Viper stood right in front of me.
Just seeing the scar etched into his forearm twitch was enough to size him up.
That bastard was the real deal.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙In the early part of [Abyss Miner], the mid-boss who cornered the protagonist right on the edge of death.
A thug who scams miners for a living, but his raw physical prowess was beyond human.
'My Strength stat is 11.9 right now, counting all the gains from today.'
About twice the average adult male.
Factor in the [Earth's Blessing] bonus, and I could easily stomp punks like Pockmark or regular miners.
But Viper was a different story.
That guy pulverized rocks with his bare fists and moved with agile grace despite his bear-like bulk.
Couldn't put an exact number on it, but going by what he showed in the story, his Strength and Agility stats would clock at least 30 on my Status Window scale.
[Earth's Blessing] offered corrections to my actions, sure—but it only expanded the range of what was possible.
It could bump a 90 up to 100, but it couldn't turn a 0 into 100.
"Ha, fuck."
A sigh slipped out on its own.
In one word: screwed.
"What, fuck? Has this little rat lost his goddamn mind?"
Even as Viper sauntered toward me, cold sweat trickled down my spine.
'Can't win.'
My instincts screamed the warning.
Act tough here, and I'd really die.
Protagonist buff?
That shit was for the original hero.
I was just an extra with a slight stat bump—at best, a minor side character.
"Hey, grab him."
Viper jerked his chin.
Pockmark and the lackeys leered with sleazy grins as they tightened the noose.
My head spun.
Fight? Run?
Run? The mine entrance was their turf.
Dive into the mine?
Monsters crawling everywhere inside.
Every path led straight to hell's open gates.
That instant.
Viper's veins bulged as he hoisted his fist high.
A colossal knuckles with enough whoosh to feel the air pressure.
"Die!"
Whoosh-!
The fist plunged straight for my crown.
No dodging it.
Hit direct? Skull caved at best—instant death at worst.
'Fucked.'
My vision blackened in that split second.
One phrase lightning-bolted through my brain.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙You cannot exit without obtaining at least one reward upon first entry. Thereafter, free entry and exit is possible.
Reward? Got 'em!
So I can bail!
'Log out? Exit? Return? Whatever—just get me out! Out!'
No time to think—I screamed it in my head.
Fist a hair from impact.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Would you like to return to reality?
'Fuck, hurry!'
The moment Viper's fist filled my sight.
Pop-!
The world turned upside down.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Gasp! Gasp! Gasp!"
I tumbled across the floor, heaving ragged breaths.
Cold sweat poured like rain.
My heart thundered like it would smash through my ribs.
What I saw: the familiar ceiling.
Back in my cramped one-room apartment in reality.
"Sa... saved..."
I touched my crown without thinking.
Perfectly fine.
Moments ago, that fist had been inches from pulverizing my skull.
Escaped by a hair's breadth to reality.
Legs jelly—couldn't stand.
Spread-eagled, stared at the ceiling.
Whoa, really almost died.
Underestimated it 'cause it's a comic—nearly bit the dust for real.
"Crazy fucker. Fist like a goddamn iron club."
Viper's punch lingered vivid in memory.
Whistling through the air like that.
0.1 seconds later, and my head would've exploded like a melon.
Finally steadied my breath, hauled myself up.
Wall clock: frozen at my entry time.
Not one minute, not one second passed.
Then, a settlement window popped up before my eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Ending exploration of the comic world. Beginning achievement settlement. ⚔ ACQUIRED REWARDS ⚔• Stat Increases: Strength +0.9, Agility +0.7, All Stats +10 • Trait: Earth's Blessing • Mining Yield: Iron Ore x475 • Monster Kills: Moss Slimes x141, Cave Bats x1 • Special Actions: Subdued thugs, Explored deep 1st floor, Variant monster encounter ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Acquiring exploration experience. Trait 'Into the Comics' proficiency increased. ✨ LEVEL UP! ✨Lv 1 → Lv 2
Trait level up unlocks new function.
"Leveled up, huh."
Rewards? Didn't sink in.
Not the priority.
Survived, yeah—but the problem was far from solved.
⚔ NEW FUNCTION ⚔'Inventory (Small)' Unlocked
Can store items acquired in the comic world, or import real-world items.
"Inventory?"
This was broken.
Real-world items importable? Game-changer.
But the elation faded fast.
Hold up. Let's think.
Comic world time is paused.
Paused right at the split second before Viper's fist meets my head.
Meaning...
Log back in, and I respawn not even 0.1 seconds later—in that same shit situation.
"Ah, fuck."
The curse burst out.
Not safe. Just hit pause.
Reconnect, hit play—head explodes on cue.
"What now?"
Go back? Instant death.
Dodge possible?
Already hovering right overhead.
Might croak before I even get my bearings.
"Driving me insane."
I clawed at my hair.
Couldn't skip it either.
Need [Abyss Miner] ending—or death—to unlock other comics.
'Die to move on? Means comic death isn't permadeath.'
Still, dying sucked.
Quit here? Login lockout—no other comics.
'Stuck as beefy normie, trait wasted forever.'
Hunter glory? Harem babes? All down the drain.
Just grind training?
Ditch this cheat for normie gate raids? Fuck that.
Love and Peace dangles Charm +50 alone—trait's ceiling is limitless.
More worlds later? Snag their unique skills.
Toss this? Only a lunatic would.
"Gotta find a way."
Yanked cold water from the fridge, chugged it down.
Brainstorm time.
Dodge the haymaker. Tank it. Neutralize him somehow.
"Inventory... real-world import..."
Eyes flashed.
Yes. This.
I'm in 21st-century Seoul, South Korea.
'Fantasy hicks couldn't dream of the weapons here.'
Plopped at the PC pronto.
Fired up shopping sites, hammered searches.
Wanted a gun, but Korea's a gun-free utopia.
No firearms online.
Overseas hunters pack heat into gates—even they can't here.
Stun guns, pepper spray, gas guns, stab-proof vests, batons.
Carted whatever came to mind.
"Buy it all. Smash 'em with modern shit."
Viper tough? High-voltage zap turns anyone to piss-pants.
Capsaicin to the eyes—let's see him shrug.
But timing's the killer.
Spawn in, fumble inventory pull? Dead before draw.
"Haa..."
Back to square one.
Need instant activation on entry.
Or gear to eat the punch.
"Helmet?"
Motorcycle lid on entry?
Nah—helmeted head pop? Extra pathetic.
Embarrassing bonus.
Needed certainty.
Not tank—cripple for good.
Ransacked Hunter Gallery, Military boards, Survival forums.
[Vs. close-quarters fighters], [Instant subdue tools], [Street fight tips].
One post caught my eye.
📰 Post TitleBear Repellent Spray Hits Like a Truck LMAO— OPHit a wild boar in the mountains with this. Dude ran off bawling tears and snot. Range like 5m easy.
"Jackpot."
Bear-chaser? Viper's toast too.
Still, same snag: draw time.
"Enter holding it?"
Checked the system prompt.
Register items to Inventory (Small) to start entry holding/wearing them. (Set grip/equip state possible)
"Oh, fuck yes! Score!"
Hooray exploded.
This seals it.
Set spray gripped, spawn in—mash button.
Chem-warfare Viper's mug before fist lands.
Hunted overseas sites for max-power bear spray.
Shipping? Quick delivery.
Cash over corpse.
Right hand spray, left stun gun.
Dual-wield death, bitches.
Added stab vest, tactical helmet.
Shame? Pfft. Survive first.
Full kit equippable on spawn? Full plate incoming.
"Time to test."
Orders done, leaned back.
Sly grin crept up.
Viper's face? Priceless curiosity.
Strut-fist punk rolling in eyeball-melting agony? Catharsis brewing.
'Modern gear weird to them?'
Nope. Inventory stows it.
Smash scum, pocket—done.
My plan: airtight perfection.
Chill reality-side till gear drops, tweak condition.
Time frozen there anyway.
Laze deep, prep hard, triumphant return.
"Wait up, you shitheads. Bro's schooling you on item cheese and modern science—bone-deep."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Ding-dong-!
"Chicken's here!"
Grabbed the steaming box from the door.
Savory grease aroma stabbed my nose.
This is bliss, fuck.
Comic grind fatigue? One whiff, gone.
Set chicken on desk.
Iced cola aside, Legends of Hiros lobby glows.
"Cash stocked, gear inbound."
Now honey-mode few days, stamina top-up.
Pockmark, Viper? Parked.
Reality enjoy-time.
Queued match, ripped a drumstick.
Crispy crust, juicy meat tangoed in my mouth.
"Kya, fuck. The taste."
Ore-mining, slime-slaying thrills, but chicken reigns—modern miracle.
Primal dopamine hit.
Queue wait: chicken hand-munch, YT scroll.
'Squirrel no peck? Not AI cheapie.'
No diner slop—gourmet sim, food lags.
Bonus: vids galore, chicken demolished pre-launch.
Endless grind data-built instinct.
Deep game, ~15min mark: solo enemy mid hero braindead pushes pre-obj.
"Huh? Diving? Suicide."
Combo burst—solo kill snatched.
Euphoria peak.
'Sigh, no allchat kills vibe. Neighbor games envy. Eh, they axed it too—six one half-dozen.'
Snapped chat open.
💬 GAME CHAT— 180/72/234:5 so give obj go ud gg I 20 spec gale hit ud they cant come— Republic of KoreaYes lol well cut 20 ud game over?— 180/72/23Wtf chink speaking korean— Republic of Korea?— 180/72/23What bitch— Republic of KoreaBlocked
That was when.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Front door rattled like it might shatter.
"Fuck! Jump scare!"
Nearly fumbled mouse mid-clutch.
Who pounds a stranger's door like that?
Convenience store boss?
Address unknown—wait, resume had it.
Already? Doubt it.
Or downstairs noise beef.
"Hey! Lee Jun! Open up!"
Familiar voice.
Grating high-pitch laced with piss-off vibes.
"...Ha."
Deep sigh.
Knew who.
Planet's peskiest plague arrived.
Ud secured, enemy respawn ages off—win locked.
Mouse down, trudged to door.
Unlocked—door flew wide.
"Ah, fucking glacial open. Ears fucked?"
Unnatural silver locks shimmered, no lenses but innate crimson glare pierced me.
Lee Ah-rin.
My little sister.