[Hello, humans? Welcome to Round 15. Now, shall we check the quest?]

The angel smiled, as if saying there was no need for lengthy explanations, and flapped its wings.

◀ ROUND 15 ▶

<Main Quest>
└ Pass three missions

[Unified Zone CA-EA001]

└ Participants: 2,304

└ Completers: 0/576

“Three missions?”

“What kind of missions?”

“Look at the number of survivors.”

“It’s cut down to a quarter?”

Hearing the players’ murmurs, the angel frowned.

[Didn’t the previous angel mention it? The difficulty increases with every fifth round. This round is no exception. Only 576 out of 2,304 will survive.]

“Not even 600…”

“Will I be one of the 576?”

Outwardly, people seemed worried, but inwardly, they were hopeful.

Surely, I can make it into the top 500…

There should be a spot for me, right?

But contrary to people’s expectations, this round would fall short.

By a wide margin.

‘Not even 50 will survive, let alone 500. At least, that’s how it was in the last cycle.’

This time would be different from before.

The situation was no longer one where he didn’t care if others died.

‘This time, I’m bringing all 576 survivors.’

Thinking ahead to the 20th round, saving as many as possible was necessary.

“It looks like we’ll need to compete hard to be in the top ranks.”

“Why compete? Aren’t we all on the same team?”

“Angel! Is this round a solo or a team competition?”

To one player’s question, the angel smiled and said,

[I can’t tell you that. All I can say is that you’re not in a party.]

“Not in a party?”

“Does that mean it’s a solo mission?”

People seemed confused, but Ryu Min knew the answer.

‘It’s not exactly solo. Without cooperation, everyone will be wiped out.’

He wanted to tell them about the mission, but he held back, knowing the angel was watching.

It wasn’t time for him to step up yet.

“Angel! What about the three missions?”

“What will they be?”

[That’s for you to find out as you proceed.]

“What about side quests?”

“What’s the ranking criteria?”

[Side quests and ranking criteria are also secrets. Telling you now would spoil the fun, wouldn’t it? Hehe.]

The angel chuckled smugly, then changed its expression and flapped its wings.

[Shall I send you to the mission site now?]

As soon as the angel spoke, darkness engulfed the 2,000 players.

***

“W-Where is this?”

“Is anyone there?”

“I can’t see anything.”

The monochrome space had turned into a pitch-black one in an instant.

The confusion was short-lived; as their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they could faintly make out each other’s silhouettes.

The problem was that there were no visible landmarks or terrain in the place they had been transported to.

“There’s nothing here?”

“It’s just a flat, empty space.”

“This isn’t space, right? I can feel the ground beneath my feet.”

“Where’s the angel? I don’t see it anywhere.”

“I guess this means we have to handle this ourselves now.”

What kind of mission would take place in this dark, seemingly infinite space?

The question was answered when a message appeared.

[Welcome to the mission site for Round 15.]

[You must complete all three missions within the time limit to survive this round.]

[Now, let’s begin the first mission.]

<First Mission>
└ Survive for 30 minutes against the Dark Illusion

[If successful, you may proceed to the second mission.]

[Current number of survivors: 2,304]

[Time remaining until the next mission: 00:29:59]

“What’s a Dark Illusion?”

“Is it a type of monster?”

“Well, as long as we survive, we’re fine, right?”

“Running and hiding is my specialty.”

Some players wore confident expressions, but this wouldn’t be as easy as they thought.

‘Darkness is the ideal environment for the Dark Illusion.’

Some players voiced their skepticism.

“Who says we have to run?”

“Yeah, why can’t we just defeat whatever it is?”

“If it’s a monster, we just have to kill it, right?”

But as if on cue, another message appeared, wiping the smirks off their faces.

[Just so you know, the Dark Illusion is invincible.]

No matter how strong Ryu Min was, he couldn’t break through invincibility.

This meant he, too, would have to avoid the Dark Illusion.

‘But there’s an easier way than just running.’

That way was invisibility.

The Dark Illusion couldn’t detect players who were invisible. If one used the potion and stayed still, survival was guaranteed.

This was why Ryu Min had given invisibility potions to the key members.

‘Use them. Now.’

He had made sure to tell them to drink the potions as soon as the mission started. Christine, John, Min Juri, Yamti, and Seo Arin all disappeared from sight as they drank their potions.

Ryu Min could have hidden himself too, but he chose not to.

‘This round isn’t about surviving alone. It’s about everyone surviving together.’

He needed to guide the other players who didn’t have invisibility.

Just then, a low, eerie wailing sound filled the space—

Wooooooooooo—

The Dark Illusion had appeared.

Hyung_Otaku

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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