Emergency Defense

Before the operation began, I dumped my coins into my stats.

It burned through a lot of them, but I didn't particularly care. Gear and skills were already covered by Identities, and beyond that I didn't see much reason to sit on a fat coin pile.

Honestly, I was exhausted.

Noehoeng ranked among the strong even in the City. Using an Identity like that was never going to come free. It chewed through Enkephalin at a brutal rate, and I'd worn it far too long—my head was already pounding. Activating another Identity in this state would be suicide. But if I didn't use one, my combat power would…

Oh? Looks like Ayin got something done. Let's see what he cooked up…

Two objects materialized in front of me along with the message windows. One was a box of Enkephalin. The other was a set of clothes studded with yellow eyes everywhere, paired with a crossbow that looked like it had been forged straight out of a giant bird's features.

"The E.G.O gear I get, but…"

"Refined Enkephalin? What the hell is this?"

So everything I'd been using until now wasn't Enkephalin? Then what was the difference?

Curious, I pulled up the information.

…Why are you just lifting this straight out of the game?

And just like I remembered, it even came with the whole narcotic function. At least it didn't look like I'd get addicted if I used it myself… but for safety's sake, I should probably avoid taking it in front of the others. The green color alone was already ominous enough.

Well… my mental strength felt pretty shot right now, so maybe just one sip…

Gulp—

A foreign sensation sliding down my throat. Then, in an instant, my head cleared completely.

I finally understood why people in the Project Moon universe got hooked on Enkephalin. The thought that something like this came with both withdrawal and addiction made my skin crawl. Even without side effects, just the pure clarity was something I already wanted to feel again…

"Hayeon-ssi…? What are you drinking right now…"

"And what's with that outfit and the crossbow…"

…I'm screwed.

The second I swore I wouldn't drink it in front of anyone, Yoo Sangah caught me red-handed. And on top of that, I was holding E.G.O gear whose effects on other people I didn't even fully understand.

"Ah, I—that's… this is…"

"…Don't tell me it's dangerous again? And what was that thing you just drank?"

"It looked green… so it really is dangerous, isn't it?!"

"Sangah-ssi! Shh!"

If we made any more noise, the rest of the party would come running. Then I'd be truly screwed. If someone got curious enough to try the Enkephalin…

"S-Sangah-ssi! Please keep it down for now! If anyone finds out about this, we're in serious trouble!"

"Serious trouble? So it is dangerous!"

"It's not dangerous for me—but it could be for everyone else!"

At that, Yoo Sangah froze mid-motion.

"This is… like a medicine."

"Medicine…?"

"Yes. No side effects for me. But for you or the others, it could be dangerous."

"Ah…"

"So please stay quiet for now. If anyone else gets curious and tries drinking it, it'll be a disaster."

"…Then I have a condition."

A condition? From Yoo Sangah?

I was honestly thrown. When I thought of her, the first word that came to mind was kind—and yet here she was, proposing a deal.

"…What is it?"

"That medicine. Please use it as little as possible."

"I was already planning to."

I'd never intended to abuse it. Lean on it too hard and I might end up dependent—and then the scenarios, everything, would go straight to hell.

"That's enough for me."

She gave me a soft smile and turned away. I'd braced myself for something much heavier. Instead it ended far more quietly than I'd expected.

…What am I even thinking?

That was the best possible ending—quiet and clean. So why do I feel disappointed?

No idea… Better check the gear.

I focused my attention on the E.G.O equipment.

The armor was solid enough. A mild reduction to every type of incoming attack, scaling higher with Synchronization Rate. As long as my mental strength held out, I could even play tank. And then there was the Fascination effect, transplanted straight from the giant bird's signature lamp. That one was practically screaming at me to tank.

As for the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠crossbow…

The crossbow exceeded expectations too. It carried over Lobotomy's BLACK damage concept—physical and mental damage at the same time—and hit even harder against fascinated targets. Thoroughly satisfying performance. The only real drawbacks were the mental drain and the fact that nobody else could use it.

I slipped into the armor and slung the crossbow over my shoulder. The gear fit like it had been tailored for me from the start. Surprisingly cozy, too.

"Hayeon-ah. Like we talked about earlier—I'm leaving this floor's Green Zones to you."

"Got it. Leave this place to me and get upstairs already. You've got business with the landlord, don't you?"

Dokja smiled at my words and started climbing the stairs.

Alright then… time to put the new gear through its paces.

This is insane.

Absolutely ridiculous.

Big Bird's E.G.O gear was performing even better than I'd hoped. Crafting arrows cost mental strength, sure—but the drain was almost negligible. In exchange, the Fascination and the crossbow's raw power were outstanding. Anything that got hit while fascinated lost its entire upper body in a single shot. Definitely living up to the WAW grade. Lamp was putting on a thoroughly satisfying show.

KWAANG—!

A thunderous crash from above, and the whole station shuddered. Lee Hyunsung must have smashed the floor open with his stigma. I'd already wrecked Gong Pildu's Green Zone myself, but the bastard had probably spun up another Armed Zone by now.

"Tough break, old man."

How does that guy keep building land only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for it to get immediately demolished?

The ceiling of my floor caved in, and Gong Pildu and his crew came tumbling down with it.

"Th-this goddamn…!"

"Hey, old man. Fancy meeting you again?"

"Y-you…!"

The moment Gong Pildu saw my face, all the color drained from his. Right on cue, the rest of the party and Lee Jihye came back from smashing the Green Zones on the other floors.

Ugh, so loud. Bihyung's voice drilled straight into my ears.

God, he was being so damn loud.

Lee Jihye came walking down the far end of the corridor.

"You smash everything?"

"Yeah, it was easy."

"Get cocky like that and you'll get yourself killed, you know?"

"Says the guy who was one-shotting whole groups with a single arrow."

Oof. Coming at me with facts. Fine—let's settle this the proper way, with pure propaganda and fabrication.

"So what now? Those bastards are gonna come charging like maniacs."

"Ah, speak of the devil."

"There they are! Get that one!"

"Kill them!"

Wow… they were coming in hot.

"Just so you know, I'm not helping this time."

"Wasn't counting on it."

Alright then. Let's do this.

"Dokja-ya."

"Hm? What is it?"

"I'm gonna show you exactly what this new gear I pulled can do."

Gear flex time, you bastards.