The phoenix stretched its other wing out to block the large spear coming its way, but it was in vain. Its defense was weaker, making it wail out loud.
"Kyaaar!"
It tried to fly away from the ice holding its feet down, but it was unsuccessful. Ryu Jinmu didn't give the phoenix a chance at all to recover from the spear, and quickly slashed its right wing, coated with ice.
The phoenix's hot feathers burned the grass as it landed on the field. It started squirming around, unable to do anything against the man restraining it.
"Yes, that's it!"
Haemin excitedly clenched his fist while watching the heated fight between the monster and Ryu Jinmu.
That's exactly how it should go. As expected, you're amazing, main character-nim!
He pulled his shirt to fan his face as sweat formed on his forehead. Haemin tried to wipe it but they wouldn't stop.
Dammit, it's so hot. Must be because the phoenix is close, huh?
He wiped the sweat on his chest, too. He had noticed since the time he went inside the dungeon that his body temperature kept going up, especially when he used his power.
Haemin didn't pay it any mind at first since the dungeon was filled with fire chickens, but it was now starting to bother him.
Kang Minho, who was beside him, looked at him strangely. Haemin's enthusiasm confused him, not to mention the giant glowing sphere below them.
It was the first time he'd seen something like it, but Baek Haemin was acting like it was something he always had.
He couldn't help but ask,
"Haemin-ssi, this is…?"
"Hmm? Ah, I just helped him a bit."
Haemin smiled for a bit, then went back to watching the fight. His right eye twitched when a bead of sweat from his forehead dripped.
"A bit? But that's…"
Minho paused when he saw him.
"You're sweating a lot today."
"Yeah, I don't know. It's probably because of the heat from the phoenix. Anyway, your guildmaster should find it easier now with the enhancements."
Haemin waved his hand as if it were nothing.
"Enhancements…"
Kang Minho wanted to say more but he didn't.
From what he had seen, his guildmaster's attack was sharper than before. He even seemed more invigorated than ever.
Kang Minho had naturally heard about Baek Haemin, who was hailed to be the best support hunter in the country, and his enhancement skill before. However, the one he gave the guildmaster appeared to be different from the one he knew.
The phoenix's purple eyes lit up and turned in their direction. Its beak opened up with flames forming, until it shot towards them.
"Ah, shit."
Kang Minho flinched while Haemin could only curse. Minho quickly pushed him to his back and formed a barrier.
Just a few seconds before the flames reached them, the air surrounding them suddenly became chilly.
The fireball seemed to stop mid-air, as if time had slowed extremely down. Both Kang Minho and Baek Haemin's eyes widened. The phoenix and even the dust ceased to move.
This skill…
Haemin could see small bits of ice crystals forming in the air. The heat he felt earlier died down, and he started feeling better. It became easier to breathe, like someone turned an air conditioner on and put it right in front of him.
Ryu Jinmu came to their vision, with him raising his hand in the flames' direction. The fire ball as big as an average child became smaller, even having ice crystals forming around it until it vanished.
Like a fire drenched in water or a flame being put inside a freezer, it didn't stand a chance against Jinmu's domain skill, Absolute Zero.
"Fuu…"
A small cloud of vapor came out of Ryu Jinmu's mouth. In an instant, his sword stabbed the phoenix so deeply, ice bloomed from its chest all the way to its back.
"Kyaar…!"
The phoenix spat out blood and tried to struggle, but it was futile. It glared at the black-haired man until its very last breath.
Ding!
A familiar sound came out of nowhere.
[System:
Congratulations! You helped defeat an SS-Rank dungeon boss!
As a reward, please receive this item.]
[1x Gacha Ticket]
Gacha?! You have something like that?!
[System:
Congratulations! You completed the hidden quest:
Support the ace!]
[Hidden Quest: Support the ace!
Lend your support to an SS-Rank Hunter to defeat a monster!
If you do not complete this quest, your heart will stop.
Duration: 1 year
Completed.]
[You got 5 points for completing the quest.]
What?! Then, if I didn't help Ryu Jinmu just now, I could've died?! You're kidding me, you damn system! Why are you putting such a severe penalty for a hidden quest?!
Baek Haemin gritted his teeth while glaring at the system messages popping out one after the other.
Ding!
[System:
Congratulations! You gained access to the system's specialty, Gacha.]
[Do you want to open it?]
No, I don't! Get away from me!
"Seriously…"
He whispered while trying to hold back from shouting.
The cold air vanished along with the ice crystals formed from it. Kang Minho's face beamed, and he hugged him.
"Haemin-ssi, the guildmaster did it! He defeated the boss monster!"
"Huh? Oh, yeah…"
He got too occupied with the system's messages to notice.
Haemin deactivated the Maiden's Sanctuary. As soon as it was gone, his body temperature started going up again. The heat that cooled down by Ryu Jinmu's domain skill quickly came back, making him bend down.
He heard footsteps approaching them. Judging by the shoes, he could already take a good guess who it was.
"Get up, Baek Haemin. You still have to heal the team."
His vision was becoming blurrier, and the cold voice coming from the man's mouth irritated him even more.
"...you don't even have to tell me."
Dammit, what is this? This fucking heat isn't going away… It's like shoving down tons of alcohol all at the same time. My body feels so hot…
His breath slowly became more unstable. He walked up front, only to trip into someone else's chest. He looked up at Ryu Jinmu whose body was so cooling, contrary to his own.
Ah… his eye bags got deeper.
Was it because of this heat enveloping his whole being? Baek Haemin removed his glove and touched Ryu Jinmu's face. The refreshing cold air he had earlier, he wanted to feel it again.
His hand flinched at the cold sensation coming from him.
So cold…
His lips curled upwards at the relief before his vision completely blacked out.