Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Newcomers
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The sky was dyed red.
Unlike on Earth, it was an artificial shift in the heavens.
The beautiful sunset turned into an apocalyptic scene.
The mood fit Dimension 64 perfectly.
Silence.
Unlike yesterday, one more human besides me was now breathing in Dimension 64.
Yet his presence made the stillness feel even deeper.
Dwin stood awkwardly at a distance after training, embodying nothing but submission for survival.
I sat on the village chair, resting. It was still uncomfortable.
I paid no attention to Dwin at all, lost in thoughts of the changes brought by the ranking restriction announcements.
Expansion of the zones and village.
Region 5, the tournament, the actions of those who had learned about Soul Origin.
And the "annihilation" trial on day 100.
All of it heralded massive upheaval.
The system churned like enormous gears, testing and weeding out humanity in precise order.
'Can I hold onto first place through all this chaos?'
I carefully adjusted my plans step by step.
The expanded sense of time and space made them far too ambitious.
But I had to adapt.
Ordinary wouldn't cut it for survival and strength.
To achieve that, I had to erase my old life on Earth completely.
Reminding myself what day it was, I realized there was still plenty of time to prepare.
'Day 5. Just day 5. It's only the beginning.'
Day 2. The woman erecting a barrier.
Day 3. People fleeing in desperation.
Day 4. The white guy I first interrogated.
Day 5... today.
Their deaths were still vivid.
Too soon to grow numb to killing.
Human dignity? People were precious, yes. Precious resources.
In this transcendental world without human rights, worth boiled down to numbers.
Society back home was measured the same way. It just manifested directly now.
No pity, but far from routine.
I halted my thoughts and checked my body.
Fatigue from skill training clung heavily.
Sleep would heal it with my high stamina stat—no worries there—but mental strain? Uncertain.
I opened my status window, raised a hand, and reviewed my skills.
Their high proficiency assured me they'd hit 2nd grade tomorrow.
2nd grade. Maybe even a first achievement.
A question for Dwin came to mind.
I turned my head from the sky.
Dwin jumped at my presence, lifting his head.
His eyes held deeper fear and resignation after one night.
Looking up at him, I spoke quietly.
"Recite your first system messages."
He rattled them off until I gestured to stop midway.
Identical to mine. A chance every 100 days.
As expected, individual 100-day clocks.
Not simultaneous trials. Unlikely.
If that slim chance hit, someone arriving on day 99 would qualify but return to Earth the next day, ungrown.
I pondered.
The first arrivals here.
Once position-holders like me vanished, the dimension would erupt in chaos for 10 days.
Later arrivals would trail us back to Earth eventually, but until then, how would gap-widening latecomers treat the returning vanguard?
Distant future, but I could sense the turmoil.
'Latecomers...'
I glanced at Dwin, today's unique ability holder.
He met my gaze with an awkward smile.
Braced for my words.
I spoke casually.
"I know what you're thinking."
My voice was flat, emotionless.
"You want to escape me."
His pupils quivered faintly. Loyalty test, he probably thought.
"N-no, sir."
I cut him off.
"Scraped together points, arrived full of hope... and end up like this."
I gauged his psyche.
He'd claimed 1st on Earth too, puffed up with new-world dreams.
Shattered in minutes.
Miserable start.
Landed in a madman's sponsor-slaying dimension, of all places.
I sneered inwardly and continued.
"But with your life on the line, no time to whine about the world's unfairness."
"Right?"
Pale-faced, he shook his head frantically.
"N-no! Never crossed my mind! I swear loyalty to you...!"
Desperate, like a drowning man.
His umpteenth plea today.
I brushed off the feigned denial and made an offer.
"I'll give you 10 days."
"Obey well, and you get autonomy."
Unbelievable hope flickered in his eyes.
He blanked out, then prostrated gratefully.
"Th-thank you! Truly! I'll follow with my life!"
Seemed genuine.
But he wouldn't buy it fully.
Still, a "what if" spark ignited.
I reflected on my own words.
Autonomy?
Pure lie.
No intent whatsoever.
Half to amp submission eagerness, half boredom killer.
Real hope or revenge play—didn't matter.
I ignored his heart.
Doomed to die soon anyway.
Obvious to kill before he leveled dangerously.
The offer was strategy for flawless slavery, plus idle amusement.
I planned periodic "harvests" ahead.
The transcendental sky always felt artificial.
Like a vast canvas brushed even red paint—unreal clarity everywhere.
He muttered at the sight.
"Fake sky, but beautiful."
I lowered my gaze from the heavens to Dwin.
He stared at the sunset crowning the village.
"R-really beautiful sky. The best. Feels real."
Dwin lavished praise on the sky—and flattery on me—for nearly a minute.
I ignored the forced awkwardness.
Quite the opposite of pleased.
'.....'
Just now. My first meaningless exchange.
Soliloquy sparking Dwin's over-the-top praise.
Normal talk was mostly this fluff.
The familiarity irked me.
Dwin was kill-fodder. A resource.
I rose from the chair.
Without glancing his way.
"Sleep outside. Lv3 handles cold fine."
I entered the lodging alone.
The bed felt colder than ever.
Next day, noon.
True to form, the village center spawn glowed, vomiting new arrivals.
Four total.
One lone figure before them: Dwin.
A faint relief crossed his face as he counted.
'Good.'
Dwin thought.
Too few, and Lv3 him would've struggled leading wolf hunts.
Meanwhile, I stood in the meadow, watching slimes respawn.
No more time-wasting on them.
I cleared them at breakneck speed.
All dead, I glanced village-ward.
Morning orders to Dwin:
"Take them to Zone 2."
"Exactly five compound-eyed wolves each. Quest done, return at once."
"Deliver all alive to me."
Tall order, but feasible in my eyes.
Wolves matched Lv3 Dwin's strength—group doable.
Lv5 wolves? Might've helped.
Dwin plus Lv0s—five total—enough for compound-eyed wolves.
Unlikely two arrivals; minimum three.
My gauge: wolves Lv3-4.
Solo tough for Dwin, group game-changer.
Packs of humans were mighty. Earth's rulers, history's builders.
Experience proved even Lv0s system-touched outdid normals slightly.
Lv0 mana-draining unique abilities? Proof.
All stats nudged up.
Negligible then, ample now.
Warned: extras over five? I'd spot instantly.
Today, I'd tally remnants one-by-one.
Slimes done, I bolted to Zone 2.
Dwin approached the four.
Awkward, but he mustered dignity.
"Nice to meet you. Name's Dwin."
Wary scans from the newbies.
Early arrival intro, basic rules rundown.
My existence? Not a word.
"First, claim your weapon selection. Accept General Quest - Compound-Eyed Wolf Hunt from the quest tab."
"Then follow me."
Not warm, but feigned courtesy.
They hesitated, eyed each other, obeyed.
One ventured cautiously.
"Uh... anyone else around?"
"Hunting. We go solo for now."
Max info lockdown per orders.
"Your level, Dwin?"
"Wolves dangerous how?"
"Hunt tips?"
"Fast growth hacks?"
Beginner barrage, but Dwin blanked most.
His knowledge sparse too.
"Details en route. Follow."
Cut short, took point.
The five trudged awkwardly silent to Zone 2.
Gloomy forest mouth: tension etched faces.
Dwin's too.
His debut real fight.
Yesterday, my overpower shadow. Today, solo command.
No deaths, no overruns. Zero margin.
Pressure bore down.
Forest plunge: dark flashed red compound eyes like bug facets.
First compound-eyed wolf.
Breaths held.
Dwin inhaled deep, led charge.
"I strike first!"
Unique ability triggered.
Black blade bloomed from hand, sliced wolf's flank shallow.
Hand wreathed black aura, shaped blade, launched.
Slash!
Shallow torso gash.
Blade dispersed black mist wide, grounded.
Impact: liquified, blackened earth via ability.
Wolf shrugged alteration, charged furious.
Attack provoked, blistering speed.
Foot hit tainted soil—slowed.
Dwin readied clash.
Four behind gripped weapons, crept close.
Then.
"Grrr!"
Wolf lunged frontmost Dwin savagely.
Lv3 sword barely parried, hurled him back hard.
Wolf wheeled next target sans pause.
Aggression thick.
No overwhelming crush? No retreat.
Target: sole unique holder among four new.
Wolf arm-snap instant, bizarre shift.
Skin gleamed metallic, steel-hard.
Clang!
Fangs sparked on steel.
Retry: same skid.
Wolf clamped fiercer regardless.
Dwin plus two flank-struck.
Grip held.
Then.
Bitten steel warped afresh.
Pshh!
Dozens razor spikes erupted, skewered head and maw ruthless.
Wolf dropped soundless—instant kill.
Spikes stubby, but brain-pierced.
Steel-skin man flung corpse off shaking arm.
No wound, just fang dents like hammered plate.
Brief brutal opener done.
Ragged pants all around.
Consensus, Dwin included: way riskier than thought.
"Shit, thought dead."
One heaved.
Dwin denied breather.
"Push on! Five each mandatory!"
Herded them. Prime ambush turf.
Forest fringe: lone wolves, singles viable.
Pack central? Bust.
Second smoother.
Bait: steel-skin guy, Siron.
He tanked, four piled on.
Siron self-volunteered. "Zone top's different," all mused.
One hairy moment mid, but bagged.
Third: Siron slicked slips, unscratched.
Synced up gradual.
Siron fifth kill, quest clear—level-up glow.
Straight Lv2.
Post: steady sails.
Turns leveled, power rushes thrilled; stray drops morale-spiked.
All four safe Lv2; Dwin hit Lv4.
Wolf quests cleared.
Smooth finale, one pumped.
"Yes! Momentum—keep hunting!"
Dwin nixed.
No more dodge, heavy words.
"End here. Five apiece max."
Cheery vibe iced instant.
"What?"
"Too risky? Nailing it though?!"
"Say what? Rhythm hit!"
"Reason?"
Dwin mum on barrage.
"Orders."
All-explainer singleton.
Unconvinced.
Angry-doubt stares pelted.
Dwin interrogation-proof.
Just "orders" looped. No clearance beyond.
"You ordering us?"
"No."
"Whose then?"
"T-the... name unknown...."
Fury crested nameless reveal.
"Bullshit! Fools us?!"
"Wrong!! All wrong!!"
Gazes turned foe.
Siron advanced, menace glare.
"Won't if told?"
Flashpoint imminent.
Dwin flummoxed.
Scrap? Lose-win both doom.
Stats/ability odds low; casualty aftermath terror.
Shouts echoed woods-wide.
Then.
Rustle—
Hour-familiar wolf pads differed; leaf-brush human tread.
Dwin exhaled relief unwitting.
He arrived.
His coming mends mess.
Utmost dread, yet utmost welcome now.