WPRAF 15

Chapter 15

Before she knew it, Hwang Hye-joo found herself standing face-to-face with a new breed of monster — and her blood ran cold.

The creature’s grotesque face and massive physique perfectly matched the description Kim Sang-gi had given her earlier. There was no mistaking it — this was a Captain-class Goblin.

At that moment, all players belonging to the Korean Defense Force had received a single command:
“Retreat and regroup at the rally point.”

And the very reason for that order… was now standing right before her eyes.

“Now I get why they ordered the retreat.”

The same chill she’d felt the day that man called Morpheus declared the beginning of Earth’s apocalypse — the same fear she’d felt when she’d foolishly charged at an ogre without understanding what she was up against — that feeling returned, crawling up her spine.

Her legs refused to move. It was as if her feet had been nailed to the ground. Every hair on her body stood on end like a frightened cat staring down a predator.

Sssmirk—

The Captain-class Goblin, meanwhile, wore a grotesque grin stretched up to its ears as it approached her with slow, almost lazy steps.

Step. Step.

It was walking like this entire situation amused it.

Hye-joo quickly assessed the monster.

That’s not some blood-crazed brute like a Goblin Soldier or an Elite. No…

It’s a hunter. A purebred predator that enjoys the chase.

Swish—

She glanced behind her.

“U-uh… uhhh…”

Kim Sang-gi, his mind completely broken, had collapsed on the floor and wet himself. She’d noticed he’d drunk a lot of water earlier — and now it was soaking the ground beneath him.

Damn it. If he were still sane, we might’ve stood a chance.

He was the same class as her — a [Swordsman] with the [Greatsword] trait.
It was a slow but powerful build, specializing in one-on-one combat.

But from the look of him now, there was no hope of getting his help.

“…Huff, huff. Unnie, I’ll cover you — come to me!”

The only one still fighting was Jung So-mi, breathing hard and forcing herself to move despite her exhaustion.

So-mi looks worn out too…

And even if she were at full strength, her class — [Analyst], a rear-support type — meant the only real combat power left… was Hye-joo herself.

That means…

Hye-joo shook her head at So-mi.

I have to buy time.

So-mi seemed to realize what that meant — her eyes widened in horror.

“Hwang Hye-joo! Don’t — you can’t take that thing alone—!”

“So-mi.”

Hye-joo called her name quietly.

“You should say unnie, not just my name.”

Then she turned toward the Captain-class Goblin, who was now less than three meters away, and raised her sword.

She had always known a day like this would come — the day she would die fighting a monster.

I thought I was ready for it…

But the world rarely went according to plan.
Facing this overwhelming monster, her heart and body felt unbearably heavy.

How did Se-hyun do it…?

That man — Han Se-hyun — who had once charged an ogre alone.
What was he thinking back then?
What courage did it take to become a David facing a Goliath?

I… I don’t know.

They hadn’t spent much time together.
But there was one thing she had learned for certain.

Once he set a goal, he never backed down.

Han Se-hyun was a man who advanced like a blade — straight and unwavering — the living embodiment of the swordsmanship she had spent years perfecting.

And now, Hye-joo set her own goal.

No matter what… I’ll stop it.

As she cleared her mind of everything but that single purpose, her body suddenly felt lighter — freer.

“So-mi, while I hold it off, take that guy and run. As far and fast as you can, got it?”

“Why should I listen to—”

Ignoring the protest, Hye-joo dashed forward.
She activated one of her skills from her [Flowing Cloud Sword] trait.

[Flowing Cloud Step (Yuunbo)]

• Type: Class-exclusive skill

• Rank: Beginner

• Duration: 5 minutes

• Effect: Your movements become as soft and fluid as drifting clouds. Each time you evade an attack, Strength and Accuracy increase by 5%.
  (Accuracy increases the chance your attack will hit its target.)

Alright. For five minutes, I’ll dodge as many attacks as I can — build up my Strength and Accuracy — then finish it in one decisive strike.

It was a solid plan.
Or at least, it had been.

Because the moment the Goblin swung its spear—

What the—!?

Her plan went up in smoke.

It’s too fast!

The Captain’s spear strike was so fast it nearly vanished from sight.
There was no time to dodge — only to scramble backward.

And that, unfortunately, didn’t count as an evasion.

So I have to actually recognize and avoid the attack for the system to register it?

[Flowing Cloud Step] didn’t tolerate lucky escapes.
You couldn’t just “not get hit” — you had to properly dodge.

At this rate, I won’t last a minute.

Hye-joo’s mind raced.

How could she raise her survival odds — even slightly?

Then, an old memory flashed before her eyes.

Her first year of high school — the Gimpo Mayor’s Kendo Cup.
She’d lost in the finals — because she’d let her opponent’s taunt get to her.

At the time, she thought trash talk was childish and disgraceful.
Kendo, to her, was a sacred art — a true test of skill.

But looking back, she realized she’d been wrong.

Her opponent had done everything possible to win.
She hadn’t.

Then what about me now? Am I doing everything I can?

The answer was obvious.

No. You’re holding back. You’re scared of getting hurt — of dying. Snap out of it! This isn’t the time to play it safe!

Gritting her teeth, she shouted at the monster:

“Is that all you’ve got?! Can’t even aim properly? Swing like you mean it!”

It couldn’t possibly understand her words — but it seemed to catch her tone.
Its attacks grew more aggressive, more emotional — and sloppier.

Now, her fluid movements could finally deflect its wild spear thrusts.

[‘Flowing Cloud Step’ duration: 1 minute remaining.]

The power flowing through me feels completely different now.

Feeling the surge of stacked bonuses, she prepared her final strike.

“Huuh…”

Steady breath. Firm stance.

The monster snarled.

“Grrrrrrr!”

It thrust its spear — a sharp, twisting motion that shifted unpredictably mid-swing.

Dodging that kind of attack was nearly impossible.

So Hye-joo gambled.

[Flowing Sword (Yugeom)]

• Type: Class-exclusive skill

• Rank: Beginner

• Effect: 20% chance to deflect the enemy’s attack.

It was the same skill she’d once used to redirect an ogre’s blow — though at her level, that 20% chance felt painfully low.

But for a gamer, 20% is a bet worth taking.

She thrust her sword forward, activating [Flowing Sword].

Please… work…!

The moment the spear touched her blade, it slid — glancing off and grazing past her shoulder.

It worked!

Hye-joo instantly swung her sword upward in a diagonal slash.

The razor-sharp edge was about to slice clean through the Goblin’s neck—

When a massive hand shot out and caught her sword mid-swing.

The monster had released its weapon the instant she parried, blocking her with its bare hand.

Wh… What is this? Was it impossible from the start?

The strength radiating through her blade made her entire body tremble.
Her grip went slick with sweat.

Her stamina was gone — she couldn’t move another step.

The Goblin raised its other hand — reaching for her head.

And then—

BANG!

A gunshot cracked through the air. The monster staggered as a bullet tore through its shoulder.

Hye-joo dropped her sword and ran back — to where Jung So-mi stood, pistol in hand.

Kim Sang-gi was nowhere to be seen. He must’ve already fled.

So-mi forced a weak smile.
“I was aiming for its head. Missed.”

“You… Why are you still here?!”

“You want me to be the kind of bitch who abandons her team? Not happening.”

She squeezed the trigger again — but the 9mm rounds just bounced off the creature’s armored hide.

The Captain-class Goblin advanced, step by step, shrugging off the bullets.
Behind it, three Elite Goblins and five Soldiers appeared.

“Run. Now.”

So-mi grabbed Hye-joo’s wrist and dragged her toward a nearby family restaurant.

Bang! Bang!

She fired to cover their retreat.
In the narrow hallway, the Captain’s huge frame had acted like a shield —
but out in the wide dining hall, that was no longer possible.

Under the hail of bullets, the lesser goblins ducked behind walls and pillars — buying the two women precious seconds.

“Unnie, there’s a terrace right below us!”

So-mi quickly explained the escape route she’d spotted earlier.

“Go on.”

“It’s an open balcony — if we jump, we’ll land on the fourth-floor terrace.”

It was risky — the drop could break a limb —
but it was better than dying here.

Hye-joo nodded.

“Alright.”

So-mi sprinted toward the glass window and fired two rounds.
Crash! The thick glass shattered.

“I’ll go first! Follow me!”

She stepped on a table, leapt, crossed her arms over her head, and tucked her body to protect herself as she dove through the broken window.

But then—

“Don’t—!!”

Hye-joo’s desperate scream rang out behind her.
A sickening squelch followed.

Shk—

Still midair, So-mi turned her head — and her pupils dilated in shock.

“U-Unnie!”

Hye-joo was on her knees — her own sword buried in her shoulder.

The Captain-class Goblin stood over her, looking up at So-mi as she fell through the air.

And then — it smiled.
That same twisted grin.
As if this whole thing was a game.

Then—

Ssshhk—

A thin line suddenly appeared across the monster’s neck.
Its flesh split apart, blood erupting in a crimson fountain.

“Gkk—khhh—grkk—!”

It clutched at its throat, utterly bewildered, as dark green blood spurted through its fingers. Moments later, its body toppled forward with a crash.

Boom!

That was all So-mi saw before she hit the terrace below.
Thankfully, a table beneath her broke her fall, sparing her from serious injury.

What the hell just happened up there…?

Before she could process it, a familiar voice called out from above —
a calm, almost cheerful tone she recognized immediately.

“Sorry I’m late. Got held up by some street thugs on the way.”

That voice — sweet as ever, even now — continued, completely unfazed.

“Hey, junior. You can hear me, right? I can’t handle this alone — get up here, fast.”