What Must Be Protected (5)
"Depending on your choice, the content of the challenge will change."
What the hell? The content changes? In what way?
The countless questions that bubbled up unbidden in his mind were soon answered by the man's own mouth.
"The curse upon me is not absolute. Sending you all back alive today isn't impossible either."
A faint glimmer of hope flickered across the faces of his trembling companions at that murmur. But...
Depending on your choice, the content of the challenge will change.
"However, suppressing the curse comes at no small cost to me as well. So prove it."
"......"
"That you are worth it."
The moment the man gazed at Yun-seok and spoke those haughty words, a new message appeared.
He, who has lived in solitude for ages, has taken an interest in you.
One who fears him not, yet endures a single strike. If you meet these conditions, you may gain the chance to become his friend.
The message was crystal clear. Yet Yun-seok couldn't quite grasp it easily.
The man's words, delivered in a heavy, lowered tone, clashed too sharply with the message's content.
'A friend...?'
He'd said to prove his worth. But was that worth merely the basic qualification to become a friend?
Yun-seok looked at the man again. Hollow eyes and an unmoving, rigid expression. At a glance, he seemed to transcend all worldly concerns, yet for some reason, he looked profoundly lonely.
As Yun-seok stared, James cried out.
"W-what do you mean by worth?! How are we supposed to prove that?!"
"Once. Just once is enough. Survive my full-powered strike."
"Th-that...!"
James's face darkened. It was obvious he believed there was no chance of him surviving Calamity, though Yun-seok might be different.
"No need to worry."
Calming him, Yun-seok stepped forward and positioned himself about five meters from the man. He understood precisely how this situation was unfolding.
"If I prove my worth, you'll send them back safely?"
"...Of course. If you prove it, I can bear that much loss."
He didn't know what penalty suppressing the curse entailed. But his words hinted at a willingness to accept it if he could gain a friend.
"Very well. Let's do it."
First, he sent his companions back. Yun-seok heightened his focus.
There was no judgment mark above the man's head. At least, he wasn't enjoying this situation.
Whether to be glad or saddened by that, Yun-seok wasn't sure.
'I wish he'd enjoy it a little today...'
He desperately wanted the Judgment Sword's bonus stats today. But as the saying went, if wishes were horses. Instead, his stats rose in a slightly different way.
Encountered foe who is neither human nor beastkin.
Agility +1 (Temporary)
Encountered large-class monster.
Strength +3 (Temporary)
The Ark Hunter's hunting gloves activated, infusing power into his flesh. It should have been a welcome boost, but it also sparked a question.
Neither human nor beastkin made sense, but...
'Large-class...?'
He checked the man again, but he looked nothing like a large monster. However, at that moment—
Flash!
A burst of white light erupted from the man's body. The average human frame vanished, replaced by a Western dragon straight out of myth.
"C-Calamity is a dragon...!"
The watching group fell silent in shock from afar. They were stunned by Calamity's true form, but if sheer absurdity were the measure, Yun-seok took the cake.
—I'll kill you.
A voice echoed in his mind. He didn't know the method, but the sender was clear.
Yun-seok swallowed hard, bracing for the strike.
All attacks within the domain reduced to 1/10th power.
It affected Yun-seok too. Yet the Blood Demon Divine Art's consumption was beyond imagination. He circulated it to its limits, steadying his breath. All the while, his mind raced.
'How the hell do you fight a dragon...?'
He figured it wouldn't be a standard brawl, but he couldn't picture it.
Then—
—Hell Plasma.
Something crackled on the black horn protruding from the dragon's forehead... And that was Yun-seok's last memory.
* * *
When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Kanna Blitz's upside-down face.
"You're awake?"
Yun-seok bolted upright. He nearly headbutted Kanna, who had been cradling his head in her lap, but he had no time for that.
"Where... is this?"
Utter darkness surrounded them. He stood, but it didn't feel like solid ground. Gazing at the distant twinkling silver speck, he thought of the cosmos.
"This is my domain. You saw something similar when you contracted with El, right?"
Only then did Yun-seok realize: This was Kanna Blitz, but not the one from the mission.
"The manager who commissioned me... was you after all. But why bring me here? The mission failed, didn't it?"
Kanna chuckled softly.
"No. You didn't fail."
"...?"
"From that look, better to show you directly."
At her gesture, the darkness receded, transforming into a new space. It was the forest edge from moments ago, with the dragon called Calamity and Yun-seok facing it sword drawn.
So this was what she meant. Yun-seok focused silently on the scene.
—Hell Plasma.
A sci-fi laser beam shot out—or rather, flashed. Yun-seok couldn't even track its start or end. He only saw himself reacting somehow, raising his sword to its path.
Whoosh—!
An instantaneous flash no one could perceive. When it ended, Yun-seok saw his left side utterly vaporized. Not just his body—the entire forest in that direction was gouged out like a massive awl had crushed it. The devastation stretched endlessly.
At that staggering sight, Yun-seok murmured hollowly.
"It was never achievable from the start."
Had he not deflected it, no half-body would remain—just oblivion. The mission would have failed.
Suddenly, Kanna asked.
"Do you regret not choosing a sacrifice?"
"...No, I don't."
"Why?"
"Didn't you just say the mission succeeded?"
After a moment's thought, Yun-seok refocused on the replay. Kanna smiled silently, watching him.
Thud.
The Yun-seok in the vision collapsed.
"Rick!"
"N-no!"
The watching Kanna rushed in, infusing holy power. For whatever reason, James and Wellington drew weapons, guarding him.
—Don't worry. He's still alive.
The dragon fell silent after that. In the cold quiet, Kanna focused on healing. Soon, Yun-seok's body fully regenerated—a fusion of holy power and Blood Demon Divine Art.
—When he wakes, tell him: barely a pass. Someday, when the time comes, I'll find him.
Seeing Yun-seok recovered, the dragon spread its wings and vanished into the sky. The survivors hurried back to the carriage with him. For the two days Yun-seok was unconscious, they raced along, finally reaching Jaris Harbor.
That was the aftermath.
Snap!
Kanna snapped her fingers. The scene reverted.
"Understand now?"
"Yes. I got lucky."
Kanna chuckled at his humble reply, then bowed.
"Thank you. For showing me this ending was possible."
"...?"
"Alright. Time to settle your mission reward."
"Wait."
Yun-seok cut her off. Instinct told him settlement would end their talk.
He had one more question.
"Why hasn't the 8th floor mission been cleared until now?"
It lingered even after success.
"Even accounting for Calamity at the end, it doesn't make sense. At least half should survive."
Kanna looked troubled, then sighed softly and nodded.
"Better to show than tell."
She waved at the air. The surroundings shifted again—not one space at 1:1 scale, but like thousands of TVs blaring simultaneously.
"......"
Not the same scene from angles. Similar at a glance, but different members each time. Yun-seok quickly realized these were replays of past missions.
All started at Edensbaum's north gate, flowing similarly. Some progressed smoothly unlike Yun-seok's, but many challengers conspired to assault Kanna at night. Thankfully, he didn't witness it—the scenes cut to black like a TV powering off just before.
"......"
Time passed; black screens returned. Kanna inside was disheveled, weeping, enraged, resigned. Undeterred, the challengers pressed on. The blackouts only increased daily.
Something boiled inside Yun-seok.
"I'm fine."
Without Kanna's soothing touch, curses would have spilled out. He held back, watching to the end.
Time flew to day 15. Only seven screens remained; in each, Kanna's side had one survivor.
"Unique difficulty allows only one to proceed."
"I see."
He nodded, but doubts deepened. Fewer reached here than expected, yet most had triumphed over heretics before day 15. Smooth sailing, really. Kanna's screams aside, success seemed near. Some screens never blacked out.
Yet why...?
The answer came at Calamity's encounter.
Two survivors? Instant fail. Picking Kanna or self ended it. But others uniformly replied:
—I and this woman survive.
El, Wellington, James—sacrificing those three.
But...
"Wh-why...!"
—Those who desperately cling to life often deserve death.
Calamity acted opposite their choices. Even Yun-seok broke into cold sweat at the twist.
'If I'd sacrificed someone there...'
He'd have failed too. If Calamity truly meant to kill him, survival was impossible.
"......"
All screens blackened. Heavy silence blanketed the void.
Kanna spoke sorrowfully.
"If there had been just one like you..."
She continued softly, strained.
"We wouldn't have suffered so long."
It was grief too heavy for Yun-seok to bear.
Clench.
He balled his fists, head bowed low. Even a small comfort felt beyond him.