# Chapter 84
While the Dark Elf approached Jaehee as if entranced, Minhun tried to approach with Jiwoon on his back to save Jaehee.
But at that moment, vast guiding energy enveloped Minhun. Jiwoon’s manifestation had begun. The guiding energy felt from behind was like that of an S-class Guide with high purity, similar to Jaehee’s. But it was different from Jaehee. Unlike Jaehee, whose guiding energy was gradually decreasing, endless guiding energy was flowing from Jiwoon’s body.
“Ah…!”
Minhun’s body turned around. It was an Esper’s instinct.
“No…”
Minhun had clearly intended to save Jaehee, who had protected him from the strange monster in his body.
“How could I!”
But his instinct made him grab Jiwoon’s hand. It whispered to him that he should protect the Guide who endlessly emitted high-purity guiding energy to him, rather than Jaehee, whose guiding energy was fading before his eyes. Fear of the Dark Elf, whom he couldn’t face alone, also lurked in a corner of his mind.
“This isn’t what I intended…”
In the end, Minhun saved Jiwoon. When he came to his senses, he found himself already far from the temple.
“Guide Lee Jaehee!”
But Jaehee had fallen into the Dark Elf’s hands.
Jaehee released guiding energy until all the energy in his body was depleted, to prevent the Dark Elf from moving. He tried to control the Dark Elf’s body, which absorbed guiding energy as if controlling an Esper. In the end, it didn’t work as intended. But at least he could buy time for Minhun and Jiwoon to escape.
Jaehee looked outside the temple. He smiled at the sight of Minhun and Jiwoon moving away from the temple. He felt relieved.
And that’s when it happened.
Drip-!
Thick blood flowed from Jaehee’s nose. Blood gushed up from inside his mouth. As the guiding energy gradually faded, Jaehee’s body collapsed powerlessly to the floor. Jaehee slumped down on the cold marble. His hands and feet trembled as if all his strength had been drained at once, and there was no strength in his entire body. His whole body grew cold as if his body temperature was rapidly dropping.
The Dark Elf looked down at Jaehee in this condition. The being who had entranced him until just a moment ago. But now, no more guiding energy could be felt from his body. The Dark Elf’s face contorted mercilessly. Then he turned his gaze to look at Jiwoon. The one emitting high-purity guiding energy was now someone else.
The Dark Elf turned his head with his face full of undisguised anger. He grabbed Jaehee, who was more than twice as small as him, and threw him away. He felt disgust toward the being who had entranced him and numbed his reason despite having no guiding energy.
Peo-eok!
Jaehee flew into the temple wall. Blood gushed from his mouth.
“Heuuk…”
His entire body ached. His vision was stained red and blurred.
And simultaneously, a persistent ringing sound—piiiiiii—repeated in his ears.
The last day before regression, when he had been confined to a hospital ward, forcibly kept alive. Like that day, small whispers repeated in his ears. Warning messages filled his mind, telling him not to repeat the same mistakes. Jaehee sensed death. On that day too, he had ended his life coughing up red blood after hearing this ringing sound.
Jaehee’s blood dripped steadily. His pupils, gradually growing dim, faced the floor.
The Dark Elf approached Jaehee again, not hiding his unresolved anger. He placed mercy in his hands to kill Jaehee painfully. But to be broken so easily? It was unacceptable. The human before his eyes had to receive all of his anger!
Just then, he heard the screams of Elves, his minions, from behind. The Dark Elf immediately turned around. His eyes fell on Dohyun. He was using telekinesis to rip out an Elf’s heart while constraining its body.
[How dare you.]
Dohyun’s fierce eyes turned toward the Dark Elf. Those eyes already contained a red tint signaling his impending loss of control. Dohyun’s fierce wavelength scattered around, making all the monsters tense.
[A mere human!]
Murderous intent settled on the Dark Elf’s face. The Dark Elf couldn’t tolerate it. He loaded dozens of arrows and aimed at Dohyun. Dark red arrows quickly flew toward Dohyun, emitting an ominous energy.
“Eut…”
Jaehee had collapsed against the wall like a marionette with broken strings. Someone was beside him. It was an Elf who had been leaning against the wall. He smiled widely at Jaehee, his mouth stretching almost to his ears. His eyes were filled with pleasure at the cruelty about to unfold.
The snow-white Elf approached Jaehee.
‘A toy that has lost the Dark Elf’s interest.’
Then there was no reason to be cautious anymore. No need to keep him alive. Unlike the Dark Elf, who could absorb guiding energy, the Elf simply wanted to enjoy the slaughter. The Elf’s hand tapped Jaehee’s head.
“Eu…”
A faint, painful breath burst forth. The Elf smiled. He was still alive.
But he seemed about to die soon. Before that, he had to hurry and enjoy his entertainment. The Elf gathered his fingers and raised his nails. The razor-sharp fingertips were raised as if to pierce through Jaehee’s heart.
“Lee Jaehee!”
Dohyun rushed forward. Seven Elves, Espers controlled by parasites, numerous monsters, and arrows pouring from the Dark Elf blocked the path to Jaehee.
Dohyun’s eyes gradually turned red. The emotional turmoil brought Dohyun to the edge of losing control. Dohyun wanted more power. He desperately needed high-purity guiding energy that would help him use his ability to its fullest limit.
‘No…!’
In his current state, he couldn’t break through these obstacles to reach Jaehee. He didn’t have the overwhelming power to deal with those blocking his way in just a few seconds. Dohyun felt a pain as if his heart was burning up.
“Snap, snap out of it!”
Seeing Dohyun like this, Minhun shook his head side to side and shouted at himself. He looked back at Dohyun and the other Espers, but they all seemed unable to save Jaehee. It seemed he, being closest, had the highest chance of saving Jaehee. This was especially true since monsters were not approaching Minhun, who was carrying Jiwoon on his back.
So Minhun absorbed Jiwoon’s guiding energy while carrying him. His current strength was insufficient. To raise his ability to its limit, he needed Jiwoon’s guiding energy. Only an S-class Guide could raise Minhun’s ability to its maximum.
Minhun stretched out his hand. He released all the power within his body at once. The largest pillar of fire he could create headed toward the temple.
“Heo…”
But Minhun’s face was soon filled with despair. He couldn’t even burn a single strand of the Elf’s hair. That was because thousands of insects blocked his path. The power of the fire pillar only reached that far. It couldn’t even burn all the insects. This was because endless new insects threw their bodies to block Minhun’s flames.
In the end, Minhun couldn’t save Jaehee.
“No! Guide Lee Jaehee!”
It was the moment when Minhun, sensing the impending tragedy, cried out mournfully.
Hwhareuruk-!
Suddenly, the power of the flames strengthened. A massive fire pillar, several times larger, turned all the monsters blocking its path to ash. It was useless even though monsters endlessly rushed in. It burned even those beings in battle. Minhun’s face showed surprise.
And then.
“…!”
A vast wavelength so enormous it was hard to breathe was felt from behind. His entire body trembled. It wasn’t the Dark Elf. Minhun turned his trembling head to look back. The wavelength was no longer felt from behind. The enormous wavelength had already passed Minhun.
Kyaaaak-!
The Elf’s pain-filled scream echoed. Everyone’s gaze gathered on the temple.
The Elf’s black blood was scattered on the temple floor. The arm of the Elf who had tried to kill Jaehee had been severed and was rolling on the floor. The Elf clutched his severed arm in agony. But that was only for a moment.
Kuaaaak-!
The Elf’s body disappeared in an instant. Only black ashes remained where the Elf had been.
The event happened so quickly that Minhun couldn’t see the process. When he turned his head back toward the temple, all that entered Minhun’s view was a man with an enormous physique holding Jaehee in his arms.
“…Guide-nim.”
And Minhun knew who he was. He was already a famous figure due to the Deputy Center Director’s incident.
‘Unmanifested Esper, Choi Geonwoo.’
No… now…
‘S-class Esper, Choi Geonwoo.’
He who scattered an unapproachable, enormous wavelength was right before his eyes.
