Chapter 255

Chapter 255. Age of Turmoil (5)

Once he stirred, the community would buzz. That was K.

He had once again stirred up a storm.

Upon confirming the content of the post, the man began skimming through the comments.

– Hallelujah: Is it true? Is there a way to remove the strong debuff timer?

– Muse: K is Korean?

– Alexandra: Where’s Korea?

– Pegasus: Isn’t it the place with K-POP? In Asia.

– Hero91: So is K called K because he’s Korean?

– Alexandra: Korean, you say? I swear K is a white guy! I saw him myself!

– Minecart: There were rumors in the early days that K was Asian. But since he’s white, I thought those were just mistaken rumors. Could he really be Korean?

– Toma: Excuse me, but did you get permission from the monk to post this? Technically, it’s confidential information about K’s abilities, and sharing it without consent might not be wise.

– Tomato Juice: Toma, do you live on this community board? LOL! Do you have a filter for K? You always pop up whenever K is mentioned, LOL.

– Hector: Overreacting much. Why does it matter what people gossip about in the community?

– Moon Rabbit: Everyone’s free to talk. They’re responsible for what happens afterward, though.

– Pinocchio: Should we just delete it? It feels uncomfortable. I heard K’s personality is no joke.

…….

However, before he could go through all the comments, a notification popped up saying the controversial post had been deleted.

It seemed the author had been scared off by the reactions.

“Probably feared getting on K’s bad side.”

They were excitedly gossiping just moments ago, and now this.

The man chuckled at the lack of backbone and closed the warning window.

Of course, it wasn’t that he was dismissing the information that the author had shared.

“An Alpha has declared their domain…”

In the community, it was relatively easy to find information about player ranks.

There was also some knowledge about the distinction between Alpha and Beta and their innate purification ability.

However, precise information about the growth-type purification trait was lacking.

And there wasn’t much information about the fact that levels could be increased or the additional effects according to said levels.

‘Which is why I wasn’t sure before.’

The newly emerged Alpha candidate, K, was now confirmed to be an Alpha.

And this Alpha was the means to counteract the mysterious pathogens.

‘Turns out you can purify pathogens when the level is high enough.’

The theory I had was confirmed at that moment.

“Fantastic.”

A bright smile spread across the hidden man’s face in the darkness.

His gaze was now fixed on his own status window rather than the community window.

Among various pieces of information filling the status window, there was a section displaying:

Rank: Alpha

Trait: Deception, hypocrisy, ?????, purification (lv.2 -1.58%)

It had words similar to someone else’s, yet distinctly different.

* * *

I had increased the level of my trait before discovering Irel.

Having access to opponents at general-rank as well as nemesis-rank couldn’t be squandered.

Kim Yul and Yang Taeho intentionally allowed themselves to be infected to help me build purification proficiency.

During the simultaneous purification of the two, the proficiency rapidly increased.

What we did back then, cutting down on sleep for it, could appropriately be called grunt work.

‘Thanks to that, my Purification trait is at level 5.’

Afterward, I gained the ability for remote purification.

Although there was a constraint that it could only be done within my declared domain.

‘And that domain only extends 300 meters.’

For now, this was sufficient.

“Hoo.”

Having finished my task, I let out a long sigh.

The area within my domain, which had been crawling with corrupted mana and pathogens until a moment ago, was now clear.

The sensation of hundreds or even thousands of bugs surrounding me hadn’t been pleasant.

The sensation was so disgusting I had to cover my mouth involuntarily.

Nevertheless, I had persistently purified everything within my domain.

The result was that there wasn’t a trace of corruption or infection left in my domain.

Much effort had been needed to achieve that result, though.

And as evidence of my exertion, my body was drenched in sweat.

‘Not even during battle have I sweated like this.’

The more numbers there were, the more taxing purification became. There was no avoiding it.

‘But I need to get used to it.’

There might come a time when I would need to purify not just dozens but hundreds or thousands at once.

So I gritted my teeth and completed the purification, and the result was satisfactory.

I pushed back my sweat-drenched hair and opened my eyes.

I was met with quite an astonishing scene.

“…….”

All the players who had gathered due to the pathogens were kneeling.

Even Yang Hyewon, who was beside me, was doing the same.

Given that they were all gathered in a circle around me, it seemed a bit.

‘As if they were all kneeling to me.’

They had buckled under the sensation of purification, unable to withstand it.

Those unaware of the context might find the scene peculiar.

As proof, the once noisy surroundings had fallen into an eerie silence.

It was unsettling how everything seemed to have come to a halt, like the world had stopped.

A scenario as silent as this, akin to being outdoors, was disconcerting on many levels.

Fortunately, this unsettling quiet did not last.

A chat message arrived at just the right moment.

– Kj: Garosu-gil’s getting overwhelming!!! Really overwhelming!! Mokgye!!! Come set some fires!!!

While the content wasn’t particularly welcome.

After confirming Yul’s message, I spoke.

“From now on, we’ll set separate purification schedules. Until then, manage your timers personally.”

“Yes, yes, sir!”

“Understood!”

Though I was startled by the sudden loud responses from all around.

“Let’s resume clearing the Hole without wasting time here.”

I wrapped up the situation trying not to show my reaction too much.

While sprinting towards Yul at Garoosu-gil, many thoughts raced through my mind.

‘It may have been hastily managed today. But I can’t single-handedly resolve the world’s infection issues. Another Alpha, as well as different purification measures, are urgently needed.’

It looked like I needed to brainstorm and scratch my head until the system returned.

* * *

In the sealed-off area of Gangnam, explosions and monstrous shrieks still echoed.

As a result, people’s daily lives had fallen apart.

Close to the barricades, large-scale protests erupted with people wanting to confirm the security of their family members.

The collapse of the paralyzed financial market led individuals into bankruptcy, prompting some to take their lives.

Those with no hope for tomorrow chose to step outside the bounds of the law.

A day, then two, then three.

The turmoil grew even more intense over time.

As the unrest among the citizens continued escalating with no sign of quelling, the president of South Korea made a decisive move.

He declared martial law.

Changes started from the vicinity of the barricades guarded by heavily armed troops.

An unforeseen clash occurred between the citizens venturing to check on their families and the military.

A variety of human dramas unfolded amidst the confusion.

“Citizens! This is a time of martial law! Disperse immediately, or you’ll be detained under martial law!”

“!!! Let go! Let me find my daughter!”

“Please! Allow us to at least find the bodies, the bodies!”

“Disperse! Immediately disperse!

“My son works over there!”

“My mother went to the hospital!”

“Oh dear, oh dear!”

“Hey, hey, think you can steal that gun?”

“Should I kill one of them? Wouldn’t make a difference if a soldier or two dies amidst this chaos.”

“Ladies and gentlemen! Watch as the soldiers are indiscriminately taking away innocent citizens!”

“This is literally the scene of chaos!”

“To Mr. Big Banana, thanks for your support! Oh, you mean to be captured by the military?”

“Turn off the camera! You think martial law is a joke?!”

Of course, there were those who discreetly slipped away from the chaos.

Two men, donning hoodies and backpacks, approached the barricades amidst the disorder.

The two were journalists and a cameraman from a broadcasting station.

“Equipment, equipment first!”

The reporter who first crossed the barricade received the equipment.

The cameraman soon followed the reporter.

Thanks to the soldiers dispersing to break up the crowd, it became miraculously possible.

The two quickly crawled under a bus to conceal themselves.

Fearful of being caught and dragged out, their hearts pounded anxiously.

Though frightened, they couldn’t retreat now.

They weren’t there for trivial gains or to satisfy curiosity.

‘We must convey what’s happening inside the barricade to the citizens.’

On the first day of the crisis, the South Korean government made a shocking announcement of an alien invasion.

It wasn’t just the Korean government alone with this unbelievable announcement.

Governments around the world echoed the same statements.

Given the situation, they couldn’t ignore it just because they didn’t wish to believe.

Nor could they sit idly waiting for news from the government.

‘This is to protect the citizens’ right to know.’

The main reason those two had loitered around the barricade for three days, waiting for the right moment.

To discover precisely what was happening inside.

To determine if the government was hiding any information.

To understand what an ‘alien invasion’ precisely meant.

‘Videos drifting around the portal sites aren’t enough to gauge the situation.’

There were incidents recorded in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and even Jeolla Province.

But the footage circulating on the internet was of poor quality and unfocused.

Drones sent beyond the barricades were destroyed on the spot.

They needed precise and clear evidence footage.

Fueled by a sense of professional duty, the two crawled inch by inch through the vehicles.

Moving stealthily towards the back of the buildings where prying eyes couldn’t see, they slowly got up.

“Ugh, ugh…”

The cameraman’s mouth was stained with remnants of vomit.

The reporter’s complexion was equally ashen and ghastly.

What they had witnessed while sneaking over was far too horrific.

They encountered the upper half of a person staring with wide eyes, lifeless.

A grotesque creature dead with a human torso clamped in its maw.

Streets covered in dried black and red liquids were sticky, and the haphazardly flung entrails were gut-wrenching.

It was a scene fitting to be called a living hell.

Yet, amidst repeated bouts of nausea, the reporter and cameraman recorded everything on tape.

One step at a time.

The further away they got from the barricades, the clearer the explosions and monstrous roars became.

Until finally, after who knows how long.

Suddenly, thud, crash, boom!

The sound of something colliding came from the vicinity.

“!!! Screech!”

Accompanied by an ear-piercing screech that threatened to tear the eardrums apart.

The monstrous figure from the lingering internet videos filled their minds.

The reporter and cameraman froze on the spot like statues.

Holding their breaths, they intently listened to the noise.

Fortunately, after a short while, the screeching vanished without a trace.

“Why… bother… crawling, ugh.”

However, instead, a human voice came through.

“Hmm? There’s more mana…”

The reporter and cameraman turned around, creaking as they moved.

Step, step.

Even as the footsteps drew nearer, they couldn’t budge.

If discovered, they’d be pulled out immediately, with no dispensation for invading a military operation area.

“Huh, annoying survivors. If alive, they should crawl out themselves… If it wasn’t for the association, I’d let them just die.”

Mumbling.

As the sharp voice sharply approached, someone suddenly emerged from around the corner.

Covered with a strange silver-tinged leather.

Carrying a massive sword, likely 2 meters long.

The man stared at them with chilling eyes.

‘P, player!’

According to the government’s announcement, individuals emerged able to resist the alien invasion.

It was said they had been forming ongoing cooperative relationships with the government.

‘I’ve seen footage showing people wielding swords and spears too.’

However, the videos were taken from afar, no direct conversations had ever been captured.

Now, there was potentially a player from the problem video standing right there!

‘Need to secure an interview before being chased off!’

Report it before any other station does!

Driven almost by instinct, the reporter charged towards the man.

“Excuse me! Hey, are you a player?”

The man’s brows wrinkled into a furrow.

He rolled his eyes, apparently scanning the reporter, camera, and the emblem on the equipment.

Knowing he was with the press, he could only cooperate.

Recalling this eased some of the tension.

“We’re with KBC News Team! Can we have a moment for an interview?”

“…….”

“What exactly is the Player Association? Are you affiliated with them?”

“……”

“Do you know the cause of this monstrous appearance crisis?”

With the initial apprehension reduced, the absence of an answer from the individual made the reporter’s anxiety grow.

In a moment of reverting to habit, it slipped out.

“Some citizens are claiming this crisis is due to the players and are demanding a thorough investigation. Do you have anything to say about that?”

It was a way to provoke a reaction by agitating the subject’s composure.

However, the response was unlike anything the reporter had ever seen before.

“What the hell did you just say?”

The man’s body began emanating a blazing red aura.