[System Message]
Objective: Survival
Time Remaining: 36:29:41
The sky had turned a deep gray as Hyun-woo and Jin-soo continued their march through the ruined city. Every step echoed faintly across the crumbling pavement, interrupted only by the occasional distant roar or the flutter of birds fleeing from unseen threats. The smell of ash and blood clung to the air, thick and unshakable.
Jin-soo rubbed his shoulder, the pain from the earlier battle still fresh. His left arm was wrapped in cloth torn from a monster's remains, a crude attempt at bracing a deep bruise from the fight against the Ashen Goblin Commander. Moving without his usual equipment felt off—he was used to having something to guard with, and now he was down to only his blade.
"I still think this is insane," he muttered, eyes scanning the surrounding ruins. "That elite almost killed us. If we run into another one like that…"
"We won't fight unless we have to," Hyun-woo said, not turning around. "We avoid unnecessary conflict. The boss is the priority."
His tone left no room for argument, and Jin-soo knew better than to press further. He just followed; blade gripped tighter than necessary.
They moved like shadows, weaving through shattered buildings and overturned cars. Hyun-woo led with cautious precision, reading the terrain like a seasoned scout. His new skills—Enhanced Reflexes and Critical Strike—made each movement sharper, his reactions faster. Even without testing Critical Strike yet, he could sense the potential. One well-placed hit could change the flow of battle.
As they passed through a half-destroyed mall, the air thickened. Hyun-woo held up a hand, signalling Jin-soo to stop.
Something was coming.
From the wreckage of a broken escalator, a mutated wolf-like creature emerged. Its body was covered in charred fur, and black steam hissed from its joints. Feral eyes locked onto them, drool sizzling as it hit the floor.
[Corrupted Beast – Level 12]
[Threat Level: Moderate]
"Don't let it howl," Hyun-woo said calmly.
The beast lunged.
Jin-soo rolled to the side, gritting his teeth as his injured arm flared in protest. Hyun-woo darted in from the flank, blade glinting. He timed the moment perfectly, driving his sword into the beast's throat just as it opened its mouth to scream.
[Critical Strike Activated]
[Stun Applied – 1.5 Seconds]
The creature spasmed, eyes wide in shock. Jin-soo didn't waste the opening. With a grunt, he delivered a two-handed slash to its back, severing its spine.
The body collapsed.
[EXP Gained]
[Hyun-woo – 63% to Level 10]
"Still got it," Jin-soo said, panting.
"You need a new weapon," Hyun-woo muttered, wiping blood from his blade.
"I need a lot of things," Jin-soo replied dryly. "Right now, I feel like a guy showing up to war without pants."
They shared a brief chuckle—brief being the operative word.
A low rumble rolled through the air. The ground trembled.
They froze.
From somewhere in the distance came a sound unlike anything they'd heard so far—a deep, resonating roar that seemed to rattle the bones. Birds scattered from the ruined rooftops in flocks, and the sky darkened further.
"That's it," Hyun-woo said. "That's the boss."
The humour vanished from Jin-soo's face. "It sounds pissed."
"Good," Hyun-woo replied, eyes sharpening. "That means it's moving. And if it's moving, it's hunting."
They climbed a collapsed parking structure for a better view. From the highest point, they spotted movement in the far east—massive limbs crashing through rubble, a colossal shape shifting through the mist.
It wasn't fully visible yet, but its presence alone was enough to send a chill down Jin-soo's spine.
"Holy shit," he whispered. "That thing's a monster."
Hyun-woo's lips curled into a faint smile. "Yeah. And we're going to kill it."
He didn't say it out of arrogance. It was determination, forged from blood, instinct, and the desire to rise above everyone else.
The boss fight wasn't just another step.
It was the turning point.
And they were almost there.