Chapter 03
Disintegration is a phenomenon in which the blue mist flowing from the gate contaminates the surroundings.
Areas contaminated by the magical power of the other world become a good environment for demons to live in.
If the area beyond the gate is called a 'dungeon', the area around the gate that was contaminated is called a 'field-type dungeon'.
First of all, this polluted place was like a dungeon, and considering that, the Korea University Museum of Art was like a land of death.
"I guess that student…"
The hunter couldn't say it.
But, anyone could tell what he was trying to say.
* * *
On the other hand, Suho…
[Your level increased!]
'Is it…that thing?'
Something unbelievable happened.
Letters floating in the air
The level-up notice he only saw in his dreams a long time ago appeared in reality.
'Geez. Is this a dream again?'
No.
This is definitely not a dream this time!
The vivid sense of reality passing through his skin was proving that fact.
In addition, the moment the level-up message appeared, the accumulated fatigue he felt had disappeared completely.
Even the minor burns caused by the Mist Burns were all healed.
But, what is this?
['Secret Quest: Courage of the Powerless' has been accomplished.]
[There are unread messages.]
The level-up notice he saw in his dreams was only that and nothing else.
There was an authentic feeling in it.
When Suho looked at the message, the message box opened automatically.
[There are two unread messages.]
[Welcome to being a 'player' in real life.] (Unchecked)
[The quest has transpired.] (Unchecked)
'Real-life… player?'
He checked the first message first.
[Secret Quest: Courage of the Powerless]
You have demonstrated your qualifications by gaining experience while non-awakened.
You have now leveled up from level 0 to level 1, and can now check the status window.
[INFORMATION]
This system supports the growth of the 'player'.
This time it's not 'tutorial mode'. Please note that in reality you only have one life.
'Tutorial mode? Was it perhaps my dream?'
Suho realized instinctively.
All the dreams he had in his teens were practice games, and now he's going to play for real.
Just like a game, some features that were not available in tutorial mode are now added.
For instance, the 'status window'.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Sung Suho
Level: 1
Occupation: None
Title: None
HP: 100/100
MP: 10/10
[STATS]
Strength: 10
Vitality: 10
Agility: 10
Intellect: 10
Senses: 10
(Divisive Ability Point : 0)
[SKILLS]
Passive Skill: None
Active Skill: Ruler Power Lv.1
Information on Suho was briefly displayed on the status window.
Just like a game.
Suho immediately checked the next message as well.
[Quest: Rescue the victims.]
There are people waiting to be rescued nearby.
Rescue as many of them as possible.
The reward depends on the number of people rescued.
-Current number of survivors: 52
-Current number of rescued victims : 0
The second was the quest window.
This quest window was also a feature that he had never seen in his dream.
'The reward varies depending on the number rescued?'
It was like a real game.
Except that this is a stark reality.
Even at this moment, people are still dying in real life.
[Current number of survivors: 52 → 51]
[Current number of survivors: 51 → 50]
Suho suddenly came to his senses when he saw this notice board.
Right then.
[Kheuuu!]
'Oops!'
He must have been too preoccupied with the status window.
A Mist Burn, which came close to him, started attacking.
"You!"
Suho just swung his arm everywhere.
Smack!
Something incredible happened.
[Ack!]
Mist Burn, who had been hit by Suho's fist, bounced back in agony.
"…Huh?"
Suho looked at his hand and was even more appalled.
He hit the blazing blue smoke with bare hands, but it wasn't even hot.
Another Mist Burn attacked from behind.
Suho immediately threw a fist without hesitation.
Smack!
[Ack!]
It was the same this time too.
Mist Burn helplessly bounced backward at Suho's normal punch.
[Khheuu?]
At this point, the Mist Burn was also taken aback.
Suho is obviously a person who doesn't look like much, but it hurts when he hits.
However, Mist Burn is a creature driven solely by instinct.
[Kheuhaaa!]
As the Mist Burn screamed, more of its kind around the area rushed towards Suho.
However, Suho was not shaken in the slightest by the menacing sight.
Because he realized…
That the moment they pose no threat to him is the time for him to strike back.
Thud!
Suho charged forward immediately.
Smack! Thud!
[Kheuhaaa!]
[Aaaack!]
There's a completely different thing from usual games.
The tank originally receives the monster's attack and blocks the frontline, while the damage dealer will carry out the strategy while attacking.
However, Suho ignored all that and just swung his fist toward the monsters.
Still, the effect was certain.
[You have killed a Mistborn!]
[You have killed a Mistborn!]
[You have killed a Mistborn!]
…
Suho kept moving, defeating them one by one.
[Current number of survivors: 37 → 36]
In the meantime, the number of survivors continued to decrease.
This means that the number of Mist Buns increased.
'The higher their numbers, the faster people will die.'
He must hurry.
Suho scoured the museum for survivors.
"Get out of here!"
He searched all corners of the Art Museum and sent them out.
[Current number of rescued victims: 12]
* * *
"What? How are these people escaping?"
The hunters outside the museum were shocked.
They were just checking the equipment before going in, but people kept coming out one by one.
"Someone saved me."
"A student inside helped me!"
The hunters who heard them were even more surprised.
"Who could be fighting the monsters inside?"
"Is another hunter already in there?"
Hearing this, Professor Lim shook his head.
"There's no way. Not only that there are no hunters among the students, but the other hunters haven't arrived yet."
Daehyun, who was listening next to him, said in a hopeful voice.
"Could it be Suho?"
"Suho?"
Assistant Lim and the hunters, doubtful at those words, exchanged glances with each other.
The odds of an ordinary person surviving in a field-type dungeon were extremely rare. But, they couldn't bear to tell Daehyun that his friend could be dead.
However, one of those who just escaped knew Suho.
"That's right! Senior Suho saved us!"
"What?!"
"Suho? How on Earth?"
"He's beating up the monsters with a bare fist."
"…Bare fist?"
The words made the hunters feel sorry.
Those people must have seen it incorrectly out of fear.
Fighting Mist Burn with bare fists was too risky.
'His hands would burn.'
'It's a suicide move.'
Unless you are a hunter who can cover your fists with magic, at least you must protect your hands with a gauntlet to avoid getting burned.
It almost sounded certain that a student named Suho was alive and saving people.
The hunters murmured with serious expressions.
"Maybe that student…has awakened."
"Suho awakened?"
Professor Lim turned his gaze towards the museum.
Even at that moment, victims rescued by Suho were still coming out.
The hunters murmured with serious expressions.
"Team leader, we're done measuring the mana. It seems to be a D-Class dungeon."
"Alright. We must hurry."
Knowing that it was a D-Class dungeon, the hunters felt more determined.
If it were a D-class dungeon, there would be monsters much stronger than Mist Burn.
Even if Suho, a student, had just awakened, no one could guarantee how long a beginner with no dungeon experience could hold out in there.
* * *
Ting…
[You have killed a Mistborn!]
After clearing all visible Mistborns, Suho let out a deep breath.
'Almost done.'
He was so exhausted he wanted to lie down, but his mind was empty.
Ring!
[Your level increased!]
Suho's whole body was wrapped in transparent light, and energy surged into his body.
'I'll be able to continue with this much!'
The moment Suho tries to find the remaining people and move forward.
Bang!
"…!"
Suddenly, the ceiling exploded.
Piles of stones scattered in all directions, along with a huge amount of dust.
Suho was startled and rolled on the floor, but he couldn't avoid it.
Red blood flowed from his forehead where his previous wounds had just healed when he got into level 2.
But, that wasn't the problem.
A giant wolf descended from a hole in the ceiling.
[Growl!]
Thud!
As soon as Suho saw that enormous thing, he stood up.
'I can never win against this.'
He thought while looking at it.
A survival instinct that all living things possess.
He felt an instinctive fear that was different from Mist Burn.
[Grrrr.]
The giant wolf arrogantly looked down at Suho.
Its eyes looked at the wounded prey with nowhere to run.
A tremendous sense of intimidation oppressed Suho.
"Kkk."
Suho clenched his teeth.
I had no intention of coming this far only to be weighed down by fear.
I'll just do whatever I can.
'If I can't escape, I'll attack first!'
Thud!
Suho took a rock he could get his hands on and threw it at the opponent.
However, the giant wolf raised its front foot and shook off the attack as if it were so ridiculous.
'Now!'
Suho jumped towards it quickly.
Then he swung the fist that had killed dozens of Mist Burns.
It wasn't enough.
[Growl!]
Crash!
The giant wolf bit Suho on the shoulder.
"Ack!"
Suho clenched his teeth and hit the wolf on the head with his body bitten.
That was also insufficient.
Blag!
In the end, Suho was thrown to the ground.
His body was pressed down by the giant wolf's front paws.
It was a losing fight to begin with.
Knowing that the wolf enjoyed the victory as if it were only natural.
Just as the wolf's ferocious teeth were about to bite Suho's neck.
It was then.
A miracle happened.
[Khiiiiikk-!]
Swooooooosh-!
From a distant universe.
Suddenly, a black bolt of lightning struck vertically from the sky above.
Grumble-!
[…!]
The ceiling exploded and a space between the giant wolf and Suho separated them apart.
As the dust cleared, the Ant King appeared with its whole body covered with black haze.
[Beru: Max Level]
Commander Beru flattened the wolf's jaws to the ground with one hand as he towered over Suho.