Chapter 248 - Second Mission
Wow-
A space that was once only known for darkness now suddenly illuminated.
The place where people found themselves was a large common area capable of accommodating two thousand people.
"Ah, I can finally see something."
"Now the skills are working properly."
"By the way, what will the second mission be?"
"Maybe Black Scythe knows? He seems to know how to address the issue according to what he says."
"Ask him."
"No, I don't want to. I'm not very interested. If you're interested, ask him."
"I, actually, am not interested either."
Although they said so, people kept casting sidelong glances at Ryu Min.
They wanted to know if he also knew something about the second mission.
But they didn't dare to ask.
Because of Ryu Min's expression and the tense atmosphere.
"Why does he seem so annoyed?"
"What's wrong with him?"
"Is the second mission harder?"
People murmured, but not only Ryu Min was tense.
Followers of the Church of the Four Gods also awaited the next mission with worried faces.
They already knew what this mission implied.
That they would have to kill each other.
A moment later, the long-awaited message appeared for the people.
[We will start the second mission.]
<Second Mission>
Kill each other from now on.
If someone dies within the next 30 minutes, you will pass.
[Those who pass are 1,152, half of the participants.]
[Those who do not pass before time runs out will be eliminated.]
[If successful, you may attempt the third mission.]
[Current survivors: 2,303]
[Time remaining until the next mission: 00:29:59]
The eyes of those who saw the mission widened.
"Kill each other?"
"Like in Round 4?"
The unpleasant memories of Round 4, where they died and killed to survive, came to people's minds.
Swallowing saliva, they looked at each other.
You could already see people with a sharp look in their eyes.
They kept their distance with wary glances.
"Kill each other for 30 minutes...?"
"Now I understand why Black Scythe was so tense."
Honestly, unless you were a psychopathic killer, where would you find someone who wanted to kill?
What benefit would there be in taking someone's life?
But now, there was a clear benefit.
The right to survive.
However, no one rushed to act.
After all, facing someone with a knife was a chilling idea.
"Now we have to kill each other...?"
"What kind of mission is this?"
In an instant, a fellow who had survived for 14 months became an enemy.
While some people hesitated due to ethical and moral considerations.
"It's just closing your eyes and killing."
"To survive, we have no choice, right?"
"After all, this is a world where you have to trample on others to rise. It's a kind of competition too."
There were people who rationalized that they had to kill inevitably.
Amidst this dreamlike atmosphere, while people just watched, the followers of the Church of the Four Gods drew closer to each other.
It was because of the orders Black Scythe had given earlier.
The second mission is a mission to kill each other. They may not know it, but it will be a ruthless massacre like in the fourth round. However, do not be swayed by the atmosphere and do not join in the killing. Do not aim your swords at each other. Simply, the followers of the Church of the Four Gods should unite and observe the situation. If someone attacks first, it's okay to kill them. But until then, just watch the situation with me. Do not move under any circumstances until I give the signal.
Even if there is a massacre, do not intervene.
It's okay to kill the one who attacks first.
Trust and protect each other as comrades.
Remain still until I give the signal.
Following the four orders heard from Black Scythe, the followers united and trusted each other.
Given the uncertainty about what might happen, Black Scythe's order to simply observe the situation was sensible.
There was also faith in Black Scythe.
On the other hand, for those who were not followers of the Church of the Four Gods, the situation was discouraging.
"Are we all just going to stand like this? Shouldn't we do something?"
Someone's cry pierced the air.
"What do you want us to do? Kill each other?"
"If we don't kill, we'll all be destroyed. We have no choice but to kill."
"If each one kills one person, we'll just pass."
"He must be a math genius."
"Don't be sarcastic. Do you have any ideas then?"
"Me? I don't have any idea."
"Hey, what about organizing a tournament?"
"A tournament? That's ridiculous."
"Come on. Aren't you exaggerating by calling this a different world?"
"We should talk sensibly. Who will decide the matchups in the tournament? Who will face Black Scythe?"
"If some fool wants to participate in the tournament, let him."
"Oh, sorry. I was short in my thinking. I was foolish. So, do any of you, the smart ones, have anything to say? Any other good thoughts?"
"Black Scythe will understand. Since they know the strategy of the first mission."
"Mr. Black Scythe, do you also know the strategy of this mission?"
"If you know, please tell us."
Although the looks turned towards Ryu Min, he had no clear answer to offer.
There was no other option but to kill, apart from killing.
After a moment of silence, Ryu Min casually murmured.
"We'll have to kill. Is there any other option?"
"..."
The players inwardly sighed at not getting the answer they hoped for.
The more they thought about it, the clearer the only answer became.
"Do we really have no other option but to kill...?"
According to the system, they had no choice but to kill each other.
Ten minutes passed before they realized.
"There's no time. Ten minutes have already passed."
"If we continue like this, we'll all be destroyed. Shouldn't we at least ensure that half survive?"
"Then, why don't you kill first?"
"Well, that's a bit..."
The situation stagnated.
Despite experiencing murder in the fourth round, people couldn't easily stab each other.
Indeed, those who hesitated were the ones who had experienced that hell.
Somehow, they were comrades who had spent over a year fighting for life and death, not mere competitors.
"As I thought, everyone is hesitating."
Ryu Min had already anticipated this would happen.
It had been the same in the fourth round.
"We must kill each other."
To do so, Ryu Min decided to capitalize on the desperation.
Ryu Min's gaze settled on John Delgado, who was some distance away.
"Do it."
Locking eyes, John Delgado inclined his head slightly.
And it didn't take long.
Thud!
"Kya!"
A chilling sound of flesh being cut was heard.
Swish.
The gazes around focused on a man fallen to the ground.
The first sacrifice had occurred.
None other than a follower of the Church of Despair.
And the one who had killed him as well.
"Murder!"
"Look at that guy! His nickname turned red!"
"What are followers of the same Church doing?"
The nearby followers of the Church of Despair were bewildered.
The situation where a follower killed another was inexplicable, but they didn't know.
They didn't know that behind all this was John Delgado, their leader.
Ryu Min, who was at a distance, curled his lips as he watched the crime scene.
"It seems the followers really follow the necromancer's orders better than I thought."
Earlier, John Delgado had had a separate meeting with the followers and made them an offer.
When he gave the signal, they were to kill a nearby follower.
In return, he would offer them strategies for the next round as well as the rank of bishop.
"Did they all really accept that offer so easily?"
The funny thing was it wasn't just one or two followers who had accepted that offer.
Thud! Swish!
"Knife!"
"Kya!"
The followers of the Church of Despair attacked their own comrades without hesitation.
They simply trusted their leader's proposals, unhesitatingly killing their fellow followers.
"Haha, kya!"
A follower laughed as he killed another follower, only to be stabbed in the back with the sword of another follower and killed.
That follower also ended up a corpse at the hands of another follower.
This bloodshed was happening among the followers of the Church of Despair.
They were all fanatics who had been deceived by John Delgado's promises.
Thud! Thud!
"Ah!"
"Kill him!"
As the followers began to kill each other, Berber couldn't help but feel surprised.
"Why are they doing this? All of a sudden!"
He had never thought of a conspiracy.
"Hey, idiots! Why are you attacking your own comrades!?"
To him, the followers of the Church of Despair were valuable resources and military strength.
They couldn't die so pitifully.
But no matter what he said, they didn't stop fighting.
Why were they suddenly fighting like this?
It was absurd to think of killing John Delgado and increasing their own power.
However, the murders weren't only happening in the Church of Despair.
"Kill him!"
"Damn it, come here!"
"Die! Die!"
Whether out of misunderstanding or some other reason, people were ruthlessly lunging at each other with knives.
Watching the fight among the followers of the Church of Despair, some decided to quickly join in.
And amidst all that, justifying it as necessary for survival was only a bonus.
"Hmm."
Amidst the confusion, Ryu Min silently observed the situation.
The followers of the Church of the Four Gods also stood aside, not participating in the killings.
They followed Ryu Min's order not to act rashly until there was an order.
Ryu Min watched the mission progress window, waiting for the moment.
[Currently, survivors: 2,102]
[Currently, interns: 201/1,152]
...
[Currently, survivors: 2,050]
[Currently, interns: 253/1,152]
...
[Currently, survivors: 1,991]
[Currently, interns: 312/1,152]
...
As the survivors dwindled, the number of people increased, but Ryu Min waited.
"It's not time yet. They must die a bit more," Ryu Min said calmly, but as the interns rapidly increased, the followers of the Church of the Four Gods grew anxious.
Shouldn't they quickly join in the killing themselves?
What if they remained distracted like this?
But the followers of the Church of the Four Gods believed in Black Scythe.
They eagerly awaited his orders, and finally...
"It's time."
When the interns exceeded 400, Ryu Min gestured to give the order.
To John Delgado.
"Summon them."
Looking right in that direction, John nodded and unleashed his corpse resurrection skill.
"Rise."
The light emanating from the end of his staff dispersed over the scattered bodies around.
Slowly...
"Ehhhh...."
Hundreds of bodies rose up like zombies.
Even those who were fighting ceaselessly stopped in surprise at the scene.
Chec-chech-chech-
The undead, moving in formation like an army, aimed towards...
"What, what are those things?"
"Why are they coming here?"
They were none other than a group of followers of the Church of Despair.
They seemed to be attempting to attack the large military force gathered from the Church of the Four Gods.
"In reality, they came here to sacrifice their lives."
Contrary to appearances, the undead had no intention of attacking the Church of the Four Gods.
They had only come to die.
"Because killing those who are alive is easier to bear than killing those who are already dead."
That was Ryu Min's strategy, counting on killing real undead to add to his count.
Chec-chech-
As John Delgado's summoned minions approached, Ryu Min shouted as if it were the right moment.
"All followers of the Church of the Four Gods! Kill them, one by one!"
Following that order wasn't difficult.
After all, they weren't real people, but summonings.
Thud! Thud!
Moreover, they offered no resistance at all.
"Eh? Why aren't they offering resistance?"
But the surprise lasted only a moment.
The followers of the Church of the Four Gods opened their eyes in unison, surprised.
"What? This message...?"
"Does it appear because we killed the undead?"
Even Ryu Min could see the same message as the followers when he killed a nearby undead.
"You have committed murder."
"You have passed the second mission."
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