NOVEL NEXT Chapter 116
Chapter 116: The Deadly Encounter
As soon as he finished speaking, Si-hyun dove headfirst into the Orc horde.
The sudden and forceful charge seemed to catch the Orcs off guard.
In the meantime, Si-hyun burrowed deep into the mass of Orcs.
However, it was clear that he would soon be surrounded and in serious danger if this continued.
“Let’s go too!”
The quick-witted Cheol-hyung shouted as he jumped in after Si-hyun.
Even then, he swung his longsword, swiftly taking down an Orc.
The other inmates rushed in behind him, storming toward the Orcs.
“Ugh?”
“Graah?”
The Orcs looked bewildered.
Human soldiers, who had been strictly defending, suddenly acted against their usual behavior and charged in a crazed frenzy.
Like a desperate raid squad breaking through the enemy’s main base, Si-hyun and the twenty inmates pierced through the Orcs.
“Crap… I’m coming too!”
Kang Baek desperately joined the fray from behind.
Fortunately, he managed to catch up right before it was too late.
Si-hyun unleashed a grim gaze upon the Orcs blocking his path.
With each glare, the Orcs’ eyes wavered, and they flinched.
There wasn’t time for a beatdown, but it was enough for a quick escape.
No, there wasn’t even a need for a beatdown.
After all, Cheol-hyung was right behind him, swinging his longsword and claiming the lives of the Orcs.
To the right of their group, Mujik continued to make large circles with his spear, ensuring the Orcs couldn’t approach recklessly.
On the left, Dong-il raised a large shield high, blocking the Orcs’ attacks.
Thanks to this, the wizard and healer in the center could safely navigate through the enemies.
Before long, Si-hyun spotted the exit.
Throwing a fierce glare at the Orcs, he leaped through their ranks.
‘Made it.’
No more Orcs were blocking his way.
What lay ahead was a grim sight of bodies scattered from the horrific massacre that had just occurred.
Si-hyun stepped outside and pivoted.
Cheol-hyung followed closely, soon joined by the other inmates.
Finally, Kang Baek emerged, his face deathly pale.
“Pant, pant… I thought I was going to die, hyung.”
“People are coming down?” Si-hyun asked.
“Yes, I saw and reported immediately!”
“What the heck is going on up there…?”
“I don’t know. But it sounded like they were screaming… I’m starting to think a monster has appeared…”
“No way, out of nowhere, a monster appears? We’ve been holding this place together, how does that make sense?” Dong-il replied incredulously.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Kang Baek shook his head.
“Anyway, it seems there’s not much we can do,” Cheol-hyung said.
And he was right.
Soon, a crowd of people would come rushing down.
If there was time, they might have been able to take down some Orcs and lessen their numbers, but in that brief moment, Si-hyun’s group had nothing they could reliably do.
Moments later.
A massive movement was felt from within the building.
◈ ◈ ◈
Surrounded by terrifying enemies, both in front and behind, they were in a dire situation.
However, everyone knew that the only place with even a slight chance of survival was ahead.
Under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t have even dared to jump into the monster-infested area.
Yet, human survival instincts were formidable.
Desperate to live, everyone rushed down the stairs.
There was no time to stop.
If they stopped, they would surely be trampled to death.
They knew even a misstep could mean death.
Breathless, they focused all their attention to land their feet carefully.
Soon, the Orcs appeared before the front lines.
It would’ve been preferable if Hunter correctional officers were at the front, but there was no time for such thoughts as they hurried down for their lives.
Leading the charge were ordinary staff members with no real power, yet they hesitated not for a moment.
Gritting their teeth, they threw themselves at the Orcs.
It didn’t matter if they died standing still or dove into battle; either way, they faced death.
No, diving in gave them a slim chance of survival.
Yet, unlike Si-hyun’s sudden rush, the Orcs this time wouldn’t let it go easily.
“Ghah!”
“Ahhh!”
The sharpened blades of the Orcs’ weapons tore through the leading humans, leading to screams as they fell to the ground.
The expressions of those behind darkened.
It felt like their hearts dropped.
But they did not stop.
“Damn it, just charge in!”
“Get out of the way, you bastards!”
Relying on their momentum, people threw themselves at the Orcs.
Humans, once easy prey, now found themselves in a true desperation.
It was like a rat charging at a cat.
“Grah?”
The expressions of the Orcs shifted.
They scoffed at the weak human onslaught, thinking it a joke.
But unexpectedly, the charge was fierce.
Even if those at the front were fatally injured or fell, the rear kept rushing forward.
Even towering Orcs, some over 2 meters tall, staggered backward as people threw their entire weight into the fray.
Some Orcs even fell.
In the chaos, the Hunter correction officers fought back with all their might, attacking the Orcs with their weapons.
In such a tumultuous situation, that was no small threat.
To everyone’s surprise, the gap between the Orcs began to widen.
The Orcs were clearly taken aback by this unforeseen situation.
They assumed the charging humans would scatter after taking down a few, but instead, the crowd charged with more fearsome resolve.
The scene was a far cry from earlier, shaking the Orcs to their core.
People surged through the openings.
Though many had died in the front line, the momentum of the escapees was now unstoppable.
Psychologically, the Orcs found themselves on the back foot.
Ultimately, the Orcs just stepped aside, as if letting the humans pass.
It was clear they felt they couldn’t handle this any longer.
“Hyung, we’re coming out!” Kang Baek shouted.
People began to rush out through the entrance.
Those who emerged wore faces ten years older than before, strained by the ordeal they endured inside.
Some, having exhausted every bit of effort just to escape, collapsed on the ground, panting heavily.
Yet, despite their exhaustion, many continued to move for the sake of life.
The moment they confirmed there were no monsters outside, they caught sight of the broken main gate.
If they could reach that point, they might escape this hellish place.
“Over there!” someone shouted, pointing toward the shattered gate.
Immediately, countless faces filled with desperation started running in unison toward that direction.
“Surely there can’t be monsters outside the main gate?” Cheol-hyung said with a worried expression.
No one knew how many monsters had poured out from the gate.
There was a possibility that there were still monsters lurking outside.
“We can only hope so,” Si-hyun replied.
Staying here and risking another attack from the Orcs would be far worse than fleeing toward the gate.
Exhausted individuals understood this and forced themselves to stumble onward, rising despite their fatigue.
“I—I can make it out!”
The first staff member took off with a look of relief toward the broken main gate.
But at that moment.
A wall of countless transparent blades appeared where the gate had been.
The staff member, intending to escape, had no idea it was forming.
“Huh?”
Swoosh! Swoosh!
The staff member couldn’t comprehend what was happening as they were sliced to pieces by the blades.
Fortunately, the second staff member was far enough from the first to avoid the spraying blood.
They witnessed the horrific scene in shock, screaming, “S-Stop! Everyone, stop!”
Those running from behind also saw that horrific sight clearly.
The desperate crowd halted, their faces drained of color.
Overcome by the brutality, some retched.
“W-What is that?” Kang Baek’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“…”
Si-hyun frowned in silence.
He sensed something was off.
And then it happened.
“Impudent humans. Trying to escape this place without my permission. No one may leave without my consent.”
The voice echoed.
It wasn’t in Korean.
Yet, everyone understood it perfectly.
The spacious area carried the voice clearly, striking right at their ears.
“W-Who’s there?”
“Wh-What’s going on?”
People panicked, looking around for the source of the voice.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Heavy footsteps echoed from the entrance of the ward building.
The horrific monster that guided them here was approaching.
And beside it stood the gray-haired man.
The man’s expression seemed to glimmer with amusement.
“It’s getting boring playing cat and mouse. Cowardly humans, why not show some courage and fight instead of running?”
With a swift flick of his right hand, a wall of countless blades generated to the left of the people.
The difference from before was that these blades were visible, not transparent.
The sharply pointed blades gleamed dangerously, sending chills down their spines.
“Gah…”
“W-Wait, what?!”
People stumbled back, trying to distance themselves from the terrifying wall of blades.
“Haha, show me some courage, humans!”
With another sweeping gesture of his left hand, a suffocating wall of blades formed to the right.
“Ugh!”
Left, right, and behind.
All exits had been blocked.
Their faces were now completely pale.
“Chief, this is…”
Cheol-hyung wore a serious expression.
Though he didn’t know who this man was, the abilities displayed were beyond comprehension.
Even as an A-Class Awakened Being, Cheol-hyung couldn’t gauge the true level of the opponent.
“Damn it… I was so close to being released…”
Dong-il muttered bitterly.
Mujik silently gripped his spear tighter.
“Get a grip.”
Si-hyun said, his face cold.
He could feel that they were up against an incredibly strong foe.
Yet, he had already overcome many life-threatening situations before.
Face-avoidance Technician, Giant Monkey, Black Cross, Human Butcher…
All had been daunting enemies for him at the time.
But still, he had survived.
He would again this time.
“Everyone, retreat to the back!”
Si-hyun stepped forward.
Ordinary people wouldn’t do much to help.
Mediocre Awakened Beings would be just as ineffective.
No one knew when the rescue squad would arrive.
So, in this moment, it would only be Si-hyun and the 6th Floor inmates who could determine their fate.
People hesitated and began to retreat slowly.
Among them were the Security Department Head and Security Chief.
They had somehow managed to survive and get this far.
The expressions of those who looked at Si-hyun were filled with mixed emotions.
He was the bravest correctional officer who had fought fiercely against enemies among all within the special detention center.
Even now, he confidently stepped forward without any visible fear.
If fellow correctional officers felt nothing observing this, they weren’t human.
“Yes, after all, those with spirit are always a select few.”
The man smirked.
“Come forth, Trital. Cast a shadow of death upon the face of that arrogant human.”
Thud! Thud!
Trital approached Si-hyun, wielding an iron club.