Death's Door

The goblins emerged slowly from the hallway, one by one. This time, each of them gripped a shiny metallic object in their hands.

"So they're using daggers now, interesting.."

The goblin wandered around the room as Kang-Joon laughed. Their red eyes widened as their lifeless comrades caught their gaze.

KKRAGHH!

The horde of goblins suddenly ran towards Kang-Joon. Tears poured down their eyes as the sound of screams echoed throughout the whole room.

"Huh? What's this?"

Kang-Joon's eyes widened as a sense of confusion washed over him. A crimson red text materialized above these green creatures as they inch their way closer to Kang-Joon.

> Level 4(ENRAGED)

> Level 3(ENRAGED)

> Level 5(ENRAGED)

*Hah, they must be mad since I killed these bastards. Anyways, their levels-*

[ Used Skill: Quick Steps(LVL. 1) ]

Kang-Joon propelled himself forward toward the charging goblins.

Clang!

As Kang-Joon danced through the horde, his dagger clashed with the goblin's, the metallic echoes resonatated throughout the labyrinth.

> You have lost 310 HP

> You have lost 280 HP

> You have lost 290 HP

The horde of goblins swung their daggers at Kang-Joon continuously. Kang-Joon moved his hands as fast as he could to block each strike of their blade, but, some of them connected and blood splurted out of Kang-Joon's chest.

"Fuck! You're telling me this is easy difficulty?!"

[ Used Skill: Quick Steps(LVL. 1) ]

Kang-Joon's feet swiftly moved backwards, away from the horde of goblins. His eyes looked down and saw that blood quickly dripped from his chest.

"Shit! System Window, Status."

_________________________

STATUS:

Name: Seo Kang Joon

Level: 12

Title: Monarch of Creation

HP: 1,640/2,520

MP: 620/1,100

EP: 150/7,200

STATS

Strength: 26

Agility: 30[+7]

Dexterity: 17

Stamina: 19

Intelligence: 22

Luck: 14

Available Stat Points: 14

_________________________

Kang-Joon fell onto his knees and grit his teeth as he grunted in pain.

All of the sudden, the system panel turned crimson red. Confusion swept over Kang-Joon as he continued to grunt in pain. Kang-Joon's eyes began to blink slowly as he glanced at the red system panel.

"Huh? Fuck... im seeing two of the same things."

_________________________

< You have been inflicted with status affect, 'Poison'! >

- You will lose 5 HP every second for the next minute!

_________________________

Kang-Joon narrowed his eyes and squinted at the system panel. Disbelief swept over him as he glanced through it.

"You've gotta be kidding me... these goblins have poison daggers now?"

Kang-Joon's eyes slowly began to shut. Laughter echoed throughout the hallway as the goblins marched towards him.

"I'm really... gonna die here."

The goblins raised their dagger as they smiled at the injured Kang-Joon. His eyes fully shut as he became unable to move. Disappointment swept over him as the goblin's dagger inched it's way to Kang-Joon's neck.

*W-why did this happen. Hephaestus trusted me with his hammer and legacy. I created such an overpowered dagger and yet I'm still not strong enough to defeat a horde of goblins. If only I had better combat skills.*

A sudden realization hit Kang-Joon as the goblin aimed it's dagger toward Kang-Joon's neck.

*Haha... I completely forgot I had that skill. Well, I guess I made a major mistake once again.*

Splat!

***

Kang-Joon looked around and found himself surrounded by an empty void of darkness.

*This darkness... is this the afterlife?*

"Hah... So you're the person I ended up with, huh."

Out of nowhere, a deep voice echoed throughout the darkness. Kang-Joon turned his head relentlessly as the voice got louder and louder.

"Who are you?! Where am I?"

The deep voice chuckled. Kang-Joon's eyes widened as confusion washed over him.

"Haha, you can hear me? Interesting."

Kang-Joon's eyes widened as his body trembled in fear.

*Th-this... what is this immense aura that I sense. It's behind me, I can feel it.*

He slowly turned around as he sensed a strong aura being emitted behind him.

Kang-Joon's eyes widened at the sight infront of him. His whole body trembled at the presence of this being.

"Y-you... are you an outer god?!"

Green lines formed itself into a face as Kang-Joon couldn't do anything but stand in it's presence.

Suddenly, a gust of wind pushed Kang-Joon back as the being laughed monstrously. The face followed Kang-Joon around as it continued to emit an immense aura.

"Hoh, so even you know about those bastards! You really are interesting."

Kang-Joon tilted his head as confusion swept over him. Out of nowhere, the empty void of darkness started to reshape itself.

"Where am I."

A large grass field surrounded Kang-Joon as he pondered his surroundings. His eyes widened as he turned around and tilted his head as confusion washed over him.

"Why is there a table with 2 seats in the middle of nowhere. Wait, this aura."

Kang-Joon turned around and a tall dark figure appeared before him. The figure had green eyes and covered in some sort of black veil. The figure chuckled as he walked over to the table.

"Come, let's discuss this while sitting down."

Kang-Joon followed the figure as if he felt obliged to do so. 

Thud...

They both took a seat underneath a beach umbrella that protected them from the intense rays of sunlight. Kang-Joon gazed at the figure's eyes as they both sat there in silence.

"Am I dead?"

The figure stared deeply into Kang-Joon's soul as a smile appeared on it's lips.

"You're not dead. You're currently inside my domain that I activated."

Kang-Joon's eyes narrowed, he slightly tilted his head and drew his eyebrow.

*His domain?*

All of the sudden, Kang-Joon's eyes widened as he stared into the figure's eyes

"You're Mammon?"

The figure laughed as a smile played on it's lips.

"You figured it out, congrats. Yes, I am the incarnation of greed, the very being that had stayed dormant inside your body until now, I am...Mammon."

Kang-Joon stared at Mammon with no expression.

Clap...clap...clap.

"Wow, so cool."

Mammon lowered his eyebrows. He got off the seat and pouted.

"Hey man! You could've acted like that was cool! I practiced that line so many times!"

Kang-Joon's lip straightened,his eyes narrowed as he gave a nervous chuckle

*Hah, this guy is supposedly stronger than an outer god?*

Mammon lowered his self and sat down on the chair. He looked straight into Kang-Joon's eyes as a smile played on his lips.

"Now... there's something I want to discuss with you."