Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Devil Awakens
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Two hours had passed since the game began.
A massive bell toll rang through the corridors, so loud it made their ears ring—though no one could tell where it was coming from.
Dong—dong—dong—dong—
Then every light in the building flickered wildly before snapping off with a sharp click.
Darkness.
Pitch black, the kind where you couldn’t see a thing in front of you.
At the bottom of the stairs leading from the fifth floor to the rooftop, in a tiny storage room.
Kim Dusic huddled inside, panting heavily.
“Haa… haa…”
He muttered quietly to himself.
“What the hell happened? Why’d the power suddenly…”
The bulb dangling from the ceiling had gone out.
Click. Click.
He flicked the switch, but nothing happened.
Terrified, Kim Dusic mashed the power button on his phone frantically.
No screen lit up.
It was the only source of light he could check here.
“Come on, hurry up… 112… 119… 111… please…”
That was his plan.
He’d grabbed his charger and phone, hidden in here, figuring the police or military would eventually come sort things out.
Kim Dusic pulled a vial from his pocket and clutched it tight.
Like a shaman revering a sacred relic.
“God… please… please… save me…”
As he murmured his prayer, a cold voice reached his ears. A high-pitched whine laced with a metallic rasp.
It echoed like it was coming from deep in a cave.
-There is no god here.
The sudden voice made Kim Dusic jump in fright. He dropped the vial he was holding.
Roll—roll—roll—
He couldn’t see it in the dark. He groped slowly along the floor, but it eluded his fingers.
“Wha… what was that? Did I hear wrong?”
Kim Dusic strained his eyes, trying to adjust to the darkness.
As time passed, shapes began to emerge faintly. Not clearly, but enough to make out the bulb swaying overhead.
Swish—swish—
He swung his hand through the empty air.
The cramped storeroom barely fit two people, so just waving his arm let him sense his surroundings.
Then a sharp voice pierced his ear.
-I have come to meet you.
Kim Dusic froze.
He slowly turned his head toward the door.
Not because he sensed any presence or gaze in this lightless place.
He just figured if anyone was there, it had to be outside the door.
“P… please…”
His face twisted in despair. His hands and feet trembled.
Trapped in the darkness, he kicked at the door to escape.
Thud! Thud!
It wouldn’t budge.
He was pretty built, and he’d kicked with all his strength. Yet it held firm, like someone was barricading it from outside.
“O… open it. Open it! Open the damn door!!”
Bang!
-Listen.
The cold voice echoed in his ear for the third time, freezing Kim Dusic in place.
-I will free you from this terror.
“…Who… who are you? Where are you?”
Just when he thought his eyes were adjusting, the darkness plunged back into utter blackness.
-Here.
Clack. Clack-clack. Clack-clack.
The vial he’d been holding rattled.
It sounded like it was rolling toward him on its own.
-Seize me.
As if entranced, Kim Dusic reached out and grabbed the vial.
He couldn’t see it, but he’d tracked it by sound.
-Drink. I will make you master of this darkness.
* * * * *
Thud-thud-thud-thud-!
We raced up, checking rooms at breakneck speed.
On the third floor, we spotted a dresser tipped over in the last room. It had definitely been upright before.
Did Kim Dusic come through here?
Creeeak.
“Jeongwoo. Was there anything else in this room before?”
“Books. Figures. Guitar.”
“That’s all?”
“…No. There was a toolbox too.”
Toolbox.
Gone.
We rummaged through the dresser, but not a single tool in sight.
What the hell did he take it for?
“…You don’t think this bastard’s holed up in a room and barricaded himself in?”
“Barricaded?”
“Rip out the doorknob with a drill, nail some boards over it. No one gets in.”
“…Why the hell would he do that?”
I traced the shape of a vial in the air with my finger.
“To get the devil.”
“Ah…”
“Makes sense if you read the description.”
“…Shit.”
“Whatever. Let’s move.”
We bolted again.
Leaping two or three stairs at a time, we hit the fourth floor in seconds.
“Ma Jeongwoo, you and Michael check the fourth. I’ll take the vampire straight to the fifth.”
“Got it. Radio if you find him.”
“Yeah. Be careful.”
“You too.”
Ma Jeongwoo and I bumped fists.
Where could Kim Dusic be hiding? If he panicked and ran, he’d head for the highest floor possible.
“Whew—Code apply: Engage combat mode immediately upon enemy detection, no orders needed.”
[Command code input complete.]
‘CODE:001’ lit up on the vampire’s chest.
Up on the fifth floor, darkness greeted us. Every light out. A presence at the end of the hall, but no clue what it was.
If there was even a sliver of light, we could check.
“…”
Crackle. Crackle.
I lit my lighter.
Not far-reaching, but enough to see around us.
The vampire stepped forward.
Raising its claws suggested it sensed an enemy nearby.
[‘Vampire’ has detected a suspicious lifeform.]
[Enemy detected within 100m ahead.]
No way Kim Dusic…
The vampire advanced slowly.
Step. Step. Step.
Its shoe heels echoed down the hall.
My eyes not yet adjusted, I stayed by the stairs, watching.
What could it be?
Even without seeing it, my heart pounded.
“Stop.”
I halted the vampire.
“…”
The presence was close.
Despite seeing nothing.
I subtly pressed the button on the walkie-talkie at my waist.
Beep.
A red light glowed under the antenna.
“Fifth floor, sensing ominous presence. Fifth floor, ominous presence. Request backup.”
Beep.
I crouched low, gripping my kitchen knife tight. Should’ve borrowed Michael’s pistol.
Dong—dong—dong—dong—.
The bell tolled.
Time already?
My watch confirmed exactly two hours since game start.
“Whew…”
Too late.
But now we knew where the devil was. Just had to stop it rampaging.
In the tutorial, only one thing radiated this foul, ominous aura.
‘Devil.’
Let’s go.
I commanded the vampire.
“Eliminate all lifeforms except those in my group.”
“…”
Whoosh—!
A sudden gust blasted from the opposite hall, shoving us back. I clutched my knife, scanning warily.
Bracing for a sudden attack.
The vampire swiped at the air.
Slash—! Slash—!
Nothing visible. Either it was crazy, or caught in an illusion.
I rolled my eyes toward where it swung.
Checking if something moved in the dark.
Slash—!
“…”
There.
Something was there.
A lifeform far faster than the vampire’s movements.
-Pathietic.
Huh?
A cold, sharp voice echoed through the hall.
Not Kim Dusic’s dopey tone. This was resolute, icy calm.
“…The devil, huh.”
-Do you know me?
“Well enough. The final devil, bringer of ruin.”
-…
“Lucifer.”
Flash!
Every light on the fifth floor blazed on.
Across the hall stood a black-skinned man.
Kim Dusic.
Two small horns jutted from his head. His eyes slanted up like an enraged bull.
Black smoke poured from his nose and mouth.
I’d suspected, but a player—not NPC—fell to the devil’s temptation.
‘Kim Dusic… worst-case scenario.’
His lips didn’t move, but the voice came.
-How do you know my name?
I snapped back curtly.
“…Beats me.”
He walked toward me.
Step. Step.
The vampire retreated in sync.
I never ordered that. Pure instinct.
“…”
Overwhelmed by his presence, the vampire reset for attack.
Long claws aimed, fangs bared.
Even without fighting, the vampire knew instinctively.
It couldn’t win head-on.
‘Damn it.’
Why were Jeongwoo and Michael taking so long?
-Will you defy me?
“…Yeah. Have to.”
-You know what I am, yet you charge?
“I fight because I know you. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t even think to.”
The devil-possessed Kim Dusic’s lips curled.
-Entertaining.
He roared.
“Raaah!!”
Crash-crash-crash!!
Every window on the fifth floor shattered.
Then devil Kim Dusic charged us. A prickling, overwhelming aura enveloped me.
Thud-thud-thud—
Every spot his feet touched blackened the floor.
The vampire glanced at me.
I’d only said ‘prepare to attack,’ so it awaited orders.
‘Not yet. Hold. Don’t move until I say.’
Fast-approaching Kim Dusic swung at the stationary vampire.
Whoosh—
His fist arced in, slamming into the vampire’s solar plexus.
Thud!
With a choked ‘urk,’ the vampire clutched its gut and crumpled.
Its HP bar overhead had dropped by half.
One hit, half gone.
Two hits, dead.
Meaning I could tank one hit too.
‘…Good.’
Relief.
Now I had a way to beat him.
I set my kitchen knife on the floor and spread my arms wide to greet Kim Dusic.
No—summon Lucifer.
-Surrender?
“…”
No reply.
Just gritted my teeth, waiting.
For victory.
Step. Step. Step. Step.
-One last question. How do you know my name?
“…”
-Speak, or die.
I flashed a cheeky grin.
“Fine by me.”
-…Fool.
Lucifer clenched his fist.
Up close, his skin was smooth black, like acrylic paint over leather—or a brand-new jacket.
Whoosh—
His fist flew at me, slicing the air.
That instant, I kicked the knife on the floor.
It spun across the ground, stopping at the vampire’s feet.
His fist a breath from my face.
“Trade request.”
[System Message]
[Player ‘Kim Cheonjae’ has requested a trade with ‘Kim Dusic.’]
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