The Seonbi disappeared in thin air with just a snap, leaving everyone in confusion as screens appeared in front of them. Min-beom looked at the screen, raising his eyebrows in confusion, reading the extra scenario that the Seonbi had prepared for them.
[Extra Scenario - Category: Extra/Short]
[Objective: Defeat the demon entities.] - [Time remaining: 5 Hours.] - [Rewards: ???] - [Penalty for failure: ???]
Min-beom closed the screen as he glanced behind them, the timer started. There was a growl from the very behind of the crowd, his eyes widened as one of them started to lose control of themselves. The man started to yell out of pain as everyone stared at him in horror.
'What the hell is going on now…?!'
The man had combusted and then turned into shadows, everyone backed off in fear as they ran for their lives, the man had become a terrifying shadow… red menacing eyes boring into his, sharp claws, and all plain black. It let out a loud growl as Bon-hwa gripped onto Min-beom's hand.
"Everyone! Go straight to the tunnel!" Ha-wook shouted as he pointed at the tunnel ahead, everyone ran through the train tracks, running for their lives as the others had transformed into demonic entities. The ones that were getting left behind were attacked by the shadows, screaming in agony.
Min-beom felt a chill down his spine as he saw the blood and the bodies on the ground, he tried to ignore them and focus on running. He wondered what was causing this transformation, and how they could stop it.
He looked at Bon-hwa, who was pale and scared, he tried to reassure her with a smile.
"Don't worry, we'll make it out of here." He said, hoping that it was true.
He looked ahead and saw the tunnel, it was dark and ominous, but it was their only chance. He hoped that there was a way out on the other side.
He ran with the others as Chun-ja grabbed the little girl, carrying her on her back as Min-beom nodded at her, trusting that Chun-ja will take care of Bon-hwa.
Min-beom looked behind and saw the demonic entities closing in, Ha-wook and Jung-lee were fending them off. Seo-joon summoned his sword and helped them with fending off.
Min-beom stopped running as his sword appeared in his hand, he lunged towards the entities in speed as he panted heavily.
[Several Gods are impressed of your bravery!]
Min-beom sliced the entities in half, helping the three with fending off but some shadows had sneaked in and ran towards the others that were going into the tunnel.
"Jung-lee! Protect them!" Ha-wook ordered as Jung-lee nodded, with one last slice, he turned around and ran towards the shadows that had sneaked in.
"Damn it! We're getting outnumbered!" Ha-wook yelled angrily as he continued to slice the shadow entities. The half-bodied entities were transforming into one, regenerating and outnumbering them.
"Choi-ssi! Park-nim! Go to the others, quick!" Min-beom urged as he tried holding off the entities, Ha-wook raised his eyebrows and glanced at him as he continued to slice off the shadows with ease.
"What the hell do you mean!? You'll get yourself killed!" Ha-wook protested, Seo-joon nodded at Ha-wook's response as they fought off the entities.
"Just go! I have a plan!" Min-beom yelled back as he gritted his teeth, being all reckless and stubborn.
"Protect the others, I'll hold back these monsters on my own!"
"On your own!? What?!" Seo-joon exclaimed as he continued to slice off the shadows.
"Just go! F*cking damn it!" Min-beom yelled with wide eyes, Ha-wook nodded, concerned about him as he grabbed Seo-joon, turning around and running towards the tunnel.
The entities had outnumbered Min-beom already as he tried to hold all of them off, preventing them from sneaking into the tunnel.
[Several Gods are suggesting you go back with the others!]
[Several Gods thinks your plan is dumb.]
Reactions from the several gods appeared in front of him as he ignored them, focusing on his target only. His arms were getting weaker as he tried to find a way.
'Damn it! I don't know how to kill these bastards using this weak sword!'
He yelled at the top of his lungs as the shadows tried to reach him with their sharp claws. They scratched his shoulder and drew blood as Min-beom let out a scream. The blood dripped down to the ground. He tilted his head behind, seeing the tunnel. He bit his lip as he did one final slice.
'I have no choice but to…'
He gritted his teeth as he turned around quickly and made a run for it. The shadows chased him as he ran through the train tracks.
His breath was heavy, and the wound was too much. He was losing blood slowly, his vision was becoming blurry, as if he was about to die anytime soon and get devoured by the demonic shadowy entities. He didn't want that death.
When he was in the middle of the path, the middle had broken down, crumbling into pieces. He saw the people in the very far distance. The shadowy entities were closing in on him as he flinched. He suddenly fell but he grabbed onto an iron rusty steel stick. His hands quivered as he tried to lift himself up.
'Son of a b*tch!'
He swore to himself as he gritted his teeth. He reached for the rock as he saw something below him, like a monster in the waters. It made him more terrified than he already was in this situation.
He lifted himself up slightly, enough for him to see what was above. He saw the shadowy entities going back. He raised his eyebrows in confusion as he tried to lift himself up to the surface, but he was too weak.
'Why are the entities going back…?'
He questioned himself as his eyes widened when the shadowy entities let out a loud shriek. He didn't know what was happening. There was a beam of dark energy.
The shadowy entities melted into the ground as he tried to lift himself up. On the surface, it was a bit foggy. He couldn't see anything, but he could hear footsteps approaching towards him. They were heavy and slow, a bit creepy too.
Min-beom could hear heavy breathing on the surface as he closed his eyes. He could feel himself falling into the water and getting eaten by the monster. Suddenly, he felt himself getting lifted up by the collar. He opened his eyes and saw the person that lifted him up. His eyes widened in recognition and confusion.
'No way…'
The man gripped onto his collar, his cold gaze piercing through his, making Min-beom flinch slightly. The man was familiar and similar to the protagonist's appearance except…
The man's clothes and scars contrasted with his handsome features. He had black hair with white tips at the edge, giving him a striking appearance. His skin was tanned from the sun, and his physique was muscular from his training. His gold eyes reflected his personality: cold, ruthless, and determined.
He wore a white cloak that waved in the wind, as if he was ready to fly away at any moment. His black buttoned shirt hugged his chest, and his black pants fitted his legs. His black boots were sturdy and practical, and his belt straps on his hip.
The man seemed to be impatient and, in a hurry, as his eyes shone in the afternoon dusk. He looked like he had no time to waste at all.
'Could this be…'
'The protagonist?'
Min-beom's eyes were still wide open, meeting his one and only hero of the novel.