“The boulevard’s too exposed, let’s head into the alley!”
There’d be almost no traffic on an eight-lane road, making us perfect targets. Noah jerked the wheel and slipped the car between the buildings.
“This car is, uh, a Bullet—defense.”
“Sorry?”
“I think he ans bulletproof, hyung. Bulletproof.”
“Oh. It’s not an item.”
“Crafted dungeon byproduct vehicles take ages to custom order, so until they arrive people sotis use a bulletproof car.”
Yuhyun spoke up to explain for Noah, who nodded.
“Since it’s Mr. Yujin’s car, it’s safe.”
Dungeon byproducts’ mana content greatly affected their strength, so in situations like this they could actually be weaker than ordinary goods. Rounding the corner, smoke billowed over a chain café. The helicopter lay crashed on the roadside. A man with a gun stood in front of it.
“Run him over!”
No hesitation—Noah floored it. The mont the man turned, the car’s front bumper slamd into him. Thud! His body lifted and skidded across the ground.
“Hunters don’t use guns.”
I jumped out of the car. In low-rank dungeons they were auxiliary, but items were the mainstay. Any gun-wielder was effectively an enemy—soone who knew items didn’t work properly in this world.
Thunk! I kicked the fallen man’s weapon away. He didn’t sound Korean. Yuhyun and I scanned the area as Noah leveled the pistol at the man.
“Where’s the Sesung Guildmaster, the head of Sesung Guild! Where!”
The half-engulfed helicopter was empty—a sign they’d escaped alive, at least.
“Hyung!”
Yuhyun grabbed just as Noah and Rin dove behind the car.
Rat-a-tat-tat!
Bullets pinged off the alloy body in a heavy downpour—tang, tang, tang. Rin, who had been listening to the shots, suddenly sprang up. The gunfire stopped as if on cue. Was she counting the rounds? Rin, did you work as a rc before awakening?
“Ho~.”
Sliding over the trunk, Rin yanked the trigger. Bang—and the shooter vanished. The hunter lying on the ground had also disappeared. They were dreams too. Then...
“Bloodstains!”
I dropped low and scanned around the helicopter. Hard to erge unscathed, and potions were useless here. Blood likely remained. As expected, a dark crimson sar hardened on the pavent. We followed the trail.
“This way.”
A building with shattered glass doors stood ahead. We jumped back into the car. It rattled onto the sidewalk, barreling toward the entrance. Crash! We crushed the remaining glass and plowed into the dim interior—
Boom!
A massive explosion rocked the car, tossing it. No idea where this bulletproof car was made, but it was solid! Flas surged. Yuhyun flung open the door and charged through the blaze, spraying bullets. A mont later I chased after him, checking on my brother.
“Hey! You can’t even use skills right now!”
“It’s not like my awakened powers are gone. Ordinary fire like this is fine.”
Maybe because he’s fire-born. Even so, his clothes were singed. The attackers, surprised ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) he’d erge from the flas, collapsed one after another.
“The Sesung Guildmaster went upstairs!”
Soone hiding in the corner—probably a hunter from the office building—popped out.
“Why the sudden shooting? And it actually works!”
No need to see the aftermath. Hunters charging a bulletproof car with only lee got wiped out. No wonder there was no one left.
“Tell the people in the building to watch for firearms.”
The hunter nodded and sprinted off. He checked his gear, then headed for the stairs.
“If you die, it’s over. No potions.”
Even if Gyeol could brew high-grade potions, it’d be useless if we didn’t reach the nursery alive. I reminded myself not to rush in recklessly and stepped onto the stairwell. Ergency lights cast a silent glow; not even breathing was audible. Staying alert, I climbed—second floor, then third.
Clink!
A small object dropped sowhere above. Simultaneously, Rin leaped onto the railing and swung a club-like grenade upward. Clang! It struck hard.
Boom!
It detonated mid-air. Noah shielded us from the flying shrapnel with a cushion he pulled from the car. Rin really must’ve served in a war.
“C—Run!”
Rin spat out a dagger and began ascending like a spider—grabbing the railing and hauling herself up in a flash. Noah followed onto the railing but didn’t climb after her. Instead, he drew his pistol, aid upward, and provided covering fire.
“Yuhyun!”
“Let’s go!” Yuhyun and I took off up the stairs. Even with their stats reduced, S-ranks still outpaced normal hunters, so Yuhyun darted past . anwhile, Rin had already reached the enemies’ position. A scream rang out sowhere above. Yuhyun vaulted onto the next railing and dashed up the remaining steps. Thud! A man lunging up lost his balance under Yuhyun’s kick and tumbled down. Noah didn’t hesitate—bang! He finished him off.
I arrived at the combat zone. An open ergency exit led into a corridor where movent stirred. It seed they’d cleared the stairwell. I joined Noah and we approached the exit.
“Door.”
I gestured to the hinge of the heavy tal door. Yuhyun—likely strongest among us—yanked a twisted railing bar dislodged by the explosion and hamred the hinge. Clang! Clang! A few tallic cracks, and the door fell away. We used it as a shield and dashed into the hall.
Tang, tang, tang! Bullets hamred against the tal door. Though weakened, it couldn’t stop all of them. A stray round grazed Noah’s leg. Thankfully, it’d lost power passing through the door, and he only had a torn sleeve.
Just as we pushed forward—
Thud!
A large locker barreled toward the enemies. Its doors flew open, scattering papers everywhere. It was Director Song.
“Director!”
With the foes montarily stunned by the locker, we abandoned the door and charged. I plunged a dagger into the nearest man’s neck and tossed my rifle to Song Taewon. He caught its heft, spun, and fired at the locker. The man pinned beneath it jerked once, then vanished.
“I’m...okay.”
“It wasn’t .” Song Taewon’s clothes were soaked in blood. Then—
“Where’s Seong Hyunjae?”
“He’s inside.”
Director Song strode ahead and spoke quickly.
“They looked like hunters I’ve seen before—but their condition was off. They seed to be moving on orders.”
“One of the Transcendents, no doubt. They can’t directly intervene pre-system, but they could’ve contracted hunters in advance—like a chatterbox.”
Our world was now beyond direct reach. But if bound hunters dread, perhaps they could be controlled.
“Specifically, those who’ve crossed paths with Hyunjae and .”
“With the two of us?”
“Yes. We’ve always been adversaries, but not to the point of arming themselves and charging. ...I think.”
That qualifier likely ant Hyunjae. Who was pulling these hunters? A mind-affinity Transcendent? Maybe the Crescent Moon. It can manipulate dreams easily. Their target might not even have been Hyunjae but Director Song.
Song Taewon opened one of the office doors in the row. Hyunjae sat in a worn swivel chair—his abdon crimson, one ear missing, a long gash across his cheek.
“You ca to save , sir.”
He coughed blood with his stifled words. It hit like a blow to the back of the head. Normally he wouldn’t be fazed by wounds like this—he’d just grumble about taking it easy while I fetched a potion. But now my stomach churned. Right—fear-resistance won’t work here either.
I was scared. It was easier than ever to lose soone forever.
“...Let’s get back as fast as we can. They have potions at the nursery.”
Relief washed over Director Song’s face.
“I was starting to wonder if we’d have to surgically extract a bullet.”
“There’s no stretcher. Just sit and stay still! We’ll plow through.”
“...You saved .”
His jaw clenched as he spoke. Hyunjae looked as pale and wronged as always.
“Song Taewon blad so much.”
“You never did.”
“They say if you do what humans aren’t ant to, it’s ti to die.”
Director Song pushed Hyunjae’s chair forward. Noah dashed ahead to test the elevator’s operation. Outside, sothing exploded—TANG! A blast sounded.
“Just a matter of simple calculations. At least my life’s not guaranteed.”
...On his wedding day, Hyunjae died once and ca back. He’d probably recover this ti too. If he healed as before, it might be best for him to protect Song Taewon—to preserve our strength.
“Should I slit your throat now?”
“The temptation is imnse, but I’ll pass.”
“I was going to toss you out and leave if you said it was okay.”
Only Director Song could object now. I had to keep this man alive—for his sake, if nothing else. Rin approached and said sothing.
“She says they’re waiting for us outside. There’s a truck too.”
“Let’s go back into the alley.”
Director Song suggested. But the alleys here weren’t that narrow—could be blockades.
“No, the boulevard’s better. Wait a sec.”
He checked the view on his phone. Civilization was amazing. Yep, this would do. And that sound we’d heard now and then—must be it.
“Let’s get to an open area.”
Let them bring on all the trucks they want.
Hyunjae climbed into the back seat. A muffled groan escaped—pressing on his wounds. I took the wheel; Yuhyun sat beside . Unlicensed, but I was the safest choice. Director Song joined Hyunjae in the rear. I started the engine and checked the phone’s ti: three minutes ago... two... one... zero. I hit the accelerator.
Crash! At the sa mont, an SUV burst out from a nearby dealership. It was Noah and Rin’s vehicle. Six in one car was cramped, so we split up. Only Noah and Hyunjae could speak with Rin; we couldn’t entrust the injured to her. Yuhyun could talk in English but wouldn’t leave my side.
‘Noah and Rin really make a good team.’
Screech! I swung around and headed for the nursery. Just as we turned onto the boulevard, a large truck blocked our path. Beside it stood a military truck—enough to seal us in. But then—
Whooooosh—
A bomb flew from the nursery direction and landed precisely—
Ka-BOOM!
On the large truck. Fire engulfed it instantly, and the other vehicles swerved in panic. We used the chaos to speed away.
‘Well done, Hwangrim!’
Even if Gyeol brewed missiles, once we left the nursery they’d vanish. But using Hwangrim’s bomb as artillery was possible.
Crunch, tang! The sturdy bulletproof car plowed through debris as Noah’s SUV closed in. The surviving vehicles gave chase. Another volley of long-range fire erupted—boom, ka-BOOM! Car explosions tumbled around us. Still, they fired back. The nursery was just ters ahead.
Bang! Noah’s SUV tire blew from a gunshot. It swerved and stopped. Noah and Rin leaped out, weapons drawn.
“Go on without us!”
Noah shouted. Checking the rearview, I saw none of the vehicles targeted them—they were after us. My jaw clenched. The front of the nursery lay deserted. A few of Yujin’s vessels and so of Peace’s mounts huddled to one side, assessing the damage.
No more bombs ca. We pulled up to the lobby and jumped out. Director Song hoisted Hyunjae.
“...Ugh.”
He was still alive.
“Go on inside first!”
Sending Song and Hyunjae ahead, Yuhyun and I fired at the charging hunters. They poured out of the cars—a nurical disadvantage for us.
“Who’s shooting at us!”
The hunters inside the building appeared, this ti advancing with shields and defense-skill users up front instead of headlong charges.
“Everyone, fight on! We won’t forget this!”
I left them to the hunters and sprinted after the two. Carrying Hyunjae, I quickly caught up to Director Song.
“Just a bit further!”
We erged from the building into a colorful fortress. Turrets lined the rooftop, and an external elevator had been installed for us. Praying Noah and Rin returned safely, I rode the elevator with them.
“Dad!”
As Gyeol, waiting at the elevator doors, rushed forward to hug —
“...Oh, um...!”
Her eyes went wide at Hyunjae. I shielded him in my arms so she wouldn’t see.
“It’s okay, Gyeol. Can you make a bed and so potions? And a privacy screen. You saw it at the hospital, right?”
“Yes.”
“Gunshot wound? Did you remove the shrapnel?”
Hwangrim asked as he approached. Shrapnel... I looked at Director Song, who shook his head.
“So probably remain in his body. We need to remove them before using potions.”
“Don’t worry, Jina. With enough high-grade potions, we can stop the bleeding and finish quickly. And get so painkillers.”
Director Song carried Hyunjae toward the partitioned bed. Hwangrim followed with the potions and painkillers Gyeol prepared. As the surroundings quieted, Gyeol peeked out from my arms.
“...I was scared. I never thought he’d be hurt so badly.”
“You helped, so it’s okay. Don’t worry.”
Hyunjae was always so unbreakable—even with all this, he looked the sa. Just then, Yerim descended from a turret and joined us. ...Yerim?
“Hwangrim, look at her hands!”
“Uncle!”
Yerim ran up and clung to , her hands trembling.
“Y-Yerim...”
“She said she was really scared this ti. Thinking you, Yuhyun, items, skills—all useless... So she wanted to help too.”
“...I was scared too. An S-rank facing a Transcendent, or standing before gunfire with lowered stats—it felt the sa. But it wasn’t.”
I told Yerim thanks for getting us here safely.
“Look at these hands. They’re red from gripping so hard. But, um...”
“No worries. Potions will fix her right up. As for Noah and Rin—they’re a bit behind but thankfully not their targets.”
They’d paused to wait rather than return directly. I exhaled and gazed at the bed.
‘It won’t be easy.’
At least we had a safe zone.
“Dad.”
Gyeol, still in my arms, suddenly spoke.
“Soone’s co to see us.”
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