novelraw Chapter 25 : Chapter 25
Chapter 25 : Chapter 25
Chapter 25: Terror (1)
The blue lights of the Mystery Hall's main hall flickered.
The light that once created a sense of mystery now felt like an ominous sign.
The dinosaur taxidermies that had emerged from beyond the broken glass cast eerie shadows.
The taxidermies were literally alive and moving.
Their chests heaved as if breathing despite having no lungs, and they turned their heads as if staring at something despite having no eyes.
As they moved, numerous screams and frantic footsteps became entangled.
“A m-, monster!”
“Guard! Where are the guards?”
“I don’t see them! They were definitely here a moment ago……!”
Confused cries covered the main hall.
A weekend afternoon outing had turned into the middle of a disaster in an instant.
Communication was down, and a black film-like thing had appeared outside, blocking even passage.
Those who realized the situation froze on the spot, their faces pale.
The taxidermies watched the humans’ reactions as if they were interesting. Their reactions, movements, sounds…… everything was becoming a stimulus.
At that moment.
Click-!
The sound of something going off echoed.
The taxidermies’ gazes all turned in one direction.
A boy holding a square object that flashed with light.
And next to him, a girl looking at the boy in bewilderment.
And as if the preceding ‘click’ sound was the trigger.
Wooooo—
The taxidermies all began to let out a cry.
***
Seol Hayun couldn’t help but be surprised by the click- sound coming from her side.
To think of taking a picture in the middle of this chaotic scene.
‘I just can’t figure him out.’
Was he calm, eccentric, or special?
The existence of Ryu Jinwoo was still a mystery to Seol Hayun.
From the entrance exam, to the spar with Hojin, the eccentric act in the Hunters’ simulator, and his current appearance.
Seol Hayun, who was well-versed in ‘observation’ from a habit she developed since she was young, still couldn’t get a read on Ryu Jinwoo.
He took a picture, checked it for a moment, put it in his breast pocket, and slowly began to draw his sword.
It was an attitude that said, now that I've finished one thing, I guess I'll start the next.
“Why are you staring at me like that? It’s embarrassing.”
Suddenly, Ryu Jinwoo, who had turned his head and met her eyes, asked Seol Hayun.
Seol Hayun, whose gaze met his unexpectedly, was flustered for a moment before regaining her composed expression.
“Well, I didn’t expect you to suddenly take a picture there.”
“I had some personal business to attend to.”
“……Anyway, whatever. Focus on the enemy.”
This was not the time to be lost in curiosity.
Because dangerous enemies were right in front of them.
Wooooo-!
As if to remind them of that fact, the taxidermies all let out a cry.
At the same time, the blackish energy that enveloped them grew even stronger.
The blackish energy that enveloped them meant one thing.
“It’s Magi. It seems there’s a black mage. They’ve turned the taxidermies from the expo into undead.”
“And a very skilled one at that.”
Ryu Jinwoo chimed in on Seol Hayun’s analysis.
What Ryu Jinwoo said was also true.
To be able to handle several giant beings meant that the opponent was no ordinary person.
“That’s right. It’s definitely a strong enemy. But the main body probably isn’t that strong.”
Spellcasters who rely on ‘Control Arts’ commonly have main bodies that are not as strong.
In other words, if they could just find the main body, the incident could be resolved more easily than expected.
“The problem is……”
Seol Hayun trailed off and looked around.
The Mystery Hall had three floors.
And there were by no means a small number of citizens inside.
In such a situation, finding the main body was practically impossible.
Furthermore, the opponent seemed to be skilled at avoiding detection.
The ‘power’ dwelling in the undead was clearly felt, but the source of that power was nowhere to be seen.
“It’s too wide. It’ll be hard to find the main body for now.”
Seol Hayun said, shaking her head.
“Well, we just have to hold out until the heroes arrive. If it’s this much of a mess, they must be taking some action outside too.”
Ryu Jinwoo replied. At his words, Seol Hayun nodded.
“That’s true too. Then, shall we focus on the enemy in front of us?”
In the end, it was a battle against time. And time was on their side.
The main hall of the Mystery Hall was spacious.
The citizens scattered and began to flee, and fortunately, there was no one around the taxidermies who could get caught up in the mess.
Given her fire-wielding nature, it would have been more troublesome if there were people around.
“Everyone, get as far away as possible!”
Seol Hayun, having made up her mind, shouted.
With those words, a flame bloomed from her fingertips.
She would end this without holding back.
Above all, she was confident against undead opponents.
Because she had the advantage in terms of type matchup.
She lowered her body and crossed her hands.
Her fingers created unique shapes as if performing a dance.
[Flower of Flames: Catfish]
The moment she raised her palms and infused them with magic power and will.
A huge flame began to soar up from the floor.
The burning flame gradually formed the shape of a giant catfish.
Soon, it kicked off the floor and leaped up, swallowing the giant body of the demonic beast taxidermy in one gulp.
Crimson heat erupted from inside its maw.
In an instant, the main hall of the Mystery Hall was filled with fierce flames and scorching heat.
“Th-, that…… the person in front of the taxidermy, isn’t that Seol Hayun?”
“It is! I saw her on Shorts! It’s really Seol Hayun! With Seol Hayun, it’s as good as the heroes being here!”
Those who recognized Seol Hayun shouted.
As the thick flames shot up fiercely, hope swelled along with them.
The anxiety of the citizens, who had been placed in the worst situation of being trapped with monsters, seemed to temporarily subside.
Woooooo—
The taxidermies engulfed in the flames let out empty cries.
The sound of wailing from within also gradually subsided.
“It worked! It’s working!”
“We-, we’re saved!”
At that sight, people let out cheers.
However, one person, Seol Hayun, was feeling a deep sense of unease.
Thump- Thump-
Heavy footsteps came from within the flames.
Immediately after, the beast revealed itself.
The taxidermy of a T-Rex. From within the flames, the beast appeared leisurely as if nothing had happened.
Swish-! Thwack-!
The beast’s tail flew at Seol Hayun unexpectedly and hit its mark.
The hastily deployed protective barrier absorbed the impact, but it couldn’t absorb it completely.
Kwang-!
Seol Hayun’s body was sent flying and slammed into a wall.
“Kuhk……”
A fierce pain washed over her.
She looked at the taxidermy.
Flames should be the weakness of the undead, but how could it be so unscathed?
The glistening sheen of the bones.
Seol Hayun’s eyes narrowed.
‘Fireproof coating.’
It wasn’t a simple undead.
Taxidermy, for exhibition.
Bones that had been treated to withstand fire.
In other words, it was an undead with resistance to the fire attribute.
Kieeeee-!
A Pterodactyl soared up with a deafening screech.
The beast that had flown up from within the flames glided straight toward Seol Hayun.
“Tsk-.”
Just as she was about to summon flames to respond to the incoming enemy.
Swish—
Two lines crossing in a cross shape were drawn in the air.
Thwack-! Thump-!
The Pterodactyl’s bones, which had been cutting through the air, were severed and rolled on the floor.
“Are you okay?”
“……Thanks to you. Thank you.”
Ryu Jinwoo, who had approached at some point, held out his hand.
Seol Hayun, who stood up with the help of his hand, briefly fixed her gaze on the Pterodactyl’s remains.
A smooth cut surface.
The elegant flow of the sword she had seen for a moment was impressive.
That admiration was brief.
Thud- Thump- Thudud-
A series of dull sounds echoed on the floor where the Pterodactyl's remains were scattered.
The broken bones began to float up.
In the air, the bone fragments clicked together like a puzzle.
And just like that, in the blink of an eye, the beast was completely regenerated.
Kaang-!
The restored Pterodactyl immediately charged at Ryu Jinwoo.
Wooooo-!
As if responding to that sound, the other taxidermies around them also let out a cry and turned toward Seol Hayun.
***
A Raptor scraped the floor and charged at me.
My body twisted to the side, dodging its rush.
Even though I was out of breath, my senses became clearer.
Swish-
A horizontal and a vertical line overlapped and draped over the beast’s body.
The sensation of being smoothly cut was transmitted through my fingertips.
At the same time, wh- I lowered my body.
The Pterodactyl had flown in.
The bone wings grazed my hair, cutting through the wind.
Not missing the opening, I twisted my waist.
The ribcage exposed under its wing.
I pushed my sword in with a short breath.
The Pterodactyl’s body half-bent before returning to its original form.
The same went for the Raptor. The beast, which had already restored its body, turned toward me as if it wasn't tired of it.
No matter how many times I cut them, they regenerate.
I felt it when I played the original game, but they are really annoying bastards.
‘Though the main body is actually more annoying.’
This undead, of course, has a separate being controlling it.
The interesting fact is that the master of the undead is a being from the demon world.
Therefore, they are also targets that cannot usually be killed by cutting them or by normal methods.
In the original work, they reappear in the middle of the first episode and in the memories of the players…….
Bang-!
At the sudden explosion, my thoughts returned from past memories to the museum.
Seol Hayun, struggling in the distance, came into view.
Seol Hayun was just as busy.
Over there, it was even worse, as her opponents were a T-Rex and a Triceratops, and she was managing to hold her own against the giant bodies.
‘According to the original strategy, I should just stall for time until the opponent moves, but.’
At this rate, there’s too much meaningless stamina consumption. It means I have to fight enemies that keep regenerating for at least a few minutes.
‘……I’m already starting to get tired.’
There are more enemies besides the taxidermies. If I use up all my strength now, I won't be able to prepare for what comes after.
As I wondered if there was a way.
Swish-!
The moment I cut the Raptor once more.
A thought flashed through my mind at the cut surface revealed in the air.
“Seol Hayun! Undead are weak to fire, right?”
“Usually, but these guys are different. They’re fireproofed.”
“What about the cut surface?”
“The cut surface……?”
I saw it when I just cut the Raptor.
On the cut surface of the bone, the side closer to the outer surface was pigmented, but the inside was not.
In other words, the surface up to the halfway point was fireproofed, but the deep inside of the bone was not.
I threw one of the bones I had just cut to Seol Hayun.
The severed bone struggled in Seol Hayun’s hand, trying to return to its original place, but.
Fwoosh-!
By the flames that bloomed from Seol Hayun’s hand.
Chzhzhzhk-!
It began to make a fierce burning sound.
After struggling violently for a moment, the bone fragment completely stopped moving and remained in her hand.
In the meantime, the Raptor had completed its regeneration.
But the spot where the bone Seol Hayun was holding should have been, the joint on the side of its pelvis, was empty.
The Raptor’s posture was grotesquely twisted, as if one of its legs was spinning uselessly.
I closed the distance.
In front of the Raptor, which was staring at the empty spot on its body, I raised my sword diagonally.
Swish-!
A sharp trajectory cut through the bone vertically, creating countless cut surfaces.
As the cut surfaces were exposed, Seol Hayun reacted immediately.
[Flower of Flames: Kingfisher]
As she made her hand into the shape of a bird and spread it out, the forms of kingfishers were created in the air and then flew straight in.
Pbbbt-
The kingfishers, made of condensed flames, stuck to each cut surface.
Chzhk- chzhk-!
Black scorched smoke rose from the smooth cut surfaces of the bones.
The collapsed pile of the Raptor's bones.
The beast tried to restore its body again with an unknown power, but it was useless.
It just kept making a dull clattering sound, and the bones just spun uselessly in the air without being able to join together.
Seol Hayun and my eyes met.
That was also brief. We nodded at the same time.
***
The collapsed bone fragments were spinning uselessly in the air.
The Pterodactyl's head, which was sloppily put together and facing the wrong direction, was stuck in the ground and had stopped.
The Tyrannosaurus's lower and upper bodies were separated and crawling on the floor.
Relatively small ones like the Raptor were smashed into piles, and the large dinosaur taxidermies were neutralized by cutting their lower bodies and cauterizing the cut surfaces.
The main hall, which had been like a living hell just a moment ago, had finally reached a point where we could catch our breath.
“W-, we’re saved……!”
“Hoo— I really thought I was going to die.”
People sat down and threw out a word or two as if complaining.
Whatever the reaction, a sense of relief that they had survived was evident.
Now, if they just waited, heroes would come from outside to rescue them.
That’s what everyone was thinking.
“Hyung-ah, nuna……”
A tearful voice was heard from the stairs.
“Daddy is…… strange……”
It was a familiar face.
The little kid who was crying next to the spot where his C-class hero father had collapsed earlier.
The child came closer, dragging one foot.
“Oh my, are you okay?”
Another citizen said, checking on the child.
Seol Hayun and I approached the child.
The child was quite injured.
His knees and elbows were severely scraped, and one of his shoes was off.
“What happened? Where’s your dad?”
Seol Hayun asked, crouching down to the child’s eye level.
“Some ajussi…… said he would fix my daddy……”
The child said, gasping for breath.
“But, daddy became strange. He doesn’t talk to me. His eyes became scary too.”
“Who was the ajussi? What did he look like?”
“Really big black clothes…… I couldn’t see well, so I don’t know……”
The child shook his head.
It was at that moment.
Thump, thump, thump—
Heavy footsteps echoed from the main stairs.
The one who appeared was probably the child's father.
However, his appearance was no longer human.
His skin was deathly pale, and his pupils were completely white.
The muscles of his body were grotesquely swollen, and a hard iron plate was attached to his chest.
“He turned a hero into an undead?”
Seol Hayun said as if muttering to herself.
Her voice was filled with a sense of disbelief.
And for good reason.
Awakened heroes basically have a certain level of magic power or more, and as such, they are beings with strong resistance to the Magi wielded by necromancers.
And that man was alive until we checked on him earlier.
Yet, to have already turned him into an undead was truly an unbelievable thing.
At that moment, the child's father, that undead's body, began to writhe again.
“Krrruuu-.”
He crouched down as if in pain and exhaled violently.
Soon, his body, especially his upper body, began to swell.
It wasn't just his muscles getting bigger.
A jet-black energy covered the menacing muscles.
The black energy began to take shape.
A cold metallic texture began to cover the flesh, as if a living armor was enveloping the body.
In front of that, none of us could continue to speak.
An undead with ‘will,’ on a completely different level from the taxidermies we had faced so far, was standing before us.