Chapter 24: All Opportunities in One Basket (2)

“Number 1! Number 2!”

“Run! Faster!”

“Give it your all! Isn’t this your last salvation before execution anyway?”

Humans in prison uniforms sprinted madly.

The numbered men-beasts (人馬) dashed across a narrow bridge, crawled through blazing fire pits, and raced toward their destination.

As if chased by something unseen, they bit and shoved each other aside, desperate to take even one step ahead.

It was nothing short of hellish.

Out of more than twenty contestants, only two would survive.

Beep!

“Uwahhh! I made it! I’m alive!”

“Woohooo!”

The woman in the lead and the muscular man who arrived second howled wildly.

And at that moment—

P-p-p-pow!

Necklaces on the rest of the competitors exploded.

[The 11th round has ended.]

[The 12th round will begin in 30 minutes. Distinguished guests, please refer to the payout table and place your bets.]

The electronic billboard flickered.

Nearby, some people were spinning a massive roulette over ten meters tall.

As the merciless wheel turned—covered in countless punishments—cheers and whistles filled the air.

Drrrrrrrk!

Of course, for the “test subjects” waiting for their turn, this moment was worse than death itself.

‘Still such a disgusting place.’

Yohan frowned.

A society built upon the foundation of law and human rights.

Yet, such pretense alone could never suppress humanity’s darkest desires.

After all, the thirst for blood was an instinct passed down since ancient times.

‘Sure, things like martial arts or sports were invented to replace it—but without the risk of life, entertainment loses its thrill.’

That’s why such things still existed.

“Would you care for a drink?”

“Our wagyu steak sandwich is quite the hit today.”

A beautiful woman and a handsome man approached, trays of alcohol and food in hand.

They were dressed like figures out of Greek mythology.

Perhaps they wanted to feel like gods themselves.

Maybe the start of the Apocalypse wasn’t mere coincidence after all.

“I’m fine.”

Politely refusing, Yohan resumed walking.

Soon, he arrived at a place where participants tested new drugs by dividing into attackers and defenders.

A type of experimental lab.

A so-called new drug test.

“Damn it! Swallow it, no matter what! Swallow it!”

“Hahaha. Seems Jeil Pharmaceuticals’ antidote still needs work. It’s not even that toxic, yet look at him struggle.”

A clash of triumph and despair.

“Ghhh… keuk! Khhhh!”

The man’s face turned pitch-black as his body convulsed violently.

He tried stuffing the antidotes on the table into his mouth, but it was useless.

He wasn’t even wearing a mask—probably a homeless man or debtor dragged in from outside.

In South Korea, where tens of thousands of people go missing each year, one more disappearing hardly mattered.

Once the match ended, the corpse was cleared away.

“Any other challengers?”

A man wearing a fox mask raised his voice confidently.

“Can’t believe Jeil got crushed like that.”

“Taehwa really is impressive.”

“You’ve probably earned quite a bit already. Planning to continue? At this rate, we’ll all go broke. Haha.”

The spectators sipped whiskey and made small talk.

With such a dominant display, no one else dared to challenge.

Until—

“I’ll give it a try.”

Yohan stepped forward.

“Oh? A brave soul still remains. Heh. What would you like to wager?”

“Hmm. Let’s see.”

Yohan scrolled through the tablet PC.

Displayed there were items Taehwa Pharmaceuticals had listed as betting rewards.

“I’d like to take the Waterdrop Compass and the Dimensional Inventory.”

“Hmm. Then what will you offer us in return? It has to be of comparable value.”

“I’ll offer this.”

Yohan placed the Brooch of the Gray Zone on the table.

Though it only had two uses left, it could nullify a Boss Monster’s attack for ten minutes—a powerful item.

The fox mask froze for a moment after checking its details.

He was clearly struggling to suppress the urge to cheer.

It was the biggest catch he’d seen yet.

“You know the rules, I assume? Each side takes turns once. Any antidote of your choice is allowed.”

“I got the gist of it from earlier.”

“Who’ll be your representative? I don’t see anyone accompanying you.”

“I’ll do it myself.”

“What?”

Not only the man in the fox mask but even the spectators were stunned.

After witnessing that gruesome death just moments ago, he still dared to say that.

No sane person would.

But the fox mask didn’t object.

What mattered now was obtaining that brooch.

“Hooh… confident, aren’t you? Then, since our esteemed guests are watching, let’s begin at once.”

The setup was quickly prepared.

Yohan sat across from Taehwa Pharmaceuticals’ representative at the center table.

‘I figured it might be him… but to actually see him here.’

Lee Junho.

The former raid leader of Iron Sword Guild who once offered Hunters as sacrifices.

He didn’t have many choices left.

With both the Association and Guilds issuing warrants for his arrest, survival meant crossing dangerous bridges like this one.

Whether to secure funds for escape… or because of some deal with Taehwa.

Ping!

The coin spun.

Taehwa Pharmaceuticals would go first.

“Drink.”

Lee Junho handed over the vial provided by Taehwa.

Its sticky, murky contents looked far from appetizing.

“Tch. You don’t even give out candy with it?”

“…I can’t tell if you’re brave or just reckless.”

“I get that a lot.”

Yohan smiled faintly and downed the flask in one gulp.

In an instant—

Twitch!

A sharp sting surged from his chest.

The effect hit fast—and hard.

Strong enough to justify their confidence.

However—

[‘Pure Blood Wine (Aged 5 Years)’ within the body reacts to a foreign substance.]

He had already drunk a glass of it before coming here.

A reward obtained after slaying Garbiten, the Baron-class Vampire.

Its effect was—

[Nullifies all ‘Status Effects,’ ‘Curses,’ and ‘Poisons’ below 10-Star rank!]

That was it.

For Yohan, whose affinity with blood was exceptional, the Pure Blood Wine worked like a divine elixir.

The toxin was rapidly decomposed within seconds.

A minute passed.

Yohan still wore a faint smile, showing no reaction whatsoever.

“This is impossible… How can he still be fine?”

“What kind of antidote did he take beforehand? Hah. Now this, I’m curious about.”

“He dares to step up himself… Must be from quite the manufacturer. Hahaha. We might get to see Taehwa’s faces twist in humiliation today!”

Amidst murmurs of awe and disbelief—

“It’s my turn now.”

Yohan took out a small, black berry no larger than a fingernail.

“Don’t worry. Just endure this one. The next poison will be far stronger.”

“Understood.”

At the man in the fox mask’s words, Lee Junho nodded.

It didn’t matter what kind of poison his opponent used.

He’d experienced firsthand, countless times, how potent Taehwa Pharmaceuticals’ antidotes were.

Gulp.

Lee Junho swallowed the berry whole.

A few seconds passed, but he felt nothing unusual.

Then suddenly—

“Lee Junho. Go to the Association right now, turn yourself in, and pay for what you did inside there. Do that, and I’ll let you live.”

“What? What are you talking about…? No way.”

At Yohan’s words, Lee Junho’s eyebrows twisted sharply.

That kind of statement meant one thing—this man had been inside the Dungeon.

Come to think of it…

He looked familiar.

Since only his eyes were covered, the lower half of his face was fully visible.

And that voice—

Now he knew.

Who stood before him.

“You crazy bastard! You think this is a Dungeon or something? Who the hell do you think you are to order me around? To order me! Even if I’ve fallen this low, I’m still Lee Junho of Iron Sword! The raid leader, Lee Junho!”

Lee Junho burst out in rage.

The very man who ruined everything stood before him—how could he suppress his fury?

“I gave you a chance.”

So remember this.

It was you who refused.

And in that instant—

“Gaaaahhh! My… my body! My body!!”

Lee Junho screamed.

Blood spewed from his mouth as his entire body began to be devoured alive by black petals.

[‘Black Fruit of the Living Spirit’ devours the one who disobeyed its master!]

A fruit imbued with the power of Vivian Astraia.

It was not something a mere corporation could possibly withstand.

“W-what the…”

“Dear heavens…”

The spectators instinctively stood from their seats, stumbling backward.

They had never imagined such a drug could even exist.

Even amidst his agony, Lee Junho desperately swallowed every antidote Taehwa Pharmaceuticals had given him, struggling to survive.

But blood kept bubbling from his mouth.

“Grrrk…”

It took less than a minute for Lee Junho to transform into a massive, grotesque plant.

Shock turned to sheer terror, swallowing the entire area whole.

“I suppose that means I won.”

Yohan rose from his seat.

Unfortunately, it seemed no one else was interested in continuing the wager.

Several people, however, looked like they’d need a change of underwear.

＊＊＊

At the same time—

Seo Changhee and Park Yeri were both engrossed in their own forms of gambling.

“What kind of monster is that supposed to be?”

“Four of them are already down. Damn it, this is impossible for us. We can’t even lay a hand on it!”

A ten-player battle royale format.

Seo Changhee subdued his opponents without killing them—only breaking their arms and legs.

In a place where life and death were the rules, that could be considered rather merciful.

“Spirit of Steel.”

As Seo Changhee murmured, the energy radiating from his body shifted completely.

Word Spirit (言靈).

It was the means through which he could manifest his unique ability—Equivalent Exchange with the World.

Still, to think he had already mastered it…

‘So he must’ve fulfilled his awakening condition in the Withered Garden.’

His progress was far faster than in previous rounds.

If he managed to obtain the Fragment of Dawn here, he would undergo a complete awakening.

Without question, the strongest protagonist across all rounds would be born.

Next—

Yohan’s gaze moved to the other side.

As for Park Yeri, gambling was not her strong suit.

In fact, it was terribly bad.

“Why… why can’t I win even once?!”

Three credit cards were already split in half, maxed out beyond recovery.

Every jewel she had on her was gone as well.

A textbook example of someone destined for ruin.

Bloodshot eyes flared in Park Yeri’s face.

Whether it was the snickering players beside her or the dealer shuffling the cards—she looked ready to rip out their hearts.

Normally, she would have done so without hesitation.

But now—there was someone far scarier whose orders she couldn’t disobey.

So, in the end, Park Yeri entered the Labyrinth.

A maze teeming with traps and monsters, it was one of Running Rabbit’s most popular attractions.

And then—

Park Yeri annihilated every monster and participant inside with overwhelming power.

“That masked woman… she’s incredible.”

“She’ll receive a high rank for sure. Seems she’s a proper guest, but entering the Labyrinth herself is quite rare.”

“Well, there are some psychopaths who enjoy shedding blood firsthand.”

Blood Princess.

That was the nickname given to Park Yeri, whose crimson mask and dress were stained with blood.

＊＊＊

Seo Changhee and Park Yeri had more than earned the cost of entry.

[Grade 3 Random Box], [Starlight Tracking Scroll], [Waterdrop Compass], [Dimensional Inventory (B-Rank)]

They had obtained everything they wanted.

Before leaving, both decided to spend a little more time here.

At the bar, Yohan ordered a drink.

“Old Fashioned. Add one more slice of lemon peel, please.”

“That’s quite a flashy start for someone I’ve never seen before. The companions you came with are impressive too.”

The bartender skillfully mixed the cocktail.

Blonde hair, snow-white skin, crimson lips—

A classic, mature Western beauty.

The kind you’d cast as a femme fatale in a Russian mafia film.

“It’s my first time here, but I plan to come more often. I might even take a few commissions.”

Bartenders here not only made drinks but also served as brokers for various requests.

Dangerous, high-level jobs that ordinary guilds wouldn’t dare to touch.

In fact, some mid-to-late-stage quests for crucial items—especially those involving ‘Runes’—occasionally appeared here.

The bartender’s eyes gleamed.

The more skilled the Hunter, the more valuable the connections.

“Anyone who could crush those high-nosed Taehwa folks must be quite capable. But I am curious—why pick me out of all the bartenders here?”

“Because you stood out the most.”

“Oh my. So you do know how to flatter. I think I’m liking you more by the second.”

The bartender smiled coyly.

But Yohan’s next words changed everything.

“And also because… I thought it’d be useful to form ties with the Hestia Empire. Working in a place like this means you’re no low-level spy.”

Clink!

The glass in her hand shattered.

“……”

The bartender’s expression changed completely.

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