Uijae lay flat on the shadowy floor. Gaeul sat cross-legged beside him and placed her hand over his chest. Soon, her hand began to glow with countless colors. Uijae closed his eyes. Even with his eyes shut, the inside of his eyelids shifted rapidly through a kaleidoscope of color. Just as his consciousness began to drift—

Something heavy pressed down on his solar plexus.

“Ugh?”

“Ah—! Kkokko, no!”

With superhuman will, Uijae forced his flickering eyes open. The round Kkokko had perched squarely on his solar plexus, curled up comfortably. Get off, you damn bird… Before he could say the words—

Thud.

His vision went black.