Dan Yeoun, now wearing the coat he had received from Cha Seohu, ran down the corridor after him.
The ground was still shaking. Something was clearly wrong outside. They had to get out of here before the tremors stopped.
"This way."
Following the direction Dan Yeoun pointed to, they reached a room filled with people. Perhaps they'd heard the earlier quake and roar—those huddled together looked anxious and terrified.
"We need to get out."
Cha Seohu stepped into the room, skipping any preamble and getting straight to the point. There was no time to try persuading this many people one by one.
"What?"
"Get out...?"
"W-Wait, who even are you...?"
Ignoring their confusion, he started counting heads.
Judging by the tense mood, they'd probably gathered in one place after realizing something was off. Fortunately, there were eight of them. Including Cha Seohu himself, who had switched places with Dan Yeoun, that made ten.
That was manageable. If they'd been scattered, trying to locate everyone would've made things far more complicated—especially with how quickly the situation outside could shift.
"Hunters have come to rescue us. We need to move now and join them before it's too late."
"What?"
"W-Wait, really?"
Even in a rush, dragging eight people without a word of explanation was unrealistic.
At the very least, they needed the basic information. But whether they'd follow Cha Seohu's lead was another matter.
"They came to save us?"
"Then... maybe we're better off staying put?"
"He's right. What if we run into them by mistake—or worse, run into monsters?"
Just as expected, his proposal met with opposition.
Frustrating, but not incomprehensible.
These people didn't even realize their bodies had changed, and until moments ago, they'd already given up hope of being saved.
Still, understanding them didn't make it any less irritating.
Cha Seohu, who had come here with the singular goal of saving Dan Yeoun, was growing increasingly impatient. But he forced down his emotions and spoke calmly.
"It's not easy for the strike team to pinpoint our location. If we move in sync with them, the chance of success increases."
He kept his tone steady, even colder than usual in an effort to suppress his frustration.
"If you want to survive and escape the monsters, regrouping must be our top priority."
A subtle silence followed his words. People exchanged nervous glances, their expressions complicated.
Had even one of them known Cha Seohu personally, this would've gone smoother.
But none of the eight recognized him—and that meant trust was lacking.
In a life-or-death moment, choosing to follow a complete stranger wasn't something they could easily decide.
Cha Seohu understood that and didn't press them.
"This is your life on the line. I won't force you."
Thud, thud! The sounds of collapse and destruction drew closer. The ground shook violently, as if an earthquake was spreading through the entire building.
There was no time left. With the others still hesitating, Cha Seohu turned his back.
"Anyone who wants to escape with me, follow now."
"Uhh..."
His decisive stride out of the room threw them all into chaos. They had expected more persuasion—something—only for him to leave without hesitation.
Watching them flounder, Dan Yeoun allowed a faint smirk to cross his face. A mocking smile flickered briefly at his lips before vanishing.
After silently observing the confusion, Dan Yeoun followed suit without hesitation. As he moved to exit behind Cha Seohu, one of the supporters called out in panic.
"D-Dan Yeoun Hunter! You're going with him?"
"Yes."
He smiled faintly and responded without pause, walking right out after Cha Seohu.
As the two of them disappeared down the corridor, several of the remaining people leapt to their feet in a rush.
"...I'm going too."
"Me too. Fuck this, I'm not dying in a shithole like this."
"What? Are you crazy?"
"What if we hesitate and miss the rescue entirely? I'm getting out of here no matter what!"
"It's dangerous either way! I'd rather try escaping and die than just sit here!"
"Hey, wait!"
Those who tried to stop them now found their own convictions wavering.
Even the ones left behind, pale-faced and biting their lips in fear, eventually got to their feet.
And so, all eight followed Cha Seohu, sprinting down the hallway. Realizing there was no turning back, none of them hesitated anymore—they ran full speed.
"This way!"
Confirming that not a single person had been left behind, Cha Seohu shouted and picked up the pace.
The destination was the exit Dan Yeoun had shown earlier. Luckily, the room they'd met in hadn't been far from it.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion rang out, shaking the very air. A chilling aura brushed past their skin.
There was no doubt—Hunters were using their skills nearby, and much closer than before.
Sensing the flow of power like Cha Seohu, the others broke into relieved shouts.
"They really did come for us!"
"We can make it! We're going to live!"
"Come on, let's get out of here!"
The exit came into view. The two fae who had been guarding it were nowhere to be °• N o v e l i g h t •° seen—likely gone to confront the approaching Hunters.
Now was their chance.
"That's the exit! Don't stop!"
Cha Seohu veered to the side to point them in the right direction. He waved urgently, guiding them and watching for stragglers to the very end.
"What, do you think they're preschoolers or something? Stop wasting time and—Cha Seohu Hunter, you should hurry—!"
—What are you doing?
A chill shot up his spine.
Gasping, Cha Seohu spun around, shielding Dan Yeoun with his body. The voice's owner stood there, staring directly at him.
—You're still wearing that outfit.
A massive fae, at least two meters tall, scanned Cha Seohu from head to toe.
—I told you to stay still.
"Fuck! Run! Get out of here now!"
Sensing danger, Cha Seohu shoved Dan Yeoun forward with a shout.
"Don't look back! Just go!"
Screams erupted as the fae appeared. The others fled in a panic through the exit. Only Dan Yeoun and Cha Seohu remained.
"Cha Seohu, Hu—"
Pushed ahead by Seohu's strength, Dan Yeoun reached toward him as he neared the exit, hoping to grab his arm and escape together. But a harsh shove hurled him out through the exit before he could.
"Wait—!"
Dan Yeoun vanished beyond the threshold.
There was no time to register how strange it felt. Just as Cha Seohu lunged for the exit—
"Ghk!"
His shoulder was seized. A crushing grip yanked him backward.
Agonizing pain exploded through his shoulder. Then, a huge hand wrapped around his neck and slammed him into the wall.
CRACK!
"Agh!"
His head hit with a sickening thud, and a short scream escaped. His feet dangled in the air.
—Why won't you listen?
The fae's grip on his neck tightened. Cha Seohu wheezed, clawing at the hand, but the fae didn't budge.
—Bad human.
The fae's golden eyes turned blood red.
—You're a bad human.
"...!"
A razor-sharp killing intent crushed his mind.
Then, the fae's other hand slammed into his thigh.
SCREEEEECH!
A pitch-black shadow shot up between them. A black bird screamed and launched itself at the fae, wings flared wide.
SKREEEE!
—Don't get in my way!
The bird shrieked madly, clinging to the fae. Its massive wings obscured vision, and shadows whipped violently around them.
—Urgh!
Unable to hold out, the fae dropped Cha Seohu.
"Guh... cough!"
Crashing to the ground, Seohu coughed and struggled to his feet.
He had to escape. Even if it was Cha Sahyeon's shadow, it wouldn't last long against an SS-rank fae.
Legs trembling, he forced himself upright and staggered toward the exit.
—Don't go, don't...
The fae's voice cut off.
Stepping out into the open, Cha Seohu lifted his head as a cool breeze brushed past his cheek.
The towering grass shrank rapidly. His body was enlarging, and everything around him was dropping below his feet.
Between the trees, dozens of brilliant skill flashes lit up the forest. As he stumbled through the grass, a familiar face came into view.
When their eyes met, a surge of emotion welled up in Seohu's chest.
The man's eyes widened in shock, then he rushed over.
"Cha Seohu Hunter!"
He caught the staggering Seohu in his arms, steadying him.
"Haah... thank god. I've been searching everywhere for you."
Ryu Sunghyun let out a breath of relief.
Resting in Sunghyun's embrace, Seohu confirmed his condition. As expected, the moment he passed through the exit, his body had returned to its normal size.
"The others..."
BOOM!
An explosion rang out from the other side. Startled, Cha Seohu flinched, and Ryu Sunghyun pulled him in tighter, frowning.
"It's almost over. Just hold on a little longer."
Radiant light burst from Ryu Sunghyun's body, pouring in the direction of the blast. Blinding brightness filled the air as shards and fragments flew, the light so intense it washed out the world again and again.

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