D-0: The Final Countdown

Early dawn at the Roas River.

To get my dopamine fix, I slipped into a swimsuit and dunked myself in the ice-cold water.

"The god descends against the current of the river!"

"How can such a miracle be possible!"

"Incredible speed!"

I'm just floating downstream.

Help, glub glub.

"Master! I'll go save youuuu─!"

"Everyone to the downstream! Rescue the Pontiff!"

It was a minor mishap where I nearly became a water ghost, but hey, all roads lead to Seoul, right?

In the end, it sharpened my senses and mind more clearly than ever.

After checking the expansion of the holy water production line, I returned to my room.

Tick tock.

7:56 AM.

The last day of this round.

But strangely, I wasn't feeling tense at all.

"Probably thanks to the Cold-Blooded skill effect, right?"

"And after all these experiences, Your Holiness has become bolder too, hasn't he?"

Is that so? Day 35 of awakening.

Honestly, it still doesn't feel real.

So many insane things happened, but it all flew by in a flash.

One thing's for sure: I'm a completely different person from the me a month ago.

"Let's get some morning air."

Carmina in the shadows.

Yulia in the ring's pocket dimension.

I left the room and headed to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bus stop.

A crisp morning commute. People with heads down, eyes glued to their phones.

It was exactly this scene a month ago.

I'd been checking the rankings out of worry for the country on the brink of rampage.

And everyone was shocked to see Korea briefly at number one.

—But people's expressions are totally different now!

—That's the story from before I showed up, huh?

True enough.

A month ago, faces full of worry and anxiety as they checked their phones.

Now...

"Hitchhiker’s hitting the 36th floor today, right? Will the US catch up again?"

"They're keeping it close on purpose, then surging at the end."

"Ugh, my heart's pounding just thinking about it."

Everyone's faces mixed extreme anticipation and tension.

Screech—hiss.

On the bus, I leisurely took in the street views.

Placards and banners everywhere you looked.

Pedestrians busy checking phones or rankings.

Overall vibe?

Eerily quiet and still.

—This vibe! There's a four-character idiom for it!

—Calm before the storm?

—Ah! Exactly! Lady Yulia!

Yeah, right.

Anyway, the whole country of Korea was steeped in thick tension.

Even the media, usually blasting articles, was being super cautious.

Like walking on thin ice.

Tick tock.

9:17 AM.

Ding-a-ling!

Arrived at the convenience store in front of the Management Agency.

It's been a while since I quit my part-time gig after awakening—almost three weeks.

"Welcome—oh! Hyung!"

Dongsoo, sorting inventory, greeted me with a bright face.

"Whoa, it's been forever! You good? What's up around here? Your place isn't far, right?"

"Passing by on the way to my parents'."

I helped with sorting while catching up.

"—So the night shift guy got fired."

Deserved it. Stealing expired stuff on the sly?

Then customers came in.

Dongsoo at the counter couldn't peel his eyes off his phone.

"Dude, stand straight when customers are here."

"How can I? Everyone in Korea's like this right now."

Dongsoo grinned and showed me his screen.

Japan's Tartarus subjugation.

Live broadcast.

"No way Japan takes down Tartarus first, right? No idea what first-place reward is, but given the difficulty, it can't be small."

They must've been hammering it hard.

Tartarus's shell almost peeled off.

But just looks—still over half HP left.

Subjugate this round? No way. At least next round.

Then Team Leader Cha Minhyuk came in, bought recovery potions by the box, and left.

"He comes often?"

"Pretty much daily now? For coffee and Bacchus. Funny thing—he looks brighter every time. Started like a total zombie, now tired but full of hope?"

Dongsoo said excitedly.

"Thanks to Hitchhiker's debut, huh?"

Undeniable fact.

Tick tock.

9:38 AM.

Said bye to Dongsoo and took the subway to my parents' place.

Clack, clack.

Car interior thick with tension.

Like swimming through dense water.

All passengers checking rankings or whispering about Hitchhiker.

"Son! You're early!"

Mom greeted me warmly.

Behind her, Dad on the sofa watching news, sis munching corn puffs at the table on her phone.

"Been a while."

"Hey."

"Neither of you at work?"

"Company holiday. Dad too."

Day the world No. 1 is decided.

Lots of companies giving the day off.

Good timing.

Wanted to see everyone before heading to Jeju.

"Haven't had breakfast yet, right?"

"Just a little, please. I don't eat much in the morning anyway."

"Of course! Just a tiny bit!"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Instant 16-course banquet.

Mom... this is "just a little," right...?

Sis grabs chopsticks.

Munching galbi jjim.

"Mom showed off her skills since it's been ages. Come more often—we're in the same city."

"What're you glued to on your phone?"

"Hitchhiker Namu Wiki."

Korea's 43-year-old male.

178.5cm, serious personality.

Left-handed from Paju, Gyeonggi-do.

Virgo, MBTI ESTJ.

According to leading theories.

What basis is that?

—Not a single thing right! Master’s right-handed and not serious at all!

—Only the male part matches?

Sis said,

"Hitchhiker—who could he be? Dying to know!"

Mom brought fruit.

"Whoever he is, we're super grateful. Thanks to him, we've been sleeping soundly this month."

Sis to her room.

Mom to kitchen.

Clink.

Scooped galbi jjim onto side plates.

Poured whiskey into small cups.

Slipped them through shadow cracks and pocket dimension slits.

—Ah! How'd you know I wanted this?

—As expected of the omniscient Pontiff. Can I get some corn puffs as a side?

Bond rising influence?

Lately, allies' emotions and thoughts transmit directly sometimes.

Bond.

Keep strengthening, maybe unlock more than skill copy.

Voice from living room.

"Those shameless bastards. Barging into our waters—what the hell?"

Tsk tsk tsk.

Dad clicking tongue at news.

Chinese fishing boats poaching illegally near Jeju.

—Jeju area usually inaccessible due to flying monsters, but now cleared by Tartarus's toxic gas...

"Trouble, huh?"

"They're getting bold relying on their warships in the West Sea. Those damn killers."

Dad kept sighing.

Korea's military.

If not wrecked early in towers, could've chased them off.

Don't worry, it'll be fine.

Clink.

"Thanks for the meal."

"Huh? Son, why? Eat more."

"Sheesh, already stuffed."

After the not-so-simple meal, chatted with family.

"Here, take this. Tuna from work."

"Figure you're handling it fine."

At the door before leaving.

"Son! We always support you, okay? No need to feel down! Job market's tough these days!"

I did get a job.

Dopamine Inc.

I'm the CEO too.

Tick tock.

11:39 AM.

Left the apartment complex.

Felt a different kind of satisfaction from dopamine filling my heart.

Family.

Truly important.

Safety of loved ones.

One big reason I'm pushing Korea to No. 1.

—Totally get it! Dad nags all the time so Mom's better, but can't lose either!

Kasabla, cover your ears.

Fire-attribute dutiful daughter here.

—I fought to protect my precious ones too. Smashing demon skulls—pure bliss. Heh.

Point's a bit off.

Anyway.

Bond up today too.

Then walked, bused, subways—revisited my pre-awakening haunts.

[Time to head out.]

Used spatial manipulation.

Around 1 PM, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠arrived at Jeju Tower.

Tartarus visible in the distance.

Looking healthy as ever.

Planned to standby here for any emergencies until round end at midnight.

"Tata! Missed you!"

"Does it look bigger? Or am I imagining?"

While the two allies ogled Tartarus from stealth range edge.

I checked the rankings.

Intense, so intense.

Korea or USA.

S-rankers' scores for today mostly locked in.

In current race, meaningful floors are mid-to-high or above.

Taking double-digit hours shortest, days longest.

Variables galore.

In other words.

"Raising score right at round end is super tough."

"Got it!"

Standard play: reset entries, clear as far as possible post-entry.

Safest.

Plus, got a message from Situation Room's Cha Minhyuk.

Based on this.

My plan simple.

15 min before end: Clear 36th.

3 min before: Slay Tartarus.

3 min buffer because.

Meteor impact takes 30 sec to 1 min.

Current buffed meteor: perfect one-shot on Tartarus.

But extra time for variables.

Might need cooldown reset ticket for another.

To the two allies:

"Rest up. Gotta stay here rest of the day."

"No way! Octopus dude might call, so I'll focus!"

"I'll guard the sea. Perfect with scenery as a drinking snack, right?"

Aaah... such loyalty...!

Gotta give fat bonuses.

Still, they need comfort.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Pulled three sofas from pocket space.

"Ergonomic design?"

"Haaah, melting away! Sofa or liquid?!"

3:08 PM.

"Your Holiness, too many flies buzzing near the island."

"Saw on news! Illegal fishing! Stealing fish! Bad guys!"

Chinese boats aggressively operating near Jeju.

Especially darting back and forth in front of Tartarus.

Dodging lava balls by a hair.

Betting their lives, huh.

Probably banking on those Chinese warships over there.

Tick tock.

5:28 PM.

Sunset beginning.

Scores? No big changes.

World news and articles in final stretch of Korea-US race.

"Everyone okay?"

"Yes! No issues! Vampires get perkier at night!"

"In Lumentia, I stood guard motionless for three days straight."

Tick tock.

9:01 PM.

Sun fully set.

But visibility bright.

Like white night over the area.

Tartarus lava's special glow lit Jeju and nearby seas like daytime.

And.

Chinese fishing boats night-fishing off Jeju.

Word spread it's a hot spot?

Boats rotating constantly.

Tick tock.

11:11 PM.

Global internet flooded with Korea-US posts—too fast to track.

News, casual posts.

Expert analysis, debates.

Everything.

Planet holding breath, fixated on Korea-US scores.

Jeju situation broadcast worldwide via satellite.

Beijing, Tokyo too.

Tick tock.

US cutting-edge gear, Power Glove Z3-armed Japanese strike team.

Nonstop assault: Tokyo Tartarus down to last shell.

Japan cheers.

World focuses on US gear for territory recovery.

Tick tock.

Finished 36th floor.

850k points.

US hot on heels like ghosts.

Korea still 1st, US 2nd.

But only 5k apart.

If me, I'd push more.

Saving resources for next round?

Ultimate efficiency? Maybe.

Tick tock.

Tokyo Tartarus.

Last shell off.

But not dead.

Just glows red, angrier.

Japan in chaos and despair.

See? Told you half HP left.

Tick tock.

Time for meteor?

Nah, hold.

No harm in caution to the end.

Tick tock.

"Master! Rankings weird!"

"Your Holiness, see the score jump?"

Well, well? Sudden 1.5M jump?

Hiding something big, huh?

Message from Cha Minhyuk.

My guess too.

No such limit?

They'd have used at 1 sec left.

And.

"Your Holiness, 1.5M sounds like score gen potion. Lumentia alchemists made one once."

Insane difficulty.

Even resource-rich Lumentia only once in history.

Tick tock.

Game over, looks like.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

And.

"Meteor Fall."

Precisely controlled diameter and speed.

No impact on mainland.

Jeju spared, just enough for Tartarus.

Rooooar────!

Black hole rips open in night sky.

Meteor from afar shreds air, closing in.

KABOOOOOM────!

Slammed into Tartarus.

Ferocious tsunami sweeps Chinese boats.

World in shock.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

Five options popped up before my eyes.

Look at these guys.

Hey, America.

You've been sucking this sweet nectar all alone?