An End, for Now?
The number of monsters had dwindled considerably, but the real problem was that the onslaught showed no sign of ending.
"Ah, fuck… Give it a rest already!"
Spewing curses, Saebyeok cleaved through the encroaching horde. Every now and then, he had hurled attacks toward the pitch-black, black-hole-like rift, but to no avail. As if pushing through the sheer mass of severed flesh, the void relentlessly spat out more abominations.
You have eliminated an Unidentified Failed Chimera.
+400 CP Acquired
Isn't there any other way?
It had reached a point where newly spawned beasts slipped and stumbled over the mounds of their fallen brethren. Yet the mindless disgorgement showed no sign of halting. Saebyeok simply slashed, stabbed, hacked, torched with Molotovs, and fried with electricity—over and over and over again, stringing together a ceaseless loop of mechanical slaughter.
On the flip side, it served as exceptional training. Because moderate enemies that fell in a strike or two emerged without pause, it was the ideal proving ground to hone his techniques and calibrate his strength. At first, unsure of the monsters' durability, Saebyeok had poured maximum effort into every strike; gradually, however, he fine-tuned his sense of distance, skill execution, force, speed, mana distribution, and even his newly acquired abilities. He drove his body with solid, orthodox discipline one moment and fluid, acrobatic maneuvers the next—a crucible of genuine, madness-tinged experimentation.
Then, like an impossible dream, the endless night dissolved with the rising sun.
The mysterious sphere that had continuously vomited monsters like a black hole began to shrink, dwindling down to a tiny pinpoint before vanishing completely.
Saebyeok surveyed his surroundings, reminded of a landfill. It resembled the imagery seen in environmental campaigns—those floating islands of trash humanity had created in the middle of the ocean, towering mountains of refuse. Except here, the mountains were made entirely of corpses.
"Saebyeok!"
"Doyoung-hyung, when did you come down?"
"A good while ago."
"Pant, pant… Oppa, you're not hurt, are you?"
As Doyoung spoke, Jian emerged, drenched from head to toe in gore like a figure carved of blood.
"Jian… I think I should be the one asking you that."
"Phew…"
Jian collapsed onto the ground where she stood.
"Aaaaaargh! I'm so exhausted! No more! I can't! I can't even lift a single finger!"
Heejin threw a tantrum, rolling around on the ground foul with blood, viscera, and shredded flesh. Beside her, Seoyeon gazed quietly up at the morning sky. Theological acolytes, Sister Agnes, and the rest of the Cathedral survivors looked toward the sun, offering prayers and comforting one another. Quite a few of the original Mart residents were also in sight, having come down at some point during the chaos.
"Ah… Right. It's really over…"
"Whoa! Holy shit!"
"???"
Saebyeok cried out in sheer astonishment, instantly drawing every gaze in the vicinity toward him.
"Oppa, what's wrong? Aren't calculations running right now?"
"The thing that was spawning the Summoning Stones… it's called a Dimensional Seeder? That single bastard was worth three million…"
Smiles broke out across the crowd, followed by a chorus of chuckles and applause.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
"Well earned, man."
"You definitely deserve every bit of it!"
Kim Saebyeok: 70%
Analyzing exact CP calculation...
+7,022,100 CP Acquired
The clapping survivors naturally turned their attention to their own contribution windows, and expressions of relief and satisfaction swept through the crowd. Jian's face, in particular, was noticeably bright.
Thump.
"Haa… It feels like getting a performance bonus. Hahaha!" Jian laughed aloud despite her blood-smeared face.
Saebyeok stared down at his tally once more and decided it was wisest to keep his mouth shut.
Let's stay quiet… I'll tell Jian later in private, then pick up whatever we need from the shop…
Aggregating CP from Summoning Stones 14 through 66.
+21,200,000 CP Acquired
"…"
"Oppa, be honest. How much did you make?"
Heejin had crawled over before he realized it, whispering directly into Saebyeok's ear.
"Your face right now is priceless, Oppa. You'd better fix that poker face fast or spill how much CP you earned—it's gotta be one or the other."
"No way. My lips are sealed… The system gave a fair reward, so don't worry about it…"
Glancing at the sea of corpses surrounding them, Saebyeok suddenly thought of Gayeong.
"Right! Gayeong!"
"Wow… Calling another woman in a moment like this? Jian-unnie, grab him! He deserves a ten-minute tickle sentence for that!"
Heejin feigned cute indignation, but Jian only chuckled softly.
"Yes, Oppa!"
Gayeong poked her head out from behind them.
"The Death Spirit Tree… or whatever it was called? Do you have plenty of those seeds left?"
"Ah… Are you thinking of turning this area into a grove?"
"Didn't you say doppelgangers and things like that stay away from them?"
"They definitely seem to despise them. Last time, they took a wide detour around the area where the trees were planted…"
"Exactly!"
As Saebyeok's eyes sparkled, Gayeong promised she would try turning the perimeter into a full-fledged forest.
After that, the exhausted survivors trudged back toward the mart. Though their legs felt like lead, the sweet promise of sleep and the swelling excitement over what to purchase with their hard-earned CP gave them the drive to wring out every last drop of stamina and steady their trembling muscles.
Right then.
The First Area is hereby designated as a Safe Zone.
No further monster summons will occur for the remaining 53 Waves.
Rousing cheers erupted from the mart.
Note: Wave Mission survival rewards will be distributed upon the conclusion of monster waves across all other sectors.
"Haa… Wicked bastards. Couldn't they just hand it over now?" Saebyeok muttered under his breath.
"Come on, hyung, don't be like that. Sticking strictly to the rules is how it's supposed to be."
"Is that so?"
Lee Jaehoon chimed in out of nowhere. The blood caked across his fingers and the uncontrollable tremors wracking his muscles proved just how fiercely he, too, had fought. In the final stretch, practically every able-bodied survivor had surged out to join the battle.
Creak—clack!
The ground-floor doors swung wide open for the first time in what felt like an eternity.
"You all did incredible!"
"Welcome back!"
Eunha and Eunbyul ran out from the lower level, scampering straight into Kang Suho's embrace. For all intents and purposes, he had gained two daughters now.
"Saebyeok-samchon! You worked so hard!"
"Thanks, Eunha."
Eunbyul gave a polite, timid bow.
"Yeah, you too, Eunbyul."
Without needing a word spoken between them, everyone naturally began heading up to the rooftop.
As if it had been waiting for them all along, Sasha's Dimensional Store was already present. Saebyeok once again felt grateful that he had been able to designate the shop's location, stepping inside first alongside Jian and Heejin.
"S-s-s-t. You have endured great toil."
"It's always good to see you, Shasha."
"S-s-k. The pleasure is mine."
When Saebyeok smiled, Shasha continued.
"S-s-s-t. You accomplished something truly extraordinary this time. Serving you as a VVIP has proven well worth the effort—though you will soon be elevated to VVVIP status."
"Aren't you a bit too certain of that, Shasha?"
"S-s-k. How could I not be? Even in your rejoicing, Saebyeok, you are acutely aware that this is far from over. 'How much stronger must I become to hold back ever-escalating foes? What must I do to secure safety? What intelligence do I need? What must I prepare for?'—such thoughts consume you, s-s-s-t."
"…From where I'm standing," Saebyeok remarked.
"S-s-k? Yes?"
"You definitely know how to read minds. I'm certain of it."
"I assure you, I do not. S-s-t."
"Is the recommended list still locked today?"
"S-s-k. Indeed it is. However, any time invested in you is well spent, Saebyeok, so take your time and ask whatever you wish."
Saebyeok glanced behind and to either side of him. "Do either of you have any good questions?"
Heejin shot her hand up immediately. "What's the strongest item you've got?"
"S-s-t. That is an invalid question, and one I cannot answer. I urge you not to view things through such an overly simplistic lens, s-s-k."
"Pfft, spoken like a true Heejin."
"Ah, why not?! One hit, bam! How awesome would that be?!"
"Sure, it sounds great. But the system is far too methodical for something that simple," Saebyeok reasoned. "We don't know its ultimate purpose, but it clearly expects something from us and intends to see it through to the end. What's truly terrifying is how casually it hands over the means to make us stronger. Sure, we have to pay with currency called CP, but the bottom line is that granting this kind of power is child's play to it."
"Haa… Nothing's ever easy," Jian sighed.
"We don't have many options anyway… If we want to make any meaningful choices, we'll probably have to survive until the bitter end."
"Ah! Like when they tell you to make a wish at the very end, like in stories?" Heejin chimed in.
"Who knows… but it wouldn't surprise me."
Both Jian and Heejin fell into thoughtful silence. Saebyeok, too, paused to ponder before turning back to Shasha.
"Shasha, if I were to upgrade my capabilities to their absolute limit right now, how far could I push them? And I want to be able to train continuously during normal hours—something like slowing down time, increasing gravity, you know? Or do you sell something like a specialized training gym?"
"S-s-s-t. Quite a commendable train of thought. S-s-k. Pushing to the absolute limit demands a tremendous amount of time. In that case, based strictly on your inquiries, there are a few items I can show you. But before that—do you intend to remain stationed where the mart is currently located?"
"For now, yes. We're in the middle of rooting the World Tree… Construction isn't finished yet, but once we've established a Sanctuary, there's no reason to abandon it. Oh, and I'd also like a mode of transportation. Relying on foot travel from the base has its limits. If possible, I'd also like to purchase additional construction golems…"
"A wise perspective, s-s-t."
"Oooooh!"
Saebyeok couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the glittering 'VVVIP' designation—something he had never possessed before—and the fact that every single item Shasha had displayed aligned precisely with his desires.
"S-s-k. I prepared this selection with the utmost care. The necessities to push your power to its absolute zenith as requested, the assets to fortify and expand the mart, and even a mode of travel."
"Thank you, Shasha."
"S-s-s-t. Save your gratitude. I am making an investment in you, Saebyeok. Before long, there may come a time when I must ask a favor of you. When that day arrives, all I ask is that you extend a measure of goodwill."