Clench Your Teeth

Antares was shocked by the sudden appearance of Il-hwan then he looked at the place he saw him before and he saw the same Il-hwan who was also in front of him smiling at him as his body turned into light particles.

'So that was a clone?' Antares thought his hands weren't healed yet.

Il-hwan's hands held the short swords that were covered in a golden glow and he smashed them right into Antares's lower jaw.

BAAAANNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG*

Antares felt something hit his chin with the full force moving his face up and throwing his aim off.

TSSSSSSS*

The breath moved to burn the air itself and missed the ice dragon instead it went towards the barrier.

BANG* BOOOOOOOOOOM*

CRACK* CRACK* CRACK* CRACK* CRACK*

The breath attack hit the barrier deepening the cracks further as small fragments of the second barrier fell.

'It was a risky gamble but in case there was more than one barrier I kept uncle and Jin-ah as back-ups,' Queresha thought as she still let her guard down if there was a third Barrier above that. As she thought that her gaze went to the sword in her hands as she gripped the handle tightly.

'Damn it,' Antares was livid that he has been playing on Queresha's beat this whole time.

BANG* SHATTER*

The Ice Dragon hit the barrier with full force making a hole in the barrier and breaking through it as its name intended, The shattered fragment fell connecting the mana inside and outside. Queresha was relieved that there was no third Barrier in place.

"Ahjussi Now," Jin-ah said as she fell to the ground breathing heavily because she lost all strength in her body because of Mana exhaustion. Her body ached but she was used to it as whenever she trained with Haru and the others she would always end up like this but that didn't mean it didn't hurt her, the pain was enormous but she gritted her teeth through it.

'I'll have Haru spoil me after this,' Jin-ah thought as she went through the pain in her body.

Jin-Chul who was standing just behind Jin-ah pressed the call button immediately.

'I can't believe that our survival depends on one phone call this takes the concept of 'Phone a Friend' to another fucking level, if this doesn't connect then…' Jin-Chul's hands were shaking and the phone connected.

Antares kicked Il-hwan who crossed his short swords in front of him to block the attack but he was launched away in the air. Il-hwan's hands were broken but his grip on the short sword didn't loosen a bit.

BAANNNNNG*

Il-hwan fell rolling a few times before he stopped. He tried to stand up but he was having difficulty doing it because of his exhaustion from using the spiritual manifestation to increase his strength if he uses it once more then he would die without doubt but...

'If that is what is needed then…' Il-hwan thought as he gritted his teeth and looked at Queresha only to see her shake her head. Il-hwan was stunned but he understood something.

[That was quite the plan, but is that it? you still fail in the end did you think I can't repair that. Did you think you can escape from here?] Antares said as he moved his massive amount of mana, just the movement of his Mana made a loud sound and the hole in the barrier was closed like it was not even there in the first place. Just him moving his mana shook the ground causing Jin-Chul to fall over.

BANNNNNGGGGGG*

The look of everyone changed as they looked at the gap being closed in an instant and the barriers were in place again.

'A-All of the planning went to waste just like that,' Jin-ah bit her lower lip till it started to bleed they were only able to open the barrier for a few seconds. There was no guarantee that the call even connected or if Haru heard the content.

'W-what is going to happen? The voice was choppy was my voice even heard by him?' Jin-Chul sweated as he remembered how Haru's voice was cutting in and out. If they failed all of them will die here along with the 10 million citizens.

Everyone had disbelieves written on their face, the female hunters cried as the males were in despair while holding their heads. Everyone thought they had failed and they will be killed without being able to do anything.

Seeing everyone in despair Antares smiled sadistically but there was one who didn't look nervous nor was she scared.

'She is.....counting? Has she finally lost her mind?' Antares thought as he saw Queresha was counting on her fingers.

[You stayed strong till the end but to think you will break like this, it is truly a shame. But for the fun battle, you have given me I will give you one wish. Ask it no matter what it is I will grant it.] Antares was thoroughly impressed by Queresha's wit and plans as she had many backup plans to counter him even though she wasn't as strong as him she made it up with her intelligence and techniques. Every time he thought that it was the end she had something lined up again.

Queresha looked up and saw Antares was standing right in front of her without maintaining a distance from her like last time, It showed that he believed she didn't have any more tricks up her sleeves at this point.

"One, Zero, Clench your teeth," Queresha said looking at Antares with a smirk.

Antares was shocked at first he thought she will ask him to not kill the humans here not that he had any reason to accept it as he just wanted to see them gain hope only to lose it all again, but what she asked was something that left him baffled but suddenly he felt a terrifying amount of Mana was falling on top of him.

'He is al-' Antares thought as his eyes glowed and his voice was cut short.

BANNNNNNNNNNNG* SHATTER*

The barrier was broken and shattered like it was nothing but paper and a light orange comet fell right on top of Antares who crossed his arm in front of him on instinct.

The comet fell right on Antares's hands breaking them and then hitting him right in the face caving it in.

'I told you to clench your teeth, didn't I? But I don't think that would've helped either,' Queresha shrugged.

BAAAAANNNNNNNNNNGGGGGG* BOOOOOOOOM*

Antares was blown away with a massive shockwave that made the whole of Seoul tremble breaking every window glass and cracking many buildings and streets over the city.

'It is good that there was a cushion here or I might have destroyed Seoul in its entirety, but…' Haru thought as he looked at Queresha whose life force was getting weaker.

…..

Everyone was shocked when they saw the light orange comet fall from above as the Barrier was shattered with ease.

After the dust cloud settled down the hunters saw the person they all wished to see. It was the lone World Rank Hunter Tsugikuni Haru.

"Was I late?" Haru asked Queresha.

"No it was the perfect timing My Lord," Queresha said as her body felt weak but she still smiled when she saw the familiar face of Haru who was glowing in light Orange Mana (Chakra).

"Looks like I was late," Haru said while he kneeled bringing his face to her level, and caressed Queresha's face with his hand causing her eyes to widen but after a bit, her surprised expression turned into a beautiful smile.

"I can't hide anything from My Lord after all," Queresha said as she felt the warmth transmitted to her from his hand stabilizing her condition.

"We'll talk about this later," Haru said as he stood up after looking at the sword in queresha's hand as she nodded.

Haru looked at Antares who stood up with both of his arms healed along with the dent he left on his face.

[This is certainly a surprise,] Antares said as he laughed as he has already recovered from the injuries. This showed how terrifying his regeneration was.

"I'll be back in a bit," Haru said to Queresha and Jin-ah who nodded.

[So you have the gall to ignore me like this huh, you are too arrogant, looks like I expected too much from a human after all.] Antares said with a mocking look.

"Let's get some fresh air shall we," Haru's voice was heard beside Antares which caused him to look at the hand which was on his shoulder.

'When di-' Antares wasn't even able to react as the felt that space folded and the next second he was in the middle of a desert.

Antares looked at Haru after observing his surroundings.