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The charred jaw healed rapidly. Though it couldn’t compare to the Juggernaut, D-grade regeneration was impressive enough to restore severed limbs. The burns inside my mouth quickly vanished, and the wolf leaped onto the Juggernaut’s body, pawing at it.

Every time the wolf landed, it triggered the devouring effect, but the Juggernaut’s own regeneration healed those wounds in an instant. Transformations and gales were blocked by its regeneration, making it tough to break through even with black magic. Consuming black magic meant there was no time to waste elsewhere.

This same scenario had already played out three times. Dodging was not a challenge, but I was merely wasting time in a pointless endeavor.

“…….”

From a distance, I frowned at the shifting terrain of the battlefield. It seemed they were still fighting, but it wouldn’t last long. I had a plan in mind, but first, I had to take down the Silent Mouth.

[Multiplexarea sferei fulgerului―!]

As anxiety surged, countless spheres filled with lightning were fired. Dozens, hundreds… most were swallowed by the fog, but a surge of spheres rushed through, pushing past the mist toward the wolf. Yet, the wolf read all their trajectories. Even without the fog, not a single sphere would have touched it.

The Silent Mouth was well aware of this fact. It was merely stalling to buy time from the wolf. The Silent Mouth began to chant a spell.

[Dumnezeul tunetului și al fulgerelor, coboară]

The first incantation followed swiftly. The first and last syllables merged almost simultaneously in an impressive rapid chant. By the time the wolf surged up the Juggernaut’s body, the Juggernaut twisted and moved, but the wolf clung on stubbornly.

The Juggernaut, with its eyes rolling back, slammed its body into the ground. The impact kicked up dust, and flesh wobbled.

The force of the impact loosened the nails and metal plates slightly. The wolf, already stepping away, looked down with gleaming eyes.

‘It’s being held down to maintain its form…’

The essence of the Juggernaut was still merely an Incomplete Product. It was forcibly granted sentience, but it remained a flesh that could regenerate infinitely. If I could get rid of the iron plates and nails it was wrapped in…

Thoughts quickly turned into actions. The wolf stepped on the nails, and as it devoured them, the Juggernaut’s movements slowed.

‘Is this the solution?’

“……!”

The Juggernaut, seemingly unfazed, began to rise, but I noticed its movements had become subtly awkward. Thanks to that, dodging became easier.

[Când trage fulgerul, respirația ta se va opri]

The real problem was not the Juggernaut, but the Silent Mouth hiding inside, crafting spells. With every verse of its incantation, an unease gripped me. Malignant magic writhed within.

‘What is it aiming for?’

I was no expert in magic. Unless I could see into the future, predicting the unknown was impossible. Just moments ago, the black magic had consumed a great spell, but while hidden inside the Juggernaut, it would be impossible.

And the incantation that faintly echoed was the same spell that the Silence Mouth had been unable to use before, the one that the black magic had devoured.

‘……!’

Instinctively, I felt that this could not be allowed to finish. During the following chant, the wolf swiftly consumed the nails, metal plates, and chains wrapped around the Juggernaut.

***

‘Alpha.’

There it was. Alpha was darting around, disturbing the monsters. Its fluid and quick movements had meaning in every step, preparing for the next move, capturing Euna’s attention.

‘…Ridiculous.’

It was repelling and overwhelming the black magic that had turned so many spells into futile exercises. Just not long ago, when I spoke with Alpha during the great war, I had managed to convince myself that victory was possible.

—Not anymore. How many among the assembled Hunters truly understood the purpose of Alpha’s movements and trajectory?

“…If we run now, wouldn’t it be fine?”

Euna turned back and nodded at someone’s words. The situation had changed. If Alpha was holding the monsters at bay, there was no need to fight. Time would be bought by Alpha. Jumping in would only lead to a futile demise. Thinking calmly, it was wise to step back and join the offensive team.

Area 1. The plaza wouldn’t obstruct us, and while we could somehow break through the maze, the uncertainty lay in the dungeon. Whether the remaining members of the offensive team could break through the maze was unknown. It would be best to lend them strength. In this interval, it was a hundred times right for the assault team to retreat — without needing any explanation, everyone thought the same.

“…Then, let’s do that.”

Soon, Euna spoke the words of permission. The assault team nodded, but then furrowed their brows at her peculiar tone.

“Could it be…?”

“You should go ahead. I’ll catch up soon.”

“Euna, right now…!”

Ha Yeon couldn’t finish her words. The strong determination gleaming in her eyes was a clear declaration of her refusal to back down.

‘I can’t back down here.’

The Hunters were not at fault. They made the right and logical judgment. Monsters were fighting each other; there was no need to bet their lives on that battle — that was correct.

‘But…’

Euna couldn’t do that. It wasn’t just because she owed a debt to the clan. It was the uneasiness she felt upon entering Area 2. The unique sense she had did not allow her to retreat from here. It kept whispering that she must not, as dire consequences would ensue if she did.

‘I must conclude things here, no matter what.’

After staring at her intently for a long time, Ha Yeon finally let out a deep breath.

“There’s no use stopping you.”

From the start, she was not someone who could be persuaded. The martial artist trusted her instincts, while the mage decided to lead the remaining members based on reason. But at least, she uttered a parting phrase even suitable for a warrior.

“…I wish you good fortune.”

Euna nodded, gripping her spear with both hands. Soon, she began sprinting toward the place where the monster lurked. Watching her retreating figure, Ha Yeon thought for a moment and shook her head.

“For now, let’s regroup.”

***

The connection between the nails and metal plates was severed, causing the Juggernaut’s body to shudder. It wasn’t totally shapeless, but it was still a collection of incomplete parts. It was merely flesh. It had just been forcibly held together by magic and alchemy.

‘Still not all there, though.’

Already, its arms were merging into a shapeless mass. As time passed, it would only become more distorted. If the Juggernaut became incapable of maintaining its form, maybe separating it from the Silent Mouth would be possible. When that hope surfaced, the Silent Mouth chanted its fourth incantation.

‘Damn it…’

Nothing changed. Even if a glimmer of hope arose, there wasn’t enough time to realize it. I still had no means to penetrate it. Just a moment — if I could get that chance…!

“……!”

I grit my teeth and dodged the oncoming spell. Thanks to the devouring effect, my stamina wasn’t depleted yet, but with every passing moment, I felt more mentally exhausted.

‘…Damn.’

Suddenly, an unsettling feeling washed over me. I had only faced Euna a couple of times. What I knew was merely the version she presented in the story. Was sending Fairy along a mistake after all? What if things went wrong…?

‘…….’

I shook my head, trying to rid myself of those thoughts. As I stepped onto the base, a streak of lightening flashed.

“…to annihilate!”

Someone’s voice. Soon, the light became a radiant flare. —The white light, filling every corner, swept away my doubts and fears.

“Kyuuh!”

From a distance, I locked eyes with Fairy, who had perched on her shoulder.

‘She succeeded.’

The Juggernaut, pierced and deep in rage, charged forward. Now that its wounds were exposed, the opportunity was clear, but…

‘Not enough.’

It needed to be the chest, not the abdomen. I needed a more certain chance. I had sprinted to save Euna from the Juggernaut, but with over 500 agility, dodging incoming spells while keeping up with the massive creature was no easy task.

“……!”

So, I didn’t run. The tentacle I had already attached to the Juggernaut’s ankle pulled me in, and as I was dragged closer, I unleashed a surge of speed, creating a gust of wind.

“――――――!”

The Juggernaut roared. By now, the wounds on its chest had completely healed. Just as I reached out to grab Euna, who was still falling, Fairy teleported her away.

“Huh, Alpha—?!”

I barely escaped the clutch of the Juggernaut, but she was still descending. I bit onto her collar, narrowly stepping onto the ground.

With a momentary gap created with the Juggernaut, I twisted my neck to use detection. As I turned around, Euna sprang up and with a twirl, her spear caught in her extended hand.

“…This is.”

With a look of disbelief, Euna murmured. Right now, she was riding on the wolf’s back. The fact that Alpha had offered her its back made Euna swallow hard. The significance behind that act was painfully clear.

‘From here on.’

It would be difficult alone. We had to fight together.

—I had means to avoid attacks from the Juggernaut and Silent Mouth. But I lacked the firepower to pierce the Juggernaut. On the other hand, Euna had a way to penetrate the Juggernaut but lacked the means to evade it and stop the black magic.

This left us with no choice but to fight side by side, just like they did.

“—Prepare another strike, aiming for the chest.”

Upon hearing to aim for the chest, Euna’s eyes widened in surprise, but then she nodded. Just for an instant — if just for a fleeting moment, it would be enough if a wound opened up. If the black magic could infiltrate, we could separate it from the Juggernaut.

‘We can take it down.’

The flow of battle hinged on whether its great magic finished first or if Euna could pierce the Juggernaut’s chest beforehand — the wolf’s eyes gleamed red, reading the battle’s course ahead.

***

On the raft, Euna was the first to lower the injured Gu Jin-ha as she rejoined the retreating assault team. Soon, a member skilled in healing rushed over to assess Gu Jin-ha, but their expression turned grim.

“…How are you still alive?”

The issue was that he was a living corpse. Starting with numerous fractures, he had lost a huge amount of blood, and it was questionable if his lost arm could be restored. Most troubling was the internal damage and the state of his organs.

After chugging potions like they were water, he barely breathed again, but that was as far as it went. He had only survived for a moment with nothing changing. The member wiped sweat from their brow, shaking their head.

“We need to get him out as fast as we can…”

Watching the shaking head, Euna bit her lips. Then, looking at the now distant place, she trembled her tightly clenched fist.

—As if cursing her own weakness.

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