Four years ago.
The shrieking screams of monsters filled the vortex as the group of hunters moved through the wet trenches of the temple that belonged to a terrifying creature they defeated just a while ago.
"Are... are there more monsters in this temple?" One of the hunters asked in a dry and trembling voice.
They've entered the vortex three years ago and they were 530 people, but they're already down to 98 people in those three years.
Some took their own life, and some were killed off by the monsters in the vortex.
It was a miracle that some of them still had the sanity to continue on their journey at the vortex.
"I'm not sure." One of the hunters in the front, leading the group deeper to the temple replied.
It was no other than Choi Hoseok, an S-class awakener and one of the strongest hunters of South Korea.
Alongside him was an exhausted man, Yeon Yujun who carried his sword with him while Pouch was resting on his shoulder, looking exhausted like the rest of them does as they walked through the unbearable surroundings.
"Maybe... Once we reach the end of this hallway, the final boss is there!" Anna Sloane avowed with a laugh that didn't hold any humor as she guided the injured Han Yerin.
Her words gave a bit of hope to the hunters as they continued venturing down the hallway of the temple.
"An... I'm... so tired..."
"It's okay, just hold on – we'll be out of here soon."
Song Dohyun on the other hand had been quiet the entire time, always zoning out and kept his guard up all the time. That alone concerned Yeon Yujun.
Yeon Yujun turned his head towards Song Dohyun's direction, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just... thinking." Song Dohyun forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes before shifting his gaze away from Yeon Yujun. It felt like he was avoiding everyone. Had he gone insane or was he on the verge of it?
"Don't worry."
Gods, he hoped he wouldn't.
Yeon Yujun shook off that thought and kept his eyes on the perilous trail.
"Pupu…" Pouch whimpered as it curled up and buried its head on Yeon Yujun's neck.
Yeon Yujun assured, "Everything's gonna be fine, Pouch… Don't worry." he patted the white fluffy creature on his shoulder.
"Everyone's going to run out of mana soon, we might not be able to defeat the boss at this rate." Choi Hoseok uttered, clenching his own sword in his hand but he didn't look at Yeon Yujun.
"How long can you hold on, Eight? Your skill < [S+] Reoccurrence> will be enough... right?"
"I'm sure I can still hold on." Yeon Yujun assured.
It had been almost a year since they ran out of mana potions and even rations — the only thing keeping them going was their mana since A to S-class awakeners can hold on without eating for weeks and even months, but their chances of going berserk were high once they reach the point of no return.
The state they call, "Ravage." a state that a hunter shouldn't reach as they can potentially go insane from instability of mana and self-destruct. Some high rankers can reach this stage if they overuse their mana, but it's mostly the lower rankers.
That was how most awakeners died, overused their powers to the death and they had no choice but to watch.
"How about your <[L] Shadowing Barrier>? That skill wouldn't consume too much of your mana..."
"I think it doesn't," Choi Hoseok slowed his steps but he didn't stop walking.
"...I forgot."
"..."
Yeon Yujun could only just nod, besides, who wouldn't be insane after spending three whole years in the vortex with still no way out and barely had any mana left for the final boss?
"Hey Eight…" Choi Hoseok finally shifted his tired gaze towards Yeon Yujun.
"You're going to reveal yourself once we get out of here,"
"That's what I promised, didn't I?" Yeon Yujun chuckled, but it sounded bitter and rough.
Choi Hoseok just gave him a nod and focused on his path.
Of course, Yeon Yujun had promised to the world and everyone here that he'd reveal himself… Be a registered hunter, reveal his true name, profile, and face — disabling his passive skill <[S] Concealment> for good.
He had been using <[S] Concealment> for years and never once took it off. The thought of disabling that skill would perhaps lift off the burdens in his shoulders.
He wouldn't be called Eight anymore, but as Yeon Yujun… His real name, as an actual person not just as a hunter.
Suddenly…
—RUMBLE!!
The ground shook beneath their feet as the debris started falling, making everyone on high alert for what's to come.
Choi Hoseok gripped his weapon tighter than before, "EVERYONE! GET READY!"
"Pubu!!!" Pouch immediately retreated back to Yeon Yujun's pocket.
They all started running deeper into the temple, there's no time to go back to the entrance… It had definitely been blocked off by the debris.
"HELP!!"
"PLEASE HELP ME!!!"
Cries of the other hunters who couldn't keep up were already left behind, the sound of the debris crushing onto flesh filled the air along with their cries and screams.
Yeon Yujun's eyes widened as he watched hopelessly at the other hunters who were getting left behind, darting between what's in front of him and behind him.
He could've sworn some of the hunters slowed their pace to get left behind on purpose — were they really willing to die in this hell?
There was no time to look back now.
Yeon Yujun covered his ears, he couldn't bear hearing their pleas and he couldn't do anything to save them from their unfortunate fate.
"Everyone, don't look back!" Choi Hoseok bellowed, echoing through the temple as everyone tried to run faster, going over their limit and ignoring the ache in their legs.
Yeon Yujun despised the gods for their silence. Did the hunters truly deserve this? To be watched like animals, slaughtered one by one while the gods did nothing?
The shaking and rumble slowed but it didn't stop at all. They let out a breath of relief they didn't know they were holding when they reached the end of the temple.
A closed stone gate, as if expecting their arrival.
"GET IN!" Choi Hoseok pushed it open without any hesitation and it budged — everyone scrambled inside without thinking twice.
Once everyone who was left was inside the tomb of the temple, it reeked of burnt incense and dried blood. The torches lit up on their own one by one as Choi Hoseok looked at the hunters before him, counting them in his mind.
5… 10… 20…
There were only 78 of them left.
"Is everyone alright?"
No one responded to Choi Hoseok's question.
"Where… where are we?" Han Yerin opened her eyes, Anna Sloane was still holding her.
"What's this place?" One of the hunters asked, getting his bow ready.
Yeon Yujun looked up at the ceiling of the tomb – the textures were worn out as if it had been here for many ages.
Pouch crawled out of his pocket, blinking as it observed their new surroundings with a small sniff and then rested back on Yeon Yujun's shoulder.
"Pubu…? Pupu…"
"No, we have never been here. Never."
Then he noticed a massive shell jutting out from the far end of the tomb.
It looked like… Was it breathing?
Yeon Yujun stepped back as his eyes darted frantically at the others. "Don't move." he muttered quietly, a warning enough for everyone to realize they were in the wrong room —
They were in the vortex boss's tomb.
"NO! NO NO!! STOP THIS! I CAN'T DO THIS I CAN'T DO THIS I CAN'T DO THIS I CAN'T DO THIS I CAN'T DO THIS!!!"
One of the hunters shouted in panic as they grabbed their own weapons and took their own life. They've reached the point of no return. Something more than insanity.
Now there were only 72 of them left.
Yeon Yujun and the others just watched in terror before the monster before them bellowed, awake from its slumber. It was awake because of the commotion.
"Mina…!" Han Yerin cried for the hunter who took her own life, but she couldn't move on her spot, Han Yerin was too badly injured to move an inch as Anna Sloane supported her.
"There's… nothing we could do…" Anna murmured quietly, the sound of her voice felt so devastating.
Everyone shifted their eyes to the awakened boss monster, letting out another roar that shook the temple.
"Everyone, get ready!" Choi Hoseok shouted from behind as he tightened his grip on the sword, glaring up at the monster.
Song Dohyun nodded as he also got ready in his place before his gaze darted between the monster and the dead hunters on the ground, as for Anna Sloane and Han Yerin, they went to a safer spot while Anna Sloane prepared herself for the incoming fight.
This should be their last battle and then… all of them will come home at last.
Yeon Yujun forced himself to breathe before he turned to the others, "How many healers are left?"
"About… fifteen of them." Choi Hoseok recounted the hunters behind them as he gestured for them to also get ready.
"We have to kill that monster, one way or another."
Han Yerin coughed out blood from her mouth as she wiped it with the back of her hand. "Can… can we really do it? We… we might reach the Ravage state if we forced ourselves —"
"It's a matter of life and death, Yerin." Song Dohyun interjected.
( "[S] The Mind's Eye" is now activated! )
"...Right."
Han Yerin couldn't help but look at Song Dohyun before looking away and Anna Sloane guided her to sit down on the ground.
"P-pupu…!!" cried Pouch.
Before all of them could react, the monster emerged almost completely from its horseshoe crab-like shell, its countless mouths lined with sharp unclean teeth, growling and roaring.
Were they the next meal of this vortex?
[ VORTEX BOSS: (Lvl. 999) [SSS+] The Hollowed Graveshell ]
[ Weaknesses: Unknown. ]
[ Health: 99999999/100000000 ]
'What… What the hell is this?' Yeon Yujun took a step back, his grip on his sword trembled while he stared up at the terrifying creature before them.
"I…Impossible," Choi Hoseok felt like he was losing hope from this unimaginable battle they're about to engage in — was there still any hope left to defeat this… monster?
Were they being taunted by fate itself?
Yeon Yujun and the other S-class awakeners weren't surprised that the Gods aren't reacting or helping them anymore, had they grown bored of three years watching them struggle and survive in this vortex?
Yeon Yujun gritted his teeth, if he uses <[S+] Reoccurrence> now… Almost all of his mana will be drained and he could lose control of himself… or worse, die from overexhaustion.
"Pouch," Yeon Yujun muttered quietly, more to himself as Pouch climbed out of his pocket and stared up at him.
"Emerge."
Pouch crawled towards Yeon Yujun's weapon, <[?] Doombringer's Sword> before infusing its own body to the hilt of the sword, causing it to expand slightly and making the sword glow.
Now Yeon Yujun's stats are doubled because of Pouch.
When
( "[L] Shadowing Barrier" is now activated! )
The <[L] Shadowing Barrier> began to cover almost the entire space, keeping them away from the creature as Choi Hoseok's brown eyes flickered to gold.
"Hoseok-ssi!" Yeon Yujun yelled, he could see Choi Hoseok struggling to keep his skill up as the creature started attacking outside of the barrier.
"Go! All of you… Fight that monster while I can still…" Choi Hoseok grunted, both of his hands shook as he could feel his own mana drain from its usage.
Yeon Yujun nodded as he turned to one of the healers, "Yeongseok, heal Hoseok-ssi now!"
"G-got it!"
Yeongseok, the healer, used the last bits of his own mana to try and recover Choi Hoseok's mana while he used the <[L] Shadowing Barrier> to keep the other hunters who were badly injured safe.
"SKR-II-ICK!!!!" The creature let out a deafening scream as Yeon Yujun ran towards Anna Sloane and Han Yerin.
"Can she still…?"
"No, she's… too weak to move right now." Anna Sloane murmured as she stood up from the ground and listened to the screeches of the monster outside the barrier.
"I'll back you up, where's Song Dohyun?"
"I…"
Yeon Yujun looked around their surroundings and Song Dohyun was nowhere to be found.
"Song Dohyun was already outside the barrier," Yeon Yujun realized as he quickly got out of the barrier and saw Song Dohyun hitting the monster with his sword as he used <[S] Levitation> to be in the same level as the massive creature.
"Dohyun! Stop!" Yeon Yujun tried to stop the reckless and stubborn man — for god's sake, he was an A-class awakener, he should have been inside the barrier with the others for safety.
"TAKE THIS!" Song Dohyun yelled as his eyes glowed dark scarlet, now using his next skill <[A] Severance>, his blade surprisingly cut through the hard shell of the creature as it let out a loud screech that shook the tomb.
Song Dohyun landed back to the ground, clenching his weapon as he coughed out blood.
"Song Dohyun!"
Yeon Yujun ran after him while the monster was distracted, his face etched in concern as he quickly took a look of his stats —
Song Dohyun only had a few bits of mana left, at this rate he might…
"Eight…" Song Dohyun called out with a hoarse chuckle as he allowed Yeon Yujun to guide him back to the barrier.
( "[B+] Sprint" is now in effect! )
Yeon Yujun used his sprinting skill to hurry back to the others safely, placing him beside the injured Han Yerin.
"Jaeho, Naeun… Heal the injured hunters if your mana can still handle it, we'll deal with the boss."
Yeon Yujun stared at Song Dohyun for a moment.
'I'm glad he still hasn't used <[A] Mana Siphon> to drain other hunters' mana to recover his.'
Anna Sloane hurried out of the barrier, holding her own sword tightly as she jumped higher from the ground, charging towards the monster –
( "[S] Boundless" is now activated. Your stats have now increased significantly! )
"Die!"