Chapter 392

Chapter 392

Chapter 70 Mind Game (2)

Omby sensed the incoming vitality into the realm it had created and smacked its lips with irritation.

The corrupted divinity that had consumed it whispered urgently.

Quickly, devour them, usurp their life force to fuel your continued existence.

But Omby suppressed that almost primal urge.

It knew there were more prey beyond what lay directly before it.

‘They are, here.’

For a more rewarding hunt in the future, patience was necessary.

As time passed, the amount of life force sensed through its perceptions steadily increased.

‘This is enough.’

The forces on Earth it had observed through replicas were substantial.

It seemed that more than half of them had crossed over into its dimension.

This meant fewer forces left to counter the monsters it planned to send back through a new Hole to Earth.

Despite everything going as initially desired, Omby’s mood was still sour.

There was one more it absolutely had to ensnare that had not yet appeared.

Could it be that the intended target had no intention of crossing over?

Surely it must know it needed to eliminate Omby first.

Its combative nature suggested it would charge in fearlessly.

It had made a cage, particularly for that prey with eager anticipation.

Yet, the one who should have been lured by the cage had not shown up.

‘Perhaps I was too greedy….’

The god-Slayer, a more significant threat than Earth’s primordial gods, was proving to be a troublesome obstacle for Omby.

Even after attaining full status, the god-Slayer was free from any restraints of causality.

No greater nuisance existed to Omby, who needed to consume life force and navigate causality.

While it could fully exert its power in the exterior of causality, numerous restrictions applied inside.

‘To make things worse, it grew stronger.’

Alarmingly, the god-Slayer observed through Omby’s replicas had become even more formidable.

If Earth’s god-Slayer remained there, unrestrained hunting would be impossible.

Confronting the god-Slayer required absorbing enough life force to pay divinity to causality.

Hence, players and the god-Slayer, who obstructed widespread hunting efforts, needed to be drawn out.

‘Did I fail?’

Should Omby just hunt the players caught in the cage and wait for another opportunity?

While Omby pondered, a realization hit.

– Ah.

Omby sensed it.

The most tantalizing yet challenging prey, earth’s god-Slayer, had crossed over.

Licking its lips, Omby smiled as it instructed the beast that held it.

– Proceed.

The beast instantly flung itself towards the Hole, traversing dimensions.

It was using a primitive method to deceive causality’s sight by placing something vast inside something small.

Because of this basic trick, Omby slipped into Earth without any obstruction.

While a strong presence was unnecessary for hunting frail beings of the material world, it was willing to seal its might for now to focus on the hunt.

Upon entering Earth, Omby shut every door of the cage housing the god-Slayer.

Then it pierced a new Hole to summon the beasts stored in another space.

Its minions would soon proliferate across the globe.

Everything was unfolding just as planned.

Omby sliced open the beast that carried it and emerged into the open.

Immediately, it realized something was wrong.

The life force, once abundant, vanished in an instant.

The players surrounding the distant Hole had seemingly vanished.

Although it had deceived causality’s sight, it had failed to trick Rice Cake watching near Gilenios.

Yet, Omby was unaware of the cause.

Still, it realized something in the plan had gone awry.

Observing its surroundings with red eyes, Omby quickly assessed the situation.

‘Still, it’s not a problem.’

It possessed the authority to traverse any place.

It would escape this empty realm and hunt for vibrant life again.

More life gathered meant another chance to extend its life.

Omby smacked its lips, ready to leave the city, when it encountered a surprise.

– What the…?

The gap that should have opened with Caclain’s authority did not.

It was as if the path was severed, the way beyond obscured.

Only then did Omby’s movements show urgency.

It ventured further, unable to find a path even with its authority.

– Ah.

Omby quickly realized the situation.

The domain it occupied was twisted, disconnected from others.

The meaning was simple.

‘I am trapped.’

Apparently, it wasn’t only the god-Slayer that fell into the enemy’s trap.

Though not expected, it was too soon to give up.

‘Restore the space.’

It only needed to exit this warped realm.

Omby promptly attempted to meddle with the twisted dimensional seam.

“Woof! Woof woof!”

“Hey, stop him, stop him! Quickly, stop him!”

However, before it could act, voices of urgency shouted aloud.

A resigned sigh followed.

“… Remember, everyone.”

Omby sensed presences surrounding it from every direction.

“We just need to hold on.”

Glancing around, it saw faces it recognized from its replicas.

“Well, everyone knows what to do.”

“Don’t worry, sis. Dodging is what I excel at!”

“Swordsmen should confront it upfront since it seems humanoid.”

“Move over, when it comes to close combat, there’s no one with better physical prowess than a Beastfolk like me!”

“Please, stop fighting and cover each direction…”

“Zip it! Keep that thing away from my side! If it comes near me, I won’t forgive you! I’ll really escape without a backward glance!”

They were the pesky prey that mimicked the god-Slayer’s power.

Omby’s previously expressionless face tensed slightly.

Simultaneously, golden lightning surged toward it from all sides.

* * *

I stood in place where the Hole once existed, letting out a deep sigh.

The players who went ahead had already engaged in battle.

Perhaps they hadn’t even noticed the Hole had vanished.

‘Even if they noticed, they wouldn’t have been able to focus in combat.’

Right now, I was alone in attending to the fact the Hole had closed.

‘Though it’s expected…’

I couldn’t help feeling bitter. This situation was close to the worst-case Scenario I had considered.

What’s troubling is that even worse situations could arise from hereon.

‘Omby isn’t here.’

Though I hadn’t visually confirmed it, my assumption was likely correct.

I entered somewhat prepared; perhaps I even hoped for it.

As I clenched my teeth and steadied my breathing, sure enough,

‘It’s begun.’

The authority began to drain swiftly. The apostles had entered combat.

Every aspect of my authority being used now was for those stationed in Korea.

‘Yang Taeho and Kim Yul, rasha and Yang Hye Won, including the newly appointed Apostle Horfe and some players.’

And, perhaps, even Gretman.

Though he firmly refused to become an Apostle, preventing me from sensing him, I was sure he was contributing significantly in Korea.

They were all valiantly facing off against Omby, without a doubt.

‘Omby.’

Just as I suspected, it appeared that Omby had entered Earth through the Hole situated in Seoul.

I had successfully drawn it to the desired place. Staying away from Seoul was worth it.

‘Seoul was the most fortified location, and it seemed Omby had targeted it.’

Although anticipated, confronting the reality still left me incredulous.

“Ha!”

Omby truly left me confined here and fled to Earth.

I could confidently assert that I was trapped.

If the Damned System could follow, my reckless trait was supposed to activate, but it hadn’t yet.

Omby’s realm seemed to hinder me in some way.

‘Given the presence of players and monsters, it’s not beyond causality.’

I speculated that it might have been crafted from dimensional debris.

Actually, the exact structure wasn’t too pivotal.

Wherever it was, however it was created, there was one unchanging fact.

‘I am trapped, and Omby has fled.’

There was no denying the outcome.

Perhaps it was expected.

Omby needed to prey on living beings for survival.

Recognizing me as the major obstacle in its plans logically led to such actions.

Initially uncertain as I watched it enfeeble the player forces, witnessing the Hole shatter as I entered confirmed suspicions.

‘By sending a replica to assess power, it aimed to lure me in.’

It might have been taunting me to hurry and dispose of it.

This was a Scenario I had envisioned multiple times.

Even so, imagining Omby wreaking havoc without me made me furious enough to make my hair stand on end.

The intensity of this emotion even resonated with the puppet, causing it to sizzle and crack as it disintegrated from my body.

I endeavored to manage my emotions carefully.

‘There is no need to panic.’

I had already accounted for potential scenarios to a degree.

Living perpetually preparing for the worst meant handling unexpected circumstances was second nature.

Hadn’t I laid out all possible variables?

I could consider this situation part of my plan and focus step-by-step on resolving immediate issues.

‘Just as I am locked up, Omby is confined too.’

That alone was considerable progress.

Preventing it from slaughtering people around Earth meant obstructing its acquisition of corrupted divinity.

‘Even if the apostles deployed there fall, it won’t easily escape.’

Considering Gilenios’ confident assurances, there was time.

As I calmed myself, players in the rear began noticing the Hole’s absence one by one.

“What? What’s going on?”

“The Hole…”

“Damned, why is it gone?”

“Did we move far?”

“No Hole?”

“The Hole has disappeared! We’re trapped!”

Soon after, as all monsters near the Hole got defeated, the troubling news spread rapidly.

Recognizing their trapped state, the players quickly descended into confusion.

The situation was unfavorable.

Having stopped short after crossing the Hole, I stood at its expected location, distanced from those more deeply engaged.

As those done fighting turned to look at me, I stood isolated as if accused, aligning me against them.

Thousands of eyes shot focus at me.

“K! What’s going on?!”

“Why is there no Hole?!”

“Were you the one who sealed it?”

“If it got sealed, we’d have returned! The closure triggers automatic withdrawal!”

“You’re the one to blame for this mess!”

It seemed as if they were accusing me of being the architect of this predicament.

‘Hard to say it’s not my fault.’

Considering from various angles, this was the consequence of Omby’s intricate mind games involving me.

Ultimately, they were ensnared within the tactical contest between me and Omby.

To find themselves trapped in an unknown land, their anxiety was a natural reaction.

A player even approached to express that anxiousness by clutching my collar.

“From the moment you opted for entry through Japan, something felt off!”

He appeared quite authoritative among the Japanese players, brimming with assurance.

“Yat___oshisa! Stop it! Cease your actions!”

“Stop inciting disturbance within the attack squads!”

His fervor was uncontrollable despite the guild staff’s attempts to intervene.

They struggled to pry him away as he berated me with insults, accusing me with conviction.

Damned System

New Elements and Characters:

– 옴빈 (Omby) – it: A being driven by a primal urge to devour life force.

– 투신 (god-Slayer) – na: A major obstacle for Omby, considered a threat greater than Earth’s primordial gods.

– 야토시 (Yat__oshisa) – he: A player with significant standing among Japanese players, emotionally driven in confronting K.