《Duo Leveling LITRPG | Post Apocalyptic | SYSTEM》 Chapter 1 - The End of a Dream, the Beginning of Another Chapter 1: Chapter 1 - The End of a Dream, the Beginning of AnotherChapter 1 - The End of a Dream, the Beginning of Another Jhin stared blankly at his smartphone, cradled in his hands during the subway ride home. The announcement on the screen blinked at him, polite and final: [The service for ''Exodia,'' which helps you realize your dreams, will be terminated in one week at midnight. Thank you for all the support and love you have given us.] He let out a long sigh and chuckled hollowly. "Is this really the end...?" Exodia ¡ª the one hobby that had kept him afloat for the past five years ¡ª was vanishing into thin air. Just like that. Jhin shook his head, smiling bitterly. "Well... figures." After all, it was the story of his life. People called it the N-po Generation ¡ª a name for those who had to give up dating, marriage, owning a home... even dreaming. But to him, it felt like a joke. Because even that was too good for him. At twenty-nine, Jhin was unemployed, burdened by debts left behind by his parents. He hadn''t even made it far enough to be part of the N-po Generation. "No dating. No college. No job. No dreams..." He smiled crookedly to himself. "I''m more like the N-nothing Generation." In interviews, he sat alongside eager applicants, each holding certificates and degrees. Meanwhile, no one even bothered to ask him a question. "Applicant 97, please come in!" He would bow low, introduce himself brightly, only to hear: "You have no experience?" "I''ll do anything! I''ll work hard!" The same answer every time. The same ending. The subway clattered on, rumbling through the tunnels beneath the city. Hunched in a corner, Jhin stared down again at the 4.7-inch screen that held the remnants of his pride. [Service Termination Notice] He gave a soft laugh. "This was all I had..." A dying game, maybe. But within Exodia, he had stood tall ¡ª Rank #1. It was the only place where he mattered. "Five years of fun... that''s good enough, right?" He thought so. Or at least, he tried to convince himself. Ding! A sudden notification pulled him back. A new message from the game company. He blinked, expecting another farewell notice ¡ª but instead, a different kind of announcement glowed on the screen: [Pre-Registration Notice. We proudly announce the official opening of ''Exodia 2,'' which will make your dreams come true. We''ll be returning this October. (Clap clap clap)] Jhin laughed quietly, rubbing a hand over his face. "So that''s what it was." Without much thought, he clicked the link. The pre-registration page opened, proudly boasting: [Pre-Registered Users: 39,768] "That''s... a lot." Even if the old Exodia had been called a dead game, it still had its fans. He remembered something about a celebrity posting about it once ¡ª an idol maybe. The memory was hazy. Still smiling faintly, Jhin entered his information. "One last adventure, huh...?" And so he waited. Counting down the days, completely unaware of what was about to come. ¡ª October finally arrived. Early morning, a chill in the air, and Jhin stood in front of Building 103 of the grand I-Poke Apartments. He pressed the intercom button and spoke into it, voice cheerful despite the hour: "Amazon Delivery! Please open the door." No answer. Instead, the heavy door swung open without a sound. Jhin chuckled under his breath. "Yeah... who else would come this early?" Carrying the box carefully, he stepped onto the glossy marble floor of the lobby. Lights flickered on with his every step, almost like a grand, silent welcome. The place was dazzling ¡ª luxury apartments that looked more like a hotel than a home. A stark contrast to his own semi-basement room, where rain leaked through the cracked windows and mold bloomed like reluctant flowers. Maybe that was why, just for a moment, riding the elevator here made him feel... different. As if he belonged. Ding! The elevator doors opened. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The 18th floor. A dark, silent hallway stretched before him. Jhin''s small fantasy dissolved like morning mist. Setting down the package, he snapped a quick photo for proof of delivery. [Photo] [Amazon] Early Morning Delivery ¡ª 1 box delivered to doorstep. + That was that. He checked the time. "5:50 AM..." Every muscle in his body screamed for sleep after another sleepless night of deliveries. Normally, he would stumble back to his room and crash into bed. But today... Today was different. Today was special. Today was the day Exodia 2 officially launched. Jhin smiled, heart pounding a little faster. No more boring mornings. No more mindless scrolling through YouTube. "Only ten minutes left." He glanced at his phone, then at the elevator display. "First... gotta secure my Talaname." The thought made him a little nervous. Back in Exodia, his Talaname ¡ª just the single letter Kyle ¡ª had become a legend. He couldn''t let someone else snatch it away. "It''s the only thing that''s mine." In a world where everything else slipped through his fingers, Exodia was his small, shining victory. "Kyle." Simple. Plain. But now, precious. "Hope my phone can handle it..." He chuckled wryly. His old phone was barely hanging on ¡ª every swipe felt like pulling a stubborn mule uphill. In a race where speed was everything, lag was the enemy. "Come on, old buddy... you can do it..." He whispered encouragement to the tiny, battered device as he clicked the pre-registration link. Seconds ticked down. Almost there. Almost time. The elevator creaked downward. Jhin tried to brush off the unease curling in his chest. The elevator was just a little slow today, that''s all. ...Right? Chapter 2 - No Return Chapter 2: Chapter 2 - No ReturnChapter 2 - No Return The 12th floor. Again, the 12th floor. And then... nothing. The elevator simply stopped. Jhin frowned and glanced out through the tiny window in the elevator wall. All he could see was darkness ¡ª deep and endless. He tapped the indicator screen lightly, as if coaxing it to move. Waited. "...It''s really stuck." Beeeeep¡ª Clicking his tongue, Jhin pressed the yellow emergency button. This was a luxury apartment, after all. Surely someone was monitoring things around the clock. He wasn''t too worried yet. He leaned closer to the intercom and spoke carefully: "Hello? This is Unit 5-6, Building 103. The elevator''s stopped." [ . . . ] "Hello? Anyone there?" Only silence answered back. He pressed the button again, more urgently this time. "Hello?! Please respond!" [ . . . ] Still no answer. Jhin cursed under his breath and banged hard against the metal doors. "Hey! Somebody''s trapped in here!" His voice echoed in the empty shaft, swallowed by the thick silence. At six in the morning, in a building with walls designed to smother noise, who would even hear him? His forehead creased into a deep frown. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out his phone and quickly dialed 119. [119 Emergency Rescue Center, how can we help you?] "This is the I-Poke Complex, Stoneveil City-dong! The elevator''s stuck, and the security office isn''t answering either!" [Are you alone, caller?] "Yes!" [Don''t worry too much. A rescue team is on their way.] "How long will it take¡ª?" BOOM! A deafening roar shook the ground, cutting him off. The elevator rattled violently, throwing Jhin against the wall. "Ugh¡ª what the hell!" Lights flickered. The world spun between flashes of light and bursts of darkness. Jhin clung desperately to the handrail, breath caught in his throat. And just as suddenly, everything went still. "...I thought I was going to die." Wiping a cold sweat from his forehead, he tried calling 119 again ¡ª but this time, the call wouldn''t even connect. He pressed the emergency button once more, hammering it with his palm. Nothing. Just an awful, heavy silence. A chill crept up his spine. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Jhin swallowed hard, staring into the darkness. Without warning, the lights cut out completely, plunging the elevator into pitch-black night. Fumbling, he turned on his phone''s flashlight. The beam was weak, like a dying candle. He shined it toward the doors. His instincts screamed at him. ''I have to get out.'' He gripped the doors with both hands, taking a deep breath. He was stuck between floors, in a building that had just suffered a major tremor. If the cables snapped now... He didn''t finish the thought. He pulled. Hard. In movies, elevator doors opened easily, like magic. But in real life... "Huuuup!" He managed to crack them open slightly, just enough to peer out. Beyond the narrow gap, he caught a glimpse of concrete. The elevator was wedged between the 13th and 12th floors. Jhin gritted his teeth. ''Just a little more...'' His hands strained. Sweat dripped from his brow. If only he had been stronger. If only he had spent less time glued to a screen and more time at a gym... "Huuuuuup!!" He pulled with everything he had. And failed. The doors stubbornly refused to budge. He sagged back against the wall, panting. "Whew... I really can''t open it." Maybe... maybe it was smarter to just wait for rescue. He was still thinking that when¡ª Ding! His phone chimed. And then, before his stunned eyes, translucent letters floated in the air: [#0115 Channel has been opened.] [Welcome. This is the ''Earth Area.''] [A quest has arrived.] S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Category: Tutorial Difficulty: F Condition: You are isolated in an elevator. Soon, the area will be completely overrun by ''Parasites.'' Escape from the ''Elevator'' within 1 minute. Time Limit: 1 minute Reward: Crude Longsword Failure: Death Jhin blinked. "...What the hell?" Floating text. Exactly like the system windows from Exodia. He had stared at screens like this for five years ¡ª he knew it all too well. But this wasn''t a game. This was real. Or was it? Skrishh... skrishh... A faint, scratching noise stirred from below. Jhin stiffened, flashlight trembling in his hand. He pointed the beam downward ¡ª and froze. From the cracks in the elevator floor, something black was spilling out. A shifting, seething mass. It wriggled and twisted, pouring toward him. It looked like a swarm of cockroaches. "¡ª!" Instinct screamed. Move! The elevator shook again, trembling as the black tide rose higher. He glanced up at the floating quest window. Forty seconds left. "Uaaahh!" Jhin threw himself at the elevator doors, jamming his fingers into the narrow gap. Summoning strength he didn''t know he had, he heaved. He could feel the doors resisting. Feel them almost giving way. They say people can lift cars when adrenaline hits. He didn''t know about cars ¡ª but right now, he could tear through steel if it meant survival. "Huaaaahh!!" With a metallic groan, the doors finally, grudgingly, yawned open. Skrishh¡ªskriiishh!! The mass of blackness was almost upon him. Something cold brushed his ankle. Without looking back, he hurled himself through the gap. His clothes snagged on a piece of twisted metal. Fabric ripped. Pain stung. He didn''t care. He tumbled onto the 13th-floor landing, gasping for air. Behind him, the elevator was swallowed whole by the black mass. The swarm twisted into a swirling vortex ¡ª a dark, hungry mouth. Jhin shoved himself upright, heart hammering. A single bug clung to his ankle. He kicked it off and watched it scuttle back toward the blackness. "...What the hell is this." He said it aloud, voice shaky ¡ª but deep down, he already knew. It was that. The thing he had seen hundreds of times in game cutscenes. The familiar horror, now horrifically real. He rubbed his eyes. No change. No waking up. If anything, the details were too sharp. Too vivid. Could this be real? Ding! Another notification chimed. He flinched and checked the message: [Quest cleared.] [''Crude Longsword'' awarded.] [A new quest has arrived.] CLANG! With a flash of light, a longsword clattered onto the marble floor in front of him. Jhin stared at it ¡ª Feeling the weight of a reality he was no longer sure he could escape. Chapter 3- The First Blood in a World Turned Game Chapter 3: Chapter 3- The First Blood in a World Turned GameChapter 3- The First Blood in a World Turned Game Jhin bent down and picked up the longsword lying on the polished floor. It felt heavy in his hand ¡ª solid and real in a way that sent a chill down his spine. Where had it come from? He stared at the blade, and just like before, translucent letters floated gently above it: Looks so dull it might not be able to cut anything. Attack: 12 Grade: F For a moment, his mind whispered: ''Exodia...?'' But he immediately shook the thought away. This was different. This was beyond anything he could understand. An item ¡ª something from inside a game ¡ª appearing right here in the real world? No matter how he looked at it, it made no sense. ''Maybe I''m just hallucinating... too much gaming, too little sleep.'' He chuckled quietly to himself, trying to find comfort in that explanation. Vrrrrrr... A strange vibration snapped him out of it. A low, grating noise ¡ª coming from the direction of the elevator. Cautiously, Jhin turned to look... and stopped breathing for a second. There, flickering faintly in the darkness, were two glowing red orbs. Not fireflies. Definitely not fireflies. Screeetch... A rancid stench hit his nose, sharp and unbearable. And standing there ¡ª no taller than his waist ¡ª was a creature, panting heavily, a crude hammer clutched tightly in its clawed hands. Before he could even react, new information floated to the front of his mind, as if someone whispered it straight into his thoughts: ¡ª Hammer Goblin. Level 20. Jhin felt his heart skip a beat. ''...Are you kidding me?'' He blinked hard, hoping the monster would disappear. It didn''t. It snarled lowly, blood-red eyes gleaming. It swung the hammer once ¡ª a lazy, testing motion. BOOM! The marble floor shattered under the impact. Jhin instinctively staggered backward, eyes wide. And then the goblin charged. "Uwaaah!!" He threw himself aside just in time, the hammer smashing the spot where he had just stood into rubble. The goblin turned its twisted face toward him, breathing heavily through jagged teeth. Jhin''s legs twitched with the urge to run ¡ª and for a moment, he thought about it. But as if reading his mind, a message floated up: [The tutorial is in progress. Movement is restricted.] "W-what?!" He whirled around, hoping, somehow, that there was another way ¡ª but there wasn''t. The goblin grinned. Its eyes shone with hunger. It wasn''t just a monster from a screen. This thing was real. And it wanted to kill him. Screeetch! The goblin lunged again, hammer swinging with terrifying force. BOOM!! The wall behind him cracked and crumbled. Jhin stumbled back, trembling. His heart hammered wildly against his ribs. ''This is insane... this is actually insane!'' The goblin turned to face him once more, and Jhin''s body locked up in fear. He couldn''t breathe. Couldn''t move. The pressure was suffocating. ''I''m... I''m going to die!'' That one thought drowned everything else. ¡ªDing! Suddenly, a soft chime echoed in the air: [Your account synchronization is complete.] [''Service termination compensation'' is being delivered.] [!] [The compensation exceeds the player''s level by a large margin. Balance adjustments are required.] [Some functions will be restricted.] And just like that ¡ª The terror gripping his heart began to fade. Like a heavy fog lifting after a storm. Jhin blinked, his mind clearing as sharp focus returned. He looked at the goblin again. And saw it properly. Small. Pathetic. Barely the size of a child. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A disgusting, snarling kid with a toy hammer. In Exodia, a monster like this wouldn''t have even made him blink. He tightened his grip on the longsword. ''...It''s just a Hammer Goblin.'' A lowly, basic creature you usually found crawling around in beginner dungeons. He could beat it. He had beaten hundreds before. And now, even here ¡ª even if this world had somehow flipped upside down ¡ª he still wasn''t powerless. Slowly, steadily, his breathing calmed. ''If I don''t fight... I''m dead.'' That simple, brutal logic was enough. He gritted his teeth and squared his shoulders. The goblin screeched again and barreled toward him. But this time, Jhin didn''t flinch. He took a single step forward, narrowing the distance between them even more. ''My reach is longer.'' The goblin''s hammer was heavy, but short. Slow. Predictable. Jhin raised his sword, eyes cold and steady. The goblin leapt up, swinging wide. And in that perfect opening ¡ª Jhin''s sword flashed like a streak of silver lightning. Shluk! The blade stabbed deep into the goblin''s chest. The creature froze mid-air, red eyes wide in shock. For a heartbeat, nothing moved. And then ¡ª Blood sprayed hot across Jhin''s face. The goblin''s hammer fell with a dull thud. Its small body slumped lifelessly to the ground. He exhaled shakily, wiping his sleeve across his mouth. "Is it over...?" But no sooner had he asked than the air trembled again. Grotesque screeches echoed down the hallway. Jhin turned his head ¡ª and saw more glowing red eyes emerging from the darkness. From the elevator. More Hammer Goblins. At least five, maybe more. He grimaced. ''Of course...'' He remembered the quest window. This was a tutorial. It was never going to be that easy. Jhin tightened his grip on the sword. He could feel his pulse racing. But he also knew ¡ª there was a way. ''Can I pull it off?'' The thought flickered in his mind. And then he pushed the fear down. Stepped forward. The time for hesitation had passed. He didn''t have any grand plan. No brilliant strategy. All he needed ¡ª was the courage to charge forward without looking back. Chapter 4 - Dungeon AwaKyleing Chapter 4: Chapter 4 - Dungeon AwaKyleingChapter 4 - Dungeon AwaKyleing Grrrrrk! The longsword pierced clean through the neck of the charging Hammer Goblin. With a choked gasp, the creature dropped its hammer. Squelch! In a daze, Jhin swung again. Another goblin, just crawling out from the elevator, was run through the heart before it even understood what was happening. He slashed, gouged, stabbed ¡ª cutting through flesh and bone without a second thought. The heavy hoodie he wore grew soaked with dark blood, sticking wetly to his skin. But he didn''t stop. The goblins stumbled out, one after another ¡ª and fell just as quickly. Caught before they could even lift their weapons, they collapsed into twisted, broKyleheaps. By the time the last one fell, a soft chime echoed in the air. [!] [You have exceeded the quest''s target.] [You have exterminated all monsters on the 13th floor.] [Title ''Cowardly Slaughterer'' acquired.] [The Hammer Goblins hate you.] [Reward: ''Tattered Rag Clothing Set'' has been granted.] Another object shimmered into existence in the air, then dropped to the floor with a dull thud. Jhin blinked at it. "...Seriously?" It was a full set of filthy, threadbare clothes ¡ª from a battered tunic to worn-out pants. The kind of thing you''d find in the gutter, if you were unlucky enough. At the same time, a warm sensation pulsed through his body ¡ª the unmistakable feeling of experience points sinking in. Jhin stood there, breathing heavily, heart pounding. And now, there was no room left for doubt. ''...This really is a game.'' Even if logic screamed that it was impossible ¡ª the world before his eyes made it clear. Still panting, he wiped his blood-smeared hands against his pants and thought, almost absurdly: ''Today was the official launch day, wasn''t it...?'' Could this be Exodia 2? A game ¡ª not just in reality ¡ª but becoming reality? No. Even augmented reality couldn''t pull off something like this. This wasn''t some fancy CG illusion. No ¡ª everything was too sharp. Too real. He could feel the goblin blood drying stiffly against his skin. He could still smell the reek of iron and death in the air. ''No way a normal game could reach this far.'' But strangely enough... what really unsettled him was something else. ''Why am I staying so calm?'' Moments ago, he had been hacking down monsters like he had been doing it all his life. Instinctively, smoothly. This ¡ª from a guy who had never even touched a real sword before. He suddenly remembered the flood of messages that had popped up earlier. That was when it happened. When the fear had melted away, and something sharper, cooler had taKyleits place. On a hunch, Jhin whispered under his breath: "Status Window." And just like that, a translucent screen unfolded before him: Name: Jhin ¡ª Lv. 1 Age: 29 Occupation: Unemployed Stats: [Strength 5], [Agility 5], [Stamina 5], [Magic Power 5] Unique Skill: [Celestial Combat Body (S)] Player''s level is too low. Celestial Combat Body (S) is restricted. Only partial functionality is available. Currently Active Skill ¡ª [Calmness (F)] Jhin''s eyes gleamed. ''Celestial Combat Body.'' The unique skill he had spent a whole grueling month farming for, back in Exodia 1. He chuckled softly, almost disbelieving. "You''re telling me... they actually gave it to me?" Exodia. The game that had once ruled the charts ¡ª and then crashed just as spectacularly. Its reputation had been simple: brutal difficulty. Every move demanded precision. Skills required manual commands ¡ª real incantations, real sequences, not lazy button smashing. Even casting a single magic spell meant typing out the whole thing. No shortcuts. It was unique. It was punishing. And worst of all ¡ª you only got three lives. Three deaths, and your character was deleted permanently. No excuses. No do-overs. It had been thrilling once. A real challenge. But over time, that iron rule had crushed player after player. Most quit. Most streamers mocked it. Only a tiny handful stayed. The top twelve players had been treated like Celestials. And the gap between 12th and 13th place... was like the distance between heaven and earth. Jhin, through five years of relentless struggle, had climbed all the way to Rank 1. And then ¡ª service termination. Their characters, their blood and sweat and sacrifice ¡ª all erased overnight. The memory still stung. He remembered the survey they sent out, almost mockingly: [Is there anything you''d like to bring to Exodia 2?] [Choose up to 3 things.] It had felt like a cruel joke. Most players answered with bitter smiles, half hoping, half certain it was meaningless. They called it the "termination reward," a little dream to soothe the sting of loss. But now ¡ª Looking at the status window floating before him ¡ª Jhin laughed under his breath. "They really did it..." He remembered the options he had chosen. If he had been smarter, maybe he would have picked some overpowered item like [Sword of Victory] or [Thunder Celestial''s Crown]. Or mythic weapons like the [Meteor Sword of Disaster]. But no. He had picked [Celestial Combat Body]. Not glamorous ¡ª but brutally efficient. Combat optimization. No weapon restrictions. And now, here, facing real monsters with real blood and real death on the line... He was starting to understand. It wasn''t just a good choice. It was the perfect one. Holding the longsword still felt strangely natural, like he had trained for years. His breathing was steady. His fear was manageable. All because of [Calmness] ¡ª a basic function of Celestial Combat Body. It didn''t make him superhuman. But it gave him the edge he desperately needed. He could think clearly. Move precisely. Fight. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jhin exhaled, feeling the blade steady in his hand. ''...And there should be two more rewards.'' He remembered now. He had chosen three gifts. Celestial Combat Body was the first. The other two were high-tier items, ones he probably wasn''t even allowed to touch yet. ''I''ll deal with that later.'' Right now, survival came first. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! A heavy pounding suddenly echoed through the air, making the walls tremble. Jhin tensed, raising the longsword. At the same time, a new message popped up: [New quest has arrived.] Category: Tutorial Difficulty: F Condition: A parasite has appeared in I-Poke Building 103. Once the pounding finishes, ''Dungeon-Corrupted Molly''s Tree (F)'' will be created. Escape the corrupted 5-6 unit area before dungeonization completes. Time Limit: 10 minutes Reward: Basic Survival Kit Failure: Death The words hung there for a moment. And then, with a teasing flicker, one more message appeared: [Have a fun play session. Good luck!] Jhin stared at it. Then he laughed ¡ª a low, dry, slightly hysterical laugh. "...Fun, huh?" He gripped the sword tighter. "Alright, then. Let''s have some fun." Chapter 5 - The Choice to Conquer, Not Escape Chapter 5 - 5 - The Choice to Conquer, Not EscapeChapter 5 - The Choice to Conquer, Not Escape Gradually, chaos swallowed up I-Poke Building 103. "What the hell is that?!" "Help me!" "Aaaah!!" "Monster¡ª!!" Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The hammering sounds grew louder, pounding through the walls. Screams echoed from every direction, rising like a terrible chorus. A moment ago, this had been a peaceful luxury apartment. Now, it was a war zone. Standing right in the middle of it all, Jhin furrowed his brow slightly. ''This is just the beginning.'' The quest had been clear. Soon, this entire section ¡ª 5-6 units of Building 103 ¡ª would be transformed into a dungeon called Corrupted Molly''s Tree. He had less than ten minutes. And from now on, the situation would only get worse. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The number of monsters would grow. Not just a few goblins here and there ¡ª they would start appearing inside the apartments themselves. That was what dungeonization meant. ''...A lot of people are going to die.'' He knew the system all too well. A parasite''s corruption turning a normal place into a living hell ¡ª it was one of Exodia''s core features. Jhin sighed quietly. "Why here of all places..." He glanced around at the marble floors, the polished doors, the gleaming lights. This was a luxury complex. New Capital''s high-end elite. And yet ¡ª how many of them could actually fight? ''Ordinary people can''t even handle a single Hammer Goblin.'' Unless someone had a gun tucked away ¡ª and even then, it wasn''t a guarantee ¡ª there was no way they could survive. In Exodia 1, monsters roamed the world openly. People were armed, trained, hardened by necessity. Here? Here, people were used to peace. New Capital didn''t even allow swords. Maybe someone had a kitchen knife tucked away in a drawer ¡ª but a kitchen knife wouldn''t stop a goblin swinging a sledgehammer. ''This place has been peaceful for too long.'' And that peace ¡ª now it was a trap. The hallways were too narrow. The staircases too cramped. No room to run. No room to breathe. If monsters filled the building... it would be a slaughter. Jhin shook his head grimly. Above and below, more screams echoed. "Uaaaaah!!" Proof enough that the monsters were already spreading. Narrowing his eyes, Jhin began organizing his thoughts quickly. ''I already cleared the monsters on the 13th floor.'' That was something. And if the goblins couldn''t move between floors... then the 13th floor was temporarily safe. That was one good piece of information. ''The quest says to escape within 10 minutes.'' And escape, technically, wasn''t that hard. He looked up the staircase. ''If I go up, I''m safe.'' All he had to do was reach the rooftop ¡ª cross over into another unit block ¡ª and he would be clear of the dungeonized area. Five floors. That was it. It was a clean, simple strategy. ''But if I do that...'' His hand tightened unconsciously around the longsword. Everyone else would die. Even if he escaped, the dungeonization would still complete. Monsters would flood the building. Families. Children. Neighbors. All dead. Jhin exhaled slowly. Maybe his real choice had been decided the moment he stepped out of the elevator. ''They''re telling me to just run?'' He scoffed quietly. ''Not happening.'' Any true veteran of Exodia knew better. Quests didn''t always show the real goal. Sometimes, you had to go beyond what they told you ¡ª to see the truth hidden behind the objective. He glanced around. Screams still filled the air. People were still alive. Barely, but alive. ''Tutorial quests... aren''t meant to be cleared by running away.'' He knew. He had seen it a hundred times before. It was dangerous. Risky to the point of madness. But there was a way ¡ª a way for everyone to survive. And if anyone could pull it off... it was Jhin ¡ª the one-time top-ranked player known simply as Kyle. He smiled grimly. ''Let''s clear the dungeon.'' If running wasn''t the answer ¡ª then conquering it was. If he could find the boss and kill it before dungeonization finished... this nightmare could be stopped. It sounded impossible. A tutorial-level character, killing a dungeon boss? But Jhin had done crazier things before. That was why he had been number one. ''There''s no other way.'' His mind made up, he turned his gaze downward. The boss would be somewhere below. The parasites had started spreading from the lower floors. But then ¡ª His brow furrowed. ''I can''t use the stairs.'' The residents would be fleeing up and down, paTalaing, stampeding. If monsters attacked them there... It would be a massacre. There would be no room to fight. Only room to die. And even if he tried... it might take too long to reach the boss. Ten minutes wasn''t much time. He needed another way. Another path. Jhin''s eyes sharpened. "This might be crazy, but..." He turned slowly toward the elevator ¡ª or rather, the thing lurking inside it. The gaping, swirling portal left behind by the parasite. Still open. Still waiting. "If I''m wrong... I''ll be eaten alive." Normally, touching something like that meant instant death. Digested, dissolved, erased. But... The fact that the portal was still stable ¡ª that it hadn''t disappeared ¡ª meant something. Jhin gripped the longsword tighter. If there was even a sliver of a chance ¡ª He was going to take it. Chapter 6 - The Final Breath Chapter 6 - 6 - The Final BreathChapter 6 - The Final Breath If it was going to eat him, it would have swallowed the Hammer Goblins first. That simple fact gave Jhin the push he needed. "Whew... whatever. Let''s do this." [Skill ''Calmness (F)'' activated.] Drawing in a deep breath, Jhin stepped toward the swirling portal. Ding! [You have discovered the ''Corrupted Molly''s Secret Seed Room.''] The soft chime of the system made him release the breath he''d been holding. In an instant, the suffocating darkness peeled away ¡ª revealing a vast underground space. He blinked, momentarily disoriented. The portal inside the parasite''s body ¡ª the one the Hammer Goblins had crawled out of ¡ª had transported him straight to the heart of the corruption. ''This is...'' The underground parking lot. Carefully, he slipped behind a nearby pillar, crouching low. Peeking out, he scanned his surroundings. Everywhere he looked, parasite roots had wormed into the concrete ¡ª dark, pulsing veins twisting through the structure. He had found the source. ''Success.'' All around, Hammer Goblins were diving into black holes punched through the ground. Probably passageways linking different floors together. He must have ridden one of those tunnels down here, too. Bang! Bang! The hammering sounds hadn''t stopped. Jhin turned his head toward the noise ¡ª and froze. Near the center of the parasite''s core, a monster loomed, swinging an enormous hammer with lazy, brutal ease. It didn''t take long to recognize it. ''...Corrupted Molly.'' His mouth went dry. It was massive. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had expected a boss monster to be big ¡ª but this? Normal goblins barely reached his waist. This thing towered over two meters, thick with muscle. Its shredded jeans barely clung to its green, bulging frame. Veins stood out like black ropes across its skin. It was less a goblin ¡ª and more like a nightmare version of the Hulk. Jhin swallowed hard. Standing still, Molly exuded a presence so heavy it was almost physical. ''That''s the boss.'' The one that would trigger full dungeonization if left unchecked. Normally, it would take dozens of players working together to bring down something like this. And even then... victory was never guaranteed. Plenty of veteran players had been wiped out by bosses like this ¡ª losing their characters forever. That was Exodia for you. But... Jhin narrowed his eyes. ''This is still the tutorial.'' The dungeonization wasn''t finished yet. The boss wasn''t at full power. And there was one critical strategy ¡ª a trick ¡ª that only worked before dungeonization completed. He had to time it perfectly. Holding his breath, Jhin huddled behind the pillar. ''I need to wait.'' He checked the quest window, watching the countdown. Upstairs, the screaming continued. People were dying. But he couldn''t rush. Not yet. If he moved too early, everything would collapse. Steady breathing. Clear focus. The world around him shrank away. Only the timer mattered now. ''Time left...'' At exactly the one-minute mark¡ª Molly lifted its giant hammer high over its head, drawing in a deep, shuddering breath. Jhin''s muscles tensed. ''This is it.'' The final phase before dungeonization. Every monster, no matter how strong, dropped its guard for a brief moment during this transformation. It was the best ¡ª and only ¡ª opening. Tightening his grip on the longsword, Jhin measured the distance carefully. He could reach it. One minute was enough. ''Only one shot.'' Hammer Goblins were stationed around Molly like guards. And the timer was bleeding down by the second. If he failed ¡ª if he hesitated even once ¡ª Everyone in 5-6 units would die. No second chances. His heart pounded so hard it made him feel sick. ''...Just succeed.'' That was all that mattered. [Skill ''Calmness (F)'' activated.] The Celestial Combat Body''s ability steadied him, washing away the tremors threatening to seize his limbs. No fear. No hesitation. Only the objective. Only victory. Screeeeech!! With a sharp burst of movement, Jhin burst from cover, slicing through the dim light like a thrown knife. The nearby Hammer Goblins howled and rushed to intercept him. But he didn''t slow down. Not even for a breath. His eyes locked on one thing ¡ª Molly''s neck. Bounding onto a parked car, Jhin vaulted forward, the goblins lunging behind him. But they were too slow. Thanks to his earlier title: [Title ''Cowardly Slaughterer'' equipped.] [Due to ''Cowardly Slaughterer,'' the goblins'' rage has intensified.] [Their punches are empowered by anger.] [The goblins, blinded by rage, suffer impaired judgment.] At a glance, it looked like a disaster ¡ª the goblins growing stronger, faster, deadlier. But it came at a price. Their coordination crumbled. Their attacks became wild and clumsy. And in that chaos, Jhin slipped through like water. ''How many seconds left...?'' He could almost feel the seconds peeling away behind him. Molly noticed him at last. The giant twisted its hulking body, roaring, and swung its hammer in a brutal arc. Fwoooosh!! The wind of it grazed his face ¡ª a blow strong enough to break walls. But Jhin ducked under it by a hair''s breadth. Molly staggered from the reckless swing, blood trickling from its nose. Pushed too hard. Overextended. And with the title debuff gnawing at its reactions, even this monster showed cracks. Jhin didn''t hesitate. He pushed off the ground with all his strength. ''Now.'' That final breath before dungeonization ¡ª the moment when monsters were at their weakest. A fleeting heartbeat. But it was enough. Sssslice!! The sword flashed. A clean, precise slash across Molly''s thick neck. Hot blood exploded into the air. Chapter 7 - The Day the Game Became Reality Chapter 7 - 7 - The Day the Game Became RealityChapter 7 - The Day the Game Became Reality "Good morning. This is Jimmie from Good Morning. Here''s today''s weather report. Skies will be mostly clear across the country today, with fine dust levels remaining low. A bright and sunny autumn day is expected..." A faint voice drifted from the radio, crackling from inside an overturned car. Sunlight streamed through shattered glass, falling across blood-spattered seats. Droplets dripped steadily onto the dashboard. It should have been an ordinary morning. Another bright day, another clean blue sky. But today was different. The air reeked of blood. Smoke stung the eyes, turning everything into a haze. Breathing felt heavy. Wrong. It had only taken minutes. Starting precisely at 6 AM, strange phenomena erupted across New Capital, swallowing the nation whole. The internet lit up instantly ¡ª a flood of panic and disbelief: [Blood-stained streets... New Capital turns into a battlefield.] [Unidentified monsters appear in downtown New Capital?] [''Exodia 2'' ¡ª Monsters from the game show up in real life?!] Trending searches, headline news ¡ª everywhere, one word blazed like wildfire: Exodia. Early reports were grim. Hundreds dead already. The government scrambled to deny, to cover up, while the internet exploded with rumors. Fear and doubt churned through every message board. And somewhere inside a quiet dressing room, Millie stared down at her phone. Lost in thought. "Is this really Exodia...?" The screen showed a live video, burning up YouTube''s trending list. A fancam from illumination gate Square. It looked absurd ¡ª but to her eyes, it was chillingly familiar. A Dungeon gate. How could she not recognize it? She was a ranker. A top-tier player who had lived and breathed Exodia for years. She knew that world better than the back of her own hand. Still, seeing it bleed into reality... accepting it... That was something else entirely. Millie hesitated. Could it really be happening? Outside the window, strange sounds carried faintly on the breeze. Not yet loud. Not yet near. But ominous. The door to her dressing room banged open. "Millie, pack it up. Today''s schedule is canceled!" Her manager rushed in, voice tight with urgency. "We''re heading back to the dorm!" "Brother, look at this¡ª" She held up her phone, ignoring his scolding tone. "When did you even sneak that out?! After all the warnings from the CEO¡ª!" Today had been supposed to be a big day ¡ª an early-morning pre-recording at SBC''s Tree districtstation for Inkigayo. Millie barely heard him. "Just look!" She shoved the screen under his nose. The video played in brutal clarity: A yawning hole splitting the ground at illumination gate Square. Lizard-like creatures spilling out, wielding spears, stabbing civilians without hesitation. The manager frowned. "...Is this a movie?" "No. It''s live." She didn''t need to say anything more. She knew what they were. "Lizardmen," she whispered. Creatures known for pack hunting. If left unchecked, they would organize, form armies ¡ª and cities would fall like sandcastles. "If only someone could wipe them out now..." Without waiting for his reply, Millie pulled up another video. This time, it was south mountain Tower. The skies above swarmed with flying reptiles. Small squads forming formations. Perfect, disciplined movements. "Red Wyverns," Millie muttered grimly. Fire-breathing monsters. Deadly not just for their speed ¡ª but for their ability to nest and expand their territory. If they dug in at south mountain... "...It''ll be a disaster." "And there''s more¡ª" "Millie. Enough." Her manager''s voice cut sharply through her words. "Phone. Hand it over." Before she could react, he snatched it from her hands, fast and firm. Millie stared at him, stunned. Maybe because no monsters had yet appeared here at Tree district Station, he hadn''t realized. Hadn''t seen the truth yet. "Give it back," she said, reaching for it. "No." "This isn''t the time for this¡ª!" "I said no!" His tone was absolute. Millie bit her lip, frustration boiling inside her. She had heard the rumors. Whispers spreading online: ¡ª The key is inside Exodia. Stories that people were AwaKyleing ¡ª receiving quests. Summoning items. Opening status windows. And all of it ¡ª everything ¡ª tied to their phones. If she didn''t act now, she would be left behind. If she didn''t move, she would die. "Please, Brother. Please!" Her voice cracked with urgency. And then¡ª RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE¡ª!! The ground shook violently, throwing them both to the floor. Props clattered. Lights toppled. Amid the chaos, Millie acted without hesitation. Gritting her teeth, she lunged ¡ª wrestling the phone free from his startled grip. "Millie! It''s dangerous!!" Ignoring him, she clutched the phone tightly. And then it vibrated. A system notification popped up. Without missing a beat, Millie moved. She thought Inventory ¡ª and immediately, a translucent screen shimmered before her eyes. "It''s real." She almost laughed. Rank 12. The Magic Gunslinger, Clarke. Her Exodia character ¡ª the one who had climbed to the top of the shooting charts. A revolver materialized in her hand. Heavy. Solid. Real. She had never held a real gun before. But as soon as her fingers wrapped around the weapon, she knew. She could do it. She could fight. GRAAAAAARRRGH¡ª!! From somewhere nearby, a monster stumbled through a portal. Its flesh rotted and peeled away, empty sockets gaping where eyes should have been. The stench of death filled the room. A Ghoul. But Millie didn''t hesitate. BANG!! One shot. The bullet punched straight through the Ghoul''s forehead. It crumpled without a sound. Another reward materialized ¡ª a longsword gleaming brightly in the air. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She barely glanced at it. Her mind was racing ahead. One single thought burned inside her: "If I want to survive..." Her fingers tightened around the revolver. "I have to find Kyle." Chapter 8- The Beginning of the Apocalypse Chapter 8 - 8- The Beginning of the ApocalypseChapter 8- The Beginning of the Apocalypse The muzzle of her revolver flared again and again, bursts of fire lighting up the chaos. The subway ¡ª once packed with sleepy morning commuters ¡ª had become a nightmare. "Assistant Manager Ji!!" "Aaaahhh!!" A dungeon had erupted right in the middle of a speeding train. Arrows tore through the air at point-blank range. Tiny figures ¡ª barely fifty centimeters tall ¡ª swarmed the cars. Kobolds. Fast. Vicious. Unrelenting. For ordinary office workers, there was no chance to react. They were too slow. Too unprepared. Even young reservists ¡ª fresh from their military service ¡ª were helpless. What good was a discharge certificate when you had no gun? Cutter knives. Umbrellas. That was all anyone had. It wasn''t even a fight. It was a massacre. "Aaargh!!" People screamed, fell, were dragged down before they could even think to defend themselves. The train roared forward, unstoppable. There was no way to run. Maybe ¡ª maybe ¡ª there was still a chance in the rear cars. But even that tiny hope was slipping away. This was rush hour. There was no space to breathe, let alone escape. "Help!!" "Get in! Get in, hurry!!" "Save me¡ª!!" Terrified commuters tried to shove their way through, panic spreading like wildfire. Behind them, the monsters closed in ¡ª and ahead of them, nothing but a wall of bodies. You could hear it ¡ª the dull thud of arrows burying themselves in flesh. The splash of blood. The awful, choking sounds of the dying. "Move!!" A young man broke free from the crush, sword shaking in his white-knuckled hands. His face was pale with terror, but his eyes burned. "A dungeon break... inside a subway?!" He gritted his teeth. "There''s no choice." A tutorial quest had popped up earlier. Three minutes. That''s how long they had before the entire train was dungeonized. Running wouldn''t save them. Only one answer remained: "We have to conquer the dungeon." He knew the strategy. Everyone who had even casually followed Exodia knew. Defeat the boss before the dungeon fully activated ¡ª or be trapped forever. K had said it himself: "You have to have courage." And right now, he had a weapon. He had a sword. If he could just¡ª The kobolds began to cackle. Why were they laughing? He didn''t have time to wonder. An arrow punched clean through his forehead. He collapsed backward, dead before he hit the floor. "Urgh...!" And scenes like that played out all across New Capital. Movie theaters. Parks. Shopping malls. Dungeons bloomed like tumors across the city. Buildings crumbled. Department stores burned. Monsters, thick in the smoke, roamed freely. At six in the morning, the breaks had been contained ¡ª small, localized disasters. But now... Now they were spreading. "Aaargh!!" "Shit!!" "Save meeee!!" Instead of car horns, the roads were filled with screaming. Desperation. Blood soaked the streets, glistening under the bright autumn sun. "...Though we recommend dressing warmly today due to the wide temperature swings. The low for New Capital will drop to three degr¡ª" CRASH! The radio''s cheerful voice cut off mid-sentence. The world grew silent. Silent, except for the crackle of flames. At that moment, the National Assembly building was burning. Across the river, at Red-Water Bridge, survivors fired desperately into the approaching monsters. Congressman Dean staggered forward, driving his longsword deep into the chest of a snarling Lizardman. "...Congressman!!" One of his surviving bodyguards rushed over, catching him as he stumbled. Blood soaked Park''s once-white shirt, spreading in a deep, ugly stain. "Are you alright?!" "I''m fine," he grunted, pressing a trembling hand against the wound in his side. "What about the VIP?" "No word yet. The last transmission said¡ª" Park waved him off. Leaning heavily against the bridge railing, he stared at the crumbling skyline of New Capital. It looked like the world had ended in a single morning. Dean swallowed hard. He couldn''t tell if it was from the pain or from the bitter, choking despair thickening in the air. "It''s only a matter of time," he muttered. "Everything was just a sandcastle from the start." Exodia had spilled into reality. That brutal world ¡ª a game world built on hopelessness and blood ¡ª It had come here. "This... is going to be our future." He shut his eyes for a moment. And an old thought rose, unbidden: ''But what about them...?'' The Sky Beyond the Sky players. The Rank 12 users who had conquered Exodia with impossible feats. If it were them¡ª Maybe they could survive. Maybe they could fight back. But then Park shook his head bitterly. "This isn''t a game anymore." Fast reflexes meant nothing here. Even trained bodyguards ¡ª experts in multiple martial arts ¡ª had died like insects during the very first tutorial. Reality was merciless. There was no room for dreams. "...Hoo." He lifted his head slowly, watching black smoke curl into the endless sky. Somewhere behind him, someone whispered that the Blue House had fallen too. "...The worst has come." Dean clenched his fists against the railing. Bitter air, heavier than cigarette smoke, burned in his lungs. Meanwhile. In the underground parking lot¡ª Jhin stared at the message floating before his eyes: [You have defeated the F-rank boss monster ''Corrupted Molly.''] [You have discovered a hidden ending.] [''Corrupted Molly''s Tree'' has failed to dungeonize.] A sound like distant fireworks echoed faintly in the still air. Molly''s beheaded body dissolved into dust and vanished. The parasite roots withered. The Hammer Goblins crumbled away like ashes. The bloodstains and wreckage remained ¡ª but the monsters were gone. Because dungeonization had failed. This place would never become a dungeon again. Not unless something truly extraordinary happened. "Hmm..." A soft blue light shimmered before him. Above the spot where Molly had fallen, a portal bloomed ¡ª swirling and steady. Jhin smiled faintly. "Here it comes." The Tutorial Quest: trial nexus. He exhaled slowly, feeling his mind sharpen. The victory didn''t make him relax. It made him more focused. ''Right.'' Just because he had stopped one disaster... That didn''t mean the nightmare was over. "It''s only the beginning." The Tutorial Quest was just the opening act. From now on, he was a real Player. Forced to survive wave after wave of dungeonizations. New Capital ¡ª the world ¡ª would become a battlefield. Exodia was no longer just a game. It was an apocalypse. An apocalypse on a planetary scale. In the old Exodia, the Continent had only 20 million people. Now? Now, the stage was Earth ¡ª and the population was 7.5 billion. A chill ran through him. But Jhin tightened his grip on the longsword. He wasn''t afraid. After all ¡ª He wasn''t just anyone. He was the Player who had once stood at the top. He was Kyle. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 9 - Maze of Death: Welcome to Hell Chapter 9 - 9 - Maze of Death: Welcome to HellChapter 9 - Maze of Death: Welcome to Hell After stepping through the portal, Jhin found himself standing in a pure white space. Before him, four glowing options hovered quietly: Exactly as he remembered from the game. The trial nexus. The final stage of the tutorial quest ¡ª where players chose their difficulty, cleared a series of challenges, and were rewarded based on their performance. But it wasn''t just about how tough the trials were. It decided the grade of the skill you would earn. "Even if it''s the same skill... if you pick Easy, it''ll be F-rank. Pick Hell, and it could be A-rank." He muttered the words under his breath, as if reciting an old warning. Sure, you could level up later. But starting with a higher-ranked skill made all the difference in the long run. "Everyone called it the Poisoned Chalice." High risk, high reward. But here, in the trial nexus... even that saying fell short. This wasn''t just risk. It was death risk, death return. You had to stake your life itself. Veterans had always warned newcomers: ¡ª Don''t pick high difficulty just because the rewards look pretty. There was a simple reason for that. Even in a game as brutal as Exodia, choosing "Hell difficulty" meant one thing: It was practically impossible to clear. Honestly, even "Easy" wasn''t truly easy. People used to joke that the trial nexus offered: Hard, harder, even harder... and absolutely f***ing impossible. Only the daring ¡ª or the reckless ¡ª picked "Normal." The truly insane attempted "Hard." Even then, success was rare. It often took dozens of failed attempts and burned accounts to finally claw through Hard. As for Hell? No one had ever cleared it. Not once. Except¡ª Jhin smiled faintly. "...This time might be a little different." He hovered his hand over the Hell option. And hesitated. Because this wasn''t just a game anymore. "In reality... you only get one life." There were no second chances. No re-rolling accounts. If he died here, that was it. The end...Still. His fingers curled into a fist. "If I can''t clear this..." He pressed down on Hell. "...I''ll never reach the end anyway." From the beginning, there had never been a real choice. ¡ª A moment later, Jhin stood in a pitch-black stone chamber. The air was damp and cold, clinging to his skin like moldy cloth. He shivered once and glanced toward the upper right corner. A glowing board floated there, listing numbers: Easy ¡ª 130,291 players Normal ¡ª 330,215 players Hard ¡ª 115,291 players Hell ¡ª 120 players Jhin raised an eyebrow. "120 players, huh?" He let out a low whistle. "So many brave souls..." But deep down, he doubted many of them knew what they had really chosen. "No way any true veteran picked Hell willingly." In the game, even the best players ¡ª the legends ¡ª had failed again and again trying to clear it. And this wasn''t the game anymore. This was reality. Sure, he had once posted a strategy guide for clearing Hell. Maybe some wild players had seen it and decided to gamble. But a guide alone wouldn''t save them. "Reading a walkthrough doesn''t make Hell any easier." He smiled grimly. "I hope... some of them survive." Even he ¡ª the only one who had ever cleared Hell ¡ª wasn''t sure he could do it again now. ''Maybe I won''t even last a minute.'' Still. He hoped. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Please... let as many as possible survive.'' Meanwhile, more and more players continued to pour into the trial nexus. Anyone with an Exodia 2 account was being pulled in. As long as the servers stayed online, Earth itself had become the playing field. Jhin exhaled slowly and turned his gaze forward. Now wasn''t the time to worry about anyone else. Before him, a new quest materialized: Type: Tutorial Objective: Overcome various tests and escape the maze. Time Limit: None Reward: ??? Failure: Death Simple on the surface. Survive...Escape. But he knew better. Nothing here would be simple. Every test would be brutal. Every step ,a battle. Jhin reached deep into his memories, recalling the last time he had faced this place. "The first test... was endurance, right?" BOOM!! The stone chamber shook violently, cracks ripping across the floor. The air thicKyleed, heavy with the stench of sulfur. The first trial had begun. Type: Tutorial Objective: Test your cardiopulmonary endurance. Avoid the rising lava and reach a safe zone. Time Limit: None Reward: +1 Stamina Failure: Death Molten lava seeped out from the walls, the ceiling, the ground. No warning. No mercy. The floor shrank with every heartbeat, burning away. The heat was suffocating. Breathing felt like inhaling pure fire. Jhin clenched his jaw, his clothes already damp with sweat. This wasn''t some game effect. This was real. Painful. Deadly. He gritted his teeth. "And this is just the first test..." There was no way Hell difficulty would end with something this simple. Without hesitation, he threw himself forward, sprinting over the crumbling floor. There ¡ª in the distance ¡ª a pillar of blue light shimmered like a beacon. The safe zone, far away. But reachable. If he pushed his body to the limit. He leaned into the run, feeling the burning air tear at his lungs.He could make it. He had to. And then¡ª Ding! A new message flashed before his eyes: [A new quest has arrived.] Of course. Type: Tutorial Objective: Test your reflexes. Avoid the incoming arrows. Time Limit: Until you reach the safe zone. Reward: +1 Agility Failure: Death No time to even curse. Jhin instinctively dove to the side. An arrow hissed past him, slicing through the space where his head had been a second earlier. And more were coming. Many, many more. Chapter 10 - The Only Survivor of Hell Chapter 10 - 10 - The Only Survivor of HellChapter 10 - The Only Survivor of Hell "Fweeeee!!" Another arrow sliced through the air. A chill ran down Jhin''s spine. For a fleeting second, he wondered¡ª ''Was I out of my mind picking Hell difficulty?'' What kind of lunatic risked their life like this? S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Was I crazy...?!" He cursed under his breath. "Fweeeee!!" Teeth gritted so hard it hurt, Jhin threw himself sideways again. Behind him, lava surged up, devouring the ground ¡ª but there was no time to look back. ''What''s next...?'' If this had been Normal difficulty, the hellish trial would have ended here. But this was Hell. The difficulty designed to crush hope itself. Complaining was pointless. Pain was pointless. He just clenched his jaw harder and forced strength into his burning legs. Ding! [Quest ¡ª Strength Test has begun.] [5 kg sandbags are generated on each of your arms and legs.] [Success Reward: Strength +1.] His limbs immediately sagged under the sudden weight. Like waterlogged cloth. Dodging the arrows had been bad enough ¡ª now, his arms and legs dragged heavily with every step. It was cursed. It was brutal. It was Hell. Thunk! He wasn''t fast enough. An arrow punched straight through his shoulder. Pain exploded in his vision ¡ª bright white, blinding. "Khghhh...!" The lava crept closer. There was no time to even scream. More arrows rained from the shadows. Blood running down his arm, Jhin snapped the arrow shaft cleanly. His mind blurred with agony. But he moved. Because stopping meant dying. Simple as that. ''Just hold on. Just find it...'' The hallway ahead rumbled and shifted. The ground tilted sharply upward, turning into a steep, merciless slope. Ding! [Quest ¡ª Muscular Endurance Test has begun.] [An uphill slope has formed.] [Success Reward: Agility +1.] The burning air seared his lungs, the weights dragged at his body. Blood loss made his vision swim. And the slope towered ahead like a cliff face. This was Hell difficulty. There were no checkpoints. No mercy and No quitting. Clear it ¡ª or die. And yet¡ª Even with pain gnawing at him, a small, wild grin tugged at Jhin''s lips. Because he saw it. Scattered across the ground ahead ¡ª tiny, uneven patches of dirt. "Found it." Ding! [Quest ¡ª Vision Test has begun.] [Dodge the landmines while running.] Without hesitation, he stomped hard on one of the suspicious patches. BOOM!! The ground exploded beneath him. The blast hurled his body high into the air ¡ª but somehow, he stayed intact. Ding! [The 5kg Sandbags are classified as indestructible objects.] [Shock has been absorbed.] "Perfect." The strategy still worked. Flying through the air, Jhin spotted more landmines scattered like invisible traps. If he hadn''t known, dodging them while sprinting uphill would have been suicide. But now? Now he used them. He angled his body midair, slamming into another mine deliberately. BOOM!! Another explosion launched him further forward. Ignore the arrows....Ignore the lava. Focus only on the mines ¡ª on the propulsion. Arrows pierced his body again and again ¡ª shoulders, legs, even grazing his ribs. Pain lanced through him with every breath, but none of it was fatal. He endured. How long had he been running and flying like this? How many blasts had he ridden like stepping stones? Then¡ª Bzzzzzzm! [Congratulations! You have entered the Safe Zone!] Panting heavily, Jhin skidded to a stop. Behind him, the world shimmered ¡ª the lava, the traps, the broKyleground ¡ª all washed away, as if none of it had ever existed. Ding! Ding! Ding! [You have cleared: Cardiopulmonary Endurance Test.] [You have cleared: Reflex Test.] [You have cleared: Strength Test.] [You have cleared: Muscular Endurance Test.] [You have cleared: Vision Test.] [You have gained a massive amount of experience points.] [Level Up!] [Level Up!] ...(Multiple notifications skipped)... [Partial activation of your Unique Skill: ''Celestial Combat Body.''] [Skill ''Flowing Eye has been activated.] Jhin stood there, breathing hard, as arrows slowly slid out of his flesh. New skin knitted itself together almost instantly. The Safe Zone''s healing effect. The rule was simple: As long as you reached the Safe Zone alive ¡ªno matter how broKyleyour body was ¡ª you would recover. "Huff... Huff..." Wiping sweat and blood from his forehead, Jhin lifted his head. There was no time to celebrate. The Safe Zone was just a pause. Not a finish line. Once he stepped out, the next trial would begin immediately. And New Capital ¡ª the real world ¡ª was still burning. He couldn''t stay trapped in a tutorial forever. How long would it take? He didn''t know. He only knew this: Clearing the first chamber was nothing. Ahead, dozens more rooms waited ¡ª each one hiding horrors far worse than the last. Back in Exodia 1, It had taken him a full month to escape the trial nexus. But this time? Jhin clenched his fists. "This time, it won''t take that long." Because now ... He knew exactly what he needed to do. No hesitation...No wasted steps...No second-guessing. He was ready. Hell ¡ª 120 players. Hell ¡ª 32 players. Hell ¡ª 76 players. Hell ¡ª 27 players. ... ... Hell ¡ª 1 player. Hell ¡ª 1 player. Hell ¡ª 1 player. Three months later.... Chapter 11 - The Cost of Losing Normal Life Chapter 11 - 11 - The Cost of Losing Normal LifeChapter 11 - The Cost of Losing Normal Life "Drip. Drip-drop. Plop". Somewhere close, water dripped steadily, falling with faint splashes onto cracked concrete. A rat ¡ª no bigger than a clenched fist ¡ª crept cautiously across the dim underground space, heading for a shallow puddle. It lowered its snout to drink¡ª when suddenly¡ª FLASH! Crackle¡ª! Sizzle¡ª! Brilliant blue light exploded into the darkness. In the pitch-black underground parking lot, where sunlight had never once touched, waves of blue shimmered beside a collapsed concrete pillar. Wooooooooong... Startled, the rat squealed and darted back into its hole. Meanwhile, from the splitting light, a figure stumbled out. Hair wild...Clothes torn...Eyes dazed. "Uh... where... am I?" Jhin blinked against the gloom, glancing around. And then ¡ª as if waiting for him ¡ª a system message appeared before his eyes: [Congratulations! You have cleared the ''trial nexus (Hell)'' Quest.] He had returned, after three long, brutal months. ¡ª At the same time¡ª Elsewhere, a group of people stood gathered, faces grim, tension thick in the air. Among them, a man in a tattered police uniform ¡ª bloodstained, battered ¡ª stared at the half-collapsed school building ahead. Caleb...He spoke quietly, voice heavy: "We don''t have much time left." "..." "Two days." His gaze sharpened. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We have to clear that dungeon... within two days." The weight of those words crushed the air around them ... Understandably so. Because the situation was... overwhelming. Caleb''s eyes drifted toward the school gates. Beyond them, the grounds were soaked in a sickly, blood-red glow. Like something ripped straight out of a horror movie. If ghostly screams started echoing from the walls, no one would have been surprised. "I know you''re all scared," he said. "..." "I am too." He exhaled slowly. "But we have to go." His voice was steady, commanding. The others flinched ¡ªbut they listened. Knowing what needed to be done was one thing. Facing it was something else. Caleb tightened his grip on the blue spear resting against his side. He understood why everyone was terrified. The school ahead¡ª An E-rank dungeon. And among their group? Only one person had even cleared "Hard" difficulty during the tutorial. The rest... Barely F-rank survivors. They had never even seen an E-rank dungeon before.Never mind clearing one. "If only that was the worst of it..." He lifted his eyes to the towering gate...Blood-red. In Exodia, a red gate meant one thing: Dungeon Break Imminent. Dungeon Break¡ª When monsters multiplied uncontrollably, poured out into the world, and everything nearby was wiped out. If they didn''t clear it now? If they failed? New Capital would drown in blood. "Trying to clear it now is practically suicide." But there was no choice, Caleb''s voice grew firmer: "We don''t have any other options." "If we don''t stop it here... if we don''t kill it within two days... it''ll break free." "And then..." He didn''t need to finish the sentence.Everyone already knew. When a dungeon broke, its rank rose, this place had been F-rank at first. It had already mutated to E-rank. If it broke again? It would spike to D-rank, and then? No hope. Not for them., not for the city, not for anyone. "If it becomes D-rank... it''s over," Caleb said flatly. "If another break happens... no one will survive." He let the words sink in, without sugarcoating , and without false hope...Just reality. At that moment, a frustrated voice broke the silence: "Why is this one growing so damn fast? The other dungeons nearby are still stuck at F-rank!" The speaker ¡ª Evan ¡ª looked exhausted. A former sales rep, now clad in a strange mix of business suit and leather armor. Caleb answered calmly: "It''s because the monsters inside are undead." "Undead...?" Evan''s face twisted in horror, blood-red glow, the choking stench of decay. It wasn''t his imagination, inside that building¡ªGhosts...Zombies...Spirits. And much worse. "But what does that have to do with the dungeon leveling up so fast?" Caleb met his gaze steadily: "In Exodia, undead monsters were considered weaklings." "Low defense. Easy kills." "But nobody ever underestimated them." "You know why?" Evan shook his head, while Caleb continued, voice low: "Because undead reproduce insanely fast." "One bite. One infection. One corpse turning into another monster." He grimaced , Ugly images flashed behind his eyes. "This dungeon formed in a school." "Sure ¡ª not many kids would''ve been here at 6 AM." "But this place had dormitories." "Dozens ¡ª maybe hundreds ¡ª of sleeping students." Infected before they even knew what was happening. He clenched his fists, forcing the thought away. They couldn''t change the past and they could only fight for what little remained. Caleb turned to the group again, his voice echoed against the broKyleschool walls: "We''ve lost so much already." "Lovers. Family. Friends." Too many to count. Students who once carried backpacks now gripped swords, office workers who once wore ties now wore dented armor. Even Caleb ¡ª once a police officer with a clean uniform and a sidearm ¡ª now held a battered blue spear. The world had shattered ... And the beginning of that destruction... was losing everything they thought would last forever. "Just three months." That''s all it took. Three months ...and the old world had collapsed like a sandcastle under a black tide. Now? It was easier to count what they still had than what they had lost. Caleb slammed the butt of his spear into the ground with a sharp, resonant thud. And he shouted ¡ª voice raw, voice fierce: "But we have to fight!" "Fight for our homes." "Fight for our loved ones." "Fight against the monsters trying to steal everything from us¡ª!" "And fight against this twisted, broken world!" Chapter 12 - Red Threshold Chapter 12 - 12 - Red ThresholdChapter 12 - Red Threshold It was near the end of Caleb''s speech. The cold fear on people''s faces began to crack. Tiny sparks of courage flickered in the crowd ¡ª faces that had been frozen with despair slowly began to shift. They weren''t just survivors anymore, they were Players now. Dungeons weren''t disasters to flee from ¡ª they were tasks to conquer. Level up. Strengthen your gear. Sharpen your skills. That was all. Caleb lifted his blue spear high. The Wavetamer''s Spear. A token of recognition from Exodia 1 ¡ª a weapon awarded to seasoned veterans after the server shutdown. "Prepare yourselves," he said. "In ten minutes... we''re going in." As he watched everyone check their weapons, tighten their armor, brace themselves ¡ª Caleb bit his lip. Anxious. Because he knew, better than anyone, just how reckless this was. More than half of them might die. No ¡ª would die. But if they didn''t act? If they hesitated now? Everything would fall anyway. He turned his gaze slightly skyward, as if looking for someone. Someone who crossed his mind more often than he liked to admit. Someone everyone, deep down, probably wondered about. Kyle. The absolute peak. The Rank 1 Player. The one so overwhelming that no one even dared to dream of surpassing him. Caleb remembered the trial nexus. Remembered the one name that had stayed on the Hell difficulty board. Just one. Even while hundreds gave up. Even after three months ¡ª not once had the number changed. Did he make it? Did he survive? No rumors. No signs. Not a whisper that K had returned. Maybe he had fallen in the Maze. Maybe he was already dead. "Detective Caleb. Preparations are complete." A voice pulled him back. He nodded. Good. His eyes shifted to the side ¡ª to the figure leaning against the crumbling school wall. A woman, her hoodie pulled low, a mask hiding half her face. But the way she stood ¡ª the quiet aura around her ¡ª was unmistakable. He nodded slightly to her too. They would manage. Even without Kyle. They had someone close enough. An E-Rank dungeon? No need to be afraid. Caleb''s voice rang out, steady and strong: "We''re going in." "Today... we conquer an E-Rank dungeon." ¡ª Meanwhile. Inside Apartment 105, Building 103 of Silverwood. Jhin stood in front of a cracked, broken mirror. Staring at the reflection looking back at him. His hair was a tangled mess, and his beard scruffy and uneven. Dust clung to his face and clothes like a second skin. He looked like a homeless man. Without a word, he grabbed a pair of dull kitchen scissors,hacked away at the worst of the knots, and shaved carefully with a cracked razor. There was no running water ¡ª so he wiped himself down with half-dried wet wipes he scavenged from a dusty drawer. It wasn''t much, but it was enough. "Finally starting to feel human again," he muttered. Rummaging through the cupboards, he found a single, battered can of tuna. He ripped it open barehanded, eating straight from the tin. Greasy...Salty...Heavenly. In the trial nexus, he hadn''t known hunger. Safe Zones wiped away conditions like fatigue, thirst, starvation. But here, back in reality? Every bite mattered. "Three months... huh." Longer than he had expected. Sure, he''d gained everything he needed from the Maze. But still... Had he stayed too long? How many had died while he was gone? How many had survived? What did the world even look like now? He exhaled heavily, setting the empty tuna can aside. Somewhere out there, others might have survived. Others who had prepared, others who had seen the signs. Yeah. It had to be better than Exodia 1. It had to be. Pushing open the veranda door, he stepped outside. The city sprawled before him, or what was left of it. Ruins and ash. The air tasted of dust and smoke. The only sound was the hollow wail of the wind threading through broken buildings. No honking cars ... No murmuring crowds...No neon lights. New Capital had become a ghost town. Jhin stared at the ruined horizon. Only three months, and already, it smelled like the end of the world. He tightened the straps on his gear. "Hope it''s not too late." He turned away, slipping into the crumbling streets without a sound, leaving Silverwood behind. The place he headed next was a nearby school. His footsteps were quiet, deliberate. And then he saw it: A door ¡ª heavy and cracked ¡ª glowing a sickly red. The color of warning, the color of blood. In Exodia, door colors told you everything. Blue meant almost dormant, Green, normal activity, Yellow and orange meant swelling danger, Red? Red meant imminent collapse. Dungeon Break, and if it turned black¡ª It would already be too late. He placed a hand lightly against the door. Immediately, an information window flickered to life: Collapsed School (E-Rank) Time until Dungeon Break: 24 hours Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "A collapsed school, huh." He glanced around. Signs of life ¡ª or something close to it. Ashes from a recent campfire, with footprints in the dirt. Someone had been here recently, that was good. He needed information more than anything else right now. An E-Rank dungeon... He frowned slightly and checked the window again, something felt off. Time until Dungeon Break: 22 hours. "...?" He blinked, re-checking it again. Time until Dungeon Break: 21 hours. The countdown wasn''t just ticking down, It was accelerating, by an hour every hour. Jhin''s eyes narrowed sharply, his fingers flexed slightly, feeling the faint hum of magic stirring in the air. "...Something''s wrong." Very wrong. And he needed to figure it out ¡ªfast. Chapter 13 : Echoes of Bone and Fire Chapter 13 - 13 : Echoes of Bone and FireChapter 13 : Echoes of Bone and Fire The dungeons of Exodia changed their structure depending on their rank. If an F-rank dungeon mostly kept the appearance it had when it was created, then an E-rank dungeon might look the same on the outside, but its internal layout would expand and evolve. And this place... was an E-rank dungeon. Jhin let out a slow, steady breath as soon as he stepped inside and saw the vast landscape unfolding before him. ?As expected of an E-rank...? It made sense that the outside and inside would be different. A normal school campus would never have enough space to contain all the monsters of an E-rank dungeon. Maybe if it had started out on a huge plot of land, it would have been fine... but otherwise, the dungeon naturally reshaped itself to match its growing power. Jhin stood still and quietly surveyed the school that had expanded like an amusement park. It looked peaceful enough, but he stayed alert. This was, after all, an E-rank dungeon. And he was just a rookie player who had barely made it through the Trial Nexus. No room for carelessness. Soon enough, he spotted scattered bones lying all around. Clatter... The ground shuddered, and a hand shot up from beneath it. In an instant, a skeleton, nothing but bare bones, climbed out into the open. Its appearance was grotesque beyond words. ?Skeleton...? Two eyes blazed red within the hollow sockets of its skull. It wore rusty weapons and shabby armor, looking pitiful ¡ª but they were nothing to laugh at. Estimated level: starting from 40. An undead monster, a cursed spirit that had possessed a corpse and resurrected it as a skeleton. ''Really... it''s like being inside a horror movie.'' Jhin gripped his tutorial weapon, the "Crude Longsword," and steadied his breathing. His first real battle after surviving the Trial Nexus. Tension prickled faintly through his muscles. GRAAAARGH...!! But there was no hesitation in his movements. He swung, cleaving the charging skeleton clean in two. Yet the bisected creature didn''t die. You had to destroy the core to kill them. Jhin activated his skill. [Skill, ''Soft (A)'' activated.] ''Weak spot: the neck.'' Skeletons couldn''t be treated like normal monsters. Stabbing the head? Piercing the heart? Neither would kill them. Unless you destroyed their source of power, they''d keep hunting the living without end. You had to remove the spirit lingering in their necks to truly finish a skeleton. CRACK! Without a moment''s pause, his sword thrust in a straight line, shattering the spirit hidden within the skeleton''s neck. The upper and lower halves of the monster quivered, then collapsed into a motionless heap. Not exactly a pleasant sight. But¡ª [Level up!] ¡ªhearing that long-missed message instantly lifted his spirits. ''In the early days of the Trial Nexus, I used to hear that sound pretty often... I really did escape from there, didn''t I?'' The Trial Nexus had a hard level cap of 30. No matter how much experience you earned, you couldn''t grow past it ¡ª a strict system limit. This was the first time in a long while he had actually leveled up. ''I''ll save the points for now.'' Jhin adjusted his posture and looked around. ?Hmmm...? More skeletons were emerging from the ground. Like overgrown moles, they tunneled out one after another. It was irritating to no end. Jhin made a quick decision ¡ª he wouldn''t even give them the chance to fully surface. CRACK! What fool would politely watch the enemy''s dramatic entrance scene? Jhin stomped on every skeleton neck bursting out of the ground. Skulls caved in instantly as the skeletons crumpled. [Title ''Cowardly Massacre'' promotion conditions discovered.] [Successfully ambush enemies 100 times in a row.] [Upon success, ''Cowardly Massacre'' will be promoted to ''Master of Surprise''.] S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Like playing an endless game of whack-a-mole, Jhin stomped down every emerging skeleton, steadily clearing the dungeon. They had to be killed anyway ¡ª if he could promote his title along the way, all the better. ?Seriously... this feels more like a college campus than a high school.? He had never been a college student ¡ª he hadn''t even taken a college entrance exam. But he had visited college campuses before while working part-time at food trucks, and he remembered that distinctive atmosphere. Of course, it hadn''t been nearly this grim. Jhin glanced at the endless tide of skeletons. The ceaseless spawning was definitely a sign of an impending dungeon break. Still, he grinned. [Condition achieved.] [Title ''Cowardly Massacre'' promoted to ''Master of Surprise''.] [+2% attack power when ambushing.] ?Jackpot.? Unfortunately, he couldn''t continue hunting much longer. His sharp eyes caught new traces in the battlefield. Among the scattered bones, there were signs that some spirits had already been destroyed. Clear evidence that others had entered the dungeon before him. ?Guess leveling up will have to wait.? CRACK! Stomping another skeleton''s head into pieces, Jhin swiftly chased after the trail they had left behind. BOOM! BOOOOOM! Caleb ducked behind a pillar, dodging the chain of explosions. He could see people surrounded by skeletons beyond the ruins, but he couldn''t rush out to help them recklessly. BOOOM! Another blast tore through the air. Caleb swallowed hard, his throat dry as dust, and tried to piece his thoughts together. ''What the hell is happening here?'' One hour since dungeon entry. It had been a pretty smooth operation... at first. The skeletons erupting from all directions had been threatening, yes ¡ª but the gathered strength of the players was not to be underestimated. Especially because she was among them. Even in an E-rank dungeon, there seemed little that could stand in her way. For a moment, hope had even flickered ¡ª maybe they could clear this without too many losses. But then it happened ¡ª right when they reached the vicinity of the auditorium where the boss monster was expected to be. BOOOOOOM! An unexplained explosion! The group, struck by an unknown assault, was forced to scatter in every direction. With skeletons popping up everywhere and mystery attacks constantly raining down, it became a fight for survival. And Caleb saw it. A line of figures, standing among the skeletons, freely casting skills with no interference. ''A Lich?'' At first, that''s what he thought. Explosive magic in an undead dungeon usually pointed to a Lich ¡ª a powerful spellcaster among the undead. But no. There was no way a B-rank Lich would appear in an E-rank dungeon. Besides, low-grade monsters couldn''t speak human language. ?Hiding won''t save you!? BOOM! Caleb tensed, ready to spring into action at any moment. Around him, the group of players who had fled with him caught his eye. They exchanged glances, silently counting down, waiting for the right moment to strike. Chapter 14 : Fire and Faces of the Past Chapter 14 - Chapter 14 : Fire and Faces of the Past Chapter 14 : Fire and Faces of the Past And then, in a single moment. As if they had all agreed beforehand, everyone started running in the same direction. Noticing the movement, an explosion erupted close by, but it only struck a hapless skeleton. ?Everyone, run! We''ll be fine as long as we get out of their range!? Caleb fired a few warning shots with his pistol. But the bullets from a normal handgun couldn''t penetrate a player''s equipment. Caleb thought grimly. ''She''s in danger.'' Amid the chaos, he had picked up on one crucial piece of information. The goal of their mysterious attackers. They were after one person ¡ª the strongest member of their group. The reason was probably related to who she truly was. ?Did you really think you could escape?? At that moment. Catching a whiff of gunpowder, Caleb instinctively rolled aside. He tucked into a quick breakfall, correcting his posture, and as he raised his guard, a man in a white mask appeared before him. The masked man walked toward him slowly, snapping his fingers. BOOOOM!! ?S-Save...!? One of the fleeing group members was caught in the blast and died instantly. Caleb swallowed hard and leveled his spear at the enemy. A heavy, suffocating silence. It was a long while before the masked man finally spoke. ?Now there are only two of us left.? ?What?? ?It''s been a while, Detective Caleb.? ?...You know me?? Like a fuse catching fire, something flared in front of Caleb''s face. It was too late to dodge. He crossed his arms in front of him just in time to shield himself from the worst of the explosion. ?Khack...!? Sparks flared all around him. The pain hit immediately, but there was no time to rest. Ducking past another flickering flame, he hurled himself aside. A chain of explosions chased him relentlessly. BOOM! BOOM! BOOOOM! ''Damn it... he''s toying with me.'' Caleb realized ¡ª the enemy was deliberately missing, driving him into a corner like a hunter herding prey. There was no way out. ?You run like a cockroach.? BOOOOM! Gasping for breath, Caleb sprinted down the twisting hallway. He dove behind the nearest pillar and gripped his spear tighter. Running wouldn''t solve anything. He looked down at his weapon, the blue gleam shimmering faintly along its shaft. Wavecatcher''s Spear. A shutdown reward item, level 80 grade ¡ª its attack power was indisputable. Though Caleb was only level 47 and couldn''t fully wield its abilities, it was still better than the standard tutorial gear. With this, he could at least deal some real damage. Footsteps echoed slowly down the corridor. ?Do you like hide and seek, Detective?? Leisurely, almost playful steps. Random explosions bloomed through the air as the masked man drew closer. Using the sounds to gauge the distance, Caleb knew the chance would come soon. ''His ability is explosions.'' Considering how many blasts he had triggered without breaking a sweat, his rank had to be high. C-rank? Maybe even B-rank? No doubt about it ¡ª he was strong enough to rank among the upper-tier players. ''But still...'' Caleb wasn''t exactly weak, either. A survivor of the Normal difficulty. An "experienced player" who had once played Exodia 1. He wasn''t a legend, no ¡ª but he had powerful shutdown rewards, and he was tough. Besides, he had been a cop. Had fought on the frontlines of crime until just recently. He wasn''t planning to die so pathetically in a place like this. Clomp. The footsteps drew closer. The instant Caleb sensed the enemy entering striking distance¡ª He charged, spear gripped tightly in both hands. ''No matter how strong his ability is, he can''t trigger an explosion at point-blank range!'' Unless he was willing to blow himself up, too. But¡ª ?Such a shallow move.? BOOOOOM!!! Flames exploded right in front of Caleb''s face. He leapt backward with all his might, rolling across the ground again and again. Blood spilled from his lips as he forced himself up. ?Damn it...? His face burned. His whole body felt as heavy as wet cotton. He had never expected to feel so powerless. Through the blurring edges of his vision, the silhouette of the masked man came into focus. The man spoke. ?Still don''t recognize me?? ?...? ?Disappointing. You''ve gotten rusty while I was gone.? His voice, dripping with mockery, didn''t sound disappointed at all. The masked man let out a screeching laugh, like nails on a chalkboard. It was grating. Irritatingly familiar. Had he seen him before? Somewhere? Frowning, Caleb dug through his memories... And then it hit him. ?You... no way...? ?Finally recognized me? Detective Caleb, Violent Crimes Unit 2, Stoneveil City Police Department?? The masked man casually lifted his mask, revealing his face. The moment Caleb saw him, memories exploded through his mind like a thousand flashbulbs. ?How... How are you here? You were supposed to be¡ª? ?Locked up in prison? Yes. But as you can see... I escaped.? Snap. Caleb gritted his teeth so hard they cracked. ?...Sam.? The masked man ¡ª no, Sam ¡ª grinned wider. ?That''s the look I wanted to see! That''s more like the Caleb I remember.? Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sam. A death row inmate. A serial killer Caleb had barely managed to catch, after months of relentless pursuit. A monster who had butchered seven victims, his crimes so brutal that even hardened detectives had flinched. A textbook psychopath. And now ¡ª here he was, a player. If he had truly become one, then it made all too much sense why he was launching indiscriminate attacks on people. Monsters didn''t need a reason. ''Don''t tell me... all of them are escaped convicts...'' A nightmare scenario flashed through his mind. Hundreds of criminals, freed from prison, armed with player abilities, roaming the world. ''...Shit.'' Caleb cursed aloud, thinking about the disaster that might follow. And Sam ¡ª still as relaxed as ever. Just his explosive ability alone was practically cheating... and there might be more like him out there. The worst possible outcome. Caleb bit his lip hard. The heavens must have abandoned us. Giving scum like him the power of a player... As despair gnawed at his mind¡ª ?Oh, look. A new face.? A sudden voice broke through the air. Caleb''s eyes widened as he looked toward the newcomer. Since when had he been standing there? ?Hey, excuse me. Mind if I ask you something?? Another man stood casually beside Sam. Chapter 15 - The Police and the masked man Chapter 15: Chapter 15 - The Police and the masked manChapter 15 - The Police and the masked man At a glance, it seemed like a situation where ¡¯good and evil¡¯ were clearly divided. However, Jhin did not act rashly. He carefully observed the two. Because in Exodia, appearances don¡¯t determine everything. It was a world full of people who acted like angels on the outside but hid devils inside. "Just because someone¡¯s wearing a police uniform doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re good," he thought. Likewise, just because someone was wearing a mask didn¡¯t mean they were automatically bad. Maybe the person wore the mask to hide a terrible scar. The same applied to the police. If someone happened to steal that uniform, even a "policeman" could be a villain. In Exodia, having an unbiased view was more important than anything. But then¡ª "Who are you?" "Y-you... Run! That¡¯s dangerous over there!" As the masked man snapped his fingers, flames erupted in front of them. The policeman stretched out his hand, warning of the danger ¡ª everything happened in an instant. From that alone, Jhin understood. This time, appearances matched reality. [Skill, ¡¯Crisis Detection (B)¡¯, is activated.] Incidentally, he already knew an explosion was coming. It was supposed to be a surprise attack, but to Jhin, it was so obvious ¡ª like a child¡¯s prank. "Compared to the Trial nexus, this is nothing..." A dungeon where lava would surge up suddenly, the ground would collapse, arrows would fly from walls, ceilings would fall, or tidal waves would sweep through. Having survived such a place, a situation like this wasn¡¯t even threatening. Most importantly, the ¡¯Crisis Detection¡¯ skill he activated back in the Trial nexus allowed him to sense danger before it happened. Ambushes rarely worked against him anymore. "First, I should assume that masked guy is the cause of all this." Jhin calmly drew his longsword. Even as the masked man snapped his fingers again to ignite flames, Jhin had already dodged out of the blast zone with ease. "Even if I ask why you did it, you wouldn¡¯t answer, would you?" At the same time, he felt a slight tension. It wasn¡¯t because he was afraid. "I¡¯ll probably have to make my first kill." That masked man was likely the one who cruelly killed people while clearing this dungeon. Jhin had seen countless corpses on the way here and could piece it together. They hadn¡¯t been killed by monsters ¡ª most had died caught in explosions. Thus, the masked man was a murderer. In game terms, a PK trigger. "That¡¯s something you do in games, not here." In Exodia, where players only had three lives, PK (player killing) was viewed as extremely malicious. Anyone who initiated PK could be blacklisted by guilds and even have bounties placed on them. They were called Red Players. Dangerous people who repeatedly killed other players ¡ª public enemies who eroded the community from within. Jhin had taken down quite a few of them before. "Because of them, I almost failed missions several times." Moreover, what the masked man had done was beyond any justification. No matter his circumstances, PK was something that must be eradicated in Exodia. Especially inside a dungeon, it was unforgivable. Thus, there was no reason to feel guilt. "Because of him, this dungeon could fail to be cleared." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thankfully, Jhin caught him in time. Had he been even a little later, a Dungeon Break would have occurred. The dungeon would have evolved from E-rank to D-rank, and everyone who entered would have died helplessly. ...Thinking about it again, this guy was truly insane. The masked man glared viciously at Jhin and said: "Why don¡¯t you mind your own business and go on your way?" Maybe because Jhin had skillfully dodged several explosions, the man tried to negotiate. Jhin shrugged and asked back: "And you¡¯ll just let me go?" "You were not part of my original plan. If you quietly leave the dungeon now, I¡¯ll let it slide." "Oh..." As Jhin pretended to consider it, the policeman suddenly shouted loudly: "You can¡¯t leave him! He¡¯s a psychopathic serial killer who murdered seven people six months ago!" ...This guy was a bigger deal than expected. And a particularly evil one at that. "You hear that?" Jhin said, raising an eyebrow. The masked man clicked his tongue and responded: "Are you really going to meddle?" "Meddling or not, you were the one who attacked first." Jhin¡¯s words became blunt. "Honestly, I had no intention of just walking away anyway." It didn¡¯t really matter that the masked man was a "psychopathic serial killer" in his past life. He had already killed many players in this dungeon. Those victims hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. Moreover, the masked man had just tried to add Jhin¡¯s name to the death list ¡ª right in front of him. Letting him go? What a joke. "You¡¯re just a middle-aged man with a ¡¯dark and edgy¡¯ mask fetish." "What?" "You know the saying, ¡¯With great power comes great responsibility¡¯?" Jhin loved action movies, especially ones featuring Spider-Man. Recalling the words of the hero from the movie, he continued: "That means it¡¯s time for you to take responsibility for your actions." Jhin¡¯s eyes gleamed sharply. [Skill, ¡¯Crisis Detection (B)¡¯, is activated.] He dodged the explosion that burst toward him from the front ¡ª a move he¡¯d predicted and prepared for. [Skill, ¡¯Ryu-an (A)¡¯, is activated.] Chapter 16 - The Hidden Killers and the Truth Behind the Dungeon Chapter 16: Chapter 16 - The Hidden Killers and the Truth Behind the DungeonChapter 16 - The Hidden Killers and the Truth Behind the Dungeon His pupils turned golden as he scanned the empty air around him. Soon, following the faint traces of magic, he found his target. As expected. Sshk! "Guhh...!" Out of the seemingly empty air, someone suddenly clutched their throat and collapsed. Jhin¡¯s strike had landed cleanly. [Player ¡¯Jinx¡¯ has died from your attack.] [You have acquired Player ¡¯Jinx¡¯s "Shabby Shirt."] The system messages echoed in his ears. As expected, they were Red Players ¡ª their names glowing red. "H-how could you...?" The masked man gasped in shock, glaring warily at Jhin. Jhin just shrugged. It wasn¡¯t a hard deduction. "Who else could freely control explosions around here?" Even if someone had received a similar ability as a server shutdown compensation, it wouldn¡¯t have been easy. Explosion magic was a far more advanced skill than they probably thought. "But if there were two of you, it makes more sense. Combining ¡¯Ignition¡¯ and ¡¯Gas¡¯? Clever idea." Swinging his sword again, Jhin rushed at another spot in the air. Someone tried to flee, but they couldn¡¯t avoid his attack. [Player ¡¯Mason¡¯ has died from your attack.] [You have acquired Player ¡¯Mason¡¯s "Birchwood Staff."] "Add someone with a ¡¯Separation¡¯ skill, and you could create even more stable explosions. Am I wrong?" The masked man stayed silent. "Now, it¡¯s your turn." Jhin pointed his longsword at him and glared fiercely. The masked man tried to back away, but he couldn¡¯t match Jhin¡¯s speed. The masked man had ignition abilities ¡ª magic-based. But Jhin charged in without hesitation. "Even if you were a master of close combat, it wouldn¡¯t matter." Did anyone think he survived the hell-difficulty trial nexus by sheer luck? His ninety days of grueling struggle there weren¡¯t something a thug like Sam could possibly overcome. "W-wait! Wait just a second¡ª!" As Jhin rushed at him, the masked man shouted desperately. But¡ª S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Did you ever wait just because someone else asked you to?" "...." "That¡¯s what responsibility means." "Damn you! Die!!" The masked man gritted his teeth and thrust his hands forward. Ignition activated ¡ª a powerful flame about 1 meter in diameter burst forth. But¡ª "Feels kinda warm." To Jhin, who had once been chased by lava in the trial nexus, this was laughably mild. Maybe good enough to roast some potatoes if he had any. Easily dodging the flame, Jhin closed the distance. Sshk! Without hesitation, his sharp blade slashed across the masked man¡¯s throat. Blood gushed, and the masked man¡¯s body crumbled. Grabbing his own neck, the masked man muttered: "S-so... easily..." Meanwhile, Jhin calmly observed his own emotionless state. Three kills already. And yet, no turmoil within. Maybe it was because he knew he¡¯d only cut down evil. Rather than guilt, it felt more like he¡¯d exterminated a monster. Maybe that feeling was correct. Behold¡ª [Level Up!] Gaining a level was proof that the system recognized this person as a monster ¡ª because normally, you can¡¯t gain experience from killing players. Only a Red Player killing a White Player, or vice versa, could generate EXP. Jhin brushed off the remaining emotional residue while glancing at the corpse. Yes. There was no need for guilt. This man had already killed numerous people ¡ª a Red Player, a serial killer even before the world collapsed. He deserved this fate. [Player ¡¯Sam¡¯ has died from your attack.] [You have acquired Player ¡¯Sam¡¯s "Dungeon Grass."] And most importantly, there was something else urgent. The reward he gained: ¡¯Dungeon Grass¡¯... Now he understood why dungeon breaks were accelerating. With just a single item, all the strange happenings made sense. "I don¡¯t know why this is here... but I¡¯d better move quickly." The policeman introduced himself as Caleb. Looking down at the blood-soaked white mask, he said: "Sam was the man who killed my sister." It wasn¡¯t just a cop-and-criminal relationship, it seemed. As Jhin pondered what words of comfort he could offer, he eventually turned his head. This man wasn¡¯t speaking because he wanted a response. "Thank you for saving my life." "It¡¯s nothing. Bad people just got what they deserved." Caleb, who had bowed his head, now looked up again and said: "I know it¡¯s shameless, but I have a favor to ask." Despite his stubborn-looking face, he looked genuinely worried. "Our group was ambushed and scattered by thugs like Sam." "Thugs? You mean there are more of them?" "I saw at least ten." "...They planned this from the beginning, huh?" "Yes. And after seeing those guys up close, I¡¯m even more certain of something." Caleb looked over the corpses of Jinx and Mason ¡ª both tough, rough-looking men. "They were all prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment. Inmates from the same prison." "No way..." "It looks like prison criminals have become players." That criminal gang must have hidden themselves inside the dungeon and ambushed Caleb¡¯s group. "Somehow, they weren¡¯t attacked by skeletons. They must have a special item." And then he said: "...Their real target is Millie.." "Millie?" "Yes. They mentioned aiming for the ¡¯Gunslinger.¡¯" "Gunslinger..." Hearing this, Jhin blinked and asked, puzzled: "Wait a second. Who? The Gunslinger?" Chapter 17 - The Truth Behind the Sharpshooter Chapter 17: Chapter 17 - The Truth Behind the SharpshooterChapter 17 - The Truth Behind the Sharpshooter A little while later, Jhin was trailing behind Caleb, moving toward the main auditorium. The closer they got, the more signs of battle piled up around them. Skeletons. Human corpses, scattered everywhere. You could tell at a glance just how brutal the fighting had been. And by then, Jhin was slowly starting to accept reality. "...The Sharpshooter is a woman...?" "I was really shocked too, at first! I mean, Millie is the ¡¯Sharpshooter¡¯! It¡¯s crazy, right?" "Huh?" "Think about it. An idol singer, secretly an Exodia player... and not just any player, but one of the old legends they call ¡¯Heaven Above Heavens¡¯! It doesn¡¯t even sound real." Clark, ranked 12th. A master of firearms, known as the "Sharpshooter," whose skill with a gun was so perfect that even Kyle couldn¡¯t hope to compare. Jhin still couldn¡¯t quite believe it. He swallowed the lingering bitterness in his mouth. ¡¯I always thought he was a man, wearing a fedora in the game.¡¯ Well, changing your character¡¯s gender in Exodia1 was as easy as breathing. It didn¡¯t affect gameplay. Customizing your character however you wanted was one of the basics of RPGs. What did they call it again? "Look enthusiasts," right? In Exodia1, it became a whole trend whenever dungeon progression stalled and there wasn¡¯t much else to do. People made it a competition ¡ª to customize their characters to be the most stylish, the coolest, or the most beautiful. And among them, the "Sharpshooter" Clark was famous for his classic fedora look. It fit the image of a cold-blooded sniper perfectly. ¡¯But an idol...?¡¯ Nation¡¯s little sister. Nation¡¯s first love. Girls on Top. The most beautiful woman alive... Millie wore every title imaginable. She was, without question, the most famous celebrity in Corelands. Especially back when Jhin was serving in the military ¡ª she was the star everyone loved. There was no way he wouldn¡¯t know her. Which made it even harder to believe. ¡¯Clark the Sharpshooter and Millie have completely opposite images.¡¯ If Millie was like a bright, zesty lemon, Clark smelled like fermented skate fish. Sure, they both had a kind of "sharpness" about them. But Clark had no sweetness whatsoever. Only a cold, biting edge. The gap between them was just too wide. ¡¯Well... I¡¯ll see for myself soon enough.¡¯ Still, he couldn¡¯t help but worry. When he thought about Clark, there was no concern at all. But when he thought about an idol... That image layered over made the whole situation feel a little weaker, a little less serious. Maybe it was inevitable. After all, this wasn¡¯t just a game world inside a monitor anymore. No matter how good she was, acting like her in-game self here would be a different matter altogether. The man running ahead, Caleb, spoke up. "Still, it worked, huh? We made it all the way here, and not a single skeleton reacted. It¡¯s a creepy plan, but it¡¯s working, thank goodness." Slung across Caleb¡¯s broad back was the corpse of the escaped convict Ji Mason. Jhin was carrying Sam¡¯s body, who at least seemed lighter. The reason was simple. They couldn¡¯t loot the inventory directly. So they decided to use the corpses instead. Since these guys seemed immune to skeleton attacks, maybe some passive skill or equipped item was still active. ¡¯Buffs and inventory effects stay active for 24 hours after death.¡¯ S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That was one of the in-game rules. When a character died, their body didn¡¯t just disappear. It stayed locked near the spot of death, along with their inventory. If you had a skill or an item to unlock it, you could forcibly take their stuff too. The 24-hour post-death guarantee system. It existed precisely for situations like this. ¡¯Wait a second... if that system is really active here too...¡¯ Another hypothesis surfaced in Jhin¡¯s mind. It wasn¡¯t just a random thought. The more he thought about it, the more certain he became. "This is the auditorium." Caleb¡¯s voice snapped Jhin out of his thoughts. "...Brutal." The entire area was covered in heaps of bones and rotting bodies. The door leading into the main auditorium was firmly shut. And from beyond it, a chilling sensation seeped out. Jhin furrowed his brow and checked the system message. [Time until Dungeon Break: 3 hours.] ¡¯Only three hours left? At this point, it¡¯s obvious. Someone¡¯s deliberately accelerating the Dungeon Break.¡¯ By killing Sam, they had obtained an item called "Dungeon Grass." Normally, you could only sell it at a shop for pocket change. But it had another use. ¡¯You can mix Dungeon Grass with Dungeon Water to create Dungeon Flowers ¡ª which speed up a Dungeon Break.¡¯ The method was simple enough. But there was something strange. Dungeon Water wasn¡¯t found in F-rank or E-rank dungeons. It was buried deep inside at least B-rank dungeons ¡ª hidden in wells at the bottom of dark caves. In other words¡ª ¡¯The enemy has someone who managed to secure Dungeon Water from the server shutdown rewards.¡¯ Jhin¡¯s frown deepened even more. From here on, he couldn¡¯t afford a single mistake. They knew the attackers were escaped convicts. But he never imagined they¡¯d have Dungeon Water. It¡¯s not like you could fill out server shutdown surveys from inside a prison cell. In the end, it all boiled down to one thing. ¡¯An unknown third party is interfering with this entire situation.¡¯ Caleb spoke up again. "Don¡¯t worry too much." "Huh?" "As far as I know, Miss Millie is the strongest player out there. She won¡¯t go down so easily." When Jhin quietly stared at the door, Caleb seemed to assume he was worried about her. Jhin didn¡¯t deny it. But he wasn¡¯t as anxious as Caleb probably thought either. ¡¯If she¡¯s really the Sharpshooter...¡¯ There was no need to worry. Not even a little. The main auditorium, built for lectures and performances. Millie sprinted across the stage. Fwwip! An arrow shot past her, embedding itself in the floor. And that wasn¡¯t the end of it. ¡¯Above!¡¯ She rolled sharply, dodging a massive sword swinging down from above. Pushing off the ground, she widened the distance again, panting for breath, glaring at her attacker. A skeleton, its jaw clacking in disappointment as it missed its mark. ¡¯Death Knight.¡¯ An upgraded version of a Skeleton ¡ª a knight¡¯s skeleton who knew actual swordsmanship. Unlike normal skeletons that swung their swords mindlessly, this one had form. His movements were structured. His attacks flowed like a real swordsman¡¯s. Still, the Death Knight itself wasn¡¯t a huge threat. ¡¯For an E-rank boss monster, he¡¯s relatively easy prey.¡¯ The sheer brute force of the undead couldn¡¯t be ignored. But their defense was paper-thin. And long-range attacks were Millie¡¯s specialty. As long as she didn¡¯t get hit ¡ª and hit them more ¡ª she would win. The Death Knight was practically tailor-made to be her prey. ¡¯The real problem is... he¡¯s not alone.¡¯ Chapter 18 - Burn Blood Chapter 18: Chapter 18 - Burn BloodChapter 18 - Burn Blood Millie ducked again, narrowly avoiding another flying arrow. It was hard enough dodging the Death Knight thundering after her. Now she had to deal with hidden enemies firing from the shadows of the audience seats too. Why wasn¡¯t the Death Knight attacking them? Maybe they had some kind of item that made them immune to undead monsters. The Skeletons ignored them too. Fwiish! Another arrow tore through the air. Millie twisted her body to dodge and quickly turned her gun toward the dark audience seats. Bang! The shot cracked through the air like a whip. "Gyaaaah!" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [You have killed Player ¡¯Aaron¡¯.] [You have acquired the item ¡¯Poison Potion¡¯.] One shot, one kill. But nothing changed. Arrows rained down again. She focused purely on dodging, eyes locking once more on the Death Knight that kept chasing her. The endless onslaught was wearing her down fast. Her forehead wrinkled in frustration. ¡¯There¡¯s no time left...¡¯ Even as she ran, she quickly opened her message window to check the dungeon¡¯s status. From the moment those suspicious figures had shown up, she had already guessed it. There was something wrong with this dungeon. The Dungeon Break was accelerating. ¡¯Less than three hours left now...?¡¯ Her eyes narrowed into sharp slits. No matter how skilled she was, soloing an E-rank boss monster wasn¡¯t easy. Even sniping it from a distance might not work within the time limit. Was there another way? Maybe if she found whoever was accelerating the Dungeon Break¡ª ¡¯No. That won¡¯t solve it.¡¯ Even if she killed them, the accelerated Dungeon Break wouldn¡¯t rewind. She would still have to clear the dungeon within three hours. Chasing them would just waste time. ¡¯I¡¯m not ready for D-rank dungeons yet.¡¯ Her current level was 78. Thanks to her insane battle instincts and the ridiculous performance of her weapon, she could barely clear E-rank dungeons if she had enough time. But D-rank? That was still out of reach. She knew her limits well. "Haaah..." Millie let out a low breath and squeezed the trigger several times. Bullets slammed into the Death Knight, forcing it to stiffen and stumble back slightly. But her hesitation didn¡¯t last long. Time was bleeding away. If she hesitated now, she¡¯d only lose. ¡¯Whether I can or can¡¯t ¡ª I won¡¯t know until I try.¡¯ She made up her mind. She would ignore the arrows flying at her. The real target was the E-rank boss monster. There was no way to keep dodging while delivering the massive damage needed to tear down that thick HP bar. She needed a different method. ¡¯Using that skill will wreck my body but...¡¯ What was her HP at now? Probably not enough. Her body would struggle to keep up with the strain of the skill. But she had no choice. And she didn¡¯t intend to hesitate. Chzzzt. The air around Millie shifted. Her eyes bloodshot, a line of blood streaming from her nose. ¡¯Skill ¡ª Burn Blood.¡¯ A crimson energy bullet started forming at the barrel of her gun. It burned, fueled by her own life force. Her strongest attack ¡ª right now. And it would drain her HP to the edge of death. ¡¯But with this skill, I can pierce through that thick Death Knight skull.¡¯ Burn Blood ignored all defenses. If she could hit the Death Knight¡¯s "Cursed Spine" ¡ª the weak point ¡ª even that monster wouldn¡¯t survive. Millie steadied her breathing. She had only one shot. Miss ¡ª and it would all be over. She rushed straight at the Death Knight. Vwooom! The massive greatsword came swinging at her. She dodged by sight alone. Burn Blood strengthened her body during the casting phase. That was its second effect. It let her pull off insane movements and rapid dashes. In a flash, she slipped behind the Death Knight. At the same time, she pivoted. Locked onto her target. She was close ¡ª not point-blank, but close enough. One shot. She pulled the revolver¡¯s trigger. Bang! "Watch out!!" Something rammed into her. Her gun barrel shook. The desperate bullet, her one shot with Burn Blood, missed its mark. It only grazed the back of the Death Knight¡¯s skull. Kyaaahh! The Death Knight let out a furious howl. Millie could only stare in horror. Alarms were going off inside her head. ¡¯...I missed!¡¯ This wasn¡¯t in the plan. She had gathered up everything ¡ª all her life force ¡ª into that shot. And now it was wasted. All her efforts. All her preparation. Crumbling to dust. Who?! Her glare snapped toward the figure that had tackled her. It was a man. Wearing what looked like beginner¡¯s gear. Grinding her teeth, Millie forced herself to turn her eyes back to the Death Knight. "No... It¡¯s not over yet. If I gather Burn Blood again...!" It would put her life at risk, but she could squeeze out one more shot. It wasn¡¯t too late. If she could just land that bullet in the Death Knight¡¯s cursed spine... But then. Millie stared forward and let out a bitter laugh. [Dungeon Break has occurred.] [¡¯Collapsed School (E)¡¯ has entered the Cataclysm phase.] [Boss monster ¡¯Death Knight Master of Chaos (E)¡¯ has evolved into ¡¯Specter Master of Chaos (D)¡¯.] The worst possible outcome had arrived. Chapter 19 - The Real Hunt Begins Chapter 19: Chapter 19 - The Real Hunt BeginsChapter 19 - The Real Hunt Begins Kiaaaah! [Boss Monster ¡¯Specter Lord Master of Chaos¡¯ roars.] Millie¡¯s body flinched instinctively. An overwhelming sense of fear that could not be resisted! The roar of a D-rank boss monster alone made her feel as if her heart were being ripped apart. It had only risen by a single rank. But the difference in power was on an entirely different level. ¡¯...I have to run.¡¯ The situation had changed. If the creature had become D-rank, then the plan had to change too. Now it wasn¡¯t about hunting it down ¡ª it was about figuring out how to escape safely from it. Millie hurriedly urged Caleb and the unknown man who had appeared late. "Let¡¯s go. We can still get out of this dungeon if we move now." "Huh? What about the boss monster?" "It¡¯s over. It¡¯s no longer in our hands." Master of Chaos had not yet fully adapted to its evolved form. Therefore, if they moved before it fully regained its senses, they might still be able to escape the dungeon. However, the unknown man didn¡¯t even listen to Millie¡¯s words. "What are you doing? Are you out of your mind? Don¡¯t you realize the gravity of what you¡¯ve done?" "What?" "It¡¯s impossible to kill that thing now. Our only option is to somehow run away and survive." What made Millie even more anxious was the fact that no more arrows were flying at her. The mysterious group that had attacked her and the others... It meant they had finished what they came to do and had already left the area, shaking off their hands as if their job was done. Their likely position was obvious. The dungeon¡¯s entrance. ¡¯They¡¯ll try to block our escape.¡¯ Conquering a D-rank dungeon was an impossible task from the start. If their true goal was her death, then it would be far easier to block her from escaping than to kill her directly. ¡¯But I can break through that much.¡¯ Even though she had used some stamina with Burned Blood, she wasn¡¯t at death¡¯s door yet. Even if dozens of them swarmed her, it was still better than facing a D-rank boss. At that moment, the man said, "You wouldn¡¯t have been able to kill it with your ¡¯Burned Blood¡¯ anyway." "...What?" "Because it had already evolved into a Specter Lord before you fired." Then, without hesitation, the man began walking toward Master of Chaos. Millie, stunned by his bold attitude, hurriedly grabbed his collar. "Where are you going? Are you insane?" Millie paid closer attention to his appearance. The weapon he held was a ¡¯Crude Greatsword¡¯ issued during the tutorial, and he wore nothing more than ordinary, everyday clothes. At best, it was beginner-level equipment. Because of that, Millie tried to stop him. No matter how ignorant he might have been in interfering with her attacks earlier, she couldn¡¯t just leave him to walk into a death trap. The man turned to look at her ¡ª his face full of confusion. Why are you stopping me? ¡ª his expression seemed to say. He seemed to come to an understanding on his own and then spoke. "You¡¯re right. With this weapon, it might take some time. Detective Caleb? Could I borrow your weapon?" "...Weapon?" "Yes. I¡¯ll use it gently and return it." Almost forcibly taking Caleb¡¯s blue spear, the man once again turned toward Master of Chaos. "Wait a minute... What are you doing right now?" It was right when Millie said that¡ª Suddenly, a blue ripple began to flow from the man¡¯s hand. It was a shocking sight. Millie was left speechless, staring blankly at the scene. The blue ripple soon wrapped around the blue spear. It made her recall the true name of that item. ¡¯Wavecatcher¡¯s Spear.¡¯ An item for level 80. Originally, it was a magic spear that used mana to stir waves, enhancing the weapon¡¯s attack power. Thus, if the user¡¯s level wasn¡¯t suitable for the weapon, it would remain sealed, unable to display its true power. Just like how Millie¡¯s beloved gun, the ¡¯Revolver of Magic Bullets¡¯, couldn¡¯t even exhibit one-tenth of its original performance. In other words, this was impossible. ¡¯If that man¡¯s level isn¡¯t over 80, this should be impossible.¡¯ She took a fresh look at the man. If her guess was correct, it meant he was a player with a level higher than hers. Even seeing it with her own eyes, it was hard to believe. ¡¯Ah, come to think of it¡ª¡¯ This man had effortlessly dragged Millie, even while she was in Burned Blood mode, out of the battlefield ¡ª when her whole body was essentially a weapon from physical reinforcement. Was that even possible? Now, she was certain. ¡¯A high-level player...¡¯ At that moment, the man turned his head back toward her. "Shall we start the hunt?" That figure felt strangely familiar. Jhin narrowed his eyes. The D-rank boss monster, "Specter Lord Master of Chaos," definitely felt far more menacing than before. But he didn¡¯t feel like he would lose. Because from the start, he wasn¡¯t alone. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Drink this and recover your stamina first." Jhin pulled an HP potion from his inventory and tossed it to Millie. She caught the flying potion and, looking slightly suspicious, asked, "Can you really kill it?" "Yes." An answer without hesitation. Meeting Jhin¡¯s steady gaze, Millie stopped asking further questions. She just uncorked the potion and drank it in one go. Jhin no longer spared her a glance. Now, there was only one thing he needed to pay attention to. ¡¯Specter Lord Master of Chaos!¡¯ He did not waste time. Time was money, and missed opportunities were shit. Rather than wait for Millie to fully recover, it was better to chip away at Master of Chaos¡¯s stamina even a little. Kiaaaah! As he approached Master of Chaos¡¯s blind spot, the monster reacted. Its greatsword swung rapidly, but Jhin dodged it with the bare minimum movement. "Hup!" His eyes glowed golden. ¡¯The weak point is still the same.¡¯ But perhaps aware of that too, Master of Chaos did not easily allow any openings. A precarious exchange of attacks and dodges broke out in a flash. Jhin gripped the blue spear tightly. Waves surged from all sides, disturbing Master of Chaos¡¯s vision. The relentless exchange continued, and Master of Chaos, like a drifting buoy, was pushed back, showing signs of confusion. Jhin was convinced. ¡¯It¡¯s still not a complete evolution.¡¯ In Exodia, whenever something underwent a major change, there was always a sort of "stabilization" period. Just like how Molly, who was attempting a dungeon transformation, had ended up a cold corpse at the hands of a rookie player like Jhin. Master of Chaos was the same. Although it had become a D-rank boss monster, it hadn¡¯t yet grown strong enough to match its rank. In other words, it was the weakest of the D-rank bosses. ¡¯If it¡¯s now, I can take it down.¡¯ Chapter 20 - The Real Name Behind the Mask Chapter 20: Chapter 20 - The Real Name Behind the MaskChapter 20 - The Real Name Behind the Mask Jhin didn¡¯t allow a single opening. The waves gradually moved like a storm, growing bigger and bigger. His hands and feet felt dizzy from the effort, but he barely managed to maintain control. However, time was not on his side. Before long, Master of Chaos would grow into a being equivalent to level 90, 100, even 120. The moment its stabilization ended, everything would be overturned. Thus, it had to be finished now. Fortunately, the moment they had been waiting for arrived. "Move!!" A bullet tore through the air and struck Master of Chaos in the shoulder. Successive bullets followed, hitting its head, legs, and shoulders. Master of Chaos stumbled back, flustered. Standing beside Jhin, Millie asked, "Just who exactly are you? How do you have high-grade potions?" Millie¡¯s face was flushed red, like she was drunk. It was proof that the HP potion was vigorously working inside her body. "With that much, you should be able to go wild, right?" "Of course!" Millie shot forward like a gust of wind, ruthlessly unleashing a barrage of bullets at Master of Chaos. Enhanced by Burned Blood, her movements had become so fast that Master of Chaos could no longer track her. Bang! Bang! Baaang! Jhin said, "Boost your output. Otherwise, the HP potion will consume you." "I was... planning on doing that anyway!" Baaang! Millie literally poured out bullets with a terrifying momentum. Burned Blood ¡ª a technique that uses stamina as its medium. And the endless energy supplied by the high-grade potion was now becoming the driving force behind her powerful bullets. Meanwhile, Master of Chaos¡¯s energy was falling apart, as if it had swallowed a handful of cyanide. "Good. At this rate..." The veins in Jhin¡¯s right arm bulged as he gripped his weapon. Taking a spear-throwing stance, he aimed at the Master of Chaos, who was overwhelmed and distracted by the hail of bullets. ¡¯Raging Wave.¡¯ A weapon-exclusive skill engraved into the Wavecatcher¡¯s Spear. The spear Jhin hurled flew toward Master of Chaos¡¯s neck with the momentum of a raging tide. Kiiii! Master of Chaos, paTalaed, swung its greatsword wildly, but avoiding the spear that had pierced in an instant was impossible. Kwa-ji-jik! (crack!) Through the countless gunshots, a single spear tore through and impaled Master of Chaos right through the neck. Its body began to tremble violently before the bones shattered and scattered powerlessly. [Boss Monster ¡¯Specter Lord Master of Chaos¡¯ has been defeated.] [Your level has increased!] [Your level has increased!] [Your level has increased!] [Your level has increased!] [Your level has increased!] [You have successfully conquered the dungeon ¡¯Ruined School (D)¡¯.] The battlefield fell silent in an instant. At the entrance of the dungeon. From the main gate of the ruined school, skeletons continued pouring out non-stop. Kyaah! Kyaaah! The rattling undead scattered aimlessly beyond the cityscape of Capital city. No doubt, they would go on to harm countless lives. Monsters that escaped through a dungeon break had no restrictions ¡ª they could go anywhere. "All units, prepare for combat." There was one place the skeletons paid no attention to. Masked individuals, each gripping a weapon, stood and watched the skeletons pour out without intervening. "Clark should be coming out soon. She¡¯s the key to this entire operation... She must not be allowed to leave alive." The masked individuals tensed. It was only natural. Clark had displayed overwhelming combat prowess by single-handedly handling an E-rank boss monster ¡ª and even took four of their comrades along with it. How could that possibly be the physical ability of a player who hadn¡¯t even surpassed level 80? There was a reason she was called a "Heaven Among Heavens". A man wearing a black mask spoke, "Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s exhausted. Maybe she was even hunted down by the Master of Chaos." He was feeling increasingly sure. Given how much time had passed since the dungeon break began, if she had been planning to escape, she would¡¯ve left the dungeon long ago. But the fact that she hadn¡¯t emerged yet... It could only mean one thing. She had been killed by the Master of Chaos. No matter how extraordinary she was, defeating a D-rank boss was an impossible task. But at that moment¡ª [Dungeon ¡¯Ruined School (D)¡¯ has been conquered.] [The dungeon break for ¡¯Ruined School (D)¡¯ has been forcibly terminated. A monster regeneration limit will be imposed on this dungeon, and unless something special happens, the dungeon break will be permanently ended.] A system message flashed through the front gate. The masked individuals were left speechless. At that moment, the phone of the man standing at the front vibrated slightly. A text message. [¡¯Blacklist 0¡¯ has disappeared within ¡¯Trial nexus.¡¯] Blacklist 0. The masked man swallowed hard. The successful conquest of a D-rank dungeon, something they had thought absolutely impossible... And at the same time, news that Blacklist 0 had gone missing. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "...How ironic." Blacklist 0 ¡ª the top-ranked player Kyle ¡ª had vanished within Trial nexus. That news was enough to snap the masked man out of his hesitation. Without lingering regret, he said, "All units, retreat." The mission had failed. Meanwhile. At that moment, Jhin was pulling the Wavecatcher¡¯s Spear out of Master of Chaos¡¯s collapsed corpse and handing it back to Caleb. "Thanks for letting me use it." "Uh, y-yeah..." Caleb accepted the weapon with a dazed face. Meanwhile, Millie, whose previously flushed face from the potion¡¯s effects had now returned to a pale white, approached them. Though her complexion was calmer now, the excitement radiating from her was unmistakable. She asked, "Are you... by any chance, Kyle?" Chapter 21 - A Name That Carries Weight Chapter 21: Chapter 21 - A Name That Carries WeightChapter 21 - A Name That Carries Weight "Are you... Kyle?" Milie asked, and immediately berated herself. Calling him Kyle? It was an absurd question. ¡¯There¡¯s no way this person is Kyle.¡¯ Who was Kyle? The only individual who had ever risen to the number one ranking in Exodia. He had achieved numerous feats that no one else had managed, crushing countless dungeons with extraordinary strategies. He was the undisputed best player of Exodia. However, it was known that he was still trapped in Trial nexus. According to reliable sources, as of this morning, there had been no changes to the challenger attempting the Hell difficulty, meaning he had not yet returned to reality. Unless, by some remote chance, Kyle had conquered Trial nexus and returned afterward. ¡¯That would be too much of a leap.¡¯ Kyle had been missing for three whole months. And now, to suddenly escape from Trial nexus and appear at the "collapsed school" where a dungeon break had occurred? Milie rejected the possibility. The odds were just too low. ¡¯Even though I¡¯ve been tracking Kyle¡¯s whereabouts for a long time...¡¯ The reason Milie, who had experienced dungeonization in Tree district, came all the way to Stoneveil City was actually because of Kyle. One of the few recorded cases of failed dungeonization in Capital City. One of those cases had occurred right here in Stoneveil City. She had heard somewhere that despite a confirmed monster attack, no dungeon had actually formed. Milie had guessed that Kyle was involved. Because this was the only case where the person behind the "failed dungeonization" remained unidentified. ¡¯Of course, that¡¯s assuming that Kyle is even a Corelander...¡¯ There were rumors that Kyle was Persian. She had heard it from more than one or two sources, so she had been half-skeptical about it. Thus, she forcibly pushed away her expectations. Getting her hopes up and being disappointed once or twice was more than enough. She didn¡¯t want to experience that painful feeling again, something she¡¯d gone through countless times before. And he wasn¡¯t answering. ¡¯Of course, it¡¯s not him.¡¯ Though she had secretly been expecting something, Milie quietly watched the man and then suddenly realized she¡¯d made a huge mistake. This was the man who had saved her life, as well as the lives of all the survivors at the Stoneveil City Station. And yet, instead of thanking him first, she had blurted out something else. It was a mistake. And Milie was the type who believed in apologizing immediately for her mistakes. Delaying it would only lead to excuses piling up. So she opened her mouth to apologize. "Yes, that¡¯s right." "I made a mistake. I should have thanked you first¡ª Wait, what did you say?" Milie looked up at Jhin with a stunned expression. He replied casually, as if it were no big deal. "I¡¯m Kyle." A little while later, they were leaving the dungeon. "I¡¯m just relieved that so many people are still alive." While escaping the dungeon, they had managed to reunite with the scattered group members. They said they had barely survived, hiding inside a storage room-like place in the school after the mysterious explosion incident. "I¡¯m sorry. We should have been able to help..." "No. Just the fact that you¡¯re alive is a huge help. Thank you." "Detective Caleb..." Those words were not just empty consolation. Even if they had made it to the boss room, they wouldn¡¯t have been much help. Right now, the best and only help they could offer was simply surviving. ¡¯Even if you roll around in a pile of filth, as long as you survive, it¡¯s enough.¡¯ The reason was simple. Players grow. Even if they weren¡¯t strong right now, they wouldn¡¯t stay beginners forever. It was fine even if it didn¡¯t happen immediately. ¡¯Though Detective Caleb doesn¡¯t seem to think that way.¡¯ He hadn¡¯t known Caleb for long, but Jhin could tell: he was a deeply humane person. You could see it clearly just from how every member of the group relied on him. He was their center¡ªthe thick thread tying them all together. At that moment, one of the group members spotted Milie and called out. "Milie, are you okay?" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh, yes. Something... surprising happened." "Something surprising?" "I¡¯ll explain it later. For now, let¡¯s head back to the camp." No one objected. After the dungeon break, skeletons were scattered everywhere. Even outside the dungeon, there was no guarantee of safety anymore, so returning to the camp was the top priority. They were also worried about the people back at the camp. "Don¡¯t worry too much. The camp will be safe." "...Yes." But still, their pace quickened. Leaving the collapsed school behind, they crossed the main road¡ªabout ten minutes on foot. Fighting off the skeletons wandering the streets as they went, they eventually came across a dark staircase descending underground. Stoneveil City Station. The subway platform. This was the place they had chosen for their survivor camp. "Oddly enough, monsters don¡¯t come underground very often." Jhin guessed the reason. The monsters currently roaming the surface were mostly F-class creatures that had been freed during the dungeon break. Most of them had been trapped inside "dungeons" for a very long time. And F-class dungeons were typically small, often formed indoors rather than outside. That was probably why. The underground subway platform, which had a dungeon-like atmosphere, resembled a place they absolutely did not want to return to. Whether the survivors knew it or not when they chose it, it was a brilliant location for a survivor camp. At least until the next, more advanced dungeon wave arrived, it would serve them well. And soon after, they arrived at the camp. "Detective Caleb?" "Huh? Everyone¡¯s back!" "People are back!!" The abandoned subway platform had been partitioned into sections, much like a camp. Quite a few people were there to greet them. From elderly people to small children... Among them, a hunched old man who seemed to carry the weight of many years on his back was the first to approach and speak. "I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re safe." "Yes. Have you been well?" "We¡¯ve been fine. But..." The old man glanced at Caleb, then closed his mouth. Everyone could feel the flash of sadness that momentarily crossed his eyes. However, the old man didn¡¯t bring up the matter out loud. He spoke quietly instead. "Please rest for now. I¡¯ll bring you something to eat." A man who looked to be in his mid-thirties moved toward the area where supplies were stacked. Several others hurried over to help him, pulling out food and other items. It was then that Caleb turned to Jhin and said, "Please, find somewhere comfortable to rest. We¡¯ll bring you something to eat soon." "Ah, yes. Thank you. Please, go ahead." It was clear there were quite a few people in the camp who were looking for Caleb. It didn¡¯t seem to be just because he was a police officer¡ªpeople genuinely and deeply trusted him. Jhin took a quick look around the area. "A comfortable place, huh..." Chapter 22: Chapter 22 - Old Companions and New Problems Chapter 22: Chapter 22 - Old Companions and New ProblemsChapter 22 - Old Companions and New Problems The taste in his mouth was somewhat bitter. The so-called "survivor camp" set up on the subway platform¡ªwhile they called it a camp¡ªwas really no different from a gathering of the homeless. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Newspapers, mats, the bare floor... it didn¡¯t matter what it was. If there was a spot to lie down, that was considered a resting place. Jhin picked a nearby pillar and decided to settle there. The hard floor sent a chill straight into his body, but he didn¡¯t pay it any mind. Honestly, this place was still rather comfortable for him. ¡¯Compared to Trial nexus, anything is better...¡¯ At the same time, another thought crossed his mind. ¡¯I miss that damn semi-basement now.¡¯ He had lived through hell in that place, yet now even the idea of going back to it seemed like a luxury. Now, not even a semi-basement¡ªit had come to lying directly on the underground platform¡¯s cold concrete. The situation felt almost laughable. He thought he had lived a "nothing" life. But in hindsight, it hadn¡¯t been all that bad after all. "Let¡¯s rest for now." With nothing particular to do, he leaned his body against the pillar and closed his eyes. To be honest, it wasn¡¯t like he wasn¡¯t tired. His first dungeon. His first kill. The battles themselves hadn¡¯t been physically exhausting, but mentally, it had been a heavy and burdensome day. He was a little worn out. ¡¯Ah, come to think of it.¡¯ He suddenly realized that he hadn¡¯t even checked the rewards he got after defeating the dungeon boss. How busy had he been to forget something like that? ¡¯Might as well check now.¡¯ Jhin opened his inventory. One item stood out prominently: a "pure white sword." The sword is imbued with the deep resentment of Master of Chaos, who died unjustly and tragically. Required Level: 120 Attack Power: 175 Grade: B - Frostbite: Imbue the blade with a chilling frost. Only one thought crossed his mind. ¡¯A pie in the sky.¡¯ No matter how good its stats were, no matter how fancy the exclusive skill sounded... It was a useless burden if he couldn¡¯t even use it right now. ¡¯Even if I dumped every unused stat point into leveling up, I¡¯d barely get past level 100.¡¯ For equipment, "level restriction" was essentially a shorthand: it meant that your total stat points needed to exceed a certain threshold. In this case, a level 120 requirement meant you had to accumulate at least 600 total stat points. Jhin stared at the relatively small and rough longsword tucked into the corner of his inventory. Looks like he would be relying on that one for a while longer. ¡¯The Tidalcatcher¡¯s Spear was pretty good too.¡¯ For an item requiring level 80, it was rare to have its own exclusive skill. Though it wasn¡¯t high-level gear, the Tidalcatcher¡¯s Spear was immensely valuable due to its rarity. Well, that¡¯s why it had been given as a server shutdown reward. Jhin shrugged, letting go of any lingering attachment. Levels could always be raised, and weapons could be upgraded by hunting lower-tier monsters. ¡¯Maybe I should check the other shutdown rewards too.¡¯ Two of the server shutdown rewards he had selected were sitting untouched in his inventory. Items he hadn¡¯t bothered to inspect properly, thinking he wouldn¡¯t be able to use them yet anyway. But seeing Caleb wield the Tidalcatcher¡¯s Spear despite not even being level 80... Maybe it was possible to use shutdown rewards even if the level didn¡¯t exactly match. Sure, you might suffer penalties, like with martial might¡¯s Physique, but... ¡¯The problem is that what I brought back isn¡¯t just a weapon.¡¯ He pulled out one of the rewards from his inventory: a book. As he checked its information, he couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows. Cannot be used without the proper qualifications. Attack: 0 Grade: L (Legendary) Breaking the seal requires qualifications. It was completely unusable for now. Jhin sighed and carefully put the item back into his inventory. To be honest, he had somewhat expected this. After all, it was a Legendary-grade item¡ªone of the main reasons he had climbed to the number one rank. This level of restriction was only natural. The silver lining was that, unlike others, Jhin clearly remembered how to break the seal on this book. ¡¯Looks like I¡¯ll have to go through hell again sometime soon.¡¯ He pushed the sealed book aside and moved on to check his remaining shutdown reward. This one might be an even bigger issue. Because it wasn¡¯t just an item. The moment he pulled it out cautiously from his inventory, he saw it was a stuffed toy shaped like a cute squirrel. "Long time no see." And then something completely unexpected happened. [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ responds to its master¡¯s will.] "...Huh?" [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ is starving and clamors for food.] [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ strongly insists on being fed proper nutrition.] Then the stuffed toy spun around, looking in all directions. Kimmy spoke in a rather ridiculous tone. [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ cheers at the delicious smells coming from everywhere.] The true identity of Kimmy was a magic beast: Gregory. The one and only pet that had stuck with K in Exodia, never leaving his side for even a moment. But this didn¡¯t make any sense. Because there was only one thing that could make Kimmy react. ¡¯A dungeon.¡¯ Kimmy was a magic beast that fed on dungeons. Chapter 23 - The Scent of Something Wrong Chapter 23: Chapter 23 - The Scent of Something WrongChapter 23 - The Scent of Something Wrong Jhin quietly stared down at the cute flying squirrel plushie in his hand. It was his longtime companion from around level 150 ¡ª his third shutdown reward. ¡¸Demonic Beast Gregory¡¹ To him, it was simply: Kimmy. ¡¯Kimmy was always set to only eat things born and raised inside dungeons.¡¯ He wouldn¡¯t touch human food. Wouldn¡¯t react to anything that wasn¡¯t pure dungeon energy. In other words ¡ª if Kimmy was reacting right now, it could only mean one thing. Something dungeon-related was nearby. ¡¯Why is he reacting here, of all places?¡¯ This was just an abandoned subway platform. A survivor camp. There shouldn¡¯t be anything dungeon-related lingering here. ¡¯Is he reacting to the players?¡¯ He considered it for a second. But Kimmy had never once reacted to players before. Not even when surrounded by them. ¡¯Maybe... the Skeletons?¡¯ If they were the Skeletons freshly spilled from a Dungeon Break, maybe it made sense. The smell would be thick and fresh. Still, Jhin abandoned that idea too. ¡¯If it were them, he would¡¯ve attacked already.¡¯ E-rank monsters, especially undead like Skeletons, barely had any intelligence at all. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They wandered aimlessly. They didn¡¯t think, they didn¡¯t plan. If a threat was nearby, it should¡¯ve already been dealt with by instinct. Jhin¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. There were only two real possibilities left. ¡¯Either Kimmy¡¯s senses are malfunctioning... or something is really here.¡¯ He decided, for now, to bet on the first option. Blindly trusting a shutdown reward that had clearly been nerfed would be foolish. ¡¯It might just be penalty effects kicking in.¡¯ Out-of-spec shutdown rewards often came with penalties. Just like his other reward, the Heavenly Martial Body, had been sealed. Maybe Kimmy¡¯s true powers were being suppressed ¡ª reduced to a mere fraction of his original strength. After all, the creature was currently a plush toy. ¡¯And his strongest trait was his sense of smell.¡¯ Kimmy had always specialized in sniffing out hidden dungeons and rare items. If anything was going to get crippled by penalties, it would be that. ¡¯Probably just a false alarm.¡¯ Still¡ª When Jhin casually glanced around the camp again, he noticed something strange. The survivors. Red faces. Labored breathing. Some lay slumped on the floor, moaning lowly. At first, it looked like fatigue or injuries. But then he caught a glimpse ¡ª fingernails, blackened with strange discoloration. And that made him stop breathing for a second. ¡¯...So that¡¯s what it is.¡¯ Unfortunately for him ¡ª the odds had shifted toward the second possibility. Something was here. A little later. At one side of the survivor camp, people had gathered in a rough circle. Tension hung heavy in the air. Almost every gaze was pinned to Caleb. "You want to go... hunting Skeletons?" "Yes." "Isn¡¯t that just asking for more trouble?" Most of the survivors were against it. They couldn¡¯t understand why Caleb would want to deliberately seek out the enemy. Before, when they had charged into the dungeon, it had been unavoidable ¡ª to prevent a full Dungeon Break. But now? Now they could avoid the Skeletons. The monsters would scatter across New Capital soon enough. If they just hid for a few days, they could survive without risking their necks. Why go out of their way to fight? Caleb didn¡¯t lie. "It¡¯ll be dangerous. We¡¯re tired. And we¡¯ll be facing dungeon monsters, E-rank at that." He paused, swallowing dryly. "But it¡¯s necessary." "We get that, but..." He understood their hesitation. Monsters spawned by Dungeon Breaks had no leash. They could wander anywhere. He didn¡¯t want to just sit and let them spread unchecked. "If we don¡¯t act now," Caleb said carefully, "it¡¯ll only get worse later." "And more than that..." he added, voice firm, "this might be an opportunity." "Opportunity?" Several people looked up, with hope flickered in their eyes. "Leveling up." The words shifted the room. Leveling up, it wasn¡¯t a game anymore. It was life and death. Strength meant survival, and skill meant protecting the people you cared about. "Listen carefully," Caleb continued. "The Skeletons out there aren¡¯t the same as the ones we fought inside the dungeon." "They¡¯re much, much weaker now." "What do you mean?" "There are two reasons." Slowly, Caleb explained. The room, once filled with muttering and doubt, grew still. First, monsters inside dungeons were strengthened by the Dungeon¡¯s Blessing ¡ª a buff effect that made them stronger than their natural form. But once a monster escaped a dungeon, that blessing faded away. No more artificial power boost. And second ¡ª the sun. It was broad daylight outside. Undead monsters weaKyleed under sunlight.Their movements slowed, their attacks dulled. ¡¯They¡¯re hit with two debuffs at once.¡¯ In other words ¡ª this was the perfect chance. A rare moment when even low-level survivors could safely kill high-level monsters and boost their levels rapidly. "I won¡¯t force anyone," Caleb said at last. "This is a matter of life and death. The choice is yours." And just like that, the room split. Some decided to stay behind and guard the camp, others chose to fight. The Skeleton Hunting Party had been born. Naturally, Jhin didn¡¯t even hesitate. He joined the hunting party immediately and the reason was simple. ¡¯I can¡¯t pass up a leveling opportunity like this.¡¯ In broad daylight, weak Skeletons would be slow and stupid, and they were still lurking within Stoneveil city¡¯s range. To Jhin, they were nothing but walking experience points. After being trapped for three months doing nothing but tutorial quests¡ª this was salvation. ¡¯Besides... I need to find something too.¡¯ That part ¡ª was even more important. "Everyone in the hunting party, gather over here!" Before they set out, Caleb suggested a quick briefing and introductions. Some newcomers had joined. It was better to at least know names and faces before charging into battle. Caleb stood at the front. "I¡¯m Caleb," he said. "Former police detective. I¡¯m fairly confident in close combat." He moved with the nimbleness of someone who¡¯d fought real fights before. His level was still low, and his spear skills needed work ¡ª but he had potential. Next came a man with a friendly smile. "I¡¯m Evan. Used to be a sales rep." "And I¡¯m¡ª" "I¡¯m¡ª" One by one, the new recruits introduced themselves. Unfortunately, there was a small problem. Caleb¡¯s detailed self-introduction had accidentally set a bad example. Now, everyone was over-sharing, job titles, hobbies, even hometowns. It started sounding more like a high school reunion than a hunting party. Jhin sighed quietly. ¡¯This is gonna be a long day.¡¯ Chapter 24 - Name Drop Chapter 24: Chapter 24 - Name DropChapter 24 - Name Drop Tsk. This wasn¡¯t some MT club retreat recreation game where everyone took turns introducing themselves. Finally, it was Millie¡¯s turn. "Millie. Level 79. Good at shooting." That was it. Short .... Sharp, and it clearly defined her role. There was no need to mention her past as a famous idol singer. ¡¯It doesn¡¯t matter who we used to be.¡¯ What mattered was simple: What she could do on the battlefield. Anything more than that was just baggage, was dead weight. ¡¯Better not raise death flags.¡¯ If she died out there and people got too attached, it would just hurt more. Better not to create unnecessary ties in a world like this. Then, the next person stepped up. "I¡¯m Luke. Used to work at my dad¡¯s company. Had a place in Crystal Mile and Oakridge. Before all this happened, I was actually house hunting around here¡ª" Wow. TMI level over 9000. While Caleb had kicked off the introductions with a little too much information, Luke took it to an entirely different level. A true "Too Much Talker." Pointless details, completely unnecessary. Still, if you sifted through the garbage, there was at least one useful nugget: ¡¯So he played Exodia1 too.¡¯ Like Caleb, he had shutdown rewards ¡ª meaning he had real experience. No wonder his outfit was so suspiciously clean compared to the others. Turned out it wasn¡¯t just normal clothes, It was equipment. ¡¯Oh, I remember that outfit...¡¯ An absurdly expensive ¡ª yet utterly useless ¡ª event cash shop costume. You had to spend real money for it, but it provided no bonuses at all. Just made you look neat. As far as Jhin was concerned, it was nothing but overpriced trash. "And since I have some experience, I¡¯ll do my best to make sure no one gets hurt! Just trust me!" Finally, his self-introduction ended, people¡¯s exhausted faces said it all. Luke looked pleased with himself and stepped back. Next up was¡ª Jhin. Caleb cleared his throat. "Next, someone you probably haven¡¯t met yet." Everyone turned to look. Jhin stepped forward, unfazed by the attention. Most of them didn¡¯t recognize him, which made sense. Aside from saving Caleb and defeating the boss monster, he had stayed mostly in the background. He had been just an outsider following along...Invisible. Which made this a little tricky.What should he even say? Talk about his skills? His level? What he could do? He opened his mouth to speak. "I¡¯m¡ª" "Wait, are you Jhin?!" Luke butted in suddenly, practically shouting. Showing off his pointless luxury suit again, he grinned broadly. "Yeah? You¡¯re Jhin from Stoneveil city High, right?" "...Do I know you?" "Of course you do! You were a total loser." Jhin blinked. A memory ¡ª unpleasant but vivid ¡ª surfaced from the depths of his mind. A face ...Ugly as hell. ¡¯No way...¡¯ "I¡¯m Luke!" The jerk from high school. One step closer, looking down at him like they were still teenagers, Luke flashed a self-satisfied grin. "You¡¯re still such a loser. Recognized you instantly." He stuck out his hand for a handshake. Jhin just stared at it blankly. Luke awkwardly pulled his hand back, while the air between them thicKyleed. A hint of killing intent flashed. Jhin narrowed his eyes and answered coolly. "You changed a lot. Like, reincarnation level." Seriously, how much money had this guy dumped into plastic surgery? That story about having wealthy parents clearly wasn¡¯t a lie. Otherwise, no way he could have rebuilt that disaster of a face so thoroughly. ¡¯At this point, he should be bowing in gratitude to his surgeon for life.¡¯ Oblivious to the scornful thoughts aimed his way, Luke chuckled nastily. "So, how¡¯ve you been? Still a loser, I see. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Guess life hasn¡¯t treated you any better." "..." "Just looking at you takes me back. You used to buy my bread, remember? Ahh, memories." Jhin said nothing. Just stared coldly. He didn¡¯t even react when Millie finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore and stepped in. "What exactly do you think you¡¯re doing?" "Huh?" "Mr. Jhin is our savior." Her voice was sharp as a knife. "And who do you think you are, speaking to him like that?" "Savior?!" Luke spluttered. Millie glared fiercely. "If it weren¡¯t for him, we would all be dead right now." Her words were like bullets. She wasn¡¯t exaggerating, she was simply stating the truth. Feeling the pressure from a high-level player glaring at him, Luke flinched without even realizing it. Meanwhile, Millie turned back toward Jhin, her expression softening. Her cheeks flushed pink. "I¡¯m sorry. This wasn¡¯t supposed to turn into a mess." "It¡¯s fine." Jhin clicked his tongue and muttered: "Let¡¯s stop feeding the moron and get back to the briefing." Luke¡¯s face twisted. "...Did you just call me a moron?" Yeah, and? Jhin locked eyes with him and smiled thinly. Honestly, it was almost funny. ¡¯It¡¯s been ten years.¡¯ Ten years, long enough for mountains and rivers to change. And yet, here was this idiot, clinging to ancient schoolyard grudges like nothing had changed. When in reality¡ª the entire world had crumbled in just three months. Jhin gave a small, bitter laugh. ¡¯Don¡¯t feed the trolls.¡¯ He remembered that old internet saying and turned his attention back to the others. He only had one thing to say, anyway. One simple truth. What he could do. He looked around once at the assembled survivors, and spoke. "I¡¯m Kyle." For a moment, confusion rippled across the group. They stared at him ...Processing. And then¡ª the realization started to spread. Their eyes widened ...Mouths fell open. Because the name "Kyle" wasn¡¯t just a name. It was a legend. Chapter 25 - The Grubby Impostor Chapter 25: Chapter 25 - The Grubby ImpostorChapter 25 - The Grubby Impostor "...What did you just say?" Luke¡¯s face twisted into a grimace as he replayed the words he had just heard. His mind, frozen for a moment, started working again¡ªand the first thing that hit him was how ridiculous it all sounded. "You¡¯re telling me you, Grubby, are Kyle?" And it wasn¡¯t just Luke who reacted like that. Around him, people started whispering too, their voices full of confusion and disbelief. Their eyes weren¡¯t filled with shock¡ªThey were filled with doubt. Nobody could believe it. Nobody wanted to. Why? Well, Luke knew the answer better than anyone. "Pfft. Don¡¯t make me laugh." He narrowed his eyes like an angry goblin and stomped forward. It wasn¡¯t just that he was insulted¡ª He was furious that someone dared to impersonate Kyle of all people. "You think you can pretend to be Kyle looking like that?" In Luke¡¯s blazing eyes, Jhin¡¯s outfit was plain as day¡ª A ratty, dirt-smeared set of clothes. He knew immediately. Those were the ¡¯Tattered Beggar¡¯s Clothes Set¡¯ you got from the tutorial rewards. And judging by the countless tears and worn-out patches, this guy had been wearing those rags for a very long time. Three whole months had passed since the game opened. And he was still dressed like that? That could only mean one thing: His level had to be rock-bottom. ¡¯Even if you just kill a couple of trash mobs like wolves, you can at least pick up a wolf hide armor.¡¯ Luke clenched his fists. There was no mistaking it, this guy was a total newbie. And now, a newbie was daring to impersonate Kyle. ¡¯No way someone this grubby could be Kyle.¡¯ Truth be told, Luke had been a long-time fan of Kyle. Even back in Exodia 1, he had been so obsessed that he saved clips and highlights to rewatch over and over. ¡¯Even Millie¡¯s falling for it...¡¯ He glared at Jhin¡¯s shameless face. The guy was so good at acting, you might almost believe him. But Luke wasn¡¯t about to be fooled. ¡¯I¡¯ll be the one to expose him.¡¯ He stepped up, feeling a fierce sense of duty. "You. What¡¯s your level?" "Thirty-seven," Jhin answered without a hint of hesitation. For a moment, Luke froze. Around him, the mood shifted again, people glancing at each other. Luke scoffed. "Thirty-seven? That¡¯s all?" As expected. Nothing had changed. His scowl deepened. "What a pathetic piece of trash... Seriously. You had nothing better to do, so now you¡¯re pretending to be Kyle?" "...What?" "Kyle was ranked number one, you moron. Do you really think Kyle would only be level 37 when other rankers have already passed level 100?" Jhin said nothing. He simply looked up at Luke calmly, silently. Riding the wave of anger, Luke threw in another jab. "And Kyle isn¡¯t even a Corelander ! You didn¡¯t know that, did you, grubby boy? If you¡¯re gonna impersonate someone, at least do your homework first." Even after all that, Jhin didn¡¯t say a word. He just stared back at Luke like he was barely worth his attention. The silence stretched on. Finally, Jhin opened his mouth. "I don¡¯t feed idiots." "You little¡ª! You filthy grubby bastard!" After that little spat, they immediately set out for the hunt. They didn¡¯t split into parties or squads. The enemy they were up against¡ªSkeletons¡ªcould spawn up to fifty at once. And even though they were weak versions, most of the players here were around level 40, so nobody could afford to go solo. They bunched together, walking carefully, weapons ready. Meanwhile, Jhin¡¯s eyes darted around quickly, searching. ¡¯Alleyway on the right.¡¯ ¡¯Shops to the left.¡¯ ¡¯Underneath the parked car.¡¯ Every spot he checked¡ªSkeletons popped out like clockwork It was almost like he could see the future. He calmly led the group into an open cross roads¡ªclear in all four directions. From behind, Caleb shouted, "Get ready for battle!!" From every side, Skeletons poured in like a crashing tidal wave. The ground rumbled under the sheer number of them, and dust clouds rose up, making it hard to see. The battle broke out immediately. "Don¡¯t get separated! Two players per Skeleton!!" Inside the raging dust cloud, the players fought fiercely. Maybe it was because of the two nerfs in effect, but... The Skeletons were weaker than expected. They fell faster than anyone had hoped. The problem was... There were just so many of them. Even so, once Millie really started unloading with her gun, Skeletons began dropping like flies. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Massive holes ripped through their ranks. Just as Jhin was about to join the hunt with his sword¡ª "Get outta the way. What¡¯s a level 37 even gonna do?" "...?" "Watch closely, grubby boy. This is how real veterans do it." Suddenly, Luke pushed past him, sword swinging in wide arcs. His technique was sloppy, but aggressive. With sheer brute force, he smashed through a Skeleton¡¯s skull. He actually managed to take one down all by himself. Watching him, Jhin frowned. ¡¯Is he... trying to steal my kills?¡¯ But there was no real malice in Luke¡¯s actions. It brought back some memories, actually. Back in high school¡ª ¡¯He wasn¡¯t that bad a guy.¡¯ In fact, when he ordered Jhin to fetch bread, he¡¯d shove a fat 50,000 coin bill into his hand. Now that Jhin thought about it... Luke probably didn¡¯t even know how much bread cost. Sometimes, Jhin had volunteered to be his bread runner. ¡¯Best part-time job ever: 49,000 coin in your pocket.¡¯ He¡¯d buy bread for 1,000 coin, pocket the rest. Easy money. Sure, Luke¡¯s way of speaking was annoying, but... At least he had some sense of honor. Jhin watched him a moment longer, then shrugged and stepped back. Ten years ago, this guy had made school a little less miserable. Maybe he could let him have this one. After all, today¡¯s hunt wasn¡¯t really about Jhin leveling up. It was about helping the players of Stoneveil city Station grow stronger. And Jhin would have plenty more chances to level up. ¡¯Yeah. There¡¯s something more important than leveling up right now.¡¯ With that thought, Jhin changed his course. [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ has consumed ¡¯Rusty Longsword.¡¯] [Fullness increased by 0.1%.] [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ has consumed ¡¯BroKyleHelmet.¡¯] Chapter 26 - The Hidden Bloom of Death Chapter 26: Chapter 26 - The Hidden Bloom of DeathChapter 26 - The Hidden Bloom of Death [Fullness increased by 0.1%.] [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ has consumed ¡¯Skeleton¡¯s Dislocated Right Arm Bone.¡¯] [Fullness increased by 0.1%.] ¡¯Well, this actually worked out better than expected.¡¯ Jhin gave up all thoughts of fighting and started wandering among the fallen Skeletons, rummaging through them. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While everyone else had their hands full battling, he was free to keep feeding Kimmy without a care in the world. It was a gold mine, he didn¡¯t even have to enter a dungeon to stuff Kimmy¡¯s belly. And the best part? As Kimmy¡¯s fullness increased, his abilities gradually recovered. His detection range grew bigger and bigger¡ª At this point, he could even sniff out Skeletons a full block away. Then, at a certain point¡ª ¡¯Alright. Time to start the second plan.¡¯ Jhin¡¯s eyes sharpened. There was another reason he had come out today, beyond just Skeleton hunting. ¡¯Right now, Stoneveil city Station is like a candle flickering in the wind.¡¯ He changed completely¡ªthe way he looked around shifted, cold and calculating. What he was searching for now wasn¡¯t something he could find by himself. He needed Kimmy. ¡¯Kimmy, I¡¯m counting on you.¡¯ [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ is requesting a snack nearby.] [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ is looking toward the southeast.] Soon after, five Skeletons appeared from a southeastern alley¡ª well out of sight from the other players. Jhin quickly moved, slipping away from the others unnoticed. CRUNCH! There was no need to draw his weapon. He just jumped high¡ªand came down, crushing a Skeleton¡¯s skull under his heel. The rest crumbled like dried bones. Jhin glanced around at the sorry remains and spoke. "Kimmy, tune those senses a little sharper, will you? You¡¯ll find something tastier if you try. Don¡¯t you think?" [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ loudly declares he¡¯s still hungry.] "Ugh..." Jhin shoved one of the broken Skeletons toward Kimmy. His eyes sparkled, and with the force of a vacuum cleaner, he devoured it. Even after seeing it so many times, it was still amazing. Kimmy barely moved a muscle, yet his appetite was monstrous. [¡¯Kimmy¡¯s Fullness has surpassed 30%.] [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ can now sniff out targets from even farther away.] Nice. Now Kimmy could catch the scent of Skeletons even beyond his field of vision. Then Kimmy cried out again. [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ is cheering because a snack is walking nearby.] "Something else." [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ confidently states a snack is waiting for him nearby.] "Not that." [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ insists a delicious snack is staggering around close by.] [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ detects a smaller snack nearby.] [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ continues... ] Was it because of the Dungeon Break? There really were a ridiculous number of Skeletons around. Jhin endured the repetitive messages popping up and patiently kept feeding Kimmy. Time passed. Before he realized it, they had wandered all the way to the outskirts of the city. Kimmy¡¯s fullness had already passed 40%. Watching the sunset dip toward the western sky, Caleb spoke up. "Let¡¯s head back. The sun¡¯s almost down¡ªand soon, the undead will get stronger." Tired but satisfied players nodded. It had been a rough day¡ª A full E-rank dungeon run, followed by a drawn-out street battle¡ª but they had earned rewards worth the risks. Everyone had leveled up two or three times in just a few hours. Honestly, that was an amazing return. And thanks to them, the number of free-roaming Skeletons¡ª which had spilled out after the Dungeon Break¡ª was finally under control. They had done more than enough. It was time to go back. But just then¡ª [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ is gleaming at the sight of a banquet before him.] Kimmy shivered with excitement, staring westward where the sun dipped lower. There was an abandoned building, a tiny flower shop with its door hanging broKyle. That was it. Jhin was sure of it. "Alright, everyone. Let¡¯s head home and get some good rest." "Yessir!" the players answered brightly, already dreaming of dinner and warm beds. But Jhin, instead of moving, grabbed Caleb¡¯s shoulder. "Detective." "Yeah? What¡¯s up?" "Just one more thing." Jhin pointed at the flower shop. "Let¡¯s check that place before we go." Instantly, all the players¡¯ smiles disappeared. Their faces crumpled with pure dread. The rundown flower shop. A place where dead flowers withered behind shattered glass windows. In the end, Caleb agreed to Jhin¡¯s request. They would check it out¡ªquickly. Sighing at the grumbling players, Caleb addressed them. "The sun¡¯s almost down. We don¡¯t have much time. We¡¯re going in fast, and we¡¯re getting out fast. Got it?" "Yes, sir..." But the moment they stepped inside¡ª The mood snapped like a string. The change was immediate, oppressive. Jhin raised his sleeve over his nose instinctively. ¡¯It¡¯s bad.¡¯ There were visible white spores floating in the air. This wasn¡¯t just dust. Looking at the players following behind him, Jhin barked, "Cover your mouths. Now." "Huh?" "Quickly!" Millie had already covered her mouth with her sleeve. She had even soaked it lightly with an HP potion beforehand¡ª meaning, she had figured out the danger immediately. Following her lead, Caleb covered his mouth too. "...What¡¯s going on here? Where are the Skeletons?" Jhin didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he pressed deeper into the shop, pushing past the rotting bouquets and swirling spores. Farther inside¡ª There was a greenhouse. And there, embedded in the back wall¡ª a faintly glowing red gate. Caleb, following behind, let out a low growl. "...A dungeon?" [E-rank Dungeon ¡¯Garden of Death¡¯ has been discovered.] [A quest has arrived.] Category: Subquest Difficulty: E Objective: Eliminate the root cause within the ¡¯Garden of Death¡¯¡ªthe ¡¯Wilow King¡¯ who is releasing the ¡¯Spore Virus.¡¯ Time Limit: 30 minutes Reward: Flower Bud of the Wilow King Failure Penalty: Dungeon Break The ¡¯Spore Virus¡¯ causes Dungeon Sickness. Check the condition of nearby village NPCs. Warning: This dungeon has already experienced a Dungeon Break. Take extreme caution to avoid infection. Chapter 27 - Into the Garden of Death Chapter 27: Chapter 27 - Into the Garden of DeathChapter 27 - Into the Garden of Death The abandoned mall, and the hidden garden within it. [E-rank Dungeon ¡¯Garden of Death¡¯ has been discovered.] Jhin stared at the small door that barely reached his waist and felt his suspicions confirmed. ¡¯This is it. This is why Kimmy reacted back at Stoneveil city Station.¡¯ The people of Stoneveil city Station¡ª They were sick. Their fingertips dark, their faces flushed unnaturally red, and then¡ªwracked by fever¡ªthey collapsed. It was all because of this dungeon. ¡¯Dungeon Sickness.¡¯ In Exodia, there were all kinds of dungeons. Places where undead roamed ruined schools, standard monster-filled dungeons with goblins and orcs, and even the special "theme dungeons" with their own genres. Among them, the ¡¯Garden of Death¡¯ was unique¡ª It was a dungeon where the monsters didn¡¯t move. Because all the enemies were plant-type monsters. ¡¯One of the trickiest kinds once you know the details.¡¯ When the Garden of Death broke open, monsters didn¡¯t flood outside. Plants, after all, couldn¡¯t move on their own. Instead, they released something else¡ª ¡¯The Spore Virus.¡¯ And that caused Dungeon Sickness. In other words, the people of Stoneveil city Station were infected with the Spore Virus and had fallen ill because of it. ¡¯No wonder Kimmy reacted so strongly.¡¯ The Spore Virus was a byproduct of the dungeon, a deadly parasite that invaded human bodies¡ª and eventually transformed them into monsters. ¡¯There was a similar case even in Exodia.¡¯ When was it? Ah, right. He once took a quest to clear an S-rank version of the Garden of Death. That time, it was located on a remote island in the middle of the sea. ¡¯The villagers had all already turned into monsters by the time we arrived.¡¯ Jhin had only learned about Dungeon Sickness in detail because of that quest. He had found the village doctor¡¯s journal, hastily written before his transformation. It had been critical information. Since then, Jhin had tackled several versions of the Garden of Death, using that knowledge again and again. That¡¯s why he had figured out the situation faster than anyone else. ¡¯The survivors of Stoneveil city Station are in the same boat as those NPCs.¡¯ Fortunately, the Spore Virus didn¡¯t affect players much. Thanks to going through the "Trial nexus," players developed a basic resistance to dungeon side effects. But ordinary people? Ordinary people, just like NPCs, had almost zero resistance. ¡¯Of course, if the dungeon rank gets higher, players could be infected too.¡¯ But for now, at E-rank, they were safe. ¡¯Problem is, nobody else seems to realize it.¡¯ From the looks of it, hardly any players noticed anything strange about Stoneveil city Station. Maybe Caleb or Millie had picked up on it. Especially Millie¡ªshe had probably cleared plenty of Gardens of Death before. "Detective, the sun¡¯s almost down. We don¡¯t have time to clear a dungeon." "He¡¯s right. There are still Skeletons wandering outside! If we stay out too late, we¡¯ll become the prey." Naturally, they were hesitant about raiding the dungeon. Night was falling. And when the sun set, the Skeletons would lose their daylight debuff¡ªand regain all their strength. Even for them, fighting Skeletons at full power would be dangerous. ¡¯And monsters are always stronger at night.¡¯ Undead, in particular, received two buffs at night. Right now, the Skeletons were double nerfed by daytime effects¡ª but soon, that would flip. They would fight at full force again. At the level of E-rank dungeon monsters. Even so, Caleb couldn¡¯t make the decision easily. Because leaving things as they were would be even worse. "That door¡¯s glowing red. It¡¯s about to break. If we just leave it, there¡¯ll be another Skeleton outbreak." The problem wasn¡¯t just the current threat. If the Garden of Death broke completely, a wave of E-rank monsters would flood out, and the dungeon would even upgrade to D-rank. The players sighed heavily. "Haah... I thought all the hard work was over after clearing the Ruined School dungeon. But now a brand-new undiscovered dungeon pops up out of nowhere." "How the heck did nobody find this place before? I thought we searched every corner already." "Nobody expected an entrance this small, that¡¯s why." Their gazes all focused on the tiny door deep inside the garden. It was barely big enough for an adult to crawl through, stooping low. Compared to the massive, palace-like dungeon entrances they had seen so far, the Garden of Death was... downright unnatural. "What do we do? We don¡¯t have time to clear the dungeon properly. But it feels wrong to just walk away. Detective, is there any good option?" All eyes turned to Caleb. He stared at the group, thinking hard, and finally made his decision. As Jhin had already guessed. The sky turned a deep violet. Green vines stretched up like they were trying to pierce the clouds. Toxic plants surrounded everything¡ª This was the E-rank dungeon known as the ¡¯Garden of Death.¡¯ Caleb glanced around at his companions. Three players matched his pace. ¡¯The best lineup we could¡¯ve picked. There was no better way.¡¯ His decision: A small elite squad would raid the dungeon. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They would choose only the top players to go in. The rest would immediately head back to camp. Even thinking about it again, it was the smartest move. ¡¯Four players are more than enough to clear this.¡¯ Honestly, even two players would have been enough. Millie and Jhin. Those two alone could clear any E-rank dungeon¡ª They had even cleared the Ruined School dungeon when it had upgraded to D-rank. This dungeon raid was practically guaranteed. Just then, the fourth member walking nearby, Luke, grumbled under his breath. "Why are we bringing along a scammer?" He shot a sour look at Jhin. "I really don¡¯t get it, Detective. Why let a filthy impersonator join the team?" Chapter 28- The Flower of Death and the King of Thorns Chapter 28: Chapter 28- The Flower of Death and the King of ThornsChapter 28- The Flower of Death and the King of Thorns "Huh?" "This mission is dangerous. Bringing along a low-level player like Jhin is just too risky. It¡¯s an E-rank dungeon! How can you bring someone who hasn¡¯t even brok 40 into a dungeon like this? It¡¯s not too late, Detective. We need to bring someone qualified." He acted like he was concerned¡ª but his tone was obviously just bashing Jhin. Caleb only shrugged and stayed silent. ¡¯He doesn¡¯t even realize who the real powerhouse here is.¡¯ Again, even just Jhin and Millie alone could have cleared this dungeon. The reason Caleb and Luke were part of the raid was simple¡ª this dungeon had an entry requirement: minimum four people. ¡¯And the reason we brought Luke was just because of his armor.¡¯ His clothes were from a game server shutdown event¡ª better defensive stats than standard gear, even if just slightly. His level was decent enough too. At least, he wouldn¡¯t die immediately in an E-rank dungeon. That was the only reason Luke was here. Yet the guy was swaggering around like he was on Millie¡¯s level. Completely clueless. ¡¯Tsk...¡¯ Caleb clicked his tongue softly and turned to look at Jhin. Even though Jhin was still wearing shabby, torn clothes¡ª just looking at him inspired trust. Who was he, after all? Caleb watched him with a gleam in his eyes. At that moment, Jhin reached out quickly, stopping Luke, who had started wandering toward a suspicious-looking plant. "I wouldn¡¯t go near that if I were you." "What?" "It¡¯s dangerous." But Luke flat-out ignored him. He swaggered right up to the plant and grabbed a yellow fruit hanging from a branch. He turned back, sneering. "Grubby boy, this is a ¡¯Dungeon Apple.¡¯ Restores MP. Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t even know that?" Maybe Luke really did know something about the Garden of Death. He was experienced, after all¡ªso it wouldn¡¯t be too strange. The problem was¡ª The sound of a gun cocking came from nearby. "The fresher it is, the more MP you can recover..." Screeeech! BANG! A bullet whizzed right past Luke, slicing through the air like a whip. It punched clean through the plant behind him and vanished. "Huff...!" Luke froze. He looked around¡ªand realized that thorny vines had risen all around him. They were bristling with sharp, deadly spikes. If the bullet had come even a second later, he would¡¯ve been skewered alive. "Th-thank you...!" But Millie brushed past him without even acknowledging the thanks. Instead, she walked straight up to Jhin, chatting with him casually. Watching the scene, Luke¡¯s face turned beet-red, like a rotting tomato about to burst. Caleb pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering inwardly. ¡¯...Maybe we brought the wrong guy.¡¯ Honestly, it would¡¯ve been smarter to bring someone like Evan -coininstead¡ª he was skittish, sure, but at least he wouldn¡¯t cause trouble. The guy had crazy sharp instincts, thanks to his background as a sales rep. But, well¡ª it was too late for regrets now. Caleb shrugged and joined the conversation between Jhin and Millie. They were discussing something seriously¡ª "Wait. You know the detox method too?" Caleb asked, startled. "When did you figure it out?" "Right when we arrived at Stoneveil city Station," Jhin said casually. "It was obvious." "...Of course. There¡¯s nothing you don¡¯t know, is there?" Caleb stared at him, amazed. It felt like there was a holy light shining behind Jhin¡¯s back. Caleb was pretty sure about one thing. ¡¯There¡¯s no way he¡¯s only level 37.¡¯ After all, Jhin had single handedly tied down a D-rank boss monster. And D-rank bosses usually sat at around level 120. Which meant Jhin was probably somewhere in that ballpark, too. The power of the former Number One was no joke. And Caleb could even guess why Jhin was hiding his true level. ¡¯It¡¯s a dangerous world nowadays.¡¯ Still, he didn¡¯t know why Jhin had revealed the Talaname Kyle at all. But knowing K¡¯s eccentric ways, it wasn¡¯t all that surprising. He always had his own reasons. Caleb chose to trust him. There was no point trying to apply normal logic to a genius. "Boss room ahead," Jhin said. At his words, Caleb immediately dropped all other thoughts. Right now, what mattered was clearing the Garden of Death¡ª fast. "Whoa... That¡¯s insane," someone muttered. The boss room looked like an enormous greenhouse. Through the misty, mosaic-patterned windows, a blurry shape loomed. Massive and purple. Jhin immediately recognized it. ¡¯That¡¯s the Wilow King, boss of the Garden of Death!¡¯ A mutated sunflower. Not the kind that chased the sun¡ª but the kind that chased death. Among old veterans, it was Talanamed "Deathflower" for that very reason. Even Caleb, who had never seen it before, swallowed hard at the sight. The pressure coming off it was unreal. Its level was estimated to be around 70¡ª But its real fighting power? Easily over 80. All because of one thing. ¡¯Any boss with "King" in its name is no joke.¡¯ Caleb turned to the group. "If we take down the Wilow King, we¡¯ll get a ¡¯Flower Bud.¡¯ Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It¡¯s an ingredient for the antidote." "An antidote?" "Yeah. It¡¯ll cure the infected back at Stoneveil city Station." There was no need to explain any more. Even Luke should have figured it out by now, after overhearing all their discussions. "You crush the flower bud and brew it in water. That creates an antidote that cures Dungeon Sickness." "It¡¯s the only hope those people have." Caleb turned to Jhin and Millie, his voice almost pleading. But the reply came from a completely unexpected source. "Leave it to me." It was Luke. Chapter 29 - The Bloom of Death, Cut Down Chapter 29: Chapter 29 - The Bloom of Death, Cut DownChapter 29 - The Bloom of Death, Cut Down The boss room. The group stepped into the massive greenhouse, staring up at a colossal, purple flower looming overhead. The boss monster: Wilow King. It wasn¡¯t called "King" for nothing¡ª The sheer size of the thing radiated a murderous aura you could almost feel scraping your skin. And the stench¡ª How a flower could smell like a sewer was beyond anyone¡¯s guess. The moment they entered, they had no choice but to scatter. Shuaaaa! A blast, like vomit, spewed toward them. Green tendrils lashed out like whips! The places they had just been standing dissolved, melted away by toxic fluid. And the whip-like vines gouged deep craters in the ground like bombs exploding. This guy didn¡¯t even bother to signal before attacking. Usually, monsters in the Garden of Death didn¡¯t strike first, making it relatively easy¡ª but the boss was clearly a different beast. Could it even have... intelligence? "Is everyone okay?!" Caleb shouted. Instead of answering, Millie fired back. Bang! Her bullet punched through one of Wilow King¡¯s petals. Kiiiiieee! Wilow King shrieked in rage and launched another vicious attack. But Millie dodged everything without so much as blinking. Then it was Luke¡¯s turn. "Move, grubby boy! You¡¯re in the way!" He jumped up and rushed forward, swinging his sword wildly. His fearlessness left Jhin briefly speechless. Did he actually know what he was doing? Jhin frowned, watching his reckless charge. He sighed and darted forward, grabbing Luke by the scruff of the neck and yanking him backward. "Urk! What the¡ª?!" Face-planting onto the ground, Luke looked up¡ª ¡ªand found himself nose-to-nose with a bed of vicious little plants, their thorny teeth gleaming hungrily. Plants that had been lying hidden in the soil, waiting for prey. Jhin spoke calmly. "Common sense says you don¡¯t charge Wilow King without preparing for these little guys. If you¡¯re not ready, you¡¯ll just get eaten alive." "...I-I knew that," Luke stammered. Sure you did. Jhin¡¯s golden eyes gleamed as he scanned the battlefield. Just like he had warned, to approach Wilow King, you had to push through a whole field of carnivorous plants¡ª each one ready to tear apart anything foolish enough to come close. Caleb called out. "Should we leave it to Millie?" "No. If we do that, the boss will evolve into D-rank." "Huh? Then what are we supposed to¡ª?" At that moment, Millie deflected another whip attack with a precise shot, smiling slyly at Jhin. "If Jhin still has one of those potions... I could solo this boss, you know. How about it? Want to share again?" The problem was clear: While Millie¡¯s shots were hurting Wilow King, they weren¡¯t doing enough damage fast enough. But¡ª If she boosted her body with "Burn Blood" and powered up her bullets¡ª She might be able to solo it after all. Millie asked lightly. "You have any left?" "Yeah. But I¡¯m not giving it to you." Her hopeful smile froze. "...Why not? Don¡¯t you trust me?" "No, it¡¯s not that." Jhin drew his battered longsword and started stretching his shoulders. Luke frowned, confused by the sight, but was promptly ignored. "Because someone already cost me my level-ups today." "...Huh?" "And honestly, it¡¯s a waste to hand this one over too." And with that, Jhin took off running. So fast¡ª No one could stop him. Luke flinched and reached out instinctively¡ª but Jhin had already charged into the carnivorous plant fields. "Is he insane¡ª?!" But the next moment¡ª Luke¡¯s mouth snapped shut. Slice! Kyaaah! Slash! Kiiit! Jhin moved like flowing water, carving through the plant fields with dazzling swordsmanship. He was so fast that Luke lost sight of him more than once. It was a massacre. Jhin wasn¡¯t just cutting through the plants¡ª He was exterminating them. "W-What the hell... That guy..." And it didn¡¯t stop there. Without slowing, Jhin sliced his way clean to Wilow King. Vines whipped from every side¡ª striking fast enough to blur the air. Just watching made the others break into cold sweat. Could they have dodged those attacks if they were standing there? They all shook their heads. Impossible. The answer was clear. Luke spoke with a trembling voice. "H-He¡¯s supposed to be level 37... How the hell is he doing that?" "He¡¯s Kyle, isn¡¯t he?" Caleb said, laughing softly¡ª S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. a little hollowly. "What else do you need to see?" "There¡¯s no way... Grubby boy is Kyle? That¡¯s not possible." "Then explain that," Caleb said, pointing at the battlefield. Luke clamped his mouth shut. Caleb simply watched Jhin fight, quietly impressed. "It¡¯s gotta be one of two things." Slash! "Either he¡¯s secretly an insanely high level¡ª" BOOM! Jhin stepped lightly on a vine, used it like a springboard, and soared upward. Kicking off another incoming vine for momentum, he shot straight toward the center of the massive flower. His rough-looking longsword pierced deep into Wilow King¡¯s heart. The monster let out an eerie, guttural wail. "¡ªOr he¡¯s got some absurd skills." [Boss Monster ¡¯Wilow King Scarecrow (E)¡¯ has been defeated.] [The Garden of Death (E) has been cleared.] [You have received rewards.] Wilow King¡¯s Flower Bud Scarecrow¡¯s Thorn Gauntlets [Level Up!] [Level Up!] [Level Up!] On the way back from clearing the dungeon¡ª The sun had already sunk below the horizon. Darkness blanketed the road. The four of them walked in silence, saying nothing. Chapter 30 - The Worsening Plague Chapter 30: Chapter 30 - The Worsening PlagueChapter 30 - The Worsening Plague Everyone was lost in thought. Jhin looked down at his hand. "Better harvest than I expected." ¡´Scarecrow¡¯s Thorn Gauntlet¡µ A gauntlet woven from the thorns and body of the Wilow King. Solid, but vulnerable to fire. Required Level: 80 Attack: 120 Grade: A S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Special Skill: [Thorns] Normally, it functioned as a regular gauntlet. But in a pinch, he could use the mechanism on the back of his hand to summon dagger-like thorns. Depending on how it was used, its versatility was exceptional. Especially for him ¡ª with "Heavenly Weapon Body," he wasn¡¯t limited in what weapons he could wield. It had always been a hassle relying solely on the "Crude Greatsword." Finally, he had a decent weapon. "If I had this back then, hunting the Wilow King would¡¯ve been way easier." And that wasn¡¯t the only reward. After massacring the plants and taking down the Wilow King, his level had jumped by three. Now, he was sitting just shy of level 40. It was insane progress. "In just a day after escaping Trial nexus, I leveled up ten times." But really, it made sense. He had conquered a D-rank dungeon while only level 32, and now he¡¯d soloed an E-rank dungeon boss. Of course the experience points had been generous. After all, he was doing things no one at his level should be able to do. The amount of EXP he earned was off the charts. "Guess that just means I was stuck at level 30 for way too long." Ninety days. He had maxed out his stat caps with Trial nexus rewards and had been stacking level-up points and bonus points ever since. Not to mention ¡ª the skill proficiency he accumulated over those ninety days was unmatched. "At this rate, I could start challenging D-rank dungeons soon." With a few more unused skills and a suitable weapon ready, he¡¯d be leveling up like a storm. He¡¯d quickly close the gap between himself and other players. "The average ranker level already passed 100, right?" Remembering the offhand comment Luke had made, Jhin realized how far behind he really was. Rankers at level 100 probably had battle strength way beyond their actual level. Even Millie, at level 78, could easily show combat power over 100 when she got serious. And the others? "Plus, Millie was ranked 12th... She was supposed to be the weakest among the TOP-Tier." Even if Millie wasn¡¯t using her main weapon ¡ª a sniper rifle ¡ª the other top rankers would be even stronger. That made things all the more alarming. Jhin turned his eyes to Luke, who was wandering ahead. He looked like a hollow shell. When Jhin got closer, he heard the man muttering to himself. "That can¡¯t be... It¡¯s a lie. There¡¯s no way... It¡¯s impossible..." Luke¡¯s state was suspicious. But there wasn¡¯t even time to ask what was going on. Millie suddenly loaded her pistol. She spoke calmly. "Signs of battle." The surroundings definitely didn¡¯t look normal ¡ª bloodstains, chaos everywhere. First, the blood. On top of a wrecked car, someone was sprawled out. One of the survivors who had returned earlier. Caleb approached and checked his pulse, then shook his head grimly. "Already dead." The group quicked their pace toward Stoneveil City Station. As they descended the stairs, the already dim surroundings grew pitch black, with not a speck of light. "...Is anyone there?" An empty voice echoed out. It was a terrible place, but this had been the only survivor camp around. Now, it was deathly silent. Only traces remained that someone had once been there. Jhin¡¯s eyes sharpened. "There are battle marks here too." But something about them was strange. It wasn¡¯t just people running outward ¡ª signs of people rushing inward, clashing and paTalaing, overlapped messily. Maybe a chaotic battle broke out. Jhin thought of one possibility. "Something came out from inside." Exchanging a glance with Caleb, Jhin began searching the platform seriously. And soon, he reached a conclusion. "Dungeon disease." "Huh?" "The dungeon sickness ¡ª it¡¯s worsened." Luke, distracted, tripped over a fallen body and landed hard. He froze, staring wide-eyed at the corpse ¡ª its bloodshot eyes staring back. "Uwaaaagh!" The dungeon sickness had worsened. There were no signs of Skeleton intrusions or any monsters ¡ª only the symptoms of the disease. But dungeon sickness shouldn¡¯t have spiked like this. If anything, after conquering the Death Garden, the disease should¡¯ve weakened. Why was it getting worse? Millie voiced the same doubt. "The source dungeon was cleared. How could more spore viruses leak in?" There shouldn¡¯t have been any new infections. That was what was supposed to happen. "Ugh..." Suddenly, a faint groan echoed nearby. Everyone immediately turned toward the sound. There ¡ª pinned beneath collapsed rubble ¡ª was a young man. Caleb rushed forward and shook his shoulder. "Ugh..." "Hey, can you hear me?" "Ugh, wh-where am I?" Jhin quickly pulled out a potion ¡ª but frowned as system messages popped up. [Cannot use potion on this target.] [¡¯Resurrection Potion¡¯ required.] A death sentence from the system. Jhin looked down at the man¡¯s legs.All nerves severed, blood circulation already lost. Even his highest-grade potions wouldn¡¯t help. Without a Resurrection Potion, he was as good as dead. The only reason he was still alive at all was because he was a Player. Barely, just barely clinging to a sliver of HP. Jhin silently stowed away the healing potion and took out a green vial instead. ¡´Paralysis Potion¡µ "Drink this. It¡¯ll ease the pain." As the potion flowed into the man¡¯s body, the effect took hold. His body stiffened like a log ¡ª but he was no longer writhing in agony. "You okay? Can you hear me?" "...Detective?" Caleb gave a grim smile. "What the hell happened here?" The man¡¯s bleary eyes darted back and forth. And after a moment, he finally opened his mouth. Chapter 31 - The Song of Farewell Chapter 31: Chapter 31 - The Song of FarewellChapter 31 - The Song of Farewell "...Everything happened so suddenly." The man¡¯s name was Jobe. His unfocused eyes rolled around, and his voice ¡ª as rough as his furrowed brow ¡ª barely held together. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "At first, it was just screams. I¡ªI thought Skeletons had invaded. A huge monster appeared by the stairs. We reacted just like we practiced. We tried... we tried to hold the line outside..." The problem was, the attack came from behind, too. A hand bursting through a stomach. Teeth tearing into a shoulder. The images of his comrades dying grotesque deaths flickered across Jobe¡¯s mind like a broken reel. He wasn¡¯t even looking at Jhin¡¯s group anymore. He stared blankly into the air, speaking in a fractured voice ¡ª staring into his own past. "It... it was Mardan. Mardan bit Colt¡¯s leg. Tala collapsed... Colt ran away... and... and I... I¡ª" "Mr. Jobe? Stay with me! Mr. Jobe!" "I... I ran away... with Tala. But Tala bit my shoulder. Ugh... No... Nooo!!" Jobe¡¯s memories were shattered like shards of broken glass. It couldn¡¯t be helped. His lower body had already been dead for a while, and his failing heart didn¡¯t have long left. Even if Jhin fed him a potion now, it would just artificially extend his suffering. ¡¯It would only prolong the pain.¡¯ Without a Resurrection Potion, there was no saving him. All Jhin could offer was the mercy of a Paralysis Potion, numbing the agony. If only there had been a Healer nearby ¡ª things might have been different. But of course, there were no Healers at Stoneveil City Station. ¡¯If there were, the dungeon sickness wouldn¡¯t have gotten this bad.¡¯ A Healer could have detoxified the Spore Virus. They could have even tracked down the "Death Garden" much faster. ¡¯It¡¯s all useless thinking now.¡¯ What was done could not be undone. This wasn¡¯t a game where you could reload a save file. Jobe¡¯s voice, flailing in the void, grew smaller and smaller. "Everyone... they¡¯re gone... they ran... Tala... chased the others... turned into a monster..." Jhin focused on extracting the important pieces from his rambling. The critical fact was clear: The survivors had attacked their own comrades. ¡¯As expected, this is second-stage dungeon sickness.¡¯ But still, something didn¡¯t sit right. The mutation was too fast. ¡¯The infected we saw before barely had first-stage symptoms ¡ª feverish, maybe some discoloration of the nails.¡¯ Yet now, they were attacking like zombies ¡ª clear signs of second-stage infection. And Jobe had used the word monster. Jhin didn¡¯t take that lightly. ¡¯That¡¯s third-stage dungeon sickness.¡¯ Third-stage meant the infected lost their human form altogether, mutating into beasts. In short: In less than half a day, Stoneveil City Station¡¯s sickness had jumped two entire stages. ¡¯Which is impossible under natural conditions.¡¯ The original source ¡ª the Death Garden ¡ª had already been conquered. The Spore Virus shouldn¡¯t have spread any further. And yet, the infection had evolved at an absurd rate. ¡¯Someone intervened.¡¯ That was the only explanation. "Mom? I can¡¯t see... Mom..." "Mr. Jobe?" "...Mom? Is that you?" Jobe, delirious, reached out toward the only woman in the group ¡ª Millie. He kept calling out Mom. Delirium. His mind was already gone, his body hanging by a thread. Millie, without hesitation, took his hand. "Yes, Jobe. I¡¯m here." "Mom... It¡¯s really you?" "Yes. It¡¯s me." Her voice was gentle ¡ª warm. Jobe¡¯s face softened, as if caught in a dream. Blood dripped from his lips, but his eyes... were smiling. He wasn¡¯t in pain anymore. Thanks to the Paralysis Potion, even the system itself had erased all physical suffering. "Mom, I¡¯m sorry... I... I love you... so much..." "I love you too, sweetie." "Mom... I¡¯m sleepy... Mom..." Just like a child, he clung to his hallucination. Millie stroked his hair, singing softly. It was "Light Sleep," her most famous ballad. The coldness of death slowly crept across Jobe¡¯s face, but her warm melody filled the void. "Fall deep into a sweet dream... never to wake again..." Millie gently laid his limp hand down. Caleb, his face twisted with grief, muttered: "...He¡¯s gone." And yet, Jobe¡¯s face remained peaceful ¡ª as if he had simply drifted into a happy dream. The group moved deeper into Stoneveil City Station¡¯s hidden passage. Halfway down, they found a heavy door ¡ª wide open. It was the survivors¡¯ last refuge. Blood, torn bodies, and scattered limbs painted the full story without words. And then ¡ª horror. There were still people here. But they were no longer survivors.They were feasting on the corpses. BANG! Millie¡¯s pistol cracked the air, her bullet piercing the forehead of one of the feeders. The creature crumpled without a sound. She turned, almost apologetically. "Once someone fully mutates, there¡¯s no saving them." "I know." Jhin moved down the stairs, surveying the mass of infected below. The people who once sought refuge had become... monsters. Chapter 32 - The Ghost Station’s Lament Chapter 32: Chapter 32 - The Ghost Station¡¯s LamentChapter 32 - The Ghost Station¡¯s Lament This time, Jhin moved first. His crude greatsword flashed swiftly through the air.! He didn¡¯t give them even a second to feel pain. By the time his cold dance of the sword ended, several mutated humans had already fallen, their heads severed cleanly, their bodies twitching briefly before going still. "Let¡¯s move." Without another word, the group left the stairway behind. The place they arrived at was a forgotten platform, its walls coated in thick layers of dust. "It¡¯s a ghost station," Millie explained. "It was supposed to be part of Line 10, but the plan was scrapped, and the station itself became little more than a rumor." Jhin had heard of it before. There were stories online about Capital city¡¯s abandoned ghost stations ¡ª secret, unused places hidden underground. Millie nodded and added, "But anyone in the industry knows. I even shot one of my music videos at a ghost station." "...You filmed here?" "No. Mine was at Brookside Station. Also, Jhin, could you please not add ¡¯-Siss to my name?" "Huh? Why¡ªoh." Realization struck, and Jhin chuckled. "...You find my name funny?" "Sorry, I just... couldn¡¯t help it. Millie sounds too much like flirting.¡¯" "Jhin!" "Got it, got it. I¡¯ll stop, Milliei." The light teasing slightly lifted the heavy mood. Maybe that was her intention all along. Jhin looked at Millie with a hint of surprise. Come to think of it, he realized he didn¡¯t know much about her. ¡¯Clark. The Sharpshooter of Fate.¡¯ But that was just her character in the game. The real Millie, the human behind it all, was still largely a mystery. Even being a famous celebrity ¡ª wasn¡¯t that just another mask she wore? So he watched her closely now. A strong person. She had stayed by Jobe¡¯s side, holding his hand through his final moments. And when it came to mercy killings, she showed no hesitation. Her strength wasn¡¯t just physical. It was carved deep within. Just then, Millie bit down hard on her lip and spoke, anger thick in her voice. "One thing¡¯s clear. Someone intervened." Caleb muttered, "You think it¡¯s the same group that attacked us at the collapsed school?" "Highly likely." "Damn it. The world¡¯s already gone to hell ¡ª you¡¯d think people would at least work together." Jhin shrugged and said, "Survival instinct is the purest form of selfishness." "Huh?" "Just saying." As they searched around the platform, they found faint traces of survivors. Just as Jobe had described, it looked like they had fled into the tunnels. But their footprints crisscrossed chaotically, offering little guidance. "Which way did they go?" "Toward Eastport Station. We were trained to evacuate there in emergencies," Caleb replied, shining his flashlight down the rails. Beyond the beam of light, darkness swallowed everything. Still ¡ª there were signs that people had passed through. Screeeeech... A strange noise echoed from the direction the flashlight pointed. Something red flickered in the distance. Without hesitation, Jhin sprinted toward it. Chaeng! His sword clashed with something mid-air ¡ª sending it spinning to the ground. The group immediately fell into battle formation. Caleb¡¯s face went pale. "...Tala." "You mean, the "Tala" Jobe mentioned?" "Yeah. That Tala." Tala ¡ª the woman Jobe had tried to save, only to be bitten and left for death ¡ª had chased the fleeing survivors all the way down here. Millie frowned deeply. "Definitely third-stage mutation." "...Yeah." Four grotesque arms sprouted from Tala¡¯s back, her body twisted into something no longer human. She looked more spider than a person. She wasn¡¯t a survivor anymore. She was a monster. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they killed her, she would drop experience points ¡ª and items. "...Grotesque." "Dungeon sickness always leads to this," Millie said grimly. "A virus designed to spawn monsters." That was why "Death Gardens" had to be cleared the moment they were discovered ¡ª no matter what. Because of infections like this, tens of thousands on the continent had lost their lives. ¡¯And now, it¡¯s Earth¡¯s turn.¡¯ Jhin tightened his grip on his sword, eyes locked forward. He planned to end it in a single blow. ¡¯I¡¯ll make it painless.¡¯ He charged first. Closing the distance in an instant, he swung his sword with deadly precision. But Tala ¡ª moving like a creature with no bones ¡ª bent her body unnaturally and countered. Her four arms lashed out at once. Sguguguck! Jhin¡¯s eyes flashed. With a single breath, he severed all four arms cleanly. But then ¡ª Tala¡¯s mouth gaped open wide, and a new arm shot out from deep inside her throat. Jhin twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the strike, and took a step back. "I¡¯ll help!" Caleb shouted. "No! Stay back!" Jhin barked back sharply. Caleb froze, looking shocked. But Jhin didn¡¯t care. It was the truth. He could maybe handle a second-stage infected, but a third-stage monster? Impossible. This thing was easily level 80 or above. Kyaaaaah! Tala shrieked, blood tears streaming from her eyes. Jhin calmed his breathing. ¡¯One strike. One end.¡¯ She wasn¡¯t born a monster. She had been someone¡¯s daughter, someone¡¯s sister, someone¡¯s lover. The only mercy left now... was death. Jhin emptied his mind and dashed forward like lightning. His movements were so fast that Tala¡¯s bloodshot eyes struggled to track him. Kyah©¤©¤! Sguguguck!! By the time she reacted ¡ª It was already over. Her head flew clean off her shoulders. The crude greatsword trembled violently in Jhin¡¯s hands ¡ª tiny cracks beginning to creep along its blade. Chapter 33 - No Room to Run Chapter 33: Chapter 33 - No Room to RunChapter 33 - No Room to Run "Hoo..." Jhin let out a soft breath, turning his body, still radiating the heat of battle. ¡¯I can handle this,¡¯ he thought. Tala, a third-stage Dungeon Disease patient, wasn¡¯t much different from a regular monster in a D-grade dungeon. Technically, her level was over 80. Realistically, Jhin shouldn¡¯t have even stood a chance. But when the fight actually started, it was a whole different story. ¡¯D-grade dungeons might be worth a shot too.¡¯ He had already maxed out all his stats ¡ª strength, stamina, agility, all of it ¡ª at 100 points, thanks to the quests he completed in the "Trial nexus" on Hell difficulty. That alone had boosted his actual power by the equivalent of 19 full levels for each stat. ¡¯And if I add the level-up points on top of that...¡¯ His strength now was almost three times higher than his visible level suggested. But Jhin wasn¡¯t satisfied. He knew better. He wasn¡¯t the only one out there who pushed their stats beyond their level. The "Heaven Beyond Heaven" players were out there ¡ª veterans who understood Exodia better than anyone. If someone said they were level 100, their real strength was probably way beyond that. ¡¯And dungeons... dungeons won¡¯t wait for us to catch up.¡¯ The rate at which dungeons grew left no room for complacency. When humans could no longer handle the dungeons... it would be the beginning of the end. He had no choice. He had to get stronger. "Jhin... they¡¯re coming." At Millie¡¯s words, Jhin lifted his head. He had already sensed it ¡ª the cold, biting energy leaking out from the darkness of the tunnel. Before long, red eyes began to gleam along the railroad tracks. Dozens of them, at a glance. Some hung from the ceiling, some crawled along the walls, some walked on the ground like twisted insects. With a face drained of color, Caleb asked: "A-are those... all...?" "Yes. Third-stage cases." Humans who had succumbed to Dungeon Disease, or rather, not humans anymore...Monsters. Creatures people now called Greed. "They¡¯re swarming from behind too!" Millie turned quickly, pistol raised. More Greed was pouring in from the opposite tunnel. And above them ¡ª even from the platforms of Stoneveil city Station ¡ª monsters descended. Had they been waiting here, lying in ambush? It didn¡¯t feel like a coincidence. "...We¡¯re completely surrounded." At Millie¡¯s report, Jhin tightened his grip on his longsword, there was no escape route. Heartbeats quickened, while breaths deepened. The battle broke out in an instant. "Uaaaahh!" Luke swung his sword at a charging Greed ¡ª but it was useless. Not even a scratch. The difference in level was overwhelming. Realistically, Luke and Caleb were only capable of fighting monsters from E-grade dungeons. Here, they were helpless. KIAAAA! Their attacks only seemed to agitate the Greed even more. "Uh... huh? I beat that filthy one easily before..." Luke muttered in confusion. But luck was not on his side. The Greed he provoked this time was a speed-type. In an instant, it lunged at him. Jhin moved ¡ªswift and clean. With a single slice, he decapitated the Greed just before it could sink its teeth into Luke¡¯s throat. "...Aaaaargh!" Too late, Luke shrieked and toppled backward, landing hard on his rear. Jhin frowned. Meanwhile, Millie and Caleb kept scanning their surroundings. The ring of Greed closed in tighter, and tighter. "What should we do?" Millie asked. "...Hmph." Jhin glared at the oncoming Greed. There was nothing behind their blood-red eyes ¡ª nothing but ravenous, overwhelming desire. "Everyone else... they must have headed toward Eastport Station, right?" "Yes, I believe so." Eastport Station had a big underground shopping mall. Above ground, there was a department store, and the area itself was packed with commercial districts. If any place still had food and supplies left, it would be there. Though... now that it had become part of a dungeon, there was no way to know what horrors were waiting inside. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Still ¡ª it was better than heading toward an abandoned station with nothing. Besides, food was running low. "Let¡¯s head that way too." There was no way Jhin could abandon the survivors who fled there, chased by the Greed. But Millie shook her head. She glanced toward the tunnel, where a flood of Greed kept pouring out. "There are way more of them on that side. It¡¯s too dangerous. And... that ominous feeling from the tunnel... it¡¯s definitely not normal." "I know," Jhin said quietly. "But even if the survivors hadn¡¯t gone that way, I still would¡¯ve gone." Millie furrowed her brow. "You¡¯re planning to take them down, aren¡¯t you?" "Yes." "I can¡¯t just leave them alone." "You really think that¡¯s possible?" At that moment, Caleb, who hadn¡¯t been following the conversation at all, cut in awkwardly. "What are you two even talking about?" Jhin smiled a little and said: "I¡¯ll explain everything to you. But first..." "Yes?" Caleb asked nervously. "Stay close to me. Don¡¯t leave my side." KIAAAA! The Greed launched their attack in full force. (*) Greed. The monsters born from the third stage of Dungeon Disease ¡ª former humans, now fully mutated. Every mutation was different. Some sprouted wings. Some grew extra eyes. Some had additional arms, or legs. Some became bloated and grotesque. Others shriveled, skeletal and horrifying. "Greed evolve by using human desire as their medium," Jhin explained, even as he kept fighting ¡ªeven as he cut through the endless tide ¡ª his words as steady as his blade. Chapter 34 - Trigger Chapter 34: Chapter 34 - TriggerChapter 34 - Trigger He narrowly dodged the attack and moved closer to Grid. A huge eye that had popped open on the creature¡¯s forehead glared at him fiercely. "You need to understand their desires when you deal with them. Like this guy here¡ªif he grew an extra eye, it probably means he desperately wanted to see more," Jhin said calmly. Probably, when this Grid was still human, he must have suffered deep trauma from losing his sight or being unable to see something important. The massive eye, covering half his forehead, was proof of that. ¡¯Maybe he couldn¡¯t even see his family one last time before it was too late.¡¯ "Ironically, Grid¡¯s weakness is also his desire," Jhin added, smiling faintly. Even in the middle of the battle, Jhin displayed an impressive trick¡ªoperating his smartphone with one hand. He pulled down the status bar, turned on the flashlight, and a sharp beam of light flashed out. In one smooth motion, he pressed the phone right against Grid¡¯s massive eye. Kiaaahh!! The creature shrieked and rubbed at its burning eye desperately. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Jhin pulled out his longsword and drove it hard into Grid¡¯s neck. Blood spurted out like a fountain as the blade pierced clean through. The giant eye on Grid¡¯s forehead, unable to even blink, wept tears of blood as if in grievance. "The key is reading their desires properly," Jhin said, still calmly. He kept his longsword raised, aiming it at the Grid creatures surrounding them. But Caleb and Luke, the ones who needed to hear it the most, weren¡¯t even in a state to listen. No wonder. They were barely hanging on. Their enemies were just too strong. Their attacks didn¡¯t even leave a scratch. A graze could mean death! In this desperate situation where counterattacking was almost impossible and even a single hit could be fatal, all they could do was dodge for dear life. They had no other choice. Their levels, stamina, and strength were all inferior¡ªthey simply had to survive by sheer will. Breathing grew harder and harder. The moment when even dodging became too much was fast approaching. But Jhin didn¡¯t seem worried at all. "Just remember this. Every Grid has different weaknesses." "Huff... What? Huff, huff..." Caleb, gasping for air, instinctively threw himself forward. Something sharp slashed just over his head. In the next instant, Jhin charged in and cut Grid¡¯s neck clean through. Paga-gak! But right then, cracks ran through his longsword. As he half-severed Grid¡¯s neck, the sword shattered completely. Its durability had worn out. Jhin furrowed his brows and flung the broken weapon aside without hesitation. It flew straight and buried itself in the forehead of another Grid rushing toward them, knocking it flat. "Looks like this is the limit for a tutorial-grade weapon," he muttered. "Huff, huff... T-take my spear!" Caleb cried out. "No, it¡¯s fine. I have my own weapon." The Wavecatcher¡¯s Spear was a good weapon. But Jhin already had something similar. A weapon with far superior performance, even though it was shorter than a longsword and thus riskier to use. ¡¯Let¡¯s see how powerful it is.¡¯ Ssshhk! Jhin grabbed the Grid charging at him by the throat and slammed it hard into the ground. There was a cracking sound as its head hit the floor, but it wasn¡¯t enough to kill it. Sharp claws swung toward him. Jhin smoothly moved his hand, deflecting the attack, and immediately followed up with a clenched fist, driving it into the Grid¡¯s face. The effect was tremendous. KWAANG!! "Ooh, yeah... definitely a gear upgrade," Jhin grinned. Even with the same strength, the output was multiple times greater than with the tutorial gear. If he just stayed a little closer during fights to manage the risk, hunting would become much easier. ¡¯Scarecrow¡¯s Thorn Gauntlet.¡¯ With this weapon, things might go even better than he thought. Still, Jhin let out a bitter smile. Nothing was certain yet. He narrowed his eyes and looked beyond the tunnel. The deeper they went, the more traces of the enemy¡¯s mana were visible. He activated ¡¯Soft skills.¡¯ ¡¯All this... it¡¯s his mana.¡¯ Thick red streams of mana flowed deeper into the tunnel. From the moment Grid appeared, he had suspected, but now it was almost certain¡ªthe real enemy was that guy. "From here on, be careful. We¡¯re in his domain now." "You mean... the one you mentioned before?" Luke asked. "Yeah. There¡¯s definitely a Trigger somewhere here." The party stopped running and caught their breath. Even the Grids that had been relentlessly chasing them halted at the edge of the Trigger¡¯s domain, giving them a moment¡¯s break. Caleb asked cautiously, "So, all of this was because of that Trigger?" "Yeah. There¡¯s no other reason the Dungeon Sickness could have worsened so quickly without it. The Trigger must be nearby." Trigger. A monster that could be considered Stage 3.5, maybe even 4 of Dungeon Sickness. "It¡¯s like when the Dungeon Break at the collapsed school accelerated." "...Dungeon Bloom?" "Someone fed a Dungeon Bloom to a Dungeon Sickness patient and created a Trigger." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Trigger then acted as an ignition point for nearby infected victims. The spores already embedded in their bodies began to self-replicate rapidly, worsening the disease at an uncontrollable rate. "If we can¡¯t stop the Trigger, Dungeon Sickness will consume all of New Capital." A pitch-black tunnel, not a single light in sight. A man screamed in agony as a creature grabbed his leg. "Uuaaaaargh!!" In his eyes, he saw it. A gaping mouth, wide open. And inside it, someone¡¯s head stuck in its throat. That head still made faint noises. "S-save me... please...!" "Aaaaagh!!" But the monster didn¡¯t react to their cries. It simply shoved the leg it was holding deeper into its mouth. Its red eyes stayed cold and still as its throat bobbed up and down. The poor soul who hadn¡¯t been fully swallowed was slowly pulled deeper inside. It was the man¡¯s turn next. His head pressed in. Maybe he was lucky. Or maybe not. "Aaaaa¡ª!" Crack. His neck snapped, and his screams cut off instantly. The silent tunnel was left with only the grisly sounds of the monster¡¯s meal. The creature muttered to itself. "Heh... Bros... should I eat some more?" What did the monster see with those eyes? It swung its arms randomly at the empty air, then looked around. The tunnel, now filled with nothing but blood and meat scraps, no longer offered what it craved. Where had everyone gone? The monster simply licked its lips. "...Uh." Drooling absentmindedly, it turned its head. From the path it had come down, an unfamiliar, rich smell wafted through the darkness. Its mouth watered instinctively. "Subscribe... Like... Set Notifications..." it whispered like a madman. And the monster started trudging back down the tunnel it had come from. Chapter 35 - The Monster of Desire Chapter 35: Chapter 35 - The Monster of DesireChapter 35 - The Monster of Desire ¡¯Disgusting.¡¯ Jhin inhaled deeply and frowned. The deeper he went into the tunnel, the more the sticky air wrapped around his lungs. It made him feel unpleasant. ¡¯There¡¯s blood mixed in the air.¡¯ Scattered like trash on the ground were pieces of someone¡¯s body. The broken and battered walls showed the traces of what had happened. Even without having to look closely, he could tell what had gone down here. Walking beside him, Caleb wrinkled his forehead and said, ?What kind of bastard is this Trigger anyway?? Jhin answered honestly. ?I don¡¯t know.? ?...You don¡¯t know?? ?Yeah. Triggers are just like Grids. When they swallow the Dungeon Flower, the form they take depends on the desire they have at that moment.? That¡¯s why they were particularly tricky opponents. ¡¯There¡¯s no set strategy.¡¯ Every person harbors different desires. Someone short wishes to be tall. Someone overweight dreams of losing weight. When such things manifest into desire, they mutate into the form of a ¡¯Grid¡¯ or a ¡¯Trigger¡¯ that fits it. ?Until you go up against them directly, you can¡¯t know anything.? If they had information about what kind of person the infected used to be, maybe they could have guessed. But the Dungeon Disease at Stoneveil city Station had infected an unspecified crowd. There was no particular information to pin down. ¡¯Besides, it doesn¡¯t even seem like the Trigger is someone from Stoneveil city Station.¡¯ Before even entering the station, they had discovered traces of battle outside. Hadn¡¯t Jobe also mentioned that the monster first appeared outside? Only afterward had the people inside started mutating. The Trigger was an outsider. ¡¯In the end, someone deliberately put the Trigger into Stoneveil city Station.¡¯ Jhin narrowed his eyes. He couldn¡¯t figure out the specific traits without knowing the monster¡¯s desire, but there were things he could roughly guess. The mana it had scattered around. He estimated it using Soft skills. ¡¯The level must easily be over 100. Pretty much the level of a mid-boss in a D-grade dungeon.¡¯ S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had been hoping it would just be something like the E-grade boss, Wilow King. But already, he was feeling weary. He couldn¡¯t afford to lower his guard. ¡¯In terms of stats, I shouldn¡¯t lose. But...¡¯ Exodia wasn¡¯t a game where you simply won by having a high level, or by having good stats. Though his original level was only 40, he had the strength to fight level 100 monsters. Each monster had its own characteristics. Depending on the buffs that manifested or the circumstances, even a low-level monster could sometimes become far stronger. And as for this one... ¡¯Its stats must be heavily skewed.¡¯ Monsters driven only by desire tend to grow with grotesque stat distributions. Someone obsessed with being taller might pour all their stats into ¡¯Strength¡¯ and ¡¯Endurance,¡¯ turning themselves into a giant. A dangerous, reckless choice. ¡¯A double-edged sword.¡¯ The overall balance would be terrible, but in one area, it would become a monster that broke the norms. That¡¯s why, even though Grids were generally weak, they were tricky to hunt. ?Jhin.? A sharp voice ¡ª Millie. Among them, she had the best eyesight and the sharpest senses. She was the first to notice the ominous presence approaching from beyond the tunnel. Jhin turned to face forward. Out of the darkness, a huge shape was approaching, lit up by the large, flickering red lantern. The monster¡¯s size was much greater than a bear¡¯s. Jhin focused on its body. ?...Its sagging flesh looks like a slime.? ?I think I know what its desire was.? ?Me too.? The monster¡¯s grotesquely bloated flesh sagged down to the ground. Its legs and other parts couldn¡¯t even be seen, buried under the folds. Yet somehow, it was still walking ¡ª in a way, it was impressive. And then he met its eyes. From those eyes, a cold, chilling feeling radiated. Pure madness. When he met the gaze of a being that was driven only by desire, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a shiver run down his spine. ?Subscribe... Like! Bros... Please gimme some suuupport...!!? A Stage 4 Dungeon Disease patient. The Trigger had appeared. Jhin frowned deeply as he took in the monster. ¡¯...It¡¯s huge.¡¯ Its massive size made it feel like the tunnel was filled completely. Every step it took made the ground tremble. At this point, it would be impossible not to understand what its desire had been. And the Trigger kept flicking its tongue, endlessly repeating the same words. Chapter 36 - Subscribe... and Die Chapter 36: Chapter 36 - Subscribe... and DieChapter 36 - Subscribe... and Die ?Bros... subscribe... like!? It was a phrase Jhin had heard many times before. But to hear it coming from a Trigger was something else. ¡¯A YouTuber, huh...¡¯ If that was the case, then his desire must also be related to that. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The scope narrowed slightly. Jhin¡¯s eyes sharpened. ¡¯If a YouTuber turned into a Trigger, then what kind of desire would it have been?¡¯ Before the world fell into this state, there had been countless internet broadcasts. Visible radio shows, gaming streams, beauty channels... Each had pulled in viewers with interesting content. So then, what kind of content had this thing in front of him made? ?ASMRRRRRRRR!!? ¡¯Who the hell screams ASMR?¡¯ No doubt about it now ¡ª this monster¡¯s content must have been mukbangs based on ASMR. Just looking at its bloated body and the bloodstains smeared around its mouth made that clear. Maybe it was even planning a mukbang with human beings. Surprisingly, Caleb seemed to recognize him. ?That guy... that¡¯s Jaden.? ?Jaden?? ?Yeah. That way of shouting ASMR... I¡¯m sure it¡¯s the YouTuber Jaden. But I heard he ended up on death row and was locked up.? Now that he thought about it, Jhin vaguely remembered. Once, Jaden had millions of subscribers with his extreme content. But then he committed unforgivable crimes and fell into disgrace. He had become a social scandal ¡ª a YouTuber who rose to infamy and ended up sentenced to death. ?Seriously, it¡¯s like every dog and pig managed to break out of prison.? The last content Jaden ever posted had been a "human flesh mukbang." At the time, people had argued it was fake, just shock tactics. But it turned out he had actually kidnapped people and used them for his broadcasts. ¡¯In short...¡¯ Whoooosh! The bloated monster¡¯s hand stretched out toward Jhin. The arm extended unnaturally, like rubber, barely missing him as it whipped through the air. Dodging swiftly, Jhin clenched his fist, his brow furrowed. ¡¯...This guy was hopeless even before he became a Trigger.¡¯ Another hand attack flew toward him ¡ª this time, dozens of hands splitting apart and trying to grab him at once. Jhin nimbly dodged and closed the distance. The moment his fist struck the monster¡¯s solar plexus¡ª Squelch! It sank into the flesh, utterly meaningless. Jhin grimaced and leapt backward. At once, another hand chased after him. The monster grinned wide and said, ?Bros! First try failed, so second try... okay?? ?...Screw you!? BANG! Without warning, Millie¡¯s revolver flared. She hit the attacking hand squarely, then fired again ¡ª this time straight at the monster¡¯s forehead. But the damage was small. Millie clicked her tongue. ?Gross how tough he is.? ?Be careful. His stamina is maxed out.? Jaden, who had fallen into crime with his "human flesh mukbang," was now realizing that same fantasy as a Trigger. Which meant ¡ª his desire was simply to eat. ¡¯When it comes to eating, you don¡¯t need strength or speed. You just need stamina ¡ª a lot of stamina.¡¯ ?Broooss! Subscribe! Like! Pushhhh it!!? The monster shouted in his clumsy, eerie voice. This time, it swung both arms violently. As if the desire to never lose Jhin had exploded, his hands split into dozens again. Jhin activated Soft skills. The number of attacks was overwhelming, but if he could read their flow, there was always a way through. He focused sharply, tracing the movement of the hands narrowing in like a spiderweb. Whoooosh! BOOM! CRASH! BOOM! CRASH! Missed attacks smashed the floor, sending shockwaves through the tunnel. Moving with almost supernatural agility, Jhin dodged between the grasping hands. At the same time, Millie fired again. But once again, her bullets merely sank into the monster¡¯s skin without inflicting real damage. The thing was absurdly tough. ?Jhin! Maybe use a potion¡ª? ?No. It¡¯ll build resistance.? ?Huh?? Instead, Jhin let out a slow breath and fixed his gaze on Jaden. Now that he had identified the root of the problem, it was time to solve it. The problem wasn¡¯t that his hits weren¡¯t landing ¡ª it was that the damage wasn¡¯t enough. ¡¯That means... the attack power is lacking.¡¯ Jhin moved swiftly. Thwack! His fist slammed hard into the monster¡¯s solar plexus again ¡ª this time, with much greater force. This time, there was a slight reaction. The monster¡¯s massive body shifted backward from the impact. Jhin quickly leapt back, clicking his tongue lightly. ?Man, you¡¯re tough.? Currently, Jhin¡¯s Strength stat was at 100. Even without focusing purely on Strength at level 40, that was a monstrous figure. But this Trigger was even tougher. ¡¯The only thing left is to supplement it with magic power.¡¯ There was a way. Jhin glanced down at his weapon ¡ª the "Scarecrow¡¯s Thorn Gauntlet." It was made of wood, but its durability was excellent, crafted from the body of the Wilow King. It wouldn¡¯t break easily, even if he pushed it harder than before. Jhin was satisfied. ¡¯There are attacks you can¡¯t do with mere tutorial items.¡¯ Next, he boldly invested the stat points he¡¯d earned after Trial nexus into magic power. His current Magic was 100. With another 100 added, it would hit 200. Generally, meaningful changes happened at every 100-point milestone. ¡¯At Magic 200, there¡¯s something new I can do.¡¯ Jhin smiled slyly and looked at the drooling Jaden, whose eyes burned with crazed desire. It was a chilling sight. ¡¯Magic Concentration.¡¯ [Activating skill: ¡¯Magic Concentration (F)¡¯.] When he opened his tightly closed eyes again, they were glowing golden. A deep blue energy began coating his fist. Rough, brilliant magic energy. It still had the clumsy feel of an F-rank skill, and its consumption rate was brutal. But Jhin didn¡¯t hold back ¡ª not anymore. He had 200 Magic now. ¡¯It¡¯s enough.¡¯ Wooooom. The blue energy, responding to his will, grew larger. At the same time, the monster, again stretching out his hands, shouted: ?Subscriiiiiibe!? ?Liiiike!? With obsession like that, even the followers he already had would run away. Creepy bastard. Jhin clicked his tongue and sprinted straight at him. The monster, seeing him coming, grinned wide ¡ª thinking he had caught a fish swimming into his mouth. But¡ª BOOOOM!! A deafening explosion erupted, and the monster¡¯s hands shattered. Jhin shot through the gaping hole and raced toward the monster¡¯s face. The Trigger¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Jhin, staring into those eyes still burning with nothing but the desire to eat, gathered even more magic into his fist. And said, ?I¡¯ll grant your wish. I¡¯ll smash that subscribe and like button. Real hard ¡ª twice.? BOOM!! BOOOOOOM!! [You have defeated ¡¯Trigger of Gluttony: Jaden¡¯.] [Level up!] [Level up!] [Level up!] The monster¡¯s face caved in under the weight of the crushing blow. The battlefield fell completely silent. [You can now claim your reward.] Stat +5 Ring of Attention-Seeking [Would you like to claim all rewards?] But Jhin couldn¡¯t even check the rewards yet. Because something else was happening. Fsshhhhh. As the monster died, its magic power evaporated into the air, and its bloated body rapidly shrank. In no time, it looked no different from an ordinary human. The real face ¡ª the one from the news ¡ª emerged. And then Jhin saw it. The mark drawn on the monster¡¯s forehead. ?...Why is that thing here...?? Chapter 37 - The Return of a Legend Chapter 37: Chapter 37 - The Return of a LegendChapter 37 - The Return of a Legend ¡ªIt¡¯s a lie. From the moment the name ¡¯Kyle¡¯ came out of Jhin¡¯s mouth, Luke had been sure of it. He knew better than anyone what kind of person Jhin was. ¡¯There¡¯s no way that scrub could be Kyle...!¡¯ The gap between the rank 1 player, Kyle, and the raggedy nobody he remembered was just too big. Honestly, if the scruffy kid he used to know suddenly turned out to be someone he could only look up to now, would anyone believe it right away? Especially for Luke, Kyle wasn¡¯t just anyone. ¡¯My role model.¡¯ Though he had never told anyone, Luke had been a huge fan of Exodia 1. Naturally, he admired Kyle ¡ª the undisputed number one. How many times had he been in awe, watching Kyle do the impossible with ease? He respected Kyle. Seeing someone boldly forge ahead into places no one else dared to go ¡ª it gave him a sense of vicarious satisfaction. Maybe it was because, compared to how much he loved games, Luke was a hopelessly unlucky player. He wasn¡¯t good at all. Watching Kyle do what he himself never could filled him with a special kind of excitement. ¡¯Yeah. There¡¯s no way. That scrub can¡¯t be Kyle... it¡¯s a lie.¡¯ But as time passed, Luke had no choice but to accept it. After all, the feats he was witnessing were undeniable. He had seen Jhin solo with the Wilow king in the Garden of Death. He had seen him fight mysterious monsters at Stoneveil city Station. None of it could be put into words. Most of all, he had watched him battle a Grid firsthand. A creature they couldn¡¯t even scratch ¡ª and Jhin had taken it down easily. How could he not believe it? ¡¯Why... why of all people does it have to be Jhin?¡¯ Kyle was his idol. His role model. Like a celebrity he genuinely loved. If Kyle and Millie held fan sign events at the same time, he would have chosen Kyle¡¯s without a second thought. That¡¯s how much of a fan he was. But Jhin? To him, Jhin had always just been... that scruffy kid. Nothing more, nothing less. Ten years ago. A kid with no money, nothing to his name. Scruffy and stubborn to a fault ¡ª so much so that it made him want to pick a fight just out of spite. That¡¯s all Jhin had been to him. ¡¯Why... why the hell does it have to be Jhin who¡¯s Kyle!?¡¯ But the longer he watched, the more the image of the scruffy kid faded, and only Kyle remained, layered over it. Maybe the turning point had been when Jhin saved his life from the Grid¡¯s attack. ¡¯As expected of Kyle... no, wait, what am I thinking?¡¯ While Luke was struggling just to dodge attacks and survive, Jhin was fighting the Grid ¡ª calmly, even leisurely. The composure of the strong. The greatness of Kyle. They gnawed at his mind, making him steal more and more glances at Jhin. And the moment he completely threw away his pride was when Jhin faced the Trigger. ¡¯My god... how is he fighting that monster!?¡¯ The Trigger was on a whole different scale ¡ª a monster beyond anything he had ever encountered. No boss monster he¡¯d faced before had ever given off that kind of overwhelming pressure. Just standing there, staring at it, made his knees buckle and his body freeze. But Jhin didn¡¯t flinch. He dodged invisible attacks, counterattacked, and fought back without fear. At that point, even Luke had to admit it. ¡¯Kyle... he really is Kyle, isn¡¯t he?¡¯ The scruffy clothes that used to make him look pathetic. The low level that had once made him sneer. Now, all of it looked different. ¡¯...How does he pull off such feats with that kind of gear and level!? If he¡¯s not Kyle, it¡¯s impossible!¡¯ Before he knew it, Luke was trembling and clenching his fists as he silently cheered for Jhin. And the moment he watched Jhin land a decisive blow on the Trigger, standing alone on the battlefield¡ª He realized it. ¡¯Ah... Kyle!¡¯ There was no denying it anymore. In a dark room. Following the vision from the Trigger Jaden, Crook stared in horror, accidentally dropping his crystal ball. At first glance, it looked like just some ordinary man. But the way he handled magic, the way he moved ¡ª it wasn¡¯t normal. A chill ran down Crook¡¯s spine. Something deep and familiar stirred inside him... Old trauma. The memory of a sword slicing clean across his neck. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of his subordinates being torn apart like paper. A dungeon completely conquered ¡ª by just one person! Just like DNA imprinted on a human being, the data was burned into Crook¡¯s memory, never erased. Crook swallowed hard. ¡¯...It can¡¯t be.¡¯ He had used the Authority of Predation to consume humans and roughly grasp the current state of the world. So, at least for now, he decided to deny it. ¡¯Kyle should still be trapped in Trial nexus.¡¯ Trial nexus status hadn¡¯t changed. And being trapped there for over 90 days could only mean one thing ¡ª something had gone terribly wrong. Most people had already accepted Kyle¡¯s death as a fact. Not just his comrades ¡ª even humans in general. And honestly, it was natural. The gap between the game and reality. Even the monsters once hailed as invincible, the so-called "Heavenly Monsters," had failed to adapt during the early days of the apocalypse and had died off. Stats from a game didn¡¯t transfer perfectly into the real world. No matter how amazing he had been in Exodia, that didn¡¯t mean he could be the same in reality. Even the server shutdown rewards had been pitiful ¡ª only three items. Not everything would be the same as it had been in Exodia 1. ¡¯Relax. Kyle... that bastard¡¯s dead.¡¯ But then, a knock sounded from outside the room. And a subordinate¡¯s voice followed. ?Hyde, sir?? Crook ¡ª no, Hyde ¡ª turned his head toward the voice calling him. ?Van is here to see you.? ?What? What¡¯s he doing here?? The answer came immediately ¡ª as Van casually barged through the door. ?Since you wouldn¡¯t pick up, I had to come myself. What else could I do?? ?You think everyone has as much free time as you? I¡¯m running multiple farms, you know. I don¡¯t even have time to check my phone.? ?Yeah, yeah. You¡¯re just playing busy. Everyone knows you¡¯re actually slacking off.? Hyde scowled at him, breathing out a sigh full of irritation. But for now, he decided to let it go. Fine. What would Van know anyway? Hyde was managing at least five farms just in New Capital alone. And the number was still growing. He was only going to get busier. Not only that¡ª He also had to constantly monitor the situation by peeking through the Triggers¡¯ perspectives. He literally didn¡¯t have the time to waste exchanging messages. While he silently grumbled inside, another thought crossed his mind. Since Van was here anyway, maybe it would be a good chance to discuss this troubling matter. ?Good timing. There¡¯s something weird I found... Take a look at this.? ?Kyle might still be alive.? Silence fell. Not because anyone was holding their breath ¡ª but because no sound even came up his throat. His mind blanked out completely. Hyde sat there, frozen like a robot with its batteries removed, staring at Van in shock. And finally managed to croak out, ?Say that again...?? He wanted to deny it. Surely Van had misspoken ¡ª maybe he meant "cake," not "Kyle." Now that he looked, Van had lost a lot of weight. He must be stressed out badly... Maybe he needed a dessert or two to cheer up. Maybe Hyde could find a human slave nearby who could bake something. Van said flatly, ?It¡¯s a report from a newbie who entered Trial nexus on Easy mode. Apparently, there are now zero challengers on Hell difficulty.? There was no escaping reality anymore. Chapter 38 - Into the Ghost Train Chapter 38: Chapter 38 - Into the Ghost TrainChapter 38 - Into the Ghost Train Hyde pressed hard on his temples and asked, ?What are the chances he¡¯s dead?? ?We can¡¯t rule it out,? Van said. ?But if he¡¯s alive, everything we¡¯re planning could fall apart.? Suddenly, Hyde thought of a man. The man he saw in the footage. The more he thought about it, the more unsettling it felt. ?That¡¯s why... I want the farm owners¡¯ help.? But Hyde couldn¡¯t answer. Sweat pouring down his face, his lips trembled as he muttered, ?It¡¯s still just a suspicion, but...? ?What?? ?...He might have already found it.? The image of that man fighting the Trigger replayed vividly in Hyde¡¯s mind. The way he moved ¡ª as if he were completely relaxed, even facing a Trigger. Wearing nothing more than beginner¡¯s clothes. ?No way he¡¯s already completed his job advancement, right...?? Hyde shook his head, trying to deny it. If that guy had actually advanced his class already, the Trigger wouldn¡¯t have even been able to breathe ¡ª it would¡¯ve been crushed instantly. Still looking uneasy, Hyde quickly operated the crystal orb. There was a field team dispatched nearby. Van asked in a nervous voice, ?Are you sure?? ?...Maybe.? Soon, a video floated up from the other side of the crystal. A man wearing a black mask appeared on the screen ¡ª and Van was the first to react. ?Wait, is that Stoneveil city?? ?...You know it?? ?Of course I know it. Clark is stationed there.? Hyde shuddered again at the sudden memory. Clark ¡ª just like Kyle ¡ª was a terrifying opponent. Especially that sniper shot from several kilometers away ¡ª it had always been his worst fear. ?Get a grip! Hey! Hyde!? ?Huh? Yeah...?? ?Those guys aren¡¯t the monsters we used to know! Kyle is just some newbie who barely passed the tutorial now! The demon from back then is gone!? Van took a deep breath and his eyes sharpened. ?We have to contact headquarters. If it¡¯s really him ¡ª we have to kill him now. This is the only chance we¡¯ll get.? ?Huff, huff, huff...!!? At that moment. A group was running across a dark tunnel. ?Haaah...!? It was Evan ¡ª one of the survivors from Stoneveil city Station. He was running for his life. Even though his legs were shaking and his vision blurred, he couldn¡¯t stop. Even though it felt like his lungs were being torn apart, he had to keep running. ?Kekeke!? ?Graaah! Aaaagh!? Horrible sounds echoed from behind ¡ª something was hopping and chasing after him. Evan glanced back ¡ª and his face turned deathly pale. Why couldn¡¯t he shake them off? Why didn¡¯t they ever seem to tire? And even more terrifying¡ª most of them were people he had known. ¡¯Damn it...!¡¯ Just yesterday, they had been kind people. The woman who nursed the sick. The crying child begging for food. The old man who often shared what little he had with the exhausted... Evan clenched his teeth hard. ¡¯They all became monsters.¡¯ It had only taken minutes. He didn¡¯t know the exact time, but in just a few short minutes, Stoneveil city Station had been turned into a wasteland. Just like how the entire world had changed overnight, Stoneveil city Station had turned into a dungeon. ?Huff, huff...? But still ¡ª he was used to it. After all, he had survived three months in this hellish world. Evan had decent adaptability. The problem was, he hadn¡¯t entered the tunnel leading to Eastport Station. Instead, he had entered the opposite one. ¡¯At this rate, I¡¯ll never meet up with Detective Caleb.¡¯ And then¡ª Swoosh! Something brushed past him. ?...!? A man ¡ª stomach torn open ¡ª was dragged forward, then yanked backward violently. It was Go Myung-hwan ¡ª a member of the hunting recovery team, running with him until just moments ago. A man who, at forty-one, had been drowning in gambling debt and living as a homeless man at Stoneveil city Station. But after awakening as a Player, he had tried his best to participate in hunts. That desperate effort ¡ª Evan still remembered it clearly. ?S-save... me...? For just a moment, their eyes met. Go Myung-hwan¡¯s face was filled with despair. But Evan could do nothing. All he could do was keep running ¡ª even as Go Myung-hwan¡¯s screams were cut off behind him. It was only natural. They were monsters far beyond what Evan could handle. If he got caught, he would meet the same fate. Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! The creature that ended Go Myung-hwan¡¯s life was now giving heavy, earth-shaking footsteps behind him. Evan pushed his legs even harder, sprinting across the tunnel. And then ¡ª he spotted a light in the distance. ?...!? A train? He could see a platform ahead, and a stationary subway train with light spilling from its windows. Evan felt a spark of hope. Three months had passed since that day. Why would a train be running now? Why was there even a train in Line 10 ¡ª a project that had been canceled? He didn¡¯t have the luxury to think about it. The light ahead. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The monsters chasing behind. That was enough reason for him to run toward the train. ?Uaaah!!? He sprinted up onto the platform and threw himself into the train. The doors were already closing ¡ª he barely made it. A real announcement played over the speakers. [The train will depart shortly. Passengers, please board.] Panting hard, Evan looked around. At least he had made it onto the train ¡ª maybe now he could finally outrun those monsters. He dared to hope. But reality quickly crushed that hope. ?...Oh no.? [D-grade Dungeon: "The Running Ghost Train" entered.] [This is a "Theme Dungeon."] [Soon, the conductor will check for tickets.] [Passengers without a ticket will become the conductor¡¯s target.] He had escaped the wolves¡ª only to fall into the tiger¡¯s den. Chapter 39 - Those Who Could Not Be Saved Chapter 39: Chapter 39 - Those Who Could Not Be SavedChapter 39 - Those Who Could Not Be Saved For now, Jhin decided to head toward Eastport Station. ?Honestly, I¡¯d like to stay and finish off the remaining Grids... but realistically, it¡¯s impossible. We¡¯ll wear ourselves out first.? If Caleb and Luke could fully hold their own, maybe it would be doable. But fighting while protecting both of them ¡ª while Grids poured in like endless waves ¡ª would be far more difficult. The number of Grids alone was already a headache. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearing them all would be an endless slog. ?Sorry, detective. But the living have to survive first.? ?...No. You¡¯re right.? Above all, once a person became a Grid, there was no way to turn them back. The only mercy they could offer was to send them to eternal rest as quickly as possible. It was tragic, but it was the truth. ¡¯But the survivors who escaped ¡ª we can still save them.¡¯ For their sake, they had to move faster. Meanwhile, Caleb glanced between the Trigger¡¯s corpse and the pitch-black tunnel. He frowned and asked, ?How are you so sure there are survivors?? There was always a chance everyone had perished. That no one was left. Caleb stared at Jhin, unease written all over his face. It was clear he was imagining the worst-case scenario. ?Maybe there¡¯s no one left to save.? Jhin nodded, acknowledging the point. If there were truly no survivors, there would be no need to rush. But then he shrugged casually and said, ?There are survivors. I guarantee it.? ?...How?? ?It might look like they¡¯re just mindlessly driven by desire ¡ª but they¡¯re surprisingly organized. They always deliberately leave survivors. At least, in every case I¡¯ve seen so far, they¡¯ve never failed to.? Jhin glanced around at the others. His eyes briefly met Luke¡¯s, who flinched noticeably and looked like he was about to wet himself as he asked, ?W-why?? Jhin replied, unfazed by his sudden use of formal speech. ?It¡¯s like fishing.? They cast bait. They deliberately let some survivors go ¡ª so that they could follow them, wait for them to regroup with others, and then devour them all at once. ?The ones who escaped are probably already infected.? Like a Trojan horse ¡ª a hidden weapon among the remaining humans, who could eventually turn into Grids or Triggers themselves. Of course, since they had killed the main Trigger, the chances of those survivors immediately transforming had dropped drastically. But it was only a matter of time. The disease would worsen by the day. Eventually, even without a Trigger, they would mutate into Grids or Triggers ¡ª and become super spreaders, creating a second Stoneveil city Station disaster. Besides ¡ª there was no guarantee that Jaden had been the only Trigger. ¡¯Because Triggers are made intentionally, after all.¡¯ If someone was creating them, they could always create more. Maybe not now ¡ª but once they had the right materials, they¡¯d try again. ?Whoever¡¯s behind it... we have to root them out completely.? The group moved through the dark tunnel, covering a good distance. The lingering magic from the Trigger Jaden still hung heavy in the air, so there hadn¡¯t been any new Grid attacks yet. But once the ambient mana faded, it would only be a matter of time. The Grids would be drawn here instinctively. They needed to get to Eastport Station as fast as possible. ?How long until we get there?? Caleb asked. ?Not long.? But before that ¡ª they would have to face something else. ?Kiaaaah!? A screech from ahead. Caleb immediately pointed his phone¡¯s flashlight toward the noise. Something was sprinting toward them at incredible speed. And they didn¡¯t need to guess what it was. ?It¡¯s a Grid. Stay back.? ?...Got it.? It seemed like this was a group of Grids that had gotten ahead of them. Caleb frowned as he recognized something. ?They¡¯re members of the hunting recovery team.? ?Yeah. I remember too.? Before the Skeleton Hunt, they had shared information during a briefing session. He recognized several faces ¡ª now twisted in horrific ways. ¡¯That¡¯s why they say sharing too much info is a death flag.¡¯ This was why you shouldn¡¯t get too personal. It only made it harder, more painful. And nothing was worse than having to kill someone you once knew. ¡¯You have to keep a certain distance.¡¯ The world had become that cruel. ?Jhin, could I ask you...? If I could, I¡¯d do it myself, but...? ?No. Don¡¯t worry.? Jhin clenched his fist and sprinted forward. The Grids shrieked and attacked, but he dodged all their strikes with razor-thin margins. And what followed ¡ª was one-sided slaughter. One by one, he smashed their heads in with single blows, granting them swift death. He had even infused his strikes with magic power ¡ª making sure they wouldn¡¯t suffer. It was an act of mercy. These were people who had suffered enough in life. They didn¡¯t deserve to keep suffering after death. ¡¯Even if it¡¯s just for the ones I recognized.¡¯ Crack, crack, crack. Finally, a bigger, mutated Grid appeared. It had a grotesquely stretched neck, whipping its head like a flail ¡ª a mutation born from some desperate desire. Jhin slipped past the lashing attacks, diving into its blind spot. BOOM! It wasn¡¯t even a challenge. The thing was predictable ¡ª and Jhin punched a hole straight through its torso. The mutated Grid collapsed without a sound. ?Huff... huff...? Jhin exhaled the breath he had been holding and looked around. It hadn¡¯t even taken a full minute to kill all seven Grids. Surprised, he glanced down at the ring on his finger. ¡¯This ring... is more useful than I thought.¡¯ The ¡ª a reward he had earned after killing the Trigger. [When there are no allies nearby, increases maximum HP by +20.] Chapter 40 - Tracks of the Dead Chapter 40: Chapter 40 - Tracks of the DeadChapter 40 - Tracks of the Dead Meanwhile, the ¡¯Magic Concentration¡¯ skill Jhin had been using fundamentally required high physical durability. It made sense. If you delivered a powerful attack while having weak durability, you¡¯d destroy yourself along with your opponent. In short, unless it was just a one-time attack, you were supposed to raise your stamina too. ¡¯With my current stats, Magic Concentration had a hard limit of about three uses.¡¯ But if he was fighting alone, his item effect would temporarily boost his stamina to a higher level. Meaning¡ª he could maintain Magic Concentration for a longer period. ¡¯In a way, it¡¯s similar to Millie¡¯s Burned Blood skill.¡¯ A powerful ability, but without sufficient stamina, it would only end up eating away at the user¡¯s own body. ?Let¡¯s move.? After quickly cleaning up the battlefield, the group resumed their journey. Ideally, they would have gathered the bodies of the Grids for a simple funeral. But there was no time for that. Instead, Jhin bit his lip tightly, thinking of the true culprit behind all this. ¡¯Damn Company... cockroaches.¡¯ That familiar symbol drawn on the Trigger¡¯s forehead. The moment he saw it, he had been stunned. To think he¡¯d see that here ¡ª on Earth. Not in a game, but real life. ¡¯Those bastards really don¡¯t know how to die.¡¯ The Company. The hidden villain group of Exodia. A loosely connected organization, they had expanded dungeons across the continents, threatening the people of Exodia like a cancer. And among themselves, they used a unique symbol to identify one another¡ª the same mark that had been on the Trigger¡¯s forehead. ¡¯A lightning bolt piercing through two moons.¡¯ The reason it had taken him a moment to recognize it was simple: because the Company had been utterly wiped out by Jhin in Exodia 1. ¡¯They really came back from the dead.¡¯ Jhin frowned deeply and clicked his tongue. Their survival instincts were worse than cockroaches. And the Company¡¯s return posed the biggest threat to what lay ahead. ¡¯They were the main reason Exodia¡¯s difficulty skyrocketed.¡¯ They were essentially NPCs aligned with the villains. They could create quests ¡ª and use them to recruit players to their side. How annoying had they been? Jhin remembered how he used to relieve stress by destroying the dungeons the Company had carefully built up. For a while, crushing the Company had been one of Exodia¡¯s greatest pleasures. ¡¯Of course... whether this is the real Company¡¯s revival, or just some Player group copying them... I¡¯ll have to watch a little longer to be sure.¡¯ At least, it was clear now that a group existed aiming to sabotage the Players. And that they were behind all of this. ¡¯Damn bastards. I¡¯ll kill every last one of you.¡¯ Jhin quietly hardened his resolve. Tap tap tap! A group moved onto the platform at a steady jog. All of them wore masks and scanned the surroundings. ?It¡¯s clean. Nothing here.? ?Did you check the bodies too?? ?Yeah. But, Team Leader, wasn¡¯t this place supposed to have been overrun by the farm¡¯s monsters? Why are we searching for survivors?? The subordinate honestly found it hard to believe. Grids were difficult even for them to handle. Would there really be a Player who could survive getting attacked by their own comrades? ?Apparently, there is.? ?Huh...?? Team Leader Conard crossed the platform and descended to the lower level. Several corpses were sprawled out near the stairs leading to the ghost station. He shined his flashlight. Bodies with their necks cleanly severed lay in eerie silence. The sight made Conard even more convinced. ¡¯Hyde was right.¡¯ The Grids had their throats severed. The fact that they bore only a single wound meant their opponent had dispatched them cleanly ¡ª without needing to exchange blows. Maximum effect with minimal effort. Such precision was impossible without an overwhelming difference in power. ?It really is Kyle...? Truth was, Conard had seen him before. That crumbling school. He had been deployed there ¡ª only to find that it was Kyle who accelerated the dungeon break. They lost several men that day. How could he forget? ¡¯He must have cleared the dungeon too.¡¯ Millie hadn¡¯t yet been recognized for solo-clearing a D-grade dungeon. The only variable here could be that man. ?They said he killed the Trigger too.? ?Huh? He killed that monster?? As the subordinates gasped in shock, Conard said, ?He¡¯s headed toward Eastport Station. He entered the tunnel, so we know his immediate destination ¡ª but after that, it¡¯s anyone¡¯s guess. We have to catch up before they reach Eastport.? Of course, catching up didn¡¯t mean launching an immediate attack. As long as Kyle was among them, any reckless move would only backfire. They needed the perfect trap. This operation might as well determine the Company¡¯s fate. Conard loosened his stiff shoulders and continued walking. ?Huh? Team Leader.? One of the subordinates pointed off to the side. Toward the opposite tunnel from Eastport ¡ª where something was approaching in a flash of light. And that something was¡ª ?...A train?? With a mechanical clatter, a train pulled into the platform at Stoneveil city Station, its doors sliding open. Conard quickly checked the data. [D-grade Train: "The Running Ghost Train."] ?So this is that famous Theme Dungeon...? But why was it running on Line 10? Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be on Line 1? Tilting his head, Conard recalled something he¡¯d heard recently. ¡¯They said they were busy with expansion work... Did they extend the tracks?¡¯ Staring at the ghost train, Conard felt a prick of unease. Their destination was Eastport Station. And strangely enough, the ghost train was headed there too. ?Team Leader? Should we just ride that?? ?...Are you crazy?? ?Huh?? Conard turned back to his men. ?It¡¯s a D-grade Theme Dungeon. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even though it¡¯s under our jurisdiction, it¡¯s beyond our clearance level. If we board, we¡¯ll die.? ?But Hyde ordered us to chase them...? ?Tch. This is what you call force majeure, got it?? It would be a longer detour ¡ª but Conard wasn¡¯t the type to gamble needlessly. If there was a safer route, he would take it. That¡¯s why he had joined the Company in the first place. Because it gave him the best chance to survive. ?We¡¯re going by land.? There were no objections. The Company¡¯s Break Team 3 started moving again, leaving Stoneveil city Station on foot. Chapter 41 - The Ghost Station Chapter 41: Chapter 41 - The Ghost StationChapter 41 - The Ghost Station ?...? Eastport Station, where they finally arrived, was a ghost station with not a single hint of human presence. It was dark, gloomy, and the air felt stifling. Maybe there¡¯s no one here? Caleb was the first to step onto the platform and said: ?We had prepared to move to Eastport Station via the ghost line in case of emergency. Actually, even Stoneveil city Station wasn¡¯t somewhere we lived¡ªit was more of a temporary stay.? That explained why the camp at Stoneveil city Station had seemed so fragile. Caleb wandered the ghost station with the ease of familiarity. Following behind him, they came upon an area covered by a tarp. So this is what they meant by being prepared. Lifting the tarp, inside were rows of lined-up bags. There were quite a few. ?These are supplies we stockpiled just in case. We hid them here last time we came.? Jhin could guess why Caleb had bothered coming all the way to Eastport Station to hide Stoneveil city¡¯s supplies. ¡¯Players might have inventories, but normal people don¡¯t.¡¯ When you think about it, normal civilians were like NPCs in a game. Inventories were a privilege only players enjoyed. Even merchants, if they were NPCs, couldn¡¯t use inventories. Likewise, normal people had no easy or convenient way to store personal belongings. They had no choice but to carry everything by hand. So, moving supplies in advance and hiding them in different areas was smart. Especially in times like now, when Grids came swarming in, or during dungeon breaks where monsters launched sudden attacks. You couldn¡¯t possibly gather all your possessions and move on the spot. If you didn¡¯t prepare ahead of time, you¡¯d lose not just supplies, but people too. Even players¡¯ inventory capacities weren¡¯t infinite. Unless you had an item that increased your capacity, you couldn¡¯t possibly stockpile everything needed for all those people. It was proof that Caleb was more meticulous than he seemed. Looking over the scattered traces, Caleb smiled slightly. ?...Seems someone¡¯s already been here.? The bags were wide open. Torn snack wrappers and clothes thrown about were visible. Roughly 20 out of the 50 bags had been opened. A question suddenly crossed his mind. ?Why didn¡¯t the people at Stoneveil city Station become players?? If they had become players, their inventories would have been activated. Then there would have been no need to hide away this much material. Maybe the survivors at Stoneveil city Station wouldn¡¯t have been so helpless against the ¡¯dungeon disease¡¯ either. Players had basic immunities, after all. ¡¯The elderly or the sick couldn¡¯t become players, but still...¡¯ S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Similarly, those who were too young or physically unfit lacked the qualities to become players. Even if they somehow became players, failing to pass the selection maze meant it was all for nothing. Thus, those who couldn¡¯t even pass an "Easy Mode" needed to be excluded. You couldn¡¯t knowingly send people into deathtraps. ¡¯Still... it¡¯s strange.¡¯ Even so, Stoneveil city Station was odd. Even excluding those who couldn¡¯t help it, a significant portion of the younger generation there hadn¡¯t become players either. Like Kim Jung-woo and Yoo Jo-young before. They appeared to be in their twenties. Why hadn¡¯t they become players? They didn¡¯t seem to have any health issues. Was there another reason he didn¡¯t know about? ?The internet was cut off.? ?...But Ms. Millie seemed able to contact people.? He had checked with his phone too¡ªthe internet was indeed down. If the communication network was completely destroyed, how was Millie able to contact anyone by phone? Jhin asked: ?Is that not the case?? ?No, you¡¯re right. My phone can still communicate. But it¡¯s only my phone.? The reason was simple. ?Ms. Millie¡¯s phone has been upgraded. And she has a communicator, which enables contact.? ?Upgraded? Communicator?? Millie showed the watch wrapped around her wrist. It was a smartwatch¡ªthis was the device that allowed her phone to still connect. ?Only people with this device can communicate. But it has a level restriction, so normal civilians can¡¯t use it.? Meaning, even if a normal person wore it, they couldn¡¯t even send a text, let alone access the internet. ?There¡¯s only one way for a civilian to become a player: entering the ¡¯Ark.¡¯? ?...Ark?? ?Yes. I¡¯ve only been there a few times myself, but it¡¯s the last remaining player stronghold in New Capital.? Ark. Literally, Noah¡¯s Ark. A vessel said to have saved humanity and Earth¡¯s creatures from the great flood. A fitting name for the last refuge of New Capital. And the name Ark wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to Jhin either. There had been a similar group in Exodia with a similar function. ¡¯Don¡¯t tell me... after Company, they crossed over too.¡¯ Millie added: ?The internet still works at Ark. There, even civilians can become players. They can also update their terminals and upgrade their phones. Honestly, we were on our way there too.? There was no need to ask why they hadn¡¯t made it to Ark and remained at Stoneveil city Station. Dungeon disease. You couldn¡¯t bring along infected patients into the Ark. They had probably planned to cross over after treatment... but it all crumbled before their eyes. ?Maybe the survivors made it to Ark after all.? Caleb turned his flashlight to maximum brightness. He swept it around the ghost station, but couldn¡¯t see the platform¡¯s edge. No signs of life. ?Let¡¯s move quickly. They couldn¡¯t have gotten far.? But then it happened. Jhin realized his pocket was vibrating wildly. Kimmy twitched his nose, sniffing. Jhin narrowed his eyes. ?Hold on.? ?Yes?? [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ has picked up the scent of a ¡¯snack¡¯ nearby.] Following Kimmy¡¯s radar and scanning the surroundings, Jhin spotted something flickering far off in the darkness. ?Someone¡¯s here.? ?What?? A quickly disappearing silhouette. Tracking it wasn¡¯t difficult. After all, the figure was heading down an isolated passage, and with Kimmy¡¯s radar, they could pinpoint the direction exactly. It would be stranger if they lost them in a situation like this. The problem was¡ªthey were running away. ?Why are they running?? ?Who knows. Maybe they think we¡¯re Grids.? Chapter 42 - The Human Kobolds Chapter 42: Chapter 42 - The Human KoboldsChapter 42 - The Human Kobolds ?No way. We were the only ones making noise in that quiet place. There¡¯s no way they couldn¡¯t recognize we were people.? Jhin shook his head. And although he felt sorry toward Caleb, right now, he was convinced that the person he was chasing was not one of Stoneveil city Station¡¯s survivors. Even setting aside the fact that they were running away ¡ª the way they kept glancing back or occasionally intentionally slowing down made their purpose easy to see. ¡¯They¡¯re trying to lure us.¡¯ Would Stoneveil city Station¡¯s survivors really know the geography here so well? More importantly, they had no reason to lure anyone in a place like this. Someone intentionally drawing distance and leading them onward was far more likely to be a survivor from Eastport Station than Stoneveil city¡¯s. ¡¯If that¡¯s the case... could the ones who took the supplies be them too?¡¯ But even that was questionable. Why had they only taken some of the supplies? If it was just theft, they could have taken all the bags. The answer became clear when the figure they were chasing stopped running. ¡¯This place is... the waiting room?¡¯ A kind of resting area found in every station. The moment he stopped moving, the air completely changed. From somewhere, the sound of something slicing through the air could be heard. Shaaak! Pop! Jhin, his eyes turning golden, caught an arrow. The tail of the arrow, stopping right before Luke¡¯s forehead, trembled violently. Seeing that, Luke was so startled he collapsed on the spot. ?H-heok...? Since when? Inside the waiting room, a smoky, mist-like fog now filled the vision. As if someone had thrown a smoke bomb. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Again, from somewhere, the sound of something cutting the wind. Paaaat! This time, it was an arrow aimed at Caleb. And while Jhin furrowed his brow catching that one ¡ª yet another shot flew out. The next target was Millie. Baaang! ?...Mr. Jhin.? ?Yes. It seems they¡¯re hostile.? Their gazes collided midair. Without exchanging a word, both could already see what action the other would take next. At the same time, Millie sprinted to the left, and Jhin bolted to the right. In the direction the arrows had come from. Even with the fog clouding their vision, they weren¡¯t inexperienced enough to miss the enemy¡¯s location. Jhin quickly identified and closed the distance to the enemy. Shaaak! Shaaak! Were they panicking at his approach? Arrows suddenly rained down in rapid fire. But even with careful aiming it would have been hard to hit him ¡ª random shots like this were even less likely to land. Jhin clenched his fist and rushed to the spot where the arrows had been fired. What he saw ¡ª was a single kobold. It was small, and its level didn¡¯t seem very high, but the creature¡¯s face was twisted with fear. Had it realized the level gap between them? ¡¯Did a dungeon break happen around here?¡¯ But as Jhin looked down at the kobold, a strange feeling crept up. Its eyes were blood-red. The foul stench from its mouth. Every clue lined up with it being a monster ¡ª yet something inside him hesitated. And he understood why. It was something that shouldn¡¯t exist. ¡¯This thing¡¯s name...¡¯ His golden eyes scanned the kobold carefully, and he felt his hair stand on end. ?Ms. Millie! Don¡¯t shoot!? Baaang! Was he too late? Jhin lightly struck the back of the kobold¡¯s head, knocking it unconscious, and dashed toward where Millie had gone. There ¡ª A kobold, its shoulder pierced through by a bullet, was howling in agony. Fortunately, it seemed she hadn¡¯t killed it. Millie looked up at Jhin with eyes full of confusion. ?I had a bad feeling, so I deliberately missed. What¡¯s wrong? Why shouldn¡¯t we shoot?? Urgently, Jhin poured an HP potion over the kobold¡¯s body. It was a low-grade potion, so the effect wasn¡¯t strong ¡ª but it was enough to keep the kobold alive. The rest would have to rely on the monster¡¯s natural recovery ability. Millie, frowning at Jhin¡¯s bizarre behavior, tilted her head. Caleb, who had also come closer, scratched his head. ?...Mr. Jhin. What in the world...?? At that moment, Luke stepped forward and said: ?If it¡¯s Mr. Jhin, he must have a reason. I believe him.? ?...? ?I really do.? Jhin, quietly gazing up at Luke, shrugged his shoulders. At some point, Luke had started wearing a slightly chilling smile. What on earth was he plotting? Even so, Jhin just gave him a glance and looked back down at the kobold. The grotesque-faced kobold bared sharp teeth and sobbed. Jhin spoke. ?This thing isn¡¯t a monster.? ?...What?? ?It¡¯s a human.? The kobold¡¯s eyes, slowly recovering, were still as blood-red as ever. Its shrill cry was indistinguishable from a monster¡¯s. And then ¡ª As the fog that had filled the waiting room began to thin, from one side, kobolds ¡ª some a little larger ¡ª began appearing. Glasses? Among the kobolds, about twenty creatures in all, one was even wearing glasses. As the group tensed up and gripped their weapons tightly ¡ª Jhin spoke without hesitation. ?Them too.? ?What?? ?They¡¯re all human.? Chapter 43 - Hans’s Story Chapter 43: Chapter 43 - Hans¡¯s StoryChapter 43 - Hans¡¯s Story The kobold wearing glasses flared its nostrils and opened its mouth. Its voice carried a mixture of confusion. ?Y-You guys... Kee-ee-! You¡¯re not, ah... collectors?? The blue, glossy skin. The jutting molars. A small monster that brought to mind Dobby from Harry Potter. Yet, despite its strange imbalance¡ªwearing glasses atop such a figure¡ªJhin frowned down at the kobold. This one introduced himself as ¡¯Hans.¡¯ ?O-Oh! Misunderstanding Kee-ee-! We¡¯re not monsters!!? Adjusting his glasses, Hans desperately tried to speak. Due to the kobold¡¯s oral structure, his pronunciation was slurred, and whimpering seeped into his speech, but it was still perfectly understandable. Next to him, Caleb, cold sweat pouring down his back, leaned in and whispered cautiously to Jhin. ?C-Can we believe what this guy is saying? He looks exactly like a monster...? Jhin gave a small nod. Conveniently, he had proof ready to explain to them. Pointing at the kobold, Jhin spoke directly. ?You all know that monster names have colors attached, right?? The color varied depending on the player¡¯s level. The redder the name, the stronger the monster. As the difficulty decreased, the color shifted closer to green. Basic knowledge from Exodia. Everyone seemed to understand, nodding in affirmation. Which made the next part quick. ?So, what color is this kobold¡¯s name right now?? ?Huh? ...Ahh!? Caleb exclaimed in surprise. Only now did he realize what Jhin was pointing out. Maybe it was his detective instincts, but his observation skills were sharp. ?It¡¯s white!? White was the color of players. A color that monsters could never possess. Because of that, Jhin had recognized they were humans. ?That¡¯s right. These are players.? That was why Jhin hadn¡¯t hunted them¡ªand had even poured HP potions on them. If they had been monsters, it would be different. But if they were people, he couldn¡¯t just let them die. Jhin added one more clarification: ?Just to be sure ¡ª these guys are different from Grids. Grids also can¡¯t have a white name.? Grids were classified as ¡¯monsters¡¯ by the system. They, like any monster, would have colored names based on their attributes. And that was why Grids could not be turned back into humans. There had never been a case of a Grid reverting to human form. ¡¯Unless... there¡¯s a method I just haven¡¯t discovered yet.¡¯ But Jhin was the #1 ranker, someone who had cleared more quests than anyone else. If he didn¡¯t know how, who would? Shaking off those thoughts, Jhin looked around at his group. Seeing the trust in their eyes, he noticed the kobolds visibly relaxing. ?Now, let¡¯s properly hear your story.? Having won over his team, Jhin turned his gaze back to the kobold. Among the twenty kobolds, only the one wearing glasses¡ªHans¡ªwas capable of speaking. Only he could communicate. Scanning the gathered kobolds one last time, Jhin settled his gaze back on Hans. The kobold was staring up at him, eyes brimming with emotion. Jhin opened his mouth first. ?Let¡¯s clarify something first. Why did you attack us?? If their true identities were human, then they had no reason to attack Jhin¡¯s party. Thus, the conversation needed to start by explaining why they had attacked humans like monsters. ?Are you enemies of humanity?? All the kobolds frantically shook their heads. Hans even crossed his arms into an ¡¯X¡¯ to vehemently deny it. ?Then why did you attack us?? Pressed by Jhin¡¯s question, Hans swallowed hard. But his eyes burned with fierce resentment. It didn¡¯t seem like a simple misunderstanding. Soon, Hans spoke: ?Kee-ee-... It¡¯s all because of the collectors!? Kobold Hans. No, the 23-year-old Hans had been freshly discharged from military service and was attending his first TOEIC class when he got caught up in the Dungeonization incident. It was the day the portal opened. He was near Eastport Station. ?...Huff!? The road splitting apart. Cars crashing into streetlights and stopping. Smoke rising from buildings. Monsters of unknown form, barely visible through shattered glass. Through the whitening of his vision, Hans suddenly noticed a quest notification. Without knowing why, a word floated into his mind instinctively. Of course he recognized it ¡ª he had played it for so long. The game interface appeared right before his eyes. ?Exodia?? Faced with monsters rushing at his jaws first, Hans somehow managed to clear the tutorial quest. Whether by instinct or luck, he managed to dodge the creatures and escape the initial portal zone. He even received starting items. It was just like a game... clutching a crude longsword, he realized the shocking reality. This world had become a game. ?Hoo...? In that ridiculous situation, Hans managed to adapt surprisingly fast. Two years of military service. He had learned firsthand that adaptation was better than lamenting misfortune. Thus, Hans became a player. Somehow, clumsily, he fought to survive in New Capital. ¡¯It¡¯s just a shame I couldn¡¯t claim the server shutdown rewards.¡¯ Before joining the military, Exodia had been the game he obsessively played. He had been a fairly high-level player, and had many items ready to claim from the shutdown compensation. His level had been close to 200. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If only he could have brought those items over, his situation would have been much better. He might have grown far more quickly. ¡¯But Exodia ended while I was in the army.¡¯ By the time he was discharged, it was far too late to claim any rewards. Even though he was an experienced player, he had to start from scratch. No ¡ª maybe not entirely from scratch. ¡¯At least I had experience.¡¯ Memories from leveling to 200 in Exodia. He had forgotten much during two years of service, but bit by bit, the memories resurfaced to guide his actions. That was a powerful weapon. Thanks to it, Hans was able to clear the tutorial quests, and gather some early achievements. Experience had made him strong. Around that time, he encountered a survivor group near Eastport Station. A group wielding crude longswords, just like him, being chased by monsters. It was natural for Hans to join them. ?Let¡¯s survive and meet again. All of us.? At the Trial nexus, Hans ¡ª unlike the other Eastport Station survivors ¡ª chose Normal difficulty. Chapter 44 - The Debt Collectors Arrive Chapter 44: Chapter 44 - The Debt Collectors ArriveChapter 44 - The Debt Collectors Arrive There wasn¡¯t any special reason. If he chose Easy difficulty, his abilities would have been practically useless. If he dared to choose Hard difficulty, it would have been something he couldn¡¯t possibly endure. The only path that seemed remotely doable was Normal difficulty. To be honest, even in Normal difficulty, Hans had almost died. He had thought to himself countless times ¡ª that if he could go back, he would choose Easy without hesitation. ¡¯Anyway... it¡¯s enough that I survived and came back, right?¡¯ After that, Hans became one of the core members at Eastport Station, continuing to survive day after day. Because he had passed Normal difficulty, people relied on him even more heavily. ¡¯The problem was that Eastport Station didn¡¯t have a single high-level player.¡¯ The real issue was that someone who had barely survived Normal difficulty was now the mainstay of the group. The grim reality was that there were no high-level players. Among the survivors at Eastport Station, there wasn¡¯t even one who had received shutdown rewards from Exodia. Naturally, the entire group was steadily shrinking, growing weaker by the day. Several dungeons had devoured the once-bustling commercial districts. The more dungeon breaks occurred, the more the safe zones shrank, and the narrower the players¡¯ range of activity became. The situation only worsened as food supplies dwindled. Eventually, people began to starve. ?Kee-ee-... Back then... we shouldn¡¯t... have accepted... those guys...? That was when they appeared ¡ª the mysterious merchants. Pack-carrying traders who suddenly began appearing all around Eastport Station. They were armed with food, mysterious items, and unusually friendly attitudes. They moved like volunteers, offering hope to the survivor group at Eastport Station. They provided food that could fill starving stomachs. They handed out weapons that could fight monsters. At first, everyone was grateful. Because thanks to them, they hadn¡¯t died immediately. ?It was... a scam! It was a scam!!? When they accepted goods from the merchants, Eastport¡¯s survivors actually had nothing to offer in return. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In that brutal environment, hunting monsters was almost impossible, and collecting items was out of the question. So they ended up offering something else ¡ª their very status as players. The merchants spoke grandly about "investing for the future," and under those honeyed words, the survivors signed contracts without suspicion. In the end, they had mortgaged their lives ¡ª and futures. Grinding his sharp teeth, Hans recalled those days bitterly. ?It was... Kee-ee-! A hidden contract!!? At the time, they hadn¡¯t realized it ¡ª but the food that the merchants had given out had been laced with drugs. After eating it once, they would crave it endlessly ¡ª even if they were already full. It took no time at all for Eastport Station to collapse. And that wasn¡¯t all. On the back of the contracts ¡ª written in tiny, almost invisible letters ¡ª was a clause stating that if they failed to repay their debt, they would "offer their bodies" instead. ?Kee-eee!!? The cries of the kobolds, filled with rage and sorrow, shook the waiting room. In their desperate wails was the unbearable humiliation and helplessness they had suffered. ?They... they stole our bodies! Keee-eee !!? When the merchants disappeared, what showed up next were the "debt collectors." Debt collectors came leading groups, carrying weapons. And according to the contracts, they seized what was owed ¡ª without mercy. By the time the survivors realized what was happening, it was far too late. ?We... we became kobolds... Kee-ee-!!? The players of Eastport Station had their souls forcibly trapped in kobold bodies. Their real bodies ¡ª were taken away by the debt collectors, to some unknown place. And that ¡ª was only the beginning of the nightmare. ?The debt collectors... Kee-ee-! Were ruthless!? The debt collectors, who had taken their original bodies, started visiting once a week. Each time ¡ªthey demanded "interest," exactly as specified in the hidden contracts. They came to take repayment for the goods the survivors had once received. But what could survivors ¡ª now reduced to weak kobolds ¡ª possibly do? The dungeons around Eastport were savage. There was no way players trapped in such weak forms could hunt and gather anything. Thus, week after week, they had nothing to offer. And the debt collectors started taking something else. Their memories. ?M-Memories!? They began stealing the survivors¡¯ memories. No one knew what they were doing with them. No one knew why. But the debt collectors demanded memories as payment. Perhaps that was why ¡ª most of the kobolds could no longer even speak. ?We... can¡¯t... let them take anything more... Kee-ee-!? That was the tragedy that had befallen the survivors of Eastport Station. And that ¡ª was the real reason they had attacked Jhin¡¯s group. After hearing everything, Jhin slowly swept his gaze across the group of kobolds. And then ¡ª he spoke, voice low and sharp: ?I see.? There was no admiration. No sympathy. No emotion. Only a cold, cutting tone. ?Has anyone else passed through here?? ?Other... people?? ?Yes. From Stoneveil city Station. Did anyone come through this way? You didn¡¯t harm them, did you?? Hans hurriedly shook his head. Maybe it was the frozen sharpness in Jhin¡¯s every word ¡ª The kobolds all looked tense and frightened. ?N-No... Kee-ee-! You are... the first ones we¡¯ve met...!? The other kobolds surrounding them also shook their heads frantically. Jhin looked around at them, forcing himself to calm down. Of course, his anger wasn¡¯t directed at the kobolds. He exhaled a long breath and focused his gaze on Hans. There was still something left to ask. ?Were the debts... different for everyone?? ?N-No.? ?What about interest?? Again, Hans shook his head firmly. Biting down on his lip, Jhin asked the last question ¡ª almost spitting the words out: ?When... are those bastards ¡ª the debt collectors ¡ª coming again?? It was then. Tatatat! The sound of small, hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway beyond. A kobold came rushing in, running desperately. The little kobold ran straight to Hans and cried out: ?D-Debt collectors!!? And then¡ª Following behind ¡ª heavy, deliberate footsteps began to fill the space. Chapter 45 - The Battle at Eastport Station Chapter 45: Chapter 45 - The Battle at Eastport StationChapter 45 - The Battle at Eastport Station With the appearance of the debt collectors, Jhin decided to first hide inside the ticket booth located a bit away from the waiting area. Meanwhile, the kobolds began to form ranks, just as they had when greeting Jhin¡¯s group earlier. It was obvious what they were trying to do. Millie cautiously opened her mouth. ?Mr. Jhin... are you okay?? ?Hm?? ?You don¡¯t look well.? Snapping back to his senses and glancing around, Jhin realized Caleb and Luke were also subtly watching him with worried eyes. Millie asked again: ?Are you feeling unwell?? Jhin shook his head. It was true that his agitation showed on his face. But to say he was feeling mentally disturbed ¡ª that wasn¡¯t quite right either. He had the skill of ¡¯Calmness.¡¯ Unless it was something truly extreme, he could control his emotions. Just¡ª ?I¡¯m a little angry.? Jhin¡¯s gaze swept over the kobolds hidden around, each aiming an arrow. They didn¡¯t even speak now, only uttering guttural cries like ?Kee-ee-!? and sobbing like beasts. As if they had truly forgotten how to use language. As if they had truly become monsters. Suppressing his rage, Jhin spoke: ?The value of the goods they borrowed ¡ª it was roughly similar for everyone. Right?? ?...That¡¯s what they said.? ?And the interest was the same too.? ?Yes...? Jhin narrowed his eyes. ?But the amount of memory loss... it¡¯s different. Some kobolds have lost enough memory to forget ,even how to speak, while others haven¡¯t.? He asked: ?Why would there be such a difference in memory loss?? ?...No way.? Millie, quick-witted, instantly grasped what Jhin was implying. It took Caleb a few seconds longer, but he, too, soon grimaced in realization. Luke¡¯s expression also darkened, having reached a similar conclusion. ?The total amount of memories they had was different to begin with.? Different spans of life. The kobold with glasses, Hans, was twenty-three years old. He had twenty-three years¡¯ worth of memories ¡ª thus, he could still act somewhat human. The others ¡ª had fewer memories. In other words: ?They were children.? The debt collectors had stolen the bodies of minors ¡ª teenagers, children ¡ª and even damaged what little memories they had left. That was the conclusion. Maybe that was why Hans, even while knowing it was reckless, had drawn up a plan to fight the debt collectors. Even if his own memories were intact ¡ª the others barely had shreds of their humanity remaining. If those memories were completely erased¡ª ¡¯They¡¯ll become monsters.¡¯ The system recognized them as "players" because there were still human souls ¡ª specifically, aware human souls ¡ª trapped within those kobold bodies. But if they lost all memory ¡ª if the human consciousness disappeared ¡ª they would become monsters, irreversibly. Just like the Grids. They would never return. ?Those damn bastards...? Grinding his teeth, Caleb muttered behind him. Meanwhile, Jhin turned his gaze back forward. ?Kee-ee-!? All around the station, the kobolds tensed and activated the hidden devices they had set up. A thick fog suddenly blanketed the area, blurring vision. The exact same method they had used earlier against Jhin¡¯s group. At that moment ¡ªJhin spotted the debt collectors climbing up the stairs. Massive figures ¡ª easily over two meters tall ¡ª thudded up step by step, heavy and slow. And then he knew. Hans¡¯s plan was going to fail. ?What should we do? Are we just going to watch?? At Millie¡¯s worried question, Jhin¡¯s eyes gleamed sharply as he stared at the approaching debt collectors. ¡¯Just stand by?¡¯ Jhin slowly clenched his fist. ?...Of course not.? ?Grrrrh! What¡¯s this...? The huge men who had climbed into the waiting room at Eastport Station exhaled thick plumes of breath. Their eyes flickered rapidly ¡ª and with precision, they spotted the kobolds hiding in the fog. ?Trying to pull some tricks, huh!? The giant lifted a club high into the air. With a thunderous crash, he slammed the club straight down onto the floor ¡ª cracking the ground open. At the same time, a rush of air blasted outward ¡ª and the thick fog cleared instantly. The scene of terrified kobolds was exposed to the debt collectors¡¯ eyes. ?How adorable... thinking you can resist!? And then ¡ª despite their massive size ¡ª the debt collectors charged forward with startling speed. The kobolds fired arrows in desperation. But¡ª The giants¡¯ skin deflected the arrows like they were pebbles against stone. ?Kee-ee-!? Hans¡¯s desperate cries roused the kobolds into action. Several nearby kobolds jumped up ¡ª hurling round objects at the approaching giants. Where had they gotten them? Upon closer look ¡ª they were grenades. KABOOOM! A sudden explosion shook the area, blasting away the lingering mist completely. One of the debt collectors was caught in the blast zone. Hans let out a triumphant roar. The kobolds followed, letting out battle cries as they hurled more grenades. The place where the debt collectors had clustered turned into a wasteland in moments. But¡ª Their cheers came too soon. ?If you borrow money...? From within the smoke ¡ªa giant hand shot out. It seized a kobold by the head. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ?...you must repay it!? ?Kee-ee-!Kee-ee-!? The kobold shrieked in terror, but no help came. The same thing was happening elsewhere, all around the battlefield. Of course it was. These were not foes that kobolds could handle. The giants ¡ª the debt collectors ¡ª had skin tougher than modern grenades could breach. Jhin knew them. ¡ªAnd. The instant he saw a debt collector¡¯s bulging arm getting ready to crush a kobold¡¯s skull¡ª Jhin moved. Ssshhk! A sharp slicing sound. And the debt collector¡¯s arm was neatly severed. With one smooth swing, Jhin¡¯s thorn-infused weapon severed through flesh, then up and cleanly decapitated the debt collector¡¯s head. That ¡ª was the trigger. Gunshots rang out. Another debt collector¡¯s forehead was blown open. Caleb and Luke hurriedly grabbed the trembling kobolds and retreated to the rear. In an instant ¡ª a clear line was drawn between the debt collectors and the kobolds. Standing at the center of it ¡ª were Millie and Jhin. Someone muttered in confusion: ?Humans...?? Through the fully cleared mist ¡ª another debt collector emerged into view. His first impression? He looked just like a goblin from an old fairy tale. Broad, hulking shoulders. A prominent horn on his forehead. A giant club slung casually over his shoulder. If he swung that club, it wouldn¡¯t be magic tricks ¡ª it would be bloody carnage. Not the whimsical goblins of children¡¯s stories ¡ª but something straight out of a dark, cruel fairytale. ¡¯Of all things... it had to be a goblin.¡¯ Goblins were D-rank monsters, their level exceeding 80. Against kobolds ¡ª whose maximum level barely reached 30 ¡ª it was an impossible matchup. ¡¯Especially these ones ¡ª they¡¯re obviously reinforced.¡¯ One glance told the story. Their physiques were absurdly solid. The fact that even grenades couldn¡¯t harm them meant their strength and endurance stats had skyrocketed. Meanwhile, Jhin focused intently on the goblin¡¯s name. There ¡ª gleamed the unmistakable color of ¡¯white.¡¯ ???? Hey dear reader! ???? www.patreon[dot]com/c/levelingmonarch/shop If you¡¯ve made it this far, it¡¯s clear you¡¯re enjoying the story! ?? But I noticed that the price here on WebNovel is way too high... ???? So, I decided to publish the novel on Patreon at just 10% of the price ????¡ªto help you save your money! ???? You¡¯ll also get access to 750+ advanced Chapters! ???? To read the novel, please click the button below and check out the store link. If you¡¯re currently on a tight budget, feel free to message me¡ªI¡¯ll gladly offer you a discount! ???????? ???? www.patreon[dot]com/c/levelingmonarch/shop Chapter 46: The Broken Contract Chapter 46: Chapter 46: The Broken ContractChapter 46: The Broken Contract ¡¯Even players...¡¯ But looking at these creatures, Jhin felt no sympathy like he had toward the kobolds. The only thing surrounding him was cold, boiling anger. Jhin locked eyes onto the goblin standing at the head of the enemy group. Judging by the two horns protruding from its forehead, it had to be their leader. A goblin with two horns. A "Smaug." ?Human. Don¡¯t interfere.? ?Aren¡¯t you a human too?? ?...What?? The goblin answered with a stupid question, and Jhin clicked his tongue. The way it spoke ¡ª as if it had never been human ¡ª was so revolting it made him want to snap. ?Forget it. What¡¯s the point in talking.? In the next instant, Jhin closed the distance. He grabbed a one-horned "Smaug" by its horn ¡ª and threw it. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The massive body flew through the air and crashed into the wall with an explosive boom. Without hesitation, Jhin kicked the next closest Smaug, snatched the club it dropped, and shattered its skull. They might have once been human on the inside. But¡ª He showed no mercy in his strikes. ¡¯Because these bastards are different from the kobolds.¡¯ The kobolds had been victims, their bodies stolen through deceit. But these goblins¡ªThey had volunteered. Not a single one among them held goodwill. ¡¯Because the prerequisite to becoming a goblin is parricide.¡¯ Jhin¡¯s gaze sharpened dangerously. At that moment ¡ª flames surged toward him. Fwooooosh! Fire roared, sweeping across the field ¡ª the signature ability of a Smaug. The creature seemed to have an affinity for fire, manipulating the flames to attack. The kobolds, weak against fire, whimpered miserably. Jhin muttered: ?Didn¡¯t you learn in ethics class not to play with fire?? At that moment, his skill ¡¯Flow Reading¡¯ activated. Instantly analyzing the battlefield, he found a route leading straight to the Smaug. He sprinted forward, choosing the shortest path. As for the remaining Smaugs ¡ª he left them to Millie. She could handle them alone. Just then ¡ª a wall of flame erupted before him. The entire front was engulfed in fire, but Jhin quickly found a gap small enough to pass through with only minor burns. Fwoooosh! Whoooosh!! Without hesitation, Jhin leaped through the fire. And his fist ¡ª aimed straight at the Smaug¡¯s face. The goblin tried to jerk its head back to dodge, but Jhin¡¯s punch was faster. [Skill ¡¯Mana Focus (F)¡¯ activated.] [Weapon-exclusive skill ¡¯Thorn¡¯ from the equipment ¡¯Scarecrow¡¯s Thorn Gauntlet¡¯ activated.] Simultaneously, Jhin triggered the thorn mechanism on his weapon. Puuuuck! The thorn drilled clean through the Smaug¡¯s forehead. The goblin looked at him with an almost pitiful gaze ¡ª but its eyes quickly dulled as its brain was skewered. [You have defeated the debt collector ¡¯Smaug.¡¯] [Your level has increased.] [You have obtained rewards.] Goblin¡¯s Pack. Hidden Contract. Narrowing his brows, Jhin opened the hidden contract he had picked up. Maybe it held a clue on how to restore the kobolds to their original bodies. [Hidden Contract] Name: Clark Contents: ¡¯Party A¡¯ shall have the right to enforce unconditional sacrifice and labor from ¡¯Party B.¡¯ ¡¯Party B¡¯ is obligated to pay weekly tributes to ¡¯Party A¡¯... From the very introduction ¡ªthe contract was blatantly unfair. Back when the kobolds had first signed, the document would not have shown these terms. Most likely, special items had been used to conceal the true content until after the contract was sealed. That was why ¡ª one must never sign contracts carelessly. Especially in Exodia... Without power to protect yourself, everything would be stolen. ?...Fucking bastards.? After reading all the way to the end, Jhin couldn¡¯t help but curse under his breath. The final clause was enough to make his blood boil with rage. ¡¯Cunning sons of bitches.¡¯ Bang! As the last of the Smaugs fell, a brief silence descended over Eastport Station. Above the corpses of the goblins, white mist began to rise ¡ª the souls of the players, escaping their monstrous forms. And then¡ª ?Kee-ee-...?? The kobolds tilted their heads in confusion ¡ª then began collapsing one by one. From their small bodies ¡ª white mist, just like the goblins¡¯, began to leak out. The souls that had been trapped inside. And soon ¡ªit spread like a plague. The same symptoms appeared across all the kobolds. ?W-What¡¯s going on...?? Caleb muttered in shock. In a matter of moments, every kobold collapsed. As if ¡ª their bodies had become mere husks, emptied of their souls. ?Mr. Jhin... what should we do?? Realizing the severity of the situation, Millie turned to him anxiously. Jhin swallowed hard as he looked back down at the hidden contract. [If the debt collector tasked with collecting interest from ¡¯Party B¡¯ encounters a problem, ¡¯Party A¡¯ shall inherit all rights over ¡¯Party B.¡¯] The moment the kobolds had attacked the debt collectors, this outcome had already been set. Perhaps ¡ªthose bastards had been waiting for this all along. If they provoked the kobolds into fighting, they wouldn¡¯t even need to wait to collect memories little by little ¡ª they could just seize everything at once. Whooooosh! Unlike the goblins¡¯ souls, which scattered into the air immediately¡ª The kobolds¡¯ souls ¡ª gathered together, forming a mass. And they began moving ¡ª toward a single direction. Seeing that, Jhin¡¯s eyes sharpened. ?We have to follow them.? ?Huh?? ?If we¡¯re too late ¡ª the kids will be in danger.? They hurried after the drifting mist. And strangely enough ¡ª the path it took felt familiar. Following the stairs down¡ª They arrived at the place they had seen when they first entered, the ghost station¡¯s platform. But there was something different. ?...A train?? [The train will be departing shortly. Passengers, please board.] Something absurd was waiting there. Chapter 47- The Running Ghost Train Chapter 47: Chapter 47- The Running Ghost TrainChapter 47- The Running Ghost Train The long, rectangular machine let out a cold mechanical sound. Through the wide-open doors, they could glimpse the interior ¡ª brightly lit and unusually clean. The square-shaped machine that had entered the ghost station platform, practically a dead, abandoned ruin, asserted its presence with icy weight. Pusheeeeek. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Blue seats. Overhead handrails hanging from the ceiling. [You have encountered D-rank Dungeon ¡¯Running Ghost Train.¡¯] Warm air, like from a heater, was blowing outward from the interior. Jhin couldn¡¯t believe his eyes at the absurdity of it all. ?How... how is the subway still running...? Ever since New Capital had fallen into this state, of course, all subway operations had ceased. Wasn¡¯t that the whole reason why the people at Stoneveil city Station had made their evacuation plans based on the subway map? ¡¯Besides, this is Line 10.¡¯ Narrowing his eyes, Jhin scrutinized the exterior of the train even closer. Even putting aside the impossibility of a subway still operating three months after the collapse¡ª there was no reason at all for a train to be running on the unfinished Line 10. He considered other possibilities. Just then, he noticed Kimmy thrashing wildly inside his pocket. Whenever Kimmy reacted this way, there was always a reason. [¡¯Kimmy¡¯ is unable to contain his excitement at the ¡¯feast¡¯ in front of him.] [Do not spare nourishment for ¡¯Kimmy.¡¯] ...Of course. Jhin sighed as he stared at the train¡¯s familiar exterior. He had guessed it ¡ª but he hadn¡¯t expected it to appear like this. ¡¯It¡¯s a dungeon.¡¯ A dungeon, using the subway as its stage. ¡¯Considering it wasn¡¯t here when we first arrived... this must be a moving dungeon.¡¯ In Exodia, where dungeons were the core content, the world was riddled with countless varieties of dungeons. Among them ¡ª the "moving dungeons." In Exodia, moving dungeons usually took the form of carriages or ships. Sometimes even airships ¡ª though that was mainly in fantasy worlds. In a modern setting like this one ¡ª it made perfect sense for a subway train to become a moving dungeon. In fact, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if things like airplanes or buses underwent dungeonization too. At any rate ¡ª moving dungeons in this world were bound to be particularly tricky. ?Mr. Jhin.? Lost briefly in thought, Jhin almost missed the sight of the white mist ¡ª the kobolds¡¯ souls ¡ª being sucked into the train as if by a giant vacuum cleaner. Realizing the subway was a dungeon, Caleb cautiously asked: ?What should we do?? Still staring at the train, Jhin turned to him and, instead of answering, asked: ?Detective ¡ª what will you do?? ?Huh?? ?As you can see, this is a dungeon. If we enter that train, we might lose the chance to find Stoneveil city Station¡¯s survivors.? Jhin had already decided to chase the children ¡ª the souls the debt collectors had taken. But he couldn¡¯t force that burden onto Caleb. As the leader of Stoneveil city Station¡¯s survivors, Caleb had a duty to protect them. Even if their paths divided here, Jhin had no right to stop him. Caleb hesitated for a moment, then spoke: ?Kobold ¡ª no, Hans said no one else had come through here, right?? ?...? ?If the survivors were still alive, there¡¯s no way they would have ignored Eastport Station and fled onward. And there are no signs of battle around here, so the Grids haven¡¯t reached this area yet either.? That was the reality. Caleb continued, stating the painful truth: ?It may sound cold, but rather than chasing people whose survival we can¡¯t even confirm, it¡¯s more rational to save the children right in front of us.? Jhin quietly nodded, agreeing with him. He didn¡¯t offer false hopes like "maybe the survivors escaped through the opposite tunnel." If there was no certainty, there was no point giving false comfort. There was only one thing to say: ?Then let¡¯s go.? Bearing the heavy silence on their shoulders, they boarded the train. [You have failed to obtain a boarding ticket.] [Unauthorized boarding confirmed.] [Player ¡¯Evan¡¯ has been marked as a target by the ¡¯Station Staff.¡¯] The D-rank dungeon ¡¯Running Ghost Train¡¯ ¡ª was not a dungeon that Evan, with his mere level 52, could survive. Even if he somehow managed to slaughter every Skeleton that broke loose during a dungeon break, this place was an entirely different level. From the very start ¡ª in the rear carriage ¡ª he could feel it. ¡¯...I¡¯m going to die here.¡¯ Whoooosh! Even missed attacks still chipped away at his HP. A "baby goblin," about the size of a soccer ball, was charging him ¡ª a simple monster that only knew how to body slam. And yet ¡ª Evan couldn¡¯t even handle that. The gap between him and the dungeon¡¯s difficulty was overwhelming ¡ª far greater than he had imagined. What¡¯s worse ¡ª As soon as he entered the dungeon, a quest had triggered ¡ª with a time limit attached. That ¡ª was basically a death sentence. ¡¯How the hell am I supposed to kill it in ten minutes!¡¯ The task of killing the baby goblin ¡ª and obtaining a "boarding ticket" ¡ª with a 10-minute time limit. It was likely just the intro quest for the dungeon. Probably extremely low in difficulty, too. After all, this was still the entrance. It wouldn¡¯t make sense for it to be impossibly hard right from the start. ¡¯Ughhh! This is insane!¡¯ And yet¡ª Facing even a single baby goblin ¡ª felt like confronting a final boss. Like he was surrounded by a dozen grim reapers. And that gut feeling ¡ª was not wrong. Even among D-rank monsters, the weakest baby goblin would still be equivalent to a mid-boss of an E-rank dungeon. For someone like Evan ¡ª who struggled even against regular E-rank monsters ¡ª this place was nothing short of hell. He was just far too weak. KWAANG! Dodging desperately, Evan threw himself to the side. The baby goblin crashed into the wall behind him ¡ª then turned around with a sinister grin. And then¡ª the baby goblin charged at him again. Chapter 48-The Baby Goblins’ Punishment Chapter 48: Chapter 48-The Baby Goblins¡¯ PunishmentChapter 48-The Baby Goblins¡¯ Punishment Dodging left, leaping up, rolling ¡ª Evan had survived so far by using every trick he could think of. But now, he was reaching the limits of his stamina. For a full ten minutes, the relentless, non-stop body slams from the baby goblins had continued. And Evan realized something faintly: ¡¯They¡¯re completely toying with me...¡¯ The baby goblins never attacked all at once. As if they had made a pact, they deliberately took turns ¡ª one by one, striking him. Treating him like a toy. Evan felt furious at how pathetic his situation was ¡ª but at the same time, there was a part of him that felt strangely relieved. If they had all attacked at once, he would have been dead long ago. The only reason he was still breathing ¡ªwas because of their arrogance. ?K-Kuhuk...!? But even that was ending now. A glancing blow from a baby goblin ¡ª and Evan collapsed, critically wounded. The baby goblin¡¯s tiny, chubby hand now looked like the scythe of a grim reaper. He had no strength left to move. He had reached death¡¯s doorstep. And then¡ª A message appeared before his eyes. [Quest failed.] [You have failed to obtain the ¡¯boarding ticket.¡¯] [You have been marked as a target by the ¡¯Station Staff.¡¯] Even the system was handing down his death sentence now. At that moment¡ª The baby goblin, almost regretfully, brushed off its hands and backed away. Even though a perfect opportunity to flee was before him, Evan couldn¡¯t move an inch. Soon after¡ª A figure much larger than the baby goblins appeared ¡ª an enormous goblin, like a giant wrapped in muscle. Through his blurry vision, Evan stared up at it. ?...Horn?? A single horn protruding from its forehead. The creature grabbed Evan¡¯s ankle ¡ª and started dragging him into the next carriage. Pain wracked his entire body, but there was nothing he could do. Consciousness flickered in and out several times. And at some moment¡ª The pain disappeared. Everything became still. He came back to his senses only when a loud, clattering noise filled the surroundings. Clang, clang! Through his blurred vision, a grim sight came into view. Kee-ee-ee-it!! Dozens ¡ª maybe hundreds ¡ª of people, drooling, tied up together in a single space. And Evan ¡ªwas right in the middle of it. One of them, staggering like a zombie, lowered its head to look at him. Meeting its gaze, Evan felt his heart plummet. Kee-ee-... Eyes without focus. Drool mixed with blood dripping from a mouth that belonged to a figure no bigger than a grade school child. Their cries sounded monstrous ¡ª but no matter how he looked, they were still just children. And they somehow felt... different from the survivors of Stoneveil city Station. ?...What the hell is this place?? At the rearmost carriage of the ghost train ¡ª in a storage-like space ¡ª the baby goblins were bouncing around. After running wildly, the baby goblins now faced the door leading to the next carriage, grumbling in frustration. One goblin, in a fit of anger, headbutted a pile of junk. Garbage scattered everywhere, but their fury didn¡¯t subside. ?Uuuu...!? The reason for their rage was simple. The prey they had barely managed to catch ¡ª had been snatched away by a Smaug. Was just having horns enough? The Smaug, claiming the title of "Station Staff," had taken away the human they had carefully seasoned. It was too unfair. If the Smaug kept stealing every catch, how were the baby goblins supposed to grow up? How could they ever become Smaugs themselves? ?Uuuu uuuu!!? S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the baby goblins understood their position. Smaugs were elite among the goblins ¡ª even among the Young Goblins, they were a rare selection. A baby goblin could never dare defy them. ?Uuu! Uuuu!!? Still, knowing it didn¡¯t mean they could suppress their resentment. The baby goblins ground their teeth in frustration, vowing they would get another chance. Next time¡ª they wouldn¡¯t just toy around. Forget the boarding tickets or anything else. They would hunt properly ¡ª and devour. Right. They had gotten too excited, wasting time playing with the human. They needed to reflect and learn ¡ª if they wanted to become true goblins worthy of respect. ?Uuu! Uuuu!!? And¡ª The opportunity came sooner than expected. As the door to the dungeon opened once again, the baby goblins grinned widely. Memories of playing with humans resurfaced, making them almost forget their previous resolve. Humans crying out in agony! Soft skin splitting open to reveal bright red veins underneath ¡ª a gourmet¡¯s delight. The sight of blood bursting out like fireworks, spraying across their faces ¡ª it was an unbearable, thrilling pleasure. Their mouths watered just imagining it. But then¡ª The baby goblins shook their heads firmly. This time, we won¡¯t let it be taken. Even if they played with the prey a little ¡ª they would kill it quickly before anyone could steal it. One loss to a Smaug was enough. And then¡ª From the outside, new humans appeared. The baby goblins smiled broadly. Four of them, four delicious playthings. The baby goblins didn¡¯t even give the newcomers time to react. First to hit, first to win. Without hesitation ¡ª they all charged forward at once. KWAANG! ?Uuu...?? But something exploded right in front of them. The charging baby goblins tilted their heads in confusion. But ¡ª because of their momentum, they couldn¡¯t stop themselves. Besides¡ª they fully believed in their victory. After all ¡ª it had always been like that. They thought it would be the same this time too. But¡ª ?Uuuu!!? As they reached their target, a fist came flying toward them. The leading baby goblin slammed forward with all its strength ¡ª but it was the goblin¡¯s own body that was sent flying. It smashed into the wall, then crumpled onto the floor, trembling ¡ª and went limp. ?Uuu!!? The baby goblins seethed with rage. How dare mere humans...! The furious baby goblins launched another frenzied charge. An unrestrained series of body slams followed, wave after wave. But this time¡ª a huge impact enveloped them. BANG! With a deafening boom, another baby goblin was thrown backward. Similar scenes unfolded all across the carriage. ?Uuu...? Uuu?!? Only then did the baby goblins start to realize ¡ª that something was going very, very wrong. ?? Duo Leveling Fans! ??The novel is available up to Chapter 751 on my Patreon with a 50% discount! ????That¡¯s 10x cheaper than Webnovel ¨C stop wasting money and time waiting!???????? Unlock the full story now: ???? /c/levelingmonarch/shop PA*TR*EON : LEVELINGMONARCH Chapter 49 - The Ghost Train’s True Rules Chapter 49: Chapter 49 - The Ghost Train¡¯s True RulesChapter 49 - The Ghost Train¡¯s True Rules ?This place...? The moment they stepped into the dungeon, the first thing the group noticed was that the interior looked completely different from the exterior. ?It feels more like the cargo hold of a steam locomotive than a subway car.? Dust-covered crates. Faded windows. Surrounded by the musty air and thick dust, Jhin scanned the area and swallowed dryly. But honestly ¡ª this wasn¡¯t that surprising. ¡¯It¡¯s a D-rank dungeon after all.¡¯ Dungeons were always different inside compared to the outside. Just like how the E-rank dungeon "Ruined School" had looked like a high school from the outside ¡ª but inside, it had been an entire university district. This was the same. Even though the dungeon was based on a "subway train," its interior had morphed into a "steam locomotive." For a D-rank dungeon, the expanded scale wasn¡¯t odd at all. But what really caught Jhin¡¯s attention¡ª was the scenery rolling past outside the window. It kept retreating endlessly behind them. ¡¯This isn¡¯t underground.¡¯ A sun rising over barren plains. A vast landscape, like something out of a classic Western movie, stretched endlessly. And the train ¡ª just like the dungeon¡¯s name ¡ª kept running forward. [You have entered the D-rank dungeon ¡¯Running Ghost Train.¡¯] [Current Area: F Section.] [Ticket inspection will begin shortly.] [Without a boarding ticket, you will be marked by the Station Staff.] Just as they finished reading the messages¡ª a strange groaning sound reached them. Turning their heads¡ªThere they were. Tiny goblins with half-formed horns, staring at them with gleaming eyes. ?Uuu!!? Jhin immediately recognized what they were. ¡¯Baby Goblins.¡¯ Before they became the one-horned "Smaug" debt collectors ¡ª these monsters were their childhood forms. They were about the size of watermelons, clustered together almost cutely. But their cuteness was only surface deep. Their power could not be underestimated. ¡¯It¡¯s a D-rank dungeon, after all.¡¯ This was different from dungeons like the "Ruined School" or the "Garden of Death." Even these seemingly harmless baby goblins ¡ª were predators with tiger-like fangs. Each one at least above level 80. And that wasn¡¯t the worst part. ¡¯This isn¡¯t a normal dungeon either.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t just because goblins appeared. This dungeon was a "Theme Dungeon" ¡ª meaning, the moment you entered, special "quests" were automatically assigned. Clearing it meant understanding and breaking its unique rules. ¡¯Just like the Trial nexus.¡¯ The first quest the system had given them¡ªwas probably to obtain a boarding ticket. And it wasn¡¯t hard to guess where those tickets would come from. ?Uuuuuuu!!? Without any warning, the baby goblins charged. Jhin clenched his fists. They looked cute ¡ª but he knew all too well about their cruelty. There was no reason to hold back. ¡¯These little monsters... they love killing humans, don¡¯t they?¡¯ Goblins were known for their sadistic pleasure ¡ª playing with human souls like toys. Look at their grinning mouths, like little Chuckies charging forward. No doubt about it. They were monsters. KWAANG! Without mercy, Jhin struck the oncoming baby goblin. Their only attack pattern seemed to be body slams ¡ª predictable, straightforward. It wasn¡¯t difficult to deal with them. The goblin crashed backward with the sound of an explosion. ¡¯I can handle this.¡¯ Continuing to grapple with the brutish, reckless monsters¡ª Jhin quickly secured what he needed. [You have obtained a Boarding Ticket.] Nearby, Millie fired consecutive gunshots, and Caleb, working with Luke, managed to achieve the same. Each of them confirmed the same message. Obtaining a boarding ticket ¡ª was proof that they had cleared the dungeon¡¯s first theme quest. However¡ª Jhin looked back at the group and said: ?Throw away your tickets.? ?Huh?? ?We don¡¯t have the luxury to clear this by the book. If we move car-by-car from the rear like this ¡ª we¡¯ll never catch up.? Playing it safe might guarantee survival ¡ªbut it would take too long. And right now ¡ª with the children¡¯s souls already taken ¡ª time was the one thing they didn¡¯t have. At his words, Caleb looked conflicted. ?...But it says we¡¯ll be targeted by the Station Staff.? ?Exactly. That¡¯s why we¡¯re throwing them away.? Without a shred of hesitation, Jhin tossed his ticket to Kimmy as food. Millie followed suit, ripping hers apart. Seeing this, Caleb and Luke couldn¡¯t exactly keep clutching their own tickets. Besides¡ª They needed Jhin and Millie¡¯s help to survive this dungeon. They couldn¡¯t oppose them. Then¡ª Luke noticed something strange. ?...Hey. Is it just me, or are those things acting weird?? The baby goblins, who had charged so furiously before ¡ª were now huddled in a corner, nervously grinding their teeth. They showed no more intention to attack. Jhin immediately realized why. ?...Everyone, get ready.? [Quest failed.] [Player ¡¯Jhin¡¯ has been marked by the Station Staff.] Everyone read the similar system messages almost simultaneously. Their faces paled. And then¡ª With a mechanical screech, S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. the sealed door to the next carriage opened. A massive goblin appeared. ?Uuuu!!? As if begging for revenge, the baby goblins rushed toward the giant goblin all at once. In response, the giant goblin stomped forward with heavy steps. His sheer size cast a looming shadow over the carriage. The massive goblin ¡ª so big that just looking at him stirred up a primal fear. The party let out hollow chuckles. ?Ah, so that¡¯s why...? Jhin, looking faintly exasperated, stepped forward. There was not the slightest trace of fear on his face. The giant goblin pounded his chest like a drum, letting out a thunderous voice. It asked: ?...Human. Boarding ticket?? ?Don¡¯t have one.? ?Then you are guilty of boarding without permissi©¤? KWAANG! Before the sentence could even finish¡ª Jhin¡¯s fist slammed into the goblin¡¯s face. The goblin tumbled across the floor, wide-eyed, not even understanding what had just happened. And when it realized ¡ª realized it had been hit by a human ¡ª its eyes burned with rage. Snarling, it drew the club hanging at its waist. ?How dare a mere human¡ª!? KWAANG! But once again¡ª the goblin couldn¡¯t even react. Another strike. Jhin¡¯s knuckles tingled pleasantly with the impact. He grinned and said: ?So you¡¯re the Station Staff, huh?? Chapter 50 - The Price of Becoming a Goblin Chapter 50: Chapter 50 - The Price of Becoming a Goblin Chapter 50 - The Price of Becoming a Goblin ?W-What...?? ?Hey, Smaug. Are you really the Station Staff?? At the word "Station Staff," Smaug ¡ª once a debt collector ¡ª blinked blankly at Jhin with a face full of bewilderment. Still no answer. Jhin took one step closer. The goblin flinched violently ¡ª but too late. ?...!!? In an instant, Jhin was right in front of him. And in that instant¡ªhe grabbed the goblin¡¯s horn. Gripping it tight. ?Not gonna answer?? KWAANG! A loud crash rang out as the goblin was smashed down. Theme dungeons. Unlike ordinary dungeons where you simply hunt monsters, theme dungeons revolved around a set background ¡ª and a theme. Thus, quests were part of the structure. And clearing those quests, step-by-step, was the "proper" way to conquer them. The "Running Ghost Train" was no exception. The first quest: Hunt the baby goblins within the time limit and obtain a boarding ticket. Fail, and you would become the target of the Station Staff. From that point, the dungeon would become exponentially harder. Thus ¡ªthose who entered would do anything to avoid becoming a target. ¡¯What a joke.¡¯ Jhin looked down at the Smaug sprawled out with his horn snapped in half. This ¡ªwas his shortcut. The non-standard, high-speed strategy. The fastest way to break the dungeon¡¯s structure. ¡¯In the end, if you just crush the Station Staff, there¡¯s no need to care about tickets or penalties.¡¯ The Station Staff were meant to be the ultimate punishment. But if you were strong enough ¡ªit didn¡¯t matter. There was no need to waste time or effort dodging penalties designed for weaker players. Jhin said coldly: ?Hey, Smaug.? The goblin glared up at him with bloodshot eyes and hissed: ?Y-You damn human scum¡ª!? ?Tch. Noisy.? CRACK! A sharp smack to the jaw. The goblin¡¯s body jerked and quivered. It didn¡¯t die ¡ª it was too durable with the dungeon buffs. But it lay there, panting, unable to stand. The glare it shot upward¡ª If eyes could kill, Jhin would have been slaughtered a dozen times over. A seething, killing gaze. Jhin stared back indifferently and said: ?You gonna lower your eyes, or do you want me to gouge them out?? Immediately¡ª The goblin¡¯s fiery gaze extinguished. Beaten, crushed. The Smaug looked away, trembling. Jhin pressed the interrogation: ?Where did you hide the souls?? ?...? ?Still not answering?? ?I-I don¡¯t know!? S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The goblin¡¯s voice cracked ¡ª half crying, half shouting. ?Talking back?? ?I-I truly don¡¯t know, sir!? Meanwhile¡ª On the side, the baby goblins ¡ªhuddled awkwardly behind cargo piles ¡ª were sneaking glances, fidgeting nervously. They looked like kids caught watching a fight they were too scared to join. Jhin scowled. The atmosphere was too messy. ?Tch.Stop distracting me.Go hide properly.? ?Uuu!? Instant obedience. The baby goblins scurried between the cargo, shoving themselves into every possible crack and crevice, desperately trying to stay out of sight. Jhin clicked his tongue and turned his cold gaze back to the Smaug. ?Time¡¯s short. Talk.? ?I-I really don¡¯t know anything!? The goblin whimpered and shook uncontrollably. Even after a few more rough slaps¡ª the only thing it spilled was tears and pitiful squeals. Nothing useful. Jhin narrowed his eyes. Then¡ªhe changed the angle of questioning: ?The souls.They¡¯re in Section D, right?? ?Y-Yes! All the merchants who enter head straight there! That¡¯s all I know!? ?...You better not be lying.? The goblin shook his head desperately. Jhin could tell. There was no lie here. With his horn snapped ¡ªthe goblin had no strength left. No pride left to bluff with. He was genuinely broken. Jhin held out his hand. ?Alright. Then hand over the key.? ?...Huh?? ?You¡¯re the Station Staff. You can move freely between sections without clearing quests, right?? At that¡ª The goblin panicked and clutched something at his waist instinctively. Too slow. THWACK! Jhin flicked his forehead hard ¡ª the goblin yelped like a puppy kicked across the floor. Seizing the hidden pouch, Jhin spoke: ?I¡¯m taking this.? ?N-No, you can¡¯t¡ª? KWAANG! Another slam. The goblin immediately stopped protesting. [You have stolen the ¡¯Goblin¡¯s Pouch¡¯ from Station Staff ¡¯Smaug.¡¯] [You have obtained the Hidden Item ¡¯Suspicious Goblin¡¯s Pouch.¡¯] [You have obtained the Hidden Item ¡¯F Section Master Key.¡¯] Looking down at the Smaug sprawled motionless on the ground, Jhin muttered: ?Always begging for a beating...? Turning back to the others, he said: ?Let¡¯s move.We¡¯re out of time.? The others ¡ª still a little stunned from watching the one-sided beatdown ¡ª slowly nodded. As they prepared to move out¡ª Caleb, looking thoughtfully at the battered goblin, asked: ?Isn¡¯t that goblin also... a player?? ?Yeah.? ?Then... wasn¡¯t he a victim too?? The reason the goblin¡¯s name still appeared white¡ª Caleb¡¯s doubt made sense. Even if they now looked like monsters, weren¡¯t they still once human? Perhaps, just like the kobolds, they were merely victims robbed of their souls and memories. But Jhin shook his head firmly. Now was the time to make it absolutely clear. ?It¡¯s different from the kobolds. Goblins aren¡¯t made by losing memories.? The first prerequisite¡ª Parricide. The player must have committed the ultimate crime ¡ª killing their own blood relative. And the second¡ª ?They must have eaten human flesh.? Cannibalism. To become a Smaug ¡ª they had not only committed parricide in the past, but had also consumed human flesh in the present. And to reach the level of an Smaug¡ª They must have done it a lot. Looking around at Caleb and Luke, Jhin said calmly: ?So when you deal with goblins ¡ª don¡¯t show even the tiniest shred of sympathy.? He glanced once more at the broken goblin lying motionless on the ground. Maybe not quite "retribution"¡ªBut he didn¡¯t deserve pity. He had chosen this path himself. All the suffering he now endured¡ª was the direct result of the choices he had made. Gripping the stolen pouch tightly, Jhin led the group toward the next carriage. Just before crossing¡ª From behind a pile of cargo, he caught the wide, frightened eyes of the baby goblins. Were they thinking of attacking? Maybe. Gathered near the sectional door,they looked stiff and tense. Jhin asked: ?You planning to jump me?? The baby goblins¡ªVigorously shook their heads side to side. As if their lives depended on it. Chapter 51- The Shortcut Through the Dungeon Chapter 51: Chapter 51- The Shortcut Through the DungeonChapter 51- The Shortcut Through the Dungeon ?Pass.? ?Pass.? ?Pass.? Jhin was conquering the dungeon with unstoppable momentum. [!] [You have discovered an astonishing achievement.] [Title Acquired: "Rapid Dungeon Conqueror."] [Experience gained in dungeons increases by 2%.] It was all thanks to shaking down the station goblin. The master key the creature had carried was a special item that could open the entire F-section, nullifying all the related quests along the way. Caleb asked in a worried tone. ?Is it really okay for us to do this? Skipping all the quests and getting this far at once... I heard that without clearing the quests, you can¡¯t conquer a theme dungeon.? Jhin shrugged and smiled. ?You¡¯re right. But that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s the only way.? ?Huh?? ?In the end, dungeon strategy comes down to the player¡¯s discretion. You can stick to the quests and play by the book, or you can accomplish other conditions and play by exploiting loopholes.? ?And this is... one of those loopholes?? Jhin casually shrugged his shoulders again. ?If you want to see it in a good light, it¡¯s an ¡¯easter egg.¡¯ If you want to see it badly, it¡¯s a ¡¯cheat.¡¯ Either way, it¡¯s still a method of dungeon conquest.? Frankly speaking, if there was a skip button right in front of you, there was no need to sit through a boring story. Especially when time was of the essence ¡ª strategies that could shorten it were desperately needed. Millie added with a chuckle, ?This sort of thing is going to happen a lot from now on. After all, we have someone with a ¡¯built-in legal cheat¡¯ riding with us. Isn¡¯t that right?? Just as Millie said, Jhin was a master of unorthodox gameplay. Where most people would follow the nicely paved asphalt roads, he would race down the rugged backroads to find shortcuts. As usual, that reckless route had once again led to a shortcut ¡ª and a twist no one else could have imagined. Even if Millie looked at Jhin as if he were some kind of monster, he had no right to complain. ¡¯Not that she¡¯s any better. She¡¯s done worse before...¡¯ Among the top-tier players ¡ª those at the summit known as "Sky Beyond Sky" ¡ª how many had climbed there by playing fair and square? To stand above others, you had to do what others wouldn¡¯t even dare to try. Clark, in that sense, had even once managed a brutal form of gameplay that Jhin himself wouldn¡¯t have easily attempted. Psshh¡ª [F-5. You have entered: "Safe Zone ¨C Passenger Cabin Wooden Rest Area."] Passing through Section F-4, they stepped into F-5, and right away, the air felt different. If the previous four sections were cargo holds filled with dust and the lingering smell of blood, this place was full of a calming, woody scent that soothed body and mind. Clearly, this wasn¡¯t a cargo hold. ?This place...? This was the only safe zone inside the dungeon. At least here, monsters were strictly forbidden to enter ¡ª a place designed to offer players rest and a chance to check their equipment after the grueling dungeon crawl. It was especially needed for the "theme dungeon players," who would have been thoroughly exhausted after countless battles, night and day, just to get here. ¡¯Though that doesn¡¯t really apply to us.¡¯ Regardless, there were already guests inside. ?Huh?? ?Huh...?? Opening the door, Jhin and his party came face-to-face with a group busily eating packed lunches. The name tags floating above their heads were easy to read. Red. The unmistakable color denoting either monsters or red players ¡ª those flagged as hostile. But monsters were forbidden from entering safe zones. That was a system-enforced rule. Which meant these people weren¡¯t monsters. Jhin narrowed his eyes, examining their clothing in detail. ¡¯So these guys are the black-market traders.¡¯ Even without knowing anything else, the suspicious bundles they carried ¡ª and the pitiful people tied up like sausages ¡ª were more than enough to tell. ¡¯Their souls must have already been subdued.¡¯ The chained captives had nothing but the whites of their eyes showing, drooling and occasionally whimpering like broken animals. One of the traders, wearing everyday clothes under a leather coat, slowly stood up and spoke. ?Do you have a boarding pass?? Jhin immediately understood. ¡¯It¡¯s a code phrase.¡¯ Inside the goblin¡¯s stolen satchel ¡ª the reward for shaking down the station goblin ¡ª there had been an unexpected item. A secret document detailing the traders¡¯ internal passwords. These ruthless black-market traders had their own secret codes, changing daily, that they exchanged among themselves. Recalling the correct response, Jhin answered calmly. ?I don¡¯t like hot days like today.? The exchange of code phrases made no logical sense as a conversation. But upon hearing the reply, the traders nodded and visibly relaxed. Damn it. No wonder it was so hard to catch these guys. ¡¯Their codes change daily.¡¯ Knowing just one phrase wasn¡¯t enough. Even if the question remained the same, the answer would change every day ¡ª making it virtually impossible to infiltrate without the right information. If he hadn¡¯t gotten the goblin¡¯s satchel, they would have been exposed immediately. ?Please, come this way. You¡¯ve worked hard to get here.? Following the invitation, Jhin and his companions sat down. Now, he could see the traders clearly: men in their thirties to forties, casually eating and chatting over their lunches. ¡¯Let¡¯s sit too.¡¯ Glancing meaningfully around, Jhin signaled his party, and they quickly caught on, sitting down quietly without drawing attention. Jhin sat down as naturally as possible, pulling out some food from his inventory to join in the casual meal. Blending in was critical. ¡¯Besides, I¡¯m starving anyway.¡¯ They hadn¡¯t had time for a proper meal all the way here. This wasn¡¯t a place where you could skip meals and expect to fight well ¡ª keeping up energy was crucial. ?Mmm...? As he ate, he felt a sharp gaze from across the room. Looking up, he found Caleb glaring at him, his face full of complaint. Without saying a word, Caleb pointedly glanced at the chained captives, then at the black-market traders, and finally back at Jhin . sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His eyes asked, ?Are we really just going to sit here eating while they¡¯re right there?? In response, Jhin gave a small, firm nod. ¡¯Come to think of it, mindlessly chasing after souls isn¡¯t necessarily the solution.¡¯ The kids were in danger because their souls were being dragged somewhere while detached from their bodies. As time passed, detached souls would eventually have their sense of self destroyed. That was why they had rushed so quickly to get here ¡ª to retrieve the kids¡¯ souls before it was too late. ¡¯But how are we supposed to bring them back?¡¯ They didn¡¯t know the method or the conditions needed to restore souls. Jhin ¡¯s sixth sense, the Soft skills, could only read flows ¡ª not detailed information. ¡¯Which means we have to find the answer inside the dungeon.¡¯ And conveniently enough, they had just met the black-market traders. Surely, they possessed information that would help. ¡¯At the very least, if we can figure out the secret behind the contract papers, we¡¯ll have a shot.¡¯ In other words, the children¡¯s survival now depended on how well they could squeeze information out of the traders. Chapter 52 - The Hidden Enemy Chapter 52: Chapter 52 - The Hidden EnemyChapter 52 - The Hidden Enemy Just then, the trader who had first spoken earlier opened his mouth again. ?The name¡¯s Song. I¡¯m a pack trader.? ?Ah, I¡¯m Jhin .? The black-market traders only gave their surnames. Probably another layer of self-protection to hide their true identities. ¡¯Considering the kind of tricks they pull with contracts, it¡¯s no wonder.¡¯ One wrong move, and they¡¯d be doomed ¡ª and they knew it better than anyone. Just then, among the black-market traders, the man who had introduced himself as "Jerry" suddenly approached Millie and asked, ?I thought so... You¡¯re Millie, the celebrity, right?? ?...Huh?? Millie blinked in confusion. ?I¡¯m a huge fan! I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m meeting you here, of all places!? She forced a small, strained smile. ?Ah, yes...? ?This isn¡¯t the time for small talk. Please, could you give me an autograph?? He eagerly thrust out a bundle in front of her. It was filthy, stained with something unpleasant. ?Sorry about the mess. I was busy catching bugs and, well...? Jerry chuckled awkwardly. ?It¡¯s no problem,? Millie replied, taking the bundle politely. But as she continued signing, her expression gradually hardened. It wasn¡¯t just dirt or bug remains on the fabric. The dampness was blood. And the clinging bits were scraps of human flesh. ¡¯...You disgusting bastard.¡¯ Meanwhile, Jhin , who had been surveying the passenger cabin, picked up on something suspicious. Jerrykept glancing at his watch, his leg nervously jiggling. If that had been the only thing, Jhin might not have cared. ¡¯What¡¯s this?¡¯ [Activating skill: "Soft skills (A)".] At first glance, it looked like Jerrywas just standing there, arms crossed. But in the shadows of his hidden hand, something was leaking ¡ª something subtle, something invisible to the naked eye. It was a thread, leading toward the next zone, F-6. At that moment, Jhin knew. ...Where exactly did this start to go wrong? He clicked his tongue softly and asked, ?When did you notice?? ?Huh?? ?Damn it. If you knew from the beginning, there was no point in playing along.? Almost immediately, the door to Zone F-6 burst open, and a swarm of small goblin boys ¡ª with skinny legs and short arms ¡ª came rushing in. The traders shot to their feet in a panic. It seemed only Jerry had realized something was off until now. ?...You¡¯re sharper than you look,? Jerry muttered. ?Maybe. But are you going to answer my question?? Jhin asked casually. ?Of course I will,? Jerry said, grinning proudly. ?You said the code phrase from last month.? ...Wait a second. They change the entire code set every month? ?Why the hell are you people so ridiculously thorough?? Jhin muttered. ?Because pests like you aren¡¯t exactly rare,? Jerry sneered. At his command, the goblin boys moved in perfect sync. They were a higher variant of goblin spawns, standing waist-high to an adult, each wielding heavy iron clubs as they advanced. Millie reacted instantly, firing off a bullet of magic. TAAANG! One clean shot ¡ª The goblin boy collapsed helplessly to the ground with a single hit. Mr. Song¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ?Wh-what? How?!? The traders, their faces turning pale, scrambled toward F-6, hoping to flee. But standing there, blocking the way with eyes like burning flames, was Caleb. ?Move!!? they shouted. Caleb spoke in a low, steady voice. ?Back in the day, I¡¯d have read you your Miranda rights and hauled all of you off to jail... but the world¡¯s changed, hasn¡¯t it?? ?What the hell are you talking about, you psycho?!? TAAANG! Caleb¡¯s pistol roared, halting the traders in their tracks. ?You¡¯ve seen the movies, right? After the warning shot, the next one¡¯s live rounds.? ?As if! What are you gonna do with some modern peashooter¡ª?!? TANG! The next bullet bounced harmlessly off the traders¡¯ thick leather coats. Clearly, they cared a lot about self-preservation ¡ª those coats were expensive, high-grade defensive gear. ?Bulletproof vests, you idiot!? one trader jeered. The traders surged toward Caleb, now emboldened. If bullets didn¡¯t work, they had nothing to fear. But Caleb stood firm. ?Yeah, I know handguns don¡¯t work. I just wanted to shoot it once.? Then, with a casual motion, he pulled out a different weapon ¡ª a gleaming blue spear. It didn¡¯t literally create waves, but the craftsmanship and aura made it obvious: this was a "Species Extinction Reward" item. The traders hesitated, their faces flickering with panic. ?This is the age for weapons like these. Don¡¯t you agree?? Caleb said, almost gently. PSHUUUK! The spear stabbed forward in a blur. One trader didn¡¯t even have time to react before he was dead ¡ª slain instantly. Apparently, the black-market traders weren¡¯t high-level fighters after all; Caleb could easily handle them solo. Their only real firepower was the goblin boys. But even they were tangled up with Millie. ?He¡¯s alone! Overwhelm him!? one of the traders shouted desperately. Meanwhile, Jhin ¡¯s eyes were locked on Jerry , who was trying to slip away. Expertly avoiding Caleb¡¯s field of fire, Jerry moved with impressive stealth and speed. ¡¯He must be specialized in mobility,¡¯ Jhin thought. ?I¡¯ll leave this place to you,? he called out to Millie. ?Don¡¯t worry about it!? she shouted back brightly. TAAANG! TAAANG! A few dozen goblin boys were no match for her alone. After all, she¡¯d leveled up significantly to get this far. Jhin quickly chased after Jerry, closing the distance. ?Where are you off to in such a hurry?? he asked with a smirk. WHAM! He smashed Jerry¡¯s head from behind. The man collapsed to the ground but, resiliently, didn¡¯t die ¡ª merely groaned, his face bloody. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Still baring his teeth, Jerry spat, ?You... you dare defy Lord Neon?!? ...What? Hearing those words, Jhin couldn¡¯t help but stop in bewilderment. What did he just say? ?Haha! Now you realize what you¡¯ve done, huh?!? Song, bloodied and panting, sneered up at him. ?You¡¯ve just rebelled against Lord Neon ¡ª ranked 9th in the world!? Jhin chuckled hollowly as he looked down at the wretched man. Song, confused by his reaction, stared up at him with wary eyes. Jhin asked, voice light and mocking: ?Neon? That con artist bastard is here?? ???? Hey dear reader! ???? www.patreon[dot]com/c/levelingmonarch/shop If you¡¯ve made it this far, it¡¯s clear you¡¯re enjoying the story! ?? But I noticed that the price here on WebNovel is way too high... ???? So, I decided to publish the novel on Patreon at just 10% of the price ????¡ªto help you save your money! ???? You¡¯ll also get access to 750+ advanced Chapters! ???? To read the novel, please click the button below and check out the store link. If you¡¯re currently on a tight budget, feel free to message me¡ªI¡¯ll gladly offer you a discount! ???????? ???? www.patreon[dot]com/c/levelingmonarch/shop Chapter 53 - Neonthe Mirage Chapter 53: Chapter 53 - Neonthe MirageChapter 53 - Neonthe Mirage Ranked 9th in the world ¡ª Neon, the Dungeon Merchant. A figure so rare he was almost legendary: a merchant, a non-combat class, who climbed all the way to the summit known as the "Sky Beyond Sky." He was a strange man, a person who carried many different titles at once. ¡ªNeon is ruthless. When it came to money, Neon was more vicious and sharp-eyed than anyone. It was said that those who borrowed money from him often experienced horrors that would haunt even their dreams. Thus, among veteran players, a secret but widespread rule existed: No matter what, never borrow money from Neon. Even the prices he charged inside dungeons were absurd. An absolute dungeon extortionist. Everything Neon sold was outrageously expensive. Even a low-grade potion was sold at a price high enough to buy a top-grade potion in a normal village. ¡¯The worst part was... you still had to buy it.¡¯ No matter how expensive it was, players kept coming back to him. Because few merchants dared to personally make house calls into the deep end of high-level dungeons. When your consumables ran out, your gear was battered and broken, and you were isolated in desperate circumstances ¡ª what other choice did you have? Life was more valuable than gold. Better to get ripped off than to fail a dungeon raid and have your character deleted. ¡ªNo, Neon is reliable. Ironically, Neonwas also known as someone... trustworthy. His deals were always fair, always honest, always based on mutual trust. So much so that even among the oldest, most seasoned players, some would refuse to buy or sell unless it was with Neon. As a merchant, Neon¡¯s credibility was nearly absolute. To be fair, Jhin also acknowledged that much. Neon¡¯s items were superior in quality compared to anyone else¡¯s. His inventory was so vast it felt as though he had everything imaginable. The most astonishing thing was that he even carried "quest material items" ¡ª the kinds of things that players themselves were still grinding and strugglling to collect. ¡¯Though they were damn expensive.¡¯ But the quality justified the price. Neon even offered rigorous after-sales service. For an extra fee, you could purchase the "Neon Care Plus" insurance plan, and he would issue you a one-year warranty with your item. ¡¯Still, no matter what, the nickname that stuck to Neon was a "Mirage."¡¯ In Exodia, there was no land that Neon could not reach. No matter how dangerous, no matter how isolated the dungeon, if there was a customer, Neonwould somehow appear. Running out of HP potions and trapped deep within a labyrinth? Neon would pop up from nowhere, sell you supplies ¡ª and then vanish again like smoke. How could one lone merchant do all that? He would exist ¡ª and then he would not. He would not exist ¡ª and then he would. Cruel, reliable, omnipresent. That was why veterans called him the Mirage. ¡¯No ¡ª there¡¯s one more thing.¡¯ Before the world collapsed, Neonhad committed a grave sin against Jhin . Through a trade scam, he had stolen a precious special item from him. That damned bastard. Jhin furrowed his brow and asked coldly, ?That scamming son of a bitch ¡ª he¡¯s really here?? As he smiled thinly, a faint but dangerous killing intent began to leak out. Facing that, Jerryinstinctively began to tremble, not even knowing why. ?So where is Neon?? Jhin asked, his voice growing sharper. But Jerry couldn¡¯t answer. His lips quivered uncontrollably. His complexion drained until he was ghostly pale. Jhin , sensing something was wrong, quickly grabbed Song¡¯s jaw to force it open¡ª and was instantly hit by a sharp smell. A sickly sweet almond scent. ¡¯Cyanide?¡¯ It was the notorious poison, cyanide ¡ª the kind you only ever saw in detective movies ¡ª lethal even with a single breath. Foaming at the mouth, Jerry crumpled to the floor. And it wasn¡¯t just Song. Across the room, the other traders were either getting cut down by Caleb, or ¡ª when trapped ¡ª choosing suicide themselves without hesitation. It was something completely beyond Jhin ¡¯s expectations. He shouted urgently, ?Stop them!? ?Huh?? Caleb blinked, stunned. ?Don¡¯t let them kill themselves! Block them!? Only then did the party realize what was happening, rushing toward the traders, trying desperately to force their mouths open. But it was already too late. Every trader had already chosen death. Had they installed suicide capsules in their mouths? Or was there some contract that compelled them to die under certain conditions? Cornered, the black-market traders had all chosen mass suicide ¡ª and the situation turned hopeless. TAAANG! A final magic bullet shot through the air, and the last of the goblin boys fell, lifeless. Meanwhile, Caleb, who had been dragging the corpses together for inspection, shook his head with a voice full of despair. ?They¡¯re all dead.? Dead men tell no tales. And the dead men¡¯s inventories could not be looted. Searching the bodies with a sour face, Luke muttered, ?But why would they go this far?? Jhin , too, found it puzzling. What could have possibly driven them to choose death so thoroughly? Unless they had been forced to by some kind of binding contract. ...Wait a second. Looking over the fallen traders, a realization hit Jhin like a hammer. This had been far too easy. ?They didn¡¯t commit suicide,? Jhin said, voice dropping low. ?What?? Luke turned, confused. ?They didn¡¯t die. They just abandoned their bodies.? Jhin turned to the party, scanning them sharply. ?Did any of you see a system message when you killed them?? ?What message?? Caleb asked. ?You know ¡ª when you kill another player or a monster, you usually get a kill reward or a system notification.? Only then did Caleb realize and shake his head wildly. Luke, checking the logs, did the same. They had clearly stabbed their hearts, speared them straight through ¡ª but no kill confirmation message had popped up. ¡¯That¡¯s impossible.¡¯ They were red players. They were monsters. Upon death, they should have yielded experience points and items ¡ª without fail. Yet no such process had occurred. There was only one conclusion that could be drawn from this. ?As I thought,? Jhin muttered grimly. ?They¡¯re not dead. They just discarded their bodies.? ?? Duo Leveling Fans! ??The novel is available up to Chapter 751 on my Patreon with a 50% discount! ????That¡¯s 10x cheaper than Webnovel ¨C stop wasting money and time waiting!???????? Unlock the full story now: S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ???? /c/levelingmonarch/shop PA*TR*EON : LEVELINGMONARCH Chapter 54 - The Face Behind the Mask Chapter 54: Chapter 54 - The Face Behind the MaskChapter 54 - The Face Behind the Mask At the same time, Jhin ¡¯s mind flashed back to the kobolds they had met at Eastport Station. The ones whose bodies had been stolen by contracts ¡ª leaving their souls mortgaged to the kobolds. There was a question hidden there. Why did they have to lose their bodies? Why, of all things, did someone need to steal soulless bodies? Up until now, they hadn¡¯t been able to imagine the answer. But now, it was all too clear. ?Those bastards created extra lives,? Jhin said quietly. Suppose ¡ª at the very moment of death ¡ª their souls were automatically transmitted into the bodies of kidnapped children? Suppose the contract had built in that kind of contingency? ¡ªIt was entirely possible. ¡¯Because the contracts are adjusted by the system.¡¯ Now that reality had become a game world, the "system" was as absolute as divine law. Nothing in this world could defy it. Jhin was sure of it now. The merchants had been exploiting the system itself. ¡¯Of course, they probably lost a lot in the process...¡¯ Maybe massive amounts of experience points, maybe stats that could never be recovered. Maybe even pieces of their souls themselves burned away during the transfer. But compared to the price of staying alive ¡ª it was a small price to pay. Jhin furrowed his brow and muttered under his breath. ?Those damn bastards...? With him in the lead, the group redoubled their search through the traders¡¯ belongings. Thankfully, the merchants¡¯ bundles hadn¡¯t been included inside their personal inventories ¡ª meaning they could seize everything. ?Three masks... and a bunch of random junk.? Inside the bundles, they found three masks shaped like animals and some miscellaneous items ¡ª mostly packed lunches and spare clothes. There were a few trinkets too, but nothing important. Nothing that explained everything... until Jhin found it. An underground contract. ¡¯Party A¡¯ shall provide ¡¯Party B¡¯ with items necessary for survival. Upon ¡¯Party B¡¯ using the provided items, this contract is considered formally established. ¡¯Party B¡¯ must repay the borrowed items in full to ¡¯Party A,¡¯ with no set deadline for repayment. + Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as Hans had once explained ¡ª a "benevolent" contract, lending you essential items and vaguely asking you to "someday" pay them back. It showed how the contract looked before someone agreed to it. And scrawled in tiny, almost invisible letters on the back, there was a hint about the hidden terms ¡ª the true underground contract. Barely visible, but unmistakably there. ¡¯Once the contract is accepted, it twists into that vicious, monstrous form.¡¯ A clause so one-sided and cruel that it could strip a person of anything ¡ª even their soul. It was a contract designed to steal everything. ?Over just one flimsy piece of paper...? Meanwhile, Caleb stood there, staring at the contract, his lips pressed into a tight line. He bit his lip hard. A man full of heart ¡ª no wonder he¡¯d been a cop. Someone who couldn¡¯t simply walk past injustice. Especially something this unjust. Jhin understood perfectly. No matter if this was "just a game," deciding the fate of someone¡¯s body, life, and soul with a scrap of paper was disgusting. Even more so when a person¡¯s decades of life could be wiped away by a few sentences. ?So, you¡¯re saying... Neon is behind all this?? Millie said, her eyes burning with fury. Even without activating her Burn Blood ability, her face flushed red with anger. It was clear just how furious she was. ?Neon¡¯s name came out of the traders¡¯ mouths,? Jhin replied, calm but cold, ?but we can¡¯t be certain he¡¯s the mastermind yet. No matter how many rumors there were about him being ruthless, he was never this trashy before.? ?Still... we can¡¯t know for sure. Someone that bad in a game might be even worse in reality...? Millie said bitterly. Jhin nodded slowly. He couldn¡¯t fully guarantee anything based on the Neon he remembered from the game. After all, Millie herself ¡ª who had appeared as a cold, aloof avatar ¡ª was, in reality, an idol. Maybe Neon¡¯s personality had been softened inside the game. Maybe, in reality, he was even worse. Hadn¡¯t he already committed fraud before the game shut down? Millie slammed a fist against the wall with a loud bang. ?Neon is not someone we can trust.? ?Got it,? Jhin said. ?For now, we¡¯ll treat him as a suspect.? ?No ¡ª it¡¯s certain,? Millie said fiercely. ?Neon is the culprit.? But even with her certainty, Jhin couldn¡¯t agree so easily. Even if Neon had scammed him once before. ¡¯Neon was a merchant.¡¯ And a merchant¡¯s most essential trait was trust. Sure, Neon might have Neoned up prices or sold information at a premium ¡ª but, aside from that one case, he had never tampered with contracts. Jhin remembered once asking him ¡ª half-joking, half-serious. Why didn¡¯t Neon just scam people outright? Neon had laughed and said, ¡¯If I mess with contracts, maybe the system will change my class to Con Artist.¡¯ In other words ¡ª if Neon was still playing as a merchant, it made no sense for him to wreck everything just for a few cheap scams. The long-term benefits of staying a merchant outweighed any short-term gain from turning into a scammer. At that moment, Luke, who had been quietly listening, asked, ?Is Neon really that bad of a person?? Millie shook her head bitterly. ?The worst con artist there is. He comes at you with a smile... and stabs a dagger straight into your heart. I once worked so hard to get a rare gun ¡ª and if it weren¡¯t for him...!? Only then did Jhin understand why Millie had been so furious. She had also been betrayed by Neon. ?...You too?? he asked quietly. ?Huh? Wait, Jhin , you too?? They locked eyes. A deep, silent bond formed between them ¡ª an unspoken understanding. Clearly, Neon hadn¡¯t just betrayed one or two people before the server shut down. ¡¯...No way. Did he screw over all the top rankers?¡¯ Jhin sighed heavily and said, ?Still... let¡¯s just treat him as a suspect for now. We don¡¯t have concrete proof yet.? ?Fine. But if we do meet him again... can I punch him at least once?? ?...At least once,? Jhin allowed with a sigh. But it was then. Clang! A sudden loud noise rang out from one side of the cabin. The noise came from the direction where the merchants¡¯ bundles had been piled up a place where supposedly no one should have been. ¡¯No ¡ª not no one.¡¯ Jhin tensed up immediately and moved cautiously toward the pile. There, among the bundles, were the kidnapped people the merchants had dragged along ¡ª their bodies soulless, tied up like cargo. And among them ¡ª Jhin ¡¯s brow furrowed as his eyes landed on something familiar. A small cross-shaped earring dangling from a man¡¯s ear. A unique item meant only for high-level veterans, with a level requirement of 300. There had been only one owner for it. ¡¯Why didn¡¯t I notice before?¡¯ Amidst the soulless bodies ¡ª drooling, weeping, moaning in strange ways ¡ª one man awkwardly smiled and waved a hand. ?...Ta-daaa.? It was Neon. Chapter 55 - Neon’s True Identity Chapter 55: Chapter 55 - Neon¡¯s True IdentityChapter 55 - Neon¡¯s True Identity ¡¯Is that really Neon?¡¯ The man awkwardly waving his hand among the prisoners captured by the black-market traders. Had it not been for that earring, he would have seemed so plain, so unremarkable, they might not have suspected a thing. ?...Ta, ta-daaa.? Unlike the other prisoners, he didn¡¯t look like someone whose soul had been stolen. Naturally so. The "Angel¡¯s Earring" he wore would have easily detected ¡ª and neutralized ¡ª any hidden poison clauses in a contract. Ranked 9th among the "Sky Beyond Sky." There was no way the famed dungeon merchant Neon would ever fall prey to mere black-market traders. ¡¯But then... why is Neon here?¡¯ Neon was supposed to be a prime suspect ¡ª possibly even the true mastermind behind all this. There was absolutely no reason he should be tied up among the prisoners. Had the black-market traders lied? Was the information wrong? ...No way to know yet. The more he thought about it, the deeper the mystery grew. ¡¯No need to think too hard.¡¯ The man who could answer was standing right in front of them. If this was really that Neon, he would know the answers. But before Jhin could even open his mouth, Millie moved first. ?...Neon?? She stepped up, pulling out her revolver and aiming it directly at him. The moment she saw the earring, she must have realized it too. Caleb and Luke also quickly gripped their weapons, tension crackling in the air. The atmosphere became razor-sharp. Everyone was on edge ¡ª until Neon slowly raised both hands in the air and stammered, ?O-oh, this is all a misunderstanding! I don¡¯t know anything!? ?Yup. Definitely Neon.? ?I¡¯m not involved! You¡¯ve got the wrong guy! Neon? Ha, what a funny joke!? Click! Power gathered at the muzzle of Millie¡¯s loaded magic revolver. One pull of the trigger, and a bullet would pierce his forehead. ?Neon, are you really the mastermind behind all of this?? she demanded coldly. Neon¡ª the man with both hands raised high ¡ª rapidly shook his head, pale as a ghost. But Millie didn¡¯t lower her gun, her eyes narrowing. ?Then explain that earring.? ?I-I bought it in the Westcoast for like... ten thousand coin...? ?That¡¯s the Angel¡¯s Earring, idiot.? ?Well, it¡¯s... angelic-looking, right? Haha...? Watching the exchange, Jhin became absolutely certain. There was no doubt ¡ª this was the real Neon. The Angel¡¯s Earring was a unique item, awarded only to the top-ranking merchant. ¡¯There¡¯s no way a fake could hold real magic.¡¯ Lowering her gaze icily, Millie said, ?Neon.? ?...I¡¯m telling you, you¡¯ve got the wrong guy.? ?Spit it out.? ?Huh...?? ?Was all of this really your doing?? ?I-I don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re talking about¡ª? BANG! Millie¡¯s revolver fired. The bullet grazed Neon¡¯s cheek. He fell completely silent. ?There won¡¯t be a second warning.? Millie¡¯s gun reloaded instantly, Power flaring around it. The chill in her eyes was no longer that of idol Millie, but the icy stare of Clarke ¡ª the merciless sniper. Neon hesitated ¡ª and then his entire expression collapsed. He immediately dropped to his knees, prostrating himself with a loud thud. ?I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry! I really thought the game was shutting down! Please don¡¯t kill me! I¡¯ll never scam anyone again!? ?...What?? ?Yes, yes! I¡¯m Neon, you¡¯re right! I¡¯m sorry! Stealing Clarke-nim¡¯s gun was a huge mistake! I regret it deeply!? ¡¯...Something¡¯s wrong.¡¯ Jhin sensed something was off. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He lowered Millie¡¯s gun gently and stepped forward. Millie also seemed to notice and obediently stepped back. ?Neon, I think you¡¯re misunderstanding something,? Jhin said carefully. ?We¡¯re not talking about Exodia 1¡ª? ?I¡¯m sorry, K-nim! I didn¡¯t expect the game to continue! I thought it was over!? ?...? ?...? Their gazes locked in the air. Staring at Neon, Jhin quietly released a faint wave of killing intent. Was this really that Neon? Was there anything he didn¡¯t know? Jhin ¡¯s voice turned sharp. ?How did you know?? he asked. ?Huh?? ?That I¡¯m ¡¯Kyle.¡¯? No one here had ever once called Jhin "Kyle." Nor was there anything about him that showed his old identity. Neon¡¯s face twisted awkwardly. ?A-ah, ah!? Unlike the cold, composed image he had had in the game, Neon now displayed a colorful range of expressions ¡ª panic, embarrassment, confusion. Jhin ¡¯s mind grew even more tangled. In short, Neon wasn¡¯t the culprit. ?So, you¡¯re saying you chased an impersonator into this dungeon... and meeting us here was pure coincidence?? Jhin summarized. ?Half and half, I guess?? Neon replied sheepishly. And the reason Neonhad recognized "Kyle" was even simpler than expected. ?I was following the GPS,? Neon said. ?GPS?? Millie asked suspiciously. ?Yeah! You know, that thing we used in Exodia 1 to find you? I got it as a server shutdown compensation item.? ?That GPS was supposed to be restricted to that dungeon only.? ?I... modified it.? Apparently, Neon had salvaged the tracking device that locked onto "Kyle¡¯s" coordinates ¡ª and upgraded it after the server shut down. So the moment Jhin escaped the Trial nexus, Neon had been able to pinpoint his location. Neon, with a huge grin, added proudly, ?After all, there¡¯s no better way to make a fortune than sticking close to you, Kyle! Hehe!? Looking at the idiotically grinning Neon, Jhin felt strangely hollow inside. All that time worrying ¡ª calling him the "mastermind" or "prime suspect" ¡ª and this was who he¡¯d been so suspicious of? ¡¯Who would¡¯ve thought Neon was just a dumb middle schooler at heart...¡¯ He was only fourteen years old ¡ª a first-year middle schooler. The ruthless merchant who had ripped off rankers left and right... was just a minor, barely into adolescence. The shock was on the same level as finding out that Clarke ¡ª the cold, aloof sniper ¡ª was actually a female idol singer. ¡¯Wait... so during the height of Exodia, he would¡¯ve been an elementary school kid?¡¯ ?? Duo Leveling Fans! ??The novel is available up to Chapter 751 on my Patreon with a 50% discount! ????That¡¯s 10x cheaper than Webnovel ¨C stop wasting money and time waiting!???????? Unlock the full story now: ???? /c/levelingmonarch/shop PA*TR*EON : LEVELINGMONARCH Chapter 56 - A Shortcut and a Dangerous Guard Chapter 56: Chapter 56 - A Shortcut and a Dangerous GuardChapter 56 - A Shortcut and a Dangerous Guard As Jhin marveled at the wickedness of a mere child, Millie turned to Neon¡ª no, Pete ¡ª and said, ?Stop grinning like that. You¡¯re making me feel stupid.? ?But I can¡¯t help it! I met Kyle and Clarke today! This is the best Neon pot day of my life!? ?Haaah...? ?And besides, you said you¡¯d forgive all my past mistakes!? Pete added quickly, ?This is embarrassing to say, but... Clarke ¡ª no, Millie ¡ª actually, I¡¯ve been a fan of yours for a long time. Hehe. I was part of the first wave of your fan club. I even have a signed CD at home! I used to go to your fan meets all the time... do you remember me?? Reluctantly, Millie nodded. At first, she¡¯d been too overwhelmed to recognize him, but after taking a closer look, memories started coming back. ?I remember... but who would have thought that innocent little kid would turn out to be Neon.? ?You¡¯re not one to talk, Millie. I thought Clarke was some pot-bellied chain-smoker uncle!? ?You wanna die?? ?Sorry!? Jhin sighed and stepped between them. Regardless of whether he was a middle schooler or Millie¡¯s fan, the important thing was that he was Neon. If he was the same merchant Jhin knew, then he should have valuable information. ?So what¡¯s this about an impersonator?? Jhin asked. ?Just what it sounds like,? Pete replied. ?Someone¡¯s daring to use my nickname without permission. Tsk. They¡¯re going to get in serious trouble one day.? ?Why?? ?Because if another ranker catches them... they¡¯re dead. I mean, I didn¡¯t just scam one or two people, you know?? ?...? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So he had swindled most of the top rankers, then. Not surprising, given that he had even betrayed Kyle, who had been the number one ranked player. Jhin clicked his tongue and said, ?It¡¯s okay, Pete. I mean, who¡¯s really going to seek revenge in real life over a game?? ?I... broke their weapons.? ?...What?? ?Some of them probably realized it by now. That the enhancement materials I sold them were... tainted.? At that, Millie turned her head toward Pete, her expression as if she¡¯d been struck in the face. Realizing his mistake, Pete quickly clamped a hand over his mouth. ?Wait, you mean... that enhancement material... back then... that was you?!? ?Millie!!! You said you¡¯d forgive me!? ?That was after the server shutdown, you little¡ª! Spill it! How many people did you scam?!? As Pete tried to escape Millie¡¯s wrath, Jhin caught him by the scruff of the neck and brought him back. ?Focus, Pete. Just tell us the important information. Short and simple.? ?Got it! But please, please keep Millie away from me!? Jhin glanced at Millie. Blushing faintly, she scratched her head awkwardly and stepped back. ?I only heard about the impersonator recently,? Pete began. Apparently, he had been wandering around New Capital without a clear destination for quite a while. Even though he had a special item that could track Kyle¡¯s location, it had been useless while Kyle was trapped inside the "Trial nexus." ?And, you know, I¡¯m a merchant. Fighting¡¯s not really my strong suit. So I mostly just wandered around, selling basic supplies and grinding out experience points¡ª? ?Pete. Focus.? ?Right, right! Anyway, as soon as the GPS lit up, I hurried over here. And that¡¯s when these bastards approached me.? The black-market traders, in a move as bold as it was stupid, had lured Pete in with food and tried to trap him into signing a contract. But thanks to the Angel¡¯s Earring, none of the hidden poison clauses could affect him. Rather than running away, Pete had seen it as an opportunity. ?I could smell the money.? And besides, he¡¯d been hearing rumors about the impersonator too. In such a convenient situation, Pete had decided to "infiltrate" them. Now, Pete began listing the information he had gathered. ?Jerry¡ª that jerk ¡ª he was trying to get into the auction happening here.? ?Auction?? Millie asked, narrowing her eyes. ?Yeah. There¡¯s a black market in the newly opened D-5 sector. They were getting all excited about how rare items were going to be up for sale.? Millie¡¯s eyes grew even sharper. ?And the kids?? ?Yeah. They were planning to sell them too. They handled them carefully so they wouldn¡¯t get damaged. That¡¯s what they said.? Pete¡¯s story continued ¡ª stories of the black-market traders¡¯ cruelty, their disgusting actions. Caleb looked like he might explode with anger, but Jhin forced himself to stay calm and listen carefully. Eventually, though, the information ran dry. ?...That¡¯s it?? Jhin asked. ?Pretty much. I think I told you everything you asked.? ?Nothing about the prisoners¡¯ souls? Nothing about the underground contracts?? Pete frowned, thinking hard. ?Unfortunately... no. I couldn¡¯t dig up anything that detailed. Even the merchants here probably didn¡¯t know much. The one who really knows everything... is that impersonator.? That guy... The one pretending to be Neon. Someone daring enough to steal the name of a Sky Beyond Sky ranker ¡ª someone running scams on this level. Jhin tried to imagine who it could be, but no one obvious came to mind. Pete shrugged. ?Honestly, that¡¯s why I infiltrated them too. I¡¯m dying to find out who¡¯s gutsy enough to impersonate me.? Jhin and Millie exchanged looks. Pete¡¯s information wasn¡¯t worthless ¡ª but it wasn¡¯t what they really needed. At this rate, finding a way to recover the stolen souls seemed almost hopeless. Jhin sighed and said, ?For now, let¡¯s move forward. We¡¯ll find more information as we clear the dungeon.? ?Right. Next up is the E-zone, right?? Pete asked. ?Let¡¯s move quickly.? At that moment, Pete clapped his hands together excitedly. ?Oh! I know a shortcut!? ?What?? ?There¡¯s a secret passage that only the merchants use.? ?A secret passage?? Inside the long, linear train... was there really another hidden way forward? If it existed, it would be invaluable ¡ª especially with how pressed for time they were. ¡¯Maybe even a portal...¡¯ Jhin asked, ?Where is it?? But Pete raised a finger and said, ?Hold on ¡ª there¡¯s a catch. If we want to use the shortcut, we¡¯ll have to deal with something first.? ?What?? ?An elite monster. Sort of like a floor boss. Word is, it¡¯s actually player-controlled. What was the name again... Draa D... Draco?? ?Station Master.? Jhin corrected him dryly. ?Yeah! That! Apparently, it¡¯s guarding the place.? Pete asked hesitantly, ?He¡¯s supposed to be really strong... Are you sure we can handle it?? Jhin casually shrugged. ?...What can¡¯t we handle?? PAT*REON : LEVELING MONARCH +751 ChapterS Chapter 57 - The Train to Another World Chapter 57: Chapter 57 - The Train to Another WorldChapter 57 - The Train to Another World ?The shortcut is in Zone F-10.? Even as Pete was speaking, Jhin moved swiftly. He carefully gathered the prisoners ¡ª those captured by the black-market traders ¡ª and seated them safely to one side of the safe zone. ¡¯Honestly, I want to free them all...¡¯ But that would be too dangerous. Once freed, who knew where they might run? What if they accidentally crossed into the next zone? The system would register it as a quest event, and they¡¯d be mercilessly attacked by the goblin spawns. ¡¯And I can¡¯t exactly take them with me, either.¡¯ They didn¡¯t know what dangers lay ahead. Trying to protect these helpless prisoners while fighting monsters would be almost impossible. It was safer ¡ª far safer ¡ª to leave them in the monster-free "safe zone." Meanwhile, Pete persistently kept talking as he followed. ?The Station Master¡¯s stronger than you think. It might look like a simple goblin, but it¡¯s almost on the level of an elite boss. Even with you and Millie, it¡¯s going to be tough.? ?...? ?Besides, this is a themed dungeon. Experience gains are boosted here. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to level up properly before we move on?? Jhin wrinkled his brow in irritation. ?I already told you. We don¡¯t have time.? It was the same argument over and over. Pete insisting they should grind levels now ¡ª Jhin brushing it off, dead-set on pushing forward. Still, Pete didn¡¯t give up easily. Looking at him like he was a doomed soldier about to march into battle, Pete said pitifully, ?Hans, do you still think you¡¯re the number one ranker? It took you three whole months to clear the Trial nexus.? ?I had my reasons.? ?You cleared it in just one month in Exodia 1!? Of course, Jhin understood Pete¡¯s concern. Even to him, his current gear looked barely good enough for a D-class dungeon. But there was no need to waste breath explaining. Seeing is believing. They¡¯d find out soon enough. Without a word, Jhin marched into Zone F-6. ?Seriously! Can¡¯t someone stop him?!? But the party just silently followed. Even Millie. Seeing them move without hesitation, Pete let out a long sigh ¡ª and had no choice but to follow into F-6. And then, the system messages popped up: [Hunt 100 "Goblin Spawns."] [Clear Reward: Key Item obtained.] [!] [Special condition met.] [Zone F-7 unlocked.] ?Huh...?? Following behind them, Pete let out a confused noise. Jhin ignored him and casually crossed Zone F-6. [The "Goblin Spawns" recognize the possession of a Master Key.] [The "Goblin Spawns" hide in fear.] Apparently, word had spread. The goblin spawns didn¡¯t even try to attack ¡ª they scattered like terrified rats. Breezing through the zone, Jhin pressed the button to open the door to the next area. Pssshhhk. ?...Why¡¯s the door opening so easily?? Pete¡¯s voice was laced with disbelief. That reaction continued all the way to F-10. Finally, unable to hold it in, Pete turned to Millie. ?Millie... have you been here before?? ?No.? ?Then why is everything open? And why are the goblins acting like that?? Just then, as Jhin opened the door to Zone F-10, Pete shouted in panic. ?Hey, Hans, wait! You can¡¯t just open that one! That¡¯s where the floor boss ¡ª the Station Master ¡ª should be¡ª Wait, what?? Following into Zone F-10, Pete blinked and muttered, ?Where¡¯s the Station Master...?? Jhin shrugged. ?Maybe he¡¯s taking a nap.? ?Huh...?? ?Whatever. Where¡¯s the shortcut?? Still dazed, Pete pointed toward a corner with a stiff hand. ?...Left side of the exit. On the ceiling. That¡¯s the entrance.? ?Found it.? Jhin tapped a suspicious-looking rod in the corner with his hand. After a few knocks, a staircase folded down ¡ª like one leading up to an attic. It connected to the roof of the train. Pete, still looking stunned, mumbled, ?Millie... it hasn¡¯t even been a week since Hans cleared the Trial nexus, right?? ?I think so?? ?Do you know what level he is?? ?Well... he said 37?? A few minutes later, they were all climbing the stairs. As Jhin paused at the top, he looked back and called out, ?Aren¡¯t you coming?? ?...Coming.? Scrambling up after them, Pete spoke in a complicated tone. ?Hans. Be honest. What¡¯s your real level?? Jhin smiled faintly and answered, ?Forty-six.? Pete¡¯s face twisted as if he¡¯d bitten into something foul. He was too stunned to even speak. The first thing that struck them when they climbed onto the roof ¡ª was the fresh, cold air. Gone was the dusty, suffocating air of the cargo holds. Instead, they stood under the wide, open night sky, cool wind whipping through their hair. ?Is this the shortcut Jerry was talking about?? Jhin asked. ?Yeah. We cross over the top of the train, skipping E-Zone entirely. Apparently even the merchants find it too dangerous to go through E-Zone normally, so they built this route instead.? Jhin lifted his head, staring upward. The sky above was jet black ¡ª glittering with stars. And yet... hadn¡¯t they entered the train underground? But now, standing here... they could see the boundless night sky stretching infinitely overhead. Caleb murmured in wonder, ?It¡¯s hard to believe we¡¯re inside a subway station. How can there be such a vast sky... inside here...?? And that wasn¡¯t all. The scenery ¡ª the wild West desert landscape they had seen through the train windows ¡ª now stretched in a full 360 degrees around them. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It felt like they had stepped into an entirely different world. And in fact, that guess was spot on. ?It¡¯s easier to just think of it as another dimension,? Jhin explained. ?...Another dimension?? Climbing fully onto the roof, Jhin continued, the night wind tearing at his clothes but not slowing him down. ?Up to F-grade dungeons, they usually stay tied to the real world. Because they¡¯re just fragmented pieces being assimilated. But starting from E-grade... it¡¯s different.? ?...They grow.? ?Yeah. Dungeons that grow create their own ecosystems. They evolve into worlds that are perfectly suited for the monsters inside them.? That was why the "Collapsed School" dungeon had resembled a ruined college campus. And why the "Ghost Train" dungeon now sprawled endlessly across giant rails under a surreal, starry sky. Looking around, Jhin recalled past memories. ¡¯C-grade, B-grade... Chapter 58 - Ghosts in the Sky Chapter 58: Chapter 58 - Ghosts in the SkyChapter 58 - Ghosts in the Sky The higher you go, the bigger the dungeons become. Honestly, what we¡¯re seeing right now? It¡¯s nothing compared to what¡¯s coming.¡¯ In places like the Demonic Wastelands or the Celestial Realms, there had been battles on the scale of full-blown wars. Compared to that ¡ª this was nothing but a quiet prelude. Kikikikik! A shrill, eerie laughter shattered the silence. Jhin , frowning, turned his head and caught sight of something dark rushing across the far horizon. What was that? The vast, full moon was suddenly obscured by a black swarm ¡ª like a cloud of bees blotting out the sky. But as they flew closer, the details became clearer. Ghostly figures draped in black rags were flying in tight formation, closing in fast. Jhin asked dryly, ?You said this was the safe route?? S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ?...That¡¯s what I was told,? Pete replied awkwardly. ?No way to avoid them?? ?I didn¡¯t hear anything about monsters appearing either...? As the ghosts drew nearer, their identity became obvious. Each one gripped a long scythe, like a death god about to reap souls ¡ª ghost-type monsters. ¡¯Specters.¡¯ [You have entered the Hidden Zone: "Train Rooftop."] [Hidden Quest "Night of the Reapers" has begun.] ?Incoming!? The mass of scythe-wielding Specters hurtled down toward them. Jhin checked his weapon calmly. There was at least one small consolation: This single hidden quest would cover all the objectives that would normally have been split into ten separate quests across Zones E-1 to E-10. ¡¯No helping it.¡¯ In fact ¡ª this was better. Grinding through ten minor quests would have only wasted time. Now, they had a chance to clear it all at once, even if it meant taking a risk. Jhin looked at Caleb and Luke. ?You two ¡ª just focus on surviving.? ?Got it. No worries about us,? Caleb replied steadily. It would have been dangerous for Caleb alone ¡ª but with Luke beside him, they could manage. Jhin then turned to Millie. ?Let¡¯s concentrate on clearing the quest.? ?Right.? Nodding, Millie suddenly looked around ¡ª and let out a small laugh. ?...Looks like Pete¡¯s vanished again.? ?As expected,? Jhin said, shrugging. He had noticed earlier that Pete had quietly disappeared. Not that it was surprising. That was why Neon had been called a "mirage." It was probably due to some exclusive skill linked to his items. Even without combat abilities, he could freely roam high-level dungeons thanks to it. Kyaaah! Kiaaah! At that moment, the Specters screamed and swooped down with their scythes raised high. Millie immediately unleashed a barrage of magic bullets. Bang! Bang! Bang! ?Remember, ghosts are immune to physical attacks!? she called. ?I know!? Jhin ducked under a slashing scythe and channeled Power into his fist. [Skill "Power Concentration (F)" activated.] Unlike facing a physical boss like a Trigger, he didn¡¯t need to spend long gathering power. Just a sliver of Power was enough to hurt a Specter. By operating that way, he could conserve Power and extend his endurance. [Skill "Power Concentration (F)" proficiency has increased.] With precision, Jhin slammed his mana-infused fist straight into a passing Specter¡¯s face. Kiiiiiek! [Monster "Specter" defeated.] At the same time, his eyes swept the battlefield. Soft skills captured the flow of the swooping Specters perfectly ¡ª their movements, their angles of descent. ¡¯There¡¯s a lot... but still manageable.¡¯ And then Jhin ¡ª became a ghost among ghosts. Reading their movements, countering them ahead of time, he was able to attack even more cleanly. BOOM! BAM! CRASH! Everything was going in Jhin ¡¯s favor. The battle unfolded without a hitch. They had already covered a significant distance across the train¡¯s roof when¡ª Suddenly, Pete reappeared, shouting at the top of his lungs: ?Everyone run!? ?What now?? ?It¡¯s a Giant Specter!? No sooner had he said it, an ear-piercing wail cut through the night. The cold wind that followed was enough to freeze the sweat on their skin. And then, from the darkness ¡ª it appeared. Eyes like bottomless pits. A towering ghost, descending from the sky like a herald of doom. [Hidden Boss Monster "Giant Specter" has appeared in the E-Zone.] Maybe they had killed too many Specters. Either way, a sudden hidden mid-boss had spawned, and the entire party could only swallow hard. ?That thing... It¡¯s easily as strong as a high-tier elite! Way stronger than the Station Master! It¡¯s practically an E-grade floor boss!? Pete rattled on nervously. Even Caleb and Luke looked grim. The pressure radiating from the Giant Specter was overwhelming. Jhin looked down at his own goosebumped arms and steadied his breathing. ?Everyone, get ready. We¡¯re going to break through.? Millie, a little worried, asked, ?Should we help?? ?No. Just stay far away.? Because he had no intention of sharing. [Activating item "Attention Seeker¡¯s Ring."] [No allies nearby. Health +20.] Millie gathered the others and quickly retreated. Pete stared at Jhin ¡ª marching alone into the battlefield ¡ª and muttered, ?What the... Hans¡¯s fighting alone? Are you sure we shouldn¡¯t help?? ?He said no.? ?No, seriously ¡ª do none of you realize what¡¯s happening? His level is supposed to be¡ª? KUUUUUUUUUNG!! A massive boom erupted from the front lines. The Giant Specter ¡ª a terrifying, towering monster ¡ª was smashed so violently it looked like a mere goblin getting swatted. If you didn¡¯t know better, you might think the Giant Specter was some low-tier mob. Millie tilted her head and said casually, ?Well... Jhin ¡¯s level should be low, right? He only cleared the Trial nexus a few days ago.? But Pete kept staring straight ahead, dazed, muttering under his breath: ?...Low level, my ass...? KUUUUUUUUNG! xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx ???? Good news! You can read THE NOVEL on my Patreon for a much cheaper price, with full downloads available! ????? PATREON : LEVELING MONARCH ???? Check it out now:https://www.pa**tr**eon.com/c/levelingmonarch/ See you there Chapter 59 - The One Who Watches Chapter 59: Chapter 59 - The One Who WatchesChapter 59 - The One Who Watches At the frontmost car of the train¡ª A man sprawled lazily across a plush seat, feet kicked up, gulping down blood-red wine like it was cheap soju. In front of him hovered a glowing hologram. On the screen, a brutal battle raged ¡ª two figures locked in fierce hand-to-hand combat. "That¡¯s it! Good! Go! Go!" The man¡¯s voice grew louder and louder, matching the feverish escalation on the screen. It was a desperate fight ¡ª a woman wielding a dagger against a man armed with an axe. No flashy skills, just raw, vicious strength clashing again and again. To the man staring eagerly at the screen, it was a thrilling spectacle. Just as the axe came crashing down toward the struggling woman¡ª Psshhk! The door slid open. A goblin trotted in, head bowed respectfully. It had three horns sprouting from its forehead ¡ª a Samgobi, a Three-Horned Goblin named Lykan. Lykan bent one knee deeply in a formal bow. "Report." "Busy right now," the man said without even looking. He was utterly focused on the hologram. Annoyed at Lykan¡¯s bulky frame blocking his view, he gave the goblin¡¯s chest a few lazy kicks with the tip of his foot. "Hey. Move. You¡¯re blocking the show." Silently, Lykan withdrew. With the screen unobstructed again, the man grinned ¡ª only for his smile to collapse a moment later. On the screen, the woman slipped past the man¡¯s guard and plunged her dagger into his throat. The man convulsed violently, crumpling to the ground. The woman yanked the blade free with a flourish ¡ª and the feed ended. Silence fell over the train. "Aw, come on. That¡¯s it?" The man hurled his wineglass in irritation. It shattered against Lykan¡¯s head, red wine splashing across the goblin¡¯s body. Snarling, the man snapped, "You ruined it! How are you gonna fix this, huh?" "..." "You totally killed the mood!" Lykan stood motionless, enduring the tirade. After spewing curses until he ran out of steam, the man finally demanded, "Report. Now." "R-report... please confirm..." Lykan stammered. The man¡¯s eyes gleamed with malice. He needed something ¡ª anything ¡ª to vent his foul mood. "You slacking off again? You¡¯re supposed to report anything unusual immediately! What the hell have you been doing all this time?" He gave Lykan a few mocking slaps across the face. For a split second, a murderous light flickered in the goblin¡¯s eyes ¡ª but it died almost instantly. There was a reason why. The man wore a special item on his head ¡ª the Goblin¡¯s Crown. An artifact that could dominate all goblins, stripping them of any will to resist. "As expected from a worthless goblin," the man sneered. "Now. What¡¯s the report?" Finally, Lykan began to fumble with a bundle he had brought along. "The Lutin has... been defeated." "Lutin?" Lykan trembled as he spoke. "Zone F." The man paused to think ¡ª and then snapped his fingers. "Oh, right. That stationmaster?" He remembered. The goblin dispatched to F-Zone ¡ª a reasonably capable one, if only because he worked fast. The fact that its soul was originally human didn¡¯t matter. "And it died?" A dangerous curve appeared between the man¡¯s brows. For a goblin to be assigned station-master duties, it would have to be at least as strong as an Ik-gobi ¡ª a top-tier goblin. Could anyone in New Capital really have beaten such a monster? As the man narrowed his eyes suspiciously, Lykan hastily confirmed: "D-dead." Seeing the certainty on Lykan¡¯s face, the man smirked slightly. There had to be something interesting going on. Of course, he wasn¡¯t expecting much from Lykan himself. For all that this goblin was technically a "boss monster," his intelligence was barely above that of a child. Useful only as a punching bag, really. "Hmm... Guess I¡¯ll check it myself." The man fiddled with the hologram controls. Soon, the entire dungeon¡¯s zones appeared on the screen like a massive surveillance network. He zoomed in on F-Zone. There, the footage showed the battle ¡ª the stationmaster locked in fierce combat. "...It¡¯s true." The man frowned. And then ¡ª he spotted something that made his eyes widen in shock. He zoomed in. "...No way." Standing right there ¡ª clear as day on the screen ¡ª was someone he recognized. "Millie?" A twisted hunger flared inside him. It clung to him like grime, impossible to scrub away. Grinning brightly, the man said, "The real Millie, huh?" Before him, Lykan remained bowed low, trembling silently. And the man, drooling with sickening excitement, leaned back and issued his next command: [Capture the intruders. The woman must be taken alive. The rest ¡ª kill them.] The command rippled through the entire dungeon. All the goblins shuddered. Clang! Meanwhile, Jhin crouched at a vantage point, looking down at the connecting bridge leading straight into Zone D-5 ¡ª the supposed black market of the dungeon. It truly felt like he had reached here in no time, just as promised by the "shortcut." If they had been better equipped to avoid the Specters altogether, they might¡¯ve gotten here even faster. Still, he had no regrets. Hunting those monsters wasn¡¯t a bad experience ¡ª especially since they hadn¡¯t wasted too much time. ¡¯Good thing we didn¡¯t go all the way down there.¡¯ Before descending fully, Jhin surveyed the hidden areas atop Zone D. Even here, the hidden zone above the train was thrumming with an overwhelming magical force. ¡¯A monster.¡¯ Even without seeing it, he could tell just from the aura vibrating through the train¡¯s roof. And by extension ¡ª he could estimate the dungeon¡¯s true boss monster, too. ¡¯Disgustingly strong.¡¯ Jhin shook his head to clear his thoughts. There was no point worrying about the final boss now. One thing at a time. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. First ¡ª preparations. ?Starting from the next car, we¡¯ll have to wear masks,? he said. ?Just like Pete said. We¡¯ll be walking into enemy territory ¡ª we need to blend in.? Fortunately, the goblin bundle they had looted contained three masks. Luke tilted his head, puzzled. ?But... we¡¯re five people.? Three masks. Five people. ???? Good news! You can read THE NOVEL on my Patreon for a much cheaper price, with full downloads available! ????? PATREON : LEVELING MONARCH ???? Check it out now:/c/levelingmonarch/ See you there Chapter 60 - Into the Black Market Chapter 60: Chapter 60 - Into the Black MarketChapter 60 - Into the Black Market As everyone¡¯s gaze shifted toward Pete, he slowly faded from sight, like ink dispersing in water. A man who could use a skill to vanish like a mirage. Someone like him didn¡¯t even need a mask. ?I¡¯ll follow you from the shadows,? came his voice from nowhere. ?Alright,? Jhin replied. Luke jumped slightly at the disembodied voice, glancing around nervously. But Jhin calmly tracked Pete¡¯s faint presence more clearly than before. [Activating Skill: "Soft skills (A)".] By focusing on the most unnatural flow of energy in the area, he could faintly make out Pete¡¯s outline ¡ª blurred but traceable. ¡¯In Exodia 1, it wasn¡¯t this easy to see him...¡¯ Back then, Soft skills could only detect the weaknesses inside a monster¡¯s body. Now, in Exodia 2, it could grasp the entire flow of the surroundings with ease. Was it because of the skill¡¯s rank up? Or because this world had turned into reality? Maybe both. Either way ¡ª compared to Exodia 1, Soft skills¡¯s growth speed was nothing short of monstrous. ¡¯Well, it¡¯s not surprising, considering how hard I pushed myself in the Trial nexus.¡¯ Rarely did places exist where Power rampaged so wildly. That brutal environment had more than one hidden cost ¡ª one reason why it had taken Jhin so long to escape. Meanwhile, Luke shrugged and repeated, ?Still, we¡¯re short on masks.? There were five of them ¡ª but only three masks. Millie remained the only one without a mask. But Jhin hadn¡¯t covered her face by accident. There was a reason. ?Let¡¯s go.? With that, they opened the door and stepped into Zone D-5. And immediately¡ª What they saw exceeded every expectation. ¡¯...Did they stick a portal on the door?¡¯ Instead of a regular train car, the "safe zone" stretched into a vast four-story structure. It was enormous ¡ª a scale far beyond what Jhin had imagined. Caleb swallowed nervously. ?This place... looks like a famous casino.? It was styled like a luxury casino you¡¯d expect to find in Glittercity. How had they managed to stuff something like this inside a train? But then again ¡ª this was a dungeon. A place built from the rules of a game ¡ª and trying to explain it scientifically was meaningless. Jhin cleared his mind and scanned the area. Surprisingly, there were plenty of people scattered around in small groups, chatting leisurely. From the air, Pete¡¯s voice drifted in again. ?As you know, there¡¯s an auction here. Jerry was supposed to deliver merchandise for it.? Then¡ª A well-dressed goblin approached. Unlike the goblin spawns they¡¯d fought earlier, this one had two horns ¡ª a Lutin, a mid-tier goblin. The goblin spoke in flawless Corelandsn. ?May I see your letter of introduction?? His speech was smooth, unnervingly human. Of course ¡ª there shouldn¡¯t be any true monsters inside a safe zone. Meaning ¡ª this goblin had once been human. ?Are you merchants? What goods are you delivering?? Instead of answering immediately, Jhin leaned closer and whispered something into the goblin¡¯s ear. Hearing the words, the goblin¡¯s eyes widened sharply. ?Oh... Is that true?? Its gaze darted toward Millie, standing slightly behind. Even with a cap pulled low over her face, her presence shone unmistakably. The goblin narrowed his eyes suspiciously and asked, ?May I verify the goods?? ?Of course.? Jhin casually lifted her cap just slightly. Even after days of travel without proper washing, her skin gleamed like polished porcelain. The goblin bobbed its head, nodding heavily. ?Confirmed.? But oddly enough¡ª it was breathing heavily, almost excited. Its eyes gleamed strangely as it stared at Jhin . Something felt... wrong. But Jhin decided to ignore it for now. ?Shall we proceed to a private area?? ?Sure.? Jhin nodded smoothly. The goblin led them through a narrow side corridor ¡ª away from the bustling casino floor. Behind the scenes, hidden from public view, countless goblins hurried about, hauling massive crates. Crates filled with food, rare items ¡ª and likely, merchandise for the auction. There were even cages containing living monsters. ¡¯Buying and selling orcs, huh.¡¯ Seeing it with his own eyes, it was almost absurd. But someone must have been willing to buy them ¡ª otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t bother. It was another reminder that this world¡¯s insanity ran deeper than it seemed. Jhin shook his head, watching a line of captured orcs shuffling by. Who knew where they had been dragged from? Barely surviving a dungeon... only to end up here, caged like animals. Their luck was beyond terrible. But Jhin ¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t linger long. He wasn¡¯t here for monsters. Then¡ªA group of humans appeared. Chained like animals, drooling, their eyes milky white. Victims of hidden contracts. Bodies stripped of their souls, reduced to puppets. Jhin narrowed his eyes sharply. They were in the right place. And just then¡ª Caleb grabbed his sleeve urgently. Frowning, Jhin followed his gaze¡ªAnd froze. Stumbling at the end of the chained procession, a man tottered weakly, his eyes darting anxiously left and right. Unlike the others, he was still conscious. Naturally. ¡¯...Evan?¡¯ A survivor of the Stoneveil city Station incident. A man who had once fought skeletons by his side. What the hell was he doing here? As Jhin stared, the goblin waiter nearby noticed and asked: ?Are you interested?? ?...A little,? Jhin replied smoothly. ?How much?? ?They¡¯ll be auctioned off. Highest bidder wins.? Evan was dragged further and further away. Still, none of them made a move. Not even Caleb ¡ª who trembled with fury. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡¯...Just a little longer.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t time yet. There was a reason they had gone through all this trouble. Why they had disguised Millie as "merchandise." It was all part of the plan. No reckless heroics yet. But soon¡ª they would realize. They had already been exposed. ???? Good news! You can read THE NOVEL on my Patreon for a much cheaper price, with full downloads available! ????? PATREON : LEVELING MONARCH ???? Check it out now:/c/levelingmonarch/ See you there ???? Good news! You can read THE NOVEL on my Patreon for a much cheaper price, with full downloads available! ????? PATREON : LEVELING MONARCH ???? Check it out now:/c/levelingmonarch/ See you there Chapter 61- The Ghost Train’s True Master Chapter 61: Chapter 61- The Ghost Train¡¯s True MasterChapter 61- The Ghost Train¡¯s True Master "The Ghost Train dungeon originally belonged to kobolds." It was before they had crossed into section D-5. Pete spoke carefully, as though coughing up the last bits of information he had held back. "The goblins drove out the kobolds and claimed this dungeon." "And why are you telling us this now?" "You never asked." Jhin narrowed his eyes at him. Pete only shrugged. Caleb, who had been listening from the side, tilted his head and asked, "But is that even possible? For a different monster to drive out the original dungeon master and take over?" "In theory, yes. If another monster consumes part of the boss monster before it dies, it can inherit the dungeon¡¯s authority." But such a scenario typically only occurred in high-level dungeons. After all, devouring a dungeon boss required a level of intelligence most monsters simply didn¡¯t possess. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡¯Monsters not fighting each other is an unspoken rule. And yet not only did they attack each other, one even seized the dungeon?¡¯ In Exodia, there existed an invisible rule: monsters didn¡¯t attack one another. And that rule was naturally upheld by lower-tier monsters who lacked intelligence, and even upper-tier monsters adhered to it out of unspoken agreement. ¡¯Right. It¡¯s something that wouldn¡¯t happen unless under very special circumstances.¡¯ Jhin could say this with certainty because Exodia was a game. Monsters prioritized the elimination of their common enemy¡ªthe ¡¯player¡¯¡ªabove all else. Yet a dungeon had been stolen? By goblins, no less? Only then did Jhin begin to understand the cause. "It was the Company again." "Correct. This dungeon belongs to the Company." What was once an ordinary kobold dungeon had become a themed dungeon infested with goblins thanks to the Company¡¯s intervention. In short, everything happening here was manufactured. Jhin exhaled in irritation. This was why the Company had to be wiped out. Nothing good ever came from getting involved with them. "The Company uses this dungeon to source their items. It¡¯s essentially a supply hub. That guy you mentioned being a runner? The backdoor contracts? Those are probably just one piece of the Company¡¯s many criminal activities." Recently, the Company had even managed to promote the dungeon to grade D, expanding their operations. The ongoing third round of auctions here was proof of that. "This place is New Capital¡¯s black market. A dumping ground for the filthiest desires." Human trafficking was just the beginning. The bodies of those who had lost their minds, the limbs of stolen children, even conscious people were chained and sold like livestock. But the crown jewel of it all¡ªwas the auction house. If it wasn¡¯t something outright missing, it was on sale. Even personal belongings steeped in vile, wretched betrayal were fair game. "And they¡¯re doing it all under my name." Leaving Pete to stew in his fury, Jhin turned to face the door leading into the auction house. Thoughts raced through his mind. "An auction house, huh..." So this was the hidden truth behind the mobile dungeon known as the "Ghost Train," according to Pete. They followed the goblin into a massive hall. At its center stood an iron cage, perfect for locking up beasts. The faint scent of blood lingered in the air, coming from somewhere nearby. In this unsettling space, thick with an eerie energy, the goblin smiled coldly and said, "This space was prepared for a special guest." "A special guest, huh..." Jhin let out a faint laugh as he activated his Ryuan. Now able to see things previously hidden, the intentions of these creatures became just as transparent. From the merchants of zone F-5 to this dungeon itself¡ªeverything seemed too damn sharp. "Tch... If it was going to be like this, they could¡¯ve just told me from the start. Why keep making me act in this annoying play?" Clicking his tongue, Jhin crushed the handcuffs that had been binding Millie. His sudden move drew startled gasps from Luke and the others. "W-what?!" But as the air in the room visibly shifted, they quickly fell silent. From the air, Pete began to reveal himself. Glancing around at the others as they readied their weapons, he said, "The exit¡¯s blocked. Looks like it was a trap from the beginning." Jhin narrowed his brows and scanned the area. In the shadows of the cavern, several goblins emerged, their killing intent thick in the air. Pete asked, "When do you think they caught on?" "Hmm. Honestly, we were pretty obvious." Jhin clicked his tongue lightly. The truth was, they had known from the start they¡¯d be walking into danger. They had known so little about this place. The goblins had a different secret phrase for each day of the week to identify themselves, and they even changed them monthly¡ªtotal secrecy was their standard. Of course the auction house wouldn¡¯t be unguarded. Even so, Jhin had pressed forward. ¡¯We didn¡¯t have time.¡¯ Knowing the enemy¡¯s goal, they had no luxury to wait for an ideal opportunity. Who knew how long the soul could last? There was no time to move slowly. With a shrug, Jhin said, "Either way, we¡¯ve entered a space with no outsiders¡ªjust the enemy. It¡¯s not a bad situation. Let¡¯s wipe them out and move on." If it were possible, they could¡¯ve done more without being noticed. But with the circumstances as tight as they were, hoping for more was just wishful thinking. Jhin quietly stared at the goblin before him and the others that were beginning to appear from the shadows. "So this time, don¡¯t waste my time¡ªcome at me all at once. Got it?" "You humans... so arrogant." Jhin stared at the goblins steadily emerging from every direction. Dozens of them, all baring their teeth. With growls, they began to swing their clubs. One suddenly puffed up like a balloon, towering over three meters tall. It glared down at Jhin and roared, "That arrogance will be your death!" With a deafening boom, the goblin hurled its massive fist down. Kwaang! But the enormous punch halted trembling in midair¡ªmere inches from Jhin . He had stopped it with his right hand. "I was thinking the same thing. Your arrogance will be your death." KWA-BOOM!! With a single blow, Jhin sent the goblin flying into the wall. Debris exploded as the creature collapsed, groaning as it struggled to rise. "You... how does a human already wield magic in his fists?!" "You can do it, why wouldn¡¯t I?" Loosening up, Jhin stepped forward. The goblin gritted its teeth and scanned the area before yelling, "A-All of you, ATTACK!" UOOOHHHH!! The goblins¡¯ roar shook the hall. Amid the blood-chilling noise, Jhin smirked. His eyes caught a glimpse of a woman popping the cork off a potion and downing it in one shot. "Seems like you guys don¡¯t know much about us after all." "...What?" Chapter 62 - The Mask Beneath the Horns Chapter 62: Chapter 62 - The Mask Beneath the HornsChapter 62 - The Mask Beneath the Horns "Bringing just a few awakened goblins, is that all?" The awakened goblins charged like a swarm of angry hornets. Some leapt high into the air, swinging clubs downward, while others rushed full-speed for a body slam. All of them burned with bloodthirsty rage, intent on killing. But¡ª Tat-tat-tat-tat! Bang! Bang!! A storm of magic bullets whirled through the air around the group. Far more powerful than before, her enchanted rounds exploded on impact, one after another, mowing down the goblins in rapid succession. "Let¡¯s wrap this up now." Jhin approached the goblin leader and slammed his fist into it again, sending the creature flying. After two solid hits, the once three-meter-tall body deflated like a popped balloon. The goblin rolled pitifully across the floor, face bloodied and broken, then muttered with its toothless mouth, "Y-You human... what the hell are you?" "What would you do if you knew?" "W-what?" "There¡¯s no need for all this pointless chatter." Millie, having just finished wiping out the goblin horde, approached them, her face still flushed with battle heat. "Can I finish that one off?" "No." "But I still have lots of stamina left..." "Then go knock down that wall over there." "Aha." She moved at once, unleashing a relentless barrage of bullets toward the blocked-off exit. Right up until her potion¡¯s effects wore off, she pounded the door until it was in tatters, eventually blasting it down completely. Seeing this, the goblin¡¯s face turned deathly pale. "H-How did you break that door...?" Jhin simply shrugged and grabbed the goblin by its horn as it tried to sneak away. "Where do you think you¡¯re going?" "Human¡ªno, sir! Please, spare me!" Jhin narrowed his eyes as he looked down at the goblin. For a moment, he¡¯d wondered if it was a creature who had forgotten its past as a human. But no¡ªit was just playing a character. As he stared into the goblin¡¯s eyes, filled with genuine fear, Jhin grinned. "I was actually human! I was deceived by some awful people and turned into a goblin against my will!" "...Really?" "Yes! I swear! I didn¡¯t do anything wrong! I only followed orders!" The goblin spoke desperately, voice trembling. "It may be hard to believe, but I¡¯m actually a player! I was tricked by Neon! That¡¯s how I ended up trapped in this goblin body. I didn¡¯t have a choice¡ªI was forced to follow orders. That¡¯s the truth!" "Oh, really?" Crunch! Without hesitation, Jhin snapped one of the goblin¡¯s horns clean off. For goblins, horns were like vital points. The creature let out a shriek of agony, writhing in pain. "AAAAAAGH! Why¡ªwhy?! I¡¯m a human!" "I know. I knew you were human from the start." This was zone D-5, a safe zone. No monster could enter this place. Every goblin walking around here had once been a player, now transformed. "But pretending to be a victim? That¡¯s a bit much, don¡¯t you think?" The condition for inhabiting a goblin¡¯s body was singular: patricide. Only those who had fulfilled that horrific criterion could become goblins. There could be no true victims among them. "So how about you drop the act and just answer my question?" Jhin gripped the remaining horn tightly as he spoke. The goblin looked up at him with terrified eyes. "If I answer... will you let me live?" "I¡¯m the one asking questions. Want me to snap this one too?" "..." "Depending on how you answer, I¡¯ll decide what to do with you. So think hard before you lie." The goblin¡¯s eyes sparkled for a split second. Like someone catching a glimpse of hope after waiting for death, it nodded eagerly. "Where¡¯s the contract?" "...Sorry?" "The hidden contract you used when you stole people¡¯s bodies. You keep it somewhere, don¡¯t you?" Sweating profusely, the goblin stammered. "I-I don¡¯t really remem... Ah! Wait, yes, it¡¯s coming back to me! I remember now! Totally!" As Jhin clenched his fist and lifted it, the goblin dangled in the air, shaking as it spilled words in a rush. "The boss! The boss has it!" S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You mean this dungeon¡¯s boss?" "No, no, no! I mean our master! The goblins¡¯ master!" After that, Jhin was able to extract several useful pieces of information from the goblin. The creature spoke with desperate enthusiasm, as if willing to give up its liver and gallbladder. "So they recognized us because of Millie¡¯s face, and the order was to kill everyone else?" "Yes! Exactly! I didn¡¯t want to, but it was an order. Orders are absolute, right? I mean, that¡¯s how corporate life works, ha-ha..." From its words, Jhin pieced together a clearer picture of everything happening in the dungeon. It all made sense¡ªgoblins. Pete, meeting Jhin ¡¯s eyes, shook his head with a sigh. "Goblin Crown, huh?" "...Tch. What kind of closure reward even is that?" Goblin Crown. A special item capable of controlling and commanding all goblins. With strict usage conditions and several limitations, it wasn¡¯t exactly a great item¡ª But if the conditions were met, nothing else was quite like it. Pete mulled it over and said, "I think I¡¯ve got a rough idea of how to rescue the kids." "Yeah. I¡¯ll need your help for that." "Don¡¯t worry. That¡¯s my specialty. But beyond that, there¡¯s not much I can do. You understand, right?" "I do." "And let¡¯s also call this even on the debt I owe you, okay?" "Fine." Jhin answered a bit irritably, then turned his gaze back to the goblin. Having answered everything truthfully, the creature now looked at him with a sliver of hope, eyes pitiful. Jhin gave it a gentle smile. "Thanks for your answers." Crunch! He snapped the second horn. The goblin screamed in agony and coughed up blood. Eyes filled with hatred, it glared at Jhin . "Why... WHY?! I told you everything!!" He answered. "Yeah. That¡¯s why I¡¯m going easy on you." "What?!" "I was going to kill you painfully. But now I¡¯ll make it quick." "...You said you¡¯d think about it!" "Yup. And this is the result of my thinking." Jhin clenched his fist, coating it with magic. The goblin, now down two horns, tried to strike back in rage¡ªbut with both vital horns gone, it was powerless. "You lying piece of¡ª!" KWA-BOOOM! The goblin¡¯s head exploded clean off. Its limp body collapsed forward, white smoke pouring from its shrinking form. No breath came from it again. [Player ¡¯Trixter ¡¯ has been eliminated!] [Level Up!] Chapter 63 - The Auction of Shadows Chapter 63: Chapter 63 - The Auction of ShadowsChapter 63 - The Auction of Shadows "Just to be clear¡ªI can¡¯t beat the boss of a D-rank dungeon right now." That was the first thing Jhin said after finishing off the goblin. The group stared at him, eyes wide, faces clearly asking: Did we just hear that right? "...You¡¯re joking, right?" "No. I¡¯m serious. I¡¯m not strong enough yet to fight a D-rank boss and win." The group exchanged stunned looks. From anyone else, such a statement would have been nothing out of the ordinary. But from Jhin , it hit differently. The standard for a D-rank boss was a player at least level 120. Jhin had only barely surpassed that threshold¡ªeven with every stat pushed to its limit. And their likely opponent? If Jhin ¡¯s predictions were right¡ªand they usually were¡ªit was the dreaded Three-Horned Goblin. ¡¯The Three-Horned Goblin is strong.¡¯ Even if he were a few levels above, defeating that monster would be far from easy. Starting such a difficult fight while the odds were against them wasn¡¯t just reckless¡ªit was suicide. Caleb scratched his head and muttered, "But you have beaten, Master of Chaos before, right? That D-rank boss monster." He was referring to Master of Chaos, the boss of a dungeon that had undergone a dungeon break, upgrading it into a D-rank dungeon. Jhin simply shrugged. "Master of Chaos was in a cooldown phase when I fought it. It had just evolved into a D-rank monster, so it wasn¡¯t a full-fledged D-rank boss yet." That situation had been more favorable than this. The Three-Horned Goblin, by contrast, was a true D-rank boss monster. The difference in level and threat was massive. Jhin glanced around at the group and added, casually but decisively, "Which is why I¡¯m suggesting we split up into two teams." "Two teams?" Caleb echoed, puzzled. "Yeah. We¡¯ll move in two separate groups from here on out." He turned to look at each member of the party. "Eventually, if we want to leave this dungeon safely, we¡¯re going to have to take down the Three-Horned Goblin." Behind this twisted auction house, behind all the layers of shadows and deceit, stood the King of Goblins¡ªthe true villain pulling the strings. He was the impostor who had stolen Neon¡¯s identity... and he was affiliated with the Company. "That bastard holds the Goblin Crown. It¡¯s a special item that grants him absolute loyalty from all goblins." To take him down, they¡¯d need to fight through the goblin army. That included the Three-Horned Goblin¡ªof course. So if they wanted to make it out alive, they would, inevitably, have to face the dungeon¡¯s boss. That made one thing clear: they needed a plan. Caleb, his anxiety growing with each word, asked with a trembling voice, "...So what do we do?" Jhin began limbering up, stretching his arms and shoulders. "I¡¯ve got a way." Once preparations were complete, the group split up into two teams. Caleb found himself assigned to the Auction Team, walking side by side with Pete. As they moved through a dim hallway, Caleb glanced at his companion and said, "You really think Jhin will be okay?" Pete replied, a bit flatly, "...You¡¯re seriously worried about him?" "But this is the first time I¡¯ve heard him say something might be impossible. Honestly, I thought Kyle could do just about anything." "Not an unfair assumption," Pete admitted. "I got chills watching him bring down that Giant Specter earlier." He walked a few paces ahead, swiping his hand through the air, checking something invisible. Was he checking his inventory? "But Jhin ¡¯s not a god. He¡¯s a player. And players lose if their level, gear, or skills fall short. That¡¯s just the way it is." No matter how skilled, a player with lacking combat power could still lose. That was the hard limit of their world. Even Jhin ¡ªeven Kyle¡ªwasn¡¯t exempt from that rule. "But there¡¯s one thing that makes Jhin different," Pete added. "He¡¯s a top-tier, irreplaceable player¡ªone of the highest-tier players to ever exist." Even an impenetrable fortress can¡¯t withstand a celestial-tier player forever. If a player of that level sets their mind to it... the results are unpredictable. It might be impossible on the first try. But the second... the third... Jhin would find a way. No matter how unfavorable the conditions, he¡¯d discover a method to break the unbreakable. Pete remembered the near-miraculous plays he¡¯d witnessed from Kyle in their last game. And he believed. Not just in Jhin ¡¯s power¡ªbut in his ability to find creative, unimaginable ways forward. He turned to Caleb and said with a smile, "So we just need to do our part. We¡¯re heading into battle too, after all." At the end of the long hallway stood a door. The door to the auction house. To fulfill the first condition Jhin had mentioned, the mission awaiting them behind that door was critical. Pete grinned, a little too confidently. "Let¡¯s flex a little¡ªfor old times¡¯ sake." The door opened. A pungent mix of alcohol and perfume hit them at once. A massive banquet table sprawled across the room, laden with exotic dishes from all over. Nearby, people in ornate masks wandered to and fro, as if a masquerade ball were just beginning. So many players, all gathered in one place. In New Capital, a scene like this was unheard of. ¡¯...All of these people are auction guests?¡¯ Not all of them were villains¡ªsurely not. Human trafficking was just one part of the auction¡¯s business. Some were likely wealthy players here for rare items, with no clue what went on behind the scenes. But even so... S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What are you doing? Let¡¯s move." Pete was already ahead, biting into a grilled chicken skewer, looking completely at ease. He wore a mask like he¡¯d been born in one. Caleb nodded and followed, thankful his own mask hid the nervousness on his face. This isn¡¯t the time to get distracted. He hadn¡¯t come here to gawk at the corruption or taste fine wine. He came to rescue Evan and the others. With that thought firm in his heart, Caleb stepped deeper into the auction hall. "Ahem, mic check. Testing, one-two¡ª" In the center of the grand ballroom, a circular stage lit up. A goblin¡ªyes, another one¡ªstood with a microphone in hand. "Everyone, your attention please! It¡¯s time for tonight¡¯s maiiiin~~ event! The exclusive auction begins~~ now!!" A cheer rose from the crowd, and people surged forward to gather around the stage. Caleb did his best not to lose Pete in the crush of bodies. "Please check your terminals, everyone!" the goblin announced. "It¡¯s simple. When an item you want appears, just input your bid into the device we gave you." Caleb looked down at the terminal he¡¯d received from a passing goblin. It was a plain device¡ªjust a keypad with numbers and a single ENTER key. But it was more than enough to make a bid. "Let the exclusive auction begin!" With a bang, fireworks erupted from the edge of the circular stage. The rest of the room dimmed, leaving only the platform in a spotlight. A mechanical lift began rising from the center. The first item slowly came into view. "This here is a rare item, recovered with much difficulty from an ancient goblin temple! An old-fashioned hat, rich with vintage charm and mystique..." Before the goblin could even finish the description, Pete had already input his bid. The auctioneer paused for a split second, clearly surprised¡ªbut recovered immediately, his voice never skipping a beat. Chapter 64 - The Merchant’s Stage Chapter 64: Chapter 64 - The Merchant¡¯s StageChapter 64 - The Merchant¡¯s Stage "Oh? We have a rather hasty guest tonight. Very well! A bid of 100 gold has been placed. Anyone else?" The lift had stopped, and the item was now fully in view. The ¡¯Goblin¡¯s Illusory Hat,¡¯ a level-90-grade item, began drawing everyone¡¯s attention like a magnet. "200 gold!" "300 gold!" "500 gold!" The numbers soared in an instant. Those who could afford to be here, at an auction in times like these, weren¡¯t your average players¡ªthey had money, and they didn¡¯t hesitate to throw it around. As the bids surged upward, the moment came when the item¡¯s perceived value began falling short of the offered prices. "1,001 gold." Crossing the psychological barrier of 1,000 gold, Pete casually submitted a bid of 1,001. While the crowd chuckled at the cheekiness, the person who had just bid 1,000 immediately punched in 1,100. "1,101 gold." Was he playing games? The one who entered 1,100 looked as if he¡¯d swallowed a crushed beer can, face contorted with irritation. "1,500 gold!" The value had long been surpassed. Buying it now would be a straight-up loss. But out of pride, the merchant kept pushing the price up. Yet¡ª "1,501 gold." Without fail, Pete raised it by one again¡ªand secured the item. "Sold for 1,501 gold!" And so, the pattern repeated. Pete began snatching up every item like a runaway train with no brakes. "2,001 gold." "4,501 gold." "3,071 gold." Again and again, he dominated every round. Whispers of discontent began to ripple through the crowd. Even Caleb, watching from the side, leaned in and whispered, clearly rattled. "This isn¡¯t part of the plan. We were only supposed to bid on the people¡ªjust the human lots to get the contract scrolls. If you keep this up, you¡¯ll draw too much attention." Their true objective was to bid on people, claim the rights through the hidden contracts, and extract them¡ªthat was the first step of Jhin ¡¯s plan. Pete smirked and replied nonchalantly, "I said we¡¯d flex a little, didn¡¯t I? Don¡¯t worry¡ªthe plan is still in motion. I¡¯m just going about it my way." "Your way?" "I¡¯m a merchant. And for a merchant, trust is everything. I can¡¯t just sit back while someone drags my name through the dirt, can I?" Caleb frowned. "You say that, but you¡¯ve swindled your fair share of top-ranking players¡ªwhat trust are you even talking about?" "Details, details." Caleb looked on, clearly worried. "Whatever you¡¯re planning, are you sure about this? You¡¯re already on the hook for over 100,000 gold. If they figure out it¡¯s all fake, you¡¯ll be thrown out¡ªor worse." 100,000 gold. An astronomical amount for a single player. The game had only been live for three months¡ªno way any individual could possess that much gold. "Who said it was fake?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pete gave a light-hearted smile, clearly trying to put Caleb at ease. But Caleb wasn¡¯t comforted at all. The crowd was already starting to eye them with suspicion, as if ready to pounce the moment Pete slipped. At this rate, the whole operation could collapse. And as expected, the backlash came swiftly and loudly. "Who the hell is it?! Who¡¯s pulling this crap?!" "Yeah! Show your damn face already!" "This is fraud! I demand this auction be voided!" Traders and merchants who had lost their bids began murmuring amongst themselves, and soon their voices rose into an angry chorus. The goblin emcee, clearly sensing the disruption, couldn¡¯t carry on with the auction in such a state. "This... has escalated a bit more than I expected. Looks like we need a little clarification, hmm?" Even the goblin running the show wasn¡¯t pleased. With every new item, someone interrupted the explanation by instantly outbidding before anyone could process what was even being sold. Someone who kept upping the price by just one gold¡ªclearly not here with honest intent. The goblin curled its lip and scanned the crowd. In situations like this, the best solution was to redirect the attention. "Would number 294... care to offer an explanation?" As the goblin¡¯s voice cut through the noise, the crowd fell silent. People turned their heads, eyes wide, scanning the room for badge number 294. Caleb glanced down and confirmed it¡ª294 was displayed on Pete¡¯s device. Pete began stepping forward. "Wait¡ªwhat do you think you¡¯re doing?" "They asked for an explanation." "So?" "Relax. I¡¯m Neon, remember?" With those words, he brushed off Caleb¡¯s hand and stepped confidently into the spotlight. Caleb stared at his back, stunned. Does he really have a way out of this? He swallowed hard. ...Okay. Just trust him. He is Neon. As Pete had said¡ªhe was the real deal. The legendary merchant who once ranked 9th overall, the ¡¯Celestial Trader Neon¡¯ himself. If that was true, then this was his battlefield. If Jhin ¡¯s domain was the blood-slick frontlines of combat, then this¡ªan arena of money, deception, and reputation¡ªwas Pete¡¯s warzone. This was his stage. Pete adjusted his mask slightly and climbed the stage. "I¡¯m number 294." "Oho... so it¡¯s you." "What seems to be the issue?" "No real issue," the goblin said with a sly smile. "But when complaints are raised, it¡¯s my duty to investigate." Pete simply shrugged. "Did I break any rules? All I did was purchase items according to the rules of the auction." The goblin nodded slowly. "True. But you must be able to prove you can afford your purchases. Us goblins have a strong distaste for those who play games with money." "...I like that mindset," Pete muttered. He turned to face the sea of merchants and players now glaring at him. Some eyes were filled with suspicion¡ªothers, with barely concealed killing intent. So they were hoping he was bluffing. Hoping they could eat him alive if he slipped up. "You want an explanation?" He manifested his inventory into visible form, projecting it for all to see. He specifically highlighted one thing for the crowd: His liquid cash. [10,000,320G] Caleb stood frozen, mouth half-open in disbelief as he stared at the projection. What the hell...? What even is he planning? He couldn¡¯t tell what was going on inside Pete¡¯s head. And that made it even more terrifying. Chapter 65 - The Real Neon Chapter 65: Chapter 65 - The Real NeonChapter 65 - The Real Neon "Te¨CTen million gold...?" "...I can¡¯t believe it." "How could he possibly have made that much money already?!" Standing on the stage, Pete could clearly hear the murmurs spreading throughout the auction house. Even though everyone was wearing masks, he could easily imagine the expressions behind them. Greedy merchants. Pete squared his shoulders and declared, "Is that enough proof for you?" As soon as he opened his mouth, the audience went completely silent. He had visualized his inventory¡ªa solid, undeniable fact. There was no better proof of credibility. Now, the eyes of the merchant class were glued to his every movement. A mysterious man with ten million gold. No one could dismiss him lightly anymore. In the world of merchants, money was power. And the fact that he¡¯d amassed ten million gold just three months after the opening of Exodia 2¡ªthat alone proved his standing as a high-tier player. "For reference, I plan to buy everything listed in today¡¯s auction." Maintaining his confident smile, Pete addressed the stunned crowd. "If you think you can keep up, go ahead¡ªtry bidding." The impact of those words was immediate. What began as quiet murmuring snowballed into full-blown chaos. Within moments, the auction house sounded like a rowdy flea market. The goblin emcee belatedly snatched the mic away from Pete, but it was too late. Ji had already said everything he needed to. Unbothered, he stepped off the stage with complete composure. The goblin stammered as it tried to regain control. "Uh, uhm... There appears to have been a misunderstanding, so we will temporarily pause the auction. It will resume in one hour. In the meantime, please enjoy the banquet we¡¯ve prepared for you..." While the flustered goblin tried to salvage the situation, Caleb approached Pete, concern all over his face. He whispered, "...Was this part of your plan too?" "Hmmm." "What are you thinking? You just completely derailed the entire flow. What are you even trying to do...?" "Just wait a little longer." Pete looked at him, calm and composed, like a policeman tired of scolding repeat juvenile delinquents. His voice didn¡¯t waver. "Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s going well." "What the hell is that supposed to mean...?" It was then that the goblin¡ªhaving finally cleaned up the situation¡ªapproached with a scowl and stood before Pete. The goblin was massive, easily twice his size, and its presence was even more intimidating up close. "...The King requests your presence." With those words, the goblin turned and began walking away. Pete looked back at Caleb and smiled. "See? Told you." "See what?!" Caleb¡¯s frown remained deeply etched on his face. As Pete followed the goblin, he began to sort his thoughts. Jhin ¡¯s plan was simple. First: Buy all the people being auctioned off. Using brute force to take back the auction¡¯s "goods" was foolish. If they didn¡¯t retrieve the hidden contracts, even recovering the bodies would be pointless. They¡¯d just be rescuing empty vessels. In other words, they needed to go through the proper procedure¡ªwin the bids, secure the contracts, and make it legal. That part was feasible. After all, Neon¡ªthe Celestial Trader of the Sky¡ªwas here. With Pete involved, money wasn¡¯t a problem. Second: Meet the Goblin King. Even if they recovered the hidden contracts, it wouldn¡¯t be the end. Even if they got the children¡¯s bodies back¡ªwhat about their stolen memories? Until everything was fully restored¡ªbody, mind, and soul¡ªthe mission wouldn¡¯t be complete. And for that, there was one item they absolutely had to get. The Goblin Crown. It was the only way to recombine fragmented souls. Manipulating souls was a power exclusive to goblins. That¡¯s why Pete and Caleb had entered the auction house¡ªto recover the hidden contracts. Meanwhile, Jhin had gone off to retrieve the Goblin Crown from wherever it was being kept. Pete clicked his tongue softly. ...But that¡¯s not enough. Jhin ¡¯s plan was simple and efficient¡ªbut it was missing something important. Was recovering the hidden contracts really sufficient? Pete would confidently answer: No. There¡¯s something off here¡ªsomething smells like money. Pete had a good sense for these things. Not just good¡ªa natural talent. When it came to sniffing out profit or loss, he had an instinct honed by experience and sharpened by survival. Some called it the instinct of a born merchant. That intuition had led him to develop the character of Dungeon Merchant Neon, and it was what had kept him alive so far. If he couldn¡¯t trust that, then what could he trust? If his plan succeeded, he would not only accomplish what he¡¯d promised Jhin ¡ªbut also reap an enormous reward. Pete had run the numbers. It was doable. Not just for anyone¡ªbut for Neon, it was well within reach. If I pull this off, I¡¯ll be swimming in gold. And not just Pete. If this worked, even Jhin would walk away with something massive. Yes. All we have to do is make the plan succeed. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before they knew it, they had arrived at zone D-10. At the entrance to the connecting passage ahead, the goblin turned and spoke. "This is the place. The King awaits inside." With surprising courtesy, the goblin knocked, then slowly opened the door. Psssshhh¡ªa soft hiss of air escaping. The lavish interior of the boss room came into view, filled with ornate furniture and luxurious decor. Alright. Time to get a look at this impostor¡¯s face. Pete exchanged glances with Caleb and then slowly stepped inside. Standing like a gatekeeper was the Three-Horned Goblin, looming with a heavy presence, its skeletal frame massive and terrifying. It looked like it could pounce at any moment. The Three-Horned Goblin. Then came a voice¡ªa guttural laugh from deep within the room. "Kuhahaha... The honored guest has arrived!" The fake Neon. The moment Pete laid eyes on the man, he let out a small, dry laugh. If you¡¯re going to impersonate someone, at least look decent while doing it. But no¡ªthis guy was the definition of shady. Snake-like, narrow eyes gave him the unmistakable air of a crook. Late twenties, maybe? Not young, but not old either. Thanks to his mask, Pete¡¯s face remained hidden. With even more confidence, he deepened his voice and spoke. "So you¡¯re the one running this auction." The impostor gave a smug nod, his eyes gleaming with arrogance. Pete let out a small chuckle. "Then you must be the so-called ¡¯Dungeon Merchant Neon.¡¯" "An honor. You know me?" "Of course. What kind of merchant doesn¡¯t know Neon?" "Kuhaha! And yet you¡¯ve still come charging into my den, knowing that?" Pete shrugged. "Charging in? Please. You¡¯re the one who invited me." The fake Neon walked over to a wine rack, selecting a vintage bottle. He poured a deep crimson wine into a crystal glass, the rich color swirling in the light. "You¡¯re a bold one. I like it." "And you¡¯re more of a brute than I expected." Chapter 66 - Not the Only One With Insurance Chapter 66: Chapter 66 - Not the Only One With InsuranceChapter 66 - Not the Only One With Insurance The Goblin King, despite looking like a snake, gave off a surprisingly hearty and jovial air. He didn¡¯t feel like the type to be putting on a facade. In fact, it was the sort of presence that made you think¡ªmaybe he doesn¡¯t even need to lie. "Care for a drink?" "I won¡¯t refuse." Pete, technically still underage, wasn¡¯t familiar with alcohol. But the way he accepted the glass¡ªsmooth, composed¡ªthere wasn¡¯t even a hint of inexperience. Perfect acting. The two clinked their wine glasses together. The wine, red as blood, sloshed like waves in a storm. Pete didn¡¯t take a sip. Even if it had been plain water, he wouldn¡¯t have drunk it right away. The Goblin King narrowed his eyes and said, "There¡¯s no poison. You can drink it." "..." "You¡¯re cautious. I like that. But the fact you accepted the glass in the first place... I¡¯ll take that to mean we¡¯re aligned in thought, yes?" "Of course." The impostor downed his wine in a single gulp¡ªlike it was nothing but cheap wine¡ªthen continued speaking. "Throwing around money like that in front of greedy merchants... you must¡¯ve had a reason. Unless you were just flexing for fun before dropping dead." "..." "Talk. Why did you come to see me?" Pete studied the man for a moment, then grinned beneath his mask. Thank god for the mask¡ªhe didn¡¯t have to worry about hiding his expression. He felt like he¡¯d landed a big one... hopefully he wasn¡¯t found out. Feigning ignorance, he began, "Your operation intrigued me. Turning a mobile dungeon into a black market? That¡¯s bold. Whoever came up with it has real creativity." "Glad to hear that." "That¡¯s why our client chose you for the job." At that, the impostor tilted his head, curious. He refilled his glass and asked, "...Client?" "Yes. Truth is, we¡¯re not that interested in the auction itself. What we¡¯re really curious about... is the man known as ¡¯Neon.¡¯" "I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re getting at." "I¡¯m saying we want to do business with you." Something in Pete¡¯s tone must¡¯ve struck the right chord, because the impostor smirked¡ªwide and open. His expression couldn¡¯t have been more transparent. Pete held his gaze and said calmly, "To be specific¡ªa monopoly contract." "Go on." "We¡¯d prefer to receive a steady supply of high-quality goods¡ªwithout having to go through the hassle of the auction system. It¡¯d be better if we removed the red tape altogether." The "goods" they had in mind spanned a wide range¡ªluxuries, humans, monsters... everything was on the table. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "To buy that kind of merchandise, you¡¯d need a staggering amount of capital." "Didn¡¯t I already prove that with ten million gold?" "Not enough. We want a client we can really trust." So he was more cautious than expected. No wonder he¡¯d managed to keep the operation running this long. Pete decided to take the direct route. "Frankly, I can¡¯t reveal the client¡¯s identity. But I can say he¡¯s someone well-known in Ark." "Ark, huh..." The impostor nodded slowly and muttered, "Yeah... that explains it. I can make a guess. If he¡¯s behind this, then it¡¯s credible." ...He? Pete blinked, briefly confused. But he let it go. Now wasn¡¯t the time to get distracted. He kept watching the impostor¡¯s movements closely. The man pressed his fingers to his temple, feigning deep thought. That¡¯s when Pete caught sight of the item resting on the man¡¯s head¡ªawkwardly, like it didn¡¯t quite belong there. An item used to control goblins. ¡ªThe Goblin Crown. It looked deceptively ordinary. He¡¯s not even wearing it properly... Still, the impostor snapped his fingers and said, "Alright. I¡¯ll accept the deal." "That¡¯s a quick decision. I like it." Soon after, a goblin came scurrying in, arms full of paperwork. It was a stack of hidden contracts. Pete watched as the goblin laid the documents on the table. He scanned them quickly. Even a rough count confirmed dozens¡ªmaybe more. A lump formed in his throat. "You had these prepared in advance?" "To be honest," the impostor said with a smirk, "we were expecting someone like you to reach out." "...What?" "You gave off such a strong scent¡ªit was obvious. We were just waiting for you to come knocking." He was thoroughly convinced that Pete and his team were affiliated with Ark. That wasn¡¯t necessarily bad. Relaxing slightly, Pete picked up a pen and leafed through the documents one more time. "...Fine. I¡¯ll sign." The signature was swift. As they sealed the contract, both Pete and the impostor exchanged satisfied smiles. And then, the contract¡¯s effect activated. Fsssst! "The deal is done." "Let¡¯s hope it proves to be a profitable one." That was when it happened. A black chain suddenly materialized around Pete¡¯s wrist. He narrowed his eyes. "...What¡¯s the meaning of this?" "Don¡¯t take it the wrong way," the impostor said casually. "We just needed some insurance of our own." Pete clicked his tongue as message after message began flooding his vision. The true effects of the hidden contract were kicking in now. [The effect of the Hidden Contract has been activated.] [Your body is now bound to Player ¡¯Isiah¡¯.] [Your inventory is now bound to Player ¡¯Isiah¡¯.] [Your¡ª...] Wait a second. Isiah? Was that really his name? That made the whole "impostor" thing feel slightly... ambiguous. Interesting. Still composed, Pete opened his mouth and said, "You know, I think you¡¯ve made a huge mistake." Ssssshhhhh... A chilling wind began to blow from somewhere unseen. The room¡¯s temperature dropped suddenly, as if winter had crept in. The air turned sharp and cold like a dawn frost. Darkness crept around the edges of the chamber. Mist began to pool up to the knees. Like dry ice spreading across a stage, an eerie atmosphere took hold of the room. "What the¡ª" Creeeeeeak! With a horrific screech, part of the ceiling cracked open¡ªthen shattered. And ghosts came pouring in. Dozens, maybe hundreds, of spirits cascaded down into the boss room, howling. Pete grinned and said, "You¡¯re not the only one who came prepared." Chapter 67 - Tricksters and Terrors Chapter 67: Chapter 67 - Tricksters and TerrorsChapter 67 - Tricksters and Terrors Kkiiiiiik!! A piercing, bone-chilling shriek echoed through the air as thick fog rolled into the boss room. The temperature plummeted like a midwinter night. And then, they came. Legless phantoms, their figures trailing like smoke, began to swirl and rage throughout the room. Each one held in its grip a reaper¡¯s scythe¡ªSpecters, incarnations of death itself. The boss room, invaded by the Specters, quickly plunged into utter chaos. The impostor scowled, fury rising, and shouted, "...Was this your plan?" Pete only gave a nonchalant shrug. In that instant, dozens of Specters descended directly onto the Three-Horned Goblin. Within seconds, Nuada¡¯s enormous body was engulfed, completely buried in ghostly bodies. Clang! Thud! A tremendous impact rang out. The impostor¡¯s voice trembled with suppressed rage. "I don¡¯t know how you summoned the Specters... but for daring to defile my throne room, you¡¯ll pay with your life." With a twisted gleam in his eyes, he turned toward the corner of the room and ordered, "Nuada! Kill them!" "...Yes." Nuada, who had been motionless amidst the swarm of Specters, stirred. With that, the entire room quaked¡ªas if a mountain had roared. The Three-Horned Goblin stretched slowly, then began swinging his massive club, lazily at first, then with frightening power. Specters exploded like insects caught in a sandstorm. "Suppress them! ALL OF THEM!" the impostor bellowed. "Goblins! Subdue the Specters and destroy every fool who dares raise chaos in this place!" "UWAAAAAAHH!!" A chorus of monstrous cries erupted. From every corner, Goblins poured out¡ªlike they¡¯d been hiding in the very walls. The sound of clashing metal filled the air. In the blink of an eye, the boss room had turned into a full-blown warzone. The impostor turned his gaze back to Pete, holding up the contract like a blade. "Now... it¡¯s your turn. You stirred this mess¡ªnow face the punishment." "..." The impostor extended the contract. A sickly, evil light burst from it, shooting toward Pete¡¯s wrist. It was the punishment clause¡ªthe price for breaking the terms of the hidden contract. The system itself now intervened. Caleb, watching in horror, gasped as Pete staggered back, his face twisted in agony. "Uuughh!!" The cursed light burned into the mark on Pete¡¯s wrist. Flames flared over it as the mark began to glow intensely. Pete kept screaming, voice raw. "AAAAAGH!!" "..." "UGH! UGH!!" "..." The room fell silent as everyone stared. Then Pete... blinked. He glanced around at the awkward atmosphere and, as if just realizing, smiled sheepishly and waved. The glow on his arm evaporated, fading into the air like smoke. "...Huh. It disappeared?" The impostor¡¯s eyes narrowed. He looked down at the contract in his hand, then back at Pete. "...What did you do?" "Huh?" "How did you nullify the contract?" In a fit of rage, the impostor ripped the paper. But the contract shimmered... and reassembled itself, good as new. Pete tilted his head and shrugged. "I don¡¯t know. It just went away." "That makes no sense." "Is something wrong?" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The impostor¡¯s glare sharpened, fury bubbling to the surface. The Goblins caught the change in mood¡ªtheir killing intent escalated. Some began ignoring the Specters entirely and turned their weapons toward Pete. "You dare... DARE mock me like this?!" And then¡ª "I¡¯ve been wondering since earlier," Pete interrupted casually. "Do you... realize your breath smells awful?" "...What?" "Seriously. It¡¯s nasty. Do you even brush your teeth?" "RAAAAAAGH!!" The impostor lost it. His composure shattered. "Kill him! KILL HIM!! I SAID KILL HIM!!" The goblins¡¯ eyes all began to glow red. At that moment, every single one of them turned away from the Specters. Their gazes locked onto Pete like he was the only target in the world. A terrifying sight. Even when scythes sliced at their necks, even when Specters swarmed their backs¡ªthey ignored everything else. That was the power of the Goblin Crown. Its authority was absolute. They would likely obey without hesitation even if ordered to die. "But you know, Neon¡ªor should I say... Fake Neon." "...Fake?" "This really isn¡¯t the time to worry about me." "What nonsense are you talking¡ª" KUGGGGUNG!! The far end of the boss room collapsed, as if something monstrous had slammed through it. And then¡ª A scythe, massive as a tower, dropped into view. A ghost emerged. Colossal¡ªnearly as large as Nuada. A creature whose mere presence made you feel like it was draining your soul just by looking at it. A message rang out: [Hidden Boss ¡¯Wailing ghost (D)¡¯ has appeared!] [The ghost of hell unleashes its wail!] A Wailing ghost. The moment it opened its mouth, a hundred voices poured out at once¡ªwomen screaming, men shouting, elders sobbing, children wailing. Every pitch, every age, every kind of cry fused into one terrible voice. The Wailing ghost hissed: "...Goblin." "...Wailing ghost." Nuada locked eyes with the Wailing ghost. In that moment, blue sparks danced through the air¡ªa sign of system-level rejection. Two D-class boss monsters. Creatures that could not, by any rule, coexist in the same space. Even nearby goblins and Specters began to faint, unable to withstand the pressure of their presence alone. The first to strike was the Wailing ghost. Sseugeureok! Her giant scythe slashed downward. Goblins were cleaved in half¡ªslain instantly. Only Nuada and two other elite goblins managed to withstand the attack. Then came Nuada¡¯s turn. KUUUUNG!! As he swung his massive club, shockwaves rippled through the room. Specters unable to withstand the pressure were blown apart on contact. Each wild swing burst through the air like cannonfire. The impostor watched and muttered, "...You even dragged in a Wailing ghost. You really are a trickster." But he didn¡¯t look particularly afraid. Why? He must have been hiding something. BOOOOOM! KRAAAAAASH! The fight raged on¡ªNuada and the Wailing ghost trading devastating blows. The outcome was still unclear. But the tide... was beginning to turn. And the impostor? He just smirked, as if he had known this would happen all along. "You thought I¡¯d be afraid of that Wailing ghost?" He laughed. "Hahahahaha! You fool." Chapter 68 - Eyes That See Victory Chapter 68: Chapter 68 - Eyes That See VictoryChapter 68 - Eyes That See Victory BOOM! A tremendous crash rang out as the Wailing ghost was struck by Nuada and smashed into the wall. Though it quickly pulled itself free, the damage was obvious¡ªits movements had noticeably slowed. However, there seemed to be a misunderstanding. Pete waved his hand dismissively. "Not that one, you idiot." "...?" "The real one¡¯s over there." He pointed up¡ªtoward the ceiling. There, descending belatedly into the boss room, was a man. Landing lightly, he brushed the dust off his clothes and said, "Am I late?" "No, you arrived exactly on time." It was Jhin . [Boss Monster ¡¯Lykan¡¯s Roar echoes through the dungeon.] [Hidden Boss Monster ¡¯Wailing ghost¡¯s Wail howls fiercely.] KWAANG! KWAANG! Lykan¡¯s massive club clashed against the Wailing ghost¡¯s scythe again and again, enormous shockwaves rippling outward with each collision. For now, it was difficult to tell who would win¡ªbut little by little, the Wailing ghost was being pushed back. Jhin narrowed his eyes. ¡¯I managed to lure the Wailing ghost all the way here by grabbing its aggro, but... it¡¯s disappointing. Way more than I expected.¡¯ He had hoped the Wailing ghost would pressure Lykan much harder. Instead, the Wailing ghost was being driven to the brink of destruction almost immediately. ¡¯Did they equip Nuada?¡¯ A D-rank boss was already powerful by nature. But those damn Company bastards¡ªon top of Lykan¡¯s natural strength, they had equipped him with powerful gear. Fighting such a monster, even at the same level, would be an almost impossible hunt for most players. Jhin clicked his tongue. ¡¯Still, it was the right call to bring in the Specters.¡¯ He was well aware that he couldn¡¯t defeat Lykan alone. If he¡¯d tried to fight without the Specters, he would have been crushed long ago. "This is why you don¡¯t go around breaking unwritten rules." Jhin watched, amused, as the goblins and Specters clashed savagely. Originally, monsters on the Exodia would never fight each other¡ªan invisible rule enforced by the world itself. But here, in a dungeon already tainted by broken pacts¡ªwhere goblins had overrun the kobolds¡¯ territory¡ªthe old rules no longer applied. Change had come. Monsters that would normally avoid each other now tore into one another with reckless fury. "Good. Let¡¯s keep it that way." Satisfied for the moment, Jhin approached Pete and handed over an item. It was a special relic¡ªa discontinued item called the Hermit¡¯s Cloak, one of Neon¡¯s prized possessions. Without it, luring the Wailing ghost here would have been impossible. "Thanks for letting me borrow it." "No problem. Glad it helped." Jhin then turned toward the snake-faced man trembling nearby. The impostor Neon. "Nice to meet you, fake." "What...?" KWAANG! One strike¡ªand the impostor was sent flying across the floor, rolling several times before coming to a halt. Teeth missing, his face twisted in agony, he glared with murderous rage. So satisfying. Jhin ignored him with ease and looked over to Caleb. "You did a great job." But Caleb didn¡¯t look proud. He had his head bowed deeply, like a criminal awaiting judgment. "...I¡¯m sorry." "Huh?" "We failed. Even after all you did for us... I¡¯m really sorry." Their plan¡ªto purchase the auctioned people and secure the hidden contracts¡ªhad failed. Without those contracts, there was no way to reclaim the children¡¯s true bodies. Saving an empty shell would have been meaningless. But Jhin tilted his head curiously. "Then what¡¯s this?" "Huh?" Caleb followed his gaze¡ªto the stack of papers cradled in Pete¡¯s arms. It couldn¡¯t be... Hidden contracts. Real ones. Eyes wide, Caleb stammered, "Wha¡ªwhat the hell happened?" Pete only grinned mischievously and pulled out another item. One that even Caleb recognized immediately. "The Goblin Crown?! When did you¡ª?!" "I told you," Pete said with a wink. "When Neon takes on a job, he delivers." Jhin , seeing the whole exchange, understood what had happened. Of course. This was Neon. It was na?ve to expect him to quietly follow anyone else¡¯s plan. Jhin smirked and pointed at the impostor. "Let me guess. That guy tried to pull some kind of contract scam?" "Old habits die hard," Pete replied lightly. "Idiot. Who tries to scam Neon?" Now, Jhin had the Goblin Crown firmly in his grasp. The impostor could only stare in horror. He scrabbled desperately at his head, searching¡ªbut the crown was already gone. "You... how did you take my item?!" And at that moment¡ªthe door connecting the boss room to the rest of the dungeon opened, and new goblins poured in. Wielding massive clubs, they charged straight at Jhin and the others. Seeing them coming, Caleb smiled grimly. He thought they had nothing to fear now. After all, they had the Goblin Crown. The goblins should be theirs to command. But Jhin said calmly, "Detective, dodge them. You still can¡¯t control those ones." "Huh?" Even after seizing the Goblin Crown, they had not yet transferred the control authority. The goblins would still attack them. "Why didn¡¯t you say that sooner?!" Caleb yelped as he hurled himself aside, narrowly avoiding a goblin¡¯s club. Meanwhile, the Specters reacted to the goblins¡¯ charge, and the entire battlefield descended into chaos. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Breathing hard after escaping the immediate danger, Caleb asked, "Then what now?!" "What do you mean?" Jhin replied with a shrug. "We take down Nuada first." "Huh?!" KWAANG!! Another massive impact echoed. The Wailing ghost crashed to the floor¡ªits skeletal head shattered by Lykan¡¯s club. The battle was over. The impostor, panic creeping into his face, ran toward Nuada and screamed, "Kill them! Kill them all!!" "...Yes." THUD. THUD. Nuada approached, each step shaking the ground. His massive, blood-red eyes locked onto Jhin . The sheer weight of his presence made it hard to even breathe. Jhin exhaled slowly. "The one who holds the Goblin Crown becomes the Goblin King. But just like you need new wine for new wineskins, old goblins still remain bound to the previous king by their souls." Nuada loomed close, glaring down with killing intent. But in those crimson eyes... there was no real murderous rage. Only control. Only compulsion. Nuada was originally destined to be the true Goblin King. Had it not been for the Company¡¯s interference¡ªhad they not seized the Goblin Crown¡ªLykan might have grown to awaken properly as a sovereign king. This creature was of royal blood. Yet he was forced into slavery before ever fulfilling his potential. In his eyes, Jhin saw everything: rage, grief, loyalty twisted into chains¡ªand an unbearable, bitter resentment toward humans. He understood now. "Die... human..." Lykan¡¯s giant club lifted slowly into the air¡ªthe same club that had smashed the Wailing ghost to pieces. "Mr. Jhin ! Look out!!" But Jhin didn¡¯t move. There was no will behind the attack. No purpose. It was just a puppet¡¯s swing. Jhin grinned, his golden eyes flaring brightly. [Skill, ¡¯Eye of the Flow (A)¡¯ has been activated.] He knew it. Even if he couldn¡¯t defeat Lykan directly¡ª Even if he couldn¡¯t even take down the Wailing ghost alone¡ª At this moment, with the skill activated¡ª He could see it ... Nuada¡ªLykan¡ªcould be conquered. Chapter 69 - The Awakening of the True King Chapter 69: Chapter 69 - The Awakening of the True KingChapter 69 - The Awakening of the True King Steadying his thundering heart, Jhin opened his sharp eyes wide. Through his gaze, the figures of Lykan and the impostor were vividly clear. ¡¯This is the only chance I¡¯ll get.¡¯ Of course, he still couldn¡¯t truly defeat Lykan¡ªnot yet. Even if Millie joined with her Burn Blood skill, it would be nearly impossible to take down a D-rank boss monster¡ªthe strongest of their class. ¡¯If we have to defeat Nuada, it has to be now.¡¯ Avoiding the brutal arc of the descending club, Jhin leapt aside and swept his eyes across the battlefield. There, scattered across the floor¡ªhe spotted something. [You have acquired the item ¡¯Spectral Wailing ghost¡¯s Scythe¡¯.] [The wail of the specter has been imbued.] The scythe was enormous¡ªits blade alone was more than three meters across, far larger than Jhin himself. It was heavy, almost oppressively so. Even lifting it, much less swinging it, was a tremendous feat. The impostor let out a derisive snort. "You think grabbing the Wailing ghost¡¯s weapon will let you win?!" KUUUUUNG! The club came crashing down faster than he could dodge. Jhin braced the scythe against the impact to soften the blow¡ªbut it was no use. BOOM! He was hurled across the boss room, smashing hard into a wall. Monster... It wasn¡¯t just the natural strength of a D-rank boss. Lykan¡¯s might had been enhanced¡ªboosted to monstrous levels by the powerful gear the Company had armed him with. He wasn¡¯t just a tough opponent. He was something far beyond. "Kh..." Blood stained Jhin ¡¯s lips, but he wiped it away and grasped the scythe again. Lykan was charging at him now, like an enraged bull. If he took a direct hit again, it would be fatal¡ªbut that was fine. He hadn¡¯t intended a long, drawn-out battle anyway. This was a fight that would be decided quickly¡ªor not at all. "...Now!" Suddenly, Millie¡¯s pistol fired, rounds exploding like fireworks around Lykan. The bright blasts drew Lykan¡¯s attention, causing a crucial moment of distraction. At the same time, Pete muttered something under his breath¡ªand the impostor¡¯s body lurched. A confused shout escaped the impostor¡¯s lips. "W-what the hell?! Why can¡¯t I control my body?!" He stumbled¡ªstraight into the path between Jhin and Lykan. The giant club, mid-swing, hesitated and faltered. The moment had come. The impostor, teeth bared in rage, snarled: "What are you doing, you worthless goblin! Kill him already!!" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jhin seized the opportunity. He dashed forward into Lykan¡¯s range, aiming carefully, and swung the scythe vertically. WHOOOOOSH! The Wailing ghost¡¯s scythe sliced through the air. At a glance, it looked like a clean miss¡ªnothing but air. The impostor jeered immediately. "Where the hell were you aiming, you moron?!" But Jhin didn¡¯t hesitate. He immediately threw the scythe aside and leapt back without even glancing at the impostor¡¯s sneering face. Because it didn¡¯t matter. The plan had already succeeded. His golden eyes flared with power, tracking the swirling flows of Power and spirit in the air. And there it was¡ªthe glowing link connecting the impostor¡¯s soul to Lykan¡¯s. Where his scythe had passed, the chain was now cracked¡ªready to break. ¡¯Weakened.¡¯ The battle with the Wailing ghost had left Lykan¡¯s spirit vulnerable. The Wailing ghost¡¯s scythe wasn¡¯t just a physical weapon¡ªit attacked the soul itself. ¡¯And we seized the Goblin Crown too.¡¯ Acquiring the Goblin Crown had been an unexpected bonus¡ªbut one that made their plan ironclad. With it, they could fully sever the impostor¡¯s hold over Lykan and the other goblins. And now¡ª CRACK! The weakened link between Lykan and the impostor shattered. The chain connecting them disintegrated into glittering fragments. The impostor, still clueless, screamed: "What the hell are you doing?! Move! Attack! Useless piece of goblin trash!" But Lykan didn¡¯t answer. He simply stood there, arms limp at his sides, like a puppet with its strings cut. Of course. He couldn¡¯t hear the impostor anymore. "You worthless goblin! You¡¯re dead the moment this is over!!" But Jhin already knew. Every goblin in the boss room was trembling. Nuada¡ªLykan¡ªwas buried in darkness. Iron bars caged his mind. Chains wrapped tight around his soul. Like every goblin forced into servitude, Lykan had been denied even the ability to think for himself. Was he born this way? Had it always been so? He didn¡¯t know. All he could remember was one command that had echoed for what felt like an eternity: ¡¯Serve the King...¡¯ Goblins were a race bound from birth to serve the King¡ªan instinct woven deep into their very souls. Perhaps because they were monsters who could manipulate souls themselves, this bond was even more profound. They had no choice but to obey the bearer of the Goblin Crown. But at some point¡ª Lykan had begun to wonder. Whenever he pledged loyalty... Whenever he fulfilled orders... Why did it hurt so much? If serving the King was natural, why did it feel so wrong? Finally¡ªwhen he rose to become a Nuada, an elite goblin¡ªhe understood. ¡¯This is not a true King.¡¯ The impostor controlling him was not a King. He merely possessed the Goblin Crown and used it to shackle goblins against their will. Every time Lykan resisted, the chains tightened, the pain worsened. The impostor was a terrorist, a false ruler. But goblins had no choice. They had to serve whoever wore the crown. Even if it meant slaughtering comrades. Even if it meant desecrating their bodies by binding them with human souls. Because that was the "King¡¯s" command. Even if it was a lie. BOOM... For the first time in what felt like forever, a crack appeared in the iron bars. Light seeped in¡ªa brilliant, painful light. Lykan stared at it, overwhelmed. His very soul felt like it might burn away. But even so¡ª "King..." He realized that the shackles binding his body were breaking. The darkness was fading. In the place where emptiness once reigned, light and countless souls flooded in. All the rage he had been forced to suppress¡ª Was finally free. Chapter 70 - The True King Awakens Chapter 70: Chapter 70 - The True King AwakensChapter 70 - The True King Awakens As a torrent of emotions burst forth, Lykan opened his fierce eyes wide. "...I deny you." And with that, Lykan¡¯s roar exploded. "UWOOOOOOOOOHH!!" Lykan¡¯s deafening roar thundered through the boss room, shaking the very walls. Goblins trembled violently, their weapons clattering to the floor as they fell prostrate, groveling. This was no ordinary roar¡ª It was the unleashed fury of a D-rank boss monster, free from all restraints. The Specters, having lost their king, could do nothing but collapse flat against the ground, utterly powerless. Lykan roared for what felt like an eternity. And then, foolishly, one human dared to interrupt him. "The hell¡¯s your problem, making all that noise?! Shut that mouth already!" The impostor stormed up and kicked Lykan¡¯s leg. But Lykan¡¯s body, solid like a giant boulder, didn¡¯t even flinch. "What are you looking at? Lower your damn eyes!" "..." "You bastard, you dare defy¡ª!" CRACK! In a flash¡ª Lykan¡¯s massive hand shot out and grabbed the impostor¡¯s head, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. The impostor struggled, his limbs flailing in panic. "W-what are you¡ª" Lykan glared at him¡ªeyes boiling with rage like molten lava. "You are no king." The pressure of Lykan¡¯s grip increased. The impostor¡¯s face contorted grotesquely as bones cracked audibly. Just when it seemed he would die¡ª SLAM! Lykan smashed him brutally into the floor. And then, the storm of fury began. Again and again, Lykan¡¯s giant fists pounded down. Thud! Thud! Thud! The impostor¡¯s screams, shrill and piglike, echoed throughout the room. It went on for a long time. Only when there was no more sound¡ª only when the impostor¡¯s body was a broken mess¡ª did Lykan finally stop. Blood dripped from Lykan¡¯s knuckles. His blazing eyes still seething, he roared once again. "UWOOOOOOOOHH!!" His gaze shifted¡ªand locked onto Jhin . Steam hissed from his nostrils as he growled, "...Human!" Without hesitation, Jhin stepped forward and held out the Goblin Crown. Lykan, who had been ready to charge, recoiled slightly. "Stop. We don¡¯t have to fight. Right?" "That... is not yours, human!" Despite his snarling words, Lykan was slowly, unwillingly, kneeling before the Goblin Crown. His furious, hate-filled glare could not change his fate. Because goblins were such creatures. "Human... HUMAN!!" His cry was filled with unbearable grievance. But Jhin calmly placed the Goblin Crown on his own head. [You have equipped the item ¡¯Goblin Crown¡¯.] [You have inherited the title ¡¯King of the Crown¡¯.] [You can now bind the souls of goblins.] S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "UWOOOOOOOOOH!!" Around Lykan, chains of spirit rose from the ground. Proof that the Goblin Crown¡¯s power was once again binding his soul. Jhin frowned slightly as he said, "I don¡¯t hold any grudge against you." "I¡¯LL KILL YOU!! HUMAN!!" "But I can¡¯t just set you free either." The more Lykan resisted, the thicker the chains grew. The more violently he struggled, the tighter the shackles gripped him. Despite the murderous fury burning in his eyes, it was futile. The one who wore the Goblin Crown was King. And at least for Nuada, the Crown¡¯s authority was absolute. "URRAAAAAAH!!" The soul that had tasted freedom was now screaming as it was shackled again. Jhin ¡¯s will only grew stronger. Lykan¡¯s struggles weakened. Tears of blood dripped from Lykan¡¯s eyes. "UAAAAAAAGH!!" And then¡ª FWIP! Something embedded itself into the back of Lykan¡¯s neck. Suddenly, a terrifying surge of power exploded from within him. Lykan¡¯s muscles began to swell grotesquely, expanding rapidly. The spirit chains binding him started snapping apart. "Ghkk... What the hell?!" "Jhin !" In front of them, Lykan¡¯s gigantic body was rising. The Goblin Crown¡¯s power¡ª was no longer working properly. Was it possible? Was he now beyond even the control of the Goblin Crown? Jhin had no choice but to fall back. Frowning deeply, he activatedhis soft skills to inspect Lykan more closely. ¡¯Something... something is spreading through his body...¡¯ "UWOOOOOOOOOH!!" KRAAANG!! With a single roar, Lykan sent nearby goblins and Specters flying as if caught in a hurricane. Even Jhin staggered backward, unable to maintain his balance. His teammates were thrown to the ground like rag dolls. What the hell is happening? Through narrowed eyes, Jhin witnessed an unbelievable sight. Lykan¡¯s body¡ªwas growing ... Doubling... Tripling. Growing even larger than that. And then¡ª CRUNCH! Lykan grabbed a nearby goblin¡ªand swallowed it whole. Then a Specter. Another goblin. Anything nearby¡ªconsumed mercilessly. Nothing escaped. Even the impostor¡¯s shattered body, lying in a heap on the floor¡ª Lykan picked it up. At that moment, Jhin saw it clearly. The impostor¡ªmoments before being swallowed whole¡ªturned his bloodied face toward them... And smiled. "...Heh, heh, heh! Serves you right...! None of you... will ever leave..." CRUNCH!! His words were cut off as Lykan bit down, chewing him into oblivion. The impostor disappeared, bones and all, into the maw of the beast. And Lykan¡ªcontinued to grow. He grew until he pierced the ceiling of the boss room. His body expanded so monstrously that the room could no longer contain him. Jhin , retreating far back, lifted his head to look up. The creature that had swallowed dozens, no¡ªhundreds¡ªof monsters... was turning into something utterly unrecognizable. [!] [A bug has occurred.] [The system is checking the bug¡¯s status.] Bolts of lightning rained down from the sky, striking Lykan¡¯s enormous form. But even the lightning could not stop him. Instead, he let out a furious howl and began absorbing the souls of the Ghost Train itself. From D-4 District to D-1. Every soul. Every monster. All were sucked into him. And the more he consumed¡ªThe bigger he grew. Jhin clenched his jaw, gripping the trembling Goblin Crown in his hand. "...A true abomination." [Boss Monster ¡¯(C)¡¯ has appeared.] Perhaps now... The true king of the goblins had finally been born Crunch, crack. The sound of goblin bones being ground to dust echoed faintly through the boss room. In that vast and chaotic space, the only sound remaining was the wet, horrific chewing of a monster. From a short distance away, Jhin , eyes sharp with vigilance, muttered: Chapter 71 - The Forbidden Evolution Chapter 71: Chapter 71 - The Forbidden EvolutionChapter 71 - The Forbidden Evolution Crunch, crack. The sound of goblin bones being ground to dust echoed faintly through the boss room. In that vast and chaotic space, the only sound remaining was the wet, horrific chewing of a monster. From a short distance away, Jhin , eyes sharp with vigilance, muttered: "...It looks like that thing has evolved." Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Evolved?" Caleb echoed incredulously. "Yeah. Look at the system message... It¡¯s clear. That thing¡¯s now C-rank." Through the gaping hole Lykan had torn in the ceiling, they could see his gigantic form looming above. He was devouring the goblins around him like a kid plucking prizes from a claw machine. Relentlessly. Without pause. It was a spectacle so grotesquely mesmerizing that even Trigger himself might have been impressed. Lykan¡¯s enormous hand scooped up struggling goblins, tossing them into his maw like snacks. Every time his throat moved, one more life was swallowed and added to his grotesque mass. Caleb shook his head in disbelief. "...Is that even possible? For a boss monster to evolve without a dungeon break?" "In theory... it¡¯s not impossible," Jhin replied grimly. "Even if it¡¯s something that¡¯s never once succeeded¡ªeven back in Exodia 1." Lykan¡¯s body kept growing without restraint. With each step, the Ghost Train itself trembled. He was already so massive that his legs were visible through the train windows. And yet¡ª Strangely enough, the train kept moving. Even with his colossal weight pressing against the ground, the Ghost Train didn¡¯t stop. Lykan¡¯s position didn¡¯t change either. ¡¯Logic doesn¡¯t apply here anymore. Even the system classified it as a bug.¡¯ It was something completely unprecedented. Jhin had never heard of a goblin inflating to such an absurd size. And even now, Lykan¡¯s form no longer resembled the normal evolution of a C-rank goblin. He could say it with certainty: "This isn¡¯t a true, complete evolution. That... doesn¡¯t look like the Peculiar form I know." "If anything..." Jhin ¡¯s gaze sharpened. "It reminds me more of a Trigger." "You mean... Jaden?" Caleb asked, bewildered. "Yeah. The only theory that supports rapid evolution without a dungeon break is the Spore Virus." It made sense. The Spore Virus was a terrifying pathogen that infected humans, turning them into Grid monsters or even evolving them into Triggers. It was researched as an alternative content path when players were stuck in bottlenecks in Exodia 1. ¡¯But all those experiments ended in failure.¡¯ ¡¯The Spore Virus couldn¡¯t evolve monsters, only humans.¡¯ But¡ª This wasn¡¯t Exodia 1 anymore. This was Exodia 2. A place where unknown factors could apply. What if Lykan had been infected by something even worse? [Skill ¡¯Soft skills¡¯ (A)¡¯ is activated.] Jhin ¡¯s eyes turned brilliant gold as he scrutinized Lykan¡¯s body carefully. And there¡ª Around Lykan¡¯s thick neck¡ª Something grotesque was pulsating, like a tumor gone mad. ¡¯That¡¯s the source...¡¯ And then¡ª "It¡¯s moving!" Caleb cried. Lykan, that monstrous behemoth, began to move. Each step shredded more of the train¡¯s ceiling, his sheer force tearing apart the steel like paper. But¡ª He wasn¡¯t coming for Jhin ¡¯s group. Instead, he lumbered past them, seemingly uninterested. He didn¡¯t even bother with the nearby goblins. He didn¡¯t even bother finishing his feeding. Instead¡ª Lykan¡¯s massive head tilted toward something in the distance. Drool dripped from his maw as he stared hungrily ahead. Caleb asked, voice trembling: "...What the hell is he after?" Following Lykan¡¯s gaze, Jhin quickly understood. "It¡¯s like..." He narrowed his eyes. "He¡¯s found a buffet." D-5 Safe Zone ¨C Auction Hall Amidst the chaos, suspicious eyes darted between the merchants. One man¡ªkeeping to the shadows¡ªwas Walt, an agent of the National Intelligence Service. Surveying the confused auction hall, he murmured: "Things are getting out of hand." Next to him, a man wearing a panda mask whispered: "Chief, this wasn¡¯t part of the plan." "I know," Walt replied, frowning. "I never thought someone with that kind of financial power would show up. Have you identified him?" "Not at all, sir. He¡¯s not even on our watchlist." The NIS had staked everything on this operation. The appearance of Neon, the mysterious Dungeon Merchant ranked 9th, using a moving dungeon as a black market¡ª It was the lifeline Ark desperately needed. Their plan had been simple: Buy out the auction items. Earn Neon¡¯s trust. Secure a vital alliance. But now¡ª A completely unknown player had thrown everything into chaos with reckless spending. "We can¡¯t afford to fail this mission," Walt said darkly. "We must make contact with Neon, no matter what." "But Chief... the plan was to win him over by buying up the auction stock..." "How can we do that now?" "Forget the original plan," Walt snapped. "Things in the field always change. Be ready to adapt." "Then... what¡¯s the new plan?" Walt grimaced. He didn¡¯t really have one. ¡¯There¡¯s no time for a Plan B.¡¯ Ark was on the verge of collapse. The few remaining S-rank players like ling ling were barely clinging to life. This operation had squeezed every last drop from their already depleted manpower. And now, some nameless player had shattered their strategy like glass. Walt bit down hard on his lip. ¡¯Who the hell are you, really?¡¯ It was almost impossible to believe. How could a single player possess more wealth and influence than an entire national agency? Was it a new undiscovered top-ranker? Even considering the NIS¡¯s financial ruin, it was still an absurd gap. And then¡ª "Chief! The goblins¡ªsomething¡¯s wrong with them!" A report crackled over the comms. The goblins that once patrolled the auction hall were now moving systematically¡ªmarching toward the next train car. Their faces looked... frantic. Almost panicked. Walt stiffened. "...Now¡¯s our chance. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening, but we won¡¯t get another opportunity like this." "Huh? What are you talking about?" "Attention, all agents!" he barked into the comms. "Abandon your previous tasks! Proceed immediately to breach the goblins¡¯ storage area! That is your new mission!" The panda-masked agent hesitated. "Chief, you¡¯re not... seriously suggesting we rob their storage, are you?" "What choice do we have?!" Walt snapped. "We can¡¯t afford to return empty-handed!" "But what if we lose Neon¡¯s trust completely?! We might not ever recover from that!" In response¡ª Walt grabbed the agent by the collar and slammed him against the wall. The chaos of the auction floor covered their scuffle. No one noticed. Walt¡¯s eyes gleamed coldly. "There¡¯s no going back." Chapter 72 - The Only Way Chapter 72: Chapter 72 - The Only WayChapter 72 - The Only Way In the chaos of the auction hall ¡ª this place was also a casino after all ¡ª fights were a common occurrence. Walt spoke with a fierce tone: "You think we can afford to hesitate? You want to just sit back and watch everyone starve to death?" Because of the lizardmen army that had surged through the illumination gate, all ground routes had been completely cut off. Even today, tens of thousands in Ark were on the verge of dying. It had already reached the point where cannibalism was happening. The moment you ate human flesh, you became a ¡¯demon¡¯ ¡ª yet even then, there was no other choice. "If we establish a friendly relationship with Neon, we might be able to save hundreds of thousands of lives by tomorrow." "...." "But if we rob the warehouse¡ªat least today, those starving masses will survive." Using the Ghost Train to create a supply line had been the NIS¡¯s desperate hidden card to break the famine. But it depended on Neon cooperating. And after observing the auction firsthand, Walt was convinced: Neon was not the kind of man who cared about humanity. The odds of persuading him were nearly nonexistent. Hearing this, the panda-masked agent trembled and finally muttered: "...I understand, Chief. Please, just calm down." Walt released his grip on the agent¡¯s collar, shot him a sharp glare, and exited the auction hall without hesitation. As he moved through a side passage, he spotted a few of his agents keeping a wary eye on the goblins. One agent hurried up to him and said, "Chief, there¡¯s something strange about the goblins." "What do you mean?" "They... show no will to fight. It¡¯s like they¡¯re not even fully conscious." Narrowing his eyes, Walt observed carefully. Sure enough, some goblins were banging their heads against the walls, wailing pathetically. It was as if they¡¯d all collectively lost their minds. "...Forget them. Ignore the goblins and focus on the mission." It was an opportunity. If the goblins were out of their minds, perhaps they could accomplish their goal without Neon even realizing. Not the worst outcome. "Chief! You need to see this¡ª!" "What is it?" "...Humans. Sir, it¡¯s humans." Following the agent, Walt entered a room where dozens of humans were tied together like dried fish. Inside, there were children, elders, people of every age, bound and standing helplessly. Walt stepped closer, noticing the numbers tattooed onto their necks. "They¡¯re being treated like merchandise," he muttered. His assumption was correct. Among the merchants here, the highlight of the auction was likely human trafficking. Checking the state of a nearby captive, Walt gave his cold order: "Postpone the rescue." "Sir?!" "Can¡¯t you see? These people have already lost their rationality. We can¡¯t afford to protect unstable patients while trying to escape to Ark." Items could be stashed in inventories. Supplies could be packed into bundles. But humans? Trying to move this many unstable people through New Capital ¡ª overrun with monsters ¡ª would be suicidal. Carrying them would be like carrying ticking time bombs through a battlefield. ¡¯Sometimes the best way to help... is to not interfere.¡¯ It was the harsh logic of survival. "Focus on the supplies." Turning his back on the human captives, Walt and his agents focused entirely on looting the warehouse. Among the rare items, the thing they took the most was food. "This much should last at least a week," one agent estimated. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Good." Even so¡ª They knew it was just buying time. Humanity¡¯s situation was getting worse by the day. Failing to wipe out even a single horde of lizardmen had brought them to the brink. ¡¯We have no key players left.¡¯ Fighting basic lizardmen wasn¡¯t hard. The problem was that Ark lacked players strong enough to take down the lizardmen¡¯s elite forces. And right now¡ª There was only one surviving Heavenly Ranker in Ark. ¡¯And there¡¯s been no word from Millie either.¡¯ Of course, there was no concrete proof Millie was really "Clark" either. Even the NIS¡¯s intelligence had only hinted at it. The idea that an idol singer could secretly be a top gamer¡ª It sounded like something out of a cheap web novel. ¡¯The only tiny hope left... is that some high-level player from Mertzia got our rescue signal.¡¯ But there was no guarantee he would come. And even if he did, there was no guarantee Ark would survive that long. ¡¯And Kyle¡ªwho escaped the Trial nexuss¡ªthere¡¯s been no sign of him either.¡¯ In the end¡ª Walt had to make the hard decision. This is the best option left. He hardened his resolve. "Time to retreat." But then¡ª BOOM!! The entire train shook violently, as if struck by an earthquake. Walt stumbled, barely managing to stay upright. His sharp eyes caught a chilling sight: Several goblins¡ª Those who had been banging their heads¡ª were now dead, their skulls smashed open. And then¡ª He spotted a goblin, trembling, bowing repeatedly in a single direction, weeping desperately. What the hell is going on? Walt turned¡ª And finally understood. KRRRRAAAACK! The ceiling above them tore apart effortlessly. From that gaping wound¡ª A monster larger than anything he had ever seen stared down at them with burning, furious eyes. A goblin so massive¡ª It defied all reason. "This... this is...." "Chief!!" BOOOOOOM!! The sound of something colossal crashing down thundered through the train. Carefully tailing the giant Lykan, Jhin spoke with certainty: "He¡¯s headed for D-5 District." He narrowed his eyes. "He¡¯s definitely become... a Grid." "A Grid...?" Caleb asked, still not fully grasping the situation. "He evolved, but he lost his mind. Now he¡¯s just moving based on pure instinct." Lykan had devoured his own comrades without hesitation. Now¡ª He was moving to devour even more life. Jhin could guess what the monster wanted. ¡¯You want to become stronger, huh.¡¯ And there was only one way for Lykan to grow stronger now: Consume countless souls to evolve into a higher being. The evolved goblin monster¡ª The C-rank Peculiar¡ª had been created exactly that way. Even Millie looked at Lykan with a slightly disgusted expression. Jhin clenched the Goblin Crown tightly and said: "The Goblin Crown doesn¡¯t work anymore. Now that he¡¯s C-rank, he¡¯s completely beyond control." "...Then what do we do?" Caleb asked, pale. "There¡¯s only one way." Jhin ¡¯s eyes turned hard. "We kill him."