-Ring!
[You have occupied 'Oksu Station'.]
[Current Occupied Territories: Gangnam (Main Base), Gyodae, Express Bus Terminal, Jamwon, Sinsa, Apgujeong, Oksu, Geumho, Hannam, Eungbong]
[The accumulated achievements of the 'Brown Flag' increase.]
[You have achieved the Hidden Scenario - 'King's Road'.]
The scenario updated anew upon occupying Oksu Station.
It was the moment the Hidden Scenario I received when I obtained the Red Flag was finally cleared.
…By the way, the choices are.
[Depending on the path you have walked, new 'King' choices are given.]
King of Curses.
King of Solitary Slaughterers.
King of Flawless Strength.
.
.
.
Why do they all look like this?
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"…No, nothing."
Ha Seo-yeon tilted her head with a pouting face, her cheeks stuffed full of Mole Cricket meat.
Since it was awkward to ask her which one would be good to choose among these King choices, I answered vaguely and shifted my gaze back to the choices.
King of Solitary Slaughterers, which gives stat bonuses every time a certain number of living beings are killed.
King of Flawless Strength, which gives bonuses to both skills and stats when dealing with the weak.
And lastly, King of Curses, which gives additional bonuses to all actions related to Cursed Energy.
The aforementioned King of Solitary Slaughterers and King of Flawless Strength were also quite decent choices.
However, compared to the King of Curses, their effects were treated as insignificant; the effects of the King of Curses were extremely fascinating.
My main attack methods are Dismantle and Cleave. Both are methods of fighting through Cursed Energy.
Therefore, the effect of the King of Curses suited me perfectly.
But….
"…Hmm, the nuance is a bit strange."
I will choose it, but still, 'King of Curses'.
It's not like I'm some plague; it's quite an ominous name.
[The Constellation, 'Demonic Judge of Fire', smirks, asking why you are like that when it's the attribute that suits you best.]
….
I wish she would shut up.
-Ring!
…Mm?
Like that, holding the Mole Cricket meat in one hand and taking a bite, and selecting the King of Curses with the other hand.
Just as I was about to move towards Seoul Station again, a notification popped up suddenly saying the scenario was updated again.
Somewhat.
[The time limit of the fourth scenario decreases significantly.]
[48 hours remaining until the end of the fourth scenario.]
[Groups and group members who do not occupy the Target Station within the next 48 hours will all die.]
In a not-so-good direction.
"…Tch."
"U, uh? What's wrong? Did something happen again!?"
"No, just because of the scenario."
"A, ah…. Is that so…?"
"…."
What could be the reason the scenario changed suddenly?
Not a Sub Scenario, but a Main Scenario.
I thought about it deeply, but nothing particularly comes to mind. Then…, what on earth.
[Several Constellations mention Anguk Station.]
[Constellations enthusiastic about battle admire, saying they never imagined that Incarnations who hadn't even cleared the fourth scenario yet would subjugate a 5th-grade Fire Dragon species that was a Minor Disaster.]
…Disaster? 5th-grade Fire Dragon species?
What on earth does that mean?
"…Hey, Constellation. Explain it so I can understand. What happened?"
[The Constellation, 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband', frowns, saying you are rude.]
"So what."
[The Constellation, 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband', sighs faintly, sends a video, and scratches his head vigorously.]
Video?
This is….
-Chi, chi-jik, chi-ji-jik….
-D, Dokja-ssi?
-Everyone come behind me!
The content of the video was quite interesting.
Kim Dokja, wearing only a straw mat, scattering tremendous cold energy while fighting a Fire Dragon, and finally throwing a sword to pierce its heart and take the victory.
When I first saw him, I judged he didn't have this level of physical ability; did he meet a quite good Sponsor? Or did he reinforce his body by obtaining a large amount of Coins?
Whatever it is, I want to meet him once. And right now.
"…I've decided."
"Decided what…?"
"We will not head to Seoul Station as is, but to Chungmuro."
Currently, this is Oksu Station.
We could head towards Hannam Station and go to Seoul Station, but instead, we will head towards Geumho Station and meet Kim Dokja's party.
The name of the station written on the flag he was holding in the video was clearly Chungmuro, so if we hurry, we should be able to meet him.
"D, do, do we really have to go…?"
Just as I was thinking that.
Ha Seo-yeon asked me while fidgeting with her hands.
Asking if we really have to go.
"Um…, even though we have a lot of time left, wouldn't it be better to occupy the Target Station as soon as possible?"
"…."
"A, uh. I, I'm sorry…!! I was being presumptuous again…."
When I stared at her quietly without saying a word, Ha Seo-yeon bowed her head while sweating profusely.
If she had puppy ears and a tail right now, they would probably be drooping by now.
"…Presumptuous, you say. Don't say such things. It was a question you could ask."
"T, theeeen…?"
"Of course, we are heading to Chungmuro. No changing that."
"Ah, awoo…."
At her words asking if I could really reconsider just once more, I firmly half-threatened her, saying I'd leave her behind if she kept doing that, and only then did she jump up and start following me.
Watching her like that.
"…."
I smiled a bit bitterly.
-Ta-da-da-dat…!!
"One is a Prophet…, and one is a Revelator…."
Running without rest from Oksu Station, perhaps we arrived at Chungmuro, as several voices began to be heard.
Among them, the voice that reached my hearing most intensely was none other than one man's voice.
This voice is definitely….
"Is it that bastard from back then."
"…Yes?"
The priorities set in my head shifted drastically just because I heard that man's voice.
From 'Meet Kim Dokja'. To 'Kill that man'.
"Follow slowly. There is nothing ahead from here now."
"W, wait a moment—!!"
-Paaaah—!!!
Leaving behind her words trying to catch me, I reinforced my legs with Cursed Energy and ran forward even faster.
And simultaneously extending my hand.
"Dismantle (解)."
I used the technique.
"…!!!"
-Clang!!
"This is…!!"
"Long time no see."
His expressionless face was instantly dyed with shock. Probably because he was flustered.
However, I was also very flustered by this guy in front of me.
Since that day, I thought I had trained my Cursed Energy quite a bit, but I still couldn't even cut through this guy's sword.
It was a little, no, very humiliating.
"…As expected, you were alive?"
"Yeah. Of all things, I could have really died. So I came to pay back that debt."
"…I don't have time to deal with you right now. Get lost."
"Is that so? But what to do."
That is none of my business.
"Dismantle (解)."
"…Tch!"
-Claaaang—!!!
A sound much louder than when he first blocked 'Dismantle' rang out within the subway.
It had to be. Just now was merely a taste, but what I fired now was charged with quite a bit of Cursed Energy. And the distance was close too.
"…Are you asking for a fight?"
"Well, wasn't it?"
"…."
-Gogogogo…!!
The man's expression grew increasingly ferocious, and soon, as if fully prepared to fight, he gripped his sword properly and swung it straight at me.
Right. If you had put your sword back without fighting, I would have been disappointed.
-Clang!! Clang! Kaga-ga-ga-gak—!!!
"I wanted to ask since last time. You, just what is your identity?"
"Are you just going to keep talking?"
"No way."
-Boom, ba-ang! Kwa-a-ang! Kwa-a-a-ang—!!!
Fists carrying each other's full power. Sword strikes and slashes continuously clashed in midair.
Each time, a tremendous sound of destruction rang out, and air currents spread.
However, neither side has any intention of stopping.
"Dismantle (解)."
"…!!!"
-Kwa-ga-ga-gak—!!!!
"…Kuh!"
"…Ha!"
Admiration came out of me involuntarily.
Just now, was that at least 20 shots of 'Dismantle' condensed into one and fired?
Of course, he took damage, but for it not to end as a fatal wound.
This, the situation is turning quite interesting.
-Paaang—!!!
-Boom! Crunch, kwa-ga-ga-gak!!!
-Whishhh—!!
The speed at which he swings his sword is getting faster.
Is he not serious yet? But it's fine. I haven't revealed my seriousness either.
However, if we continue this fight vaguely without getting serious like this, that would also be boring.
-Whishhh….
Suddenly, the clash of sword strikes and slashes that had continued from the beginning until now stopped.
Because what I am about to use requires quite a bit of concentration.
"…!!"
If you won't reveal it first, I will show you first.
I will use 'Dismantle' (解) without omitting the Incantations and Hand Signs, and kill you at once.
"Scale of the Dragon (龍鱗)."
The guy's pupils dilate greatly.
And the combat stance he was maintaining instantly changed into a defensive stance.
"Recoil (반발)."
But.
Do you think you can block it with just that?
"Twin Meteors (한 쌍의 유성)."
The target is that guy's head.
I smile brightly as if the corners of my mouth would tear, and extend my hand as is.
And continue speaking.
"Yoo Joonghyuk, get doooown—!!!!"
"Dismantle (解)."
"…!!!"
-Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak—!!!!!
My 'Dismantle', fired without omitting Incantations and Hand Signs, flies while roughly cutting through the walls and glass doors of the subway station.
However, contrary to my expectation, the man in front of me was not hit by that 'Dismantle' and his head was not cut off.
The reason was none other than someone shouting, causing him to hurriedly duck his head and dodge my technique.
-Whooosh….
And I knew who the owner of that voice was.
The owner of that voice who threw cold water on the fight that was thoroughly enjoyable.
"…Kim Dokja."
"Long time no see, Kang Yuhyeon-ssi. We've met before, right?"