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Chapter 53 – Red Zone (3)

Yohan made a satisfied expression at the distance sea from the deck of the ship.

'It's nice.'

100 people who consisted of 8 groups.

They went into deciding where they would stay on the ship for the next 3 days naturally.

A slight war of nerves had occurred since the good spots were limited even in the same ship.

But even if they were a mere 100 people there were still differences.

Him and his comrades were among the strongest of the 100 and because of this they gained the privilege to stay in the most comfortable part in the ship.

'This is it. Very nice.'

Yohan, who had regained the superiority which he couldn't have while the clan alliance guys were around, smiled in good spirits.

Though there was something that remained stuck on his mind.

'I just can't figure out what he is thinking.'

Yohan looked at Hansoo who was standing in the middle of the deck while looking at the distant sea.

This was a result that sprouted from Hansoo not acting out despite being the strongest person out of the 100.

He had let them on board but didn't really care about them.

'He's the problem.'

Yohan pondered while looking at Hansoo and then nodded his head.

'As I thought… there is a need to create a relation with that guy.'

Though he didn't really know how long they'll be together, if you say that they were going to be together for a while then there was nothing bad about having a good relation with that guy.

No, it was actually extremely good.

Since as long as he could show others that he was close to him, others will fall under them.

Though their current influence was a bit on the bigger side it was not that bigger than those of others nor was it perfect.

2 things were needed in order for them to solidify their influence.

They needed to slowly pull in the other groups and create a rather good relationship with Hansoo at the same time.

'Well the two things aren't much different anyway'.

Once he unites everyone from the other party then Hansoo won't be able to ignore him anymore and vice versa, if he were to get close to Hansoo then everyone else will listen to his words more closely.

'It seems like he's young too… there isn't a human in the world who doesn't like to be well-treated.'

For that he needed to converse with him.

Since he needed to find out about Hansoo's tastes.

'It'll be nice if he likes something like women or something.'

Right as Yohan got up from the deck and tried to walk towards where Hansoo was, a noise was heard from behind.

"….ave me!"

"Huh?"

Yohan frowned as he looked at the person shouting in the sea in the distance.

He couldn't see or hear clearly because it was too far but the sound got clearer as the ship approached more and more.

'…who is it?'

"Dammit! Dammit! Save me! The ship passing by!"

"What? What's going on?"

As the noise got louder and louder, everyone got out from their rest and then looked beyond the deck.

A familiar ship that was half sunk and destroyed.

People were shouting from above the giant ship that was smaller than the one they had but could still carry 50 people.

It seems like they have gotten stuck on a rock while running away after getting attacked.

They had stopped sinking because they were caught on top of the rock but it was clear what would happen to them if they stayed like that.

But they made a cold expression when they saw the people on the deck.

'I remember.'

It was hard to forget.

Since they could remember the lines those guys had told them when they left them behind.

'It seems the situation has changed.'

They could save them if they use the controls but there was no need to direct their ship into the area with the rocks.

And those guys were well organized as a group and strong too.

Once those guys come over on this ship then the balance will fall towards those guys in an instead.

'That wouldn't do.'

Yohan laughed coldly and then shouted.

"Screw off! You bitches!"

"Uahahahaha!"

The other people started to laugh too.

Since the view of others suffering while they were in safety was very pleasing.

But while the people were laughing from this weirdly worked up situation, the ship started to tilt and turn.

"Huh? What is this?"

"Huhh?"

The people panicked as they looked at the center of the deck.

And Hansoo was turning the controls with a leisurely expression in that spot.

A few people grinded their teeth as they shouted.

"What! Why are you turning it!"

They could not look over those guys if they took into account of the despair they had felt when those guys left them behind.

But to go save them by turning the ship into an area where there might be rocks.

But Hansoo shook his head.

'It's better to have more on board.'

"We should save those we can. Be friendly with them."

The others shouted at Hansoo's words.

"Goddamit! Do you even know what's over there! That's a region of rocks!"

Being strong was being strong but is he even allowed to ignore them all and decide on his own just because he has the power.

Even if the ship was his, there were a hundred people on board so why would he take the path that lead to danger.

Yohan was flustered from a different reason.

'What is that crazy guy even thinking.'

Yohan grinded his teeth.

He didn't want to give up all 100 people and Hansoo.

No, this was just the start. He might be able to get bigger once he got to the Red Zone.

If he gets the 100 people and Hansoo around him with himself as the center, his influence will increase in size like a snowball.

But if that guy acts the way he wanted like that then he had to give up one of the two.

Since he can't tie them together if they hate each other.

'Damn. It is because he's still childish.'

There was no point of having a lot of people if they couldn't group up.

No, it was actually worse.

They had understood this in the tutorial stage already.

And it was hard for them 100 and the people over there to mix.

Since the enmity between them was big already.

Why did they have to carry such people as them.

'It's not good. It's not good.'

Yohan shook his head inwardly but then walked towards Hansoo after fixing his impression.

"Why are you turning the ship? I'm not saying let's not save the people but the inner parts of that place there is too dangerous. It's all rocks. And why are you approaching them if we don't even know what had turned them into such a mess? Are you trying to put 100 people in danger just to save 50 people?"

The people nodded their heads.

Though they had thoughts of leaving the 50 people to die because they didn't like them but the biggest reason, and the reason they wouldn't get hated for, was the thing Yohan had said.

Yohan continued his speech,

"I understand that you are strong, but I believe you wouldn't be able to save us if the ship sinks right?"

Hansoo laughed and spoke.

"Are those two things the problem?"

Yohan felt a little off from looking at the laughing Hansoo but he nodded.

Though there were other reasons, it was a bit too embarrassing to speak out loud.

"Yeah. So we should…"

But even before he could finish his words, Hansoo turned the control after shrugging.

Everyone made expressions of satisfaction at that.

The fact that Hansoo hadn't ignored their words felt better than the fact that they had gained safety.

It was the same for Yohan too.

'Yeah. You aren't something that lives alone, isn't it good for the 100 of us to have a good relationship on the way.'

But there wasn't much reason why Hansoo had changed the controls again.

'Well. They all got on anyway.'

Tuk

Tututuk

"These bitches. Repeat what you said before."

Yohan frowned at the voices that came from the back of the deck.

"…goddamit."

The 50 who had gotten on the ship by throwing parts of the ship on the water and creating a path were staring at the 100 people who were originally on the ship.

Though they were a few hundreds meters away, such a thing wasn't hard for them.

But Hansoo frowned.

"Don't be loud. It's coming soon."

It was more advantageous the more people you had.

"What?"

Boooom!

Kududuk.

Ududud.

At the same time a noise of something getting destroyed and torn apart could be heard below.

At the same time the expressions of the 50 people who had gotten on the ship turned pale.

"Fuck… didn't it follow other ships."

"What? You guys know something?"

While Yohan frowned and asked the guys who had come over, Hansoo jumped on top of the railings and looked below.

'It came.'

.

The things that blocked the path that lead from the tutorial area to the starting point of the Red Zone.

These guys couldn't come out of the water.

Since they could only live in the water due to receiving the curse of the toxic waters.

They didn't really have a way of eating people from one look but the choice they made was very simple.

If they couldn't go hunting for people they just needed to pull the humans down.

These guys recklessly attacked the ships passing from the tutorial area to the Red Zone and created holes.

Then once the people sunk they would wait for the bodies to get marinated by the toxic waste and then consume them once they get soggy enough.

The fact that these guys who just got onto the ship had survived was due to them being on top of the rock.

The most threatening part about these guys was that they could not come out of the waters,

And from the human's point of view they had to go into the toxic waters to kill them so it would only be unattractive.

They wouldn't even had gotten scratches if it was the 2000 man ship but a 500 man ship will constantly receive holes if those guys attacked.

As he expected, the people who heard the noise below and went down came back screaming.

"Goddam bastards! They're putting holes on the floor!"

"Swing your sword or something at least!"

"Damnit! How do you want me to fight them if the toxic waters are pouring in!!!"

"At least cut off the trident".

Yohan grinded his teeth within the chaos.

"Can we not even reach them…"

How were they going to attack the things below.

Even if they were to use long range attacks then it will still take forever if they wanted to get rid of the guys sticking by the ship as well.

And they couldn't jump into the sea when they didn't even know what was down there.

Though they could resist the toxic waters for a while with resistances and skills but it was still extremely dangerous.

And they were holding on quite well because it was the 500 man ship, if it was a smaller ship than it would've become a mess in a moment.

"Dammit! Those with Reinforce skills come here!"

They had to jump in and get them off somehow.

And the people with defensive skills such as Reinforce would survive in the waters and be able to fight .

Since Reinforce apart from raising the resistance, had also to a certain point the effect of blocking external matters.

But the people frowned as they backed off.

'Dammit… I wouldn't go in either.'

Yohan grinded his teeth.

He didn't even know how strong the things below were.

And even if they were to get rid of the toxic waters, how would anyone jump into the dark seas where you can't even see everywhere.

Most people were afraid of plunging into unknown depths.

Hansoo spoke as he looked at them:

"I don't need you guys, so people with reinforce skills go down below and remove the tridents from them. Since the newcomers have all gotten on let's go pay for the meal. People with skills fight them by sticking close to the railings."

"What? Hey! What are you trying to do!!"

Yohan panicked as he looked at Hansoo.

The actions of Hansoo, who was stretching his body while looking at the water below from the railings, was quite obvious.

It means that he will go into the waters.

'Is he insane?'

Yohan panicked.

That guy was not a guy who could die in such a lame way.

Though he was strong, there were still things called attributes.

This was an extremely unfavorable battlefield if one didn't have a skill like a shield.

But Hansoo wasn't listening to Yohan's words already.

'Demonic Dragon's Reinforcement. Let's see how good it is.'

The reward he had gotten for clearing the third dungeon.

The legacies that no one had numbered because no one had found them yet.

.

Two golden and dark lights surrounded Hansoo as if they were about to explode from his body and when his body could not be seen after getting shrouded in light he jumped into the water.

Kuaaaaa!

And soon, with a loud explosive sound, a slab of meat of something and toxic waters skyrocketed from the side of the ship.

Chapter 54 – Red Zone (4)

Chiiiiiik.

Hansoo's body was covered in two different colors.

And the toxic waters from all around tried to get in and melt down Hansoo's body but the Red Runes endlessly sent mana into the Demonic Dragon's Reinforcement which covered Hansoo's body.

'Good. It should at least be this much.'

Otherwise the suffering he went through at the Three Gateways wouldn't have been worth it.

The reward for the Second Gateway was runes.

Killing the endless beasts and surviving until one gets to Red runes.

But that was basically the preparation for the Third Gateway.

If the First Gateway was a place prepared to reward the person finding it, the Third Gateway was a gateway for those who were truly worthy.

And the Third Gateway that had appeared in front of Hansoo who had reached Red Runes.

Even if it was something that hundreds of people fought together he still had to fight it alone.

Even if it was something that the had just glanced at, as long as the testee had experienced it then it will appear in front of them after getting adjusted to the Red rune level.

And the thing that had appeared in front of Hansoo.

.

A Dragon, the most well balanced existences.

They had a different origin from humans and were of a different grade as well.

And among those born as such that have chosen the path of the demon, the most twisted being.

Their power was something that couldn't even be explained with words.

Hansoo had seen it before when he had been traveling about in the deep parts of the Abyss.

And the humans who had seen it guarding the path on the way to the Crystal decided to invest 3 more years in order to go around by penetrating through the territory of two ruler races.

Since they had no confidence in winning at all.

Fighting two ruler races seemed better than fighting that thing.

And he was very shocked when such a thing had appeared at the Third Gateway in a weaker state.

Since he didn't know that the things he had seen in the past will come out in a weaker state or not.

'I almost fainted.'

Even if they were all at the Red Runes stage, if the races were different then the different between each other was tremendous.

Though that thing had only been at 0.01% of the Red rune, Hansoo still had to put his life on the line and fight it.

And the skill that had come out after a desperate struggle.

.

Actually this name was merely something that he had given it temporarily.

Since the Zero Numbering artifacts were things that only existed within the fantasies of people.

The Numbering Series were the most outstandings things that the humans had found out and numbered.

Of course there were people who had made such thoughts as this.

And these things were called Zero Numbering artifacts.

And in Hansoo's opinion the skill he had gained this time definitely had the qualifications for it.

'It's amazing.'

The number of runes within his body were jumping about crazily.

Hansoo who was estimating on him the effect of the toxic water that was trying to burn his body, grabbed the neck of the Cursed Survivor that was charging at him as he nodded and then pulled out its spine.

Kududuk.

As the spine of the survivor who had the form of a merfolk was pulled out, the survivor was shredded into bits.

'Seven. Good.'

Hansoo sent in the power of the Demonic Dragon Reinforcement within it and then threw it around in all directions.

Charururk.

The bone pieces which had a tremendous amount of force pierced through the waters and pierced into the necks of the merfolk shaped survivors who were fervently piercing holes on the bottom of the ship.

He didn't know what they were shouting because they were under water but their rage could be clearly felt.

They flapped their tails and started to charge at Hansoo in a crazed manner.

Hansoo just dodged their tridents and then swung his hands around and crushed their wrists.

Kudududk.

They screamed as they dropped their tridents.

Hansoo grabbed that trident with his right hand and penetrated the necks of those who had been charging at him in a straight line.

He then twisted his body to pull out the trident that was embedded in it's neck as he spread the spine that had come along with it all around like a projectile again.

<….>

The merfolk who had seen this all hesitated.

12 out of the 30 of them had been eradicated just like that.

And the attacks from above had been getting stronger and the work of putting holes on the shipwas getting harder to due the swords that had been coming out from the inside.

If this continued then they would all get massacred before they could sink the ship.

<…>

They looked at each other and then retrieved the Trident as they started to retreat quickly.

'Hmm. Trident. This is pretty useful.'

The durability of those guys were so good that it wouldn't melt in the toxic waters.

Though the durability slowly decreased when in contact with air but it was good enough to use for 3 days.

Hansoo gathered all eight tridents that were sinking slowly as he swam to the bottom of the ship which they had put holes into.

And he quickly entered into the hole where the water was quickly pouring into.

Chwaaaak.

"Hit its neck! It came in."

Tuk.

"Uhuh. You should swing after checking first."

"….uh?"

Those with Reinforcements, who had been attacking the tridents which were piercing the bottom of the ship, swung their swords out of reflex when something popped out but then made shocked expressions when they saw that it was a human.

Hansoo shook off all the toxic waters and then approached a corner of the basement of the ship.

Hansoo's hands flew about towards the Arun Trees.

Kudududk.

And soon a few planks that were a bit rough but still looked decent had been created.

Hansoo put that on the ground as he blocked the hole where the water was coming in from.

Though it had been blocked off by the wooden plank, the waters still came in because the holes were rather large.

Hansoo plugged it with the plank and then broke off the remaining Arun Tree bits into the shape of nails and then pushed it in with his fingers.

The material of the ship was really hard but it wasn't so hard that the sharp Arun Tree shard couldn't pierce it.

When it had been blocked off to a certain degree, Hansoo squeezed the Kelk's Mucus sacs over it as he plugged in the gaps.

"…Hurry! Let's do it too!"

"Dammit. How did he push it in that easily. It won't go in!"

The people saw how Hansoo had done it and quickly retrieved the materials as they started to plug up the holes like Hansoo and nailed it.

They couldn't push it in with their fingers like hansoo but they were able to fix it in place somewhat by using their weapons as hammers and smashing it down.

And then they squeezed the Kelk's mucus sacs over it to close the gaps.

"Dammit… it really stings."

"Use some healing skills please. Anyways, what do we do with the water there…"

The people looked at the toxic waters that had come up to the point where it splashed about with a slightly uncomfortable expression.

Hansoo spoke as he climbed up.

"If you leave it alone it will evaporate. You will breathe in the evaporated gas if you're in here so let's all go up."

It was ok above since the air dispersed it away but your health will decrease if you breathe it for prolonged amounts of time in an enclosed space.

"Uhuk."

Everyone started to quickly head towards the deck at those words.

Since nobody wanted to breathe in the evaporated gas of the toxic waters.

Hansoo came up and breathed in deeply.

'Though my health decreased slightly… this is rather amazing.'

There were people who were cautiously looking at the sea on the top of the ship.

The new 50 people and the original 100 people stared at the sea and then glared at each other after judging that the merfolk had all backed off.

Hansoo smirked as he spoke at that moment.

"Don't fight over there and look out over there. You can see some good stuff."

"…?"

Hansoo finished those words as he looked at the giant tree which he could see in the far distance.

A giant tree which was located beyond their goal, the red zone, which could be seen across the distance.

Hansoo looked at the dried up trunk of the giant tree that pierced the clouds as he mumbled inwardly.

'Dead World Tree.'

The background and the foundation of the that they were going to work on from now.

And at that moment a loud shout was heard from the person who had been scouting at the tallest place on the ship.

"I can see the land! I can see the Red Zone!"

"What?"

People rushed towards the deck at those words.

And made expressions of joy.

"We arrived already?"

Yohan also made sounds of joy.

A land that rose above the sea could be seen in the distance.

'Dammit. I don't know what will come out but it's better than this damnable sea.'

It was better to fight, thinking of fighting against the guys who only pierced with their tridents under the water stressed them to death.

Since they will get massacred before being able to see anything if the ship were to sink.

'People have to live with their feet on land.'

But while they were sighing in relief the ship betrayed their expectations.

"…uh?"

"We aren't getting off there?"

The ship followed the path that the fairy had set as it spun around the land in front of them and continued to sail across the sea.

And everyone was disappointed as they saw this.

"…It was an island and not land."

It looked like land but it seems like it wasn't the destination.

'…As I thought. They told us it took 3 days.'

The people spat out disappointed sighs as they looked at the vast sea to the back of the island.

But Yohan was looking at something else at that moment.

'…is that possibly a root and not an island?'

Though it was covered with dirt, parts of the island which looked like wooden stumps could be seen.

As if a part of a giant root had come out of the ocean and a thin layer of dirt was covering it.

It just looked like an island since it was so huge.

Yohan made a sick expression after seeing that.

'…Is it possibly the root of the giant tree over there? It spread out this far?'

The tree root which had the form of a half submerged island looked very similar to the giant tree trunk that was holding up the skies in the distance.

'Well… if it's a tree of that size…'

It seemed like the parts of the root that was above the water is merely a very thin root of the tree.

But he thought to himself that if it's a tree of that size the root should at least be this much.

"Is this the good stuff you were talking about?"

Yohan, who had been looking at the island the ship had passed, asked Hansoo with a bitter expression.

It was clearly something which one could not see elsewhere easily.

Since trees of such a size which devoured the mountain ranges with it's roots and even had it spread above the seas couldn't been seen in the world where they come from even if they died and came back to life.

But Hansoo shook his head as he pointed towards something in the distance.

"That's the highlight of the show."

"What?"

Everyone looked at the direction Hansoo had pointed to.

A slightly different direction from the Red Zone they were heading to.

When the people focused their gazes and searched around, they could slowly see something.

'…is that possibly alive?'

Something much larger than the tree trunk that they had mistaken for an island.

The tree root which looked like the island was giant but the thing they could see in the distance was at a different level.

Though they were extremely far away it still came into their eyes.

The part that was submerged below couldn't even be guessed but the back that was rising up from the waters was much larger than a decent island and the fin that was rising above it felt like they were looking at a extremely tall cliff.

The giant fin-like structure slowly moved across the sea and was heading towards the island they had come from.

Though it had movec slowly it was so big that the distance had been crossed in an instant.

And the thing with the giant fin screamed out as it opened its mouth.

Kuuuuuuuuaaaaaaa

"Uaak! Uwaaak!"

"Fuck!"

It had only moved slightly but the whole sea shook.

And the creature that had moved bit apart the tree root as it started to devour it.

Pududududk. Udududk.

"Uwaaak!"

"Hold onto the ship tightly!"

As the root that had run below the ship started to get ripped up by its mouth, the ship started to rock and roll like a wave.

If it was a small ship then that simple rock and roll would've crushed it apart.

If they had been slightly slower at going past that place then they would've all died without being able to do anything.

While people were holding onto the ship with all their strength, Hansoo was also making an anxious expression.

Since though he had said it was a good view, that thing was definitely not something cute.

The ships that started off from the ten thousand tutorial areas will arrive on one of the thousands of roots that spread out from the dead World Tree according to the path that the fairy had set.

Since the only place to live within the toxic sea is above the dead root.

A structure where the people who started off from the tutorial would climb up from that location.

Though it was a root it was basically the size of a mountain range.

That was why it was called the .

And that thing constantly swam around the toxic sea and ate whenever a World Tree Root gew out.

.

A fish of calamity.

The result of Genetic Biology of Demonic creatures of the natives of the that they created in order to defend their race from the harsh environment and one of the five calamities that dried the to death.

The place where the World tree had dried to death from the five calamites had simply turned into hell and had fallen down into ruin.

Since a tree which had its roots ripped apart could not live properly.

It had the ability to devour everything but then it wouldn't have anything to eat anymore so it as if it was farming, slowly going around and biting off the roots of the World Tree bit by bit.

A giant mutant that seemed like it was born to kill the World Tree.

The past he had seen it clearly.

That thing had devoured the root next to the Red Zone he had arrived in a mere three days.

And of course, there was nothing much to say about the fate of the newbies and the veterans who were standing on that root.

Hansoo, who had seen the giant beast fish which participating in killing a world, stabilized his mind as he turned the controls towards the Calamity Fish which had devoured the tree root whole.

'It's now time for me to pay for my own meal'.

Kurururk.

The controls turned the ship aggressively under Hansoo's hands.

Since that thing had just filled up its stomach it will slowly move towards next tree root that it will eat.

Towards a giant starting area root unlike the snack which it just had.

'About 2 weeks…? I don't know for sure but I don't have much a lot of leisure.'

The thing he knew for sure was getting there and preparing to kill that thing.

Since that was one of the duties he had received.

"Hey…hey! Fuck, what are you doing right now!"

"Hey! Heyeyeyey!"

The people looked at the direction of the ship and the direction of the giant beast and shouted at Hansoo in panic.

'Is he insane right now?'

To follow such a thing when they have found it out of luck and could have dodged from it.

Even in such a situation, Yohan spoke to Hansoo:

"I don't know what you are thinking but shouldn't you head to such a dangerous place after agreeing with everyone else? I thank you for letting us aboard but you should at least listen to our opinions when we are on the same boat."

Hansoo nodded at those words.

"I see, there are people who probably won't agree with this."

"Yeah. So let's…"

"I shall let you get off now then."

"?"

"I really need to go there so what do you want me to do. People who want to get off raise your hands."

Hansoo stared at the surroundings sea as he spoke.

Chapter 55 – Red Zone (5)

Kududududk.

A boat which was covered with wooden planks in numerous places had arrived at the location where a root could be seen.

'End Root'.

The end part of the root where the World Tree's root started at.

Though it was an end part of the root it was so big that it looked like a piece of land.

"We arrived."

Hansoo spoke towards the people who had been jumping onto the burning tree root.

"Hey hey. Go with smiles. And don't think about it too seriously. There's still two weeks left. If you keep climbing up then you'll have your safety guaranteed."

"That's really comforting. Seriously."

They could still see the images of the movements of the thing that they followed on their boat that ripped apart the island-like tree root.

'Dammit. I should get away fast.'

Yohan, who had yet to calm down his anger, looked at Hansoo coldy and then started to ponder.

'…What do I do? Do I stick with him a little longer?'

Yohan glanced at Hansoo.

He has yet to push them away.

And as he heard it, this guy seemed to have a weird psychic power.

It would helpful if he took him.

But Yohan shook his head as he looked at the 150 people who were glaring at Hansoo with eyes of resentment.

'I don't think we can go together with that guy.'

If they were to go along, it'll be very comfortable for the time being.

Since he is definitely strong.

But he could not control him.

If that guy suddenly goes then they could nothing about it.

He clearly figured this out from the earlier incident.

They had no way of talking back at his words, which told them to jump off.

And him going into the sea while covered in lights and crushing apart the merfolk solidified this even further.

'…does he have no weakness?'

If he could control a guy like this properly then it'll be of great help.

And it seemed like he could figure it out if he traveled alongside him a bit longer.

But Yohan shook his head.

The valley has been dug way too deep to mediate between that guy and the 150 people behind him.

Nobody likes somebody who increases the chances of danger.

It was time to part ways.

'The head of a snake… is better than a dragon's tail.' (*PR Note: He enjoys being a big fish in a small pond, rather than a lackey to Hansoo the dragon)

Yohan, who had chosen the 150 people over Hansoo, looked at Hansoo and spoke:

"Let's go our own ways. Since you and us don't really seem to get along very well."

Hansoo shrugged his shoulders.

'I'm a bit busy now too.'

Hansoo thought of his conversation with Keldian as he looked at the 150 people disappearing into the depths of the blazing roots and ruins.

The five calamities were basically like natural disasters for those who crossed the Red Zone.

It was not something designed to be killed but rather dodged or endured.

And they didn't have the leisure to think about how to prevent the natural disasters.

Since in the Red Zone one didn't have enough leisure to think about such things.

One would spend time figuring out how to dodge a hurricane rather than how to get rid of it.

And even more so if there are imminent dangers around them such as tigers and murderers roaming around.

They had prepared with the knowledge of all the remaining humans but that was not enough.

He had to think of how to act perfectly.

But for him to do so the situation and intel was not proper.

And because of this he had to find somebody who could fill this up with experience.

Like people trying to climb Mt. Everest that after they had completed their preparation, were still looking for a Sherpa on site.

Like an adventurer exploring the Amazon forest, even after getting a whole truck for preparations and plan for months, he would still look for a local guide.

A 3rd year adventurer who would try to hunt the Calamity Fish, something that no one else would even think of attempting.

She could be anywhere in this vast world since that woman had the ability to be anywhere whether it is the End root, Base root, Middle root or even the Trunk.

Of course one would be at that level if they spent 3 years in the Otherworld even if they had focused on hunting down the Calamity Fish.

'Well. It's normal for people to have gone up already.'

It actually seemed impossible to find her in 2 weeks but Hansoo knew a way to find her.

'She should probably be at the cross right now?'

It wasn't the Cross of revival.

Since such things only exist in the tutorial area.

But the fact that it was made to find somebody one missed was similar.

If you think of the reason why Camille Rowe was attempting the Calamity Fish hunting then it is obvious that she would be around the Cross at this moment.

Thousands of giant crosses that the Helper Clan had erected on every End root.

'…it seems our direction is the same.'

Hansoo looked at the direction where Yohan had disappeared but then looked at his boat.

And then he jumped onto the boat and started to pull out all the planks that had been holding out the toxic waters.

Kurururururu.

And soon the boat that had been enduring the 3 days of sails made large noises as it sunk beneath the toxic sea.

Hansoo who had cleaned up everything moved his footsteps towards the direction where Yohan and the others had disappeared to.

........................…

"Dammit… though we've experienced it on the third floor of the tower it's really hot."

Yohan spat out curses.

The fire that had been set all around them without anything to burn was constantly blazing.

They had experienced this slightly on the Third Floor but back then they had hope that the Third Floor would end soon.

But now they had to constantly live in such a place.

'…it seems that water would be the biggest issue. How do we get food?'

They had hunted the beasts and traveled while eating the meat and drinking their blood on the Third Floor.

But the beasts here were different.

They had encountered many beasts on the way here already.

Though it was easy to catch them because 150 people had gathered but they could not eat it even if they tried.

'Damm… this is a problem.'

But Yohan shook his head.

There was probably a way since they wouldn't leave them to die just like that.

At that moment somebody next to Yohan shouted out loudly.

"Uhh! That! Isn't that the cross?"

"What?"

At those words everyone's eyes flipped.

The Cross.

The eyes of the people who couldn't find the chance to throw the people next to them onto the hole because they were suppressed by alliances or the clans started to shine.

But Yohan shouted out loudly.

"Wait! Wait! The fairy had clearly told us! That there aren't anymore revivals! Everyone calm down! If we fight here then we all die!"

Everyone made slightly disappointed expressions at those words.

"But let's still have a look at it. It seems man-made."

"…wouldn't it be dangerous?"

One person asked carefully.

The Cross.

They did not know who made it but could guess why they had to some degree.

Since it'll be hard for people who had experienced it in the tutorial to just pass by it.

It was in order to attract people that it copied that cross and was made of Steel.

'…It's so blunt that it's even more confusing.'

But the answer to their worries was heard from above them and among them.

"Don't worry. Those who are careful are quite annoying. They need people to come to it. If they made the Cross then why not go over and have a look at it? You could finish it off after grouping up."

"…uh?"

Everyone's expression froze at the man who had appeared above the blazing ruins in an instant.

Since they didn't know how he had made his entrance.

'Did he run here from the Cross?'

While people were being cautious of him, the man counted their heads in an instant and then nodded.

"Let's see 148 people. Quite nice. For such a number to come in a group without a Lord."

"What do you want?"

It was clear to them that this guy was someone who had come earlier.

He looked stronger than them and there was also a something very different about him from the people of their tutorial area.

'A foreigner… and he has no problem conversing with us.'

It seems like there wasn't any problem with them having different languages.

The blue-eyed man chuckled as he spoke.

"Don't be too impudent. We are hmm… I guess something like a savior in your words."

"What?"

"You see the fairies don't come out from now on. So we act as some form of help."

"…you are clearly an angel. You expect us to believe that?"

To help without anything in return.

How did this guy expect them to trust him.

The man shook his head at Yohan's words and spoke.

"There are always people like you. People who are very suspicious. But remember. It's good to be suspicious but if that pisses others off then it'll be hard to live long."

"…what?"

"You just need to thank the people from my group from now on. There's no reason to follow us so just listen."

"…what?"

"Eres Valentine. She's the one who had created our clan 20 years ago and had gone up."

"…"

"Let's see. After that is… a steady backbone of the clan, Kyle Cooper. Baek Jongsang. Arc Mariangt, these three. You don't need to know about the details."

'How would these guys meet three of the seven departed souls?'

The man who shook his head from side to side spoke again.

"And after this, give thanks to the other clansmen who prevent guys like you from getting killed…"

"…keep going."

The man laughed as he looked at the people's expressions turning darker.

'What. Does we want to have a go at it?'

Actually even for him it'll be hard to win if everyone in front of his eyes charged at him.

If he was alone of course.

The man spoke for the last time.

"You should least thank our thirty thousand helpers running around in this shitty End root, though they were sponsored to do so."

"…thirty thousand?"

The man smiled at Yohan who had replied to his words with a fearful expression.

'Well. Though only six to seven people came to each root."

But the man swapped these words back.

It was more convenient to suppress these guys with numbers from the get go.

And in reality these guys, who had been making enraged expressions, prepared to pay attention with dispirited expressions after hearing about thirty thousand people.

'They're chicks. Chicks.'

This was a clear evidence that these guys were beginners.

Since those who had roamed around the Red Zone for a bit wouldn't get scared at hearing the number thirty thousand but rather more at the names he had said prior to that.

'Well. That's why we exist.'

Whatever happened he needed to do everything he was tasked to do so these guys don't just die off.

The man looked at Yohan as he spoke.

"There's a few things I must give you… but there are a few pieces of advice. Listen carefully. These are things to prevent you from just getting killed off."

"…speak."

He didn't know what this guy and the other people were helping them for but there was nothing bad about intel.

The man continued to speak.

"The place where you guys are at is the End Root. This is the place where newly-hatched chicks roam around. And because of this it wouldn't really matter for you guys to argue here and there normally but…"

"…?"

The man looked around at the confused expressions and then spoke again.

"It's a quite harsh place so there are a lot of people with different circumstances. So theoretically some people, who have no reason to be here, come down all the way to the End Roots."

He was speaking aloud in front of these guys but he was also only about at the level of Middle Root.

But those who are at the Base root or the Trunk, or even above that, sometimes come down to here, the End root.

"So the things you guys need to do is not to randomly quarrel with random people just because they move in small groups. If you don't want to get ripped apart. And it's even more dangerous to target somebody just because they're pretty."

These people wouldn't usually touch the newly-hatched chicks at the End root due to a few unspoken rules but there was no one who would tell them to ignore getting aggravated.

The man who had finished speaking rested a bit and then looked around.

'Let's see… Camille Rowe. Where did this lady go.'

If they were going to experience it anyway. Wouldn't it be better for them to get the full experience.

And coincidentally Camille Rowe was nearby.

'These guys are pretty confident with their numbers… but they'll start to crawl on the floor once they see it.'

If those who were doing well in the tutorial think that they would do well here then it was a very big misunderstanding.

Once they were out here there were different rules and another power.

The tutorial was basically a place where they toned down the difficulty so they can prepare for the Otherworld and in a place like this where one can get stronger day by day, 1 or 2 years of difference was very big.

But at that moment Yohan had spoken towards that man.

"…didn't you say that you wouldn't touch beginners? That you would get killed if you do so?"

At those words the man who was searching for Camille Rowe nodded.

"That's right."

"…Then what's that? As I know that guy is a beginner just like us."

"Hnng?"

The moment the man looked at the direction where Yohan was pointing towards, a fierce shockwave and screams resonated throughout the blazing ruins.

Boooooom!

"Come at me! You bastard!"

"No seriously. What's the problem? I'm telling you I'll help you kill the Calamity Fish?"

"This bitch!"

The people who were watching the ruins being destroyed shrugged their shoulders and looked at the guy who said he was from the Helper Clan and the man made a helpless expression at the unexpected situation.

.....................…

Hansoo shrugged his shoulders after looking at Camille Rowe who was charging at him.

'…It seems like they didn't really tell me about her personality being nasty. Was the suggestion I gave her that unreasonable?'

It seems like there was a misunderstanding but if things were to go on like this then they needed a serious talk with each other.

'Some preparations are needed… to talk seriously.'

Hansoo started to cover his body with Demonic Dragon Reinforcement in order to progress the talk.

Chapter 56 – Calamity Fish Hunting (1)

Kuuuuuuuu.

Camille Rowe mumbled quietly as she looked at something gigantic in the distance.

'It's coming this time too.'

The newcomers wouldn't be able to see yet but her skill that was fitted for the perception stat at the Red Rune level 50% allowed her vision to see things extremely far away.

Camille, who had been shaking her head, looked at the things she had prepared so far.

'Arukal's Poison and Ketelan's Sword. Miron Dagger and Waterproof sheet. And…'

Camille Rowe, who had been looking over the things she had prepared while grinding her teeth, sighed as she looked at the fins that could be seen in the distance.

'…Could I really avenge them?'

She had been holding onto her life with the sheer determination to kill that thing for over 3 years.

But there only one thing she had gained from this.

Endless fatigue.

'It's tiring.'

It was basically larger than a mountain.

There was probably no other organism that fit the name of Fish of Calamity better than that.

She had went into and returned back alive from within its body over 13 times but this wasn't because she got used to it.

It was because she had gotten blocked at a line which she could not cross.

It would be easier to break a rock using an egg.

It felt like she was digging a mountain with just a spoon.

And as she continued, the loneliness just amplified.

Since there wasn't anyone who wanted to help her in her plan of hunting down the Calamity Fish.

'If a really strong guy, or someone who actually wanted to do it together existed…'

Camille, who had been making a tired expression, shook her head.

'No. Nonono.'

If it was something that could be caught just like that then she would've done so already.

While Camille was shaking her head while clenching down onto her teeth, a voice calling her name could be heard.

"Camille Rowe. Right?"

"…!"

At those words Camille made a cold expression as she surrounded her body with Reinforcement and activated skill which protected her from sudden attacks.

With this, she could defend her body against existences of the Trunk.

People who purposely searched her out are more dangerous than people whom you meet by chance.

Camille Rowe, who had held up the short dagger from her waist, held up spear up towards her back where the voice came from but then sighed instead.

'It's a newly-hatched chick.'

She felt stupid for getting tense from getting her name called.

She couldn't figure it out from his looks but she still knew from one look.

Not having any artifacts was secondary, he didn't have the which one needed in order to not starve in the .

Even if he lost it, if you take into account that the Helper clan always supplied you with it meant that this guy was a Chick that hadn't even finished the helper's instructions.

'Anyways, how did he figure out my name?'

But Camille's tension exploded again with the following sentence.

"There's a few things I need to talk to you about the Calamity Fish. Let's have a talk."

Calamity Fish. And herself.

There was only one kind of people who would come find her if you take into accountthese two things.

"Are you perhaps a Quadratus?"

'Damned guys… are they trying to disturb me again?'

People who worshipped the four dirty beasts that gnawed upon the World Tree along with the Calamity fish.

Of course they didn't have a good relationship with her who tried to kill the Calamity Fish.

Hansoo mumbled inwardly at Camille's words.

'I remember… They thought there were only four of these.'

He would have thought so as well if he hadn't heard the stories from the original inhabitants of this place, the Elvenheims.

Hansoo shook his head.

"I'm here because I have an interest in hunting the Calamity Fish. So I need your help."

"…"

Camille was flustered.

'Does that thing really look that easy?'

The fact that he knew about the Calamity Fish meant that he had seen it on the way here.

There was nothing surprising about it.

Since it wasn't hard to see it as long as you don't get crushed by it.

Actually it was hard to miss something so big.

But to think of hunting it down after seeing it.

Camille started to get slightly pissed.

She had tried and tried and only increased her despair.

But this newly arrived Chick was talking about the Calamity fish as if it was going to the lake to fish.

And even asking her to help.

Camille breathed in and out deeply.

'Yeah. Why am I trying to argue with a 1st year.'

Getting angry here was actually laughable.

"Leave."

The moment Camille spat out a word and turned around, Hansoo opened his mouth.

"Don't you have to save your sibling? If you hunt that thing then the chances of your sibling, who might come anytime, surviving increases by a large amount."

"….This bastard. Where did you hear about that?"

"Mmm…"

'Did I make a mistake?'

Hansoo scratched the back of head while watching Camille warming up her body.

'I failed the Rapport. Kangtae this bastard…'

"Wait. Let's talk about it. Talk."

"Shut up!"

Booooom!

........................

Booooom!

Camille's short spear sliced their air.

Something which Camille had attained two months ago at the Base Root.

The hardness and sharpness had saved Camille from dangerous situations multiple times now.

Camille's short spear, which was filled up with swung down at Hansoo.

She didn't really have thoughts of reinforcing the edge either.

Since she just wanted to beat him down despite being quite infuriated.

But her thoughts were completely different now.

Kududududuk.

'…This bastard. He's a beginner?'

The flying spear met with his fist and got deflected to the side.

Camille looked at that scene with disbelief.

'With a guy who doesn't have anything on i just… dammit. This is really embarrassing.'

A guy who didn't have anything on his body.

There was no beggar like this.

But she could guess to as why he didn't have any artifacts left.

'…I can't even imagine what you need to go through in order to gain something like that.'

This guy was not a normal guy if you just take into account of the fact that he had attained that dark golden reinforcement without anything else.

You couldn't gain anything for free in the tutorial stage which meant that in order to attain something like that, he had gone into an equally tricky place.

All the artifacts that he had previously would've all been smashed apart.

Kugugugung.

'Dammit. He blocked it again.'

Camille grinded her teeth as she looked at her short spear which was just about to lose it's edge.

That Reinforcement's defense was so high to the point that he was blocking her spear's attacks with his bare skin and even dulling the edges of it.

'Dammit… the density of the Magic Force'

One of the three factors that determined the value of the Reinforcement.

It amplified the durability of the weapon or armor that was covered with the reinforcement and as well as the destructive power.

For it to have such an amplification even when it was over bare skin.

She wouldn't really say anything if it was just that.

'How high is the amplification of the runes.' (*PR Note: How much stats are improved by the reinforcement)

The second factor in determining the quality of the Reinforcement.

With just these two she could tell the quality of the Reinforcement this guy has is high beyond reason.

Since she had never even seen something like before.

Camille, who had been fiercely fighting with him, bit her lips.

She felt like dying from embarrassment due to the fact that she was fighting on par with a 1st year who didn't even have any artifacts but she had to acknowledge what she had to.

She could not win at this rate.

But she had a hidden card which could turn the situation.

'With this much… if I use the special skill of my …'

Camille thought up to this point and then pulled back her body instantly.

'Hmm.'

Hansoo spoke to Camille who had made distance from him and was glaring at him.

"Are you done? You aren't gonna keep going? Don't you have more things to show me?"

Camille clenched her teeth as she spoke.

"You think I'm stupid? You didn't even use the special skill."

Three factors that determined the quality of the Reinforcement.

First. Amplification of Runes.

Second. Magic Force's efficiency and power.

And third.

Something which every Reinforcement had.

If you say that the true worth of a Reinforcement was determined by the third factor, the Special Skill, that you probably wouldn't be wrong.

The Blood Jade Reinforcement had the ability to use blood to create a very hard Magic Force and Beast Reinforcement could change parts of the user's body into that of a beast.

With such a Reinforcement, she didn't know what the special skill was but it was sure to be incredible, and he had yet to take it out.

'I feel like I'll die of embarrassment. Damn it.'

She acknowledged the fact that her battle strength was a bit weaker than the other 3rd years.

Since she focused on hunting the Calamity Fish while others were getting stronger.

But for her to lose to somebody who came from the tutorial area.

'Okay. I accept the fact that you have a good hand.'

Actually her mind was more at ease after accepting it.

Since she just needed to think while ignoring the fact that he was a 1st year.

But that was that and this was this.

Camille, who had calmed down, looked at Hansoo as she spoke.

"You aren't thinking of beating down the Calamity Fish with just that right?"

'With just that trifling ability?'

She had thought that he didn't really have anything but nothing changed even after she found out that he had something.

No, this was actually more infuriating.

Since the fact that he had come here to hunt the Calamity fish with just that battle power alone was quite absurd.

If you could beat that down with battle power then everyone would've charged at it and beaten it down already.

The amount of people who had been eaten by the Calamity fish over the past 20 years had reached tens of thousands.

But nobody had the thoughts of getting revenge against the Calamity Fish.

Since they saw what happened to those who challenged the Calamity Fish.

And those who had experienced it were just unlucky.

"If it was easy then why would I have come to you. I came because it's hard. Help me. I have a plan anyways."

He wouldn't have come to Camille if that was something he could beat down with strength.

"…"

Camille's expression turned colder and colder.

"You really talk with ease. If you came to me thinking that I'll be of help to you then you have a huge misconception. You think I have something great?"

It seems like he had heard something about her and come to find her but that was a huge misconception.

A person who tried hard to hunt the Calamity Fish.

Those were nice words.

But reality was that she was just a retard.

But Hansoo just shook his head.

"You have gone in and come out from the Calamity fish before. I just need that experience and the preparations you have made."

Camille smirked at those words.

"Ha! I have indeed gone in and come out before. But I have done just that!"

Camille, who had taken a breather, opened her mouth with a cold expression.

'I hope he gets lost after hearing this.'

It was tiring to go against him.

Camille opened her mouth resolutely.

"Listen well. You bastard. On the first challenge we left behind 27 people inside that thing. Only I came out. The only thing we gained was how the scales felt like."

That thing had gulped down the tree root that her parents were on.

While she was away for just a moment the Root where her parents, whom had come with her and had lost an arm to save her and crossed the tutorial together with her, were had been devoured whole.

If Camille herself was a bit unluckier then she would've been eaten just like that too.

Of course Camille was filled up with rage and gathered 27 comrades in similar situations as her and proceeded with her plan.

The result was misery in itself.

But people in the Red zone weren't really surprised.

Since this was the estimated result.

They didn't even laugh at her.

Since nobody would laugh at a kid who lost after going against an adult.

Since it was an obvious thing.

"And then?"

"On the second attempt, I gathered 118 people who were filled up with greed and then went in. Though we did go in a bit deeper this time. And since two people had survived back it was a huge progress right?"

"…"

"From the third attempt nobody helped me so I climbed up and down as I prepared for it and attempted it 10 more times by myself. And I failed them all. What kind of help do you want from somebody like me? The only thing you have seen is the outer part of that thing. You presumptuous bastard? Huh? What do you know!"

She started out calmly but by the time she finished she was close to crying.

13 attempts.

She had searched the method to deal with it by researching its weakness and climbing up and down the Red zone endlessly.

And the only thing she had gained from this.

Defeat and despair.

And the method to run away.

She wasn't attempting for her parent's sake at this point.

She was lying to herself in her head but she already knew.

That it was impossible.

There was only one reason why she was still trying.

Since she thought that this was the most significant way to die in this damnable place.

Wouldn't dying here while avenging be better than getting killed by someone's blade or getting ripped apart by a beast on the way up.

'No. It's not even that.'

Camille wasn't even doing that properly.

If she really wanted to die while avenging her parents then she would've gone in much deeper and into more dangerous places.

But she was just a retard who couldn't even do that due to fear and was using her brother, who nobody knew of his arrival in this place, as an excuse and stayed alive.

And in result, she was spending her time while stuck in between her ambition to stay alive and her impossible revenge.

'Goddamnit.'

Camille felt into a state of lethargy and lost her rage.

Since the words she had spat out in order to stimulate that guy had twisted her chest.

But Hansoo shrugged his shoulders as he looked at that Camille.

"You failed that because I wasn't here. Don't worry. I need you and I can kill the Calamity Fish if you help me."

"…"

Camille made an expression of disbelief at his attitude of just saying what he wanted to say.

At the same time she felt like she was crazy.

Because she felt like she wanted to trust this crazy guy once.

Camille made a complicated expression as she looked at the guy who told her he needed her when everyone was ignoring her for doing such absurd things and was even telling her that he will fulfill her wish.

'Dammit… I must've been really lonely. To get attracted by such random words.'

At this point she was getting quite curious.

To see what was his basis for his confidence.

No, there was something she was more curious of before that.

"Let me ask you one thing. Why are you trying to kill that?'

The artifact that would come out once you killed that thing.

Or revenge like herself.

Camille was curious about that.

As to why he wanted to kill the Calamity Fish.

When Camille, who had turned lethargic after pouring out her feelings, asked with a tired expression, Hansoo pondered for a moment and then spoke out.

"Just… I want try saving about 1 billion people."

"What?"

"No. Is it about 1.5 billion? The chances of your brother surviving will increase by a lot as well. Good right?"

"…"

'This guy isn't some normal maniac.'

Camille made an expression of fear.

"If you agree then let's start."

Hansoo smiled.

..........................

"Huh…"

The Helper clansman, who had been making an astonished expression at the fight with Camille Rowe, looked at Yohan and asked.

"He really came on the same boat as you? He's really a newcomer?"

"Yes"

"Seriously …"

The Helper Clansman made a expression of disbelief and then looked at the 150 people as he spoke.

"Never ever piss somebody off by trying to copy something like that. That's an outlier."

"…He can but we can't? Though we are 150 people?"

The Helper Clansman smirked at Yohan's words as he spoke.

"I wouldn't stop you but I don't really recommend it."

'Dammit…'

Yohan clenched his teeth at the clansman's words and then glared at Hansoo with an expression full of annoyance.

Chapter 57 – Calamity Fish Hunting (2)

"Are the arrangements complete now?'

One of the Helper clansmen who had been looking at the Sea above the 2184 Cross, which showed the number of the Cross, spoke as he loosened up his body as he saw that no more boats were coming down.

"We're done somewhat. We gave the Juicers to Yohan's guys earlier and gave them basic explanations as well. They'll be fine from now on."

The most busy time for them, the clans, was now.

When the people of the tutorial come in, they had to give them basic notices and then spread out again.

And they needed to gather the basic information of every newcomer every year and organize it.

"How are the standards for the guys this time around?"

His comrade, who had been standing next to him, shrugged his shoulders at those words.

"You know how it is. That it increases a bit every year."

"Them fairies. They're only thorough in things like that."

The man clicked his tongue.

The fairies set up the tutorial so that the people would survive even if they were dropped in the End Root here.

And because of that the standards of those who go through the Tutorial increase every year.

The reason was very simple.

Since the environment of the End Root gets harsher as time goes on.

'Tsk. The number of survivors would increase greatly if the Calamity Fish didn't exist.'

The location of where the newcomers drop is becoming closer towards the center of the World Tree since those guys keep gnawing down the tree roots.

If you take into account the fact that the level of the beasts increases the closer one gets to the giant World Tree it means that the difficulty of where newcomers land after the tutorial increases every year.

And since they needed to set the standards of the newcomers to fit that, the difficulty of the tutorial increased and the survival rate decreased.

'You need to stay on the boat longer as well.'

If that thing disappeared then an amazing number of people out of those who are dragged here would be saved.

Since the roots will grow back and the difficulty of the tutorial will get lowered to fit that.

It is said that the survival rate of the 1st tutorial was 55%, which was much higher than now, when there were a lot of tree roots left.

'14% of the people had survived last year but it's only about 11% this year… about 3 billion more would come over but for the survival rate to be like this…'

The amount that had crossed over the past 20 years was about 3.5 billion.

But the speed at which they were coming was increasing at a very rapid rate.

As if something was pulling their world.

Though the immediate survival rate had decreased the number of newcomers had increased.

But at this rate, in about 5 to 6 years from now all of humanity would be dragged here and then all get massacred in the tutorial.

'Damnit.'

The helper clansman made a bitter expression.

Since the chances of his family being part of those who would get massacred was very high.

If the difficulty of the tutorial gets reset because the Calamity Fish disappeared and the Roots grow back then the number of people will increase greatly but sadly the Calamity Fish was not something humans could deal with.

'Well it seems like some strange guys are popping out due to the increased difficulty though.'

And the man stared at the guy standing in front of Camille Rowe in the distance.

A guy who had fought back and forth against Camille Rowe despite being a newcomer.

No, he didn't even fight back and forth.

Since the newcomer seemed to be much more calm even to his eyes.

He didn't have any skills or artifacts.

But he was still at that level.

The rumors of this guy will get spread very fast.

'Hmm. A scout might even come.'

The man who was standing atop of the cross mumbled inwardly as he looked at the guy walking towards him.

.....................…

Camille laughed absentmindedly at Hansoo's words.

"Damn it, whatever. It wouldn't be bad to fail for the 14th time anyways."

She was going to make the attempt anyway.

What difference would it make to take this ambitious guy along with her.

Hansoo opened his eyes wide at Camille Rowe's words and then looked at her.

"What are you saying. About failing. There's no time."

"…?"

"We are definitely succeeding. If you failed about 13 times then it's about time to succeed once. You prepared to escape from it as well. Perfect."

"…"

"Let's go. There's no time. There's 13 days and 18 hours left."

If you take into account that thing's movement speed then it'll arrive around then.

But that was basically the time limit.

It was better to prepare as soon as possible and kill it off in the distant sea.

Since the amount of casualties will explode upwards once that thing goes insane at the last moment.

Hansoo got up from his seat as he finished his words.

'He's really confident to the point of damnation. He really makes one fall for him goddamnit.'

Camille clicked her tongue and asked as she looked at Hansoo's back.

"What are you going to do first?"

Hansoo shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm going to the Helper Clan first. I should at least visit."

'Since I need to receive the Juicer.'

He didn't have any intel but the Juicer was a necessity in order to not starve to death.

Camille remembered what she had forgotten about at those words.

"Ah…"

'Oh yeah, he was a beginner.'

She didn't even think about that because his actions were so off.

'Well okay. I have some things to do as well.'

Camille got up from her seat and then walked towards the Helper Clansmen who were guarding the Cross.

'I really wish… I really wish my sibling hasn't come yet.'

But sadly, the chances increased as time went on.

Since the number of people who had been coming here over the Tutorial had been increasing.

At this pace then all of the remaining people on earth will transfer over to the Otherworld in about 5 to 6 years.

That was the reason why the Seven Departed Souls and many others who had the qualifications to go up stayed at the Red zone to search around.

In order to find their family or precious people who could come at any time.

The reason why that Helper Clan was able to be maintained was very simple as well.

It was something born from the combined minds of those who wanted to stop the random deaths of their family or close people.

The Helper Clan was the place that the minds of those who didn't have the leisure to search for their family because of the harsh environment they're faced with but wanted to stop such things as death from happening supported.

Since they might be able to meet each other as long they are alive.

'That person called Eres is amazing. How did she think of such a thing 20 years ago?'

Eres had gone up already but her clan had remained behind to keep accepting newcomers and were taking care of the newcomers constantly with the support of those in other Red Zones.

Of course in the most basic ways only.

Since nobody could take care of anything further than that.

They helped with the most basic survival tactics and preparations but surviving after fighting against a beast or other people was all up to themselves.

Camille greeted one of the Helper clansman after she arrived.

"It's been a while. Can I check the catalogue? And take care of this newcomer."

"You're a VIP, of course. Let's see…"

Then the clansman started to check the catalogue.

Usually they would only give basic warnings and the Juicer.

But for those who supported them a lot, there will be some more special services.

.

If you give basic appearances or a name then the newcomers of the Helper Clansman spread about in thousands of End Roots will search the person asked by a VIP.

A personed searched by a VVIP with a stronger backing will be checked to see if he was at the tutorial or not. (* PR Note: VVIP = Very Very Important Person?)

The Helper Clansman who had been searching around the catalogue shook his head.

"It doesn't seem like they're here on this side of the Roots. Though we can't check up the tutorial with the amount you supported. I don't know about the other Roots but all the intel will be gathered within two days so come find us then."

The man completed those words and then went upwards.

With a few people behind him.

And Camille knew the identities of those people.

Those were the people who the VIP or the VVIP asked to find.

"Hoooh…"

She had confirmed that they weren't here but this was vexing in itself.

Since there was no way to know if they hadn't been dragged into the Otherworld or had died at the Tutorial.

But Camille shook her head.

'Focus on the Calamity Fish.'

Finding her sibling was not something she could do anyway.

Camille spoke to Hansoo who had gathered the Juicer and a few other things.

"Okay. Let's hear your plan."

Hansoo spoke with a very serious expression.

"Very simple. You will guide me and take me inside there. Then I will shove the hidden card I have prepared into a fatal location within its body."

"…"

'Shall I beat him up?'

Camille sighed, shook her head and then spoke.

Well that was basically the basic summary of it.

Since you couldn't kill it from the outside.

Though the problem was that he extremely simplified the process.

"Well. Okay. There's a lot of things to be prepared. I've prepared the boat already, though it's a 30 man boat."

If that thing arrived at land and started to eat then there wouldn't even be time to get inside it.

Since the heavens will be falling apart.

You needed to quietly approach it while it was swimming quietly and then go inside its body.

Well of course, quiet is relative to what it would be.

Since huge tornadoes will be rushing around its body.

Hansoo shook his head.

"What are you going to do with a 30 man boat. Let's go with mine."

"What?"

"I've prepared a 500 man boat."

"Hey! You crazy bastard… did you just leave that behind?"

Camille shouted in shock.

Why would he have done such a thing when there are so many people who desired boats.

Hansoo chuckled at those words.

"Don't worry. I've hidden it well. Let's go to the next subject."

"…"

While Camille was shaking her head, Hansoo checked the things Camille had prepared.

The only reason why he had come to find Camille.

Since she had already prepared the things which you could only gather at the Base Root or the Trunk.

There were a lot of things needed to be prepared before going into its body but a lot of time could be saved with just this much.

Camille smirked at that.

'What would you know even if you saw it.'

Those things were things which you couldn't even see during the tutorial stage.

At that moment Hansoo looked at Camille and asked:

"Did you prepare Apon's Body Fluid? We need that."

That was needed to create the which 127 Alchemists had researched and finally created with the information received from the Elvenheim he had met at the Abyss as the basis.

"….You know about that?"

'….Is he really a beginner?'

Being strong was being strong, it was a completely different problem from intel.

"I have a psychic power. Let's ignore trifling things. There's no time."

"…"

Hansoo answered simply and then started to go over the material thoroughly again.

Camille looked at that Hansoo.

'…Does he have a trait like a Library?'

Trait. .

It supplied information about the things one didn't know and once the level increases it will give basic information regarding what to do.

'I thought he would have a battle-related trait… but for it to be the Library.'

She had thought that it was a battle-related trait because he was such a strong guy but the Library was a bit out of expectation.

'Perhaps he has two traits?'

That might be possible since he hides so many things.

While Camille was thinking of this and that while looking at Hansoo, Hansoo, who had finished checking Camille's preparations, laid down a decision.

'We should spread out and search in order to save time.'

Camille had prepared quite well but this was not enough.

'The first thing we need to make is the .

A liquid which the alchemists had researched in order to give a fatal wound after getting inside the Calamity Fish.

Other things might not be needed but this was a necessity.

"Let's separate and move. Since there are a lot of things we need to get."

Hansoo spoke out the things needed to Camille.

Materials which Hansoo didn't know where they were but Camille Rowe, who had roamed around the Roots for 3 years, would definitely know.

Camille would definitely get them in time.

For the things which would be hard with Camille's level to get, he had to go.

While Hansoo was making plans for the future, Camille nodded after checking the list that Hansoo had told her.

'It's clear this is a guy that has got something.' (*PR: he's not just saying nonsense)

The 17 things he had told her were things she didn't prepare because she wasn't sure but were things that she had thought that might work at one point.

'I'll trust him once.'

Camille, who had finished her thoughts, quickly separated from Hansoo and started to head towards a different direction from him.

........................…..

'Though it's a bit tight… I can get them all if there are no problems along the way.'

The only problem was the distance she had to travel and the many types of materials she had to collect. She knew the location of all 17 materials and it wasn't hard for a 3rd year as herself because most of them were from beasts at the End Root.

While Camille was jumping with light movements a loud voice was heard from some place.

"Eyy. Camille. Your body is still amazing. It'll really burst at that rate. There's really a huge difference between westerners and easterners."

She then turned her head towards the direction of the voice.

"Kang Gyesoo… you bastard."

"Woah woah. Don't glare at me like that. We have a rather unique relationship between us. We've gone in and come out from within the Calamity Fish together."

"…I shouldn't have taken in a bastard like you on the second attempt."

For someone who had barely held onto his life and come out from within the Calamity fish to become a Quadratus.

Camille grinded her teeth.

"I'm still using the relic I got from within the stomach very well. Kuhuu. I thank you. Since it's all thanks to you. I've reached quite a high place thanks to that."

Gyesoo then proceeded to swing around the sword on his hand.

A weird skill was applied onto the sword where the air which the sword had passed through shook.

"…Are you going to disturb me again?"

As Camille grinded her teeth Gyesoo laughed loudly.

"Uwahahahaha! What kind of misunderstanding do you have. If we really disturbed you seriously then you think you can even attempt at the Calamity Fish? If we did it properly then you would've died already. We just kept you alive because of old friendship."

"What?"

As Camille was flustered Gyesoo giggled as he spoke.

"Disturbing you is more like… well we are followers so we just touched you a few times because we couldn't leave somebody who tried to kill our god alone. But shouldn't it be time for you to accept it? That is basically an agent of god. You've seen it too. The insides of the Calamity Fish."

"…"

"Others don't know but you and I know about it. I don't understand why somebody who had seen something like that wouldn't come into our Quadratus."

"…So are you here to ask me to join your Quadratus again?"

Gyesoo shook his head at those words

"Nope. We aren't really interested anymore."

"What?"

"Isn't it a bit shameless to ask for attention after 13 failures? It's not even fun anymore."

"…"

"I'm here because I have some business with that newcomer. Was he called Kang Hansoo?"

As Camille's expressions froze, Gyesoo shook his hands as he spoke.

"Woah. Don't glare at me like that. It's not a bad proposition on his terms either. You see, a scout has come in from above."

Camille looked at Gyesoo with a slight frown at those words.

Chapter 58 – Calamity Fish Hunting (3)

Camille kept on looking at Gyesoo with a cold expression.

"Search him by yourself. You probably came with your underlings anyway. And what are you going to do with your trait if not for this."

Gyesoo shrugged his shoulders at those words.

'Well. It's normal for her to not tell me.'

She was probably suspicious of what he was going to do.

And how delightful was Hansoo for Camille.

She had finally met someone who was going to be with her after so long.

She was pretending to be astute on the outside but she was probably rather excited on the inside.

Since Camille's actions which he had seen for the past 3 years were pitiful and lonely.

'Tsk. That's a shame. If she told me then we can save some time finding him.'

Gyesoo shook his head.

He had come here with two objectives.

One was the tourism business.

The other was scouting.

He had been preparing the tourism business because the reaction was better than he expected.

He could find him quickly if he searched but everyone whom he had brought were preparing the tourism business so an empty gap would be created if he took someone out.

Scouting was something he was preparing here and there while doing his tourism business, why would he waste manpower in that?

'There's no other way. I guess I'll run around a bit.'

His speciality,