Chapter One: The Echo of Betrayal
The metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air, a grim perfume that clung to the rubble-strewn streets of Seoul. Above the cacophony of snapping bone and guttural roars that echoed through the once-bustling Gangnam district, a sound tore through the din – Kang Taesoo's strangled cry. Kang Minwoo looked up, a lump of ice forming in his chest. That cry, a sound he'd never imagined escaping his father's lips, sent a shiver of dread deeper than the icy air. Above the fading blue glow of his father's [Level 197 Swordmaster (Fighter)] status, Kang Taesoo was locked in a desperate struggle. His opponent, Baek Joonho, the [Level 195 Guardian (Tanker)], radiated an aura of cold, calculated violence, his [National Hero - Rank 2] title a cruel mockery. Joonho, who had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his father countless times, a trusted ally... the betrayal was a physical blow. Both were S-Rank National Hunters, figures whose power once held nations in awe. Around them, the ravaged cityscape groaned under the assault of monstrous entities, their shrieks and snarls adding to the symphony of destruction.
Kang Taesoo, the legendary Swordmaster, [National Hero - Rank 1]. Minwoo had grown up hearing the tales of his father's strength, the unwavering hero who faced down monstrous hordes without flinching. He remembered the countless times Taesoo had returned from a perilous raid, weary but victorious, his presence a comforting anchor in their shattered world. His initial awakening years ago – a mere week after the Tower's arrival – had marked him as a rare Fighter before his eventual Job Change. He moved with a desperate ferocity, his [Blade Aura (Passive Skill Activated)] shimmering around his worn blade. But even his legendary skill seemed to falter against Joonho's relentless assault. Minwoo never understood the betrayal. Perhaps he should have seen it coming. The air had been thick with unspoken tension ever since Game VIII's failure, a gnawing desperation in their eyes that went beyond the immediate danger. The System notification from Game VIII, stark white against the black of his vision, still echoed: [ALERT: NATIONAL HEROES HAVE DEFECTED.] Heroes. "What?!" Jinwoo's voice boomed, disbelief and anger warring in his tone. Soojin gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Joonho? Chul? No..."
A tense silence descended, broken only by the distant roars of monsters. All eyes flickered towards Baek Joonho and Kim Chul. Joonho's expression remained impassive, his massive frame radiating a chilling indifference. Chul, however, offered a tight, unsettling smile. "Well, well," he drawled, his voice dangerously low. "Looks like the cat's out of the bag." The air crackled with unspoken accusations and dawning horror. Kang Taesoo's grip tightened on his sword hilt, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Joonho? Chul? What is the meaning of this?"
Baek Joonho finally spoke, his voice a low growl. "Meaning? Survival, Taesoo. You always were too idealistic. This 'game'… it offers a way out. A real one. But only for those willing to seize it."
"A way out by stabbing us in the back?!" Jinwoo roared, taking a step forward, his large frame trembling with rage. "We trusted you! We bled together!"
Chul chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "Sentimentality will get you killed in this new world, Jinwoo. The gods don't reward the weak. They reward those who are willing to play their games… all the way." His gaze flickered towards the overhead text: [GAME IX: TAG INITIATED]. "And this game… it has rules. Rules we intend to win."
Soojin's voice trembled. "But… why? What did they promise you? What could be worth this… this treachery?"
Joonho's eyes hardened. "Power. A chance to reclaim what we've lost. A world without this damned Tower looming over us. Something you wouldn't understand, little healer. You always relied on others."
Kang Taesoo finally spoke, his voice low and heavy with betrayal. "Joonho… I considered you a brother. We stood together against impossible odds, faced down death countless times. And for what? For this… this pathetic grab for some fleeting promise?" His gaze hardened, the legendary Swordmaster's fury finally igniting. "You disgust me."
Chul's smile widened, revealing a flash of something cruel. "Disgust all you want, old man. You'll be too busy running soon enough." His hand moved with lightning speed, a glint of steel flashing as his blade plunged into Jinwoo's chest. [TARGET ELIMINATED: PARK JINWOO (SHIELDBEARER - TANKER-TYPE)]. "Chul! What are you doing?!" Taesoo roared, his hand instinctively moving towards his sword. Soojin cried out, a choked sob escaping her lips. Minwoo's breath hitched