• To The Central Plaza

Ji-Hoon's sigh broke through the heavy silence that had settled after the system notification rang out. He leaned against the rough, chipped brick wall, his shoulders sagging as if carrying an invisible weight. His lips barely moved as he mumbled quietly to himself, lost in his own thoughts. "Of course it wouldn't be that easy."

He took a deep breath and straightened his posture, standing tall and composed. With a calm, steady demeanor, he looked directly at Seo-Yeon and Min-Ji. "Alright, change of plans. We're heading for the central plaza."

"Central plaza?" Seo-Yeon echoed, confusion in her voice. "But the exit—"

"Sealed. Looks like we have a boss fight on our hands first." Ji-Hoon cut her off with a curt nod.

Min-Ji, although blindfolded, her gaze seemed to sharpen despite the lack of sight. Her hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of her materialized sword.

Seo-Yeon, always optimistic, puffed out her chest. "Let's do this then! We can take down a boss, right Oppa?"

Ji-Hoon offered her a faint smile, a playful glint in his eyes. "Of course we can. Just try not to get yourself killed this time, alright?" He teased, talking about how she died in the previous timeline.

A playful pout formed on Seo-Yeon's lips. "Hey! That was different!"

…

As they walked through the devastated campus, a chaotic scene gradually revealed itself before their eyes. The ground was littered with bodies, each had their own story to tell. Some were twisted in agony, while others lay unnaturally peaceful, as if their encounters with the monstrous creatures had varied in brutality. The sun shone down on discarded weapons, their metallic surfaces catching the light and serving as a somber reminder of the fierce battles that had taken place and the lives lost in the struggle.

Seo-Yeon's eyes widened as she took in the devastation. "Oppa," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, "there are so many dead players already."

Ji-Hoon observed the scene with indifference. "Getting a second chance doesn't guarantee strength, Seo-Yeon. Some people break under pressure."

He narrowed his gaze as he looked around the fallen players. Unlike the monsters whose essence dissipated some minutes after death, some players faintly shimmered with light particles. The stronger the player, the more bright the glow. He noticed that most of the bodies on the ground emitted a faint, almost non-existent shimmer.

"Hmph," he muttered to himself. "Looks like they weren't much to begin with then."

They originally planned to make a quick and direct path to the central plaza, but things quickly took a turn for the worse. Suddenly, out of the shadows, a pack of four strange creatures resembling oversized rats appeared.

Their fur was matted and sticky with fresh blood, and their sharp claws scraped against the ground as they scurried towards them.

Seo-Yeon, didn't waste a moment. Without any hesitation, she raised her staff and, with a flick of her wrist, unleashed a fireball that streaked through the air. The blazing sphere hit the closest rat, instantly engulfing it in roaring flames.

The rat let out a high-pitched, shrill screech that echoed through the area, but the sound was suddenly cut off as it crumpled into a smoldering heap of ash and charred fur.

The remaining monstrous rats, infuriated by the sudden attack, snarled and leaped forward, their claws tearing at the ground as they charged. Ji-Hoon, reacting in an instant, bent down and grabbed a broken sword lying at his feet. With a quick, smooth motion, he lifted the weapon, the broken edge glinting in the light.

In a heartbeat, Ji-Hoon's body became a silver blur as he activated his 'Blink' skill. His muscles tensed, and his legs propelled him forward with incredible speed. He seemed to vanish and reappear, darting through the air like a streak of lightning between the hulking, rat-like creatures. Proceeding to swing, delivering a deadly blow.

The first rat barely had time to react before Ji-Hoon's blade sliced through the air, embedding itself deep into its side. Blood spurted from the wound as the creature crumpled to the ground with a pitiful squeal.

Without pausing, Ji-Hoon continued. His feet barely touched the ground as he twisted his body, positioning himself perfectly for the next strike. The second rat was met with the same fate; his blade struck again, cleaving through fur and flesh easily.

The creature's eyes went wide with shock and pain before it too collapsed, its lifeless body twitching in its final moments. Ji-Hoon stood still for a brief moment, breathing heavily, his stance relaxed but ready for any further threats.

[The Void Of Planets questions your reliance on a single skill. Perhaps a more balanced approach would yield better results.]

[The One Who Judges With The Scales admires your combat prowess.]

The last remaining rat, cornered and desperate, lunged at Seo-Yeon. Min-Ji, materialized between them. Her sword, a spectral blade radiating faint light, met the creature's lunge in a shower of sparks. With a single, powerful swing, she bisected the beast.

A soft chime echoed in Ji-Hoon's mind.

[You have leveled up!]

[You have leveled up!]

He ignored the notification for now, focusing on the immediate threat. The first encounter had been a minor skirmish, but it served as a reminder of the dangers that lurked around every corner.

As they continued their walk, the devastated campus unfolded before them. Broken vending machines spilled their contents onto the ground, and pools of blood stained the sidewalks. The air was filled with the metallic smell of blood and the acrid scent of burning debris.

A knot of students huddled for comfort around a toppled statue, their faces etched with a raw and primal fear. Their eyes darted nervously between Ji-Hoon and his companions, a feeling of desperate curiosity and paralyzing terror swirling within them.

One student, a lanky young man with a mop of brown hair, hesitantly left from the group and shuffled towards Ji-Hoon. He stopped a few paces away, as he tried to muster the courage to speak.

"E-excuse me," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Are you guys strong? We were wondering if maybe…"

Before he could finish his sentence, a burly man with a shaved head popped up in front of him, shoving the boy aside.

"They strong alright, kid," the man boomed, his voice dripping with false friendliness. "See that fancy sword your friend's got? We could use some muscle like that on our team. How about you join us? Let's defeat the boss together."

Ji-Hoon took a glance at the man, analyzing his body movements and patterns. Seo-Yeon scoffed, her face frowned with disgust.

"Not interested," Ji-Hoon replied camly. "We have our own way of doing things."

The man's smile faded for a moment, then hardened. "Suit yourselves," he muttered, glancing at Seo-Yeon with a predatory glint in his eye. "But don't come crying to us when you get yourselves killed."

They ignored him, continuing their way towards the central plaza. Encountering similar groups became something that happned often. Some were desperate for protection, Others trying to use threats to secure servitude. Ji-Hoon simply kept refusing them.

Another skirmish erupted as they passed through a deserted library. Three emaciated figures, their skin stretched taut over their bones, emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing a sickly green. They were Ghouls, reanimated corpses twisted by dark magic.

Wasting no time the three of them sprung into action again.

Another chime echoed.

[You have leveled up!]