CHAPTER 80: THE LIGHT THAT DIMS

"TTTTAAAAA!"

"TTTTTAAAAA!"

Min-ho, along with the others, watched in horror as the Spector cried out in pain while swinging its stinger in every direction.

Sae-wee was flung around like a ragdoll until the stinger swung in at an angle that threw her across the air before crashing into a wall.

"SAE-WEE!" Im-hee screamed at the top of her lungs, racing across the heaps of eggs and debris toward Sae-wee.

Dok-su helped Jang-book up, and they both ran to Sae-wee’s location.

Ji-su blinked a couple of times, his eyesight returning just in time to witness the horror.

He paused for a moment, then stumbled his way toward Sae-wee.

But Min-ho... he was still frozen in place. His soul a distant memory from his body. He was as cold as ice, the pain in his shoulder replaced by a dread that spread across his body—so thick it felt like it would clog every vein.

"TTTAAAA!" His eyes narrowed toward the Spector as it collapsed to the ground in an upheaval of dust, blood and debris. Then it went stiff.

Turning his sights back to Sae-wee, he couldn’t make out much from here. The heaps of eggs and debris were too high. All he saw were Dok-su and Ji-su’s heads.

Finally feeling the pain in his shoulder, Min-ho winced. He held it, then put one foot in front of the other, now having a semblance of strength to see Sae-wee.

It had taken some time, but when he finally got there, he saw what he had been dreading.

Sae-wee lay on the floor like a corpse, and her Z-Eye fell to the ground, its light flickering faintly as the seconds went by. In the middle of her abdomen was a gaping hole, with blood gushing out despite Im-hee’s best efforts.

The blood pooled around them, making the scene look like some ritual in which Im-hee knelt in the pool, offering up a sacrifice drenched in it.

Min-ho’s heart thumped—and then felt very heavy.

His knees gave out, causing him to fall on his backside, where he sat on a heap of debris, watching Im-hee cry out in pain.

She continued to struggle, even though he could visibly see the toll it was taking on her, it was as evident as the very ground they stood. Yet she didn’t relent. She didn’t take her hands off Sae-wee for even a second.

Min-ho looked into Sae-wee’s eyes. They were wide open, but didn’t flinch even a little. Like... like she was dead. And the now-missing light of the Z-Eye only confirmed it.

This realization made something shatter inside him.

He began to scratch his thumb—so aggressively he tore the skin. Yet he didn’t stop.

In an attempt to quell his screaming spirit, Min-ho began to dart his burning, red eyes in every direction.

It was then he noticed the other Z-Streamers had returned. They were standing a few feet behind him, each of them with their heads lowered, as though they felt guilty.

This didn’t matter to Min-ho. What did matter was the other thing he noticed.

The sun’s rays that refracted off the glowing crystals were dimming. They needed to get out of here—unless they wanted the Spectors hiding away to swarm them.

"Im-hee," Jang-book’s voice echoed, pulling Min-ho’s gaze.

When he looked at Im-hee, his eyes widened.

Blood was pouring from her ears, nose, and eyes.

"Ahh!"

"Ahh!" Im-hee screamed as the pain tore into her.

"Im-hee, you have to stop," Ji-su said, fearing for her life.

Min-ho couldn’t do anything but watch. He... didn’t know what to do.

Suddenly...

[WARNING! WARNING!]

[SUBJECT ’CHO IM-HEE’ IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION]

Even though he didn’t think it was possible, his heart sank further.

[WARNING! WARNING!]

[SUBJECT ’CHO IM-HEE’ IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION]

"Ahh!"

"We have to stop her," Ji-su said, tears falling from his eyes.

[WARNING! WARNING!]

[SUBJECT ’CHO IM-HEE’ IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION]

[YOU ARE ADVISED TO DISMISS SUBJECT ’CHO IM-HEE’]

Min-ho stared at the option—but did nothing.

"Im-hee," Jang-book forced himself to his feet, then tried to pull on her, but she resisted.

"Don’t... don’t... ahh!"

[WARNING! WARNING!]

[SUBJECT ’CHO IM-HEE’ IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION]

[YOU ARE ADVISED TO DISMISS SUBJECT ’CHO IM-HEE’]

Min-ho shut his eyes and tried to ignore the messages.

[WARNING! WARNING!]

[SUBJECT ’CHO IM-HEE’ IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION]

[YOU ARE ADVISED TO DISMISS SUBJECT ’CHO IM-HEE’]

Suddenly, silence fell.

Min-ho opened his eyes. He saw Im-hee freeze up—then she fell.

Jang-book caught her before she could fall into Sae-wee’s blood.

Min-ho kept his gaze intent on Im-hee, another wave of fear washing over him.

Jang-book stared at her for a moment, then cleaned her bloodied face with the sleeve of his bloodstained white T-shirt.

Then he turned to the others.

"She... she’s still alive," Jang-book said, his voice barely audible.

As a small hint of relief swerved through Min-ho’s heart, it quickly vanished when he returned his gaze to Sae-wee.

Ji-su was now kneeling beside her.

He slowly bent low, placing his right ear on her chest.

Min-ho held his breath, praying with all his heart that she wasn’t dead.

A second later, Ji-su gasped, then straightened his back.

Min-ho’s brows furrowed.

Ji-su summoned his System, then quickly purchased a white T-shirt, which he pressed against Sae-wee’s wound.

Min-ho leaned in as he watched.

"Is... is she alive?" Dok-su asked.

Ji-su nodded, tears falling from his eyes as he sniffled.

Min-ho’s heart thumped, his bones turning to mush.

"Help me lift her a bit," he sobbed. Summoning another shirt into his hands, he tore it in half. With his brother’s help, he began wrapping the wound.

Min-ho looked into Sae-wee’s eyes, and without anyone noticing—they were now closed.

Seeing this, he lowered his gaze and smiled a wry, pain-filled smile. His eyes began to water as tears lined his lower lids.

With a sniffle, Min-ho struggled to his feet.

As he did, a pang of pain bellowed throughout his body. The bulk of it centered on his shoulder. Though he knew they had to pop it back into place, he didn’t know if he was ready for that pain just yet.

"We... have to get out of here," Min-ho said with a hoarse, shaken voice.

His peers barely responded—offering nothing beyond silent acknowledgment.

"Let us help," a voice called out from behind him.

He looked over his shoulder, too tired to turn fully, and found one of the Z-Streamers stepping forward.

"We can carry the injured," the Z-Streamer said.

Min-ho didn’t know what to say. After a moment of thought, he nodded.

The Z-Streamers walked in, gently picking up Im-hee, Jang-book and... Sae-wee.

Min-ho kept his eyes on the Z-Streamer lifting her. The thought of someone he didn’t know carrying her didn’t sit right with him—but he didn’t have a choice.

"Let me help you," a voice said beside him.

He turned to see the same Z-Streamer who had helped them pull the cocoons down the slope.

He was a handsome young man, with orange curly hair and squinted eyes that looked like they needed glasses. Above his Z-Eye floated the number 33.

"Right," Min-ho said, lowering his gaze before reluctantly letting the Z-Streamer take his good arm and place it over his shoulder.

Slowly—yet with haste—they made their way out of the cavern before the refracted lights went out.

They entered the exit and climbed up a small slope before being welcomed by the cool evening air and the red light of the setting sun.

With everyone in front of him, Min-ho paused for a moment. Then he turned to the path leading into the cavern. He stared at it for a second too long... before turning around and following behind the others.