* * *
“You idiot, dodge!”
But there was no time to stand around.
The monster was still attacking.
Taegun snapped back to his senses at Raon’s shout and moved his body.
Boom!
“Gah…”
“Can you do it?”
“…”
Even though he was being shielded by an Esper, Raon, with an ordinary body, had been tumbling around in the chaos.
Still, he asked the question harshly.
Taegun, with a serious expression, fixed his eyes on the monster’s massive head.
Something felt different.
He couldn’t say exactly what, but the once overwhelming and terrifying presence of the monster seemed… manageable now.
Unconsciously, Taegun nodded.
“I’ll try.”
In one motion, Taegun cast mind control at the monster.
He never expected to completely dominate it like other monsters.
But Raon had pointed out the barrier—so that was his target.
Screeeeech!
And it worked.
The monster let out a distorted scream as the barrier that had stubbornly surrounded it shattered.
“It’s down!”
Raon clenched his fist in triumph.
Even if Hamin was unconscious, now that the barrier was gone, Dojin should be able to take the monster down with his telekinesis.
Raon let out a breath of relief, thinking it was finally over.
“Shit, Lee Hamin!”
Dojin shook the unconscious Hamin and clicked his tongue in frustration.
Even someone like him couldn’t help but panic when he came to in a strange place with only a few agents.
Still, he forced himself to calm down and scanned the surroundings.
Fighting off the monsters alone had been exhausting, but manageable.
However, when something far bigger and stronger than any monster he’d faced before appeared—even Dojin was stunned.
For the first time, he could feel the enormous gap in power between himself and the enemy.
‘At this rate, everyone’s going to die.’
That terrifying thought passed through his mind.
But then, the guides—who hadn’t entered a Gate in ten years—found him.
Hamin, though just a B-rank, had a high compatibility rate.
The moment Dojin saw him, he felt a sense of relief.
He had already overused his power inside the Gate, and desperately needed guiding.
Urgh!
But just before he could reach out, a shockwave from the monster swept them both up—knocking Hamin unconscious.
And a guide who’s asleep or unconscious can’t emit guiding energy.
Guiding just doesn’t happen in that state.
“Damn it!”
Dojin cursed again, his normally composed face twisting in frustration.
His body and powers were already reaching their limit.
He saw no way to defeat the enormous monster.
Despite having cleared countless red gates and captured numerous terrorists, in this moment where death felt imminent, none of that mattered.
“Team leader, get a grip!”
“…!”
A sharp voice cut through his despair.
Siwoo, who was holding off the monster’s movement with his own powers, called out.
His eyes kept darting to the distance, clearly worried about someone.
‘There was another guide, wasn’t there…’
Thinking belatedly of Raon, Dojin also turned his head.
For some reason, Raon had become the monster’s target and was dodging attacks alongside Taegun.
Siwoo looked like he wanted to rush over immediately, but he couldn’t leave behind the dazed himself and the unconscious Hamin.
“Hamin won’t be of any use.”
Frowning, Dojin gave up on trying to wake Hamin and simply set him down.
Hamin collapsed onto the ground like a discarded rag.
Siwoo frowned at Dojin’s action.
“You’re supposed to secure the guide’s safety before moving—”
“There’s no time. I need guiding. Now.”
“……”
Siwoo frowned even deeper at Dojin’s cold demeanor.
But he wasn’t wrong. In battle, you had to be ruthless.
Otherwise, that monster wouldn’t go down.
That was the rational way to think.
And yet, Siwoo didn’t like him—at all.
He didn’t want to side with someone like Dojin, who treated guides like consumables.
“Hm?”
At that moment, Siwoo, who was holding the monster back, felt something strange.
His water ability, while encasing the monster, had felt blocked—as if it couldn’t quite touch it.
But now, that sensation had disappeared.
He could tell: the water could pierce the monster now.
“Team Leader!”
“……!”
Siwoo shouted to Dojin, who immediately sensed the shift too.
Without hesitation, Dojin began drawing on his power.
Siwoo didn’t interfere—this was what he wanted.
It was more efficient this way.
Since Siwoo, often suffering from lack of proper guiding, had less firepower than Dojin, he frequently gave up the final blow to him.
It had become second nature.
Dojin raised his hand.
The monster, distracted by something, didn’t even attempt to move.
If Dojin unleashed his power now, it would be crushed in an instant.
But then—he didn’t move. He just stopped there.
“Team Leader?”
“……”
Dojin silently looked at the confused Siwoo.
He had no use for a guide who collapsed at a critical moment.
Someone as perfect as him deserved only equally perfect counterparts.
At that moment, Dojin coveted Raon—an S-rank guide.
He alone deserved Raon’s guiding.
Always would.
“…Why are you hesitating?”
To achieve that, he had to eliminate obstacles.
For instance—the S-rank esper standing right in front of him.
Dojin gazed intently at Siwoo, who stood closer to the monster than he did… then slowly lowered his hand.
Siwoo’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What are you—”
“KIEEEEK!”
“……!”
The monster, having regained its senses, turned its fierce eyes on Siwoo.
It seemed to know exactly where the water that had bound its body came from.
“Kh!”
Siwoo tried to dodge, but the monster moved far quicker.
In that split second, his vision turned red.
“What is he doing?”
Raon narrowed his eyes at the unmoving Dojin.
Why wasn’t he acting?
It’s not like his arm got blown off.
And even if it had, couldn’t he still use his ability?
Something felt wrong.
A bad feeling took root in Raon’s gut, and he clutched at his chest.
“Ugh… I can’t hold it much longer—wait, what?”
Taegun, barely holding the monster back, was dripping sweat and clearly confused.
In that moment, the monster, now fully awake, slashed violently with its claw—aimed directly at Siwoo, the closest target.
“Siwoo!”
Raon shouted as Siwoo collapsed in a pool of blood.
Then he grabbed the frozen Taegun and shook him, yelling,
“Go! Now!”
“O-okay.”
Taegun couldn’t quite process what had just happened.
But even he could see something was seriously wrong with Dojin.
“Siwoo! Yoon Siwoo!”
Raon screamed frantically as he ran toward the fallen Siwoo.
Thanks to Taegun attempting mind control again, the monster froze momentarily.
“I won’t be able to hold it for long…”
“I know!”
Raon snapped, then turned to Siwoo, who remained unmoving.
He sucked in a breath.
Siwoo had taken a serious hit.
A deep wound slashed across his body.
If he hadn’t twisted away at the last second, he might’ve been sliced clean in two.
Raon clenched his jaw.
His hands were trembling.
There was no time.
He had to start guiding—right now.
Just as Raon reached for Siwoo’s wrist—
“Urk!”
Someone gripped his shoulder hard.
Groaning, he turned—and met cold, stormy green-blue eyes.
“Guide me.”
“…What?”
What the hell was this psycho saying?
Raon scowled at Dojin, who ordered him so shamelessly.
But Dojin’s face was dead serious.
“You wanted to guide me, didn’t you? Do it now.”
“You insane bastard…”
Raon slapped Dojin’s hand away.
He didn’t have time to deal with trash like this.
“Screw off, Seo Dojin.”
“……”
And just to make it clear, he turned away and kissed Siwoo.
The metallic stench of blood filled his mouth.
Siwoo had lost a lot of blood—but he wasn’t dead yet.
If he guided him, he could still make it.
Raon ignored the nausea rising in his throat and moved his tongue.
It was almost enough to make him retch.
“Please, Siwoo…”
“……”
Wake up. Please.
I need you.
Raon pleaded, pouring every ounce of guiding energy he had into him, praying to a god he didn’t believe in.
“Siwoo… don’t die.”
You can’t leave me like this. Not after everything.
Raon cried out, remembering the way Siwoo had once called his name as if his world were ending.
“Yoon Siwoo!”
At the same time, the monster let out a terrible shriek as Taegun’s suppressed voice rang out.
“Ugh… I can’t hold on…!”
“KREEEE!”
Raon, sensing the end, tightly closed his eyes.
“…?”
But nothing happened.
He didn’t feel himself thrown or flung away.
Still holding Siwoo tightly, Raon cautiously opened his eyes.
“…Ah.”
Everything was pure white.
Snowflakes whirled from the sky.
Raon stared in awe.
A low voice called his name.
* * *
