VSP 111

He already knew his body had reached its limit. Mana potions caused addiction, and when consumed excessively, they brought severe aftereffects, sometimes even death. That was why hunters were so desperate to raise their base mana.

But right now, he couldn’t avoid drinking it. With trembling hands, Sejun drank the potion. His vision started spinning, and blood trickled down from his nose.

[Sejun-nim!]

“Haa.”

Sejun wiped the blood running down his nose with his hand. However, it wasn’t enough to stop the nosebleed. In the end, he gave up wiping it away. He didn’t even have the strength for that.

Even without the system warning him, he already knew he’d hit his limit. The potion he’d forced down had barely replenished his mana, but because of the addiction symptoms, it had only filled about 80%. It was his limit in every sense.

Lee Dohun, Choi Hangyeol… when are you coming, you bastards. You said you’d come as soon as I called.

He knew it wasn’t that they were ignoring him but that they hadn’t been able to reach him yet, but he still felt resentful.

“Hey, hey, Seo Sejun…”

Even Lee Yongseok, who could barely move because of his injuries, could see Sejun’s condition was serious. Sejun didn’t have the energy to respond and ignored him.

“…….”

At that moment, Hoya hesitated briefly and looked toward Sejun. Hoya himself looked composed. He didn’t seem injured, and even against the boss of an S-rank dungeon, he didn’t struggle. No, he was overwhelming it instead.

Even while overpowering the boss, Hoya continued looking at Sejun. As if he couldn’t stop worrying about him.

But that couldn’t be. Since becoming Sejun’s summoned beast, Hoya had never liked him. He never approached, often ignored orders, and didn’t seem pleased to be summoned at all.

As a summoned beast, he did at least the bare minimum to protect Sejun, and that was why Sejun only felt sorry for keeping him bound, unable to run free as he wished.

Hoya, don’t look at me. Just look forward. Even if you have the upper hand, what if the boss attacks suddenly? Don’t get hurt.

Because Hoya always acted on his own judgment, Sejun rarely had to use the summon-only communication channel. After sending the message, he lowered his head. It was getting harder to breathe.

Because of that, he didn’t see what kind of expression Hoya made at his words.

[Sejun-nim, this will be the final attack.]

“I think so too.”

Sejun exhaled roughly and looked at the boss.

The roots and branches protecting the core were torn and shredded from repeated attacks, traces of a fierce battle.

The tree’s body was damaged, and though he had managed to get closer to the core, even if he overcame the potion’s aftereffects and refilled his mana, he couldn’t defeat it like this. His mana was still lacking, and now he only had one chance left.

Can I do it?

He felt doubt, but he couldn’t delay any longer.

Just summoning Hoya, maintaining the summon, every movement Hoya made, everything consumed Sejun’s mana.

He knew that if he failed here, if he couldn’t deal real damage, unless Lee Dohun and Choi Hangyeol received his signal and rushed down in time, he would die.

And Sejun had never been particularly lucky, so rather than cling to hope, it was better to find some way, any way, to break through.

[What will you do?]

“I’ll aim for the core.”

Calling it a plan was generous. Hoya had already cleared most of the branches and roots guarding the core, so now there was only one target left.

Sejun squeezed out the last of his mana and summoned his spirits. The spirits flew where he directed and began drawing the remaining roots away. Some of the roots protecting the core moved to swat away the bothersome spirits.

This is the last chance.

If Hoya was as quick witted as ever, he’d know exactly what Sejun wanted. The problem was that if things went the same way as before, there was no guarantee they’d succeed.

If only he could strike just a little harder.

The moment that thought crossed his mind, Hoya looked at him. Sejun met his gaze.

His vision was blurry, but at that instant, Hoya’s expression appeared strangely clear.

On the face of the usually stoic blue tiger, there was something that looked like resignation.

Then Hoya’s eyes turned blue, and he let out a faint sound, as if releasing something he’d been holding back for a long time.

At that moment, blue heat shimmered from Hoya’s body, rising like flames.

Huh?

His mana, already draining like water through a cracked jar just to keep Hoya’s summon active, suddenly began depleting faster than ever. There was no need to ask why. Hoya’s form was changing before his eyes.

He burned, wrapped in blue fire, completely different from the usual faintly translucent shimmer. His fangs grew, sharp and long beneath his jaw, and his claws turned into blades.

Even before, as an S-rank summon, Hoya was majestic, he exuded pressure that naturally commanded respect. But now, the aura around him was overwhelming, something no one could dare approach.

Sejun couldn’t keep watching. His vision flashed red, and blood gushed from his mouth.

[Sejun-nim!]

Even the system’s alarmed voice sounded distant.

No. My body can’t handle this yet.

He felt this was beyond what his body could endure. At least not yet. But it was the only way he could see to break through this deadlock.

Knowing time was short, Hoya surrounded himself with fire and charged without hesitation.

The roots and branches trying to block him couldn’t even touch him. Those that came close burned away instantly in the blue flames flaring around his body.

Finally, Hoya reached the core the boss had guarded so obsessively and bit into it with his enormous fangs.

–Kkyaaaaa!

The gigantic tree screamed like a beast struck in its vital spot. Red liquid spurted from the core, as if its heart had exploded.

At the same moment, pain like his own heart tearing apart crushed Sejun to the ground. He felt the system saying something, but the sound didn’t reach his ears. A high ringing filled them, like an alarm that couldn’t possibly exist.

Shit, it hurts. It really hurts. I can’t breathe.

It wasn’t the kind of pain you got from hitting something. He felt something wrong deep inside his body, like something had ruptured.

If he had to describe it, it was like the organs that stored his mana were swelling to the breaking point. He couldn’t really explain it, but he could feel it.

Through his fading vision, he sensed Hoya staring at him. He was rooted in place, probably aware that he shouldn’t move.

–Kkyaaaaa!

The dying tree let out another desperate scream, and one of its thickest roots hissed as it shot toward Sejun.

“Grrr!”

Hoya tried to run to him but couldn’t move. Sejun had already drawn too much mana past his limit.

The spirits tried to protect Sejun, but they were never made for combat. Against the boss’s overwhelming attack, they vanished instantly.

Right before Hoya was forced back into reverse summoning, Sejun thought he saw despair on the tiger’s face.

Ah, right. If I die, you’ll disappear too. You’re bound to my soul, and now I’m about to die.

So I’m dying now?

He already wasn’t in good shape from mana potions side effects, but the sharp tip of the root flying toward him seemed strangely slow. Was this the light before death? It felt different somehow.

It’s going to hurt when it hits. Blood will spurt everywhere. Maybe even the people who always complained that summoners had it easy staying in the rear would finally acknowledge him then. Not that he needs their approval anyway.

Do I not? Do I really not care? Is it enough just not to be hated, Seo Sejun?

He suddenly remembered Cha Dogyeong, who once told him not to care what people thought.

That’s easy for you to say. Everyone already acknowledges you. You don’t have to beg for it. Everyone looks up to you. But me…

Me.

…If I die here, what happens to Cha Dogyeong? What happens to the world?

The world could end for all he cared right now, but strangely, Cha Dogyeong wouldn’t leave his mind.