Clang!!! A violent crash erupted across the arena.

“Uh…”

The woman who had stepped onto the duel field to save Hwang Taeseong—Kim Jisoo—collapsed to the ground, her hands trembling.

‘What… what just happened?’

Kim Jisoo had sensed death. The blade had flown toward her face, bringing with it a chilling dread, a cold shiver down her spine.

A brush with mortality she’d felt before, in the Tower of Tutorial.

But there wasn’t a single wound on her body. The only pain came from her tailbone, where she’d hit the floor.

‘The blade was right in front of my eyes…’

Kim Jisoo pieced it together and spotted it.

“A… a kid?”

A small child, standing defiantly before her.

A crimson aura flickered from the dagger in those tiny hands.

‘That kid saved me? No way.’

As Kim Jisoo swallowed dryly, unable to believe her imagination-

“You shouldn’t bully weak people!!!”

Mimic’s voice rang out, sharp and clear. She held the dagger in both hands, and the stance looked surprisingly solid.

‘When did she get over there?’

Ha Gangwoo watched her and cracked a grin.

When he’d first started teaching her the sword, Mimic had raised a few questions.

“Rain said we should all get along!”

It was a notion she’d picked up from Rain and Teil—too peaceful, too idealistic.

So Gangwoo had planted a new set of values in her.

“Fighting doesn’t mean you’re not on good terms. And…”

A long talk had reshaped her thinking, and this very scene was the fruit of that lesson.

“Kid! That’s dangerous!”

“Hey! If you don’t want to get hurt, take it easy!”

The surrounding players scrambled into motion.

The sparring had gone far past acceptable limits—and now a tiny child stood in its path.

Things had gotten complicated, but—

‘This is entertaining.’

Gangwoo felt a flicker of interest.

Hadn’t he been curious about Mimic’s level anyway? And now a high-difficulty opponent had practically walked in.

“Move this guy first!”

People carried the wounded Hwang Taeseong away.

“Catch her, NOW!!!”

An Association official climbed onto the ring, holding a Player-restraining Artifact.

The situation seemed to be winding down smoothly.

Grin—

But the rust-tinged man, Hua Yian, bared his teeth in a bone-chilling smile.

Ziiing—

The vibration still humming in his fingertips.

‘The hell is that brat?’

Hua Yian stared at the little girl before him, a question burning in his mind.

A six-year-old’s tiny frame—what kind of Trait gave her that monstrous strength?

An elite raised by the Association? If so, her Trait had to be broken.

‘I’m curious.’

Hua Yian curled the corners of his mouth into a malicious smirk.

And the urge surged up.

What color are that kid’s organs? Right now, he wanted to slit her belly open and smell the blood.

Thump— Thump—

His heart pounded; the rust-colored Demonic Energy crackled through his whole body.

Hua Yian was sinking deeper into madness.

Grin—

Hua Yian let out a manic laugh as he Crunch—gripped his sword.

And in that moment, he took a single step forward.

Crackle—the rust color that had wrapped his body faded away.

The green gleam that had clouded his pupils died out, fizzling away.

‘…’

[The Madness effect has ended.]

The burning desire that had flared up Poof—vanished in an instant.

“Ugh!”

Hua Yian wiped his forehead and grimaced.

The dizzy, chaotic vision cleared, sharp and clean.

“Hey! If you cause any more trouble, you’ll be restrained!”

An Association staff member shouted at him.

“Uwaaah!!!!”

The man with the severed arm howled in agony.

With his mind clear, the things he’d done came into sharp focus.

‘…This one’s useless.’

Hua Yian scratched the back of his head and let out a sigh.

Cube No. 9—something he’d gone to great lengths to obtain, seduced by the promise of overwhelming power.

But to think his reason would be this thoroughly blown away. It wasn’t the ability he’d wanted.

Just as Hua Yian’s face twisted into a bitter expression—

“Drop your weapon and put both hands behind your head!”

An Association staffer bellowed at the top of his lungs. Hua Yian had nothing to fear, but there was no need to complicate things further by resisting.

He compliantly set his sword on the ground and spread his palms wide.

The blade hissed as it settled toward the floor—

‘…’

Crack—

Hua Yian snatched the sword back up.

‘I don’t want to let that one go.’

He stared straight ahead, his gaze turning cold and sharp.

A six-year-old girl was aiming a red dagger at him.

She was consumed by madness, but the memory was vivid.

That brat had casually stopped his full strength. He was dying to know what kind of Trait she had.

And so Hua Yian made his decision.

‘Take her.’

The deed was already done, and running wild wouldn’t change a thing anyway.

Ding—

[Cube No. 10] – 20/20

[Generating Cube No. 10.]

A small cube sucked into Hua Yian’s palm with a sharp clap.

The cube was filled with black smoke inside a transparent glass shell.

‘Not bad.’

This was the Trait he’d earned from the fight.

“Hey! You sly bastard—!”

The Association staffer was mid-bellow—

Crrrunch! Sssssshhh—

The cube in Hua Yian’s hand burst, and a massive cloud of black mist flooded the surrounding area.

“Whoa!”

“Cough! Cough!”

The black mist erupted without warning.

The people who had been standing on the sparring arena scrambled down off the ring to escape the thick smoke.

In the chaos, as the haze slowly began to clear, they could make out—

“What the hell!!”

A transparent barrier had spread around the square arena, sealing it in like an inverted clear box.

‘A Trait?’

Ha Gangwoo slowly approached the sparring arena.

The barrier was smooth as plastic, and despite a nearby Player hacking at it with a blade—swish, clang!!!—it didn’t even get a scratch.

‘Interesting.’

Just as Gangwoo was taking an interest in the barrier—

Ssssh— The black mist over the arena fully dissipated, revealing the inside.

“Cough— cough—”

A single woman was coughing from the black smoke.

“Ooh~! What’s this?”

Mimic beamed with delight, staring at the transparent barrier around the arena.

“…”

And Hua Yian, staring at Mimic with a chilling expression.

A sinister killing intent spread thickly across the arena.

The Players nearby sensed the danger and began to scramble.

Woong— Clang!!!

“Why is this thing so hard!!! Get a high-level Player over here!!!”

A player scowled, pounding on the transparent barrier.

“Get the Crime Management Division! Tell them there’s a kid in here!!!”

A player barked the order, desperate.

Chaos spread in an instant.

‘Weird bastard.’

Amid the turmoil, Ha Gangwoo watched Hua Yian, puzzled.

Just five minutes ago, the man had been radiating a sinister rust-colored Demonic Energy. Now it was gone without a trace.

Then, suddenly, he’d taken an interest in Mimic and thrown up a strange barrier — like he wanted something.

‘What’s he after? Just crazy? Or does he want something else?’

Questions churned in his mind, but the situation wasn’t bad.

He’d wanted to test Mimic’s full power anyway.

—Sparring. Fight that man.

Ding-

[Intent conveyed to Mimic.]

As Ha Gangwoo sent the command, Mimic’s small ears perked up.

“Yes!!!!”

Mimic raised her tiny hand high, answering the message.

‘What’s she going to do.’

Mimic’s first-ever PVP against a player.

What kind of result would she show?

With Ha Gangwoo’s interest piqued, Mimic’s first PVP began.

***

“Cough! Cough!!”

Kim Jisoo, left standing on the sparring arena in a daze, coughed repeatedly, her face scrunched up.

Ss-

The thick smoke began to clear. Then she could see.

“Wha… what the hell!!!”

A transparent barrier surrounded the sparring arena.

Thud! Thud!!

People outside hammered the barrier with all their might, but it held firm — not even a crack appeared.

And,

Shing- The madman holding a sword, staring down at her coldly.

She was trapped in this sealed space with that lunatic.

“Ple… please, save me!!!”

Just as Kim Jisoo was sinking into panic.

“Sparring!!!”

Mimic raised both hands, delighted.

“Huh?!”

Kim Jisoo finally spotted Mimic.

“Kid…”

The little girl was smiling wide, twirling her dagger — no tension at all, like this was all just a game.

‘Get a grip!’

Kim Jisoo bit her lip hard. She didn’t understand the situation, but one thing was certain.

A madman was in front of her, and in this sealed space, it was just her and the kid.

She was the only one who could protect the kid now.

Kim Jisoo pulled a sword from her Inventory.

‘I can do this!’

Hadn’t she made it through the Tutorial and Scenario 1 just fine?

If she just kept her head, this crisis was nothing.

“Yaaaaaah!!!!”

Kim Jisoo suddenly screamed and charged at Hua Yian.

Her final goal was Player Chef. From the Tutorial to Scenario 1, she’d never had a proper fight.

A sloppy charge, a swing of her sword like a child’s wild flailing.

Kim Jisoo’s swordsmanship was laughably pathetic.

Hua Yian watched the incoming slash and stepped back.

Then—*swish*! *Clang!* Jisoo’s blade carved an arc and hammered into the floor.

“Huh?!”

In that instant, as Jisoo stared at Hua Yian through her wobbling stance—

*THUD!!!*

A searing pain exploded from her abdomen.

*CRASH—*

Jisoo’s body tumbled across the floor.

“Ugh—*hack*…”

The dizzying pain had come out of nowhere.

It hurt so badly she could barely breathe—agonizing, suffocating.

*Thump—*

As Jisoo writhed on the ground in agony, Hua Yian walked toward Mik with a blank expression.

“No… you can’t!!!”

Jisoo clenched her fist and forced herself upright.

“*Cough*…”

But her legs wouldn’t obey. *Swish*—the madwoman’s sword swung toward the little girl.

The arc was impossibly fast, *whoosh*—splitting the air—

‘…’

She expected it to slice the child in two.

“Huh?!”

But in that moment—

*CLANG!!!*

The madwoman’s sword struck the floor instead, and *WHAM!!!!*—a violent explosion erupted from her head.

*CRASH—*

The madwoman’s body skidded across the ground, flung to the other side of the sparring arena.

“Wooow!!! I won!!!!”

The little girl raised both arms high and beamed.

“No… no way!!!”

Jisoo stared at the scene with a dumbfounded face.

***

“Ugh!”

Hua Yian lay facedown on the floor, barely pushing herself up.

*Whir*—a dizzying vertigo washed over him, and *drip-drip*—metallic blood trickled from his mouth.

‘What the hell?!’

Hua Yian forced his head up, shaking off the fog. The little girl stood with arms raised, flashing a bright smile.

‘Is she a monster?’

Hua Yian was level 50.

Higher than the average Player in the Tower of Job Change. Yet he’d been knocked flat by a six-year-old in one hit.

It was utterly absurd.

*Thump-thump—*

That absurdity made his heart race.

‘What kind of Trait does she have…’

He wanted it desperately. She stirred more curiosity in him than anyone he’d ever met.

“Hoo…”

Hua Yian forced himself upright and gripped his sword with both hands. That last blow had come from carelessness.

Now, he intended to fight properly.

With that, Hua Yian steadied his expression and calmed his breathing.

Meanwhile—

– It’s not over yet. Win and I’ll give you 100,000 Gold. Go all out.

*Ding-*

[Message delivered to Mik.]

Ha Gangwoo sent a message to Mik.

“What?! 100,000 Gold?!!!! Woow~!”

Mimic flashed her teeth, eyes sparkling. Gold used to be nothing but food to her, but not anymore.

Mimic had learned to trade Gold for food, and after a handful of barters, she understood its worth.

The problem: she’d spent every last coin getting to the Association. Mimic wanted Gold.

“I win!!”

Mimic kicked off the earth with her short legs—thump, thump, thump—and surged forward.

Whirrr—

Her Agility was 82. She split the air at terrifying speed, closed the gap in a heartbeat, and drove herself into Hua Yian’s chest. A dagger swept out without a shred of hesitation.

CLANG!!

“Ghk!!”

Hua Yian barely managed to parry.

‘Fast!!!’

He’d chalked her opening strikes up to his own carelessness. That assumption was dead now.

Even with every nerve on edge—Whirrr—CLANG!!—

The kid’s movements were too fast, and her hits hit like a sledgehammer.

‘What’s her Strength score?!’

Hua Yian’s legs gouged twin furrows in the ground under the impact.

CLANG! CLANG!

Amid the relentless assault—slice—slice—

His body started collecting wounds.

“Ngh!”

The tiny girl. She kept her frame low and burrowed into his guard.

It felt like a live basketball armed with a blade had come charging at him. A fresh wave of chills every single second.

CLANG!!! The moment he thought her attacks were just straight-line lunges, she’d weave in a feint and cut in from the flank.

Each time, the short blade—slice—aimed straight for a vital point.

Assassination technique, pure and simple, built to kill.

“A hundred thousand Gold!!!”

But her face showed nothing but delight. Just what was she? How had a kid this young gotten her hands on skills like these?

Pat-pat-pat—

Hua Yian’s blood pattered to the floor.

Ding-

[You have taken 160 HP of damage.]

The messy system chime rattled against his eardrums. That was when—

Hua Yian opened his palm.

‘No choice.’

Ding-

[Cube No. 9] – 19/20

It was the ninth cube, one he’d planned to discard anyway.

Using it might cloud his judgment, make things messy—but he needed it.

He had to force the kid to use her Trait.

[Summoning Cube No. 9.]

[Remaining uses: 18/20]

The instant the notification flashed across his retina—shhhk—

A small cube slotted into Hua Yian’s grip.

Transparent, square-faced. Inside, green demonic energy rolled and churned.

CRUNCH!

Hua Yian crushed it in his fist.

Sssss—rust-colored demonic energy coiled around his entire body.

Thump—thump—thump—

His heart hammered. A low hum rang out. The moment verdant light filmed over both his eyes—

“I win!!”

Mimic, grinning wide, had already swung her dagger at his solar plexus.

That strike was faster and sharper than any before it.

But—

To Hua Yian’s eyes, Mimic’s movement seemed to freeze, playing back in slow motion.

A cold grin carved itself across Hua Yian’s face as he shuffled one deliberate step backward.

Whirrr—

Just as Mimic’s dagger sliced empty air—

“Huh?!”

“Eheheheheh!!!”

Hua Yian let out a chilling laugh as he swept his sword in a wide arc.

A clean trajectory, utterly devoid of hesitation. It arced directly toward Mimic’s body.

“You insane bastard!!!”

“Someone do something!!!”

The Players watching from outside the barrier roared in alarm,

but then—Shink! BOOM!!!!

With a crisp blade-strike, the floor erupted.

***

The ground, split by that clean sword-stroke. Dust hung thick in the aftermath of the explosion.

“You fucking lunatic!!! You’d use that on a kid?!”

Thud!!!!

An Association Player pounded the invisible barrier with all his strength, but the transparent membrane didn’t budge.

“Is the girl okay?”

“Can’t see through the dust…”

An Association rescue worker peered inside, stamping his feet in frustration.

“Hey~! Move!!!”

A Max-level Player, fed up, pulled an enormous hammer from his Inventory and shouted.

The weapon easily topped four meters. He’d held back using it until now, afraid of collapsing the building—but this was no time for caution.

“Whoa!!”

The Players clustered near the transparent barrier scattered in unison as the hammer cleaved through the air with an ominous whoosh.

With a clean arc, the air shuddered. A blow that could smash a building.

But when the giant hammer met the transparent barrier—

Clink!

The impact was absorbed. The shield held solid.

“Wh… what?!”

That hit could one-shot most A-rank Monsters. Blocked, just like that.

The Max-level Player stood dumbfounded.

And while everyone’s attention was fixed on the barrier—

“Huh? The Sparring isn’t over yet…”

Mimic tilted her head, looking up at Ha Gangwoo.

“You lost.”

“What?! I lost?…”

Mimic’s answer came, deflated somehow.

Ha Gangwoo ruffled her hair and walked toward the transparent barrier.

‘Not bad.’

He’d gotten a clear measure of Mimic’s level from that Sparring. Roughly a Level 50 Player.

Without a standout Trait or Skill, she could handle most opponents around that level.

But that was it.

‘A shame.’

Mimic had a critical flaw: no special Trait, no real Skill.

That difference had just cost her the match.

Ha Gangwoo’s expression hardened as he approached—

“Do something!”

“Just wait!”

Whoosh—Clink!!!

He walked toward the Association staff hammering at the transparent barrier.

What would have happened if I hadn’t brought Mimic along?

That final swing of the sword at the last moment—it carried enough force to cleave Mimic in two, and there wasn’t a shred of hesitation behind it.

*Crunch*

That was why Ha Gangwoo’s mood was sour.

“Hold on!!!”

“What for?!”

The Association employee gave up on his hammering and stepped back.

Ha Gangwoo took his place, standing before the transparent barrier.

“This barrier—it’s that Trait, isn’t it? The one from the person who came in as the top rookie in the Player Crime Management Division this time.”

“Crime Management Division? Top rookie? Ah! The barrier Trait owner even that examiner couldn’t break through?”

Absurd defense. A wall even Max-level players couldn’t pierce.

Seeing it, the Association employee made his guess.

The organization that manages and protects against Player crimes: the Player Crime Management Division.

Rumors had spread about a rookie who entered that agency as the best freshman in its history.

A bizarre rumor—that with the strength of a mere level 1, he’d created a barrier even the Max-level player overseeing the exam couldn’t breach.

He’d thought it was just idle gossip, but seeing it with his own eyes confirmed it.

That this barrier was the Trait produced by that top rookie.

“What the hell? The Crime Management Division—isn’t that where they catch criminals? Then what’s this about?”

And doubt crept into everyone’s minds.

That an agency meant to punish criminals was itself committing a crime.

While they all stood there baffled,

Ha Gangwoo placed his hand on the transparent film.

“Hey! Back off if you don’t want to get hurt.”

The Max-level player who’d been swinging the massive hammer tried to stop Ha Gangwoo, but he lightly ignored the warning, slowly clenching his right hand.

*Crackle*—the barrier his fingers grazed shattered far too easily.

[Barzel’s Appetite gains the Ruin effect.]

*Ruin: Destroys and collapses everything.

The Ruin effect—acquired by devouring Stoss’ Masterpiece.

To Ha Gangwoo, barriers were as good as nonexistent.

Then—*Crrrunch*—

The moment Ha Gangwoo fully tightened his fist,

*CLANG!!!*

The barrier layered around the sparring arena shattered and fell.