Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Code: XTK
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Stepping onto the 190th floor, I tensed up my body.
'Nothing.'
There were no special agents. Or rather, none in sight. Their mission was to guard the main system room. No highly trained special agent would abandon their post and wander off on their own.
'...Damn. The fact that I can't see them means they're even more of a pain than I thought.'
I recalled the Illuster again.
The Illuster only concealed appearance. It couldn't hide mass, sound, or body heat. A thermal imaging camera would spot them instantly. Plus, rough movements made space ripple visibly.
'I packed thermal goggles in my inventory just in case.'
But I didn't use them. I had confidence.
Not long ago, in reality, I'd asked Jin Se-young how to fight invisible enemies. She said even if you couldn't see them, if you could sense them, you could fight.
'And she sparred with me while deliberately wearing a blindfold.'
The result was my defeat. She had the blindfold on tight, yet she read me like an open book.
'Should I grab the thermal goggles now? ...No. I can do this.'
I widened my eyes and focused my mind. No point closing them.
'They'll come slowly and swing a knife to avoid gunshots giving them away.'
I pictured the bastard in my head. Emergency stairs were behind me, so they'd approach quietly from the front.
'Mass doesn't vanish. Unlikely to be a full-body cyborg, so they'll breathe too.'
I focused. And focused harder.
And then... I felt it. To the right of my field of vision, centered on me. It was drawing closer.
A presence.
The closer it got, the sharper the presence's form became.
'Reverse grip on a knife in their right hand.'
It was getting closer. I finally realized—this was the "ki sense" Jin Se-young had mentioned.
'I thought ki sense used mana like a bat's echolocation... So it's this kind of thing.'
Hard to put into words. You just feel it.
'My sensing range is... about 1 meter? A bit disappointing.'
I moved first.
Yeongcheon-ryu Battle Art: Dawn Light.
The moment I activated Acceleration, I unleashed my fastest battle art.
My blade flashed like a beam of light, slicing through the bastard's body.
He reacted, but my blade was faster. From right shoulder to flank. It cut clean through his chest to the heart. Even if his body was mechanical, no way it could withstand a Plasma Blade.
His body crumpled with a thud. Legs visible, but upper body still invisible. Even in death, the Illuster was active.
'...Impressive guy. Didn't scream or leave last words on his way out.'
Only elite special agents could use Illuster. This one was the real deal.
'If he'd fought me head-on, it might've been different.'
I squatted down, groping for the invisible upper body and peeling the Illuster from his left arm. The corpse appeared. Eyes wide open, lips clenched tight in death.
'Got it. Illuster!'
The Illuster looked like a plain black strap. Text appeared on its surface.
I pulled both ends, and it stretched like rubber up to 70cm max.
Letting one hand go, it slowly contracted. I wrapped it around my left arm like the agent had. My body turned invisible in an instant. Picking up my sword from the floor, even that vanished.
'Can't see myself either.'
I knew this beforehand. And the benefits outweighed the costs. Just had to time the activation right.
'Alright. Two more Illusters, then back to reality!'
Heading for the stairs, I paused and glanced at the main system room. Killing the techs inside might prolong the chaos.
I swung at the door.
Clang!
The blade bounced off. A scratch, but no dice. City hall's main system room was protected by blade-proof material—even Plasma Blades couldn't cut it.
'...No good.'
Walls probably the same. Shaking off the temptation, I bolted for the stairs.
Ripple, ripple. Moving rough made space waver visibly.
'Not great.'
Slowing down reduced it.
'...What if I use Light Step?'
Amazingly, the rippling mostly vanished. Even at near-running speed.
'Illuster. Pairs too well with Yeongcheon-ryu.'
Heh, heh.
Couldn't stop grinning. Suppressing it, I descended. Passed special forces en route—they couldn't see me. No need to waste energy killing them.
151st floor. Before the party hall, I donned thermal goggles. Better play it safe.
150th floor.
I didn't enter directly, peeking through the door crack.
The party hall was a mess. Tables and food scattered on the floor. People huddled together, lighting up with smartwatches.
'...Three special agents. This won't work.'
Three visible agents guarded Seoul Mayor Won Cheon-su.
'High chance they have thermal ocular implants. The second I approach, they'll light me up.'
I turned away. The hall wasn't as chaotic as hoped. No Son Jeong-hu either—he'd probably achieved his goal.
'Gotta give up on three Illusters.'
No opportunity. Couldn't take them solo.
'Heard there's a jewelry store on 36. Swing by?'
Tempting, but passed. Goal was Illusters. Needed one more spare.
Descending to 60th floor stairs, I spotted Yoo Han-su passed out on the ground.
'Fought Son Jeong-hu like in the original webtoon.'
They clash multiple times later. None of my business.
Target: 1st floor.
Special agent Park Shin-han was there.
Hacked the main system earlier—special forces were fake IDs. Park's real identity: special agent.
Arriving at 1st floor, I frowned. All special forces dead.
Looking around, two stood casually at the main entrance: Hyeonji and Uncle. Park Shin-han's corpse at their feet.
Grimacing, I quietly deactivated Illuster, stowed it with thermal goggles in inventory, and approached feigning calm.
"What're you doing there? Looks like you've secured an exit. Not running?"
Natural approach. Yoo Geun-tae turned, grinned, and flaunted the Illuster in his hand.
"Taker! Check it! Illuster! Thought this guy was just regular special forces, but turns out special agent! Jackpot today!"
"Uncle. Illuster's mine!"
"No, Hyeonji! We took him down together, right? Sell it on the black market! Billions easy! You know Illuster has limits!"
"...Yeah. Everyone and their dog has thermal eyes these days. Cash ain't bad."
They chattered excitedly.
Park's body was in pieces below.
"Real Illuster? Lemme see!"
I strode up.
"Whoa, whoa. Just look. Rare stuff... Huh?"
Swing. Sliced Hyeonji's neck clean off. Head hit the floor, body collapsed.
"Ta-Taker?! You psycho!"
Yoo Geun-tae backed away, hands out. But I severed his mechanical arms first, closed in, and stabbed his heart.
"Gah! Be-Betrayal?!"
"Illuster was my real goal. Bye, Uncle."
Slashed downward. Guts spilled. I stowed the second Illuster.
Everything went smoothly.
"Sweet! Mission accomplished! Hahaha!"
Felt amazing. Arms wide, I dashed out the entrance.
"Kuhahaha!"
Laughed like a maniac.
Now invisible, endless play options. Scary in reality full of monster Hunters... but different in 'Vampire Detective' and other plays.
"Women's bathhouse first! See the secrets with my own eyes..."
Bang!
A bullet from behind pierced my heart.
Body tumbled forward. Agony in my chest choked words.
I'm dying. Rage surged with the thought.
Who. Who shot me.
Twisted head desperately backward.
The culprit: Ulla. Sniped me from a 30th-floor window with a rifle. The elegant-faced sniper withdrew coldly.
'Fuck! Pisses me off! Complete Recovery!'
Ulla's mistake: not aiming for the head. Brain destruction would've instant-killed me before Complete Recovery.
'Fucking bitch. Knew I'm normal, not cyborg, so targeted heart. Makes betrayal sting more as I die.'
Ulla was brutal in the original too. Could headshot but picked hearts on normals. Muttered fancy shit like "reprieve of death"—just chuuni bullshit to me.
'I'll kill you! Backstabbing cunt!'
I was a hypocritical bastard. Fine stabbing backs, not getting stabbed.
Gripping my sword, I charged back into city hall.
Fury maxed.
'Wait! Son Jeong-hu probably told Ulla to watch me!'
He brought her to dinner. Obvious.
And she didn't kill me for betrayal.
She was on 30. Couldn't see 1st-floor betrayal.
Ulla killed me because she wanted to.
Grind.
Bit so hard gums bled. Ascending, switched to basement.
Basement 22nd floor.
Hidden restroom passage to undocumented basement 23rd.
Original's late-game reveal.
True final boss wasn't Son Jeong-hu, but Mayor Won Cheon-su. Ambitious to rule Korea fully.
A massive door blocked me. Same material as main system.
'Manual open to counter hacks.'
I knew from original: press hidden buttons in sequence.
Right bottom of steel door. Clank. Then left 3m hidden button.
Four in order, shoved hard.
Rumbled open.
Ran passage to goal.
"Holy shit, huge!"
Over 10m white sphere ahead, emitting red glow.
'Ecklus Fusion Reactor. Heart of Project Korea.'
Mayor Won aimed to control Korea's energy. Energy most vital here; Ecklus powered whole country absurdly.
Currently, 'Project: Korea's Heart' secret to all but Won.
'Original reveals! Incomplete, shock-vulnerable!'
What happens if shocked?
Original answer: explodes. Not just explodes—levels half Korea including Seoul to dust.
Approached reactor, raised blade high.
"Die with me, you fucks!!!"
Vision red.
To kill Son Jeong-hu and Ulla together? Most effective. Only way my berserk mind saw.
"Play end!!"
Swinging down. Safely back to rea—
...Huh?
Immense heat engulfed me.
[You have died.]
......