"Well, which one shall we go into?" asked Baek So-ah.
"Get your compass out; I'll give you the coordinates," replied Kim Ha-jin.
With Baek So-ah's help, we made our way to the dungeon.
She was a huge help… and practically cleared the place out all by herself.
But when we came face to face with the boss…
Seeing that monster, I froze.
I'd expected to see anything… but not that.
It was enormous. Completely dark blue. However, its back was too frail for such a monster — gaunt, with protruding vertebrae.
'Be careful,' Pak So-ah told me.
Overcome by such intense fear, I slowly retreated behind her.
And suddenly I realised what I was doing…
With a piercing scream, I snatched the sword from behind So-ah and lunged forward.
The boss didn't even bother to look at me.
Without taking his eyes off his meal — a couple of daredevils — he waved his hand.
And one of his vertebrae broke free… and pierced right through me.
Not realising what had happened, I tried to get up…
But the vertebra whizzed past me again.
Pek saved me from death by shielding me with an energy barrier.
She ran over to me and gave me some sort of potion.
'Drink this… and give me the sword! While you're recovering, I'll distract him. Then we'll run straight away!' she said confidently, yet with a mad tenderness.
I didn't even have time to say anything…
She had already rushed forward, throwing vials of poison.
Watching this, my vision went dark…
But not from fear.
On the contrary… from her grace… and partly from the potion.
Her movements were beautiful — she dodged every blow, managing to drink and throw potions.
But she couldn't handle such a monster.
Suddenly, the boss roared with frenzied power.
A multitude of vertebrae burst from his back — they flew off in all directions with a whistling sound.
Pek So-ah was sent flying, passing right past Kim Ha-jin.
Jumping up, she stood beside him and tried to shield him.
But, collapsing from exhaustion, she screamed:
'H-h-help!!'
And at that moment…
She vanished.
And behind the monster appeared a blue silhouette, holding Paek in its arms.
Kim Ha-jin recognised him immediately.
It was Tam-sik.
A second-year student with the element of lightning.
As a swordsman, he wasn't the strongest, but his speed and element more than made up for it.
He was the fastest among the students in the first three years.
Black hair with a bluish tint at the ends, sharply defined cheekbones and hazel eyes.
He was dressed in a cropped, buttoned-up version of a kosode. On his feet were white trainers and baggy black jeans.
Gently pushing Paek So-ah aside, he charged at the boss.
The monster waved its arms, issuing orders to its minions.
But they couldn't keep up with Tamsik's speed.
Blows rained down one after another…
And at the most crucial moment, Tamsik's sword gave way — snapping in two with a crack.
The boss grabbed him by the head…
Squeezing so hard that blood oozed out.
But Tamsik didn't give up.
He plunged the broken blade straight into the monster's throat.
Exhausted, he dropped the remaining part of the sword.
Without wasting a moment, Ha Jin picked it up and struck the boss's shin with all his might.
The monster recoiled and dropped Tamsik.
Baek So-ah immediately caught him, healed him and gave him her sword.
Tamsik, with a piercing scream like a siren, leapt to his feet and rushed back into battle.
While the boss was immobilised, he charged his sword with a massive amount of lightning.
His hands began to burn.
'I've analysed him completely!' he roared, striking the boss in the chest.
The monster was almost completely burnt…
But he survived.
The lightning bolts also struck Kim Ha-jin.
He could barely stand on his feet…
"Let me explain," said Tamsik, brushing a strand of hair back. "I directed the lightning not only to destroy the body, but also sent a pulse to the brain. I've confused its consciousness! Right now, it's learning to move all over again!"
He looked at Ha-jin.
'Hey, you… take this. It's the boss's sword. And get out of here alive. I'll deal with him.'
'Right… thanks for the sword,' said Kim Ha-jin.
I took off my mask…
And at that very moment…
A new ability awoke within me — the ability to steal the powers of objects.
Now I'm definitely going to get stronger.
But…
Now I need to defeat Tamsik.
I don't trust him.
And also…
The ability left a scar.
Small, but noticeable.
It's in the corner of my right lip.