Chapter 102
It seemed the time had finally come.
Thud!
The world of tropical forest around me shook.
I slowly lifted my head.
The sky glimpsed through the thick foliage was already dyed an ashen gray.
‘This is… a bit creepy?’
That thought crossed my mind for a brief moment.
– Kyaaaaaaaaah!
A monstrous roar powerful enough to shake heaven and earth blanketed the entire area.
The dreadful, vicious howl of a monster filled with every kind of grudge and resentment!
[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[Toxin Mist has appeared in the central region.]
[Toxin Mist is a poisonous fog— a monster that contains the essence of all toxins that exist in the world.]
[From this moment on, for the duration of one week, participants must survive while avoiding this monster.]
[Success will advance you to Theme 2!]
[Failure means death!]
[We wish the participants good fortune.]
“……”
At that chilling warning message,
I instinctively climbed up the tallest tree nearby.
And there I saw it— a dense, dark green mass of contamination.
It was so massive that even from afar, it looked enormous.
“Crazy.”
The curse slipped out of my mouth.
Because I could feel the overwhelming pressure of the air crushing down on me the moment it surged forth as if trying to choke me.
Judging by the screams and curses like ‘Aaaagh!’, ‘Shit!’ coming from all around me…
It seemed most participants were just as shocked as I was.
‘Honestly.’
We’re supposed to go into that?
Forget poison— it’s terrifying.
The boldness I had just a few minutes ago evaporated instantly.
“This is nuts.”
A few minutes earlier.
The old man I had summoned was also shaking his head beside me.
– “How can they create something like that? Whoever designed this dungeon must be insane.”
“……Elder?”
– “If it were something like that, even when I was ali ve I would’ve hesitated to go in. Growth is supposed to have stages, but that thing is far too ahead. It’s basically telling you to go die. Tsk tsk.”
Seriously?
A moment ago he was giving me courage, and now he says this?
“If even you feel that way… does that mean even in your prime you’d die going in there? Even though you have the Thousand-Poison Immunity?”
– “Click, of course not. I simply mean that if I still had my Thousand-Poison Impervious Body, I would’ve turned around and bolted without looking back.”
“Ah.”
Rumble!
It was then that the poison fog, gathered thick like a ghost, suddenly surged upward into the air.
And then—
It began racing toward the nearest high ground.
‘So that’s where the most participants are.’
That wasn’t the problem.
The real issue was how horrifying the poison was.
Every tree, rock, and patch of ground the fog swept over turned black, corroded, or melted away.
“This is…”
My face twisted.
“Isn’t this basically a poison tsunami? It’s practically a natural disaster.”
– “That’s what I’m saying. What are you doing, boy, move! We can’t lose the last hope of the Ten Thousand Arts like this.”
“Run away?”
– “Look closely. Doesn’t it feel like the fog isn’t spreading in a circle, but chasing down participants one by one? The fact that it’s not coming this way yet is a blessing. You’re lucky, boy. You’d better thank the heavens and run.”
“Hm.”
The elder had a point.
If the Dungeon Maker designed this trial to be about surviving for a week…
Then following that design was the safest path.
But.
Why didn’t my heart agree?
Why was it yearning for that poison?
It was an instinctive sensation.
Just like when I recklessly charged into the dungeon toward the elder.
Just like when I faced the Sun Spear with nothing but my bare hands.
The feeling that a great trial would bring an equally sweet reward afterward?
“Elder.”
“What now? Don’t tell me you’re having some stupid idea right now?”
As expected of the elder.
Being a ghost, he sensed it like a ghost.
“You said it before. If there’s poison, run toward it with a smile. I’m starting to understand what you meant.”
I strengthened my legs.
– “No, you idiot! That’s not poison, it’s a monster! A monster!”
“And actually, Elder, you already know this too, don’t you?”
Then I kicked off the tree trunk.
Toward the direction of the Toxin Mist.
The elder frowned and followed after me.
– “What nonsense are you spewing now?”
“That Toxin Mist. It’s insanely fast, right? Once it finishes melting everyone on that hill, I’ll be next.”
“……”
“When I bought the information rights, unless they ran extremely far, it’s basically impossible to avoid that thing for an entire week.”
– “Maybe you just want to think that.”
“It’s better to get hit first than last. If it’s going to happen anyway, I’d rather deal with it now.”
– “You maniac. No matter how I look at you, you’re insane. More insane than me. No wonder that Berserker guy likes you so much.”
“Thanks for the compliment!”
I ran.
Even as I ran, a part of me felt confident.
I had the elder who could guide my flow of qi for an hour.
And I also had something else in mind.
—
At that moment—
Up on the hill the Toxin Mist was charging toward—
Thirteen people were gathered.
“Wh-what the fuck is that?”
“What the hell is Toxin Mist? How are we supposed to fight THAT?! They’re changing the trial like this out of nowhere?! Delilah, you crazy bitch!”
“Are we just supposed to die?! Judges! Hey, is there no judge? I want to quit!”
Two groups— one with ten members, one with three.
They had hurried up the hill as soon as they heard the monster Toxin Mist had appeared.
Normally, the two groups might have fought each other, but not now.
– Kyaaaaaaaaah!
Something fearsome.
Was charging toward the hill at ridiculous speed.
“W-we need to at least do something!”
“We can’t run! It’s too fast!”
“Then do something!”
“Do WHAT against that?!”
People stomped in panic, unable to decide anything.
Then.
The leader of the ten-man team stepped forward.
A man with golden hair and a worn-out shirt— Chris Larsen.
His sly, sharp snake-like eyes gave off a viciousness, but his charisma was undeniable.
“Build a defensive formation!”
He shouted.
“Use every skill you have! Gather all the debris nearby! Dig deep into the ground and pile it around!”
“A-are we… hiding underground…?”
“Shut up. You want to die? We’re in a rush. Ask questions later— MOVE!”
Under Chris Larsen’s orders, people finally began to work together.
Someone smashed the ground with brute strength.
Boom! Boom!
Someone else used wind to sweep up branches and stones.
Whoever could use a shield skill activated it.
Everyone desperately worked to build a defense.
“……”
Chris Larsen bit his lip.
‘Not enough time.’
In about a minute, the poison would reach them.
Then this flimsy barrier would be meaningless.
‘No choice.’
He had always been a killer.
His subordinates had also survived the past month through murder.
‘We don’t have enough space for thirteen people.’
He moved decisively.
Stab!
He drove a knife into the back of one of the three-man team members.
“Kh… kehk?”
“You worked hard. Sorry, but time to die now.”
“W-what…?”
“What are you doing!”
The other two shouted, but Chris moved without hesitation.
He was an S-rank Hunter.
An assassin nearly at the ranker level.
His unique ability— his power stacked every time he killed.
“You two can be sacrifices for us as well.”
Stab! Stab!
He pierced the hearts of the remaining two.
They were exhausted from building the barrier.
And his subordinates, who had realized his intent, assisted him.
“Hehehe, boss. You’re planning to use that ability?”
“Of course.”
Chris Larsen closed his eyes.
With three kills, his strength had multiplied.
“Haa!”
He shouted.
[Using skill, Absolute Shield (S-rank).]
Rumble!
A transparent circular shield enveloped him.
[Using skill, Absolute Shield (S-rank).]
[Using skill, Absolute Shield (S-rank).]
[Using skill, Absolute Shield (S-rank).]
He stacked the shield several times.
“It won’t last long. Dig the hole as deep as you can! Think of breaking through this entire hill!”
“Y-yes, boss!”
“Move! MOVE!”
His subordinates obeyed.
“……”
Chris Larsen watched them quietly.
The truth was—
Two weeks ago—
He had obtained an information pass.
[Opening Theme 2 Information Pass (S-rank).]
[This area’s full information cannot yet be revealed.]
[Only part of the information is shown.]
It was the information rights for Theme 2.
Much of it was hidden by hieroglyph-like symbols…
But from the parts he could read—
‘It’s definitely a team-based trial.’
When Theme 2 begins—
Team selection would occur, and each leader would choose ten members.
Those teams would cooperate to find a hidden “national treasure.”
That was the rule of the next trial.
That was why he had suppressed his killing instincts and led these people.
And why he hadn’t killed his subordinates now.
Rumble…
“It’s coming.”
Chris Larsen lowered his stance.
The horrific Toxin Mist was already upon them.
It soared into the sky as if it would swallow the world whole.
Gulp.
Even an experienced killer like him—
Was scared enough to piss himself.
Just breathing in the scent of the poison made him nauseous, his whole body going numb.
If he actually went inside that thing?
He’d probably melt within ten seconds.
‘Already…’
Everything in the path of the Toxin Mist had vanished without a trace.
‘Ah…’
At that moment, Chris Larsen realized.
Digging a hole was pointless.
The moment his shield broke—
The hill itself would melt away.
A hole wouldn’t save anyone.
“Damn.”
It was hopeless.
Was the wall of the rankers always this high?
How the hell did that bitch Delilah expect anyone to overcome this?
“B-boss?”
“What are you doing! You need to get inside the hole! Hurry!”
His subordinates shouted behind him.
But Chris Larsen couldn’t move.
He simply stood there, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of the poisonous fog.
“Huff, huff! Hey, poison bags! Where do you think you’re going without me?”
A strange voice called out.
“……Huh?”
Chris Larsen’s eyes widened.
Outside his shield.
Right in front of the Toxin Mist—
A man stood.
How?
How could a person exist like that?
‘Huh?’
Now that he thought about it—
The reason the Toxin Mist had stopped earlier—
Was because it had noticed that man.
“You bastard! Come here! Don’t eat those bland guys— eat ME!”
“……!”
Chris Larsen was horrified.
The newcomer charged straight toward the Toxin Mist.
– Kyaaaaaaaaaah!
With a thunderous roar, the Toxin Mist halted completely.
‘What is this?’
That guy is a participant?
Or not?
Was he perhaps a ranker judge intervening because the difficulty was absurd?
‘Either way.’
He was saved.
He survived thanks to that madman.
And so—
“Everyone! Out!”
Chris Larsen dispelled his shield.
“Run!”
With his escape order, the entire group scattered.
As expected, Chris Larsen’s situational judgment was exceptional.