Emergency Defense Battle (2)
Finally, the promised time had arrived.
I gathered with my party at Line 3's platform. Each member was checking their weapons. It looked like Hyunseong had done a good job.
"As you requested, Mr. Dokja, I distributed everything."
Since our old weapons were worn out, I had asked Hyunseong to craft new ones. The materials came from the 8th-grade subterranean beast [Grohl] we had hunted in last night's struggle. Swords and spears made from Grohl's horn — they wouldn't last long, but they'd suffice for now.
Jung Heewon smiled with satisfaction.
"These are much lighter and sturdier."
"Ah... Mr. Dokja, Mr. Hyunseong. Thank you so much."
Yoo Sangah bowed her head politely. Since Grohl's horn couldn't be used to make blunt weapons, only Lee Gilyoung still carried the mole-cricket club. He stared silently at the ground. The kid looked a little downcast... I patted his head and said,
"It's not going to be easy. This could be even more dangerous than yesterday. Is everyone ready?"
Everyone nodded gravely.
"Then let's proceed according to plan."
From this point on, it was a race against time. We had to act quickly — before the 'Landlord Coalition' caught on. As Jung Heewon, Yoo Sangah, and Lee Gilyoung each headed to their assigned floors for their missions, I began climbing the stairs with Hyunseong.
Hyunseong spoke in a hesitant voice.
"Mr. Dokja, I don't know if this is going to work."
…You're the key to this operation, don't start talking like that. I answered him in a firmer tone.
"It has to work."
But Hyunseong still looked nervous.
"I feel like everyone is relying on me more than I expected. I'm not sure I can handle it."
"You're someone we can rely on, Hyunseong."
"...Thank you for saying that. Honestly, this is the first time I've ever felt trusted like this. Not even during my military service."
That was the first time I'd heard that. Come to think of it, I didn't really know anything about Hyunseong's time in the military. Even in The Ways of Destruction, it was barely mentioned.
"Once this is over, I'd like to hear your story."
It was just a casual remark, but Hyunseong seemed unexpectedly moved.
[Character 'Lee Hyunseong' is beginning to open his heart to you.]
[Your understanding of 'Lee Hyunseong' has greatly increased.]
"Sometimes when I talk to you, Mr. Dokja... I get a strange feeling."
"Huh? Like what...?"
"Like you've known me for a very long time... I can't explain it, but..."
He scratched his cheek awkwardly, trailing off.
"Ah, I didn't mean it in a weird way. It's just..."
"I know what you mean."
"Thank you. Now I'm starting to get curious about you, Mr. Dokja."
"About me?"
"Yes. I've never met anyone like you. I'd like to know what kind of life you lived before all this happened."
It felt a bit strange. One of the 'supporting characters' from the novel I used to read was now curious about me. It was unsettling but also a little... ticklish, in a way.
"It's probably not a very interesting story."
"Even so, I'd still like to hear it."
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.
Before The Ways of Destruction became reality, was Lee Hyunseong really living in the same world as me?
Or... did he only come into existence when the novel became real?
There was no way to know. What was certain, however, was that regardless of the truth, Hyunseong had become a living person — standing right in front of me.
"Oh? Friend of Yoo Joonghyuk. Are you here to negotiate?"
That's when a group of middle-aged men approached from ahead.
They're here. The Landlord Coalition.
"Hm... but where are the ladies?"
One of the men held a woman by the hair. She had been part of the group with the five-tile 'Green Zone' just yesterday.
Noticing my gaze, the man smirked.
"Ah, this one refused to sell her land... but that's none of your concern."
"P-Please... please help me!"
The woman looked at me with desperate eyes. In my head, the constellations aligned with 'Absolute Good' began to rage. But I waited. Because here, someone else needed to step forward instead of me.
"Let her go."
It was Hyunseong.
"What? Who the hell are you?"
As the sneering middle-aged man barked back, Hyunseong looked at me — as if asking for permission. I nodded.
[Character 'Lee Hyunseong' desires to carry out justice by his own will.]
[Character 'Lee Hyunseong' is on the verge of evolving his trait.]
The coalition members drew their weapons and radiated menace. I checked the time. Alright, time to begin. I invested coins into my stats.
[You invested 1200 coins into 'Stamina'.]
[Stamina Lv.15 → Lv.18]
[Stamina level has increased!]
[You invested 1200 coins into 'Strength'.]
[Strength Lv.15 → Lv.18]
[Strength level has increased!]
I had to get the most out of the least investment.
[Remaining Coins: 20,350 C]
I had more important uses for the rest of them.
BOOOOM!
Small explosions echoed from around the subway. Followed by a series of clattering noises and shouts. That was the signal from the team.
"Hyunseong!"
He nodded. Together, we charged toward the front line of men. The startled coalition shouted:
"What the hell are these bastards?!"
[Exclusive Skill, 'Baekcheong Steel Aura', has activated!]
Slice!
"Gyaaaah!"
The arm of the man holding the woman flew through the air. Blood sprayed like a fountain, freezing the surrounding enemies in place.
Ignoring them, Hyunseong and I kept running. The coalition finally came to their senses and chased after us.
"Those lunatics! Get them!"
The corridor of Basement Level 2 — we were almost in Gong Pildu's 'private territory.'
[You have trespassed into private property!]
"Surround them!"
The Building Owner Alliance members stationed up front spotted us. Some of their members must have been pulled away, as there were fewer than expected. Twenty behind us, twelve in front. Still too many for just the two of us to handle.
Not that we planned on handling them head-on anyway.
Just as we were about to collide with the front line, Lee Hyunseong stepped ahead of me, raising his steel shield.
[Character 'Lee Hyunseong' uses the stigma 'Pushing Taesan (Lv.1)'!]
Crash!
Fueled by immense strength, Lee Hyunseong charged forward, knocking the men down like dominoes.
[Character 'Gong Pildu's stigma "Armed Zone (Lv.4)" activates!]
All around the private property, turrets began to rise. The turrets, now charging crimson magic rounds, were getting ready to fire. There were five mini-turrets in total. It seemed the Armed Zone level had increased again.
"Dokja!"
I pushed past Hyunseong and grabbed his steel shield. As soon as the solid weight of the shield hit my hands, a heavy impact slammed into me.
Bang! Boom! Kaboom!
It felt like getting hit by a cannon. My arm throbbed from holding the shield. As expected, Gong Pildu's Level 19 Armed Zone was no joke. Still, I could manage now.
[Thanks to the correction effect of the item 'Unbreakable Conviction,' your stamina level has surpassed 20.]
[A higher level of resilience now protects your body.]
"Well, well, the cheeky tenant has arrived."
Gong Pildu's curt voice came from beyond the shield.
With the turrets pinning us down, the alliance members regained their confidence. The steel shield was beginning to dent and deform. It could probably take ten more hits—at best.
With an intrigued expression, Gong Pildu spoke.
"You're not here to pay your dues, judging from the way you're armed. So what's your business?"
"I'm done being your tenant."
"Amusing. Eyeing my land, are you?"
"Hmm. Not exactly."
[Due to character 'Gong Pildu's "Private Property" effect, illegal intruders' stats are partially reduced.]
…It had begun. This was why Gong Pildu was so dangerous: the stat debuff from Private Property, followed by the special defensive effect of Armed Zone.
The barrels of the glowing red turrets started to condense energy.
[Character 'Gong Pildu's "Mini-Turrets" are preparing to fire enhanced magic rounds.]
As long as the combo of Private Property and Armed Zone remained intact, Gong Pildu was practically unbeatable in the early stages.
"Die."
Just as the enhanced magic rounds were about to fire, screams rang out in the distance. Injured members of the Building Owner Alliance were rushing toward us in panic.
"M-Mr. Pildu! The land is…!"
Signs of injury from sharp blades. Lee Jihye had made her move.
It was time. I looked at Hyunseong.
"Hyunseong, now."
Hyunseong's pupils quivered.
"Break it all."
As if he'd been waiting, Hyunseong raised his fist high. His eyes were full of anxiety and unease—but also a determined resolve.
[Character 'Lee Hyunseong's trait is evolving!]
A radiant light enveloped him as a silver aura formed around his body.
I watched the scene with a tinge of emotion. Hyunseong's trait evolution was one of my favorite moments in Ways of Survival.
The reason why "Steel Sword" Lee Hyunseong was one of the strongest supporting characters—
[Due to trait evolution, a new stigma is now available.]
In terms of this one move, at least, Lee Hyunseong ranked among the very top in Ways of Survival.
[Character 'Lee Hyunseong' uses the stigma 'Breaking Taesan (Lv.1)'!]
The magic in Hyunseong's fist condensed into a blinding white light, and then his arm began to grow to an unbelievable size.
"Haaaargh!"
Hyunseong's fist slammed into the ground.
KABOOM—!
A deafening explosion ripped through the area. Chunks of shattered floor flew into the air. The alliance members screamed in horror.
"Wh-What the hell?!"
Crack! Crackle!
Rapidly spreading fissures overtook the floor, displacing the turrets. Magic rounds misfired and exploded wildly. A thick dust cloud blanketed the surroundings. Moments later—
RUMMMBLE!
The entire floor of Basement Level 2 began to collapse.
[The "Green Zone" has been destroyed.]
[Character 'Gong Pildu's "Private Property" has been destroyed.]
I grinned at Gong Pildu, whose face had gone pale watching the floor cave in beneath him.
"Let's go back to the good old days—back when you didn't own any land."