[ROUND: 2]
MISSION: KILL 100 GOBLINS
DIFFICULTY: E+
REWARD: 600 GOLD
FAILURE: DEATH
TIME LIMIT: 3 HOURS
Rio arrived at the same jungle from the previous round.
"Killing goblins, huh. This should be easy considering my current stats. Let's try to finish this in under an hour."
Without wasting a second, Rio began the hunt—like a starving wolf. He tore through the goblins with ruthless precision. Those who fled were pierced by his Rune of Destruction, and those who dared to fight were sliced down by his short sword.
The goblins were the size of middle schoolers, with foul, unkempt appearances—long, jagged nails, yellowed teeth, and only rags for clothing. Their stench alone could make one gag.
> [YOU HAVE SLAIN A GOBLIN. YOU HAVE RECEIVED 30 GOLD COINS.]
[YOU HAVE SLAIN A GOBLIN. YOU HAVE RECEIVED 30 GOLD COINS.]
Rio continued, slaughtering every goblin he encountered. It was a massacre. Most couldn't even see him coming, and those who did died before they could react. His short sword dripped with thick, dark blood, its original shine completely buried beneath red.
> [YOU HAVE SLAIN A GOBLIN. YOU HAVE RECEIVED 30 GOLD.]
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: MISSION COMPLETED IN UNDER AN HOUR.]
[BONUS REWARD: 1000 GOLD.]
> MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
TOTAL REWARD: 600 GOLD + 1000 BONUS GOLD.
YOU WILL BE TELEPORTED TO THE WAITING ROOM.
ROUND 3 WILL BEGIN IN 12 HOURS. PLEASE BE READY.
---
Back in the waiting room, the blood vanished from Rio's body as if it had never been there. He didn't waste any time—he cooked the meat he'd gathered earlier and took a bath after upgrading the room.
He now had 1900 gold from this round, added to the 3000 gold he'd saved up before. He spent 500 on upgrades, stocked up on gear, and invested the remaining SP into Intelligence.
---
PLAYER STATUS
NAME: RIO
AGE: 27
CLASS: NOT CHOSEN
TITLE: ???
RANK: BEGINNER – Level 17
HP: 2775 | MP: 430
STRENGTH: 55 | INTELLIGENCE: 30
AGILITY: 43
SKILLS: Basic Swordsmanship Lv. 2, Void Arrow Lv. 1
RUNES: Rune of Regeneration, Rune of Destruction
---
"Not bad," Rio muttered, smirking. "My stats are comparable to the protagonist... maybe even better."
He leaned back.
"Skills are hard to get, though. Unlike passive or rune-based abilities, unique skills have to be practiced repeatedly. I must get one in Round 3. For now..."
He yawned, eyes half-lidded.
"...I'll sleep."
Sleep came easily. Everything had been too easy. Rio hadn't even needed to try to survive. But that comfort wouldn't last.
Because the only reason it had been easy... was because of how high his stats were.
Now, the real struggle began.
---
Hours passed.
When Rio woke up, it was almost time. He didn't bring his short sword this time—instead, he chose a dagger, brought dried meat, and wore trekking gear. From the looks of him, no one would guess he was about to face death.
> [TIME IS UP. TRANSFERRING PLAYER TO ROUND 3.]
[PLEASE CHOOSE DIFFICULTY.]
Note: Higher difficulty means higher rewards, but also higher risk of death.
1. EASY
2. NORMAL
3. HARD (NOT RECOMMENDED FOR BEGINNERS)
4. NIGHTMARE (ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, EVEN FOR ADVANCED PLAYERS)
"The choices are still the same," Rio said.
"I've cleared every mission before on different difficulties… but this Nightmare mode…" He shivered.
"Even I only cleared it three or four times... and barely survived."
He hovered over the Hard option.
"Hmm… maybe just hard this time?"
But his hand froze.
"What? Am I hesitating?"
A slow grin crawled across his face.
"Since when was I afraid of death? Hah. Maybe I've been too relaxed. Since when was I, Rio, scared of dying?"
He slammed the Nightmare option.
> [WARNING! WARNING!!]
[NIGHTMARE DIFFICULTY IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPLETE, EVEN FOR LEVEL 40+ PLAYERS.]
"YESSS. Let's go—either I die, or I make history again."
> [UNDERSTOOD. PLAYER BEING TRANSFERRED TO STARTING POINT.]
[MAY FORTUNE WALK BESIDE YOU, PLAYER RIO.]
---
MISSION: SURVIVE IN THE BLOOD WORLD FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE
DIFFICULTY: C+
REWARD: UNKNOWN (Increases the longer you survive)
FAILURE: UNKNOWN
TIME LIMIT: NONE
---
When Rio opened his eyes, he was speechless.
It was like the end of the world.
The ground was split and broken, the sky glowed a deep, bloody red. Cracks ran across the land like scars, as if torn apart by giants. The silence was chilling—no people, no creatures, not even wind.
Then, the tremors began.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Rio dropped flat to the ground like a soldier in enemy territory.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Closer.
And then—BOOM.
A massive foot stomped next to him. Rio dared to look up.
There it stood—a monster beyond description. Its body was covered in dark, shaggy hair. Its hands had no nails, but each of its four fingers ended in metal-like claws. It had too many eyes to count—so many that Rio couldn't even find its mouth.
It walked forward, vanishing into the distance.
Even when it was gone, the sound of its steps echoed.
"…Hah… haha… insane…" Rio whispered. "I can't believe I actually saw it…"
"The ancient monster—Argus. Renowned for its hundred eyes… and the strongest in this world."
He stood up slowly.
"I need to find shelter. Fast."
---