Critical Hit

"Which way through these four passages?"

"The second one feels right."

The dungeon exploration was surprisingly smooth and uneventful. Mo Ye-ji's ability had dismantled not only the academy's traps but even the fake monsters.

"Yaaawn~."

It was so dull that Yoon Sam-won, our rearguard, was casually polishing his glasses as he strolled along. Laid-back guy, apparently. Mo Ye-ji didn't look tired at all, but I was the only one on edge.

Would it show up, or wouldn't it? Fifty-fifty odds, but the outcomes weren't equal. Honestly, I hoped nothing would happen. I didn't want to dip into my savings points.

"……."

Then came the sound of footsteps from behind a rock. We'd only used Mo Ye-ji's ability when necessary, so it was my job as vanguard to handle this. I signaled everyone to halt.

"……."

"……."

Yoon Sam-won gripped his sword hilt, and Mo Ye-ji aimed her gun into the shadows. Moments later, what emerged wasn't a trap or training monster.

"…Ah, hi."

"Go Su-young."

Why the hell is she popping up here? I just furrowed my brow, but Go Su-young rattled off her reasons like she'd read my mind.

"Uh, well… I blinked for a second, and the others…."

Ah, got it.

"You lost your team, huh."

"Yeah…."

Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do for her.

"Hope you reunite with them."

"Uh, y-yeah…."

Go Su-young slouched past us, shoulders slumped. I called after her with a few more words.

"If you really can't find them, just call for rescue. This dungeon's huge—get truly lost and you're fucked. Especially you, you're a total direction-ditz. Be careful."

"Y-yeah. Thanks."

With that absurd encounter behind us, the monotony resumed. Maybe the elite monster was meant for Choi Ji-seong's team. Come to think of it, there was a route where no event triggered. I'd thrown a variable into the mix by existing. Which was exactly what I wanted….

"Hey."

We'd reached another fork. Mo Ye-ji spoke up.

"Left leads to the end. Flag's there."

We hurried over. Sure enough, a blue flag stood tall in the center of a stone pillar.

I touched it, and glowing text appeared like a results screen.

"Oh."

"Whoa!"

"Phew… we made it."

Mo Ye-ji's precognition was straight-up broken. We got to suck the real honey. Was that why the true protagonist, Choi Ji-seong, teamed up with her in the original? A setup buff to give the hero wings.

"…No, wait."

Actually, thinking about it….

"Huh."

Come to think of it, Choi Ji-seong and Mo Ye-ji teaming up was a bit of foreshadowing. Suddenly, the novel's causal links clicked into place. I'd skimmed too much and missed it—no way… Did that mean I got flagged instead of Choi Ji-seong?

Then Yoon Sam-won approached.

"What's 'no'? Anyway, hey, thanks. Imir, right…? Heard rumors about you and was suspicious, but it's all skill. Genius of effort, for real."

Even the chill guy was thrilled with top scores.

"You did good too, man."

He'd followed orders without bitching—that was enough.

Yoon Sam-won went to Mo Ye-ji.

"Ye-ji. Good work. Thanks for the navigation."

"…Sigh."

Mo Ye-ji just let out a small sigh, no reply. She shot me a suspicious glare, dusted off her clothes, and approached.

"Hey."

"Yeah?"

"Couldn't ask earlier 'cause it would've dragged on, but how'd you guess my ability?"

"Guess what?"

"You left navigation entirely to me."

I answered like it was obvious.

"'Cause normally, the mentor handles pathfinding, right?"

"For teams of three, vanguard scouts ahead as standard."

"Sure, but standards aren't guarantees. Plus, you navigated great during class assignment."

"Judged based on that experience?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Then during class assignment?"

I just blurted what came to mind.

"You just stood out."

"…What?"

"Maybe 'cause you're pretty."

"Wh-what? Th-that's…."

Mo Ye-ji looked majorly flustered. She widened her eyes and blustered.

"D-don't talk casual to me. Unless you want a bullet."

Still a kid. Cute, though. That sharp glare made me nod slightly.

"Ah, yeah, yeah."

Mo Ye-ji didn't stop there—she warned Yoon Sam-won too. Probably why her prickly personality tanked her social score. With that face, she still wandered solo like a total loner at the academy.

Anyway. Just return safely as the results said, and the test was done. No time limit, so take it slow and safe.

No elite monster after all. Change the schedule, and even destined branches don't happen. Or maybe that bastard's whimsy.

"…Whew, good thing."

I was relaxing when noise erupted right nearby. Rustling from the shadowed opposite side. A faint but unnatural sound, impossible to ignore.

Yoon Sam-won and Mo Ye-ji had let their guards down and missed it, but I clocked it clear. Not human footsteps. They have a different rhythm.

"Fuck. Hey! Battle stations! Weapons out!"

My sudden shout jolted them upright. I yanked open the shop window. Maybe I'd been bracing for the worst—my actions were lightning-fast, even to me.

I dismissed the alerts and checked the shop. Over 8,000 points. More than expected.

Ah, right—the 1st place reward just hit.

Perfect. No need to touch savings; I could gamble with this.

Search ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠function: straight to what I wanted.

My Void Origin proficiency: 10th grade, about 95%. This would push to 9th and unlock a technique. Even mediocre talents gave useful skills at peak—like Leg Strike for martial artists.

What would genius tier grant? If I could land a solid hit through that mana-immune hide, we'd have a shot….

Then the elite monster appeared.

"Wh-what the hell is that?!"

"An ant…?"

Queen ant, not just any. Freshly hatched, insect-typical grotesque, size massive. Disaster-class beast. Probably hid as an egg to evade academy eyes. But tracing back, even that was engineered—CCTV blackouts included.

Kirrik. Kiririk.

The queen ant scuttled forward on sword-like legs. I'd just used the item; effects kicking in.

Thwack.

"Gah!"

A leg whipped like a lash; Yoon Sam-won, rearguard, flew back. Smart monster—prioritized easy prey.

Critical Hit? Not the attack I expected, but absurdly perfect. Mediocre talents got it at 1st grade—my old peak. Genius tier handed it at entry-level.

Fuck my life.

Talents were absolute. Technique unlocked, instincts projected onto ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my retinas. I closed and opened my eyes.

The queen ant's weakness glowed bright. Mana-immune hide disadvantaged me utterly—but a gap without immunity shone at its solar plexus.

"…Tch."

Scan around. Yoon Sam-won down, glasses askew, out cold. No rearguard help. Climb that bulk solo and strike the chest? Possible? Had to be.

Stance set.

"Hey! Mo Ye-ji! Precog, now!"

She startled. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"Wh-what?! You did know my ability!"

Not the time. She caught on quick, no more questions—just activated and supported.

I charged, Critical Hit active. Full activation: white dot blazed on retinas. Mana maxed in fist.

Sword-leg lightning-fast; Mo Ye-ji yelled.

"Left! Left!"

Shifted course, dodged.

"Right front leg!"

Twisted torso, evaded.

"Front! Jaws!"

Dove under chin, into maw's shadow.

Mana-fist smashed solar plexus.

BOOM!

Dull thud exploded instead. Talents absolute. Derived techniques too.

─KIIEEEEEEK!

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠life that cracked its egg toward the world crumbled effortlessly, before claiming its toll. Hollow victory.

"Hah… hah…."

Aftermath lingered. All stats maxed at once. Critical Hit's base fatigue drain.

"…Tch."

Catch breath, turn. Victory thrill electrified my brain. Not mine alone—Mo Ye-ji's too.

Fuck, first time syncing this well. Laughter bubbled up.

"…Ha."

But Mo Ye-ji was silent. No words.

I turned. She was down. Nose gushing blood.

"Huh."

Her talent: Silent Prophecy. Breath held to activate. She'd held it, read futures, screamed directions.

I rushed over. No way….

Tissue from pocket, wipe nose, check breathing. None.

"Fuck."

…Fucked.

Clear airway, CPR. Still nothing. Mouth-to-mouth. Nothing. Repeated.

"Don't die! You can't die."

My desperate plea reached?

"Cough, cough…!"

Mo Ye-ji came to.

"Ha… thank god…."