The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 760: Meteor Shower (1)

From the throaty growl came a rough, awkward voice.

Indistinct syllables mingled. A massive pillar shot up from the building’s footprint. It was a monster encased in layered iron plating from head to toe. It had no limbs or eyes. At its crown were two gaping round holes. Crackling arose, like tens of thousands of insects flapping their wings from its body. I hastily activated Sprout Skill, but no status window appeared.

[Honey! That’s a Transcendent-affiliated monster! Somewhere between sentient being and monster. Its status window is set to private!]

“They showed me Diarma’s!”

[Honey World’s Transcendent was obliged to reveal system info for that world’s beings. But these are different!]

So they barged into our domain with no immigration papers. Grrrrk, the so-called gatekeeper bowed what must be its head. Suddenly Seong Hyunjae stood beneath it, on the nursery rooftop’s railing, looking up.

“A parley.”

Seong Hyunjae’s lips curved into a faint smile. A wish. No Transcendent here could grant his desire. Not even the rookie gods.

“I will grant what you wish, then.”

Crash! A golden shard shot forth. A chain of brilliant light slashed through the air and struck the gatekeeper’s plating. Only a hairline crack appeared. The Seeker’s chain couldn’t even dent its surface properly—it must have at least SS-rank defense.

Seong Hyunjae vanished. Even with Teacher Skill active, I couldn’t track him as he raced along the extended chain. Just as the gatekeeper recoiled, Seong Hyunjae stood atop its head. With the toe of his boot he tapped the iron plating, producing a clear metallic chime. Instantly the chain coiled around the pillar-like body of the monster. Almost simultaneously—

KRAAAT!

Light erupted. A concentrated surge of electricity coursed along the chain. Slim needles now pierced the armor’s seams, drawing the current in. The gatekeeper writhed briefly, then the light vanished.

Every ounce of that electricity sank into the monster’s core.

Perfect control of dispersing currents. The gatekeeper stiffened, then—

Crack, clatter—

Plates of armor began falling away. Beneath lay masses of coal-black, charred lumps. Seong Hyunjae slammed the monster’s head with a headbutt. The layered armor crashed down, and the black remains turned to ash. The Seeker’s chain hooked something among the debris. On the nursery rooftop, Seong Hyunjae received from the chain a small gem—an arcstone.

“Since you spoke so, I’ll take it gratefully.”

His teeth gently bit the arcstone. The hard gem melted into light and vanished. What was that?

“Wh-what are you doing!”

He absorbed the arcstone? Seong Hyunjae turned toward me. No answer came. Could he truly intend to devour the Transcendents’ subordinates?

BOOM!

Another meteor fell not far off. Then another crack— the ground trembled. Buildings in a row were swept away in an instant. A mighty roar echoed. Seong Hyunjae slowly turned his head toward it. His eyes were those of a predator, not prey.

“If you swallow arcstones like that, you’ll—”

He cut me off, and Yuhyun’s arm snatched me. Willow-leaf wind spiraled around us.

“Wait, Seong Hyunjae! Just hold on! Wait for me!”

You left me a chance! You promised to wait! Filling Seong Hyunjae felt new to me, but he was nearly full. Pouring in arcstones sent by a Transcendent’s direct envoy would surely unbalance him. If they were only subordinates, maybe he could withstand it. But if a Transcendent leapt in like Chatterbox—

My shout went unanswered. The chain extended again, glimmering gold as it reached the opposite building. Seong Hyunjae lightly stepped down the golden line. Director Song looked at me, bowed shortly with tightly pressed lips, then turned away.

“You two— I—!”

Against my will, my body was dragged the other way. Teacher Skill’s range snapped off. Yuhyun, stepping on willow leaves, swiftly departed the nursery. Yerim and Peace followed immediately. With his ornate cloak fluttering, Moon Hyunah leapt down toward us.

“Hyung! I’ll go over there first!”

“Hyunah, I need to go too!”

“…This doesn’t feel like someone who’ll let her master go.”

“But! And even dreams are dangerous now!”

This dream world offered no system protection. Even if their bodies in our world were fine, their minds could be harmed. At worst, their consciousness could die.

“It’s still safer than you two. Mari and the Sanctified are on standby. You rest a bit, hyung.”

Hyunah’s figure vanished behind me. Far off I heard a distant thunder. The rain of stars continued. The pounding of earth and buildings blended with our racing hearts.

“Yuhyun, I have to go too!”

I want to survive. I want to live on. I knew I should withdraw. But if I retreated now, I couldn’t live as myself.

“I can’t live alone! I can’t leave you behind!”

If being alone were all that mattered, I’d have let go of my brother’s hand long ago. That stubbornness began then.

“I’m right here.”

“Yuhyun!”

“There’s poison in gratitude, too. I can’t help it. I’m sorry.”

“……!”

My breath caught. In my blurry vision, the red-tinged black eyes gazed down at me quietly.

“Han Yuhyun?! Hey!”

Yerim’s startled voice grew faint. After Peace’s growl, my vision turned black.

“What are you doing!”

Park Yerim shouted. The Flame-Horn Lion bared its fangs. Han Yuhyun, unconscious, cradled the limp Han Yujin.

“To hide hyung until the dreamworld stabilizes, this is best.”

If Han Yujin can’t escape, and the Transcendents’ intrusion settles, he’ll return to the real world. Their target was Seong Hyunjae. Avoid the battlefield, stay hidden safely. So Han Yujin won’t shatter further.

“B-but…”

“I forced you here, so it’s not hyung’s fault.”

“Sir will still feel guilt!”

“It will be lessened.”

He would suffer, but he would live on. So Han Yuhyun had to choose this path. Park Yerim gripped her spear tightly. She too wanted to protect Han Yujin.

“…I don’t know. I think this isn’t right, but I don’t know another way!”

“I’m only protecting hyung.”

That was enough from the start. Han Yuhyun took off running again. After hesitating, Peace followed. Park Yerim glanced back. The thunder dimmed.

“I’ll scout the situation.”

“Hyung wants you safe.”

“Director Sesung and Director Song want to survive too. So I want to help if I can. Not just because of hyung— I don’t want to leave anyone behind now!”

Han Yuhyun looked at Park Yerim briefly.

“Hyung… yes. I don’t want to overdo it either. I’ll leave it to you. I won’t do anything reckless. With teleport, I can escape if needed.”

Park Yerim checked her comms and shot upward.

“If anything happens, call me immediately!”

Her shawl rippled like waves, then vanished. Han Yuhyun increased speed along the wide road. The Flame-Horn Lion ran beside him warily but close.

‘Hyung will be okay.’

He’ll struggle, but he’ll rise again. Even if he sank forever, to Han Yuhyun he’d still be Han Yujin. Losing an entire world was worse than holding onto a broken piece.

Unlike Han Yujin, he had only one. A being who can grasp only one can never stand on equal ground with one who mingles with many. To draw close, they must each reach out from different places.

Han Yuhyun stretched his hand as far as he could. Han Yujin, holding his hand, didn’t pull him in but met him halfway. Yet if that hand would vanish, he had to pull. Not just the hand— he had to hold on to the whole.

Peace snarled and stopped. Han Yuhyun also halted. The asphalt melted thickly. Black tar bubbled and dark green flames # Nоvеlight # seeped out. The flames formed a shape—a humanoid body with an eagle-like head, covered in fiery feathers, with glaring red eyes amid deep green fire.

A hissing voice spoke.

Han Yuhyun gently laid the unconscious Han Yujin on Peace’s back. Peace quietly stepped back.

On Han Yuhyun’s shoulder, Rin trembled. The being blocking their path was fire itself, which could consume its own body. The flickering flames radiated potent heat. No fire they’d met before was so pure.

Though mere S-rank flesh and blood could not compare, Han Yuhyun’s eyes were calm.

The fire-bird extended a flickering hand. Even the bird, a subordinate, was far older than Han Yuhyun. One did not easily dominate a century-old flame.

“Fire submits to stronger fire.”

Han Yuhyun’s voice flowed softly. Older, purer. His hand reached out. A faint aura of flames entwined his fingers, hand, and wrist.

It was the oldest beginning.

Rin, flustered, darted between Peace and Han Yujin.

As if not hearing, Han Yuhyun stepped forward. The fire-bird recoiled. Instinctive dread, but it steeled itself. It was an immature flame, easily dominated.

The tiny bird’s hand met Han Yuhyun’s fingertips. Black eyes curved into a faint smile. A spark of primordial fire smiled—fearless, a tiny fledgling reaching out to it.

The fire scattered. Overwhelmed by the greater blaze, it vanished utterly. Having long since shed its flesh, nothing remained. It dissolved into the air.

Han Yuhyun’s eyes blinked slowly.

On Han Yujin’s shoulder, Rin leapt up and down.

“Don’t tell hyung.”

Han Yuhyun glanced at his hand and wrist. The flame fragment lay dormant. The emotions and sensations once merging had vanished. He felt them slowly blend within him. Cutting it out might be safer. But for what purpose?

‘I, him.’

There was little reason now to protect actively. Because Han Yujin would grieve. That reason only held while Han Yujin existed. Now, power came first. Han Yuhyun turned, cradled Han Yujin again. Rin looked up at him anxiously.

“Can any fire be subdued by a stronger flame?”

In Rin’s voice, Han Yuhyun remembered Han Yuhyun.

It wasn’t wrong.