SS Awakening: My Monster Merging System!

Before the situation worsened, Helen immediately stepped in.

"Zich dealt with the Boss, but everyone here fought and survived long enough for that chance to happen. We split it quickly and leave."

Zich gave her a brief look.

She met his gaze without backing down.

After a moment, Zich shrugged.

"Fine. I take the largest individual share."

Jayden almost laughed.

"Of course you do."

"I killed it."

"You keep saying that, but nobody saw what happened."

Zich looked at the dead giant, then back at him.

"Nobody saw you kill it either."

The giant Velhari snorted loudly, almost laughing despite his injuries.

Varok raised one hand.

"Enough. The summoner takes the largest individual share. The Velhari side takes a group share. Helen and Jayden take individual shares. We move before the floor opens under us."

Nobody liked the arrangement completely, which meant it was probably the closest thing to fair they would get.

They collected fast after that.

The cavern shook again. This time, one of the far walls cracked open, and red light leaked from within before vanishing. The dead Devouring Bone Giant’s body began sinking slowly into the ground, as if the realm itself wanted to reclaim it.

"Move," Varok ordered.

The group retreated from the mound, each carrying their gathered share. Zich took one final glance at the remaining stones still sinking into the ground, and annoyance flashed across his face.

Leaving money behind always felt unpleasant.

Still, dying for the last few stones would be stupid.

Probably.

The tunnel behind them began collapsing in sections as they ran. The giant Velhari took the rear despite his injuries, smashing apart falling rocks whenever they blocked the path. Helen supported him with bursts of fire to clear dust and debris.

Jayden stayed silent while moving.

Varok led them through the route they had used to enter, but the passage was already changing. Walls cracked, old channels broke apart, and warm air rushed upward from deeper below.

It felt like the realm was exhaling.

...

Outside the realm, the golden portal suddenly changed.

Arnold, who had remained in front of it all this while, narrowed his eyes. The dense golden obstruction covering the portal’s surface began thinning, and the heavy pressure that had locked everyone outside weakened.

Cole noticed it right away.

"Shelter Lord!"

Arnold raised one hand slightly, stopping him from saying too much.

He stepped closer to the portal and placed his palm near the surface. This time, the resistance was not as strong as before. The barrier still existed, but it no longer pushed him back violently.

Cole’s eyes widened.

"The obstruction is weakening."

Arnold’s expression remained strict, but for the first time in a long while, some tension left his face.

"They killed the boss."

Several Association guards nearby heard him and immediately became alert. Some looked relieved, while others looked toward the portal with nervous hope.

Cole let out a long breath.

"So they are alive?"

Arnold did not answer immediately. His eyes were fixed on the portal’s surface as faint shapes moved within the golden light.

"If the realm is opening, at least some of them survived."

"That is better than nothing," Cole muttered.

The portal rippled again. This time, the golden light split open from the center.

FWOOSH!!!

A wave of hot air burst outward, carrying dust, blood, and the smell of burned stone.

The first figure stumbled out.

It was the giant Velhari.

His armor was dented, blood covered his mouth, and one shoulder looked half crushed, but he was still alive. The moment he stepped out, several guards instinctively backed away from his size.

He took two steps and dropped to one knee.

"Damn realm," he muttered.

The short Velhari appeared next.

He landed more smoothly, though one arm hung stiffly at his side. His clothes were torn, and dried blood marked his sleeve, but his eyes were still calm.

Varok stepped out after him. He looked exhausted, but his posture remained straight. His spear was cracked near the shaft, and blood ran down one side of his leg.

Cole’s expression changed slightly when he saw their condition.

"Where are the humans?"

The portal flashed again.

Jayden came through next.

His face was pale, his armor was stained with blood, and his expression looked worse than his injuries. He walked out without saying anything and moved aside.

Helen came after him.

Her hair was messy, parts of her combat gear were burned, and exhaustion showed clearly on her face. Still, the moment she stepped through, her eyes moved around quickly.

She was looking for someone.

The portal remained open.

For two seconds, nobody came out.

Helen’s expression tightened with worry.

Jayden looked toward the portal without speaking.

Then Zich stepped through. His clothes were dusty, his Blood Knight Commander Cloak hung from his shoulders, and a spatial bag rested securely at his side. Compared to the others, he looked tired but far too calm.

It was almost as if he had simply gone for a walk.

Zich looked around at the Association guards, the portal, and the mountain path outside. After confirming they were truly outside, he let out a small breath.

"Finally."

Helen’s shoulders relaxed slightly when she saw him.

Arnold looked at the group one by one. He had thought only a few would survive, but everyone seemed to have made it out alive. He felt proud of the human side, especially because they had proved to everyone that his judgment had been right.

However, there were still a lot of questions he wanted to ask.

Suddenly, the golden portal behind them flickered violently, and the light across its surface began shrinking inward. The realm was closing.

Zich glanced back once.

A faint look of regret crossed his eyes.

There were probably still valuables inside.

The portal collapsed a moment later.

FWOOSH!!!

Golden light folded into itself and vanished between the cracked stone pillars, leaving only the cold mountain wind behind.

For several seconds, everyone was silent.

Shelter Lord Arnold looked at the empty space where the portal had been and swallowed.

"You cleared it."

Varok slowly looked toward Zich.

Zich only adjusted the strap of his spatial bag and replied calmly.

"Something like that."