Collapsed.
No, it was more appropriate to say melted.
The flesh began to literally melt under the flames of 'Muspelheim.'
Starting from the point touched by the sword, it melted rapidly, as if hot cheese was flowing down.
Seo Woojin retrieved his sword and silently watched the scene.
The flames that enveloped the body disappeared as if extinguished, and a cold gaze settled on the melting flesh.
'Indeed, they were knights.'
The armor visible through the melting flesh bore clear symbols proving their affiliation with the Imperial Knights.
"How many in the world…?"
Just counting the heads he confirmed with his eyes was more than 20.
So at least that many knights were making up that lump of flesh.
"I don't know if the other are okay."
A sigh escaped Seo Woojin's lips.
The knights were formidable.
While not comparable to Heroes or Ludian, they boasted at least intermediate-level skills.
They could handle most monsters without much effort and slaughter them.
That dozens of knights ended up like this…
"It hasn't even been a day since I entered this place, or rather, no. That's not it."
Seo Woojin, who was speaking, shook his head.
This ruin has a distorted timeline.
Even if Seo Woojin's time hasn't passed a day, it could be different for others.
What if someone like Lim Taeeun spent more than a week wandering here?
It wasn't an entirely implausible hypothesis.
"I have to hurry and find the center of the ruins."
The cause of such anomalies was likely to be at the very center of the ruins.
Usually, that's how it is in games or novels.
But finding the way there was also a problem.
A corridor that extended straight ahead.
Even if you walked along it, it didn't seem like you could reach the center.
If it were that simple, others would have found it.
Seo Woojin turned his head.
There was a massive hole pierced by the melting flesh.
It couldn't withstand the extreme heat of 'Muspelheim' and melted, but it was large enough for Seo Woojin alone to enter.
"… It's a bit scary."
Beyond the hole was a perfect darkness where nothing could be seen. It was as if the universe extended beyond the corridor.
So naturally, stepping into that place could only be frightening.
Because one couldn't know what might happen.
'It's probably better to fight monsters instead.'
The fear of the unknown was also present in Seo Woojin.
But there was no other way.
Simply following this corridor would never lead to the center, or it might take a very long time.
Rather than wasting time like that, it seemed better to explore a different path, even if it meant taking risks.
Even if something happened outside, he was confident he could handle it well.
"Because I can use my strength freely without worrying about other people watching."
Like 'Muspelheim.'
Seo Woojin had more hidden power than the one he revealed.
He took a slight deep breath and stepped forward.
And soon, Seo Woojin's figure disappeared into the darkness.
* * *
"Hey! Did you do that on purpose?"
Seong Yura pushed Kim Da-hye away with a very angry expression.
It was because a bullet had just flown towards her head.
"No, I didn't."
Kim Da-hye shook her head blankly.
"It's not like that! If I hadn't dodged, it would have hit me right in the back of my head…!"
Seong Yura shivered, clenching her teeth.
She was greatly surprised when she first saw the gun.
But she soon realized that its power wasn't that great.
Even if she took a direct hit from Kim Da-hye's bullet, it wouldn't cause any harm to her life.
Of course, there might be some minor injuries, but that was the extent of it.
Realizing this, Seong Yura started to ignore Kim Da-hye even more.
She began to treat Kim Da-hye almost like a servant, considering the usefulness of the profession called 'Alchemy.'
But Kim Da-hye showed no particular reaction.
She simply followed Seong Yura's orders and built houses and facilities as instructed, without a single complaint.
Thanks to that, Seong Yura could exert even more control over Kim Da-hye.
"If you do that one more time, I'll leave you here, so figure it out yourself!"
Nod.
Kim Da-hye continued to nod her head without any change in expression.
"Tsk."
Seeing that, Seong Yura clicked her tongue and moved forward.
The monster they had just encountered was quite strong.
If Kim Da-hye hadn't supported her in time, it could have been a bit dangerous.
Her occupation as a "Saint" was not suitable for combat.
"It's getting tougher."
Seong Yura had been staying here for two weeks already.
The monsters she first encountered were mostly weak enough to be dealt with using just one finger.
However, as time passed, they became increasingly formidable.
Especially the one they had just faced was really strong.
'I need to meet others soon… Why did I have to encounter such an inexperienced one.'
Despite receiving a considerable amount of help from Kim Da-hye, Seong Yura didn't appreciate it at all.
No, she even thought she was at a disadvantage.
Kim Da-hye was just a burden, or so she believed.
The reality was quite different, though.
"Hurry up and come! Stop dawdling."
Kim Da-hye's movements were sluggish.
From Seong Yura's perspective, who wanted to quickly leave this place, it was becoming frustrating.
Although she wanted to separate and wander alone, she couldn't.
Despite not wanting to admit it, she didn't want to roam this place alone again.
"Monster."
At that moment, Kim Da-hye suddenly aimed her gun forward and said.
"What?"
She quickly turned her head.
Then, a huge, muscular monster with a cow head was rushing towards them.
Despite appearing to be easily over two meters tall, strangely, they didn't sense any movement or signs—no cries, footsteps, or life.
Tat-tat-tat-tat!
Once again, Kim Da-hye's gun spewed fire.
Although there was Seong Yura between her and the monster, she wore an expression that didn't care about such things.
"Hey! Seriously!"
Startled, Seong Yura barely dodged the bullets and screamed.
But that was a mistake.
The monster that appeared this time was not someone she could afford to underestimate, even if she turned a blind eye.
Ignoring all of Kim Da-hye's bullets with his bare body, the monster swung his fist in perfect condition without shedding a drop of blood.
Despite the attack remaining completely silent, Seong Yura, surprised, raised her arms to defend herself.
Boom!
A shock as if her arms were shattered transmitted throughout her body.
Kwang!
Fortunately, she avoided a direct hit, but because she was not able to defend against the shockwave, Seong Yura ended up half-buried in the wall.
Seeing this, Kim Da-hye canceled the "summon."
It seemed she judged that K-2 would not be able to cause significant damage.
Quickly opening her sketchbook, she selected one of the items stored in the "Storage."
"Summon."
With a bright light, something long began to take shape in her hand.
"You, you! No way…!"
Seong Yura, who barely came to her senses, opened her eyes wide when she saw what Kim Da-hye was holding her in her hand.
"If you shoot that, I won't let you off!"
However, as if not hearing her words, Kim Da-hye activated what she held.
Whoosh!
Allah's magic wand.
A pink-ribboned, colorful RPG-7 warhead flew toward the monster.
"Yaaah!"
At the same time that Seong Yura, who was nearby, screamed, the warhead exploded.
Kuaaaaang-!
* * *
"Huh?"
Seo Woojin perked up his ears.
"It sounded like something just happened."
It wasn't loud.
But something definitely audible, stimulating the eardrums, could be heard.
Seo Woojin changed direction, moving toward the source of the sound.
"I really can't see anything here."
Although he was quite tense, the dark space did not cause any harm.
No, it was more like…
'It's comfortable.'
As if it were the place he saw when leveling up.
Seo Woojin continued to wander around the dark space, feeling cozy.
But even here, he couldn't find any clues to locate other people.
Finally, a change was detected.
Seo Woojin quickly lifted his feet.
How far did he run?
Something began to appear in front of Seo Woojin.
"What's this?"
It's a crack.
In the middle of a space where nothing exists, there was a crack.
Seo Woojin cautiously reached his hand towards it.
"It's touchable."
Although nothing was visible to the eye, the crack could be touched.
It meant there was something tangible.
"If that's the case."
Seo Woojin drew his sword without hesitation.
Then, with all his strength, he swung the sword down.
Swish-!
With the sound of tearing fabric, the crack widened.
Bright light began to seep through it.
Seo Woojin looked beyond with eyes filled with anticipation.
And finally, with a rumbling sound, the space collapsed.
"Huh?"
Seo Woojin widened his eyes at the sight before him.
"Dahye!"
Surprisingly, on the other side of the rift, there was Kim Da-hye, one of the team members he had been desperately searching for.
But it wasn't only a joyous reunion.
"…Seong Yura? And that thing over there…"
It was a massive monster.
Whether it had just been in a battle moments ago or not, a monster with a burnt body was silently screaming in pain.
"Let's talk about the details later."
Although it was nice to meet Kim Da-hye, Seo Woojin decided to deal with the monster first.
"Aura."
The monster in front of him was unfamiliar.
It seemed quite formidable, but it didn't give off the grotesque vibe of a flesh-like monster.
With just one skill, it seemed easy enough to defeat.
Moreover, it was already quite injured, so handling it wouldn't be too difficult.
Swish!
Seo Woojin's black sword, imbued with 'Aura' separated the monster's head from its body.
It was a clean and flawless strike.
The beheaded creature turned to ashes and disappeared.
At the same time…
A bright light burst from Seo Woojin's body.
[You have leveled up.]
Seo Woojin's level had increased.
While defeating the flesh and feeling that the experience points were almost filled, he didn't expect to level up right away.
Before Seo Woojin's eyes, a black space unfolded.
It felt similar to the darkness of ruins.
But it was much cozier than that.
It truly felt like being in a mother's embrace.
"I thought I'd never come back."
It wasn't unreasonable to think that way since he hadn't been able to come here even though he leveled up after level 10.
Seo Woojin looked around with a pleasant smile, feeling the fulfillment he hadn't experienced in a long time.
Naturally, he expected there to be nothing, but that wasn't the case.
"What's that over there?"
There was something in the middle of the black space.
It was like…
"A book?"
It was a large book.
Seo Woojin unconsciously took steps toward it.
And he read the title of the book.
[Chronicles of the Demon King of Another World.]