Book 10 Chapter 18

Nayeon, after the explosion, wakes up!

Day 1 of being buried!

Bilyeon was alive and well.

His tenacity, more tenacious than that of a cockroach, was not so weak as to succumb to such a mere accident.

*Thud! Thud!*

It took a considerable amount of time for the dust that had been rising in a haze to settle. Breathing was extremely difficult in the moment the dust filled the cave. Bilyeon had to employ a few tricks to breathe more comfortably. Enduring a little hardship was a much more profitable deal than swallowing dust as if it were water. Eating something that wouldn't even fill you up was nothing short of torture.

"Cough! Cough! Looks like I'm alive."

Not a single limb had been severed, nor had he been crushed by rocks. It could be called a stroke of luck. Bilyeon breathed a sigh of relief, looking at his right hand. There lay Nayeon, unconscious. Although covered in dust, fortunately, she seemed unharmed.

"Whew, that was a close call."

The moment Nayeon ran towards him, warning him of danger, Bilyeon was also looking at the brain bomb. He instinctively knew it was a dangerous object. The moment Nayeon grabbed his hand, Bilyeon pulled her into his arms to protect her and unleashed the full power of his Phoenix Dance's Fifth Style, Transfer, to escape the blast radius. However, he failed to escape completely and was caught in the tremendous explosion. If he had been half a step slower, they both would have been sent to the other world.

In a word, it was a near-death experience.

*Tap. Tap.*

Dew drops that had formed in the cave fell from the cracked fissure in the ceiling onto Nayeon's snow-white face, as if descended from frost. Her eyelids twitched. Soon, her eyes opened, revealing beautiful pupils like the night sky. When she awoke from her dream, Bilyeon smiled and said before her eyes,

"Hello!"

Her voice was so full of life, completely unfazed by the tremendous situation they had just endured. For a moment, Nayeon felt as if she were in a pavilion on a nice spring day, not in the illusionary demonic cave where the shadow of death loomed. Only after checking her surroundings, which were dark and gloomy, could she realize she was still in the illusionary demonic cave. The pain that stimulated her entire body made her finally realize she was alive.

"My ears are ringing."

She said. It seemed to be a lingering effect of the explosion. It was understandable, given the thunderous roar that had erupted so close by. Her ears were still buzzing.

"Don't worry, your eardrums don't seem to be torn."

Since she could distinguish sounds, her eardrums seemed to be fine.

"Is Gongja unharmed?"

Gongja… It was a very undeserved title. However, Nayeon always called him that stiffly.

"I don't think so."

Bilyeon replied.

"That doesn't seem to be the case. Lying is not a good habit."

Nayeon's sharp gaze didn't miss the red stain on Bilyeon's elbow.

"Oh, you can see that in this deep darkness? You have very good eyes."

Bilyeon was genuinely impressed.

"You flatter me!"

Bilyeon raised his elbow and gazed at it intently. Bilyeon had never shed blood in any martial arts match or attack. But this time, it was definitely blood.

"Heh! It's been a while since I've seen blood. To let my expensive blood flow so carelessly… If this was done intentionally by someone, I won't let them off."

Typical Bilyeon.

"We should treat the wound first."

"This kind of thing heals if you lick it."

Bilyeon replied nonchalantly.

"That's not possible!"

Nayeon took out wound medicine and bandages from her pocket, applied the medicine to his elbow wound, and bandaged it.

"For an explosion of this magnitude, these few injuries are a profitable deal. Don't worry too much."

"I'm not worried."

Nayeon's curt reply.

After the treatment, Bilyeon pulled out the black ink stick, which was half buried next to him, and examined it for any damage. However, it was difficult to examine the black ink stick in the darkness. Although Bilyeon's eyesight was excellent, the surroundings were too dark to determine the condition of the object.

Bilyeon looked back at Nayeon and asked,

"Do you have anything that can produce light? I have a fire starter, but we can't start a fire here with the thin air. I wish there was something that could glow in the dark…"

Nayeon thought for a moment, then presented her beloved sword, Hansang Okryeong, before Bilyeon's eyes.

*Clang!*

The sword was drawn with a beautiful sound. Indeed, it was a precious sword. As it left its scabbard, her sword began to emit light in the darkness. It was a soft and cold white radiance, like the snowscape in midwinter.

"Oh, this much light is enough. I have a good lantern now. I've never seen such an expensive lantern!"

Bilyeon, relying on the cold white sword light, examined the black ink stick from various angles. If the black ink stick were damaged, it could lead to troublesome problems later. Bilyeon wanted to avoid that at all costs. As Bilyeon carefully examined the black ink stick, a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

"As expected of a masterpiece! It's worth the price. It's undamaged despite that explosion!"

The black ink stick, Neugmeum Mokrye, seemed to be made very sturdily. It was a great relief that there was no damage.

"I'm glad it's unharmed."

"Yes, it's truly fortunate. I was so worried it might have been damaged and lost value."

Bilyeon seemed to have misunderstood. Nayeon corrected him.

"That's not it. It's about us. Thanks to Gongja, we were saved. Thank you, though it's a bit late."

Nayeon bowed her head slightly in greeting. However, the cramped space made it very inconvenient to even bow.

"We still need to determine if we've been saved. We are buried here right now."

At Bilyeon's words, Nayeon looked around. Nayeon's expression instantly turned grim. Bilyeon was right. All directions were blocked by house-sized piles of rocks, making it suffocatingly tight. The space around them was barely enough to turn their bodies and raise their upper bodies. It felt like being trapped in a large chest.

"What do we do now?"

"We have to find a way now."

Bilyeon scratched his head, looking around. However, no clear solution came to mind. The air around them was gradually decreasing. They had to think of a solution before the air disappeared completely.

'How long will this air last? A week? Three days? Or just a day?'

No one could guarantee it.

"Will we be rescued?"

"Well, that depends on how well the people left above are doing. I hope they don't panic and run around chaotically. It would only reduce their efficiency."

Various thoughts crossed Bilyeon's mind.

'What are my disciples doing right now…'

For now, all they could do was wait.

"The Academy should proceed with the rescue operation quickly! Quickly!"

Suddenly, a protest sound was heard from outside the window of Cheonmu Hall. This sound had been heard since last evening.

"Can't you do something to quiet them down?"

Majingga's head throbbed. Outside his office, hundreds of disciples were gathered, protesting. It was an unprecedented event, and to do it during such an emergency was truly outrageous.

Their demand, with white headbands tied around their heads, was singular! To begin the rescue operation for the buried individuals in the illusionary demonic cave as soon as possible. The peculiar thing was that most of these protesters were men. The core of this protest was the Bingbong Movie Guardian Force. Upon hearing the news that their idol had been caught in an accident, they had gone mad and started this act.

The Bingbong Movie Guardian Force absolutely refused to stand idly by while their idol was trapped with someone of unknown origin in an unknown place. To them, her existence was already the light of heaven, the abundance of the earth, the comfort of their hearts, and life itself. Their faith was that profound. With a slight exaggeration, of course.

The white headbands tied around their foreheads represented their firm and resolute determination. Classes were boycotted, and protests continued day and night.

One elder, who had a sleepless night this morning, reportedly exclaimed,

"I am amazed at how poorly our Cheonmu Academy adheres to its rules and regulations. Even if I try to ignore the sound of their protests, it bothers me so much that I can't sleep at all. What should we do with those damned guys?"

For some reason, the leader of the Guardian Force, Seonpunggeomryong Wijicheon, who should have been the most passionate leader in this matter, was almost half-dazed, so the deputy leader was leading the protest. With his head already aching from trying to manage the situation, Majingga could not be in a good mood when these people were grating on his nerves.

"The Academy should resume rescue operations quickly! Quickly!"

The protest sound was heard again through the window. It was a whip urging them to work faster because the current pace was too slow. Finally, Yeomdo, unable to bear it any longer, exploded.

"Damn brats! If you want to save them so badly, go dig with shovels! Don't boycott classes! I'll wring your necks!"

Although Yeomdo's words were just empty threats born of irritation and annoyance, Majingga, who was listening, didn't see it that way.

'Why didn't I think of that!'

It felt like being hit on the back of the head with a blunt object. However, he didn't have the gruesome thought of twisting their necks. Majingga wasn't that unreasonable yet.

"Let's start by digging. Summon experts in mechanical formations and architecture immediately! If they want to conduct rescue operations so badly, tell them to participate directly. We're short on manpower and need many workers, so it's perfect. Conduct the rescue operation!"

Majingga issued the order.

"That child is like my niece! If I lose her in such an incident, I will have no face to see the Sect Leader again. With his temperament, he might immediately lead his warriors and attack here!"

If he learned that his precious daughter was in an uncertain state in the treacherous depths of Cheongeop-u, not from training, he would surely come charging with fire in his eyes and turn the martial world upside down. He knew very well Na Baekcheon's exceptional love for his daughter. He knew very well what happened to his uncle when he tried to do something bad.

When it came to his daughter, the Sect Leader was a foolish father and an utterly besotted one. He knew how unlikely and futile it was to expect reason from him in this matter.

'I must prevent that at all costs.'

Majingga repeated to himself several times.

Thus, a rescue team was organized, centering around the Bingbong Movie Guardian Force and the male disciples who sympathized with them. The first thing they had to do was dig with shovels. This was because the illusionary demonic cave had completely collapsed in the middle due to the chain reaction of the collapse. The situation was more serious than they thought. And digging was more difficult than they expected.

"Hey Hong, do you think Ryuyeon will be okay?"

Hyoryong said in a worried tone. Hyoryong had not yet removed the bandage wrapped around his left shoulder. By his side, Ijinseol, with whom he had apparently reconciled, clung to him tightly.

It was an honorable injury sustained while shielding Ijinseol from falling rocks that rained down like hailstones during the collapse of the illusionary demonic cave. Since then, Ijinseol had been taking meticulous care of Hyoryong. Even though it wasn't a life-threatening illness. Ijinseol's unusual behavior drew excessive attention from those around them. They thought she was making too much of a fuss over a simple fracture. However, Ijinseol knew well that she was responsible for the injury, so she couldn't overlook it.

Ijinseol couldn't hide her guilt towards him. Therefore, any misunderstandings with Eun Seollan had long since flown away. She had already been deeply moved by Hyoryong's spirit of sacrifice. It was fortunate that his injury had not ended as a mere empty glory. Thus, Hyoryong successfully passed the first trial of the mysterious and intricate game of love that had appeared before him. However, the problem with this mysterious, capricious, impulsive, emotional, illogical, and irrational game of love was that another hurdle could appear at any time, and there was no reason for it, so complacency was absolutely forbidden.

Considering all the pros and cons, it could be said that he had settled things cheaply by reconciling with a woman who was sulking with misunderstandings over a single broken arm. Of course, he would claim he risked his life…

Ijinseol was touched by Hyoryong's willingness to sacrifice for her, but her expression was grim, as she couldn't know Nayeon's fate. Her eyes were bloodshot like a rabbit's. Hyoryong had just managed to console Ijinseol, who had been crying incessantly. Many injured individuals were receiving treatment at the medical hall. And in the collapsed illusionary demonic cave, the mad digging of the unharmed men continued.

All they could do was pray for the safety of the two.

"I don't think he's the kind of guy who dies easily. If he were the type to die from something like this, he would have died long ago. I'm sure he's happily enjoying himself with the most beautiful woman in the world in there right now. Let's believe that."

Although Jang Hong said it without much thought, it was like a cow stumbling upon a mouse; his prediction was half correct.

The Vermilion Bird Squad also reunited.

"Can the eldest disciple really survive that hell?"

Namgung Sang said. This was a question that the entire Vermilion Bird Squad had.

"Is he really alive? You all experienced the horrific situation inside, don't you know?"

No Hak shook his head as if recalling that time. It was a nightmare he truly didn't want to remember again. It was lucky enough to return safely without being caught in the chain reaction of the collapse.

"Life is in heaven! Who dares to guarantee someone's life and death? But no matter how much I think about it, the story of the eldest disciple's death is less believable than a tadpole becoming a butterfly, a mischievous old man going out for community service, or Buddha committing suicide."

Is it due to his training so far? Or is it the fault of his teacher? Hyeon Un, a Daoist, uttered blasphemous remarks without hesitation. He was a prime example of how easily one person could ruin many.

"It really doesn't feel real that he's dead, does it?"

Namgung Sang asked.

"Yes!"

Everyone nodded. Now, even Bilyeon's death did not command their belief.

Day 2 of being buried!

"Hmm."

Bilyeon held a pellet the size of a soybean in front of him, examining it from side to side. It was a wall-breaking pill, a product hailed as a revolution in martial world cuisine, which could supply the nutritional value of a meal with just one pill. Its greatest advantage was its light weight and small volume, making it easy to carry. In the martial world, it was often used as emergency food during long journeys or closed-door training. However, its disadvantages were its high production cost and terrible taste. For Bilyeon and Nayeon, this handful of wall-breaking pills was their last lifeline.

"Do we have enough food?"

Nayeon asked. Food was the most pressing issue in such isolated and extreme situations. A thorough check was necessary. And a plan had to be made accordingly. Fortunately, they were not as destitute as she had feared. Before the onset of winter, the academy had distributed enough wall-breaking pills and leather water pouches, anticipating that they might get lost. Bilyeon always carried extra wall-breaking pills. He thought anything could happen at any time.

Besides that, he carried various other items, one of the most special being a sleeping bag. This item, when folded, was only about the size of a small scroll, but when unfolded, it provided enough space for two people to sleep comfortably, a miraculous item. It was also waterproof, windproof, and had body temperature maintenance functions, making it a useful item in many ways. It was an essential item for camping. Bilyeon had received it as a gift from Jang Woo-yang, the chief of the Jungyang Courier Service – if that could be called a dedication.

As expected, if one is prepared, although it may be cumbersome, one never falls into the worst situation. Nayeon was greatly surprised by Bilyeon's unexpected preparedness.

"How did you think of preparing all that?"

She also had a few wall-breaking pills and a water bottle, but she hadn't prepared as thoroughly and perfectly as Bilyeon.

"If you prepare for contingencies, it might be a little inconvenient, but it never causes harm. 'It's much more beneficial to endure a little inconvenience than to die a dog's death due to lack of preparation!' These were the words of our wicked master."

Bilyeon said, looking clearly at her.

"You have a very peculiar master."

Based on Bilyeon's words, Nayeon could only agree that he was not an ordinary person.

Bilyeon first spread the sleeping bag on the floor. The cold from the ground was rising, so lying directly on the bare ground would be bad for one's health.

Fortunately, the sleeping bag was for two people.

"Come in."

Bilyeon said to Nayeon casually. However, Nayeon couldn't help but hesitate. She felt awkward lying in the same blanket – even if it was a sleeping bag – with a man who was not her husband.

Seeing Nayeon hesitate, Bilyeon said,

"This is an emergency situation. Don't you think it's too extreme to worry about etiquette or rules? Right now, we need to prioritize conserving our energy and finding a way out. In the face of life, the distinction between men and women is a trivial matter."

His eloquence was like flowing water. Nayeon didn't dare to refute him.

"That's true. I think I was wrong."

After hesitating for a moment, Nayeon hesitantly entered the sleeping bag.

'I can't believe it!'

Her eyes widened.

"It's amazing!"

"Right?"

Indeed, this sleeping bag was a wondrous item. The cold she had felt on her skin just moments ago was no longer felt at all. Moreover, she felt a warm heat. It was undoubtedly an extraordinary item.

Day 3 of being buried!

"I never knew martial arts could be so convenient."

It was truly as she said. It seemed like they could last for days without a single drop of water. The presence of qi, which filled heaven and earth, the sun, moon, and stars, and the internal energy that had been accumulated through constant training and discipline made it possible.

One wall-breaking pill could sustain them for a day. They had started with 40 wall-breaking pills. If they shared them, they could last for 20 days. They had to somehow survive on this until the rescue team arrived.

Internal energy greatly helped in maintaining their physical strength. In addition, the sleeping bag also provided insulation, making it even easier to maintain their strength. The biggest problem in this narrow, chest-like space was the issue of dealing with bodily functions.

In fact, this was a more urgent matter than running out of food. In such a confined space where they could barely stand, there was no separate private space to attend to their bodily functions. Currently, they were regulating their bodily flow through martial arts, but even that was not a universal solution.

However, four days, five days, and eight days passed, and the rescue team did not come. Bilyeon had to think of another way.

Day 7 of being buried!

As the days passed, the anxiety growing in Nayeon's heart deepened. It was natural for her anxiety to grow as she waited and waited for a rescue that never came.

On the other hand, Bilyeon remained calm and composed. It was impossible to tell if he was dignified or childish.

"Are we going to die like this?"

Nayeon said with a somber expression.

"Do you see our deaths with your eyes?"

Bilyeon asked instead of answering. He was asking this to her, who had eyes that could foresee the future.

"I don't know. My vision is completely covered in darkness right now."

She shook her head left and right.

"…If I can no longer find meaning in life, it might be better to just die like this."

Nayeon said in a dull voice. She was becoming increasingly pessimistic. This was not a good sign at all. In such times, it was important to give them hope for life.

"A person's destiny is something they forge for themselves! And I believe life is worth living because it is enjoyable."

"Is that really true?"

Nayeon looked at Bilyeon intently. Their gazes met.

At this moment, a brilliant idea struck Bilyeon. He still had a trump card left. In his opinion, this was the moment to reveal that card.

'Alright!'

Bilyeon made a firm decision.

"Shall I give you something good?"

Bilyeon said with a smirk.

"Something good?"

What good could there possibly be in this situation? She couldn't grasp it.

"Yes! Something very good."

Bilyeon replied and suddenly presented a water flask before her.

"This is just a water flask? I'm not thirsty right now."

The dew drops that had formed inside the cave were enough to quench their thirst. Moreover, drinking too much water might lead to an inability to control their forcibly regulated bodily functions.

"Here! Take it!"

"?"

Nayeon reluctantly took the water flask Bilyeon handed her.

"Drink it!"

Her suspicion deepened. However, Bilyeon did not offer any further explanation.

When Nayeon opened the cap of the flask he had handed her, a fragrant aroma wafted out, stimulating her nose. Nayeon looked at Bilyeon with a dumbfounded expression. Instead of water, the flask contained alcohol.

"Isn't this alcohol?"

Under Bilyeon's continued persuasion, she took a sip, and her eyes widened. It was definitely alcohol.

"Oh my! A coincidental mistake. What an absurd thing to happen…"

Bilyeon tried to play it off. He tried to make it seem like an accident, but Nayeon was so certain it was intentional that she could bet on it.

"This is against the rules."

Bringing alcohol into an examination hall… It was unbelievable.

"But now you are an accomplice too! Hahahaha!"

Bilyeon said, laughing.

"No… that…"

Nayeon was about to retort but stopped. In this situation, adhering to such rules was laughable.

"That's right. It's meaningless to adhere to that now. Are we accomplices now?"

"We are accomplices now."

Bilyeon nodded with a pleased expression. Then Nayeon said,

"Then, can I have another sip?"

"Of course. I will keep your secret, so don't worry. We are already accomplices, aren't we?"

Bilyeon handed her the alcohol flask disguised as a water pouch again, and Nayeon took it and drank several more sips. The current extreme situation was serious enough to make even Nayeon, a possessor of sharp intellect, seek alcohol. The strong effect of the alcohol spread through her entire body.

She was surprisingly weak to alcohol. Moreover, the alcohol he had was sweet, and the more she drank, the more it drew her in, eventually making her drunk.

*Gulp. Gulp!*

Nayeon drank the alcohol as if it were water again.

"Oh, dear!"

An unfortunate sigh escaped Bilyeon's lips. He hadn't expected Nayeon to drink that much. He had only given it to her to help her relax by taking a light sip…

"It was expensive Cheonilchwi that I got secretly…"

It was a high-quality liquor he had extorted from Yeomdo the day before the examination. However, if the drinking partner was Nayeon, the most beautiful woman in the world, it wasn't that regrettable. Bilyeon didn't feel like the alcohol was wasted, as she was beautiful enough for that. That didn't mean she wasn't intoxicated. Cheonilchwi, although sweet, was extremely potent alcohol. How strong was it? The name itself, "sleeping for a thousand days with one sip," was enough to tell. Both internal and external energy were useless against this alcohol. It seemed that the extreme situation made her get drunk even faster.

Her eyes, full of spirit, became hazy. She was clearly drunk.

"Ryuyeon… Ryuyeon…"

Because the space was cramped, Nayeon naturally ended up leaning into Bilyeon. Furthermore, she called him by name, Ryuyeon, instead of Gongja. She was definitely drunk.

"Will we be able to get out of here alive?"

"Of course."

Bilyeon quietly patted Nayeon's back. Suddenly, she felt like a ten-year-old child.

"Really?"

"Of course. So, rest easy. We will definitely get out of here alive! Don't worry! We will never die here! We can't go to the afterlife without spending all the money we've earned. Since the value measurement systems of the afterlife and this world are clearly different, we must consume everything we've earned in this world in this world. With how much we've saved, we can't give up here. I am not the kind of person with such a weak spirit."

A will to live gushed from Bilyeon's entire body like a spring. He seemed like a person who knew neither surrender nor fear.

Nayeon smiled brightly. The alcohol added warmth and radiance to her cold smile. It felt as if the pitch-black darkness around them had disappeared for a moment.

"It's strange, but why do I feel reassured? Why…?"

Only then did Nayeon close her eyes and fall into a deep sleep.

"Heh, it seems this alcohol has the magical power to melt ice."

Bilyeon smiled faintly, looking at Nayeon sleeping, leaning on his shoulder.

"To life!"

He extended his gourd towards the darkness in a gesture of respect and took another sip. Bilyeon was pleased, as the taste of the alcohol seemed to have doubled. The shadow of death had not yet struck him, remaining a distance away.

Day 10 of being buried!

*Crack! Thud!*

The cozy (?) dwelling of the two was not as safe as expected. With the tiny cracks and falling stone dust, they had to feel more and more anxious. Enduring the day with one wall-breaking pill, laden with this anxiety, had already been ten days.

The sound of stone dust falling with a *thud* and rocks cracking with a *creak* was never a welcome sound.

"Are we going to collapse like this?"

As the cave's shaking intensified, Nayeon seemed unable to shake off her anxiety.

Seeing Nayeon's growing anxiety, Bilyeon decided to voice the ultimate measure he had been considering for a long time.

"Will you entrust your life to me once?"

Bilyeon asked.

"Do you have any good solutions?"

"I've been thinking about it since yesterday. Rather than die a meaningless death by being crushed, it seems better to gamble our lives to fate and take a risk."

Nayeon looked at Bilyeon with the eyes she used when looking at the night sky.

'This person is serious right now!'

She could easily sense it.

"Alright! You saved my life once, so I'll trust you again."

Nayeon nodded.

"Alright, Ryuyeon! For a while now, my life is yours."

She didn't even ask "How?".

In the past ten days, many changes had occurred in their relationship. One of them was that Nayeon had developed a deep trust in Bilyeon, although she didn't say much about it. Because the space was cramped and there was only one sleeping bag, even if they slept properly, they would unconsciously find themselves resting their faces on Bilyeon's chest when they woke up. At those times, she would be very flustered, but Bilyeon, showing no particular reaction, would put her at ease. If Bilyeon had constantly brought it up and teased her using it as an excuse, their relationship would have become even more awkward. Bilyeon's choice was excellent.

Nayeon was surprised to find herself harboring the emotion of trust towards Bilyeon. It was a truly amazing miracle.

How could she harbor such a noble emotion as trust towards a man who seemed so uncertain, irresponsible, self-willed, and at times even selfish!

Nayeon herself sometimes found it incomprehensible. And another significant change was that they had begun to call each other by name naturally. For the two of them who were crossing the brink of life and death together, a gap of one year was no obstacle at all.

'I sent qi towards that wall and felt an empty space not far away! The air is scarce, and there's no hope of rescue. Rather than waiting for a rescue team slower than a maggot, it's wiser to find our own way out! This is the only method left! I don't undertake a life-or-death gamble unless I have absolute certainty of victory… but this time is an exception!'

Bilyeon began to gather his qi and spirit into one. An immense aura emanated from Bilyeon's body. He had raised his Thunder Spirit Divine Skill to its peak. His mind united, becoming the sharpest sword in the world. That sword sliced through the wall blocking his vision, opening a new path for him.

Nayeon watched Bilyeon with astonished eyes. An immense aura began to concentrate at the tip of Bilyeon's fist. A vortex of qi formed at the tip of his fist. Finally, a golden flash began to flicker in Bilyeon's eyes.

"Haaap!"

*Boom!*

The rock wall that Bilyeon's fist struck shattered as if it had been cut out.

'Success!'

Bilyeon's eyes shone. He definitely felt a sensation. It meant that there was an empty space behind that wall.

*Rumble!*

No matter how careful he was, the unstable buried site could not withstand the shock of one wall collapsing. Bilyeon quickly embraced Nayeon by the waist and leaped towards where he had punched.

*Rumble!*

With a thunderous roar, the space where they had spent ten days collapsed all at once.