CHAPTER 63

Hirayon held his breath as one of the antennas passed by the tree he was hiding behind. He tried to make his presence as inconspicuous as possible, almost wishing he had the ability to turn invisible. Knowing he lacked such a skill, his mind automatically formulated a plan to block any sudden attacks once the grasshopper discovered him.

Fortunately, he didn't have to resort to those measures as the antenna withdrew, allowing Hirayon to release a sigh of relief for his luck. Then, the group heard tree trunks snapping like mere branches, followed by a tremor accompanied by a sharp gust of wind. Finally, the grasshopper departed.

Peeking out from behind the tree, the group witnessed a ravaged area as if a disaster had occurred. Most of the trees lay broken into pieces, the ground bore numerous footprints, and a shallow crater marked the spot where the creature's heavy weight had landed.

"We're safe for now," OAR48 whispered in relief, dropping to the ground. His legs had been trembling since earlier, and they finally gave way with the danger gone.

Moments later, the members regrouped and continued to use the trees as their hiding places.

"We should move fast. I can still see the ant, but it's a good thing it's not heading in our direction," OFF134 expressed, his eyes fixed on the distance where the ant's large abdomen could still be seen.

"Where are we going to hide? We've already encountered two insects, but with the explosions earlier, I wouldn't be surprised if there are more," OID76 said, adjusting OSZ61's position on his back. Despite the girl not being too heavy, exhaustion from utilizing his Aura and the relentless running took a toll on him.

"I don't think we can find a good place. Should we create one?" Hirayon suggested.

"What? You want to dig the ground?" Hirang asked.

"That's not a bad idea," Hirayon admitted and stood up. He walked a few steps away from the group, feeling the wind against his back.

He extended his hand and closed his eyes. Channeling his Aura, he lowered his ring finger, and a surge of violet-brown liquid erupted. The substance hit the ground, producing a continuous sound of tiny gunshots as the earth melted, leaving behind a pungent but oddly pleasant smell that was quickly swept away by the wind.

"What the..."

Hirang couldn't help but gawk at the large hole with his dead, emotionless eyes. To him, it was a new element, but at the same time, it felt strangely familiar. He had only seen it in old videos, but he knew for sure that what Hirayon had just used was definitely poison.

"You were injected with the poison element?" he asked. Although his expression remained unchanged, the shock was evident in his eyes and voice.

"Yeah, but I can only use it once a day," Hirayon answered, staring at his reddish ring finger.

The second element injected into Hirayon, which he painfully resisted, was Poison. It was considered one of the rare elements in their current time, with only 1% of the total population in the entire Diwana capable of wielding it. The clan that used to harness it was eradicated several years ago, and the number of remaining Poison users continued to dwindle, mirroring the fate of other rare elements.

This scarcity explained why Hirayon struggled to control and utilize the element. Only a handful of books delved into the subject, and all of them lacked the depth needed for Hirayon to harness the ability fully. If only he could learn about every single type of poison, he was certain such knowledge and power would prove invaluable in his future battles. But for now, he could only use it once a day without poisoning himself.

"That's so cool," OAR48 muttered, his eyes sparkling with amazement.

OID76 shared the awe but for a different reason. He had learned earlier that Hirayon had used a blood ability, and combined with his original element, that made two. Now, he had used yet another one, bringing his total elements to three—a number that no kid their age should be capable of controlling. Though well aware of how skilled and talented a child OWS59 was, having three elements was still beyond what a child's body could contain, let alone control.

The children gawked at Hirayon, who remained indifferent to their amazement. Instead, he urged the kids and called OAR48 and OID76.

Facing the two, he said, "I need you to air the hole to remove any excess poison, then create a thin layer of ice. Is that possible?"

The two nodded, understanding Hirayon's goal. After clearing the hole of residual poison, the thin ice would serve as an additional layer of protection from any overlooked poison and insects.

A few minutes later, the group had fashioned a hole about 4 meters deep, covered by thin ice throughout.

"Hurry, jump in," Hirayon urged everyone as he sensed another group in the distance. Once everyone was safely in the cool hole, OAR48 concentrated and controlled a large crownless tree, using its trunk to cover the hole, depriving it of any light. With that, they had completed their hiding place.

A few seconds later, OFF134 took it upon himself and created a small fire illuminating the hole.

"Huh? Where are we?"

OSZ61 groggily surveyed her surroundings, unable to recall recent events. Confusion washed over her as she realized they were confined in a dark space, faintly illuminated by a hovering fire in the middle.

OID76 carefully lowered the little girl and settled into a corner. "We've taken refuge in a makeshift hole to evade those gigantic insects."

Still dazed, OSZ61 sifted through her memories. When the image of the mandible creature flashed in her mind, her eyes widened in realization.

"Are we safe now?" she whispered, her gaze distant. In the past, encountering a giant insect would have left her traumatized. However, since arriving at the facility, she had grown accustomed to both physical and emotional dangers.

"For now," OAR48 answered, patting the space beside him, signaling her to join.

As she settled down, OSZ61 leaned towards OAR48, whispering, "What happened while I was out?"

"Not much. We waited for the insect to retreat and spent a lot of time creating this hideout. Thanks to that, I'm almost out of Aura."

"Then our plans are busted, huh?" she asked, referring to the carefully thought-out plans they had discussed earlier.

"Yeah. We can't execute them. If I use more of my remaining Aura, I'll likely lose consciousness," OAR48 lamented, glancing at OID76, who rested with closed eyes. Even though the child didn't voice it, OAR48 observed the slowing pace of OID76's abilities—a clear sign that he, too, was nearing his limits. Hence, it seemed likely that only OWS59 and OFF134 remained capable of combat.

"Let's rest, so at least we can run if attacked later. That's all we can do not to hinder those who can still fight," OAR48 said with a sad smile. Once again, he felt a sense of helplessness during a critical moment. He wasn't the type to look down on himself, but he couldn't help it with talented people around him.

The same goes for OID76 and OSZ61. In their respective clans, they were recognized for potential and prestige tied to their family names. Unaccustomed to feeling inadequate, the Torneo continually emphasized their shortcomings. They yearned to demonstrate more, to prove they could keep up with the strong ones. Yet, as time passed, they realized that such talents were innate and not attainable by everyone.

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Nevertheless, the shared desire to survive burned within them. They yearned to fight, to muster the strength necessary to defend themselves, envisioning a future where they could reclaim their freedom and return to the normal lives they once had.

With such thoughts, the group was filled with silence. But it didn't last long. A thunderous explosion shattered the stillness, shaking the ground beneath them and shattering their short-lived peace.

In response, Hirayon swiftly used his ability and looked upward, searching for the source of the tremor. As his gaze shifted leftward, his eyes narrowed at the distant figures of Auras. In an instant, he knew they were another group.

"We've been found," Hirayon declared.

Alarmed, everyone rose to their feet, awaiting orders from their leaders.

"Are you sure they're not just firing randomly?" Hirang inquired, brows furrowed.

Hirayon began to respond, but another attack reverberated through their location. It felt more like a warning than an attempt to expose their hiding place by the approaching group.

"They're not. They want us to come out."

"They're challenging us?" Hirang questioned, his tone laced with bewilderment. The idea that another group would be foolish enough to challenge them head-on seemed incomprehensible.

"Should we confront them?" OFF134 inquired.

"That'll be difficult. Only you and OWS59 can fight, and we don't even know their elemental abilities," OAR48 remarked.

"I can't precisely identify their Aura, but I can tell from their forms that they have enough to defeat our group," Hirayon shared, surprising everyone.

"Then what do we do now?" OSZ61 asked, her usual sassy tone replaced by exhaustion, worn out by the relentless events.

"If they found us, it means they have someone capable of locating us. And if they're trying to lure us out, it's clear they want the crown," OID76 explained.

"I believe it would be safer for ODE152 and me to leave this hole. OFF134 can guard this place and protect the rest of you," Hirayon suggested.

"Protect them? I'm the king, right?" Hirang questioned, puzzled by why Hirayon would propose protecting the others instead of him.

"Yes, you are. But they're all out of Aura."

"Still, they should protect me," he insisted, almost making Hirayon laugh. Just moments ago, he detested the idea of being protected, but now he was demanding to be guarded.

"But that doesn't mean they should sacrifice their lives for you. Do you think you're an actual king?" Hirayon retorted.

"You can't fight them all. We'll lose the game. They can at least make themselves useful and be bait," Hirang suggested.

Hirayon paused, absorbing what Hirang wanted. He then faced the kid with a stoic, almost angry expression. He understood that Hirang was solely focused on winning the game, but such cruelty was not something he could accept. Nonetheless, he composed himself, aiming to avoid prolonging the discussion with the child.

"You said it yourself. This is just a game. If we lose today, then we have to do better next time. It's better to lose than let yourself be killed here."

"That's stupid," Hirang remarked.

Losing his patience, Hirayon shot Hirang a cold look. "You're the one being stupid. Just follow me and shut up," he said irritably, not allowing the startled Hirang to argue back.

Hirayon faced the cold wall of the hole, attempting to climb, when he was stopped by OAR48.

"Are you sure about this? We could still help-"

"You can't," Hirayon interjected, not swayed by valiant words. He had assessed the remaining Auras of their group members earlier, and they only had enough to keep themselves upright and awake for an hour.

"Then just bring OFF134 with you. He doesn't need to protect us," OAR48 suggested after some contemplation. It irked him that they were becoming a burden, and he wanted to let the two go with a member who could still fight.

Hirayon glanced at the waiting OFF134 before turning, preparing himself to climb out. "He also can't fight."

"What? I can fight!" OFF134 exclaimed with a slightly raised voice. He was so surprised that he forgot to control his volume.

"You sprained your foot," Hirayon stated without looking at the child.

OFF134's eyes widened in bewilderment. He was sure no one saw him twist his foot earlier. "How?"

"You seemed uncomfortable after the grasshopper appeared. I initially thought you were just scared, but now you still look pale," Hirayon replied. "It would be better for you to stay here," he added.

"I won't need my feet to cast my attacks."

Turning his head to look at the boy, Hirayon saw desperation in his auburn eyes. It might have been the kid's pride as a warrior, but there was no time for such childish pride. He needed to protect Hirang, and with OFF134's condition, he might be able to help initially, but not for long. Hirayon was convinced that the boy's determination would eventually cause more harm than good.

"Protect them," Hirayon stated with finality, turning his back to the disappointed child, prioritizing the group's safety over OFF134's desire.

In the next moment, Hirayon and Hirang emerged from a gap created by OAR48, who had moved the trunk slightly for them to exit.

Scanning the area, Hirayon immediately spotted the distant group. They stood on a large leaf hovering a few feet in the air. When the group saw the two emerge, a little girl with dark green hair touched the leaf's petiole and pushed it forward, effectively controlling their makeshift transport.

Preventing them from nearing the hole, Hirayon and Hirang advanced, meeting the opposing group halfway at the cleared area where the grasshopper had landed.

"What is it?" Hirayon inquired once they were just a few meters apart.

Above the leaf, two girls and four boys stood, all familiar faces to Hirayon. However, that was the extent of his knowledge. He had no idea about their abilities except for the green-haired girl who potentially possessed Earth or Plant elements.

"We want the crown," the crowned girl with ginger hair stated, pointing at the black crown on Hirang's head. Like his, her crown was tall, indicating they had also acquired crowns from two other groups.

"Is that so?" Hirayon replied, and silence settled between the two groups.

Irritated, the little girl with the group number 5 on her black crown turned to the boy beside her. "Attack them," she ordered.

The little boy with red-orange eyes raised a brow from the order before facing Hirayon. He held out his hand, and a bright orange orb manifested before it. A second later, the orange orb turned black before the outer layer cracked, showing the almost neon-orange substance inside, imitating a flowing magma.

Observing it, Hirayon recognized that it was the ability that continually assaulted their precious ice hole. Without hesitation, he extended his right hand and created a Water Wall.

"Water can never beat magma," the kid remarked condescendingly, deriding Hirayon's water element.

Instead of responding, Hirayon let Hirang interject in irritation. "Why do kids from the Fire Clan always say stupid things?"

Surprised, the little kid clarified, "I'm from the Magma Clan, idiot."

"Did you just call me an idiot?" Hirang shot back.

"Who else?"

Hirang looked at the kid with a domineering glare. His pitch-black eyes resembled a void, and the kid felt a twinge of fear. For a moment, it seemed as though he was gazing into darkness itself.

"Ah yeah, I am. I talked to you, so I got your idiocy," Hirang remarked, boredom evident as he looked away disinterestedly.

"That-"

"Don't let him rile you up. Just throw that magma," a boy with thick glasses said beside him.

Calming down, the boy hurled the sphere-shaped magma toward the Water Wall. Upon collision, the two elements produced smoke accompanied by a sizzling sound. After a moment, the sizzling ceased, and the wind dispersed the smoke, revealing a current-filled Water Wall with a black sphere inside it, swirling with the current.

Frowning at the sight of his extinguished magma, the little kid formed two more magma spheres and threw them at the wall. To no avail; his attacks proved useless against the surprisingly strong defensive Water Wall. Growing more annoyed, the kid relentlessly bombarded the wall with magma.

Meanwhile, behind the wall, Hirang and Hirayon talked.

"Is this your plan?" Hirang asked, his tone hinting at his displeasure about their current situation.

"Yeah. I don't see any way we could escape or fight them. We should stall time until the game ends," Hirayon answered, summoning the timer. "We just need to hold on for 15 minutes," he added.

"A lot of things could happen in 15 minutes," Hirang expressed.

"I know, but do you have any other ideas?" Hirang inquired. He could no longer think of anything that would guarantee them a win aside from defending until the game ended.

"Can you control that wall to move with us?" Hirang asked after glancing at the Water Wall.

"Yeah, I can. Why?"

"Let's lead them toward the ant," Hirang suggested, his eyes fixed on the far distance where the red ant strolled leisurely, seemingly enjoying its size.

"And how are we supposed to escape from the ant?" Hirayon questioned. He tried thinking of a way to defeat the gigantic insects earlier, but it would require the whole group's effort if they still had at least half their usual Aura.

"We run."

Hirayon stared at Hirang as if he had lost all hope in the kid. Sometimes, Hirang exuded a death-like imposing aura—oppressive and harsh. But there were also times, like now, when he looked annoyingly simpleminded and ignorant, like usual kids.

"Wow, I never thought of that," Hirayon remarked sarcastically and turned away from the kid.

"What? Why?"

Ignoring the kid, Hirayon concentrated on controlling the Water Wall. He also activated his ability to anticipate any other attacks the opponent might launch. Suddenly, he sensed Aura accumulating behind him. When he turned, a dense dark brown aura rapidly closed in.

Shielding Hirang from the surprise attack, Hirayon positioned himself in front of him and activated his ability to create another Water Wall. However, it didn't work, and nothing manifested before them. He glanced down at his hands, feeling a strange sensation. When he looked up, it was already too late, as the bright attack was just a few meters before him, illuminating everything and reflecting in Hirayon's bluish-violet eyes.

The next second, everything went black.

R E H I L I Y A