Chapter 63: Difference in Level

Chapter 63

Once again, the massive body of the Quagmire launched towards Pung Bitgaram with incredible elasticity, like a giant bouncy ball. It was clear that Pung Bitgaram’s current agility stats were insufficient to dodge it.

“Ugh!”

Pung Bitgaram let out a low groan and transformed into smoke once more. The massive green blob collided heavily with the spot where he had been standing.

**Thud!**

With a heavy thud, the wall caved in, accompanied by the sound of melting.

**Sizzle…!**

Seeing the once-solid concrete wall melt into a gooey mess, Pung Bitgaram was horrified.

‘Just touching it melts everything…!’

With that level of toxicity, even a slight touch would melt human flesh down to the bone. Pung Bitgaram wanted to counterattack but couldn’t find an opening.

**Whack!**

He was too busy dodging the relentless attacks of another Quagmire.

‘At this rate, I’ll run out of mana before I can escape… Huh?’

As he checked his remaining MP, Pung Bitgaram sensed something ominous to his left. Turning quickly, his face twisted in frustration.

‘Damn it! Another one?’

Another Quagmire was rapidly approaching from the left passage, riding the sewer’s waterway. Handling two was already overwhelming, but with a third joining, escape seemed impossible.

‘I can’t hold back anymore. I need to use all my mana…’

Pung Bitgaram bit his lip and transformed into smoke again. But this time, it was different.

Instead of just moving as smoke, the smoke that Pung Bitgaram turned into expanded rapidly, engulfing the Quagmires. Trapped in the smoke, the Quagmires swung their fists wildly. Then, a thunderous sound echoed through the sewer.

**Boom!**

Simultaneously, a blinding flash of light illuminated the area. Lightning generated within the smoke struck the three Quagmires.

As the Quagmires convulsed from the high voltage, Pung Bitgaram reverted to his human form and sprinted towards the exit.

‘This should buy me enough time to escape!’

Pung Bitgaram turned a corner in the sewer. The three Quagmires, still convulsing from the shock, couldn’t pursue him. As he continued running towards the stairs, he entered the passageway with the stairs and widened his eyes at a familiar face.

“Pung Bitgaram? Why are you here…?”

Thief 10, also surprised, asked with wide eyes.

“You’re alive?!”

“Yes! I was hiding to avoid the walking slime monster’s attacks!”

“Then why didn’t you respond to the communication… Huh?!”

Mid-sentence, Pung Bitgaram turned sharply and gasped. While they were talking, a Quagmire had caught up and launched itself at them again.

‘It’s already recovered from the shock?!’

Pung Bitgaram was horrified but instinctively used his skill. Transforming into smoke at the last moment, he narrowly dodged the Quagmire’s body slam. But Thief 10 wasn’t so lucky.

**Whack!**

“Gah…!”

Trapped between the wall and the Quagmire, Thief 10 coughed up blood.

**Sizzle…!**

“Aaaagh!!”

As the sizzling sound of melting flesh filled the air, Thief 10 screamed in agony. Watching his skin rapidly melt, Pung Bitgaram was terrified.

“Hiss…!”

Leaving the writhing Thief 10 behind, Pung Bitgaram turned and sprinted towards the stairs. Thief 10 reached out desperately towards the disappearing Pung Bitgaram.

“S-save… me…!”

**Slash!**

A sharp slicing sound echoed. Pung Bitgaram turned back reflexively and widened his eyes.

The Quagmire’s body, which had been pinning down Thief 10, was split in half. As Thief 10 collapsed to the ground, a familiar face appeared in his view. It was Kim Jinsung.

“…It’s regenerating?”

Kim Jinsung muttered to himself, looking down at the Quagmire’s body. The severed halves of the Quagmire were already regenerating.

“And now there are two of them?”

Kim Jinsung looked incredulously at the two Quagmires. Splitting them with his sword was easy, but if they multiplied, it was a different problem.

‘Using the sword is counterproductive in this case.’

Kim Jinsung sheathed his sword and slightly shifted his body. The two Quagmires narrowly missed him and collided with the back wall with a loud thud. Watching this, Pung Bitgaram, who was peeking from the stairs, was astonished.

‘He dodged that so easily?’

He had been forced to use mana to transform into smoke to dodge, but Kim Jinsung did it effortlessly. But the most surprising part was yet to come. Kim Jinsung created two large dark spheres in his palms and launched them at the Quagmires. With a sound like an explosion, the Quagmires were torn apart, splattering everywhere. Pung Bitgaram’s eyes widened in disbelief.

‘He destroyed that monster in one hit…?!’

His own “Smoke Magic Circle” and “Lightning” combo, his ultimate attack, had only managed to stun the Quagmires for a few seconds. Yet Kim Jinsung easily overpowered them without much effort. Watching Kim Jinsung, Pung Bitgaram’s eyes filled with fear.

‘I almost turned this guy into an enemy?’

A cold sweat ran down his back. If he hadn’t submitted earlier, he wouldn’t have lasted an hour, let alone 24.

“…It still won’t die…?”

Kim Jinsung muttered in frustration. His gaze was fixed on the small green blobs gathering in the sewer water, reforming into Quagmires.

‘They’re multiplying again.’

Seeing the Quagmires multiply into four, Kim Jinsung shook his head.

“Alright, I’ll deal with you later.”

He picked up the injured Thief 10 and started running towards the stairs. As he ran, his eyes met Pung Bitgaram’s.

“……!”

Kim Jinsung shouted at Pung Bitgaram, who flinched involuntarily.

“Head up to the third underground level!”

He then swiftly ran past Pung Bitgaram, who stood frozen in place. Seeing the Quagmires chasing after Kim Jinsung, Pung Bitgaram screamed internally.

‘Oh no!’

Pung Bitgaram ran after Kim Jinsung as if his life depended on it. Just as the Quagmires were about to enter the staircase,

**Whack!**

A sudden black barrier appeared, blocking the Quagmires. The heavy sound of their bodies colliding with the barrier echoed from behind. While the Quagmires pounded on the barrier, trying to break through, Kim Jinsung and Pung Bitgaram safely reached the depths of the third underground level.

“This should be far enough.”

Kim Jinsung stopped and set down Thief 10. Pung Bitgaram, still looking uneasy, spoke up.

“Shouldn’t we go a bit further in?”

“Before that, this person’s going to die. Keep watch for any approaching monsters while I treat him with potions.”

Kim Jinsung quickly took out an HP potion and poured it all over Thief 10’s body. He used two potions in quick succession and then checked Thief 10’s condition. But he shook his head grimly.

“…It’s too late. His brain and heart have melted.”

Despite pouring two HP potions, the recovery was too slow. Kim Jinsung looked down at the rapidly fading life in Thief 10’s eyes. Having witnessed many deaths in the incinerator, he knew Thief 10 was on the brink of death.

“If only he had used his subspace skill properly, he might have survived…”

“Subspace…?”

Pung Bitgaram, not understanding, asked. Kim Jinsung answered without taking his eyes off Thief 10.

“This person had the ability to hide in a subspace. He used this skill to escape danger in Group C’s preliminaries.”

“Oh…”

“He probably didn’t respond to the communication because he was hiding in the subspace.”

When the dimension changes, wireless communication in the real world doesn’t work. This is basic knowledge even elementary school students know.

“I remembered the time limit was about 10 minutes. If I’d arrived within that time, I could have saved him…”

Kim Jinsung looked up at Pung Bitgaram.

If he had followed my orders immediately.

If he had informed me about the Quagmires sooner.

We might have arrived in time to prevent Thief 10 from being attacked.

“……?”

But Pung Bitgaram, unaware of Kim Jinsung’s thoughts, looked at him questioningly. Kim Jinsung shook his head and looked back at Thief 10.

“…His tongue and vocal cords have melted, so he can’t even say his last words.”

Seeing the horrifically melted inside of Thief 10’s mouth, Kim Jinsung drew his sword and placed the tip on Thief 10’s forehead.

“I’ll make sure you don’t suffer any longer.”

Kim Jinsung gently pressed the sword into Thief 10’s forehead. As the sword pierced deeply, a new notification appeared before Kim Jinsung.

—

▶ You have killed an evildoer.

▶ You have earned 45 Beast Karma points.

▶ You have acquired the trait ‘Subspace Ability User.’

▷ Subspace Ability User: Creates a subspace with the following characteristics:

– The subspace expands as the user’s level increases.

– You can stay in the subspace for up to 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, you are automatically ejected.

– There is a one-hour cooldown before reuse.

– The subspace is maintained in a vacuum state by default. The user can control the vacuum state and is unaffected by the subspace’s internal conditions.

—

* * *

[Ah, Kim Jinsung has ended the life of Thief 10, Kim Jimyeong!]

[So, this won’t be recognized as a kill by the Seekers, right?]

The caster nodded.

[That’s correct! For it to count, they must have at least indirectly contributed to the kill. Therefore, the Seekers gain no preliminary spots from Thief 10’s death!]

[This makes it impossible for all 240 Seekers to pass.]

* * *

“Did you acquire the subspace ability?”

Pung Bitgaram’s voice came from behind as Kim Jinsung read the notification. Turning, Kim Jinsung saw Pung Bitgaram looking at him with a ‘what’s going on?’ expression. Kim Jinsung closed his eyes briefly, then opened them and started communicating through the earpiece.

“Thief 7, Thief 8, respond.”

– Yes.

– Yes!

“A dangerous group of monsters has been found in the sewers. For safety, we will cancel the underground search. Everyone, move up to the first floor.”

– Understood.

– Confirmed.

After giving the simple instructions, Kim Jinsung spoke to Pung Bitgaram.

“You go up too. When you meet Thief 7 and Thief 8, tell Thief 7 to scout in the 3 o’clock direction and Thief 8 to scout in the 9 o’clock direction.”

“What about me…?”

Kim Jinsung continued.

“You will scout in the 12 o’clock direction. Follow the trail of monster corpses; it’ll be easier.”

“…Understood. What about you, Jinsung?”

Pung Bitgaram asked. Kim Jinsung pointed towards the stairs.

“I’ll deal with the monsters below. Any more questions?”

“……”

“Go.”

Pung Bitgaram closed his mouth and turned towards the stairs. Kim Jinsung watched through ‘Location Detection’ until he confirmed Pung Bitgaram had reached the first floor. Only then did he gather his things and head back towards the sewers.

“…He’s not someone to keep around for long.”

Muttering to himself, Kim Jinsung descended the stairs. He dispelled the black barrier he had created. The Quagmires, waiting nearby, immediately turned their heads towards Kim Jinsung.

“How should I deal with these things…”

Kim Jinsung muttered as he eyed the Quagmires.

* * *

The scene of Kim Jinsung facing the Quagmires again was being broadcast live on TV worldwide.

– Oh, he’s going for it.

– As expected of Kim Jinsung! I knew he wouldn’t run away!

– I’m already excited!

– This is thrilling!

– I knew this would happen, so I ordered chicken~

The chat in the official internet broadcast room sped up.

[Ah, the commentator’s prediction was correct! Kim Jinsung has returned to the sewers alone!]

[Given Kim Jinsung’s competitive nature, it was expected that he would come back.]

The commentators raised their voices in anticipation of the upcoming battle. The staff in the monitoring room also became busier.

“Focus all the sewer cameras on Kim Jinsung! Don’t miss a single moment!”

“Is there a YouTube representative here? Get ready to upload the unedited live footage immediately!”

“Viewership is rising! Our program’s lucky charm is at it again!”

Watching from the back, Baek Jun asked Jang Seungwook.

“What do you think? You’ve watched more of the training room footage over the past month.”

Recently, Baek Jun had been busy with external activities, including visits to government offices, leaving internal management to Jang Seungwook. Confidently, Jang Seungwook replied.

“He won’t lose.”