* * *
Since he had already experienced lifting a falling body once, he knew how much power to use this time.
Of course, when he first said he would step in, Beom Sinje flat-out refused, saying if that was the case, he wouldn’t bring him along at all.
So, Doyoung didn’t act recklessly.
Interfering unnecessarily could hinder the GA hunters.
Doyoung focused his attention, waiting for the right moment to step in.
“Charybdis is starting to move.”
Lee Jihoon, who had also been watching the tank, pointed at the rippling water with his finger.
Just as he said, unlike the calm surface earlier, the water was beginning to ripple faster.
Beom Sinje was now waiting, sword drawn, ready to step within striking distance.
Gurgle. Gurgle.
At that strange, undulating sound, he finally raised his sword high.
Thwack!
The blade struck the upper part of the tank, and a thunderous crash echoed throughout the room.
Crack.
A single strike was enough to send a jagged fracture along the outer wall.
Without a flicker of emotion, Beom Sinje began to slice downward along the blade’s path.
[Wow… I figured as much, but that destructive power is insane.]
The GA vice guild leader let out an almost awestruck sigh.
The other hunters reacted similarly.
It wasn’t something just anyone could do—slicing through the thick tank wall in a single blow.
[So the rumors about him being a top-tier hunter weren’t exaggerated after all.]
A GA hunter murmured, shaking his head.
Another hunter was about to chime in when the vice guild leader cut them off.
[Alright, no idle chatter! Water ability users, focus! Be ready to strike as soon as it emerges!]
True enough, water was visibly leaking through the cracks in the tank.
[Fall back now!]
A gravity hunter, who had been trying to slow the descent, shouted breathlessly, his strength failing.
Beom Sinje’s gaze instinctively lifted—and locked with Doyoung’s.
His dark eyes flashed violet, and instead of falling, his body floated upward.
It was faster than last time.
The moment Beom Sinje’s feet touched the ground—
Whooosh!
Water exploded through the cracked tank as if it had been waiting for this very moment.
[Now!]
The water ability users pooled their strength, blocking the rush of water to prevent it from flooding out completely.
A pressure hunter stepped in again, redirecting the water’s flow.
Gradually, the water level began to drop.
“I can’t see it.”
Lee Jihoon narrowed his eyes, peering down.
Just as he said, Charybdis was nowhere in sight.
The space was large, but still limited.
There didn’t seem to be any place for it to hide.
Shaaah…
That’s when Doyoung noticed the water flowing rapidly toward one direction.
“There!”
All eyes followed his outstretched finger.
There, something that resembled a moss-covered rock, submerged for ages, began to surface.
Surprisingly, the top of it split open, revealing rows of sharp, jagged teeth.
[Attack!]
At the shout, a crackling blue lightning strike erupted from the GA vice guild leader’s hand.
The blinding light forced Doyoung to shield his eyes with his arm.
Crackle.
Soon, the sound of something breaking filled the air.
“Guild Leader Beom!”
At the shout from GA’s vice guild leader, Beom Sinje leapt into the air.
It was an astonishing leap, one that defied description in its sheer power and speed.
But even more surprising was what happened mid-air—everywhere his feet extended, an invisible foothold seemed to materialize, supporting him perfectly.
Doyoung’s eyes tracked him intently, their crimson-red hue shimmering in the light.
In a flash, Beom Sinje approached Charybdis, his sword plunging directly into the monster’s wide-open throat.
Crunch.
A grotesque sound of flesh tearing echoed as the blade carved through its thick, leathery skin.
“What the hell is it made of to make that sound?”
Lee Jihoon murmured in awe, his palms sweating from the tension gripping him.
“Not sure… But that fragment we found earlier—maybe it came off its body?”
Song Jihee responded, her face grim.
She’d been harboring doubts ever since she heard the earlier explosion.
‘What kind of skin could produce such a sound?’
When Beom Sinje’s sword had pierced the creature’s flesh, the sound had sparked a new possibility in her mind.
“Wait, now that you mention it…” Jihoon nodded, as if reaching a similar realization.
“So does that mean the monster brought into this lab was just this one all along?”
“We’ll confirm that after we take it down.”
If the mysterious marks on the ground and the skin fragment really belonged to Charybdis, it was a likely conclusion.
However, it seemed implausible to construct such a massive research facility just to contain one creature.
“Now’s our chance! Attack!”
The GA vice guild leader’s command came at the perfect moment.
After inflicting a wound on Charybdis’s throat, Beom Sinje leapt back, putting some distance between himself and the creature. Lightning surged into the gap he left behind.
“How bizarre. It’s like a boulder—it won’t even flinch.”
Once again, Jihoon commented, though his role in the fight was more observer than participant.
‘It might be a bit tactless to say this, but it’s pretty fascinating.’
How often did one get to see Beom Sinje charge headlong into battle like this?
Sure, the guild leader was proactive by nature, but seeing him engage in a one-man close-quarters fight was undeniably captivating.
Still, both Jihoon and Jihee had taken time to notice what was subtly aiding Beom Sinje.
“You know, something’s been bugging me.”
“Hm? What is it?”
Jihoon tilted his head curiously as he asked. Jihee, without taking her eyes off the fight, replied, “Doesn’t it seem like the guild leader is flying?”
“What are you talking about? You think he’s Superman or something?”
Jihoon’s skeptical tone made Jihee give him a pointed glare.
“Look! Right there! Watch closely!”
Jihoon’s voice grew louder as he pointed insistently.
Jihee, puzzled by his reaction, refocused her gaze.
And then she saw it.
“Huh? Wait…?”
Like stepping stones in mid-air, flat, barely perceptible platforms appeared under Beom Sinje’s feet, letting him move freely in the air.
“What the heck is that?”
Jihee’s astonishment mirrored Jihoon’s as he smirked triumphantly.
“See? Told you!”
His smug expression was so absurd it made her burst into laughter despite herself.
“What? Why are you laughing?”
“I’m not laughing at you!”
Their usual bickering resumed, but Jihee suddenly caught sight of Doyoung, who hadn’t taken his eyes off Beom Sinje.
“Huh?”
For the first time, she noticed the vivid change in Doyoung’s eyes.
“What now?”
Jihoon asked irritably, but Jihee didn’t answer.
Instead, she carefully observed Doyoung and his unwavering focus on Beom Sinje.
‘His gaze… and those platforms appearing at just the right moments…’
“I get it now. Who’s behind this.”
The realization hit her.
Someone had been perfectly timing and positioning those platforms to match Beom Sinje’s steps, as if they had worked in sync for years.
“What? Who?”
Jihoon pleaded, childlike curiosity written all over his face.
Jihee sighed and nodded toward Doyoung.
“Over there.”
“Huh? Secretary Na…?”
Jihoon’s eyes widened as he finally connected the dots.
He watched as another platform appeared just in time for Beom Sinje’s next step.
“But I thought he wasn’t combat-trained?”
Jihoon tilted his head in confusion, earning another sharp glance from Jihee.
“Didn’t the guild leader say earlier that he has Telekinesis abilities?”
“Oh… Ohhh!”
Jihoon’s exaggerated reaction made Jihee sigh.
She had to remind herself that Jihoon was always a bit slow on the uptake.
“Wow. Secretary Na is like a hidden secret weapon. Of all times to suddenly reveal his abilities…”
“That’s all you’re curious about?”
“Huh? What else is there?” Jihoon blinked innocently, completely oblivious to anything beyond his immediate thought.
“Never mind.”
She let it go.
Whatever the case, the guild leader would explain later.
“Do you think Team Leader Yeo knew about this?”
Jihee voiced a passing thought.
“Probably. He’s always saying Secretary Na is the backbone of their team.”
“Yeah, that makes sense.”
In the end, it didn’t matter who knew or didn’t.
What mattered was how seamlessly Beom Sinje and Doyoung worked together to subdue Charybdis.
* * *
