An Attempted Escape
Mu-hyuk was mentally exhausted from the partial loss of the stats he'd painstakingly built up through effort. After much deliberation, he logged into Illusion TV and posted an announcement.
Announcement: I'm sorry, but due to mental and physical fatigue, I'll be suspending broadcasts for a while...
Comments poured in instantly.
Of course, Mu-hyuk didn't even have the energy to check the comments.
"Hoo."
He had to log back in once the penalty time was up.
If his stats dropped even more...
Just thinking about it filled him with irritation.
How could he even explain it?
It felt like some crucial part of the life he'd struggled to build had been senselessly stripped away.
And it might never recover. Or he could lose even more. That anxiety gnawed at him too.
Please...
He could only hope the empire, kingdom, and quest-accepting users would take down Zikera. Until then, waiting was all he could do.
Vrrr.
His phone buzzed then.
It was Ye-rin.
Mu-hyuk nodded after a moment's thought.
"Yeah, let's meet."
Mu-hyuk forced a smile at Ye-rin's words.
"Thanks."
Mu-hyuk ended the call and lay back on his bed.
A long silence stretched out.
Then he sat up again.
Yeah, Illusion held special meaning for him. But it wasn't more important than his family, loved ones, or precious friends.
I can endure it.
His stats might drop a lot.
But that was okay.
He was confident he could recover them.
Of course, thinking about the lost stats twisted his gut and surged with rage, but even reduced, Mu-hyuk's stats were overwhelmingly superior to others at his level.
"I'll endure no matter what."
And if the chance came, he'd personally crush Zikera with his own hands.
*
Ye-rin truly went all out for Mu-hyuk.
She was even cuter and more affectionate than usual, pulling out all the stops.
"Hehe, fun, right?"
"Yeah, it's fun."
A natural smile played on Mu-hyuk's lips.
"Now you finally seem like my oppa again."
Ye-rin linked arms with him.
"That rough, huh?"
"Mm, a bit."
"Feels like more than a bit."
Should he tell her?
The dilemma was brief.
There was no real need to hide it.
"Truth is, I'm being used as a test subject."
"T-test subject?"
"Yeah, and my stats are permanently dropping."
"Ah, so that's why..."
Everything about Mu-hyuk's listless demeanor suddenly made sense to Ye-rin.
"Anyway, thanks to you, I feel a bit recharged."
"Really...?"
"Of course."
"Good."
That day, they spent a joyful time together.
The next day.
He sent Ye-rin back before sunset, then returned home and logged into Illusion.
Welcome to Illusion.
Zikera smirked wickedly and forced a black potion down Mu-hyuk's throat.
"This one's even more fun. Heh heh."
"......"
Could anything surprise him more at this point?
Mu-hyuk suppressed his emotions.
You drank the Potion that Accelerates with Darkness.
Movement speed permanently decreases by 5%.
Attack speed permanently decreases by 5%.
This time, it was a drop in movement and attack speed.
Far better than stat reductions.
"Kekeke. How's that?"
Zikera looked utterly satisfied.
But Mu-hyuk showed no reaction.
"If that's not enough, have more. Heh heh."
Another potion slid down his throat.
You drank the Potion that Accelerates with Darkness.
Effect halved due to overlap.
Movement speed permanently decreases by 2.5%.
Attack speed permanently decreases by 2.5%.
This potion stacked only three times.
A permanent 8.75% reduction each.
"Disappointed if it ends here?"
Zikera's experiments continued.
"This one's unknown effect."
It looked darker than the others, but Mu-hyuk shoved the thought aside. No point dwelling—nothing he could do but sharpen his blade of rage.
"So we need a proper test."
Zikera checked Mu-hyuk's current condition.
"Good, perfect."
Then fed him the new potion.
You drank the Explosive Darkness Potion.
All ability scores permanently decrease by 3%.
Mu-hyuk's eyelids trembled violently.
"Oh ho, good reaction."
Zikera hurriedly checked his status. Even the creator seemed surprised, eyes widening slightly.
"Incredible."
It was a masterpiece after a long time.
All abilities down 3%.
For Mu-hyuk, that meant over 3 points off his strength and stamina above 100, nearly 3 off his near-100 agility.
Knowledge and wisdom dropped significantly too—attack power, defense, HP, MP, movement speed, attack speed, even reaction speed.
Every single stat fell by 3%. The worst for Mu-hyuk.
"One more."
Liquid flowed down his throat again.
Damn it, you bastard!
But an unexpected message appeared.
Does not stack.
Truly a relief.
"Hmm, too bad."
Mu-hyuk wanted to punch that smug face.
"Oh, right—I didn't mention. Turns out outsiders can regain consciousness at will? If you don't wake up in over two days, I'll pour every negative concoction I've developed over a lifetime into your body. So make sure to wake up. Kekeke."
Another new potion flowed down. No pain, but his whole body shuddered.
Strong electric current surges through you.
HP continuously decreases.
Stunned for 2 seconds.
Zikera then inspected his body.
"Lightning. Stun effect too."
Feeling like a perfect lab rat only soured his mood further.
"This next. Kekeke."
"......"
After a few more experiments.
HP has reached 0.
You have died.
Finally, he could log out of Illusion.
Emerging from the capsule, Mu-hyuk no longer screamed or trembled in rage. He simply waited for the moment.
A dagger hidden deep in his heart.
*
The Emperor of the Hemil Empire.
After hearing Duke Amur's report, he unleashed his true hidden power.
The Gold Knights, sworn only to protect the imperial bloodline, and Hemil's strongest mage unit joined the subjugation force.
"Eliminate it without fail."
"As you command!"
Other kingdoms and empires also mobilized portions of their hidden forces.
The news spread across the Forma Continent.
"With this lineup, clear is guaranteed, right?"
"Location intel?"
"Not certain, but they've probably scouted it."
"Then let's join. Us too."
Top rankers who missed out due to timing.
Skilled players questioning the too-easy progress of Episode 1 quest began appearing one by one.
Seeing them, mid-tier rankers who hesitated decided to lend a hand.
"Level limit too?"
"Yeah, 140."
Only level 140+ could even participate this time.
"Serious business."
"Ho."
Only true elites gathered.
Yet the participant count was massive.
Excluding NPCs.
"20,000?"
17,000 level 140s.
3,000 level 150s.
"It's over."
If they marched?
Victory certain.
Most users thought so.
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah, afternoon."
"Can't wait."
And the day of departure arrived.
*
A call from Sung Min-woo.
"Why?"
Mu-hyuk's brow furrowed.
"Nothing?"
Mu-hyuk didn't know beyond the final lab, so nothing to share.
"Sigh, no clue."
"Got it. If I learn anything, I'll text."
He ended the call and logged in.
Welcome to Illusion.
Mu-hyuk's eyes gleamed.
Gone.
No Zikera.
He closed his eyes, focusing.
No presence either.
A chance?
Or trap?
Either way, he had to try. He cast aside doubts and summoned Armor Knight 1 and 2. Armor Knight 1 thrust its sword forward; Armor Knight 2 lifted the prone Mu-hyuk. Turning, he eyed the sword and positioned himself.
Armor Knight 1, swing down!
The slashing sword struck the chains binding his wrists.
Clang! Scraaaape!
The chains didn't break easily.
Harder!
After several more swings, the wrist chains snapped.
Mu-hyuk drew his sword and struck the leg chains.
Then—a gust of wind. He froze.
"Kuh, kekeke."
The black mage Zikera appeared.
Damn it.
Zikera eyed him amusedly.
"Too bad."
"......"
His insides roiled.
Caught right at the brink of success.
"Hold."
Zikera cast a spell, rebinding his hands with chains.
Not linked to the stone bed this time. But thicker—would take time even if opportunity arose.
Then Zikera shattered the skeletons and began grabbing items around.
He extended a hand toward Mu-hyuk. Bound, Mu-hyuk floated up, then flew with Zikera.
Changing locations?
Obvious reason.
"They've moved, huh."
As Mu-hyuk predicted.
Scouting parties.
So where to? If he pinpointed it for Sung Min-woo, they could end Zikera faster.
"Kekeke. Expecting something?"
"......"
"I'll make it happen."
Suddenly, Zikera accelerated.
Whoosh.
Out in an instant. Mu-hyuk scanned surroundings, eyes darting.
Trees everywhere—still no clue. They burst from the forest onto plains, spotting a black panther monster.
Hammer Kingdom?
Black panthers only in Hammer Kingdom.
Definitely nearby.
A base here?
Zikera flew on for a while longer.