Pascal's Tenth Wail

He pieced it together from those messages.

"If we think simply, breaking the red pillar deals some kind of damage to the soul."

"That's why it wails."

"Right. Breaking the white pillar heals the soul's wounds. The message mentioned 'twice,' so maybe once we hit the set number of strikes, the wailing soul awakens?"

"Ho."

"Of course, it might not be that."

It could just be a simple reward based on the count at the end of the path.

Of course, this deduction didn't mean much. What could he say—it just happened naturally.

It was instinct, trying to figure things out from what he saw.

"Anyway, we should head back."

"Yeah."

They turned around and headed to the fork.

The one blocked by the white pillar.

Now gone, they entered that path.

After walking a ways, another fork appeared.

This time, a red pillar blocked the way, so they smashed it right away.

He checked his stats afterward.

"Our stats have dropped quite a bit."

"Yeah. About 6 or 7 percent."

It seemed to drop over 2 percent per hit.

"Ten stacks would be 20 percent?"

"Oh, yeah."

Sung Min-woo's face hardened for a moment.

"We have to fight the Giant Centipede in that state?"

"Yeah."

"Tch. Feels like we picked the absolutely insane route."

"Can't turn back now."

"Not saying we should. It'll be tough, but I got a feeling the reward might match."

It was definitely the hard path.

Smashing the white pillars would have boosted their stats instead, making for an easy clear.

But Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo chose the opposite.

One thing was clear: it was far rougher than the white pillar route.

So, wouldn't there be a reward to match?

What could be waiting?

Carrying a bundle of anticipation and worry, they pressed on.

Two people heading home after wrapping up at the broadcast station.

Kim Min-ho PD and Yura.

"It's been a while since we went together."

"I've been so busy and tired lately, Uncle."

"Broadcasting's always like that."

"Still, coming here is the best part. Illusion's World is fun."

"Glad to hear it."

The mention of Illusion lightened the mood.

The greatest game of their lives, a new world to devote themselves to forever.

There were those who'd never tried ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it, but none who'd only tried it once—its addictiveness was beyond imagination.

Naturally, it was the center of conversation, impossible not to get excited just thinking about it.

"Ah, can't wait to get home, log into Illusion, and hunt!"

"You rascal."

"Oh, Uncle. Last time, while I was hunting..."

The stories flowed naturally.

"That guy drops this insane info. So I..."

Suddenly, Yura's expression stiffened.

Kim Min-ho, driving, glanced over.

"What's up?"

"Oh, nothing."

"Tell me."

"Well..."

After hesitating, she asked.

"It's nothing big. Just... any good info lately?"

"Good info?"

"Yeah, like tower-related stuff."

"Haven't seen much lately."

"Oh, I see."

At that moment, Kim Min-ho grinned.

"Well, the contract's done anyway. Gotta meet up to say thanks."

"Wh-what...?"

"Talking about that guy, right?"

"Wh-which guy?"

"Knew it. Was gonna contact him for a meal anyway."

"..."

Yura bowed her head.

Seeing that, Kim Min-ho asked.

"Wanna come?"

"Wh-why would I!"

"Why not? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠We did the Red Tower together, and if there's more good info, we might recontract. Good to get acquainted."

Yura couldn't respond.

That day came to mind.

Here to interrogate me?

His angry face had hurt her heart.

That wasn't her intent...

She hadn't contacted him since.

Oddly, she'd hesitated.

Maybe she'd been waiting for him to reach out.

What am I thinking?

Anyway, reaching out first bruised her pride.

"No. I'm not going."

"Plenty of time. Think about it."

"..."

No easy answer came.

They'd already smashed five more pillars.

Kwaaang!

Red gems, sparkling amid the rubble, scattered.

Total stat drop: around 15 percent.

Attack power, defense, HP, MP, movement speed, attack speed—even reaction speed—all down.

Because of that, fights with the Giant Centipede were getting a tad, just a tad, tougher.

"My vitality dropped 6 points. Strength 3, agility 3."

"Mine's strength down 7."

"We won't clear at this rate?"

"This is fine."

"This?"

"Yeah. We can ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠overwhelm with numbers."

"True. Normal classes couldn't even dream of smashing red pillars."

As Necromancer and Spirit Fighter, they had the merit of pushing through with numbers even with lowered stats.

Plus, Mu-hyuk could still sever legs with Wind Step's cutting power.

"Let's keep going."

"Okay."

That's why they dared the gamble.

Keep at it till it works.

The path would appear eventually.

Thud. Thud.

How far had they gone?

Another fork.

"Phew, good."

"Eighth time? Please end at ten."

The red-gem pillar blocking the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠path.

They attacked it.

They advanced, but a white-gem pillar blocked this one.

"Tch..."

A tongue-click escaped naturally.

"Let's rest here a bit."

"Yeah, okay."

Satiety had dropped too.

Mu-hyuk pulled out cooking tools and started simple food while resting.

"Eat."

"Thanks."

Eating brought up a message.

Tasted good too.

"As expected from someone who learned cooking. Different level."

"Obviously."

His cooking skill was level 5 now.

Even simple dishes boosted stats by 1.

"Ah, that hit the spot."

Inhaled it and set off right away.

"Alright, let's go."

They fought the Giant Centipede at the left path's center.

Wind Step.

Using the step, he severed dozens of legs on the right.

Fighting a disoriented one wasn't hard, but with his lowered stats, the skeletons' were down too.

Damage and movement reduced—it was tougher, taking more time naturally.

"Freakin' tough."

"Not even a boss."

It took a full 25 minutes to finish it off properly.

Time was stretching.

"Was under 20 at first."

"Thanks to you cutting legs. Otherwise... ugh."

Just thinking gave chills.

"Getting tired."

"Ten today, then."

"Okay."

They mustered strength and walked.

Thud. Thud.

At the next fork, they smashed the blocking red-gem pillar.

"Last one."

This time, after over 30 minutes battling the Giant Centipede, they reached a red-gem pillar.

"Breaking this makes ten, right?"

"Yeah."

"Please...!"

Both Sung Min-woo and Mu-hyuk hoped.

For this to be the end.

"Hup!"

They attacked together.

Thud, thunk!

Cracks formed, and soon it shattered.

Red light scattered.

The two exchanged looks at the messages.

"We... we did it!"

Their wish came true.

Whoooosh.

A sudden wind formed a human shape.

A grating metallic screech assaulted their eardrums.

Harsh, unpleasant noise.

Empty eyes, twisted expression.

Tears flowing.

Mu-hyuk quickly checked the quest.

Remove the cause of the grief.

Mu-hyuk asked.

"Why do you want to die?"

Pascal just wept.

Mu-hyuk didn't rush.

"Reason for wanting death? The cause?"

He watched reactions to words.

But Pascal repeated only pleas to kill. Mu-hyuk tried more words.

"I want to help."

Pascal reacted.

Mu-hyuk's eyes gleamed.

"Yeah, I want to help."

Pascal repeated it.

Mu-hyuk waited silently.

He nodded.

"Of course."

The moment Mu-hyuk answered, Pascal's expression changed.

Splat.

Then it rushed at blinding speed, shoving its massive face close.

It roared unpleasantly and opened its maw.

No escaping.

"Wh-what...?"

It swallowed the bewildered pair.

Darkness surged.

Nothing visible.

Vision cleared soon.

Looking around, it was clearly not the previous spot.

"Crazy. What the hell!"

"..."

"It ate us, right?"

"Seems so?"

"Holy crap, ridiculous. Where are we?"

While Sung Min-woo grumbled, Mu-hyuk checked messages.

His eyes widened naturally.