On The Verge Of Victory

It took all three of them to hold back the Monarch's attack. They had their feet dug into the ground, and for a moment, it seemed as if they'd lose to the monarch's strength. But they held their ground, refusing to give an inch.

Watching them, YuWon realized he was stupid to think he could defeat the monarch alone. His overconfidence had blinded him and paid the price for it as his broken arm.

I need to get up.

Watching Gina and the others fight while he was on the ground frustrated him. YuWon clenched his teeth and tried to get up. But the pain was unbearable. As he winced in pain, Gina turned to look at him.

"YuWon, stay down!" she said. "I'll deal with this—"

But Skullee and Min-Joon had different plans. With all their strength, they forced the monarch back inch by inch. YuWon couldn't believe his eyes, but Min-Joon ruined the moment with his words.

"Sis-in-law! Don't worry about the ugly bastard," he said. "Just focus on getting Boss out of here."

At the same time, Skullee turned and gave YuWon a thumbs up. The skeleton couldn't smile, but YuWon knew it would have if it could. Gina, on the other hand, was thankful for their help, and rushed over to YuWon.

"Husband, can you move?"

YuWon shook his head. He had already tried, and it wasn't fun.

"It's broken," YuWon groaned, nodding toward the arm.

"I'll figure something out," Gina said, looking around for anything.

However, YuWon knew that there was nothing he could do about it. His broken arm made him a liability. Fighting was out of the question unless he could heal it.

Just then, YuWon felt someone approaching from behind. He turned around, thinking it was a goblin, but it was something worse.

"Came to laugh at me?" YuWon scoffed, but Yeji didn't react.

Instead, she got next to him and squatted next to him, gently lifting his hand. "Let me help you—"

"No, thanks," he retorted.

But Yeji was just as stubborn as he was and grabbed his arm firmly. If YuWon could, he would have pulled his arm away from her. He looked helplessly at Gina, who nodded.

Yes, keep her away.

YuWon thought, but instead of driving Yeji away, Gina climbed on top of him to hold him in place.

"What do you think you're doing?" YuWon yelled at her.

"Husband, I sense no hostility from her," Gina replied, ignoring his glare. "The human wants to help you."

YuWon kept glaring at her, but Gina didn't back down. At that moment, he could sense she feared losing him more than facing his anger. YuWon sighed and relented.

A moment later, Yeji's palms shone brightly and a cold sensation covered YuWon's entire body. The aching pain all over his body faded away. Then everything felt warm and he could feel the bones in his arm piece themselves back together.

"I know we don't get along and probably never will," Yeji whispered. "But despite everything that's happened… I don't want to lose you."

YuWon looked at her, confused. She didn't want him to die?

This bitch got some nerve.

That's the first thing YuWon thought. Yeji and her boy toy had made his life hell the past year. They showed no remorse for what they did and now he was supposed to believe she didn't think ill of him?

Fucking hilarious!

YuWon immediately yanked his arm away once it was healed. Yeji kept looking at him for a response, but he was busy flexing his arm to test.

I might not like her, but gotta give it to her. My hand feels as good as new.

"YuWon..."

Yeji called him again and this time he replied, but it wasn't what she expected.

"It's too late for that, Yeji," he said, with no emotions. "Since you helped me, I won't hurt you. But that doesn't mean I'll ever forgive or forget what you did to me over the past year."

Yeji looked sad, but said nothing more. YuWon didn't give her a second glance as he stood up. There were more important things to do.

Gina stayed behind for a moment, looking at Yeji. She could tell that Yeji cared deeply for YuWon, but his harsh words and icy demeanor confused her. Why was he being so cruel to the human when he was so good to her?

When Gina caught up to the others, YuWon had already jumped into the fray. Just like Min-Joon, he had picked a fallen sword and prepared to attack. Meanwhile, Min-Joon and Skullee flanked the Monarch trying to keep its attention off YuWon.

But the monarch was no fool. With a roar, it swung the massive sword in a wide arc, forcing them to step back. A goblin skeleton rushed to hit the monarch's leg.

However, the monarch noticed it and kicked it away, scattering the bones everywhere. Without wasting another second, the monarch charged toward Skullee.

The monarch hit Skullee twice in quick succession. The bone armor held study. But the monarch's continuous attacks soon destroyed the bone armor. The hobgoblin skeleton was tough, but it could only last that long.

Skullee fell to its knees, unable to defend itself. The monarch raised its blade to finish it. But just then, it staggered forward as a sword struck its back.

Angered, the monarch turned to find YuWon there. He had thrown the discarded sword like a spear, and it was now lodged in the monarch's back.

While the monarch was distracted, Skullee and Gina moved together. Skullee grabbed one of its legs while Gina slashed the Achilles' heel of the other. The monarch growled in pain as its leg gave away.

"Soo-Ah, do it now!" YuWon yelled and suddenly dozens of goblin skeletons rushed at the monarch.

The skeletons, wielding all sorts of weapons, began hitting the monarch. The scene was like that of a hive of bees attacking a larger predator.

YuWon knew it wouldn't be enough to kill the monarch, but it was enough to weaken it. And sure enough, the monarch lashed out at the skeletons. With each swing or the monarch's, half a dozen skeletons were destroyed.

Finally, the monarch stood up again. It was bruised and bloodied, but it was alive and found a new target... Soo-Ah.

It charged toward her, only for YuWon to jump in front.

"It's rude to leave before finishing what you started," YuWon mumbled, motioning for the monarch to attack him first.