* * *
“It’s been forever since I last ate squid. Is there no chojang, no chojang?”
Seo Yakrin licked his lips as he watched Yoon Seungryong slicing up the squid. Each ti the knife ca down, the elastic flesh bounced back with a spring. Even Yohan, who had shuddered in disgust at the sight of the grotesque monster earlier, swallowed his saliva at the boiled squid that looked so appetizing.
Instead of vinegar, a spicy-sweet sauce was served with it. The squid, once purified by Yohan, had thick, chewy flesh with a satisfying bite. On top of that, the naless fish and shellfish that Seo Yakrin had stubbornly pulled from the lake with his telekinesis were also cleaned and prepared into sashimi, grilled dishes, and spicy stew.
After the grand seafood feast, Yoon Seungryong handed the leftover ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) ingredients to Joo Hoyoung with a serious face.
“Hoyoung, take good care of these.”
“Leave it to !”
In high spirits after eating the fresh seafood, Joo Hoyoung quickly froze the ingredients at Seungryong’s request. Seungryong packed the frozen seafood with a pleased look on his face. While everyone was resting, Lee Hyunmook spoke.
“Now that we’ve fully confird Chanha’s ability, it’s worth attempting another raid. We’ll rest for about three days and then head in.”
A raid after three days! The mix of anticipation and tension clenched Yohan’s chest. The group rested under Yohan’s purification and exchanged ideas from ti to ti. Watching them plan the formation and strategy, Yohan’s heart trembled in a completely new way.
‘So cool....’
The docuntary about the Sunrise Team that he had watched before suddenly ca to mind again. He rembered thinking how amazing it was to see them discussing and strategizing before attacking a rift. And now, he was with people just like that—it didn’t even feel real. Suddenly, Yohan let himself imagine sothing hopeful.
‘If I get out of here, could I beco part of the Sunrise Team too?’
The thought alone made his eyes shine as he focused, when suddenly Seo Yakrin, sitting next to him, ruffled his hair and said:
“For this raid, I’d prefer to be the last one purified. The less sane I am, the stronger my firepower. So I’d like to keep myself just crazy enough to fight—would that be possible? What do you think, leader? Do you think it’s possible?”
“One wrong move and you could cause a teamkill.”
“True.”
Teamkill—the word alone was terrifying. Yet unexpectedly, Hyunmook readily gave his approval.
“I’ll make sure no teamkill happens. Do as you see fit.”
Knowing just how terrifying Seo Yakrin beca when unhinged, Yohan thought it was incredible that Hyunmook would so easily allow him to rampage.
Watching the discussion unfold, Yohan’s chest stirred with rising hope. He felt more and more certain that they could succeed, that he might really escape this dark, stinking Abyss and return to Earth.
On the last night of their three days of rest, after feasting on fresh seafood, Yohan approached Hyunmook. The one advantage of having openly confessed their relationship to everyone was this—he could draw near and speak in a small voice without hesitation.
‘Though for a couple, we’re really plain.’
But that couldn’t be helped. With Awakeners sharp enough to hear a pin drop all around, if they actually started making out, Yohan wouldn’t be able to show his face afterward. So, beyond kissing, there wasn’t much he could do. He just lay by Hyunmook’s side and asked quietly:
“Do you think we can get out of here?”
He tried to ask casually, but the desperate hope slipped into his voice. Hyunmook pulled him into his arms.
“I’d like to answer that we can. But honestly, Yohan, I don’t see our chances of success tomorrow as being very high.”
“Really? I see....”
Not even tomorrow—Yohan’s voice sagged at those words. Yet he was oddly grateful for Hyunmook’s honesty. Hyunmook comforted him in a tender tone that made his eyes sting with tears.
“Still, I’ll give it my best.”
“I will too.”
Yohan forced his voice to sound brave. Then he turned his back and hugged Hyunmook tightly. Sharing his warmth gave him comfort and courage. He drifted off to sleep to the crackling of the campfire and the murmurs of his teammates.
When he woke naturally without needing to be shaken awake, he felt refreshed. His purified energy had built up to the brim, so much that a faint glow occasionally leaked from his crown. While preparing als and battle gear, the others would sneak bits of the radiant energy, though Yohan himself never noticed.
That morning’s al was simple. Following advice that it was better to eat lightly before battle, Yohan filled his stomach just enough to ward off hunger. Gripping his spear—the only weapon he had—he stood before the cave entrance with his heart pounding as if it might burst from his chest.
“It would be nice if we could make him armor out of eternal stone.”
Seo Yakrin muttered regretfully. But even with eternal stones piled like mountains in the Abyss, they couldn’t be used. Wearing more than one at a ti actually hindered the user, making control extrely difficult.
For example, when trying to attack a monster on the right, power might suddenly discharge to the left; or while supporting an ally, energy might scatter into thin air. At worst, such mistakes could be fatal. For damage dealers, the power could even backfire and harm their own bodies. So, everyone trusted their regeneration and fought bare-skinned.
“Don’t worry, Yohan. I’ll protect you with all I have.”
“I’ll count on you, Chanha hyung.”
Taking a deep breath, Yohan steeled himself, just as Hyunmook gave the command to advance. Following his order, they descended the long, dark slope and reached the gaping maw of the Abyss once again. The center lay just ahead. The air was already heavy with sinister, oppressive energy. Yohan’s heart pounded violently.
“Buff up. We enter in three seconds.”
Hyunmook’s eyes t Yohan’s, and Yohan nodded. Joo Hoyoung cast the buff. Then Hyunmook raised his hand and counted down.
“...Enter!”
With Hyunmook in the lead, each of them jumped into the darkness in turn. They landed without trouble on a steep slope several ters below the entrance. The real test began now.
The Abyss’s center was so dark that the only light ca from the small orb Yohan had created to shield his teammates from contamination, and that faint glow alone illuminated the surroundings. This ti, unlike before, the core was hidden, smothered under swarms of monsters. Or rather, under a grotesque mass like lted wax made from dissolved lifeforms. Yohan suppressed his gag reflex and took a deep breath.
The mont they entered the center, the monsters reacted violently, surging toward them just as before. Sweat dampened Yohan’s palm gripping his spear. According to plan, Hyunmook struck first.
The shadow at his feet writhed. In the darkness, an even deeper black stretched forward in an instant. Every monster engulfed by it disappeared, leaving an open path. It was a bizarre, terrifying attack that defied description, but now was no ti to gape in fear.
“Haha, ha!”
The more he used powers gained within the Abyss itself, the more contaminated he beca. Hyunmook was no exception, chuckling in a flat voice. His face contorted into madness, white hair falling forward as his red eyes glead.
“Singing apple, uninvited guest, pouring goat, dancing echo, mmhm, mmhm.... Chorus, another chorus! Dissonance, perfect! Applause of the slope!”
His rambling nonsense had been expected—this was Hyunmook’s insane state. Though afraid, the group carried out the plan step by step. Next ca Yoon Seungryong. He opened his ‘pouch,’ releasing a flood of brine from the salt lake, surging like waves.
As the monsters shrieked and were swept back by the waves, Joo Hoyoung acted. Wherever he passed, hard ice walls rose, solidifying the path Hyunmook had carved. Then Yohan rushed forward, catching Hyunmook’s hand. Hyunmook ca willingly, calling to him in a sweet voice.
“My little sheep.”
“Yes! Run with your sheep! Hurry!”
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