Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 270: Horus (4)

Things seemed to be slowly improving, but…

Boom!

[W-What was that?!]

A substantial explosion reverberated in close proximity to City Hall, unleashing a powerful surge of mana that swept through the vicinity.

Mariam, though a B-Rank Hunter, possessed the same acute sensitivity to mana flow as Han-Yeol and Tayarana. Consequently, she promptly discerned two crucial details. The mana was unusually dense and brimming with malevolence directed at City Hall. In essence, it signaled the impending arrival of a formidable group of adversaries.

Bam!

The door swung open, admitting a Horus raid party member who appeared in a state of utter disarray, drenched in blood.

[M-Mariam-nim!]

[Usman-nim! What happened?!]

Mariam was shocked. Usman, an Osiris Rank Hunter and a former veteran soldier, was among the elite members of the Horus raid party. However, seeing him in such a state immediately raised alarms in Mariam's mind.

[A large group of enemies is approaching!]

[W-What?!]

[Y-You need to get out of here!]

Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!

Usman appeared to be critically injured, evident by his coughing up of blood, which could only indicate internal organ damage.

[T-That...!]

Mariam was absolutely stunned, an unusual reaction for her. This situation had not been part of her calculations, leaving her completely caught off guard.

[H-Hurry...! Our men are doing their utmost to fend them off, but it appears that the Sword of God members are relentlessly pursuing you. They came well-prepared, judging by their numbers...!]

Cough! Cough!

Usman’s condition was deteriorating quickly.

[N-No way!] Mariam exclaimed, staggering and leaning on the table.

Finally, she realized, 'It... It was a trap.'

She gritted her teeth and bit her lip in anger, a habit she had developed whenever faced with a tough decision she didn't want to make.

[Zakiya,] she said firmly.

[Yes, Mariam-nim?]

[Recall all Horus raid party members back.]

[P-Pardon me, ma’am?!] Zakiya questioned.

[Hurry!]

[Y-Yes!]

Zakiya quickly picked up the walkie-talkie and transmitted the message to all Horus raid party members as instructed.

Usman was shocked by the order she had given and was about to retort, but Mariam cut him off before he could speak.

[I will be dying here today.]

[B-But!]

Usman was taken aback by her words.

[I'm sure they thoroughly planned things before coming to capture me. I'd rather die an honorable death than burden Tayarana-nim by getting captured and humiliated.]

Usman attempted to dissuade Mariam, but he realized that she had already made up her mind, and there was nothing he could do to change it.

[Alright… I will do my best too…]

With severe injuries, there wasn't much Usman could do. Still, he had no other choice but to fight to the death and make his final stand.

***

Bam!

The Horus raid party teetered on the edge of annihilation, and the Hunters whom Tayarana and Mariam had nurtured were falling one by one at the hands of the terrorists.

[Protect Mariam-nim!]

[Protect her at all costs!]

[Guard her with your life!]

Clang! Clang! Chwak!

[Argh!]

The Horus raid party valiantly fought back against the terrorists. They refused to go down without a fight, especially since they were elite Hunters nurtured by Tayarana, who had invested a substantial fortune in their training.

Unfortunately, their adversaries had come exceptionally well-prepared. The terrorists employed the human wave tactic, and no matter how many of them were killed, their numbers did not diminish. Moreover, each one of them was equipped with powerful gear from head to toe.

Chwak!

[Keuk!]

[Haaaap!]

Puuuk!

[Kuheok!

They might be the elite Hunters of the Horus raid party, but they were not Tayarana or Han-Yeol.

It was impossible for them to fight when they were outnumbered ten to one. A Horus raid party member cut down three terrorists in a single slash just now, but he was stabbed by the terrorists that popped up right after the three terrorists fell.

Puuuk!

[Kwaaak!]

[Keke! Die!]

The terrorists had bloodshot eyes, as they had all taken drugs before coming here to eradicate any traces of fear from their hearts and minds.

Half of the sword had penetrated the Hunter's body, and the terrorist was certain that the Hunter would die any second now.

Tak!

‘Huh?’

However, the Horus raid party member grabbed the terrorist by the neck and declared, [I'm taking you with me to hell].

[W-What?!]

Woooong…! Kaboom!

The Horus raid party member allowed his mana to run wild, triggering an explosion that consumed not only the terrorist who had stabbed him but also two others nearby.

[N-No!]

[Jebreel!]

[Consolidate! Gather up!]

The Horus raid party members quickly clustered together, forming a defensive wall.

Every one of them had joined the Horus raid party from its inception, and they had faced numerous challenges together. Regrettably, they now bore witness to the deaths of their comrades and couldn't help but clench their jaws in anger and sorrow.

[Form a wall!]

Chwak! Chwak! Chwak!

One hundred Horus raid party members had initially come with Mariam, but now only fifteen remained, huddled together in a corner of the city hall basement. Despite managing to eliminate nearly five hundred terrorists, eighty-five of their comrades had fallen, and there seemed to be no end to the terrorists.

[Just… Just how many are there?]

The Horus raid party members despaired as they stood their ground against the relentless terrorists.

[Ha! Damn it... Five hundred of our boys died just to get rid of one hundred?]

Thud... Thud... Thud...

The terrorists cleared a path for a man who appeared to be in his sixties, bearing a menacing scar on his right cheek.

[Y-You are...!]

[Haha! So I finally caught you, you little bitch. I can finally pay you back for this wound!] The old man rubbed his cheek while laughing.

[Damn it…!] Mariam gritted her teeth in anger upon recognizing the man.

‘I apologize, Tayarana-nim. I don't think I can keep my promise to be by your side until I die…’

She felt both enraged and saddened. She didn't regret her decision to come to Damietta; even if she could turn back time, she would make the same choice. However, the thought of leaving Tayarana deeply saddened her.

Kwak...!

She clenched her fist and thought, 'I'm not going down without a fight...!'

Crack...!

Gritting her teeth, she shouted, [All forces! Prepare for battle!]

Tak!

At Mariam's command, the fifteen remaining Hunters raised their weapons, and even Zakiya brandished the dagger she had kept for self-defense.

[Attack!]

[Chaaarge!]

[Kill everyone else aside from that bitch, Mariam.]

[Yes, sir!]

Bam!

[Kyaaaah!]

[Zakiya!]

Thud!

Even Zakiya, who had tried to protect Mariam until the end, was struck down and killed by the terrorists.

Mariam had wished to save Zakiya, but she couldn't take a single step, as three crossbow bolts were lodged in her legs.

In the end, Mariam placed two fingers on her forehead, preparing to use her ultimate skill. Unfortunately, the terrorists were fully prepared for it. Just as she was about to activate her ability, a bald terrorist suddenly appeared in front of her and clapped his hands.

[Not so fast!]

Chwak! Boom!

[Kyahhh!]

Thud…!

A powerful shockwave emanated from his hands, jolting Mariam's brain. The shockwave proved highly effective against her, given her extreme sensitivity to such attacks.

[Hahaha!] A man wearing a turban let out a sinister laugh. [Where did your arrogant personality go? You look pitiful right now! Come on! Resist more!]

.

[I will never give up!] Mariam, a proud warrior of Egypt, declared.

There was no way she would simply surrender. She placed her fingers on her forehead and channeled her mana once again.

[You stupid wench.] The bald terrorist smirked at Mariam's desperation and prepared to clap his hands once more.

Sukeok! Puuuk! Thud!

'Huh?!'

Mariam closed her eyes in anticipation of the incoming shockwave but was surprised to hear the sound of something cutting through flesh instead.

[K-Kuheok!]

[What?!]

A spear came flying from out of nowhere, stabbing the bald terrorist. The spear's momentum carried him through the air before impaling him against the wall.

[W-Who's there?!]

[It's the enemy!]

The Sword of God had mobilized thirty percent of their entire manpower, including personnel from minor terrorist cells affiliated with them, and had lost sixty percent of them in the fight against the Horus raid party.

Consequently, the remaining terrorists were instantly nervous at the prospect of facing a new enemy, given the significant reduction in their numbers.

[I-Is it reinforcements from Cairo?!]

[N-No way! The entire country is in turmoil, so they don't have the luxury for that!]

[Even if they managed to gather what little they have left, they should have headed to Port Said instead!]

The terrorists were baffled by the sudden appearance of this new adversary.

It was then.

Clang!

The small window connecting the basement to the surface shattered as two individuals entered through it.

[D-Don't tell me?!]

The terrorists were left dumbfounded by the appearance of these two, and Mariam shared the same astonishment.

[H-Han-Yeol-nim?! Tayarana-nim?!]

Surprisingly, it was the two who were supposed to be in the Faiyum hunting ground, but that wasn't the end of it.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

The rear of the terrorists suddenly grew chaotic.

[W-What is it this time?!]

[Who’s that?!]

Kyaaaah!

Argh!

Ratatata!

The sounds of screams, pleas for help, gunfire, and bones being crushed echoed from the rear lines.

[Hey!]

A man resembling a black panther waved his hand at Mariam.

[W-Who...?]

[Oh, my bad.]

'D-Don't tell me?!'

Mariam still had not seen his face, but she had a good idea who he was from his voice alone. This voice definitely belonged to the person who had persistently pestered her with proposals, causing her to get goosebumps whenever she heard it.

Yes, she had just gotten goosebumps again.

Chwak!

The man resembling a black panther opened his helmet and smiled brightly. [Hello, Mariam~]

[P-Prince?!]

Despite recognizing who he was from his voice, Mariam couldn't help but be shocked, as the mana Mujahid was emitting was not that of an Osiris Rank Hunter but that of a Ra Rank Hunter. How did it make sense that Mujahid suddenly possessed the mana of a Ra Rank Hunter all of a sudden?

'Don't tell me...?' she had a feeling she knew the culprit behind it, and she immediately looked at the person responsible.

"???" Han-Yeol tilted his head in confusion and raised an eyebrow after seeing Mariam stare at him.

Seuk...

Mujahid suddenly rushed over and held both of Mariam's hands.

[Huh?]

[Mariam! Are you alright? Are you hurt?!]

It was the most cliché question a man could ask a woman in their current situation, and Mariam couldn't help but feel annoyed by Mujahid once again.

[Have these three bolts lodged in my leg failed to catch your attention, my prince?]

[Hahaha... M-My bad...]

In the end, Mujahid awkwardly laughed and scratched the back of his head.

[Hyung-nim!]

Then, he immediately looked at Han-Yeol with eyes begging for his help.

[Alright, I know,] Han-Yeol nonchalantly replied as he walked over to Mariam.