Inside the gate, the world shifted. The moment Blue and his sister stepped through, the air grew thick. Trees twisted above them. Mist hung to ground at their feet. "It's quiet." So-Yeon said. "Be on guard, watch each others back."
"I don't have a good feeling about this. Something feels off." Blue said. Then his system flickered to life.
[System Notification]
[Dark Forest Energy: 85% Saturation]
[Gate Break Imminent]
[Eliminate Bosses 3/3 remaining]
Blue froze mid step. "Umm... So-Yeon, we have a problem."
She turned and noticed the seriousness in his expression.
"The system just warned me. This gate is about to break. We have to hunt down the bosses."
"How soon?"
"I don't know, it says its at 85 percent. I assume if it gets to one hundred, it will break."
"So we need to move quickly, my scouts are here. I know it. Thats our priority." So-Yeon stepped into the forest and Blue followed behind.
As the two made their way through the forest, they slew monsters as they went.
[System Notification]
[Gate Energy: 83%... 82%... 80%...]
"Killing these things makes the gate Energy go down. At this rate it will take days to clear this gate."
As Blue finished the ground shook. So-Yeon readied her sword. An Orc, twice the size of the one they'd encountered in the forest. It's skin was gray-black, veins glowed red. It's eyes glowed a deep yellow.
"Well, well." The orc sneered. "More brave souls. I wonder if you'll taste as good as the others. The orc licked its lips."
So-Yeon didn't hesitate, but she responded in kind. She lunged and with one clean arc of her sword, the orcs arm fell to the ground. It's axe landed beside it stuck in the earth.
The orc roared... then laughed. "Its arm started to regrow from his shoulder. "He has granted us strength and abilities beyond your imagination."
Before the orc could pick up its axe. Blue jumped positioning himself in front of the sun. As he moved toward the orc, its arm was raised trying to follow Blue. The next second Blue stood on top of the orc's arm. His jian plunged into his eye. The orc screamed, he was too fast. He grabbed Blue by the leg, and hurled him like a rag doll. Blue slammed against a tree with a bone crunching crack.
"JIUNG!" So-Yeon screamed, before she could move the orc was already on his way to Blue. So-Yeon threw her daggers, they landed in the orcs back. He stopped. "The poison is worki-."
So-Yeon froze. The orcs veins turned black for only a moment. As he tore the daggers from his flesh he turned his head and smiled. The poison oozed out of the wound as it closed. "I won't lose him again!" She pressed forward, slicing the orcs legs. Each wound healed faster thsn she could inflict them.
She slid, stopping right in front of Blue. "WHERE ARE MY SCOUTS YOU UGLY SON OF A BITCH." She roared.
"If your scouts are the ones I think they are." The orc patted its stomach. "They served their purpose. As you and that boy shall as well."
She screamed and dashed for the orcs neck. The orc caught her strike, he swung his axe. So-Yeon kicked off him barely avoiding the strike as it severed her hood. She flipped and landed.
Blue stood and walked over to So-Yeon. "We will do this together, sis. He coughed, he covered his mouth. As he retracted his hand he noticed the blood on it. He wiped it off. "You're hurt, hyung."
"I'm fine, you're not alone anymore. You don't have to carry everything on your shoulders."
"Okay, let's do this." So-Yeon smiled.
As they both lowered their stances, two flashes came from both sides of the forest. One white, one purple. They cut through the air. Then the orcs head detached from its neck. As it fell the head was sliced in half as well. For a moment the orc didnt move. It lifted its arm, then the body fell forward.
Blue and So-Yeon stood staring at each other in silence. From the trees, Wu Cheng and Yeol stepped out. Their blades still glowing from the sword energy.
"Are you two okay?" Yeol called out.
So-Yeon exhaled, and kneeled down. Blue placed his hand on her shoulder. "We can save them." She looked up at Blue.
"Yup we sure can." Blue smiled as he turned toward Yeol and Cheng.
As Yeol and Cheng walked over Blue helped So-Yeon to her feet.
"Man am I happy to see you two." Blue chuckled then his face went pale. "Fuck."
Wu Jin stepped out of the forest. Sword in one hand, the rod in the other. He dragged the rod across the ground as he walked slowly toward Blue. His qi was flaring around him. "Sir, it's a misund-."
Wu Jin walked past Blue and only looked at him through the corner of his eye.
"I warned you didn't I? That if you put Blue in danger again, that I'd kill you myself. So, care to explain why Sa Gwan rushed to tell us you kidnapped him, then you took him into a gate?"
"Sect leader, seriously..." Blue was cut off again. Wu Jin turned around pointing his rod at Blue. "I'll deal with you later. For now, shut up. The adults are talking." He turned back to So-Yeon. They both stared at each other.
So-Yeon took a step past Wu Jin and whispered in his ear. "Disrespect my brother again, you'll learn why they say i lead our generation."
Cheng laughed. "Now that's settled. Let's all calm down. Why did you enter the gate?"
So-Yeon sighed. "My scouts are here. Jiung has a system. So, I thought we'd save my scouts and close the gate at the same time. We underestimated the strength of the beasts in here though."
"You're damn right you did, do you ever use your brain?" Wu Jin turned still furious. He was met with So-Yeon's blade to his throat.
"Enough you two, we don't have time for you petty squabbles." Yeol looked at Cheng. "Feel like letting loose a little?"
"Oh, it's been too long. And that felt amazing." Cheng looked back at the orc's head split in two.
"Can you two continue?" Cheng asked.
"Father you aren't serious are you? Look at Blue."
"Yes sir, I can. I want to help find my sisters men."
Wu Jin hung his head. "Fine, but if he gets hurt anymore So-Yeon, i will blame you."
"So be it." So-Yeon walked to Blue. "Are you sure." She put a hand on his chest. "Your internal injuries."
Blue put his hand on hers. "I'll be okay. Let's find your scouts."