Chapter 391

Chapter 391

Chapter 70: Strategy (1)

“Damn, what a wicked employer!”

Gilenios had been working day and night for the past few days.

– You said it’s possible not just to roam around the gaps but to twist them, right?

It was because Hyunwoo visited him, mentioning Gilenios’ authority.

Recalling that time, Gilenios’ expression became even more venomous.

– What was it that you said about a gap twisting and the space being temporarily isolated?

– Oh, right. It’s like cracking a cup and slightly twisting a piece. It’s definitely a part that broke off from the cup, but isn’t connected, right? It’s a similar concept. Why do you ask all of a sudden?

– You can do it whenever you want?

– Are you crazy? Do you think it’s something you can do just like that, as easily as having a meal? Detaching and reattaching gaps is a huge task! Of course, it requires preparation and even more divinity.

He wanted to stop himself from truthfully answering back then.

But the foolish self of the past, knowing nothing of today, had confessed everything candidly.

– Then prepare. Use as much divinity as you need.

– Uh… yeah, for what though?

He was willing to follow orders just once since he was given free rein over the divinity.

– Around the Holes, all of them.

Of course, the task didn’t mean he wanted to Die from exhaustion while working.

-… Come again?

Hoping he had misheard, he inquired again, but Hyunwoo responded clearly and articulately, more so than usual.

– Prepare to twist all the gaps surrounding the Holes on Earth.

At that time, there were 12 Holes left on Earth.

In other words, it was like being told to run a triathlon twelve times over.

Hardly different from being told to work himself to death, in all honesty.

He had a mind to quit immediately.

Unfortunately, he had no choice in the matter.

From the very first meeting, he had fallen out of favor, and coupled with his plea to survive, promising to do anything.

As a result, he ended up being treated as Hyunwoo’s private courier around the clock.

He was constantly enslaved to harsh labor without any freedom or rest.

Even while sleeping soundly, he had to jump out when Hyunwoo beckoned.

Stress had built up considerably over time.

But despite that, how could anything change?

He was in a position where he had to follow those harsh orders unconditionally.

Hyunwoo wouldn’t hesitate to torture or threaten him until he complied with his words.

Obeying when told was the best option.

“This psycho, or rather, this sociopath! Hypocrite who speaks falsely! Efficiency-obsessed pervert! Tyrant whose arrogance pierces the heavens!”

Gilenios began to mock Hyunwoo using every manner of swear word, curse, and broken phrasing he learned in the new world.

The vivid words sufficed to describe what Gilenios had realized about Hyunwoo all this time.

Hyunwoo was not solely a benevolent figure.

‘That’s why I ended up like this in the first place.’

I continued venting pent-up grievances, spilling all sorts of curses for quite some time.

After that, Gilenios felt slightly refreshed and began running again.

He needed to finish the task at hand.

‘Indeed, that guy may be utterly detestable and spine-chilling, but.’

He obeyed orders diligently, simply because that guy might truly succeed.

If he could indeed bring an end to this seemingly endless war and restore the peace that had long become a distant memory.

‘If only it’s indeed possible.’

Gilenios was willing to endure once more.

With such resolve, he continued running until his feet started to sweat.

Suddenly, he heard a voice from the slightly open entrance that had become distinctly familiar.

“Gilenios.”

Gilenios jumped in startlement, screaming.

* * *

“Don’t call me! Don’t keep calling me! Stop calling people, you infernal bastard-!”

From a gap left open slightly for communication, a furious reply came thrumming back.

“…… What?”

I frowned, looking at the barely visible entrance of the gap.

It seemed, fortunately, that he had a sense of having overreacted.

Hence, reluctantly, he poked his face outside the gap’s entrance and asked:

“… What, what do you want this time?”

His weary, deathly gaze aimed at me full of accusation.

Fortunately for him, I wasn’t calling for additional tasks.

Rather, it was the opposite.

“There is no need to touch the Hole in Peru.”

“What?”

“The Hole there is closed.”

“You closed it? So, eleven, huh? Well, if you’re reducing them, why not reduce a few more…… Agh!”

Before Gilenios could finish his words, I firmly pushed his head back into the gap.

“More reductions are pending, so just focus on your tasks.”

“… Unbearable bastard.”

And the faint echoing words were lightly disregarded.

Even with a mouthful of curses, he will perfectly fulfill his role.

I dismissed Gilenios and held back a sigh.

And then I stared ahead into the now empty space.

A few moments ago, it used to hold a Hole.

‘Though it’s gone now.’

The reason for the disappeared Hole in Peru was simple.

I had attempted to enter a Hole again.

To give a more detailed account, we must rewind to a few days ago.

Days were spent deeply in thought, worrying as I repeatedly fought against the puppet.

During that time, I contemplated whether to just close the Holes one by one and annihilate them all.

But that would be a misstep, a poor strategy.

For Omby, breaking another hole would suffice.

The war would drag on, and Earth would be devastated like Biharin.

Prolonging this war was not an option.

I needed to strike the head, strike Omby somehow.

For that, to some extent, playing along with its scheme was necessary.

I turned away from the simple, swift solution, continuing to ponder.

‘Why on earth is he blocking my entry to the Holes? Is the act worth abandoning a painstakingly created Hole?’

Pondering led to a new curiosity.

‘Perhaps it’s because it’s me that I can’t cross?’

Could someone else manage to cross?

It was an inquiry I could immediately investigate.

Fortunately, this was when a puppet wielding a monstrous authority had been eliminated in Peru.

So, using the Hole in Peru, I set up an experiment.

I had someone besides me lead the way.

Of course, it wasn’t a reckless, random experiment with just anyone.

I secured a volunteer by explaining the Scenario to an apostle, such as Kirish, who persistently urged me to quickly close the Hole.

It took only a few minutes for a hidden mission window sent by the system to bestow on him, while a radiant light scattered across the Hole with his hand resting on it.

Incredibly, the apostle succeeded in entering the Hole.

However, as soon as I tried to follow behind, the Hole collapsed.

The connection with the apostle was severed soon after. Feeling the extinction of presence, he was possibly dead.

I felt no particular guilt. The risks had been communicated, and he consented.

His sacrifice akin to volunteering provided one substantial certainty.

‘I was forbidden since it was me.’

Others, barring me, managed to cross.

‘The intent might be to filter players out of Earth.’

Then it was another series of contemplations. Why, why, why on Earth?

To decode the invisible intentions of Omby, I had to wrack my brains.

Consider the fundamental purpose of Omby and the present circumstances.

Every single bit I held regarding the matter.

Contemplating, theorizing, hypothesizing, speculating, and reevaluating led to creating a few rational, plausible scenarios.

And I prepared for all the possible eventual outcomes.

Simultaneously, the battles with the puppet continued.

It may have been a tight schedule, but as an Alpha, purifying all that was corrupted was my unwavering duty.

Fellow Alphas who joined my schedule often collapsed, wailing or foaming, but after dragging them around, we managed to purify the entire Earth within five days.

From that process, two Alphas capable of purifying monstrosities emerged, a rare boon.

So things progressed steadily, and a few more days passed till today.

In Japan, the final battle with the puppet ended.

‘Currently, there are seven Holes remaining.’

Excluding the one in Seoul, I left just a single Hole on each continent.

A passageway had to be kept open for forces to cross through.

I looked down upon the city center, utterly changed and chaotic.

A hunting squad had assembled, ready to proceed into the Hole.

Players headed towards their limbs’ ends per the association’s orders.

As I quietly regarded them, I spoke up.

“System.”

At the brief call, the system quickly approached, activating the trait.

We had already discussed and agreed upon the future plan several times.

This was precisely the moment to launch our counterattack.

‘I briefly considered briefly returning to Seoul.’

Seoul was the most likely target for Omby.

If I loitered there, it would complicate Omby’s scheming.

Guiding its actions within the predictable range would likely be wiser.

‘Whether this is foolish arrogance or judicious conduct will soon reveal itself.’

I raised my spear.

“Let’s begin.”

Per the prior agreement, the system relayed a hidden mission to each of the seven apostles positioned across the globe.

Following the pre-communicated plan, they simultaneously approached the Holes.

The operation to simultaneously assault the seven remaining Holes on Earth had begun.

As predicted, everything went smoothly.

The Holes did not collapse, and the player armies, organized as the hunting squad, started infiltrating.

Unlike the past where monsters came rushing out, players were now pushing in reverse.

Even so, if I approached to cross, the Holes would undoubtedly be destroyed.

‘Once enough forces have been withdrawn, to Omby’s satisfaction, perhaps.’

Could I eventually cross as well?

It all hinged on time to tell.

“Click.”

Focusing on the hunting squad’s entry, I checked the communication device in my left hand.

A satellite network connecting coordinators around the Holes confirmed no signs of Omby emerging.

Even Gilenios, observing matters from a gap, remained quiet.

Consequently, thoughts branched into dozens promptly narrowed.

Only a few possibilities remained.

The timely report arrived that Japan’s hunting squad had fully entered.

Reports confirmed all other regions had their squads cross beyond the Holes as well.

Nearly 60% of the remaining forces on Earth, now venturing beyond.

‘If my reasoning is correct.’

It should be my turn now.

Yet, I hesitated instead of acting immediately.

Momentarily, I deliberated on standing my ground, holding to resist.

After all, Omby’s final ambition aimed at securing divinity.

The entity was destined to cross into Earth.

Thus, standing ground here, awaiting it, could be a tactical approach.

‘However…’

That would nearly guarantee annihilation or near-annihilation for those who crossed earlier.

In conclusion, the action I ought to take was clear.

With a deep sigh, I looked down at Rice Cake, waiting patiently by my side.

‘It might be wiser to leave it here instead of dragging it in.’

I handed Giolan’s Invisibility cloak over to Rice Cake, instructing.

“Go to Gilenios. Assist if your sight is needed.”

Detailed instructions weren’t necessary.

It was the only entity privy to all my thoughts, knowing exactly what to do.

After Rice Cake disappeared through the split gap, I also moved, trudging forward heavy-footed.

Until just a few days ago, the Hole rejected my entry.

However, this time, I could cross effortlessly.

As though a confirmation fell in place validating all my deductions.

And upon arriving beyond the disembodied Hole.

Crash.

The Hole shattered to pieces. As if having waited for this moment.

New Elements and Characters:

– 길레니오스 (Gilenios): he

– 현우 (Hyunwoo): he

– 페루 (Peru): it

– 옴비 (Omby): it

– 기리시 (Kirish): her

– 빌어먹을 시스템 (Damned System): it