47 - 52
Chapter 47 – Tower (6)
"These damnable bastards… it seems like they aren't doing this properly…"
Lord, Gyungmi grinded her teeth.
One of the clansmen below sighed as he heard those words and spoke:
"Isn't it easier if you just take them into the clan from the start. Why don't you take clansmen around with you?"
Gyungmi frowned as she spoke:
"It's already tedious for me to bring you guys along. No, this psychic power doesn't fit me from the start. Goddamnit. Why did something like this appear."
"…"
The clansmen shook their head as they saw Gyungmi say such things about her psychic power that others were dying of jealousy from.
"Do you know how shitty it feels when you gain a connection to a random person and then have him die? It might be different for somebody who isn't close or something."
"…"
"And I hate the most the fact that I can tell somebody to fight instead of me in times of danger. The nine of you is too much already."
"…"
"Damnit. I'll only recruit strong ones from now on."
'She's really a different kind.'
They clicked their tongue while looking at Gyungmi.
But nodded their heads at the same time.
'Well… with those battle powers…'.
It was ok for her to feel as if they were annoyances.
They didn't know what the hell she had picked up below but she was really strong.
Gyungmi was a Lord but she definitely wasn't like Cao Cao or Liu Bei.
She felt more like Lu Bu.
The clansmen here were strong but they would all get pummeled until they turned into rice cakes even if they were to all fight her.
'It isn't that her skills, runes or artifacts are out of the ordinary or something…'
Of course she was above average compared to ordinary adventures.
But Gyungmi's battle power couldn't be explained with just that.
Since she had mixed up everything above amazingly and melted it down to one battle style.
They wouldn't be able to show one third the strength of Gyungmi even if they had the same things.
"But what are you going to do? They're still trying to do the chicken game. And if they continue to hunt like that then they will really become formidable. The other dangerous 10 also get on my nerves as well."
"Tsk. Damnable guys. We should've set the mood in the beginning…"
Gyungmi clicked her tongue.
Since she couldn't do anything about getting angry despite her understanding the reason behind it.
If this were to continue then they would need to go kill three to four protectors a day.
And this would only bring them harm.
If the others hunt and raise their strength fervently in that time period than the gap between them will become immeasurably closer.
'My head hurts. There's something that bothers me too…'
This is why even though she foresaw something like this would be happening, at the moment she brought her clan out fast as if she was fleeing from something.
At that moment, the air sliced apart as somebody came out of thin air.
Everyone flinched.
Since they didn't even realize that someone had come out.
"You bastard… who are you!"
The clansmen shouted coldly as they held up their blades.
Hansoo who had come out of thin air, and had the look of Chungjae, smiled as he spoke:
"Nothing much. I'm just here with a proposal."
"Proposal?"
Hansoo shrugged his shoulders.
"It's a really good proposal on your part too. You guys just need to listen to me. I'll let all of you escape this island alive."
Then Hansoo explained what he was going to make them do.
Things he would've done himself if he had the power.
One of the clansmen spoke quietly with a helpless expression:
'Did he lose all notions of fear or something.'
It seemed like he was pretty talented.
Since they couldn't spot his camouflage.
But it didn't seem like he could maintain that during a fight.
And it felt like he could kill one to two of them but that was his limit.
What would such a guy have as his basis for him to act about so?
'…is he trying to get a sneak attack?'
They had never seen somebody trying to act as a captain just by relying on a simple sneak attack from behind.
But Hansoo just smiled.
It would be simple if he were to just release his transformation and show them but then some trails will be left behind.
But there's still a simple solution without going to such an extent.
Since he had come here from the start because of that.
'Well. If it doesn't work then I'll stop the transformation for a moment.'
His goal was not being found out by the underling of the Dark Mad Lord anyway.
And these guys are of the same clan so the chances of the Dark Mad Lord's forces being mixed in here is none.
"Not you. I'm talking to your Lord. Let's have a talk with me. The lady over there."
Hansoo looked at Gyungmi, who was standing quietly behind the clansmen, as he spoke.
'Sixth Sense stat. I don't know where she had attained such a valuable thing but she should be able to see it somewhat.'
He had understood somewhat since she had been looking all around her at the surroundings ever since he was here.
It was a different stat from perception, not part of the 8 general stats.
Perception increased the 5 senses one had but the sixth sense was basically the same as a psychic power.
It was something he had given up looking for because it was too hard to find in the tutorial area.
Gyungmi looked at Hansoo in cold sweat.
'Fuck… that was the thing.'
Gyungmi grinded her teeth.
Since she finally understood why he felt the chill run down the spine since a while ago.
A sixth sense stat which she had attained at the beginning.
It raised a person's battle power beyond the limits.
Since it allowed one to sense things others could not sense.
And something was moving about behind Hansoo's back in her eyes.
'To come up here with something like that… fuck.'
She knew instinctively.
That was just a shell.
There is something much more fearsome hiding beneath it.
She didn't know what that thing was but if that thing showed itself and decided to kill them all then… they will all die.
Gyungmi breathed in and out and then spoke:
"…Can't you just do it alone with such abilities?"
She didn't know what he was hiding but it was extremely dangerous.
With that much he didn't need them, he just needed to go out and sweep them all under him.
And just kill them if they didn't listen.
Hansoo smiled at those words.
"Everyone has circumstances. I need someone to fight instead of me."
'Since I can't get found out yet.'
Gyungmi sighed and then spoke to Hansoo:
"Even we can't beat all 40 of them. It seems like you won't be fighting. What are you planning?"
If such a thing was possible then they would've fought at the beginning already.
"What's the problem? There are weaker ones roaming about in groups of ten. Beat up all the weaker ones separately and get them into your clan."
"…"
He hadn't acted out because of this until now.
Since it'll become more convenient if they spread out.
'One day… should be enough for them to get separated enough.'
To leave a Lord in leisure behind to travel in groups of 10 separately.
Symbols were gained from the agreement of both sides but he had never seen anybody who had not agreed with a blade up against up throat before.
"I don't know what you don't like about it but put them into the clan for now. And do whatever you want with them afterwards. Though there's 10 of them who are a bit dangerous, I wonder if they'll act out if there's 40 of you guys."
"…"
'…He's a bit annoying, shall I have a go at him?'
But Gyungmi shook her head.
Her sixth sense had saved her too many times for her to do so.
And that sixth sense was warning her clearly.
To listen.
"… Let's go."
Everyone nodded as they headed somewhere.
Hansoo smiled as he saw this.
'That's done.'
This is easy for them to get massacred if all 50 are separated but at the time same it was easy to clear if all 50 combined.
They just needed to make the clan, kill the protectors in leisure and attain the treasure.
'…I can see the ending coming around.'
If he gains the philosopher's stone here then he has gained everything necessary to go in the dungeon.
Then only one stage is left.
The two weeks will go by fast.
Hansoo laughed as he disappeared in order to kill the protectors as well.
..................…..
"It seems the time has come for us to separate."
Gyungmi made a tired expression as she looked at the people around her.
Almost 50 people.
They were mostly her clansmen now.
'…I'm tired.'
It was even more tiring because she was trying to not get any of them die due to that useless connection.
Though some weren't part of her clan.
'The four over there.'
Gyungmi looked at the four, who were of different quality, in the corner.
Lord couldn't give symbols to other lords.
And Lords could not give symbols to people who had already gained symbols from a different clan.
Which meant that if the giving of the symbol didn't work then it would mean that that person was a Lord or part of a clan.
And because of this, these four caught the eyes.
'Well there's nothing really special about them.'
It wasn't that they all believed their excuses.
But what was the point when they were going to separate anyway.
She just needed to take care of her own clan.
"Let's all go our own ways."
Gyungmi changed the treasure into 50 Kurutan's Bludgeons, gave it to each and everyone one by one and then ordered them to suicide.
Crack.
"…uh?"
Gyungmi's psychic power isn't strong enough to order them to suicide.
Everyone else other than her original clansmen had their symbols broken as soon as she gave the order.
And at the same time they, who had escaped from the clan, all looked fiercely at each other but then ran towards the exist after giving up.
Since there was no need to fight after having guaranteed their safety.
'Well. This is a good end from one point of view.'
Though things had progressed half forcibly, everyone had survived as the result.
Since they had repeated the hunt for Protectors of the Dungeons faithfully under the order of the Clan Lord.
As the people who were thinking this and that made their way to the exit a giant door in the space that trapped them opened with a rumbling noise.
And a slightly different view from before had appeared in front of them.
"… maze?"
Many separate paths had appeared in front of their eyes.
And the fairy appeared in front of their eyes.
"Everyone here has survived. Heehee. Congratulations. You will now get sent to the starting point of the third floor. There's nothing hard, you just need to follow the path. If you follow the crossroads, you will arrive at one the of hundreds of starting points.You can group up and follow your friends who arrived earlier or go separately when you get there."
Everyone shrugged their shoulders as they disappeared into the paths.
Though it wasn't like being moved into a room, it didn't really matter.
Gyungmi looked at Chungjae with a suspicious expression but then shook her head as she took her clansmen into one of the numerous paths.
'Hmm… shall I go too.'
It didn't seem like the four there would move before he did.
Hansoo, who had the appearance of Chungjae, smirked as he walked towards the starting point.
And after a while he activated Arankal's Bracelet and hid himself completely.
Then he very carefully returned to the starting point.
As he expected these four, who had said they were part of the other clan, were standing in the same position despite the others leaving one by one.
'When are they going to move. Hurry up and move.'
Hansoo looked at them with great patience.
And soon when everyone else had disappeared, they seemed to have received orders from somewhere as they started to ruthlessly go through the paths.
Hansoo smiled as he saw them.
'Hurry and guide me. To your captain.'
Even if he found them painstakingly and then kill them off one by one, the Lord will slowly regenerate his strength as well.
There was only one solution to this tedious situation.
To cut off the Lord's neck in a single strike.
But he had no way of knowing where this guy was.
1st and 2nd floor were impossible and the only possible third floor still had a few hundred starting points.
It was not possible to search through each and every one of them.
But at a single time, he had a single chance.
A chance which appears when the special structure of the tower and the dangers of the third floor combines.
If the Dark Mad Lord had arrived to the third floor, and had seen the environment of this place then he could only gather all of his clansmen to a single spot.
The third floor was the place where they let them taste the harsh reality of the Otherworld.
It was not somewhere where tricks worked.
Since his head was good he had probably realized that he had to gather his clansmen in order for him to act around in such a place.
And the people in front of him will guide him.
To the Dark Mad Lord who could be in one of the hundreds of starting points.
If Hansoo had revealed his identity here then that cautious guy would've split up all his clansmen to other places.
Since if that guy had seen the third floor, he would want to only use his own forces and prevent any possible mishaps from happening in order to get through the third floor…
But Hansoo himself had to meet him and that was where the earring came into play.
'It's the final stage.'
He had gained everything he needed with the philosopher's stone being the last.
The only thing he needed now was some fancy gear and plenty of runes.
He would've actually had to run around the whole tower according to the original plan.
Since it'll be hard for oneself to have a full setting of gear and runes.
But there was a way for him to solve it very simply.
Since the people who have been running around the whole tower for him will gather in a single place.
People who would have such an amount that even he wouldn't be able to gather alone.
'Dark Mad Lord… Let's see your face, it's been a while.'
And once he finishes them off then all the preparations are complete.
For entering the Final Dungeon.
The final stage of the preparation wasn't some beast.
It was the Dark Mad Lord himself.
'I'll use all my strength.'
Because in that place, only he and they exist.
Since there was no way the Dark Mad Lord would let random people who started at the same place as him alive.
He could use all his strength since rumors won't be spreading anyway.
Hansoo slowly disappeared into the darkness as he followed the others.
...............
And then somebody appeared in the place where Hansoo disappeared.
"… You really want to follow?"
One of the clansmen looked at Gyungmi as they shook their head.
To pretend to go up the road in order to follow him.
'And how the hell did she even find him. Is it that sixth sense thing…?'
Gyungmi smirked as she nodded:
"Aren't you even bit curious? As to what kind of thoughts he has?"
"… Just with that alone?"
"Well. We'll find out when we get there. And if the path we were following and this is the same anyway then there's nothing bad about going this way."
And then Gyungmi followed the pathway towards the place that the sixth sense was pointing to, where the dangerous aura was radiating from.
Chapter 48 – Tower (7)
'It's been a while.'
Hansoo mumbled quietly as he watched the flaming environment around him.
The third floor which imitated the
They called it the Red Zone because it used red energy.
But there were other reasons as well.
An eternally blazing world that had received the punishment of the gods.
And that was why it was called the Red Zone.
'Erviang… this was your world huh.'
He didn't' know back then.
Even right before the invasion of the Abyss.
'We were just frogs in a well.'
But he, after getting through the Abyss, knew now.
How the Otherworld which was comprised of seven colored zones was structured.
If such a thing called a God existed then it was really a vicious thing. Humanity was a very lucky race if you take into account what happened to Erviang's race, who were space-time travelers.
Hansoo shook his head.
'It's not time to get emotional.'
This was just a fake which copied the Red Zone.
It didn't even have half of the dangers.
'Shall I go.'
This guy will probably be stuck at
He just needed to end him there.
Hansoo continued his steps through the flaming landscape.
........................….
"It's amazing."
Everyone who was advancing faithfully under the orders of Wongyung swirled their tongues around.
Everything in their surroundings was burning.
The strange-looking buildings which belonged to some other race were blazing and numerous beasts were moving between the buildings without end.
'Damn… all of the area on the third floor shouldn't be like this right?'
That was not even reasonable.
It wasn't to the point where they were getting burned to death but the non-stop heat kept attacking their throats and lungs.
And the beasts that charged at them were so strong that even his clansmen were barely blocking them.
Due to the whole environment burning there wasn't any water to drink either.
One of two things will happen at this rate.
Either die from the beasts or die from dehydration.
'…The world outside the tutorial is always like this?'
The fairy had told them.
That the third floor was like a glimpse of the world outside of the tutorial.
And added something else too.
At first he was really relieved.
Since even he wasn't comfortable with the fairy who brought evil rules endlessly.
But he was slowly realizing something.
'…It's not like it's not interfering but more like it doesn't need to interfere?'
If it was such a harsh environment to the point where they didn't need to interfere then they simply wouldn't.
Since they will die by themselves.
Wongyung, who had been advancing through the dried up landscape, shook his head.
'There's no way.'
There was no way that they would leave them all to die.
Wongyung was confident.
The strongest power in all of the Tower was him.
If a power like his was suffering this much then all of the others might just die out.
There was no way that they would've set the difficulty so.
Kudududuk
'First advance forward.'
Wongyung solidified his thoughts as he advanced.
And soon a giant Cross appeared in his view.
"…What is that?"
"Isn't it pretty?"
The fairy, which had appeared without anyone noticing, babbled.
Wongyung slightly frowned at those words.
It was a disgusting-looking cross even at a single glance.
And on that cross, human faces were coming out and going back into it non-stop.
Like people who were trapped within a giant cloth.
And then Wongyung rubbed his eyes after seeing an extremely familiar face.
"….Huh?"
The fairy smiled as it spoke.
"Can you see some familiar faces?"
"…"
Wongyung ignored the fairy's words as he inspected the cross after walking closer to it.
And then made a expression of fear.
"Is this cross…"
"Mmm… I don't know what you're thinking about but shall we say it's right? Heehee. Correct! All the information of those who died in the tutorial are in there! Oh my. Two were just added."
Wongyung slightly closed the gaps of his eyes.
"But what is the meaning of this?"
He knew that it was definitely disgusting.
But what did this mean to them.
"Reflect our actions while looking at the dead?"
The fairy shook its head.
"The cross will look very very pretty after you hear my words."
"…?"
"That is the Cross of Reincarnation! You can revive someone of those who participated in the tutorial who had died!"
Wongyung made a expression of fright.
They did look like beings close to gods.
But for them to be able to effect those who had already died.
"What is this nonsense… Can you guys even control the dead?"
The fairy smirked.
"That's a bit too hard at our level. It's just a copy that we brought on the way here."
"… a copy?"
"Yes. We made a copy of all of you when you came here and saved it within that cross. And that cross uses that as the base to create a copy."
"…"
While Wongyung's eyes were flickering the fairy made a smile as if it knew that would happen and spoke.
"Though it's a copy, their strength and memory will be the same as the real one before they came to this side. Woudln't this be amazing if it's a loved one? Heeheehee."
"It can revive the dead?"
Wongyung's hands trembled.
'…Really?'
Wongyung's memories rewinded at an extreme speed.
The reason why he had came to despise other Lords.
This was all because of that guy he had met in the start.
Actually there was somebody else who had manifested the power of a Lord before Wongyung in the 1st tutorial area.
And that guy had taken control of his daugher with the symbol and played around with her then killed her by using her as a shield during a dangerous moment.
How much he had despaired over this.
He had created a much bigger power after he had manifested his power as a Lord.
Since his psychic power was much greater than that guy's.
And he thought after ripping that guy to shreds.
That the reason why he was given this psychic power was a sign from the heavens to rip apart all those other Lords.
And one more thing.
He needed a lot of strength.
Why?
He needed much more strength than he has now in order to find him.
Since his son would be much further ahead than him if he was alive.
He couldn't catch up the 5-year gap to his son with some average amount of power.
He basically needed strength to plow through and advance forward.
It didn't matter to him if his actions were something that would cause him to get cursed by others.
Since the ones who curse him aren't the ones who would find his son for him.
Everything was playing out very well.
But for such a thing to happen to him!
Wongyung touched the cross with trembling hands.
As soon as his hands touched it, thousands of people who had died in the tutorial appeared in front of his eyes.
And many of those who had died by his clans existed as well.
But that didn't matter.
Since his only interest was his daughter.
While he was flipping through the catalogue, his daughter Ahee came into his eyes.
"Ahh…ahhhhh."
Wongyung shed tears of joy.
He could revive Ahee!
Without any memories of pain, with the body and memory before she had come here!
Though her body would be weak, that did not matter.
He just needed to protect her.
'Thank you. God. Thank you.'
Wongyung asked the fairy in a hurry.
"How can I revive them?"
The fairy smirked as it spoke.
"Simple. Just put someone in here."
The fairy pointed towards the bottom of the giant cross.
A deep hole that looked like a grave.
"What?"
"You need ingredients in order to make something new. Put someone else in for the person coming out. It's pretty simple that way."
Wongyung hurriedly looked around.
He just needed to put the weakest one in.
Then there will be no problems.
At his orders, a guy who had been panting from an injury slowly dragged his body and walked towards the hole beneath the cross.
While Wongyung was rejoicing at that sight, sounds of the fairy clicking its tongue were heard.
"Nono. Can't do that. You can't do that. You can't use a clansman. It becomes too easy then. We didn't want to see something like that. You can't use tricks."
"What!!!! What do you want!!!!"
Wongyung screamed out unknowningly.
The fairy smiled coyly as it spoke:
"It's not that hard. You just need to put someone else who isn't part of your clan in here. Then your daughter lives too. How good is it? Hehehehee. It's really chaotic in other places about now but it's a problem here because it's all one clan. Ah. Another one added to the cross."
Wongyung despaired at these words.
How would he find somebody in his deserted land.
Wongyung asked the fairy just in case.
"Damn… Is there another chance like this in the future?"
He didn't believe that only they will be on the path from now on.
If they meet others then they could just catch them then revive Ahee after inserting them into the Cross they will find later.
The fairy shook its head.
"No. This is the end of the privilege. Chances don't come that easily right? As we see it, it's not fun when people have leisure. You need to be a bit of a crisis. If you leave after visiting this place once then you can't use it again."
"Goddaaamitttt!"
Wongyung spat out a scream of despair.
They were already behind because they had to gather all their clansmen who were spread all around.
The people who had started off were probably going through some other path somewhere else.
And what would a person with some basic sense think when they see the view of the third floor.
Would they go around some roundabout way and group up with other people in some other starting point?
Or would they think to go through his hell-like place by themselves.
And they couldn't wait forever in this place.
Since they couldn't get anything to eat or drink in these blazing plains.
He couldn't send out his clansmen when he didn't know what could happen from now on.
But then Wongyung's expression turned cold.
'Maybe.'
He didn't know what was ahead but he had somewhat organized on the way here from the starting point.
If he send some clansmen to wait in the starting point then some random guys might pop out.
And then he just needed to catch them before they went into other paths.
At that moment one of his clansmen shouted loudly.
"Lord! Somebody is coming this way over there!"
"What?"
Wongyung opened his eyes wide and looked towards the starting point.
And he could see a person walking towards them from the starting point.
'How could this be. Thank you. Oh god.'
Wongyung, who wasn't even religious, prayed to god.
No, there was no way such a thing would happen if there was no god.
God had given him the power to find his son and a chance to revive his daughter.
If god isn't looking after him then what was this?
Soon Wongyung's mind which was filled with glee calmed down.
That guy couldn't run away after seeing this place.
Definitely not.
He had to catch him no matter what and throw him under the grave.
Since that was the only way to save his daughter.
'I don't know who you are… but thank you.'
"Catch him!"
As soon as his order came down, his clansmen charged towards the man walking towards them from afar.
........................…..
Hansoo quietly mumbled inwardly as he looked at the people charging at him.
'Dark Mad Lord. First rate Dark Lord.'
The sins he had caused were too many to list.
Of cause this was all a thing of the past.
His situation? He knew too well.
Since he had heard all of his screams of despair before he died.
He knew why he hated Lords, why he tried to increase his strength crazily and how he had become a first rate Dark Lord.
He had to leave behind his daughter here because he couldn't find some other non-clansman here.
And he, who had been enraged by this, caused a massacre in the tutorial due to the urgent thoughts of him having to find his one remaining son.
He had done so until now but in greater amounts from this point onwards.
And he had caught up the gap of 5 years but went crazy after finding out that his son had died and then flipped the Otherworld upside down.
As if he was trying to relieve the rage against the world which had killed his son and daughter by venting it on the inhabitants of the world.
His circumstances were regrettable but it could not excuse him for the things he had done so far.
'But you won't feel unfair from this. Since you will get to revive your daughter if you win here.'
He had come to the Dark Mad Lord and the Dark Mad Lord had come to kill him.
It wouldn't be bad for him.
Since if the Dark Mad Lord won in this fight, he would be able to use him as a sacrifice to revive his daughter.
That was all he needed.
And soon his Justice and Judgement of Dekrados exploded out with his body as the center.
Chapter 49 – Three Gateways (1)
Kududududk
The chain scythe flew around with Hansoo as the center non-stop.
And at the same time the dagger ripped through the air.
"Kuuuhk!"
"Goddamnit!"
Wongyung grinded his teeth as he heard the screams of his clansmen that came from every direction.
'Goddamnit… he's too fast.'
He knew who he was up against after the fight began.
The guy who had messed up their plans as a whole at Central Island.
He wondered why the guy who he had thought went to a different island was here but decided that it didn't matter.
Since if his skills were the same as when he saw him then, it wouldn't be hard to catch him with his clansmen.
Why would he have set up the net on the path up from Central Island if he thought that a full frontal clash was not possible?
He had prepared it because he was confident in winning.
And the biggest reason.
That guy, for some reason, did not use any skills.
And that was why he thought that he could win in a head-on battle.
And their gears weren't even comparable to others, they also had increased their battle strength by consuming other adventurers climbing the tower.
Nothing much to say about their teamwork too.
But this was all a huge miscalculation.
'Why did he go to a different island if he was that strong?'
There was nobody to stop them when their clan swung their sword.
Nothing much to say about the guys who were caught off guard since they worked from the dark.
But that was simply arrogance.
Thinking about it, it had only been two months since they got here.
It just didn't feel that short because they had experienced a lot.
No matter how many people they sliced apart for two months, they were still humans.
On the other hand, if there was a thing called a human butcher, he was sure that that guy was him.
It felt like he had gone through countless years of work where he killed people.
Keeping distance with his much higher stats as the basis.
Keeping an eye on the whole battlefield and moving in directions where he wouldn't get surrounded.
It had naturally turned into a structure where they all chased his back.
And then he would ruthlessly slice apart those who chase him with his chain scythe and his dagger.
It wasn't that his attacks were weak even if he threw them from afar.
There wasn't a single case where his attacks did not hit a fatal location.
An attack which flew into a spot of sure-kill.
And because they couldn't not defend, the gap they barely closed widened while they defended.
Their artifacts were unique and strong ones as well but his scythe and dagger were so strong that every time they clashed weapons, their weapons would break along with their bones.
'Goddamnit…'
It was hard to hold him down even if they poured on skills because his resistances were high and every time they used a decisive skill, the skill would break as a light shone from his right hand.
'Goddamnit… will we be able to catch him before his stamina runs out?'
But Wongyung didn't really see much hope.
The time when the most amount of stamina is consumed is when someone goes through attacks as well as defending actions.
But he was barely defending and only pouring out attacks.
He didn't know much but if his stamina was at the same level as his strength or perception then those movements won't stop until all of them got ripped apart.
Kudududk
"Uuaaaka!"
"Those with charging skills hold him down first!!"
There were a few who could stick close by him.
Clansmen who had charging skills.
Wongyung had regarded this skill very highly and had distributed this skill to his clansmen who had high defense and resistances.
They were basically charging warriors.
They had high defenses and resistances to go against their weapons and ripped the enemy apart after getting close to the enemy with their defensive artifacts.
He had 20 of these guys.
'If we can just tie him down then we can kill him.'
It wasn't that blades did not work against him.
Since he was bleeding from the occasional blades that got to him.
Which means that they could kill him as long as they can surround him and hold him down.
'Goddamnit… He would've died if he had come up through the portal.'
But these were meaningless complaints.
The only thing he could trust in was them.
Maybe it was due to the fact that he had raised them with great care but the charging warriors were going through the endless chain scythe and dagger and had gotten quite close to Hansoo.
"Die!"
Chwaaaak
A blade was ruthlessly getting close to Hansoo.
But Hansoo already had every information about this guy in his head.
Though it was hard to read the rune stats of a leisurely guy, he could clearly read the stats of someone who was fighting with all their strength.
The images endlessly came one after another until the enemy's next movement was drawn in his head.
Hansoo followed those movements as he slashed at the side of that guy's sword with his dagger.
Kudududk
His strength was not average and Hansoo's hand, which held the dagger that deflected the sword, trembled as it started to bleed.
And the attack which Hansoo had deflected sliced into his own shoulder.
Even if you can completely dodge or defend against an attack, you shouldn't do so.
Since if you focus on defending or dodging the attacks of those who stick close to you, you will just get slowed down.
And then you will just get surrounded by the enemies who are charging at you.
'Then you just die.'
Even if he allowed them to attack he could not let them close the gap.
Kudududk
The attack bore deep into his shoulder as it started to bleed.
But he backed off quickly even in such a situation and strongly pulled on the chain scythe.
'And… I'm not really losing out either.'
"Kuuuhh…"
Hansoo held the chain scythe, which had cut through the guy's artery, and swung the chain scythe all around him again as he started to repeat the tedious work.
Of course there were a few things he didn't forget to do.
First, absorbing all the runes that were dropped as well as using the dropped artifacts for defense and offense.
Second, slashing the Justice of Dekrados from time to time at Wongyung while mid-battle.
His core was being a Lord.
And if Wongyung had any form of survival instinct, he will pull some forces towards him in order to defend against the daggers that flew to him.
And of course when the clansmen who should be attacking fall back to defend him, he gets a bit of a breather.
'…I guess I cannot let the clansmen live.'
The guys who were under orders charged in like zealots.
Wongyung was ordering his clansmen even more ruthlessly as his life was starting to get threatened.
So that they would bite if their arms were cut off and act as a meat shield if their necks were cut off.
He was also losing health as well.
There was no space for him to go easy.
'Dark Mad Lord… Let's stop here this time.'
Hansoo made a cold expression as he tore through the Dark Mad Lord's clansmen at an intensified rate.
...........................…
"Goddamnit… goddamnit."
Wongyung made a soulless expression at his massacred clansmen and then shouted at Hansoo while grinding his teeth.
"You bastard! What do you have against me to the point where you would go this far!"
He didn't know back then.
But he knew now.
That this guy was going after him ever since Central Island.
He didn't know how Hansoo had known of his existence but he was definitely moving around while targeting him.
And he could not understand this.
"You bitch! Why are you doing this to me when I haven't done anything wrong to you! Huh? We aren't like sworn enemies or something, why are you chasing me this far, what sin have I committed! Is it because I killed people? Huh? Is that it? Or because I didn't follow the rules that you spread around?"
He could've saved his daughter if he had a little more time.
And he could've found his missing son with this strength.
But all of this had been blocked off.
Because of this one guy.
And he could only think of one thing.
The uncanny rules that he heard from Guktae.
'This damnable guy… what is he for him to set such rules at us?'
Hansoo shook his head at those words.
"I'm not killing you because you broke the rules."
He wasn't killing them because they broke the rules.
It didn't make sense to apply these rules to those who didn't want to be with him from the start.
This was the same thing as getting hold of an American and imposing Korean rules to them.
In these kind of cases, you could solve it by splitting up like Taesoon did in the past.
He also didn't have the leisure to chase them all down and kill them off because they broke the rules.
Setting up the rules is after uniting everyone.
It was a future plan and he had to find a different method to solve that.
How would he govern over all those people?
"Then why are you…"
Wongyung became absent-minded at the unexpected answer.
Hansoo muttered quietly.
'You guys are just stepping stones.'
There were a few things that he needed to do in his plans.
If his plans were only uniting all of humanity, why would he have come?
Eres or Keldian would've come instead.
There were a few things he needed to accomplish in order to solve the
Even if he had to kill off everyone in the tutorial area in order to accomplish his set plans then he would've done so.
He didn't think that small sacrifices for bigger things were right but he didn't hesitate if it was needed.
But because they didn't want this, they had set up a plan which had the least amount of casualties.
But the thing was, even if they tried to reduce the amount of casualties there were occasions where casualties were needed to catch up to their difficult goals.
And because of this, they reduced the targets who would be sacrificed.
Deciding who had to die in order for them to get to the next stage.
The guys who would have no other choice than to die even if they left them alone.
Or those who had the possibility of causing the most amount of damage to humanity or committed the most sins, those who would have their death called for by others when they found out later.
This occasion of
It hadn't been two months yet and the time that they had calculated at which he would go into the Final Dungeon still had a month left.
No, just like how Keldian said, it wouldn't be possible for him to get to the level of clearing the dungeon even if he was to hunt for a month.
And because of this he needed a stepping stone to get into the
In conclusion, he hadn't come here to give them judgement because they had broken the rules, they weren't dying because he was right and they were wrong.
'Ah. Maybe that's a bit too far.'
Since the number of people who have died in these guys' hands won't change.
"Don't think about it too much. Isn't it easier to think that you tried to kill me and we clashed because of that? Truthfully speaking, I think that's enough of a reason."
"…"
"You were just running towards your own goal and I the same. We just clashed while doing so and the one who got crushed was you this time. You have crushed others so well up to this point, why are you making an expression like you're suffering an injustice?"
Wongyung made a lethargic expression at those words.
'This guy is just like me.'
He had been fooled.
He had thought that when he tried to lead everyone in Central Island, that was his true character.
He thought that he was like a Hero who was advancing forward in the world which was collapsing.
But that wasn't it.
That was just the image which he was holding up.
This was his true character.
He was just like himself.
Like how he could kill countless number of people in order to achieve his goals, that guy could also do that with no hesitation.
Except he was much thorough than himself.
Hansoo suddenly thought of Kangtae's words as he looked at Wongyung.
<…You don't become a hero by catching evil-doers.>
<…You definitely cannot go.>
Wongyung made a focusless expression but then sighed as he realized that this was the end.
Since his sanity had come back after his death got guaranteed.
'Well. This might've been set already when I started killing people.'
He had constantly killed people as he got stronger.
With the sole reason of finding his son.
And at the same time he thought of this.
Because he was strong, he could treat others as sacrificial lambs.
And this world did not have any rules or society to stop that but rather encouraged him.
And this was the result of that.
'I could eventually be stepped on or eaten by somebody else like this too.'
From a point of view this insecurity had pushed him farther than his desire to find his son.
'It came much faster than I had thought.'
Wongyung sighed deeply as he spoke while looking at Hansoo:
"…You won't save my daughter even if I asked you?"
He could only save his daughter if he were to put in a normal human being.
It didn't seem like that guy would do something like that.
And when Hansoo shook his head as he expected, he sighed as he spoke his last words:
"If you find my son please look after him. Though it's a little bit too much to ask when you are trying to kill me."
Hansoo shook his head as he spoke at Wongyung who was explaining his son's characteristics.
"There's no need for that."
"…"
"But if my plans work out well his fate may be changed."
"Goddamnit. What are you talking about untill the end…"
Then Hansoo's dagger aggressively sliced past Wongyung's neck.
Hansoo looked at the dead Dark Mad Lord with a complex look and then got up while shaking his head.
'Just do some clean-up and move out.'
There wasn't much time.
Hansoo looked around at the hundred plus corpses around him and then looked towards the starting location where he had come from.
.....................….
"Hnng.. Damn. When can we go…".
Gyungmi, who had been standing at the starting point with her clansmen, grinded her teeth.
While they were chasing him, they were caught by him when he suddenly changed his path and rushed towards them.
The fact that they stuck too close because she was afraid of losing him was the mistake.
'Damnit… did he expect one or two people to follow him from the start?'
As soon as Chungjae saw them he spoke out.
<…Why should we?>
She had followed out of curiosity but that curiosity did not win over her fear.
Since it felt like an 'Accident' may happen if she didn't listen.
It had been over half a day of waiting here.
'Damnit. Should I just go?'
But before Gyungmi finished her thoughts, a blood-covered Chungjae was walking over from afar.
"What. What did you do?"
Hansoo, who had the appearance of Chungjae, looked over at Gyungmi with a cold expression and then nodded his head.
'She really didn't follow.'
If she had followed him to where he had fought then those traces couldn't be hidden.
Since there would be traces of the soot that filled up the whole of the third floor.
'Then… it's ok.'
Since she wouldn't be able to figure it out even if she went.
"It's better to not know. You've done well so go on your way now."
As soon as he finished those words, Chungjae disappeared into the paths.
And then Gyungmi narrowed her eyes.
'…That's towards the outskirts of the tower?'
Gyungmi made a strange expression but then shook her head.
She had been stuck here for too long anyway.
It seemed like he wanted to hide something but then it might really become dangerous once she tried to pry into it.
'…It doesn't seem like he's the type that would let the person who figured the thing he tried so hard to hide go.'
She was curious but she couldn't not distinguish between fire and water.
If he had stopped them from following him it meant that he didn't want to show them anything but if he were to chase them down while they pried into it…
'I don't even want to think about it. Stop thinking about it. Stop thinking about it.'
There were things that she needed to keep as a secret even if she knew about them.
Gyungmi took her clansmen as she proceeded forward at a very fast pace.
And after a while a giant cross could be seen.
Her sixth sense had told her instinctively.
That something happened here.
But her only clue was her sixth sense.
He had cleaned up things so well that nobody would've known that anything happened without the sixth sense.
'Well. It's nothing I need to know about.'
While Gyungmi was trying hard to suppress her curiosity, the fairy appeared in the sky again.
"Oh my. People came again. Then shall I start the explanation? About this cross right? Oh no. It increased by three more."
Gyungmi made a suspicious expression as she looked at the fairy.
Chapter 50 – Three Gateways (2)
Hansoo walked on the path and headed towards the outside.
His target was the entrance to another island.
The crossroad that lead towards the starting point of the third floor was connected to the end of the 2nd floor but it was also connected to other islands.
If you follow the paths then you will reach the tunnels that are connected to the other islands.
As he expected he saw a door that had light coming out from the gaps after a bit of walking and he saw a long bridge along with a giant island beyond it.
And when he walked outside he could see someone.
'It's a clansman of Taejin. Did Mihee ask a favor?'
Hansoo didn't know the details but he knew more or less where Taejin would go.
Hansoo smirked as he spoke to the clansman:
"Did you form an alliance?"
The clansman nodded.
"Our Lord formed an alliance with that Mihee. They are together right now. That person called Yerin separated because she said she was going a different way."
Hansoo just nodded.
"I just simply suggested a few things. Figure things out on your own."
The clansman who had been messaging back and forth asked Hansoo:
"Mihee is asking. When you will come back if you go now?"
Hansoo pondered for a moment and then answered back.
"One month. If it's fast."
As he said it, only if he was fast.
He wasn't sure how long it would take exactly.
'I need to come out before the tutorial ends.'
If not then it'll really be the end.
It wasn't that they let them go to the next area just because the tutorial was finished.
If they can't make a
The clansmen made a sour expression.
"…I guess you'll come near the end."
50 days since they had come into the 2nd tutorial area.
After one month it'll be the stage which was the final part of the tutorial.
Hansoo laughed as he nodded.
"We might not even see each other."
Taejin's clansman nodded and then exchanged messages with the Lord above and spoke:
"He says he'll be doing just fine so have a good trip."
The clansman finished these words as he walked inside towards the crossroad.
Hansoo laughed slightly, warmed up his body and then prepared his Judgement and Justice Dekrados.
And then raised his head to look at the top of the tower, breathed in and out and stood at the outskirts of the tower.
'…To think to do such a thing. The fact that he found it is amazing.'
Hansoo thought of one of the Final Brigade's members, Ralph Lauren, as he shook his head.
Ralph Lauren, he had been dragged into the Otherworld while working as a professional rock climber.
The only thing Ralph Lauren, who had been charging through the tutorial with ease due to his strength, stamina and perseverance, thought of when he saw the tower.
Anybody could climb up from the inside, couldn't they?
Ralph Lauren did not have such simple thoughts.
And after he had prepared inside the tower, he started to madly climb the outside of the tower starting from the second month and finally reached the top and got into the Final Dungeon, Three Gateways.
And had came out after barely breaking through the first gateway.
After not being able to even have an attempt at the second or third gateways.
'First I will go up.'
Hansoo stabbed the Justice of Dekrados once at a time into the tower as he slowly climbed up.
Justice and Judgement of Dekrados basically acted as mountain climbing gear as it helped him climb up to the top.
Stab the dagger and step on top of it.
Stab the next dagger in, grab it with the right hand, fasten yourself with the chain and then retrieve the dagger which you had stabbed in before.
The action was simple but due to it being repeated very quickly, Hansoo climbed up the tower at an extreme speed like a spider climbing up a wall.
Padududk
And at the same time something started flying towards Hansoo.
Kaaaaaak!
Hansoo looked at the disgusting looking birds which were flying towards him and then frowned.
It looked like a bird but had a human's face with a wide mouth that had razor sharp teeth.
These guys existed for those who climbed the outskirts of the tower instead of going up from the inside.
'…Ralph Lauren. You were lucky.'
Ralph Lauren had started from the 4th floor when he climbed up so he had to deal with much less dangers.
But he didn't have enough time to go through the insides of the tower so he needed to climb up from below while going through all sorts of random beasts.
Since the time it would take to cross the Final Dungeon for him who needed to go through all 3 gateways would be longer than that of Ralph Lauren, who only went through one of the gateways.
The expected time of 1 month was just a prediction, it may even take longer.
'Charge through.'
Charururuk
And soon the Judgement of Dekrados, which was tied around Hansoo's body, sliced through the air ruthlessly.
...........................…
"When the clansman comes we will head out."
Taejin, who had finished communicating, spoke to Mihee.
Taejin, who had seen Mihee nod slightly, shouted loudly towards the surrounding people:
"Are you all ok?"
And everyone who was below the Cross nodded their head as they breathed in and out roughly.
A slight amount of regret was mixed in the eyes of the people who were gathered here.
Since that Cross was a chance to revive somebody they love.
Taejin had hesitated as well.
And a few people who could not stand it instantly left the group.
Mihee did not stop those people.
Since if she had someone she loved. And this was the last chance to save them then even she wouldn't be able to stop herself.
And then Taejin looked at Mihee as he spoke:
"All the people here gathered after looking at you. Be the center properly."
He had come here from Hansoo's suggestion but he would've left right away if he didn't like it.
It was the same for those who were here.
There was almost nobody left who had hopes of Hansoo joining back here.
'He has so many things to do. Will we be able to see him before we get out?'
He actually wasn't a great leader or something.
Since he would go with them if they followed but will just leave them if they aren't able to follow.
And there weren't many people who were of the level where they could follow him.
As if Taejin's words gave her strength, Mihee smiled slightly as she shouted at the people around her:
"Prepare yourself. We will resume after 10 minutes."
Hansoo was Hansoo and they had things they needed to do.
'I will keep as many alive as I can.'
Mihee clenched her teeth.
That was the greatest resistance that she could do against this damnable world and the fairy.
Save as many people as you can on the way up.
And soon, about 200 people started to head towards a different area after getting through the third floor.
.........................
'It took a whole day just to come up here.'
Hansoo retrieved the dagger he had been standing on as he looked at the small door at the top of the tower.
A very real-like moon despite the fact that it was located a few thousands meters up on the top of a tower.
And only a door was floating in the air, there were no other buildings behind the door.
Hansoo breathed in and out as he opened the door.
Kachak
And soon he could see a dark area on the insides of the door.
'It's real huh.'
Hansoo, who was going against the rough wind, stepped into the door and then closed the door.
And then he looked around the darkness and then looked towards the weapons that were hung around his body.
7 double-edged swords and eight blades.
18 medium and small-sized swords and the Dekrados Set.
Seven Striped Cape and other defensive gear.
Nurmaha's ring and eight smaller rings.
One necklace around his neck and a circlet.
These were all the best versions of their category which he could gain in the tutorial before the third floor.
And even the Demonic Jade Crystal as well as the Philosopher's stone that he gained at the treasure hunt.
Preparations were complete.
Hansoo touched his ear.
'…As I expected… it's very inefficient'
[Kang Hansoo] Strength (Colorless): 60.8%
Stamina (Colorless): 61.1%
Agility (Colorless): 66.7%
Perception (Colorless): 67.7%
Mana (Colorless): 58.7%
Magic (Colorless): 58.7%
Physical Resistance (Colorless): 58.7%
Magic Resistance (Colorless): 58.7%
The clansmen of the Dark Mad Lord were much stronger than other adventurers and there were over 150 of them.
But despite eating all of those he could only raise his stats by around 40%.
Even if it was inefficient, it was a number that could never be reached by simply hunting monsters.
The amount he had raised by staying here for 50 days was a mere 25%.
Even if he focused on hunting for the last month, he would've reached at most 50%.
Since he had to decrease the efficiency with the Rune Eater Snake and had to raise the Nurmaha's Ring as well.
'Though it's a bit risky… I'm going in.'
His stats were good enough to go through the 2nd gateway of the 3 gateways so it was good enough.
The 1st gateway was hard but it was just the reward for those who had climbed up the tower.
According to Ralph Lauren's intel, the difficulty raised significantly starting from the 2nd gateway and the problem with the runes will be solved if one could clear the 2nd gateway.
'It's the start.'
Hansoo jumped down towards the inside.
........................
"These crazy times. Phew… they're all very zealous. Just to save somebody they know. Right?"
Jimin sighed tiredly as she looked at the few tens of people they had forced to kneel beneath the Cross.
Yerin chuckled at Jimin's words.
Since it would've been hard for her too if her clan wasn't made of special forces.
Standing on the same side as Taejin in Central Island was a stroke of good fortune.
If not then she would've shared the fate of the nine dead Lords among the eleven of them.
"But why have you told us to suppress the non-clansmen? We have already reached the limit of how many we can have in the clan."
Yerin laughed quietly as she spoke.
"Bigger sister has something she thought of. Let's see…"
Yerin breathed in deeply as she shouted towards the clansmen.
"Bring nine of the non-clansmen people over there."
"Pardon?"
Yerin pointed at the cross as she giggled.
"And let's save these guys here."
"Pardon?"
"These guys were Lords."
And then Yerin pointed towards the nine people out of the countless in the Cross.
Nine Lords who had gone missing along with Guktae in Central Island.
She hadn't known if they had died or not but it seemed like they did since their faces came up on the cross.
'This is a jackpot.'
She didn't know if the psychic powers would come back or not.
But according to the fairy's words they will have the memory and physique of themselves before coming in here.
Which means the chances of them manifesting such things like the psychic powers were very high.
She couldn't do anything about those she didn't know but how could she let go of these people who had the chances of becoming a Lord.
"Uaaaak!"
"Aak!"
Yerin made a content smile as she looked at the nine people getting
Even if she didn't put them into the clan, what would they be able to do if she always looks after them with blades up against their backs.
And with this the amount she will be able to control will increase tenfold, to one thousand from one hundred.
'Very good.'
A newcomer shouted towards Yerin at one of somebody in the cross while she looked at the nine Lords who were growing out of the ground.
"Oh yeah. Lord. This guy is probably a Lord too."
"This guy?"
Yerin made a strange expression as she looked at the man who had just appeared in the Cross.
'It means he just died.'
The clansman who had been speaking to Yerin nodded.
"Yes. I noticed him because I had come to the tower a bit earlier and I saw people move in a large group with this guy as the center… this guy is probably a Lord too. It seemed like he had quite a lot of people but… it seems like he died in the tower."
It wasn't weird even for a Clan Lord to die since it was very dangerous.
Since the 3rd floor that they had gone through was that dangerous too.
There was a chance where the injured forces from the 2nd floor could die while crossing.
"Yeah? Then drag one more over here."
And then another person was shoved into the grave as another man grew out of the ground.
Jimin made a content expression as she looked at the 10 male and female Lords in Total.
She asked the last guy who had come up because she wanted to know his name.
Since she knew everyone else's name but didn't know the new guy's.
"What is your name?"
The man made a confused expression and then muttered out his name.
"Wongyung… I'm called Wongyung. But where is this? I was clearly with Ahee in Myungdong…"
"Wongyung… Good."
Yerin smiled contently again at the 10 people.
'I hope we can meet more people from now on.'
If an empty space appears, you need to fill it up.
And that won't be much of a problem.
Since there will still be plenty of people in the tower.
'From now on… I'll lead.'
Yerin laughed coldly.
Chapter 51 – Red Zone (1)
Kuuuuuuu.
And the giant tower that was located above at the island at the top.
A large amount of water was rising up to the tower.
To be specific, all the islands were falling beneath the sea at a very fast rate.
It had already been a while since the water came up to the first floor of the tower and the slowly rising water seemed like it would go over the third floor soon.
Chiiiiiizik.
The blazing third floor started to get flooded by the poisonous sea as all the flames started to get extinguished.
A situation where it won't be long until the whole tower would be submerged beneath the sea.
And a small door that was located at the top of this tower opened as somebody came out.
A man in a mess who was covered in blood.
"Goddamnit… for that thing to come out at the very end. It took way too long."
Hansoo grinded his teeth.
There weren't any artifacts that weren't damaged either.
A few seemed to be in good condition but they all turned into dust that scattered as if they had a problem with them.
'It seems I must renew them all'.
These artifacts couldn't be used in the Red Zone, where he will be soon, anyways.
And it wasn't really a waste if what he had gained was taken into account.
Hansoo, who threw out every artifact on his body other than the Nurmaha's Ring, estimated the time and then clicked his tongue.
'…There's two hours left now.'
90th day.
2 hours before the tutorial ends.
After seeing the way the water was rising, everything would be submerged after two hours.
Most people would have already set off.
Hansoo jumped off as he looked below the tower and dug his hand onto the wall of the tower.
Kwadududuk.
The red, and not colorless, runes started to twist the laws of Hansoo's body and his hands, which had been strengthened by this, started to smash the walls.
And Hansoo kept that speed, from the rebound force of his action, constant as he rode down the tower.
Hooooooong.
'Go through from the 4th floor.'
The entrance which Ralph Lauren had come out from.
And the tower's topmost floor.
'It'll be a bit tight. To make the Ship.'
You needed the Ship prepared by the fairy in order to go from the Colorless Zone to the Red Zone.
Since this place would completely sink.
Hansoo ran towards the
.....................…..
"Goddamnit! Those bitches from the Clan Alliance! For them to really leave us and go!"
Gumchan and the seven others grinded their teeth as they searched around the insides of the jungle.
'Those crazy bastards… they leave even when they had room to spare?'
There wasn't much resentment about the Ship made by the Free Alliance, which had set off 4 days ago, since they were the ones who chose not to get on but they didn't know that the guys of the Clan Alliance would act like this.
And because of that they were searching around the jungle like this.
"Hurry! We need to find the Kuron Parasite and get it over there!"
Kuron Parasite.
They had gathered all of the other materials for the Ship in the 2 days after the departure of the Clan Alliance but they didn't acquire the Kuron Parasite yet.
And the fairy would only make the Ship for them if they give the Kuron parasite to it.
But one of the people running spoke while making an anxious expression.
"Hey! But the Kuron Parasite is…"
Then Gumchan shouted as he grinded his teeth.
"Dammit! Then what! We can't make the Ship without that!"
Kuron Parasite.
There wasn't much about it.
It was so weak that it would die if you tapped it around a bit.
The problem was where they parasited on.
A 30m big giant crocodile that lived in the swamps of the inner parts of the wide 4th floor.
It had kindly been written in the catalogue for making the Ship by the fairy that it lived in the inside of the Galapagon Crocodile's mouth.
Since there were basic explanations about the Ship and the places to gather the material for it.
They had promised themselves that they would never come back here after seeing an adventurer, who was trying to get the material, get his leg torn off but for them to come back here like this.
'Dammit… there's nothing we can do.'
Gumchan grinded his teeth.
They had to make the Ship.
A few people, who had gotten anxious after the Clan Alliance left, cut off a few trees in the jungle and tried to get to the
The result was misery in itself.
They had all died after getting infected from the waves of poison.
You could stay afloat for a while but if you sink then your whole body will melt.
The fairy giggled at that as if it was extremely funny and spoke.
And everyone who had seen this started searching the
Since they might really melt down if they aren't able to get the materials in time.
This was already 2 days ago.
And now there were probably less than 2 hours left.
The Free Alliance and the Clan Alliance each made a giant Ship that would still have space left after holding 2000 people.
They had become like this because they saw each of the 500 Free Alliance and the 600 Clan Alliance make a Ship to carry 2000 and had thought that they would take them and had leisurely hunted.
If they had faithfully prepared the Ship for a month then they wouldn't have fallen into such a dangerous situation.
'Dammit… We should've gotten the materials despite the dangers. Or we should have followed the Free Alliance.'
After a bit of running, he could see the shady swamp in the distance.
"…Why did they make such a large Ship if they weren't gonna take us with them."
He had run in a hurry but then he felt anxious again.
If the monsters they needed to kill in order to get the materials were easy then they would've done so already.
But as if it wasn't only him who had thought this, the footsteps of 6 others behind him were slowing down as well.
And at that moment a voice was heard above them.
"You aren't going to kill it? Then I shall do it."
"Uuk?"
When they looked up after getting shocked they could see a man running between the branches of the jungle.
And there was a very unique thing about him.
'…He has nothing on his body?'
To have nothing on his body.
Unlike the third floor of the tutorial where everyone had been separated, the fourth floor was a large area where all the survivors could stay together.
Of course it was a huge area but they had seen a lot of different kinds of people due to the fact that the areas weren't isolated.
And a few people out of the 2000 survivors caught the eye.
Like Park Gyungmi's special force clan that was famous for being a small group of elites despite her being a Lord.
The incredibly strong guy with a strange mask.
But it was the first time he had someone run about without anything on their body.
'No. He has a single ring on.'
They didn't have any solutions but this guy was something else.
No, he didn't even know how to deal with this because such a unique guy had suddenly popped out.
"Well yeah. Since there's more than one of them."
Even before they could do anything, the guy who had finished talking ran into the swamp.
They gazed blankly for a moment and then asked Gumchan.
"What are you going to do?"
Gumchan pondered for a moment and then opened his mouth.
"It seems like he's going to fight, we should go and see the situation as we…"
Boooom!
Before he could finish his words, a dark golden light penetrated through the swamp along with a giant noise.
Kuuuuaaaak!
And then a very loud scream that vibrated throughout the swamp exploded out.
Galapagon Crocodile's Scream.
When the surprised group ran over, they saw an unbelievable sight.
The giant crocodile had its skull crushed and the man was pulling out the Kuron Parasite from the insides of its mouth which he had split apart.
'…the fuck. What did he crush it with? Skill?'
The thickness of his skull that they could see between the broken bones were over 50 cm thick and it seemed like it wasn't normal bones from the shininess.
But it had been broken apart like tofu.
The fourth floor was indeed very large but it wasn't so wide to the point where a rumor wouldn't get spread around.
If he was that strong than they should've at least heard about him at least once but they had never heard about him.
'Is that him? He doesn't have the chain scythe and dagger…'
And as they heard, that guy did not use any skills ever.
There was probably a reason why he couldn't use it.
But that shining light was definitely the effect of a skill.
'Dammit… I don't know who he is. Did he gain something through a fortuitous encounter or something.'
While Gumchan was shocked, one of the people with Gumchan shouted out even before he could stop him,
"Hey! Wait a moment!"
"Hmm?"
When the guy turned around one of the people behind Gumchan shouted loudly.
"It seems like you don't have a Ship either, how about going with us? We have everything but that parasite!"
Though they wanted to get a free ride only a single Kuron Parasite lived within each crocodile.
And he didn't know what that guy did but for him to have the strength to crush that giant crocodile with a single strike meant that opposing him in terms of strength was impossible.
The Galapagon Crocodile itself was burdensome, it didn't make any sense to go up against such a person who killed it with a single strike.
But there was no need to actually fight.
The Ship they could make with the materials they had and the Kuron Parasite could easily hold ten people.
It was enough for them seven and that one man to get on.
"Oh…!"
While Gumchan made a satisfied expression, a few people came through the swamp while gasping for air.
"What? You gained the Kuron Parasite?"
They were all gasping for air and had lights shining in their eyes.
They could only be anxious since they didn't make the Ship while the toxic water was rising by the minute.
They had gained all the easy materials in the two days after the Clan Alliance had left but there were more people who had been wandering around the swamp due to the fear of it than they had thought.
They had all gathered here as they heard the scream of the Galapagon Crocodile dying.
The man standing in the front shouted loudly at Hansoo.
"Hey! Did you kill it for those guys? Then help us kill it too!"
And then Gumchan shouted in confusion.
"What are you talking about! We didn't tell him to kill it but rather gave a proposal! Do you think we're trying to get a free ride? We're willing to give him all the other materials!"
Then the man standing in the very front smiled.
"Then that's even better. Does it really need to be you guys?"
"What?"
The man ignored Gumchan and then shouted at Hansoo.
"We have all the other materials as well! But our Ship is a 20 man Ship! We just couldn't get the Ship because we didn't have the parasite that the Galapagon Crocodile was guarding over! Isn't it better for you guys to go to a bigger Ship?"
The man spoke with confidence.
As he saw it, the amateurs over there had only seven people.
The Ship they were preparing were probably a 10 man.
On the other hand they had 13 people and had a bit more leisure so the Ship they had prepared was a 20 man Ship of a slightly larger size.
Wouldn't they be better.
Gumchan grinded his teeth at those words.
It was just as he said.
They looked at the Ships that were crossing the dangerous looking sea on the direction that the fairy had pointed to.
It wasn't an issue of people on board.
It was just that they would be safer the more materials they invested in order to get a bigger Ship from the fairy to travel much more safely.
The fact that a lot of people could get on was just a side effect.
But it wasn't only Gumchan who had become desperate at those words.
There really wasn't much time left anymore.
"You bastard! If you do that then we have the materials as well! Let's go with us!"
"With us!"
"Dammit! Then at least get one for us each! We're all going to die!"
'Hmm…'
Hansoo watched the chaos around him as he shook his head and spoke.
"I don't need those materials."
"…What?"
"I'll be making a 500 man Ship. You guys use that by yourselves."
'…Isn't this guy just a maniac. Making a 500 man Ship for himself?'
Yohan, who had been making the 20 man Ship, was speechless.
Chapter 52 – Red Zone (2)
'This bitch… is he saying that he's going to gain all those materials in the remaining time?'
Yohan was speechless.
It wasn't that you needed a large amount of materials for a big Ship.
Since though it was called materials, you didn't make the ship with those materials.
Actually the materials felt more like currency for buying the Ship.
But of course it wasn't easy just because it was like that.
The more expensive the Ship was, a core for which the difficulty of gaining rose exponentially was added into it.
The Kuron Parasite was the core ingredient for the ships with a capacity of 30 people or less.
The Ships which could hold over 30 people needed the Red Spotted Salamander's heart and the 2000 man sized Ships which the large clans rode on needed the skull of the Volcanic Bear which there were only two of on all of the fourth floor.
The core item needed for the 500 man Ship was Nokrokrok Lizard's heart.
The two clans which weren't part of an alliance and had made this ship received quite a large amount of casualties while hunting this guy.
While Yohan was thinking random things, Hansoo shouted as he flew off.
"Don't worry. I'll let you guys ride on it."
"…What?"
Hansoo smirked at the reply which seemed like that they had misheard.
Why would he let all 100 of them die after making the ship?
These guys couldn't make the ship during the remaining time.
"If you want to get on then go chop down some Arun Trees and get some Kelk's Mucus Sac. That's the fee for the ride. I'll see you at the entrance."
"Hey! Hey! Hey wait over there!"
Yohan shouted out in a panic but Hansoo had already disappeared into the distance.
Everyone looked at each other as if they were guarding against each other but then started to speak out one at a time.
There were 2 choices.
To either gain the ride fee like that guy had said.
Or to make the ship and leave like that.
"What do we do?"
"Shall we… group up and fight?"
"We need at least five 20-man ships in order to have enough capacity for 100 people… we need at least 10 Kuron Parasites. We can't kill 10 of them in 2 hours."
"Dammit…."
The fact that they had been gathered like had actually become the problem.
They could easily catch three or four since 100 people were gathered like this.
But they couldn't make ships for all 100 people to get on with that.
There will be a bloody battle.
"…Goddamnit."
Yohan frowned.
Could that guy really gain all the materials to make the 500 man ship?
Because then there was nothing much more to do.
Since they will be thankful to him too.
'But if he said that to make us calm down…'
He may just make a 10 man ship and leave like that.
'Then we won't simply die.'
If that happened then they will at least break his ship apart.
'But why is he telling us to bring these?'
Kelk Mucus Sac and Arun Tree weren't part of the necessary materials.
And the amount he had requested was quite a lot.
If you take into account of the hardness of the Arun Tree than all 100 people still needed to work hard after splitting up.
'First I'll move.'
Since it was rather cheap fee for a ride.
'Please… let us thank you.'
Getting abandoned once was enough.
And soon everyone dispersed into numerous directions.
.....................
Kuuuuuuu
'Nokrokrok Lizard.'
Hansoo flew around and then whipped at the lizard's chin after making a tight tist.
Booooom!
The Dark Golden light that had run up Hansoo's arm gathered in his hands and then exploded. The lizard got hit in the head, tumbled for a while and then died.
Hansoo started to search around the corpse of the lizard.
'Let's see… I should take the part where the great arteries of the three hearts combine right?'
Three hearts.
Which was why they didn't count.
The part where the arteries of the three hearts combined, which there was only one of, counted.
Hansoo took out the essence of the material and then moved his position to the where he had came in from the outside.
There were people gathering there with the Arun Trees and Kelk Mucus Sac along with anxious expressions.
"Let's go."
Everyone's facial tone changed but made a slightly suspicious expression too.
They could only be sensitive since their lives were on the line.
And they couldn't believe the fact that he had gained the materials for a 500 man Ship in such a short time.
"Did you really get them?"
Hansoo nodded as Yohan, who had been standing in the front, asked with a slightly suspicious expression.
"Hurry and get over here. There's less than 30 minutes left now."
Hansoo then walked towards the toxic waters that had filled up to the lower areas of the fourth floor and started to stack all the materials he had gained.
'…How do things keep coming out from that small pouch? He killed all them within the two hours?'
The people made expressions of fear.
Numerous parts of different beast's corpses were coming out endlessly.
"Uuuuhh…"
While the people made scared expressions while watching the toxic waters which seemed like they could rise up at any moment, the fairy appeared in front of their eyes.
"Wow! Congratulations! You gathered all the materials! First I will Congratu…"
"Please hurry with the ship first!"
Somebody shouted loudly.
They had realized that they wouldn't die even if they talked like that to the fairy.
And the situation where the toxic waters may reach their feet at any time had made them even more anxious.
There were 30 minutes left but this was the time left for the whole fourth floor to get submerged.
If they were even 5 minutes late then the place they were standing at may all be submerged.
The fairy smiled as it spoke.
"Oh my. Sorry. You're probably anxious. The ship you guys will ride on this…This!
As soon as the fairy's words ended all the materials melted and disappeared.
And toxic waters starting boiling as a giant bubble appeared.
Right before the bubble seemed like it would blow up the sea split as a giant Ship appeared.
A Ship the size of a cruiseship.
While everyone was marveling at the high class looking ship, Yohan spat coldly at the fairy.
"You will control that? There isn't anyone here who knows how to control a ship."
It was hard enough to control a modern yacht alone, how hard would it be to control that giant Ship.
Since the only ship control they knew was a pirate captain shouting while spinning the steering wheel of a strange-looking ship. (*PR Note: One Piece reference?)
The fairy just smiled at those words.
"Don't worry. We will sail the ship for you guys as a service the first time so rest comfortably. Heehee. The estimated date of arrival is 3 days! If you leave it alone it will go to the Red Zone but if you want to change the direction then the controls are in the middle of the deck. The controls aren't hard."
Everybody sighed in relief.
They were able to barely escape 30 minutes before they were about to get submerged along with the whole island.
But Yohan frowned slightly.
'…The first sail is free as service?'
And for them to allow them to turn direction.
Doesn't that mean that there are going to be instances where they might have to change the direction of the ship?
While Yohan was making a rather dirty expression, Hansoo's voice was heard from above:
"What are you doing. Get on. Bring the Kelk Mucus Sacs and the wood."
"Hnng?"
Chiiiik
"Uaaak! It got all the way up here!"
"Hurry and get on! Hurry!"
It wasn't that they were going to melt down right away but they will melt down if they were to be submerged.
As the toxic water started to melt the soles of their shoes, everyone flew their body up to the ship along with the mucus sacs and the wood in a hurry.
Even if they were weak, they were people with superhuman physiques in the normal world.
Getting onto a ship of this height was merely a joke.
And when all the people got onto the ship, the sails of the ship flapped back and forth as it started it move magically.
The giant ship then started to lead them towards the next area, the
...........................….
"Let's all introduce ourselves. I'm called Yohan. Thank you for letting me on."
Everyone gathered on the deck of the ship and started to introduce themselves.
Since no matter how much they liked or hated each other, they were on the same ship and be with each other for 3 days, or more.
And when it became Hansoo's turn, everyone started focusing on him.
Since he was the person who got caught in the eye the most.
He didn't have anything on.
He didn't have any equipment on him.
But he was strong.
Hansoo spoke as he looked at them.
"I am called Kang Hansoo."
Everyone nodded their heads.
And a few of the expressions brightened up.
If a strong guy was a crazy guy then it would be extremely dangerous.
They had gotten on the ship due to their anxious minds but if a guy this strong were to go crazy on a ship where they could not run away then it would become very troublesome.
But from the way he was acting he was one of the few people who were still sane.
Yohan nodded his head slightly on the inside.
'So it was this guy…'
This guy was extremely famous.
Since he had stood out since Central Island.
But there was a question.
'There hasn't been anybody who has seen this guy in the Tower.'
Even if they went to different islands they were bound to meet on the 4th floor.
Since that was how it was structured.
But there wasn't anybody who had seen this guy prior to the 2 hours before the departure.
And because of this they had thought he died but for him to be alive.
'Well. There is no need to make trouble.'
There was no need to create trouble when they were going to be together for 3 days.
As everyone's introduction's ended, everyone looked around the ship with comfortable expressions and spoke out.
"Anyways… are we going to rest like this for 3 days?"
Everyone made blissful expressions.
The three months of the tutorial was constant tensions and fighting.
They could only feel comfortable since they were allowed to rest for 3 days in a rather luxurious ship.
And as they went below the deck, they could see some delicious things as if they were services.
But Hansoo shook his head.
The fairy had told them.
That they don't really lay their hands on them once the tutorial ends.
But that was basically because there was they was no need to anymore.
'Tsk. I wanted to make a 2000 man ship originally.'
He wanted to make the biggest ship, and probably could've made it with leisure but his plans had been screwed because the difficulty of the third gate was higher than he had thought.
2 hours was far from enough time even for someone like him.
'Though the 500 man ship isn't bad…'
It wasn't that the amount of people the ship could carry was important but rather the defenses and durability of the ship increased as the size got bigger.
And because of this the people here had to do well.
'They need to pay for their own food.'
Hansoo mumbled as he looked towards the distant sea.
...........................…..
"It's enough to make a 30 man ship right? There's no reason to make a giant ship right?"
One of the people who had been on the ship that was sailing towards the Red Zone shouted out loudly.
Everyone then chuckled as they nodded.
Their ship was basically a raft compared to the giant ship the alliances had sailed off on but if you take into account that the few hundred of them had run around for a whole month, this ship was much better in terms of efficiency.
'As I thought… this is better than struggling to make a 100 man or 200 man ship.'
They didn't really feel like they had spare room since 30 people were riding on a 30 man ship but this discomfort just needed to be held in when they were going to arrive in 3 days.
'Though the free alliance guys asked us to go with them…'
Those guys were very annoying because they had a lot of things they set limits on.
And joining a clan was a bit unsettling due to the fact that his feelings would get changed by itself.
This was better even if they suffer a little bit.
"Let's rest a bit for 3 days. Since we struggled hard until now."
Everyone nodded their heads at these words.
How much had they suffered in order to create this.
They struggled a lot in by going into dangerous hunting grounds and hunting by themselves.
'But this was still a smart decision.'
They laughed inwardly at the people who were still at the tower or have submerged under the waters.
How would they trust the alliance guys and wait for them.
Their lives were on the line.
Those guys had laughed at them when they were making the ship but the ones who had survived in the end were them.
'It sounds like the story of the ant and the cicada'. (*PR Note: A Jean de la Fontaine fable)
And now they had to rest well with this as the reward.
Since the life on the place they will arrive at won't be comfortable.
'Mountain Range of the World Tree… the name's really good though.'
While they were thinking of the name of the Red Zone that the fairy had told them, a fearsome sound came from the floor.
Kuzak.
Chew. Chew.
Kududuk.
Everyone made anxious expressions at the strange sounds as they rose up.
"Where's this coming from?"
"It's below the ship…"
"I'll go check."
One person went below very carefully.
And then came back up while screaming.
"Fuck!! Some bastard is making holes on the bottom of the ship!"
"What!!"
Everybody freaked out as they bounced out of their seats.
How could swimming across 3 days worth of travel on a ship on this toxic waters be possible?
And they had clearly seen the people who tried to cross on rafts.
If this ship sinks then it'll be a massacre.
Everyone madly ran down.
And then freaked out at the three-pronged spears coming up from below the ship.
Everyone run towards it while swinging their swords crazily at the sight of the toxic waters pouring in.
"Fuck, block it!"
"These bastards won't come inside! This bitches just keep jabbing from the outside!"
"Goddamit! Somebody go into the sea and get them off while we block them from here!"
Everyone flinched at those words.
'Jump into the toxic waters?'
They could fight to some degree.
Since their bodies didn't melt right away even if they were toxic waters.
But the probability of death rose by tens of times.
'Fuck… we should've made a bigger ship.'
Then the holes wouldn't have been made this easily and they could've used long range skills to kill them off during that time.
"Damnit!"
"Ahhhk."
Everyone made expressions of despair as they looked at the slowly sinking ship.
Almost 10 thousand tutorial areas.
All the ships that started from different tutorial areas, that numbered up to a few tens of thousands if they were all combined, had the same thing occurring to them at the same time.