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One-to-many.
However, the relaxed side was Minerva alone, and the nervous side was the group.
None of them thought to move.
Even Han Soo-young and Jin Ye-seul were looking at Minerva only, even though they wanted to look at Yoo Ji-hyeok’s condition, which had been ruined right now, like a chimney.
It was because they all knew well that she was a formidable enemy that could kill everyone present at the moment.
Ahn Joo-hyuk, who was kicked by Minerva and flew away, was the one who moved as if torn in the atmosphere of a thread that was pulled tight as if it was about to break at any moment.
“Hey, it’s the neck.”
He stuttered as he grabbed his neck with one hand.
A healer who is said to be able to bring even the dead back to life, and a fighter who possesses a body that can be restored in an instant even if half of his body is blown away, he murmured as he stared at Minerva.
“Kicking your head all the time, he’s a really smart guy.”
“You are a very strong human being. I kicked it with quite a bit of force, but it’s okay.”
Minerva said so and looked at him.
Then he shook his head slightly and said, pointing to himself in the form of a dragon, who was running wild in the distance.
“Can I not go over there? All your co-workers are over there. So far, no one has died or is alive, but the moment the balance is disrupted, they will be annihilated in an instant.”
She looked at Ahn Joo-hyuk with crimson eyes.
“How much less, if someone with healing skills is missing, the vacancy is even greater.”
Ahn Joo-hyuk snorted as if it was not even reasonable.
“Who is worrying about mere monsters right now?”
He murmured as he loosened his throat with a rumble.
“Whatever the order, it doesn’t change that you have to kill him along with him. It’s difficult to come here and to join in here… .”
As he spoke up to that point, he glanced at Yoo Ji-hyuk.
“More than anything else, I think I found a good way to kill you. As a supporter, I plan to do my best to assist.”
Ahn Joo-hyuk walked slowly and approached Yoo Ji-hyuk.
Then he gently touched his shoulder.
Although it may not be visible to other people, a notification window appeared in front of Yoo Ji-hyeok telling him that he was recovering at a frightening speed.
“… I don’t know what it is, but I don’t trust you again this time.”
He passed him by muttering in a low voice that only Yoo Ji-hyuk could hear.
Then, as he passed right next to Ahn Do-hoon, he murmured in a hoarse voice.
“And Dohoon, you can talk to me later.”
“Sir, uncle.”
Ahn Do-hoon answered with a trembling voice and looked at Ahn Joo-hyuk, but Lee Ye-eun smiled brightly at Yoo Ji-hyuk, who looked at Ahn Do-hoon like that in a strange way.
“It’s not about anyone else, Jihyuk-ah. I think you too will be sentenced to probation for a while in the room right next to my dorm once this job is over.”
“… … .”
Yoo Ji-hyuk did not answer, but kept his mouth shut.
Then Sbangali chuckled and opened her mouth.
[If I die now, I might be able to die as a hero, but maybe that would be better?]
At Sbangali’s words, Yoo Ji-hyuk burst out laughing as if he had heard an interesting story.
Then, Yeeun Lee said in a harsh voice, as if her words were not a joke.
“This isn’t just a statement, it’s the truth. I’m not good at keeping it a secret from you either, but it’s no different than committing suicide in this way… .”
“like.”
“yes?”
Jihyuk nodded his head slightly.
“Not only noona, Sooyoung, Yesul, Hyeonu, Ivan, Yuna… I will unconditionally listen to what everyone asks of me.”
He took a small breath and mumbled.
“I brought everyone here, so at least I have to.”
Yeeun Lee didn’t say anything, just turned her head and looked ahead.
When Yoo Ji-hyeok, who had recovered to some extent, was about to fall, she gently let him go.
“… … .”
And Minerva continued to stare at Yoo Ji-hyuk without saying a word.
Sbengali opened his mouth with a serious voice as he slowly turned his head in a sense of guilt.
[For a while, Margo and his by-products won’t bother you.]
Jihyuk nodded his head slightly.
[But right now, don’t use that ability and wait a little longer and wait.]
‘What do you mean, let’s recover a little bit more and go inside, right?’
Yoo Ji-hyuk moved only his lips and spoke silently.
[Yeah, that’s it. We should raise the possibility a little more.]
At Yoo Ji-hyuk’s words, Sbangali responded.
[Anyway, as you are well aware, the power has already been greatly reduced due to one use. It must have been buffered to some extent due to the evolution of powers… .]
‘It will be fine.’
Yoo Ji-hyeok said not to worry to Sbangali, who was muttering as if he was anxious.
“At least I’m not alone now.”
Yoo Ji-hyeok said that out of his mouth without realizing it, as if to tell Sbangali to trust him.
Then, as if hearing his voice, Han Soo-young smiled a little.
“Jihyuk, you really died later.”
Choi Hyun-woo drew his sword and nodded.
“Then I will help you.”
Ivan silently opened her magic bow and started muttering something, and Lee Yu-na was nervous, so she gulped and swallowed and looked around.
“… This time, I’m not going to do anything ugly.”
Jin Ye-seul murmured while fiddling with the amulets with healing spells that tightly wrapped around her right arm.
Ahn Joo-hyuk clenched his fist and stepped forward, and Belluna sighed and created a small whirlpool in her hands.
And as if to escort him, Yoo Ji-hyuk began to catch his breath while looking at Lee Ye-eun, who was standing next to him, pulling an arrow, and Ahn, Do-hoon, who lifted his lance.
At least it’s possible because I’m not alone.
As he said, he too had to believe so.
* * *
Ahn Joo-hyuk was the first to move.
It was Minerva and Belluna who moved next.
Ahn Joo-hyuk quickly poured mana and stacked numerous buffs on everyone in this position.
Having done something that would be terrifying to other healers and supporters, he also buffed himself and faced Minerva running towards him.
“… huh.”
The poison that erupted from Minerva’s hands turned like a dragon’s head and shot out.
However, all of them were either thrown into the air or trapped in a small storm as they were thrown out of their tracks according to Belluna’s gestures.
“Ahhh!”
Ahn Joo-hyeok punched Minerva with all his might.
However, she easily blocked his fist with one hand, and Ahn Joo-hyuk quickly grabbed her hand as if he had not expected it from the beginning.
Minerva and Joo-hyuk Ahn.
The two looked at each other with their hands clasped as if they were dancing.
“… Are you going to fight me for power?”
Ahn Joo-hyuk grinned at her words, which seemed to mumble as if puzzled.
“Even if it looks like this, I’m a little strong.”
“It’s not up to me.”
Suddenly, a terrifying sound as if flesh and bones were being chopped rang out.
Something came out of Ahn Joo-hyuk’s palms.
They were sharp like dragon claws.
“Ouch… !”
“Now I’m starting to feel impatient. So don’t rush it a bit.”
Still looking at Yoo Ji-hyuk, Minerva muttered like that.
And as soon as those words were finished, a definite change began to take place in her body.
Scales reminiscent of reptiles sprouted on the legs, which looked pure white and silky, and the bare feet that looked small and fragile were changing to resemble those of a dragon.
After that, the pupil, which had been torn vertically, was torn even bigger and more clearly, and the horns, which were originally large and overbearing, grew into a shape that could be pierced just by touching them.
Her bright crimson eyes turned red as if it had been stained with blood, and from her wide open mouth, sharp and huge fangs were growing as if she had become a vampire.
“Will you be okay even if you get hit with this?”
She muttered with a snort, who had changed into a more aggressive and sharp voice than when she was a perfect human.
After grabbing Ahn Joo-hyuk tightly so that he could not escape, she opened her mouth small, and a spark like an exploding spark began to flow from inside, along with the old poison.
“… … !”
And Choi Hyeon-woo, who had come closer, swung his sword towards her slightly opened mouth as if he would not miss it.
The sword was swung with the momentum to cut it out from the top of his chin as it is, but he suddenly stopped moving as if it was fixed in a vise.
“Obsidian sword? It’s pretty good stuff.”
Minerva, who had bitten Choi Hyun-woo’s sword and stopped it, muttered like that.
“But there is no place for you, child.”
Her mouth was tightly shut with a squeak, and at the same time, Choi Hyun-woo’s sword literally shattered.
“Cuckoo!”
Choi Hyun-woo, who was looking at the shattered sword with empty eyes, kicked it as it was and fell far away.
And Minerva moved his leg as it was and easily blocked Ahn Joo-hyuk’s foot from kicking him.
“Don’t take it from your neck first.”
With those words, Minerva tried to bite off Ahn Joo-hyuk’s neck, but he rather digs into the crack in Minerva’s balance and lifts her up.
Then, arrows made of branches of the World Tree and arrows made of magical power flew towards Minerva, which floated in the air from different directions.
They were arrows shot by Yeeun Lee and Ivan, respectively.
“Hmm… It’s pretty sharp.”
With those words, something long came out from under Minerva’s dress.
It was none other than the tail.
She swung her tail like a whip, deflecting arrows without difficulty.
And driving that momentum, he aimed at the center of Ahn Joo-hyuk’s chest and swung his tail.
Koo!
“Ohh.”
As his attack was blocked, Minerva blinked slightly, in rare surprise.
Her tail was blocked by a wall of magical power, and she couldn’t go any further.
Minerva licked her lips with her tongue as she looked at Yuuna who held out her hands.
“It’s a magic that looks delicious.”
For a moment, she could see something flying towards her face.
Jin Ye-seul, who had moved through Henir’s shadow, appeared from her short distance.
Minerva avoided Jin Ye-seul’s hand without difficulty, and while aiming at her neck, she skillfully blew the blade of the wind blown by Belluna.
However, Ahn Do-hoon’s lance, which came in a little later, tore the hem of the dress that had been fluttering a little.
“this… !”
That was then.
Up until this point, she, who had never been so relaxed, suddenly became furious and radiated an overwhelmingly strong momentum.
“What?!”
It was so strong that it was pushed by the momentum and Jin Ye-seul was thrown out.
However, Ahn Do-hoon had no choice but to stop as if he was nailed to the spot because of the tail that held it tightly to his waist.
“Dare, dare… !”
Minerva, who was repeating only those words as if crying out, suddenly opened his mouth to Ahn Do-hoon.
The poisonous breath of the past was gathering in her mouth.
“Do-hun, avoid it!”
Ahn Joo-hyuk saw this and tried to protect Ahn Do-hoon by blowing himself up, but Minerva skillfully moved his hands as if he had expected that, and smashed him and blew him away.
“ね… !”
Ahn Do-hoon struggled to escape from the pain that seemed to crush his back, but it was all in vain.
Then, a breath to literally evaporate Ahn Do-hoon came out of her mouth… .
It curves and glides across her cheek.
“What?!”
Minerva, startled for a moment, threw Ahn Do-hoon and took a few steps back without realizing it.
Then he turned his head to somewhere with bitter eyes, and there stood Han Soo-young, shaking his body with a nosebleed.
“Spatial series. Could it be that that young girl was also a space-related talent?”
Han Soo-young, who received tremendous power in an instant, was staring at Minerva while trembling.
Minerva nodded quietly as she watched her sneak the blood from her nose with the back of her hand.
It meant that one of the five victims was chosen as Han Soo-young.
It was the moment when Minerva, who had made the decision, was about to throw herself at Han Soo-young.
As if drawn to something, she jerked, stopped moving, and stared at a place in the blink of an eye.
Yoo Ji-hyuk was there.
“… … .”
A notification window that only one person could check began to appear in front of him.
[The King of Thorns has been activated.]
[While the ‘King of the Thorn Tree’ lasts, most of the abilities of ‘Branch of the World Tree’ are sealed.]
[Health, strength, and agility values increase overwhelmingly.]
[Resistance against all status ailments is greatly increased.]
[A skill level correction has been added to the spear and bow.]
[The moment ‘King of Thorns’ is released in proportion to the time used, you fall into a cursed state in which all stats temporarily decrease. This curse cannot be cast in any other way.]
[The thorns will soon be you.]
The king of thorns.
The power obtained by absorbing the power of Sbangali.
Yoo Ji-hyeok, who wore it, looked at Minerva quietly.
Minerva just stared blankly at the figure, which was quite different from the previous one.
“ah.”
It was what it looked like back then.
That figure at that time, that energy when you overcame yourself.
He was then and is here now.
When she realized that, she was walking towards him without realizing it.
“Ahh… !”
Staring at the missing figure, Minerva was already running towards him without realizing it.
In a way, it was as if he was running towards him to be embraced.