Chapter 18

00018 Split.

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In front of the stone tomb, quite a number of Deadmen had fallen. Each had an arrow embedded in their forehead, and counting them, there seemed to be about seven. Of course, there were still many more Deadmen left to deal with. Seeing them crawl up, trampling over the bodies of their fallen comrades, it was clear they wanted to take a bite out of me.

“Try, try.”

Humming a tune, I reached into my pocket to grab an arrow, but found nothing. After fumbling through the empty space in my pocket and scratching the bottom, I finally managed to pull out two arrows buried deep inside. It seemed I would have to gather the arrows I had already shot on the way back.

Not all the Deadmen had gathered yet. I could see some of them running from a distance, but it seemed best to retreat at this point. Even if a few remained to target the group, Ahn Hyun could handle them alone.

Looking down, I saw the Deadmen with their mouths open, shaking their heads and screaming. Their appearance was so amusing that I couldn't help but nod my head in rhythm and mimic their movements.

'What am I doing?'

As I watched them, a bitter smile crept onto my face, and I instinctively covered my mouth.

I feel too excited. Since becoming a Sword Master in the early days of the Hol Plain, I had almost no emotional fluctuations. Especially in battle, I always tried to remain as cold and calm as ice. That's why I survived the most difficult battles, such as the Atlanta Liberation and the Ragnarok Encirclement Annihilation.

This feeling was truly long overdue. I, who never blinked at the sight of overwhelming enemy forces, was now swayed by the emotion of slaughter. And I couldn't control this feeling at all. Although the situation wasn't as dire as before, a thrilling anticipation filled my entire body.

The more I watched the monsters from atop the stone tomb, the more my primal instincts seemed to surge, so I leaped down into the forest. Trying to calm myself, I heard the Deadmen groaning as they struggled to climb up the tomb. They must be frustrated that I'm coming down after they've climbed up.

“Kids, there are too many eyes watching us here. Let's go a little deeper into the forest.”

Grunt!

I don't know if they understood me, but they followed, making Deadman noises.

I started to walk slowly into the forest, originally intending to run at full speed to create distance, but I changed my mind. I would make sure they followed me to some extent.

They seemed incredibly hungry. As soon as I climbed up the stone tomb, I lightly shot a crossbow at the Deadman who had fallen below. The Deadman who had climbed up the hardest was now hungry with an arrow in his head. After confirming the one with his head hanging down, I immediately turned and walked into the forest.

Grunt! Grunt! Grunt! Grunt! Grunt!

The groaning sounds became somewhat familiar. I adjusted my pace to keep them just out of reach, and they seemed incredibly frustrated. The sound of their teeth clashing right behind me added a unique thrill. Then it happened.

Snap!

“Ah.”

I got too carried away. While zigzagging between the trees, I felt something tightly bite my left arm. Turning my head in shock, I saw a Deadman with a strange face biting my left wrist. It must have been one of the ones lurking around, not the one I had led, and it had luckily caught me.

Honestly, it didn't hurt much, but the shock of being bitten by such a creature was greater. And that shock soon turned to anger. No matter how lucky, it was a blow to my pride. I said to the Deadman biting my wrist with an annoyed voice.

“What are you looking at?”

Grunt.

“I was surprised… damn it.”

The Deadman's eyes were strange. It had bitten me, but its teeth didn't penetrate. Of course not. Do you think you can chew on my body with 92 points of durability? Swinging my right hand in anger, I saw its head burst open.

While struggling with the monster, the Deadmen who had been chasing me were now surrounding me in layers. Some of them seemed to think they had caught their prey, grinning. After gauging the distance I had run, I decided it was safe and released my wrist.

Grunt. Grunt. Grunt. Grunt. Grunt. Grunt. Grunt. Grunt.

Groaning sounds came from all directions, but I wasn't afraid at all. Compared to the hellish beasts I faced when I fell into the abyss of hell, these were mere nuisances. I desperately hoped they would satisfy my desire, even a little.

“Thanks in advance.”

I gave a friendly greeting, and the Deadman responded by baring its teeth. They don't know manners, I guess. I extended my fingers to aim at the head of the Deadman rushing in. First, the one in front.

Crack!

The feeling of my fingers piercing the head was like breaking through a rotten log, not soft human flesh. Lifting my arm, I saw the Deadman's body hanging from my fingers, stretched out. The other Deadmen immediately stopped in their tracks.

Fear. Do these creatures, who always see humans as prey, even understand that they can be hunted? I was secretly amazed. I don't know if they think or act on instinct, but the creatures that would charge without hesitation at the sight of prey had momentarily stopped at my presence.

I didn't want to let them go, even if they were impressive. I lightly released mana, shattering the head of the monster in my hand and wiggled my fingers, signaling them to attack. Instead, the Deadmen took a step back.

I didn't plan to use my longsword. It wasn't a problem that I didn't have one. I could turn any branch or blade of grass into a lethal weapon. But I was thirsty for slaughter and wanted to feel the sensation in my hands. I cracked my knuckles and smiled deeply. A thought suddenly crossed my mind. I think I understood why I couldn't stop smiling.

I was hungry for my instincts. After swinging my sword and repeating killing for 10 years to survive, my nature had become thoroughly soaked in blood. Watching the monsters gradually retreat, I twisted my lips.

*

“Brother did a good job. Everyone, get up. We need to cross that wall quickly.”

The forest, which had been teeming with monsters just moments ago, was now eerily quiet. Looking at the desolate forest, Ahn Hyun spoke with a strong voice, but the group's mood was heavily dampened. As Ahn Hyun said, Kim Suhyun had successfully led all the creatures away. There was not a single monster in sight. However, a sense of inexplicable despair seemed to envelop everyone.

“Is… is he okay? You know, we could just….”

As Yoo Jeong spoke in a unusually deflated voice, Ahn Hyun felt a pang of guilt. But he couldn't show it. Suhyun had trusted him and told him to protect the group. He couldn't betray that trust.

“That's not an option. Stop talking nonsense and get up. What will we do if they come back?”

“Aren't you worried about your brother?”

“I trust my brother. He said not to do anything stupid like coming back.”

Ahn Hyun's calm words made Yoo Jeong fall silent. But her listless face made it clear that Ahn Hyun himself felt a sense of powerlessness. Shaking his head to regain his composure, he continued in a strong voice.

“Let's trust him. I'll trust my brother just as he trusts us.”

Ahn Hyun finished speaking, stood up, and looked around. Fortunately, there was not a single Deadman in sight. As An Sol cautiously got up and followed, Yoo Jeong had no choice but to stand up as well. Just as she was about to leave the hiding place, she tapped Kim Hanbyul, who was sitting blankly.

“Hey, get up. Why are you spacing out all of a sudden?”

“...”

Kim Hanbyul didn't respond. She looked at Yoo Jeong with a cold expression, then slowly stood up and walked out. After confirming that everyone was out, Ahn Hyun looked at the stone wall ahead and spoke.

“Everyone, stay strong. Once we cross this wall, we'll be out of this wretched forest. We'll act together until we reach the wall, and I'll go over first to check for any dangers.”

Ahn Hyun's words made An Sol and Yoo Jeong nod with anxious faces, but Kim Hanbyul remained silent. She had been staring into the forest where Kim Suhyun had disappeared. Sensing Ahn Hyun's gaze, she turned her head and spoke.

“Understood.”

What did she understand? Ahn Hyun sighed inwardly but didn't show it. When Suhyun was around, they worked well together, but now that he was gone, it felt like things were off from the start.

“I know how you feel. I feel the same. But if we go into the forest like this, Suhyun's sacrifice will be meaningless. He created this opportunity by risking his life. And he entrusted your safety to me. All we can do now is cross the wall quickly and wait for him to return safely. Everyone, stay focused.”

Despite his words, the depressed mood didn't improve. Once morale is lost, it's hard to regain. Ahn Hyun knew he was trying his best, but everyone remained silent. As he spoke, he realized how much Kim Suhyun's absence affected them. A vague sense of unease began to rise within him. Finally, overwhelmed by the burden, he closed his eyes.

The rest of the group held their crossbows, thinking of the calm and composed man they had met just half a day ago. Kim Suhyun had quickly become a significant presence in their hearts. It was thanks to him that they could quickly leave the open area, save An Sol from being bitten, and even when the team was on the verge of splitting due to Park Donggyul, he always protected them with his arrows in dangerous situations. He was always a sturdy pillar, a fence that supported the group in critical moments.

But now that fence was gone. He might not return. And the remaining members felt the emptiness of his absence.

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

1. Typos and context corrections.