Chapter 386

Thud-!

The cracked portion split apart; the lock fell into pieces on the floor.

The issue, though, was that as soon as the lock was smashed, cracks began to form in the vertical, transparent cylinder. Rather than a lock simply breaking, the speed at which the cracks were rising seemed as if a bomb had detonated.

Choi Kyung-sik also looked flustered, as if he hadn't expected this to happen, "Why is the construction so shabby!?"

"...Are we alright?"

"Well, I was going to destroy it anyway." Choi Kyung-sik looked at Jung Garam, on our ceiling, with an incomprehensible expression. I couldn't tell if he meant to reassure me or himself.

After a certain amount of damage to the vertical passage, a crack formed on the transparent floor/ceiling as well. Looking at the shaking pillar, I contemplated whether or not I needed to retreat a few steps.

At that moment, Choi Kyung-sik hugged my shoulders tightly and lightly flicked his finger. "[Circle Line]."

A round circle was drawn around our feet; soon, an opaque membrane-a barrier-formed around us. An Alchemist's shield skill.

Cr-r-r-rack-!

As soon as the shield finished forming, the floor Garam-ie was lying on collapsed with a loud, cracking sound. The young Assassin fell down, limp like a wooden doll.

Simultaneously, the orange lights that blanketed the wall blinked out, as if a fuse had blown; with a loud bang, a complete blackout occurred. Heavy, thudding sounds reverberated-Garam-ie's [Dummy] had fully fallen.

Boom-!

"[Light]." Choi Kyung-sik immediately created some light-he must have expected this sudden plunge into darkness. Illuminated by a light source similar to a flashlight, we were able to see the landing point.

Amidst the shattered glass falling and reflecting in the light, Garam-ie's [Dummy] came into view. However, he remained motionless and prone.

'Is there some problem?'

"Garam-ah, throw away the [Dummy] and come out of it, for now." Choi Kyung-sik must have come to a similar conclusion-he told Garam to abandon the [Dummy].

Garam's shoulders flinched, and he separated his soul from the [Dummy]. He rose out of the now empty shell.

However, contrary to what I thought, Garam-ie didn't raise his head immediately. He stumbled around, as if he couldn't keep his body properly together, even after he exited the [Dummy].

"...No way." Choi Kyung-sik's complexion rapidly paled. He hurriedly stood in front of me and shouted urgently, "Summon anyone! Except me!"

"Huh?"

"Quickly summon someone-Woo Ragi, Kim Olim... Anyone!"

However, unfortunately, before Choi Kyung-sik could finish speaking, Garam looked up first. An unknown, incomprehensible expression now lingered in those murky eyes-reddish-black and devoid of focus.

'...Something's wrong.'

When I saw his cloudy eyes, a vague sense of anxiety began to well up within me, "Can you hear me, Garam-ah?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he slowly licked his lips, a momentary, cruel expression fleeted across his face, dispelling any lingering doubts I may have. The young Assassin wasn't in his right mind.

"[Woo Ragi]." I instinctively called for the swordsman, but, for some reason, he didn't show up.

I quickly manifested my status window-the system began to excitedly explain my current situation as if it had been waiting for my attention.

[Currently, you're affected by the curse 'Prohibit Summons'.]

[You cannot summon a new servant.]

[Location-based skills like 'Calling' or 'Return' are unavailable.]

[Your servant Jung Garam is in a state of 'extreme exhaustion' and is now moving according to his survival instincts. A pity-even Matara's Assassin cannot avoid the limits of the undead.]

[If you wish to aid 'Jung Garam,' you can use your blood, but...]

[Who knows. Can your servant 'Jung Garam' exercise restraint on your behalf?]

I chewed my lower lip as I read the sarcastic system messages. "...It seems I can't summon anyone."

"Damn, as expected..." Choi Kyung-sik looked frustrated, "This place... It's a customized trap, tailored by examining and studying a Necromancer's skills."

"What happened to Garam-ie?"

"It seems that his energy was drastically sucked through the Dummy, draining him to the point just before he would be reverse-summoned. He's lost his sanity. It's a double trap-breaking the lock helped to cause his condition."

In other words, Jung Garam looked at me like a wolf would gaze at human prey after starving for several days within a cage. Choi Kyung-sik hastily tried to shield me from the young Assassin's eyes.

Choi Kyung-sik stepped into the gap between us and sighed regretfully, "I apologize. I was too impatient and brought you here carelessly."

"This isn't anything...you have to apologize for."

When we were above ground, we were useless in the midst of Woo Ragi's battle. We had to do something, and, without foreknowledge, it was strategically appropriate to scatter and disperse the enemies and goals between us.

I stopped Choi Kyung-sik from blaming himself and stared at Jung Garam behind his back. Jung Garam was slowly twitching his fingers, one by one. He was probably trying to estimate when he could take a leap and bit us.

"How long do you think you can last against Garam?" I asked.

"I don't know-what's for certain, though, is that if he catches me, I'm done for," Choi kyung-sik said, taking out fistfuls of various reagents and bombs from his inventory.

"Huuu..."

As soon as Choi Kyung-sik threw a bomb, Jung Garam sighed so deeply that even I could hear it. The sound raised goosebumps up my arms.

'His bloodlust...'

The terrifying pressure of his bloodthirsty aura made me short of breath; I realized I needed to keep a clear head to survive. After some hesitation, I opened my inventory and retrieved the "Sylph's Fall" dagger that Seo Dawon had given me.

'I probably can't pierce Garam-ie with this.'

Our opponent was Jung Garam. Though Choi Kyung-sik would fare better than me, we were both noncombatants in the end. However, holding this weapon was better than nothing.

"Get a hold of yourself!" Choi Kyung-sik shouted at Jung Garam.

I wasn't the only desperate one here. Though the Alchemist threw various bombs, Garam-ie stood still, observing the onslaught of bombs and explosions before smiling slightly.

Boom-!

Because we were underground, the resulting vibrations and noises from the explosions resonated and amplified.

However, I didn't expect Jung Garam to be subdued even as the bombs kicked up a cloud of dust. Choi Kyung-sik also looked forward nervously.

"Haah."

At that moment, I clearly heard someone breathing-as if they were right next to me.

I found myself face to face with Garam, who had somehow approached me without me noticing, and I couldn't even scream. Garam buried his nose in my neck, as if he were smelling delicious food, and inhaled deeply. His cold nose touched my adam's apple.

'No...'

I raised a shaky arm to try and avoid being dragged around by Jung Garam and swung [Sylph's Fall]. Naturally, I wasn't able to even cut a single strand of his hair, but at least the weapon proved to be bothersome to him.

Jung Garam gracefully stepped back from my clumsy swing; Choi Kyung-sik, who came to his senses during that time, again came to my side to block the way between us. "Garam-ah, please! Wake up!"

However, that desperate plea was his last. Jung Garam wielded his dagger in reverse grip, knelt before the Alchemist, and pierced through Choi Kyung-sik's neck.

Though Choi Kyung-sik didn't seem to feel the pain, I couldn't hear anything even though Choi Kyung-sik's lips moved up and down a few times as if he was saying something.

[Even if the servant isn't currently summoned, they will receive the 'stun' penalty if they receive up to 70% total damage.]

As the ominous message popped into view, Choi kyung-sik fell to the floor, motionless. Jung Garam looked at me with a nonchalant look even after attacking his colleague.

"Finally-it's just the two of us." Those murky eyes glistened for a moment...but that was it. Jung Garam took one step before burrowing himself in my arms when I tried to retreat.

The force at which Garam-ie threw himself into my arms was so strong, I was worried that my ribs might have broken; the impact knocked me to the ground. Jung Garam got onto my stomach, keeping me from moving. "A really tempting smell..."

And, in that deep black darkness, his breathing became increasingly rough and wild.

TL: There's too much to talk about here, where do you even start?

Poor Kyung-sik, a dagger through the throat can't be pleasant. Also Garam-ie is the worst option to go feral >.<