Chapter 339

Chapter 339. Status(格) and Isolation(隔) (5)

A few minutes ago, Kim Yul received a call from a player affiliated with the association, with whom he was generally on friendly terms.

– Hyunwoo isn’t answering the phone.

– None of us can get in right now.

At that moment, Yang Taeho was using his Trait to prevent the black roots from spreading further. Kim Yul roughly grabbed Ahel by the scruff of his neck and headed to Seocho High School. That turned out to be a stroke of genius.

“Nice one, Ahel hyung!”

Ahel had succeeded in damaging part of that mysterious black barrier. Kim Yul was the first to make it inside.

Soon after, other players from the association attempted to follow, but the black canopy rapidly restored itself.

As a result, he was the only one who managed to get inside. However, he wasn’t fazed by that fact for even a moment.

“Hey there, monsters! It’s a bit troublesome having you here!”

He wasn’t someone who’d fall prey to such lowly monsters. He could hunt even if a nemesis-rank being descended, and he could hold his ground against a legion commander.

That was the power of a Platinum rank nurtured directly by Hyunwoo.

“Rice Cake! Get out of the way!”

Kim Yul shouted to Rice Cake, who was struggling on the ground, to encircle the gym with a blade dance.

This magic, which ordinary players took several minutes to execute, was completed in the blink of an eye.

The general-ranks targeting the gym quickly retreated. But the ensuing whirlpool spear chased them down.

Thud, thud!

Piercing through and exploding them in one swift move. Having dispatched the general-rank monsters effortlessly, he kicked the air.

Kim Yul’s target was a general-rank that had torn down the outer wall to enter the building!

“Here you are!”

The mana pooling at his feet took form, implementing a magic. The higher-level magic than Wind Walk, Typhoon’s Sprint.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

He dashed through the wind, like using a teleportation technique, slicing his dagger towards the general-rank.

“Get inside here!”

Fierce mana enveloped Kim Yul’s dagger. But before his dagger could reach the general-rank, it bounced off.

The general-rank, who had turned its back on him, fired a kerak.

Clang!

As soon as he deflected the kerak, the general-rank cast a magic. Trees sprouted and rushed to pierce him. The fight was determined in an instant.

Mana moved, and the blade dance began. The lightning mana contained in Hyunwoo’s Mana Accumulation Tool mingled, scattering sparks.

The flames burned and sliced through the tree trunks as his double daggers extended further.

Thunk-!

Crossing his two daggers, Kim Yul cleanly sliced off the back of the general-rank’s neck.

“Phew.”

The enormous mana detected by his detection magic was the last enemy. There was an unopened Hole, but…

‘First, I need to ensure the kids’ safety.’

Fortunately, he still had some time.

“Excuse me!”

As Kim Yul peered around in front of the barrier, the caster soon emerged.

“Any fatalities or injuries?”

“N-No, none. Everyone evacuated inside the barrier before the monsters could enter the building.”

“Okay.”

This should mean that Yeonwoo is safe since we are now in front of Class 6.

“Just stay inside for now, just in case. I’ll call you as soon as the situation is settled.”

“Y-Yes!”

The teacher disappeared back into the barrier, and Kim Yul launched himself out of the building.

Rice Cake was sitting down, covered in black and red blood.

“Are you hurt badly?”

“Snort.”

Rice Cake snorted as if it was nothing, but the continuous bleeding suggested otherwise.

He quickly sprayed a potion on Rice Cake’s wounds, then peeked inside the gym.

“Rescue team here~ Anyone injured?”

“N-No, no, no.”

An older woman, who appeared to be a teacher, replied in a trembling voice.

“Good to hear.”

As he scanned the students, he met eyes with Jinwoo.

Startled, as if he wanted to acknowledge him, Jinwoo awkwardly lowered his hand.

He chose to naturally avert his gaze instead of returning his greeting. While it was well known that Hyunwoo had siblings, few knew exactly who they were.

Only those who had known the Kang siblings from a long time ago would know, really.

‘I guess that’s coming to an end with this incident.’

For now, whichever path Hyunwoo decides is up to him. His role here is to ensure the twins’ safety.

“Why was the barrier stone not used? I heard it was distributed to all government and educational institutions.”

“It was … misplaced. When we tried to use it, the inventory was empty.”

“Ah.”

It seemed someone had stolen the barrier stone that was provided. In today’s world, it can be a lifesaver, so it’s not surprising.

‘The gym isn’t a place that’s used every day.’

Whoever it was probably judged that there was a low risk of getting caught, given the lack of daily inventory checks.

‘Well, this is something for the administrative staff to deal with later.’

“This should help!”

He bought another barrier stone and provided it to the students in the gym.

“There isn’t a clear escape route yet. It’s safer to stay inside until it’s available.”

“O-okay, thank you!”

“Thanks!”

Turning away from the grateful teachers and students, he spoke as He approached the still-existing Hole.

“Rice Cake, can you connect me to Hyunwoo hyung? If you already are, bark for him.”

Now that the situation was nearly over, he thought of reporting to Hyunwoo. But Rice Cake quietly shook her head.

“What do you mean? The connection isn’t up?”

Nod, nod.

Rice Cake answered with a nod. Initially, when the canopy appeared, the connection remained, but it was severed a few minutes later.

It briefly reconnected when he entered but then went dead again.

He didn’t grasp the full context, but it was enough to confirm that He couldn’t reach Hyunwoo for the moment.

“Well, it can’t be helped. Both are safe for now… I’ll deal with the Hole and wait for Ahel.”

But before Kim Yul could finish speaking, another Hole suddenly appeared.

Before his eyes, it steeped in blackness and opened.

“Ah, this damn emergency Hole.”

If this continued, it seemed pointless to close them before they opened.

‘Fortunately, only a few come through in an emergency.’

He was bothered by how perfect the timing seemed.

‘Can they see what’s happening on this side?’

Otherwise, how could they open a new Hole at such an opportune moment?

He squinted his eyes and assumed a combat stance. As He adjusted his grip on the daggers, a head the size of a car shot out from the Hole.

Its top featured nine stars.

“Are they sending stronger ones because a general-rank was defeated?”

The timing, the rank of the new creature emerging.

It was unsettling to dismiss it as mere coincidence.

Having adapted the habit of observing every situation and mulling over it from accompanying Hyunwoo, he furrowed his brow.

But at the moment, the ongoing battle was more pressing.

Swinging his dagger high, he lunged at the nemesis-rank, attacking before it fully emerged.

‘They always stick their heads in first, don’t they?’

By blinding them, he would have an easier fight moving forward.

Without hesitation, he swung his dagger.

“I’ll teach you where you are!”

Harnessing the Typhoon’s Sprint, he gouged out one of the nemesis-rank’s eyes in a flash.

Its blood spattered as a contamination message popped up.

‘What does it matter.’

Anyway, his body would be as clean as a sheet of fresh snow once Hyunwoo returned.

‘I just need to manage the timer well.’

Skillfully gulping down a potion, he immediately targeted the opposite eye.

While the nemesis-rank was not easily caught off guard once again.

“Damn it! This is here!”

Echoing Hyunwoo’s muttered words when navigating a monster-infested site, he managed to snatch both eyes from the nemesis-rank.

Of course, the nemesis-rank didn’t just let it happen idly.

‘Of all things, fire.’

If it were a cooperation, it might be a different matter, but it was an unfavorable attribute in a standoff.

He soared into the air to evade the flames filling all sides.

“Before you die here, why don’t you go back in?”

A brief respite dodging its magic, but Kim Yul was caught off guard.

One, two, three… A total of five Holes sprung open in quick succession.

And they all began opening acutely.

It was hardly surprising that this confirmed the enemy knew how the situation was going on this side.

‘It seems they must have made up their minds.’

No matter the cost, they seemed determined to put everything on the line for this assault.

“Hey, you cowardly bastards! Calling in your buddies after taking a few punches?!”

Kim Yul shot down from the sky like a meteor, aiming for the nemesis-rank’s neck. He intended to finish it off before more monsters emerged from the Holes.

Despite everything, dealing with two nemesis-ranks simultaneously was a tall order.

But in the brief moment, the nemesis-rank dodged his assault and launched a counterattack.

He evaded the torrents of flame slicing through the air.

Meanwhile, monsters poured out from the newly spawned Holes.

‘Two nemesis-ranks, more than ten general-ranks!’

They all rushed towards the school building simultaneously.

He was stuck dealing with a foe almost caught in the Hole.

“Rice Cake! To the gym!”

In hindsight, he should have erected more barriers around the gym.

Reflecting briefly, he rapidly tied down the general-ranks with a blade dance and wind whips. But the nemesis-ranks brushed off his magic and successfully rammed into the building.

If that state had continued, the situation might have turned dire.

The monsters present clearly surpassed his personal combat capabilities.

But fortunately, his reinforcements arrived just on time.

Crash!

The sound of glass shattering ensued as Ethan and the association players broke in.

Ahel must have provided additional help.

“Yul!”

“Ethan, the school!”

“Leave it to him!”

Kim Yul felt a newfound peace of mind with the arrival of reinforcements, causing his eyes to gleam.

As Typhoon’s Sprint engulfed his entire body, he leapt into the flames. It was a moment when the ensuing assault reached such a speed that even a player would struggle to follow.

While Hyunwoo was noted for overwhelming foes with potent firepower, he was renowned for swiftly and quietly dispatching enemies.

Whatever creature became his prey always met a ragged end.

‘It is taxing on mana consumption, though.’

Nonetheless, reducing the ranks by at least one nemesis-rank was a priority.

He mercilessly hacked down the nemesis-rank before him with his daggers.

As guts and blood splattered everywhere, turning his surroundings into a gruesome mess, the familiar message appeared.

「You have successfully eliminated the enemy. 1,100,631 units of corrupted mana have been absorbed.」

At the same time, a chilling sensation crawled down his spine.

Kim Yul hastily veered sideways, and clouds billowed up where he had been standing.

“This is an unexpected number of nuisances.”

An aged man, previously unknown to him, emerged from the mist.

“With skills capable of breaking that barrier… surely Ahel, that child, must have survived and crossed.”

How many individuals would audaciously refer to Ahel as a child?

As the answer came, memories surfaced without any delay.

– He lost his master, peers, and seniors who studied with him. They’re likely living with monsters, eating and fighting with them even now.”

He didn’t need to deliberate over who stood before him.

“Is my apprentice is doing well, outsider.”

The former Tower Master of the Ferrell Kingdom, Severius Lvarmonte, had appeared.