Chapter 162 : Chapter 162

Chapter 162

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍mana of the Dragon Heart resonated with my mana.

My ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍vision darkened, and, having lost all sensation, I was drawn along the flow of mana.

How ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍much time passed like that?

Little ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍by little, light seeped back into my sight, and a city engulfed in flames unfolded before me.

……

This ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was Gangneung from thirteen years ago.

The very day that incident occurred—the one that had driven Lee Eunho to fury.

And the owner of the vision being shared now was…

─How did it feel, digging up someone else’s shame?

It was Rachel.

This scene was unmistakably a memory of the past, imprinted within her mana.

Which meant… she had not run away.

More precisely, she could not run away.

Rachel from thirteen years ago, in human form, had thrown herself into the chaos and was mercilessly slaughtering the citizens of Gangneung.

Watching that, I spoke in a low voice.

“She was not a coward. To think she was being controlled by a magic tool—the Cone Hat of Pride…”

The Cone Hat of Pride had the ability to arbitrarily dominate monsters within a certain range.

The hat that Hyun Jaejun was supposed to be sealing had already fallen into the hands of a Demonic Being, and Rachel had rushed in to help Gangneung, only to be unable to resist the hat’s magic.

A Dragon should have been able to withstand it, but she had been a hatchling, not an adult.

─Yes. And because of that, I committed countless murders.

“……Because you were being controlled.”

─Even if you acknowledge that, the dead will not return.

My vision darkened again.

A moment later, light returned, revealing Gangneung reduced to ash.

And Rachel, wailing with grief amid the ashes.

─Everything was the result of my ignorance. It was karma that permitted neither blame nor resentment toward anyone…

……

─But I could not accept it. That is why, as you said, I chose seclusion. As you said, I fled so that I would not become entangled with the Demonic Being and Hyun Yuyeol.

I watched the weeping Rachel for a long while before asking at last.

“From whose position are you speaking now? The Rachel I met earlier? Or the Rachel within this memory imprinted in mana?”

─A memory. My own heart, which I piled deep inside myself and refused to face.

“Good. Then forget the past. Even if you had helped properly, Gangneung would have fallen anyway.”

─……!

Once more, my vision darkened.

Within that darkness, Rachel appeared before me in the complete form of a Dragon.

─What do you mean?

“I mean exactly what I said. Your regret and lingering attachment are meaningless.”

─The outcome is not what matters. I failed to keep faith with Hyun Yuyeol. I am clinging to that alone.

“Then writhe in that regret for the rest of your life.”

─You…

“Am I wrong? If you keep clutching at your attachment, what changes? In the end, you will only keep justifying yourself while plotting something spiteful, like this.”

For an instant, space rippled.

The Dragon glared as though she might tear me to pieces at any moment.

I did not stop. I continued.

“Did you truly need to run from Gangwon-do? …Ah. Or are you atoning to Hyun Yuyeol by trapping yourself on this island forever? It is unfortunate, but it accomplishes nothing. The only beings who know you are gone—except for the Demonic Being you despise. In other words, you are throwing a tantrum all by yourself. You cannot even take revenge on the Demonic Beings who destroyed Gangneung, you fool.”

─……

At some point, the rippling of space subsided.

Quiet darkness.

Rachel spoke only after a long silence.

─I… What should I do now?

“Judge, choose, and take responsibility. That is all.”

─I want revenge on them. I want to burn the Demonic Beings who made me kill hundreds of humans.

“Rather than lamenting, would it not be faster to beg the Demonic Beings to cross the Pacific Ocean for you? Of course, they will not come. They would have to be insane.”

─Then what am I supposed to…

I could sense the change in the Dragon’s expression.

That face held remorse.

Pressing Rachel this far seemed sufficient.

“Well, it is not as though there is no method at all.”

─……?

“Ironically, our goals seem similar.”

─What do you mean?

“That revenge—I will do it for you. I am also pursuing the Demonic Beings to uncover the full truth of what happened thirteen years ago. And I intend to wipe them out completely.”

─Wipe them out… You are telling me to let you inherit my power. But if that happens, I will no longer be able to exist as myself.

What inheriting a Dragon Heart meant was the Dragon’s eternal slumber.

The will within that mana would remain, but Rachel herself would vanish from this land forever.

“Of course, if I am unlucky, I may be the one who ends up taken instead. But is that not better than repeating regret for thousands of years in the vast open sea?”

What did it feel like to face an insolent human urging her toward her own death?

If she had worn a human face, it would have been easier to read her expression.

What did that gaze fixed upon me mean…?

The question did not last long.

With Rachel’s answer, my vision darkened yet again.

─If I accept your proposal, will you promise me one thing?

“Anything.”

─Someday, go to Gangneung and honor the souls of those who lost their lives because of me.

It was an unexpected request.

It was not a difficult demand, so I nodded at once.

“If that is enough, then I will do it as much as you wish.”

─Good. Then…

A violent wave of nausea rose within me.

A moment later, the sensation that had vanished returned, and soon Yun Jeongseop’s bewildered face came into view.

“Are you all right? The Dragon Heart was absorbed into you!”

So that was how it had appeared from the outside…

Before answering, I instinctively opened my status window.

[Durability 13.3] [Strength 14.0(+8.7)] [Stamina 3.2]

[Agility 20.0] [Intelligence 18.6] [Magic Power 16.4]

An immense change had occurred.

My magic power, which had been 8.4, had increased by eight.

Not only that—there was a sensation as though another self had taken root within my mana.

It was difficult to describe, but I had no leisure to confirm it for now.

Because with the Dragon Heart gone, the island was beginning to return to its original place.

In other words, into the sea.

Yun Jeongseop must have felt it as well, because he shouted immediately.

“I-Is the island sinking?!”

“Let us get outside first! This place will be eroded soon as well!”

We rushed out.

The volcanic region already showed ominous signs.

From that massive peak, pitch-black smoke began to billow.

“Everyone will be sensing the change! First, we should move to the pier where the evacuation ships are prepared!”

“You are stating the obvious!”

We had anticipated that the island would be affected once the Dragon Heart vanished.

But this part was not a major problem.

Crystal was a dangerous zone of such interest that investigation teams were formed to study it, and entry was impossible without being an awakened individual.

Therefore, enough evacuation ships were always prepared for emergencies.

It would be sickening for those who had invested in the island, but…

Well, what could they do?

They had conducted business in a dangerous zone. They would have accepted that level of risk.

“Instructor, please take Do Minyeong and board an evacuation ship first!”

“Why? What are you planning now?!”

“This happened because of me, so I should help the refugees until the very end. Even if they are awakened individuals, if buildings collapse from an earthquake, it will become quite troublesome!”

As I spoke, the ground shook.

“Damn it! Why am I worrying about a Special Affairs Division investigator at all?!”

“That is an appropriately objective assessment. In truth, no one is as weak as a mana-insensitive person.”

“Be quiet!”

Yun Jeongseop hoisted Do Minyeong onto his back and began descending the mountain quickly.

I used the Demonic Eye to search the surroundings and moved by following the mana of people.

Volcanic gas thickened the air, and volcanic activity made normal walking impossible.

As I suspected, a nearby building collapsed.

Fortunately, because it was close to the volcano, people had already evacuated.

“This side seems fine as well.”

Then I should head toward the city.

I moved skillfully, avoiding volcanic ash.

The moment I reached the central district, where tall buildings stood in dense rows…

Alongside screams, environmental mana began to condense nearby.

“That color…”

It was a one-time phenomenon—a Rift.

Its size was roughly three times the width of an apartment parking entrance.

Compared to Seoul’s Great Rift, it was not even dust, but among the Rifts observed outside the Republic of Korea, it was enormous.

“A-A Rift!”

“Monsters! Monsters have appeared!”

Soon, fire-attribute lizard monsters—Lizardmen—began to burst out of the Rift.

Even at a glance, their numbers matched the Rift’s size.

It was not strange for a Rift to appear here.

Rifts often formed where environmental mana was abnormally concentrated.

With the Dragon Heart that had governed the island now gone, the imbalance caused by that void must have produced this Rift.

Of course, the situation also reeked of the Avid Reader’s intent.

“More importantly, where are the other Hunters…?”

I looked around, but there were no Hunters.

With the island sinking in real time, no one would have expected monsters to appear as well.

In the end, only ordinary awakened individuals remained—those who had realized the situation too late and were trying to flee.

“It cannot be helped.”

Rather, it was convenient.

I had wanted to test my strength, especially with mana overflowing like this.

The number of Lizardmen in sight was at least a hundred.

Judging by the active Rift, it was obvious that it would spew out at least several hundred before disappearing.

Ignoring the fleeing people, I moved against the flow, found a suitable position, and pressed my hand to the ground.

Summoning.

Startled to realize that I was performing summoning without even drinking a mana potion, I used the spell.

Dozens of Sand Golems rose from the ground.

Their number was small, but it was an allocation chosen for maximum efficiency.

One to face a hundred, you might say.

But then—

Before I even gave an order, the golems began charging at the Lizardmen.

“Do not tell me…”

It was that other self within my mana—the presence I had sensed earlier.

It understood my intent without needing instructions and moved in the optimal way.

It was clearly the Dragon Heart’s influence.

Put simply, it was like artificial intelligence.

For a summoner, there could be no more optimal ability.

Of course, before I was a caster, I was a swordsman.

As I tightened my grip on the Brichalcon Sword, a massive Lizardman burst from the Rift at just that moment.

If carnivorous dinosaurs had existed in this era, would they have looked like that?

“It seems worth testing.”

Just as I was about to leap in, one Sand Golem sprang by climbing a building, then severed the giant Lizardman’s neck with a sword of sand.

In a single strike, clean enough to show a perfect cross-section.

That movement was identical to An Hwigom’s.

“My training is producing results like this?”

Worse, the Sand Golems were ruthlessly slaughtering the Lizardmen.

At this rate, even half that number of summons would have been enough for this battle.

In the end, I slid the sword back into its sheath.

Then, pressing my hand to the ground again, I summoned even more Sand Golems.

Because I needed to collect the Lizardmen corpses, did I not?

Unless the evacuation ships were completely out of space, there was no reason not to take them.

To think I could gather this many Lizardman corpses at a time like this, when monster appearances had been scarce lately.

And since this was not even a Special Affairs Division request, it would all be mine.

“Even if I hand them over to Hyeonseong Express, it will still be a nice profit.”

Before I knew it, water began pooling on the ground.

The island was truly sinking.

As I feared, the Sand Golems were being exposed to water.

Their movements slowed noticeably.

“It seems I will have to step in myself, at least until the Rift disappears.”

Grumbling, I drew my sword once more.