Chapter 8: Information (1)

01.

Selberion.

The undisputed strongest boss monster in the ‘Season of Fantasy’ universe, an impregnable entity that has remained undefeated for the past eight years.

Over the course of eight winters, thousands— tens of thousands— of players challenged Selberion, yet not a single one has ever managed to defeat her and clear ‘The End of the World’.

Time and again, players knelt before the blizzard maiden’s flurrying snowstorms, waves of ice, and chains, only to vow to try again the following December.

Honestly, I’d never actually participated in a Selberion raid myself, so I hadn’t fully grasped just how powerful she really was.

But now, experiencing combat firsthand in her body, I realized her strength far exceeded anything I had imagined.

A single stray swing of her blade, just the wind pressure from a missed strike, was enough to instantly obliterate a C-rank monster.

Even A+-rank monsters were effortlessly crushed like eating rice cakes while lying down— her power was simply on another level.

And on top of that, she still had unrevealed skills hidden away.

No player, no monster, could possibly defeat me— defeat Selberion— as things stood now.

…And of course, I was the only one who had turned into her in this unprecedented situation.

I still didn’t know why I alone had become a boss monster instead of a playable character, but everyone else had transformed into their own in-game avatars, the characters they had raised and nurtured over time.

Which meant that unlike me— who could effortlessly overpower any monster as Selberion— they were still locked in bloody, desperate battles, fighting tooth and nail against monsters on equal footing, just like in the game.

**

[Live Update: Incheon Junggu… “Scientist” Rank 28 Player “Hyein I Love You” Fails Direct Bombardment on Fissure…]

**

“Ah….”

…The first thing that greeted me upon returning to my studio apartment after defeating the troll and the dark wyvern was news more tragic than I had expected.

As the sunset glow gradually faded, I clicked on the most upvoted post in the community.

**

[Author: ㅇㅇ (224.53)]

[Context: Someone speculated that if the inside of the rift were bombarded directly, the monsters could be wiped out all at once before they even reached the surface, and the rift itself might close. So ‘Hyein I Love You,’ a renowned scientist and usually a genius, teamed up with the Air Force to put it into action… But the result… Just watch for yourself… (Video)]

**

“….”  

Someone had put forward the argument: “Since monsters are coming out of the rifts, wouldn’t it be better to just bombard the inside of the rifts with missiles from the start?”  

The idea seemed surprisingly plausible.

A player famously known as a master of the Scientist class— under the ID “HyeinILoveYou”— decided to test this plan with the cooperation of the South Korean Air Force.  

However, the post didn’t go into detail about the operation’s outcome, leaving it all to a single attached video.  

“Hmm…”  

I slowly pressed the play button. After a brief loading time, the video began.

The quality wasn’t great, likely filmed on an older-model phone.  

— The mothership is here!  

— Wow, it’s huge…  

The first scene showed the massive spaceship summoned by the Scientist’s ultimate high-level unlockable skill, “Mothership Call,” escorted by four KF-16 fighter jets from the South Korean Air Force.  

The fighter jets fired at wyverns and other flying monsters rushing toward the mothership, ensuring it could safely approach the rift.

Thanks to their efforts, the mothership reached the largest rift without any interference.  

— System: “Charging of the Aurora Cannon is complete.”  

Next came a mechanical female voice announcing the completion of the mothership’s ultimate weapon— the Aurora Cannon, a beam of devastating power.  

Soon after, rainbow-colored energy gathered at the T-shaped bow of the ship before an enormous beam of energy shot straight into the rift.  

“…”  

In terms of sheer firepower, the Aurora Cannon was arguably the strongest ability among the 24 classes in Season Off Fantasy.

Everyone was certain that the beam would annihilate every monster inside the rift and force the rift itself to close.  

Even I, watching the recording, believed the same.  

…But what followed was a scene no one could have predicted— a truly shocking turn of events.  

— BOOM!!  

“…”  

The powerful beam, just before entering the rift, was abruptly blocked by a translucent barrier that appeared out of nowhere.  

“…A shield?”  

As if mocking their attempt to force the rift shut, the rift generated a protective barrier that completely nullified the Aurora Cannon.  

The shield’s durability was impressive, but an even bigger problem remained.  

— Huh…?  

— Wait, is that thing reflecting the beam…?  

Not only did the barrier block the attack, but it also reflected the Aurora Cannon straight back at Hyein I Love You’s mothership.  

…The Scientist’s mothership was powerful but notoriously slow.

There was no way it could dodge the reflected beam at point-blank range.

The ship was pierced through, triggering a catastrophic explosion.  

KABOOM!  

With a deafening roar, the mothership split in two.

The wreckage plummeted into the West Sea off the coast of Incheon.  

— Oh my god…  

The video ended with that stunned remark.  

…Just like that, the 28th-ranked Scientist and his mothership were utterly destroyed— all because of an unknown barrier generated by the rift.  

The only thing gained from this was the information that “the rifts have a reflective shield.”

The price paid for that knowledge was far too steep.  

“…What a shame.”  

Shaking my head, I scrolled down to the comments section.  

**

— ??? So, did he die or what??  

ㄴ Yeah, he sank with the mothership… Basically dead.  

ㄴ Officially listed as missing, but…  

ㄴ Damn… May he rest in peace…  

— Ugh… He was such a skilled Scientist too…  

ㄴ “Skilled” (while doing something stupid and self-destructing)  

ㄴ Get the hell out of here, you troll.  

ㄴ Are you serious? What about the stage bosses? Why aren’t you going after them instead?  

— See, this is why we can’t let our guard down— there’s still so much we don’t know.  

ㄴ It hasn’t even been 24 hours yet, of course we don’t. We need to stay calm and gather intel first.  

ㄴ Fr, I heard the top four Korean-server guilds are holding a video conference at midnight to share info.  

ㄴ Really? I thought they hated each other.  

ㄴ Now’s not the time for that…

**

“…”

Various opinions were being exchanged in the comments section. 

Among them were messages mourning the scientist’s death, while others mocked him for dying without having accomplished anything.

“Hmm…”

Since these were comments on a community forum, there were plenty that needed to be taken with a grain of salt. 

However, I found myself wholeheartedly agreeing with the very last comment.

“…Yeah, there’s still way too little information.”

It hadn’t even been a full 24 hours yet— this was the absolute beginning of the chaos. 

In this unprecedented situation where the boundary between reality and the virtual world had collapsed, nothing had been clearly confirmed. 

There was a severe lack of information.

Just as no one could have predicted that the rift would be protected by a barrier capable of withstanding and even reflecting the power of the Polar Aurora, for example.

“Top 4 guilds, huh…”

The only other noteworthy post was about a video conference scheduled for midnight tonight, where the top four guilds on the Korean server would share information and discuss countermeasures.

…The Top 4 guilds of the Korean server.

First, there was Fate, led by the “Dark Ghost,” who had slain a wyvern in Asan, Chungnam.

Then Ace, renowned for having the highest number of stage boss kills.

Geumgang, infamous for its many PvP experts.

And finally, Legend, currently the strongest guild on the Korean server.

For the past few years, guild wars on the Korean server had been practically monopolized by these four guilds, with them taking turns claiming the top spot.

They were famously at odds due to their constant competition, but in an unprecedented crisis like this, mutual cooperation would be unavoidable.

Given that the Top 4 guilds boasted massive numbers of members, it was certain that once they held their meeting tonight, a flood of previously unknown information would be released to the public.

“Hmm…”

I sat cross-legged on the cold floor, lost in thought. 

The unheated wooden floor was icy, but since I was now Selberion— a being of ice itself— I barely felt it.

“Wonder if they’ll talk about me too…”

If the top guilds were holding a meeting, they would undoubtedly discuss the stage bosses— Selberion included. 

Each of them was an incredibly powerful seasonal-off fantasy stage boss, so they couldn’t possibly ignore the topic.

As the very person who had become Selberion, I couldn’t help but wonder what they thought of the stage bosses and what countermeasures they would devise.

“Haah…”

I let out a short sigh and adjusted my posture.

The stage bosses of Siofan weren’t known for being docile— they were infamous for their brutality and cruelty. 

And among them, Selberion stood at the very top.

If the highly aggressive Selberion were left unchecked, an ice age would inevitably descend upon Korea. 

So if she appeared, every player in the country would undoubtedly unite to take her down.

But there was one problem: I wasn’t the savage Selberion from the game.

Though my outward appearance had inexplicably transformed into that of the unplayable boss Selberion, my mind was still that of a 21st-century citizen of South Korea— a Siofan player just like everyone else.

I was rational, spoke Korean, and loved a bowl of rice just like anyone else.

“Hmm…”

So if such a situation arose— or if the moment came when my true identity was revealed— my first move would be to attempt dialogue.

Dialogue was the most civilized course of action. 

Historically speaking, most conflicts could be resolved with compromise, negotiation, and just a few words.

…But if the players, driven by their long-standing desire to “clear Selberion,” lost their minds and pointed their blades at me— or tried to exploit me in some way— things would undoubtedly get very interesting.

“…This could be fun.”

A dry chuckle escaped me.

Five years ago, I had been betrayed by a friend, my business collapsed, and my life was thrown into the gutter.

I was already disillusioned with society, and as someone who had been on the receiving end of exploitation, I never wanted to go back to that position again.

I had despised myself for being powerless in the face of crisis— for being unable to protect anything.

But now, everything is different.

The boundary between the virtual and real worlds had collapsed, and the world was in upheaval. 

And I— I now had the power to protect what was mine and to act.

So if someone decided to make an enemy of me first, or if, just like five years ago, they tried to ensnare me with underhanded schemes…

“I’ll live up to their expectations.”

…I would gladly make them take responsibility for that choice.

“Alright.”

With that brief resolution, I clenched my phone tightly and flopped onto my worn-out bed.

“…I’m curious about what they’ll discuss.”

All I could do was hope— hope that the players in tonight’s meeting, or those across South Korea and the world, wouldn’t make any foolish decisions.

02.

“Huff….”

Asan, South Chungcheong Province.

After spending half a day dealing with the endless waves of monsters that began with the sudden appearance of a wyvern in the sky, Jeong Hyunjun, the guild master of Korea’s top-four guild “Fate”— better known by his nickname “Dark Ghost”— could finally catch a brief moment of rest.

But even that wasn’t a full break. 

In five minutes, at midnight, he had a scheduled video conference with the other guild masters of Korea’s top-four guilds to share information.

“Damn annoying….”

Just chatting with them was enough to make his blood boil.

Now he had to face them directly in a video call?

Hyunjun couldn’t help but let out sigh after sigh.

But in an unprecedented crisis where the fate of the nation hung in the balance, personal feelings had to be set aside.

For now, sharing updates on each guild’s situation, the state of the country, and any information they’d uncovered was the priority.

“Hah….”

…And so, Hyunjun— no, “Dark Ghost,” the guild master of “Fate”— logged into the video chat program with a deep sigh, turning on his computer.

Two guild masters were already on the server.

—Oh my, Dark Ghost is here! Long time no see!

The first to greet him was a cheerful female voice.

A cat-eared, tailed beastkin avatar grinned brightly as she welcomed him.

— I saw the news about the wyvern hunt. To take down that “completely ordinary, ability-less wyvern”! So amazing, right?!

Her praise was so hollow it practically dripped with sarcasm.

This was none other than the guild master of the strategy-focused guild “Ace,” the assassin “Solsol.”

Under Solsol’s leadership, Ace was an elite guild with world-class expertise in boss raids, having cleared every stage boss six times over.

However, the December boss, “Selberion,” remained their only unconquered foe, making it Ace’s long-standing goal.

…Solsol’s lively commentary on boss raid guides also regularly hit over a million views per video, making her guild the most famous among Korea’s top four.

“…Ah, yes. You flatter me.”

Dark Ghost responded to Solsol’s “praise” with lifeless politeness.

A high-tier guild like his could easily handle an A-rank common wyvern— her exaggerated compliment was less praise and more mockery.

Ugh….

Even considering their usual bad blood, her immediate provocation the moment he joined made Dark Ghost sigh deeply inside.

—Sol, quit the snark. It’s irritating.

…Then, the other already-connected guild master scowled and snapped at her.

A burly, muscular man wrapped in tiger fur— none other than the guild master of “Geumgang,” Kim Deoksu, aka “Typhoon Warrior.”

— Do you really have to act like that in this situation? And isn’t Guishin older than you? Back in my day, huh? We used to bow so low to our elders that our heads practically touched the ground.

Kim Deoksu, famously known as ‘Typhoon Warrior,’ was a master berserker and the leader of ‘Geumgang,’ one of the top four guilds, notorious for being composed solely of PvP experts.

Despite his age and having a family, he was the most senior among the guild leaders.

— Yeah, yeah, sorry.”

Under Typhoon Warrior’s nagging, Solsol eventually forced out an apology, shrugging her shoulders.

But her expression still held a mischievous grin.

‘Ugh.’

Dark Ghost shook his head at Solsol’s attitude.

It reminded him of his own trouble making little sister back home.

— “…By the way,”

Then, he brought up the absence of the last of the top four Korean server guilds, which still hadn’t logged in despite the scheduled meeting time.

— Where’s Legend? Did something happen?

…Currently holding the top rank, surpassing Fate, Ace, and even Geumgang, was none other than the ‘Legend’ guild.

Past midnight, the agreed-upon meeting time, their guild leader still hadn’t shown up.

Dark Ghost Jeong Hyunjun tilted his head in confusion.

— “Well, well. The one who called this meeting was late. Tsk tsk, how typical…”

Typhoon Warrior Kim Deoksu also nodded in response.

Since the meeting had been organized by the leader of ‘Legend,’ it was particularly rude for them to be late.

From Deoksu’s perspective, which valued etiquette, this was extremely displeasing.

— Since when is that unnie ever on time? You guys should just get used to it by now.

Only Solsol yawned, acting as if it were no big deal.

— “Sigh…”

Dark Ghost let out a deep sigh and hung his head.

As Solsol said, the leader of ‘Legend’ being late wasn’t uncommon.

But in a crisis like this— far more serious than anything in-game— their tardiness made it impossible for Dark Ghost to stop sighing.

— “Ahh, sorry I’m late.”

— “…!!”

Finally, five minutes later, the last of the four screens flickered to life, revealing the face of a stunning woman with blazing red hair.

She was none other than the one who had dragged ‘Legend’— once perpetually outside the rankings— to its current position.

An overwhelming powerhouse ranked 3rd in the global Fantasy World rankings during the off-season.

…The second guild master of ‘Legend,’ the fire mage ‘Yeonhwa.’

— “Alright, looks like everyone’s here…”

As if the protagonist always arrives last.

Despite being late, the one who had gathered the leaders of the top four guilds today smoothly and unapologetically moved straight to the point.

Tucking her dazzling red hair behind her ear, she addressed the other three guild leaders.

— …Then, let’s begin this video conference regarding the ‘Collapse of the Boundary Between Virtual and Reality’.