Boss Monster. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
The weather was clear. The sunlight, which we couldn’t see inside the forest, gently embraced our heads. It wasn’t a bad feeling, but the silence among our group was the only issue.
It had been about six hours since we left the cabin. During that time, we barely spoke, except for essential communication. The tension between me and Kim Hanbyul was palpable, but it wasn’t just that. Everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts.
Despite the long walk, we hadn’t taken a single break. We just kept moving.
How long had we been walking? Eventually, the warp gate came into view, large enough to be seen even from a distance. As we got closer, everyone fell silent, as if by unspoken agreement. All that could be heard was the quiet sound of our breathing. The thought of finally reaching the end filled us with a mix of excitement and anxiety.
We hadn’t encountered any monsters on the way to the warp gate, which made us a bit complacent. But I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. If a boss monster appeared, there would be no time for preparation. It would sense us and attack immediately. Even with my skills, there was a high chance of casualties if we weren’t careful.
The warp gate was right in front of us. Just a little further, and we would successfully complete the rite of passage. But abandoning our plans and concept now, with only a short distance left, seemed wasteful.
I estimated we had about 600 meters to go. Woo Jungmin had been attacked by a boss monster with only 300 meters left, so we might encounter one soon. I wanted to slow down and gather my thoughts, but the group’s pace was quickening. Ahn Hyun, sensing this, broke the silence with an excited voice, speaking to An Sol.
“Sol, just a little more. Once we reach that large oval building, we’ll finally be out of this place. Hang in there.”
“Okay!”
An Sol nodded energetically, her face brightening at Ahn Hyun’s gentle words. I was about to suggest a short break, but seeing their determination, I kept quiet. I couldn’t think of a better plan, so I matched their pace, and the distance to the warp gate continued to shrink.
Maybe I was worrying for nothing. Entering the warp gate without incident would be ideal. No injuries, no harm—a happy ending. But the ominous feeling lingered. Despite my extensive magic detection, I couldn’t sense any sign of a boss monster.
We were now 500 meters away. The warp gate’s grandeur became more apparent. A massive oval structure rested on a solid pedestal, as large as a building. In the center, a large hole revealed a floating, light-blue sphere, occasionally sparking with thin blue currents—clearly the magic core powering the warp gate.
The sphere’s beauty captivated everyone. An Sol gazed at it with pure admiration, and even Kim Hanbyul seemed impressed. Lee Yoojung, in particular, couldn’t take her eyes off the sphere’s radiant glow.
“It’s so beautiful… I want to make earrings out of it. They’d be stunning.”
“Unnie, I just want to admire it as it is. It’s truly beautiful.”
As Lee Yoojung and An Sol chatted, Ahn Hyun seemed lost in thought, perhaps imagining Yoojung with those earrings. He shook his head and spoke.
“That’s horrifying.”
“What do you mean by that, Hyun?”
“It’s just funny hearing you talk about earrings. I think they’d suit Sol better.”
“What?”
Yoojung playfully hit Ahn Hyun’s side, while An Sol beamed at the compliment. She didn’t seem upset, just shyly smiling. Ahn Hyun, with his harem king potential, being a siscon was amusing. The thought made me chuckle.
With 400 meters left, the surroundings resembled the clearing where we started. Sparse grass and patches of earth covered the ground. Occasionally, darker patches of soil appeared, feeling hard underfoot, as if blood had soaked in and hardened it.
If so, they were likely the remains of previous challengers who failed near the warp gate. I noticed, but said nothing, continuing to walk silently.
300 meters left. We were almost running now, faces filled with the joy of survival and success. Even Ahn Hyun and Lee Yoojung, who had been bickering, were smiling at each other. An Sol was openly grinning, and even Hanbyul seemed relieved, though he maintained his usual calm demeanor.
No boss monster appeared at 300 meters. Perhaps Woo Jungmin’s group was just unlucky. With An Sol’s supposed luck, maybe we were fortunate. I relaxed slightly, ready to release my magic when I realized we might have celebrated too soon.
Crack! Crackle!
At 200 meters, a tearing sound filled the air. The atmosphere changed, and the space around us distorted. It was a sign of immense magic at work. The group stopped, sensing the unease. I quickly activated my third eye.
Sure enough, a sudden surge of magic surrounded the clearing. It seemed to spread randomly, but upon closer inspection, it moved in a specific pattern. As I tried to analyze the magic’s design, a massive magic circle appeared in the air, accompanied by a deep, resonant sound.
I realized too late. The boss monster was being summoned through this magic circle. I tried to disrupt it with my magic, but it was already complete. The circle glowed brightly, activating.
So, the boss monster appeared through a summoning circle. Our group, including myself, stared at the glowing circle in shock. It was visible to everyone, but no one spoke. The circle exuded a malevolent, ominous energy.
Finally, the summoning began. The first to appear were the boss monster’s face and fingers. Its grotesque face lacked eyes, but a wide, toothy grin stretched across it. Its fingers, sharp as scythes, gleamed menacingly. A dark, metallic body and a long tail followed.
The boss monster, over five meters tall, had arrived.
It smacked its lips, as if savoring a recent meal, blood staining its mouth. Yet it seemed hungry for more, eyeing us with anticipation.
I quickly assessed my companions. They hadn’t scattered in panic, which was commendable, but Lee Yoojung, Kim Hanbyul, and An Sol were frozen in fear. They couldn’t move, paralyzed by the monster’s overwhelming presence.
Only Ahn Hyun managed to speak, disbelief in his voice.
“This… this can’t be…”
Before he could finish, the boss monster let out a deafening roar, its sound waves hitting us like a physical force. The group, shaken from their stupor, managed a few steps, but no more. We had no time to waste. I addressed them in a calm, steady voice.
“Stay focused, everyone. Don’t panic. Keep calm and handle this.”
“B-but, brother… This is too much. We can’t win this time. We have to run!”
Anhyun’s voice trembled as he watched me string my crossbow, perhaps misunderstanding my intentions. The overwhelming presence of the boss monster had sapped everyone’s will to fight. Yelling or pushing them now would only add to the chaos. I never intended to take down the beast with them anyway. I spoke in a soothing voice, trying to ease their frozen bodies with a touch of magic.
“I’m not saying we should fight. Facing that thing would be madness. You’re right, we need to run. But if we scatter, we’ll just be picked off one by one. So, we’re heading for the warp gate.”
“Y-yeah, let’s hurry…”
I sighed inwardly at Lee Yoo-jung’s hesitant agreement. Still, Anhyun and Kim Hanbyul seemed to be slowly shaking off their fear, a faint spark of survival flickering in their eyes. They seemed to trust that I had some kind of plan, seeing me remain calm.
“Drop everything—bags, weapons, whatever. Make yourselves as light as possible and sprint for the warp gate.”
“E-eh…?”
The boss monster roared again. Time was running out. Watching Ansul still looking around in confusion, frustration welled up inside me. I approached her and forcibly removed her backpack.
“Anhyun, what are you doing? Drop your sword and shield! You think you can run with those?”
“Y-yes, right!”
Anhyun, Lee Yoo-jung, and Kim Hanbyul all discarded their burdens. The boss monster was now charging at us on all fours, each step shaking the ground like a series of minor earthquakes.
At the first tremor, I grabbed Ansul’s hand and started running. Our group sprinted full speed toward the warp gate.
We ran. We ran and ran. Despite our best efforts, the thundering footsteps behind us grew closer. When Lee Yoo-jung glanced back nervously, I quickly spoke up.
“Don’t look back. Just focus on running forward.”
The boss monster had appeared 300 meters from the warp gate. We had 200 meters left. A 100-meter gap, but it would catch up at least once. My goal was to survive that one time. The monster seemed to gain speed the longer it ran, so if I could just make it stop once, it would lose all its momentum.
If we could reset its speed, it would have to chase us at a slower pace, giving us the chance to reach the warp gate. I gripped the crossbow on my left hand tightly.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
180 meters to go.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
160 meters to go.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
140 meters to go. The shortening intervals told me the monster was reaching its full speed. Continuing like this, we wouldn’t be able to shake it off. I knew the time had come. While everyone was focused on running, I infused a bolt with magic. A regular arrow wouldn’t pierce its steel-like hide. As the magic flowed into the bolt, a sharper aura emanated from my left wrist.
With preparations complete, it was my turn to act. Hesitating now could lead to disaster. I stopped running and released Ansul’s hand.
As I halted, Ansul’s shocked voice reached me, and the others sensed something was off. Before they could turn their heads, I shouted with authority.
“Don’t look back, just keep running!”
My uncharacteristically harsh tone seemed to jolt them. Their hesitant heads turned forward again, and I swiftly turned to face the charging boss monster, raising my left arm.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=