Episode 3
Kang Suho hid his little brother behind him and pulled a metal pipe from his backpack.
He had carried it just in case, but he never thought he would actually have to use it.
âKeheeeek!â
A lizard monster lunged forward with its grotesque mouth wide open.
Suho swung the pipe with all his strength.
Clang!
The impact vibrated through his hands, making them sting, and his face twisted in pain.
The hit was strong enough to make his entire body shake, but the lizard didnât go down. It only stopped moving for a moment.
âKiyaaak!â
The attack only made the monster angrier.
With a roar, the lizard swung its thick tail at Suho.
âUgh!â
He tried to block with the pipe, but it wasnât enough. His body was flung backward and slammed against a pillar.
âArghâŚâ
For a regular person, the shock was unbearable. Pain like his bones were shattering spread through his body.
âB-Brother⌠a-are you okay?â
The trembling voice of his six-year-old sibling helped keep Suho from blacking out.
Using the pipe to support himself, he stood back up. His bloodshot eyes fixed on the monster.
More lizards had gathered, drawn by the noise. Now there were over a dozen, all licking their long tongues and staring at the two of them like prey.
âShihoo, stay behind me.â
âB-ButâŚâ
His body felt like it might break apart, but he couldnât give up. He had to protect his brother.
âKeheeeek!â
âKrrrk!â
He swung the pipe again at the charging lizards.
He forgot about his broken ribs, forgot about the blood filling his throatâhe only thought about protecting Shihoo.
Clang! Crash! Bang!
Then, one lizard suddenly shot out its tongue.
Suho quickly raised his guard, but the tongue wasnât aimed at him.
âAhhh! Brother!!â
It went for the weakest target.
âShihoo!â
Suho reached out desperately, but it was too late.
His little brotherâs small body was being pulled toward the monsterâs open jaws, moving like slow motion.
But Suho couldnât stop it.
âNo!! Kang Shihoo!!â
His scream tore out in helpless despair.
Thenâ
Slaaash! Thud!
A metal spear flew from the side, piercing the lizardâs head and nailing it to the ground.
But the other monsters didnât care. They rushed toward the fallen boy.
Howeverânone of them reached him.
Even when several attacked at once.
Crack!
Even when they tried to ambush from behind.
Thud! Bang!
Even when a larger one joined the charge.
âKeheeeek!â
Boom!
Every single one turned to ash.
The air filled with the sound of flesh ripping and bones breaking as lizard corpses piled up.
At the center of it all stood a woman.
Every time she swung her rough metal pipe, sparks flewâsparks of glowing pink and orange, like a mix of sunset and spring blossoms.
Her spear techniques were almost like art, cutting down over a dozen monsters in seconds.
âKid, catch!â
She darted forward, scooping Shihoo into her arms.
âHold on tight to me!â
Seeing more lizards rushing toward them, the woman raised her pipe high.
Kwagwang!
She smashed it into the ground, splitting the earth and collapsing the area around her.
The monsters lost their footing for an instantâthat was their chance to escape.
âFollow me!â
She dashed past Suho, calling out.
Without thinking, Suho followed her. His broken body screamed in pain, but he ignored it.
The woman cleared their path with only a few swings, effortlessly smashing aside any monster in the way.
At last, they reached a plaza where the Hunter Association had set up a safe zone.
âInjured here! We need a healer!â
âThis way, hurry!â
Staff members quickly made space for them.
While they checked Suhoâs condition and searched for a healer, Saebyeok gently placed Shihoo in front of him.
âHuaaah! Iâm sorry, brother! I messed up!â
âAre you hurt anywhere?â
The boy, who had been still in her arms until now, leapt toward his brother the moment she let him go.
Suhoâs body was a wreck, but he checked his little brother first.
âIâm not hurt⌠but you⌠youâre hurt because of meâŚâ
âIâm fine.â
He forced himself to speak through ragged breaths and patted Shihooâs head.
Then he slowly looked up.
âI need to thankââ
But the woman who saved them was gone.
ââŚ?â
He stood and looked around, but saw no trace of her.
âThis way! Bring the patient here!â
A healer arrived just then. Suho quickly grabbed a staff member.
âWas that woman from the Association?â
âWho?â
âThe one who came with us.â
âSomeone else was with you? I didnât see anyone.â
The chaos and Suhoâs condition had distracted everyone. No one had noticed her.
âMaybe she was injured tooâhuh?!â
The staff member stopped mid-sentence and turned in shock.
âWhat⌠whatâs happening now?â
It wasnât just the staff. Hunters and civilians alike froze.
The monstersâ behavior had changed.
âKeaaaakâ!â
The lizards suddenly shrieked toward the sky, then rushed in the same directionâall of them.
They ignored the humans they had been hunting. They only ran toward one point.
MeanwhileâŚ
Saebyeok, having left Suho and his brother in safety, moved toward a ruined area near the station.
Because early gates hadnât been handled properly, Seoul still had places like this.
She stood on a broken rooftop, scanning the area sharply.
âFound it.â
Her eyes locked onto the leader of the monsters.
â<Blow>.â
At her command, a gentle wind swirled around her ankles, lifting her into the sky like invisible shoes of Hermes.
<Skill: Blow (AâC)>
The morning breeze carries freshness.
Spring winds, summer storms, autumn gales, and winterâs icy draftsâ
all carry the light of dawn across the world.
Originally, it wasnât a movement skill. It was an attack that shaped wind.
But after many trials, Saebyeok had learned to use it for flying.
âOnly you would think of using it like this⌠seriously amazing.â
She remembered Park Woojunâs words and smiled faintly.
â<Ignite>.â
<Skill: Ignite (SâB)>
The sunrise fills the world with warmth,
and its light sparks the passion for a new beginning.
As long as a small flame exists, dawn will never fade.
Blue flames burst from the pipe like a flamethrower, swallowing the lizard leader whole.
Whoooosh!
The blaze rose high, almost licking Saebyeokâs feet.
âEverythingâs two levels weaker now.â
With her mana halved, her skills were weaker, barely enough to scorch the monsterâs shell.
But killing it wasnât her goal.
âKiyaaaargh!â
The leaderâs sharp scream echoed, calling the other lizards.
From gate and street alike, they answeredârunning toward their leader.
For monsters, a leaderâs safety always came first.
âKyrrrk!â
Saebyeok counted roughly as they gathered.
âAbout half should be enough to keep Suho and his brother safe.â
Once enough had come, she raised her pipe.
â<Droplet>.â
<Skill: Droplet (AâC)>
Morning dew is always cold.
Sometimes it becomes a soft mist, sometimes heavy rain,
soaking the world in dawnâs embrace.
Tiny drops of water scattered from the pipe, raining softly over the lizards.
Once capable of calling down a storm, now it was just a drizzle.
But it was enough.
The damp air excited the swamp-born monsters.
âEnjoy it while you can.â
As more lizards gathered, Saebyeok spun the pipe in her hands, ready to unleash her most trusted skill.
â<Lightning>.â
<Skill: Lightning (SâB)>
Lightning tears open the night sky,
calling dawn with dazzling beauty.
From a tiny spark to a mighty strike,
it begins with a flash.
Bzzzt!
Red and violet sparks danced at both ends of the pipeâstrange and mesmerizing.
It was her signature skill, the one that earned her the nickname âGoddess of Lightning.â
At full power, it could wipe out an entire district, but she held back.
Still, the growing storm of energy above her head was threatening enough.
âCareful not to get shocked in the rain!â
Thenâ
Kwagwang!
Lightning burst down from the pipe, racing through the wet ground, electrocuting everything.
The lizards screamed.
âKyaaaagh!â
âKiyaaak!â
The earth trembled under the storm.
Monsters fell in droves, torn apart by the current.
And above it all, Saebyeok stood watchingâlike a thunder goddess raining wrath upon the world.
