A faint tremor in the ground could be felt. Suddenly, a documentary seen on TV came to mind. The sight of a herd of buffalo crossing the savannah of Africa, staining it black. Even beyond the screen, the massive rumble seemed to resonate, but now there were beasts gathering, far exceeding that spectacle.
A slight tension spread along my spine. The sun was fully risen, casting artificial wave-cliff cliffs shimmering like diamonds. Sunlight danced among the spirits in the sky, shimmering and spreading repeatedly.
"Hey, Mister, your style suits you well now. It's pretty."
Yerim said with a teasing smile.
"It's the same color as the birthday present from the SeSeong guild leader."
"It's not like that."
I prefer ordinary and plain colors. Looking down at the translucent body of a whale beneath my feet, I said,
"It was made by Seong Hyeon-je. He must be bored being alone."
"Really? He's really talented. Should I ask him to teach me? It would be cute if I put clothes on dolls."
That rascal Yuhyeon might also start making them, and before you know it, knitting hobbies might spread among S-rank hunters. It's much better than breaking things and fighting. Everyone probably has some handiness, and surprisingly, Director Song might knit well with great attention to detail. A master can do anything, right? They haven't taken it with them yet, but anyway, it's a sheep.
Thinking of everyone sitting around knitting together made me feel good. Peaceful.
Rumble, once again the ground shook heavily, and I pulled out a pistol from my inventory. "Here's two shots left (SS)."
"Wow, it's huge."
Yerim exclaimed. A giant beast, with its four curved horns and long, protruding teeth, was visible in the distance among the crowd of monsters. It was a beast with black fur, resembling an extinct saber-toothed tiger because of its teeth. A white mane fluttered like a large flag from its forehead to its neck.
I aimed the gun at it and the surrounding monsters. After using up the two shots, bombs fell from the sky, accompanied by explosions and flashes, and the monsters' roars echoed painfully in our ears.
Some managed to dodge, but many were directly hit, unable to escape due to being crowded together. However, there was little damage to SS-ranked or higher monsters, and thanks to them acting as shields, the smaller monsters didn't suffer much.
It's not over yet.
Next, I took out the extensive bait (SS).
"Even if other monsters around here gather, you'll be okay?"
"Of course!"
Yerim answered confidently. She took out a round, squishy bead and squeezed it tightly, causing a jelly-like liquid to flow out and evaporate cleanly soon after.
- Krurururur.
- Kyaaa!
The monsters, who were about to scatter due to the explosion, turned back towards us at once. Watching them, I shouted towards Noah under the whale.
"Noah, start!"
"Yes!"
The movement of magic began to be felt around Noah. Even though he was carrying a magic suppression item, his skin tingled. Auxiliary skills unfolded for Yerim, Yoohyun, Mun Hyuna, and Sigma, followed by a mana barrier.
Mu, who could constantly pull mana from the mana hole, had slightly modified his inscriptions in order to receive mana from Noah's inscriptions and skills.
However, Yerim didn't need to modify the engraving because the spirits had transferred the mana from the Drosia mana hole in the sea.
The teacher's skill was already activated. Yoohyun and Sigma stood on either side of the wave cliff. The approaching horde of monsters is clearly reflected in their eyes.
Kwoong!
The monster at the forefront charged at the ice wall with its horns. But the chunk of ice didn't budge, only its surface was scratched. It was frozen seawater in a massive amount. It was an ice wall that had been tempered overnight by the cold northern sea breeze, Yerim's skill, and the power of numerous spirits. Even an SSS-class monster couldn't break through such an obstacle in one go, so the monsters eventually began to enter between the cliffs.
- Kiririr.
With the sound of flapping wings, the flying monsters soared above the cliff. From feathers to thin, slimy insect types. Towards the swarm of monsters that covered the sky.
Kwarururung!
Lightning struck. Something sparked between the spreading electric shocks and they laughed.
- It tickles!
- It's thrilling!
They were water spirits. Only those spirits that were friendly to electricity were gathered and scattered in the sky above the cliff. Riding on the bodies of the spirits, Sigma's power spread out like a net over the sky. Although the electric shock weakened as it spread, with the help of the spirits, it was repeatedly concentrated without much distortion, wrapping around the flying monsters.
Between the laughter, lightning struck again and charred pieces rained down like rain. Under the sky that flashed brightly enough to blind the eyes.
Hwaruruk
flames spread out. The deep, dark blue flames began to explode frighteningly below, scattering heat.
It was none other than the bomb that had been buried in advance.
They had bought a lot of primitive bombs that exploded only when they came into contact with fire, focusing solely on power without any fancy effects like remote control. Yoohyun's flames covered the bomb burial site widely, and all sorts of bombs screamed in succession.
Frozen soil mixed with snow soared up. It was as if dozens, hundreds of geysers were erupting at the same time. Lightning strikes in the sky and flames rise from the ground. As S-class and lower monsters were swept away, Yoohyun threw his body.
Monsters bared their teeth and swung their claws and tails loaded with attack skills towards Yoohyun, who was crossing the air stepping on willow leaves. The body wrapped in flames easily dodged all those attacks. Even an SS-class monster couldn't even touch a hem.
- Kyarurur.
The huge beast that had soared high into the air lunged at Yoohyun, who was in front of it. Powerful mana flowed over the monster's black fur. Each tip of the fur held a dark shadow.
Swoosh, the body of the giant beast scattered. At the same time, Han Yoohyun drew his sword and spread the flames widely around him. The deep blue flames spread out, one side of them distorted as if hollowed out, and Yoohyun, who felt it faster than sight, gave a recoil to his whole body and swung his sword hard.
Kagang!
The claw that suddenly appeared as if it had teleported collided with the sword. Yoohyun's body was pushed back as if thrown by a relatively weak force. But he had been prepared in advance, so he landed far away on the willow leaves, spinning his body around.
The monster that had scattered into a black shadow returned to its original form and growled softly at Yoohyun, then turned its gaze towards Sigma. Sigma, who had dealt with most of the flying monsters, looked back at the white eyes looking at him.
Don't just rush in. He's SSS-class, Moon. Come here. Sigma seemed a bit displeased, but he turned his body as planned. The black beast chased after Sigma's back and stepped into the cliff. Behind it, Yoo Hyun erected a wall of fire.
Kwagagak! The flames split the center of the monster horde and melted the ground red. The monsters that were blocked in front hesitated for a moment, but it was impossible to completely block them with the flames that had spread widely and were relatively weak. When the monsters, led by the SS-class, tried to follow the leading group again.
"Dodge well, young master!"
From high in the sky, Moon Hyuna shouted. She jumped off the shark, leading the spear. Mana was concentrated at the tip of the spear, and the wind split violently until it became a complete vacuum. With nothing to block it, adding acceleration to acceleration, like a beam of light, Moon Hyuna plunged into the melted ground.
Kwang!!
The surroundings shook. It felt like an earthquake. No, it was no different from an earthquake. Following the line where the heat had deeply seeped in, the ground cracked. A hole more than ten meters deep was created where the impact was direct. All the monsters inside the wide crater, whether S-class or SS-class, disappeared without leaving a trace.
Moon Hyuna, who had become covered in dirt, roughly shook her head and got up.
"We're charging a toll from here."
She said with a smirk, but she wasn't without recoil either. Yoohyun stepped forward towards her, who was temporarily paralyzed in her arms and legs. His brother, who lightly crossed the widely cracked ground as if stepping on willow leaves, looked down at the stunned monster horde. Next to him, Irin transformed into the form of a weapon and bared her teeth.
It was a tremendous number, nearly half of the monster horde of over a thousand, but it was enough for the two of them to handle. Thanks to the breadcrumb effect, there were no monsters running away.
- Let's burn them all!
With Irin's shout, flames rose. With this, the small monsters that slipped through the gaps would not bother Yerim.
"Mister, we should get ready too."
Yerim looked at me with sparkling eyes. I took out a cookie and ate it under her slightly burdensome gaze. My body size shrank significantly.
"So cute!"
Yerim picked me up and lifted me high. Ah, she's still a kid despite her size... Ugh, don't run, it's dizzying.
"Yerim, ah. There's a time limit..."
"Yes! Be careful and stay inside."
Yerim, who had put me in the waist bag after unzipping it, smiled contentedly. Somehow, her eyes were similar to when she was decorating her favorite doll. I immediately shared the double point skill with Yerim.
- Kyaruruk!
The black beast chased Sigma and stuck its teeth into the ice wall. The ice wall, which had not budged until now, cracked, and large cracks appeared. The chunks of ice that split off rolled down to the ground with a thud. Part of the monster's body scattered and teleported to attack Sigma, but thanks to the combat prediction, he skillfully avoided the attack.
Koong..
the monster hit the ice wall hard as if trying to break it. The ice cliff shook greatly, but only the cracks got bigger, it did not collapse. Annoyed, the monster tried to soar above the ice wall, and that's when Sigma jumped down.
Charuruk..
the monster chased after him, sliding down the extended chain like a cat chasing a mouse. When he reached the center of the ice valley.
Yerim raised one hand. At the same time, Noah created a small warp hole near Sigma. The golden eyes looked up at the monster, which had become thin and greatly weakened.
"Goodbye."
With a short greeting, Sigma's body disappeared beyond the round hole. At the same time.
Gugugung.
The split wave began to move. The spirits, who had been quietly holding their breath inside the wave, gathered their strength all at once and tilted the huge cliff. Of course, the monster didn't just take it and tried to escape above the cliff by scattering black, but.
Chaaak─
A white whale, which had moved above the cliff at some point, spread out into a curtain of water. Yerim was standing on it. Following her command, the water blocked the gaps in the cliff and hardened. All the remaining monsters between the cliffs, including the SSS-class monster, were trapped.
- Kyaaaa!
The black beast roared and swelled its body. This time, its mane and body hair turned metallic and hardened. Carddruk, the ice wall shattered as it collided with the monster. Countless sparkling fragments flew up.
They had managed to bind the monster momentarily, but it didn't seem like it would last long. As the monster struggled, the ice wall began to crumble, and Yerim, who had been watching it, began to move her magic. She spread her meticulously controlled mana widely, as if she needed to concentrate.
The moisture in the air trembled. The spirits, and even the sea beyond. The frozen sea cracked, and water rose towards the ground. It was a wave too large to be described as a house.
"Noah, get out of the way with Sigma!"
Noah nodded and moved to the opposite side where Yoohyun and Moon Hyuna were, with Sigma. Immediately after, the water rushed in. It was like a high mountain made of seawater. Even if she had become an SS-class, she could pull up that much water. The spirits fluttering between the waves caught my surprised eyes.
Their power was added.
The mountain of the sea approached right in front of me. It even covered the sky. All I could see was water. Endless water. A sense of awe that couldn't be suppressed even with S-class fear resistance spread tingling throughout my body.
- Kruk, Kyaruk!
The monster also began to rampage more as it felt the crisis. The ice wall was shattered, but thanks to its enormous thickness, the water continued to be replenished and frozen. It was literally an endless fight. The SSS-class monster was destroying faster, but it was impossible to escape before the sea covered it.
Eventually.
Kururung─!
With a sound like a landslide, the water poured out. Part of the sea swept away everything from the ice cliff to the ground below and returned to its own territory. A deep trace was left as if a giant had scooped out a handful, and water was collected inside.
- Can't move~
- Don't get close, it's dangerous!
- How far will it drag down!
- But it's scary! It's huge and strong!
- Let's take it to the bottom! To the deepest part!
The ice prison was dragged into the sea.
"Don't worry, you can breathe."
Yerim also went into the sea. The struggling monster was visible. It was a big guy like a small mountain on the ground, but it didn't feel that big when it was dragged into the deep sea. The sight of it going down endlessly seemed pitiful.
Spirits were wandering around it. A black whale and a green glowing crab slowly appeared from the deep sea. Both were much larger than the SSS-class monster. Next to them, a sea snake wriggled long.
"...Are those spirits about L-class?"
"No, even the strongest is weaker than that monster. The power they hold is great, but they can't handle it properly. Think about a large river or sea. It's not very threatening in itself."
Well, it's dangerous when a river floods or a tsunami rushes in, but an A-class hunter can survive.
"But it's different from me."
A black whale approached Yerim. The sea snake rubbed its head against her feet.
"Delta originally didn't have the ability to accept them. But I guess I'm different."
Her black hair mixed with blue swayed in the water. Thanks to the experience of the mermaid queen's skill, Yerim smiled.
"I still can't handle the strong spirits perfectly, but they said I can grow more. How much stronger do you think I'll get?"
I looked up at her smiling face. I remembered Park Yerim before regression. A promising hunter who stayed at A-class. Spirits danced around her.
"As much as you want. As much as you desire."
"But that's endless!"
Laughing aloud, Yerim looked at the struggling monsters. Her magic stirred. Water moved. Without even properly using her skills, the monsters froze. Even when trying to disperse into shadows, the water stopped them. Various attack skills were activated, but they all ended in vain shivers.
A crab extended its pincers to grab a monster trying to climb up. A jellyfish that appeared silently stretched its tentacles. Before long, the light disappeared from the monster's eyes.
"It's over once they enter the sea. That's why monsters that don't originally live underwater try not to be drawn in."
Yerim said as she collected points. Then a small tropical fish approached Yerim's ear and whispered.
- Monsters from the surrounding sea are gathering.
"The bait effect is great!"
"Are people outside okay?"
"I'll ask the kids if it's dangerous. But there shouldn't be any problems, right? Thanks to Noah, there's no mana disturbance, and Han Yoohyun and Hyuna will happily collect points."
As Yerim spoke, seawater swirled sharply around her. Two streams of water, swirling like drills, extended refreshingly.
- Kyaarrk!
It pierced through the approaching monsters. As holes opened, a swarm of monsters gathered behind the instantly killed ones.
"Ahjussi, shoot your gun too!"
"Yeah, I'll give it a try."
Water surged again. With Yerim's hands, the spirits automatically attached themselves and transformed into weapons. There's really nothing to worry about here.
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