Regress and Eat

“Actually, I was just about to propose a scout to Bill Russell. ”

What? I'm sorry.

“Nicole Thompson is here. Then, let me take this opportunity to explain the Heavenly Dragon's proposal to you. ”

Nicole asked before Hansul finished speaking.

“Me too? Are you serious? ”

“Yes, you did a great job today. Thanks to my unique skill, I was able to find my way in advance, so I had no time to scatter and [Battlefield Command] my skills. Besides, Nicole will be in charge of the monster killer waterway. ”

Horses are a minor, not an SSRank Hunter's skill.

Nicole has plunged into battle and slaughtered numerous monsters.

“Stop it, you can't hire me with your guild finances. You don't have to drop it. ”

Hansul laughed.

“It was too soon, wasn't it? ”

“Bill Russell is right here on purpose."

“I can't, ma'am. ”

But I also shook my head.

As you prepare your answers.

“I'm thinking of retiring after taking part in this expedition. ”

“Oh, I see. ”

Some of the hunters who pretended not to listen to me would have listened to me.

“That's why you didn't register for SS. ”

Nicole gets in the way.

“Suddenly, I want to ask you the same thing. ”

She looks at Han Seon and says.

“Actually, I was thinking about retiring after finishing this expedition. I'm not as stubborn as Russell. By the way, Han Seol, what about you? Have you ever thought about retiring? ”

Why are you asking me that all of a sudden?

“A hunter about your size would make a decent income. Don't you want to rest? ”

“I am.”

Hansul replied.

“I don't think money has anything to do with retirement. I'm just fulfilling my responsibilities as an Awakener. I don't intend to retire. As long as the body allows it, so long as it continues. ”

Nicole looks stunned when she hears that.

“Responsibility? What, like a retainer or something? Do you have a religion? ”

“No, not like that · · · ·. ”

Hansul said, looking straight at Nicole.

“The day I woke up, I thought, I don't know what the will of this phenomenon reflects. ”

Hansnow's eyes were distant.

“I was chosen because I have a mission to do in this world. ”

“What's the mission? ”

Han Seol silenced for a moment.

It was the longest silence since the conversation began.

Her lips reopen shortly before Nicole tries to rush.

“· · · · · Missions, in the end, prevent dungeon brakes and prevent the world from falling into even bigger chaos? In other words, humanity's lasting contribution does not perish or decline. ”

Nicole frowns.

“What are you, some kind of hero or something? Enjoying the praise of others? I've saved this world, I'm saving it, I'm going to save it · · Want to enjoy the public's attention by commanding this?

After hearing Nicole's sarcasm, there was no change in her expression.

All I can think about is a quiet smile.

“I don't care how others rate me. ”

“Are you still satisfied? ”

“Yes, my satisfaction is not influenced by other people's assessments or interests. The person who decides that is me, who evaluates and recognizes my actions. ”

“· · · You're quite the odd type, aren't you? On the contrary, it doesn't matter if the whole world condemns and curses. What if you're satisfied?”

Instead of answering, Han Seol suddenly got up from his seat.

“That's a long line of boring words. I'm sorry you're both not interested in the offer. I won't take any more breaks. ”

After greeting, turn around and walk away.

“ · · · · · ·. ”

Looking behind her, Nicole says.

It was a much smaller voice than the three of you had just had a conversation.

“Are you really going to retire? ”

“Yes.”

“That doesn't sound good. ”

The real Bill Russell, who lent me his identity, really decided to retire. Only he will know why in his heart.

I changed the subject.

“Why the sudden intervention? You don't seem like a man who moves around aimlessly. ”

“Yes, they are the most unusual and conspicuous hunters involved. ”

“Unusual?”

“Yes.”

Nicole nods and says,

“I mean, again, I have a good feeling about this. Regardless of your skills, you just have to be born. ”

I guess that's a habit of speaking.

“But my senses keep whispering. A man named Han Seol is hiding his skills. ”

It was the same as I had already noticed.

But Nicole's words didn't end there.

“· · · Of course, it won't compare to what you're hiding your powers from. ”

The blade is resilient.

"Oh? I can see her!" You're pretty good. '

I wondered.

Is this sharpness really pure?

“Why are you talking to me like that? Instead of putting it delicately in your head. ”

“I told you, I have a great feeling.

Nicole whispers.

“That feeling is telling me. I think it's good for you to talk about this. ”

And he added one more thing.

“Also, in this dungeon · · · I'd rather stay close to you to get back in shape. ”

“Then let's ask that hunch. The story you just heard about her · · ·. ”

It refers to the Chinese language.

“Do you think they're serious? ”

The answer comes right back. In the meantime, there was no hesitation.

“Isn't it the right mix of truth and falsehood? There's a part of you that doesn't tell me everything on purpose. ”

Then he got up and said,

“This is just like you. ”

Nicole giggles and goes back to her tent.

It was a light yet cheerful step like a dance.

*

Several battles followed, and we arrived at Nicole's destination within a week of entering phase 2.

“Portal artifacts! ”

It was not yet operational, but it looked almost like what it saw on the island.

In Phase 1, Hunters had to assemble themselves, but this time it was complete.

However, if the problem is · · · ·.

The location of this portal is not a safe zone.

We cleared out the monsters and regrouped around the artifact.

“If you turn that on, you'll move on to phase three. ”

Defeating all monsters in Phase 3 is the prerequisite for the entire dungeon.

You are one step closer to the final step.

But · · ·.

“What, this. How the hell did you get it to work? ”

Hunters have started wrapping their heads around the artifact.

“The artifact on the first floor had some sort of control button, but here it doesn't. ”

I think.

"It's a maze dungeon type I see a lot. ’

Making certain patterns out of Mana to solve puzzles.

Hints are left above the artifact.

It only takes time for them to interpret it.

Of course, I didn't intend to waste that time.

‘No matter how I move here, no one else sees me. ’

“Can I see it? ”

I pretended to touch the artifact and breathed Mana into it.

And then a little more control. After I take my hands off, Manawa stays in the artifact and slowly creates the shape she wants.

Even after the work was done, I let it slip out of my hands, crunching a little more meaningless.

“Oh, I don't know. ”

After declaring the surrender and retreating, the other hunters rushed in and tried something like this.

A few minutes after that.

Weeing!

Suddenly, the artifact begins to emit a subtle light.

“· · Huh? Huh!"

Then, a familiar portal suddenly appeared before us.

The system message will ring.

- This is your gateway to level 3 of the dungeon.

- Limit 3 persons

- The door closes when exposed to unstable conditions.

“Huff!”

Hunter, who was touching the artifact at the last moment, made eye contact with the other Hunters with an expression that he didn't know what the harmony was.

“What! What have you done? ”

“I, I don't know! ”

Everyone's confused.

After double-checking the system message, his face was firmly fixed.

“· · · · · · Portal is fortunate that it was created so quickly, but this isn't going to be easy. ”

“Wait. I'm not mistaken, am I? How about that 3 people earlier · · Nonsense · · for real?! Oh, my God!”

This portal had a limited number of people, unlike phase 2.

Only three.

Only three out of twenty of us can enter phase three.

“Oh, you fucking bastards! ”

Nicole said urgently.

“Wait a minute, I don't think we have three people to worry about right now. If the same pattern goes on here too · · ·! ”

A terrible sound echoes through the misty side before her words are finished.

“Cough, cough!”

The cry of the Earthling.

It wasn't one or two.

“Damn things, I'll throw them all away when I see them. ”

The earth trembles.

Waves began here, just as they did in the portal to phase 2.

*

“Heh · · ·! Heh · ·! You bastards! ”

After the battle is over.

Surrounded by torn and torn eagles.

The monster's reaction was similar to that of a group of non-dragons flying from the island and trying to break the portal. They desperately sought the artifact.

Fortunately, this time, the portal did not close, depending on the number of monsters.

The rules seem to be different because the boundaries are different and there are already many monsters within the boundaries.

Phase 1 and Phase 2 are linked, but different dungeons with separate boundaries.

“Well, we'll have to do it the same way here. ”

“The remaining 17 here must defend the portal. ”

Yes, this is why I keep exposing what I consider to be more than an ordinary S rank.

to be elected within three people moving to Stage Three.

“Let's discuss this for a moment. ”

Who will stay and who will pass?

An entire expedition hits your head.

It was Nicole who brought the horse out first.

“Of course I should be included, right? It's a unique skill, and it's the only SS class out of 20. If I have to pick a prime number, I'm right to go. ”

Only two SS class Hunters have been dispatched from another country. Besides Nicole, the other one is Meereen Wu with broad spectrum skills. She remains in the holding position of the portal in Phase 1.

“Maybe · · · ·. That's right."

I nodded in agreement.

Nicole said right after.

“Bill Russell would be better off with the other one. You all agree with the sense of combat and aggression he's shown us so far? ”

What she said a few days ago was in my ears.

‘I'd rather stay close to you to get back in shape. ’

There were no complaints here either.

Instead, someone asked.

“What about the other one? ”

It is a sensitive issue that also affects contributions and additional rewards.

While everyone was noticing, one person raised his hand.

“Well, I guess I should go. ”

The moment I saw that face, I struggled to hold my tongue up.

Look at that? ’

He was insisting on everyone with a determined glance.

“Yes, I think the other one should be me. ”

“But you · · · · ·. ”

Someone swallowed it trying to tell me if it was Class A.

In this dungeon, he also exposed his skills quite well.

Judging by that, not many Class S here are confident enough to compete with her in a 1: 1 match.

Nicole was the one who raised the objection in an inappropriate manner.

“I'm sure you're a tough guy, too, but shouldn't the expedition commander stay here?" ”

“Let me explain why. ”

Hansul calmly said. As the expedition commander, he had to go all the way to the end, or he didn't even bring up the logic to argue that South Koreans should work together until the last stage because of the dungeon held in Korea.

Instead, I heard a realistic reason.

“I can communicate with the rest of Phase 2 after Phase 3. even for a limited amount of time. ”

As if someone had realized.

“Oh, that skill! ”

“Yes, I learned Rank A's [Battlefield Command] skill. Telepathy skills through media. ”

I recalled the function of the skill being mentioned.

[Battlefield Command]

- The skill's user, the 'Commander’, can mark the 'Bottle Rank' with another Awakener and the two are connected by Mana's rope. Only the commander can see the rope.

- The commander can telepathically deliver orders to a soldier with a rank stamp. Soldiers can also report via Telepathy to the commander, but not directly between soldiers.

- The retention time of the once generated string is 6 hours.

“The rope that connects the commander and the bottle doesn't break over the portal. as long as the door is open. I've already tested it in phase three, and for the next six hours, I've been able to communicate with the people here. What if it's over six hours? Depending on the situation, you can come back here and film it again, and if you respond fluidly to the width and structure of a Level 3 dungeon, no problem. ”

“Phase three could be wider than Phase Two. ”

“Again, we need to respond fluidly. Right now, there's no information whatsoever, so let's think about a number of different cases. ”

After everyone had seen her work at the S-Class Hunter, there was no further dispute.

So, three people were determined to move on to Step 3.

‘Things are still going well. ’

I smiled into my heart.

*

Stage 3 dungeons were also dark foggy terrain, and Nicole's unique skills were as useful as expected.

Nicole, who scanned the entire dungeon, said:

“The whole range is even narrower than stage two. ”

“Lucky me. ”

“Rather than being lucky, is that how it was designed? For three limited people. · · · Well, it's a meaningless guess. ”

Nicole then explained how many monsters there were and how they were distributed.

There were no safe zones this time.

This is because monsters have moved relentlessly without being trapped in one place.

“Kuaaaa!”

They were like chimeras mixed in phase one with phase two.

The terrifying regenerative power that rises on the skin and splits the torso into two but does not die instantly resembling an Earthling, and flying at a fast speed resembles a non-dragon.

They fly around the misty abyss and attack. When they are attacked, they are caught in the fog, fleeing our sight, and then storming back down. In the meantime, he breathed fire and poison.

Shhh!

Boom, boom!

“I'm running away again! ”

If you want to catch a perfect one, take it out into the fog and run again after your body recovers.

“Here's the deal. ”

After several battles, it was Hangul who offered the mission first.

It was a combination of her skill [Battlefield Command] and Nicole's unique skill [Landscaping Party].

“It's inefficient for the three of us to go around like this. The process is slow, but there are too many to catch. ”

Connect the horses.

“Nicole told you, right? Unlike non-dragons, they have a short maximum aerodynamic time once they fly. You fly away wounded, and someday you're gonna have to get back to the ground and get some rest, right? Injuries are playing back at that time. We must aim for the breach. ”

All agreed.

“So instead of moving in with Nicole, keep scanning the entire dungeon with [Landscaping Squad]. ”

“There's a limit to the number of Mayans, so you can spray them at a uniform distance and create a blind spot. ”

“I can't help it. You can change Mayan's position once in a while. Mr. Nichols' skill is to identify the flight path of the chimeras hiding in the fog and then let me know with the Telepathy of the bottle. When the aerial maneuvers are over and they come down to the ground, they seize the opportunity. You can reduce the number in this order. ”

I listened.

“Han Seol, I don't have to go with you. The [Battlefield Command] skill will replace your communicator. Each of you will be able to go around and catch them quickly. ”

“I think so, too. ”

Nicole turns.

“If I keep activating my unique skills, it will consume a lot of Mana. ”

“I've prepared enough potions. Let me know if you think there will be potion shock while you continue to replenish Mana. Then telepathically forward it to Mr. Russell to regroup or adjust the pace. ”

I shook my head.

“We have to finish the hunt before the shock comes. ”

Nicole laughs.

“How confident are you?”

It was you. Of course it was.

‘We'll have to hit them in and out of Maan's blind spots more often. ’

Hunting was easy with skills and items that couldn't be shown to Maan by Nicole.

I'm comfortable moving away from two.

“If you agree, let's get started. ”

Hansul activated his [Battlefield Command] skill and placed a bottle badge on the back of each of our hands.

I could clearly see the thread of light coming from the back of my hand leading to the wrist of Han Snow.

‘Skill description says that that's only visible to commanders, but · ·. ’

That's normal.

There is no escaping [Successor's Eye] as long as it is a coalescence of Mana.

‘If I feel strange, I should just hang up. Pretending to misuse the artifact. ’

“Have you had enough of this fog? Don't trust your huntsman senses too much. Move exactly as I instruct. ”

Hangul and I nod at Nicole's words.

“Well, let's get going. ”

*

After Seo Jin-wook and Hansnow left as planned, Nicole remained there to observe the entire dungeon.

When Nicole passes the route of the chimera to Hansul, the thing that is near is to hold itself and the one that is near the climax is to pass to him via telepathy like a relay.

Those who approach Nicole are completely blocked by Hangul. Nicole paused and beat him up.

Seo Jin-wook did refer to the contents of the telepathy, but it did not move 100%. So Nicole often missed Seo Jin-wook. I thought it was inevitable because of the blind spots, but it was meant to be.

Nicole level broad spectrum was impossible, but Seo Jin-wook was able to see some distance as well. If a Chimera passes through a blind area, [Artha's Swordsman] can fly up to the [Stardust Wing] and chase it down without hiding its power.

Thanks to this, Chimera was exterminated much faster than Hansnow or Nicole thought.

You heard the system message earlier than expected.

- You satisfied the dungeon's clearance requirements!

-Clear Condition: Kill all monsters in the final phase of the dungeon

- At every stage of the dungeon, each boundary is weakened.

Nicole is appalled.

‘Already?! ’

She slumps down, sweating.

Whew, it's over anyway! ’

It blocks the brakes of a Class S dungeon.

It is rewarding, but a great reward awaits her. My heart becomes rich. I felt warm relief in the blood that was frozen with tension.

Just as I waited for that moment, one person emerges from the fog.

It was Hangul.

“Well done. ”

Nicole was not surprised by the quick appearance.

Just before the attack, when all the nearby chimeras disappeared, Han Seol started returning to Nicole's place beforehand.

Seo Jin-wook actively went far away to hunt, while Han Seol left the outskirts to him. It helps Nicole focus on her unique skills.

But the reason seemed like an excuse to Nicole.

‘I don't know why it's so weird. Anyway, I don't like her. ’

Nicole smiles and waves at Hansool, muttering to herself.

“Well done! Wow, I finished this in less than six hours! The men waiting outside the gate, the men guarding the portal, will be stunned. It took months to get the gate open to Phase 2, but Phase 3 took less than a day. ”

In the process, Nicole perceived the size of the ball as smaller than it really was, although she built a massive ball that was freed from the public's view. Seo Jin-wook did as he intended.

“Are you okay? May I offer you some Mana Potions? ”

Hansul told Nicole. Watching her whole body sweat.

Nicole, who has maintained the [Landscape Guard] for a long time, has spent almost all of her core's active Mana and suffered several crises leading up to the exhaustion of Mana.

I drank potions at good intervals to prevent the potion shock from coming.

Nicole shakes her hand.

“No, the last one was really close. I didn't eat the potion on purpose. Take a sip of this and you could go into shock. ”

“Ahh · · ·. I see.”

“You just have to wait 30 minutes. Give me the potion then. ”

Nicole checks her core status.

It was a close call. Only a small amount of active Mana remains. It will take some time to recover. At this rate, it was only to form a very light Mana barrier.

“So, shall we get some extra rewards? ”

It was as Hansul had predicted.

Given the number of monsters defeated, Nicole was definitely eligible for an additional reward.

“Yes, good luck. ”

Nicole disappears for a moment.

I thought of Hangul alone in the fog.

How long will it take? ’

Most hunters choose any reward they can find. We don't know what's in it.

I overheard a conversation that night. Nicole boasted that she was very good at it.

As soon as Nicole is gone, she puts her choice into her hands, just in case she comes back.

Boom!

Nicole reappears.

This is one of the most cautious moments of the expedition.

“Oh, it's like reward shit again. ”

She doesn't finish.

When he reappeared, there was a long stretch of snow palm just one centimeter away from Nicole's back head. At the end, the aggregated Mana is transformed into an energy wave and flashes.

Attack triggered at extreme close range. There is no room to evade by dragging the rest of Mana.

The bullets gather and crush Nicole's cautious head like watermelon.

Qajik!

Shattered skull fragments, thick blood, and bribes.

Fluffy!

The body loses its head and falls down unbalanced. Blood spills from the ground.

Han Seol looks down at the corpse for a moment, taking out an SS class hunter so easily.

It was a blatant expression, not particularly inspiring.

Han Seol mutters to himself in the fog.

“You said you had a good feeling, and you didn't expect to die today? ”

The silence flows for a moment, then whispers again.

“Well, that's for me, too. ”

Han Seol takes a step back.

Her back quickly vanishes in the dark fog.

Northwest direction.

Although believing in the senses of the flesh was in a fog that quickly lost its sense of direction, Han Seol walks along a clearly visible ‘string’ instead of his senses.

And the rope was connected to Bill Russell.