That Bastard Emerges!
In the midst of the viewers' cheers, Go Cheon-su froze for a split second upon seeing the entity that appeared.
"What the hell?"
A figure draped in black sackcloth stood there, staring silently right at them.
"A... person?"
If it was human, there was no need to fear from inside the car. The doors were locked, and the engine was already running. Escaping wouldn't be hard.
Clunk.
Go Cheon-su shifted gears and slammed the accelerator.
Kwah-gwagak! The car's tires churned up the sandy ground as it shot forward.
"Fuckin' hell."
Glancing at the rearview mirror, Go Cheon-su yanked the wheel with a grimace.
As the viewers said, that thing wasn't human. Its feet weren't even touching the ground.
"Oh, come on."
He hoped that wasn't the case. As Go Cheon-su tried to drive away, the cops at the entrance gaped in shock.
"Get outta the way!"
Honk honk! Go Cheon-su rolled down the window, yelled, and blared the horn.
The police scattered in panic, clearing the entrance.
Clunk!
The car barreled through roughly.
"Whew."
Looking back, the thing was gone. Go Cheon-su drove down the dark night road with a look of despair.
"C'mon, bros. You gotta give a guy a heads-up about shit like this. Have some conscience."
Go Cheon-su kept checking the rearview. Nothing in sight meant it wasn't that fast.
'If it can teleport over distances, we're screwed.'
Once the gap widened, it could blink right back up close. Too early to relax.
He eased off the gas, mulling over what he'd just heard.
"Bros, Phase 1 is just the pop-out scare tactic, right?"
No answer. The chat was flooded with laughter.
"Top donator! Answer me!"
From the reactions, he could guess it was safe for now.
"Didn't even get to say hi, damn it..."
He knew he had to leave eventually, but not like this—getting chased out.
He'd gotten too comfy resting and hadn't planned his next move. Now he racked his brain.
Constant Info: Staying too long in one area is dangerous.
Checking the info window yielded the same message. "One area"—that was the issue.
Fleeing far in the car was smart, but instead, he lightly tapped the brakes. The car slowed to a stop, and question marks flooded the chat.
He knew it was dangerous. But that's exactly why he had to do this.
"Bros, you think I stuck around just to chill?"
"Constant" meant it applied ongoing. He had to test it anyway.
"Gotta verify when I've got the chance."
Go Cheon-su composed himself. It was harder than expected, but not an unknown mechanic.
Chasing. An active trap where the pursuer catches up after a time limit.
"Let's see how far and how long it applies."
He reclined the seat, car parked.
"Tell me if it's catching up."
OverLimit sponsored 1Zen!
"It's right behind you now?"
Creak! Go Cheon-su snapped the seat up and whipped around.
"Shit!"
Nothing there.
"You scared the piss outta me! Don't troll like that...! No good. Super thanks for the 1Zen, top donator."
The last bit felt genuine, so Go Cheon-su gripped the wheel and vowed.
"Got it, bros. Eyes wide open."
Nod... nod...
Go Cheon-su had broken his promise and dozed off when—
Whiiiish.
A chill wind seeped in somewhere, making him shudder and snap his eyes wide.
"AAAAAARGH!"
He let out a bellow louder than anyone.
A skull under sackcloth. That bastard was right beside the car.
"AAARGH! You fuckin' prick!"
Go Cheon-su floored it. The car roared forward, and the thing receded like a lie.
"Ha... insane. My god."
He was genuinely spooked. Way faster than the warning signs.
He'd shaken it off again, but no confidence it'd stay gone.
"Thought my heart was gonna drop out."
That brief glimpse was unforgettable. A skull. Nothing else fit.
Draped in black sackcloth, it straight-up looked like the Grim Reaper.
The viewers were being kinda helpful, but no Phase 2 details.
'Shadow, huh.' Simple name.
To decide on waiting it out again, Go Cheon-su hummed thoughtfully.
"Bros, is this curse stuck just to me?"
No yes or no. That meant yes.
'Player targets player, huh.'
Games force play with gimmicks like this. Go Cheon-su hated this style most.
Crash!
The window shattered suddenly. Go Cheon-su reflexively hit the gas.
"What the—!"
It had appeared right beside him.
"Space jump!"
Leaps to nearby when distance exceeds a threshold.
"This Phase 2?"
Rearview confirmed: Shadow was back.
Biting his lip, Go Cheon-su didn't accelerate—instead, he slowed gradually.
If Phase 2 triggered on too much distance, just don't let it happen.
Just like that, the road race with Shadow began.
"Just gotta see how far it chases, right bros?"
Go Cheon-su regained his cool. From Myeongseo Elementary as base, note when Shadow vanished—no more fearing the constant info.
"Man, I'm a genius."
Horror game vet experience paid off. No chat denials.
Screech!
If Shadow hadn't blinked in front, Go Cheon-su would've gotten full props.
Boom!
Swerving hard, the car smashed into a pole.
"Ah... fuck."
Head spun. Vision blurred, hood smoking hazily. Gas did nothing—engine lived, car dead.
Go Cheon-su barely turned to peer out the broken window.
Grooooowl...
Shadow approached with weird groans.
"Ugh..."
Unbuckled, door open. Testing danger up close was too reckless in sight.
Probably Phase 3. Terror gripped him as he drew a weapon from his coat.
"I... prepared...!"
A gun. Special reward for saving the chief.
"Die!"
Bang!
It fired. Might've bought time if it worked...
Grooooowl...
No dice.
Go Cheon-su holstered the gun. He'd calculated it wouldn't work.
Problem was his battered body.
"Huff... huff..."
No breaks, but bruises everywhere. Staggering up, he headed into a nearby building.
Shadow followed honestly. Basic movement obeyed physics.
'Timing's key.'
Phase 3 was surely blink. Not instant reuse meant cooldown.
Grooooowl...
Heart pounding as it neared.
Go Cheon-su thought of another condition besides time limit.
"Please."
If limited to line-of-sight only...
Fists clenched. Every word stabbed like a dagger. Maybe courting crisis himself was stupid.
Grah!
Eyes met with pursuing Shadow. It blinked right up front.
"Waited for you...!"
Then, Go Cheon-su flashed something in its face.
Graaaaaah!
Flashlight beam. It clutched its face, staggering.
"Chasing ghost hates flashlights! Obvious!"
He never ignored viewer hints. Flashlights repel ghosts—he remembered.
Stunned Shadow in sight, Go Cheon-su drew the gun again.
Bang!
Grahk.
It hunched in pain this time.
"Bingo!"
If attacks failed, keep tag forever. Battery lasted, time ticked.
"In a hurry too?"
Farther meant no more sightings soon. Escape distance close.
"Catch me if you can."
Go Cheon-su bolted.
'Almost fucked up.'
Not all calculated. Crashing wasn't planned.
Torturer sponsored 1Zen!
"Too fun throwing pity money."
"What pity money! I ain't dead yet!"
No consolation prizes. Out the building, he spotted a bike and hopped on.
"God's on my side!"
More speed for escape—or so he thought. Tires were bent.
Crash!
Less than 2 meters in, he tumbled with the bike, clutching his knee and howling.
"Ah, Torturer! Ow!"
Click.
Chat reminder—he flicked on the flashlight.
Grahk!
Shadow, caught up, recoiled from the light.
"One more...!"
Bang!
Bullet-hit Shadow reeled big.
Go Cheon-su scrambled up and ran.
"Can't get my bearings, damn it."
Back toward the car. No choice for direction.
'Three bullets left...'
Player-only hunter = near immortal. Hope: enough damage makes it despawn temporarily.
Flash.
A beam filled his vision.
"Huh?"
Not his flashlight.
"What now."
Chaos, and someone flashing from afar.
"Gonna lose it."
Hated aggro stealers. Sound behind—Shadow caught up.
"Aggro skill not work on that prick...?!"
Click.
Flashlight only counter.
Graaaaah!
Another beam and bullet to writhing Shadow.
"Huh?"
Shadow doubled over. Cumulative hits confirmed.
All bullets might despawn it.
Viewer urging aside, finger off trigger. Priority check first.
"Might as well...!"
Waited for Shadow recovery, extended tag.
Graaaaa!
Gasping, prepping another flash—Shadow halted, screeching.
"Ah."
Go Cheon-su grinned.
"There it is, your limit."
Laughing at immobile Shadow.
"Back to hell, scrub."
Thumbs down at Go Cheon-su—Shadow screeched madly, then vanished.
Thud.
Legs gave out; Go Cheon-su collapsed.
Flash flash.
The distant beam still winked on.