Chapter 23: 21: Moving forward
"…So hot."
Jayden murmured, taking off his outer layer of clothing. Jin Hoseung, Kim Jingyu, Lee Shaung, and Hazuki also removed a layer. Only Yoo Yeonha and Oreki remained fully dressed.
Even while sweating buckets, Yoo Yeonha maintained her dignity.
In contrast, Oreki showed no sign of discomfort, not even a hint of sweat.
"Oreki," Hazuki, the closest to him, spoke up. "How are you not sweating?"
Oreki's eyes narrowed slightly, though he kept his tone calm. "I'm resistant to high temperatures."
He was using his Corporeity art to control his body temperature, keeping himself cool despite the stifling heat around them. This was something he could do with ease, as his CC had evolved since the museum incident. But it was clearly drawing the attention of the others.
The group continued forward in silence, and more than five minutes had passed since they entered the tunnel. The heat, initially just a minor discomfort, had started to intensify, becoming almost suffocating.
Yoo Yeonha, always impeccable, now struggled to maintain her composure, her face glistening with sweat. Jin Hoseung was constantly wiping his forehead, his expression growing wearier.
"It's… getting hotter with every step, isn't it?" Jayden broke the silence, his voice strained from the effort of breathing in the oppressive air.
Yoo Yeonha cast a tired glance at Jayden but couldn't respond. The heat was overwhelming, and every word seemed to require an energy she no longer possessed.
Something about the environment seemed to be shifting, and Oreki knew he'd need to step in before things got worse for the others.
He moved subtly, sliding his hand discreetly through the air to sense the heat vibrating around him. With a slight flick of his fingers, he redirected the flow of heat, momentarily dispersing it and creating a gentle breeze that refreshed the cadets.
The effect was almost immediate. The previously blazing environment grew surprisingly more comfortable. The group let out sighs of relief, and for a brief moment, it felt as if the unbearable heat had vanished.
Almost everyone was too busy being thankful for the sudden change to realize what had truly happened. But not Yoo Yeonha. Her sharp eyes observed each detail, even while she masked her discomfort. She glanced at Oreki, saying nothing.
"Keep thinking, and you'll get close," Oreki mused, amused. He continued walking as if nothing had happened, but he was fully aware of his 'leader's' suspicious gaze. "She's probably suspecting I can manipulate elements. She has enough clues to get there."
Yoo Yeonha hid it well, but Oreki noticed the slight furrow of her brow, her sidelong glances — subtle signs that she was connecting the dots. The heat had vanished far too abruptly, and Oreki, the only one who hadn't been sweating from the beginning, had made a hand movement just before the change. She was too sharp and wary to ignore it.
They kept walking, cooler than before, until Oreki noticed subtle changes in their surroundings. "If it's what I think…"
The moment he had this thought, he felt his foot sink slightly. He immediately realized what was about to happen. "Just my luck…"
Before anyone could question what he'd said, something shot through the air at high speed with a sharp, whistling sound, aimed directly at Oreki.
Thud.
A muffled sound followed, then the sickening noise of fabric tearing and flesh splitting.
"Oreki!" Hazuki's eyes widened in concern.
The projectile had pierced Oreki's right forearm, blood splattering onto his clothes and running down the sharp metallic object.
"At least it wasn't my hand," he thought, showing no sign of pain.
Oreki looked at the metal stake embedded in his forearm with a bored expression. Blood trickled slowly, dripping onto the hot dungeon floor, but he didn't show the slightest reaction to the pain. "Nothing that'll impair my movements," he thought, flexing his fingers to confirm that his nerves were still intact.
Jin Hoseung and the others also paused, their expressions a mix of alertness and concern. Before anyone could act, however, Oreki raised a hand, signaling them to stay where they were.
"Stay back," he said calmly, without even glancing at the trap. "There are more of these around."
The group froze momentarily, their heavy breaths mixing with the growing tension in the air. Jayden, standing farther back, took a cautious step backward as if trying to avoid any potential traps.
Yoo Yeonha, however, continued to watch Oreki. She wasn't panicked like Hazuki or the others; she knew this person wouldn't go down that easily.
But it was still troubling, the way Oreki was handling it like it was a mere inconvenience. Yet again, something out of the ordinary. First, the heat control, and now, a total absence of pain. "This isn't normal," she thought, frowning slightly, further confirming her suspicions about Oreki.
Reluctantly, Hazuki hesitated but complied. "Are... you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Oreki glanced at her briefly, his face impassive. "Relax." He then grabbed the metal stake and yanked it out with a swift motion, blood splattering onto his face.
The group watched in silence, stunned by the scene. Even though Hazuki had already sensed Oreki wasn't ordinary, she still felt concerned.
Yoo Yeonha, on the other hand, remained silent, her eyes fixed on the blood slowly pooling at Oreki's feet.
As she observed the stake on the ground, something caught Yeonha's attention. "This…" Yeonha spoke quietly. "It's poisoned."
Hearing what Yeonha said, Oreki focused on his body, slowing his heartbeat and controlling his breathing to delay the spread of the poison through his system.
Sighing irritably, he spoke, "Let's keep moving." He used his ability to control his body and stop the bleeding, though the wound itself remained. "This trap is likely not the only one. Stay alert."
"But, it's poisoned…" Hazuki was the only one visibly worried, while the others, with the exception of Yoo Yeonha, seemed more focused on the traps than Oreki's wound.
"I'm fine," Oreki replied calmly to Hazuki. "I've already done something about the poison. I'll deal with it fully once we finish the Dungeon." He glanced briefly at Yeonha, signaling her not to worry about him.
With the two of them being the only ones even slightly concerned for him, they reluctantly returned to formation.
Oreki resumed his position and continued moving with everyone else, still holding the stake to analyze it with his skill.
---
[Poisoned Stake]
Kill Power: 4.5/10
Description: Not an extremely lethal weapon, the Poisoned Stake is effective in silent ambushes and stealth attacks.
Effect — Silent Ambush
Description: This stake is designed for quick and stealthy attacks. It's lightweight, easy to handle, and nearly undetectable when launched or embedded.
Paralyzing Poison
*Description*: The poison induces nausea, dizziness, confusion, and disorientation in the victim. It also attacks muscles, causing paralysis within minutes.
---
"I think I can make something useful with this."
A mocking laugh and a playful voice echoed in Oreki's mind. "So, how was it to get intentionally impaled?"
"Not fun at all."
"At least it was in the useless…" Jayden muttered in English, assuming only his own group would hear.
They all started walking again, carefully following Oreki and Kim Jingyu's guidance to avoid stepping on or accidentally triggering anything. But the tension in the air was palpable, with the traps keeping everyone constantly on edge. Yoo Yeonha, however, couldn't take her eyes off Oreki.
"There are two salamanders and four blazing rocks hiding up ahead," Oreki said the moment he sensed their presence.
Everyone stopped and focused ahead, trying to spot the monsters Oreki mentioned.
"Hey, I don't see anything up there," Jayden grumbled.
"Want to go check it out?"
Oreki had barely finished speaking when Jayden was already moving forward, strangely irritated by the comment. "Oh, you know what? I will!" he said, ignoring the tension he had just created as he marched ahead. "He's just making stuff up to look smart."
Yoo Yeonha narrowed her eyes, her concern about Jayden increasing. She took a step forward, her voice sharp and authoritative. "Don't be reckless."
The chill in her tone made Jayden freeze in his tracks, looking back at her with a mix of frustration and fear.
"Haven't you noticed anything unusual yet?" she continued, fixing her gaze on him. Hoseung trembled at the firmness in her voice. "The traps here aren't obvious at first glance. He's right about the danger ahead."
"But… there's nothing there!" Jayden shot back, still visibly frustrated. "How would he know that?"
"That's what intrigues me," she responded, almost to herself, her eyes flicking back to Oreki. "But for now, we have to trust what he says. Or are you willing to risk everyone's lives?"
Jayden gritted his teeth, clearly uncomfortable but unable to argue. He huffed, crossing his arms and reluctantly stepping back. "Fine, whatever."
Oreki watched the scene calmly, his expression neutral, though inwardly he chuckled lightly. "Well, at least she's more convincing than I would have been," he thought, admiring Yoo Yeonha's efficient way of handling the situation.
"Now that's settled," Yoo Yeonha said, spinning on her heels and returning to the formation, "let's hope Oreki's wrong. Because if he's right, things will get worse."
Before anyone could react, the sound of stones scraping against the floor echoed through the tunnel. The walls began to shake, small sparks of fire erupting from cracks in the stone floor. Two pairs of fiery eyes glowed in the darkness ahead, and the temperature around them began to rise once again, undoing Oreki's attempt to cool everyone down.
"Salamanders and fiery boulders," Oreki murmured, keeping his usual calm demeanor. "I warned you."
Hazuki held her breath, feeling the danger approaching, while Jin Hoseung and Kim Jingyu raised their weapons, ready for battle. Even Jayden, who had just complained moments ago, now stood still, his eyes locked on the creatures emerging from the shadows.
Yoo Yeonha frowned, her hand already gripping her whip firmly. "Combat formation," she commanded. "Now."
Without hesitation, the group reassembled.
"Does anyone have a water attribute?" Jayden asked, expecting disappointment. No one responded. "Figured."
He raised his sword, undeterred.
The salamanders had terrifying eyes and made a grating, hissing sound with their tongues. Despite their fearsome appearance, their weaknesses were clear.
Being the quickest to react, Oreki pulled his twin pistols from their holsters, immediately firing at the rock-like monsters.
When the bullets made contact, they ricocheted, leaving only small scratches.
Taking advantage of the soundless nature of this world's weapons, he issued the same orders Yeonha was about to give. "Frontline, handle the salamanders. Be cautious of the magma from the rocks upon their death."
One of the salamanders lunged at Jayden, using its tail like a whip.
He skillfully sliced through the tail aimed at him with his sword.
Kirrg—
The creature let out a strange cry of pain, leaving an opening for Jin Hoseung, who attacked the salamander's head with his axe, creating a deep wound in its skull and quickly defeating it.
"Good reflexes," Jayden complimented his newfound friend.
Oh Soojung, confident, charged toward the other salamander alone with impressive speed.
But the creature noticed her and prepared to breathe fire. Before it could, a whip wrapped around its tail, stopping it.
Seeing the opportunity, Soojung leapt forward. "Thanks!" she shouted, delivering a mana-coated punch to the salamander's head.
Further back, four others easily handled the rock monsters, which resembled volcanic stones.
Hazuki ran back and forth, controlling the battlefield and keeping all creatures within a five-meter area, where no creature dared enter.
Bluish trails from Oreki's bullets zipped toward the monsters moving along the cave walls. His precision didn't aim to hit them directly but rather to guide them, as part of a larger strategy.
"Release," Oreki said calmly to the archer beside him, who held a shining arrow, waiting for the perfect moment.
The archer released the arrow just as Oreki commanded, piercing through the air and hitting a cluster of four volcanic rocks, carefully gathered by Oreki and Hazuki. The small explosion opened a hole in the ground, exposing the monsters' magma cores.
"Second act," Oreki instructed calmly.
Immediately, Lee Shaung, the robust warrior, sprinted to the hole, covering it with her shield reinforced by mana. A muffled explosion reverberated beneath her, making her body tremble, but she remained firm. After a few moments, she removed the shield, revealing the silence that followed the chaos.
"I told you it would work," Oreki said with a slight, confident smile.
"Yeah… sure." Lee Shaung responded with hesitation.
A wild Hazuki appeared behind Oreki, giving him a light smack on the head. "How's your body?" she asked, her expression more worried than it should have been.
"I told you, this poison won't take me down," Oreki replied, slightly annoyed.
Unexpectedly, Hazuki moved closer than usual, making Oreki feel increasingly uneasy.
"This drug they're using is unpleasant." Oreki thought.
He felt the discomfort growing. This drug they were using was a nuisance to his nose that was being improved with his training and CC. From the moment everyone entered the dungeon, a strange smell permeated the air, and he knew it wasn't coming from the cave itself. That was enough for him to deduce what was happening.
"If you didn't say that, I wouldn't have noticed." Blood replied sarcastically.
Although Blood couldn't smell it directly, he could still sense Oreki's discomfort and emotions, since they shared the same mind.
The effect of this drug was clear: it amplified emotions. Because of this, everyone in the group — with the exception of Oreki, who was counting on his CC and Perseverance — was becoming increasingly impatient. And the effects would only increase the longer they were exposed to it.
"Stop flirting and focus!" Jayden shouted, his eye twitching with irritation.
Some in the group laughed, though Hazuki shot Jayden a deathly glare.
Oreki sighed, gently pushing Hazuki away. "Get back in position. I'm fine," he said, trying not to sound rude despite his rising irritation.
Hazuki returned to her position, still with a concerned look. The group began moving forward once more.
"What are you planning to do about this?" Blood asked with interest.
"Confirm, of course," Oreki replied calmly.
"Let me take control when the time is right," Blood requested, his excitement barely concealed by the irritation of always having to ask Oreki for permission.
"We won't kill or torture. There's no need."
"...you always take the fun out of it. It still amazes me that I'm the manifestation of your madness and will to kill."
Internally sighing, Oreki mentally spoke to Blood. "If necessary, we can threaten. And if it's the other guy, which is most likely the case, I'll let you torture him."
"Now you're speaking my language. Deal."
The group continued for another twenty minutes, accidentally setting off traps and facing new obstacles. The heat inside the dungeon was stifling, and it only intensified.
After narrowly escaping a trap that shot flames from all sides, they finally took a break. They'd also fought three salamanders, four magma rocks exploding upon death with scalding splashes, and eight swift Peanut Flames.
If it weren't for Yeonha and Oreki, who managed to synchronize their commands with the entire group and control the battlefield, everyone would have suffered more injuries.
"Why are these monsters so strong? And who was the idiot that triggered that trap?" Jayden nearly shouted in anger. He desperately wanted to know who had activated it.
Oh Soojung, the girl with gauntlets as weapons, was reaching her limit with Jayden. "Shut up, idiot!"
"Hmm!?"
They started arguing, drawing the archer and even Hazuki into the fray.
Yeonha was nearby, trying to catch her breath, but the commotion was irritating her to the point her whip crackled with electricity, her gift almost activating.
Her anger was nearly out of control, something unusual for her.
Standing next to Yeonha, Oreki observed her and the rest of the group. Finally, after surveying the environment fully, he decided.
"Finally."
""Speed up the effects then, because she's weak. It took longer than expected." Oreki looked towards Jin Hoseung, who had been sitting and rummaging through his pocket several times since they entered the dungeon. There was something he was hiding there.
Oreki approached him as if to chat when a metallic sound echoed in the silence.
Thing.
Oreki noticed something shining on the ground between them. "Hoseung… what is that?" he asked, though his instincts were already screaming danger.
Thump —
Before either of them could react, an opening formed behind Hoseung, sucking in the surrounding air with terrifying force. It was as if the dungeon itself was breathing, pulling them in.
A whirlwind of dust and debris began to swirl around them. The ground started to tremble, and then, without warning, the force intensified, making it impossible to resist. Oreki tried to plant his feet firmly using his slight control over the elements, while Hoseung gripped a nearby rock, but the pull was too strong.
"This isn't a normal trap!" Oreki thought, his eyes narrowing as he fought against the overwhelming force. However, the vortex kept swallowing everything around them, relentless.
Within seconds, the wind yanked them violently, and both disappeared into the dark opening, their figures swallowed in an instant. The group barely had time to cry out for them.
"Oreki!" Hazuki and Yoo Yeonha shouted, rushing toward the spot where he vanished.
"Hoseung!" Jayden and the others yelled, concerned only for their own teammate.
But it was too late. The passage closed abruptly, as if the dungeon had never allowed an opening there, leaving the group frozen in shock.
Oreki and Hoseung were now in an unknown, dark place, separated from the rest of the group, with no means of communication, and the echo of the void still ringing in their ears.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone