Episode 6-The Scorch Trial (2)
It was dark. It was painful. The explosions blinded me; I felt small shards enter my body and shred my skin. Shortly after, all sensation faded away. It felt... nice. I didn't know if I opened my eyes or closed them, but I felt my brain shut down. After staying awake for several days straight, it felt... relieving.
It felt as if I was sleeping and dreaming.
[Your consciousness has been freed from the confines of your body due to your near-death experience.]
[Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Stage 3 has been activated!]
***
(What the hell?)
I was in a new place. It was a dark place, and I was confined in a small area. Dark walls surrounded me as well, and the space I inhabited was equivalent to a bathroom stall.
[Fragments of the 4th Wall are resonating!]
[You have encountered someone with a Fragment!]
My felt my consciousness warp to a new place.
***
I stood on railways tracks, either for a train or a subway. There was platform beside me. I looked around to see where I was, but all the signs were in a foreign language.
(Is that... Hangul and Hanja?)
It wasn't Kanji or Hiragana... I was also confident that the language wasn't Chinese as well.
(Activate Korean Reading skill,) I thought.
[Currently, you cannot activate your skills when freed from the confines of your body!]
(Damnit... I don't know how to read Hangul without the skill...)
"###############."
"###############."
I turned around from the sudden disruption. I heard the voices of people, but I couldn't understand a thing they were saying.
(Where did they come from...?) I thought.
Five people were conversing and walking as they emerged from another dark tunnel. One of them was wearing a dark cloak that covered them completely, which had a Roman numeral on it. The symbol was a simple "I."
Another man wore a partial cloak around his left shoulder, and that person had a "IV" on it. One man wore a headband; that headband had "III" written on it. One woman had "II" inked onto her left cheek. Then there was the last man of the group. They were an ugly bastard, and wielded a large battle-axe.
"#####?"
"######, #######. ######."
"###."
They spoke, but I couldn't understand a thing they were saying. It was dark, and I didn't know who was talking to whom.
(I'll follow them... just in case...)
When this small of group walked past me, I went behind them and followed. As I did, I heard an instrument being played.
(What is that? Is that a flute?)
-ROOOAAAAR!!!!-
"#####! Ha!"
First, I heard it, but then I saw it. A horde of Grade-9 ground rats were trailing behind this group, but the flute caused them to rush past us. I heard someone chuckle a bit. It seemed that laughter was universal.
(Wait... Do I know these people?)
I looked at the person who had a "I" on the hood of their cloak.
(I think I recognize you,) I thought.
I had a general feeling from this people. They weren't any good.
(I have to stop the-!)
-TWEEEEETTT!!!-
A shrill note from the flute was played. The ground rats rushed forward even faster and became enraged.
(NO!!)
I ran after the ground rats. I knew where I was. If I was right-
"There attacking Chungmuro!! Ground rats are attacking Chungmuro!!" A voice said.
[Your Korean Communication skill has been forcibly activated due to the Fragment of the 4th Wall!]
I began to understand what everyone was saying. I stood still as I watched a pudgy man generate turrets, and fire mana bullets at the ground rats. I also saw a small child wield a hammer, and fight the ground rats that flooded in. Mainly, it was the weaker group of people that defeated the horde.
I felt relieved, but I knew something that these people didn't. The group of five that were about to come.
(I... I need to warn them!!)
I ran to a beautiful woman who had amber hair, and who wore a work suit. They were giving orders to the surrounding masses.
(Is it... them?)
I was hesitant to approach them. Still, I had to try, and warn everyone here. I warped my conscious form towards her. I tried to use my voice, but words wouldn't come out.
(I'm just a coalition of thoughts.)
I wasn't in my body right now. I couldn't speak to her. I tried to do something else. I tried to transmit my thoughts towards her.
(Yu Sangah-ssi!! Please, it's a trap! There's more!!) I thought desperately. I tried to grab and tug on her clothing to get her attention, but Yu Sangah didn't react. The people around us didn't react either. No one saw me. I was alone.
(I'm... I'm like a ghost... FUCK!! I need to warn them!!)
(Who are you?)
I heard a firm voice. It sounded different from the rest. I froze in place. The voice... transmitted their thoughts to me again.
(I said, who are you?)
I finally turned around. I saw a man, who stared back. Their entire body was black, except their head, hands and feet.
(It looked as if they're wearing a pitch-black onesie.)
I would've laughed out loud from this thought but-
(Excuse me? I'm not wearing a onesie. Who are you?)
It seemed that they could hear my thoughts...
[You have encountered another Fragment of the 4th Wall!]
[Fragments of the 4th Wall are resonating!]
I felt something akin to electricity crawl through my body, and assault my mind. The mysterious man and I began gasping from pain.
(URK!!)
(GAAAHH!!!)
I felt memories flood into my hippocampus. These memories weren't my own. They belonged to this person.
***
I was standing on a shimmering bridge. I saw two men; one man held the other by the collar. The one that was being held by the other was in a precarious situation, their was nothing below their feet; except the Han River. That man began to speak, and appeared annoyed.
"One, I'm not your subordinate. So, I hope you will treat me fairly from now on."
"..."
"Two, I will cooperate with you, but you also have to promise to cooperate with me."
The other man had a handsome face that was stone-cold. They said, "Well, what is your answer?"
"Release your hand and get lost, you damn son of a bitch."
Yu Junghyeok let go, and they watched the person fall into the river. I was behind him, but I knew he was smiling.
"I believe you. You are definitely a prophet."
The memory faded away from my view.
***
I was back in Chungmuro. The man was staring at me and thought, (You... you chunni bastard... why is your memory...?)
[Fragments of the 4th Wall are resonating!]
[Fragments of the 4th Wall are resonating!]
[Fragments of the 4th Wall are resonating!]
Our conversation was interrupted by several messages, and an electrical feeling coursed through me as my soul form came close to the man. We began floating close to each, as if we were puzzle pieces that fit together.
(Gah!)
(Damnit!! No!!)
I don't know what stopped the "resonating" - maybe it was our respective willpower - but it finally stopped, and we shot away from each other. His soul form was in the background of people, while my soul form was lost in a dark tunnel.
I looked at the signs. They were written in Hangul, but they flickered into English as time went on. I eventually saw what they said, and learned which subway tunnel this was: this was Line 4, the tunnel from Hoehyeong.
(There coming... the Apostles,) I thought sadly.
When I was near that mysterious man, I felt parts of my memory return. I learned why Chungmuro was important. It was the station that Yu Junghyeok took over after he was done with the Second Scenario in Geumho Station. Chungmuro was targeted by many stations; one reason was due to it's late emergence into the 4th scenario. Yu Junghyeok also possessed the Chungmuro station; many people wanted to acquire Chungmuro to control Yu Junghyeok, or wanted to take it over because it was simply his station. There were downsides from appearing too strong and powerful.
The Apostles emerged from the darkness, and some of them looked peevishly stylish.
(Damn you people and your swagger,) I thought.
I made my soul form walk next to the Apostles. It felt as if I was in their group, which made me shudder, but I needed to see what happened next.
"Who the hell are you people?!" Gong Pildu shouted.
All of the Apostles stayed silent, except for the fat man with the "VII" on his shirt.
"No one important, really," he said.
The woman with the facial tattoo looked to the First Apostle and said, "There are a lot of dangerous people here. Delusional Demon Kim Namwoon, Maritime Admiral Lee Jihye, and Landlord Gong Pildu."
"HEY!! I'm talking to you!!" Pildu shouted.
"We'll proceed as planned," the First Apostle said, "but first..."
I couldn't see the First Apostle's eyes. They paused, and finished their sentence with a louder voice.
"Landlord Gong Pildu, let me plant my flag into Chungmuro station to avoid any necessary casualties!!"
The Chungmuro people began to mutter out.
"Haha! Why the hell are we gonna do that?!"
The person who shouted was a teenage boy with a slender body; they also had white hair. I saw their green uniform, and the name tag that was covered in blood. They were from the First Scenario.
(Kim Namwoon. The Delusional Demon. I wonder...)
[You have used Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Lv.3!]
(I want a [Character Summary] of Kim Namwoon, mainly his Constellation support and his stigma.)
+
Name: Kim Namwoon
Age: 19
Constellation: [Abyssal Black Flame Dragon]
Stigma: [Black Flames]
Private Attributes: [Chuunibiyou]
Personal Skills: Unusual Adaptably Lv. 5, Knife Fighting Lv. 6, Blackening Lv. 3
Personal Stats: [Stamina Lv. 23], [Strength Lv. 26], [Agility Lv. 19], [Mana Lv. 15]
Overall Evaluation: They are currently enraged because of the Apostle's interruption; they were taking a nap. They are currently feeling murderous.
+
(With Jihye, Pildu and Namwoon, the Apostles will be able to be defeated.)
(What?)
I saw the man from earlier. He was back again, and he was watching me as I observed the scene.
(Are you working with the Apostles,) the man asked.
(No. I'm not part of their group. I don't like the way they operate,) I said as I looked at the fat man, (and I don't like the people they choose.)
I saw the mysterious man nod. They asked me a question and thought, (What's your name?)
I pondered his question. This was South Korea, so I doubted I would be famous here. It was time to spread my infamy in some Asian countries.
(My name is Ethan Nakamura. I'm the King of Chaos and Revenge.)
(Oh ho. That's a pretty arrogant name, don't you think?)
(I'm quite the vengeful person,) I replied with my thoughts.
(Are you Japanese?)
(Why is it with people asking for my race?) I replied. (I don't know, I'm just Asian.)
(Alright then.) They turned their attention away from me.
If this was the person that I knew, they would be trying to get information out of me; perhaps to create a psychological image of me. It sucks that I couldn't see their face. It was behind a sheet of pixels. I hoped the same type of censoring would apply to me.
We turned our attention back to the fight.
***
"You should listen to my words, Kim Namwoon," First Apostle said. "We intend to take over this station."
"Haha! Over Master's dead body! Ever heard of Yu Junghyeok? He'll kick your asses," Kim Namwoon boasted.
"Are you not going to give me the station, Gong Pildu?" the First Apostle asked.
I saw Gong Pildu look at the people behind him. He paused, and seemed to ponder something.
(Pildu, if you give these people my station, I'll kick your ass.)
I didn't see the man who thought that, but it seems that the storyline has improved. I was confident that the people would be able to defend this station, especially with Kim Namwoon, Lee Jihye and Gong Pildu.
"Fine then..." the First Apostle said. "That's your answer."
The tension was brewing to the breaking point. If I was reading this as a story, I would be sitting on the edge of my seat. Sadly, I knew that TWSA had come to life. This wasn't a story anymore.
[You have activated Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Stage 2 on Kim Namwoon!]
[Your understanding of this individual is immensely high!]
I began to read his thoughts. I warped my body next to Namwoon, so I could be closer to his physical body. His thoughts began to burst forth, and they appeared as lines of text in front of my eyes.
(I gotta make sure to defend this station.)
Kim Namwoon's thoughts were tinged in worry.
(I have to protect Lee Jihye...)
As expected, this little kid still had his crush on the Maritime Admiral.
(I'll protect that annoying Yu Sangah, and that insect kid as well.)
(Wait, what?) I thought aloud.
(I'll also protect that fucker that tried to kill me in the subway car, too.)
A fight broke out. Kim Namwoon wielded a dark knife, and began to gather black flames around his body. He charged forward, and fought with Lee Jihye. I smiled.
(How very interesting... A fellow monster has developed a human heart.)
Lee Jihye and Kim Namwoon began to fight against the ugly bastard, the Seventh Apostle.
(Let's see how far you get in this story, Namwoon. I'll enjoy the show,) I thought.