Chapter 5: Always, any encounter is accompanied by chance

It feels like a panopticon, I thought.

A prison designed by some idle utilitarian philosopher.
A cylindrical space with a towering watchtower in the center, a psychological trap that makes you control yourself.

The building’s core.
A circular space, open from top to bottom.
In the middle, a gaping crack radiating “I’m suspicious as hell” vibes.
And around it, two bipedal monsters standing guard.

I’m watching from the top-floor corridor, peering down.

The red dot was big, so I didn’t realize—it’s just two of them.
If anyone saw this in real life, they’d probably learn to control themselves pretty quick.
Can’t control yourself?
Then you’re dead.

—Gurgle gurgle.
—Pop!

Something like that echoes, and the crack vibrates.
Dozens of monsters pour out.

Compared to the two, these are low-quality.
Like a game dev’s half-assed boss mobs versus fodder.

Some look like dogs, others like birds, scorpions, or lizards.
But they’re missing parts or deformed.
Definitely defective.
Is this why they’re called Erosion Entities?
Not a single one’s pretty.

‘Those two on the sides are clearly higher-tier. The rest are fodder.’

The newborn monsters rush out the Gate.
I check the minimap—they’re joining the ones outside.

‘If my guess is right…’

The two dark humanoid monsters.
They’re probably the [Gatekeepers].
That crack must be the [Gate].
I’ve got the gist of it.

I wiggle my fingers, counting time.
One, two, three, keeping the tempo.

About 180 seconds—three minutes?
The closed crack vibrates again.
Same as before.
It opens with a grotesque sound, and dozens more monsters spill out.
Heading the same way.

One last wait.
I count again, this time backward.
One-eighty, one-seventy-nine.

Time ticks down.
Two, one, zero, ding… ding… ding…

A slight delay, but the crack—no, the Gate—vibrates again.
It spits out Erosion Entities.
The numbers vary slightly but stay consistent.
Different types, but mostly the same.
Every three minutes, then.
Unless a crisis hits, probably.

I check the minimap.
Until all the monsters join the others outside.
They head out as I watch.
The interval’s shrinking—

“It’s time.”

Time to move.
I stand up.

In the vast space, my young voice echoes.
I feel two pairs of eyes lock onto me.

“Nemesis ability activate.”

The weapon’s unique ability activates.

Oh, and what else?
I think there were a couple buffs.
Maybe three?

Whatever, I’ll figure it out later.

Everything’s new and unfamiliar, but some deep instinct awakens the weapon’s power at my will.

Guess I never needed a skill window.

Red energy envelops my invisible weapon, thanks to the cosmetic.
Proof the ability’s active.
I think it had a similar effect in the game.

It looked badass the first time I saw it.

Blood seeps through the bandages on my body, like wounds bursting open.
Not from an attack.

The weapon’s ability—draining 10% of max health per second.
It doesn’t take long to hit 30%.
My vision tints red, and red vapor—red breath—pours from my mouth.
A sign the ability’s active.

The weapon’s power.
It doesn’t hurt.
Feels invigorating, actually.
Refreshing.

My body’s so light, like I can do anything.
This is the Berserker’s trait.
A warrior charging into battle, slaughtering enemies at the front.

Right now…

“…Grrrrr…”
“…”

Those things staring up at me?
I could probably rip their heads off.

No need for buffs or kills.

“That’s what you’re guarding, right?”

I point at the crack.
They’re Gatekeepers, so they guard the Gate, obviously.

But with a dangerous person like me here, standing still like you’re scared?
Really?

“Disappointing, yap!”
“—!?”

—Whoosh.

I leap high and plummet.
Using the ceiling as a springboard.
Not defying gravity but harnessing it to accelerate.
Something I’d never have imagined before.
I rocket toward the floor, maybe 30 meters down.

The sound of cutting through the air is vivid.

My heightened stats turn fantasy into reality.
My eyes catch the monster surging toward me in that split second.

“Hup!”

In the game, attacks were combos of strong and weak hits, chaining into various moves.
From simple overhead strikes to short combos or long, powerful sequences for stunned enemies.

But now, I don’t need to think about that.
Just let my body move.

A deadly thrust aims for my heart, brimming with dangerous energy.
But it’s a flashy feint.
Dodge it, and it’ll follow with a powered-up knee strike.

Not a chance.

Underestimating me?
Or maybe you didn’t see my weapon?
Oh, right, it’s invisible.
Though it’s glowing red.
Hmm.

Doesn’t mean I’ll go easy.

My body accelerates.
I swing the staff.
It—

—Crack.

“—Kyaaa!”
“Bye-bye. See you next time.”

Catch you later.

The monster’s body splits in half, and the blast carves a massive crater into the Gate behind it.

Blood and flesh scatter.
Its body’s probably gone, not a shred left.
I was gonna say “split in half,” but it’s more like pulverized.
I saw it happen.

Monsters bleed red too.
I thought it’d be purple.

The shockwave sends everything flying.
Concrete chunks from the cratered floor, bits of the former Gatekeeper, and the other bold monster prepping a follow-up.

Yup, just one attack.

“Tutorial boss, huh?”
“…Kr… keck!?”

Weak.

A max-level player with near-endgame gear against a tutorial boss?
Of course it’s easy.
All that buff prep and mental Taekwondo forms from one to eight were pointless.

Whatever, just get this over with.

The last Gatekeeper charges at me.
Probably trying to protect what’s left of that mangled [Gate].

I duck.
Its hand grazes where my head was.

—Thud.

“Whoa.”

A weak battle cry.
I spring up like a coil, dodging a sweeping leg attack.
A flurry of precise, rapid strikes follows.
But they’re slow.
I dodge them all.

Its final punch aims for my chest.
I catch it with my palm, using its momentum to flip backward.
I fly pretty far.

“Sure… fast and strong…”

It’s powerful.
Speed, movement, strength—beyond human limits.

Even a trained fighter would die as fast as a stray dog against this thing.
A normal person would scream, “How do you beat this?”

“Kiaaaaaa!”
“Stop screaming and speak human.”

I stare at my palm.

Doesn’t hurt at all.
Like I touched Styrofoam.
My hand naturally deflected the attack.

I flex my fingers.

“Quiet down. This is a public place.”

I get the picture.
I don’t know how strong these things are, but I’m pretty damn strong myself.
Combat power check—thanks, buddy.
I won’t forget you!

The minimap shows the outer defense line’s monsters turning back.
Did this one call them?
I could probably wipe out the fodder too, but that’s a hassle.

“Sss…”

I draw out the stored damage.
The shock from landing.
The damage from the item’s effect.
The impact from my recent moves.
This is the counter skill’s effect.

A skill that delivers a massive hit proportional to accumulated damage.
Forbes-ranked number one for impact.
Fun fact: time it with the enemy’s attack, and the damage doubles.

Skill name?
Forgot it.

Who memorizes skill names while gaming?
I’d rather kill another mob in that time.

A dark red aura rises from the staff.
I grip it with both hands, pulling it close.

Targeting the [Gate].

“Freeze! The Gate’s my hostage!”
“…Grrr…”

The Erosion Entity trembles with rage.
Kinda cute.

But I’m a ruthless character.
No mercy, heh.

The Gate’s mostly gone, barely vibrating.
But is even that scrap important?
The Gatekeeper’s trying to keep me away, glaring.

Did it understand me?
No clue.
Its red, eye-like orbs just glare harder.

I’m not great at meeting eyes when I kill…
Sorry, kidding.

“See ya.”

I thrust the staff.

The coiled energy shoots out like an arrow from a bow.
A deafening roar hits my eardrums.
The shockwave from my weapon obliterates the Gatekeeper, the Gate, and slams into the wall.
No, it punches through the wall and out.

—Rumble!

The wall collapses, smoke billowing.

I hold the pose for a few minutes.
The endless roar finally stops.

“Hmm… done?”

Tap tap.

I brush off my clothes.
Fight’s over.
Ta-da.

Not like brushing does anything.
I’m already drenched in blood.
The weapon’s effect—blood gushing from my body—might be the issue.
Oh, and the dust.
Cough cough.
My lungs suck.

“Keck, kuh, kehh!”

I bow my head, coughing.
Probably dust in my throat, plus the blood vapor from the Nemesis Staff clogging it up.

So realistic in the worst way.

After a few hacks, I spit out a clot and calm down.
Seems temporary, not deadly.
Just some coughing.

Corona, maybe?

Nah, probably not.
Feeling settled, I check the minimap to see outside.
The purple zone—Erosion Zone or whatever—is gone.
The blue dots are wiping out the red dots in real time.
They’re thriving.

And at the center—me.
No red dots in the lab.
I killed them all.
Just my green dot and two blue dots—Hunters.

Wait…!?

“…”
“…!?”

I turn my creaky head.
My vision’s still red, but I see two women in black uniforms.
Staring at me, shocked.

…Fck!?

Cough cough.
Fck, more coughing.
Hey, ladies, let me cough a bit before we talk.

Keep social distancing.
Stay five meters away.
Ehey!
Don’t come closer!