About 10 minutes before the gate incident.
Yongsan, Headquarters of the 3rd Air Cavalry Brigade, Brigade Commander's Office.
"…What? Major Kim, what kind of nonsense are you talking about?"
Kim Kang-seok, the Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Air Cavalry Brigade, was being scolded.
The person shouting at him was Colonel Gu Jin-tae, the Chief of Staff of the 3rd Air Cavalry Brigade.
"Chief of Staff, I assure you I've given this serious thought."
"No, this isn't something to be resolved with seriousness, man!"
Kim Kang-seok had just reported three recent incidents in front of the brigade commander and the chief of staff.
The Goblin Gate incident in Yeongnae, the Kobold Gate incident in Itaewon 2-dong, and the Orc Gate incident in Namsan.
And he didn't forget to mention the presence of F-rank player, Lee Hyunwook, at the center of these events.
Up to that point, the response had been quite favorable.
Even praising the soldiers for being well-trained.
However…
When he hinted at the end that he wanted to nurture Lee Hyunwook into an officer, the atmosphere turned cold.
"Are you saying you want to commission a soldier, especially an F-rank, as an officer? Who would agree to that?"
"…"
"Ha… Do you really think what you're saying makes sense?"
Amidst the chief of staff's reprimand, Kim Kang-seok turned his gaze to General Choi Jung-chul, the commander of the 3rd Air Cavalry Brigade.
"…"
The general just sat there with his legs crossed, not saying a word.
However, judging by his silence in the face of Gu Jin-tae's harsh words, it seemed he somewhat agreed with the sentiment.
Still, Kim Kang-seok did not waver in his intent.
"Chief of Staff, I don't believe the qualifications of an AMT officer are given randomly based on game performance."
"What?"
"…Rather, the will to overcome everything called this system, the determination to fight in any situation… I'm convinced that soldier has that quality."
"Hey! Kim Kang-seok! Are we digging the ground to recruit and fight? The graduates from the player training center are all joining private guilds, and if an F-grade becomes an officer, who will apply for AMT officer? You know this might lead to talk of AMT's abolition, right?"
If an F-grade becomes an officer, it would tarnish AMT's honor; Gu Jin-tae thought so.
'It's unfortunate, but he does have a point.'
Kim Kang-seok agreed.
Now, the so-called Great Monster War was not just about saving humanity.
Powerful players want fame and money.
Creating an environment to satisfy them… It was undoubtedly one of AMT's biggest tasks.
But if officer candidates are told to stand side by side with F-grade players…
'…They won't be pleased.'
Then, Choi Jung-chul subtly raised his left hand.
"Chief of Staff, hold on for a moment."
"Brigadier, this really isn't…"
Gu Jin-tae tried to object, but upon seeing Choi Jung-chul's smile, he stopped mid-sentence.
It was undoubtedly a kind smile, but it felt different to them.
"Chief of Staff, I wanted to say something too."
"Oh! I apologize. Please go ahead, Brigadier."
The previously furious Gu Jin-tae bowed his head.
AMT 3rd Armored Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Choi Jung-chul.
He was short with a stocky build, a bald head resembling an old bulldog, especially looking smaller sitting in front of the bear-like Kim Kang-seok, but no matter how great a player was, they couldn't dare to disrespect him.
The reason was simple.
He was ranked 31st among South Korean players and was an A-grade player.
Moreover, he was one of the few 'tactical weapons'-level forces that could cast 'large-scale area magic' on his own.
Especially, if one knew of his deed of burning down an entire island on the southern coast that 'mermaids' had taken over, roasting hundreds of mermaid troops in the process…
"Hmm, interesting. It's amusing to see the commanders get so heated over an F-grade player, heh…"
One could sense the hidden terror within his gentle face.
Even Kim Kang-seok felt the man's aura and was unconsciously tense.
"Well, I believe the Battalion Commander must have seen something in him. But it seems the Commander has already perceived something about that kid… I personally think we should test him a few more times, wouldn't that be okay?"
"Yes, of course."
"Good. Becoming an officer isn't as simple as beating some rookie soldiers or wearing armor. I need to be certain. You understand my perspective?"
He said, laughing lightly.
Despite hearing a relatively positive response, Kim Kang-seok wasn't at ease.
'If it's the Brigadier's test, it's practically impossible.'
While Kim Kang-seok prioritizes a soldier's mindset above all, Choi Jung-chul values only raw skill. Without perfect results, one couldn't earn his approval.
At that moment…
Knock- Knock-
Someone knocked on the Brigadier's office door and carefully entered.
It was the brigade's executive officer.
His expression wasn't good.
"Brigadier, there's an urgent call for the Battalion Commander."
An urgent call… Instinctively, Kim Kang-seok stood up.
"Alright, I'll go and take it, Battalion Commander."
"Yes!"
Kim Kang-seok hurriedly left the room.
A short while later, when Kim Kang-seok returned to the Brigadier's office, his expression was far from good.
Without even sitting down, he began to speak.
"Brigadier, there's news of a gate appearing in the jurisdiction of the 1st Battalion. But its location is…"
He paused and swallowed hard.
"…Seoul Station."
"Seoul Station? That's really not good."
"And for some unknown reason…"
Kim Kang-seok extended a tablet PC he had brought with him to the Brigadier.
A video began to play.
It was a live feed from a drone cam, but the actual view of Seoul Station wasn't visible.
To be precise, Seoul Station was obscured by something.
"A dome?"
It was a black dome.
A massive black dome had sealed off Seoul Station, like a lid.
"Yes. The entirety of Seoul Station has been engulfed by this black dome."
Choi Jung-chul looked grave at this point.
"This is bad. It's an 'Unlucky Event'."
"Yes, it seems so to me as well. It appears there are several restrictions, and we estimate that at least a thousand civilians are trapped inside."
An essential characteristic of the Unlucky Event was to 'isolate' a certain area.
"There must be a level restriction for entering and exiting the event area, right? It seems the station guards alone won't be able to handle this…"
"We need to verify the exact details, but I presume there's such a condition. I'll report back once I've confirmed."
Choi Jung-chul nodded and stood up.
"Ah! Speaking of which, that F-grade guy, he's under level 15, right? How about assigning him a rescue mission this time? As the test we talked about earlier."
"Well…"
Choi Jung-chul had proposed the test sooner than expected, but Kim Kang-seok could only make an awkward expression.
"Why, what's the matter?"
"Brigadier, he's already… inside the dome."
"…What?"
"He was reported to have arrived at Seoul Station with a female officer while returning from leave. But right after that, the Unlucky Event occurred at Seoul Station."
Choi Jung-chul nodded.
"Oh dear, what to do… Well, anyway, it can serve as a test. If he survives inside with just his bare hands, that should be enough."
"…"
"Battalion Commander, hurry and check it out. This is no ordinary situation. Inevitably, many will be sacrificed. We need to save even one more person, no matter what."
"Yes, understood!"
It's ironic. After speaking of a 'test' that risks someone's life, now there's talk of a 'mission' to save another's life.
However, this was the realistic mindset that a soldier should have, to risk lives and yet have the duty to protect the lives of their citizens.
* * *
Bang-Boom!
With a loud sound, pieces of the spider's skin burst and scattered in all directions.
First, the back, second, the hindquarters, and then the legs burst one after the other.
In the blink of an eye, the spider, with its skin peeled off, looked like a shrimp that had just molted. Furthermore, the shattered skin fragments dug into the pale flesh, and green fluid oozed out.
Creak! Creak! Creak! Creak!
No matter how large the creature was, it was an unbearable pain, and it could only let out a feeble scream and retreat.
That's when it happened.
Thud-Dum-Dum-Dum!
A vibration echoed from the floor,
It was coming from Lee Hyunwook's side.
When he turned his head, another spider was rolling with its eight legs, rushing towards him.
"Yikes! It's dangerous!"
Someone shouted.
However, Lee Hyunwook didn't move an inch from his spot.
Hum-
He just raised his left hand.
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'Poisonous Armored Spider, this is probably its first appearance here.'
It was a monster that had just appeared at this point in time.
However, Lee Hyunwook was already well aware of this terrifying creature.
'Its metallic body contains poisonous gas. Carelessly bursting it would be a big problem.'
He concentrated his metal-controlling ability in the direction of his extended left hand.
Even without reaching out, I can feel the metal, but this acts as a kind of antenna.
In other words, it allows you to focus the force more precisely.
That way, he sensed the very massive chunk of metal – its tough skin that existed there.
"… You are inevitably in my hands."
Lee Hyunwook muttered under his breath.
Regardless of its strength, a monster made of metal was nothing more than easy prey for Lee Hyunwook.
Not only could he control their bodies at will, but he could also crush them like this.
'In essence, I can dominate it.'
Lee Hyunwook grabbed and shook its skin as if tearing it apart.
Creak! Creak! Creak! Creak!
"With just that small gesture, it started writhing in pain.
That was just the beginning.
'…Crush!'
[ Mana (131/159) ]
Boom! Boom! Boom!
This time as well, its hard shell shattered into tiny pieces, scattering all around.
"Wha-, What's going on?"
The head of security at Seoul Station stood dumbfounded behind Lee Hyunwook, blurting out those words in awe.
"Thi-, This is insane…"
From his perspective, it was truly an unbelievable scene.
A player affiliated with AMT, and merely a foot soldier at that, being able to subdue such a monstrous creature with such ease…
'And that, that's definitely… a mechanism similar to the abilities of an S-rank player!'
Players ranging from E-rank to A-rank due to their level growth characteristics honestly can't exert an overwhelming 'mystique'.
Of course, as their level increases and they grow, there might come a time when they'd seem 'superhuman', but…
'…Divine Power!'
It couldn't give the impression of a 'miracle' or 'divine power' that transcended humanity.
However, the S-rank was different.
The abilities they exhibited were more aptly called 'divine power' rather than just skills.
The power to dominate a battlefield with a mere gesture, surpassing the role of an outstanding warrior… The strength worthy of being treated as a tactical or strategic weapon in a single body…
'I remember a scene from two years ago when Inferno set ablaze a polluted building in Busan.'
Of course, the power that this man now displays couldn't be said to be on the same scale as the S-rank player Inferno's divine power.
To make a detailed comparison, it would be like comparing it to a bird's scratch.
But the impression was certainly similar.
A mystique that transcended even the superhuman was glimpsed.
Then, as if about to perform another act, the man slowly raised both his hands.
Swish-swish-swish-swish-swish-
Then, the hard skin fragments of the spider lying on the ground began to wriggle one by one…
Woosh-woosh-woosh-woosh-woosh-
The next moment, as if attracted by a magnet, they all soared vertically.
"…Gasp!"
All the people gathered at the entrance looked up at the mysterious sight.
The uneven metal fragments reflected the light from the ceiling LED lights, shimmering.
"Wow…"
Someone exclaimed.
Yes, at first glance, it was a beautiful scene.
It was like some kind of installation art made of crystals.
However, the moment he dropped his raised hands to the ground,
The genre changed.
Crash-crash-crash-crash-crash-!
In an instant, they transformed into a furious swarm of hornets and charged towards the spider.
Zap! Zap! Zap! Zap! Zap! Zap!
Hundreds of metal fragments began to tear the spider's thick flesh bit by bit, and then all at once.
"Wow…"
"Are you from the Seoul Station security team?"
"…Yes?"
The security team leader, who had been gazing at the scene in astonishment, made eye contact with Lee Hyunwook.
"Oh, yes! That's right!"
Before he realized it, the security team leader was speaking with respect.
"Control the citizens and move them to the third floor. Because of the 'Unlucky Event', you can't go outside for now. So, you need to evacuate the citizens to a place where they can prepare for the next release."
"Ah, that makes sense!"
"Ah, and that spider might release poison."
"…Poison, you say?"
"Yes, I saw something leaking from its shell. It seems to be in the form of gas."
"Ah, understood!"
Gas. The security leader realized that it meant they should prepare gas masks.
He immediately relayed the information he had received from Lee Hyunwook to his team members.
"Come on! Let's get ourselves together and do our job! We need to protect the citizens!"
The seven station security members resumed their duties.
"Everyone! Please calm down and listen to us!"
Although it wasn't easy to control the panicking crowd of hundreds, in this era where gate incidents had become a common occurrence, the people willingly followed the players' instructions.
"Now, we'll immediately move to the third floor! Please move in an orderly manner!"
And so, hundreds of them made their way up to the third floor via the stairs.
Meanwhile, Lee Hyunwook was bombarding the two venom-armored spiders with metal to cut off their breath, while simultaneously plotting his next moves in his head.
'I need to survive at least two releases, the second and the third before that dome will open.'
However…
'In every game, there's always a hidden path.'
Lee Hyunwook already knew of another way.
* * *
The 'Unlucky Event', a zone with such hellish rules, was not that vast.
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Seoul Station was incredibly vast.
"It looks like, out of all of Seoul Station, only the 2nd and 3rd floor waiting rooms have been isolated."
During the escape to the 3rd-floor waiting room, one of the station security personnel mentioned this.
And that assumption was correct.
However, just counting the isolated citizens, there seemed to be well over 800 of them.
Yet, the security force assigned to that area was only seven. Given the situation, it looked like they would have been hopelessly slaughtered.
Had it not been for the appearance of an AMT soldier to rescue them all, that surely would have been the case.
Everyone was aware of this and considered themselves lucky, but…
"This is really messed up, damn it…"
Among the isolated citizens, Yang Joo-seop was not pleased with Lee Hyunwook's arrival.
'What's with that guy… Why is someone with such abilities here?'
With his burning eyes, he glared at the player, Lee Hyunwook, who was taking out the venom-armored spider.
At the same time, he read the system message floating in his vision.
[ You have failed to achieve the objective for Main Quest 'No.1'! ]
A certain quest assigned to him had failed, and it was because of Lee Hyunwook.
"Damn it! Where did that guy suddenly come from? A player with such capabilities wouldn't ride the subway or train. Why is he at Seoul Station? And with AMT at that…"
Yes.
Yang Joo-seop was a 'villain'.
At this point in time, the existence of villains was not yet clearly defined.
How they came into existence, their purpose and everything else hasn't been publicly discussed yet… Villains would receive such 'quests' and slowly, bit by bit, they consumed the world.
However, Yang Joo-seop was not an official villain yet.
[ You are currently a 'Villain Candidate'. Complete quests to raise your rank! ]
[ Once you accept a quest, if you don't perform it properly, it will result in 'Game Over' ]
Not just anyone could become a villain.
Firstly, not everyone was given the quest to become a villain candidate.
Even if someone received the quest, the probability of clearing it wasn't very high.
Moreover, if the quest failed, the penalty was game over, which meant death.
Only after successfully completing life-threatening tasks multiple times could one officially become a villain and enter a certain 'secret organization' where real villains gathered.
For Yang Joo-seop, if he completed one more quest here today, he would be promoted to an official villain… but…
"That bastard ruined everything. If I get a chance, I should stab him from behind… Huh?"
Muttering to himself, he suddenly stopped, startled.
It was because his eyes met with Lee Hyunwook's.
"…."
He turned his head to look directly at Yang Joo-seop.
However, there was something off about his eyes, his pupils.
From within them, he felt hostility… No, it was murderous intent.
Swallowing hard-
Yang Joo-seop felt a chill run down his spine.
It was much deeper and inexplicable anxiety pressing down on him than a year ago, during his E-rank days, when he first went out on a gate blockade operation and locked eyes with an orc.
'What, what's with him… Is he staring at me?'
Unconsciously, he felt a sudden drop in his confidence, but soon he snorted and turned his head.
'Damn it, what does he know! He must have just glanced at me by chance, there's no way he'd know who I am.'
With that, he chuckled to himself.
To begin with, the world was still unaware of the existence of villains.
If he stayed focused and acted according to the plan, there was no way he could fail.
Thinking this way, Yang Juseop discreetly slipped away from the group to complete the remaining quest.