At the edge of the altar.

BOOM!!! A tremendous shock shook the earth.

[20 MP consumed.]

Seohyun knelt, placed her hand on Gangwoo’s shoulder, and activated her skill.

[20 MP consumed.]

The System’s prompts kept clattering through her mind.

Each time, Seohyun’s expression flickered.

[20 MP consumed.]

[Holy light heals the target.]

A golden glow seeped into Gangwoo’s body. The torn-off arm began to reattach, piece by piece.

With every passing second, Seohyun’s face grew more pallid.

Suddenly Seohyun’s expression crumpled.

‘This is my fault!’

She blamed herself entirely for bringing the situation this far.

Gangwoo had been strong enough to trade blows with a demon.

If she’d only had the Judgment of Destruction, they might have cleared this floor and reached the 4th by now.

‘What do I do…’

Her own wrong call had caused this hopeless situation.

Blaming herself, Seohyun pushed the skill recklessly.

“Hah… hahh…”

[20 HP converted to 10 MP.]

[20 HP converted to 10 MP.]

…

The process of converting HP to MP was mentally agonizing. But she didn’t stop.

‘I can’t give up…’

Seohyun had a goal she could never abandon.

‘To have come this far…’

No matter how hard she racked her brain, she couldn’t see a way to reverse this.

The hand healing Gangwoo trembled violently.

She was more afraid of seeing all her plans fall apart than of dying.

‘Should I give up… like this…’

Chae Seohyun ground her teeth.

Grow stronger. Become a Ranker.

Find that man.

Kill him — that was the goal.

It was why she still drew breath. Her reason for living.

But one split-second judgment call had landed her on the verge of being eliminated on the third floor.

Chae Seohyun cast Light of Healing as she wrestled with her thoughts.

No matter how hard she turned it over, no good move came to mind.

If they stayed like this, the whole party would be eliminated. So —

‘At least turn this man to my side.’

Everyone was going down anyway. Sacrifice herself to secure one powerful ally.

Right now, that was the best hand she had to play.

The first time she saw Kang Seongbin, she’d pegged him as easy Ranker material.

But this man casually outclassed even Seongbin.

If he ended up on her side, he’d be a rock-solid asset.

Thoughts collided — and then,

Shhhhh—

Ha Gangwoo opened his eyes.

He blinked slowly, stared straight ahead.

“Hahh… hahh…”

Chae Seohyun’s warm breath brushed the tip of his nose.

Because her face — pale as ash — was right in front of his, gasping for air.

The moment she saw Gangwoo’s eyes open, she collapsed onto the floor with a thud.

Ghost-white face, trembling body. How much MP did it take to push someone to this state?

Given her condition, she’d clearly overdone it.

Gangwoo looked down at his body. The arm that had been torn off was back in place.

A hot ache still lingered, but it wouldn’t stop him from moving.

He rolled his shoulder and looked at Chae Seohyun.

‘I owe her one…’

Without her, he’d have been eliminated. Had he been too careless? The demon was stronger than he’d imagined.

‘This isn’t some Monster meant to be caught… Or maybe… it can only be killed with Judgment of Destruction…’

The arrogant demon’s attitude — letting itself get hit to toy with them.

If he’d only had Judgment of Destruction, he might have killed it without much trouble.

But using Judgment of Destruction costs a life.

Gangwoo’s face twisted.

‘Is that the only card I have left…’

As Gangwoo racked his brain—

BOOM!!!

The ground shuddered with a massive explosion.

Gangwoo turned toward the source.

Kang Seongbin was getting pummeled into the ground. Arm torn off, torso caved in — and still he kept getting back up.

*What the hell is that…*

Gangwoo scrambled to his feet. Seongbin looked like he was reaching his limit too.

The moment he stood — *pat.* Chae Seohyun grabbed his wrist.

“Hold on… huff… huff…”

As Ha Gangwoo watched, Chae Seohyun’s face was a shade of pale blue as she forced the words out.

“I… I’ll sacrifice myself…”

Chae Seohyun winced as she spoke.

“But instead… I have a request…”

Chae Seohyun gasped for breath as she spoke, struggling.

Ha Gangwoo placed a hand on her shoulder and handed her a Potion.

“No need for sacrifice. Just give me your Buff.”

“What?”

For a moment, Chae Seohyun stared at Ha Gangwoo’s face, dumbfounded. As always, it was expressionless, and his unwavering gaze met hers.

She knew all too well how hollow that man’s words were. And yet.

Chae Seohyun’s expression quivered subtly.

And yet, why did a corner of her heart feel strangely at ease?

She felt an inexplicable trust born from everything Ha Gangwoo had shown her so far.

***

A dazzling light enveloped Ha Gangwoo’s entire body.

[Sacred Blessing]

Caster: Chae Seohyun

Duration: 59 minutes 59 seconds

Description: The mighty power of light has taken root in your body!!

Effects

– All Stats increased by 30%

– Grants Holy Effect on attacks.

– Sacred energy protects you. (200/200)

*Huumm-* A faint golden light rippled across Ha Gangwoo’s entire body.

“I’ll be back.”

Ha Gangwoo handed Chae Seohyun all the remaining Potions and started walking.

Chae Seohyun couldn’t let the man who saved her sacrifice himself. Besides, she had a reason to trust him.

Ha Gangwoo headed toward the tattered equipment lying on the floor.

“Hoo…”

He steadied his breath and tore off his shredded top.

[Acquired: Gray Leather Armor (Top)]

Grade: F

Durability: 0/20

Defense: 21

Vitality: +9

Description: Exclusive armor for the Starter Package!! Performance superior to average armor.

It was a shame, but the armor, drained of light by the demon’s attack, seemed beyond saving.

Ha Gangwoo picked up the fallen arms. A shield in his left hand, a spear in his right.

Then, *thunk-* he drove the lance into the floor.

‘I can do this.’

Ha Gangwoo steadied his mind.

Now that the Lightning God’s effect had worn off, the situation was worse than before.

But, there was that.

The power that had brought him to this very spot.

The power that had saved him when he had abandoned everything.

[Trait: DLC]

That Trait, precisely.

*Ding-*

[DLC—Purchased: Lucky Pouch of Crisis x5.]

With the 100,000 Gold he’d gotten from taking down Beiron, he bought every last lucky pouch remaining.

Instantly, five red lucky pouches popped into existence.

Ha Gangwoo ran his fingers over Sero’s Ring, gleaming on his right hand.

[Sero’s Ring]

Grade: C

Durability: 5/5

Description: A ring once used by Sero. Crafted from Luck-attracting Elon Stone. It houses immense power.

(Caution!! Durability is low. Be careful not to destroy the item!!)

Effects

– Consumes all Durability to activate ‘Elon Stone’.

‘It’ll definitely help.’

Sero’s Ring—reputed to call good fortune.

At no time had he needed luck more.

Ha Gangwoo clenched his fist, muscles tightening as he stared down at Sero’s Ring.

A low hum thrummed through the air as the band shimmered green.

Ding-

[The Elon Stone activates.]

The best judgment he could make.

Ha Gangwoo tore open all six lucky pouches at once.

Bang!

[Flame Petal]

Grade: E

Description: A petal from the Fire Tree, a blazing tree. Used for a variety of purposes.

Bang!

[Night Grape]

Grade: D

Description: A Shalon specialty—the Night Grape. Its sweet and tangy flavor is excellent.

Bang!

[Scroll (Clean)]

Grade: F

Description: A scroll imbued with Purification magic. Removes impurities from the entire body upon use.

Up to that point, it was still a disaster.

But he hadn’t given up hope.

Bang!

[Amplification Magic Circle Scroll]

Grade: B

Description: A scroll containing potent magic. Useful for ranged-focused classes. Send your enemies flying with a trump card.

Effect

-Creates a 10-meter-diameter circular magic circle in front of you. Increases the damage, range, destructive power, and crushing power of skills that pass through it.

(Magic circle creation time: 1 minute)

(Duration: 30 minutes)

Bang!

[Elin’s Elixir]

Grade: C

Description: A tonic made by dissolving a Blue Dragon’s heart. Contains immense mana power.

Effect

-Increases MP recovery by 1,000% for 1 minute.

The fourth and fifth. Not bad. Maybe it was the critical situation, but they were actually B-grade and C-grade items.

Still, the decisive piece was missing.

Ha Gangwoo’s face crumpled as he ripped open the last lucky pouch.

‘Please!’

It was called the Lucky Pouch of Crisis, wasn’t it. Right at the final, truly desperate moment, that item burst forth.

With a bang and a puff of smoke.

[The power of the Elon Stone has been activated.]

The ring on his finger blazed with intense light.

Huum-

A single bullet, shimmering with iridescent colors.

[Bullet of Ruin]

Grade: S

Description: A bullet imbued with the chaotic power to crush everything. (Caution!! Your weapon may be destroyed upon use.)

Attack Power: 9,999

Effect

-Grants the Ruin attribute.

*Ruin attribute—Crushes the target, rendering it unable to recover.

‘S-grade?’

And that attack power was insane.

The C-grade lance’s attack power was 89. But this bullet’s attack power was on a different order of magnitude.

Ha Gangwoo’s fists clenched tight with new strength.

A true life-or-death moment—and exactly the item he needed had appeared.

A gleam hardened in Ha Gangwoo’s eyes.

Now all the tools were ready.

A bitter smile touched his lips.

‘I can handle this.’

The DLC hadn’t betrayed him after all.

With an item like this, he could kill that demon and have power to spare.

All he had to do was blow Lucifel’s head off with this bullet, and everything would be over.

*Click—*

Ha Gangwoo loaded the Bullet of Ruin into his Mana-Imbued Pistol.

“Let’s go.”

Just as Ha Gangwoo was about to take a step,

“Oppa~!”

Lee Ayeon approached him with an innocent look.

“Come talk with me for a sec~!”

Ha Gangwoo gave her a puzzled look.

“What’s that about…”

***

“Hah… hah…”

Kang Seongbin’s body was blackened as if rotting. A horn-like shape flickered on his right forehead. A green light blazed in his eyes.

Every time he exhaled a deep breath, a guttural, phlegmy growl rumbled from his throat, like an animal’s snarl.

Kang Seongbin had completely lost his mind.

“AAAAH!”

Kang Seongbin charged at Lucifel with a roar.

The moment his foot struck the ground, the earth exploded with a *thud*.

It was speed beyond anything Kang Seongbin had shown before.

*Whoosh*—Kang Seongbin tore through the air as he closed in.

Lucifel watched him, a grin spreading across his face as he bared his teeth in amusement.

“Where’d you get that power?”

Lucifel asked, but Kang Seongbin was in no state to answer.

Kang Seongbin’s body hurtled straight at Lucifel, and he swung a fist.

*Whoong—*

But the fist only swiped through empty air,

*Crunch—*

as Kang Seongbin’s arm was torn away.

“Grrr—”

Kang Seongbin’s face twisted in agony, then he opened his mouth wide and bit down on Lucifel’s arm.

*Crack*—The moment green blood gushed out—

*Squelch—*

Kang Seongbin’s torn-off right arm sprouted back from his body, reattaching itself.

A veritable demon.

Kang Seongbin, too, possessed power akin to a demon’s.

“Oh?!”

Lucifel looked down at Kang Seongbin with interest, then grabbed his head in a swift grip.

“AAAAH!”

Kang Seongbin, lost to reason, thrashed like a wild beast. But he couldn’t escape Lucifel’s grasp.

“I asked you where you got that power.”

Lucifel asked again,

“AAAAH!”

but Kang Seongbin only screamed like a madman. Lucifel’s expression hardened.

“You’re loud.”

*Crunch—*

Annoyed, Lucifel squeezed his fingers tighter. And with each squeeze,

*Crunch*—blood burst from Kang Seongbin’s ears. Tears of blood streamed from his eyes. Vivid red blood erupted from his nostrils.

“AAAAH!”

Kang Seongbin’s head was being crushed.

And then—

Kang Seongbin’s mouth split wide open, and a green light gathered at the corners of his lips,

*BLLLLAAAAM—*

as it fired.

*BOOM!!!*

The emerald light slammed straight into Lucifel’s face.

Steam hissed as the beam’s heat boiled the air.

Vapor churned in the light’s wake.

Lucifel released Seongbin’s head and ran a hand over his own face.

His face was collapsing inward like a melting scoop of ice cream.

For an instant, Lucifel’s face contorted in terror.

Lucifel’s skin regrows in a wet rasp of sound, knitting back together in an instant. His expression doesn’t change.

“The game is over.”

The voice scrapes like steel on stone — and in the same breath—

Crack—

Both of Kang Seongbin’s arms are torn from his body.

Thud. Two arms strike the ground.

“Aaaaagh!”

The moment Kang Seongbin let out a scream of agony.

A solid thrust—it pierced straight through Kang Seongbin’s heart.

A wet cough—crimson blood splattered from the corner of Kang Seongbin’s mouth.

Lucifel’s expression turned icy cold as he watched the scene unfold.

“I thought it was just a similar kind of power, but the sleazy, filthy quality is exactly the same as that bastard.”

The demon taunted him, but Kang Seongbin gave no reaction. Only instinct remained, thrashing for survival.

“Ugh—!”

He thrashed like a madman, his pierced body latching onto Lucifel.

Crunch— The closer Kang Seongbin got to Lucifel, the more blood gushed from his chest, spilling down in a torrent.

Reaching within arm’s reach of Lucifel, Kang Seongbin bit down on his shoulder again with a sickening crunch.

The sight was nothing short of a rabid zombie.

But then—

Cr-unch—

The gnawing motion slowly ground to a halt.

Kang Seongbin’s body was dying.

That was when—

Bang!

A sound—

And with it, a streak of something shot toward Lucifel.

Lucifel winced and dodged the object.

He was getting tired of this little game of savoring the pain.

Kang Seongbin’s form collapsed to the floor with a thud.

Lucifel’s crimson eyes tracked the trajectory of the flying object.

There stood the one who had just brought him pleasure — and the man he had killed.

A wide grin split Lucifel’s face.

Mad laughter permeated his expression.

“I’ll grind you to dust this time.”

And so the second round between Ha Gangwoo and Lucifel began.