I'll Beat 'Em All
Jo Ah-ra had declared it a "survival game." But hiding one's body alone in these vast, rugged mountains wasn't all that difficult, so there were a few additional rules. First, the safe survival zone gradually shrank. Second, monsters kept spawning continuously. These two factors made survival a real challenge.
Then there were the competitors gunning for applicants' lives to rack up extra points. And the ever-shrinking safe zone. All while having to watch out for monsters too. It was a total free-for-all brawl.
In the midst of this chaos, Yoon Han-gyeol was steadfastly holding onto first place.
Perfect conditions for him to shine just like clockwork.
Using a short sword that didn't restrict movement in the forest. And his swift, wind-attuned sword dance that excelled at overwhelming foes—not too open a space, either. Everything played to his strengths. The results spoke for themselves.
Already, around sixty out of the participants had dropped out.
The survival game should be wrapping up soon.
Smooth sailing.
Just as expected. It lined up perfectly with the team analysis from Seoul Hunter Academy's first team. Plus, it seemed like no one could beat me head-on with raw power.
That realization put his mind at ease.
[Whirlwind Sword].
It was his first official title, and though it carried some pressure, he'd lived up to it.
…That's what he thought.
Bang!
Bang bang!
A massive presence crashed in out of nowhere. The biggest issue? The completely unexpected attack.
…A gun?
***
Right around the time he snagged the Ether, he belatedly realized there were quite a few things he hadn't considered.
Since the rules framed it as a deathmatch survival game, he should've anticipated that ranking high would get harder the longer he delayed.
…Too late now?
Out of 100 participants, 20 advanced. That meant it ended when 80 were eliminated. By the time he emerged from the hidden dungeon to check, over 60 had already dropped.
At this point, he'd need to take them all out just to scrape first—impossible with everyone scattered. Fifth place would be a miracle.
No issue clearing, but making a splashy rank? Tough.
Need some kind of masterstroke…
Even with Ether now, unless he could one-shot vitals one by one, it wouldn't matter much. Even if a massive brawl erupted centrally, only the one landing the killing blow got the kill.
On the other hand, maybe just charge in and max out kills recklessly—his current skills couldn't guarantee more anyway. It might not crack top five, but he had to do something.
Han Ji-su…?
With Piercing Eye always active, he spotted her stealth. She'd camouflaged herself in the brush with dirt and branches, then ambushed with gravity fields.
Oh ho…
Killing her would be easy, but… he had no intention of that.
She let her guard down in stealth. He slipped behind her.
Then it was simple. Tap her shoulder. "You uncouth Ms. Han Ji-su. How've you been?"
She jolted like she'd been shocked, falling flat on her ass.
"You… you…!"
"I've got a situation and could use your help, Ms. Han Ji-su…."
"You nuts?"
He'd thought the last beating might've changed her a bit, but people didn't transform overnight. That thrashing clearly wasn't enough.
Instead, she seized the chance, kicking up dirt as she prepped another gravity attack.
"Perfect timing, you fucking prick."
"What? Fucking prick?"
Gravity attacks were scary because they had zero tells—but not for him. Piercing Eye read every trajectory.
Still, "fucking prick"? Harsh words.
"I came needing your help, and that doesn't strike you as rude?"
She clicked her tongue in disbelief.
Was it that absurd? Whatever—fact was, he needed her.
If she spreads her gravity weakly over a wide area, I could dive in and wipe them out in one go.
Best way to spike kills fast, it seemed.
Of course, Han Ji-su wasn't one to play nice. If anything, she rampaged harder.
Whoosh!
Boom!
Missing with gravity blasts, she started summoning random gravity fields wildly.
But the fix was straightforward.
Violence solves everything.
Accelerate past the fields in a burst, close in. Then the same pattern as before.
"Head!"
"Eek!"
Han Ji-su flinched on word alone. Virtual reality, so no real pain from hits—but her body remembered that day.
But he said "head" without striking, so she peeked through her arms.
Reflexively covered her head, but the answer was obvious. Punch the unguarded gut.
Even without that, her close-range skills and combat sense were leagues below his.
Thud! Thwack!
"Guh…."
Straight gut shot—dry heaves from her mouth.
But this was far from over.
"Head! Gut! Head!"
"Wait… just wait…."
Good thing she decided to hear him out before more pointless pummeling wasted time.
"…What do you want?"
"You. Team up with me."
"Team? Fuck no. Nothing to do with you."
"Nothing?"
He raised a fist unconsciously; her face stiffened. Trauma even in VR with minimal pain.
"Or drop out right now."
Bang!
The shot grazed her head.
"Help, and I let you live."
She grimaced in disgust but finally gave the answer he wanted.
"What… what do I gotta do?"
Bingo.
***
Hunters League was fundamentally a team game. Not everyone specialized in offense.
Take Han Ji-su.
She had 8 kills for third—impressive—but shift perspective, and she had the most support-friendly skill on this battlefield.
Gravity manipulation meant that. That's why he'd "recruited" her despite their bad blood.
Plus, with few survivors left, the system marked all positions on the map. Clearly meant to force intense fights for broadcast footage—but he wasn't complaining.
Brawl raging around 7 o'clock from central terrain…
Endgame. Shrinking map left few options anyway.
"Ready?"
"…Yeah."
Just amp gravity slightly. Not threatening. Just enough to annoy, disrupt normal movement. That alone skyrocketed hit chances.
"Go."
Air grew heavy on her word.
So this is the gravity power that got her into Seoul Hunter Academy…
Wide range meant shallow effect, but fine by him.
Clang!
Clang clang!
Two spearmen ahead spotted him, leaped to scatter—but…
Bang!
Bang bang!
One shot each from dual pistols. No more needed.
Added gravity weighed them down; unfamiliar landings created openings. He pierced them precisely.
"Two kills at once. Nice~"
Other applicants weren't idle, of course. Struggling in 1v1s, they had to check the guy with the ridiculously easy, powerful weapon.
As if synced, several charged him at once.
And not just that. Shing— a sword rocketed from behind.
Throwing a sword…?
But before the thought finished, it boomeranged back to its owner.
Whirlwind Sword.
Yoon Han-gyeol.
***
Lee Min-seok couldn't help thinking Jo Ah-ra's "survival game" was bizarre yet entertaining.
"In the end, the hidden piece finder wastes time grabbing it, so no top rank."
"Ironically… And it's VR anyway—useless post-game."
An unexpected twist: somehow, applicant Lee Chang-hyun found the Ether in "The Land Where Lost Souls Sleep."
He'd worried it'd trivialize the game with Ether's power, but no disasters ensued.
Top five kills are sky-high, led by Yoon Han-gyeol.
Meaning the game was nearly over before Lee Chang-hyun could shine.
Now in final highlight: survivors converged central stage for melee frenzy.
Even with prelim shooting skills, top five was impossible.
He'd survive, sure.
That's when the twist hit.
"Han Ji-su was doing well… first victim to Lee Chang-hyun?"
"…Doesn't look like it. He could've shot her out immediately… They're talking now?"
Lee Chang-hyun smacked her around, then conversed. Now moving together.
Teamed up?
Plausible if acquaintances, but the beating and dropout threat screamed otherwise.
"Using her as support?"
"Hm… Yeah, but outsiders don't know each other—how'd he pick such a perfect skill?"
Lee Min-seok sensed unease. Like eyes piercing skills, people, maps, strategies—unknowable intel.
Skill-reading ability? Nah, too far-fetched.
No such power discovered, or hunter eval systems wouldn't cost a fortune.
Jin Su-hyuk, unconcerned: "Synergy looks solid. Gravity pins 'em, Ether gun finishes clean. Perfect—especially with no other teams."
"Maybe… But opponents look tough for an easy win."
The screen showed not just Lee Chang-hyun, but Yoon Han-gyeol and many others too.