A Terminal Healer Needs an Obsessive Maniac

Chapter 117

Rather than celebrating the success of her arrow hitting the target, Ryu Seoha silently nocked another arrow. This time, it was equipped with an item meant to prevent teleportation.

The faint sensation from [Sanctification] alerted her to the fact that the shaman, clutching the arrow embedded deep in their shoulder, was desperately pulling out a scroll. The pain was evident in the shaman's movements, but they were preparing to escape.

Fwhoosh! The arrow soared once again, tracing a sharp arc in the sky before plunging downwards. It missed the scroll by a hair's breadth and embedded itself into the shaman’s hand. The scroll fluttered to the ground.

"Gah!"

The shaman barely stifled a scream, but Ryu could sense the panic as they tried to move again, likely seeking refuge behind a large stone slab, aiming for the cover of a nearby vehicle.

At the same time, the skeletal soldiers nearby began to reposition themselves, forming a protective wall around the shaman. It seemed they had received new orders to shield their master by piling up and creating a barricade.

[Applying status effect “Paralysis” to designated targets (F-rank Skeletons, 163 entities).]

The bony soldiers, which had tried to form a protective wall, collapsed in a heap under the effect of a simple debuff. They couldn’t follow their master, who was moving rapidly towards new cover.

Not missing a beat, Ryu fired another arrow, aiming it precisely at the shaman’s back. The projectile struck, causing the shaman to stumble and fall flat onto the ground, unable to maintain their speed.

“Aaaargh!”

As the shaman crumpled under the force of the arrow, Choi Kanghu, who had been watching quietly all along, finally decided to act. With a relaxed expression, he moved swiftly to finish the job.

“Kugh!”

Using [Spatial Leap], he transported himself and Ryu Seoha directly to the fallen shaman’s side. With one arm wrapped around his lover’s waist, he casually placed his foot on the shaman’s head, pressing down.

A cold blue light flickered as Choi activated the [Memory Manipulation] skill, allowing him to access the shaman’s mind. While the shaman writhed in pain, Ryu Seoha pulled out her phone and quickly checked the news channels.

The situation in the United States was utter chaos. The dead were rising from their graves, attacking the living, while others suddenly transformed, thirsting for blood with no prior warning. There was no place left that could be considered safe.

South Korea wasn’t faring much better. Pandemonium had broken out at hospitals, funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematoriums across the country, spreading quickly to all corners of the nation.

<"Why are the infected biting people like vampires and drinking blood?">

<"New conspiracy theories emerge: Are hunters being controlled by someone?">

<"Fresh corpses and skeletal remains attack the cities.">

<"Dual tactics: Undead and virus outbreaks—Is the ‘cult’ behind this global catastrophe?">

Reports of initial infected attacks continued to surface, and even the calmest citizens were now descending into panic. Hoarding had become rampant, and fear was spreading like wildfire.

<"Heirs of prominent families refuse to desecrate their ancestors’ graves.">

<"Emergency Management Agency warns again: Do not consume any potions.">

<"Director of the Korea Virus Research Center: The symptoms alternate between active and dormant phases.">

“Why target this place?” Han Gangseok asked, baffled.

“The cult probably sent them,” Ryu Seoha answered calmly as she inspected the progress of the craftsmen. There was no way the cult would let them finish producing the weapons capable of quelling the chaos they had unleashed.

“Hey... Ryu Seoha?”

The attackers finally noticed Ryu Seoha’s arrival. One of them shouted in a panic, "Shit! That kid’s got his bow!"

Ryu Seoha’s reputation as an exceptional marksman had preceded her from the quarantine zone. The raiders scrambled to form defensive positions, but it was futile.

[Applying status effect “Paralysis” to designated targets (B-rank Awakened, 18 entities).]

[Applying status effect “Stun” to designated targets (D-rank Awakened, 11 entities).]

Unlike before, when Ryu had to strain herself shooting arrows until her hands bled, now she could simply stand still and immobilize her enemies with her abilities.

None of the raiders could escape the expanding influence of [Sanctification], which blanketed the area like a wave. The lower-ranked ones were instantly debuffed, unable to resist. Ryu spared the higher-ranked S-class enemies from the debuff to avoid risking blowback, but Choi Kanghu swiftly dealt with them.

“Wow...”

As the battle ended in the blink of an eye, the other hunters murmured in awe. Meanwhile, Ryu Seoha pulled out a mana suppressor, which Choi Kanghu took without a word and used to bind the raiders' necks with telekinesis. Their coordination was effortless, as if they could communicate without speaking.

Bound by restraint items, the attackers were swiftly transported to the appropriate facilities by the combat hunters. Meanwhile, the search-type hunters who had been assisting in the U.S. began relocating to areas where their expertise was needed.

“How much longer until everything is ready?” Ryu Seoha asked cautiously, watching the craftsmen work tirelessly. She knew that the cult would likely send more attackers, determined to sabotage the creation of the defensive weapons.

Even after they planted the amplification items across the country to establish the massive barrier, the cult would continue to interfere. As long as the cult refused to surrender, the attacks would persist.

So, it was crucial to complete everything in one go, without delay. But the problem was that there simply weren’t enough people to produce the required number of items in such a short time.

“At least another day,” Han Gaeul answered, her tone tinged with frustration.

“Even with the rank booster potions?”

“There’s just too much to do. Even at top speed, it’ll still take a full day.”

It was clear from Han Gaeul’s response—and her unyielding pace—that the craftsmen were already pushing themselves to their limits. Pressuring them further wouldn’t speed things up.

“Let’s move everyone somewhere safer,” Ryu Seoha suggested.

Choi Kanghu readily agreed, and without hesitation, he activated [Spatial Leap] again, relocating all the craftsmen to a new location.

“Where are we...?”

The artisans, startled by the sudden change of scenery, looked around in awe at the spacious and luxurious interior of the new location. As they marveled at the grandeur, a small red bird fluttered towards them, its sharp eyes observing the newcomers warily.

It was Ruby, the monster guardian Ryu Seoha had left to watch over her older sister since her return from the island.