Leaving behind the valley where the first rift had opened, I moved downward.
The direction I was heading led to Uigongwon Amusement Park, and beyond that were the city and the resort area.
Since news of the rift had spread, there were no tourists, but because this place was some distance away from the valley, an official evacuation order hadn't been issued.
In fact, before regression, the ones who had suffered from the second rift weren't tourists — they were the residents living here.
'There's not much time left until the second rift opens.'
I ran hard, pushing through trees and underbrush, my feet sweating with the effort.
Sending off Cha Sahyeon and using my skill on Kwon Taehyuk had eaten up too much time, leaving me anxious.
It would have been better if I'd prepared some means of transportation, but there was no way that could've happened after barely slipping away unnoticed.
After climbing over a tall fence and entering Uigongwon Park, a tidier forest and walking paths came into view.
Fortunately, no one was around — but it was too soon to relax.
The place where the second rift would open was further ahead.
I cut straight across the wide park and continued running toward the exit.
Passing through a place labeled "Food Village," the road split into three paths.
One led back toward the valley I had come from, another toward a family camping ground, and the last toward the resort complex.
Right where the subway station sat — where the three roads met — that was exactly,
'the place where the second rift will open.'
In terms of distance, it was roughly about 2 kilometers.
Ignoring the cars passing by with their headlights on, I lifted my head.
I had just been thinking that I was lucky to arrive before the rift opened when suddenly, a bolt of lightning ripped through the center of the sky.
Crack, screeeech!
A strange, indescribable sound followed.
At the point where sparks burst repeatedly, a vivid blue line appeared.
It was the same phenomenon as the first rift.
Centered around that blue line, the space would split wide open, and monsters would pour out.
'Can I hold it?'
I had to endure alone until Kwon Taehyuk, who was blocking the first rift at the valley, heard about the second rift and sent a support team.
Facing the crackling, surging blue line, a tension I had forgotten came rushing back.
I slowly took a deep breath and scanned my surroundings.
'Should I at least shout for people to evacuate?'
I debated, but then shook my head.
Even if I yelled, no one was going to listen to someone who looked this suspicious.
And if I got tangled up arguing at the moment the rift opened, it could lead to even bigger problems.
Fortunately, perhaps because of the first rift, no one was heading up toward the valley, and I didn't see anyone wandering the streets.
That said, the area wasn't completely empty.
People were still inside restaurants and shops...
But when the monsters first appeared, they'd rush at me, and once people saw that, they would naturally flee.
'Good. I can do this.'
All I had to do was endure.
I steadied my trembling nerves and tightened my grip on the sword's hilt.
Ding!
With a familiar alert sound, a new system window popped up in front of me.
《Main Quest has arrived!》
《Main Quest: Endure the Second Rift. (Remaining Time: 9 hours 59 minutes)》
[Main Quest: Endure the Second Rift. (Remaining Time: 9 hours 59 minutes)]
To prevent a terrible tragedy from repeating, you must endure until the second rift appearing above Uidong closes.
*Warning! If even one casualty or injury occurs, the quest will be marked as a failure.
Reward: Cash Box, Specific Main Character Affection Increase
"Haha... Figures it was too quiet."
Seeing the quest pop up like it had been waiting for me — and the outrageous conditions and rewards — made a hollow laugh escape my lips.
'Wait, hold on. If even one casualty or injury happens, it's a failure?'
What kind of insane difficulty is this?
Of course, I had planned to avoid civilian casualties anyway, but...
'...Maybe I should've just been honest with Kwon Taehyuk and asked for help.'
I hadn't planned anything too big — just to hold out until he arrived.
Regret hit me, but it was too late.
The water was already spilled.
Beyond the quest window, I could see the rift widening fast.
I looked up bitterly at the second rift, which had grown almost as large as the first.
'Kwon Taehyuk, please, notice sooner.'
From within the rift, shining black and blue like a piece of the Milky Way torn open, a giant dull-gray creature emerged.
Grk, krk!
A beast flapping its massive bat wings — an A-rank monster known as a gargoyle — came forth.
Two gargoyles quickly followed and, spotting me, bared their teeth.
They had instinctively recognized the energy of an Awakener radiating from me.
Right now, I was the most tempting prey imaginable to them.
Screeeeech!
Always ravenous, monsters weren't about to pass up such an opportunity.
The two gargoyles dropped toward me like meteors.
Despite their enormous size, their speed was monstrous.
I swung my blade to block a gargoyle's claws and threw myself backward.
Boom!
The spot I had been standing on exploded as a gargoyle crashed down, splitting and shaking the ground.
Grk, krk,
The two gargoyles, releasing threatening growls, circled me.
Then the one on the right lunged first, aiming for my head.
Dodging the swooping claws, I swung my sword.
"......!"
The blade aimed at its arm was caught in its clawed hand.
The gargoyle grabbed my sword without hesitation and hurled me forcefully into the ground.
Crack!
"Ugh...!"
The sound of concrete fracturing roared in my ears, and a numbing shock rippled through my entire body.
Without even time to catch my breath, feeling a chill race up my spine, I rolled forward.
A swoosh — something ripped the air just above my head, a hair's breadth from hitting me.
Suppressing the bitter metallic taste rising in my throat from the shock, I moved quickly.
Driving my sword into the gargoyle's instep, I made it shriek.
Screeeeech!
As it staggered, unable to keep its balance, I twisted my wrist sharply and slashed upward.
Squelch—!
The blade sliced cleanly through the gargoyle's neck, and a spray of blood burst forth as its massive body toppled backward.
No time to breathe.
The second gargoyle swooped at me instantly, its claws slashing.
I barely dodged to the side, but hot pain flared across my sword-wielding forearm.
"Haaah..."
My bright red blood mixed into the black puddles of the gargoyle's blood at my feet.
Splashing through the pooling blood, I raised my sword again.
Clang! Crack! Clang!
The gargoyle attacked without pause, aiming to kill.
Its grimy claws and my blood-smeared blade clashed over and over.
First aiming for my neck, then my heart, then my head —
It relentlessly targeted vital points, and I fought desperately to block.
Finally, managing to strike the gargoyle's hand aside, I fell back to open the distance.
The gargoyle flapped its bat wings, narrowing the gap instantly.
It thrust a massive black hand, big enough to crush my head in one squeeze, toward me.
I stabbed my sword into its palm and twisted hard.
Crunch, crack!
The sound of bones and flesh twisting echoed from its hand.
Grk!
With a pained snarl, the gargoyle exposed its fangs.
Taking advantage of the moment, I kicked upward.
Smack!
My foot smashed into its jaw, and the sword embedded in its palm wrenched free.
Without hesitation, I thrust the bloody blade forward.
The tip of the sword pierced through the gargoyle's left chest, skewering its heart.
Gurgle—!
With a sickening death rattle, the second gargoyle's body crumpled.
Boom!
Pulling my sword free from its corpse, I confirmed that the final gargoyle had fallen.
The two dead gargoyles lay sprawled on the ground, their huge bat wings spread wide.
I flicked the blood from my blade and lifted my head.
Screeeeeech!
Kiik, Kiiiiiik!
Defeating the gargoyles didn't mean it was over.
The moment the gargoyles fell, more monsters began writhing out of the gaping rift.
Like insects crawling out of a sewer, they spilled onto the ground.
Those with wings took to the sky, while those without crushed buildings as they stomped /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ across the land.
The real battle was just beginning.
There was no time to tend to injuries or catch my breath.
Without a second's hesitation, I raised my sword toward the next wave of monsters.
[Main Quest: Endure the Second Rift. (Remaining Time: 8 hours 48 minutes)]

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