Chapter 8: Let us go

Dohyuk’s speculation was right. These people never grouped up. It was as if there was some rule against teaming up. This added strength to Dohyuk’s aggressive behavior. He was, after all, the most powerful one among everyone here. Without teaming up, they had no chance against Dohyuk.

-Wonderful!

It was the angels that broke the silence. One was shouting in excitement while another was spitting, ranting about the outcome. All of them seemed to react differently.

-You outperformed our expectations!

Basil came down next to Dohyuk. He could barely hold back his as he became teary.

-So! I should continue with the game as promised then. Good work to all of you!

People began to relax at those words. At least they were now freed from the death game where they needed to kill each other. It was much better to just move on with the game at this stage.

-Like I said, our plan was to release a more civilized version of Goblets, but I think we weren’t considerate enough. If we go as planned, wouldn’t it put you one step behind everyone else then?

People began to pale at those words.

-SO! We will give you guys a chance to catch up. We will be releasing the 2nd and 3rd trials at the same time!

And the ground began to tremble. The clock of Casitas was moving again.

-The 3rd trial is nothing special! We didn’t release the ‘other world’ ecosystem openly yet until now, but I am unlocking that.

That meant everything up to the 2nd trial was a tutorial. Yet having the 3rd trial together with the 2nd just meant that people had to face the 3rd stage without any coins, items, or stat boosts that they could have gained in the 2nd trial.

-Well, I wish you all luck! I mean, you are a special group after all, right? You deserve this kind of advantage.

And with that, they began flying into the sky.

-And to you too! I will be watching you. Please keep entertaining us!

Basil also tried to fly, but Dohyuk grabbed his wrist.

-WHAT!

The angel’s face turned 180 degrees, to those of a demon. The expression was so vicious and full of hate as if he was just touched by the filthiest thing in the world. It would be easy for the angel to crush Dohyuk. He knew this, but he needed to say what he had to say.

“Give me my book.”

-….OH!

The angel’s face turned back to normal. He smiled and handed over the red book.

<<Book of Random Kick Art>>

[Skill book created to be rewarded as a special reward. Reading the book will grant the kick skill ranging from C ~ AAA rank automatically.]

[Can be only used once.]

[Requires a total of 115 points in Strength, Stamina, and Agility.]

-I’m sorry, don’t be mad, okay? Good luck!

He then disappeared into the skies. Dohyuk looked at disappearing angel and mumbled.

“What are you bastards…?”

Dohyuk felt anger against those demons who had put him into this world, but he had to move. The world was now changing. Buildings and streets began to collapse as rocks began appearing everywhere. Dohyuk grabbed the book and began to run.

“…What is it?”

Changhun became confused. There was no chance that the 3rd trial had begun as it seemed like there was zero percent chance that anyone would kill Chicheck at any moment.

“Well, I’ll know soon.”

He then went back to his work. He was in the basement of one of the buildings. It looked like as if it wasn’t destroyed by the rocks and plants that appeared, but if one walked down to the 3rd lower floor of the basement, they would arrive at a strange place. It was a 20-meter wide cavern. At the corner was a 4-meter high sculpture that resembled a monster. It had three heads and three pairs of arms with three distorted genitals sitting down. It was crudely made, but very realistic. Its three pairs of eyes were made out of red gems that shined within the darkness.

It was Demon Mashiv that the Goblets worshipped.

“Whew.”

The work was done. There were five naked pair of men and women moaning on the ground with their crippled joints.

“It’s a bit earlier than expected but…”

On the 2nd morning, as Chicheck was brought by the angels, Changhun prepared offerings faster than he planned. He couldn’t beat Chicheck either, so it was easy to lure these fools by lying, ‘There is a power that can only be obtained by the combined power of two.’ After a full day, the offerings were ready to be served to Mashiv.

“Some of you might know about Whore Lee Jihee.”

He spoke as he placed moaning offerings at front of sculpture.

“It was out of pure luck that she found this place. Oh, yes. She wasn’t the type to venture in,” he mumbled. The first time people faced this world, they helped each other more openly. Lee Jihee was a former preschool teacher. She was easily scared and had a depression issue. The people who grouped up with her made her protect the young kids and went out to search for food. This building was their hideout. She probably was had the intention to find a safer place when she found this place of worship.

When she faced the sculpture’s six pair of eyes, she was filled with the demon’s voice.

“AND, that’s how she killed those kids she protected to serve them as offerings without hesitation.”

“…!”

“Nngh…!”

“But compared to those innocent kids, I guess it’s better to use you guys as offerings.”

Ten men and women tried to scream in terror but they couldn’t speak out. Changhun was not interested in them anymore.

“O’ Great Mashiv…”

Changhun raised his arms.

“I humbly ask you, O’ Lord of the blood of lambs, who stands atop the hall of slaughter!”

The sculpture’s six eyes began to shine brighter.

“Grant me the honor to serve you in my life and death!”

The sculpture moved. The surface that should have been stone was now moving like real flesh. Men and women were terrified, but they couldn’t move. Demon Mashiv was now upon them.

The demon looked down and smiled. And the feast began. With its three mouths, three pair of arms, and three genitals, it raped and consumed his offerings.

After a long time, Changhun realized that he just witnessed a terrible atrocity beyond imagination. The demon then grabbed Changhun’s arm and took a bite. The searing pain struck him at once.

“AAAAARGH!”

Changhun screamed in agony. When Mashiv spit it out, only the white bones of his arm was left.

<<Religion: Mashiv>>

<<Your master enjoys the pain of its hound.>>

Then, the sculpture began dismantling itself and Changhun’s bony arm was covered with new muscle and flesh.

<<Consume. Kill. Devour.>>

And the voice came to him. He felt his new master’s power filling him. He turned down to look at the arm. It was something that couldn’t be described as a human arm anymore.

<<Obtained Godly Item>>

<<Gauntlet of Fire Demon – E(~??)>>

-Binds to the body

-Grows by consuming

It was a ticket to take him to the top of this world.

The earthquake soon died down and Dohyuk finally found a safe place to hide. It was a small trailer truck turned upside down that was then covered by overgrown plants. He sat down in the storage area and sighed. The area was now in ruins. The change happened for three full hours. Dohyuk had to keep running as destruction kept occurring until now. He then placed the book on his lap.

“It’s so heavy.”

<<Book of Random Kick Art>>

The book, which was heavy, was unopenable unfortunately. It probably was because of the requirement.

Dohyuk’s current total of stats for strength, stamina, and agility was at 107, which meant he needed 8 more points. This would require him to gather 1600 coins. If Dohyuk didn’t get an additional 1443 coins, as he had 157 coins remaining, he had to carry this heavy book around.

He then felt hunger striking him. As he felt the rumbling of his stomach, he realized something.

‘It’s not only the muscle ache.’

His skill gave him strength, but it needed to equal amount of calories. He remembered that he devoured the food boxes yesterday.

‘I would need a place to rest for a long time and an abundant amount of food…’

Both of these were hard to get in the world in its current state. Also, the reason to kill another human was increasing even then. Dohyuk unwrapped one of the chains from his body.

<<Hook of Torment – D>>

He now understood some of his ‘Flavor of Iron’. If he consumed things that popped up with their name by holding it, he would heal and it would fill him up a bit. He had three chains at the moment. Dohyuk mumbled, “Digest.”

The chain disappeared.

<<Digest complete.>>

“Hmph.”

Dohyuk felt he was instantly out of hunger. It was like he just had full meal. Also-

<<Unused calories refunded into coins>>

<<Acquired 492 coins>>

“I see.”

Dohyuk thought. He began to organize what he knew about the skill. If he digested equipment, it would first give him calories, which then would be used to heal wounds first and then fill him up after. Any remaining amount would be turned into coins.

“Then…”

Dohyuk unwrapped the two other hooks.

<<Wallet>>

-Coins: 649

He just gained 492 coins by digesting the hook. If this was after some of it was used to fill himself…

“If it gives me 500 at least…”

It would bring him to 1649 coins.

He would have enough coins to increase the stats.

“Digest.”

<<Digest Complete>>

<<Digest Complete>>

<<Increased digest rate due to usage of the same type of unique weapon>>

<<Obtained Increased Pain(Lv.4)>>

Messages popped up and the message that he had been waiting for popped up at last.

<<Unused calories refunded into coins>>

<<Acquired 566 coins>>

<<Acquired 614 coins>>

“…!!!!”

Dohyuk clenched his fist in excitement. The rest was a breeze.

<<Used 1600 coins to increase agility points +8>>

Dohyuk brought the book up again and without knowing and said-

“Let’s go.”

He opened the book.