Chapter 22

As expected, bringing Im Haekyung along was a good idea. Watching the giant approach from afar, I quickly explained the plan to him.

It would be tough, but the gist was simple: Im Haekyung restrains the Cave Giant, while we wring every last drop of firepower out of this flame-type hunter until the Cave Giant melts and the dungeon clears. Even if it takes time, all that matters is clearing it.

Im Haekyung, even after hearing my genius idea in a situation where every second counted, spoke with obvious reluctance.

“Jehyun. You do know there’s such a thing as human rights in this world... right?”

“I know.”

What the hell kind of comment is that after I went out of my way to explain?

***

In the end, I slung Park Doyun over my shoulder and walked quickly with Im Haekyung up the mountainside to the cave. Good thing the kid was shorter than me. If he’d been a big, bulky hunter, moving him would’ve been a real hassle.

'I’ll need to eat something right after we clear this.'

“Heavy?”

“Yes.”

In truth, he wasn’t that heavy. At most seventy kilos. Carrying that wasn’t the problem. What made it unbearable was the pressure that crushed me whenever Im Haekyung used his skill. Keep in mind, he wasn’t some madman right now—he was climbing the mountain while maintaining widespread skill control at the same time.

'Then what if you just mind-control the giant at the very front line to attack the others? Wouldn’t the ones not under control get pissed and start fighting each other?'

......

That worked—sort of. When the front line started attacking, the others didn’t exactly fight back, but they did flail around in confusion.

After what felt like ages, we finally reached the cave, and the sight left me stunned.

“We’re here.”

“Yes. Truly...”

How many times had I felt this crushing sensation from a Gate already?

It was like standing before a massive natural monument, my own existence shrinking in an instant. Up close, the colossal cave was filled with ice from the entrance, scattering light in every direction. It was awe-inspiring.

'Like something straight out of a movie.'

Transparent ice filled the cave, reflecting and refracting the outside light into countless shimmering flashes.

But I couldn’t afford to be captivated by beauty.

This was where the dungeon boss lived—the Cave Giant.

The Cave Giant’s rank was the same as the Snow Giants outside: A-rank. But even within A-rank, its mana capacity was in another league.

'So it’s even nastier than the ones before.'

We walked deep along the cave’s path.

“This place is absurdly wide.”

I nodded at Im Haekyung’s mutter. The cavern # Nоvеlight # was massive and empty, our voices and even footsteps echoing.

Then, Im Haekyung suddenly froze.

“Wait.”

We’d been walking for at least half an hour. He fixed his gaze into the depths.

Following his line of sight, I saw it: a massive hunk of ice, easily twice the size of the Snow Giants, crouching still, staring at us.

'That’s the Cave Giant.'

The status window flashed before my eyes, confirming it.

Cave Giant (A)

A creature dwelling in the snow mountain’s cave.

Its body is made of ice.

I slowly set Park Doyun down on the ground, rethinking everything.

'Can a B-rank really melt that?'

The answer felt obvious: no.

In the original, Im Haekyung defeated the Cave Giant. It was brushed over in a single line, like it was easy. But now, actually facing it... it didn’t seem possible at all.

'Then how?'

Force it to shatter itself like cocktail ice? Hold off the Snow Giants outside at the same time?

'If that’s possible, then he should just be the final boss.'

Yeah, if it were that easy, I’d happily hand Im Haekyung the role of mastermind or protagonist. He slowly extended a hand, adjusting the flow of mana.

The Cave Giant, which had started to rise, instantly went still at his gesture.

'Maybe this isn’t so bad.'

That he could restrain even something this massive made me freshly appreciate his stats. And then—

“...This won’t work.”

“What?”

“I said it won’t work.”

He had the Cave Giant fully restrained, so what the hell was he talking about? I glanced over—just in time to see cold sweat run down his temple.

'Is this real?'

Even while handling the outside giants and the dungeon boss simultaneously, he was still an S-rank mental hunter. Yet here he was, struggling.

And nowhere in the original did Im Haekyung get badly hurt or die here. Had something gone wrong from the start? Was Kwon Taehan’s fifth run already twisted? Or was this some butterfly effect from my interference?

'So what, am I supposed to just fucking die here?'

The Cave Giant, partially freed, slowly rose and stepped toward us.

“Kh.”

Gritting his teeth, Im Haekyung quickly forced it back down, but I could tell—snow outside was beginning to fall harder, proof he’d shifted focus away from controlling the outer giants to restraining the one before us.

“Jehyun. Could you... bring the hunter here?”

“Yes.”

I picked up Park Doyun again and dropped him in front of Haekyung. One hand restrained the giant, the other effortlessly lifted Park Doyun upright.

Unconscious, Doyun slumped like a ragdoll—until Haekyung’s hand twitched, and suddenly he sat up. Moments later, he stood on both feet, swaying like a puppet. It was like watching a zombie rise.

Then, zombie-like, he began channeling mana. Sparks crackled from his fingertips, and soon flames roared to life around him. Consciousness wasn’t needed. Haekyung was making him do it.

'Holy shit, this actually works...'

Watching the flames flicker, I felt a rush of inexplicable exhilaration.

Why?

—Whoosh!

Fire bloomed from Doyun’s hand with no fuel, no tinder. Flames, in an ice cave, burning where they shouldn’t. None of it made sense.

Yet the flames simply existed, slowly melting the Cave Giant’s feet. Too slow for the naked eye to track, but real.

With just one hand, Haekyung controlled him like a marionette. Park Doyun stood tall, raising fire again and again, launching it at the Cave Giant.

Blazing Flame (B) has been activated.

Drawn in, I approached Doyun. This wasn’t a battle.

The oppressive weight of Haekyung’s skill still crushed my lungs, but at the same time, it sharpened the sensation of being alive.

Yes—alive!

How often does a living being actually feel alive?

I couldn’t stop my lips from twisting upward. Fear of death and adrenaline blazed together in my veins.

If even a mere B-rank could unleash this much fire, what would it be like when I actually met Kwon Taehan, an S-rank? This wasn’t the same as the dull routines and obligatory plans I’d been clinging to.

In this moment, I finally understood why I’d forced myself into this dungeon.

Did I want to see for myself? I’d talked with the status window, met characters from the original novel, but none of it had felt real. Not until I stood here, facing this dungeon, more alive than ever.

If Haekyung slipped even slightly, that giant would crush us all in seconds. Maybe he could escape alone—but me? I’d be dead, no doubt.

And yet, I didn’t feel fear of death.

So this was what mana felt like.

I’d read research papers, articles, trying to understand. But the real thing was nothing like ink on a page. It was just—this sense that I could do it, too.

Meanwhile, drooling, eyes vacant, Park Doyun flailed his arms, then drew one back like pulling an invisible bowstring.

As if firing a bow of pure flame.

And then—

—Whoosh!

A colossal arrow of fire shot from his hands.

Bow of Fire (B) has been activated.

Massless flame slammed into solid ice with a deafening roar.

—KWAANG!

The Cave Giant’s body melted slightly more. Still locked in place, it jerked its massive head, as if desperate to dodge, but it couldn’t. Haekyung’s bindings held firm.

“Ah, shit.”

A curse slipped from Haekyung’s lips.

“Hah... If we have to hold out until it’s fully melted, the SH people will all be dead.”

Sweat was running freely down his smooth jawline now. He was truly reaching his limit.

I hesitated. No matter how we died, it would be about the same. Should I try it?

'Yeah. Maybe it’ll work.'

The fear vanished, leaving only curiosity.

No excuses needed. I simply wanted to try.

As a kid, people used to say I was far more impulsive than others, so I needed to suppress it and live methodically.

But in a situation where I could die any second, was clinging to plans really the right move? No—I’d never planned for this to begin with.

The moment Haekyung faltered, everything had gone off-script.

Excitement crawled up my spine. It wasn’t reason, or strategy. Just impulse.

At that moment, Haekyung stepped half a pace back, and the Cave Giant twitched an arm.

The instant it moved, I rushed forward, pressing my palm against Doyun’s back.

'So this is the feeling.'

Through my palm, I sensed the flow of mana inside his body. I could almost map where it went, how it moved.

'And the thought struck me—I can copy this.'

I extended my hand, channeling the faint mana inside me, just as Doyun had, mimicking his flow.

Mimic (S) has been activated.

And then—

Blazing Flame (B) has been activated.

Flames began to burn in my hand.