“Kwa kwa kwa kwa—” the rapids writhed and pounded the passage all around. Even an ordinary person couldn’t stand against such fierce current. Even S-rank Hunters were disrupted. Holding me, Yuhyun ran, stepping on willow leaves. Peace carried Director Song and Riet, Noah took Marie and Samir. Ye-rim and the freed Hwangrim used flying skills, and Hyun-ah walked on the wind.

[Right!]

Just after the newcomer’s message, a large exit appeared far down on the right side of the passage.

“That way!”

The moment I shouted, starting with Peace at the lead, we all turned that direction. The raging waves chased right up behind us. Then suddenly.

Splash!

The wave flattened as though ducking down. At the same time, at our feet it stretched along the floor and began to surge ahead of us at terrifying speed. It was literally a torrent. In an instant, the water that had flowed to the exit

Shoo-aaah—

rose up in one breath. The wave, coalesced like a giant’s fist, pounded the exit. Kwa-aang, the exit vanished as space warped and water splashed in all directions. The wave, having struck the wall hard, turned back toward us heading to the exit!

—Kyah!

Peace was the first to be swept away. Ye-rim tried to manipulate the water, but she couldn’t overcome the Mermaid Queen’s dominion. Yuhyun pressed me firmly to him, turning my back to the wave. Immediately water cascaded down.

‘Ugh!’

Even embraced by Yuhyun, I felt the fierce current. My vision filled with water in an instant. Holding my breath, I was shoved to the opposite wall. Thud, I hit the wall and bobbed to the surface.

Splash! The wave that had struck us settled back to the floor. With no time to use underwater action items, coughs echoed around us. Grrr, Peace shook his wet body in irritation. But there was no time to regain composure.

“It’s coming again!”

Thanks to Chang-rang’s earring, Ye-rim, who suffered the least damage, shouted. Kwar-rung, with thunderous sound the water filled the passage beyond. People submerged in water hurried to their feet at the terrifying onrush.

“Newbie! Nearby—cough—get us to the exit!”

[Don’t make it collide with senior Water Drop’s power! Keep distance to be safe!]

Damn. Another exit appeared. But it was still several breaths away. The water was still churning violently. With no other choice, we ran for the exit again. But once more.

Shoo-aaahhh—

We couldn’t outpace the water. Ye-rim used teleportation, but she still plunged into the water. Yuhyun tried to ignite fire, but he couldn’t vaporize that much water. Chiiiiik, in the steam I was submerged again. Was swept to the end of the passage and spat out water in coughs.

[Honey! Stay strong!]

Even if they told me to stay strong. We were slower. The exit always appeared at a distance. What to do... Since we couldn’t outrun it, we had to break through before the wave shattered the door.

“Riet! Can you cut water?”

“I can cut it! But only briefly. I can’t make a passage you can go through. It’ll rejoin right away since it’s water!”

But at least it wasn’t impossible. I sucked in a short breath and used Teacher Skill. There was no one to refuse, and many had keyword applied, but because my condition was poor, my vision swam. Yuhyun looked at me with concern.

“You used Teacher Skill, right?”

“Jin-a, what about you?”

“You just wait—Master will scoop you up.”

The Puppeteer looked after me well. When Teacher Skill is used, he shares combat senses to some extent, but why would he trust Hwangrim with it? He wasn’t fully trustworthy. I shared Seong Hyunjae’s Combat Foresight skill and opened the message window.

[Riet, prepare to slice the wave.]

If I spoke, the Mermaid Queen would hear. But she couldn’t peek at the message I sent. Unlike the newbie, the Mermaid Queen wasn’t at the creator level.

Soon the third exit appeared.

[Honey. Give up.]

I ignored the Mermaid Queen’s whispered message. Riet drew a giant greatsword about as tall as herself and stood on Peace’s back. Director Song supported Riet from behind. Peace regulated speed and Yuhyun followed closely. Ye-rim flew ahead of Moon Hyun-ah.

Kurrrrlung, with a rumble like the earth shaking, the water surged forward. Still at tremendous speed. At the moment it rose into a wave that ran faster across the floor than we could reach the exit—

“Now!”

Riet’s blade was drawn in a long arc. At the same time, I held in my hand a bow that seemed made of glass. Yuhyun’s fire became arrows, and Irin’s spirit fluttered at the tips.

Shoo-aaahk— The blade’s tip sliced through space. The air beyond, the wave too. The power of severance carved a long line across the wave and instantly, thoom— Yuhyun released the string. Seizing the brief opening, the entwined fire and spirit surged fiercely.

Chiiiiik! Steam billowed, flames writhed, pushing the water aside. A large hole opened where the wave had been cut away, and through it Ye-rim teleported. Moon Hyun-ah’s wind embraced Ye-rim, securing her repositioning with near-hyper-speed.

Jja-jak— Around the circular opening, ice formed. Having been cut and boiled, mixed with others’ mana, Ye-rim’s magic took hold. A path was carved.

“Hurry!”

Pressed by Ye-rim’s warning that we couldn’t hold long, we charged for the round ice hole at full speed. The exit lay clear ahead. Just as we thought we’d escape—

Jjeok, jjeong!

An even mightier chill blew in. The exit itself, soaked in the cut wave’s remnants, froze solid.

—Grrr!

Peace’s forepaw scraped the exit, but it didn’t budge. Peace breathed flame, and Yuhyun raised an indigo blaze. But the heat couldn’t melt it as fast as the chill set it.

Kwarrrrr, water began gushing again. A cobalt wave bore down before us.

[Give up.]

I sank beneath the water. Air bubbles rose. Shoo-aaah, Yuhyun rose to the surface holding me. He stepped across a willow leaf and stood. Penetrating the barrier was impossible.

“...We absolutely must reach the exit before the water.”

Though I said it, how? Continued being swept by the wave would drain even an S-rank’s stamina until exhaustion. Still, we headed for the exit.

[Only Honey needs to remain.]

[Everyone can return safely.]

Messages from the Mermaid Queen continued. If only I stayed behind... It sounded tempting. A fourth exit shattered and a fifth emerged. Water surged in unendingly.

“How can we stop this?”

Riet jumped off Peace’s back, shaking her water-soaked hair in irritation. A colossal black dragon appeared and blocked the wave’s path. It charged in a thud, but—

—Krrk!

The water, momentarily stalled, shoved Riet straight back. The dragon’s claws scraped the floor, kaga-gak, but shortly it too was swept away by the wave, crashing with a crash into the wall.

“...Ugh, that hurts!”

The fifth exit collapsed. Fatigue began to show on everyone’s faces.

[Honey!]

The newcomer’s message felt like stamping feet. A sixth exit flickered in the distance. Even though the water ran ahead again, ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) we moved.

“...Hyung.”

Then Yuhyun frowned. Ye-rim also faltered, anger in her tone.

“What nonsense! I’m not leaving with just you, mister!”

...So the Mermaid Queen was messaging everyone. Promising safety if I stayed. Yuhyun’s arm tensed.

“If you stay, I stay too.”

A resolute voice that would never abandon me spoke. Ye-rim and Noah echoed back cheerfully.

“Me too! I’ll stay with you, so don’t say nonsense!”

“That’s right, Yujin. Don’t pass over it!”

I blinked water-laden eyes, forcing an awkward smile. Even if I wanted to stay, I didn’t have the strength. How could I pry Yuhyun’s arm from me?

“I have too much to do to stay, but I’m not leaving you behind either.”

“Noah’s all I need~ Noah, you’re not leaving, right?”

“...Yes.”

“See!”

“Count me in too! At a time like this, you stick together!”

Marie nodded knowingly. I was grateful. But there was no answer.

[We won’t harm Honey.]

[We care about Honey.]

[Honey]

[Honey]

[Honey]

[Give up]

[Honey]

[Honey]

[Honey]

Silent messages mixed with the roar of water echoed in my ears. I felt trapped inside a giant conch shell calling my name. Droplets lingered in the air. It felt as if I could breathe underwater. The newbie continued expanding and extending the passage to form exits, but the water likewise rapidly widened domain.

“Yuhyun.”

“No. I don’t need to hear it.”

My attempt to speak was cut off. Another exit collapsed, farther away than before. The water grew faster than us. No, we grew slower. How many potions left? At this rate we’d collapse from exhaustion.

Better to let all be caught than only I stay behind.

[Honey! Senior Water Drop’s domination is growing!]

[If it fully becomes the Mermaid Queen’s territory, you can’t make exits!]

“You, newbie, your domain—”

[The system’s too weak and broken to let go!]

[Just two or three more times]

[More is impossible]

[It’s hard!]

[Honey]

[It’s okay, Honey]

Even the exits would soon vanish. Only two or three chances left. One vanished before our eyes. I gripped Yuhyun’s arm tight. Whispered so the others couldn’t hear.

“Do you want to stay with me?”

Because you’ll never let go. Yuhyun looked down at me. Beneath her wet hair, her eyes curved in a smile. I knew her answer without hearing it. I slid my hand to the color on her waist. Seong Hyunjae, still unable to fully muster his power, I tucked back inside and zipped the pocket.

“It’s dangerous. Don’t worry and just stay put.”

Yuhyun kicked off a willow leaf hard. Approached Peace and handed my pack to Director Song, then discreetly stepped back.

[Newbie, this is the last one. Make the exit solid. I’m counting on you.]

I sent a message to the newbie. Glanced back at the pursuing wave. To keep others unsuspecting, we’d have to pretend to flee too.

[I’m staying behind, so don’t break the door and keep up the threat. Promise to keep it.]

I also sent a message to the Mermaid Queen. The last exit opened. Water roared mightily. But this time it misaligned, slammed into the wall and slowed.

“At about two-thirds point.”

I unzipped my pack and whispered. Too early and it would seem suspicious. Better when they had no time to think. Yuhyun nodded slightly. I quietly withdrew Teacher Skill. Shook my head at Director Song looking back, showing exhaustion. The water was right on our heels. It looked ready to grab us, but this time it didn’t overtake.

We passed halfway and the exit rapidly approached. I tightened my grip on the pack. A faint tapping sounded from inside. They’d noticed anyway. Still, it hadn’t returned to its original size. Now to pass it to Director Song—

“Han Yuhyun!”

Ye-rim’s voice sounded.

“Run as you are!”

Shoo-aaah— The wave struck. The night’s wave stained with darkness, lit by moonlight. I snapped awake. My spine chilled. The night-sea wave, Ye-rim’s SS-rank bracelet. Its special effect, summon a night wave once per day.

“Ye-rim!”

The indigo-silver wave collided with the wave chasing us. Kwar-rung! Water and water created a tremendous resonance. There, Ye-rim hovered with a spear held upright between them.

“Park Ye-rim! You—”

“Did you think I wouldn’t know? It was so obvious!”

Just from Yuhyun’s expression, Ye-rim laughed. The exit drew close. Peace’s wings faltered. Moon Hyun-ah’s stride slowed. Even Yuhyun turned back. Even with teleportation, Ye-rim couldn’t make it.

My heart raced. It felt like burning pitch-black fire.

“We have to go back—!”

We couldn’t leave her behind. If someone had to stay, it’d be me. But at that hesitation—

Splash! The wave struck at our feet. In an instant the surge drove us back.

“I’m going now!”

Ye-rim shouted. Through the towering indigo water I faintly saw her turning toward us. The water thrust us forcibly. Shoo-aa, with the drumming in our ears we were flung past the exit. The scent of wet grass filled my nostrils.

“Cough, Ye-rim! Park Ye-rim!”

Inside, water filled the door. The deep night-water hue rapidly cleared. Bluer and bluer. Before the last person could slip through the wall of blue water—

Bang.

The door slammed shut.