Guide Me If You Dare-Chapter 304: A LOSING BATTLE

"EVERYONE, CLOSE YOUR EYES!"

Ryu Sungbin yelled at the top of his lungs, forcing his frozen body to look at his companions.

Yes, his eyes were open.

It should be fine as long as I’m not looking at the god.

Checking on the kids was more important than his own well-being.

Fortunately, Matthew, Lee Sarang, and Jin Sooin all managed to close their eyes instantly.

Kwak Hakjae, too.

But there was person who was frozen in fear and couldn’t do anything.

"Kim Munhee-ssi!"

Yes, Kim Munhee— the second in command in the National Guide Bureau led by Moon Noa— was looking up at the figure of the god, obviously out of it.

She’s entranced...!

"I got her!"

Kwak Hakjae yelled while running towards Kim Munhee, with his eyes still closed.

The president of the Esper Association tried to cover Kim Munhee’s eyes. However, all of a sudden, Kwak Hakjae was pushed away by an unseen force.

Shit!

Luckily, Matthew was quick and was able to catch Kwak Hakjae before the old man hit the wall.

Lee Sarang and Jin Sooin tried to reach Kim Munhee.

However, the kids were pushed by the same invisible force that had sent Kwak Hakjae flying earlier.

What the fuck is happening?

Ryu Sungbin’s question was soon answered when a familiar face everyone in that room knew suddenly appeared next to the frozen Kim Munhee.

No way...

"My lord, we need this human since she holds as much power as Moon Noa does over the Guides in this country."

Ryu Sungbin gasped.

The kids did, too.

"Mother...?"

Yes, the woman with those striking red lips was Song Heejin— the ’mother’ who raised the First Generation of Espers all over the world.

However...

"How?" Ryu Sungbin asked in disbelief. "Ki Gayoon already killed you..."

"Ah, Sungbin-ah. I’m so happy to see my precious children, but your mother is busy," Song Heejin while addressing Ryu Sungbin and the others. "But I’m sure this won’t be the last time we’ll see each other, so see you later. Don’t die until then, kids."

And, just like that, Song Heejin disappeared with Kim Munhee.

Dammit!

"Sungbin Oppa, watch out!"

Ryu Sungbin turned around after hearing Jin Sooin’s warning.

But he thought it was too late to create a barrier when he saw a ball of black energy about to hit him in the face.

Fortunately, a thin yet sturdy wall of ice appeared between him and the black energy ball.

Lee Sarang!

Thanks to Lee Sarang’s support, Ryu Sungbin was able to jump away from danger.

We need to fight that thing together.

That was why Ryu Sungbin, Lee Sarang, Jin Sooin, and Matthew gathered together around the unconscious Kwak Hakjae.

President Kwak’s skill is needed all over the world, so we must protect him.

"Matthew, Sooin-ah, go and do everything you can to escape with President Kwak," Ryu Sungbin said. "Sarang-ah, support me. I’m going to grab Noa Hyung, then we’re escaping."

Everyone nodded at his instructions.

Ryu Sungbin was just starting to feel confident that they could escape when the figure suddenly laughed out loud as if to mock them.

I don’t want to admit this, but our future is really starting to look grim.

However, that didn’t mean he was giving up.

He was responsible for all the lives there, especially Moon Noa’s.

I have to save everyone, even if it means sacrificing myself.

Ryu Sungbin couldn’t help but feel a little bitter, though.

Ki Gayoon, if only you were here, I wouldn’t feel this helpless...

After all, Ki Gayoon wasn’t only the strongest Esper in the country— that bastard had some crazy luck, too.

He smiled bitterly to himself.

Is Ki Gayoon going to be my last thought before I die?

That would be hilarious.

"One piece of advice: abandon your hopes of escaping this place to spare your hearts from being broken."

As soon as the god said that, Ryu Sungbin noticed that dark green pixel-like cubes around them. No— to be precise, the walls, the ceiling, and the floor were all starting to turn into pixels as if they would disappear at any moment.

And worst of al...

"Argh!"

His companions fell one by one while clutching their chests tightly.

Ryu Sungbin also felt a pang in his heart, but it wasn’t enough to take him down.

And he had a nagging feeling that the god spared him on purpose.

"I need one of you alive for the negotiation."

See?

I’m right.

Even though Ryu Sungbin couldn’t see the god’s face— because he wasn’t looking on purpose to protect himself— he could already tell how arrogant it looked at the moment.

"Ryu Sungbin, I was told you were the leader of this bunch."

"Stop beating around the bush, you damned god," Ryu Sungbin said through gritted teeth, clenching his hands tight as his chest tightened painfully. It was as if some invisible force was squeezing his heart. "Tell me what you want."

For the record, he wasn’t giving up.

I need to stall for time and wait for my companions to recover.

Ryu Sungbin had faith in his companions, so he was confident that they wouldn’t die easily.

"I need the so-called Korea’s Top 5 to run the country— so you and your companions must submit yourselves to me."

Ryu Sungbin scoffed. "Why does a so-called god need to run a country? Ah, is it because you’re a failure of a god that your fallback is to become a politician of a small nation?"

He knew it wasn’t smart to provoke an enemy far stronger than he was.

But he couldn’t help it.

I guess I’ve been with Noa Hyung long enough for me to ’inherit’ his bad habit of provoking the enemies by being a smartass.

Ah, he must have lost it.

Ryu Sungbin couldn’t believe he still had those silly thoughts despite his current predicament.

"Maybe this will help you cooperate better, Ryu Sungbin."

Ryu Sungbin didn’t understand what the god meant by that at first...

... until the opaque barrier concealing Moon Noa had disappeared.

And then Moon Noa, covered in what appeared to be pink slime, let out a blood-curdling scream.

The S-Class Guide was in pain— and his Mana was dropping quickly.

"Noa Hyung!"

Ryu Sungbin knew that yelling wouldn’t help, so he raised his head and tried to glare at the god even though he knew he shouldn’t do that.

Yes, he was being reckless.

Fortunately, something appeared before him that blocked his view.

It was a blue floating Status Window.

Huh?

A Status Window?

[Esper Ryu Sungbin, the System is here to make an offer to you.]

***

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