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      TEOCH 28

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      by mimi By the time the sun was slowly setting, we had finally reached the safe zone. We collapsed, panting heavily with exhaustion. Having run for so long, a wave of nausea rose in my throat, threatening to overwhelm me. I struggled to suppress the nausea and stood up. Even if I wanted to rest, checking on my companions’ conditions came first. “Is everyone okay?” No one answered. It wasn’t because they were truly unwell, but rather because they were all too exhausted to muster the energy to…
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      TEOCH 20

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      by mimi The swarm of wasps approaching like a cloud from the distance was intimidating enough to send chills down the spine. Unlike other flying insects, which were at most the size of a child, these wasps, comparable to adult men, were advancing from the southeast, flying low as if skimming the ground. Their numbers seemed to be around a thousand. Compared to the queen spider colony we encountered a few days ago, their numbers were significantly fewer, but these wasps felt far more threatening than the…
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      TEOCH 19

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      by mimi While grappling with how to handle the conflict with Rikiel, I continued the sixth day’s exploration. The silver lining was that today’s haul was significantly larger than previous days. We obtained the “Paralysis Sword III” and the “Vampiric Sword II,” along with the “Chaos Gem II.” When I handed the gem to Damian, he examined it curiously. “There’s a strange energy coming from this gem. It feels like some kind of mental magic, but why would a gem have this kind of…
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      TEOCH 18

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      by mimi Until we set out for the next day’s exploration, Rehas and Damian didn’t ask anything. Fortunately, they had enough restraint not to provoke Rikiel, who was in a bad mood. Of course, Rehas cleared his throat a bit more frequently than usual, and Damian gave an awkward smile whenever our eyes met. I pondered how to approach the conversation to resolve things smoothly. The priority wasn’t getting them to take my side but softening the atmosphere among the group. Setting aside personal irritation or…
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      TEOCH 17

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      by mimi The procession of spiders continued for quite a while afterward. Fortunately, they didn’t notice our presence and disappeared beyond the northern horizon. I cautiously stood up only when the spiders were reduced to black specks in the distance. Damian and Rehas didn’t move for a long time even after the spiders had left. They seemed too drained to even utter a word of shock. “Both of you, get up. We need to continue scouting.” “…” “You saw those spiders, so you understand,…
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      TEOCH 16

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      by mimi The temperature in the demon realm changes abruptly. At night, it’s so cold it feels like you might freeze, but during the day, a ferocious heatwave rolls in as if the chill never existed. Though as capricious as a desert, the demon realm’s climate is even more brutal due to its humid, oppressive atmosphere, like the heart of a jungle. As the sun rose, I took Tristan to the center of the safe zone. The sun of the human world was preferable to that of the demon realm. Tristan and I sat on the ground,…
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      TEOCH 15

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      by mimi A heavy, warm sensation on my stomach finally brought me back to consciousness. ‘…?!’ As soon as I opened my eyes, I bolted upright. How long had I been unconscious? Were Tristan and Rikiel safe?! I hurriedly scanned my surroundings to check on my comrades, and a familiar tent came into view. It was the tent in the safe zone. It seemed that while I was out, my comrades had carried me back to the safe zone. I felt relieved knowing we had escaped immediate danger for now. Rikiel was curled up…
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      TEOCH 14

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      by mimi Rehas carefully checked Rohan’s breathing. Though his complexion was as cold as a corpse, the breath flowing from between his lips was still warm. Noticing the worried gazes pouring in from those around him, Rehas gave a slight nod. The people gathered inside the tent let out a collective sigh of relief. Ever since Rikiel and Tristan, both in a battered state, had brought the unconscious Rohan back to the safe zone, they had been constantly worried about his condition. Rehas gently removed the…
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      TEOCH 13

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      by mimi “Urgh!” A sudden, searing pain made me let out a sharp scream. One of the countless spines on the creature’s foreleg had pierced deeply into my side. The praying mantis swiftly snatched my body and hoisted me into the air. I struggled desperately to break free from the mantis, thrashing with all my might, but each movement tore the wound wider, causing blood to gush out. “Ro, Rohan!” Panicked, Rikiel shouted and charged at the mantis, but its still-intact left foreleg lashed out at…
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      TEOCH 12

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      by mimi With a whoosh, the bloodstained, razor-sharp foreleg tore through the air toward me. If I hadn’t leaped immediately, it would have pierced me on the spot. I steadied my stance and struggled to lift my head. The praying mantis-like monster, its crimson body speckled with black spots, appeared to be three or four times my height. It shook its triangular head back and forth with a hissing sound, glaring at me and my companions. “Damn it, a praying mantis…!” We were unlucky. Or perhaps my…
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