Collapsed Bridge
[Branch point passed.]
From now on, you can use the new skill function.
Check the details via the skill window.
From now on, you can use the proposal function.
Use the verbal command 'Offer' to check details.
From now on, you can use the shop function.
Check the details via the shop window.
The notifications popped up all at once as they passed through, then vanished just as quickly. Go Cheon-su stared at them blankly.
'I'm alive...'
If they'd gone another way, they might've missed this branch point entirely. Sure, there could be others, but he couldn't help letting out a sigh of relief.
Go Cheon-su shared the viewers' excitement. He'd been on edge without new supply boxes until he paid off his loan balance anyway.
'Let's see...'
No items meant relying on wits and skills. He pulled up the skill window first.
※ Skill 1
Note: Can possess a total of 3 only.
* Aggro (10 min): The more monsters targeting you, the stronger you get. Physical abilities increase by 10% of your base per monster, cumulative until duration ends. [Delete]
* Record Accumulation: 10% of the boost from your highest ended aggro record is added to base physical abilities. Updates and applies whenever record changes. [Delete]
※ Skill 2
Note: Can possess a total of 3 only.
* New Owner's Reward: Steal a touched target's vision for 10 min (1 use). Activation timing free. [Use] [Delete]
'Skill 1, 2?'
His existing skills had split into two categories. No criteria listed, but it was obvious at a glance. Skill 1 was ongoing, usable repeatedly. Skill 2 was one-time.
The key was they shared the same note.
'Total of 3 only...'
Just looking at the notes, this branch point update had made things worse.
True enough. But that was the problem—just true enough.
'What the hell is this.'
No info on what happened if you exceeded the limit. Did new skills stay inactive until old ones were deleted? Or did it prompt for deletion on addition? Nothing.
"Hey, folks—can I ask what happens if you try to acquire a skill when you're over the possession limit?"
Go Cheon-su clutched his head slightly.
"We're screwed."
Right—there were other updates. Go Cheon-su thought of the proposal function first.
'Offer, was it.'
Verbal command, so speaking it should suffice.
"Offer."
No hesitation. As the word left his mouth, a red microphone icon lit up in the corner of his vision.
'What’s this.'
No clue how to use it yet, but the system was clearly listening intently.
"Eat rice."
He tossed out something random. Text reading 'Eat rice' engraved below the mic. Usage clicked instantly.
Go Cheon-su clapped once and opened his mouth again.
"Reward: 100 Zen. Done."
'Eat rice. Reward: 100 Zen' engraved and began glowing.
The viewers exploded. Watching to see what happened next, numbers appeared in midair: a countdown. 10, 9, 8, 7...
At 0, the 'Eat rice' text vanished along with the mic.
"What."
Go Cheon-su floated there with a question mark over his head as the chat filled with laughter.
"What the hell."
Frowning, it took a moment before realization dawned.
"Ah."
That explained Offer. The choice was the viewers'.
"So one of you accepts my proposal, and that sets the final mission."
Useless ones got filtered out like this.
"Alright then..."
How about this one?
"Offer. Eat rice."
He set the proposal again, then the reward.
"Go Cheon-su invincible."
Waiting, a price tag appeared on 'Eat rice. Reward: Go Cheon-su invincible.'
"Huh?"
1,000,000 Zen. Go Cheon-su's eyes widened.
"What? A million Zen?"
Non-Zen rewards got auto-priced for viewers. Staring at the absurd number, he sighed in defeat.
"Ha... ridiculously expensive."
Fine. He hadn't expected real invincibility anyway. Post-countdown, another notification appeared.
Proposal invalid 2 times. One more invalid without participant: All personal missions disabled for 1 day.
'3-strike penalty too? Whatever, at least I get how it works.'
Verbal command to set proposal and reward. But non-Zen rewards auto-priced—note to self.
'Now for the last one...'
The shop. Proposals were just convenience for pitching missions to viewers fast. With skill limits, the shop seemed like real survival help.
"Shop—"
As he opened his mouth to summon the shop window—
Screech.
Jang Seo-yeon slammed the brakes. The car lurched violently.
"...!"
Go Cheon-su gripped his seatbelt, turning to her in shock.
"What is it, Seo-yeon...?"
No thorn vines—they were going too fast, past the block that got Oh Young-jun.
"Look ahead, Cheon-su."
He did.
"Ahead? What—"
His face twisted.
"What the hell."
Smashed barricades littered everywhere.
"What happened?"
Yang Min-cheol sighed the question.
"Who was stationed here?"
"Dunno."
Go Cheon-su hummed thoughtfully, then stepped out.
'No military.'
Whoever was here had moved on. No one in sight, military included.
'Potholes everywhere?'
Asphalt cratered all over. Something heavy must've collided.
"Cheon-su."
Jang Seo-yeon hopped out of the driver's seat.
"Can we keep going this way?"
"No."
He peered farther, shaking his head.
"Won't work."
A swollen river ahead. They had to cross upstream, but if barricades started here...
"Look over there."
He pointed at the bridge. Distance blurred details, but tangled cars were clear.
"Blocked."
Something had happened, no doubt.
"Vehicle passage sealed. Safe to assume."
Best bet: another bridge.
"Head to the riverbank first, scope it out."
Kim Ha-ryeong and Yang Min-cheol piled out. Grabbing gear, they headed for the nearest bridge.
"Whew."
Up close, Go Cheon-su sighed.
"This okay?"
Bridge filthy. Shattered rifle scopes, IFF bands—military gear scattered.
Small mercy: no visible threats on it now.
"Bro, we crossing?"
Yang Min-cheol beside him. Go Cheon-su groaned softly.
"Gotta."
No easy detour. Hesitate too long, bigger risks. Time to move.
Viewers suggested bridges intact briefly. Go Cheon-su picked up a shattered scope, scanning others.
'Smoke...'
Black plumes rising. Tangled cars same as here, but more fires—worse off.
Mercy: nothing bridge-toppling yet.
"Let's go."
He beckoned the group. Bridges collapsing would make river-crossing hell. Lucky timing—move fast.
BOOM.
Halfway across—explosion from another bridge.
"Cheon-su, something blew up!"
Kim Ha-ryeong said innocently. Go Cheon-su swallowed dryly.
Unease gripped him.
RUMBLE!
Massive vibration halted him. Group froze, following his gaze.
RUMMMMBLE!
Far off, a bridge crumbled.
"What."
Collapse. More blasts—others followed, one by one.
"Big trouble! Hurry!"
No clue what triggered it, but luck sucked. Perfect timing for collapse.
CRASH!
Vibrations surged. Go Cheon-su yelled.
"Offer! Pass through flames ahead! Reward: double speed!"
Effect mission—price tagged instantly.
"Damn it...!"
100 Zen. Lowballed it, still this much.
"Folks, quick!"
Countdown. No buyer by end.
Too pricey.
Penalty applied. All personal missions disabled for 1 day. Proposal failure count reset.
"Fuck!"
Run, then. But he knew: 100 Zen price meant whatever came next was no joke.
Flash!
Red spark far off.
"Huh...?"
Detonator.
KABOOOOOM!
Bridge tilted. Go Cheon-su toppled sideways.
"Ngh...!"
CRASH! CRASH!
Road buckled. Pillars exploding below, clearly.
"Cheon-su!"
Kim Ha-ryeong reached out, barely holding on as the bridge listed right.
"Bro!"
"Go Cheon-su!"
Yang Min-cheol and Jang Seo-yeon in peril too.
Go Cheon-su sighed deeply.
"Goddamn it...!"
Closest: Kim Ha-ryeong. He gripped a road crack one-handed, extending his axe inverted for her.
THUD.
Too late. Nothing held on a dozens-degrees-twisted bridge.
"Ah."
Go Cheon-su plunged into the water with the group.