[This morning, something unbelievable happened at Bosin Pavilion in Jongno-gu during the bell-ringing ceremony. Over ten thousand people collectively lost consciousness. Let's first watch the video to see what unfolded.]
The video displayed shocking scenes.
A winged woman appeared in the sky, radiating light.
[People are bewildered by the sight of the woman resembling an angel. She moves her lips as though she's saying something, but no sound is heard. After a moment, a young man asks the angel a question, and suddenly, her head explodes like a firecracker.]
The brutal murder of a human was captured in its entirety.
Though it was blurred for modesty, the violence was unmistakable.
[Tens of thousands of attendees went into a panic. Soon after, the angel mumbles something as if trying to explain, and then the crowd loses consciousness. Approximately ten thousand people collapse as if their strings have been cut.]
Those in the video fell to the ground without a sound, like marionettes with severed strings.
Soon after, the police could be seen interrogating the remaining witnesses.
[According to eyewitness accounts, the angels claimed to have transported individuals aged 15 to 29 to another dimension. While it sounds absurd, the abundance of witnesses and the video evidence force us to take it seriously.]
[This nationwide incident isn't isolated to our country alone. There have been reports of people experiencing narcolepsy in over 128 countries, including Japan, China, Russia, and the United States. People all around the world seem to have lost their minds.]
**1.8 billion souls** were abducted to another world.
Of course, not their bodies, but their souls.
Shocking articles flooded the news sections of portal sites.
Netizens' reactions were mixed.
#What? Did the reporters take drugs as a group?
#Why are there such ridiculous articles being published?
#Today isn't April Fool's Day.
#1.8 billion souls kidnapped? Wow, this fake news is on a massive scale.
#Haha, the solidarity among journalists is impressive.
#Even if you watch the video, it looks manipulated.
Many couldn't believe the article, doubting their own eyes.
#Are all the kids above elementary school students? Are reporters going to start publishing false articles from the new year because they lack anything better to cover?
#What I'm saying is, don't you know it's everywhere on other portal sites too?
#Even if you warn them about the situation up above, they wouldn't believe you and would likely run away.
More people seemed to believe than I anticipated.
However, since the same content appeared everywhere—public broadcasts, radio, and the Internet—there was no option but to accept the truth.
This is not a joke, but our harsh reality.
#I thought it was a joke, but it's real…
#What the hell is happening here?
#The article explains it in detail. It's a survival game that requires you to play up to 20 rounds.
#Wait, so I'm also being captured by an angel?
#If you're between 15 and 29 years old, you don't have to worry.
#Why aren't you worried, man? 1.8 billion people aren't waking up from their sleep...
#My friend's older brother really got kidnapped and remains unconscious. They say he's still breathing...
#I'm a 49-year-old father. My only middle school son won't wake up no matter how hard I try. I don't know what to do. Please!
#My little brother is asleep and won't wake up. What should I do?
#Right, what do we do now? Isn't the world coming to an end?
#Haha, this is great. The world is such a mess. It's bound to be ruined.
Ryu Min sighed as he read the news comments on his phone.
'It's finally beginning.'
The internet buzzed with survival game discussions.
It felt real once again—he had returned to Earth.
'But this is just the beginning.'
Ryu Min browsed another article.
[At approximately 5:20, around half of those affected by narcolepsy woke up… Meanwhile, the other half ceased to breathe, entering cardiac arrest… effectively dead.] [The death toll in Seoul is around 900,000. Nationally, estimates suggest approximately 4.5 million lives lost.] [An unprecedented event causing 11% of the population to die.] [Globally, the death count may reach around 900 million. Chaos reigns as a result of this widespread narcolepsy.]
Although obituaries kept appearing, the real issue was elsewhere.
[Survivors claim to have created characters and completed quests as if they were in a game… They had to battle creatures called goblins with just their bare hands in a grassy landscape…]
[Breaking news! Survivors identifying themselves as players can pull weapons and armor from thin air…]
'The real problem is that the players' abilities have now entered the realm of reality.'
Despite the angels' demise and the absence of any explanations heard by the audience, he still wouldn't return to Earth empty-handed.
The players retained their abilities.
'Since the system itself is based on souls, it can still be utilized even if the bodies have changed.'
Of course, this knowledge was gathered from torturing the angel in previous episodes.
'It may not have much impact now since the stats are low, but...'
As levels rise and players grow more powerful, they will become truly transcendent beings.
'At that point, some ignorant players will undoubtedly misuse their powers in reality, becoming lawless.'
Creating single-target weapons that could evade military control or even the most sophisticated weapons would be possible.
'I can't focus solely on quests like in the past. Many challenges will arise upon my return.'
The other world and reality.
In just a few months, both realms will face widespread chaos.
We can't simply observe this world entering turmoil.
If left unchecked, Earth could crumble before reaching 20 rounds.
'There's only one way: I must control the players with overwhelming authority. Only strong power can tame disobedient beasts.'
Ryu Min devised a plan to unify the players using force, as he had before.
This way, he could manage the chaos and eventually confront the final boss.
Of course, a different approach was required compared to previous iterations.
He needed to lead four allies to the final round, including himself.
'A healer and a buffer would be essential. We'll need at least five members for the boss room.'
Several potential candidates came to mind for allies, along with strategies to convince them, but...
'It's not yet time to act. There's something more pressing at hand.'
After the first round concluded and he returned to Earth, Ryu Min promptly departed from the bell-ringing event.
His destination was none other than his home.
A multi-family dwelling in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.
**Tit tit ti - beep!**
The first thing that caught Ryu Min's eye upon entering the house was a cup ramen container sitting in the sink.
'Looks like you had cup ramen for dinner again.'
It was a familiar sight, one seen during previous episodes.
It was a scene encountered every time he came home.
Ryu Min opened the closed door.
A person lay sound asleep on a blanket spread across the floor.
It was his younger brother, Ryu Won, who was in his third year of middle school.
Right now, he was Ryu Min's only family.
"Won-ah. Wake up."
As Ryu Min shook him, Ryu Won tossed about, blinking his sleepy eyes.
"...brother?"
"Time to get up. It's morning."
"What time is it?"
Ryu Won, still groggy, glanced at the wall clock.
"What? It's only 6 o'clock."
"No more time to sleep."
"What's going on? Why are you in such a hurry?"
"I'll explain later, but get dressed first. We need to go."
"Where are we going? If it's to watch the sunrise, I'd rather sleep…."
"Just listen to me, hyung."
Upon hearing his brother's serious tone, Ryu Won fell silent, observing him.
Ryu Won's expression turned serious as he recognized the unusual gravity about his brother.
"Brother, what's happening? Are you okay?"
"It's not safe to be sleeping peacefully right now. The world is in chaos."
"What? You were supposed to enjoy the bell-ringing ceremony, right? What happened?"
"Come outside first. We can talk while we walk."
His brother exited the narrow kitchen.
The cold dawn air shook Ryu Won's shoulders slightly.
"Let's take a walk."
"Okay."
The brothers strode through the dark alley in silence.
Ryu Won turned his head, glancing at his brother.
'What's troubling him that he looks so serious?'
Ryu Won remained silent, choosing to observe his brother, who usually seemed so small and hunched over.
'I can't believe he's so different from usual?'
His head held high, his gaze fierce, and his gait firm.
For a moment, Ryu Won wondered if the person walking beside him was truly his brother.
"Hey."
After walking for a while, Ryu Min spoke.
"Don't you know what's happening in the world right now?"
"Of course not. Why? What happened while I was asleep?"
"Check the internet news."
Ryu Won complied, quickly browsing his cell phone.
"Huh… What is this?"
He stopped walking, staring at his phone in disbelief.
"Is this real? An angel appeared, and a group of people was taken to another world?"
"To be precise, only their souls were taken."
"Are you saying you were taken too?"
Ryu Min nodded.
"I fought off 100 goblins in that other world and barely managed to return alive."
"..."
Despite speaking the truth, Ryu Won still looked skeptical.
"Then why didn't I get taken?"
"You're not even 15 yet."
Ryu Won was entering his third year of middle school, but he was merely 14, as his birthday hadn't passed yet.
A small glimmer of hope in a desperate situation.
Continuing to read the article, Ryu Won noticed the comments were shared with accounts lamenting the loss of siblings and children.
There were too many witnesses to deem it a lie.
"Ha... How did this happen..."
Looking back at his brother, Ryu Won marveled at how his brother survived despite his small stature.
"Are you okay, hyung? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Don't concern yourself with me."
"How can I not worry? My only family is my brother."
After their parents passed away in a car accident, it was Ryu Min who comforted Ryu Won, wiping his tears and holding him when he was distraught.
'My brother is stronger than anyone else.'
Though on the surface he appeared as a typical middle schooler, Ryu Won's thoughts ran deeper.
'My brother is like a father to me.'
Though he lacked the courage to voice his thoughts, Ryu Won relied heavily on his older brother.
Yet, despite this, he couldn't shake the worry.
'Mental strength and physical ability are different.'
He recognized that his brother possessed unwavering mental strength, but that didn't imply he was adept in combat.
Not only was he small, but he often got picked on, resulting in frequent beatings.
'Every time I asked about it, I'd tell him not to worry—I'd handle my own problems.'
How can I not worry if he were to get hurt?
Caught in his contemplation, Ryu Min spoke matter-of-factly.
"I know what you're thinking."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry. There's a system called stats in this world, making physical stature irrelevant. Women can take on goblins just as effectively."
"Ah… is that it?"
"And soon, when you see me in action, you won't have to worry, right?"
"What are you talking about?"
"If you want to find out, just follow me."
"No way! I'm not moving until you tell me where we're going."
Though his younger brother was being obstinate, Ryu Min only smiled.
Even this kind of reaction felt nostalgic; they had gone through similar experiences in the past.
"Curious?"
"If you keep talking, it becomes nagging!"
"Bang Tae-gyu."
At the mention of the name, Ryu Won's expression shifted.
"I'm headed to the bully's hideout right now."
"What?!"
"Throughout your school years, you were bullied by that kid named Bang Tae-gyu."
"Hyung, how did you know...?"
Ryu Won was taken aback.
He had never once confided in his brother about his bullying.
Instead, he always painted a picture of having a great time at school with nothing but good friends.
The reason was simple.
He didn't want to become a burden to his brother, who was already overburdened working part-time to support them.
But somehow, his brother understood.
"You knew all of that?"
"Did you think I didn't notice?"
"..."
Ryu Won bit his lower lip at Ryu Min's words.
'I thought you weren't paying attention…'
Ryu Won felt as if he had been discovered because of his previous mistake, but in truth, Ryu Min had been oblivious.
He hadn't known about his brother being bullied until just a few hours after returning from Round 1.
At that time, Ryu Won had come home in tears.
'It turned out that he had been bullied by a kid named Bang Tae-gyu.'
That revelation had been shocking for Ryu Min, who hadn't grasped that his brother had been suffering the same fate as he had.
'I felt guilty for being unable to protect him.'
He regretted passing down his own weaknesses to Ryu Won.
And that was why Ryu Min felt compelled to involve himself in his younger brother's troubles.
Because, above all, his sole remaining family was dear to him.
"But, hyung, what did you imply earlier about going to that guy's hideout?"
"Oh."
"Why?"
"Why?"
A smirk crept onto Ryu Min's face.
"Can we just let the guy who bullied my little brother go? We should at least break his arm."
You think just breaking it?
'I'll make him so incapacitated that he won't ever consider bothering you again.'