"Damn it, call for backup! Support needed in front of the statue! Aahhh!"
"R-run away!"
The guild members who were staring blankly at the portal created by the Praus cult's transportation item were suddenly overwhelmed by the monsters that appeared.
"Get back! Get out this way!"
Lee Ju-ha quickly fired her guns and evacuated the guild members. I, too, was raising the wind to try and help the others escape more quickly.
Kuung!
"Ugh…!"
An object flew out from somewhere and exploded with a loud, deafening noise. Unable to withstand the impact and the intense heat, my body was thrown back, but Ha Tae-heon just barely managed to catch me.
Dozens of the Praus cultists who were behind Samael launched an attack. Our surroundings, already battered by the relentless onslaught of monsters, was instantly reduced to utter chaos with the cultists' assault on us as well.
"Cheon Sa-yeon!"
While everyone else was running, Cheon Sa-yeon alone ran towards the Praus cult. Ha Tae-heon, who had left me, staggering, in the care of Park Geon-ho, also hurriedly chased after Cheon Sa-yeon, wielding his SS-grade sword.
"Yi-Gyeol ssi, there's blood…!"
"I can't, ugh, not now."
The area around my right eye was wet. It seemed like my forehead had just been torn by that explosion, causing the blood to flow. I sent Min Ah-rin back, roughly wiping away the blood that obscured my vision, and took control of the wind once more.
Cheon Sa-yeon and Ha Tae-heon, who were aided by my wind, struggled forward, slashing through the monsters. The flames igniting from Cheon Sa-yeon's sword contrasted sharply with the black dust rushing from Ha Tae-heon.
'There's too many of them...'
The sheer number of monsters were packed so densely they obscured the Praus cultists from my vision, combined with their relentless barrage of attacks, it seemed that even the two SS-class beasts would have a hard time breaking through.
Even now, monsters poured out ceaselessly from the portal held open by these gems. Seeing the glowing red jewels floating in the air, it seemed like the only way the portal would disappear was if they were destroyed.
"Shit… where's the backup? What happened to the support team?"
As Lee Ju-ha shouted, firing a bullet precisely into the head of the monster that had jumped up with its mouth wide open, causing it to explode, the Roheon Guild member who had been fighting hard beside her responded with a miserable expression.
"They… they couldn't make it."
"What?"
"They say monsters have reappeared in areas that were previously cleared. So, they're re-inspecting the entire Gwanghwamun area, and they don't have enough personnel to send here. Ugh!"
The guild member who'd just been reporting was then swiftly stabbed in the shoulder by the claw of a monster that descended from the sky.
The guild member was about to be dragged away after having his shoulders pierced by the claws of the monster, its claws almost representing eagle claws. But luckily, Alice quickly flew in and shot down the monster, saving him.
From that point on, flying monsters continued to fill the sky, descending like missiles to hunt us down. Those who were already caught off guard by the sheer number of monsters were left unable to even properly escape because they were being attacked by the flying monsters on top of all that.
"Ugh, ugh! aaghhh!"
"Eek, go- get away…! Get away!"
"Fuck! Don't run away, fight! You have to fight to survive!"
Due to the lack of manpower, all the guild's capable members had gathered, but the mix of clumsy newbies and seasoned veterans only made the chaos worse.
"Han Yi-gyeol, get out of here for now. You can't do anything in this state."
Park Geon-ho held on to me as the chaos ensued, monsters and people all tangled together. It was a mess.
"W-wait a minute. Those two are still…"
I knew the situation wasn't looking good for us right now. If this kept up, everyone here would be unable to withstand the attack and most likely die.
But no matter what, I couldn't leave Cheon Sa-yeon and Ha Tae-heon, who were fighting at the forefront, behind. Right now, I was the only one who could get to them the fastest. So I had to...
"Han Yi-gyeol!"
As soon as I wrapped my body in the wind to get to where the two were as quickly as possible, the flying monsters soaring through the air seemed to sense my energy and simultaneously dove toward me.
As the monsters closed the distance in an instant, Park Geon-ho pulled me into his arms. At the same time, a beast's howl echoed like thunder. Woo Seo-hyuk, who'd transformed into a wolf, bit into one of the monster's necks, rolling on the ground.
Then, a group of identical monsters charged at Woo Seo-hyuk in unison. Woo Seo-hyuk was significantly larger and more powerful than the monsters, but when ten of them attacked simultaneously, he was unable to hold out for long.
Park Geon-ho, who clicked his tongue, picked up one of his iron balls, but the monsters and Woo Seo-hyuk were too close, making it difficult to use his power safely. Ultimately, Kim Woo-jin, who had been protecting Min Ah-rin and Kwon Jeong-han, sent a clone.
Behind Kim Woo-jin's clone, whose abdomen was torn off by a monster's claws while helping Woo Seo-hyuk, a fierce battle is seen. The seemingly endless, hopeless situation felt suffocating, as if someone was strangling me.
"..."
Suddenly, everything before my eyes seemed to slow down, as if in slow motion. Even the sounds that once reached my ears started to fade, as if submerged in water. The only thing I could clearly see in this haze was a pristine white mask peeking out from among the tangled monsters.
As if waiting for me to look at him, Samael raised his hand and the portal vanished. The light which simmered within the floating jewels also disappeared.
The endless stream of monsters pouring out like water from a broken dam abruptly stopped, and the screams that had filled the air grew slightly quieter. Cheon Sa-yeon and Ha Tae-heon, who had been swinging their swords tirelessly, also noticed the change and raised their heads.
"Hmm, this is so much more boring than I thought it would be, I could almost fall asleep."
Samael's white tie fluttered in the breeze. I let out a long, exasperated sigh.
Not even an hour later, the area was utterly devastated. The corpses of ordinary people killed by monsters lay covered by the corpses of those who had come to save them.
Staring at the sheer amount of crimson blood soaking the floor, I fell into a state of anguish I had experienced countless times before.
'Should I have… done more?'
Should I have transformed into Kwon Se-hyun and used my powers even if my true form had been discovered by the Praus Cult, especially Samael? I wasn't sure if the intervention ability would even work on those items, but should I have at least tried?
Ever since I gained new powers as Kwon Se-hyun, every battle I fought was filled with constant struggle and anguish. There were, and still are, so many moments in which I had to weigh out the lives of my team and others against the importance of my powers.
That guilt weighed heavily on my chest. I unconsciously clenched my fists and dug my nails into my palms.
"Han Yi-gyeol."
Samael called me as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.
"Would you like to make a deal with me?"
"...What?"
"If you do as I say, I will give up all the transportation items I hold here."
"...."
"You can break them, use them, whatever you want. Do as you please. As long as you follow my orders, I won't interfere with how you use the transportation items."
I swallowed hard at what he'd just said. Only then did I realize what Samael's purpose was.
From the moment he revealed himself, to the moment he'd called out to me—it was all part of his plan. He's holding the lives of everyone here hostage to lure me out.
"So, what will it be? I only have so much patience."
Samael, knowing I had no choice but to follow along with his offer, looked relaxed. I squeezed my heavy eyes shut, trying to regain my composure. Then, I opened them.
I noticed my injured teammates staring at me. Lee Ju-ha and Alice, who had fought to their limits, the corpses lying on the floor as well. If the transportation items were to be activated again in this state... The outcome was clear as day.
'There's no other way…'
Now, I had no choice but to admit it. This fight was a complete defeat for us. So, if it meant saving the lives of the survivors, I had to do whatever it took. Even if our only lifeline was corrupted.
I stopped using my powers, calming the wind I had sent toward my teammates. Then, I slowly walked toward Samael.
"N-no, no don't! Yi-gyeol ssi!"
"Han Yi-gyeol…!"
Min Ah-rin and Kim Woo-jin's calls felt as if they were grabbing me by the ankles. I tried to ignore them and kept walking.
I continued walking, passing Woo Seo-hyuk and Park Geon-ho, who were barely able to get up, bleeding profusely. The figure of Samael, which had been visible in the distance, gradually drew closer.
With every step I took, a chill ran down my spine. My mind raced, wondering what Samael might demand of me and how I could make the most of it.
As I emerged through the hazy smoke and monster corpses, I saw Samael and dozens of Praus followers standing before the statue. I had to go forward alone. The sight of the pure white and black masks filling my vision was repulsive and terrifying.
"Yi-gyeol-ah."
It was at that moment, as I was about to pass between Cheon Sa-yeon and Ha Tae-heon, that a cold hand grabbed my wrist.
"Don't go..."
Cheon Sa-yeon whispered in a rough voice. His fingertips which held my wrist trembled faintly.
"Don't go....."
I was barely maintaining my composure, but I couldn't stand those words and my face contorted. A surge of sadness welled up within me.
Knowing what had transpired between Cheon Sa-yeon and Samael made things even worse. The situation of having to leave Cheon Sa-yeon behind to follow Samael made me feel utterly miserable.
"…It's okay."
This was the only way I could comfort him. I softly pushed away Cheon Sa-yeon's hand that was holding my wrist. Despite how gently I rejected him, Cheon Sa-yeon's hand fell limply, as if devastated.
I resumed my halted steps. As I stopped in front of Samael, not far from Cheon Sa-yeon, a voice similar to the one I'd just heard spoke from behind the white mask.
"You're smart, Han Yi-gyeol."
Samael's words, deliberately calling me by my name and speaking informally, giving this fake sense of camaraderie, sent shivers down my spine. A hand clad in a pristine white glove slowly approached.
"Ugh...!"
The hand that had been caressing my cheek suddenly reached up and grabbed my hair. The stinging pain made me reflexively bite my lip, stifling a groan.
Samael, who had grabbed my hair and forced me to my knees, opened his mouth with a look of pleasure on his face.
"Now then, let's make a deal."