Second calamity

Slash—! As the whole hall was enveloped in frenzy a single man could be seen at the center of it. The man, clad in a black suit, with eyes with rich crimson color and glistering black hair that messily fell on his face was seen as the perpetrator of this chaos. The man could be seen mercilessly cutting down everyone in his path.

I knew the bastard better than anyone here. Still, wasn't this too extreme? There wasn't any justification for his actions. Yet, at this moment, no one dared to stand up to him.

One by one countless bodies fell to the ground. The walls of the hall were painted a bright red and the floor became a pool of blood. Finally, the man approached my party.

Lee Hanho stood in front of the man. His eyes shook anxiously and his body trembled uneasily. He took out the scroll I had given him and for the first time, the man's expression shook. But it wouldn't be enough, even if Lee Hanho summoned the pinewood tiger he wouldn't match up to the monster in front of him.

I had to move. "Yoo Jinsun."

For the first time, the man lowered his sword. He exuded a dark aura as he turned to look at me.

"My name. How?"

Not completing his sentences. He really was the same bastard. He looked rather worn out, to an unhealthy extent. Which regression was this?

[The exclusive skill, 'Character attribution' is activated.]

[There is too much information on this character.]

[Information has been summarized.]

[Character Information.]

Name: Yoo Jinsun

Class: Murim Swordmaster

Attribute: Regressor (7th turn), Streamer.

Aspect: Eyes of deception Lv.8, Shunpo Lv.7, Mountain slash Lv.9, Effective barrier Lv.7, Sword mastery Lv.11, Weapon mastery Lv.8, Hand to hand combat Lv.10

The list of his aspects kept going endlessly, and I was once again in awe of his strength. There wasn't any way to defeat him, not by a long shot. Some people used the window I had opened and escape the museum while he was distracted.

I silently whispered to Park Hyungseok. "When I finish counting to five, run towards the exit while carrying Hanho-ah and Yoo Mia-ssi."

"Haneul-ssi, what about you?"

"...I'll be fine."

Yoo Jinsun silently watched me whisper to Park Hyungseok before opening his mouth again. By now he must be very pissed off.

"I asked you. How do you know my name?"

"An underground online streamer. Yoo Jinsun. I was a fan of yours."

Yoo Jinsun's hardened expression changed for the first time, and he had a look of nostalgia in his eyes. For a brief moment, he was locked in his memories, remembering his days as a streamer.

"A fan, huh. I haven't heard that in a long time."

Of course, it was a lie. Just before today Yoo Jinsun was a character in a game. Even in the game before the fall happened, Yoo Jinsun was an unknown streamer that barely lived a normal life.

"I'll excuse your impudence this one time. But your situation hasn't changed."

I nervously looked at the sword that was currently exuding an ominous aura. This bastard... Did six regressions wear him out this much? By now, he must have lost his rationale. The Yoo Jinsun of the 7th regression only cared about himself and moved with the motto of whatever would place him on top.

But, I wasn't going to let him walk all over me just because he was a protagonist.

"5"

Park Hyungseok dashed forward and ran with his life. Yoo Jinsun braced himself and got ready to cut down Park Hyungseok. This bastard, did he not care about his potential companion that I stole?

I lunged forward and stopped Yoo Jinsun's sword from striking. The impact made my bones shake and an immense pain spread throughout my body. Natural born monsters were different after all.

"That sword. How?"

"It's something only I would know."

In the next moment, I felt my stomach being turned inside out and held myself from groaning. This bastard kicked me with his strength at such a high level. My body which couldn't be scratched by a military knife was now hurting from his kick.

"You didn't get flown away. It seems you've already mastered the use of coins."

"I could say the same to you."

He tried to kick me again but by now I had no reason to withstand his attack. Park Hyungseok had taken Yoo Mia and Lee Hanho and escaped the museum. By now, the message should've appeared.

[The second calamity has started.]

[The Second Calamity - Race against time.]

Category: Main

Difficulty: D

Clear conditions: Reach one of the five districts mentioned below at the designated time:

1) Gangnam district

2) Gangbuk district

3) Gangdong district

4) Gangseo district

5) Gwanak district

Time duration: 15 minutes

Reward: 1000 coins

Failure: Death

+

The second calamity was the nail in the coffin. The closest district from here was Gangseo. But even that would take quite some time if you hadn't been on the run before the calamity started.

"You heard it, right? Shouldn't you be on your way?"

Yoo Jinsun didn't respond. He simply stared at me for a few seconds before opening his mouth.

"Which street."

"What?"

"Which street were you in during the first calamity?"

I slowly started to understand the motive behind this question.

"Street 18."

I didn't know if he was aware of it or not but right now Yoo Jinsun had a bewildered expression on his face.

"Where are the twins? How the hell are you alive?"

"They're dead."

His expression hardened and for the first time, he went on the defensive.

[The character 'Yoo Jinsun' is wary of you.]

[Your exclusive skill, 'Narration' has been activated.]

In the next second, Yoo Jinsun's thoughts entered my mind like a waterful.

'The demonic duo should've survived.'

'Only Park Hyungseok and the twins should've lived.'

'Three people besides Park Hyungseok and the twins survived.'

'Who the hell is this guy?'

'Why does he talk so friendly with me?'

'Approach with caution, if any surprising elements... Kill.'

A chill went down my spine as I heard his last thought. This indifferent bastard. My situation was very depressing, if Yoo Jinsun chose to fight me I would be toast. I had to reason with him... But how?

Yoo Jinsun took a single step and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of me. I tried to swing my sword before being grabbed by my neck. I hadn't noticed it before but this bastard was really tall. He lifted me and tightened the grip on my neck.

"Your name." He demanded.

"Kim Haneul."

"Why's your hair white?"

"...I get that a lot."

Bam—! A strong force hit my stomach and I held myself back from vomiting.

"No unnecessary answers. You will only answer what I ask. Understood?"

Look at this indifferent way of talking. Protagonist bastard. But I wasn't going to let him walk all over me. I had to show him I was of equal standing.

"I want the full story of how you survived.'

He finally asked the question he wanted to. My survival depended on how I worded the event. It had to be concise and vague, but just enough to satisfy his curiosity.

I began speaking. I told him the events, everything that happened in that street. It was concise and vague, I let out some important information. Yoo Jinsun's expression kept changing as I told the story. Sometimes he had a look of surprise while other times a look saying 'I already knew that'.

"...You killed red ants and survived?"

"Yes. As unbelievable as it sounds."

"You're telling me there was coincidentally a kid with a jar of red ants?"

"If you don't believe me, I'm sure you remember the kid you were about to cut down."

"Scary coincidence."

"Coincidences are scary..."

'The story is convincing.'

'There are some questionable elements.'

'He probably killed Park Jiho.'

"Are your questions over?"

Yoo Jinsun had a troubled expression. He looked on as if he was unaware of things. "...Yes."

"Then, can you let me go now? There's only 7 minutes left in the calamity."

"I'm not sure."

Yoo Jinsun slowly started to walk, while still holding me by the neck. "Your story is perfect. There are no flaws in it."

'He's surprisingly calm.'

'He has adjusted to this world at an alarming rate.'

'Is he also a regressor?'

'He's gone from being useful to dangerous.'

'I have to kill him.'

This bastard. Yoo Jinsun discarded what he didn't know. Right now, I was an element of surprise for him. Someone who wasn't in the previous regressions was suddenly challenging him.

"Yoo Jinsun. You need a trustworthy companion. I'll fill that role."

"...What do you mean?"

"You can't clear the 27th calamity by yourself. You won't be able to stop the outbreak in Gangbuk. You need a companion that would help you."

"How do you know—"

"What I know or who I am isn't important." I was a fool. I had forgotten how careful this bastard was. I hadn't seen a protagonist more cautious than Yoo Jinsun.

A dark aura surrounded Yoo Jinsun and his eyes shone a bright red. Dammit, I knew what he was doing right now. Rather, it would be weird if he didn't use that skill.

[The Character 'Yoo Jinsun' has used the skill 'Eyes of Deception Lv.8']

[Your attribute 'Separation' is glaring at the character 'Yoo Jinsun'.]

[The use of the skill 'Eyes of deception' has been nullified.]

Sparks flew in the air and Yoo Jinsun had a tense expression. "You! What the hell are you?"

I'm sorry even I wasn't sure of that.

My attribute and skills were weird from the beginning. I was more surprised I had a skill that could nullify the SSS-grade skill 'Eyes of Deception'.

'A skill that can nullify mine...'

'Only an Apostle could do that.'

'Is this guy?...'

Apostles were storytellers that appeared in the game. Originally, there would only be two Apostles. Of course, I wasn't one. My only edge was that I stuck with the game till its end and memorized all of its events. But I couldn't tell that to Yoo Jinsun right now.

'If he's an Apostle his actions make sense.'

'But there should only be two. And for there to be an extra in South Korea?'

"Yoo Jinsun. Make me your companion. I know the future that you don't know."

"You, are you an Apostle?"

"Yes."

"Then, you can use the storytelling skill?"

"...It's something similar to that."

'I see. He's an Apostle. It all makes sense now.'

[Due to immense fatigue and mental pressure your exclusive skill 'Narration' has been turned off.]

A part of my brain shut off and I could no longer hear Yoo Jinsun's thoughts. It wasn't necessary as I was safe now.

"Is your curiosity satisfied? Then can we go now? There isn't much time left in the calamity."

"Kim Haneul."

A strange sense of fear washed over me as I gazed into Yoo Jinsun's serene eyes. He had a sophisticated expression that made it seem as if he was in bliss. I stuck with this bastard for over ten years. I knew Yoo Jinsun better than anyone. But for the first time, I saw an expression I couldn't read.

"I trust you. You're definitely an Apostle."