“Kwahjik,” the red double-decker bus is crushed flat and warped under the massive body of the snake. Its scales, smoother than the sleek asphalt, hiss as they slide, then the creature lifts its head, flickering its split tongue.

An SS-rank, lava-drinking snake. With each pulse of heat flowing along its dark crimson scales, everything nearby melted. After lapping up the molten ground, the snake raised its head again. A blue willow leaf shimmered in its bright yellow eyes—then, “Fwaaak!” the leaf ignited into flame.

The snake did not flinch. Heat could not harm it; it was merely prey. The red flames deepened, brushing its eyes with black and bluish smoke.

“Kiiik!”

The fire consumed both eyes. Even its powerful flame resistance couldn’t withstand the sudden inferno; its sight was gone in an instant, and its colossal body writhed like a fish hauled ashore. “Kwahng! Kwhang!” the nearby old buildings cracked and collapsed.

[Most weapons melt the moment they touch its scales. That’s why its scale hardness is low for an SS-rank.]

Han Yujin’s voice echoed around Han Yuhyun through the system. A snake «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» that dissolves every skill and weapon with its lava—an almost impossible monster even for multiple S-ranks to confront.

Yet.

Han Yuhyun glided through the air, stepping on a willow leaf. The writhing snake arched up to block him, but he bent low beneath its curved scales and slipped past, spinning with a grin to catch his sword with both hands.

The Devourer’s Blade. Its jet-black edge, forged from the flesh of a world-consuming dragon, pierced the snake’s scales in a single strike.

“Krrk!”

The snake summoned all its might, drawing up heat until its dark scales glowed bright red. The searing air warped the ground and even the walls of buildings meters away.

But the Black Dragon’s Blade absorbed that very heat. Han Yuhyun’s arms flexed, and with a rasping “Kwaduk,” he slashed downward. A long diagonal gash appeared across the snake’s neck. The spurting blood vaporized before it could touch him.

Thud! With a roar, the monster’s body collapsed onto the hardening asphalt. Han Yuhyun sprang back onto a willow leaf and dashed into London’s sky.

[Don’t overdo it.]

As soon as that warning cut off, Han Yuhyun landed atop a streetlamp. Below lay the ruined district where the dungeon event had taken place. S-rank and A-rank flying monsters darted about. He exhaled sharply, then leapt from the lamp—once, twice—propelled by willow leaves.

In an instant he reappeared among the winged beasts. Before their beaks and claws could strike, the Devourer’s Blade lengthened into a wide arc.

“Chakak! Chadeuk!”

Under the whip-like blade, feathers scattered and blood spattered. Beheaded monsters plummeted earthward. Han Yuhyun surrendered to gravity, letting himself fall. The rushing wind played through his short hair and the blue feather ornament at his waist.

Han Yuhyun could exist only beside Han Yujin.

If Han Yujin were gone, Han Yuhyun could escape everything—every emotion, every struggle bound to those feelings. Even the smallest affection would vanish utterly.

Ash.

A willow leaf cushioned his feet just before he hit the ground. Around him, wounded monsters groaned for breath. Han Yuhyun beheaded each one still alive and sprinted forward once more.

Worry, pain, sorrow—none remained. All arose from his love for Han Yujin. Fire loved no one; it suffered no pain.

Thus, this ‘Han Yuhyun’ here could look upon only Han Yujin. His very being depended on that premise—if it vanished, he would return to mere flame. Han Yujin was the air that let Han Yuhyun breathe once he emerged from the water.

“Hyung.”

Swallowing Han Yujin, shedding every bond to burn away perfectly—Han Yuhyun’s desire lay at his core, an instinct he could never purge, the self he had long repressed.

“Kyaaah!”

Cuuung! A two-headed beast charged, jarring the ground. Its maw, bristling with sharp teeth, lunged for him. “Thup!” The air split as Han Yuhyun stepped on its snout, vaulted onto its head. The other maw snapped at empty air—and then,

Thung, terung!

Both heads fell cleanly, rolling on the ground. He did not look back as he moved on.

“I… am.”

Han Yuhyun. He had always feared living without his world. Only when Han Yujin repeatedly confirmed he would never let go did he feel secure. At the center of the world Han Yuhyun loved stood Han Yuhyun himself. That truth would never change.

But what if there were more than one Han Yuhyun?

Han Yujin, and all that was not Han Yujin. In the simple world split in two, an alien presence appeared: Han Yuhyun—the one most beloved by Han Yujin.

He was bewildered. He didn’t know what to do. The old Han Yuhyun would have thought an extra protector for Han Yujin a blessing—without emotion. But now he acknowledged his own desire and let his greed show.

For the first time, Han Yuhyun felt jealousy.

Not the past fear of losing Han Yujin, but pure envy. Han Yujin would not change—yet he hated it.

“It’s right to choose the achievements from before the regression.”

He should have decided without hesitation, but he hesitated. He did not want to become like that other Han Yuhyun. As the sole, unique Han Yuhyun, he wanted to receive Han Yujin’s love.

Though he thought this choice wrong, still—

And Han Yujin said he loved even that.

Han Yuhyun stopped. His heart raced—not from battle, but because of Han Yujin.

[Yuhyun!]

Han Yujin’s excited voice came through.

“Hyung, I love you.”

[…Huh? Uh, yeah. About the achievement rewards—should we combine them or take them separately? What came out was…]

“Combine them.”

[Don’t you want to see first? I think combining is better. Then!]

Han Yujin chose to combine the achievement rewards. A moment later:

[Achievement Reward (L)

Random rewards based on the Awake’s achievements and stats

※You may designate rewards two grades lower.]

A random box appeared. Han Yuhyun opened it.

[Intense Vision! Use a flashbang and cut all the gaps behind the second bone of the leg!]

[Cannot handle on land; lure to the river. Then east!]

[Yerim, SS-rank luring to the river. Toward the yellow will-o’-the-wisp! They can’t breathe underwater and struggle to stay afloat—push them in and tie their legs to catch them easily!]

[Fall back entirely from near the red will-o’-the-wisp! Hunters can’t stop them there!]

[An SS-rank flying type has appeared! Since it’s nocturnal and sensitive, lure it with loud noise!]

Voice messages flew in breathlessly. “Kwa-kwa-kwang!” Riette collided with a large monster near the red will-o’-the-wisp, and the ground trembled.

“Sis, charge!”

From Comet’s back, Kang So-young leapt onto Riette’s head and used her skill. Riette, nearly overpowered, surged forward.

“Ahhhh!”

“She’s truly dragon-like! Amazing!”

Riette rammed the monster’s head, scattering poisonous spines. Thud! One of her horned spikes snapped, and the beast staggered, growling. The Black Dragon bared its fangs in a fierce grin.

“This message is insane!”

A London hunter, bow fully drawn, shouted. Another voice message arrived.

[Coordinate with the hunter beside you—same spot!]

Five hunters released arrows simultaneously. Two of them matched their breath perfectly to the target.

“What kind of magic is this?”

Gasped another London hunter. Hunters who teleported in displayed astonishing skill—not just individually excellent, but coordinating as if a single entity. Even S-rank hunters’ cooperation, once thought impossible, flowed naturally.

“It’s SF magic!”

“What? An Eastern Merlin?”

“Also thanks to nearly dying a lot!”

A few of Han Yujin’s team chuckled. In their safe haven, lives were guaranteed. Having tasted the fun of coordinated defense, hunters began pairing off their own. Battles among S-ranks, and S-ranks versus A-ranks, broke out—once unthinkable.

Though brief, it was enough for the sub-teams to grow.

One by one, even SS-rank monsters fell. Knowing weaknesses and striking together bridged the rank gap.

However.

“Three hours have passed.”

Han Yujin exhaled deeply, fingers and eyes busy on system windows as she sent new messages.

“No wonder they’re exhausted.”

Monsters were endless; hunters finite. Some aid came from other countries, but not many. After all, Han Yujin’s core team were European hunters. Seong Hyunjae watched with a pale face; even Yun-yun, a little away, looked concerned.

“They already look tired.”

“I’m still fine—not moving directly.”

“I enjoyed this too, but it’s a shame we can’t even support them.”

“Well, it is kinda cute. Staying like this forever wouldn’t be bad.”

Han Yujin laughed, then coughed. Through the Goblin Gate, she’d transferred every stamina potion prototype and unfinished material—but how long could they hold out?

“At this pace, at least three more hours. We’re only halfway.”

And that counted three hours since evacuation began; the actual fight started only about an hour ago. Even after days in a dungeon, a battle usually ends within an hour and they rest. But here, rest was impossible.

“Pueong!” A jet of water erupted from the river. Blue and Comet streaked across the sky. Comet carried another hunter in place of Kang So-young.

“This is still incredible.”

Seong Hyunjae peered down at London from Han Yujin’s shoulder.

“Normally, hunters unable to coordinate against an SS-rank monster would have retreated—but they stayed.”

“Yes, but the most important thing is their will. They could have rescued themselves instead of helping. From the start, they volunteered to catch a terrorist. Though there was a reward.”

“And they’re not the only ones like that.”

Seong Hyunjae lifted his head. Han Yujin lowered her system window and looked up. An airplane was speeding toward London. What had been a dot grew larger as it slowed, then “thud,” its door opened.

“Are you really going?”

Shouted a hunter inside against the rushing wind. Emily Spencer grinned at him.

“You said you’d never enter a dungeon.”

Surrounded by those clinging to protect her, she raised both hands.

“But this is London! Long live Her Majesty the Queen!”

Emily’s laughter rang out as Hwang Lim scooped her up.

“Hold on tight!”

Using a copied flight skill, Hwang Lim jumped from the plane. Once stable above London, Emily activated her ability.

SS-rank area-wide healing skill: Thousand Whips.

“Finally using this skill properly~.”

Emily’s mana spread across London. Wherever her gaze reached, she healed up to a thousand people. Though she couldn’t mend severe wounds, she quickly restored minor injuries, stamina, and mana, and could even detect and single-target heal the gravely wounded within her domain.

“The ink on the contract isn’t even dry yet.”

“Did everyone evacuate? Goblins—not kidding.”

“We couldn’t stay away, thinking of later.”

Armed American hunters began jumping down, followed by Isabella. They gathered every hunter they could reach in time. And not just them.

“Hunters needing expendable items, to Buckingham!”

“Anyone hungry?”

They’d brought as much supply as possible. New hunters poured onto the battlefield, fully healed in body and mana. Catching their breath, they gripped their weapons anew.

“I’ve wanted to meet you, Director Han Yujin.”

“Hello, darling~. I missed you lots ♡”

Hwang Lim, carrying Emily, approached Han Yujin. Peace growled low. Yun-yun waved, fascinated.

“Hello, Saint!”

“Hello, Goblin!”

“Nice to meet you, Saint.”

“Call me Emily.”

Her eyes shining, Emily looked at Han Yujin. With a slightly awkward smile, Han Yujin spoke.

“I shouldn’t receive healing skills under the circumstances.”

“Oh? Really? You look unwell.”

“I suppose I have an excess of mana.”

“It does feel strange—like a well of mana……”

Emily tilted her head, biting back her words. One should not pry into a hunter’s affairs without permission. Instead, she offered a gentle smile.

“Han Yujin, I think you’re a good person.”

“Me?”

“You can judge a parent by their child! Such a cute, kind child—he even resembles the Sesung Guild Master.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“I’d like to talk calmly, but it’s not the time. I’ll have to go help; I have quite a few support skills.”

“Yes—ride Comet. Comet!”

At Han Yujin’s call, the black wyvern approached. Emily, amazed, climbed onto Comet’s back with Hwang Lim. Han Yujin watched them depart, and the newly arrived hunters.

“As Emily said.”

A broad smile spread across his lips.

“Our Gyeol is truly amazing, isn’t he? Gyeol, this is the sight you created.”

Monsters kept pouring in, and hunters kept appearing—over a hundred in all.

All preparations were complete.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep