章 54: Chapter 269: Scouter (1)
The silver chain and yarn were tightly entwined, pulling against each other. At first glance, it seemed like the yarn wouldn't stand a chance against the chain. It felt like it could snap at any moment. However, unable to withstand it, the yarn slowly pulled the chain back.
"How can this be!"
The sixth crescent moon piece, Centaurus, shouted. Her eyes, as white as snow, fiercely glared, indistinguishable from albino. Her right hand, adorned with chunky jewelry, reached forward. What appeared in her hand was not a chain but a black bow.
At the same time, a pink light tore through the sky dizzyingly. Hundreds of strands of yarn spread out like a net, and a jet-black arrow was caught on Centaurus's bow. The taut bowstring went slack—falling limp. Just the arrow being shot unleashed a whirlwind.
Crackling, a powerful current surged along the yarn. Arrows flying amidst the swirling vortex and the mesh of electricity tangled along the yarn.
Boom!
It exploded. Arrows flew once again, and this time, thunderbolts scattered with a roar. Not a single one of the dark arrows pouring down from the dark sky was missed. The aftermath of the clash between lightning and arrows was entirely blocked by the spread-out yarn net. Not a single shard flew towards us.
["Honey!"]
Staring blankly at the scene, I finally regained my senses as a message window popped up before my eyes.
["It's newbie! finally landed properly!
By the way the world, the dungeon, won't last long! It's breaking apart because of too much interference!"]
"Newbie, how do we get out of here?"
["I've barely managed to establish a connection, so I'll create a logout portal for you. Or I can log you out since that is Honey's real body!"]
"If I'm the one logging out?."
"You just have to kill your body."
...What nonsense.
"Hand over the portal."
Right away. A message appeared saying
"Just a moment," and a quest appeared.
"Now it's time to go home!
The dungeon is collapsing. Unfortunately, further progress seems impossible! Let's quickly open the portal and log out! Upon entering the portal, your points and items will be settled.
Will you open the portal?
Yes/No
Reward: Portal Opened"
Why ask? Obviously, yes, click. A compass-like device appeared. One end of the compass needle pointed east, sparkling.
"Please log out the party."
Let's send all party members outside the dungeon either through the portal or by directly logging out.
Reward: Han Yoojin's Dungeon Escape
Does this mean I can't log out via the portal? I raised my head to look at the lightning-streaked sky. Sung Hyunjae's figure was still nowhere to be seen. I should send the others back first. What about Sigma?
"A portal to escape this place has opened!"
I shouted while mounting on Peace's back. Fortunately, the platform held, and it was in the opposite direction. As Sung Hyunjae would probably block the way, I needed to log everyone out first and then finally log out Sung Hyunjae... What should I do about Sigma?
For now, it was better to evacuate the party. If we were to die here, who knows what would happen. Judging by the fact that I had to kill someone else to log out, it would be difficult to leave unharmed.
...If I were to receive a fatal injury, would I have to strike first?
"This way!"
I directed Peace.
- Crunch!
Peace was about to run, but Yerim shouted towards Han Yoojin. Wondering what was happening, when Han Yoojin wrapped around me and engulfed me in flames. Then, he used an acceleration skill to start running. Even though his stats were C-rank, I wouldn't have been able to withstand it alone.
Since everyone had replenished their mana enough, I followed suit and used skills generously to keep up with Peace. Moon Hyuna used teleportation skills, Noah used various support skills, and Moon Hyuna managed to find a bike near the Medsang Shop and carried Sigma on it. Thanks to her skills with bikes and other mounts, she was just as fast as Peace.
Creak, Crash!
Sounds of the sky tearing apart echoed one after another behind us. Without even considering looking back, I just stared at the compass needle. The light of the needle grew stronger.
"Isn't that?"
Moon Hyuna, who was streaking across the sky, shouted. I could see a blue portal open in the middle of the eight-lane road ahead.
"Sir, can we take the spirit's egg with us?"
"They said they would settle items and points once we enter. If not, don't worry, I'll figure something out. Just go in!"
Moon Hyuna nodded and teleported in front of the portal. Her hand touched the portal.
"Just entering..."
The voice abruptly cut off, and Moon Hyuna's and Delta's bodies lost consciousness and collapsed. I was momentarily surprised, but it seemed like only their minds had left. The color of their disheveled hair was completely blue. Their faces had also changed slightly.
"Noah and Han Yoojin, please go in too!"
Both of them hesitated in front of the portal despite my words. Then Han Yoojin sighed heavily and reached out towards the portal first.
Despite my words, both hesitated in front of the portal. Then Moon Hyuna sighed heavily and reached out towards the portal.
"Yoojin-ssi, I'm counting on you please take care of moon, I wonder if that volleyball can do anything. I'm not saying to really bring him back but... This is not our goodbye sweetheart."
In that brief moment, it seemed they had grown quite close. They had subtly gotten along well.
"Even if I go to that world, I have no intention of joining your guild, Moon Hyuna."
"Yeah, yeah. Stay safe and come back. I'll buy you something delicious."
With a smirk, Moon Hyuna placed her hand on the portal. Lambda's physical form also collapsed. It seemed neither Lambda nor Delta had died, but even as they were moved to the side and laid down, they didn't wake up.
"I... have to go back too."
Noah said, looking at her palm.
"Noah, this place..."
"It's okay, it was never really mine to begin with. And there's no need to throw a tantrum."
Seemingly trying to cut off any lingering attachment, Noah reached out directly. Mu's body collapsed. While the color of her eyes couldn't be confirmed, her hair had turned closer to a reddish-gold color. Although she said it was okay, it probably wasn't. Looking down at the unconscious Mu, who looked more unlike Noah than expected, I patted Peace's back.
"Now, Peace, it's your turn to go in."
- Whine.
Peace lowered himself slightly and looked up at me. He curled between my legs and wrapped his fluffy tail around them.
"We need to go home."
- Whine.
"Dad will follow soon."
Pushing Peace's buttocks towards the portal, his snout finally touched it. The small monster's body, which collapsed with a thud, resembled a large squirrel.
Now only Yoohyun remained. The sounds of growling were still distant but relentless. My brother had a slightly stern expression. As soon as I saw it, I understood.
"Yoohyun."
"Hyung."
"I've been told that once everyone who came here returns, I can automatically get out. So don't worry."
"Including Guild Master Seseong, of course."
Looking up at the darkening sky, Yoohyun spoke.
"Hyung, How can I leave you behind?"
"Yoohyun."
"I know. I have to go. That's what's best."
"Since that bastard seems to have made a contract with the King of Harmlessness, he probably won't be able to kill me. If I just push Guild Master Seseong into the portal, we can go straight away."
"Yeah."
Yoohyun nodded, his expression indicating he had much to say, but instead of speaking, he pulled out all the items from his inventory.
"Just in case."
"I should've asked others to empty their inventories before leaving."
I chuckled lightly on purpose and pushed my brother's back. Hurry up and leave before it gets dangerous. Unable to take his eyes off me, Yoohyun reached out towards the portal. I embraced his collapsing body. Hmm, he doesn't resemble me much either. I laid Alpha next to Delta and turned away. Sigma was looking at me.
"I remember when I first came here."
Sigma was the first person I met, and now he's the last one left.
"Shall we go together? I'll introduce you to Sung Hyunjae. He might know something about you too, Sigma."
The newcomer hadn't properly logged in the whole time. Apart from the early main quests and sub-quests to assist progression, they were probably quests sent by Sung Hyunjae. Including a quest to protect Sigma.
"That weird guy who uses strange-colored threads."
"...Strange color? Isn't it pretty?"
"You have terrible taste."
"It's not that bad!"
Sigma had a face as if wondering why I was getting annoyed. Well, I did dye my hair hot pink thinking of giving him a crappy gift... But still, it feels like I'm the one being criticized. Even in Drosia, I was always wrapped in hot pink, so it didn't seem strange.
"Anyway, let's go."
After picking up the items Yoohyun handed over, I got on the bike that Moon Hyuna had left behind. It seemed to be for combat guards, as it was quite large.
"Sigma, get on."
"Do you know how to drive?"
"I've ridden bikes even when I was on the run from you."
"Probably a scooter."
"Same difference."
I started the bike. Going back the way we came made my spine shiver involuntarily. I still have some life left, but Sigma is done if he dies once. Is it okay?
Screech! The sky shook with a loud noise. The torn threads fell like snowflakes. Standing atop the chain stretched diagonally across the ground, Kentaurus glared fiercely, swinging his black bow vigorously with each movement, causing the wind to howl and thunder-like roars to erupt.
"How long are you going to hide! Come out now!"
"Hiding? Your memory is poor."
A familiar voice responded to Kentaurus's shout. The space that had completely sunk began to twist and split.
"It was you who imprisoned me by reclaiming system authority, wasn't it? Thanks to you, it took a little longer to escape."
The rift widened gradually. Moving towards the mana hole, I took off the item that suppressed magic resonance from my wrist.
"Gasp...!"
"C rank!"
Sigma grabbed me as I stumbled, dropping the bike, and leapt to the ground. The bike came to a halt, crashing into the wall of the ruined building.
"This is no joke..."
I felt like I was standing in the middle of a relentless storm, without direction or mercy. No, it felt more like being tossed around without control. The surge of magic emitted by Centaurus was immense, but the magic emanating from the rift was indescribable.
I also sensed the familiar movement of magic. And around it, there were incredibly complex and intricate movements that I could hardly even dare to look at.
Is that the system?
"Don't you... feel that?"
"It's strong."
Sigma frowned slightly, now almost staring at the rift that had become almost circular. He's an SS rank Awakener, so why can't he feel it properly? Even though I'm just watching from a distance, I felt like my body was heating up. The control bracelet... Darn, did I drop it earlier? Where did it go?
Kugugug─
With a heavy resonance, the barrier of the system blocking the presence beyond the rift was finally destroyed. As a result, my vision blurred again. The speed was nauseating. When will I get used to this? Can I even get used to it?
I felt like throwing up... Oh.
Suddenly, the surroundings, the flow of magic, calmed down. I felt Sigma's grip on me tighten. As my blurred vision cleared, something that wasn't there before came into focus. It was a shoe.
A gloved hand reached out in front of me.
"Will you accept the final special quest?"
"...Have you prepared enough points?"
"I've saved up enough so it won't be disappointing."
"Seven circles, no, eight circles need to be attached. I don't accept anything less."
I shook the offered hand and looked up. It was a familiar face. But his hair was white. I hoped for it, but not to that extent. What was the original color... What color was it? So, it was definitely...
"Why are you conserving your strength even after forcibly breaking through the system!"
A ferocious growl erupted from above. Sung Hyunjae turned his head to look at centaurus.
"It's the result of a simple contract."
A contract appeared in mid-air. Sung Hyunjae released my hand and tapped a section of the contract with his finger.
"The white tail here signifies taking minimal responsibility for one's dependence. Do you see this part? And that pitiful monster that's been humiliated is my dependent under contract. If I don't seek revenge even after being brutally murdered, it would violate the contract."
So, it wouldn't be difficult for him, he said, lifting the corner of his lips.
"Let's fulfill the contract then."
The contract disappeared, and light shone above Sung Hyunjae's hand. A long white lance extended, and Centaurus trampled the sky, hoofing the ground.
As the silver chain clashed with the thrown lance, the world was dyed white.
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