Chapter 194
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 194
Chapter Title: The Game Becomes Reality
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The entire world plunged into chaos.
"Whoa? The guns are gone!"
"Shit... what the hell? They say all the grenades and ammo in the supply depot vanished too?"
"Emergency! The tanks are gone!"
"The air force is in total disarray right now! Everything, including the fighter jets, has vanished all at once!"
Especially the military.
With all firearms-related equipment disappearing, their combat capabilities were crippled, making it impossible to even mobilize against the monsters.
"Damn it... what the hell is going on?"
Commander Shin Pil-ho pressed against his throbbing head.
Monsters had appeared across the world.
The government had requested military deployment, but with all firearms gone, mobilization was out of the question.
'The countdown in the sky was real after all...'
The claim that the world would end when that counter hit zero.
Shin Pil-ho had dismissed it as nonsense.
But the moment it reached zero, this catastrophe struck, forcing him to acknowledge it.
"Commander!"
At that moment, Operations Officer Lee Gi-taek burst into the commander's office.
"What is it?"
"There's a change happening among the soldiers and officers right now."
"...Change? Be specific."
"Do you know the game New World?"
"Who doesn't? But why bring up a game all of a sudden?"
It was so famous even he, the commander, had tried playing it.
He'd quit at level 33, but he had to admit New World's tech was impressive.
So why mention a game in this situation?
As Shin Pil-ho frowned,
Lee Gi-taek dropped a bombshell.
"Yes. They say the officers and soldiers who played New World can now use its system."
"...What the hell does that mean?"
Using a game's system in reality?
"Try shouting 'Inventory' right now!"
"Inventory?"
An inventory window appeared before Shin Pil-ho's eyes.
It was pretty shabby since he'd quit at level 33, but it was unmistakably the inventory from when he'd played New World.
Shin Pil-ho's eyes went wide.
Seeing his reaction, Lee Gi-taek continued.
"The officers and soldiers who played New World are using its skills!"
"Is that for real?!"
"Yes. Go outside and see for yourself."
Shin Pil-ho jumped to his feet.
He rushed out of the office and looked at the training grounds.
"Kill 'em all!"
"We don't need guns!"
"I've got skills!"
Officers were slaughtering monsters there.
The ones who'd poured everything into New World after work.
The officers mocked as gaming addicts were now playing the heroes.
"What in the world..."
At the same time.
The world was engulfed in pandemonium.
"Whoa, shit... this is real?"
"What the fuck... this is unbelievable."
Players who'd enjoyed New World were stunned by the power that had come to reality, but soon they started hunting the monsters rampaging through the streets one by one.
Those accustomed to the vivid combat of virtual reality adapted quickly.
The Welcom community was on the verge of exploding.
What the hell is this?
- Fr, monsters everywhere...
- Wait, this is what the countdown meant?
- Goosebumps for real? What the fuck is happening?
- What the hell are those New World devs doing?
- Holy shit... speechless...
- This isn't the time to be thrilled... does this even make sense?
- Fr... why are New World monsters showing up?
Countless people voiced their confusion.
A virtual reality game.
New World had become reality.
The dungeon is opening.
Clear it within the time limit.
To make matters worse, dungeons were opening too.
Dungeons opening in every region.
Their portals were larger than any seen in New World.
"Crazy... what the hell is that?"
Kim Bong-gu's older sister, Kim Bong-ja, hurriedly pulled out her smartphone and called someone.
The call connected quickly.
Hey, sis.
"Bong-go-cha! Where are you right now!"
I'm at a friend's place. What's it like there?
"I stayed home like you told me to... but what the hell are those things?"
Monsters.
"Monsters?"
Yeah. Monsters from New World.
"What the... "
Unlike Kim Bong-gu, Kim Bong-ja had never played New World.
She had no interest in games.
Anyway, stay home. Do not go outside no matter what.
"Okay, got it... what about you?"
I'm about to start a stream. Spread the word to as many people as possible to watch the YouTube.
"What...? You're gonna stream in this situation? Are you insane?!"
No time to explain. Channel's HoneyTube! I'm clearing a dungeon, so hurry!
The call ended there.
A dungeon had opened.
Right near Jeong Hoon's house, no less.
"Did you contact your families?"
"Yeah. They're fine."
"Good thing we followed bro's advice and told them to stay home."
Ha-jin and Bong-gu nodded.
Their families were safe.
They weren't near the dungeon to begin with, so no high-level monsters appeared, and they lived in an area with minimal damage.
"Okay. Then let's go."
There were no entry limits for the simultaneously opened dungeons.
Just clear them within the time limit.
Jeong Hoon stepped outside with Ha-jin and Bong-gu.
His mother stayed hidden at home, targeting nearby monsters.
Bang!
The bullet his mother fired pierced the head of a Black King Tiger in front.
The other Black King Tigers patrolling the street turned toward the sound and charged.
"Black King Tigers, huh."
Ha-jin grinned and summoned his soldiers.
His soldiers, who had completed their third job change, began butchering the Black King Tigers.
"Bro! At this rate, the dungeon will be a breeze!"
Monsters lurking near the dungeon were just Black King Tigers?
Jeong Hoon smiled wryly.
These were nothing but small fry.
Of course, if he hadn't obsessed over growth after his return, even these small fry would've been too much.
The dungeon portal drew closer.
Near it, four guys in their early twenties were spectating.
Black King Tiger corpses visible in the distance.
They must've advanced by taking those out.
"Whoa... unbelievable..."
"Crazy... it's really a dungeon."
They gawked at the portal in shock.
Dungeons they'd grown sick of in New World.
Now one loomed right in front of them in reality.
But no one dared enter carelessly.
"The portal's too big..."
"If we mess up, we'll die, right?"
"What happens if we die...?"
What happens?
You bid farewell to the living world.
Jeong Hoon passed them and stood before the portal.
Lv.150 ???
Only the level was displayed for the dungeon.
'If my memory's right, this is a trap.'
150-level dungeons scattered worldwide.
Plenty thought they could challenge it because of the level.
Many died rushing in blindly.
'And then the problems start.'
Additional penalties.
Earthquakes, tsunamis, all sorts of natural disasters.
Each dungeon had different time limits, chaining penalties and killing off 1 of the global population.
"Ha-jin, ready?"
"Okay. All set!"
The broadcast setup was complete.
"Then let's head in."
As Jeong Hoon moved toward the portal,
"Wait a sec!"
The guys spectating from afar approached him.
All early twenties.
"Hm?"
"We found this dungeon first, you know?"
They were all over level 200.
Avid New World players, apparently.
Jeong Hoon tilted his head.
"So?"
There were no party-size limits.
"So? If you get it, move aside. This dungeon's ours."
"...Sigh."
Jeong Hoon let out a quiet sigh.
Arguing over order in this situation.
"You little shit, move while we're asking nicely."
Bong-gu had slipped out of stealth and grabbed the speaker by the collar.
The dagger in his right hand pressed against the guy's throat.
"Wh-what?!"
Feeling the sharp point at his neck, the guy freaked out.
"If you wanna claim ownership, I can just take it by force, right? Heh heh."
A classic villainous chuckle.
"Don't bullshit us! We found this dungeon first!"
One of the guys behind drew his sword and shouted.
"Huh? I'm a Shadow. Come at me if you think you can handle it."
Bong-gu snorted.
"Shadow...?"
Only then did the guy check Kim Bong-gu's info and flinch.
"Stop."
Jeong Hoon raised a hand to halt him.
"Yes!"
At the word, Bong-gu swiftly backed off and returned.
'...What?'
'Treating a Shadow like a toy...?'
'Fuck, he looks like just a Martial Artist though?'
They couldn't shake the ominous feeling.
"There are no entry restrictions. Meaning anyone can enter additionally, right?"
"...Uh, yeah."
"Then let's keep it civil. No point in making enemies."
With that, Jeong Hoon entered the dungeon.
"Use your heads. If you don't clear it in time, there's a penalty. You really gonna fight over ownership now?"
Ha-jin jabbed at them.
"Interfere, and you're dead."
Bong-gu made a throat-slitting gesture and followed Jeong Hoon into the dungeon.
"Sorry."
Finally, Jeong Hoon's mother tossed a word their way and entered.
"Uh..."
"Um..."
"Wanna just hunt the Black King Tigers here?"
"Fuck... I dunno."
The guys stared at the dungeon, then turned away.
Truth be told, they only blocked it because it felt like their find was being stolen.
No one had the guts to enter such a massive portal.
You have entered the ??? Dungeon.
Familiar scenery unfolded inside the dungeon.
"Where's this?"
"Origin Village?"
The dungeon was Origin Village.
With New World becoming reality, the original village lost its function and was repurposed as a dungeon.
Jeong Hoon immediately started the broadcast.
Live Viewers: 0
Normally, viewers would flood in, but not now.
'Everyone's too busy.'
Fine by him.
This video would help clear the simultaneously opened dungeons.
Lv.??? Defeat Demon Baruda.
The clear condition was defeating Demon Baruda.
But Baruda's base state was invincible.
It even had two one-shot patterns, making it extremely tricky.
'I know how to beat it.'
He couldn't back then, but later dungeons of the same type revealed the method.
"Let's head north first."
Jeong Hoon headed to the northern cliff.
A massive red gem hummed where there should be nothing.
'Destroy the gems in all directions.'
That was the condition to break its invincibility.
Jeong Hoon drew Anima's string and released.
The arrow flew and embedded perfectly in the gem.
Hummm
The gem resonated strongly.
Jeong Hoon kept firing arrows, while his mother provided fire support, pulling the trigger at the gem.
Crack
Under the fierce firepower, the gem shattered in under 30 seconds.
Uhmm...
A message echoed in his head.
Demon Baruda was currently dormant.
Normally it'd wake in 30 minutes, but destroying the gem made it stir.
"Next, east."
Jeong Hoon headed straight to the green gem in the east.
Crack
Green gem cleared quickly.
Then the gray gem south.
Finally, the black gem west, smashed without issue.
How amusing. You dare disturb my sleep.
With all gems destroyed, Demon Baruda fully awoke.
Whoosh
A fierce wind slammed into Jeong Hoon.
"What kind of wind...!"
It was strong enough to fluster even Ha-jin, Bong-gu, and his mother.
Master, it's coming.
'Be careful.'
Mukho and Anima warned urgently.
- HoneyTube's raiding a dungeon right now?
- This is one of the real-world dungeons, right...?
- Capsule's totally fucked... but New World unfolded right in front of me. Damn it.
- Just broke the gems, right?
- Yeah, only smashed the gems.
Viewers had reached 25,000.
Even in this chaos, plenty were tuning in.
'Not bad.'
As Jeong Hoon checked the numbers, a bat pup appeared before him.
It swelled in size, morphing into a grotesque monster.
'Its here.'
No need to drag it out.
Jeong Hoon dashed forward and sprayed the 'Frozen Curse of Ures' he'd bought from the Achievement Shop in advance.
"Grk?! Can't move...!"
The cursed body froze solid, halting its movements.
"Destroy the heart in this state, and it's done."
With that, he plunged his sword into its heart.