The Terrifying Doll Mask
All eyes turned toward the source of the girl's voice. Bewilderment spread across their faces in unison.
“What the hell is that?”
“A bear doll...?”
“But she's wearing a skirt down there?”
“Some kinda concept freak?”
The girl, clad in a white skirt and a bear doll mask, had both hands shoved deep into the pockets of her khaki jumper. That jarring mismatch drew puzzled looks from everyone. But Kim Daegon couldn't afford to question it.
For an instant—just a fleeting moment—chills raced across his skin. Like the oblique graze of a razor-sharp sashimi knife. Every hair on his body stood on end.
Why? What's with that girl?
Her voice alone felt like a spear through his heart. Shoving aside the inexplicable cold sweat trickling down his back, Kim Daegon forced his mouth open.
“Guild leader? Ah... so you're the babysitter for these kids?”
He plastered a broad smile across his lips, radiating casual confidence. Arms spread wide, chest puffed out, courage surged through him, washing away the creeping dread like melting ice. Yeah, just my imagination. No way a top-tier player like me gets spooked by some pint-sized brat. I'm the one who's gonna lead the new Korea.
Emboldened, he took a step forward.
Thud.
A fellow Flame Guild member—nickname WindMoonFlower—grabbed his shoulder.
“Hey, Kim Daegon. Careful.”
“Why?”
“That girl... her player info isn't showing up.”
“Huh?”
Kim Daegon snorted. Probably some info-hiding item. “What kinda bullshit—”
But the words died in his throat.
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[Meaningless patterns and graffiti cover the entire window]
The girl's info window was plastered with incomprehensible glyphs and scrawls. Kim Daegon's smirk vanished in an instant.
What the hell? Astria's got a feature like that?
He racked his brain, but nothing came up. His thoughts shifted. Ah, must be a new item from the latest update. Or a fresh feature.
Rubbing his chin, he flashed a oily grin. Tch, all bark from a nobody.
Shaking off the thought, Kim Daegon sneered down at her again. Mocking expression. Cocky stance. Curling lip. Classic Kim Daegon.
“Aww, did our little miss get mad 'cause we messed with your guildmates?”
Arms slightly outstretched like he was offering a hug, he sauntered toward her slowly. As if coaxing a skittish kitten.
A cold voice sliced into his ear.
“So, what were you planning to do to our guild members?”
“Haha, nothing much. Just planned to smash a few fists into their faces and take some gold.”
“Does that mean... you were gonna kill them?”
“Kill? What kinda gruesome talk! Nah, just put 'em to sleep. Forever.”
Kim Daegon waved it off with exaggerated flair, chuckling merrily. But despite his barrage of taunts, the girl's voice remained utterly calm, unflappable.
“Guess that means you've declared war on our guild?”
By now, something felt off to Kim Daegon. Why's she so damn composed? Got some ace up her sleeve? Her emotions are way too flat. Like she's meticulously setting the fuse on a bomb.
He glanced around—just in case—but sensed nothing unusual.
What the hell is this kid?
...At the very least, that level of poise didn't match someone prancing around in a doll mask. The mask's cheerful expression clashed with her steady demeanor, gnawing at his gut. He desperately wanted to see her real face.
Damn, can't read her expression.
Was the mask chosen for that? Nah, no way.
As Kim Daegon fell silent, the girl spoke again.
“Declaring war, right?”
Repeating her earlier question. Kim Daegon, staring at her like some bizarre alien, forced a laugh.
“Ha, hahahaha! Funny kid. Declaring war? You know who's behind us, right?”
“Who?”
“Government Alliance.”
“Oh?”
A flat exclamation escaped the girl. Oblivious, Kim Daegon puffed up his shoulders and swaggered.
“Government Alliance is me, and I'm the Government Alliance!”
“...So?”
“Declaring war? Ha, fine. War it is. Whatcha gonna do about it? You gonna take on the whole Government Alliance?”
Kim Daegon thrust his chin up threateningly, wagging a finger at her masked face.
After a pause, the girl nodded once.
“...So I can take that as the official stance of the Government Alliance?”
Kim Daegon paused too. An inexplicable unease stabbed deep in his chest. The gap is fucking huge.
But now he was pissed. Who the hell was this girl to talk back? She should be groveling.
Stepping closer, he growled threateningly.
“Yeah. You're in no position to threaten anyone.”
“Is that so? Thing is, I'm pretty pissed right now.”
“Oho, look at you? Pissed? What're you gonna do, hit me?”
Kim Daegon shoved his face in hers, smirking obnoxiously.
“...Then how about we start with one punch?”
With that, the girl advanced. No sneak attack—just a bold walk forward.
Kim Daegon scoffed at the sight. Stupid bitch. Closing distance on a brawler? She didn't look like close-range at all. No gleaming metal armor, just a plain skirt and jumper with zero defense. No weapon in hand.
She can take a few hits, no problem.
No way she one-shots a tanky brawler with high HP and defense. Especially unequipped. It'd barely tickle.
Clack, clack. She stopped right in his face.
...Drew back her right fist.
And looked up at him. The round bear mask's eyes locked onto his.
“...Gonna hit you?”
“Haha, yeah. Go ahead, try it.”
Kim Daegon tensed his abs. Player punch or not, better safe. Might do real damage. But he'd tanked similar-level brawler fists in training before. This'd be fine. Plus, he had gear on.
And that complacency—
Whoosh!
—shattered with one light swing of her arm.
BOOM!
“Guh?!”
A thunderous roar no human body should produce. Ki blasted through his muscled gut.
“Gah! Ack!”
Flung far back, Kim Daegon clutched his stomach, drooling and writhing. Organs twisting in agony. A horrific sensation he'd never felt. Eyes rolled back.
“Grrraaagh!”
That wasn't a brawler's punch. Something far beyond. Power transcending players.
“Holy shit, Kim Daegon's down?!”
“That bitch is at least S-rank! Everyone, battle ready!”
Vrrrrm!
Techno Master Ha Hyun-joo's mech powered up. Buffs from supports rained down.
“Wrath of the Heavenly Gods!”
“Arhen's Song!”
Layers of skills boosted the mech's attack power massively. As it prepared a barrage—
“...Fun.”
Ha Hyun-joo and her team looked up at the scorching heat from above. A massive flame magic circle adorned the sky.
Apocalypse Meteor
“Shit, when'd she—?!”
“Defense skills, now!”
Too late.
KABOOM!
Earth upheaved as flames devoured the area. The tanker's belated shield couldn't fully block the girl's Apocalypse Meteor. They staggered up from the smoke.
“Cough cough! Everyone okay?”
“Wasn't she a brawler? Why the sudden Apocalypse Meteor...?”
“Find that psycho bitch first!”
A shadow flickered through the smoke. Air whistled as metal chunks tumbled.
CRASH!
...Ha Hyun-joo's mech.
“Y-you crazy—! Get off! Get OFF!”
Mechless, Ha Hyun-joo hurled a dagger in resistance. Futile against the girl's lightning charge.
Crack!
“Aaaaagh!”
The girl indifferently snapped Ha Hyun-joo's wrist, then turned to the rest. Thick killing intent poured from the mask, chilling the air.
“W-what the hell is that monster?!”
“Call HQ! Hurry!”
“Too fast! Agh! Aaaah!”
Snap! Crunch!
Screams and breaking bones echoed. Trembling, the alchemist fumbled his phone's power button. Then despaired.
“Fuck, why won't it turn on?! Why?!”
“Why? 'Cause you guys hit our HQ with an EMP bomb.”
A voice from behind. The alchemist paled.
“Eek!”
“I use 'em plenty myself, so I know.”
Thwack!
One kick from the girl splintered his shin like a chopstick.
“Gaaaah!”
She grabbed his collapsing head by the hair, hoisting him up.
“If you're raiding, you gotta own the consequences, right?”
“U-ugh...”
That innocent bear mask was utterly terrifying.