Chapter 105: Will he... make it?

Zephyr was the first to stumble out of the dungeon portal, emerging into the familiar area where they had fought the five S-rank monsters. Lucien was still in his arms, and both of them were utterly exhausted.

The moment they crossed the threshold, Zephyr’s knees buckled.

Even so, he refused to let Lucien get hurt. He twisted his body at the last second, taking the full impact himself as his back slammed against the ground, completely unaware that the tiny dragon clinging to him was squashed beneath his weight.

Onicus wondered if it should just end its own existence. At least then, it wouldn’t have to suffer like this anymore.

A faint groan escaped Zephyr.

For a moment, he couldn’t move.

Every muscle in his body trembled uncontrollably, and the slightest attempt to lift himself felt like an impossible task. His head spun, his vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness washed over him. He had clearly pushed himself far beyond his limits.

Above him, Lucien struggled to pull himself upright, pressing his trembling hands against his chest for support. His entire body felt limp, and his stomach churned violently.

"Fuck..."

He muttered, squeezing his eyes shut. He had never traveled at such an absurd speed before. It felt as though Zephyr had dragged his body away and forced his soul to chase after it. Lucien could only sit there, pale and breathless, desperately trying to convince his body that the ordeal was finally over.

Still, at least they had survived.

That was what mattered.

Lucien lowered his head with difficulty and glanced at the man beneath him, who was breathing heavily. Even in such a condition, Zephyr had made sure that Lucien wasn’t the one who hit the ground when he fell.

"You’re an idiot."

Lucien murmured weakly.

Zephyr didn’t respond.

He simply stared at him in a daze, barely seeming capable of moving.

Lucien sighed and slowly lifted his head, only to feel relieved when he noticed the countless people gathered around them.

The Association’s support team had assembled outside the dungeon, along with medical personnel, numerous Guides, and several S-rank Espers. Even the Espers who had refused to enter the dungeon with them were present. Some looked anxious, others indifferent, while a few wore expressions of barely concealed disdain. The moment Zephyr and Lucien had appeared, all conversations in the area had come to a halt.

A moment later, murmurs spread through the crowd.

"They’re... alive?"

"How is that possible?"

Lucien couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to them. His gaze drifted toward the sky, where darkness had settled over B City.

"Oh..."

He murmured.

"It’s already night."

His eyelids drooped.

"Finally... we can rest."

And with that, he fainted.

Zephyr, however, remained conscious. Although his condition was hardly any better, he forced himself to stay awake as the medical personnel, healing-type Espers, and several Guides rushed toward them.

"Quick! Get the stretchers!"

"Check their conditions first!"

Voices overlapped as the medical team carefully separated Zephyr and Lucien.

Zephyr’s head lolled to one side, but he stubbornly kept his eyes open. Even when they were carried toward an ambulance, he refused to relax completely.

"Sir, please cooperate with us."

A middle-aged doctor urged.

"You’re in no condition to remain conscious."

Zephyr ignored him.

His attention remained on Lucien, who was being placed on the stretcher beside him.

Only after confirming that Lucien was receiving medical attention did Zephyr finally stop resisting the exhaustion threatening to overwhelm him.

Even then, he didn’t completely lose consciousness.

After Zephyr and Lucien, Erick was the second to emerge from the dungeon portal. He staggered forward, his legs barely supporting his weight. The moment he spotted the support team waiting outside, his expression relaxed.

Then his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.

"ERICK!"

Nana’s worried cry echoed through the area as she and several others rushed forward to catch him before he hit the ground.

"Get a stretcher!"

"He’s completely exhausted! Healing-type Espers, use your abilities!"

Erick didn’t hear any of it. After everything that had happened inside the dungeon, he had finally reached his limit.

For now, he couldn’t care less about anything else—not even Nana, who had fled earlier after calling Zephyr a monster.

Sylvia and Ryan were the third to stumble out of the portal.

The siblings looked utterly miserable. Their clothes were filthy, their faces deathly pale, and their bodies trembled with exhaustion. They could barely keep themselves upright, let alone speak.

Unlike Zephyr, Lucien, and Erick, however, Sylvia and Ryan weren’t met by the Association’s support team. Instead, their family’s team, which had rushed to the area upon learning that the two had entered the dungeon, immediately moved toward them.

The moment Sylvia and Ryan spotted their father among the approaching figures, their expressions changed.

He looked furious.

Sylvia swallowed nervously.

"Father..."

Ryan tried to speak as well, struggling to remain conscious.

"We... can explain..."

Their father snapped, his voice barely containing his fury.

"Explain what? That you two entered a dangerous dungeon without permission and nearly got yourselves killed?!"

Neither sibling dared to respond.

They knew they were in serious trouble.

To make matters worse, they hadn’t even managed to kill Zephyr.

What had they accomplished?

They had spent nearly their entire time in the dungeon running for their lives, scrambling from one dangerous situation to another.

Sylvia’s legs finally gave out.

Ryan barely had time to turn toward her before his own strength failed him.

Both siblings collapsed, losing consciousness before their furious father could say another word.

Their father stared down at them, his expression darkening further.

"Unbelievable..."

Oreon and the burly Esper emerged next, each carrying one of the Guides. The moment Oreon made it through the portal, his strength gave out, and he collapsed face-first onto the ground, taking the Guide he was carrying down with him. He lost consciousness almost immediately.

Only the burly Esper remained standing.

But even he was at his limit.

Medical personnel hurried forward to take the injured Guides from them before helping Oreon into an ambulance.

The burly Esper struggled to catch his breath before turning his gaze toward the portal behind him. Jake was still inside.

He sank to his knees and let out a weary sigh, waving away the people who tried to check on him. Finally, he muttered.

"Will he... make it?"