The message from Yoon had been cryptic: Bukhansan summit point. Midnight. Everyone who matters will be there.
Ji-woo arrived early, climbing the mountain trail in darkness. His improved Agility made the ascent effortless—what would have winded him weeks ago now felt natural. The Debt Reaper system was literally rewriting his body's capabilities.
The summit point wasn't the mountain's peak but a flat clearing about halfway up, hidden from hiking trails. When Ji-woo arrived at 11:45 PM, he found he wasn't early at all.
Fifty Reapers were already there.
They clustered in distinct groups—guild affiliations obvious from their jackets and postures. Crimson Blades occupied the eastern side, at least fifteen members strong. Silver Dawn held the west with similar numbers. Iron Chains scattered throughout, their lack of uniforms making them harder to count.
And in the center, standing apart from all factions, were the independents. Yoon's group, plus maybe ten others Ji-woo didn't recognize.
"You made it," Yoon said as he approached. She looked tense, her hand never far from her weapon. "This is unprecedented. All three guilds agreed to a summit. Something major is happening."
"What?"
"That's what we're here to find out."
At precisely midnight, three figures stepped onto a natural stone platform at the clearing's center. Each represented their guild's leadership.
From Crimson Blades: Lee Tae-yang, but standing behind someone new—a woman in her forties with silver-streaked hair and a crimson coat that looked like it cost more than Ji-woo's entire debt. Her presence radiated authority.
[REAPER #8 - LEVEL 34]
Guild Commander Baek Soo-yeon. Seoul's highest-ranked Debt Reaper.
From Silver Dawn: Song Ha-yoon, but she too stood behind someone—a scholarly-looking man in his fifties with wire-rim glasses and a Silver Dawn badge on his chest.
[REAPER #19 - LEVEL 28]
Guild Commander Park Joon-ho.
From Iron Chains: A massive man, easily six-foot-four, with arms like tree trunks and scars crisscrossing his face. He wore no jacket, just a black tank top that showed off muscles earned through countless battles.
[REAPER #23 - LEVEL 26]
The Iron King himself. Hwang Cheol-su.
Three commanders. Three philosophies. Three powers that controlled Seoul's Debt Reaper ecosystem.
Commander Baek spoke first, her voice cutting through the mountain air like a blade. "Two days ago, the system issued a global announcement. Every Debt Reaper worldwide received it. By now, you've all seen it."
Ji-woo pulled out his phone. Sure enough, buried in his notifications was something he'd missed:
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT - GLOBAL]
[NEW EVENT UNLOCKED: THE CONVERGENCE]
[IN 30 DAYS, ALL DEBT REAPERS WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO A SPECIAL DUNGEON]
[ENTRY IS MANDATORY]
[REWARDS: MASSIVE DEBT REDUCTION]
[PENALTY FOR FAILURE: DEATH]
[ESTIMATED SURVIVAL RATE: 40%]
Ji-woo's blood ran cold. Forty percent survival rate. That meant sixty percent of all Debt Reapers worldwide would die in one month.
"The Convergence," Commander Park said, adjusting his glasses. "The system has never done anything like this before. Mandatory participation, no exceptions. Even Reapers at level 1 will be pulled in."
"It's a culling," the Iron King rumbled. "The system is tired of feeding us incremental debt reduction. It wants to thin the herd—kill the weak, reward the strong."
"Or," Commander Baek countered, "it's an opportunity. The announcement says 'massive debt reduction.' We're talking potentially hundreds of millions of won. Players could jump from level 10 to level 50 in one event."
"If they survive," Yoon muttered beside Ji-woo.
"Which brings us to why we called this summit," Ha-yoon stepped forward. "The Convergence will force Reapers from all over the world into the same space. Different countries, different guilds, different allegiances. The PvP potential is massive."
A Crimson Blade member shouted: "So what? We kill the foreign guilds and take their rewards!"
"Idiot," the Iron King shot back. "You think Seoul is the only city with organized guilds? Tokyo has the Yakuza Reapers. Beijing has the Red Dragon Syndicate. New York has the Wall Street Killers. Every major city has power structures just like ours, and they're all going to that dungeon."
Commander Park nodded. "Current estimates suggest 3,000 to 5,000 Debt Reapers will be in the Convergence simultaneously. It will be the largest gathering of Reapers in the system's history."
"And the biggest bloodbath," someone whispered.
Commander Baek raised her hand for silence. "Which is why we're proposing a Seoul Alliance. For the duration of the Convergence, all Seoul Reapers—guild and independent—operate under a non-aggression pact. We watch each other's backs against foreign threats. After the event, we resume normal operations."
"You want us to work with Crimson Blades?" An independent Reaper stood up, pointing accusingly. "They killed three independents just last month!"
"And Silver Dawn conscripts its members like slaves!" someone else shouted.
"Iron Chains is just Crimson Blades without the honesty!"
The clearing erupted into arguments. Decades of grudges, recent betrayals, and fundamental philosophical differences surfaced all at once.
Tae-yang's voice cut through the chaos. "I know what we are. Crimson Blades plays aggressively. We recruit hard and eliminate competition. But Commander Baek is right—in the Convergence, we're not competing with each other. We're competing with every other city's power structure."
"He's right," Dr. Kang said quietly beside Ji-woo. "In that dungeon, nationality will matter more than guild affiliation."
The Iron King cracked his knuckles, the sound like gunshots. "I've already made contact with independent Reapers in other Asian cities. They're forming coalitions too. If Seoul shows up divided, we'll be picked apart."
"So you want us to trust you?" Min-seok from Yoon's group stood up. "Trust the same guilds that have been hunting us for months?"
"No," Commander Park said simply. "We want you to use us. This is transactional. For thirty days, Seoul has one goal: prepare for the Convergence. After the Convergence, we go back to business as usual. But in that dungeon, we're all Seoul Reapers first."
Ji-woo stood. Every eye in the clearing turned to him.
"I have a question," he said. "What happens if someone breaks the alliance inside the Convergence? What's stopping a guild from betraying independents once we're all in the dungeon?"
Commander Baek smiled like she'd been waiting for this. "Smart question. The answer is consequences. Anyone who betrays the Seoul Alliance during the Convergence will be marked. Every guild will put a bounty on them. Their life expectancy after the event will be measured in days."
"We have 200 Reapers in Seoul," the Iron King added. "Break the alliance, and all 200 hunt you. No matter how strong you are, you can't survive that."
"It's mutually assured destruction," Ha-yoon explained. "The alliance only works because betrayal guarantees death. Game theory makes it stable."
It was brutal, pragmatic, and probably the only way to make competing factions cooperate.
"What about power sharing?" Hye-jin asked. "If we find valuable loot in the Convergence, who gets it?"
"Distributed by contribution," Commander Park said. "The system tracks damage dealt, healing provided, enemies killed. We split rewards proportionally. No one gets cheated."
"And leadership?" Dr. Kang pressed. "Who makes tactical decisions in the moment?"
"Squad-based system," Commander Baek pulled out a tablet displaying organizational charts. "We divide Seoul's 200 Reapers into squads of ten based on level and role compatibility. Each squad has autonomy. Squad leaders coordinate through command chat."
It was surprisingly well thought out. They'd been planning this for days, maybe weeks.
"One more thing," Tae-yang said. "Training. We have thirty days. Crimson Blades will open our guild dungeon archives—every boss pattern, every trap layout, every strategy we've documented. Silver Dawn will do the same. Iron Chains will share their independent coordination tactics. We share information to maximize survival."
"In return," Ha-yoon continued, "independents share their insights. You've survived without guild resources—that means you have skills and adaptability we need. This is an exchange, not charity."
Yoon looked at Ji-woo, then at their group, then at the assembled Reapers. "We need to vote. Independents, gather."
The twenty or so independent Reapers clustered together, away from guild eyes.
"This could be a trap," Min-seok said immediately. "Get us all trusting them, then betray us when we're vulnerable."
"Or it could be survival," Dr. Kang countered. "Forty percent survival rate. We need every advantage."
"I don't trust them," Hye-jin said. "But I trust Ji-woo's judgment. He survived with Crimson Blades in that dungeon. What do you think?"
All eyes turned to him. Ji-woo, level 7, barely two weeks as a Debt Reaper, suddenly being asked to influence a decision that would affect Seoul's entire Reaper population.
"I think," he said slowly, "that the system is forcing our hand. Mandatory participation means we can't avoid the Convergence. Going in divided means we die. Going in united means we have a chance."
"But can we trust them after?" Da-eun asked quietly.
"No," Ji-woo said honestly. "After the Convergence, we're back to watching our backs. But for thirty days, we use their resources, their training, their information. We get stronger together, then we separate stronger."
Yoon nodded slowly. "All in favor of joining the Seoul Alliance?"
Hands rose. Not unanimously—three independents refused, shaking their heads—but the majority agreed.
"Then it's decided," Yoon said. "Independents accept the alliance terms."
They returned to the main gathering. Commander Baek looked pleased.
"The Seoul Alliance is formed," she declared. "Crimson Blades, Silver Dawn, Iron Chains, and Independents. For thirty days, we prepare. In thirty days, we enter the Convergence together."
"One more thing," the Iron King said. "A symbol. Every alliance needs a symbol to rally around."
He pulled out a patch—black fabric with a white tower on it, Seoul Tower rendered in simple lines.
"Seoul Tower. Visible from anywhere in the city. When you see this patch, you know that Reaper is part of the alliance. No friendly fire. No betrayal. Seoul first."
Patches were distributed. Ji-woo pinned his to his jacket, the weight of it feeling both reassuring and ominous.
The summit broke up into smaller groups. Guild commanders coordinated with their lieutenants. Independents clustered with Yoon to discuss strategy. Ji-woo found himself approached by Tae-yang.
"Walk with me," the Crimson Blade vice-commander said.
They walked to the edge of the clearing, away from listening ears.
"You made an impression," Tae-yang said. "Saving Sung-ho in that dungeon. The commander noticed. She wants to extend a personal offer."
"I'm not joining Crimson Blades."
"Not recruitment. Partnership. You stay independent, but you get access to our training facilities for the next thirty days. In exchange, you help us understand independent tactics—how you survive without guild backing."
"Why me?"
"Because you're efficient. Level 7 in two weeks. Most Reapers take two months to reach that point. You have instincts we want to study." Tae-yang's expression was unreadable. "Also, you chose cooperation over betrayal. That's rare. Useful."
Ji-woo considered. Access to Crimson Blades' training would accelerate his growth significantly. But it would also put him in their territory, under their scrutiny.
"I'll think about it," he said.
"Don't think too long. Training starts tomorrow." Tae-yang handed him a business card with an address. "Show up or don't. Your choice."
He walked away.
Ha-yoon appeared next, as if she'd been waiting for Tae-yang to leave. "Silver Dawn has a different offer. Our guild specializes in information and strategy. We have extensive documentation on international Reapers—their levels, their skills, their tactics. You want to survive the Convergence? Knowledge is power."
"What's the cost?"
"Nothing during the alliance. After..." She smiled. "We can discuss terms then. For now, consider it an investment. We're betting on you, Kim Ji-woo. Don't make us regret it."
The Iron King was last. He simply handed Ji-woo a phone—a burner, untraceable.
"Independent coordination network," he said. "Encrypted. Guild commanders can't monitor it. When you need backup outside official channels, use this."
"Why give this to me?"
"Because you're the one who got Crimson Blades to cooperate. That's a skill, kid. Political power. We need that in the Convergence." He paused. "Also, you helped Han Ji-su when you didn't have to. Iron Chains remembers loyalty."
By the time Ji-woo descended the mountain, dawn was breaking over Seoul. He had three offers, one alliance, and thirty days to prepare for the deadliest event in Debt Reaper history.
His phone buzzed—a text from Soo-jin.
Oppa, haven't heard from you in a week. Are you okay? Call me when you can. Love you.
Ji-woo's chest tightened. His sister, studying at Yonsei, completely oblivious to the fact that her brother was preparing for an event with a sixty percent death rate.
He couldn't tell her. Couldn't burden her with the truth. She needed to focus on her studies, her future, her normal life.
But if he died in the Convergence...
Ji-woo made a decision. He opened his phone's notes app and began writing.
Dear Soo-jin,
If you're reading this, it means I didn't make it. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you the truth about the debt, about what I've been doing. I became something called a Debt Reaper. I fought monsters in dungeons to erase Appa's gambling debts.
By the time you read this, hopefully the debt is gone or significantly reduced. Use whatever's left of my savings for school. Graduate. Become successful. Live the life Appa and I couldn't.
Don't mourn me too long. I made my choices knowing the risks. I have no regrets.
I love you. I've always loved you.
- Ji-woo
He saved the note and set it to auto-send if he didn't cancel it within thirty-one days. A dead man's switch.
Then he opened his status screen.
[KIM JI-WOO - LEVEL 7 DEBT REAPER]
[HP: 220/220]
[MP: 74/74]
[CURRENT DEBT: ₩802,000,000]
[DAYS UNTIL CONVERGENCE: 30]
Thirty days to get stronger.
Thirty days to prepare.
Thirty days to cheat death one more time.
Ji-woo looked at the rising sun over Seoul—his city, his home, now bound together by necessity and survival.
"Level 10," he said to the dawn. "In thirty days, I reach level 10. Whatever it takes."
And deep in the system's code, something vast and inhuman noticed his determination and smiled.
[END OF CHAPTER 12]