Chapter 69

“Everyone, defensive formation!” “Shire Guild Master!”

Shire Guild Master Kevin, having decided to fight, shouted at his guild members. Though terrified, they dutifully formed their formation. As they did, the Paehyeok Hunters also took their places. Taehyeok Sa immediately tried to step to the very front.

CRASH!!!! That is, if it weren’t for ‘the Entity’ who had already approached Kevin and punched him. Kevin was immediately sent crashing to the end of the hallway. The axe he had held forward shattered into pieces.

“Cough, ugh!”

Thud, Kevin slowly collapsed to the floor. Everyone froze instantly. To send an S-Rank tank flying with just one punch. The morale of the Hunters in formation rapidly wavered.

“I told you.”

Taehyeok Sa stepped forward.

“To all run away.” “But Guild Master. You alone can’t do it.” “We can’t do it all together either. Just think of it as minimizing the lives that will surely die. It’s actually fortunate. The boss monster is dead, so go up to the upper floor. Go and find the exit.” “Then what about you, Guild Master….” “As I said, Cho-i Hyeon’s current state won’t last long. I’ll hold out for a bit and then leave, so keep that in mind.” “…Understood.”

Kim Yeonhan finally lowered his head and began to lead the people, running to the second floor. He didn’t forget to take care of the fallen Shire Guild Master.

“I’ll wait!”

“Quiet down and find the exit!”

Taehyeok Sa once again pushed his output to the maximum. No, even higher than his limit. Red capillaries stood out in his eyes, and the elegant, straight lines of his coat tails fluttered in the wind.

“For now, you’ll have to deal with me.”

“It’s meaningless.”

Taehyeok Sa felt the presence behind him heading to the second floor, but he didn’t take his eyes off the Entity. However, there was one person, the one who never listened, who remained.

“Even if you die, you won’t listen to me.”

“Do you think I’d let you show off alone?”

Hwayeon’s Guild Master, Gihyeon Park.

“Sometimes a man has to be a little aggressive.”

“That’s an old-fashioned thing to say.”

The two men looked at the Entity with caution. The Entity swayed back and forth as it stood, like a child just starting a game. Its torn lips looked red, and its eyes, showing only the whites, peeked through its falling hair. It was a chilling sight. Gihyeon Park immediately conjured Flames.

“Don’t get up and strangle me again!”

With those words, a roar of Flames erupted where Cho-i Hyeon had been! As the red flames burst forth, the fire spread rapidly, scorching the walls and floor of the mansion black. Even standing close, the intense heat was palpable. But.

“Ugh!”

“Ugh!”

The Entity, bursting through the Flames in an instant, lunged forward and grabbed both their necks. There was no visible movement. Like someone who suddenly appeared, the Entity materialized before their eyes in a flash.

“I told you it’s no use~?”

Taehyeok Sa felt a sudden chill. The Entity was speaking through Cho-i Hyeon’s mouth, sounding like Cho-i Hyeon. The scratchy voice was the same, but the accent had changed. He tried to use Telekinesis to pry the hand off his neck. The Entity’s hand trembled and began to loosen its grip on his neck. Then, the Entity frowned with one eyebrow and smiled.

“You’re more capable than I thought?”

The Entity struck Gihyeon Park away in an instant. Crash! He was immediately slammed into the wall. The Entity turned its gaze and stared intently at Taehyeok Sa. He was still struggling with all his might to remove the hand.

“Cough! Don’t ignore me!”

At that moment, Gihyeon Park unleashed Flames once more, directly on the Entity’s body. Bang! A loud sound was heard, and the black leather clothes Cho-i Hyeon was wearing stuck to the skin and burned away. But the Entity didn’t budge. Then, with a firm grip, it seized Taehyeok Sa’s neck again.

“Ugh! Park, Gihyeon, you son of a bitch…!”

“Oh, right, damn skill!”

Cho-i Hyeon had a skill that made him stronger the more pain he received. Gihyeon Park had just empowered the Entity. The Entity smirked, feeling its skin slowly regenerating.

“You can’t do anything.”

You’ll just be my prey here. Taehyeok Sa struggled in the Entity’s grip. Gihyeon Park hesitated, unable to attack rashly. If he used Flames, the Entity could potentially grow stronger from the increased pain.

“Damn it, I really don’t know how to deal with this…!”

While Gihyeon Park couldn’t find a way, the Entity grabbed Taehyeok Sa’s neck and lifted him into the air.

“Gasp, ugh…!”

His breath was getting cut off. Taehyeok Sa struggled, trying to escape the Entity’s grip. But the Entity only tightened its hand, squeezing his neck harder. His face turned increasingly red, and he gritted his teeth in pain. Taehyeok Sa used all his strength to unleash Telekinesis and pushed the Entity away. The Entity flinched for a moment, then chuckled and slammed Taehyeok Sa into the wall. Bang!

“Ugh!”

The wall shattered, and he was buried in the stone wall. It was a pain as if all the bones in his body were breaking. And Gihyeon Park, who was watching this situation, immediately rushed towards Cho-i Hyeon.

“Hey! Are you ignoring me?!”

He pushed off the ground and instantly charged, throwing a punch at the Entity’s face.

“The weaker male.”

But the Entity blocked his hand with an indifferent expression. Then, it squeezed his fist so hard it seemed like it would crush it. Crack.

“Aargh!”

Gihyeon Park screamed in pain. The Entity, having easily crushed Gihyeon Park’s hand, grabbed his wrist and slammed him to the ground. Thud!

“Gah!”

One of the Entity’s legs came down on Gihyeon Park’s body, which was sprawled on the floor. And it stomped hard. Crack- As soon as it stepped on his shoulder blade, a sound of something breaking was heard. Taehyeok Sa was caught in her hand, unable to do anything. No, he was trying, but nothing was working. All he could do now was somehow support his body floating in the air and breathe.

“Thinking about it again, you’re too weak….”

The Entity said in a regretful tone. The corners of its eyebrows drooped, making it look sad. The Entity asked Taehyeok Sa,

“Are you all there is? Is there nothing stronger than you in this world?”

The Entity loosened its grip on Taehyeok Sa’s neck, which it had been squeezing tightly. It showed confidence that he couldn’t escape its grasp anyway. Taehyeok Sa didn’t have time to be offended; he just gasped for breath and glared at the Entity.

“Unfortunately, there’s nothing stronger than me.”

“Then this world will soon perish.”

“What…?”

“It’s okay. I’ll just connect the world again.”

Taehyeok Sa conversed with the Entity and unleashed Telekinesis. He lifted the Entity’s entire body and slammed it far away. Pushing or pulling was difficult, but lifting Cho-i Hyeon’s light body was not hard. Bang-! The Entity flew to the end of the corridor and crashed into the wall. Then the mansion’s wall shattered and poured down. The Entity chuckled lightly, gracefully descended from the wall it had been slammed into, and stepped onto the floor. It looked at Taehyeok Sa and Gihyeon Park in the distance, then muttered while looking at a window where the outside was not visible.

“This world has already been destroyed….”

The Entity looked regretful. Seizing the opportunity, Gihyeon Park and Taehyeok Sa tried to run to the second floor. But before they could, the Entity pushed off the floor and instantly appeared in front of them.

“Ugh!”

Taehyeok Sa was slammed into the wall again. Gihyeon Park immediately conjured a Flame, but before he could unleash it, he was thrown to the floor. Crash! A loud sound erupted, followed by a short groan. The Entity climbed onto Gihyeon Park, raised its hand high, and was about to strike his face.

“Ha….”

But its hand couldn’t come down. Taehyeok Sa had extended his hand, blocking the Entity’s arm with Telekinesis. It was clear that if Gihyeon Park were hit in the face there, his head would be crushed. The Entity looked at its hand, caught in mid-air, then slowly unclenched its fist. And then it clenched it strongly again. It then twisted its shoulder powerfully, shaking off the Telekinesis.

“Damn it!”

Instead of confronting the Entity, Taehyeok Sa used Telekinesis to move Gihyeon Park’s body, pulling him out from under the Entity. Gihyeon Park rose into the air and once again conjured Flames. KWA-ANG! With the resolve to end its life with this one blow, he unleashed the biggest Flames. Smoke filled the corridor. There was no sign of movement. The two men, tense, stared at where the Entity had been. Nothing seemed to be moving.

“…” “…”

The two men couldn’t even breathe freely, fearing that the still-living Entity might hear their breathing and find them. But then…

“Is it all over?”

A chilling voice came from right behind them. The two men frantically turned around, but both were immediately grabbed by the neck and slammed to the floor with a crash!

“Ugh!”

“Ugh!”

The Entity pressed hard on Gihyeon Park’s neck. He made a gurgling sound once, then his struggling limbs went limp. Fortunately, his breathing could still be heard. It seemed he had fainted.

“Why don’t you just run away when you’re so weak?”

The Entity asked.

“…Because I’m the only one who can handle you.”

“Ahahaha.”

The Entity laughed in a raspy voice, as if it found it truly amusing.

“You, can handle me?”

The Entity climbed onto Taehyeok Sa’s body and brought its face close. His vision was filled with its rolled-back, pure white eyeballs.

“Do you really think so?”

“…Yes.”

“What a proud male.”

He’s so weak, yet he’s holding on until the very end. Hmm, yes. The Entity slowly licked the tip of Taehyeok Sa’s chin. The Entity’s tongue reeked of thick blood.

“You’re so cute, despite having no power.”

“…That’s not welcome at all.”

“Why don’t you offer your body to me instead?”

The Entity slowly tilted its head. Its hair, matted with blood, shifted to one side.

“Because I, rather than something like you, would be more helpful to the world’s continued existence.”

“…What do you mean?”

“The Calamity you don’t know yet.”

Taehyeok Sa frowned deeply. He didn’t understand at all what this ‘monster’ was talking about.

“Well, now we’re truly alone, aren’t we?”

The Entity said in a playful tone. Even so, its voice, which sounded like it was scraping eardrums, didn’t change. The Entity slowly brought its face closer to Taehyeok Sa’s eyes. Then it opened its mouth. Sharp teeth were revealed before him.