Time Limit: 30 Seconds

  A simple information about the enemy appeared, and then

  [Annihilate the enemy. If you cannot, you will die.]

  A simple ‘rule’ is explained.

  [For the first Chapter, just this once, you will be provided with a weapon. Select your weapon.]

  [Club], [Broad Sword], [Katana], [Hand Axe], [Long Spear],

  [Long bow and Short Sword], [Spiked Gauntlets]

  When Sungjin saw this, he said out loud,

  “.……Katana.”


  And in the next instant, a katana appeared in his hands. It was a Japanese curved single edged sword. Inspecting the weapon, he whispered to himself.

  “Wow, it’s been a long time since I last saw this.”


  Once the weapon was selected, the operator began a countdown.

  [10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0]

  After 10 seconds, the billboard disappeared, and the ‘enemy’ described in it was summoned. Chapter 0, Living Mannequin. An eerie doll hung on a cross-shaped wooden stand.

  As promised, it was a living Mannequin. It stood there unmoving. Sungjin left the Mannequin alone and gazed at his weapon.

  “I have to do this…… all over again……?”


  Sungjin’s memories flashed before his eyes. Never ending series of battles, constant pressure to kill, and a steady stream of the death of irreplaceable comrades. While Sungjin was preoccupied with his thoughts, the Operator continued to speak.

  [20 seconds remaining. Annihilate the enemy. If you cannot, you will die.]

  Rows upon rows of sharp steel spikes appeared from the ceiling.

  “I can’t do this anymore……”


  Sungjin hung his head, shaking it as he stood there. The Operator spoke again.

  [10 seconds remaining. Annihilate the enemy. If you cannot, you will die.]

  The ceiling, which was now covered in spikes, began coming down. There was no place to hide and nowhere to run. The operator began countdown once more.

  [10, 9, 8, 7……]

  The ceiling was now low enough to touch by jumping up, but Sungjin did not move. He watched the ceiling approach closer and closer, and thought to himself.

  ‘This is it? Is this the reward for being the last human to die? I’d rather……’


  [6, 5, 4 ]

  But before he finished his thoughts, he recalled a promise he made with someone.

  “Swear to me! You must……”


  [3, 2]

  Sungjin frowned. And then

  [1]

  He swung the katana he held.

  ‘Shing’


  The blade cut through the air and drew a red line on the neck of the mannequin.

  [0 You have……]

  The moment the Katana cut the mannequin’s neck, the Operator’s voice became garbled as if bugged. The ceiling also stopped in its tracks. In a happier tone than earlier, she announced:

  [All monsters eliminated. Closing the chapter.]

  Following the announcement, a hologram appeared.

  Completion Reward: Status Point 0

  Kill Reward: Black Coin 0

  Sungjin spoke to himself when he saw the message.

  “Yeah…… maybe, this time, it will be different.”


  Once Sungjin was finished, he was summoned somewhere else.

  *

  The place he was summoned to was an enormous hall of an unknown size. And within it was an uncountable number of people.

  Regardless of race, all ethnicities were present in the hall. The only interesting fact was that an overwhelming majority were ‘adult men’. The people who were summoned looked panicked and confused.

  “What’s going on?”


  “Where am I?”


  “What is this?”


  Sungjin watched with his arms folded over his chest. He reacted the same way as those people the first time he was here.

  “Is this some sort of a reality tv show?”


  “Alien abduction?”


  And then, people realized that they could understand one another.

  “You know how to speak Chinese?”


  “How did you learn Arabic?”


  “Hey, are you aware you are all speaking English?”


  And the Operator’s voice was heard once more, interrupting everyone’s thoughts.

  [Welcome!]

  This time, the voice wasn’t coming from inside their head, but coming from above. People naturally gazed upward to see who was speaking.

  Above, a beautiful woman’s face appeared.

  [My name is Operator. I am here to welcome you all for becoming representatives of mankind.]

  Sungjin smirked when he heard her words.

  ‘Welcome…… what a farce.’


  Regardless of what Sungjin thought, the Operator continued to speak.

  [This place is called ‘The Hunter’s Hall’. It is where the hopes and dreams of hunters are gathered.] (See notes)