Chapter 6.1
First, I needed time to calm down and collect my thoughts.
The penalty, grade adjustment, and even the physical clues attached to success.
The format was similar to Akka’s missions, but an entirely unfamiliar approach.
On top of that…
‘This time, is it an ending?’
Instinctively, I felt that it wouldn’t be a good ending.
It was fortunate that I could obtain diamonds as a reward, but the progression was far from the smooth process I knew.
The words of the first notification that appeared lingered in my mind.
‘Deviation from expected narrative’.
‘Is it because Gu Seo Bok and I intervened?’
That was the most probable cause at the moment.
However, even if that were the case…
‘A portal grade change is unprecedented.’
Not knowing what changes had occurred was the biggest disadvantage.
If it had been determined as an A-grade portal from the beginning, I might have accepted it more easily. However, the portal I entered was graded as C.
The beasts encountered so far and the conditions inside the portal were all at the mediocre level corresponding to C-grade.
What on earth had changed…
“Haah…”
Gu Seo Bok, as if feeling the stifling atmosphere around, stole a glance while patting his face.
A-.
For Gu Seo Bok, rated A+, it was still an acceptable level of portal.
Due to the significant gap between + and -, A+ grade portal and above were easier to play for a true Ranker, making it likely that Gu Seo Bok would handle it without much difficulty.
Of course, it would be much more challenging than C-grade, but that was my problem.
‘At least he’s a useful guy.’
Well, if he wasn’t useful, I doubt Lee Gyeom would have kept him by Lee Moa’s side.
Considering the stress and torment I had experienced while dragging Gu Seo Bok around until now, this seemed bearable.
‘Somewhat manageable.’
That’s what I thought.
Swish.
At that moment, I felt something crawling on me.
A chill ran down the back of my neck.
“Wait.”
I wasn’t the only one who noticed; Gu Seo Bok halted me with his arm.
He didn’t breathe as if he was trying to concentrate.
What could it be? What was happening?
I tensed up, narrowing my eyes in anticipation.
Swish. Swish.
An invisible and unidentified sound continued to approach.
A faint fluorescent light skimmed past my eyes, seemingly ready to emerge in the heightened tension.
Fluorescent? Fluorescent light? That’s…
‘…Larva?’
I snapped out of my reverie as I recognized the green body crawling above my head.
Insect-type species, Larva.
This creature appeared in portals of at least A-grade or higher.
So, it should never appear in a C-grade portal.
If it did, it would be considered a bug, causing chaos, with C-grade hunters trying to kill it.
No way.
‘Grade increase.’
A shock surged through my fingertips as if lightning struck.
Did the change in the portal’s condition mean this?
Not only me but also Gu Seo Bok, visibly unnerved, hid me behind him with a stiff expression.
Swish, swish, swish.
It wasn’t just one or two; the sound implied there were more, and they were growing in number.
Larva, although not as exceptional in defense and attack as other A-grade monsters, had a strong tendency to move in groups.
In short,
‘We’re already trapped.’
Perhaps since the moment we heard the sound.
Desperately, I grabbed Gu Seo Bok’s shoulder, turning him around.
“Before Larva completely nests, we need to make a hole.”
“What? W-What are you talking about?”
“Just shoot, for now!”
As if threatening, I hastily grabbed Gu Seo Bok’s finger, and he drew shapes in the air.
Plop! Plop-plop!
There was a sound of shapes bursting within the vacuum.
The surroundings momentarily brightened with a greenish hue.
Larvas filled the cave walls, sticking closely together.
Yuck. My mouth dropped open in disgust at the sight.
Had we acted a little more stupidly, a terrible situation would have occurred.
Nesting.
That was how the Larvas attacked, gradually surrounding and advancing, closing in on the prey.
“Keep aiming at one spot!”
Ravana’s corpse tumbled overhead.
I didn’t even have time to be disgusted.
Whenever they found an opening, Larvas quickly plugged it, making a hissing sound.
If we were trapped like this, it would be the end.
Surrounded by Larvas, we would be sucked dry until our bodies turned into goo.
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