Van woke up to the sound of people buzzing.
They were all crowded around one place. In the air, traces of a distorted space were appearing.
A portal.
A man came through the portal. His whole body was charcoal, as if he had been burned all over.
"Uhhh…"
Kim Dokja made a shocked expression.
"Jung Minseob-ssi? What is this…?"
Lee Seolhwa appeared and started to treat Jung Minseob. However, it was already too late. At the last minute, Jung Minseob met the reader's eyes and muttered towards him. "D-Don't… come… back…"
These were Jung Minseob's last words.
Van could only guess that a problem had occurred outside of Peace Land.
Kim Dokja's companions started to discuss the situation.
"We won't know for certain unless we go back," Yoo Joonghyuk concluded.
The reader nodded at his words.
"You are correct. Let's go back and check it."
The dokkaebi made an announcement and a huge portal appeared in the air.
"Go carefully!"
"Thank you. I'll definitely remember you."
Listening to the farewells of the small people, the Japanese and Korean incarnations stepped through the portal one by one.
"Van?" Kim Dokja called out.
Lenoch, who had paused to analyze how the portal was created, followed them as well.
Their vision swirled and once they came to their senses, their feet were touching the ground.
[The main scenario has ended.]
The view of Seoul entered his eyes.
Lenoch bent over, dizzy from the dimensional travel.
Looking around, it seemed only Han Sooyoung had been transported to the same place as him.
With his mana senses, a commotion could be heard in the distance.
"The Supreme King!"
"Don't panic! Shoot!"
"They aren't on the same side anyway! Leave the Supreme King and go for the King of No Killing!"
At least Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk were doing well.
Did Jung Minseob warn them because people were preparing to ambush Kim Dokja?
But, for what reason?
"The traitor is here! Kill him!"
"You're crazy. We don't stand a chance!"
A scream in front gave him the answer.
Grabbing some of the incarnations trying to run away before their eyes, Van interrogated them.
"Kyaaa! Please, spare me!"
"What is happening here?"
Due to fear, the incarnation spilled out the information easily.
"We received a bounty scenario…"
The dokkaebis had set up a scenario to attack the group of incarnations who had destroyed the Absolute Throne.
Han Sooyoung on the side looked at him.
"So if I kill you, I can get money?"
Van glanced at her.
Han Sooyoung fell silent.
Then, she grumbled something under her breath and gave up on the idea.
Even if she used an avatar, she felt like the mage had a way to harm her real body without seeing her in person.
"He can't kill anyone! There is a penalty if he kills! Therefore, don't hesitate!"
"There is a possibility that he collected points and will revive again. Don't miss the time of revival and kill him!"
Listening to what was happening further away, Van decided to head there and lend a hand to Kim Dokja.
"Where are you going?!" Han Sooyoung exclaimed.
"Why are you following me?"
"I have nothing else to do."
"…"
***
Yoo Joonghyuk spoke with a puzzled expression. "…Strange. The hunting scenarios should be in progress in Seoul Dome."
"I don't know. The hunt might not actually be hunting."
All the roads leading to Kkachisan, including Ujangsan Station, Sinjeong Station and Mokdong were covered with the blood of incarnations. There were corpses lying on the street. There had been many bodies previously. The problem this time was the method of killing.
Yoo Joonghyuk looked at the wounds and nodded. "The cause of these wounds are humans."
Han Sooyoung and Kim Dokja's gazes gathered on Van.
"…"
Lenoch stared at Han Sooyoung.
"We arrived together just now."
"Ah, right."
Maybe it was Gehrman then?
These people had clearly died from sharp weapons or magic bullets. In other words, there was a fight here regardless of the scenario. Not long afterwards, they discovered a person who had fled.
"Over there."
While they made various hypotheses, they met with Min Jiwon who explained the current situation in Seoul Dome.
"…The Salvation Church suddenly appeared on the day you left. They said they were going to liberate the human race from the scenarios… the forces that went against them were removed without hesitation."
Yoo Joonghyuk asked. "Where was such a force hiding? All the big powers in Seoul would've gathered at the start of the sixth scenario."
"…They aren't from Seoul."
Kim Dokja immediately understood what she meant. Light suddenly gushed out in front of them. It wasn't one or two light rays falling from the sky. Humans were summoned with the light rays, as if it was a spotlight from heaven. Half of them seemed crazy but the other half had very clear eyes.
Then a message was heard.
[New people have entered the scenario zone!]
[The seventh main scenario is currently underway at Seoul Dome.]
More than 900 people were summoned to the square. Everyone was wearing casual clothing, not combat equipment.
Yoo Joonghyuk muttered, "It's already time for new people to be added."
"U-Uhhh…. uhhh…"
Most of the people were frightened but many incarnations had already started to explore the surroundings. Based on their looks, they seemed to have just gone through the first scenario.
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes narrowed. "The Salvation Church was summoned like them?"
"Yes."
"It doesn't make sense. Those who are just summoned won't be able to defeat existing incarnations."
Min Jiwon bit her lip and said, "The Salvation Church's lord was strong from the beginning."
The trembling of her shoulders indicated someone who experienced real horror.
"Supreme King, I know you are strong. However, never fight him. His strength and resourcefulness has already transcended humans. He isn't human. He is like another creature…"
Then the dokkaebi appeared among the murmuring people.
[Now, everyone. Don't panic. Calm down and look here.]
After the dokkaebis gave a speech and the incarnations started arguing between themselves, a sound like a horn was heard in the distance. Min Jiwon jumped and started shaking. "We have to run away."
A voice was heard before she could finish speaking.
"Poor people playing out the scenarios of the highest beings. We have come to save you!"
Staring at the center of the group, Yoo Joonghyuk's expression was strange.
A beautiful smile spread on the face of the Salvation leader. "Yoo Joonghyuk! Do you know how long I have been looking for you?"
Not caring about the other people around the Supreme King, Nirvana smiled brightly and spread open his arms. "Yoo Joonghyuk! Become one with me!"
"Stop with the bullshit. Before I kill you."
Nirvana laughed.
"You pretend to hate me but in fact, you want me more than anyone else. You need my strength!"
[The constellation, 'Demon-like Judge of Fire', appears late and looks around.]
Soon after, the situation turned into a mess.
Kim Dokja hurriedly whispered towards Yoo Joonghyuk. "Hey, just say that you like him. Quickly."
Yoo Joonghyuk spoke in a loud voice, "I'm not interested in men!"
[The constellation, 'Demon-like Judge of Fire', cries out for blood.]
[2,000 coins have been sponsored.]
Nirvana looked like he would puke.
"I'm not a man!"
[The constellation, 'Demon-like Judge of Fire', is embarrassed.]
"Of course, I'm not a woman either!"
Kim Dokja had a headache.
Lenoch was also dumbfounded.
Then, seeing Van ready to fight, Kim Dokja realized that the mage may really be able to beat the reincarnator and said just in case.
"Don't kill him. He can reincarnate."
Van glanced at him.
Since his lightning magic system didn't yet have the strength to completely eliminate immortal beings, he decided to only beat up Nirvana until he was about to die.
***
Klein, who came across Yoo Sangah being held captive by the Salvation Church, stepped in and took down the ones keeping guard around her.
Although the woman seemed to already have an escape plan ready, he figured it wouldn't hurt to lend a hand and free her sooner. His divination also indicated that it was okay.
Dusting off her clothes, Yoo Sangah looked at the man in front of her.
An unfamiliar man with an ordinary appearance, wearing a black robe and a classic hat, and accompanied by a woman keeping silent behind him.
"Who are you?"
Klein, who had changed the appearance of the Disaster of Floods that he was keeping as his marionette, smiled.
"I am Merlin Hermes, a wandering magician." He pointed at the marionette behind him. "This is my assistant."
He controlled the assistant in question to nod at Yoo Sangah, and the office worker nodded in response.
[I wish to inform all incarnations of Seoul Dome.]
At that moment, the message from a dokkaebi came.
[Aren't you surprised by the monsters suddenly appearing? Sigh… as you might've expected, the next scenario has started. We also wanted to give you a break… it is regrettable. This scenario wasn't created by the dokkaebis but is an automatic scenario.]
Another scenario?
[A new main scenario has arrived.]
[Main scenario # 8 – The Strongest Sacrifice has begun.]
They opened the contents of the scenario.
+
[Main scenario # 8 – The Strongest Sacrifice]
Category: Main
Difficulty: S
Clear Conditions: Survive the wave of monsters (this scenario requires caution because the rank of the monsters rises every four hours).
Time Limit: ―
Compensation: ???
Failure: Death
*There are additional clear conditions.
*Hints are provided once every four hours.
+
'Sacrifice'? The name already seemed like a bad omen.
[Ah, for your information. It starts from the 6th grade. In four hours, the 5th grade species will emerge and then four hours after that, it will be 4th grade. Then four hours later… huhu, well. Don't you know?]
Then one of the incarnations shouted, "What? What is an automatic scenario?"
"Eh? There isn't a time limit?"
[A time limit? Haha. There is no such thing.]
Klein's expression was serious.
[It is because all of you are too strong. Oh my god, the Korean incarnations have become so strong that they don't fit the balance anymore. Aren't you being a bit too greedy? This is a scenario that automatically occurs when the incarnations of certain domes become too strong.]
The Seoul incarnations were at a loss.
[As mentioned, there are two solutions to this scenario.]
Additional conditions appeared in the air.
+
Additional Clear Conditions (Pick 1):
1. The death of half the incarnations in Seoul Dome.
*Current number of incarnations (107,628).
+
The dokkaebi spoke with admiration.
[Hmm, there are still so many people? It is good that it is an even number.]
At the incarnations' angry shouts, the dokkaebi smiled and added,
[Please calm down. There is a second condition.]
+
Additional Clear Conditions (Pick 1):
2. The death of the strongest incarnation in Seoul Dome.
+
…What?
The incarnations shouted excitedly, "The strongest incarnation? What? Who is that referring to?"
"Tell us who it is!"
[Haha, I can't tell you that. Is it any fun if I tell you? Well, he is the strongest so he would know the best.]
Klein looked up at the dokkaebi with an odd gleam in his eyes.
These scenarios were still as sadistic as always.