episode_0084

City (2) ― Guro-gu, Seoul

Two days have passed since I collected all the hidden pieces.

I had been quietly staying at Gocheok Dome for a while, and as soon as I felt that my mana had fully recovered, I went outside.

The abundance of mana I felt for the first time in a long time accelerated my telekinesis.

Sooo!

A white dot flew over Seoul in the morning, when all the zombies had disappeared.

It flew straight toward its goal, crossing sunlight bright enough to make one’s eyes squint.

The targets are special bases that have been identified without playing around for a while.

The first target was the soccer field in the northernmost part of Guro-gu.

Before entering the brightly lit soccer field, I turned my head back for a moment.

Gocheok Sky Dome radiates a huge presence even from afar.

I thought of my believers, who had already grown to close to a thousand people.

Food and supplies have been entrusted to the devotees to prepare for any unexpected situation, so everything will be fine.

It was an arrangement in case an unexpected situation was encountered at a special base.

Ever since I saw the mural, I have been cautious about everything.

I knew something was going to happen, but not knowing exactly what it was was quite painful.

Especially while recovering mana, the answer was not always clear even though I was struggling.

There was always only one answer at the end.

I prepared as best as I could.

Rapidly raise Guro-gu’s dominance rate.

What was most important to me now was complete control of Guro-gu.

After gathering my thoughts, I descended towards the bright light.

[You have entered the Guro-gu special base ‘Anyangcheon Soccer Stadium.’]

[The theme of ‘Anyangcheon Soccer Field’ is ‘Ordeal.’]

Two goal posts erected on a soccer field.

I opened my eyes at the goal post on the right and read the message again.

test?

What kind of ordeal are you giving me on the soccer field?

Well, does it come with a killer tackle?

While I was continuing my quiet thoughts, a huge light came down on the halfway line.

Blue light slowly descends from the sky along the path created by the light.

I squinted my eyes and concentrated to see more clearly.

A pillar of light striking in a straight line and a blue gem floating within it.

“… … Huh?”

A third mural immediately came to mind.

If so, I could naturally predict the next scene.

The blue gem that came down to just below the halfway line gave off a bright light.

[The first trial begins.]

“Kkisss—!”

At the same time as the system message, zombies came out of the pillar of light.

The ones sticking out in a row like sausages run in a straight line.

Of course, their eyes were focused on me.

“Aha.”

By lightly floating his body, he was able to escape the pursuit of regular zombies.

Like a dog chasing a chicken, I ripped off the heads of those who looked up at me and stretched out their hands, one after another.

“kkieeek―!”

I left only one animal and glanced at the pillar of light.

I nodded as I looked at the pillar that was no longer spewing out zombies.

What, I was really nervous, but it was nothing, right?

It was a very familiar game method.

A starting point is established.

A type of defense that blocks enemies pouring in from the starting point.

A simple principle that allows any gamer to exclaim at once and play to the end right away.

It was a method used in many games.

“kkieeek―!”

I continued to think as I looked at the zombie that kept reaching out its hand anxiously.

If you kill that zombie, the second trial will begin, and as the trial continues to strengthen, the zombies will also become stronger.

“What if you don’t want to do that?”

I smiled lightly and held out my hand towards the blue gem.

Kiiing—!

The soccer field vibrated with a brightly shining light.

No matter how many times I looked around, there was no time limit, which is essential in defense games.

Are you saying that there will be no sanctions even if we eat and camp just like we did in the first trial?

Even though it wasn’t to that extent, there was a performance that I also had to spend a bit of time on.

Of all the telekinesis techniques I have used so far, this is the most durable and familiar method.

Drudduddd!

As the soccer field shook, finely packed dirt came to mind.

A soccer field is a rotating field of numerous planets floating in space.

Ka-ga-ga-ga-ga-!

Now, an earthy whirlwind that has been completed quickly using a highly skilled process.

A huge natural phenomenon created by telekinesis covered the pillar of light.

The earthy color ate up the bright white and blue.

All I could see was the appearance of sharply forged thorns responding to the acceleration of the whirlwind.

I kept my right hand focused on the whirlwind, and with my left hand I ripped off the head of the still trembling zombie.

Squeak!

A message was printed out to me as I watched the zombies collapsing in a fountain of black blood.

[The second trial begins.]

“kkieeek―!”

As soon as the last zombie died, the second ordeal began.

But their roar did not reach me.

Ka-ga-ga-ga-ga-!

The only sound that reached me was the sound of their flesh being torn apart, like a blender grinding.

[The third trial begins.]

[The fourth trial begins.]

… …

The ordeal continued, but I just held my hands up without making the slightest move.

At some point, a large steroid arm broke through the vortex, but that was it.

The mutants who were torn apart by countless thorns also met the same end as regular zombies.

Ka-ga-ga-ga-!

About 15, maybe 20 minutes have passed.

Light fell on the whirlwind, where the roar of the zombies could no longer be heard.

Paaa!

A light bigger than a whirlwind cleared the chaotic soccer field.

As I watched the tornado disappear naturally, an alarm rang.

Tiring—!

[The system offers you a ‘special trial’.]

[Reward: Enhancement of the original reward, ‘Blue Jewel’.]

[Would you like to accept it?]

[YES/NO]

“Hmm… … .”

It was a proposal for an unexpected system.

Strangely, it seemed like I could hear the system’s voice even though it was printing text.

With a mumble that sounded like gritted teeth, he was urging me to make a choice.

I stroked my chin and read the message again from beginning to end.

The first thought that came to mind was ‘Why?’

Why did he offer me this special ordeal?

It wasn’t offered at Gocheok Sky Dome, the first special base.

What was easier was that…

A familiar image comes to mind as I quietly continue to ponder.

A bloody man roaring while looking at a huge pillar of light.

“Okay… bloodiness… .”

I burst out laughing and looked up.

Are you that upset about not being covered in blood?

After completing my own consideration, I just nodded.

“Good. Why not give it a try?”

Since he proposed this with gritted teeth, the reward must be as good as gritting his teeth.

As always.

It’s high risk, high return.

As if responding to my answer, the blue gem on the halfway line moved to the opposite goal.

Paaa!

The blue gem resonated and sparkled in the light that struck again.

[Special Trial ‘Touchdown’]

[Break through the trials and get your reward.]

At the end of the two-line message, something walked in front of the jewel.

A young child toddling along, waddling loudly.

“Wow! It’s been so long since I last saw you! Nice to meet you, kid!”

It was the mutant baby I saw before even entering the library.

Durability that matches the sturdy appearance like the Michelin tire mascot.

So that variant had no choice but to be blown away.

The obnoxious bastard who still hadn’t gained knowledge about mutations looked up at me like he did back then.

I also said, extending my hand towards him.

“Why is your face so dark again? You should wear sunscreen when you go outside! This is why home education is important!”

Kiiing—!

I will rip off that black face itself.

The white mana flowing proudly from the fingertips quickly rushed towards the guy.

It slowly opened its toothless maw and turned its head toward the sky.

thud-! thud-!

The ground rumbled softly and Steroid stood in front of the baby variant.

As if blocking telekinesis, a sound rings out as soon as the baby is removed from my sight.

No, shouting broke out.

“Bwaaeaeaeaeak―!”

My body, which was floating in the air, shook as if I had been hit directly in the semicircular canal.

The flow of telekinetic power poured into the steroid, which was in the way, was cut off.

As I fell to the ground, I pressed my temples and frowned.

what.

Is it worse than what I heard back then?

Even from the yelling I heard that day, I stumbled.

But that was all.

Even after that, I never felt so dizzy as if my head was splitting open.

In particular, the person I was then and the person I am now were qualitatively different.

Protection against adult mimics reaching the maximum…

“Ah… .”

Keying! Keying!

The white mana that should have illuminated the entire body crackled and flickered like sparks.

“Bwaaeaeaeaeak―!”

I could see that even the light became dimmer as the creature cried once more.

Not only has this guy’s face been stained black, but he’s brought something more with him?