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“Han Dokyeom and Baek Jiun will move as a team when entering the gate. Please refrain from acting alone until instructed.”
Jeong Ilun said in a fairly stern voice, looking at Baek Jiun and Dali, who were sticking to Dokyeom like glue. Dokyeom, who had been swiping at the LCD screen, only lifted his eyes to look at him.
Thanks to the man’s bulky build, his field of vision narrowed as if blocked on all sides. He wondered if the man had deliberately become a shield.
“I’m the one who should be asking for your guidance, Team Leader.”
Dokyeom answered with a very friendly smile. Like a rookie hunter hanging on every word of a senior. Of course, without forgetting his important business.
‘
Heat haze rose above the hunter’s head. Dokyeom listened attentively to the man’s words with the posture of a polite ‘E-rank hunter’ until that hazy mist took a clear form.
After a long while.
Those secret techniques of his took shape and floated in the air.
A fast-footed hunter. What he had was probably a skill that supported swiftness or quick decision-making. This was enough. Dokyeom secretly observed his skills and quietly smiled.
And no wonder,
‘
[You have successfully activated the
Because he had succeeded in copying his skill.
“We don’t have much time, so please come to my side immediately.”
Jeong Ilun seemed to bow his head in greeting, then quickly moved away from the spot. It was because he sensed the heavy air flowing from the gate.
The abnormal air currents spreading through the air slowly encroached on the surroundings. A tingling sensation that swept across the skin like a snake pressed down on his shoulders, even shaking his knees.
Before long, everyone in the square pricked up their senses and stared at the black hole that had begun to rage. Perhaps because the vicious currents reminded them of a natural disaster, the atmosphere was fierce.
Suddenly, a stinging gaze pierced Dokyeom’s cheek from somewhere as he looked at the gate.
As soon as he shifted his eyes to scan the surroundings, he met silver eyes. It was Taeseongyeon, the only one with his back to the gate.
Whether they had finished their conversation earlier, there was not even a trace of Wang Rong, who had been facing him. In the abnormal currents, Taeseongyeon was the only one looking at Dokyeom.
It was a gaze without a smile. That calm face, that heavy atmosphere, evoked a strange sensation. As if tinged with worry.
Crackle,
The sound appeared like an egg cracking at the moment Taeseongyeon’s eyes slowly blinked. A chill swept over in an instant. It was the prelude to a ‘Gate Break’, a fierce momentum like a beast trapped in a cage rampaging wildly.
Wheeeeng, !
The shockwave that burst from the gate swept past the surroundings. The hunters had already formed ranks and had murderous intent in their eyes for a while. Movements to enter the gate were also seen here and there. Dokyeom was one of them.
When the second explosion passed through the area with a fierce wind, Han Dokyeom smiled habitually. His flowing hair rippled softly.
His lips, which had been smiling at Taeseongyeon, silently parted.
‘See what happens if you bully my puppy hyung and Agon. Ah, and thanks for introducing the hunters. I’ll make good use of them.’
That was the last thing Han Dokyeom said to Taeseongyeon. Amid the storm-like raging winds, with the blue-lighted gate before his eyes.
When the precarious wind brushed someone’s nose, the ‘Gate Break’ finally began.
Along with the roar of a monster like a wailing cry.
***
“Huff, huff!”
“Search teams move in pairs of two! When you find a survivor, prioritize locating them with the distributed radio badges and contact quickly! Avoid arbitrary judgments and discuss and move as a team!”
This was the stern order given to the hunters by Jeong Ilun, the search team leader, as he ran ahead. Amid the monsters pouring out as soon as the Gate Break occurred, the hunters swiftly carried out their respective duties.
A short while ago, the assault team that had gone ahead had cut down the monsters and cleared a path, then quickly entered the gate.
Among the Sahyeon Guild hunters here, only 18 participated in the boss raid. Adding 20 Chinese hunters from the Shanghai Association and 6 video hunters for the live broadcast, the total boss raid personnel was 44.
The remaining 12 were assigned as ‘search teams’ to search inside the gate and find survivors while they raided. Or, if including Dali, maybe 13.
Now, he had to find the A-rank hunter who was bleeding in the scene he saw in the lobby. He had been watching closely when a monster attacked and he lost sight of him, and hadn’t found him since.
“Han Dokyeom, Baek Jiun! This way! Until we break through, move with me!”
Someone shouted toward Dokyeom from a dark cave. It was Jeong Ilun, the search team leader. Dokyeom gripped a pistol and followed behind him.
The other search teams had already split like lightning into the tunnel that branched like an anthill. The raid team had also moved ahead long ago to find the boss. Agon and Beom Yeonhu were nowhere to be seen now.
“Hyung, let’s go together! Why are you in such a hurry alone? Ah, I’m not an attack type, so I don’t have a speed skill!”
“Stop blabbering and run!”
“No, that hyung doesn’t have a footwork skill either, so why is he so fast?”
Baek Jiun yelled as he desperately followed behind Dokyeom. But his steps soon stopped. Because the cave itself was too dark to secure his vision, so he couldn’t find the way.
“Wait a moment. Hyung, I think something moved over there.”
Baek Jiun, who had spotted something from behind, urgently shouted. As he turned his head to where he pointed, some dark shapes wriggled in the darkness.
They were ‘Lamia’, humanoid monsters nearly 3 meters tall. With human upper bodies and snake lower bodies, they were the target of this gate subjugation.
“Han Dokyeom, step back for a moment. Baek Jiun, switch to attacker right now.”
“Me? Me?! No, I can’t fight! I’m only a B-rank in name! I only have enhancement skills, so why doesn’t anyone believe me and keep pushing me? Are you crazy?!”
Jeong Ilun, who had been clearing the way at the front, quickly retreated and grabbed his weapon as soon as he saw the Lamia. A grinding sound came from his mouth.
The murderous intent lurking beyond the cold darkness reached dozens. It was the result of the gate being neglected while monsters bred without timely cleaning. However, all of them were male, and not a single female monster could be found no matter how hard he looked.
Click,
Dokyeom pulled back the barrel of his pistol to load it. A tense sigh flowed between his lips.
“Dali.”
Squeak,
“Bite their bellies. Spit out the magic stones, eating them will make you sick.”
Dali, who had been lying on the ground with bared teeth, stared into the darkness with sharp eyes. From the monsters brushing past his nose came a strong smell of hunger.
This was probably the cause of the Gate Break. Because the female monsters in their spawning season had begun to monopolize food, leading to a shortage.
Lamia had a habit of storing food for the hatchlings when they entered the spawning season by spinning cocoons, and they usually kept their prey alive. That was why all the hunters were strangely optimistic as soon as they learned the monsters were Lamia.
It meant all the survivors were still alive.
Yes, they were still safe. And that was supported by the heart rate on the smartwatch strapped to Dokyeom’s wrist.
‘Nam Yuseong’s heart rate hasn’t dropped below 35 beats per minute yet.’
This fact provided a meager guide. Dokyeom aimed his gun into the darkness and pulled the trigger in time with Jeong Ilun swinging his dagger.
Bang,
It was the start of a suffocating battle.
Every time Jeong Ilun’s dagger, spitting a blue light, cut through the air, a reeking smell of blood vibrated. Whenever Dali kicked somewhere, leather flew and fist-sized magic stones rolled on the floor.
Bang, Bang,
While bullets continuously pierced the darkness and the screams of monsters shook the cave, Baek Jiun just flailed and clung to Dokyeom’s outerwear like a snot-nosed kid, making a fuss.
When the corpses of the monsters he had killed without rest began to trip his feet, Dokyeom felt the surroundings suddenly brighten. Someone was holding a light, illuminating the area.
“No time to dawdle, move quickly!”
“Split up, film whatever you see and send it!”
“Don’t you see the attack team went ahead? What can I do with these guys? Go, follow them now!”
Someone’s abusive language poured from the side. Judging by the hollow sound and strong accent coming through the interpreter device, they seemed to be Chinese hunters. Seeing the cameras in their hands, they must be video hunters who entered as soon as the entrance quieted down.
Four hunters immediately began to split in a hurry. Perhaps it was fated that one of them would attach himself to where Dokyeom was.
The adventure continues! If you loved this chapter, Can Love Be Styled Too? is a must-read. Click here to start!
Read : Can Love Be Styled Too?
