Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 007
Chapter Title: The Tutorial Begins (6)
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Only after both Black Wolves had collapsed did the survivors finally slump onto the white sand beach.
Six people had survived the Black Wolf ambush. Excluding Lee Bo-ra and Choi Tae-seong, who had been bitten and bled out at the start, Im Dong-gyu who died in the fight, and the missing Lee Sang-hyun, only six remained.
"Haaah... I really thought I was done for."
"Damn this test bullshit..."
"Why's it gotta be this hard? If it's a game, just make us strong right away."
"...It's not a game."
"What the hell is this in the middle of the night? This sucks."
"......"
The tension melted away now that all the Black Wolves were down. Bae Jin-cheol, who had fought the hardest, even flopped onto his back.
"Now we can finally get some rest."
Of course, the ever-suspicious Kang Mu-hyuk didn't let his guard down, scanning the surroundings. Just in case.
'It might not be two, but three. Can't relax until the end.'
But even after Lee Bo-ra, Choi Tae-seong, and Im Dong-gyu revived, no further attacks came.
The dawn remained utterly silent.
Lee Sang-hyun had never felt killing intent in all his life.
Not even anything like it. Because it was an aura that didn't exist in reality. But today, for the first time, he felt it clearly.
Zing!
It was a 'will' that vowed to kill the opponent no matter what—even if it meant his own death.
"......"
Utterly different from threats or menacing glares. It was a formless force that even the ignorant could instinctively recognize.
'Revenge?'
Lee Sang-hyun thought that as he stared at the massive Black Wolf baring its savage fangs right before him.
'For its kin... no, its family.'
The giant Black Wolf burned with vengeance. Its fury was so intense it made his skin crawl just looking at it, sending chills down his spine and drying his throat.
'Hmm.'
But Lee Sang-hyun wasn't afraid.
The reason? The giant Black Wolf's eyes weren't locked on him.
Grrrrr...
There was no point in fearing an enemy with no intent to kill him. That was for cowards.
So Lee Sang-hyun paid no mind to its bared teeth.
'This'll play out completely different from before.'
He figured this 'observation' would be even more interesting than the last.
"?!!"
Kang Mu-hyuk realized there was a third Black Wolf only after it had already taken someone out.
Kwachak!!
It happened in the blink of an eye. No one had a chance to react.
They only noticed after the alpha Black Wolf finished off Bae Jin-cheol.
"Block it!!"
Kang Mu-hyuk shouted first.
Thanks to never fully dropping his suspicion...
Still, it was a painful mistake.
"Fuck!!"
"Another one?!"
"What is this, zombies?!"
Terrified as they were, no one ran. They fought back. Choi Tae-seong, obsessed with points, aimed for another big hit. He saw it as a chance to catch up to Kang Mu-hyuk.
"Dieee!!"
Whoosh!!
It looked like a sharp strike. But it wasn't. The alpha Black Wolf dodged effortlessly and ripped off Choi Tae-seong's head in retaliation.
Kwaduk!!
'That idiot!!'
Kang Mu-hyuk cursed Choi Tae-seong's stupidity inwardly while suppressing a smile. He hadn't liked the guy's showboating anyway.
"Surround it!! It's just one, no matter how big!!"
The group reacted instantly to Kang Mu-hyuk's call.
"You damn mutt!!"
"Let us sleep, damn it!!"
"We outnumber it!!"
"We'll hunt you too!!"
"It's nothing special!!"
They quickly encircled the alpha Black Wolf and thrust their spears in unison.
A swift, precise joint attack.
Swish!!
But before the spears could connect, the alpha leaped over them.
"Don't let it escape...?!"
Then the alpha Black Wolf vanished. Not just hidden in the dark—it was gone, completely.
Sguk!!
When it reappeared, someone's throat was slit.
'H-how?!'
Even Kang Mu-hyuk, with his sharp senses, hadn't detected it. Cold sweat dripped down his back.
'Stealth skill... hiding its body! But how do we fight something invisible?!'
They could fight the other two because they were visible.
Now? Nothing. Impossible to act.
"...Mon...ster...!"
Sguk!
Another fell. No one saw it—not even Kang Mu-hyuk.
Grrrrr.
The difference between visible and invisible was huge. The chosen ones were utterly helpless.
Revived players had heads exploded or bodies torn in half; spears missed futilely.
"Fuuuuck!!"
Puk!!
Choi Tae-seong's reckless charge did land a hit on the alpha.
But the wound was too shallow to kill it.
Kwachak!!
Choi Tae-seong's head flew again. The alpha vanished into the darkness.
"How the hell are we supposed to...!"
Fairy Alice looked down at the panicking group with a wry smile.
'Hard when you can't see, right? Everyone struggles at first. Makes you wanna go insane. That's why we prepared this. Experience it now so you don't panic later. Though the real goal is seeing how you cope... Kang Mu-hyuk should figure it out soon... He knows, right? I'd be disappointed if not.'
The moment disappointment crossed Alice's face, Kang Mu-hyuk shouted to everyone.
"The sand!! Look at the beach!! It vanishes, but footprints stay!! Predict its moves from that and counter!!"
Alice beamed.
'Yes! Kang Mu-hyuk, spot on! Vanishing doesn't erase weight! Watch the sand below, and you can predict everything!'
As Kang Mu-hyuk said, only the alpha's form vanished—footprints remained. So by watching the fine white sand...
Puk!!
...they could predict its position and next move.
'Sand! The sand!!'
Kang Mu-hyuk didn't notice right away amid the chaos, but he got it—the depressions in the beach.
After that, it was smooth sailing. He shared his discovery, and they speared the alpha's flank.
Puk!!
'Got it...?!'
Joy was short-lived. Instinct dropped him low as something whistled over his head.
Thump thump!!
Invisible, but definitely claws. Vicious enough to crush his skull.
'Kuh!!'
Kang Mu-hyuk abandoned his spear to create distance.
Then he locked eyes with the alpha emerging from the dark.
Chill!!
Pure rage. Malice-filled determination he'd never imagined.
Kang Mu-hyuk suppressed his boiling fury and bellowed.
"Kill it!!"
Lee Sang-hyun watched the battle between the group and the alpha Black Wolf without missing a beat.
"......"
He startled when the alpha vanished too. But he adapted quickly, and it started becoming visible.
Its form, which shouldn't be visible... a faint silhouette, but there.
'Jumping.'
Now he could predict its next moves.
"Uwaaak?!"
"You damn mutt!"
"Just die!!"
"Here?!"
"No! Over there! It's there!"
"Don't panic, watch the sand!!"
"Left!!"
"......"
Not perfect. The blurry form caused errors, occasional misses. But the more he watched, the better it got.
'Behind.'
As predicted, the alpha flanked Kang Mu-hyuk.
Before he could react, its claws ripped his lower back.
"...Th...is... fu..."
Thud.
Kang Mu-hyuk died. Body split in two—no survival possible.
"Die!!"
But his death didn't decide the fight. Points did.
Choi Tae-seong, biding his time, used the opening to spear the alpha.
Puk!!
Sharp strike.
Had Kang Mu-hyuk landed it, "+1 bonus points!" wouldn't surprise.
"Graaah!!"
The alpha didn't sit idle. It sacrificed defense to decapitate Choi Tae-seong.
Puk!!
Choi Tae-seong died standing.
"Now!! Rush it!!"
"Chaaarge!!"
"Diiiie!!"
The chosen seized the moment, swarming and stabbing.
Puk! Puk puk!!
Even its tough hide couldn't withstand.
"Grr... u... u...!!"
Blood poured from the alpha's maw. Hot as its blazing fury.
But its rage-filled eyes calmed. Death neared.
'No!!'
Freshly revived Kang Mu-hyuk half-screamed. The alpha was falling while he was dead.
'That thing...!!'
Anxiety and urgency surged wildly. Uncontainable.
'It's mine!!'
Kang Mu-hyuk hurled his spear without thought. Full strength, desperate.
Whoosh!!
Objectively stupid.
No throwing skill, no spear mastery—worry it'd hit allies, not the alpha...
Puk!!
Lady Luck favored him.
The spear pierced the alpha's forehead dead-on... the finishing blow.
Kuuung!
The alpha, 1.5 times larger than the others, crashed onto the sand.
The long midnight battle ended.
'Yes...! I did it!!'
Who led most, shone brightest? Clear.
'I did it!! I took it down!!'
Kang Mu-hyuk.