Into Busted Paradise
"Hey, there he is."
"Told you he knows something."
"Quiet! Just watch the stream!"
-Outright telling 'em off. lol
-Viewer count averaging;
-Community's relaying his position again.
-No way they can keep up with whatever Black Dragon does anyway.
-Fr real lol
The group waiting in the cave was already tuned into Black Dragon's stream. Viewers who'd seen this scenario play out multiple times were used to it by now.
"Looks like all eyes are on us. What’s the plan?"
Avant-garde asked from his position right behind Hanbit, like a bodyguard ready for action.
"Let's head in first."
Hanbit took the lead toward the cave entrance. The other two followed, drawing stares from the crowd around them.
The tunnel's pretty ordinary.
The cave wasn't overly large or deep. The dirt and stone walls felt familiar too.
"Looks like that's the end."
They hadn't walked far when a dead-end wall came into view in the distance. It was packed with people, just like everywhere else.
"Excuse me, coming through."
Hanbit pushed past the crowd blocking the way. He examined the pattern on the wall mentioned in the forum comments.
What the hell is this?
Something crossed a white crescent moon vertically. It almost looked like a sword.
"Any idea what it is?"
"Beats me."
No memories surfaced even at Kim Jaeha's question. Hanbit knew he wouldn't forget a symbol like that.
"Should we check with NPCs around the mountain? There might be a new one hiding out."
Avant-garde quickly suggested the next step. But if a new NPC had appeared, this many people would've found them already.
"Nah, let's try this first."
Hanbit stepped away from the crowd to a corner and pulled the Dream Nautilus from his inventory again.
Fwosh—!
A pure white beam shot from the compass's glass face, flying straight toward the symbol on the wall.
"Whoa?"
"Black Dragon did it!"
"Get in there quick!"
The crowd inside the cave reacted to the single beam of light. They flailed around competitively, not even knowing what it was. But the wall stayed solid.
"What the—? It's not opening!"
"There must be more to it!"
"Ugh, just wait a sec!"
-Keep throwing your tantrums. lol
-Gross watching these posers.
-Doesn't it need a curse or something?
-Like PKs, just turn off the screen if you wanna be safe
-Thieves never get the good stuff.
Viewers started raging at the others' antics. Hanbit watched impassively, then headed that way.
"Let's go over there."
"Huh? Isn't it blocked?"
"You've figured something out!"
He led the two toward the cave wall. The murmuring crowd parted slightly as they eyed Hanbit, like they were urging him to hurry up and solve it.
Wonder what's there.
The Dream Nautilus never lied about paths. Following it would get them in for sure. The issue was whatever waited inside—total unknown.
"Rainzer's here too, huh?"
Scanning the area, Hanbit spotted a familiar face. Familiar enough now to border on annoying.
-Basically a stalker fan;
-Must've been pissed as hell after becoming fish food. lol
-Thought he'd rush in for a PK right away.
-But he can't hold back on private zones.
-Yeah, like you can get in?
Rainzer's brow furrowed. Like the chat said, nocking an arrow right then wouldn't be weird. But he asked in a flat tone,
"What're you up to this time?"
"Obvious. Getting into the private zone."
Hanbit stated the obvious and glanced around, wary of something like a Nessto ambush.
"Figured you'd hire another PK guild, but you let it slide this time?"
"...Let me be clear: I didn't hire Nessto. I don't do that crap."
-He says no?
-Yeah, right.
-Vanguard's top no-conscience player.
-Won't hire 'em, but he'll hog it all.
-Gotta glitch the攻略 too.
Rainzer's excuses fell on deaf ears. Too much reasonable suspicion built up. Not that Hanbit cared.
"Handle your explanations yourself. If you're curious, figure it out."
"Private zones aren't for one player to monopolize. Planning to shake up RP again?"
"Not something the vanguard should be saying, is it?"
"......"
Mentioning the vanguard shut Rainzer up. His intentions always showed plain on his face. Transparent, really.
"Oof, that one hurt."
Then someone emerged from the crowd. A man in a hood, with a long blue spear slung over his shoulder.
"Riwei?"
"The real Riwei?"
"Another vanguard's here?"
The name rippled through the murmurs. Another top player had arrived, naturally interested in the private zone.
"Who's that?"
"Riwei from China's Qingla guild. A mid-tier pioneer."
-Meeting of the titans;
-Info: Riwei's mid-vanguard. Loves high-stakes duels.
-Info2: Legit heavenly-tier looks.
-Could slap a celeb and still look good.
-But turns demon in real fights. lol
-Came for a spar too?
-WWE-level possible.
The man's straightforward face carried no bad vibes. Riwei glanced at the wall, then turned.
"Only your party can get in?"
"Dunno. But if others can't, probably yeah."
"Hm. Guess I'm out of luck then."
Riwei nodded readily and fiddled with his spear grip. Then tossed out,
"Up for a one-on-one?"
"Nope."
"Fair enough?"
He nodded at the firm refusal. No point in a fair fight against a current pioneer anyway—it'd be obvious who'd win. Even Rainzer, after multiple clashes, had slim odds head-on. If they attacked first, sure, but otherwise...
"Cool. Hope we clash next time."
Riwei shouldered his spear and walked out. Hanbit watched till he vanished, but the guy never looked back.
-Refreshing guy;
-Super likable.
-Different from the clingy ones?
-When his eyes roll back in a fight, you're screwed. lol
-Keep rejecting duels go go
Unlike Rainzer, viewers chatted positively. Curious about the eye-roll, but no one wanted to see it up close.
"Anyway, you lot should poke around yourselves. Watching won't get you anywhere."
Players' eyes on the scene burned hot. Hanbit shrugged, grabbed Kim Jaeha and Avant-garde's arms.
And.
"Going in first."
He leaped toward the glowing wall.
***
"Huh?"
"Whoa...!"
Passing through the light was instantaneous. Kim Jaeha and Avant-garde dazedly took in the new space.
"Black Dragon?"
"You good?"
They turned to the quiet Hanbit. His face was near shock.
"Ha..."
With a short sigh, Hanbit faced the ruins ahead. Towering glass skyscrapers opposite a leaning, weathered clock tower. Shattered concrete buildings mixed with ancient temples, carriages, cars. Debris from magic tools, guns, turrets littered the outer stone ramparts—too much to count.
So this is what it was.
Hanbit blankly stared at the pure white moon in the violet sky. This place was unforgettable. In his 55th regression/possession/reincarnation loop, he'd died here every time. Summoned back to wander these streets. Bringing him here meant her clear intent.
"You okay?"
"...Yeah. Just caught me off guard."
Hanbit nodded at Kim Jaeha's repeated question.
"Oh? Stream's off. This really is a private zone!"
Avant-garde's excited voice rang out. Pulling up the stream screen showed one message:
[Streaming unavailable in unliberated private zones.]
-?
-Wtf?
-Don't ditch us.
-Save us.
-Private zone confirmed?
-Lemme see.
-GMs come out.
-Truck to HQ fr.
Viewers erupted now that the stream cut out. Unfortunate, but no beating the one who set this up.
[Pinned Message]
[I'll liberate it soon and show you. Hang tight.]
-Dragon finally gets it.
-We believe...
-Post challenge missions.
-Ok.
[Geomshin donated 1,000,000 won to challenge mission.]
[Liberate the private zone = success.]
[PrayerMeta donated 50,000 won to challenge mission.]
[Plz.]
[GreatSpirit donated 100,000 won to challenge mission.]
[Spirits only.]
[Taeyeon Corp donated 1,000,000 won to challenge mission.]
[From Taeyeon. Cheering you on!]
…….
The sudden donation flood kept pouring. Challenge missions aside, Hanbit had zero plans to fail.
[Pinned Message]
[Thanks everyone. Will succeed for sure.]
Hanbit left the message and surveyed the ruins. Eerily quiet.
Ding—
「Roper」
「Bro, record it please.」
Juyeonu messaged urgently from watching the stream. Hanbit replied and hit record.
"Hey, what's this?"
Kim Jaeha, scouting a few steps ahead, peered at the ground.
"What is it?"
Hanbit approached and looked down. A white rectangular plaque embedded there, inscribed with text.
Busted Paradise, even true death shall be lost.>
True death?
Unfamiliar phrase.
Ding—
The alarm sounded simultaneously. The message read:
[No death penalties apply in the current map.]
"No penalties?"
"First time for this."
The others reacted too, having seen the message. No death penalty meant no fear of dying. But why create such a place?
"Let's find the liberation conditions first. Spread out and—"
Boom—!
A distant rumble cut him off. All three gazes snapped to the ruins' center.
Thud—!
Boom—!
The ongoing noise came from quaking ground. Intense enough to shake the glass building and clock tower.
"Something moving? Collapsing?"
"New monster maybe?"
Kim Jaeha and Avant-garde tossed guesses. The sounds grew fiercer.
Then, for a brief pause in the shaking.
Rumble—!
A massive stone golem burst from the earth, cleaving the ground.