Chapter Text
It was finally the promised hour.
The party had gathered on the line 3 platform. Every member was checking their weapons. Lee Hyunsung seemed to have handled his job properly.
"I did as Dokja-ssi asked."
Since the weapons they had used so far were very old, Kim Dokja had asked Lee Hyunsung to produce new weapons. The materials were from the grade 8 underground monsters, the gnolls that were killed in the struggle the previous night. The blades and spears were made by cutting the horns of the gnoll. They weren't long enough but they were appropriate as a temporary measure.
On their own side, Leonard and Klein were wiping their guns clean. Unlike the others, they were already equipped with high tier weapons. Klein's Death Knell and Leonard's Gal of The Void.
Of course Klein's thoughts were still left on their realization a few hours ago. After they had suspicion of Amon being around. They decided to act like they didn't know he was there.
He knew for a fact Amon must have realized they weren't from this world. Simply by clothing alone. It didn't help that Amon probably sensed the aura of the sefirah castle on him.
He most likely knew that Klein was here. But why hasn't he acted yet? Klein couldn't put his finger on it. Plus how would Amon have gotten here anyways?
Though Klein felt like it wasn't possible. But knowing Amon's abilities, he could turn the impossible into a slight possibility and that was enough.
The beyonders believed they should tell Kim Dokja. But 1: they don't have enough proof, 2: they'd have to explain who Amon was, and 3: if Amon was indeed here. They couldn't go up to Kim Dokja and tell him unless they wanted Amon to get suspicious.
If 'he' was here, it's possible 'he' had parasitized a quarter, if not half of the station by now. He didn't doubt that he may have parasitized someone in their party either. Unfortunately because of this, they have to leave Kim Dokja in the dark.
His next train of thought was. ' If Amon is here. How do we get rid of him?' The last time they fought, they had Pallaz's help, this time they were on their own. He then thought about the Anonymous helper. 'Could she help? Would she be able to?' he didn't know… 'I'll think about it when I know for sure.'
Klein sighed. He then looked up and saw the group gather. He put his revolver in its holster. The beyonders then joined in with the group.
Kim Dokja looked at everyone and said earnestly, "It won't be easy. This situation can be more dangerous than yesterday. Are you all ready?"
The party members nodded.
"Then we will start."
Everyone went their separate ways to do their missions. Jung Heewon, Audrey, Lee Gilyoung, and Yoo Sangah all went to their respective floors.
Kim Dokja started climbing stairs with Lee Hyunsung, Klein, and Leonard. Klein and Leonard were trailing behind them in the back.
Before the time of their mission arrived, Kim Dokja came up to the two and asked them to not intervene entirely. In conclusion, they were mostly there for backup in case plans go haywire.
Lee Hyunsung was looking at his feet and spoke with little to no confidence. "Dokja-ssi, I'm not sure about this."
He replied with a strong voice, "It will be fine."
However, Lee Hyunsung's face was still timid.
"I think that people are relying on me more than they should. I'm not sure I can do well."
"Hyunsung-ssi is a dependable person."
"…Thank you for saying so. In fact, this is my first experience. When I was in the army, I never got someone's trust like this."
Curious, Leonard asked, "really? Not even one?" Lee Hyunsung shook his head. Silence overcame the group for a moment before Kim Dokja said, "Once this is over, I want to hear Hyunsung-ssi's story."
He looked up at Kim Dokja and smiled, "Sometimes I feel strange when talking to you Dokja-ssi."
"Huh? Why…?"
"It seems like you knew me from a long time ago… I can't explain it well…" Lee Hyunsung scratched his head and trailed off. "Ah, I don't mean anything strange. I just…"
Kim dokja could feel eyes burrowing into the back of his head. "I know what you mean."
"Thank you. I'm also curious about Dokja-ssi's story." he then looked back at Klein and Leonard. " I want to hear your stories as well."
"us?" Leonard exclaimed. ' why?' he wanted to ask.
"Yes. I have never seen people like you two before. I'm curious about what you did before this happened."
' depends.. I did a lot of things. A corporate office worker, a police officer, a detective, a bounty hunter, a merchant, take your pick.' Klein lampooned. He looked away to show disinterest in the topic.
Leonard however, was feeling sentimental for a moment before asking. " What do you think we did?"
Lee Hyunsung hummed and thought about the question. " You and Gehrman-ssi remind me of police officers."
Klein's head snapped back and looked at Lee Hyunsung in surprise, hidden behind a semi-curious expression.
Lee Hyunsung continued with a smile, " You two remind me of those good cop, bad cop cliches you see in films."
Leonard coughed into his hand. ' I guess we do look like a good cop, bad cop. ' he smiled, pleased at the thought.
On the one hand, Kim dokja was shifting around uncomfortably. He didn't like the idea that a supporting character from a novel he read was curious about him.
"It isn't very interesting."
"I still want to hear it." Lee Hyunsung replied.
Suddenly, a question popped into Kim Dokja's head.
'If Ways of Survival hadn't become reality, would Lee Hyunsung be living in the same world as me? Or did the novel suddenly emerge into reality?' He didn't know. One thing was for sure. Lee Hyunsung was now a 'living person' in front of him.
"Oh, Yoo Joonghyuk's friend. Did you come to negotiate?"
At this moment, a number of middle aged men came forward. Chungmuro's landlord Alliance.
"Hmm…but where are the women?"
The middle-aged man who spoke was holding a woman by her hair. She was part of the group that had been in the [five] capacity green zone just yesterday.
Leonard scowled and clenched his fist. Even though he promised he wouldn't get involved yet, he wanted to teach these people a lesson.
Meanwhile Klein immediately recognized the man as his target.
"Ahh, this friend didn't see her land… This matter doesn't concern you."
"S-Save me. Help me!"
The woman was gazing at them pitifully. Luckily, the one the 3 had hoped for came forward.
"Let her go." Lee Hyunsung demanded.
"Who are you?"
Lee Hyunsung looked back at Kim Dokja after the middle-aged man's question. It was like he was asking for permission. He nodded.
The allied members pulled out their weapons and exerted tremendous momentum. In return, the beyonders also pulled out their guns and trained them on their targets.
Leonard was worried at first about using his revolver after its upgrade, but he decided to put his trust in that Anonymous helper.
Bang!
Abruptly, small blasts were heard all over the subway. A small uproar followed, It was the signal.
"Hyunsung-ssi!" Kim Dokja called out.
Lee Hyunsung nodded. Lee Hyunsung and Kim Dokja ran forward towards the men in the front row. Klein and Leonard already started firing. The confused alliance members shouted.
"What, you bastards- guah!" a seemingly non-existent bullet pierced right through his shoulder. Causing the man to let the woman go.
In a consecutive decision, Kim dokja appeared right after the bullet.
[The exclusive skill 'Purest Sword Force' has been activated.]
Swoosh !
"Kyaaak!"
The arm of the middle-aged man was cut cleanly off and flew away. Landing on the cold floor. He collapsed to the ground from pain and groaned in rage.
The middle-aged men froze at the amount of blood that emerged. Lee Hyunsung and Kim Dokja ignored them and kept running. The middle-aged men belatedly chased after them.
"These crazy guys! Stop them!"
While the crowd chased after Kim Dokja and Lee Hyunsung. Leonard ran up to the woman and crouched down in front of her. Examining her for wounds.
" Are you alright, miss?" he asked.
The lady was trembling, she looked up at Leonard and relaxed a bit. "I-i'm fine.. Thank you."
"Can you stand?" The woman nodded.
"Good. I recommend you run away for now. Things are about to get crazy." he said before standing up straight.
"mmh" she nodded and got up. Her legs shook but following the handsome man's instructions, she ran away from the scene as quickly as she could.
Leonard then looked back at Klein. Klein was walking over to the armless man and crouched down in front of him. The middle aged man glared up at him. He threw a punch but it was caught by a gloved hand.
Klein smirked and said, "eat up." creeping hunger shifted and started eating the man from his fist. He cried and screamed while fear, pain and anger washed over him until he was gone. Klein got up and readjusted his glove and looked up at Leonard. They both nodded at each other before they ran to catch back up with Kim Dokja and Lee Hyunsung.
Down the corridor on B2, was the private land of Gong Pildu.
[You have invaded private property!]
"Surround them!"
The alliance members waiting in front discovered them. Some of the alliance members were missing, so there were less than expected. 20 in the front, 12 in the back. However, there were still a lot of people.
It didn't matter though, as they had two experienced gunmen shooting anyone who got close. Fortunately, not in a deadly manner. More like warning shots or a shot in a less vital area.
Just as Kim Dokja was about to clash with the alliance members in front of him, Lee Hyunsung moved ahead of him with a steel shield.
[The character 'Lee Hyunsung' has used the stigma 'Great Mountain Push Lv. 1'.]
Kwakakakak!
Lee Hyunsung used his tremendous strength to knock them down and they fell like dominoes.
[The character 'Gong Pildu' has activated 'Armed Zone Lv. 4!]
Turrets started to rise from all over the territory. The turrets were charged with red magic bullets and were prepared to fire. There were five mini-turrets. The level of the Armed Zone had risen again.
"Dokja-ssi!" Lee Hyunsung cried out.
Kim Dokja overtook Lee Hyunsung and at the same time, he received his shield. Unlike what he expected, he didn't receive a hit from anything.
Because in that moment a whoosh came from over head, and collided with the bullet with the force of a cannon that came towards the shield.
Kim dokja peeked out from behind the shield and saw nothing but a bullet fall to the ground.
In the back, Klein had his finger pointing at the turret. Steam coming out from the tip of his finger. He blew it and smirked. He had sensed the powerful attack and felt like Kim Dokja wouldn't have been able to handle it. At Least not without hurting his poor arm.
So instead he decided, ' why not fight fire with fire.' so he had fired an air cannon at the bullet. Making it just barely enough to make it seem like it did hit the shield.
After all, it wouldn't be fun if Gong Pildu knew he was here. Leonard stood beside him, both watching the scene cautiously.
It seemed like everyone had forgotten they existed, as they were more distracted by Kim dokja and Lee Hyunsung.
"A cheeky tenant has shown his face."
Gold Pildu said with a gruff voice. He spoke with interest.
"I don't think you came here to pay a fine. What is going on?"
"Now I will quit being a tenant."
"How interesting. Are you coveting my land?"
"We'll see. More than that…"
[Some of the trespassers' stats are reduced by the effect of Gong Pildu's private land.]
[The character 'Gong Pildu' is preparing the 'strengthened magic bullets'.]
'As long as the combo of 'private land' and 'armed zone' wasn't broken, there were very few incarnations who could deal with Gong Pildu. Luckily, we have some on our side .' Kim Dokja smiled, he couldn't help but feel giddy at having powerful support.
Hopefully they wouldn't need them though.
As he had expected, The moment that the enhanced magic bullets were about to be launched, screams of people from far away were heard. The wounded landlord alliance members were rushing towards them.
"P-Pildu-ssi! The land…!"
There were signs they were injured by something sharp. 'Lee Jihye had moved. Now was the time.' He looked at Lee Hyunsung.
"Hyunsung-ssi, now."
Lee Hyunsung's eyes were shaking.
"Smash it."
Lee Hyunsung raised his fists up high. He looked uneasy and irritated, but there was also a firm determination not to retreat.
[The character 'Lee Hyunsung' has evolved.]
There was a blinding light and a silver aura started to appear around Lee Hyunsung's body.
Kim Dokja began to get emotional at the sight. Lee Hyunsung's evolution was one of his favorite scenes in Ways of Survival.
[Due to the character evolution, a new stigma has been opened.]
There was a reason why Lee Hyunsung was considered one of the strongest in Ways of Survival.
[The character 'Lee Hyunsung' has used the stigma 'Great Mountain Smash Lv. 1'.]
Pale magic gathered around Lee Hyunsung's fist and within seconds, Lee Hyunsung's arms grew big enough to transcend common sense.
"Haaaat!"
Lee Hyunsung's fists slammed down onto the ground.
Baanng!
There was a loud bang and the fragments of the broken floor scattered in the air. The alliance members screamed in surprise and confusion.
"W-What?!"
Dangerous cracks spread across the ground and the positions of the turrets started to twist and tilt. The magic bullets were fired everywhere missing every target. An explosion spread and dust clouds formed. Then after a while.
There was a large vibration and the ground of floor B2 started to collapse.
[The green zone has been destroyed.]
[The character Gong Pildu's private land has been destroyed.]
Kim Dokja looked at the collapsing ground and grinned towards Gong Pildu.
"Let's go back to the days when we didn't have our own land."
Unfortunately, Kim Dokja couldn't kill Gong Pildu. Especially when knowing how useful he'd be in the future. But needed him to leave his land.
So why not just destroy it?
He watched as Gong Pildu and his men fell down to the third underground level. They groaned in pain as they slowly got back up.
At that moment Klein and Leonard walked over and looked down the hole. Leonard whistled and smiled. " I didn't think your plan would actually work, Dokja-ssi."
Kim dokja didn't hear him, as his mind was being bombarded by messages.
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' likes your recklessness.]
[The constellation 'Bald General of Justice' likes your revolution.]
[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' likes the destruction and chaos.]
[300 coins have been sponsored.]
Looking down the hole, he saw Gong Pildu's face covered in dust and looking this way. As he was about to open his mouth, Bihyung's voice entered their ears.
[What are you doing now? Waaah!]
'Be quiet' .
[Crazy bastard! The dokkaebis of Chungmuro are freaking out because of you!]
' That sounds like a you problem.' Kim Dokja retorted in his mind.
[ Why you… ]
"Y-You bastard!"
"Kill them!"
The alliance members shouted at the 4 above them. Kim Dokja took this chance to start running down to the platform with Lee Hyunsung. Klein and Leonard followed shortly behind.
While they ran Kim dokja seemed to be looking at something before looking at Lee Hyungsung.
"Hyunsung-ssi, how many more times can you use it?"
"…Probably once or twice more."
Lee Hyunsung was gasping for breath and obviously quite worn out.
" don't overexert yourself, Hyunsung-ssi. That would only cause problems for your body." Leonard said with a strict tone.
This made Lee Hyunsung nod a little. Taking his advice to heart.
The people who had separated earlier were seen down the corridor. Audrey was nowhere to be seen even though she left with them.
"Where's Audrey?" Leonard asked.
Yoo Sangah was the one to answer. " she said she was going to the staircase to take a look at the situation below."
This made Leonard sigh in relief.
"Was there anywhere you couldn't break?" Kim Dokja asked Yoo Sangah.
"I broke both of them!"
"I didn't realize the rooms could be broken like this. We banged hard on the ground together and it smashed…" Jung Heewon said.
Lee Gilyoung shook his head excitedly, " Noona also did something that made the people help break them."
Kim Dokja raised a brow with surprise. ' Noona? When did Audrey become his Noona? Actually when did they even get close?'
(Author: It's Audrey, what do you expect?)
Yoo Sangah, Audrey, Jung Heewon and Lee Gilyoung took out the smaller green zones. Most of the green zones fit three or fewer people, apart from Gong Pildu's green zone. There were some with ambiguous scales but there was a separate person handling those.
Kim dokja then headed off down the stairs of the transfer corridor to line 4. The others followed behind him and stopped when they saw Audrey and Lee Jiyhe talking while walking towards them.
Noticing their presence, they looked at them and Audrey waved to them.
"You broke them?"
"Yes. It was easy." Lee Jiyhe replied.
' Jung Heewon would have had a hard time destroying those. As expected of the disciple of Yoo Junghyuk and the incarnation of the sage hero. .' Kim Dokja thought.
There were now no more green zones left in Chungmuro station.
"Now what? Those jerks are pissed and will come running wild. Ah, there they are."
Lee Jihye's expression twisted as she looked behind him.
"I'm not going to help you this time." Lee Jihye said as she walked away. She nodded towards Audrey. Seems like they got along pretty well.
"I don't need it." he replied.
Jung Heewon scowled as she watched Lee Jihye retreating.
"What is with her?"
' ahh. Right, Jung Heewon doesn't know about Lee Jiyhe.' Kim Dokja then heard the familiar voice.
[Haha… you are fucked now.]
A message was heard along with Bihyung's words.
[A bounty scenario has occurred!]
[Bounty Scenario – Assassination Commission]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: C
Clear Conditions: The constellations of Channel #BIR-3642 have requested to kill a certain person. Please kill 'Kim Dokja' of Chungmuro Station.
Time Limit: 10 minutes.
Compensation: 2,000 coins.
Failure: None
Kim Dokja could already feel eyes glaring at him. He looked behind him and saw Klein staring at him like he was a bag of gold.
"...." he looked at Klein with pleading eyes. ' don't do it.'
' I don't know what you mean.' Klein looked at him with a smug look. Without talking, the two seemed to be having a conversation with their expressions.
' I know you're contemplating the bounty.'
' maybe.. Unfortunately you're too important. So I'd need you alive anyways. '
'So my importance is what's keeping me alive?'
'yep.' Klein looked away like he wasn't interested in the bounty. Kim Dokja couldn't be any more glad that he was useful enough that he wasn't killed instantly by this lunatic.
Jung Heewon, who stood by his side, asked "I will receive 2,000 coins if I kill Dokja-ssi right now?"
"Why, are you going to kill me?"
"Aye, perhaps. If you give me 200,000 coins then I don't know."
'Does this girl know how much 200,000 coins were worth?' Kim Dokja frowned.
"Dokja-ssi. Get behind me." Lee Hyungsung stepped in front of Kim Dokja. Jung Heewon stood beside him, Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung blocked the other areas. A defensive formation formed around him.
Audrey took this chance to stand beside Leonard and Klein. " Should we join the formation too?"
"Nah, he seems to be fine. They are very protective of him." Leonard replied.
There were people showing hostility around them. The angry landowners and the tenants were blinded by the bounty quest.
"Don't be nervous." Kim Dokja said while looking down at Lee Gilyoung. Who was holding his weapon out.
He lightly stroked Lee Gilyoung's shoulder and moved towards the railing.
"We won't be the ones fighting them."
Suddenly an announcement happened and the scenario changed.
[All green zones in this region have been destroyed and the main scenario has collapsed.]
[The difficulty is automatically adjusted according to the remaining schedule of the scenario.]
[The scenario content is updated!]
[Main Scenario #3 – Emergency Defense]
Category: Main
Difficulty: B-
Clear Conditions: All the green zones in the region are destroyed and the monsters that were going to be created in the remaining days have suddenly run wild. Survive against the flood of monsters for the remaining time.
Duration: 8 hours.
Compensation: 1,000 coins.
Failure: ―
Everything that was supposed to gradually appear over the course of 3 days. We're not coming at this very moment in one large wave of monsters.
[The emergency defense has begun!]
"W-What?"
The people approaching the group started screaming. The cries of monsters were heard from outside the screen door. The congregation of monsters moved like an angry wave.
" What the hell are those!?"
The platform of line 3 quickly descended into chaos. The people's faces distorted into all sorts of emotions as they watched the monsters come in from all sides. Cries of fear surrounded the station. The bounty was completely forgotten.
Grrrrrr!
A few gnolls ran and bit down on some of the Alliance members as they ran for their lives.
"Run for the stairs!" Kim Dokja cried out. He then ran towards the transit stairs, following behind him was his party. When they reached the upper floor. They stopped and turned around, blocking everyone else.
"What? Get out of the way!"
"Do you want to die?"
Kim Dokja kicked some of the people down and pulled out his blade.
"You haven't grasped the situation yet, haven't you?"
"W-What?"
"Even if you come up, you won't be able to survive."
He activated the Blade of faith and angled it towards the stairs and struck the ground. In unison, Klein snapped his fingers and appeared on the other side of the room. Embers and smoke radiating off him.
Standing at the top of the second staircase he clenched his fist. Activating the critical strike of a Sequence 6 zombie, he then punched the stairs.
With a boom and crackling, the stairs collapsed under the immense strength. He looked up and locked eyes with Kim Dokja who had used his blade to destroy the other staircase. They nodded at each other.
Kim Dokja then looked down upon the people below. " There are no more rooms in Chungmuro. There is only one way to survive. "
People looked at him with anger. " what should we do then?"
"What do you think? Fight of course."
" Don't speak crazy words! This is all because of you! If you hadn't broken our rooms…!"
"The other staircase is destroyed too!"
"fuck!"
People looked towards Klein/Gehrman who just glared at them with intimidation. He stood guarded as he made sure no one could possibly climb up.
The cries of the people trapped on the platform of line 3 were heard. Lee Jihye approached Kim Dokja and asked.
"Ahjussi. This isn't what you told me. At this rate they will all die!"
"I know."
Things weren't going as he had planned. At this rate, people would either die trampling over each other, or being killed by the monsters.
Thinking quickly, Kim Dokja activated a skill.
[The exclusive skill 'Bookmark' can now be activated.]
['Character Bookmarks' is activated.]
[Available Bookmark Slots: 3]
[The number three bookmark has been activated.]
[The level of the Bookmark skill is low, shortening the activation time.]
[Activation Time: 5 minutes.]
[Your understanding of the character is low, so only a part of the character's skill is activated.]
[Incite Lv.2 has been activated.]
He looked down at the mess and looked at a middle aged man.
"Hey Gong Pildu. How long are you going to stand there?"
Gong Pildu glared at him.
"This bastard…!"
" don't you want to live? You're strong enough to save everyone. "
The power of Incite permeated the ears of all the frightened people. Everyone looked towards Gong Pildu like he was their last chance at survival.
"P-Pildu-ssi!"
"P-Pildu-ssi, please save us!"
Gong Pildu's expression distorted and Kim Dokja felt satisfied. Though, the eyes boring into him didn't make him happy at all.
He looked back and saw Leonard and Audrey staring at him with odd looks.
'What is with these guys?' he decided to ignore them.
"The third scenario isn't as hard as you think. Once everyone gives up on the rooms and participates in the defense, there are enough people to handle the monsters."
He wasn't completely wrong. If they had all gotten together earlier there would have been less victims.
"If Gong Pildu fights with the people, you can survive."
Those who fought together would survive, those who ran away would die.
[The sponsor behind Lee Jihye agrees with your wisdom.]
[The constellation 'Maritime War God' nods in acknowledgment.]
"Now there are no rooms for you to run away to. Forget about whether you are a landlord or tenant and fight. Or you will all die."
"Damn, this fucking guy…!"
"Pildu-ssi! Please help us!"
The alliance members gathered around Gong Pildu. If he ran away here, Gong Pildu's Landlord Alliance would collapse. In the end Gong Pildu made his decision.
"Dammit… Everybody gather around!"
The people downstairs started gathering around Gong Pildu.
"I need time to install a new Armed Zone. Everybody just hang on!"
The key was Gong Pildu's Armed Zone. However, the weak point was that the Armed Zone took time to install every time it moved locations.
Blood splattered everywhere and people screamed as their limbs were torn apart.
"Aaaagh!"
As expected, the first ones who abandoned the formation were the tenants, not the alliance members. Watching the devastation, Klein snapped his fingers and erupted into flames. He appeared right beside Kim Dokja. He looked at him with an unreadable expression.
' Did things really need to go this far? Did he not think about this outcome beforehand?' He pondered.
"Yoo Sangah-ssi." Kim Dokja said. Yoo Sangah seemed to understand him.
"Yes. Please leave it to me."
" I'll help you." Leonard then crouched down beside Yoo Sangah who had her golden threads ready. Black tendril-like appendages emerged from Leonard's back.
Together, Yoo Sangah and Leonard reached out with their respective abilities and helped rescue those who couldn't fight anymore and were badly wounded. Entangling them and bringing them upstairs.
"th-thank you." The boy thanked Yoo Sangah.
Leonard pulled up two more people, unfortunately one seemed almost completely mangled. With countless gashes everywhere. It was the woman they had rescued earlier. She looked like she was on the brink of death. He frowned and looked up at Klein with pleading eyes.
' Please help.' He wanted to say.
Klein groaned and walked over, pulling out a paper figurine. He crouched down and pressed two fingers to the horrendous wounds. He swiped and the most life threatening wounds were transferred to the paper figurine.
Half the figurine was torn up and he looked down. The girl had fainted, probably from a mix of blood loss and shock. Leonard sighed with relief and looked out at the fight below. His eyes widened as he noticed someone getting trampled and eaten by the Gnoll's. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up. Klein looked at him and said in a serious tone.
" We can't save everybody."
Leonard looked down and clenched his fists. " I know… " he said solemnly before getting back to work.
The rest of the rescued tenants were shaking as they wrapped up their injured area. In the meantime, some of the people with weapons carefully looked at Kim Dokja. Who just smiled at them and said.
"Oh, do you want the bounty?"
[The time limit for the bounty scenario has expired.]
[The bounty hanging on Kim Dokja has been destroyed.]
"Sorry, it's too late."
"I-I'm sorry."
The tenants seemed ashamed as they put away their weapons. They heard Gong Pildu's voice roaring from the bottom.
"Out of the way!"
[The character 'Gong Pildu' has used Private Land Lv. 3!]
[The character 'Gong Pildu' has activated 'Armed Zone Lv. 4!]
There was a mechanical sound as five turrets rose from the ground. The red magic bullets condensed in a short time and started firing.
Dududududu!
Kwang! Kwaang! Kwaang!
The ground rats trilled and screamed as they were hit by the bombardment of bullets while the grolls came to a halt. The group of people cried out in cheers.
"As expected of Pildu-ssi!"
"Wahhhh!"
'As expected of Gong Pildu. His combat power is perfect for defense type scenarios. ' Kim Dokja thought.
"All of you damn scum disappear!"
The agitated Gong Pildu fired at random targets. Lee Hyunsung spoke with admiration.
"His stigma is really impressive. Is it okay when the magic power consumption is so big?"
"It is a good stigma so it will be okay for a while."
"Should we help…?" he asked.
"Gong Pildu alone is sufficient. If we go down there, he will be distracted and stop shooting." Kim Dokja responded.' So long as Gong Pildu's sponsors continue to support him. He will stay alive. '
Kim Dokja sat down and stretched out his limbs. " Let's sit back and enjoy the show."
"Are we getting some personal time?"
" That's a relief, I need to catch up on some sleep."
This earned a laugh disguised as a huff from Klein. ' These guys.' Unlike the others, Klein leaned against the wall with a stern expression. Even though they didn't have anything to do, it was better to stay guarded.
He wasn't the only one, as Lee Jiyhe stayed standing as well.
Mentally apologizing for drinking the whole thing. He looked away like he didn't care.
The group rested for about 10 minutes. Everyone aside from Lee Jiyhe and Klein/Gehrman Sparrow were sitting down. Jung Heewon was asleep. Kim Dokja couldn't understand how she could sleep so easily.
Yoo Sangah looked at the people fighting below them and looked at Kim Dokja with concern. "A-Aren't we too easygoing?"
"Think of it as standing on the right line."
"Then over there…" she pointed to the people below.
"They got the wrong line." Kim Dokja smiled.
The confusion on the lower level had almost died down because of Gong Pildu.
Dududududu!
"Uwaaaaah!"
"Fuck! Fuuuuuckers!"
In the midst of the endless procession of monsters, Gong Pildu's screams echoed through the station.
Chapter Text
P. O. V: Kim Dokja:
One hour after the battle began, Gong Pildu fought and fought. The number of monsters had barely decreased but it was still great.
"fucking damnit! Why won't you die!"
[The character Gong Pildu's Armed Zone has leveled up.
[The character Gong Pildu's Private Land has leveled up!]
[The character Gong Pildu has acquired the Protective Wall skill.]
In a rush to save his incarnation. The sponsor behind Gong Pildu was desperately increasing his growth. If Gong pildu survived the scenario, his growth would be enormous.
The group on the stairs had fully relaxed after the long hour. Lee Jiyhe was giggling beside Kim Dokja as she watched the people below. " haha! Look at him, he seems to have aged quite a bit!"
Kim Dokja glanced at Lee Jiyhe and asked, "By the way, where is Yoo Junghyuk?"
"How should I know? Master is always busy."
'Busy… yes, he might be busy. The person trying to do everything himself was the busiest. ' he pondered. " When did Yoo Junghyuk enter the dungeon?"
"It is roughly 9 a.m. today…" Lee Jihye stopped speaking and stared at him. "…Wait a minute, how do you know that Master entered a dungeon?"
Ignoring Lee Jiyhe, he started calculating the time. He looked at his phone and read that it was 8 pm. ' It's been 11 hours and yet he isn't back yet… guess I'll have to move.'
'Bihyung'.
Bihyung; floating in the air, turned to look at him.
[What is it? Calling me so suddenly.]
'Open the Dokkaebi Bag'.
[What? N-No! I am currently getting a lot of subscriptions!]
[New constellations have entered the channel!]
[#BI-7623 channel is ready for an expansion.]
[Huhu, huhuhut, look at this, look at this! Now my channel is also…!]
It wasn't unreasonable for Bihyung to be acting like this. But this wasn't the time for amusement.
'If you don't want your channel to be ruined, open it quickly. You can see that there will be an advertisement in preparation for the channel expansion'.
[Ah, shit… really…]
Bihyung grumbled but opened the Dokkaebi Bag after showing an advertisement. It was finally time to use the coins he had saved up.
'I'll give you 5,000 coins. Upgrade me to a gold member'.
Bihyung stared at him quietly and sighed. It was followed by system messages.
[5,000 coins have been consumed.]
[Congratulations! You have become a gold member of the Dokkaebi Bag!]
With the rising of his rank, the dokkaebi bag background changed. Seeing the new items put in the store, he dragged all the items he needed into the shopping cart.
[ • Behind the Scenes Contract – 10,000 C.
Intermediate Magic Power Recovery Potion X 10 – 5,000 C. ]
'One contract and 10 intermediate potions… this should be enough.' He thought.
[15,000 coins have been consumed.]
[A 'Behind the Scenes Contract' has been acquired.]
[10 Intermediate Magic Power Recovery Potions have been acquired.]
Yoo Sangah showed curiosity when the items appeared out of thin air. Klein was eyeing him from behind.
"What's that dokja-ssi?" Audrey asked from her seat beside Yoo Sangah. Both of them leaned forward to take a better look at the items.
"let's just say it's a contract that turns the employer into the employee."
Filling out the contract carefully, he waited patiently for the 'employee' to come.
[The sponsor for the character 'Gong Pildu' is asking for help from nearby constellations.]
' Seems like he's reached his limits.' Finally, the sponsor behind Gong Pildu reached his limits and started sending messages outside the channel. It was natural since the sponsor didn't have many coins in the first place. Not everybody was rich just because they were a constellation.
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' scoffs.]
The other constellations in Gong Pildu's channel would've stopped sponsoring and the incarnation was dying… Everything was going according to his plan.
Bihyung noticed something and muttered.
[Wait a minute, surely you aren't…]
As if on the same page, Klein was smiling to himself in the back. He seemed to have a feeling of what Kim Dokja was going to do.
Kim dokja stood up and called out to Gong Pildu, who was in a half dead state.
"Hey, you over there."
Dududududu! Gong Pildu fired crazily and looked up at him while breathing heavily.
"Will you die here or will you sign a contract with me?" Kim Dokja held out the contract he just made.
"W-What…?" Gong Pildu seemed confused. ' What was this guy going on about?'
"I'm not a constellation so I can't be a sponsor. But if you want, I can be a person behind the scenes. How about it?"
"What is this bastard talking about…?"
"Gong Pildu, shut up. I'm not talking to you."
"What…?"
Waving the 'contract' in one hand and holding an 'Intermediate Magic Power Recovery Potion' in the other hand. " Hurry up and answer me. I'll give him all this if you sign the contract with me.
A message window flashed in front of him.
[The sponsor behind the character 'Gong Pildu' has revealed himself.]
[The constellation 'Defense Master' is looking at you like you are crazy.]
Bihyung was watching him with astonishment.
[You… are you crazy?]
'This one as well'.
[You are the first to try and support a constellation.]
'I can't do it?'
[This is a constellation! Will it sign with an insignificant human?]
'That is just your thoughts, he has no more coins left.'.
[hunh?]
The constellation: defense master… his world had long perished due to the previous scenario. So his stories have long been erased from people's memories. In the world of the Star stream, these stories are important. A source of power in a sense.
Without stories, a constellation doesn't earn money. without money a constellation can't support their incarnation. If a constellation fails to spread their story through their incarnation…
They perish and are forgotten.
He could see the slight fear in Biyung's eyes.
[Are you…?]
Gong Pildu was a hidden trump card if he could afford it. Even Yoo Junghyuk has attempted to subjugate Gong Pildu with no success.
Worried at the situation below, Yoo Sangah spoke, "Dokja-ssi. I think that person is going to die."
' Yes, he will die if we don't step in. So what will it be, defense master…' He thought.
[The constellation 'Defense Master' is wondering about the contents of the contract.]
Bihyung's eyes widened at the sight in front of him.
[…Really? No, is this for real?]
Kim Dokja showed the contract immediately.
[The constellation 'Defense Master' has started reading the contract.]
[ The constellation 'Defense Master' is asking for some time to think it over. ]
Gong Pildu who was on the ground spitting out blood suddenly shouted, " w-what the hell is this??!"
' You're being sold off.' Kim Dokja chuckled at the irony.
[The constellation 'Defense Master' has added a new clause to the contract.]
[If you agree with this condition, the constellation 'Defense Master' will agree to contract with you.]
Kim dokja looked down to read over the new clauses the constellation put into place.
[…
Incarnation Kim Dokja (employer) recognizes the property rights of Constellation Defense Master (employee) and should ensure the survival of 'Gong Pildu'.
Incarnation Kim Dokja (employer) should help Constellation Defense Master (Employee) so that his incarnation 'Gong Pildu' grows well.
…]
Kim Dokja couldn't care less about these new clauses. It was natural he was going to help. Gong Pildu wasn't planning to die during this Scenario anyways. What mattered to him, was clause #3.
[...
Incarnation Kim Dokja (Employer) has a command authority over 'Gong Pildu', the private property of Constellation Defense Master (Up to 10 orders per day).
… ]
Satisfied, Kim Dokja nodded and said, " I'll do it."
It wasn't long before a faint thread connected him and Gong Pildu. Then system messages were heard.
[The contract has been completed.]
[You have become the co-sponsor of 'Gong Pildu' due to the contract.]
[Due to the contract, you have been given the right to command the incarnation 'Gong Pildu'.]
[The duration of the contract is five years and it won't be automatically renewed.]
Kim Dokja smiled and picked up the recovery potions and handed them to Yoo Sangah and Audrey Hall. "Give this to Gong Pildu, give him another one every 40 minutes. "
Yoo Sangah glanced up at him with uncertainty. "…Is it okay to give it to him?" Kim Dokja nodded.
Yoo Sangah then wrapped the potion with her golden thread and handed it over to Gong Pildu.
He grabbed the potion in confusion, " what's this?"
"Drink it and fight." Kim Dokja replied.
"Stupid bastard, do you think I'll forgive you because of this? Once I get out of here I'll end you." with that harsh statement out of the way. Gong Pildu opened the lid and downed the potion earnestly.
[The character 'Gong Pildu' has completely recovered his magic power.]
"shut up."
[Under the terms of the contract, 'Command Rights' is activated!]
"humf.. Of? Mmph!!" Gong Pildu's voice was muffled thanks to the command. He had no idea what was happening.
Kim Dokja stood in a confident manner, looking down upon Gong Pildu. " better get back to fighting. Also, don't mess with any of my friends." his voice turned from a cheerful tone to a threatening one in a matter of seconds.
Gong Pildu huffed in frustration.
[hey.. Dokja.. ]
'what is it?'
[Was this.. What you were after since the beginning? How can… what have I gotten myself into?]
Kim Dokja shrugged his shoulders.
" Well Done Dokja-ssi." Kim Dokja looked back towards Leonard who was trying not to laugh. "You have guts." Leonard gave him a thumbs up in approval. Klein who stood beside him also gave him a thumbs up.
Kim Dokja looked away in embarrassment but pleased he had somehow impressed the beyonders. Even though the contract was a secret, he felt like the beyonders knew what the clauses were.
Especially Klein who was looking at him knowingly.
He looked up and noticed the onslaught of screens in his face.
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' finds your idea interesting.]
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' has dropped his staff at your strategy.]
[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' thinks that you are impudent.]
[Many constellations are paying attention to you.]
[A number of constellations want to become your sponsor.]
' it seems the constellations have recognized that my value is overwhelming.'
Just then the owner of Gong Pildu's channel, Dokkaebi Biryu appeared hovering in the air.
[Constellations! W-Why… are you suddenly leaving? D-Don't go! Just wait a little longer…!]
Biryu, whose channel was being ruined, made a desperate appeal. It was the dokkaebi who created the food penalty and 'survival cost' in Gumho Station.
[H-Hiiik! N-No…]
Biryu then gradually faded and disappeared.
[Channel # BIR-3642 has been forced to leave after having the subscriptions reduced.]
" I feel bad for the little guy.. " Audrey said with a sad expression. She made a circular symbol on her chest, Leonard and Klein followed her actions in turn.
Now that this area was organized, he needed to move quickly. He turned around and looked back at his bewildered party members, most of whom hadn't grasped the situation.
"I'm sorry everyone, but I'm going to have to leave for a while."
Lee Jiyhe looked up at him perplexed, " what? Now?"
"There is a place I urgently need to go to. Hyunsung-ssi and Yoo Sangah-ssi, please stay here. You don't have to do anything. Just throw Pildu a potion until the end of the scenario and relax."
Jung Heewon rubbed her eyes tiredly, finally having woken up from the commotion. She asked, " What about Gilyoung and I?"
"You will come with me."
"To where?"
"Um… it is hard to explain but there is a bad guy."
"A bad guy?"
" yes. A bad guy who decided to go off and find rare items while people are dying here. I'm going to go whoop his ass. " he explained, hearing a laugh from beside him.
Leonard was clutching his stomach laughing. He knew who Kim Dokja was talking about. " Count me in Dokja-ssi." he said when he finally calmed down.
He got up from the wall and walked over, Klein followed behind him. ' seems like Klein is also joining.'
Audrey looked at them from her spot on the stairs and waved her hands. " I'll stay here and make sure no other trouble happens while you're away."
Kim Dokja nodded. "Alright then, let's go." He started walking off with his team until someone grabbed his shoulder. He looked back and saw Lee Jiyhe.
"Wait.. Where are you going?"
' hmm.. Nothing wrong with having another member of the team.' he thought.
" good, you can come too."
"where?"
" Yoo Junghyuk is in danger.. "
"seriously? What can that guy do to be in so much danger?" Leonard asked.
"I'll explain the details later." Kim Dokja looked at Leonard and Lee Jiyhe with a serious expression. Lee Jiyhe frowned.
"how do you know this?" she asked.
Without answering her, he checked the time. " He went to the hidden dungeon in exit 1, right?"
"hunh..?"
"And it has been 11 hours since he entered?"
"Uhhh…" Lee Jihye breathed out blankly.
Leonard seemed to have caught onto what he was saying. With a nervous look he said, " so at this rate.. He might die. " Kim Dokja looked back and nodded.
"..."
If he was correct. Then Yoo Junghyuk was on a route to his own demise.
P. O. V Third person:
While the group walked their way to the hidden Dungeon at Exit 1. Klein and Leonard walked beside Kim Dokja.
Leonard wrapped his arm around Kim Dokja's Shoulder. Since they were in front of everyone, Klein didn't hide his pleased smirk.
" It's not often that a person can get a god to make such a one-sided deal with them. How do you do it?"
' Read a 7 year long web novel and know how to manipulate the scenarios. ' Kim Dokja wanted to say, but Klein spoke first.
" it's not that hard actually. "
He glanced at Klein and mumbled. " sounds like you're talking from experience.."
He got a simple shrug from Klein as Leonard answered for him. "right. Kle-" he suddenly seemed to remember that they weren't alone and quickly corrected himself as he spoke more quietly.
"-uhh. G-Gehrman you have an angel as a messenger?" Klein nodded. ' I wonder what they would think if I told them about Will Auceptin.. ' Klein mused. Glanced back at Lee Jiyhe and Jung Heewon. Who were currently talking about swords. Lee Gilyoung was walking beside Jung Heewon.
He decided against saying it. ' it would be a bad idea to mention those who are helping me. Maybe later.' He then looked forward without a second thought.
Having noticed the odd look he gave the people behind them, Kim Dokja glanced back at the 3 behind them. He scrutinized Klein for a moment.' suspicious.. '
"an angel? Messenger?" his brow rose in false curiosity.
"It's pretty self explanatory." Klein shrugged.
"mm…" Kim Dokja hummed and stared at Klein for a moment. After that look Klein gave the ladies (and child) behind them he felt suspicious about something. ' It seemed like Klein was going to say something but decided against it because of Lee Jiyhe, Jung Heewon and Lee Gilyoung. ' Kim Dokja pondered on the reasons why.
He wanted to try and dig something out of them. He knew he wouldn't get anything out of Klein. Thus, he turned his attention to Leonard. " if there are angels. Are there gods?"
Leonard nodded before making a circular gesture on his chest. " Yes, we all believe in the Goddess of Misfortune: Evernight. 'She' is one of the Orthodox Gods. Though there are also Unorthodox gods as well." Kim Dokja saw him make a circular gesture. ' So that odd gesture they had been doing is a form of prayer?' he thought.
[Incite Lv.2 has been activated.]
Kim Dokja then tilted his head, looking at him with a curious gaze.
" Sooo… if there are gods, Are there those that are.. Greater than them? Any other divine beings you know?" he asked. Leonard looked at him confused.
" greater than the gods? Not that I know of?" he then looked off into the distance in thought. He gasped and before he could say something, Leonard pursed his lips, eyes widened. He looked away and covered his mouth, looking like he was about to be sent to the guillotine.
Curious, Kim Dokja looked behind him and saw Klein's neutral expression. Looking back and forth between the two beyonders he felt more suspicious. " Why do you ask?" He heard Klein ask, sternly.
Kim Dokja waved his hands anxiously and shook his head. " I didn't mean anything bad. It's just that there are gods here that are on (if not more) then the same level as a constellation. "
Klein scrutinized him, causing him to shrink back a little. " You know what, never mind. Let's just.. Continue." He said, trying to change the subject.
This brought about a very uncomfortable silence. Kim Dokja wanted to slap himself. ' The hell am I doing? These guys are obviously not going to reveal their secrets so easily. What was I thinking?
But still.. I feel like there's something they aren't telling me. Why are they so suspicious about the people behind them?' He sighed. There was no point in trying to dig deeper. After all, he doesn't want to make an enemy of them.
As he wandered his organized thoughts, he felt a tug on the hem of his shirt and looked down. Lee Gilyoung peeking up at him.
"Hyung?"
"Ah, yes?"
"I think we're here?"
[You are approaching the outside region. Be careful not to leave the scenario area.]
' ah. So we have arrived. ' He thought. They turned around the corner to Exit 1 and came upon a dark, ominous, green barrier. It looked like a sort of semi-transparent vortex that led to the stairs.
The party walked through the barrier. Lee Jiyhe hesitated for a moment before following them inside.
[You have found a hidden dungeon!]
[This dungeon has already been discovered by someone. You can't get the first discovery achievement.]
[A new hidden scenario has arrived!]
[Hidden Scenario – Theatre Dungeon]
Category: Hidden
Difficulty: A-
Clear Conditions: Defeat the master of Theatre Dungeon.
Time Limit: None
Compensation: 4,000 coins
Failure: ―
" A Theater Dungeon?" Leonard looked around. Everything looked odd to him. He had obviously gone to a couple theaters, but they didn't look like this.
A ticket kiosk, a front desk with computers on them, a giant sign, odd light fixtures. He thought it was going to be a Theater hall where plays, operas, and orchestra's happen.
Jung Heewon said, "A movie theater as a dungeon… it sounds romantic."
' romantic.. That's because you don't know just how scary this theater is. ' Kim Dokja looked around.
"Are you sure about this old man? Is master really in danger?" Lee Jiyhe asked. She leaned forward with a suspicious look.
" how do you know that? And why are you saving master?"
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is curious as well.]
"We are companions."
"Don't talk nonsense."
"He is a useful guy." He stated matter of factly.
"…You sound like Master." Lee Jiyhe frowned.
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' likes your desire to rehabilitate a fallen friend.]
[100 coins have been sponsored.]
' I think she misunderstood me… ' He thought.
"Kim Dokja. " He perked up at the harsh voice and looked at Klein who was across the room.
Klein used his thumb to point to a broken down door. The group walked up to him and went through. First thing they saw were rows upon rows of torn up movie posters.
Lee Gilyoung pointed at one of the posters and said, " these posters are torn up, I wonder who did it?"
"beats me." Kim Dokja shrugged. He knew damn well who did it. As if reading his mind, Klein/Gehrman said, " probably Yoo Junghyuk."
"master? Why?"
" No clue. " Klein looked at Kim Dokja. Asking for an explanation. Kim Dokja coughed into his hand. " I don't know either. "
'Liar. ' Klein felt like snitching but instead started heading up a broken escalator. Leonard followed not too far behind him. Kim Dokja sighed and pointed at them. " Let's head upstairs. "
Oddly enough, aside from the torn up posters. There was nothing else inside this dungeon. No items, no monsters, it was oddly clear.
Just before Klein and Leonard reached the top, Klein felt something and crouched down. Simultaneously, Leonard did as well and they pulled out their revolvers. Kim Dokja looked at them confused. " What's wrong?"
"Someone's here. " Lee Gilyoung answered instead as he gripped onto his shirt. Leonard made a simple gesture to hush everyone.
In the distance everyone could hear a group of people talking.
" what? It's all ripped? Is there anything left?"
"There's one here!"
Klein peeked his head out from the stairs to observe the group. Everyone else did the same, those behind Leonard and Klein. Peeked between their shoulders or stood up enough to look above them.
"…Are you sure? Here… there are a bunch of things."
"I told you, didn't I? I bought the information with 1,000 coins."
"The prophets?"
" Even though they are creepy, they are still reliable. "
'prophets?' This thought popped up in the two beyonders and the reader's mind. The trio briefly looked at eachother with confusion. Kim Dokja shook his head. Indicated he had no knowledge of this.
'They weren't mentioned in Ways of Survival. At this point it should have just been me and Yoo Junghyuk who knew about the dungeon. What caused this variable?'
He saw Klein tap his own lips before mouthing out " readers ".
' readers?' Kim Dokja realized what he was hinting at. ' could it be that these prophets are other readers of ways of survival?'
Lee Jihye whispered, "Who are they? I never once saw their faces in Chungmuro."
"Maybe they came from the ground side entrance." Kim Dokja answered absentmindedly.
"Ground side? Isn't that filled with poisonous fog? Furthermore, the scenario―"
"Different stations have different scenarios at different speeds. There are those who have finished the scenario faster than our station. If there is a weak poison, they can eat the meat from the subterranean monsters."
"Then let's go inside." they heard one of the men say.
A blue spotlight was hovering above the men talking. A bright light engulfed them and they disappeared into thin air. Surprising the group. Well, everyone but Kim Dokja.
"w-what just happened?" Jung Heewon asked with a trembling voice. No one decided to answer her question. The group left their hiding spot and went forward. Klein walked up to the intact poster. Kim Dokja was running back and forth, checking all the other posters.
Klein looked at the title and the image. his brow twitched, ' is this.. What I think it is?' he chuckled to himself.
After he was done checking the other posters, Kim Dokja came back and stood beside Klein. He looked at the poster and became nervous.
' A time forgotten by man.. Recreated.. This bastard just had to leave this one!'
Suddenly, lights turned on and a spotlight engulfed everyone.
" whoa! What's this!" Lee Jiyhe shouted, covering her eyes.
" What's going on?" Leonard exclaimed, standing back to back with Klein. Both in a defensive position. They had no idea what was going to happen.
Kim Dokja looked towards Jung Heewon and asked, " Heewon-ssi, do you like movies?"
" uhh.. Of course, doesn't everyone?"
" You might hate them after this. "
"hunh? What do you-"
[You have been hit by a projection light.]
[The screening will begin.]
The world around them began to shift into something else. The old linoleum floor of the theater became covered with green plantations, the walls around them turned into a lush rainforest. The ceiling turned into a blue sky with no clouds and no end in sight.
Lee Jihye muttered in a small voice. "Where the hell is this place?"
Everyone looked towards Kim Dokja, feeling like he knew the answer. He replied with a simple phrase, " we're inside a movie."
Everyone began doing their own things. Lee Gilyoung was calmly searching for bugs. Jung Heewon was looking around, trying to figure out what movie they are in. Lee Jiyhe was trying to chop down trees with her sword out of frustration. Kim Dokja was examining their surroundings.
Meanwhile, the beyonders had stood in the same spot. Though seemingly relaxed, both were feeling very excited.
Throughout most of their stay here, they were faced against weak humans or monsters. Now that they were in movies and were given a chance to face hopefully stronger enemies, both were pretty ecstatic.
Leonard's excitement was all over his face and body language as he started trying to guess what they would be facing. " I wonder what it will be? A giant insect? Maybe a dragon!"
Klein just shook his head. " I'd say neither. " he said knowingly. Which caught Leonard's attention.
" Do you know what we are going to fight?" he asked.
" maybe. "
"oh? Do tell."
If what Klein could remember correctly. The last enemy of this movie was large.
" I have the right to believe it is a tyranno-"
" Hyung!"
The beyonders turned towards the group, the ground shook beneath them. ' ah.. So she's arrived.' Klein thought.
The sound of something gigantic running their direction, breaking down palm trees along the way.
Creeping out from the shadowed balcony of the trees. A reptilian head the size of a vehicle, it's maw covered in blood as it roared at two men who were running in their direction. It was the men who entered before them.
Hwwooohooo!
"aaaah!"
"h-help us!!"
Jung Heewon and Lee Jiyhe took a couple steps back in fear. Lee Jiyhe spoke to her, " i-i think I know what movie we're in. "
" me too.. "
The rest of its body emerged, a body that's 40 feet(12m) in length, and 20 feet (6m) tall. A predator that dominated the late Cretaceous.
Kim Dokja quickly picked up Lee Gilyoung and they ran back to where Klein and Leonard were.
'This was a tier 7 monster. The difficulty level is atrocious considering it's the first floor.' Kim Dokja's heart drummed against his chest. The harder the dungeon, the better the rewards.
He drew out a blade and said, "Get ready to fight."
"…Are you serious? We are going to fight that?"
"We need to beat it to make an exit."
"The exit?"
"we're in a movie. Have you forgotten?" He glared at the building behind the T-Rex. ' That must be the laboratory. We have to get past the dinosaur to get there.' Kim Dokja sighed deeply.
" Dokja-ssi. " Leonard looked at Kim Dokja, who looked back at him.
It was then that he noticed just how excited and anxious the two beyonders were. ' hmm. technically, I just wanted to get the items. These two could easily finish it off. Plus I'd get to see more of their abilities. ' Kim Dokja smirked and sheathed his sword.
Everyone looked at him confused." Have fun, you two. Make the movies ending thrilling." Kim Dokja said towards the beyonders.
Leonard regarded him with shock before a bright smile crept its way up his face. " got it. " he mumbled.
Klein and Leonard took a couple steps in front of the group. " How do we go about this?" Leonard asked.
Klein looked the T-Rex over and said calmly, " judging by body mass it's bound to have tough skin. So I don't think our bullets would pierce it's body. " he began to ponder how they'd go about defeating it. Unfortunately, he hadn't searched much on Dinosaurs.
(Author: I'm a history nerd. Especially in the Mesozoic and the Paleozoic eras. So instead of going off the novel. Why don't I give out some actual facts about T-rex :))
" Tyrannosaurus Rex, has a vision range similar to a bird of prey, due to its large body mass, its speed is estimated to be around 40/mph.. Its heavy tail supports its head to keep their balance. " they heard Lee Gilyoung say.
" how do you know this?" Kim Dokja asked.
" I read about Dinosaurs in the internet when I was younger. "
"... "
" I mean when I was younger then now. " He corrected himself.
" Is that so.. " Klein looked at the T-Rex as she turned her head towards them. Her piercing yellow eyes looked directly at them and let out a deafening roar.
[The 7th grade, Tyrannosaurus Rex has recognized you.]
[The 'Tyrannosaurus Rex' has triggered the 'Fear the Predator' skill!]
A whisper flew past everyone's ears as the T-Rex skill was reduced to nothing, thanks to a certain poet.
" so.. Aim for its eyes and tail?" Leonard asked, pulling out his gun. Klein nodded. " make her lose her balance and blind her. Then we finish her off. "
He pressed his hat down and immediately sprinted at the T-rex. She growled and snapped her jaw at him. He rolled to the side as she missed him by a few inches. Klein ran around to its side.
The T-rex turned her head and began to attack Klein again, before she noticed something at rapid speed graze her eye.
Kwhoooooo!!!
She roared as blood and vitreous fluid spurt out of her eye. Angered, she used her free eye to glare at Leonard. Who graciously smirked at her.
The group watches in awe from a short distance. They never saw them fight, or at least not like this.
" how… how can he move like that?" Lee Jiyhe asked absentmindedly. Klein had nimbly dodged the T-rex tail. He stopped and shifted his full attention onto the base of her tail. He opened his palm with the thin-skinned glove.
He leaped up and in his palm, a swirling spiral of fire erupted from it. Conjuring a giant scimitar engulfed in embers.
He swung it down and cleaved the tail off. Simultaneously, Leonard ran up and tendrils erupted from his back.
They entangled around the T-rex's legs and pulled, causing her to lose her balance and fall to the ground with a earth trembling thud.
Lee Jiyhe's mouth fell open in exasperation. "what the fuck?! Are they human?" She cried out.
" You know.. I'm starting to question that. " Kim Dokja commented. Jung Heewon just chuckled. " Was that... A sword?"
Leonard walked up to the T-rex's head and looked down at her pitifully.
She growled and snapped her head to bite him, but he stood a safe distance from her maw. " I'll make it quick. '' his tendrils entwined together and pierced her skull.
She let out one final growl and struggled, before falling limp. The black tendrils retreated back into Leonard's back as he looked at a screen that appeared in front of him.
[You have succeeded in being the first to hunt the 7th grade species 'Tyrannosaurus Rex!']
[You have obtained 1,000 coins as compensation.]
' That's- A Lot of coins. ' Leonard smiled. ' I'll give half of it to Klein.' He then looked over his shoulder at the group. Seeing their expressions, he waved at them.
Klein came up from behind him and nudged him, making him turn back around. " Well done. Partner." Klein said earnestly.
" You as well.. Partner. " Leonard smiled brightly. It's been a long time since Klein last called him his partner. He punched Klein's shoulder lightly.
Klein graced him with a low chuckle.
Lee Jiyhe was the first to run up to them and got all up in Klein's face. " What was that giant sword right there? Where did it come from? Is it a skill?" she bombarded him with questions which made Klein anxious.
He faked a frown and pushed her back, as she was too close. " You can say that." he refused to say more. " Come on. Can't you lend me that sword for a day?" she pleaded. 'It looks so cool…'
" You'd be burned. "
"Then how come you can use it?"
"immunity."
"uuhhg" everyone's attention snapped to one of the guys that came in earlier. He was leaning against a nearby tree, a gash in the side of his stomach.
Kim Dokja ran over and tried to get him to drink some water. He hacked and coughed up blood. Kim Dokja frowned, ' he won't survive. ' he thought.
Until Klein crouched down beside him and with two fingers, he transferred his chest wound to his thigh.
His thigh now has a gnarly gash in it and his chest looked like there wasn't even an injury there. " he will survive. " Klein got up and looked towards the Laboratory.
' What else does this man have up his sleeve?' Kim Dokja scrutinized him before looking back at the man and asked, "how did you know about this place?"
The man looked directly at Kim Dokja. " p-prophets…"
"Who are the prophets?"
" they are.. Guardians of the revelation. "
'revelation?' He frowned.
" What revelation?" he asked, but the man didn't answer.
" He must have passed out from blood loss." Leonard said calmly, everyone gave a collective sigh of relief.
Kim Dokja put him back against the tree and stood up. " Let's take a quick break." he said as he made his way to the T-rex.
Leonard looked down at his hand for a brief moment. He looked up and ran towards Kim Dokja. "Wait up!"
Kim Dokja looked at him and Leonard briefly put something in his hand and winked at him. " for you." He said before running back to Klein.
Kim Dokja looked down at what was in his hand and flinched. He sighed with a pleased smile.
' this guy.'
During their break, they cooked the T-rex and ate her. When the guy woke up he thanked them profusely for saving him.
When they decided to continue on, Leonard took it upon himself to carry the man. They couldn't just leave him there. Plus Leonard had promised he'd take him out of the dungeon.
They were met with a few raptors along the way to the Laboratory in the center of the island. But they were taken care of easily.
So after what seemed like a long walk, they reached the Laboratory. Walking past small incubators for Dinosaurs and test tubes with blood samples.
Some doors were locked along the way, but Klein easily unlocked them with his deck of cards. They entered the inner corridor and Kim Dokjas gaze immediately landed on a cabinet.
[Physique Enhancing Ampoule]
[Magic Power Enhancing Ampoule]
[Agility Enhancing Ampoule]
[Strength Enhancing Ampoule]
Kim Dokja opened the cabinet and grabbed a few of the ampules.
"Hey mister, what did you find now?" Lee Jiyhe asked from behind Kim Dokja.
"What? Physique Enhancement Ampoule?" Lee Jihye's eyes shone as she grabbed an ampoule.
" You're not planning to keep it all to yourself, are you?" she glared at Kim Dokja with an accusatory look.
" what? No, of course I'll share it. "
" Gey! Heewon, Sparrow, Look at this!" She called out, drawing everyone's attention. The party got closer and Jung Heewon was shocked at the item's information.
" Oh my god. What are these?" she asked.
Klein peeked out from the side and picked up a bottle. Looking at the information. ' not bad of an item.'
He then looked at his own status window. ' so if I took a couple of these, I'd level up stats quicker. Now that I think about it. Will this work on me?' He pondered.
Since he wasn't of this world. Will his stats rise alongside this world's system? Or will it become static and refuse to move at all. Since back at home, their abilities are limited by the beyonders sequence, equipment, and experience.
While he thought about this, Lee Jiyhe looked at a Strength Enhancement Ampules. She looked at Kim Dokja with an innocent expression and said, "Can you give me the Strength Ampoules? A helpless little girl like myself needs them."
Kim Dokja glared at him. He pulled up her status window.
[Character Summary]
Name: Lee Jihye
Exclusive Attributes: Scarred Sword Demon (Rare)
Exclusive Skills: Sword Training Lv. 4, Demon Slaying Lv. 1, Absolute Sense Lv. 2, Ghost Walk Lv. 2.
Stigma: Sea Battle Lv. 1, Large Army Command Lv. 1.
Overall Stats: Physique Lv. 13, Strength Lv. 17, Agility Lv. 13, Magic Power Lv. 10.
' like hell you do!' he mentally said with a belligerent tone.
"Huh? Heewon, can't I have it?"
"Um, Dokja-ssi was the one who discovered them so it's his decision…"
' I don't really mind sharing. But giving Lee Jiyhe some is a waste. Since she has Yoo Junghyuk.'
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' expects you to be fair.]
' be fair hunh?'
" How about rock paper scissors? Winner takes an ampule each round." He stated.
Lee Jiyhe's eyes shone with greed. " Got it!"
" Are you sure? One person could end up having them all?"
" then good for them, I guess."
Leonard raised his hand. He had previously placed the unconscious guy down against a wall. " I'll stay out of this."
"Me too." Klein said as he walked away from the party and leaned against a metallic table. Already holding 3 ampules. 2 being Magical Power Ampules and 1 being an Agility Ampule.
" Hey wait. Why did you get 3?" Lee Jiyhe glared at Klein.
Klein just raised a brow, " because I can?"
" Mister found it first!"
" 'Mister' doesn't mind-" he narrowed his sharp eyes to Kim Dokja. "- does he?"
"No he doesn't. " Kim Dokja replied without hesitation. It was reasonable, it was obvious the 3 ampules were for him, Leonard and Audrey and they did kill the T-rex quickly. They deserved more than 3 but hey, he wasn't one to question. It just meant more for him.
Kim Dokja pulled out a Strength Ampule. " Let's start with this one. "
"Me first!" Lee Jiyhe rolled up her sleeve and stepped forward.
" you're going up against me. "
"Are you sure? I'm pretty good at this."
"oh really?" Kim Dokja smiles cheekily.
[Exclusive skill, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint stage 1 has been activated!]
[The character 'Lee Jihye' has prepared 'scissors'. ]
Klein could almost feel the excitement from Kim Dokja. ' he's cheating isn't he… ' he sighed deeply.
" This is ridiculous!" Lee Jiyhe cried out.
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is curious about your scam.]
[Constellations have sponsored you 200 coins.]
The winner of the rock paper scissors was decided in an instant. Lee Gilyoung's face was slightly flushed while Jung Heewon had a satisfied expression. Lee Jihye flopped to the ground with a devastated expression.
Kim Dokja was satisfied with the outcome.
Both Lee Gilyoung and Jung Heewon won 2 ampules. Lee Jiyhe however…
"How can you beat me 15 out of 17 times? Did you cheat?" She glared at Kim Dokja with suspicion.
" I am also good with rock paper scissors," he shrugged.
He won himself 13 ampules. Not only that, thanks to Leonard he had the ampule he wanted most. He looked at the item in his hand.
[ Item: Engaged T-rex DNA Ampule
Description: increases all stats by +10 for a duration of 30 minutes.
Can only be used in the Cinema Dungeon]
It was a drop from defeating the T-rex. Since Leonard was the one to have gotten the finishing blow, he was given it.
Leonard assumed that since his stats were probably so high that he didn't need it. Thus he gave it to him instead. Kim Dokja clutched it. ' I'll use it well.'
Ignoring Lee Jiyhe's whining, he packed up the Ampules.
Dudududu.
The sounds of a Helicopter propellers roared.
Lee Gilyoung said goodbye to a prey mantis he had made friends with. Hugging the insect, "... take care, titanos. " Lee Gilyoung released the prey mantis and it flew off into the sky.
Everyone got onto the helicopter. Once everyone was in, the credits rolled.
[The first 'Ending Credit' has been reached.]
[Performers: Kim Dokja, Jung Heewon, Lee Jihye, Lee Gilyoung, Leonard Mitchell, Klein Moretti, Choi Baekhyeon]
[You have obtained 500 coins as compensation.]
(Author: I randomly named the guy just for this… )
Klein frowned at the look of his name in the list. He looked at everyone and noticed that Lee Jiyhe and Jung Heewon didn't seem to notice it while reading.
He looked down at Lee Gilyoung. He read the screen and seemed confused for a moment before looking up at Klein. He made a gesture of zipping his mouth shut and eating the key.
"...."
Feeling a sense of nausea, everyone appeared back on the first floor again. After they escaped the movie, the poster ripped. It was evidence they had safely cleared it.
Leonard put the guy against the wall of the theater. Leonard then looked towards Klein. " Do you have any more paper on you? I'd like to leave him a note. "
" You don't know how to write Korean. "
"We can read,understand, and talk in Korean. Who says we can't write it?"
They couldn't write it… So Jung Heewon wrote it instead and left the note on the guy's lap.
" How many floors do we have to clear?" Lee Jiyhe complained.
" Yoo Junghyuk should have cleared most of them by now. So hopefully not much. "
The party made their way to the second floor via a broken down escalator. The second floor didn't change in appearance compared to the first floor.
Only difference is we're the different movies posted on the walls. All of which were torn. as they reached the third floor, it looked the same as the second.
Klein looked at the torn up posters along the wall and stopped in his tracks. He noticed a movie that oddly enough, still hadn't been torn yet.
' A horror movie?' He thought before looking it over. ' don't follow its voice.'
Jung Heewon came up behind him and looked at the movie. She turned and called out to the group. " There's an incomplete movie here!"
" What movie is it?" Lee Jiyhe called as she ran over.
"uhh.. It's called ' The Mimic.'" she said, confused. She hadn't seen the movie nor heard of it.
" The mimic?" Kim Dokja looked up at the movie. ' right I remember this one. I can see why Yoo Junghyuk skipped over this one.' He thought.
"The mimic? That was such a boring movie. Do we have to complete it?" Lee Jiyhe said with disdain.
" Oh come on. It can't be that bad. "
" there was barely any action. Not even jump scares. Wasn't scary at all. " Lee Jiyhe shook her head.
Leonard looked at the poster and asked. " what's it about?"
" It's a supernatural horror movie. The main antagonist is a tiger spirit. " Kim Dokja explained. The mention of a spirit made Leonard almost give himself whiplash with how fast he turned his head.
" spirit you say?" Leonard smiled. The spirits he had previously had suddenly disappeared from his body when he arrived.
He had no idea where they went. But the idea of a new spirit was tempting. He crept up on Kim Dokja and looked at him. " What's the dungeon like? "
"... " Kim Dokja looked at him like he was crazy. ' Why is he so interested in this?' Noticing Kim Dokja's confusion, Klein answered in Leonard stead.
" One of his abilities is to control and utilize the powers of spirits. "
" oh.. I see. " Kim Dokja hummed. ' so he wants to try and get the spirit to be his. That might be extremely useful. The items in the dungeon weren't of the best quality. But for Leonard it would be a gold mine. He is also strong enough to handle himself.'
" You can go in if you want. But entities can't leave the movie. " he said.
" It won't be leaving physically. But it's worth a shot to try anyway. " Kim Dokja nodded at his answer. Leonard walked up to the poster. Before he could enter, Klein grabbed him by the collar.
Leonard looked back. " Will you be alright going alone?" Klein asked.
Leonard looked at the poster with hesitation. He then took a deep breath and sighed. " I got this. So long as there's no other variables. A spirit should be easy. "
Klein's brows twitched. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a couple charms. He placed it in Leonard's hand. " Use them wisely. You never know what can happen and don't forget to call mr. Fool for help. " Klein said the last sentence in a whisper only the two could hear.
"I'll be careful. '' Leonard replied, giving Klein a reassuring look.
" while you do that. We will hear the next movie. You better come back to use alive Leonard." Kim Dokja said sternly.
Leonard scratched the back of his neck. " will do. See you guys soon!" Leonard then stepped in front of the poster. A spotlight shone over head and he disappeared.
" alright. Let's continue forward. " Kim Dokja said. The party then continued forward. Klein felt his perception kick in and he looked back, feeling a slight breeze.
"..."
'What was that I just felt?' Klein thought, before turning back around and following the party.