CHAPTER 27: MONSTER V (1)

I walked slowly while looking around me.

There were countless experiments everywhere.

I continued walking toward a door.

I saw human skulls scattered all over the place.

I was sure this was the right path—where Monster V was located.

I kept walking straight, and suddenly, the lights went out.

"What’s going on?"

I turned my flashlight back on.

I felt another tremor.

Sensing something was wrong, I used my power and fired forward. A dark blue light burst out, shooting through the darkness.

After waiting a few seconds—

A loud roar echoed through the room.

I could easily guess it was my target—Monster V.

I dashed forward.

*On Lightnova’s side*

Lightnova looked startled when she heard the roar. She rushed toward the source of the sound.

Maybe it’s the monster the villagers were talking about...

A moment later, she saw an open door.

"Hm? Did someone get here before me?"

Entering the room, Lightnova ran again.

The atmosphere here is creepy...

’what exactly is in this place?’

The ground shook violently.

When she reached the end of the corridor, she saw a slime-like monster—and someone was fighting it.

The moment she looked closer, she recognized him.

It was Indigo.

On Indigo’s side

Ugh, this damn monster is hard to deal with using only my power.

I need someone with a different ability... If only I had brought So-ah with me earlier, we could’ve finished Monster V much faster.

I dodged every attack the monster threw at me.

Then I noticed someone standing in the distance.

That... that’s Lightnova!

Perfect. I have to work with her to take this bastard down.

"Hey! Indigo! Do you need help?"

she shouted.

Huh? I was supposed to be the one calling out to her first, but whatever.

"Ugh! Yeah! Just help me for a bit!"

Lightnova flew up and tried punching the slime monster’s body.

But when her fist landed, her hand sank right into the monster’s body.

Lightnova looked shocked.

"Ugh! What the hell is this disgusting thing!?"

She pulled her hand back quickly.

"Physical attacks won’t work! Use your light!"

I yelled while dodging.

Lightnova stepped back, raised her hand, and fired a beam of light.

The beam pierced the monster, leaving a hole in its body.

The monster turned to face her.

It attacked with eight slime arms, but Lightnova managed to dodge.

I pressed my hand against the monster’s body.

A beam of light shot out from my hand.

Another hole tore open in the monster.

"Hah!? Hey! How can you copy my attack!?" Lightnova shouted while dodging.

This was the skill I obtained after killing Yaroslav—Copy Ability.

"Just think of me as a genius,"

I said, still dodging the monster’s attacks.

The monster roared.

—ROAAAR!!

Its roar froze both me and Lightnova in place.

It immediately struck us, sending both of us flying into the wall.

"Ugh... Damn it... I let my guard down..."

I muttered, struggling to stand.

Lightnova got up and started flying, circling the monster while firing her light beams.

The monster tried to grab her.

I used Lightnova’s copied beam again and ran around the monster.

"Ugh! Die already!"

Lightnova shouted, clearly annoyed.

She swung her left hand, and several glowing portals opened behind her head.

From them, rapid-fire beams shot out, hitting the monster repeatedly.

I stopped, clenched my fist, gathered light energy, and punched the monster.

A huge hole blasted through its body.

The monster roared in rage.

Its color shifted from black to red.

Its attacks became insanely fast.

It struck me.

I was sent flying again and slammed into the wall.

I tried to get up but couldn’t.

Ugh... This damn body... Just two hits and I’m already down...

Blood dripped from my mouth behind my mask.

This was my limit.

"Indigo!"

Lightnova yelled when she saw me bleeding.

"You bastard!"

she growled.

A blade of light formed in her hand.

She charged at the monster, slashing at it.

I watched in disbelief.

Wait... Why can she already use that? Isn’t this supposed to appear at the end of the story?

The monster spat green liquid from its mouth—acid. Anyone hit by it would melt instantly.

"Watch out! Avoid the acid!"

I shouted.

Lightnova heard me and dodged just in time.

She kept dodging the streams of acid.

But some splashed onto her arm.

Her outfit melted, and her skin peeled slightly.

"Ugh... Damn it..."

she groaned, grabbing her injured arm.

She dodged again—

But then the monster struck her directly, sending her crashing into the floor. The impact cracked the ground.

Not wanting to watch her get hurt more, I forced myself up.

My energy had recovered a little.

This time, I tried using Min-seo’s power—Lightning.

I replayed Min-seo’s movements in my head.

Electricity burst from my hands.

I attacked the monster with rapid lightning strikes.

The monster stiffened, unable to move.

With a final burst, I unleashed stronger lightning to restrain it completely.

The monster couldn’t move at all.

"Now, Lightnova!"

I yelled.

Lightnova stood up, understood instantly, and shot into the air.

She gathered all her light energy.

A circle formed above her head.

A massive beam of light poured down from it—much stronger than before.

—AARGHHH!!

The monster screamed and then exploded into pieces.

We defeated it.

I dropped to my knees.

I was exhausted.

Lightnova landed, looking dizzy from the effort.

She walked slowly toward me.

Maybe she wanted to catch me since I looked like I was about to fall.

I had to come up with an excuse.

"H-hey... Aren’t you tired too? Let’s rest for a bit..."

Hearing that, Lightnova took a deep breath and sighed.

"Alright..."

I was surprised she agreed so easily.

Lightnova sat on the floor.

"Hey... did you know? The monster we fought earlier was just a henchman."

Lightnova’s eyes widened.

"What?"

"That wasn’t the real monster."

Her shoulders slumped.

"...Forget it. Let’s rest first."

I let out a sigh of relief.

"I’ve been wondering... Why are you here?"

she asked.

I was taken aback. Actually, I should’ve asked her the same thing—

In the webtoon, she never came here at all.

"I should be the one asking that, Miss Lightnova..."

"I came here because the director told me to investigate after the villagers reported hearing monster noises."

Hearing that, I started thinking.

What happened to the timeline?

Why did things change?

"You haven’t answered my question, Indigo."

"A-ah! Sorry... I came here to kill the monster inside this factory."

She nodded, understanding.

We went quiet again.

The silence was heavy, and honestly, I didn’t want to ask anything else.

"Umm... Indigo... about the time you saved me..."

I immediately looked at Lightnova.

Her face was red.

"Umm... Why did you do that?"

"Ah... Didn’t I say it already? You’re my rival. You can’t die."

"That’s not what I meant!!"

She puffed her cheeks. I tilted my head, confused.

"This is about when you... carried me. Why did you do that?"

She tried to hide her flushed face.

I blinked.

"Uh... Was there a problem with me carrying you? If I didn’t, how else was I supposed to get you out?"

"I-I have legs!! I can walk on my own!"

Her face was as red as a tomato.

"Hm? But you couldn’t move back then. You were out of energy. And your leg was injured."

Lightnova froze, embarrassed.

*On Lightnova’s side*

’Ah... right... How could I forget that!? Ahh! Ji-hye, you idiot, you idiot!’

"...Forget it..."

Indigo looked confused.

"Uh... alright... By the way, why aren’t you trying to capture me right now? This is the perfect chance. I’m completely out of energy."

’Ugh... He’s right. Why am I not doing it?’

"Um... think of it as a little forgiveness for saving me that time. If you didn’t show up, I’d be dead fighting that fake Indigo."

"Uh... fine..."

"In that case... how about we form a temporary alliance?"

Lightnova looked shocked—but also excited.

"A temporary alliance?"

"Yeah. We work together to defeat the real monster. After that, the alliance ends. What do you think?"

’Hmm... Sounds interesting...’

"Alright. But only until the real monster is defeated."

"Yeah yeah~" Indigo replied casually.

*On Indigo Side*

With that, we took a short break and relaxed.

I tried to restore my energy that had been used up, and now some of my energy has returned.

I silently stared at Lightnova’s face.

I knew Lightnova was beautiful, but seeing it up close and personal was truly magical...

Lightnova was seen busy bandaging her injured arm.

She then glanced at me.

"Hey? What are you looking at?"

She said with a slightly blushing face.

I was shocked when he suddenly glanced at me and spoke.

"A-ah.. nothing, I just saw your wound"

Lightnova looked at me with her chubby cheeks.

It’s so cute, she looks like a rabbit right now... I really want to pet her head.

With a slightly blushing face, I turned my face away and started to focus on recovering my energy.