*Thump-thump—*

Ha Gangwoo walked forward, listening to the beat of his own heart.

*Whoosh—* A chill wind grazed his cheek, and an eerie shiver raked across his entire body.

On the barren earth stood a man, wreathed in a fierce golden light.

‘I have to win.’

There was a reason Ha Gangwoo had complied with Kang Seongbin’s terms.

The anxiety about his combat rank.

Day two, he’d taken down a Hidden Boss designed for a hundred players.

But he hadn’t done any proper hunting since.

Before Ha Gangwoo could do a thing, his teammates handled everything.

That was what gnawed at him. Had he earned an S-Rank?

But if he could just beat Kang Seongbin — who’d gathered all the Crowns through sheer combat power — he wouldn’t have to worry.

Ha Gangwoo’s face hardened into a cold mask as he stood before Kang Seongbin.

The ground beneath them screamed.

Kang Seongbin, blazing with intense gold.

Ha Gangwoo, glowing with a faint blue.

Two fierce auras churned against each other.

The watching players clenched their fists without realizing it.

“Whoa… I gotta record this. Anyone got battery left!?”

“Ran out ages ago. I really want a video, though. Could sell it to the press for a nice chunk.”

Two hundred players watched the scene, their interest piqued.

S-Rank player Kang Seongbin.

Based on what he’d shown so far, even a Ranker’s seat wasn’t out of reach.

And that monster had gathered every single Crown.

Anyone would assume Kang Seongbin’s victory, no matter his opponent.

But the spectators were curious.

“That’s the L-Grade guy, right.”

The player who earned an L-Grade in the Tutorial. The kind of figure that goes down in history.

Living up to that reputation, he’d dragged Blue Team to six straight first-place finishes.

*Thump-thump—*

“Who’s gonna win?”

The players wondered.

At the end of this long trial, just who would be the one still standing?

***

“Hoooh…”

Kang Seongbin’s expression darkened as he watched the man emerge from the castle.

*Thump-thump—*

As that man approached, Ha Gangwoo’s heart—which hadn’t even raced when he killed his first monster—began hammering wildly.

Gulp—

He swallowed dry spit without meaning to.

Crunch—

And that made him angry.

‘Am I scared?’

Kang Seongbin was afraid of that man, afraid without even realizing it.

The source of a defeat he’d never felt before. A talent that surpassed his own.

Thump—thump—

For Seongbin, this fight was everything.

‘I’ll win!’

He had to beat that man, surpass him, and reclaim what was his.

Seongbin narrowed his eyes and pulled out the mask he’d been saving.

A mask rippling with alien darkness. An item from Keibarnto Cave.

He put it on, spread his legs wide, and lowered his stance.

‘I’ll win.’

His opponent was an L-Grade monster. Rush in half-assed and he might get taken down.

So Seongbin bet everything he had.

Ding-

[You release the Demon Hand!]

Grrrrrind—

The moment he activated the Artifact, the gear embedded in his right shoulder turned once.

“Ugh!”

Pain like bones being scraped raw tore through his whole body.

WHOOOOOSH—

Rust-colored vapor oozed thickly from the gear.

The moment that vapor enveloped him,

Shiiiiink—

A black arm—the eye embedded on its hand flashed, then opened.

Ding-

[Demonic energy consumes your body.]

The annoying System chime lingered in his ears, but it still wasn’t enough.

“I’ll win!”

Seongbin grit his teeth and activated the Artifact again.

Ding-

[You release Demon Hand II.]

Grrrrind—

The gear turned once more,

HIIIIIISSS—

And thick Demonic energy engulfed him completely.

The Demonic energy mingled with a golden radiance, becoming an alien force.

And then, in that moment, the rust-colored mana and golden light fused into one across Seongbin’s entire body.

CRACK—

Starting with the massive horn on his forehead, then a tail, wings, and a dread Demon Eye—

Kang Seongbin had transformed into a demon.

-Grrrrr

He was only breathing, but just seeing him like that made the other Players tense up.

“Whoa… so that’s the Demon trait…”

“Never seen it for real before.”

Demon trait.

Known as an all-around trait—specialized for PVP and hunting alike.

And among Demon traits, Kang Seongbin was famous for being S-Rank.

Seeing him like that, the Players were certain.

“Ah… I should’ve bet on Seongbin.”

“This’ll be over fast. I just wanna do my Job Change already.”

This PVP would be Seongbin’s win.

But as if answering that certainty,

HIIIIIISSS—

Deep darkness flowed from Ha Gangwoo’s whole body,

Ding-

[You have used Demonization.]

[All stats increase by 100%.]

[ Demon Eye effect acquired. ]

[ Demon Horns effect acquired. ]

[ Demon Wings effect acquired. ]

-Grrrrrr…

Ha Gangwoo had turned into a demon himself.

“What the hell?!”

“Is that even possible?!”

The Players who’d bet on Kang Seongbin’s victory stood frozen, unable to look away.

Now that the gap in Traits had vanished—

Gulp—

The Players swallowed dry spit, their eyes locked on the duel.

***

Thump-thump—

Ha Gangwoo stared at the man ahead through a world lit red.

‘Strong.’

He could feel Kang Seongbin’s intent—Demonization from the very start.

”Coming at me with everything. That’s the message.”

The Demon Hand unleashed from the opening bell. A crawling dread that renewed every second.

That man was coming into this PVP with a killer’s resolve.

A duel where one slip could mean death.

Every cell in his body felt like it was waking up.

*Tch—*

Ha Gangwoo felt the tension pull his mouth into a smile.

‘Come on!’

Ha Gangwoo spread his senses wide, planting both feet apart.

As if in answer to his thought—

Kang Seongbin flared his massive wings. *Boom!* The air burst apart as he shot straight at Ha Gangwoo.

‘Fast!’

Ha Gangwoo’s eyes went wide, trying to burn the movement into his pupils.

But *shiiip*—he lost Kang Seongbin’s form.

Kang Seongbin’s Stats were quadrupled by the Crown’s effect.

They had blown clean past Ha Gangwoo’s Agility.

Ha Gangwoo’s eyes darted, hunting for the movement he’d lost.

But *shiiip*—Kang Seongbin was already swinging his greatsword toward Ha Gangwoo’s abdomen.

An overwhelming speed gap. Blocking was already out of the question.

‘I’m hit!’

Ha Gangwoo saw the strike coming and knew it.

Even in the Transcendent realm, that blade would carve through his belly.

Which meant he needed something else.

‘Seismic Stomp!’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ha Gangwoo stamped the earth.

Ding-

[ Activated: Demon: Seismic Stomp. ]

*CRACK!!!!!*

A tremendous quake—the ground under his feet screamed.

For an instant, Kang Seongbin’s stance wobbled. A crack of an opening appeared.

Ha Gangwoo seized it, taking one step back.

*Fwoosh-*

Kang Seongbin’s greatsword cleaved through Ha Gangwoo’s afterimage, slicing empty air.

“Huh?!”

Kang Seongbin’s face flashed confusion as he stared at the target he’d just lost.

‘My chance!’

And Ha Gangwoo didn’t let it slip.

With the Stat gap as wide as it was, this window would never open again.

*Crackle-*

*Thump!* Ha Gangwoo pounded the ground with his left leg, his right hand clenching tight into a fist.

To use the best skill he had.

*—Force Discharge!*

The moment the Activation word crossed his mind—

*CRACK!!!*

Ha Gangwoo’s sharp fist slammed straight into Kang Seongbin’s ribs.

***

*GONG!*

The air detonates under a colossal impact, shaking the very atmosphere.

“Whoa… that’s insane.”

“He’s really still a Player who hasn’t even changed jobs, right?”

Watching the scene unfold, the Players found their jaws dropping involuntarily as they stared at the fight before them.

“Ugh!”

Kang Seongbin winced at the latest attack, stumbling a step back.

But that pause was brief.

*Whumph!* He kicked off the ground once more, charging forward.

He was so fast he was invisible.

Just when it seemed it was all over—*GONG!*—Ha Gangwoo responded to that speed.

It was truly a clash from another world.

But the battle, which had seemed evenly matched, began to tilt, little by little.

*Slish-*

Kang Seongbin’s greatsword began carving into Ha Gangwoo’s flesh, inch by inch.

“Blue’s starting to lose ground…”

“Just keeping up this long is impressive. They say Seongbin’s stats got multiplied four times.”

Kang Seongbin’s Stats already exceeded those of an average Player.

And on top of that naturally high base, the Crown had multiplied them fourfold.

In contrast, the only Buff Ha Gangwoo had received was a 2x stat boost from the Crown he wore.

The only reason he’d held out this long was the increased movement speed from his Costume and Swift Movements.

But even that struggle seemed to be reaching its limit.

*Whum- Slish-*

‘Too fast!’

Without fail, Kang Seongbin’s blade was about to cut into Ha Gangwoo’s body.

Ha Gangwoo strained his Sense to its absolute limit, locking onto Seongbin’s movements.

*Whum-Slish- Whum-Slish-*

A barrage of attacks too fast to even register grazed his cheek, slicing his skin.

In that moment, life and death were determined by split-second decisions.

*Slish-*

The pain shattered Ha Gangwoo’s concentration.

Kang Seongbin didn’t miss that instant of weakness.

*Slish-*

The massive greatsword carved straight across Ha Gangwoo’s abdomen.

Black blood gushed from the wound left in the blade’s wake.

“Haaah… haaah…”

Ha Gangwoo gasped for breath, sinking to one knee on the ground.

“It’s over.”

“Ahh… I should’ve just picked Red…”

Watching the scene, the Players thought the PVP was finished.

The final blow had been so sharp and deep it was a miracle his torso was still attached.

But Ha Gangwoo didn’t give up.

“Haaah… haaah…”

*Ding-*

[You have consumed 700 HP.]

[Restoring physical damage.]

Using the ability of Demonization, Ha Gangwoo regenerated the severed flesh of his abdomen.

In an instant, the excruciating pain subsided.

‘What do I do?’

His body was healed, but the situation was dire.

He’d expected it, but Kang Seongbin was even stronger than he’d thought.

‘He still has his reason.’

Kang Seongbin’s Trait gnaws away at his reason.

That was why Ha Gangwoo had thought he had a chance. Even with a Stat difference, someone reduced to pure instinct was no different from a Low-Grade Monster.

But it wasn’t like that at all.

“This time, victory is mine!”

Kang Seongbin fixed Ha Gangwoo with a glare from his eerie green eyes and spat out the words.

Right now, Kang Seongbin was lucid enough to speak properly and tactical in battle.

And that meant there were no openings.

‘Is it because of that mask…?’

The green Demonic energy from Kang Seongbin was being absorbed into the mask’s grotesque mouth.

“Huuuh…”

Ha Gangwoo steadied his breath and pushed himself to his feet.

‘Is this all I’ve got?’

Even after using Demonization, he was outmatched in every aspect.

Speed, strength, skills—everything.

That left him with only one option.

[Fortune Coin] [Flame God]

Grade: ???

Description: A coin of luck. Its effect activates the moment you flick it with your finger. (The coin disappears upon activation.)

Effect

78% (8↑) chance to obtain the ‘Flame God’ effect.

22% (8↓) chance of failure.

Ha Gangwoo placed the small coin on his thumb.

‘This is it.’

Even if he got the effect, he wasn’t sure he’d win—but this was all he had left.

*Ting!*

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ha Gangwoo flicked the coin.

*Whir-whir-whir-*

The coin spun hundreds of times, then—*thud*—hit the ground.

*Ding-*

[You have acquired the Flame God effect.]

*Whoosh-*

A fierce blaze erupted across Ha Gangwoo’s entire body.

***

*Whoosh-*

An intense heat baked the ground red.

“Whoa! What the hell is that now!”

“Crazy… that’s almost Trait-level firepower…”

The players watching Ha Gangwoo’s roaring flames winced at the heat, unable to look away.

*Thump—thump—*

Kang Seongbin grinned, watching Ha Gangwoo’s flames.

‘That’s how it should be.’

Demonization wasn’t enough—now he had flames too.

He didn’t know what kind of Trait it was, but *grind*—Kang Seongbin was confident.

The power surging through his entire body.

And the mind that Demonic energy had made hazy was, today, razor-sharp.

[Keibarnto Black Mask]

Grade: A

Durability: 61/100

Defense: 515

Strength: +221

Vitality: +201

Effect

– Purifies madness. (Consumes durability upon purification.)

It was thanks to this item, acquired on day two.

A clear mind, surging power—and he had overwhelmed even that strong Ha Gangwoo.

‘Let’s see what you’ve got!’

Kang Seongbin didn’t hesitate. He kicked off the ground with all his might and charged.

*Bang!*

The earth under his foot exploded like a bomb.

*Whoosh—*

Kang Seongbin was already swinging his greatsword toward Ha Gangwoo’s neck.

A speed that truly surpassed limits.

‘Fast!’

Ha Gangwoo barely blocked the greatsword slicing toward his neck.

Even with the Flame God, he couldn’t overcome the stat gap.

*Crack—*

Ha Gangwoo’s hands and the great sword met with a shuddering crunch as they locked into a contest of raw strength.

Crack—

But Kang Seongbin’s overwhelming Strength ground Ha Gangwoo’s flesh away, peeling it in strips.

“I win!”

And so Kang Seongbin was certain of victory.

Whoosh—

A fierce blaze engulfed Kang Seongbin’s entire body,

Ding—

[You have recovered 1,000 HP.]

[You have recovered 1,000 HP.]

…

…

..

He smothered the flames with an utterly absurd recovery rate.

“Die!!!”

Certain this was the end, Kang Seongbin pressed down on the great sword with all his might.

Crack—

The blade sheared through Ha Gangwoo’s right arm, crushed his left, and raced toward his throat.

Kang Seongbin’s eyes flickered with a sinister light, and a smirk curled the corner of his lips.

“It’s over.”

He believed everything was finished.

The trampled pride, the insurmountable wall—he had leapt beyond it all.

Kang Seongbin tasted a sense of accomplishment unlike anything he’d ever felt. He swung the sword in a smooth arc—swoosh—and so it went.

Crack—the great sword’s terrible edge split the bones of Ha Gangwoo’s hands, then shot toward his throat with a swish.

But at that moment,

Ding—

[Demonic energy amplifies the effect of Flame God.]

[You have acquired the effect of Demon God(Flame).]

Whoosh—

In an instant, a massive black flame began to scorch everything around.

***

“Woah!”

“Everyone, get back!!!”

An infernal heat surged with them.

Whoosh—

A colossal black pillar of fire shot high into the sky.

Its intense heat seared the ground and melted the surrounding forest.

“What the hell happened?”

“Didn’t Kang Seongbin win?”

The match had been decided. Kang Seongbin had clearly severed Ha Gangwoo’s arms and struck at his neck.

And then, that violent black flame erupted.

Everyone burned with curiosity over how the fight had turned out.

The terrible pillar of fire blazed for a full minute.

But the heat subsided just as quickly. Fssss—the pillar of fire gradually sank.

“…”

Gulp—

The two hundred Players held their breath, their eyes fixed on the pillar’s center.

Fsssss—

The residual heat still spewed black smoke into the air.

And they could see it. In the heart of the scorched zone. A man stood there.

Whoom—

Two massive horns, a tail that marked a demon, and even wings.

With both men sharing the same features, it should have been easy to mistake them—but the light flowing over the man’s body declared his allegiance.

“It’s Blue!!!”

“Ha Gangwoo won!”

A blue aura rippled across his entire form.

The final victor was the leader of the Blue Team. Ha Gangwoo.

“Wooow!!!!”

“Fuck, I should’ve recorded that. So goddamn epic!”

“Master!!!”

“That’s our leader!”

The two hundred Players erupted in cheers.

As if in answer to that cheer, a colossal system window rose into the sky.

Ding-

[The Red Crown has passed to Blue!!!]

[The Trial has ended.]

[Congratulations! The final victor is Blue Team.]

The long, seven-day survival game was over.

Two hundred players’ job-change trials had come to a close.