Chapter : 2
The acrid scent of charred flesh and the metallic tang of blood filled the air as Choi Jong-In—formerly Daryl Evangelista—slumped against a gnarled tree. Each ragged breath sent searing pain through his chest, prompting a wet, hacking cough that splattered crimson onto the scorched earth. The aftermath of the cataclysmic battle against the relentless ant horde on Jeju Island lay strewn around him: the lifeless bodies of his comrades, brave hunters who had stood beside him in this doomed raid.
Through the haze of pain and exhaustion, fragmented memories surfaced. He recalled the strategic discussions, the meticulous planning, and the unwavering determination of the team as they embarked on this perilous mission. This was the first Jeju Island raid, a monumental endeavor to reclaim the island from the monstrous ants that had overrun it. The raid had been led by the nation's top S-Rank hunters, including Choi Jong-In, renowned for his unparalleled mastery of fire magic. citeturn0search0
The battle had been fierce and unrelenting. Waves upon waves of ants, some of which were high-level monsters, had besieged them. Despite their formidable skills, the hunters found themselves overwhelmed. Choi Jong-In had unleashed torrents of searing flames, incinerating scores of the creatures, but the onslaught was unending. As his comrades fell one by one, he found himself isolated, encircled by the monstrous swarm.
In that desperate moment, he had made a fateful decision. Summoning the remnants of his mana, he invoked his ultimate ability—a devastating conflagration designed to annihilate everything in its vicinity. The resulting inferno had obliterated the surrounding ants, but the immense expenditure of energy had exacted a lethal toll on his own body. This self-sacrificial act was intended to be his final stand.
Now, grappling with the intertwined consciousness of Daryl and Choi Jong-In, he was struck by a disconcerting realization. In the original timeline, Choi Jong-In was supposed to survive this raid, albeit haunted by the trauma of its failure. citeturn0search4 Yet, in this altered reality, he had perished, only to have Daryl's soul merge with his own in the aftermath.
Pushing through the agony, Choi Jong-In resolved to honor the fallen. One by one, he painstakingly dragged the bodies of his comrades toward the shore—the very point where they had commenced their ill-fated incursion. Each step was a testament to his determination, a silent vow to remember their sacrifice.
Upon reaching the shoreline, he activated his communication device, sending out a distress signal. Moments stretched into eternity before a response crackled through the static. A rescue vessel, stationed nearby in anticipation of such emergencies, was en route.
As the ship approached, the crew was met with a harrowing sight: a lone figure, battered and bloodied, amidst a somber assembly of the dead. The realization that Choi Jong-In, a esteemed S-rank Hunter, was the sole survivor of his team cast a pall over the rescuers. The weight of this tragedy was palpable, a stark reminder of the perilous nature of their world.
As he was lifted aboard, Choi Jong-In's thoughts were a maelstrom of guilt, sorrow, and a burgeoning resolve. The fusion of Daryl's and Jong-In's memories provided him with a unique perspective—a second chance to confront past failures and perhaps alter the course of events yet to unfold. The path ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but one thing was clear: he would not allow their sacrifices to be in vain.