[You have killed an angel.]
[You are the first player to kill an angel.]
[You have acquired the title 'First Angel Killer.']
[You have received 'Angel's Blood' as a reward for killing the first angel.]
[You have received 'Rune of Massacre' as a reward for killing the first angel.]
[The acquired rune is automatically imprinted on your body!]
An ordinary person would struggle to process the flood of notifications.
"It's a situation I've experienced countless times and a reward I've received numerous times," Ryu Min thought calmly.
He quickly examined the rewards.
[Angel's Blood]
-Category : Consumable
-Rank : Unique
-Effect : Allows advancement to the 'Grim Reaper' class
-Usage Restrictions : Level 10 and above
-Description : An item given to the first player to kill an angel. Only players who have defeated an angel can qualify for the Reaper class—the angel's natural enemy.
Players can choose a profession starting at level 10, with about 30 different occupations available. The process of changing jobs is straightforward—finding a specific item.
"Just like I did now."
An item resembling golden liquid appeared in Ryu Min's inventory.
Angel's Blood, awarded exclusively to the first person to kill an angel. It was also the only means to advance to the Reaper class.
"As expected, I am the first to kill an angel."
At this point, no one dared to challenge an angel, at least not until later. Unless, of course, they were utterly delusional.
"Plus, I received a title."
Ryu Min tapped the title he had earned to review it.
[Tittle - The First Angel Slayer]
-Obtaining Conditions : Earned upon killing an angel for the first time.
-Effect : Against a divine entity, all stats double.
He confirmed that it was indeed a title he had previously acquired—an excellent boost when facing angels or divine monsters.
Ryu Min's gaze shifted to the final reward.
[Rune of Massacre]
-Effect : Every time you kill a target, all stats increase by 1% (up to a maximum of 100%). Lasts until the end of that round.
The rune was etched onto Ryu Min's body, marking his victory over the first angel.
"The angels will be shocked to learn I've already acquired one rune."
Runes are not easily obtained and usually require significant effort, comparable to obtaining unique items. However, for Ryu Min—with his vast experience—this was a different story.
"I must grow stronger by acquiring even more runes than in the previous cycle."
There was no turning back; he had to become stronger by any means necessary.
"It's unfortunate, but even if I kill more angels, the rewards will only apply to the first one."
Currently, rewards could only be claimed by the first player to kill an angel, leaving little reason to continue the hunt beyond that.
"Angels would never dream that such rewards are buried deep within them."
Ryu Min hadn't realized this until the twelfth episode. Like others, he had initially feared the angels' might, viewing them as untouchable beings. Yet, by the thirteenth cycle, he learned about the hidden rewards during his quest for revenge against an angel.
"If you kill an angel, you acquire materials needed for a hidden profession..."
From that point, Ryu Min made it his mission in every cycle to kill an angel. There was no reason to show mercy against beings trying to attack him while offering hidden rewards.
"It was then that I fully committed to pursuing the Reaper class."
Throughout the repeated cycles, Ryu Min consistently defeated angels in the same cold-blooded fashion, discovering how weak they truly were.
"I also gathered much information."
Beyond the rewards, he extracted knowledge from the angels about their species, roles, the game's purpose, and their authority over the system. Yet, even the angels lacked crucial information.
"I suspect there's someone giving orders from above—a being on par with God..."
"You'll only unravel the full truth by defeating the final boss and fulfilling your wish."
After assessing his rewards, Ryu Min opened his inventory to utilize the special reward selection box he received for being first in all categories.
**Use.**
[You can choosr one of the following special rewards.]
[Please touch the reward you want.]
*1. Experience point increase buff (limited to 2 rounds)
*2. 2,000 Gold
*3. Information about Round 2
Despite having three choices, Ryu Min didn't hesitate.
"The priority right now is reaching level 10 and changing jobs."
He quickly selected reward number 1.
[You have selected the experience point increase buff x3.]
[The buff will automatically apply at the start of Round 2.]
There was still a month remaining until Round 2, but he had already made his selection.
"There's no better option than the 3x experience."
"While 2,000 gold isn't bad, getting a job change is priority number one."
Changing jobs would grant him skills, which held enormous value in this game.
"A skill can be worth nearly as much as three runes."
A player's power is significantly enhanced based on their skills. Plus, he would receive a rune reward upon changing jobs, so getting a job quickly would yield more benefits down the line.
"The third reward holds no value for me."
Ryu Min deemed the third option—information about the second round—as meaningless. He already possessed information all the way to round twenty.
Looking down at the angel's lifeless body, Ryu Min maintained an indifferent expression as the golden, shimmering blood started to dissipate along with the corpse.
Soon, the angel's remains scattered, turning to dust. As spiritual beings, they vanished along with their physical forms after a certain timeframe.
"It's convenient not to have to deal with a body. There's no evidence left behind."
Ryu Min scanned the surroundings for any witnesses. Upon checking the sky carefully, he spotted none.
"There shouldn't be any issues since I killed the angel at the same time and place."
He had executed the kill as he always did—without witnesses or other angels knowing his actions.
"They're inherently selfish and narcissistic—they only care about themselves..."
Even if they were to question his absence, they would have reason to overlook it.
"Starting from the second round, another angel would show up, just as I have experienced before."
With no witnesses or evidence, there was no cause for concern.
He could simply leave without a trace, even without instruction on how to return.
ROUND 1 END
[All areas]
*Survivors: 900,514,645
[Related area ESKS45-5]
*Survivors: 5,143
[Your soul will be transferred back to your original dimension shortly.]
[Round 2 will commence at midnight on February 1, 2022. See you in the next round. Congratulations on your survival.]
As the final message faded, Ryu Min and the others trapped within the pillar disappeared.
* * *
"OMG!"
Hwang Yong-min jolted awake, exhaling as if he had just returned from the dead.
The first thing that met his eyes was a mass of people around him.
"Hey, what's going on? Is this the ringing of the bell?"
Others who had been lying on the floor began to sit up.
They looked around in a daze, resembling themselves from moments before.
Hwang Yong-min quickly checked the time on his phone.
"5:20…?"
The date was January 1, 2022.
Five hours and twenty minutes had passed since the bell-ringing ceremony.
It aligned closely with the time they had spent in what felt like a dream.
"Ah, my head..."
"My arms and legs are sore."
Friends who had been sleeping on the street nearby started to regain their senses one by one.
"Huh? Yongmin!"
"You're awake?"
"I was asleep?"
"Oh! Not just you, it seems everyone here was."
"OMG..."
"What? Did we all fall asleep together?"
"Wait, so... does that mean it was all a dream?"
"I had a bizarre dream too..."
"Hey Yongmin, did you have that dream as well?"
"Oh, but..."
Suddenly, Hwang Yong-min's expression turned serious.
"It doesn't feel like a dream, though."
"What do you mean?"
His friends leaned in, listening closely.
"Are we back? Are we really back from that hell…!"
"What? Did I dream of a goblin…?"
"I survived... I survived!"
His friends' expressions shifted to shock as they heard murmurs from those around them.
All had seemingly experienced the same events.
"Are you telling me that everyone here had the same dream? This is unbelievable."
"Indeed..."
The staggering number of people having the same experience made it impossible to dismiss it as mere dreaming.
"So all that was real? Goblins and Round 1 and everything?"
"So, does this mean I'll be called in for Round 2 on the first of next month?"
"Ha... this is hell."
His friends hung their heads in despair, but it was nowhere near gloom for Hwang Yong-min.
No, he tried to act indifferent while suppressing his laughter.
Laughing in a situation like this would surely get him ostracized by both his friends and the strangers around him.
"If this isn't a dream but reality, then it's not just me having a bad time—it's everyone in the world."
To be precise, it was those aged between 15 and 29, but that was besides the point.
So many lives were at stake.
"Is this what it means to be killed? Everyone, regardless of their fortune at birth, must strive for survival."
He felt envious of those born with advantages, enjoying a life of comfort.
On the other hand, he felt like his own life was a cruel joke.
"There's no point in lamenting life's injustices anymore. Heh heh heh."
Life is a merciless journey, one where even parents have given up on you.
The thought of wanting to become a gangster post-graduation began to appeal to him.
These days, gangsters were known for making substantial profits through illegal activities.
"Don't stress kids. Just survive. What's there to worry about?"
"But it seems so unfair… What if I die before living an ounce of joy?"
"It isn't just us who're thrust into this mess—everyone else is too. Why feel wronged?"
Hwang Yong-min's friends fell silent, left with no words.
Instead, they silently cursed their fate.
"F*ck... since life has been so brutal for you, you shouldn't feel bad about dying right now."
"I still have so much to accomplish..."
Unbeknownst to his friends' thoughts, Hwang Yong-min scanned the crowd, searching for someone.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, I suddenly remembered and checked, but I can't spot that kid?"
"Who? Your private shuttle?"
Hwang Yong-min nodded.
Try as he might, he couldn't find Ryu Min anywhere.
"I figure he's probably gone, having died in the first round without even making it."
Hwang Yong-min soon resigned himself to that conclusion and stopped searching.
"Honestly, if he was that much of a loner, he was destined to perish long ago."
He clicked his tongue and turned away.
Huh?
Hwang Yong-min noticed someone clad in unusual armor.
"What's with that guy? Where did he get those tacky clothes...?"
At that moment, a thought flashed through Hwang Yong-min's mind.
"No way?"
Quickly, he shouted to his friends, "Everyone! Open the status screen! Let's check it out!"
"Huh? Status window?"
"That can't be…"
"Huh? It really works?"
When he mentioned the status window in his mind, a semi-transparent display that only he could see emerged.
A system they had believed to be exclusive to another realm could now be accessed in reality.
"What's going on?"
"Is it possible this was always usable in reality?"
"Wow... So both stats and items still apply?"
This meant that even in the real world, they could wield powers that far exceed regular human limits.
"Isn't this amazing?"
The corners of Hwang Yong-min's and his friends' mouths lifted in delight.
It was a glimmer of hope amid their despair.