Chapter 16

00016 Split in two.

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As I mentioned before, Deadmen are not even considered monsters in the Hall Plane. Their abilities are limited to a bit of intelligence and the ability to infect. Given that the Hall Plane is a place to prove one's worth, a well-built adult male with a steel pipe can eliminate a Deadman with over 80% success rate, assuming a one-on-one situation and that the male is capable of normal thinking.

Ahn Hyun is equipped with a longsword and a shield, and his basic stats are decent. With a strong mindset and the ability to handle weapons, he has the potential to grow much more than he is now. Deadmen are so insignificant that they can be easily overlooked.

Once he got the ball rolling, his actions became more proactive, and his strikes became more fluid. Ahn Hyun was clever and naturally talented in combat. He still seemed to have a bit of unease, prioritizing defense and using counterattacks to deal with the Deadmen. If he gained more confidence, he could easily handle three or four Deadmen with his longsword.

After deciding to break through the front, we quickly began to leave the forest. While searching for an escape route, Kim Hanbyeol discovered traces of a small path, giving us hope that following this path would lead us out of the forest. As a result, our group's movement speed naturally increased. However, the frequency of Deadmen appearances increased as we descended, which was inevitable. Given this situation, we decided to use this as an opportunity for Ahn Hyun to gain combat experience, and he was indeed handling most of the battles.

Four Deadmen, sensing the scent of humans, let out unpleasant cries and opened their mouths wide. Ahn Hyun's eyes were full of confidence, and his aggressive nature was becoming more apparent. Watching Ahn Hyun draw his sword and shield, Ahn Sol spoke in a tiny voice.

"Brother... be careful..."

"Sure. Just wait a moment. Hyun, take care of Sol and the others."

"Don't worry about the others. I'll protect them."

"Who are 'the others'?" Yoo Jeong shouted, and after a brief laugh, he charged forward with a rough and fierce momentum.

Although he had dealt with two Deadmen at once before, this was the first time he was handling four. I readied my crossbow with an arrow, preparing for any unforeseen accidents.

Ahn Hyun, facing the monsters charging towards him, took a step diagonally to the left when they were about one meter away. Human bodies are flexible, but the monsters' bodies are not. The Deadmen, charging with the intent to bite, had to hesitate due to their stiff joints. Seizing the opportunity of their vulnerability to side attacks, he thrust his sword into the head of one. One down. At the same time, he quickly pulled out his sword to keep the other three at bay.

Watching Ahn Hyun, I felt he was truly a capable person. What I liked most was that he knew how to exploit the weaknesses of his opponents, not just focusing on simple attacks and defenses. Knowing that Deadmen are weak against rotational attacks, he took a diagonal step, which I wanted to praise.

A squishing sound was heard as one of the monsters took a few steps back. The only attack method of Deadmen is to bite with their teeth. To strike with a shield, it is more efficient and safer to aim above the chest. Ahn Hyun, without being taught, had figured this out and was putting it into practice. Seeing a Deadman with its teeth dangling, Ahn Hyun's sword stabbed in like a meteor. I silently cheered, "Two down."

With two Deadmen out of the way, only half remained. Due to the relatively easy handling of the previous monsters, the shield in his left hand seemed to be held more loosely than before. One Deadman lunged to take a bite, and Ahn Hyun, watching the monster, reversed his grip on the longsword. My eyes lit up. Could he be using a one-handed draw technique...?

He calculated the distance and timing for the draw technique. I was quite an expert in this, so I understood the principle. The Deadman, with its mouth wide open, entered the range. At the same time, I saw Ahn Hyun's hand gripping the sword tighten. It was the perfect moment.

Swoosh!

A chilling sound of flesh being cut echoed through the air. Although it was a bit clumsy, he successfully cut through the center of the Deadman's head with a single, precise slash. A look of exhilaration appeared on his face. However, my eyes, watching the battle, furrowed for the first time. One Deadman still remained.

The moment the front Deadman collapsed, the one behind it immediately pounced on Ahn Hyun. Using his reflexes to put his shield forward was good, but it was held loosely, and it seemed unlikely he could withstand the force of the charging Deadman. I quickly aimed my loaded crossbow and watched the collision.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

As expected, Ahn Hyun lost his shield. Unlike the previous impact that affected his whole body, this time it was just his left arm. His hand must have been tingling by now. The impact left Ahn Hyun's front unguarded, and the Deadman's teeth, like a snake, lunged for his chest. I immediately fired an arrow. I couldn't let him become a meal for the Deadman.

The arrow, flying with a sharp whistling sound, pierced the Deadman's head accurately. Seeing the monster, which was about to bite his neck, collapse, Ahn Hyun sat on the ground with a look of relief.

"Phew..."

"Boss, nice shot."

Regardless of the danger of the situation, Yoo Jeong joked. Ahn Hyun, who performed well in visible combat but couldn't yet predict one step ahead, looked at me with a relieved voice.

"Thanks to you, I survived. Thanks, Hyun."

"No problem. Just helped with one. Good job."

At my joke, Ahn Hyun shook his head and muttered, looking disbelieving.

"I didn't expect such an attack. If it weren't for your arrow, I would have been... "

Glancing at Ahn Sol's face, she was pouting as if she was about to cry. Seeing her shudder as if she didn't want to hear more, Ahn Hyun held back.

"Well, it couldn't be helped. The timing was perfect. In such cases, I try to support as much as possible..."

"Ugh!"

Before he could finish, Ahn Sol, unable to hold back any longer, burst into tears and ran towards her brother. What a touching brother-sister relationship. Feeling a bit awkward, I released the tension on my crossbow and put the arrow back in my quiver. Yoo Jeong, who was naturally aggressive, watched them with a slightly envious tone.

"Maybe it's just watching, but I feel like I could do it too... Tch. I should have chosen a weapon. Hanbyeol, do you have any weapon?"

At Yoo Jeong's question, Kim Hanbyeol rummaged through her bag and pulled out a short sword. While it could be used for throwing, it was not very efficient for close combat, and it was risky for an ordinary person to use it, as they might get bitten while trying to strike.

"It probably won't help much. Why do you carry that?"

"Just in case. It's better to end my own life than to suffer."

"...Are you some kind of virtuous woman from the Joseon era...?"

At Kim Hanbyeol's calm response, Yoo Jeong shook her head in disgust and looked at my left arm. Watching my crossbow with envy, she then remembered she didn't know how to use it and grumbled in disappointment.

"Where's the steel pipe that guy was holding? Hanbyeol, check if there's anything around."

"There's nothing."

It seemed Kim Hanbyeol was uncomfortable with Yoo Jeong's casual way of speaking. Suddenly, I thought of Park Donggeol's group. Compared to my initiation period, we were really making good progress. Back then, the first two days were a continuous escape. What are they doing now? Are they running hard? Or maybe they've already been torn apart and eaten by Deadmen.

Of course, it wasn't my concern, so I immediately dismissed it from my mind. Whether it was due to the aftereffects of the battle or comforting Ahn Sol, Ahn Hyun approached us with a slightly weary gait.

"Hyun, the traces of the path are becoming clearer. It looks like we're almost there. Should we move now?"

"Sure, let's go."

Listening to our conversation, Yoo Jeong, frustrated by the lack of a weapon, lashed out.

"Tch. You're getting cocky. You might get taken out. Be careful."

"I don't want to be eaten. It's better to fight back. Anyway, let's hurry and get out."

"I know. I'm sick of this forest. I want to get out as soon as possible."

After dealing with the four Deadmen, we quickly continued down the path. Following this path, we would definitely be able to leave the forest. However, the number of Deadmen faintly detected in the outskirts was concerning. The number of Deadmen detected was well over twenty. But even if we went in another direction, it wouldn't be much different.

Dealing with four Deadmen and twenty Deadmen was like the difference between heaven and earth. If we were to break through the front, there was only one way to open an escape route. I sighed and thought about how to convince the group.

*

As expected, the outskirts of the forest were teeming with Deadmen. At first glance, there were over twenty, and the area was filled with their growls. Even if we only counted the ones in front, causing a commotion here would result in more Deadmen appearing from the sides.

In the distance, a stone wall with traces of human activity was visible. Beyond it, a bumpy but passable path could be seen. Just one more step, and we could leave the forest. The group seemed to be on edge, knowing this. No matter how skilled Ahn Hyun was, dealing with over twenty Deadmen was impossible. However, there was a sense of regret about retreating from here.

"Damn... How are we supposed to break through this...?"

Yoo Jeong's defeated voice echoed in everyone's ears. There was no guarantee that another direction would be any better. Ahn Hyun and Kim Hanbyeol also seemed to have no good ideas, silently staring at the ground. In the end, was there no other way? Sighing lightly, I decided to take the lead this time.

"I have an idea."

As soon as I spoke, everyone's ears perked up, or so it seemed. I decided to get straight to the point.

============================ Author's Note ============================

1. Typos and context corrections.