The Player Who Stands Above All

Chapter 198

Before and after the dungeon appeared, if one were to choose the country whose appearance had changed the most, most would first speak of China.

When the dungeon appeared, the people were prevented from entering the dungeon under the pretext of preventing chaos, so when the dungeon break occurred, the powerless people were helplessly slaughtered by monsters.

When the demi-humans appeared, they were defined as monsters, and China chose to be hostile to them and steal their technology, resulting in losses incomparable to the gains obtained by being hostile to them, now that the demi-humans have been released from the dungeon.

The arrogant image of China, which once claimed to hold the hegemony of the world, now remained only as traces, and even those were only slightly present in Beijing, the capital of China, and its surrounding cities.

China was eliminated without adapting to the new world, and the people, feeling both disappointment and betrayal at the government's actions, rose up for their freedom.

Then, as if returning to the Spring and Autumn Warring States period, numerous cities in China were torn apart, each accepting its own forces, and the name China became meaningless.

In a situation where the land was taken away by monsters and players, the only law that penetrated China was the law of the jungle.

And the man, looking at the chaotic China, was able to solidify his conviction that his thoughts were right.

'As expected… this world is a hell created to give people pain.'

Therefore, he needed to give them more pain according to God's will.

In order to cleanse the original sin they were born with and lead them to the heaven managed by the goddess.

The moment the cult leader, who was looking at the world spread out below him from the terrace, engraved his usual vow in his heart once again.

Kiiik-!

The firmly closed door opened, and 12 people wearing unified robes and hiding their faces with black masks entered the room.

As soon as they entered the room, they knelt on one knee towards their cult leader, bowed their heads, and showed him both respect and obedience.

"Cult leader, the preparations to carry out the great work are all finished."

"…Is that so?"

At the man's words, the cult leader slowly turned his body, which was facing the terrace, and looked at them.

At that, they became nervous and bowed their heads even more.

Because from the cult leader's whispering voice and small movements, they felt a huge pressure as if a giant were moving.

"Twelve Dark Shadows, do you remember how much time it took to finish the preparations?"

"15 days have passed since you, the cult leader, bestowed upon us the divine word."

Although it was a sudden question, the ones called the Twelve Dark Shadows answered the cult leader's words as if they had been waiting.

"15 days… We've been crouching for much longer than I thought."

Kuuung-!

At the cult leader's single word, every single one of them slammed their heads on the floor with all their might.

Since they had hit the part that was not covered by the mask, the mask did not break, but instead, their faces were torn and bled.

"We are sorry. Because we were lacking, we not only made you wait, cult leader, but we also committed the sacrilege of delaying the great work ordered by God."

"You seem to have misunderstood my words a little. I wasn't trying to blame you."

The cult leader said to them in a kind voice.

"The reason we were able to finish the preparations on this day is simply because the goddess had designated today as the day of the great work."

Tabak-

The cult leader said that and lightly moved his feet, walking towards them.

"Think about it. We have completed the plan over a long period of time. Therefore, our great achievement has become more meticulous, more certain, and more secretive.

Tabak-

"Therefore, from now on, no one will be able to stop our great work, and therefore, our great work will never fail."

"As… you command…"

The representative of the Twelve Dark Shadows, overwhelmed with emotion, barely uttered those two words to the cult leader in a trembling voice.

At that, the cult leader smiled benevolently and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"The day to carry out the great work is tonight, thirty minutes from now. The moment the sun sets and our goddess opens her eyes. At that time, we will save the ignorant sinners from this hell by giving them the pain they deserve."

"As you command!"

Simultaneously with the representative saying that, all of the Twelve Dark Shadows disappeared from the spot like smoke.

"Haa~"

In the empty room, the cult leader looked up at the sky and placed his hand on his chest.

The joy that the long-awaited great work was beginning was pounding his chest fiercely.

"Finally… finally, it's the moment of the great work."

The first piece of the board Lee Shin had prepared, the cult leader of the Hell Cult, began to move.

◎ ◎ ◎

Ddididdi-

"What? What's that sound again?!"

At the sudden sound coming from the monitor, a man in a Chinese officer's uniform was startled and shouted at the subordinate in front of him.

"It's, it's fine. It's just a trivial matter!"

"Shut up! I'm the one who decides that!"

The officer shouted that and slammed the desk with an angry face.

"If not that, what? Are you ignoring me too? Do you dare to ignore me just because I've been demoted to this garbage department?!"

"N, not at all! I have never thought of such a thing!"

"Then tell me what happened right now!"

"M, multiple dungeons have appeared! The sound just now was the warning sound!"

At the subordinate's urgent shout, the officer's eyes widened in astonishment.

He recalled the incident where a large-scale dungeon creation and break had occurred simultaneously a while ago, turning the entire Earth into a mess.

Such an officer's thoughts were noticed by his subordinate, who said urgently.

"It's not a critical situation like last time. The dungeons that have appeared this time are much fewer in number compared to last time, and there are no dungeons of LV. 4 or higher among them, so the risk is very low."

"Th, then that's a relief."

The officer, who had heard that much, sat down in his chair as if his strength had left him and let out a sigh.

'Damn it, how did I end up in a position with so many responsibilities. Every single incident that breaks out is like a landmine, so there's nothing I can easily touch!'

While the officer was groaning inwardly, another subordinate said in a trembling voice.

"Ex… excuse me, officer, I have something to report."

"Hoo, what is it now, why are you calling me?"

Realizing that even swearing was tiring, the officer said in a voice that seemed to have aged 10 years in a short time.

"It's about the dungeon that just appeared…"

"Wasn't it concluded that it was a low-risk dungeon? Or is there some change in the dungeon?"

"That's not it. However…"

The subordinate said, operating the screen with the mouse.

"The dungeons are not appearing randomly, but are continuously appearing only near a certain city."

"…What did you say?"

The officer asked back with a face that said, 'what kind of nonsense is this now'.

But the moment he saw the map, he could immediately understand what the subordinate was trying to say.

Because the dungeons were appearing as if to surround the city.

"…Which city is that?"

"It's not a city occupied by the demi-humans, but it's one of the cities where the government's hand can't reach because the influence of the chaotic players is too strong."

The officer, while thinking that it was a relief, broke out in a cold sweat.

Because the moment he saw the dungeon appear a little while ago, it looked as if someone had artificially created the dungeon with some intention.

Kadeuk-!

"Damn it, report it to the higher-ups!"

When he thought that a man-made disaster with malicious intent, not a fair and indifferent natural disaster, might be covering China, the officer's mouth was already wide open.

And when the Chinese government began to move.

Woong-

'It seems that hybrid has finally started to move.'

The second pieces Lee Shin had prepared also began to prepare to move.

'Hah, I hope he didn't just go over to that side. If he really did, I think it would be okay to half-kill him.'

The third pieces also got up from their seats and began their final preparations.

Although it felt like it was 5 seconds before a rough storm, the emotion they were feeling was closer to enjoyment than tension.

Because they had trust in themselves and their comrades.

And the comrades they were talking about also included Lee Shin.

"I'm really not going to let it slide this time."

"I agree. I think I'll feel better if I half-kill him."

"Hoo, that's good to hear. I'll help too."

"Oh, that looks fun. If you're short on hands, I'll help too."

"Me too, I want to hit him too! For some reason, I feel like if I don't hit him at a time like this, I won't get a chance to hit that oppa."

Although it seemed more accurate to say that he was precariously on the borderline rather than being included.

"You all remember the conversation we had yesterday, right?"

"Of course I remember."

Hercules said with a slightly serious expression.

"Yes, he said that they can not only create dungeons, but also destroy existing ones, right? I wonder how he found out about that."

"Oppa probably used some method to pass it on to them. Those fools probably received it without any suspicion, deceived by oppa."

At Uriel's very plausible reasoning, everyone in the room nodded their heads inwardly.

"I think I remember it all, but I'll say it one more time. Merlin-oppa and Diz, please guard the places where the magic stones are stored and protect the people."

"I don't know why I have to protect people in a place where chaotic players are running rampant."

"Don't be like that. What if there are innocent people? And considering that they can use the dungeon with magic stones, we also need to protect the magic stones."

Merlin soothed the grumbling Diz and cast a spell to rise into the sky.

"Oz-unnie and Arachne, please take a look at the Hell Cult's headquarters. There might be the 'book' or a hint that he mentioned."

"Yes, unnie, just trust me!"

"Yes, I understand!"

After answering playfully, Oz took out [Clear] and got on, and Arachne went behind Oz and sat on the broom together.

The two, as if they were having so much fun, flew in the direction of the Hell Cult, screaming.

"Crowley-oppa and Baekhyun, please track the whereabouts of the Hell Cult's leader separately."

"Alright."

"I wanted a hot mission, but it's a shame."

Baekhyun said that, but he obediently followed Crowley.

"What should I do?"

Yeonhwa, who was the only one in his place, looked at Cheon Yuhwa and asked.

At that, Cheon Yuhwa said with a smile that resembled someone.

"You and I have to punish the troublemaker who created this situation."

Pfft-

"That's the best thing I've heard recently.”

(End of Chapter)