Yoo Joonghyuk didn't respond. His fingertip clicked on the item Ellain Monkey's Lungs, and the interface reacted at once.
A new system window unfolded in the air with a muted chime, its text cold and worthwhile.
[Item Information.]
[Name : Ellain Monkey's Lungs
Rating : C
Description : The Ellain Monkey's Lungs was a rare organic item that temporarily purified the surrounding air by filtering toxins, ash, and harmful particles through its mutated respiratory tissue. For 20 minutes, it created a small zone of clean, breathable air even in heavily contaminated environments.
Price : 750 C
Stock : 490]
The item would last twenty minutes, while only twelve minutes remained on the sub-scenario.
Yoo Joonghyuk's gaze lingered on the duration, his expression unchanged—but his thought moved quickly, "It's enough. We'll make it!".
"It costs that much just for twenty minutes?" Kim Namwoon blurted out. "That's it? For seven hundred and fifty coins?"
[Hey! Be grateful for it, without this item, you'd rot in there!] The dokkaebi shout with annoyance toward Kim Namwoon.
[A few Constellations thought that Incarnation 'Kim Namwoon' complains too much.]
Lee Hyunsung frowned. "That fog looks toxic enough to melt skin. Are Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi sure that's enough?"
"It's sufficient, if we don't waste it," Yoo Joonghyuk replied. "I'll buy one for each of you, just for this one time."
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' praises Incarnation 'Yoo Joonghyuk's' generosity.]
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' has sponsored Incarnation 'Yoo Joonghyuk' 350 Coins.]
He tapped confirm purchase without another word.
[2.250 coins have been consumed.]
What emerged wasn't a grotesque organ like the both of them had thought, but a compact, translucent capsule—or rather, something closer to a nose in shape, subtly curved and organic. Its surface was smooth yet faintly textured, traced with fine, vein-like patterns.
[Several Constellations wanted to take a closer look at the item.]
The color wasn't an aggressive green. It hovered in a muted turquoise tinged with a subdued blue, as if diluted by depth and age.
Kim Namwoon stared at the item. "That's... way less disgusting than I expected."
"Don't get careless," Yoo Joonghyuk said instead, his tone even rather than sharp. He took the item, its surface cool and faintly damp against his palm.
Lee Hyunsung visibly eased, though his posture remained alert. "Do we use it only after stepping outside?"
"Yes."
[Come on, come on. Are you done yet?] said the Dokkaebi, annoyed.
Beyond the boundary set by the scenario, the purple fog surged anew, rolling in heavy waves as the two colossal monsters continued tearing into one another.
Each collision sent ripples through the haze, bending the skyline behind it until buildings looked warped and unreal.
[The Constellations that are interested in fights demand to get a closer look at the fight happening in the ruins.]
[The Constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is squinting his eyes to get a clearer view.]
The Great Poisonous Rhinoceros bellowed, releasing another breath of lethal gas. Entire structures vanished into the violet cloud, their outlines dissolving like ink dropped into water.
Yoo Joonghyuk called another item, "Search for 'Splitting the Sky Sword' item."
Once again, the instant Yoo Joonghyuk called out another item's name, the Dokkaebi lurched as if struck, nearly choking on its own breath and spraying saliva in a reflexive, undignified sputter toward the Incarnations.
[A handful of Constellations are laughing at low-grade dokkaebi 'Bihyung's' reaction!]
The screen responds at once to Yoo Joonghyuk's words. Its surface rippling—then the Dokkaebi Bag's light spilling outward as the interface cleared to display a single sword.
[There is one search result.]
A compact pop-up window unfolded once more before him, its sharp, utilitarian borders unchanged, presenting the result with the same cold, indifferent clarity.
[* Splitting the Sky Sword – Stock : 12 ]
The Dokkaebi almost choked himself for the third time when the screen appeared. [Pfft—khoekk—h-how do you even know that item's name?]
This time, however, Yoo Joonghyuk ignored the dokkaebi. His eyes looked at the sword that was displayed on the screen, and he clicked the item to see more detailed information.
[Name : Splitting the Sky Sword
Rating : SS
Description : An SS-grade sword with a clean silver blade and a guard designed in a traditional Jian style. The handle is wrapped in strips for a stable and ergonomic grip. As an SS-grade weapon, it offers exceptional damage potential and durability compared to common swords, making it a highly potent offensive tool within the system.
Price : 1,000,000 C ※ Special Discount Applied (99.35%) → Purchase Cost : 6,500 C[1]
Stock : 12]
The dokkaebi froze, its pupils shrinking as it processed the numbers on the screen.
[W-wait, what?!] Bihyung screeched, its horns grew as it jabbed a finger at the window. [A 99.35% discount? Is the supplier insane?! Are you kidding me?!]
The Constellations stirred at once.
[A handful of Constellation are stunned by the abnormal discount rate!]
[The Constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' lets out a low laugh.]
Even Yoo Joonghyuk stiffened just by looking at the price.
His gaze was fixed on the purchase cost, an almost imperceptible tension running through his posture. He had expected an abnormal discount—because Yoo Joonghyuk had faced the exact same event on the previous regression.
"...What does that mean?" Kim Namwoon asked, squinting at the numbers. "Six thousand coins... is that a lot? Or cheap?"
Lee Hyunsung hesitated, eyes moving between the rating and the price. "An SS grade... that's higher than the others, right?"
Before Yoo Joonghyuk could answer, Kim Namwoon studied the screen. "We've only seen lower-grade items so far," he said, looking at his own knife. "SS doesn't tell me much, but it does feel cool."
Lee Hyunsung nodded once. "At the very least, it feels out of place."
Yoo Joonghyuk didn't comment on their uncertainty. "It's a higher rating than ordinary weapons," he said.
The name of the sword was already etched into him.
The Splitting the Sky Sword.
In Yoo Joonghyuk's previous regressions, this sword had always been his first blade—the one he took before anything else, before the scenarios grew worse.
It was the sword he relied on from the very beginning.
A straight blade with a silver color. The guard bore the restrained shape of a traditional jian. The handle was simply wrapped in strips, offering a firm grip.
Yoo Joonghyuk's gaze settled still on the swords on-screen display, his eyes moving over the listing as he read through its description with firm understanding.
Without a second thought, he bought the sword using the coins he had.
The Dokkaebi's face wasn't satisfied with the process, Yoo Joonghyuk knew that, yet the dokkaebi received the payment anyway without further complaint.
[6.500 coins have been consumed.]
Between the poisonous fog and the darkness of the tunnel, a sparkling powder gathered, appeared out of thin air. The sparkling powder swirled and condensed, slowly taking shape.
A blade formed. It was a sword—the one Yoo Joonghyuk had just bought.
The Dokkaebi's gaze shifted in midair, glancing once toward the tunnel ahead as if his interest had already drifted elsewhere.
Then the Dokkaebi spoke. [Hrmm... then I'll be going. I can't stay with you. There's something fun going on elsewhere.]
Yoo Joonghyuk didn't look at the Dokkaebi. "Do it."
The Dokkaebi hovered there for a moment longer, its expression wavering before settling.
[Huhu... then hang in there. I hope the story will bless you.]
Lights gathered beneath the Dokkaebi, swelling into a brief flash. Its figure broke apart into scattered parks, dissolving into the air.
The light faded, and the Dokkaebi was gone.
The tunnel was surrounded by darkness once more.
[A few Constellations are bored.]
One by one, the impatient Constellations withdrew their attention and left the channel.
In the darkness, the Splitting the Sky Sword emitted a faint light—barely illuminating its surroundings, but it was enough for the moment.
Yoo Joonghyuk tightened his grip on the sword and swung it.
The blade cut through the air in a clean arc, the faint light trailing behind it before settling once more. The motion settled Yoo Joonghyuk's thoughts more than it tested the sword.
He reached the items that were lying on the tunnel floor.
Three nose-like items surfaced in his palm. He handed one to Kim Namwoon, then one to Lee Hyunsung, keeping the last for himself.
"Ellain Monkey's Lungs," he said. "Use them when we're outside."
Kim Namwoon hesitated for a moment. "You have one too, right?"
Yoo Joonghyuk nodded. That was all.
Only after that did Yoo Joonghyuk check the remaining coins he had, staring at the number with a faint, indistinct feeling—too vague to be called relief.
[Coins possessed : 150]
The number sat there, small and absolute.
For a brief moment, a familiar sensation passed through him. It wasn't regret. He had already crossed that line. If anything, it was a thin sense of certainty, the knowledge that he had once again chosen the shortest path forward.
He closed the small window.
"It's fine," a thought passed through him like a gentle breeze. "I'll earn it back."
Lee Hyunsung looked at him, as if wanting to say more, but stopped.
Yoo Joonghyuk tightened his grip on the sword. The weight in his hand was steady, reassuring. Ahead lay the poisonous fog, and beyond it, whatever waited next.
"Get ready," he said.
They stepped into the poisonous fog that covered the area.
[A few Constellations are nervously watching.]
Normally, danger would follow the appearance of such messages immediately.
[The Constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is making an insidious smile.]
It was a pity for them, but nothing bad would happen to Yoo Joonghyuk. He already knew the dangers. That knowledge didn't make it less terrifying—it only allowed him to move without hesitation.
[You have entered the region of the second main scenario.]
[The land in the scenario area is deeply polluted.]
[Be careful about your breathing and move underground as quickly as possible.]
The warning message seemed almost pointless. Yoo Joonghyuk had known from the start that staying above ground was fatal. The evidence was already visible on their skin.
[You have been exposed to a poisonous fog.]
The violet haze clung to everything it touched. The exposed parts of their skin darkened almost instantly.
[You have used the Ellain Monkey's Lungs.]
Yoo Joonghyuk and the others had the Ellain Monkey's Lungs in their mouth, the small green nose-like item allowing them to breathe through the poisonous fog.
He had handed one to Kim Namwoon and one to Lee Hyunsung before stepping forward. Both men bit the item tightly in their mouth, a mix of relief and tension could be seen on their faces.
Kim Namwoon's eyes flicked toward the fog. "The fog is... really thick," he muttered, voice tight. "Are we—are we going to be okay?"
Lee Hyunsung, more reserved, simply nodded. His fingers brushed the item again, steadying himself. "The scenario said that we just need to get underground," he said. His voice carried confidence.
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is lightly touched by the Incarnations' companionship!]
[The Constellation who likes making friends is smiling with happiness.]
Yoo Joonghyuk led the way, moving slightly through the haze. The faint light of the Splitting the Sky Sword illuminated their path, cutting through the oppressive darkness caused by the fog.
Below them, small scavenger creatures fed on corpses, their sharp teeth glinting as they shifted.
Both Kim Namwoon and Lee Hyunsung followed closely, trusting his pace.
Can Yoo Joonghyuk get them all through without losing time? The question didn't linger in his mind—hesitation was a luxury they could not afford.
Each step forward was a battle against both the fog and the destroyed city itself, crumbling under the weight of monsters and chaos.
The three of them pressed on, the ruined city above giving way to the promise of Geumho Station below. For now, they had a fragile chance to survive.
[1] I'm not sure what I was thinking when I was wrote this...