Chapter 34

DING!

[A change has been detected in the beginner area.]

[The Bloodstained Cave's Dungeon Board has been updated.]

[1st: ???' s Party (2 members), 17 minutes 32 seconds]

"Everyone, look! The Bloodstained Citadel record just changed!"

"What the hell? Is that clear time right?"

"Seventeen minutes...?! That's insane. Who the hell is it?"

The system notification sounded for every employee in the administration team at once.

"... Impossible."

It was also sounding on Hajun's computer, tucked away in a corner of the office. While everyone else was stunned by the clear time, Hajun, who had been tracking Woojin, was reeling for an entirely different reason.

'A secret passage leading to the Bloodstained Cave? Even I didn't know that existed, and I was a developer!'

That wasn't all. Even [Ethan], which had designed this game, had predicted that no one would complete the [Path of Blood] achievement for another two years. Yet this man named Woojin had done it, as though mocking the AI's calculations.

'He pulled it off in the Dark Forest, not even on the central continent... Who the hell is this guy?'

"Quiet, everyone."

Just then, the door behind Hajun opened, and Go Juncheol walked in. Those few words brought instant silence to the noisy office.

"Team Leader, just now..."

"I know. Don't make such a fuss. Records are meant to be broken eventually."

"But one person has broken all of Kerga's records."

"So? Wasn't it Kerga alone who set those previous records?"

Go Juncheol looked positively puzzled as he questioned his subordinate.

"The administration team's job is exactly what the name says: administering the game. When something changes, we're supposed to prepare an appropriate response, not stand around gawking along with everyone else."

"S-sorry, sir."

"Besides, this is something to welcome. Evil Tale has plenty of powerful players, all with different classes, but ask who stands above the rest, and everyone agrees it's Kerga."

He paused for breath and surveyed the room.

"Now, for the first time, someone has brought down the stronghold he built."

A rival to the undisputed champion.

Perhaps this development would get [Evil Tale]'s players even more excited.

"Assistant Manager Lee, contact the publicity team right now. Have them put together a special feature on the time attacks for the Dark Forest's three major dungeons."

"Yes, sir!"

"Generate buzz through communities, media outlets, and even planted comments. Make sure it draws in more new users. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

The administration team, which had merely been marveling at the time-attack record, sprang back to life at Go Juncheol's words.

'The problem is...'

Go Juncheol looked at Hajun, who sat rigidly before him.

'The one making all that buzz is Khan.'

Why did it have to be him?

Some players' data still hadn't been restored following the massive power outage known as [Blackout]. To be honest, the logout incident had worried him a little. Even they hadn't been able to get an accurate picture of Khan's information.

'Fortunately, we did find indications that he logged out afterward...'

He was still someone whose identity they couldn't verify.

"Kim Hajun."

"Yes, Team Leader!"

"What's he doing now?"

"Well... he appears to be facing off against the Genesis Corps."

"The Genesis Corps?"

"Yes. You remember that incident at the Orc Citadel, when the Genesis Corps was wiped out?"

"I remember."

Go Juncheol could more or less work out what was happening without an explanation.

"The Bloodstained Cave has no PK restrictions. That's probably why they targeted him there. Who from the Genesis Corps is there right now?"

"Colson Pawen. He's a top-two-hundred ranker."

"Hmm..."

Go Juncheol let out a low groan at Hajun's report.

'However impressive he may be, it's still only within the confines of the Dark Forest.'

"This won't end well today. Perhaps we'd better hold off on generating that buzz."

"Well, sir..."

Just then, Hajun, who had been watching the monitor, cautiously looked up at his team leader.

"Things are taking a rather strange turn."

"...?"

* * *

"Don't tell me... you're the bastard who's been breaking Kerga's records?"

Fear crept across Colson's face, which had been so confident only moments before.

"Who knows?"

"You crazy fuck...! Peron! You goddamn bastard! You tricked me! There's no way weaklings like you could capture that monster!"

"Th-that's..."

"They haven't done anything wrong. They brought me here, just as you hired them to."

"What?"

"Huh?"

Amusingly, Woojin's answer left not only Colson but even Peron staring in bewilderment.

'Why is he taking my side?'

"Raaaaagh!"

At that moment, fierce winds rose around Colson's gauntlets.

Fist Gale—the Rare Boxer skill that had earned him the nickname Human Butcher.

Once the second-tier skill tree opened after level 50, players could acquire [Skill Books] through quests or item drops, gaining skills beyond the basic ones. Naturally, even players of the same class could differ enormously in strength depending on the grades of their skills.

WHOOSH!

Each swing of his fist sent a cutting whirlwind hurtling toward Woojin.

'They say almost no one outside the top thirty has a Unique skill...'

Colson's Rare skill was by no means common either. That one skill was what had allowed him to reach two hundredth in the continental rankings.

There was just one problem.

He had picked the wrong opponent.

[Using Element.]

▶ All equipment gains enhanced Wind element.

[Trait: Five Elements further increases Wind Resistance.]

BOOM! BOOM!

His Fist Gales vanished completely before Woojin.

"...?!"

Colson could do nothing but watch as Woojin walked through his Fist Gales without a care.

[Using Acceleration.]

Woojin took his stance, sword in hand.

KABOOM!

A deafening roar erupted from his sword.

"... Urk."

He hadn't used any particularly impressive skill. All he had used was [Power Strike], an ordinary Warrior skill.

'What the hell is that ridiculous power...?!'

But the result was anything but ordinary.

"Urk... Guh..."

One blow. That was all it took.

Colson's gauntlets were shattered. Sprawled on the ground, he could only stare blankly skyward, his expression making it clear he had no idea what had happened.

"I don't think monopolizing hunting grounds is illegal. If you have power, you're just using it."

CRUNCH!

"Aaaaaagh!"

Colson's arm was severed.

"You love that saying, don't you? The strong devour the weak. You were simply weaker than me."

THUNK!

"Ghh... Gaaaaah..."

Woojin's sword plunged into his leg.

"Tell your leader. I'll take him on anytime... and leave him just like you."

SHING!

The sword scraped along the ground before sweeping upward, sending Colson's leg flying with it.

"The day you set foot on the central continent, you're dead... You son of a—urk!"

Colson snarled at Woojin, who stood looking down at him, in one final act of defiance.

Or rather, he tried to.

Unfortunately for him, he never got to finish.

[You have killed Lv. 53 Martial Artist Colson.]

The blade severed his head.

[Title: Mad Demon's effect activates.]

[Experience gained is multiplied by 4.]

[Congratulations.]

[You have leveled up.]

▶ 34→35

As the pleasant notifications sounded, Colson's corpse slowly disappeared.

"Hmm."

When the light enveloping his body faded, Woojin called into the cave.

"You can come out now."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help..."

"I'm the one who told you to hide. As you saw, they were all in their fifties. It would've been worse if they'd grabbed you."

"But you beat them so easily, Master."

"Well, that's because it's me."

Woojin's playful swagger drew a small laugh from Ruen.

'I want to help him too...'

She didn't want to be a burden. She had believed she needed to grow stronger to rebuild her lost kingdom.

But now, little by little, another reason to seek strength was taking root in her heart.

"What level are you now?"

"Thirty."

Woojin nodded at her answer. Unlike him, she was an NPC and couldn't gain experience from killing people, so the gap between them was inevitably widening.

'PK is all well and good, but if I'm going to cross over to the central continent with Ruen, I'll need to match her pace to some extent.'

"... Hmm?"

A small coin lay where Colson's corpse had been. It appeared to be an item he had dropped upon death.

When Woojin picked it up, a notification sounded.

[You have acquired a quest item.]

'I thought it was just junk... Was I wrong?'

When players died, there was a chance they would drop one item from their inventory or equipped gear. With luck, they might drop equipment like the [Belt of the Trinity] or the [Cheetah Ring], but most drops were worthless junk.

[Dead Soul's Fare]

Grade: D

Description: The boat fare used by the dead to cross into the netherworld. Said to be required to pass through Hell's Gate.

'Is this part of that quest the Genesis Corps is doing?'

Of all the things he could have dropped, it had to be a quest item. It was quite an ironic twist of fate, but the coin had certainly piqued Woojin's interest.

[You have discovered a quest.]

[Quest Name: Hell's Gate]

▶ Grade: B

▶ To reach Hell's Gate, which exists somewhere on the continent, you must fill the Fare.

▶ Hunting humans or humanoid monsters fills the Fare.

▶ Souls currently collected - 9,389 / 10,000

'Whoa... You have to kill ten thousand monsters?'

Woojin let out a disbelieving laugh at the quest details.

'So the difficulty really does change starting at Grade B.'

He did have the SS-grade quest [Egg of the Phantasmal Spirit], but he had been lucky enough to already possess all the hardest-to-obtain materials, so its difficulty hadn't really sunk in.

[This is a shared quest.]

▶ Quest progress applies to all players who possess the Fare.

[Would you like to accept the quest?]

Woojin hesitated for a moment. If the description was accurate, he would inevitably run into the Genesis Corps.

'I'd have to take the risk... but B-grade quests really aren't easy to come by.'

He had once seen a community post analyzing how much influence quests had on the continent according to their grades.

D-grade quests were ordinary missions designed for leveling and rewards. C-grade quests affected the individuals or factions involved. Starting at Grade B, however, their outcomes could change the balance of power across the continent itself.

"Well, if I'm going to run into them someday anyway, I might as well give myself a reason."

[You have accepted the quest.]

[Please collect the remaining souls.]

'They'll collect the souls themselves anyway... I'd better prepare for what comes afterward.'

The preparation was simple.

Hatch the Egg of the Phantasmal Spirit.

[Remaining Materials]

1. Scales of the Earth. (Acquisition Difficulty: ★★★)

2. Enzyme Carapace. (Acquisition Difficulty: ★★)

3. Battle Bee Stinger. (Acquisition Difficulty: ★)

"Hey."

Woojin called to Peron, who stood there in a daze.

"... Yes?"

"I kept my promise. I said right to the end that you were the ones who caught me. Grateful, aren't you?"

At that moment, Peron realized his mistake. He recalled wondering why Woojin had taken his side before fighting Colson.

"O-of course. Thank you... so much."

"Good. If you're grateful, it's only natural to repay me accordingly, right?"

The moment Woojin gave him a meaningful glance, Peron understood.

"Ah..."

'Damn it... I think someone even worse than Colson has sunk his teeth into me.'

Peron felt he could already see exactly what lay ahead for him.

"Come closer."

Seeing how thoroughly cowed Peron had become, Woojin beckoned him with a finger.

"Y-yes, sir!"

As he moved, all his subordinates came running toward Woojin as well.

"I have a favor to ask. I need to get these things. Can you help me?"

"O-of course!"

Having rushed over, Peron stood at attention before him and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"What are you doing?"

"... Sorry?"

Peron stared at him in confusion at the question.

"You said you'd get them. Get moving already."