By Zephyria 
It was a chilling statement.
“You’re saying you planned and executed all of this for such a far-fetched goal?”
Just to become a ‘hero’ admired by people from atop a falsely erected tower?
“That’s just deception!”
The Dungeon Break that had just occurred was less severe than during the chaotic times, but the damage would still be significant.
It had been nearly 20 years since the stabilization of the chaotic period.
People had fallen into a sense of peace and no longer knew how to quickly evacuate when a Dungeon Break occurred, as they did during the chaotic times.
I felt that acutely during the park Dungeon Break incident.
For people living in the present, battles that teetered between life and death were nothing more than distant stories, no different from TV movies.
‘Even the reporter delivering the breaking news on TV seemed to be caught in the attack of a monster that emerged from the Dungeon.’
The fact that Hunters from all over the country were being deployed and still struggling meant…
‘The casualties will be considerable.’
Unlucky people would even lose their lives.
The changes to the Dungeon caused by the eerie red gem Ban No-ah possessed were that powerful and terrifying.
How many had died?
The damage to ordinary citizens was one thing, but the Hunters who went out to suppress the situation might also lose their lives.
Would they be safe?
How far had the seeds of tragedy sown by Ban No-ah spread…?
“Do you really think you can become a hero with an opportunity created by killing innocent people?!”
I shouted until my throat was raw, thinking.
‘I want to kill that bastard, no matter what.’
Not just for my revenge, but to save the innocent people who were suffering because of him even at this moment.
I was disgusted by that bastard’s ambition to stand in a superior position to others, spouting nonsense about ‘heroes’ and ‘gods.’
I wanted to shatter it.
Ban No-ah simply chuckled as he looked at my distorted face.
“What can a Guide who can’t do anything because he’s held captive by his partner, Hyeon Jae-ha, possibly do?”
“You son of a bitch!”
“Your place is only there, An Ga-hyeon Guide.”
The bastard mocked me.
“What good is it to have the unique and amazing ability of ‘Resurrection’ in your hands?”
You’re just a Guide.
“……!”
“SSS-Class Guide? At best, it’s just a pathetic modifier that can’t even compare to an Esper.”
“You little shit…!”
“Don’t you already know? What did you do before Hyeon Jae-ha came?”
“…….”
Nothing.
All I did was helplessly dodge attacks or knock people out to prevent them from harming my comrades.
Ban No-ah drove the wedge further, seeing that I couldn’t respond.
“I can’t believe that great ‘Resurrection’ ability bloomed in someone like you.”
“…….”
“If it had bloomed in me, I could have used that ability very effectively……”
As he said that, Ban No-ah glanced at my heart with a look of great regret.
“Well… I don’t know if it’s because of the ‘Resurrection’ ability, but since you’ve come back to life, I should see this as an opportunity given to me by the heavens.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Jae-ha interrupted Ban No-ah’s bullshit on my behalf.
“Can’t you just shut up?”
I could feel Jae-ha’s invisible telekinesis trying to engulf Ban No-ah.
But that telekinesis was nullified as the monsters behind Ban No-ah blocked it with their bodies.
Kieeeeeek-!
Kyaaak!
Several monsters resembling earthworms exploded like water balloons.
The exploded monster’s fluids splattered over Ban No-ah’s head.
“Heeik!”
Even though Ban No-ah knew that the monsters would block the attack for him, his face turned pale.
“If, if I had been hit by that head-on….”
Seeing him muttering such nonsense and staring at us with terrified eyes, it seemed that Ban No-ah still feared Jae-ha the most.
And yet, that bastard was trying to annihilate Jae-ha and me, along with our comrades, all at once.
I couldn’t help but be amazed by his ambition, which surpassed even the fear he held for the most powerful enemy.
Realizing that he had shown us a weak side, Ban No-ah shouted.
“Ha, but this time, you’re finished!”
“What does that mean?”
When Jae-ha asked, Ban No-ah kindly explained.
“As you saw earlier, I have the ability to interfere with Dungeons.”
Ban No-ah shook the purple-shining gem in his hand.
“This can not only increase the danger of monsters and Dungeons, but it’s also a rare ability that allows me to open and close Dungeons at will.”
“…Is that even possible?”
Jae-ha was skeptical of his words, but I could tell it was true.
‘Otherwise, why would that bastard be so nonchalantly relaxed?’
Even during the Jin-irang incident, he ran away in a hurry to avoid being caught.
‘I don’t know if there are any conditions for using the power of that gem… but seeing him wearing a string of ability core gems, it’s clear that he intends to end our bad blood today.’
And perhaps… if Ban No-ah’s words were true, there would be no way for us to escape from the already closed Dungeon.
Otherwise, there would be no way to explain the red gems Ban No-ah had collected so far, the victims who had been reported missing or disappeared.
Ban No-ah used the purple gem to create a subtle barrier of light.
It was only big enough for one adult man to pass through.
He waved at us.
“Bye-bye. Well, I’ll be going now. Whether you starve to death here, or perish together with the monsters… I’ll come back when you’re on the verge of death.”
He grinned.
Ban No-ah wore a disturbing smile.
“Then all of your abilities, and those of your comrades, will be mine.”
‘Ah, this bastard.’
So this was his goal from the beginning.
A Dungeon with red egg sacs rising up. I had a feeling he was up to something suspicious from the start.
‘But to think it was a trap to kill Hyeon Jae-ha and me by trapping us inside.’
It was a crisis.
More so than any other time Hyeon Jae-ha and I had experienced.
So I squeezed out every last bit of strength I had and pushed Hyeon Jae-ha away.
“Let go!”
“…Ga-hyeon! It’s dangerous!”
Even if it was dangerous, I had to rush at that son of a bitch now!
Potato was horrified.
[ W, what are you doing? What do you think you can do alone…! ]
‘I know!’
That I’m a Guide. That I’m an SSS-Class Guide with the ‘Resurrection Ability,’ but that it’s not very useful in combat.
‘But I have to move now.’
I didn’t come back to life just to die a dog’s death again.
If there really was a damn heaven!
“Hey, you sneaky bastard!”
“Huh? Uh oh?”
Ban No-ah, who was trying to escape through the barrier, hurriedly ordered the grotesque, deformed monsters when he saw me charging like a wild boar.
“Stop that guy!”
Kieeeeee-.
Like soulless corpses, the monsters moved in unison according to the orders of the evil one.
Only to attack me.
“Don’t harm Ga-hyeon in any way!”
Jae-ha guarded me from behind.
Kieeyayayaak-!
The monsters, who were trying to tear me apart with ferocious momentum, were either cut in half or had their bodies explode with a single gesture from Jae-ha.
It didn’t even take a second.
Jae-ha also seemed to think that I had something in mind, and used his telekinesis to closely follow behind me.
“What are you trying to do, Ga-hyeon?”
“Never mind that, just stop that damn bastard from running away!”
“…Okay!”
Ban No-ah hurriedly tried to run into the barrier because of our movements, but.
“Ugh!”
“I won’t let you go so easily.”
His feet were tied up by Jae-ha’s telekinesis, and he crawled forward slowly.
I received help from Jae-ha’s telekinesis and ran forward, clinging to Ban No-ah’s feet.
“W, what!”
“Give it back!”
“What!”
“The red gem you have!”
“……!”
Then the expression disappeared from Ban No-ah’s face.
All sorts of abilities rushed towards me around his body.
“This is getting ridiculous…!”
Ban No-ah, who had dropped his polite tone, was about to pour attacks on me when.
“Don’t attack Ga-hyeon.”
Jae-ha’s telekinetic shield wrapped around me.
Attacks of various forms, such as electricity, ice, wood, and rock, were futile in front of the telekinetic shield.
I received Jae-ha’s support and climbed onto Ban No-ah’s body.
Trying to steal the red gem he had.
“Give it back, you bastard! If you’re going to trap us, leave all those gems behind!”
“You crazy son of a bitch…!”
“Let’s see who’s crazier!”
A messy dogfight ensued.
“You stupid monsters! Can’t you get these guys off me right now?!”
Ban No-ah shouted in between, but they couldn’t easily approach as they were blown away by Jae-ha’s gestures.
“Why don’t you summon something stronger?”
“Iik…!”
Ban No-ah, angered by Jae-ha’s taunting words, screamed.
“Dungeon Boss Monster! Appear in this place and hunt these guys down!”
Kuuuung-.
Then a huge shadow fell overhead.
Kuuuuuuuu-.
A giant scorpion with a dark red shell was spewing poison and staring at us hungrily.