Move.
Sehyun’s lips moved several times, but even that was not easy. From the start, the monster’s gaze had been fixed on Jaeyoung. If Jaeyoung had been the one to run, the creature would never have let him go. That much was certain.
The albino’s lazy, prowling steps suddenly accelerated like a galloping horse. Sehyun bit his tongue until it bled and hurled himself at Jaeyoung with every ounce of strength. He wrapped him in his arms and rolled across the cave floor.
Where they had just been, the monster slammed into the wall, the ceiling collapsing down on its back. Yet its massive body shook off the rubble as if nothing had happened, and it turned toward Sehyun once again.
From between its grinning lips, a long, snake-like tongue slithered out.
“Jae…young-ah. Jaeyoung-ah… snap out of it. Wake up, Jaeyoung. Hm? Listen to hyung.”
Even speech was broken, his tongue stiff, but Sehyun called to the boy trembling in his arms.
“Hy-hyung… hyung…”
“Jaeyoung, good boy. Hyung… hyung will buy us some time, and in that gap… we’ll run that way, okay?”
He pointed toward the cave entrance. Their only chance of survival was to flee. Whether escape was possible or not, they could not just die here.
“Jaeyoung, open your eyes. Yeah… you see there, right? When I signal… run there. You can do it, right? You’re strong.”
“Hyung… I don’t want to, hyung…”
Sehyun pushed Jaeyoung behind him and gripped the bow slung across his shoulder. His fingers trembled so violently he wasn’t sure he could aim, but he still drew an arrow and pulled the bowstring.
The monster tilted its head again, then dug its hind feet into the ground as though preparing to charge. Sehyun braced for another rush—
But instead, the beast leapt skyward, stirring up clouds of dust with its wings. The swirling storm blinded his vision completely.
“Jaeyoung. Now, run, quickly.”
“You… you go, hyung. It’d be better if—hrrgh…”
Jaeyoung’s words broke with ragged gasps. Sehyun readied an arrow laced with skill, scanning the storm. The monster reappeared only when the whirlwind began to tear at the cavern around them, its wings beating as it hovered above, glaring down. The demon knew—
That wind could prevent arrows from flying true. But Sehyun’s skill-charged arrow was not one to be swayed.
Kieeeek—!
A shriek like claws scraping eardrums shook the chamber. Then the beast dove toward Jaeyoung, talons stretching wide.
Sehyun loosed his arrow.
“Jaeyoung! Run!”
“Go together, hyung. Together…”
“Jaeyoung, if you go first, hyung will follow right after. Okay?”
“You’re… lying…”
The arrow streaked like a falling star, piercing the monster’s heart. But it caused no damage. The creature glanced down, plucked the arrow from its chest with boredom, and flung it toward Sehyun as if to say, Try again.
Grinding his teeth, Sehyun drew two more arrows, poured skill into them, and pulled the bow to its breaking point. The arrows flew, one into its chest, the other into its head—
And again, no effect. The albino’s eyes narrowed, thin and curved, as if mocking the difference in power.
It ripped the arrows out, snapped them, and with a feral roar hurled itself at Sehyun. This time, the talons weren’t for Jaeyoung—they were aimed at him.
Sehyun scooped Jaeyoung into his arms and rolled aside. Jaeyoung was drenched in cold sweat, writhing. Sehyun already suspected the cause wasn’t mere fear. He wanted to ask, but now was not the time. Instead, he hugged him tightly.
Over Jaeyoung’s shoulder, the monster advanced on four legs through the dust, step by heavy step. The cave entrance loomed faint and distant beyond its back.
There was nowhere to run. It felt like being trapped in a cage. Powerless. Futile. Regret welled like a sigh.
That red portal he had seen in the white void would not leave his mind.
…Still, I wanted to see them.
Lying awake at night, staring at the dim ceiling, he had wondered. Would they have waited? If he had gone, would they have welcomed him warmly? Tried to understand, even just a little? He had never been able to go. He had done too much wrong to face them.
With eyes shut, regret deepened. From it rose a memory—sitting in a lonely garden, building trust with him. The day when cold lips had curved into the faintest smile. That moment had stayed with him, unforgotten.
When he opened his eyes again, it was to the dull stone floor. Dust swirled, and through it, he saw hideous reptilian feet. Sehyun forced himself up. His eyes had changed.
“…Jaeyoung, hold on to hyung tight…”
He had to get them out. He would not die here like a dog.
He gathered Jaeyoung’s slipping body into his arms and stared at the albino monster. When their eyes met, a chill like needles pierced his fingertips.
“Hy-hyung… if I… if I cast a skill… we have to… run right away…”
“It’s alright. Don’t talk. We’ll go together. It’s fine. We can do this.”
“No… hyung should live…”
Even in agony, Jaeyoung smiled impishly. Sehyun’s nose burned, and he hugged him tighter.
If someone asked why he was willing to sacrifice so much for this boy, he had no neat answer. He simply couldn’t abandon him. That first sight of him, crying without anyone to lean on, had reminded him too much of himself.
They had to survive.
Right before them stood the colossal albino beast. Its pupils stretched sideways, gleaming with cruel delight. Meeting those killing eyes, Sehyun braced his legs.
He had never used <Fall of Precision> for anything but a weapon. Now he would try. There was no thought of dodging; nowhere to dodge, no skill left to do so.
As the monster’s talons reached for him, Sehyun clutched Jaeyoung tight and thrust out his arm.
From within his embrace came a frail, breaking voice. At that instant, light gathered at Sehyun’s fingertips.
“Mon… Monster… Domination…”
Time seemed to stop. Heat surged like fire, Jaeyoung’s body burning in his arms. Something was terribly wrong. Sehyun’s trembling eyes fixed on him.
Darkness flickered at the edge of Sehyun’s sight. In his arms, Jaeyoung spewed blood, his eyes seared away, writhing in pain.
A dreadful scream followed. Convulsing, clutching his ruined eyes, Jaeyoung shrieked in torment.
Sehyun hugged him desperately, soothing him, but his shredded hands only raked Sehyun’s back in agony.
Kieeeek!! Kkeeek! Kieee!!
Through tear-blurred vision, Sehyun saw the monster mutilating itself. Its talons tore its own belly, ripping out its heart, screaming hideously as its eyes rolled white.
Sehyun’s heartbeat thundered. At the sight, he wiped his tears and forced his trembling body upright. He lifted Jaeyoung, slinging him over his shoulder, and fled the cavern.
Jaeyoung’s screams shredded his chest as he ran. But then, suddenly, they ceased. The blazing heat of his body slackened, drooping limp. Sehyun staggered in terror, then, hearing a faint heartbeat, forced himself to keep running.
He raced through the tunnels marked with their signs. Behind him, a presence gave chase, closer and closer. A chill scraped down his spine.
He didn’t look back. He ran. With everything he had, he ran.
When his vision dimmed, lungs burning, and air seemed gone, the faint outline of a gaping, abandoned door appeared ahead.
The sound behind him grew louder. He bit his tongue, forcing his legs to stretch as if they would burst.
When his limbs had almost lost all feeling, the door finally loomed before him. With the last of his strength, Sehyun leapt through, Jaeyoung clutched tight.
The moment they passed through, the tower’s door slammed shut with a deafening boom. Something heavy thudded against it from the other side.