Zikera's Mad Experiments
Mu-hyuk hadn't seen it yet, but he knew without a doubt.
Zikera.
He'd finally been caught.
Or maybe it was just his imagination.
But then his vision cleared, and as he stared up at Zikera's face looming over him, he had to admit it was no illusion.
His features were obscured by the robe, but chunks of flesh had been torn from his skin in places, pus oozing from the wounds—it was revolting just to look at.
And now this monstrosity was grinning down at him, sending chills racing down Mu-hyuk's spine.
"You're here."
"……."
What the hell was he supposed to say?
Please spare me?
Let me go?
Or summon skeletons and launch a surprise attack?
He forced himself to think calmly.
Get a grip.
None of that would work.
First priority: figure out exactly what Zikera planned to do.
"I hope you hold up well."
With those words, Zikera picked up a vial.
"Hold."
He even cast a spell to force it down Mu-hyuk's throat.
Gulp.
A burning sensation slid down his gullet.
And then the messages appeared.
You have consumed an unknown substance.
A vicious poison spreads through your body, enough to destroy it.
Physical abilities reduced by 1% for 1 hour.
Movement speed reduced by 10% for 3 hours.
Attack speed reduced by 10% for 3 hours.
HP continuously decreases.
There was no pain.
But the messages were enough to throw Mu-hyuk into confusion.
"What the hell did you make me drink?"
"Heh heh, finally talking, eh?"
"Answer me."
"I don't know either. That's what we're about to find out."
Zikera treated him like a true lab rat. He drew blood, carved out flesh samples, measured changes with every method imaginable.
"Hmm, mild poison and a drop in physical stats……."
Not satisfied, he tossed the vial aside.
"Failure."
He immediately checked Mu-hyuk's body the same way, confirming his status had returned to normal.
"Heh heh, that's why I love outsiders."
His recovery speed was insanely fast.
He hurriedly forced a second potion down Mu-hyuk's throat.
Damn it……!
A curse rose unbidden, but there was nothing he could do.
So he rolled his eyes, trying to survey the space around him.
To seize any opportunity that might come.
But that didn't last long.
You have consumed an unknown substance.
Internal organs explode.
A shock erupted from inside him.
"Y-you crazy bastard……."
His HP plummeted to zero.
You have died.
He lost his life pointlessly.
Meanwhile.
The viewers watching live on Illusion TV were stunned speechless.
Most pitied Mu-hyuk.
Though some were just amused.
A few brain-dead viewers had most people frowning.
Viewership plummeted in seconds.
Down to 3,000.
But by the time the penalty ended, it climbed back to 15,000.
Around then, Mu-hyuk logged in to check Illusion TV and spotted a few hurling abuse.
"Haa."
Already on edge, and now this.
No reason to put up with it.
He instantly banned them all.
'Die' IP permanently banned.
'ImTheBest' IP permanently banned.
'WhatchaGonnaDo' IP permanently banned.
'LolLol' IP permanently banned.
The chat finally settled into peace.
Time to log back in?
For a moment, he wondered if it was necessary. He could just wait until Zikera died.
But…….
He couldn't stand it.
Lab rat?
Seemed like experiments only happened when he was conscious.
But if he stayed logged out, Zikera would probably continue regardless.
Who knew what cumulative damage that might cause.
Enduring that anxiety without logging in was torture for Mu-hyuk.
This character he'd raised with such care and affection.
Better to see it with his own eyes.
Yeah. Log in.
Face grim, he lay in the capsule.
Welcome to Illusion.
His vision returned with the mechanical chime.
"Back again."
He spotted Zikera right away.
"Heh heh, too quick last time."
"……."
Mu-hyuk stayed silent.
Zikera didn't care for talk either, resuming experiments immediately.
Today: potions slashing attack, defense, HP, and MP drastically, or freezing the body solid—death followed.
He'd been through it once and expected it, so the shock wasn't as bad.
Hiss—
Out of the capsule, he checked Illusion's developments.
Still no prep?
He asked Sung Min-woo and Ye-rin, but they knew nothing.
"Haa……."
Time passed to the next day.
Finally, the post he'd waited for appeared.
Mu-hyuk quickly texted Sung Min-woo and Ye-rin.
Sung Min-woo, just woken up, rushed into Illusion.
Met Duke Amur directly, learned a few things, then called Mu-hyuk.
(Been waiting?)
"Yeah, how's it going?"
(Went to Duke Amur myself, squeezed out some info. Kingdoms/empires calling up hidden forces. But need everyone to gather, so it'll take time.)
"Hmm……."
(Roughly 5 days till departure.)
"Five days?"
(Yeah, plus battle time…….)
Minimum 10 days. Give or take, a month.
He'd be a lab rat that whole time.
"Hoo."
A sigh escaped.
If only they'd hurry.
"Anyway, thanks."
(Hang in there.)
Call ended, he checked Ye-rin's message.
Similar to Sung Min-woo's.
[Thanks.]
Time check.
Log back in.
Lying in the capsule, entering Illusion—Zikera, mid-experiment nearby, stood and approached as if he'd sensed it.
"Here you are."
He chuckled darkly.
"Today'll be fun."
Fun?
The sudden word sparked unease, but he shook it off.
It was just a game, after all.
Soon Zikera poured a purple-glowing liquid into his mouth.
You drank the Potion of Strengthening by Darkness.
Strength permanently reduced by 5.
Stamina permanently reduced by 5.
Mu-hyuk's pupils shook violently at the message.
"Wh-what is this……!"
"Keh heh heh. Fun, right? Told you. Tested it before you came. Permanently drops strength and stamina."
"Argh, you bastard!"
"Such foul language."
Zikera held him with Hold again.
"Your punishment."
Another dose of the same.
You drank the Potion of Strengthening by Darkness.
Effect halved due to duplication.
Strength permanently reduced by 2.5.
Stamina permanently reduced by 2.5.
Strength and stamina dropped again.
His mentality was crumbling.
How—the stats he'd grinded so hard……!
The more Mu-hyuk's face twisted, the broader Zikera's grin grew. He looked thrilled beyond control.
You son of a bitch……!
Bound by Hold, unable to act, Mu-hyuk could only glare with bulging eyes.
"Don't look at me like that."
"……!"
Another dose.
You drank the Potion of Strengthening by Darkness.
Effect halved due to duplication.
Strength permanently reduced by 1.
Stamina permanently reduced by 1.
Zikera laughed nonstop.
Mu-hyuk couldn't speak or move.
Hold magic paralyzed him.
But he didn't suppress the endless rage boiling inside.
Like a volcano, fueled by oil.
Another dose.
You drank the Potion of Strengthening by Darkness.
Effect halved due to duplication.
Strength permanently reduced by 0.5.
Stamina permanently reduced by 0.5.
Once more.
"Hm?"
This time, no effect.
Mu-hyuk looked relieved, but Zikera clicked his tongue.
"Looks like four's the limit."
Rage surged anew at his casual tone.
I'll kill you. I swear I'll kill you……!
Zikera set aside the used potions and fetched a new one.
No stat drop this time, but his whole body ignited.
You have died.
Capsule door opened.
Hiss.
Mu-hyuk rose, fists clenched.
Strength and stamina down 9 each. Total 18 points lost.
Permanently.
With 30% passed to summons, each lost 5.4 effectively.
Overall combat power significantly reduced.
Zikera……!
His grip tightened.
Crack.
Fists clenched so hard his body trembled.