Han Yuseong headed to the Battlefield of Stars.A vast white space, and beyond it, an endless universe.He stared briefly at the cosmos beyond the glass.
[Welcome to the Battlefield of Stars.][This is where oath-bearers from many worlds gather. Various battlefields are prepared for the oath-bearers. Participate for your lord, for coins, and for rewards.][☆ A special event is currently underway! ☆]
Creatures from various worlds strolled through the lobby.The doll he had seen last time was nowhere to be found.Except for the first time one enters the Battlefield of Stars, it only appears when one desires it — so he likely wouldn't see it for a while.
[☆ A special event targeting Earth is underway! ☆]
[☆ Prove your skills in the Ruins of the Serpent! ☆]
[☆ Now recruiting participants! 98 spots remaining! A perfect chance for those ranked Bronze to Silver! ☆]
[☆ Bet up to 10,000 coins! If the participant you bet on clears the ruins the fastest, you can earn up to 10x the reward! ☆]
[☆ Separate Star Points will also be awarded! ☆]
[☆ Plus, special rewards can be earned from the dungeon! ☆]
This event is a dungeon raid.The dungeon is called The Ruins of the Serpent.It's a place where one must overcome venom-using enemies and navigate a labyrinth-like structure. The enemies are tricky, and the maze is extremely complex.
[The Lords of the Stars are placing their bets. Victory candidates are being ranked in order of the amount of coins bet on them…]
[Victory Candidate No. 1: Moeju Maezato.]
[Victory Candidate No. 2: Felix Morgan,]
[Victory Candidate No. 3: Kim Jeonghui.]
The Lords of the Stars, watching this special event, placed their coins as bets.Ranked third was Kim Jeonghui, a player from Korea.
"Wasn't he a magic-user?"
While Korean players are generally considered weaker compared to those from major powers, a few promising talents occasionally stand out — and Kim Jeonghui was one of them.
Above him was Felix Morgan, a player from the United States.But the top-ranked player, far ahead of the rest, was Moeju Maezato.
"So he joined after all."
A silent yet vicious player with a brutal reputation.He had stirred up all kinds of controversy during the international matches against Korea.This was a chance — to not only break his momentum but to stall his growth, too.
"I'll join the event. Also, I want to hide my identity."
[Your name will be added to the participant list for the dungeon raid.][Request accepted. Han Yuseong, you are now Participant No. 902 in this 'Ruins of the Serpent' event.][No Lords have placed bets on you.]
Even participating as Han Yuseong wouldn't change much.Either way, he was a nobody. That was by design.
"Kakasha, place a bet."[I've been waiting for you to say that!]
Kakasha, as if she had been waiting for it, placed her bet.The amount: 10,000 coins.The more Lords that bet on the same player, the lower the payout.Since Han Yuseong entered as a no-name, no one else would bet on him but Kakasha.
[Your Lord has bet 10,000 coins.]
[Up to 10 times the reward! We might become rich all at once! Kuhuhu!]"In moments like this, she's unmistakably a monarch."
When it came to coins, Kakasha was no different from any other Lord.But this time, Han Yuseong shared the same sentiment.A chance to win 100,000 coins in a single shot — how could anyone pass that up?
It was an opportunity that simply had to be seized.
Then, a message appeared before Han Yuseong's eyes:
[Star Points will be awarded based on your dungeon performance. By setting constraints, you can earn even more Star Points.][Would you like to set constraints now?]
There was no need to even think about what kind of constraint to set.
"Life."
[Constraint set. If you die during the dungeon raid, you will die in reality. In exchange, you will receive the highest multiplier of Star Points.]
Dungeon raids, like practice battles, normally didn't lead to real death.In fact, most events were designed to preserve the player's life — otherwise, the Lords might hesitate to send their oath-bearers into battle.Since death wasn't on the line, they could send them off without much worry.From the oath-bearers' perspective, that was a relief — but also frustrating.
[Kuhuhu! Oath-bearer, I have faith in you! I believe you will bring me a mountain of coins once again, just like last time!]"My ears hurt."[War! The scent of war is in the air!]
Kakasha's overly excited voice gave him a headache.
[All required participants have been recruited.][All participants are now being summoned to the waiting room.]
With that welcome announcement, Han Yuseong's vision was engulfed in pitch black.
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, he saw a vast cavern of unknown location unfold before him.It appeared to be a massive chamber within an ancient ruin — meticulously constructed.And there, countless players had been summoned.
Silence swept over the space.The players, tense, checked and adjusted their weapons with serious expressions.And it was understandable.This time, each Lord could bet up to 10,000 coins — a considerable sum.If the dungeon raid failed, they would lose those coins, and their Lord's trust in them would take a major hit.The pressure to succeed weighed heavily on the shoulders of the oath-bearers.
"Hmph, there are more participants than I expected."
Among them, there were only a few who stood out as exceptions.
One of them was Moeju Maezato.He glanced indifferently at the crowd of players surrounding him.Those who met his gaze shivered involuntarily.
"Still not fully broken in my blade, huh? Perfect timing."
At first glance, his eyes seemed indifferent.But those who looked deeper could feel it — a sticky, unmistakable killing intent.The kind you'd only feel on a real battlefield.
"Be careful. That Japanese guy… he's the one who cut down his own teammate last time.""Better to steer clear of wherever he's headed.""Still, he's undeniably skilled. If we can use him right…"
The players whispered among themselves, wary of Moeju.The other top contenders were no exception — he kept a sticky, dangerous gaze locked on Felix Morgan and Kim Jeonghui as well,as if he might cut them down at any moment.
"Crazy samurai bastard.""That damn Japanese guy's gonna make things even messier."
And then — there was one more person who wasn't nervous at all.Han Yuseong.He stood there with a relaxed air, as if completely unaffected by the oppressive killing intent wrapping around the waiting room.In fact, as he felt Moeju's murderous pressure wash over him, a thought came to mind:
"Same as in my past life. That guy hasn't changed a bit."
In a way, it was comforting that nothing had changed.It meant he could beat him to a pulp without feeling even a hint of guilt.
Just then, a message appeared before everyone's eyes.
[You are now in The Ruins of the Serpent.][It is a sprawling labyrinth filled with venom-using creatures. But don't worry — scattered throughout the ruins are means to neutralize poison.][Your goal is simple: make it to the end of the Ruins of the Serpent and defeat the boss monster guarding it.][Make your Lords proud!]
It was an overview of the dungeon — The Ruins of the Serpent.
[※ Note: In this dungeon, you may obtain something called the Serpent's Mark. When you exit the dungeon, your rewards will vary based on how many Marks you possess.][There are many ways to earn Marks — and yes, you can obtain them by defeating other players who have them!][Gather as many Marks as you can.]
After reading the message, Han Yuseong chuckled through his nose.So typical of the Battlefield of Stars, he thought.The system encouraged players to not only compete against the dungeon but to watch each other warily — and, when necessary, eliminate the competition.And this wasn't the only mechanic designed for the Lords' amusement and engagement.
[Each of you will now choose a route to challenge within the Ruins of the Serpent. The higher the difficulty, the more Marks you can earn.]
[Route 1: A maze filled with traps — very complex. (★★★★)][Route 2: Balanced in all aspects but vast in scale. (★)][Route 3: ...]
It was a route selection screen.The Ruins of the Serpent offered multiple paths, each with distinct characteristics.
And the number of stars next to each route… that must indicate difficulty.
Then he saw it:
[... Route 10: Extremely short, but filled with an unmanageable number of monsters and drenched in lethal poison. (★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★)](20 stars)
The shortest route to the boss's location.Naturally, it also boasted the highest difficulty level of all.
"…20 stars? Just how insanely difficult is that supposed to be?""That one's off the table. It's not just dangerous — it's downright suicidal.""Going for the easiest path sounds tempting… but the sheer size worries me.""We've got to consider how crowded each route will be too. This is driving me nuts."
None of the players even considered Route 10.Aside from its one advantage — being short — it was practically a death sentence.Countless monsters, a zone soaked in lethal poison…Choosing that route was basically suicide.
"…Alright, I'm going with Route 2. Even if I earn fewer Marks, this is the safest bet.""Yeah, Route 1 looks best for me too."
The players began choosing their routes one by one.As they did, a number appeared above each of their heads — showing the route they selected.Naturally, not a single one of them had a 10.No one expected that to change, either.Everyone believed it would stay that way.
[Participant No. 902.][You have selected Route 10. Prepare yourself.]
That belief lasted until the number 10 appeared over Han Yuseong's head.
The other players stared at him in disbelief.Even the top contenders — Felix, Jeonghui, and Moeju — turned to look his way.
"He picked Route 10? Is he insane?"
"Who is that? Is he famous or something? Can't see his face because of the hood.""Doesn't seem like it… doesn't ring any bells."
The players in Waiting Room 5 had finished selecting their routes.Naturally, Han Yuseong was the only one who chose Route 10.Everyone else had given up on it, thinking it was impossible.
"What kind of lunatics are we going to see today?""Why would anyone walk straight into a path that's clearly meant to be avoided?""No need to care. He'll be eliminated soon enough.""Anyway, I've got more important things to worry about — like my own future…"
The players muttered among themselves, but not for long.They all believed he'd be out of the competition quickly anyway.Even the top candidates, including Moeju, looked away.To them, Han Yuseong appeared to be just another mediocre player.
"Well… we'll see how short or long the path really is."
In his previous life, no one had ever chosen Route 10.Not even the top contenders.Felix Morgan and Kim Jeonghui had opted for different routes that better suited their specialties.And as for Moeju Maezato—
"I'll choose Route 1.""What…!"
He selected Route 1 —The route most players had chosen.That was precisely why Moeju chose it.
"So he can hunt players to his heart's content."
So did he fail the dungeon raid back then?Surprisingly — he succeeded.He ambushed the players who had arrived first and were already fighting the boss monster, then defeated the boss alone.His personality was garbage, but Moeju's skill was the real deal.
"C-Cancel! I want to change routes!""Route 2! I'm going to Route 2…!"
The panicked players shouted in protest — but it was pointless.Once a route was selected, it couldn't be changed.Moeju likely chose his route last, knowing that fact well.He probably never once considered the possibility of failure.
"This should be fun."
This dungeon raid was a kind of "race."A competition to see who could reach the end of the dungeon the fastest via different routes.Han Yuseong wondered what kind of reaction Moeju would have if he lost this race.And if Moeju himself ended up losing in a direct fight with Han Yuseong—
"There's really no reason not to choose Route 10."
He would reach the boss chamber before Moeju via Route 10.Then he'd defeat the boss and wait for Moeju to arrive.It was a simple but highly effective plan.
But there was another reason Han Yuseong chose Route 10.
[The higher the difficulty, the more Serpent's Marks you can earn.]
It was because of the Serpent's Marks.By clearing Route 10, he could gather a large number of Marks —and then, after Moeju collected his own haul by hunting other players, Han Yuseong would hunt Moeju.
A tremendous number of Serpent's Marks would be gathered.And the rewards that came with them — there was no need to even ask how great they'd be.
A moment later, a message appeared before everyone's eyes:
[You will now be transported to your selected route.][Prepare for combat. 5, 4, 3…]
Han Yuseong closed his eyes.And when he opened them again, he was standing alone in a wide corridor.The way behind him was blocked —the only path was forward.
Beyond the corridor, it was too dark to see clearly.
"The stench of poison stings the nose."
The smell was overwhelming.There were notes of rot, ammonia, fish, and even a strangely sweet undertone.It meant that countless types of toxins were mixed in the air.
Exhaling slowly, Han Yuseong brought his hand to his face.
"I don't love how it looks, but…"
Suddenly, a mask appeared out of thin air and fitted itself over his face.A mythical-grade item — the Mask of Chaos.
"Didn't expect to use it this soon."[Not much to look at, but it suits you surprisingly well.]
The powerful perception-interference effect concealed his face completely.The Lords were surely watching this dungeon event.And if this was being broadcast to other players as well, then it was wise to keep his identity hidden.
Han Yuseong widened his senses as he walked forward.The wide corridor was suffocatingly quiet.No sounds. No movement.There was nothing here — no one but Han Yuseong himself.
Or was there?
"No way that's true."
Han Yuseong clenched his fist.And without the slightest hesitation—
CRAAACK!
He struck the seemingly empty wall beside him with full force.The blow echoed through the corridor like thunder.And in his hand, he felt something strange —Not the sensation of hitting a wall, but the feeling of breaking bone.
[K-Khhak!]
The "empty" wall shimmered for a moment.Then, something like a thin veil peeled away —and from behind it, a grotesque creature collapsed, coughing up blood.
A monster that looked as if a human and a giant serpent had been forcibly fused together.
[W-What… how did you…]
CRUNCH!
Han Yuseong crushed the creature's head beneath his foot.
With blood spraying from both fists,he turned without pause —and, guided by his sharpened senses, punched toward the next target without a moment's hesitation.
A storm of blood swept down the corridor.
[K-KUAAAGH!][H-How did you know we were hiding?!]
"The stench of rotting meat is thick in the air — how could I not?"
More monsters, similar in appearance, peeled off from the walls.As they collapsed, coughing blood, shadows pooled beneath their dying bodies.Han Yuseong moved with precise footwork,swiftly dispatching one creature after another.
He didn't stop until every single monster had fallen.But even then, he didn't lower his guard.
[What a remarkable human.]
Beyond the corridor — in a space shrouded in darkness —Han Yuseong could sense many presences waiting.
BOOM!A heavy sound rang out, and the corridor suddenly lit up.
And with the light — the hidden monsters revealed themselves.Their grotesque forms filled the hallway wall to wall.
[This place serves our Lord.][No one is allowed to pass through here.][No one…]
SQUELCH!A sticky liquid began to seep up from the floor.It gave off an unbearable, nauseating stench.
There was no need to guess what it was.Poison.
It began to flood the corridor, covering every inch —turning it into a Deadly Poison Zone.
[Intruder.][Die here — overwhelmed and paralyzed by the toxin…!]
SHYAAAHHH!The monsters roared, flicking out their long, serpent-like tongues.
Han Yuseong scoffed quietly and adjusted the mask on his face with one hand.
[The Mask of Chaos is activating a stat swap.][Strength and Magic Power stats are temporarily exchanged!]
A voice — frenzied and ecstatic — echoed in his head.At the same time, Han Yuseong felt a surge of immense magical power rising within him.
In response to his power, shadows from the surrounding area surged upward.They began to take form all around him.
"A corridor, huh? Perfect."
The shadows transformed into all kinds of weapons —swords, spears, axes, scythes — forming an arsenal around him.
Then, with a simple flick of his hand:
"Kill me if you think you can."
SHHHHRIEEEE!
The shadows shot forward like furious beasts, turned into weapons, and tore into the oncoming monsters.
Moments later, the corridor was filled with screams —agonized howls as the monsters were impaled and shredded by the storm of shadowy blades.