How the Cult Saves the World

Swoosh- Thud!

But before I could react, Zain shot an arrow. Fear really made people move faster.

And he must have put a lot of power into the arrow, because I could clearly see the object flying through the air.

'When did he get so strong?'

I wasn't sure if he had actually become stronger, or if he had just learned to use his power more skillfully.

Either way, the arrow pierced through the head of the creature, and it melted away with a hiss, spilling green liquid.

"Ugh, disgusting."

Zain looked at the creature he had caught and shuddered. He was more afraid of it than I was.

I stared at him for a moment, then reached out to help Terdius.

But Terdius' eyes had changed. He was staring blankly at Jain.

What's wrong with him?

"That power."

As I was puzzled by Terdius' gaze, he opened his mouth.

"Is that the power of Kyros?"

Then his eyes shifted from Zain to me. I nodded and answered.

"Yes. That's right."

Terdius' eyebrows furrowed. Why is he acting like that?

"Are you hurt?"

I asked him, wondering if he was out of his mind.

He didn't answer. His eyes looked confused.

Was it because of the poison?

'I don't want to waste it on him... but I have no choice.'

I opened my inventory and took out one of the few healing potions I had left.

"Drink this. It will make you feel better."

My healing skill had improved as I leveled up, and I could even heal the mind, so I hoped it would help him recover. Zain looked at me enviously.

"What is this?"

"...Um, think of it as tea."

I didn't want to tell him the truth, so I answered vaguely. Terdius took the potion from me and stared at it for a while before gulping it down.

This should be fine. That's what I thought.

"Gah!"

Terdius grabbed his head and groaned in pain.

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"Terdius?"

What the hell is going on? I was startled and approached him. He only moaned.

"Ugh!"

He didn't vomit blood or anything, but he looked like he was suffering from a headache.

"No, Master? Did you just try to kill him?"

Zain asked me with a shocked look.

"No, that's not it."

I held Terdius' shoulder. But his huge body slumped down. He had lost consciousness. What the hell?

"He's still alive, fortunately."

Zain muttered as he put his finger under Terdius's nose.

That's a relief. A relief, but what the hell? I couldn't understand it no matter how hard I thought. I had given him a healing potion.

Even if Terdius had the power of Diego, 'healing' wouldn't harm him. Even if it was an opposing power.

I was sure I gave him a proper healing potion. Why did I feel like I had just attempted to assassinate him, as Zain said?

---My child, it's not your fault.

Why did Kyros say that?

---The healing power you have now is not strong enough to hurt him.

Oh. So if my power becomes stronger, I might be able to hurt him.

...No, there was no such setting in the original work. Was this because of the hidden route?

'Kyros sir. Then you mean, it's not my fault anyway?'

---Yes. I don't know why either, but it's not your fault. Basically, 'healing' is a power that encompasses all living things. No matter if they are snakes, children, or monsters. Of course, if your power becomes stronger, you can use it for attacking as well... nut not now.

So it was the same as the knowledge of Woosebeop that I knew, except that the healing skill that was originally used only for 'healing' could be used like other offensive divine skills if enhanced.

"What are you going to do? Are you going to leave him here?"

As I sighed in relief that it wasn't my fault, Zain asked me.

"I can't do that. There are monsters here."

Well, Terdius wouldn't die even if I left him here. But I felt like I had tried to kill him, so I decided to take him with me.

I nodded at Zain. I couldn't carry Terdius by myself since he was unconscious.

Zain sighed deeply and came over. Zain and I each hooked one of Terdius' arms over our shoulders and dragged him along. We had to hurry since we didn't have much time left for the antidote.

'I don't know why Terdius collapsed, but we have a long way to go.'

Zain and I silently entered the cave. We had nothing to say because of Terdius' weight.

How long did we walk?

Rustle- Rustle rustle rustle-

At some point, we were surrounded by creatures the size of humans that appeared from all sides. There were about ten of them.

"Ugh. I hate this."

Zain closed his eyes tightly, as if he couldn't stand to look at them. I agreed with him.

---You can't bear to look at them.

Kyros seemed disgusted too. I handed Terdius over to Zain.

"Close your eyes."

Zain didn't want to see them either, so I had to move. After hearing his small reply, I took out my divine weapon club.

The reason why this hidden dungeon was so difficult was because of the poison. The only thing that could withstand the poison of the creatures was the 'Universal Antidote' that I had made.

This creature cave was a hidden dungeon that appeared in the early and mid-game, but the universal antidote that was needed was only available in the late game after getting the recipe. So this hidden dungeon was a place that only those who had played the game several times could clear. I wondered how many people had cleared this damn game besides me.

Anyway, the point was, the monsters in front of me were useless without poison...

They were very easy.

I started swinging my club at the creatures.

---

As I walked and killed the creatures every time I met them, I soon had only about ten minutes left for the antidote effect.

Fortunately, we arrived at the boss room in time. The cave itself was not very complicated, so we could reach the boss room if we followed the path.

The boss room of the creature cave was a huge hollow. Inside, there was a giant creature curled up like a snake, sleeping.

---Judging by the energy I felt, that creature must have been the source of the thick and powerful aura I sensed.

'Yes. It seems so.'

We dragged Terdius into the hollow, moving as quietly as possible. Zain especially covered his mouth with his hand, as if he was afraid of screaming. His eyes were wide with fear.

It was understandable. The creatures we had seen so far were nothing compared to this one. The boss monster, a giant creature, was impressive in size. Even though it was coiled up, it was still three times bigger than us.

'I didn't realize it in the game, but in reality... it's like a thousand-year-old creature.'

I turned my gaze away from the creature and saw Zain's pupils shaking like an earthquake. His eyes seemed to say, 'How about we run away before it wakes up?' I shook my head and gestured with my hand.

'We'll get a treasure if we kill it.'

'Ugh, I really don't want to.'

'Then you wait behind while I do it.'

After a brief conversation, Zain nodded. When the negotiation was over, he dragged the unconscious Terdius back.

When they were far enough away, a shadow fell over my head.

I quickly turned around and saw the giant creature looking down at me.

'...Wow.'

I couldn't help but open my mouth wide. It had only lifted half of its body, but it looked more than ten meters tall. Could I handle it...?

---Hang in there, my child!

I couldn't back down now. With Kyros' fervent encouragement, I summoned my divine weapon club.

At that moment, Hweeek-! The creature's tail moved with a sound that cut through the wind.

I shivered at the sight of its many legs wriggling. And at the end of its tail, there was a sharp sting like a scorpion's, which I had to be especially careful of.

The creature's tail tip spewed out deadly poison. The reason why I had to be careful even though I had taken the universal antidote was,

Chieek-

The poison flowing from its tail was acidic enough to melt the ground.

No matter how much the antidote neutralized the poison, human skin would melt under such strong acidity. The acid that reminded me of hydrochloric acid had to be avoided at all costs.

---My child!

I barely dodged the poison and rolled on the ground. I grabbed my club and quickly got up.

"Haa."

That was close. But I could handle this speed.

Hweeek-!

The tail flew at me again with greater speed. It seemed to have figured out my move. But...

Pereok-!

I was faster.

I swung my divine weapon club at the creature's head without hesitation.

Kieek!

The giant creature screamed and spewed out poison from its tail with a thud.

That wasn't all. The giant creature's body shook violently.

'Damn it! I'll get hit by the poison at this rate!'

I threw myself to the ground to avoid the poison. Unfortunately, the creature shook its body at that moment and I couldn't control my direction.

Kudangtang!

I felt a strong shock throughout my body and the floor shook. I had hit the wall.

---My child! Are you okay?!

Thankfully, I didn't lose consciousness because I covered my head as I fell. My body hurt, but nothing was broken.

It was lucky that I learned how to fall properly from Fanatic. I used my healing skill on myself and got up.

Koong-! A loud noise came from somewhere. The creature that had been spraying poison everywhere finally fell to the ground.

"Haa, haa..."

I was exhausted. I got up from the rubble of the collapsed wall and saw Jain running towards me with a worried look.

"Master! Are you okay?"

I saw Terdius lying on the ground as Zain ran towards me. Luckily, he didn't fall on top of the poison.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

This was easy for a hidden dungeon, so I only got hurt when I fell. And even that was healed by my healing skill.

[Hidden Quest <Creature Extermination> Cleared!]

[Hidden Quest Reward will be given.]

The notification popped up when the creature was completely dead.

Right after that, Koogung-! The ground shook once more.

A small space appeared on the wall behind the creature.

That was the reward for the hidden quest.