[No title provided]

A week flew by like an arrow since the raid boss incident. After their massive success in securing food supplies, an unprecedented buzz filled the survivor camp at Seoul Forest Station.

"Phew, that's it for today?"

Lee Min-ho wiped his brow with his sleeve as he hauled the last crate from the truck bed. It felt satisfyingly heavy, packed solid inside.

"Yes, this should last us a month," Tier replied, catching the crate from below the truck.

Lee Min-ho perched on the truck's edge, quietly watching Tier's back as she headed toward Seoul Forest Station. Her small frame somehow hefted a box nearly as big as her torso, trotting along without a hitch.

·····As long as she doesn't get buried under one, she'll be fine, I guess.

He opened his character window, unequipping his sword and armor.

Paat—

A cool spring breeze slipped through his thin tracksuit, chasing away the heat from his weary body. The sweat still carried the fire of battle. Another victory claimed today, another hard-won haul. Gazing up at the clear blue sky, he drifted into thought.

One week ago. The mysterious girl who appeared like the wind and vanished just as suddenly. Sure, her unprecedented aura had startled them into a brief, chilling misunderstanding.

But without her, would they be laughing and chatting like this right now? Even if that misunderstanding turned out true.

Either way, they owed her a debt. If possible, he'd at least like to talk to her.

Thud, thud. Footsteps crunched on asphalt from behind. A hand shot out, lightly tapping his shoulder.

"Good work, Min-ho. We owe you for keeping us fed."

A cheerful man with reddish-brown shaggy hair and a friendly face. Assassin by trade. Leader of the late-arriving four-man squad: Hwang Cheol-ho.

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

"Only because you scouted first, hyung. Made it easy for the rest."

"Aw, cut the fancy talk. I can find stuff, sure, but I can't haul it back."

Hwang Cheol-ho's assassin signature skill: Stealth. He put it to full use scouting terrain, monster placements, food, and supplies. Low level made him unfit for frontline fights, but his skill mastery and stealth prowess meant he could solo without worry.

Approaching the mountain of crates, Hwang Cheol-ho whistled, eyes gleaming.

"Damn, how much is all this? Meat party for dinner?"

"Can't hoard forever, and monsters around base are thinning out anyway······ Yeah, why not."

"Hell yeah! I'll tell the others—no backing out later!"

"Sure, sure, go ahead."

Hwang Cheol-ho pumped his fists and dashed off, only to skid back with excited eyes, remembering something.

"Hey, that girl you met before—what's her name?"

"Huh? Who?"

"Who? The one you guys hyped up for three days straight, the one who looks like Sertina!"

"······."

Lee Min-ho frowned, rubbing his chin. She might not even be a "girl." That voice—mysterious, alluring, with a seductive timbre—was definitely female, but it was just a game avatar manifested in reality. Who knew what adult woman lurked inside?

A name, though······. He glanced skyward.

Not even her age or origin. She seemed reluctant to show her face. Solo operator, so probably local.

·····Should've at least asked for contact info?

"Hey, Min-ho. You listening?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"Sheesh. Like you all got ghosted by the same mirage. So many saw her, no one knows her."

"Tell me about it. Solo means she's confident in her skills, I guess."

"······In this world? Common sense says that's insane. Unless she's nuts······."

Hwang Cheol-ho trailed off, furrowing his brow. No matter what, she saved the guy in front of him. Questions were fine; badmouthing wasn't human decency.

"Let's fire up the grill, hyung."

"Got it."

Chit-chat over. Clank. Gear hit the asphalt. Charcoal from the mart met Kim Min-seok's flame magic, igniting fierce heat. Sizzling grease wafted as meats browned on the grill. Wooden table from inventory loaded with wrap veggies. Pork belly's buddy: ssamjang. Spicy green chilies to cut the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fat. Rice, kimchi. Even cup ramen with boiling water poured in.

"Eat like kings before we die, boys!"

Hwang Cheol-ho, hyped, hoisted his cider glass high. Last time he got drunk near monsters and caused chaos, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠earning a month-long booze ban. Rare feast now. Survivors' faces glowed. Amid the flush, a tender nostalgia for once-ordinary days lingered, diluted by time into strange satisfaction.

They laughed, stuffed themselves—

Kugugung!

"?"

"What was that?"

Lee Min-ho, senses sharpest, bolted from his folding chair, scanning. Yunsia eyed around coolly too.

"Hey, why pause mid-bite? You'll choke."

"Monster?"

Hwang Cheol-ho griped, popping another cider. Tier tilted her head, asking flatly.

No further anomalies, so Lee Min-ho sheepishly salivated and sat.

"······Heard wrong?"

"Both of you?" Yunsia shot back skeptically.

Meal resuming—

Kururung!

"Th-the ground's shaking!"

"Something's up for real?"

Lee Min-ho donned armor mid-rise, battle-ready. Others drew weapons, eyes sharp, guarding all directions. Hwang Cheol-ho gripped his dagger sheath, tongue clicking tensely. A dozen civilians behind players gaped.

"Sh-should we evacuate?"

"Yes, head underground first······."

Kwaaaaang!

"······!!"

Lee Min-ho's words cut short. Seoul Forest. Explosion hurled a massive concrete structure skyward. Soil erupted like a fountain, raining down.

"What the hell?!"

"Battle formation!"

At his shout, players aligned swiftly. Tank with Lee Min-ho up front. Mages behind, archers further back. Tier, support, at rear.

Lee Min-ho swallowed dryly, fixated on blast origin. Moments later, chilling air ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠resonance echoed.

"Kioooooh!"

Trees snapped, bent, crushed. Massive silhouette twitched into view.

"Incoming!"

"Fuck, why here!?"

Kukwakwakwaquang!

Smashing public restroom, fence, flinging parked cars like cannonballs—it emerged. Pale-faced Kim Min-seok gawked.

"R-raid boss!!"

"Nngh!"

Decaying wings spread wide, blunt beak gaping in roar.

"Kiyoooooh!"

Length: easily 20 meters. Lee Min-ho squinted at the translucent window.

'······Not impossible.'

Mythic raid boss or not, it was from Astría Online's early days. Outdated by now. Back then, it took hundreds. Not anymore.

·····Or so he'd thought.

"Kaaak!"

Five minutes in. Tank rolled across dirt, kicking up dust. Couldn't endure. Archon's wing-launched blade-feathers rained like arrows; even mid-range mages faltered. Yunsia chipped HP from afar—that was it.

Kagagagak!

Lee Min-ho parried claw with flat blade, biting his lip.

'Too strong!'

Raid boss trait: Gestating Cocoon evolved in three phases over time. Form shifted, stats surged each. Key: kill before full evolution. Players grew; phase 1 was norm now.

But this one arrived fully evolved. Grown somewhere during players' absence. Insane speed and range. Dodging was max effort; attacking impossible.

Chwak!

"Gaaak!"

Lightning claw tore his forearm long. Blood streamed through split armor. Right pauldron wrecked; breastplate deeply gouged. No more endurance.

Desperate call: "Eyes front—run!"

"What? Min-ho, you can't mean··· you!"

Yunsia yelled. No answer possible. Wound sapped arm strength; blurring vision as HP dropped. Heavy blows hammered relentlessly.

'Worst luck ever.'

Bitter laugh amid agony. Last time, outsider saved him barely. No one now.

'Guess I was doomed then anyway.'

Pain radiated from arm to shoulder. Then boss spread wings, leaped airborne.

"Kiyoooooh!"

Vast chilling shadow blanketed ground. Icy gale. Black energy coalesced in gaping beak, sizzling.

"Sh-shit! Archon's ultimate!"

"Move! Hurry!"

Tier screamed. Lee Min-ho charged boss. Sacrifice for comrades. That resolve alone.

"Min-ho!"

Yunsia's scream rent air. Lightning-fast Hwang Cheol-ho overtook, halted him.

"What're you doing, idiot!"

Paak!

"Kuh!"

Hwang Cheol-ho flat-blade-smacked breastplate, stopping him. Iron grip yanked collar through broken armor.

"You're team leader. Huh? So you live."

"H-hyung. What···."

Lee Min-ho trailed. Hwang Cheol-ho's gaze: resolute. As if knowing fate, accepting it.

Shove widened gap.

"What? You live, others live. I'll buy time—pour soju on my grave later."

"H-hyung? Hyuuung!!"

Kick. Laughing, Hwang Cheol-ho stealth-blitzed distance. Reaching road's end, hurled needle-dagger at boss.

"Over here, you birdbrain!"

Kugugugugu.

Archon spun, whipping gale.

"Taste some hellfire!"

Black flames devoured its body. Massive orb from maw targeted him; air quivered. Horrified Lee Min-ho lunged—

Hwang Cheol-ho met eyes, raised hand calmly. Slow headshake. Steadfast expression froze Lee Min-ho.

He knew: Hwang Cheol-ho would die.

·····But it was his will.

Beak yawned. Black flame spewed, exploding vision.

Kwaaaaaang!

Irresistible darkness reduced all to ash. Trees, cars.

And······ Hwang Cheol-ho.

"Wha······?"

Lee Min-ho doubted his eyes. Blood-red curtain before presumed-dead Hwang Cheol-ho. Behind it, he patted himself confusedly, checking wounds.

"What the······."

Lee Min-ho swallowed rest. Only one wielded blood curtains in all Astría Online.

·····And he knew her.

Click-clack.

Clear footsteps pierced devastated space. All eyes locked there. Lee Min-ho, Hwang Cheol-ho—even Archon.

Smoke parted; leisurely gait emerged. Silky voice pierced ears.

"You held out well. I'll handle it from now on."

Deep-hooded black hoodie girl. Right hand: unseen blood sword. Blade flickered irregularly, reshaping like burning blood.

Lee Min-ho and players' eyes bulged.

"Th-that's gotta be?!"