“I didn’t see this coming.”

With that quiet mutter, a gunshot rang out. As if waiting for it, Han Yuhyun ducked behind the fence. Thud—the bullet lodged in the wood just as his hand shot out, grabbed the top of the nearly two-meter barrier, and he hoisted himself up with surprising ease. In an instant, he vaulted over, landed, and rolled across the ground. Bang! Dirt flew where he had been standing.

Reload. Even in manual mode, the pause was minimal, and Han Yuhyun took the moment to quickly assess the terrain. The area around the watchtower was clear, but a short distance away stood a warehouse and a well. As he sprinted toward the warehouse, another volley of bullets whizzed toward him.

Click—the bolt was drawn back, and a spent casing ejected. His rifle held six rounds; the last one struck the well. Han Yujin discarded the empty gun and grabbed a fresh rifle leaning nearby. In that instant—

Thwang!

Another stone hurtled through the air. Perhaps because he was closer, it embedded halfway into one of the tower’s support posts. A couple more stones could bring the flimsy structure down. Han Yujin leveled his fully loaded six-round rifle at the warehouse door. Han Yuhyun’s figure was nowhere to be seen. Silence fell for a heartbeat.

Crack!

Already inside, Han Yuhyun had sawed through the wooden door with his sword. Using the thick plank as a shield, he darted back toward the watchtower.

Though the tower wasn’t far, he was completely exposed—a moving target in an open field.

Han Yujin pulled the trigger without hesitation. Taang! The shot rang out, the bullet tore through the door, grazing Han Yuhyun’s shoulder before embedding in the ground. The second round aimed straight for his head, but—

Clang!

Weakened by the door, the bullet glanced off the slanted blade of the Ruler’s Sword and deflected away. Having fired all six rounds, Han Yujin dropped the rifle, drew a pistol, and seized the rope dangling beneath the watchtower roof. Meanwhile, Han Yuhyun reached the tower’s base.

The riddled door was flung aside. Under its shade, Han Yuhyun drew back his sword fully—and then:

CRACK!

He drove the blade into a support post with all his strength. It cut clean through and arced out the other side. Pivoting, he cleaved the next post. Two of the four pillars snapped simultaneously. At that moment, Han Yujin leapt from the tower, still holding the rope.

Creeeeak—

Under his weight, the structure began to tilt with the groan of shifting wood. Dangling by the rope and bracing against the leaning post, Han Yujin trained his pistol on Han Yuhyun below. But Han Yuhyun didn’t wait. This range called for no sling.

Their eyes locked, and bullets and daggers flew in tandem.

Han Yujin kicked off the pillar and sprang upward. Han Yuhyun retreated behind the same post. Crack—the dagger sank into the spot Han Yujin had stood. Thud—the ground erupted where Han Yuhyun had been. All the while, the tower continued its slow tilt. Pulling the rope sharply, Han Yujin vaulted onto the roof, firing suppressive shots and swapping magazines without pause.

Beneath the collapsing tower, Han Yuhyun gripped his sword like a stalking beast, holding his breath. His gaze never left Han Yujin’s flickering form.

‘Once the tower falls, I’ll rush him,’ he thought. Han Yujin, now wielding only a pistol, was said by Song Taewon to have lower firepower. Unless he hit a vital spot, Han Yuhyun could take a shot or two.

A scraping sound—Han Yuhyun’s boot on earth. Crack-crack—the last post broke, and as the roof’s edge struck the ground—

Thwap!

He kicked off his hiding pillar and sprang forward. Simultaneously, Han Yujin hurled the ammunition belt at him. Han Yuhyun’s eyes flickered in confusion. It wasn’t a bludgeon, and he’d lose it if he caught it—why?

He didn’t understand, but Han Yujin never acted with no reason. Dodging it instinctively, he froze as Han Yujin shot the belt instead of him.

Bang—the shot hit the belt squarely.

Rat-a-ta-ta!

The belt erupted in a thunderous explosion! Gunpowder ignited in rapid succession, heat and flame bursting outward. Han Yuhyun reflexively turned his head—but too late.

“…Ugh.”

His face and eyes burned fiercely. Normally, he’d be numb to far greater firepower, but an unawakened body couldn’t withstand it. Thanks to a faint pre-awakening mana and a fire affinity, he avoided severe burns—but he went blind instantly.

Taang—!

Eyes closed, he stepped back as a bullet slammed into his leg. Pain like molten iron buckled his knee to the ground. He braced himself on the dirt—and before he could escape, another shot hammered into his shoulder, near where his heart lay. Blood spurted, staining his clothes.

“The bullets were a bit unstable. Myeong-woo’s not used to dungeon-made powder yet,” Han Yujin explained, loading another round with a click.

“If it had been a proper bomb, I’d’ve kept my distance.”

Because it was just a belt, he’d been cautious. If he’d grabbed it, he could’ve loaded it into a rifle.

Han Yuhyun pried open his eyes. Vision still blurred, his brother’s form before the fallen tower resembled a smeared oil painting. Han Yujin looked at him with a touch of pity. The pain was real, and Han Yujin felt guilty.

Better to end it quickly, he thought, raising the pistol—only to find he couldn’t pull the trigger.

“….”

Seeing his brother helpless on the ground, his finger simply wouldn’t move. In the heat of combat, he’d have shot without hesitation—but now, faced with this one-sided moment, his throat felt parched.

‘…Come to think of it.’

He still had his Fear Resistance skill. Han Yujin gritted his teeth as his heart hammered anew. His brother loomed in his thoughts.

“…Hyung.”

Han Yuhyun’s voice was soft as he pushed his sword aside and looked up. “I can’t see you clearly.”

“…Oh? Ah, sorry.”

Han Yujin said, stepping forward. Though surprised, his eyes assessed Han Yuhyun coldly: one shot to the shoulder, one to the leg, still blind. As an unawakened without skills, he could easily subdue him now.

He’d already drawn his backup dagger. No wire, and the Ruler’s Sword lay far off. Han Yujin approached cautiously.

“You did well,” he said, standing over him. “I thought you’d be helpless, but you turned a throwing stone into a weapon.”

“Director Song taught me,” Han Yuhyun replied, a bit downcast. “I figured fights between unawakened didn’t matter.”

“That’s usually the case. Even if dungeons vanished and Awakened disappeared, you wouldn’t have to fight then.”

He still felt too young for the battlefield. Han Yuhyun blinked, tears welling and spilling down his cheeks. Han Yujin swallowed. His brother wouldn’t die—but—he hesitated, thumb brushing the unfired pistol.

Click!

Han Yuhyun sprang up on his good leg and charged. Han Yujin had no time to shoot. He dropped to one knee and knee-struck Han Yuhyun’s abdomen. A faint groan slipped past Han Yuhyun’s clenched teeth. At the same time, as Han Yujin’s pistol flew from his hand, Han Yuhyun grabbed his brother’s uninjured arm.

The strength gap was clear—but not enough for Han Yuhyun to hold off with one arm. Han Yujin tried to yank him down, but Han Yuhyun bit his shoulder fiercely.

CRUNCH!

“Argh!”

His teeth narrowly missed Han Yujin’s neck. Off balance, Han Yuhyun fell backward—and Han Yujin tumbled forward atop him.

“Hey, you—!”

Clenching his teeth as if to graze flesh, Han Yujin fought to shove Han Yuhyun off. He slammed an elbow into his brother’s injured arm. Han Yuhyun winced but held on—using his good limbs to twist their positions.

If he got pinned underneath, he’d be stuck. Han Yujin kicked at his legs, then felt around his waist for his dagger, drew it, and plunged it into Han Yuhyun’s uninjured arm.

Through bitten lips, Han Yujin exhaled heavily. Han Yuhyun, blood on his mouth, raked the wounded arm across Han Yujin’s.

Breathing hard, Han Yujin rose and helped his brother to sit.

“You’re tenacious.”

Despite wounds to his legs and arm, Han Yuhyun smiled. His vision cleared with each blink.

“You’re just too soft.”

“No,” said Han Yujin. “I nearly shot—but got a bit shaky without Fear Resistance.”

“I want a hug.”

Han Yuhyun’s arms drooped weakly. Han Yujin hesitated.

“…You’ll bite again.”

“Use the pistol, then.”

There was another in his holster. Han Yujin unlocked it and drew it. Han Yuhyun lifted the muzzle to his own chest with trembling fingers.

“Here.”

Han Yujin’s lips twisted at his brother’s calm.

“You’re too composed, even if it isn’t real.”

“Because it’s my hyung.”

Han Yuhyun opened his arms. Han Yujin knelt and closed the distance. Han Yuhyun draped himself over him; their bodies pressed together, the muzzle digging into flesh and fabric.

“Even if it were real, I’d have liked it.”

“…Hey.”

“No, but rather—”

“…You’d have preferred it the other way?”

Han Yuhyun grinned. Being at the wrong end of his brother’s gun might’ve been alright—but, true to his nature, he preferred to bite.

He’d worn human skin all his life; he could mimic but never erase his true self. Without it, he wouldn’t be Han Yuhyun. He could act, but only up to a point.

“It was fun.”

He rested his head on Han Yujin’s shoulder, playfully.

“Play with me again next time.”

“Of course,” Han Yujin replied.

“And hyung—if it ever gets too hard—”

“I’m fine.”

Han Yujin smiled. “You’ll win anyway. Sorry to disappoint.”

At those words, Han Yuhyun nodded honestly. Above all, his brother’s safety mattered. He’d have sacrificed Song Taewon and Seong Hyunjae if needed—but he trusted Han Yujin, too. That was enough.

“I’d act the same again if I had the chance.”

“Well…me too.”

If his brother’s safety were at stake, Han Yujin had only one choice.

Patting his brother’s head, he pulled the trigger. Instantly—

Bang!

The recoil jolted him, and when he opened his eyes, his brother was gone.

“…Feels strange.”

He’d be fine, he thought, exhaling and standing.

Bang! At the shot, Seong Hyunjae wore a loose smile. His gaze shifted toward the woods. Almost certainly, Song Taewon would burst through next.

‘Too bad I can’t watch,’ he mused. He’d have loved to see the brothers’ fight—but he needed to focus here. Moments later, the underbrush shook violently.

Whoosh!

A stone flew at blinding speed—a sling attack. Seong Hyunjae dropped behind a tree trunk. Thud—as soon as the sound rang out, he reemerged and leveled his gun at the direction of the ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) throw. From the bushes,

Rumble.

A large boulder rolled out. A shot rang true against its surface, and immediately, Song Taewon charged toward the fence with terrifying speed.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep