“Can you keep up?”
As the door swung open, an eerie mist seeped out, accompanied by a low, mournful wail that echoed in my ears.
“Rrrrrr…”
The voice was thick with malice, impossible to disguise.
Stepping inside, my companions and I were struck speechless by the vast expanse before us. It wasn’t the sheer size of the chamber that left us dumbfounded—though it was larger than all the rooms we’d traversed on the first floor combined. No, it was the presence of a single, towering creature that filled the space, its spine ramrod straight.
Its massive form nearly brushed the high ceiling. The upper body resembled a human, muscular and imposing, yet its skin was more akin to steel than flesh. As my gaze traveled downward, I saw that instead of legs, it had a long, serpentine tail.
A human torso atop a serpent’s body.
“A Gigas…? No, it can’t be. Why would a mythical creature be here in the Hall Plain…?”
I quickly activated my third eye, and as I read the creature’s information, I was stunned. What had the ancient inhabitants of the Hall Plain done? More importantly, why was this thing still here? If it wasn’t deemed worthy as a sacrifice, what kind of demon awaited us on the third floor?
“Unbelievable.”
“A giant…”
My companions, equally shocked, stared up at the Gigas with slack-jawed disbelief. We stood there, locked in a standoff, until the Gigas’s lips curled into a mocking smile. It was laughing at us. At that moment, I felt a spark ignite within me. How dare this counterfeit monster mock me?
Fueled by anger, I unleashed a wave of killing intent, causing the Gigas to take a step back. I bit my lip and turned to my companions, speaking quickly.
“Vivian. Keeper.”
“W-what?”
Vivian’s eyes widened in surprise, and the others mirrored her reaction. It wasn’t logical to assign Vivian, who had been our most active fighter, to the role of Keeper.
A Keeper’s job is to protect the priests and mages, staying out of direct combat. While Vivian had often taken on this role during our travels, it was unusual to assign a mage as a Keeper, even if they could provide long-range support.
“The creature before us may look like a Gigas, but it’s just an experiment—a fusion of a giant and a basilisk. Its power is unknown, but it was created by humans, which means it can be defeated by humans. Remember, this thing was deemed less valuable than a hundred other sacrifices.”
“But still…”
Despite their hesitation, I remained firm. A fully grown giant or basilisk is formidable, and I couldn’t predict the power of their combined form. I’d faced them separately, but never together. This was uncharted territory, and I had to make the best decision I could.
“Given the giant’s blood, it’s best for the mages and priests to stay back and support with spells. An Hyun, Yoo Jung, you’re on free roll. I’ll charge in first, and you two will support from behind. Focus on evasion and distracting it. The rest, do what you can to assist.”
I cut through their uncertainty with decisive words. The mention of free combat made their faces pale. As I turned, I heard Jung Ha Yeon’s urgent voice behind me.
“Soo Hyun! Wouldn’t it be better to form a defensive line…?”
“This is better than a defensive line.”
“What?”
“No time to explain. Trust me, this is better.”
“Rrrrrr…”
As soon as I finished speaking, the Gigas moved. Its massive serpent body slithered toward us with alarming speed. There was no time to waste. Even as Jung Ha Yeon mulled over my words, I knew she would understand. Forming a defensive line against the Gigas would only work if we had a perfectly organized caravan and twice our current numbers. In our current state, it would be a weak response.
Of course, my plan wasn’t without its flaws. But the key was simple: if I could hold the Gigas at bay alone, all problems would be solved. I saw the realization dawn in Jung Ha Yeon’s eyes, her face a mix of worry and understanding, as I charged forward.
My companions hesitated, but seeing me rush ahead, they scrambled to follow. I would have been disappointed if they hadn’t, but they couldn’t just abandon their brother. Smiling, I pushed myself to run even faster.
The distance between the Gigas and me closed rapidly, and I saw it raise its massive right hand, ready to strike. I responded by raising my sword, determined to crush its spirit in our first clash.
At that moment, a message appeared in the air.
『Potential Ability: Close Combat (Rank: A Plus) activated. Close Combat is a skill that surpasses the limits of those who wield melee weapons. Rank: A+. It represents the pinnacle of human combat ability. In close combat, you will not be outmatched.』
Jung Ha Yeon watched the scene unfold with a tense expression. Her mind replayed the conversation with Kim Soo Hyun.
‘Soo Hyun! Wouldn’t it be better to form a defensive line…?’
‘This is better than a defensive line.’
‘What?’
‘No time to explain. Trust me, this is better.’
She bit her lip. He wasn’t a reckless person. They hadn’t been together long, but his leadership was unparalleled. He wasn’t flashy, but he was always calm and logical. Even veterans of the Hall Plain couldn’t match his level of command.
Yet, for the first time, he was doing something she couldn’t understand. Or maybe she did. She could guess his intentions. His words echoed in her mind: it might be better to step back from the fight. But his eyes had said something else.
‘If you won’t be a hindrance, do what you can.’
“Does that mean if I can’t help, I should stay out of the way…?”
As she murmured bitterly, a sharp scream pierced the air beside her.
“Ahhh! Brother! Nooo!”
Startled, she looked up to see the Gigas and Kim Soo Hyun about to collide head-on. She instinctively covered her mouth with her hand. She had hoped for another way, but to think it would come to this…
BOOM!!!!!!
Before she could finish her thoughts, the two clashed, and a deafening roar shook the chamber.
“Quick, healing spells!”
“I’m on it! Everyone else, don’t just stand there, go help…?”
An Sol, usually so calm, shouted, but her words trailed off. Her mouth fell open, and her eyes widened in disbelief. Following her gaze, everyone turned to the scene of the clash, and they all let out a collective gasp.
“This… can’t be.”
It was an unbelievable sight. The clash between Kim Soo Hyun and the Gigas had ended with Kim Soo Hyun clearly on top. With a single blow, he had forced the Gigas to retreat.
As the others stared in shock, only Vivian quietly chanted a spell. Having glimpsed Soo Hyun’s true strength before, she wasn’t as surprised as the others. Though she hadn’t expected this level of power, she was committed to supporting him. With her spell complete, she spoke in a clear voice.
“Come forth! Imprison! O iron binder of the 49th legion!”
At Vivian’s words, Shin Sang Yong, An Sol, and Jung Ha Yeon snapped back to attention. Vivian, though a Keeper, was also aiding Soo Hyun. As a familiar beast rose from a magic circle and launched chains at the Gigas, Jung Ha Yeon resolved to join the fight. She couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
‘The question is, which spell to use…’
Her mind raced through countless spells, discarding them one by one until only one remained. She glanced at Shin Sang Yong and An Sol, her eyes growing colder.
“An Sol.”
“Y-yes?”
“Prepare a binding spell. And Shin Sang Yong.”
Her voice was low but carried an undeniable authority. Shin Sang Yong nodded immediately.
“Yes.”
“Prepare that spell. Please.”
“That spell…?”
Shin Sang-yong stared blankly at Jung Ha-yeon. When she mentioned “that thing,” only one possibility came to mind. Whether magic would work on the giant was uncertain, but Ha-yeon, who was far more advanced in magical applications than he was, must have had a plan. With a determined expression, he replied.
“Understood. Which element should the counter-magic be?”
“Use the flame element. I’ll handle the overlap with the water element.”
Their conversation flowed rapidly, leaving An Sol struggling to keep up, her head swiveling in confusion. Ha-yeon felt a surge of frustration but managed to suppress it as she spoke.
“I’ll designate the target. Sol, just complete the binding spell and fire on my signal.”
“Th-three spells at once? That’s too much, even for you.”
“I can do it. But just in case, let’s be as prepared as possible.”
Ha-yeon paused, turning her gaze forward. She saw the chains sent by Vivian wrapping around the giant’s right arm, which was about to attack. Though it didn’t completely restrain the giant, it bought them some time. Taking advantage of this, user Kim Soo-hyun launched himself into the air, sword in hand.
From a distance, the brilliant arc of his sword was visible, slicing through the air like a whip and striking the giant’s sturdy body. The giant let out a pained scream, retreating repeatedly. It was clear that the creature was being pushed back in its melee with Kim Soo-hyun. Watching this, Ha-yeon swallowed hard.
“Target the left arm. We need to create an opening. I’ll bind both arms.”
“Y-yes…”
“Good.”
With that, Shin Sang-yong closed his eyes and began chanting. An Sol, sensing the gravity of the situation, raised her staff and murmured her incantation. Ha-yeon, having confirmed their readiness, began her own casting slightly later but was confident she would finish first.
”───. Teeth Of Crystal!”
”───. Burn Flare!”
In an instant, Ha-yeon completed her spell. After a brief wait, she saw Shin Sang-yong and An Sol finish theirs in succession. Ha-yeon’s hand was now encased in icy crystals, while a searing ball of fire floated above Shin Sang-yong’s palm. They exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Ah, I managed to finish episode 96 a bit earlier today, but then I ended up lying down because I wasn’t feeling well, and before I knew it, four hours had passed. Sitting back at the computer to revise and edit, I can’t help but feel a bit frustrated. Sleep is truly an enemy, isn’t it? Haha. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this episode. :)
『 Reader Comments 』
Miwolya: Haha, I think I’ve seen you a few times before. Anyway, congratulations on being first!
Saraminsaeng: Oh dear, I hope you get better soon. Take care of yourself and don’t overdo it. Fighting!
MT Bear: Oh my, how cute are teddy bears! One of my wishes is to sleep with my head on a fluffy mama or papa bear, or hug a baby bear. Bears are just too adorable. ^0^
Toranoanal: Wow, I see. I’m enjoying reading it too. ;ㅇ; The mercenary part was shocking when I first saw it. It made me read every line carefully. I’m also waiting eagerly.
Jasaek: Ah, are you talking about the character settings? I’ll do a major update after the lab exploration! (That’s when their stats will increase.)
zjekfksqlc: Hmm, good. It’s a shame Hanbyeol is in second place, but… Hehe. Sol is quite the troublemaker… Ahem. Oh, nothing.
Cute Bear: Exactly! What’s wrong with bears! Bear bear!
Peres: Yes. Regarding Kim Soo-hyun, duplicate professions are allowed. However, there was no user with the swordsmanship expert profession at the time, and Kim Soo-hyun chose it. Once chosen, the possibility of another swordsmanship expert appearing in Hall Plain is gone. The list activation through special privileges shows all existing professions, but once selected, duplicates are not possible. However, there are very rare cases like Vivian’s. Haha.
Repil: Haha, right. But I’m a bit worried that after the lab, Sol will take some action. I hope readers who like Sol won’t be too shocked. -_-a
Offitour19: NO. Ah, heaven, you say. That made me laugh. :) It appears in the early part, called the summoning room.
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