Chapter 196 – Thirty-Six Stratagems: Run Away!

Episode 196

Who would emerge from that portal?

Triunfo? FCC?

‘It’s more likely to be Triunfo, right?’

If it were the FCC, they would have used a dimensional rift like before. There was no need to open the exit portal, which could be used by Triunfo reinforcements.

‘But who knows? Maybe they’re opening it leisurely because they’ve completely subdued Triunfo.’

Kim Jinsung, unaware of the situation outside, had to consider all possibilities.

First, what if Triunfo Clan members entered?

‘That wouldn’t be good. They’ll find out that I killed the prospects…’

He knew that the camera inside his Triunfo-issued armor had an automatic recording function.

What if Triunfo found out that he had mercilessly beheaded eight participants?

He wouldn’t receive a favorable evaluation. They might even label him as ‘a potential traitor’ and become hostile.

‘More importantly, there’s no reason for me to stay in Triunfo anymore.’

Why had he joined Triunfo in the first place?

To escape the pursuit of the Korean Clan and the Triunfo Clan.

He had planned to become an insider, rise to an executive position, and then manipulate them from within, knowing that he would be endlessly pursued as long as he remained in the New Continent.

He had believed that even the Korean Clan wouldn’t be able to touch him if he became a Triunfo executive.

But those plans were now useless.

‘They’ll be too busy fighting the FCC to care about me.’

Dumont, the Master of the FCC Clan, had openly revealed himself and tried to kill the prospects, and the scene had been broadcasted live throughout the New Continent.

An all-out war between the FCC and Triunfo was inevitable.

They might even have to mobilize all their clan members from other cities in the New Continent. Would they have the time and resources to deal with a wanted fugitive like him?

‘In conclusion, I’m better off escaping if I don’t want to be caught up in Triunfo’s mess.’

He couldn’t see any positive outcome from staying with Triunfo. He was better off escaping and changing his identity again.

‘And if the FCC Clan enters through the portal, I’ll have to either avoid them or fight them.’

He had killed the Master of the FCC Clan. He was now their number one target.

‘The more I think about it, escaping is the best option.’

No matter who emerged from that portal, escaping before they arrived was the best course of action.

So, how should he escape?

‘Should I go back to the entrance portal? …No, either the FCC or Triunfo must have already secured it.’

He didn’t know that the entrance portal had been completely destroyed.

But even if it hadn’t been, going back to the entrance portal was too obvious.

‘Then there’s only one option left.’

He walked towards Victor, who was lying on the ground, covered in blood, and stopped in front of him.

He took out a potion from his waist and poured it on Victor.

“…Ugh… Huh…?”

Victor, who had been groaning in pain, started to regain his senses.

By the time he finished pouring the potion, Victor had recovered enough to sit up and look at him.

“Here.”

He kicked a hunter’s bracelet towards Victor.

Victor looked at the bracelet with a hesitant expression.

“What are you waiting for? You can’t even use your unique ability or Mana.”

“……!”

Victor’s eyes widened in shock.

He seemed to have finally realized that he was under the effect of the ‘Mana Seal’ skill.

“Put it on and do as I say. You have 10 seconds.”

He tapped the hilt of his sword rhythmically.

Victor had no choice but to pick up the bracelet.

“What are you… going to make me do?”

He asked, and Kim Jinsung answered,

“First, we need to get out of here.”

* * *

Moments later,

the exit portal fully opened, and about 20 hunters poured in.

Melahel, the boss, reacted immediately.

[You despicable Middle Realm beings! Trying to ambush me from behind instead of fighting fair and square…]

**Slice.**

Her words were cut short.

Her head was cleanly severed, and her body disintegrated into light.

“…Isn’t that where the building with the two stages used to be?”

Yoo Jun-ho asked, sheathing his sword and gesturing towards the front.

“It is, but…”

Maximilio, the Triunfo official who had accompanied them, trailed off.

The 30th floor stage building he knew was far from the completely demolished ruin before him.

“Let’s go over there.”

Yoo Jun-ho took the lead, followed by about 10 Korean Clan members, including Team Leader Hong.

Maximilio and the few Triunfo Clan members trailed behind them.

‘It’ll be dangerous if there are any FCC Clan members left…’

Maximilio’s face was filled with worry.

He knew how strong Yoo Jun-ho and Team Leader Hong Yeonseok were. That was why he had dared to enter the dungeon with them.

But their opponents were the FCC Clan’s elite forces, including Dumont, the Master.

Yoo Jun-ho and Hong Yeonseok alone were outnumbered and outmatched.

“…It seems like there’s no one here.”

Hong Yeonseok’s report relieved everyone, including Maximilio.

“I don’t sense anyone either. Let’s go in.”

They followed Yoo Jun-ho into the ruined stage building.

The interior was littered with weapons, armor, and bloodstains, presumably left behind by the FCC Clan members and the Triunfo prospects.

“It seems like they fought fiercely.”

Yoo Jun-ho looked at a thick root lying on the ground.

He knew about Dumont’s unique ability and recognized the root as a trace of his battle.

“But where are the bodies?”

He looked around.

There wasn’t a single body in sight.

“It’s either one of two things. There was a powerful explosion that turned all the bodies to ash.”

Maximilio instinctively looked at the building again at Yoo Jun-ho’s words.

For the sturdy stage building to be demolished like this, there must have been at least one massive explosion.

“…Or the situation was resolved so quickly that they were able to dispose of the bodies and retreat cleanly.”

“It could be both.”

“I also think that’s highly likely.”

Yoo Jun-ho agreed with Hong Yeonseok.

Maximilio asked, puzzled,

“But where did they escape to? The entrance portal is currently sealed, and if they had escaped through the exit portal, you would have noticed, wouldn’t you?”

Yoo Jun-ho nodded.

“They definitely didn’t escape through the exit portal. Then there’s only one possibility left.”

“What…?”

“How did the FCC Clan enter when they ambushed the newbie showdown participants?”

“They… Ah!”

Maximilio finally understood, and Yoo Jun-ho continued,

“They appeared through a dimensional rift. It’s highly likely that they used the same method to escape.”

* * *

Yoo Jun-ho’s prediction was accurate.

Kim Jinsung, using Victor, had entered a dimension frequently used by the FCC Clan.

“…And?”

He was sitting on the ground of the new dimension, continuing to question Victor.

“…I’ve… told you… everything…”

Victor answered with a vacant expression, drooling, his voice hollow.

He was clearly suffering from the aftereffects of the ‘Hypnosis’ skill.

“Really? You have no more information to share?”

“No…”

“Good work.”

**Slice.**

Kim Jinsung beheaded Victor without hesitation.

▶ You have defeated an evil being.

▶ Acquired 375 Beast Karma Points.

▶ Acquired the opponent’s trait ‘Material Transformation’.

▷ Material Transformation: Allows the user to transform their body, or any material in contact with their body, into any desired metal. Mana consumption increases with the amount of material transformed.

‘Material Transformation…’

He looked at his hand. It instantly transformed into steel.

He reverted it back to its original form and thought,

‘I heard there are many new metals discovered in other dimensions in the New Continent. This could be a useful ability.’

What if he transformed 1kg of ordinary earth into a valuable metal from another dimension?

That alone would be a huge benefit.

‘Anyway, this is impressive.’

He stood up and looked around.

The sky was strange, looking like night even though the sun was shining brightly.

The plants growing on the pink ground were all black.

He scanned the barren landscape, devoid of any other life forms, and continued his thought,

‘Humans have actually reached the level of dominating other dimensions.’

It had been over 500 years since the New Continent appeared.

During that time, humans had learned one thing from fighting the monsters that came through dimensional rifts.

They could use Mana stones, obtained by killing monsters, to travel to the dimensions where those monsters originated.

Some of the larger Major Clans had taken advantage of this knowledge and completely wiped out dimensions inhabited by only weak monsters, claiming them as their own.

Those conquered dimensions were then used for ‘dimensional travel’, allowing them to freely enter and exit dungeons. As long as they knew the coordinates of the desired dungeon, they could open a dimensional rift using a Mana stone and travel there.

But not many Major Clans knew about this method.

Even the FCC Clan, one of the top-ranked Major Clans, had only recently discovered it. So the number of Major Clans who knew about this method was probably less than 30.

That was the truth about ‘dimensional travel’ he had learned from hypnotizing Victor.

—