Chapter 34: Loser’s Revival

Chapter 34

Time seemed to freeze in the moment. Neither Kim Jinsung nor Kang Minhyuk moved, holding their positions as if the world had stopped. Kang Minhyuk’s greatsword clung closely to Kim Jinsung’s neck, unyielding to even the smallest twitch that could slice the throat, and Kim Jinsung simply stared back at Kang Minhyuk in turn.

After a brief moment, Kang Minhyuk’s gaze shifted away from Kim Jinsung’s eyes, slowly trailing down to the blade Kim Jinsung had pointed at his own neck.

‘…That was fast,’ Kang Minhyuk swallowed his surprise. He hadn’t expected such a rapid response to his sudden sword movement.

Fwing!

Their tense standoff was interrupted by a gunshot aimed at their location from a defender.

Ping!

Kang Minhyuk skillfully deflected the bullet with a slight flick of his greatsword. This action naturally left only Kim Jinsung in the posture of holding his sword to the neck.

Without a word, observing Kang Minhyuk’s actions, Kim Jinsung sheathed his sword. The first to move was Kang Minhyuk, who cautiously stepped backward, then turned and sprinted away at full speed until he vanished into the thicket. Kim Jinsung made no happy thoughts and turned in the opposite direction.

‘Count yourself lucky that you’re not a villain, Kang Minhyuk…’

Honestly, if Kang Minhyuk had been a villain, one of them would have died in that confrontation. And considering the circumstances, the one to fall would likely have been Kang Minhyuk that much, Kim Jinsung was confident of. However, Kang Minhyuk, the son of Kang Chan, a promising shadow amongst the recent stars, was not a villain.

His every move had been almost publicly chronicled through the media. Unlike other promising figures who relied solely on strength, Kang Minhyuk was known for his good character traits.

‘You can’t label him a villain for avenging his father’s death.’

In a world as perilous as the current one, killing doesn’t necessarily mark one a villain; motive is what matters most. From Kim Jinsung’s perspective, labelling Kang Minhyuk as a villain seemed quite a stretch.

‘More than that, a fight between us wouldn’t have been easily settled.’

Kim Jinsung and Kang Minhyuk were as close in ability as one sheet of paper is to another. While Kim Jinsung wasn’t lacking in confidence, winning against Kang Minhyuk would have almost certainly resulted in substantial injury to himself as well. And should he be significantly wounded, nothing would be more unfair than being taken out by another Contestant in a surprise attack.

There was no need to force the issue surviving was the utmost priority for Kim Jinsung.

‘But why did he try to check me?’

A single question lingered in Kim Jinsung’s heart. Moreover, Kang Minhyuk hadn’t used his full strength to attack; why only aim to threaten by pointing his sword at Kim Jinsung’s neck?

Meanwhile, Kang Minhyuk, having left Kim Jinsung behind and now speeding away, was replaying the face-off in his mind.

‘That situation was dangerous.’

Recalling the moment when they pointed swords at each other, he admitted:

‘I didn’t even notice his sword reach my neck…’

Kim Jinsung had sensed the threatening sword and retaliated instantly, while Kang Minhyuk had been completely oblivious to the counterattack. Though it might appear that they drew their weapons simultaneously, there was a subtle difference in reality.

‘If we’d actually fought, I would have been the one to die.’

Kang Minhyuk didn’t like to admit it, but if they had truly been fighting for their lives, he would have likely lost.

‘The world sure is vast.’

He remembered his father’s words from the days he was alive. The world is vast, and it’s filled with monsters.

For Kang Minhyuk, Kim Jinsung seemingly just reaching adulthood, possessing the talent to surpass him felt like one of those monsters his father talked about.

‘Maybe that’s why I acted cautiously…’

In honesty, this wasn’t typical of Kang Minhyuk. Always going full-force, suddenly he found himself simply threatening with a sword and then retreating. It was an involuntary admission of fear towards Kim Jinsung.

‘If I met an even stronger future version of Kim Jinsung, could I win?’

He wasn’t sure. If Kim Jinsung’s growth rate was rapid, an even bigger gap might appear the next time they met.

***

[Ah, and that brings the alliance between Kim Jinsung and Kang Minhyuk to an end! They had such a dangerous moment at the end, but thankfully no blood was shed!]

[I really thought one of them would die, but fortunately, that did not happen.]

[I agree. But on a positive note, it would have been a shame to lose one of the stars of Preliminary Group A so soon, right?]

[Ha ha, indeed. The season has only just begun, after all.]

[Well, let’s take a moment to summarize what’s happened in Zone 2.]

The commentator began to read the summary that had appeared on their personal monitor.

[Out of the 38 Contestants who attempted the wall assault in Zone 2, 29 have successfully crossed it!]

[It’s a clear defeat for the defenders. Even with reinforcements sent from Zone 1 and Zone 3.]

[Just look at those defeated faces of the wall defenders! They seem to foretell their own uncertain futures!]

The camera on the TV screen provided a view of the disillusioned defenders, slumped in defeat on the wall. Watching this scene, the monitoring room’s producers shook their heads.

“There’s no question here – the Contestants completely outplayed the defenders.”

“The viewers seem to feel the same. Chat is going crazy saying all the powerless defenders should be disqualified.”

“That means we should start processing those qualifications right now, then…”

The producer had just gotten this far when:

“Wait a minute.”

Jang Seungwook held off the others and finished his phone call.

“Yes, yes, um… I understand. I’ll direct accordingly. Yes.”

After hanging up, Jang Seungwook walked towards the producers.

“Did you talk to the director?”

“Yes. Let’s check the situation with other walls first.”

“Alright.”

The producer immediately directed the staff and soon the situation in Zone 4 started broadcasting on the TV screen. The commentators, having received this update, turned to the monitors and began to comment.

[Let’s now take a look at other walls. First off, Zone 4, where Fade was…]

[It looks like it’s over there as well, doesn’t it?]

Multiple bodies were visible on the wall in Zone 4 monitors, suggesting a fierce battle had taken place.

[Based on those defeated expressions of the defenders, it looks like many Contestants have made it through!]

[I would like to see some highlight moments. Oh, here we go.]

Soon, the TV replayed the events that had unfolded about an hour earlier in Zone 4.

The wall defenders of Zone 4 were maintaining a calm watch.

But suddenly.

Thwack!

“Gurgh—!”

With a piercing sound, one defender spat blood from his throat and slumped to the ground.

“What the?!”

“Is it an ambush?”

Startled, the defenders tightened their vigilance even more.

But then.

Sssk.

“Huh?!”

“Another sneak attack!”

Chapter 34: Loser’s Revival

Despite their efforts, another defender’s neck was sliced through. The victims kept increasing. With each sound of something embedding itself, a defender fell, blood spurting from their neck.

“How is the attack happening, and from where?!”

“Hey, are you not watching properly?”

“Do your job right!”

As one-sided damage mounted, divisions started to emerge among the defenders.

“Wait a minute. Could there be a spy among us?”

“What kind of nonsense is that? Wait…maybe?”

“Right? It doesn’t make sense. We can’t even see the enemy, but our men keep dying so easily.”

“Then who is it? Hey, who was near the guy who just died?”

Doubts quickly turned into raised voices.

“I didn’t do it, okay?!”

“Why are you getting angry? Being angry makes you even more suspicious.”

“You’re the one accusing people without evidence. Maybe you’re the culprit?”

“What did you say?”

“This guy is the spy! Check him; he must have hidden a dagger.”

“Let go! Let go, you jerks!”

Thump!

“Ow! This guy…”

Eventually, the scuffle escalated into a physical altercation, which then developed into a bloody confrontation.

“Come here, you bastard!”

“That’s it! I didn’t like you from the start!”

“No, let’s not fight and, ah! Did this guy just stab me?!”

“Let’s kill the traitor first!”

Soon, Zone 4’s wall was engulfed in gunfire, slashing sounds, screams, and shouts. Fade, the orchestrator of this chaos, soon returned to the nearby hiding Contestants and announced,

“They’re fighting each other now.”

“Wow…you actually made that situation happen. How did you do it?”

“That’s not important, is it?”

After saying that, Fade turned and ran towards the wall.

“Alright, let’s move quickly!”

“Everyone, charge!”

“Let’s go!”

The Contestants also immediately followed him towards the wall.

[Ah, and that’s how they overcame the barrier in Zone 4! The defenders were completely fooled by Fade’s divisive strategy utilizing his shadow abilities!]

[Fade orchestrated the entire situation himself. Truly remarkable. No wonder he’s respected as a veteran assassin in the mercenary world.]

Jang Seungwook, who had been keeping an eye on the Zone 4 highlights, instructed,

“Let’s check Zone 7 now.”

Soon, the situation at Zone 7’s wall began broadcasting on the TV screen…

“Oh my!”

“Huh?”

Everyone in the monitoring room widened their eyes, and the commentators shared similar reactions.

[What? This is the exact opposite scenario from what we have seen in other zones!]

[All the bodies scattered in front of the storage wall are Contestants, right?]

[Yes! Not a single one wearing a ‘C’ mask is seen among the fallen contestants!]

Indeed, the number of defenders on top of the wall in Zone 7 was still at 100. Actually, it was 99, considering one was standing outside the wall.

[But that one defender standing outside the wall…]

The commentator’s gaze shifted to the blood-dripping sword in the hand of that defender.

[He couldn’t have killed all the Contestants by himself, could he?]

[Eh, surely not?]

The commentators chuckled, dismissing the idea as absurd.

***

However, the commentator’s speculation was correct.

In front of Zone 7’s wall, a Contestant with both his left arm and leg severed was writhing in agony, fearfully looking forward.

“Don’t come any closer! Please, don’t…”

Dragging his body backward, he looked at the approaching defender with terrified eyes. The defender’s uniform bore the number 7-49.

“That’s a monster. A monster…!”

It was unbelievable.

How could one person alone massacre over fifty Contestants? Furthermore, without any assistance from other defenders on top of the wall. He had dropped down alone towards the charging group of Contestants and wiped them all out single-handedly.

It wasn’t even a fight; what was witnessed was unilateral slaughter.

“Why did they have to put a monster among the defenders?!”

Sssk.

He hadn’t even finished his sentence when the approaching defender efficiently slit his throat.

– Wow

– Did he really kill them all by himself?

—

– Who is that?

– He’s wearing a mask, can’t even see his face.

– With that power, isn’t he stronger than Kim Jinsung or Kang Minhyuk?

The viewers’ chat exploded with comments after watching the highlight.

The monitoring room shared similar reactions.

“Wow! Who is that?”

“Judging by the uniform, it’s from Zone 7, number 49?”

“Quickly, check his profile! We can’t just let this go!”

While the staff busied themselves trying to identify the individual, Jang Seungwook, maintaining his composure, addressed the producers.

“So, does this mean the defenders from zones other than 6 and 7 are disqualified?”

“Yes.”

By regulations, there was no room for argument. One had to consider that the defenders from zones 1, 3, and 5 had prepared by joining forces even before the battle started.

“Please connect me to the Contestants’ radio channels.”

“What message shall I convey?”

“I’ll do it myself.”

Jang Seungwook pulled a chair up to the microphone in front of the producers.

Once the producer gave the OK sign, Jang Seungwook began speaking into the microphone.

“All Contestants, please pay attention. Especially those in charge of defense in zones 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 who failed – listen carefully to what I have to say.”

Jang Seungwook’s words began to transmit through the walkie-talkies to everyone in the forest where the preliminaries were taking place.

“We’ll be offering another chance at the revival match for the defenders confirmed to be eliminated.”

He paused before continuing,

“Those defenders who have been confirmed as eliminated should immediately seek out and eliminate the Contestants. Any defender participant who succeeds in eliminating an Contestant will pass the first preliminaries.”