The Changwon Ability User Association branch that suffered a sudden attack. Thanks to that, tremendous chaos ensued, but the worst situation wasn't that.

Around the city center, massive magic power vibrations occurred and gates appeared just like that.

"Support request to association headquarters?! You did make it, right? No news on when they're coming?!"

"Busan has agreed to spare personnel for urgent needs! However, it will take some time."

"Why! The situation is so urgent, why does it take time?!"

"The portal became useless when our magic power supply was completely cut off, and most roads entering Changwon were damaged by gates. They're currently moving on foot while taking down monsters from gates one by one..."

Not one or two gates appeared, but a whopping double-digit number. Even thinking of the initial gate crisis, there had rarely been gates concentrated in one place to this extent.

And when such things happen, one particular case always accompanies it. A case that all ability users hope with a 'please' feeling that it won't happen.

"Damn, damn, damn! This is a phenomenon that occurs when S-rank gates appear!"

The 1st team leader, serving as temporary branch chief in place of the missing branch chief, screams.

"What does headquarters say? When is S-rank support coming!"

"Th-that... even the closest personnel will take over 30 minutes..."

"Can't they come faster?!"

"Don't you know? Even this is really incredibly fast."

The closest S-rank is more than two hours away by car. It's only because those S-ranks are beings beyond human specifications that it takes about 30 minutes. The 1st team leader knows this fact well. However, the situation is so dire that he can't help but be desperate.

"1st team leader! Support request! A-rank gate appearance! They say their personnel are insufficient!"

"Can't we spare more personnel deployed elsewhere?"

"Yes. We should divide the personnel from each clan that came here a bit more..."

At the team member's words, the 1st team leader shook his head.

Most personnel from each clan are already deployed and handling gates. Already in a state of insufficient stamina and magic power from dungeon subjugation. Dividing personnel further here would only worsen the situation, not resolve it.

"...Uh, hey! Team leader!"

"What now? Please don't just give me bad news. Huh? Please."

"It's good news! A-an A-rank gate was just completed! Monster down too!"

The 1st team leader, about to exclaim at the team member's words, closes his mouth. Right now, he's more worried about how much damage our side took than monster handling. Because closing one gate isn't the end - they have to fight again.

"Our casualties are..."

Please, please don't die. Other places need support too. The 1st team leader's face brightens as he desperately prays inside. The team member's expression is bright, so it seems there are no deaths for now.

"No casualties."

"Really?!"

"Yes. Th-the Magic Tower Clan personnel who were at the branch earlier? They went out for support and are handling the situation very effectively."

*

Kieeet!—

I thrust my sword straight into the neck of the screaming flying monster. Then Lee Hyunwoo, who immediately twisted the sword to end its life, caught his breath once.

This makes the second A-rank gate closed. Fifth if you include lower ranks. I feel a little tired, but it's not unbearable.

'The stamina training I gritted my teeth and did to endure even a little more during examinations shines at times like this.'

As expected, my judgment wasn't wrong at all. It seems I keep growing just by taking examinations without needing to raise my rank. Grinning, Lee Hyunwoo re-gripped his sword and turned around.

Then Yoo Dasom, who was waiting beside him, quickly began treatment.

"No, junior. Do you have to smile like that there?"

"Yes?"

"It looks really weird when you suddenly smile after half-cutting a monster's neck."

It's already quite grotesque just being like that, and he's even covered in monster blood. Not just Yoo Dasom, but others would want to step back startled at that level.

Of course, Lee Hyunwoo had an unconcerned expression as if asking what the problem was.

"I'm just feeling very refreshed. Senior."

"That's weird too. What do you mean feeling refreshed after killing monsters?"

Yoo Dasom shakes her head as if fed up and taps his back. The treatment is finished, so it means he can move again.

After the two returned to their position, Kang Hana, who was checking her magic power, asks a question.

"Dasom. All done?"

"Yes, unnie. You can move again."

"Good. Support request came from not far from here."

"Is that place A-rank too, senior?"

When Lee Hyunwoo asks that, Kang Hana nods as if somewhat fed up.

"Yes, junior. The situation there is even worse."

"Ooh! Saying that makes me look forward to it!"

What comes out isn't a sigh but cheers when hearing the situation is worse. He's not even worried but looking forward to it.

Seeing that, Kang Hana has eyes saying 'What exactly is this guy?' Yoo Dasom standing beside also wasn't much different, sighing. It makes me think anew that Baek Seojin, who took examinations with such a person every day, is amazing.

"Hey. Shouldn't we stop chatting and go quickly?"

Kim Suhyeon, who had been quietly observing the situation, opens her mouth.

Not only her clothes but her hands, face, and even hair are covered with monster blood. Lee Hyunwoo is Lee Hyunwoo, but Kim Suhyeon also looks like she broke through a tremendous battlefield.

She could be displeased by that stickiness and stench. But Kim Suhyeon just says to go to the next support location with an extremely calm appearance.

"Alright! Everyone move!"

Even without Baek Seojin, Kang Hana was filling the leader position well.

She's also student council president, and Baek Seojin had subtly pushed her from the previous dungeon. Usually he takes command, but so she can substitute anytime in emergencies. And Kang Hana's situation judgment and command proved decent since dealing with mist tigers.

Reaching the place that requested support, they soon encountered monsters.

Krrrreuk!—

"Unnie! Monster encounter! It's a basilisk!"

At Yoo Dasom's shout, Kang Hana bit her lips thinking 'Of all things!'

Basilisk. A guy belonging to the upper ranks among A-rank monsters. With hard scales, sharp fangs, and even poison, it's quite troublesome. Even the tail, said to be weakest, can cause fatal injury if hit wrong.

One of that basilisk's weaknesses is vulnerability to flame-type magic. So most pour powerful magic to make it unable to move. The problem was that Kang Hana herself specialized more in ice-type than flame-type.

It's not that she can't use flame-type magic at all, but the power is weak. She can't waste magic power on magic that won't properly damage an A-rank monster.

"Senior. What should we do?"

"...Same as usual. Junior and Suhyeon tie down its feet, I'll create openings for random critical hits. Target the tail first. That long tail plays a role in balance control, so if we cut it off, we can somewhat limit its movement."

Kim Suhyeon and Lee Hyunwoo, who nodded, move left and right respectively. The basilisk also focuses its gaze there, having sensed the threat.

"Dasom. You..."

"I know. It's not once or twice."

Just because she's support-type doesn't mean she's completely excluded from combat. In situations like now when things aren't good, she must enter combat anytime. For that reason, Yoo Dasom was also waiting with shield and sword.

'Fortunately. There's the sword instruction I received from junior and the examiner.'

She herself fought quite well protecting Kang Hana in the previous battle too. It was something unimaginable before, but Baek Seojin's advice was very useful.

"You should be able to protect yourself. It's even better if you protect one more person from there."

That Baek Seojin is currently fighting an Elder.

If he had gone with them, he might have been somewhat helpful. She feels a bit resentful toward Baek Seojin who deliberately went alone. But soon Yoo Dasom shook her head, thinking there must be a good reason.

---

Kyaaaaa!—

"Whoop!"

Kwang!—

Lee Hyunwoo, hit directly by the basilisk's tail, slides back. Fortunately, it seems he blocked with his sword midway to mitigate the impact, but his expression isn't good.

Yoo Dasom, who was in charge of Kang Hana's front, shouts asking if he's okay. Lee Hyunwoo waves his hand to gesture that he can endure.

Kuak!—

This time the basilisk charges targeting Kim Suhyeon. Opening and closing its eerie maw just looking at it, as if to chew up Kim Suhyeon whole.

Right then Kang Hana's magic struck it directly. It's not flame-type that causes big damage, but ice-type also deals some damage.

Kreee!—

When ice spikes pierce its back, the basilisk twists its body as if very annoyed. There's no sign of great pain. It seems to have barely pierced the scales.

"This one seems much stronger than the previous A-rank."

Before targeting its back, Lee Hyunwoo gives his opinion to Kang Hana. It's not needless speculation. A conclusion reached after sufficiently clashing. And Kang Hana also seemed to agree with that conclusion, nodding.

"It's the monster upheaval. That guy seems to be one of those who met the upheaval."

Just as it tries to target Kim Suhyeon again, Lee Hyunwoo cuts off its tail. He was beside Kang Hana until just before, but in an instant targeted the opening and finally succeeded.

Kieek! Kieeeek!—

The guy writhing in pain spews poison in all directions. Unlike Lee Hyunwoo who steps back, Kim Suhyeon conversely went inside.

'I can't delay here. More, I need to go up more.'

She thinks of Baek Seojin fighting alone somewhere right now. Should she have been by his side? Did he judge it wasn't time yet, regrettably? She knew Baek Seojin's inner thoughts in deliberately trying to drop her.

So she whips herself even more. This mere monster, she'll definitely catch it. Others say she's become strong, but she's still unsatisfied with herself.

No matter how fast her sword is, no matter how powerful her swordsmanship. There are limits with just that. She can never surpass that woman with this.

She needs to burn more intensely. Burn more hotly. Become a giant flame that will burn everything up, then after burning it all. Finally become a flame that will warmly embrace Baek Seojin by his side!

'So!'

The moment Kim Suhyeon concentrated all her gathered magic power into her sword and thrust forward.

'This absolutely won't do!'

Kwarrrr!—

Crimson flames struck the basilisk's body directly.