Just then, the statues holding instruments began to play.
A haunting sound echoed through the chamber.
"AAAAAAAA—"
"AAAAAAAAAA—"
The eerie chorus sent chills down our spines.
After a while, we cautiously gathered at the edge. For the moment, the situation seemed to have calmed down. Thankfully, none of the survivors had sustained any serious injuries.
We had entered this raid with seventeen members.
Now… only nine of us remained.
"Out of those who are left, no one appears to be injured," Mr. Song said, his voice heavy.
One of the hunters stepped forward and looked at him coldly.
"I'm sorry to say this, but we're in this mess because of your reckless decisions as party leader."
He paused before adding,
"Mr. Song… you need to take responsibility for all of this."
"…You're right," Mr. Song replied, lowering his head, guilt written across his face.
"Shut up, bastard!" another hunter snapped.
It was the same one who had a problem with me earlier.
"This is your fault too! You were one of the ones who voted for this!"
"You—!" the first hunter shot back.
"Min-jun, can you calm down?" another hunter tried to intervene.
"Ji-hoon, shut up!" Min-jun barked. "You're just as responsible for agreeing to this! It's because of you greedy bastards that we're in this situation!"
"…I'm sorry, Min-jun," Ji-hoon said quietly, his expression filled with guilt.
"Th-there… Jinwoo… over there…" Joohee's trembling voice reached us as she pointed toward the massive statue.
STOMP.
BOOM.BOOM.BOOM.
Each step shook the entire chamber.
Everyone's faces turned pale, their expressions growing more grim as the boss statue began to move.
BOOM.BOOM.
"That bastard…! Is it going to attack us again?!"
"What do we do?!"
I already knew what was about to happen.
Taking a slow breath, I forced myself to stay calm.
This isn't entirely bad…
I managed to save three more people.
In the original… only six of us survived.
RUMBLE.RUMBLE.
The boss suddenly raised its arm—
—and threw something.
"What the hell is going on?!"
"Is it… an earthquake?!"
RUMBLEEEEE—RUMBLE—RUMBLE—
The ground trembled violently beneath our feet.
"What… what is that?"
"An altar," I said.
They all turned to look at me.
"An altar…?"
"Yes. Like the ones in myths."
My voice remained steady as I continued.
"Altars are used to offer sacrifices to a god…"
I paused for a moment before adding,
"Livestock—cows, pigs, sheep… and sometimes…"
"…even young children or maidens."
A heavy silence fell over everyone.
"The third and final commandment is…"
"Thou shalt prove thy faith."
No one spoke.
The meaning was clear.
"I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed," one hunter muttered, his voice tense, "but even I understand what you're trying to say."
He looked straight at me.
"Sung… you're saying we have to make a sacrificial offering, aren't you?"
Without warning—
SHING!
Mr. Kim drew his sword and pointed it forward.
At Mr. Song.
"Who was it that dragged all of us here?" he said coldly.
"It was Song Chi-yul."
Then Park stepped forward.
"You said earlier that you'd take responsibility for all of this… didn't you?"
His gaze hardened.
"Then prove it. Right now."
"Mr. Park, that's—" Joohee's voice trembled, her eyes wide with horror as she realized what was about to happen.
"Stay out of this and keep your mouth shut!" Mr. Kim snapped.
"…Kim is right," Mr. Song said quietly.
Everyone froze.
"I have to take responsibility."
He slowly raised his hand.
"Put the sword away."
Then, without hesitation, he took a step forward.
"I'll walk to the altar myself."
Just as he was about to take another step—
I moved.
In an instant, I rushed straight toward the altar.
"Jinwoo! What are you doing?!" Joohee cried out.
The others froze, watching in stunned silence.
The moment I reached the center—
whoosh—
A flame ignited around the altar.
It was a red flame.
I turned back to them.
"Everyone—come here! I figured it out!"
"Huh…?"
"What the—?!"
"What's happening?!"
One by one, they began moving toward the center.
Joohee struggled to walk, her legs shaking. She nearly collapsed—
—but Min-jun quickly stepped in and caught her.
"Ah… th-thank you…"
Min-jun simply nodded, saying nothing as he helped her forward.
"Will other hunters come to rescue us if we wait here?" one of them asked.
"Today marks one week since this gate opened," Mr. Song replied grimly. "Those statues will probably make a move before any reinforcements arrive."
Then he turned to me.
"Jinwoo… what's going on?"
Instead of answering, I pointed toward the last hunter who was about to step into the area.
Naturally, everyone's attention shifted.
The moment his foot crossed into the altar's vicinity—
FWOOSH—
The red flame flickered violently.
ZZZZZZZZ—
FWOOOSH—
Then—
it changed.
The flame turned blue.
WHOOOSH—
CLUNK.
The massive entrance doors slowly creaked open.
"The door… it's open?!"
"What the—?!"
A gate fully opens after seven days. And once it does… magical beasts can cross over into our world.
That's why the true objective of a raid is to defeat the dungeon's boss, and close the gate before it's too late.
Fizzle—
BOOM.BOOM.
"What is it this time?!"
"Th-they're walking toward us!"
"All of them moved just now!"
FIZZLE—
BOOM.
"W-what should we do?!"
"What's going on?! Damn it!"
"Everyone, go—now! Head to the entrance!" I shouted.
"Wait, Sung—what are you talking about?!" someone yelled.
I turned to face them.
"I'll stay here. Go, now!"
"No!! Jinwoo!" Joohee cried, her whole body trembling.
Before she could resist, Mr. Song struck her lightly on the neck, knocking her unconscious, then lifted her onto his shoulder.
The others didn't hesitate—they were already running toward the entrance.
Soon, only three of us remained.
Joohee… unconscious.
Mr. Song… and me.
"Sung… how about we switch?" Mr. Song said, struggling to get the words out. "This is my fault, I—"
"No. Go. Now!! Hurry!!" I cut him off.
Inside, my thoughts burned fiercely.
How could I possibly let that happen?
If I do… then Mr. Song would obtain Ashborn's power.
That's unacceptable.
That power is mine… and mine alone.
In the original timeline, if it weren't for Joohee—who couldn't move or carry Jinwoo—Mr. Song would have inherited that power himself.
BOOM.BOOM.
"Are you sure?" Mr. Song asked.
He looked into my eyes, searching for hesitation.
But when he saw my resolve… he fell silent.
Without another word, he turned and ran toward the entrance.
"Finally… the drama is over," I muttered, a faint smile forming on my lips as the statues closed in.
BOOM.BOOM.
Just before the doors shut, Mr. Song turned back one last time—
—and what he saw made his eyes widen.
He…? Jinwoo was smiling?
BOOM.
The door slammed shut.
Darkness.
Pain.
An overwhelming, crushing pain tore through my body—
And yet…
I kept smiling.
Then I laughed.
"Wahahahahaha—!"
"Hahahahaha…!"
Even as the agony consumed me, I couldn't stop.
Because I knew.
This was the moment everything would change.
[NOTICE]
[You have met all the requirements to complete the secret quest:COURAGE OF THE WEAK]
[You now qualify to become a Player.]
[Do you accept?]
"ACCEPT."
A faint grin spread across my face.
Cheat… acquired.
then total darkness
-----------------------
what do you think about this chapter?
please fire those powerstones so i will be motivated to write.
any suggestions are always open to improve the quality of the story.