CHAPTER 79: TO FALL FOR THE KILL

’So much for a plan,’ Min-ho gritted his teeth, then rolled—bringing himself underneath the Spector.

As he stepped, something fell on his shoulder. A quick glance, and he realized it was blood.

His breath caught for a moment—he thought it was his. But at the corner of his eye, he could see a trail coming down the Spector.

Suddenly, realization struck him. Or at least, he thought it was realization.

The Spector fell to the ground, attempting to crush him under its weight.

With wide eyes, he ran and leaped.

SLAM!

Once again, he escaped by the skin of his teeth. But he wasn’t going to let up.

He bolted onto his feet and leaped toward the Spector, clambering over it and getting onto its back.

As the Spector rose, he held firm to the crevices on its body. Then, acting quickly, he crawled toward the spot on the Spector’s back where it had wounded itself.

He reached the wound, where blood was trailing down the white exoskeleton. Without hesitation, he lifted his dagger.

But just then, the Spector shook violently—and Min-ho slipped.

He crashed to the ground.

"Ah!" he screamed as pain exploded through his body.

Wincing, Min-ho wasn’t given a second to even catch his breath.

The Spector was already on him... no, its stinger was already in front of him. Only a short distance separated it from his chest.

His heart thumped. His ears began to ring.

’Did I really... just waste my life like this?’

’What was I even thinking?’

The image of Ji-su getting torn apart resonated in his mind.

’Fuck,’ he dreaded. ’Why don’t I have what it takes to survive in a world like this?’

His sister’s face flashed through his mind.

’Damn it. I’m such an idiot.’

As the pincer came down, he wasn’t even given the option to close his eyes. It would have torn into his stomach before he had the chance.

Staring at it, Min-ho had no choice but to accept his fate.

The pincer came down—

CLANK!

His eyes widened when he saw a hammer swing in an arc above him, slamming into the pincer and knocking it away.

Just then, two shadows ran past him.

In the next second, Jang-book and Dok-su stood in front of him, deflecting the Spector’s attacks.

Min-ho paused, stunned. It took him a moment to process what was happening.

Even when he understood—they had come for him—he didn’t understand why.

"Why... why...?"

"Are you okay?" Sae-wee appeared next, holding onto his face.

Min-ho blinked a couple of times. He was... so confused.

He wanted answers... but he knew they didn’t have time.

Still slightly stunned, he winced and pushed himself up.

Sae-wee helped him to his feet.

Just then, he and Sae-wee had to leap backward as the Spector broke past Jang-book and Dok-su, slamming its pincer into the ground where they had stood only seconds ago.

Min-ho stumbled but caught himself—just in time to deflect the next attack.

Now they were all in the thick of it—bolting back, evading, deflecting, and landing mostly useless blows on the Spector.

"What’s the plan here?" Dok-su asked, ducking under an attack.

Min-ho thought for a moment. He wanted to suggest they get on its back and strike the wound, but that was far too risky.

They needed another plan.

"Dok-su, what about that Affinity of yours?" Jang-book asked, slamming a pincer away.

Min-ho gasped slightly.

’Jang-book’s right,’ he thought, suddenly remembering Dok-su’s Affinity.

"He’s right," Min-ho said, sidestepping a stinger strike. "Could you put a weak spot on its leg? We could cripple it and get out of here!"

Dok-su remained silent.

"Dok-su!" Sae-wee called out—just as she took the bulk of a hit to her left arm, sending her reeling. She nearly collapsed but held herself up.

She gritted her teeth and rushed back in.

"If I miss—"

"If you miss, take Ji-su and get out of here," Min-ho said, leaping backward.

Dok-su glanced at Min-ho, entirely caught off guard by Min-ho’s response.

He shook the thought off then spoke.

"I need a clear shot. You guys will have to keep it steady."

"Got it."

"Right."

Min-ho and Jang-book responded.

Dok-su bolted back, clearing out of the fight.

"Second Tiers will eat up all my shots. If I miss, I won’t be able to try again!" he said, scanning for a suitable position.

"Just do it!" Sae-wee shouted, ducking.

Dok-su got into position, then raised a palm and pointed it at the Spector.

He aimed for the legs—but they were too thin and spread out. The chances of hitting clean were slim.

Instead, he aimed at its pincers, which had a wider surface area.

"I’m going for the pincer!" he yelled.

"Just do it!" they all shouted back.

As both pincers came down, Dok-su activated his Affinity. A wave of energy shot from his palm, zipping through the air toward the pincer.

But at the last second, the pincers rose—and the Spector lowered its body to attack with its stinger. The Affinity marked the back of its head instead.

Dok-su’s eyes widened.

"Did you do it?" Min-ho groaned, climbing to his feet after a blow that made his bones feel like glass.

"I... I got him on the head," Dok-su replied.

His words stunned everyone—and it cost them.

SLAM!

The pincer knocked both Sae-wee and Jang-book backward. Sae-wee coughed up blood as she flew through the air and crashed hard into the ground.

Min-ho rushed in, trying to distract the Spector to give his comrades time to recover.

But his injuries were piling up, slowing his movements.

He missed a block by a centimeter—and he too was knocked back, his left shoulder taking the brunt of the blow.

The moment the pincer struck, he heard a pop. His vision blurred. He was hurled back.

CRASH!

He hit the ground.

"Ah!" he cried out as his shoulder burned.

The Spector rushed him. It drew back its stinger, ready to finish him off.

Then it froze in place.

Min-ho saw several stones jutting out of the ground. Each one opened at the end like a claw, grabbing the Spector’s stinger, pincers, and a few legs.

He turned—and saw Jang-book kneeling, hands outstretched as though holding down an invisible giant. But the strain was visible all over his body.

Beside Jang-book, Sae-wee ran for the Spector, speed unrelenting.

’What is she doing?’ Min-ho wondered, then turned to gauge the Spector’s size. ’It’s too tall.’

He scanned their surroundings, looking for a platform Jang-book may have created.

There wasn’t one. And Jang-book wasn’t in any shape to make one.

Min-ho had to do something.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself up. Pain screamed from his left shoulder. His body begged to collapse. He fought through it, walked to the Spector, and knelt.

As if coordinated, Sae-wee leapt onto his right shoulder.

He groaned—then sprang up, hoisting her into the air.

Sae-wee flew toward the Spector. She had positioned her leap to align with the weak spot—just behind the Spector’s head.

She gripped her dagger as she closed in.

"TTTAAAA!" the queen screamed, then broke her stinger free of its entrapment.

Everyone’s heart jolted.

Sae-wee’s breath caught as she saw the stinger whipping through the air toward her.

Staring at it, Sae-wee realized she had two options. One, deflect the attack and suffer a rough landing. Or two...

She hesitated... the stinger drew closer...

Uncertain what to do, she let her body decide.

And to her surprise, her hand found the weak spot. Her dagger sank into the exoskeleton like it was bread.

Realizing her decision, she smiled.

SLASH!

The stinger punched through her abdomen—impaling her like a marshmallow.