Chapter 23

23. Seoul Station, F-Rank and S-Rank - 2

=========================

Lee Hyun-wook remembered the incident known as the Seoul Station Disaster.

Part of Seoul Station was forcibly closed due to an "Unlucky Event," leaving hundreds trapped for six hours, and ultimately resulting in 745 deaths. It was the most tragic of the monster disasters that occurred during that period.

Perhaps it could have been recorded as an incident that exposed the flaws in Korea's "Gate Response System"...

‘But it was buried when the Fourth Wave occurred, killing hundreds of thousands.’

Thus, in the future, the 745 lives lost here would not be considered very important. They were merely a few sacrifices to warn of a greater disaster to come...

However, they were all alive now, without a single one missing.

“Mom, I’m scared...”

“Shh—Son, it’s okay. Those players will save us.”

“Is Dad coming to get us?”

“Yes, let’s wait a little longer.”

The people who would have become the spiders' prey were gathered here.

But the situation was still far from safe.

“...Can they really hold off the monsters for five hours?”

The fear and doubt that the weak could not help but feel...

It was natural, given that they had to rely on just 40 players of that level.

The helpless civilians could only swallow their dry throats as they looked at their backs.

*gulp* *gulp*

The surface of the gate began to ripple violently as time passed.

The 40 players, all of them, held their breath and stared at it.

Warriors and knights, the "tanks," stood blocking the stairs and escalators, while the archers and mages lined up on the terrace, raising their weapons.

Silence—

Faint but rough breathing could be heard from various places.

*whoosh*

And before they knew it, they were all wearing gas masks.

Because Lee Hyun-wook had warned them about the poison that the Venomous Armor Spiders could emit.

How long had it been? Suddenly, the gate's trembling stopped...

*flash*

The gate emitted light in all directions and spat out two terrifyingly large spiders.

*flash*

This happened twice, bringing the total to four spiders.

It was twice the number from the first split.

‘...They’re here.’

Everyone thought this in their hearts, but only heavy breathing escaped their lips.

*screech* *screech*

The disgusting cries and heavy movements... As they began to move, the second floor of Seoul Station seemed to shrink.

“Stand by...”

In the silence, only Lee Hyun-wook’s voice echoed softly.

*thud* *thud* *thud* *thud*

The eight-legged stomps shook the ground, shaking their hearts.

“Stand by...”

Lee Hyun-wook raised his right hand above his head and extended his left hand toward the spiders.

‘Just one shell. On the back, where other players can easily hit...’

If Lee Hyun-wook used his ability fully, he could easily subdue a few Venomous Armor Spiders, but he didn’t plan to burst their skin like he did in the first battle.

‘I need to conserve mana.’

– Mana (159/159)

* Recovers 5 points per minute.

Since more monsters would appear this time than during the first eruption, he needed to conserve his mana.

‘To deal with the next one, I’ll need a significant amount of mana...’

Thinking this, Lee Hyun-wook clenched his left hand.

– Mana (151/159)

8 points of mana evaporated,

*boom!*

and the outer shell on the back of the nearest Venomous Armor Spider exploded with a loud noise.

The spider was startled and shook its body, and at that moment, Lee Hyun-wook’s right hand dropped.

“...Aim for the broken area, launch magic attacks!”

The mages, who had been crouching, stood up and used the spells they had prepared.

*boom!*

Flame magic exploded,

*crack!*

and lightning magic struck.

The spells hit the area around the hole Lee Hyun-wook had created.

With a *crack*, cracks spread from that area, and a large part of the outer shell began to crumble.

Over the exposed flesh...

“Now! Fire!”

*bang* *bang* *bang* *bang* *bang!*

At the security team leader’s command, bullets and arrows were fired in unison.

Aim was taken at the hole in the broken shell, and green blood burst out, followed by chunks of sticky flesh.

“Good! It’s working!”

Among these physical attacks, Lee Hyun-wook’s ‘metal balls’ were different.

A one-sided attack only penetrates the surface and causes internal injuries once.

But the metal balls Lee Hyun-wook controlled continued to move even after penetrating the surface.

‘Shred all the internal organs.’

Lee Hyun-wook felt the spherical metal moving inside the spider’s body.

Of course, due to insufficient control, it slowed down whenever it got stuck in various places, but the pain it caused inside the body must have been unimaginable.

*screech* *screech* *screech* *screech*

The metal balls inside the Venomous Armor Spider’s body bounced around like ‘pinballs,’ tearing fascia, striking internal organs, and severing blood vessels.

As long as they could penetrate, they could cause continuous internal injuries.

And,

‘Shatter!’

*crack*

Lee Hyun-wook felt the metal ball inside the spider’s body shatter into dozens of pieces.

The spider writhed in pain from the tearing of its internal organs, the unbearable pain.

And soon...

*thud*

Its heavy body fell to the ground.

“...Got it!”

A short cheer—

But now, it was just one spider. Lee Hyun-wook immediately reached out to the next target, and the others followed his lead, aiming their weapons at it.

*boom!*

As he burst the outer shell of another spider’s back, magic and physical attacks followed in sequence, dealing effective damage without further orders.

“Damn, they’re looking at us!”

The Venomous Armor Spiders began to counterattack.

Approaching the third-floor terrace, they aimed their rear ends at the players and spewed something.

*whoosh!*

“Ugh! It’s gas!”

But since they were already wearing gas masks, they could avoid inhaling the unknown gas.

However...

“Ugh...”

“My body... it’s stiffening...”

“It’s a paralysis gas!”

The players began to report symptoms of paralysis.

‘Sure enough, this paralysis gas not only affects the respiratory system but also seeps into the skin and works.’

The reason Lee Hyun-wook had spent 36 hours ingesting metal with the ‘poison attribute’ the previous night was precisely for this.

A gas that paralyzes the body instantly without causing fatal damage—this was the weapon of the Venomous Armor Spiders.

Thus, only he could move perfectly.

“Still, as long as we’re not completely stiff, everyone, focus!”

The security team leader, whose neck was stiffening, turned his head and shouted.

“Hey! Skeletons are spotted near the right side!”

A group of skeleton soldiers had suddenly emerged from a franchise hamburger shop.

But they were not panicked.

Thanks to Lee Hyun-wook’s prior confirmation of the ‘double gate’ phenomenon.

“Fifth squad, aim and fire at those!”

At Ahn Min-tae’s command, the fifth squad’s guns moved.

*bang* *bang!*

“I’ll guard the stairs, so don’t worry and take your shots slowly!”

The archers’ fingers were slowly stiffening due to the paralysis gas, but they pulled the triggers calmly, trusting that Ahn Min-tae and the other tanks were guarding their backs.

*boom* *boom*

With each hit, the skeletons, with their weak bodies, crumbled piece by piece.

“Those are just regular skeletons! They’re very weak!”

“Good, keep it up! Everyone is doing great!”

Since the gate was opened to connect with the villain, they were not very threatening.

Meanwhile, the fifth squad members felt a strange sense of pride.

The feeling that they could do it... that they were not useless, as they had realized again after the Kobold Gate battle.

‘We can fight like this...’

As their successful experiences continued, their confidence grew.

‘Sergeant Lee Hyun-wook was right; rank is nothing!’

Then, a hidden quality emerged under the tension.

They immersed themselves in their roles.

About 15 minutes later...

*whoosh*

Finally, the gunfire ceased.

As the thick smoke cleared, the second-floor reception area, now a mess, was revealed.

Scattered bodies and no movement.

“...It’s over.”

They had blocked the second eruption from two gates without a single casualty.

One by one, they removed their gas masks.

“Really... I didn’t expect it to go so perfectly.”

The security team leader laughed bitterly, and a civilian player agreed.

“I agree. Even as a C-rank warrior, I’ve participated in dungeon closures many times, but... this is the first time I’ve experienced such an efficient and stable battle.”

Their gazes turned to Lee Hyun-wook.

“To be honest, this is all... thanks to this sergeant.”

“I completely agree.”

It was an undeniable fact.

It wasn’t just his metal-shattering ability.

Even in the worst moment, when it would have been natural to choose to hide rather than fight, they did not lose their fighting spirit because of the calmness Lee Hyun-wook exuded.

Lieutenant Lee Hee-min watched this from a distance.

‘This guy...’

Now, there was no way to pick on Lee Hyun-wook’s attention.

Even the discontented expression on his face, which he hadn’t realized, disappeared.

‘...He really is amazing, isn’t he?’

He had to admit it.

Before the battle began, Lee Hyun-wook had announced that he had achieved some accomplishment and gained an ability upgrade. But... he didn’t expect it to be this much.

For a moment, Lee Hee-min felt a sense of self-loathing.

‘What have I been doing all this time...?’

But his emotions soon shifted to bewilderment.

Because a system message in red letters appeared before his eyes.

– Attention! Due to the players' remarkable achievements, a bonus is granted.

“What is this!”

“...An additional event? What does that mean!”

This message appeared not only before Lee Hee-min but also before everyone in the dome.

The Unlucky Event, the unfortunate trial imposed on humanity, is neither kind nor benevolent.

It relentlessly pushes players to the worst-case scenario until the end.

‘Of course, after overcoming all of that, it grants great luck...’

Lee Hyun-wook, picking up the metal balls, waited for the next message.

– A boss monster will appear. (00:15:00)

‘As expected...’

Lee Hyun-wook had anticipated this.

It had already been announced once before.

– An Unlucky Event will occur in this area!

* Entry into this area is possible, but exit is not.

* There is a level restriction for entering this area. (LV. 15)

* To escape, survive for 6 hours or defeat the ‘boss monster’!

The first condition for escape, surviving for 6 hours, seemed too easy to be fulfilled, so the system was deliberately enforcing the second condition.

‘It’s no longer interesting, is it?’

No one could understand the system’s intentions.

There was only one thing they could do.

Put aside their doubts and survive.

“Ah...”

“A boss... not just an elite monster, but a boss monster directly?”

Everyone wore expressions of shock.

Then, without anyone saying a word, they began to look at Lee Hyun-wook one by one.

“What should we do now?”

The moment they saw his face, they inexplicably regained a sense of calm.

“We need to prepare for another battle without rest.”

This was because Lee Hyun-wook’s expression was as calm as before.

***

*rumble* *rumble* *rumble* *rumble* *rumble*

At Seoul Station Square, a loud noise and vibration shook the area.

“What, what’s this all of a sudden!”

People lowered their stances and turned their heads.

“Hey, look over there!”

Someone pointed at the dome.

The dome was roaring.

– 05:01:12

* A boss monster has appeared!

And on the surface of the dome, below the numbers, additional text appeared.

A boss monster...

The situation inside the dome was being broadcast, albeit vaguely.

“A boss monster... has appeared? Is such a thing possible?”

Boss monsters rarely come out of the ‘gate’.

That’s why they were the strongest monsters encountered during ‘dungeon raids’.

So, what on earth is happening in there?

Shortly after, Kim Gang-seok stood before a microphone.

As a commander, he gave a brief briefing on the current situation...

“Commander, I have a question!”

“Here, I have a question too!”

Immediately, a barrage of questions from reporters began.

“Is it true that countless civilians are being sacrificed inside the dome, and there’s nothing we can do?”

“And what does the appearance of a boss monster mean?”

“Huh? Please explain!”

It was an undeniable fact that civilians were dying inside.

And in large numbers...

But it was a very sensitive statement to make publicly.

“As I mentioned earlier, 30 minutes ago, our rescue team entered the dome. They are currently carrying out a civilian rescue operation. I cannot provide detailed information about the operation.”

So, Kim Gang-seok intended to give only formal answers.

“But I heard that the entry level for the dome is 15 or below. Doesn’t that mean the rescue operation will be difficult due to insufficient combat power?”

“...They are specially trained soldiers. They will carry out their mission at the risk of their lives.”

“Then, how many civilian casualties do you expect?”

“...It’s currently impossible to estimate.”

He never gave a specific answer about civilian casualties.

Yet, the news was already reporting that many had died.

Some even reported that over 800 had died, and experts appeared, saying that the rescue team might be wiped out.

Of course, these were not entirely baseless.

It just hadn’t been confirmed yet,

Everyone thought it would inevitably happen.

“Is it true that the dome will only disappear in 5 hours? Does that mean we have to just wait without taking any additional measures until then?”

“No, that’s not the case. We plan to dispatch additional rescue teams.”

The reporters were puzzled by the mention of additional rescue teams.

“Huh? If it’s another team of level 15, it will be useless...”

Kim Gang-seok raised his hand to cut off the reporter’s words.

Then, he exchanged a glance with someone and nodded.

“Well, this is something that hasn’t been decided yet, so I couldn’t mention it during the briefing, but I’m reporting it now because it has just been confirmed.”

Kim Gang-seok paused for a moment before continuing.

“...We plan to dispatch a rescue team without levels.”

The reporters’ uproar momentarily ceased.

“What? Without levels...”

At that moment, a gust of wind swept through.

*thud* *thud* *thud* *thud* *thud*

A large transport aircraft with two propellers flew in from beyond the buildings in front of Seoul Station.

On its white-painted body, the blue flame symbol of the Blue Flower Guild was engraved.

“...They’ve arrived just in time.”

As Kim Gang-seok said this and raised his head, all the cameras moved in that direction.

Before the transport aircraft landed, the door opened, and someone jumped down to the ground 10 meters below.

And he landed very lightly.

“...Oh!”

A giant man with long hair tied in a rope.

He was wearing a green tracksuit from a famous sports brand, and inside, a black scale armor was faintly visible. He carried a sports duffel bag on one shoulder.

“Hey, look! It’s Han Tae-san!”

As the reporters swarmed over him, Kim Gang-seok sighed.

‘Han Tae-san, it’s a relief that he’s here.’

Han Tae-san, the man the world calls the ‘Fist King’.

He was an S-rank player, ranked 2nd in Korea and 9th in the world. The black scale armor inside his tracksuit proved he was also a ‘Dragon Slayer’.

“Yeah! Since he’s S-rank, he can enter the dome without a level!”

“Wow! Even though S-rank players are precious, he’s stepping up in a crisis!”

However, despite his immense fame, he was rarely seen in official settings. He only appeared when a gate of considerable scale opened.

“Hello? Yes, Team Leader! Breaking news! Taho has emerged from his cave! Yes, after a full 6 months