# Chapter 83
“Lee Jaehee!”
The situation was serious. Dohyun tried to get to Jaehee’s side. Insects clung together tightly to block Dohyun’s path.
But that was a mistake. Although he couldn’t perform wide-range area attacks like Minhun, Dohyun was the strongest combat Esper among the A-class. For them to gather in front of him was the same as walking into Dohyun’s attack range on their own.
KWAGWANG-!
As if crushed by an invisible large boulder, numerous insects were smashed against the ground. Just as Jaehee had told him, Dohyun used his telekinesis to crush the monsters all at once, focusing on the pattern area on their backs where the heart was located.
-KEEEEACK-!
Seeing their minions being mercilessly slaughtered, the 10-meter-sized leaders also rushed at Dohyun. But they couldn’t easily block his path. Even as they swung their large feet and opened their mouths to try to tear his body apart, Dohyun deflected all attacks using his telekinesis. Instead, he tore off the leaders’ limbs one by one. It was nothing short of a massacre, just taking time.
Perhaps noticing this, the dark elf’s expression changed. Seeing Dohyun getting closer to Jaehee, the dark elf raised his hand. Pointing to where Dohyun was, he said:
[Go.]
Following the dark elf’s orders, 8 elves joined the battle and began attacking the A-class Espers. Half of them focused on marking Dohyun. They had judged Dohyun, who emitted a wavelength comparable to their leader, the dark elf, as a threat.
“Urgh!”
The only one not receiving attacks from the elves was Minhun, whose blue blood was gradually stopping. But Minhun didn’t look good. His face was deathly pale. It wasn’t that the stab wound hurt. That area was already numbed by the parasite and no sensation could be felt.
The problem was something else.
Minhun was trembling as he extended his hand toward the insects, creating a pillar of fire around Jaehee and himself. This was because the parasite had already significantly disrupted Minhun’s senses. The control of his ability, already difficult, became even more challenging. Moreover, his body, drained of energy by the parasite, was barely able to stand. Perhaps noticing this, the elves seemed to be leaving Minhun alone to deal with other threats first.
“Guide Lee Jaehee, I’m having some trouble controlling my ability right now…!”
Minhun wanted to protect Jaehee admirably here. He needed to hold out at least until Dohyun, who was approaching bit by bit while facing 4 elves and numerous monsters with his eyes only on Jaehee, arrived here. But the flames kept threatening to extinguish. Even the sense of creating and extinguishing flames had become confused.
“Esper Lee Minhun.”
It was then that Jaehee placed his hand on Minhun’s back.
“Guide Lee Jaehee! Guiding energy is dangerous right now!”
Receiving guiding was dangerous when control of his ability was difficult. It was no different from pouring oil on uncontrollable flames.
But something strange happened.
“Huh?”
As Jaehee’s hand touched his back, the flickering flame that seemed about to go out at any moment changed into a red circular shape and created a red curtain of fire, a protective barrier, enveloping Jaehee and Minhun. It was a usage method Minhun had never tried before. Minhun’s eyes widened at the magical situation.
Behind such a Minhun, Jaehee looked around.
Minhun who seemed about to collapse, and the Espers fighting numerous monsters.
The elves swarming in to eliminate Dohyun.
But the Guides were trapped, so they couldn’t receive guiding. The Espers, who could exert limited power against the endlessly swarming monsters, were continuing their difficult battle at the risk of going out of control.
‘This won’t do.’
If the current state continued, the Espers would slowly crumble. Fighting against numerous entities. The persistent, almost obsessive attacks of the elves. The dark elf’s crimson arrows that flew in intermittently to prevent the tide from turning whenever they tried to change the flow. And the parasites on top of that.
Moreover, the dark elf’s crimson arrows rendered all Espers helpless. No one could block them. His arrows penetrated everything.
“…”
If things continued like this, a nightmare worse than before the regression might await them. Something had to be done.
But.
‘Alone… it’s impossible.’
Jaehee checked the guiding energy inside his body. There was too little guiding energy. Alone, he could never lead this battle to victory. Yoo Jiwoon, he needed to find him.
While controlling Minhun’s ability, Jaehee heightened all his senses. Numerous wavelengths could be felt. He tried to sense Jiwoon’s wavelength among them. Although evacuation orders were issued in advance when a Gate occurred, civilians who couldn’t escape in time were occasionally sucked into the Gate. Jiwoon would also have entered the Gate in that way. Beads of sweat formed on Jaehee’s forehead.
‘…!’
And it was as Jaehee had expected. Behind the dark elf, looking closely, layers of spider webs were spread. A very faint Guide wavelength, on the verge of manifesting, was flowing from there.
There was no time. He had to save him before he manifested, while the dark elf wasn’t paying much attention to him.
And.
‘According to the original story…’
To save Jiwoon, Geonwoo… would come. Dr. Yoon had told Jaehee that Geonwoo’s manifestation was imminent.
Jaehee’s face darkened.
‘How should I face him?’
He was afraid to face Geonwoo. But that was an unnecessary worry. Geonwoo’s manifestation wasn’t now. The examination results had said it would take at least another week from now.
So Jaehee was trying to buy that time now. He needed to create time for Jiwoon and the Espers to hold out in this battle until Geonwoo came here to save Jiwoon.
If so.
‘I won’t be able to… see his face…’
Jaehee smiled self-mockingly. One week. If Jiwoon was there, the Espers could hold out. But not Jaehee. Because if he wanted to survive himself, he couldn’t protect everyone.
“Huh?”
A voice filled with confusion burst from Minhun’s mouth. Jaehee had used his ability on Minhun. With Jaehee’s gentle pushing hand on his back, Minhun’s steps drew closer to the temple. Numerous insects backed away from Jaehee due to the dark elf’s order not to touch the Guide.
The dark elf, who had been watching Dohyun, turned his face. Looking at Minhun and Jaehee, he raised one corner of his mouth and looked with interest at the prey approaching him.
“Lee Minhun!”
Behind them, Dohyun’s anxious voice was heard. To approach the dark elf instead! Dohyun raised his ability to its limit. Just as he was about to bring Jaehee back, eight elves simultaneously blocked his way.
But it wasn’t just them.
“Ca-Captain!”
The B-class Guides who had been injured. Even those who had been attacked by parasites were blocking Dohyun’s way. It was a situation where he couldn’t easily attack.
In the meantime, Minhun and Jaehee approached the front of the temple. Jaehee scraped out the guiding energy inside his body to adjust Minhun’s senses. The guiding energy was rapidly depleted as it required fine control. Blood surged into his mouth. To hide it, Jaehee swallowed the blood back down and recalled an Esper who had skillfully used flame techniques. Then he controlled Minhun’s senses, imitating that person.
Soon, numerous spherical fireballs were created around Minhun. The dark elf had a dismissive look. He was an A-class boss monster. He was a being that would require at least 10 A-class Espers to clear. He raised his quiver. But before that, fireballs poured toward him. The dark elf easily avoided them by manipulating black magic while gripping the arrow. And he drew the bowstring.
It was then.
WHOOOSH!
The fireballs that flew back instantly burned away the spider webs. Jiwoon fell through the gap. Then Minhun ran to Jiwoon. Jaehee had made him move to save Jiwoon before the fireballs poured down.
The dark elf’s gaze turned. He aimed his bow at Minhun who had entered his domain.
[…!]
But the bowstring was not drawn. This was because Jaehee emitted guiding energy, squeezing out his remaining strength to protect Minhun and Jiwoon. The dark elf, responding to the guiding energy, immediately turned his body. Standing in front of the temple, the being looking at him was sprinkling high-purity guiding energy. He was beckoning him to come.
The dark elf approached Jaehee as if enchanted.
