BCGWR Chapter 12 Part 1

011. That Which Nothing Can Replace 5

Thump- Thump-

His heart pounded so violently he could feel its rhythm against his skin. Perhaps his blood was rushing; he could barely stand upright.

Han Ji-su struggled to compose his breathing and pulled away from Jin Bo-ra, who was supporting him. Ji-su knew that she hadn’t told him everything yet. She wasn’t meeting his gaze, unlike the Jin Bo-ra Esper he usually knew.

So, he forced eye contact, looking at her as if urging her to tell him everything, but she remained tight-lipped, holding back her words. For some reason, it felt suspicious. This was especially true because all three of them had exchanged a troubled look when they saw Ji-su, just before answering that Kang Jae-yoon was left alone.

Of course, it was possible he was just on edge from seeing the abnormal gate and misinterpreting things. But a strong premonition told him there was something more, something different from usual.

‘Is it because I’m close with Hyung, and they’re worried I might do something reckless?’

There was no point in speculating about what he didn’t know, and thinking wasn’t Ji-su’s strong suit.

Right now, the thought of Kang Jae-yoon being alone inside made him incredibly anxious.

He didn’t know what could be so important that Kang Jae-yoon had to check it alone, especially when the entire combat team was evacuated due to the danger, but that dark red Dungeon Gate, which he had never seen before, was absolutely not a normal phenomenon.

And Kang Jae-yoon hadn’t seen this abnormal gate yet. He was inside alone, unaware that something was gravely wrong, so only one thought dominated Ji-su’s mind: he absolutely had to get him out of the dungeon.

Han Ji-su, having made a firm decision, began to retrieve equipment from his Inventory and put it on. Unlike his hands, which trembled terribly with tension, his expression was filled with resolve, making it clear what he was thinking without having to ask.

“Han Ji-su Guide, Guides do not enter. So…”

“I’ll go in first, just in case. I can find Kang Jae-yoon Hyung right away.”

“…”

“Squeak!?”

Everyone, including Toto, who had been holding his breath, looked at him as if asking what he meant, and Han Ji-su said, as he put on leather half-gloves with numerous rare options.

“You said Kang Jae-yoon Hyung stayed to check something, right? Then he might have moved to another place alone. Hyung and I have bound items that allow us to move to each other.”

“Is it a designated target teleport item?”

Ji-su nodded, then adorned the wrist wearing his smartwatch with a bracelet full of dazzling jewels.

“Instead, we have to be in the same place. Either both outside the dungeon, or both inside the same dungeon. Since there’s no cooldown right now, I can use it immediately.”

Before Jin Bo-ra could begin to object, Han Ji-su hastily added.

“You said the monsters near the gate were handled, didn’t you? As soon as I enter, I’ll move to Hyung, inform him of the situation, use a Return Stone, and come out to join the combat team. What are the changed ranks and terrain now?”

The recalculation was already finished, so it wasn’t a difficult question, but again, Han Ji-su didn’t get the answer he wanted immediately.

Ji-su, who had just put on the ring that allowed him to move to Kang Jae-yoon, looked up at Jin Bo-ra, who remained silent. However, she was simply staring past Han Ji-su’s shoulder, her lips slightly parted in an expression of utter astonishment, as if greatly surprised by something.

Seeing her expression, which clearly showed her shock, unlike her usual confident self, Han Ji-su instinctively followed her gaze, turned around, and stiffened his shoulders.

“…!! What in the world is that…”

The dark red Dungeon Gate, which had maintained a circular ring shape just moments ago, crumpled into a grotesque, distorted form as if it were a piece of paper, and then began to spew jet-black mist. At that, the surroundings grew even more chaotic.

“Huh? Look over there!”

“What is that!?”

“What!? Why is it doing that again?”

Everyone on site was aghast at the never-before-seen phenomenon.

The Dungeon Gate twisted and stretched wildly, as if an invisible giant hand were kneading slime, pulling it, gathering it, and then stretching it out again.

The moment the gate, flattened as if crushed, stretched out so long it seemed about to tear, a chilling scream erupted from the elongated gap: “Kieeeeeeeeeee——!”

“Ugh!”

“Kugh!!!”

“Squeak!!!”

Everyone who heard that grotesque scream, including Toto, clutched their ears and fell to their knees. Han Ji-su also covered his ears with both hands and knelt. His head buzzed, and his eardrums felt like they would burst.

He barely managed to open his eyes halfway and lifted his head, only to see the gate flatten again, continuing to emit black smoke.

“…Kugh… Everyone… run…!”

The moment someone barely managed to shout, the Espers who had regained their senses sprang up and began to tend to the fallen Guides and Healers around them.

Jin Bo-ra also grabbed Han Ji-su’s arm and tried to move towards Park Min-ah and Lee Soo-bin. Just then, the gate stretched out again, letting out an even louder, more chilling scream.

“Ugh!!!”

Eventually, Jin Bo-ra also fell to her knees on the ground.

“Kugh!”

“Argh!”

“Ughh!”

Even the Espers who had endured the first sound all collapsed to the ground, covering their ears and curling up. Whatever the nature of that horrifying sound, it felt like it was tearing at their eardrums, seizing their brains, and squeezing them.