Chapter 45: Team Play (3)

Chapter 45: Team Play (3)

Upon hearing Kang-hoos words, Jung Yuri ran away without asking why.

She knew well that he never spoke in vain.

Without looking back, she started running the way they had come.

About 10 seconds later,

Kang-hoo saw Legant crumble like a collapsing sandcastle.

It seemed as if he were embracing his own death.

It felt as though he would naturally die and disappear if left alone.

Whoosh!

So Kang-hoo rushed in and plunged his dagger into Legants body.

He couldnt just let him commit suicide.

He needed to be the one to end Legants life to perform skill plundering.

[The target is not eligible for plundering.]

[Instead, you can receive a one-time skill enhancement as a reward.]

I get it this way?

It seemed too easy.

Just as Kang-hoo was about to savor the thrill of acquisition, hoping his worst fears wouldnt materialize,

Boom!

The what if turned into as expected.

He had told Jung Yuri to run because he had sensed something, and now his fears had become reality.

It was the dungeon collapsing.

Starting from 100 meters behind Legant, the dungeon began to crumble as if the world were ending.

Officially, the boss monsters conquest was over; it was dead. He had even received the reward.

The problem was what followed.

The dungeon was collapsing.

Meaning, if they couldnt escape, it would be the end of their lives.

To enjoy the reward, one must first survive.

Damn it.

Kang-hoo cursed as he started sprinting with all his might.

The entrance they had come through must have turned into the exit.

They had to return the way they had come.

Kang-hoo took out a Mad Solarkium from his pocket and chewed it without hesitation.

Skill enhancement was a reward far more valuable than something like a Mad Solarkium.

It wasnt a waste to consume one of the six. Not eating it now would be insane.

At that moment,

Kang-hoo felt the constant heavy pressure in his head lift all at once.

Like breaking free from shackles?

It felt like liberation from all restraints at once.

The flow of mana felt clearer, and the constant headache that had been like a companion vanished.

His body became as light as a feather, and his vision sharpened to the point where he could see even the smallest speck of dust.

Is this what it feels like to perfectly suppress mana hypersensitivity? To experience sensory enhancement as well?

Using Acceleration and Leap, he swiftly left the scene, sensing the changes within his body.

He had believed Mad Solarkium only suppressed the outward symptoms of mana hypersensitivity and eased the pain.

But it appeared that the senses dulled by chronic mana hypersensitivity were more extensive than he had realized.

To exaggerate a little, it felt as though he had encountered drugs.

He was momentarily overjoyed.

In any case, he was certain about its effects.

Todays experience would significantly aid in utilizing the remaining Mad Solarkiums.

Looking back, he saw that everything was indeed collapsing.

Everything, including thick rocks, tall trees, and expansive plains, was being sucked underground as if by a black hole.

It was obvious, but being trapped in this collapse would certainly spell doom for any ordinary person.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Kang-hoo kept executing Leap.

Given that he had been using Leap and Acceleration for nearly 20 minutes, hed be lucky not to pass out.

Quickly, the two made their way out of the dungeon.

Its collapse would have no bearing on the outside world, and a reset of the dungeon itself was on the horizon.

Thanks! I didnt think Id get a skill enhancement as a reward. Did you get one too?

Yeah. Im deciding where to use it.

Ill boost a transformation skill! Its essential for me!

She appeared to have applied it immediately to her ability to transform temporarily into black smoke.

Certainly an otherworldly talent.

It was a power that granted her the freedom to switch between human and non-human forms at will.

Naturally, this was her edge in battle.

Kang-hoo didnt possess any tangible treasures, but he viewed the single skill enhancement as worthy of the entire ordeal.

Such skill enhancements were unobtainable on the black market and couldnt be consistently procured from particular dungeons.

Their value was no less than a staggering 500 billion won.

This was the price hunters placed on a skill enhancement.

It essentially rebirthed a skill.

Didnt Blood Flower become a lethal skill capable of taking the lives of multiple enemies at once through skill enhancement?

Regardless of the skill, the effect of enhancement was certain, like a promissory note.

A while later

Kang-hoo, feeling the effects of the Mad Solarkium completely worn off, lay down in the spot Jung Yuri had shown him.

His body ached as if it had been hammered all over.

The headache was more intense than he had expected, and his limbs felt limp like taffy.

Perhaps that was why.

As soon as he lay down in Jung Yuris perfect spot, he experienced an indescribable comfort and happiness.

It seemed trivial, but it brought him a simple joy.

Then

Jung Yuri, who had been busily organizing something, sat down beside Kang-hoo.

The tree was spacious enough, and she had prepared it so well, it practically became a high-rise resting spot.

There was plenty of room for her to sit next to him.

Hey.

Hmm?

I felt sorry seeing you lying alone on the cold tree. If youre okay with it, would you like to rest your head on my lap?

Since awakening in this world

Was it because these were the first words of pure human kindness he had heard after living so fiercely?

Even Kang-hoo, who usually responded quickly, hesitated this time.

Its not just for you But youve been my travel and conversation companion. Im really grateful.

A woman who, despite being deeply betrayed by people, still longed for their company.

Jung Yuri was special, but in a different way.

Different from Han Seo-yeon, Lee Ye-rin, and Yun Sang-mi, with whom he had previously established connections.

Especially different from Han Seo-yeon, who always remembered and felt remorse for their past.

Well, its just a lap pillow, nothing more. Your head might feel a bit heavy, though.

Its okay. Just lie down comfortably.

Without further hesitation

He lay down, resting his head precisely on the inside of her thigh.

She had probably sweated a lot in the dungeon, yet she still smelled strongly of acacia.

The rest after the fierce battle and the frantic escape made his body feel even more languid.

Although he felt overwhelmingly sleepy just by closing his eyes, Kang-hoo never succumbed to sleep.

Ground Zero was still the wilderness. One could never predict what variables might arise.

Kang-hoo blinked, looking up into her eyes, which from his perspective, appeared upside down.

Her eyes clearly radiated pure sincerity.

Time seemed to stand still as they locked gazes, without a word.

Thus, the rest of the two, in tranquility, passed quietly, communicating only through their eyes.