Chapter 78: Gamble
Seo Ran Hun must also know it deep down.
His heroic will for justice had been foolish.
[The Dream Gamble—Seo Ran Hun v/s Marcus Haeligarth]
[Seo Ran Hun's Dream: Ruin the facade of the Trio Hunters and get justice for the dead cousin whom they bullied to death by destroying the Trio's heroic reputation.]
[Conditions:
1. Successfully achieve the Dream or break the desire to complete that Dream at all from your Mortal Puppet. (Success)
2. Do not hurt Seo Ran Hun's immediate family in any way unless they go against you on their own. (Success)
3. Do not let the Seo Ran Hun (the Mortal Puppet) die throughout the Dream Gamble's duration. (Success)
[Success Reward: You can take any one thing from Seo Ran Hun as your own (except his feelings or life)]
[Failure Price: Seo Ran Hun can take any one thing from you of his choice ((except his feelings or life)]
"You understand, don't you, Seo Ran Hun?!" Mark chuckled coldly. "That dream of yours had no value in the first place. Don't you understand, now?"
[Dream Gamble Completed!]
[Due to having seen Seo Jin Hu's true living body, his cousin, Seo Ran Hun no longer feels like he has to ruin the Trio Hunters' Reputation. The Dream has been broken from its foundation.]
[Winner of the Dream Gamble: Marcus Haeligarth!]
[You can choose any one thing from Seo Ran Hun and make it yours!]
The World Will of the Hunter World. It was moving around Mark, he could feel it. The Dream Gamble had been over and the World Will of the Hunter World would help him get whatever he wanted from Seo Ran Hun. Only one thing but that could be anything.
He knew what the one thing he wanted was.
Seo Ran Hun's and his own Destiny, at this moment, were intrinsically linked.
So, when he asked for "Parasite Hunter Ability," It was as if the Parasite Hunter Ability never was Seo Ran Hun's to begin with. It was Mark's, from the start. Yet, the transfer process of the Hunter Ability into his own Demonic Trick felt disgusting.
Mark felt his whole world spin. Fuck.
His senses were becoming incredibly unstable, and his wings also felt weird. He barfed out bile as he floated past a city, but the moment the barf moved out of the Dungeon space covered by the Dungeon Heart Seed demonic trick, it burned into nothing.
The World Will burned it.
If he had not gone through Yuri's extremely head-spinning genetic experiment some days ago, he might have fallen unconscious already. But clinging to that on-the-edge feeling, he kept flying until the confusion all settled.
An invisible orb of light had floated out of Seo Ran Hun's body and into Mark's Soul Space. He could barely see it with his Soul Sense.
And indeed, he gained new powers. He could feel it—now, he had a bit more chance.
[Parasite—(T1) (Pinnacle)]
[Plant Poison Resistance—(T2)(Low)]
Mark's eyes cleared, and his senses grew sharp. He had lost his connection with the puppet whatsoever and it was clear from the onset—he no longer had a puppet. The Dream Gamble was over.
From now on, Mark and Seo Ran Hun had no connection with each other.
Even though some parts of the Dream Gamble's contract remnants were inside Mark's Soul Space, he didn't bother checking. And now, he could throw away Seo Ran Hun if he really wanted.
But he didn't throw him away.
Sweat trickled down every part of his body and he had not even a second to waste, but Mark still flew down towards a colossal building and placed Seo Ran Hun's body on the ceiling. The youth was unconscious, but that just made it better.
You will be my way to distract them.
Mark dug his hand into Seo Ran Hun's hand and drew blood. With the blood, he drew on the ceiling: If you follow me, Seo Jin Hu, this guy will die.
Seo Ran Hun was Seo Jin Hu's cousin, after all. It might buy him some time. And it was no empty threat either—he could just take out the walkie-talkie from his bag and call Dona to use the Fire Seal he had made her plant on Seo Ran Hun.
Mark looked back.
In the distance, the enemies were ever closer. His dark wings curved, he patted the hamster, and pwoof. He was high in the air, flying as fast as he could.
He jumped in the air and once again began flying.
Where should I go?
Dona and Yuri were in the Laboratory Dungeon. Going there was of no use, they were weak and he would just end up harming them along with him.
Only one place gave him some hope of standing against the Trio on an equal footing.
The home ground of all demons... the Mega Dungeon.
There, he would have more freedom, and an hour was enough to reach it from here.
If this goes on, I can last about an hour and a half more, and then they'll catch up. If they take some time near Seo Ran Hun, I will have some more time. I need about two and a half hours to reach the depth of the Mega Dungeon.
Time. I need more time. I need to be faster.
Hanmo's heaven-piercing sound echoed from far away, "You can't run much now, Red School Demon. Even if you try to run into the Mega Dungeon, you can't reach deep into it before I catch up to you. You are done for. There is no escape."
The words were making Mark more and more nervous. The shouts indeed did have an effect. Luckily, he had an headstart or he would already be dead, he thought. But since you gave me so much time, I will repay you in kind.
He put his hand into the backpack and took out a walkie-talkie.
Kttrk.
"W..hat Mark?" Yuri's voice echoed out, slightly muffled due to the heavy wind. Mark kept the Walkie Talkie protected with his hand.
"Can you $&%&%*"
"What are you sayi–g, I can't hear you due to the wind!"
Mark slowed down and said, "I am in trouble."
Only when he actually said that did the truth of the matter settle deep in his heart. A-Rank Hunters were chasing him, and he didn't really have much hope of escape.
"Wha- is going on?"
"Track me."