Torrent after torrent slammed the corridor from all sides—whirling rapids that would knock down an ordinary person, even impede an S-Rank Hunter. Hyun held me and sprinted across willow-leaf platforms; Peace carried Director Song and Riette, Noah bore Mari and Samir; Yerim and the freed Hwangrim used flight skills, and Hyunah danced upon the wind.
[Right!]
At the new recruit’s prompt, a vast exit shimmering to our right appeared ahead.
“There!” I cried, and at once Peace veered toward it, followed by everyone else. The waves roared behind us—then abruptly, they flattened.
Sploosh!
They spread low, racing along the floor ahead of us like a tidal surge. Within an instant, the water flowing toward the exit pitched upward.
Swooooosh—
A giant wave fists itself together and pounded the exit. Boom! The doorway vanished, the corridor warped, and water sprayed everywhere. That wave, smashing the wall, turned back on us!
“Kyaaa!”
Peace was swept aside first. Yerim tried to manipulate the water, but could not overcome the Mer-Queen’s domain. Hyun wrapped me in a fierce hug, turning my back to the wave—only to be drenched.
“Ugh!”
Even in Hyun’s arms I felt the current’s might. The corridor rushed past, filling my vision with water as we were propelled against the opposite wall. Thud. We rebounded upward.
Splat!
The wave that struck us collapsed to the floor. Too little time for underwater gear—coughs echoed all around. Peace shook off the water in a disgruntled growl, but had no chance to recover.
“Here it comes again!”
Yerim, least afflicted thanks to her earrings, shouted. Crack—thunderous water filled the corridor’s far end. The onslaught drove the soaked runners to their feet at once.
“New recruit! Find the nearest—cough—exit!”
[Not near! Not safe! Keep your distance!]
Damn. Another exit glimmered ahead, but still far off. The water raged in turbulent leaps. With no choice, we charged for it once more—only to be overtaken again.
Swooooosh—
The wave crashed in before us. Yerim attempted teleportation but was submerged. Hyun whipped up flame, but could not vaporize so much water. Hiss—steam enveloped us as we were swept to the corridor’s end, coughing and sputtering.
[Honey! Stay strong!]
A reassurance was cold comfort. We were too slow; the exits always appeared just beyond our reach. How to outpace the flood? We had to break through before the wave demolished the door.
“Riette! Can you cut through water?”
“I can! But I can’t carve a gap large enough to pass—water reseals instantly!”
Still, not impossible. I drew breath and used the Instructor skill. Though few resisted and many had the keyword applied, my weakened state made my vision spin. Hyun watched me anxiously.
“I used the skill—”
“Jin-ah, what about me?”
“You’ll be scooped up by our host.”
I trusted our puppeteer less than Riette, despite sharing Seong-Hyeonje’s Foresight skill. Opening the message window, I texted:
[Riette, prepare to cut the wave.]
The Mer-Queen would hear everything, but she could not intercept recruit messages. Soon a third exit appeared.
[Honey, give up.]
Ignoring the Mer-Queen’s whisper, Riette drew a great sword and rose atop Peace’s back, supported by Director Song. Peace throttled speed as Hyun closed in. Yerim flew ahead of Hyunah.
Rumble—earth-shaking thunder as the water surged forward. Faster than we could reach the exit, the tide bowed us with a towering wave.
“Now!”
Riette lunged, slicing the space itself—and the wave beyond it—with a blade of severance. Simultaneously, I nocked an arrow of fire, Irin’s spirit fluttering at its tip.
Whoosh! The sword carved a gap; the flames shot through that fissure the moment it opened. Sizzle! Steam hissed as fire drove the water back. A great hole yawned open, and Yerim blink-teleported through it, enfolded by Hyunah’s gale. In an instant, she reappeared beyond.
Tap-tap—The chilled air around that gateway froze. Yerim’s magic, mingled with foreign mana, held tight and stilled the water. A passage had opened.
“Hurry!”
With Yerim’s urging, I dashed through the round ice portal at full speed. The exit stood just ahead—freedom at last, I thought—until the wave of frost slammed me.
Crack! Crack!
A colder chill than ever shot through the ice. The partially frozen exit solidified.
“Grrr!”
Peace raked his claws at the frozen door—but to no avail. He breathed fire; Hyun ignited cerulean flames—yet the heat could not melt the ice faster than it formed.
Rumble—The water returned, surging back into the corridor. A sapphire wave bore down upon us.
[Give up.]
The water closed around me. I saw air bubbles drift upward. Whoosh! Hyun rose to the surface, holding me aloft on a willow-leaf platform. Pummelled by cold, we could not break through.
“...We must reach it before the water.”
Though I spoke with resolve, my teeth chattered. Even an S-Rank would tire if repeatedly caught in these rapids. Still, I pressed onward toward the exit.
[Only you need to remain, Honey.]
[We can all be safe.]
The Mer-Queen’s words were temptingly sweet: leave her behind, and the rest would escape unharmed. A fourth exit shattered; a fifth winked into existence. But the water kept pace, ever faster.
“How can we stop it?”
Riette shook water from her hair and leapt to the ground. A massive black dragon emerged from the waves and charged the flood—only to be driven back himself. His claws carved the floor with a screech, then the water swept him away amid crashing roars.
“Ugh, that hurt!”
The fifth exit collapsed. Weariness etched across everyone’s faces.
[Honey!]
The recruit’s messages grew frantic. A sixth exit shimmered faintly in the distance. Again the water raced ahead—but still we moved.
“...Hyung.”
Hyun frowned; Yerim froze, then snapped, furious:
“What nonsense! We’re not leaving him!”
...The Mer-Queen had messaged everyone: if you abandon me, I’ll ensure your safety. Hyun clenched my arm.
“If you stay, I stay.”
Her unwavering promise warmed me. Yerim and Noah echoed her vow:
“Me too! We’ll stay together—no silly ideas!”
“Right, Yujin? Don’t go!”
Blinking away water, I gave a sheepish smile. I had no strength left to force Hyun’s arm.
“I have duties—I can’t stay, but I’ll never abandon you.”
“Noah and I can manage—right, Noah?”
“...Yes.”
“See?”
“Me too! We stay together!”
Mari nodded in agreement. I was grateful—but we still faced no solution.
[We won’t harm you, Honey.]
[We treasure you.]
[Honey.]
[Honey.]
[Honey.]
[Give up.]
[Honey.]
[Honey.]
[Honey.]
Her silent pleas mingled with the roar of water—a conch shell’s call that trapped me. Droplets hung thick in the air, stifling as if underwater. The recruit widened and lengthened the corridor again, forging another exit, but the water flooded forward just as rapidly.
“Hyun.”
“No. I won’t listen.”
She cut me off. A seventh exit collapsed at even greater distance. The water outpaced us, or we simply slowed—my mana potions were nearly gone. If we pressed on, exhaustion would drop us helpless into the waves.
Better for only me to stay than for us all to perish.
[Honey, the Mer-Queen’s dominion grows!]
[Once she fully claims it, no exit can form!]
“Recruit—you must override her domain—”
[I’m stuck with this broken system!]
[Another two or three times!]
[No more!]
[I can’t!]
[Honey.]
[It’s okay, Honey.]
Soon even the exit would vanish. Only two or three chances remained—one had just dissolved again. I held Hyun’s arm close and whispered so only she could hear:
“Will you stay with me?”
Because you will never let me go. Hyun’s wet hair framed eyes that curved in a soft smile. I knew her answer without waiting. I slipped Seong-Hyeonje’s pouch deeper into my waistband and zipped it shut, preventing his escape.
“It’s too dangerous. Stay quiet and safe.”
Hyun stamped her platform firmly, moved toward Peace, and handed Director Song the bag—then discreetly stepped back.
[Recruit, this is the last. Forge a solid exit—please.]
I messaged the recruit. Glancing back at the pursuing wave, I signaled all of us to feign flight—so no one would suspect our plan.
[Stay behind—but act threateningly. Keep your promises!]
I relayed this to the Mer-Queen as well. A final exit flickered open, water rumbling thunderously—but struck the wrong angle, clattering against the wall, slowing its advance.
“At two-thirds distance.”
I loosened my waist pouch and whispered. Too soon would arouse suspicion; too late, no time to react. Hyun nodded. I silently ended the Instructor skill. Director Song turned toward me; I only shook my head, exhausted. The water chased to my back, ready to engulf us—yet did not surge forward this time.
We passed halfway; the exit raced closer. I clenched the pouch. Inside, a faint tapping told me someone had noticed. Still, Seong-Hyeonje had not fully regained his form.
Time for Director Song to—
“Han Yuhyun!”
Yerim’s voice rang out. “Keep running!”
Swoooosh—A wave darker than night’s tide pounded the corridor, chilling to the bone. Mari’s SS-Rank bracelet’s special effect: once per day, summon a Night Wave.
“Yerim!”
Her sapphire-silver tide met the Mer-Queen’s waves head-on. Boom! Water collided in a deafening roar. Yerim floated before the exit, spear held upright.
“Park Yerim! You—”
“You thought I wouldn’t notice? It was obvious!”
She laughed, saying Hyun’s expression gave me away. The exit loomed close. Peace hesitated; Hyunah’s strides slowed; Hyun turned her head. Yerim had no teleport ready.
Panic flared—this felt like burning.
“We must go back—!”
I couldn’t leave them. If anyone stayed, I should. But hesitation stopped me—and the wave exploded beneath my feet.
Slap!
The swell surged, pushing us down the corridor.
“I’m going now!”
Yerim’s cry followed me, blurred as she turned back toward us beyond the wave. The current thrust my body through the exit with a rush—wet earth and grass scent flooding my senses.
Cough... Yerim! Park Yerim!
Behind the door, the corridor flooded solidly with Night-tinted water, then rapidly cleared—an ultramarine brilliance. Before the last person could clear the wall of water—
Thud.
The door slammed shut. The final portal closed.
