
Ranking them high, mid, low—she'd probably be high-tier at her peak.
At least mid for sure, he thought.
"Truth is, you did more than me. I'd have been overwhelmed alone."
"Then we both pulled our weight?"
"Sounds good."
The two shared a brief chat before turning toward an approaching presence.
Thud─
A heavy sound accompanied a man's landing.
A long spear in one hand, a sword in the other.
His sharp features and cold aura, combined with the fresh blood covering him, made him look eerie.
"...Who's that."
The man was someone both recognized well.
One of only five S-rank hunters in Korea.
None other than Joo Ji-won.
"......"
Joo Ji-won first scanned the surroundings.
Glancing at the scattered fly dracos strewn about haphazardly, then at the wyvern sprawled pathetically to one side.
Having assessed the scene, Joo Ji-won's gaze finally turned to Yeon Sung-hun and Choi Yeon-ah.
"...You two did this?"
Yeon Sung-hun nodded at the low question.
Joo Ji-won frowned briefly at the gesture before shaking his head.
"First, thanks. You've lightened my load."
Unlike his icy demeanor, Joo Ji-won spoke politely enough.
Polite by his standards, anyway—it still came off curt to others.
Luckily, neither Yeon Sung-hun nor Choi Yeon-ah minded much.
Or rather, they were too exhausted to care.
Anyway, Yeon Sung-hun spoke to Joo Ji-won, who bowed his head in thanks.
"No problem. Some damage, but nothing major. Looks like you had it rough too, Hunter Joo."
Drenched head to toe in monster blood—not his—Joo Ji-won belatedly noticed his state and gave a wry smile.
Even to him, he didn't look normal.
"Thanks again. You two prevented major casualties."
"Any damage elsewhere?"
"Some from the wyvern pack moving. Few deaths, but property damage is bad."
"I see."
As Yeon Sung-hun nodded quietly, the silent Choi Yeon-ah spoke up.
"How's the situation? This all that escaped?"
Joo Ji-won tilted his head at her question, sensing odd familiarity.
The face seemed known, but he couldn't place it.
As a relatively new hunter, he didn't recognize her instantly.
Chasing monsters for tens of kilometers had worn him out too.
Anyway, not recognizing her, Joo Ji-won pondered before answering.
"Flying types are done with these wyverns. Ground monsters mostly cleared too. No more outbreaks expected..."
"Did Elder Jeon enter the rift for rescue again?"
"...How did you...?"
Catching himself, Joo Ji-won looked at Choi Yeon-ah again.
It clicked late who the familiar face was.
"Senior Choi Yeon-ah?"
His stoic face crumbled in an instant.
He had no direct ties to her heyday, but he'd heard tales everywhere.
A legend even Seong A-reum and Lee Ye-rang feared.
He was stronger now, sure, but the stories made him tense anyway.
Had he offended her?
Should've greeted properly.
Regret aside, Joo Ji-won quickly regained composure and bowed to her.
"Sorry for the late greeting. Joo Ji-won of Bupyeong Guild under Yu-hwa Group. No wonder you took down a wyvern duo. With you here, of course. Honored to meet."
Long-winded for him, but Choi Yeon-ah ignored that.
"Skip the pleasantries. Answer: situation? A-reum and the elder?"
S-rank rifts were secret, so he hesitated, but remembered she knew—and had entered one.
"Mm. Seong A-reum senior's fine. Last contact, she'd cleared most escapees. Worry? Call her."
"And the elder?"
"...Not details. Told me to track escapees, then entered."
"...Got it. Thanks."
Choi Yeon-ah nodded bitterly.
Like a year ago when she was saved, Jeon Hae-ryong had plunged into danger again.
She wanted to rush in—for Jeon, not Yoo Jun-young—but her state made it reckless.
Even the entrance teemed with B-rank+ high-rankers.
S-rankers like the wyvern or drakes were everywhere, tough even shallow in.
And deeper, those demons.
Thinking of them, Choi Yeon-ah was just dead weight now.
She gritted her teeth at the phantom pain stabbing her left arm.
Glancing at her, Yeon Sung-hun turned to Joo Ji-won.
"You heading back to the rift then, Hunter Joo?"
"Situation ongoing, yes. Survivors might emerge, drawing more monsters."
Yeon Sung-hun pondered as Joo nodded.
No thought of following; not that heroic, and both exhausted from battle.
Plus, his internals were wrecked from forced mana.
After a moment, he rummaged his item bag.
Pulling out several potions naturally.
Not many left after their use, but basics remained.
Joo Ji-won tilted his head curiously as Yeon Sung-hun offered them quietly.
"This is...?"
"Potions."
"...Obvious, but..."
"The ones all the buzz lately?"
Smiling slyly, Yeon Sung-hun prompted realization. Joo Ji-won gasped softly.
"Then you're...?"
"Situation urgent, no time to chat. Catch you later."
"...Yes. I'll contact first. Where?"
"Yeon Sung-hun of Golden Guild."
"...Golden Guild's Yeon Sung-hun. Got it. Hope to meet again."
"Me too, Hunter Joo."
Exchanging calm farewells, Joo Ji-won pocketed the potions and vanished.
Top-tier mobility among S-ranks—he wove through buildings and was gone.
Watching his back, Yeon Sung-hun turned to Choi Yeon-ah.
Her complexion was still poor.
"You okay, Yeon-ah?"
"Yeah... not really. Sorry. Suddenly like this..."
"It's fine. No need for formalities between us. Rest a bit? I'll contact Team Leader Gye first... Hm. Association's here too."
Turning, he spotted ambulances with sirens and hunters arriving.
"Leave cleanup to Gye. We head back quick. Both in bad shape."
"Yeah... guess so."
"If okay, come to my place. Got good potions."
"No. You're beat too, no need."
"Told you, no formalities. Drink this first. Stabilizer."
Staring at the offered potion briefly, Choi Yeon-ah nodded.
"...Guess I'll impose then."
Yeon Sung-hun shrugged lightly as she took it quietly.