Chapter 46 - Collision of Shadows and Flame
Deep inside the near S-rank dungeon in Busan, the DK Guild continued its advance.
The air was thick.
Heavy.
Mana pressed against their skin like invisible water pressure the deeper they went. Even the A-rank hunters felt sweat trickling down their backs.
At the rear of the formation stood Choi Jong-In.
Calm.
Smoking.
Observing.
He watched as Kim Jongsoo issued commands.
"Left flank, hold formation!"
"B-ranks, reinforce the center!"
"C-ranks, stay behind the shield line!"
The coordination was smooth. Efficient.
A pack of armored lizard-type monsters charged from the cavern walls, but the guild's formation didn't waver. Fire, steel, and magic interwove cleanly.
Choi smiled faintly.
He's improved.
Jongsoo wasn't hesitating.
Wasn't panicking.
He adapted quickly when the monsters' attack patterns shifted.
The guild members moved with growing confidence.
This is good experience for them.
Choi took another slow drag from his cigarette—
Then paused.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Far ahead.
Deep within the dungeon.
A presence.
Stronger.
Denser.
Watching.
The smoke escaped his lips slowly.
He stepped forward.
"Jongsoo."
The vice guild master immediately turned. "Guild Master?"
"We're nearing the end."
Jongsoo frowned slightly. "Already?"
Choi smiled casually, though his eyes remained sharp.
"Boss chamber's close. And it's stronger than reported."
The hunters stiffened.
One of the A-ranks swallowed.
So this is near S-rank pressure…
Without Choi here—
They might not have survived the earlier waves.
Jongsoo straightened.
"Understood. Tighten formation! Prepare for boss engagement!"
Choi moved toward the front now.
Smoke trailing behind him.
The temperature in the cavern rose faintly.
---
Meanwhile—
At the school.
Chaos.
Mena cut down another orc in a swift arc, blood splattering across the hallway walls.
"How many gates…?!" she muttered.
They kept opening.
Small tears in space.
Unnatural.
Ignel stood at the center of the campus, eyes glowing faintly red as he scanned the distortions.
This isn't random.
Something inside the main gate felt… deliberate.
Calculated.
---
Inside a classroom—
Jin-ah and several students were cornered.
An orc slammed the classroom door shut behind it.
The students screamed.
Desks overturned.
Windows shattered.
The orc advanced slowly, dragging its axe across the floor with a metallic screech.
Jin-ah's breath trembled.
It raised its weapon.
Swung—
And suddenly—
A shadow erupted from beneath her feet.
An orc—crimson red, glowing faintly with blu—emerged from her shadow.
It caught the incoming axe mid-swing.
CRACK.
With a powerful punch, it sent the invading orc crashing through the wall.
The students froze.
"T-That came from her shadow?!"
More orcs poured from the gate in the hallway.
Three shadow high orcs stood before Jin-ah, forming a defensive wall.
Silent.
Unyielding.
They moved with unnatural coordination, cutting down invaders without hesitation.
---
Inside the primary gate—
On a crude throne made of bone and shattered stone—
Sat a towering orc.
Massive.
Scarred.
Green skin marked with red war tattoos.
Eyes burning crimson.
"The final restraints have been lifted…"
His voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"I am Guroktaru… Chieftain of the Red Blade Tribe."
He rose slowly, gripping his massive greatsword.
"Nothing can stop me."
One of his subordinates rushed in.
"Guroktaru! The high orc warriors are aiding the humans!"
He narrowed his eyes.
"High orcs?"
"How many?"
"…Three."
Guroktaru's lips curled in disdain.
"The great Red Blade warriors cannot handle three high orcs?"
"Pathetic."
He stepped forward.
"Lead the way."
His red tattoos glowed faintly.
"It is time for slaughter."
---
Back in the school hallway—
The three shadow high orcs clashed against Guroktaru.
The impact alone shattered walls.
With a single overwhelming swing—
One shadow orc lost an arm.
The invading orcs roared.
"GUROKTARU!"
He grinned savagely.
"An orc's tattoos are symbols of victory."
He struck again.
"They mark the number of enemies I have killed."
Another heavy blow.
"But you—"
He leaned forward, eyes blazing.
"Is that all?! Entertain me!"
His sword smashed into all three shadow orcs at once—
Obliterating them.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Black mist gathered.
The destroyed shadow orcs reformed.
Whole.
Standing again.
Guroktaru frowned.
"…A spell?"
He swung again.
Cut.
Crush.
Destroy.
They regenerated again.
His expression darkened.
"I can kill you a hundred times. A thousand times."
But—
A strange pressure began to grow inside his mind.
A whisper.
Kill.
Kill.
Kill.
Kill.
Kill.
He clutched his head.
"It grows worse…"
He snarled.
"If they move by magic—"
His gaze shifted past them.
"To the controller."
His eyes locked onto Jin-ah.
"THE GIRL!"
Orcs surged forward.
The shadow high orcs were overwhelmed, constantly regenerating but unable to fully stop the swarm.
"Grab her!"
A massive orc broke through and seized Jin-ah by the head.
She screamed.
Her vision blurred.
Guroktaru approached slowly.
"As I suspected."
"I can sense the magic."
He raised his sword.
"Die."
---
Outside.
Rain began to fall.
Heavy.
Cold.
And from the sky—
Something descended.
Fast.
Terrifying.
The orc holding Jin-ah began shaking violently.
Its grip weakened.
It dropped her.
A deafening roar tore through the air.
All orcs froze.
Guroktaru's eyes widened.
"…Something… is coming."
"Brace for impact!"
A massive explosion of debris and mist engulfed the battlefield.
Windows shattered.
Walls cracked.
Jin-ah coughed weakly—
Then felt it.
A soft pat on her head.
Gentle.
Warm.
"Are you okay?"
She looked up.
A massive wyvern stood before her.
Its body forged from shadow.
Black scales.
Blue light pulsing through its veins.
Wings spread wide.
Stood Sung Jinwoo.
Black aura radiating.
Eyes glowing coldly.
The orcs trembled.
Guroktaru stared in disbelief.
"I am Guroktaru, chieftain of the Red Bla—"
"You."
Jinwoo's voice cut through him like a blade.
"Shut up and wait."
The black aura around him intensified.
Shadows writhed across the ground.
He pointed directly at Guroktaru.
The rain fell harder.
And for the first time since emerging—
Guroktaru felt fear for the first time.
----
Chapter End.