The tests of death, 2
When Yuki was about to take a blow straight to the face, he was suddenly teleported — dodging what could've been a fatal hit.
Yuki: "Holy shit… that was close…"
But in Yuki's mind, one thing kept echoing: Was Min-Su Ah okay?
The question haunted him — and yet, deep down, he knew Min-Su Ah was safe.
Yuki: "He's fine. I can feel it."
Unconsciously, he closed his eyes. His mind spun in confusion. But when he opened them again—
Yuki: "Huh?…"
His brain froze. The lighting… the familiar sounds… When he finally processed it — he was at school.
Yuki: "Why the hell am I here?…"
A teenager bumped into Yuki, making him stumble.
???: "Oops, sorry, princess! Hahaha!"
The group around the boy burst out laughing. Yuki's heart pounded hard. His breathing quickened.
Yuki (thinking): Was it all fake...?
He was spiraling into panic — and then someone yanked his hair and slammed him to the ground. His head hit hard, and he cried out in pain.
Leonardo: "Look who we got here! Hahaha!"
The students laughed louder. Yuki's mind went blank. He couldn't think — just wanted to run.
Yuki tried to get up, but a kick slammed into his gut. He hit the floor again, breathless, tears welling in his eyes.
Leonardo: "Is the little girl gonna cry?"
Leonardo laughed sadistically, grabbed Yuki's leg and started dragging him down the hallway.
Leonardo: "Let's go somewhere more… private."
Yuki watched, helpless. He had no strength left after that hit. But just before they turned the corner, he kicked out — hitting Leonardo's leg and breaking free. He stood up and sprinted away in full panic.
Leonardo: "Yuki... Yuki... I hate tag…"
He bolted after him.
Yuki ran aimlessly, lungs on fire. At the end of the hallway, he stopped — unsure of which way to go. But when he turned—
Leonardo's fist was already flying.
This time it landed clean. It should've knocked Yuki out. But somehow, he stayed conscious through the agony. He screamed as his nose cracked, blood pouring out.
Leonardo: "Today's the day I kill you, Yuki."
He stared down, grabbing Yuki by the collar.
Yuki: "H-Hey… d-dude… you don't have to—"
Another punch. Then another. And another. His nose was definitely broken. He lost a couple teeth. Yuki knew if this kept going — he'd die.
His survival instinct took over.
With everything he had left, Yuki punched Leonardo in the groin. Hard.
Leonardo: "YOU SON OF A BITCH!!"
Leonardo dropped to his knees.
Yuki staggered to his feet and ran. Not sure where. Not even looking.
Leonardo (from afar): "I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!!"
Yuki stumbled into the school kitchen. Without thinking, he started rifling through drawers. Hands shaking. Desperate.
He found a knife.
His vision was blurred with blood. He wiped his face, barely able to see.
And there, in the doorway — Leonardo.
Leonardo: "So… you finally grew a pair?"
He grinned maniacally, pulling a knife of his own.
Leonardo: "Let's see who dies first!"
He lunged at Yuki — murderous intent radiating from him.
But Yuki wasn't afraid of him anymore. He was afraid of dying.
When Leonardo attacked, Yuki dove at him. The knife stabbed his shoulder — but in that same second, Yuki drove his own blade into Leonardo's neck.
Leonardo dropped.
Yuki: "I… did it…"
He stared at the body. But something was wrong. It began to twist… shift… turn into black goo.
Yuki: "So that's it… that was the test. Ever since everything went quiet, since no one else showed up, and all focus was on Leonardo… it was obvious. This ends now."
With the knife still in his shoulder, he avoided removing it to prevent more bleeding. He grabbed a bottle of cooking oil and a box of matches from a drawer.
Poured it all over the "Leonardo" thing. Lit a match.
And dropped it.
Flames spread. Yuki sat down and watched it burn.
Then — the system window appeared.
---
System:
Congratulations, Reader Yuki. You have perfectly cleared your trial and successfully killed the mimic controlling your nightmare.
Rewards: Full physical healing and 5 silver coins.
Note: 100 bronze = 1 silver. 50 silver = 1 gold.
---
His body healed instantly. The coins appeared in his inventory. The world around him faded — revealing a much smaller room.
A door appeared ahead.
Yuki: "That's probably the exit."
Still shaken, he stepped out — finding himself in a hallway lined with doors. On each was a name and a percentage meter.
> "Near madness = Suicide or Death: 50%. Finished."
Yuki: "Guess I didn't lose my mind because I figured it out first…"
He walked, scanning the doors.
> Suicide. Dead. Dead. Suicide…
A trail of tragedy.
Then — one door caught his eye.
> Min-Su Ah — 80%.
Yuki: "80%?! Min-Su Ah!"
He banged on the door — but a new window appeared.
---
System:
Reader Yuki, do you wish to assist Reader Min-Su Ah? Side mission initiating.
Mission: Help Reader Min-Su Ah confront his trauma before it's too late.
Rules: If you choose to help, you'll take on all of Min-Su Ah's pain — physically. If you fail, you both die. While Min-Su Ah is trapped in the illusion, you'll continuously receive damage until he breaks free — or until you free him.
Reward: Min-Su Ah's life.
Failure: Mutual death.
---
Yuki: "He trusted me… I'll prove he was right."
He grabbed the doorknob — and it opened.
---
System:
Side mission accepted.
---
Inside, Min-Su Ah sat on the floor, sobbing, eyes pitch black — lost in illusion.
[A few minutes earlier…]
Min-Su Ah opened his eyes — inside his childhood home. He looked around, tense.
He was six years old again.
???: "You little SHIT!"
His mother rushed in and grabbed his hand painfully tight.
???: "As if chasing your father away wasn't enough — now you're breaking MY stuff?!"
Min-Su Ah looked down. A broken vase. One his father had bought. His mother planned to sell it.
???: "I'm DONE with you. Min-Su Jin!"
His brother entered.
Min-Su Jin: "You sure you want me to?"
???: "Just do it. I'm sick of this brat."
Min-Su Jin approached the trembling boy. The kid tried to escape his mom's grip, sobbing silently.
Min-Su Ah: "M-Mom… it hurts…"
Min-Su Jin knelt down.
Min-Su Jin: "C'mon, little bro…"
His mom let go. Min-Su Ah clung to his brother's leg. His mother seethed with rage. Min-Su Jin took him outside.
Min-Su Ah: "Hyung… where are we going?…"
Min-Su Jin: "…Don't ask questions."
They reached a motorcycle.
Min-Su Jin: "Hold on."
Min-Su Ah did as told.
They stopped at a park.
Min-Su Jin: "Go play."
Excited, Min-Su Ah ran toward the swings — but then heard the engine.
He turned.
His brother was leaving.
Min-Su Ah: "Hyung?…"
He walked up slowly, confused.
Min-Su Ah: "He'll be back… he must've just gone to get something…"
He sat down.
And waited.
As night fell, he started crying.
Min-Su Ah: "Hyung… why are you taking so long?... D-Did you forget about me?..."
---
[Back in the present]
Yuki walked closer.
Yuki: "Hey, Min-Su?..."
Min-Su Ah turned — and saw the man who'd found him on the street that night.
Min-Su Ah: "W-Who are you?..."
Yuki froze at the fear in his eyes.
Yuki: "It's me. Yuki…"
He stepped forward.
But Min-Su Ah heard: "Come, child… we're going to the station."
Min-Su Ah: "N-No! I'm waiting for my hyung!!"
Yuki was confused.
Yuki: "What are you talking about, Min-Su?..."
He got closer. Min-Su Ah backed into the wall.
Min-Su Ah: "NO!! HE'S COMING BACK FOR ME!!"
Yuki realized — Min-Su Ah's trauma was abandonment.
Yuki: "Min-Su Ah, listen to me. This isn't real…"
He placed his hands on Min-Su's shoulders.
---
System:
Transferring Reader Min-Su Ah's pain to Reader Yuki…
---
Min-Su Ah panicked.
Min-Su Ah: "LET GO… LET GO!!"
Yuki suddenly felt excruciating pain. Blood dripped from his nose. Ears rang. His whole body screamed.
Still — he didn't let go.
Yuki: "MIN-SU AH, IT'S ME! YUKI!!"
Min-Su bit his neck. But Yuki was already numb from pain.
He hugged him.
Yuki: "It's me…"
---
System:
All pain has been transferred to Reader Yuki.
---
The illusion began to fade. Min-Su Ah saw Yuki's silhouette.
Min-Su Ah: "Y-Yuki?..."
Yuki: "Yeah… I'm here."
The nightmare shattered. The mimic was psychological.
Yuki hugged him tighter.
Yuki: "You're safe now…"
Min-Su Ah couldn't speak. He hugged Yuki back with everything he had.
---
System:
Reader Yuki has completed the side mission to save Reader Min-Su Ah.
---
Yuki: "It's okay now, Min-Su…"
Min-Su Ah clung to him like he'd never let go.
Min-Su Ah: "Hyung…"
Yuki smiled and stroked his hair. Minutes later, once Min-Su had calmed, Yuki explained everything.
Min-Su Ah: "Why… why did you do all that? You could've died…"
Yuki: "You trusted me, remember? I had to prove you made the right call."
Min-Su Ah was stunned. But for the first time — he smiled. A real, honest smile.
Min-Su Ah: "Thanks… Hyung…"
Yuki blinked. "Hyung." Older brother. He accepted it.
Yuki: "Don't mention it. Now c'mon. I'm so done with creepy rooms."
Min-Su Ah chuckled and nodded. They stood up and walked out together.
---
System:
Phase One — Sacrifice of the Weak — has been completed.
All groups now contain 25 readers.
Reward: 100 bronze coins and 10% of a random ability.