The Player Who Can't Level Up

Gi-Gyu had been feeling something boiling deep inside him ever since he arrived at the abandoned factory. It wasn’t something simple like anger; it was something different. 

“I…” Gi-Gyu was about to say something when Yeo Sung-Gu interrupted in panic, “They’re nobodies! Don’t be afraid and just attack!”

If Gi-Gyu escaped this place, Yeo Sung-Gu would be in big trouble. The punishment for everything he had done in the last few hours wasn’t something as simple as dismissal from the association. 

When Yeo Sung-Gu screamed, the Phoenix Guild members began to move. Choi Won-Jae, however, remained still as if he wanted to see how strong Gi-Gyu was.  

Bloodthirst clouded Gi-Gyu's eyes as he murmured, “If I were weak like I used to be, I would’ve died here.” Seconds later, a vicious and chaotic aura emerged from Gi-Gyu and flooded the abandoned factory. Akin to countless slithering snakes, it wrapped around his opponents.

“...” Choi Won-Jae continued to stand still and study Gi-Gyu. Most guild members present here were C-grade; Choi Won-Jae himself was an A-grade ranker. 

Gi-Gyu continued, “Had I died here, I would’ve joined the numerous who took their last breath here. I’m guessing countless innocents died here screaming.”

“What the hell are you mumbling?! Dammit! Get him already! Kill him!” Gi-Gyu’s menacing aura was successful in deterring his opponents, so the one behind this whole farce couldn’t help shouting angrily. 

“I can’t believe this,” Sung-Hoon whispered. The scene before him was simply unbelievable. He had been nervously preparing himself for an inevitable battle, but when he felt Gi-Gyu’s energy, Sung-Hoon couldn’t help feeling overwhelming futility.

“It hasn’t even been that long since we hunted together inside that maze.” 

It was only for a day, but Sung-Hoon had seen Gi-Gyu battle the monsters inside the Maze of Heryond. Even then, he deemed Gi-Gyu a strong player. He also knew Gi-Gyu was growing rapidly, but still…

Sung-Hoon muttered, “He has become a beast.” The speed at which Gi-Gyu had grown so far was unimaginable. How could anyone become this strong this fast? It seemed Association President Oh Tae-Gu had made a winning bet. 

While Sung-Hoon stared in disbelief, Gi-Gyu ordered him, “Sung-Hoon, please make sure Yeo Sung-Gu doesn’t escape. And grab your cellphone.”

“Pardon?”

“You know who to call, right?” asked Gi-Gyu.

“Yup!”

“That’s all you need to do. As for these guys…” With this soft announcement, Gi-Gyu kicked the ground. It almost looked like he suddenly disappeared because he moved so fast. In the blink of an eye, Gi-Gyu stood in front of one of the players charging toward him with a weapon in his hand. 

Slice.

With a ghastly sound, the player’s arm fell to the ground.

“Ackkk!” When the wounded player screamed in pain, the other guild members shouted, “What are you all doing?! Go grab that bastard!”

“Kill him! There are only two of them! We have the ranker Choi Won-Jae and the others on our side!” 

As if waiting for that very statement, all the black-suited players rushed toward Gi-Gyu. Gi-Gyu didn’t hesitate for a second before mercilessly swinging Lou and El. 

“I’ll take care of them,” Gi-Gyu whispered just loud enough for Sung-Hoon to hear. The factory was filled with agonizing screams and sounds of clashing weapons, but Sung-Hoon heard Gi-Gyu’s whisper loud and clear. 

Slash!

Stab!

Thud!

Every time Gi-Gyu swung his swords, he took down—at least—one opponent. Consequently, the factory was flooded by screeches, screams, and metallic clangs. 

“Ackkkk! My arm! My arm!”

“My leg… My leg…!”

“Ranker Choi Jae-Won! Please help us! He’s too strong!”

“Hiukkk! He’s a beast!” 

Within seconds, numerous Phoenix Guild members fell to the ground, missing a limb or two. But so far, Gi-Gyu didn’t kill anyone: He just made sure they wouldn’t stand up again. 

And it wasn’t because the guild members were acting like punching bags. They were giving it their all. Sadly, before they could even unleash their ultimate moves, they were stabbed by either Lou or El.

Sung-Hoon couldn’t tell how much time had passed. To Gi-Gyu, it was only a moment, while it felt like a lifetime to his opponents. 

“Haa…” For the first time since the battle began, Gi-Gyu exhaled deeply. Around him, the severely injured players were screaming and flailing in pain. Had the wounds been normal stab wounds, his enemies could’ve endured the pain and continued fighting. But with Bi activated, the Wound Aggravation skill was in effect. Grasping at their worsening wounds, the players groaned and begged for potions. 

“What a mess,” Choi Won-Jae muttered bitterly as he watched his men’s suffering. The ranker wanted to get involved; unfortunately, he couldn’t at the moment. 

“W-what the hell is he…? Y-you can kill him, right, Ahjussi? Right?” The director’s pathetic son grabbed Choi Won-Jae’s jacket in fear. 

The truth of this situation was a complicated one. In the public’s eyes, this idiot was some director’s son. However, this dumbass was actually the secret bastard son of the Phoenix Guild’s guild master. This dunderhead was born from a tryst between the guild master and his mistress, and the guild master treasured him. The guild master had his cretinous, bastard son grow up as the strategic department director’s son to hide his infidelity. This was why all of these players were at this nincompoop's beck and call. It wasn’t the director’s power that brought on this event—It was the guild master of the Phoenix Guild himself. 

Choi Won-Jae replied calmly, “I’ve got to take care of this myself.”

However, the guild master’s by-blow, Yeon Nam-Ju, shook his head, begging the ranker not to leave him. Right now, Yeon Nam-Ju and his three friends were hiding behind Choi Won-Jae, so he thought, 

‘After I deal with this, I will have to kill them. Then, I will have to make sure the Young Master finds his way to the right track.’

According to the ranker, those three men were why Yeon Nam-Ju was in this situation. The ranker wondered if Yeon Nam-Ju could still change his ways; he needed to try to know. Choi Won-Jae owed a debt he could never repay to the guild master, so he never refused the guild master’s orders, not even those that had him take care of dirty deeds like this. 

Choi Won-Jae remained calm because he didn’t think he would lose to Gi-Gyu. He was surprised to find Gi-Gyu much stronger than he expected, but all the players Gi-Gyu had defeated so far were mere C-grade players. Choi Won-Jae was not just any player: He was a proud ranker of the Phoenix Guild. 

Watching Choi Won-Jae getting ready, Gi-Gyu sneered and asked, “So you’re ready to get serious?”

“A-Ahjussi!” Yeon Nam-Ju tried to stop Choi Won-Jae, but the ranker pushed the young man away and walked toward Gi-Gyu. 

Drip…

Drip…

Gi-Gyu’s body was soaked in blood. Even as he stood still, blood dripped down from him. Slowly pushing back his blood-soaked hair, Gi-Gyu looked at Choi Won-Jae quietly. Gi-Gyu seemed oddly creepy with a face smeared with other players’ blood. 

He murmured, “This is the first time I’m fighting a ranker.” He had battled Ironshield before, but all he did was clash El with Ironshield’s Calleon once. Gi-Gyu continued, “But being a ranker does not change that you’re garbage.”

“You’re on,” Choi Won-Jae, a damage dealer, announced as he unsheathed his sword. 

Sung-Hoon shouted to Gi-Gyu with his phone in his hand, “I contacted him! He’ll be here right away!”

When Gi-Gyu turned around, he saw Yeo Sung-Gu on the floor under Sung-Hoon’s foot. Gi-Gyu replied, “Good job. I guess we don’t have much time left, so we better finish this fast, right?” 

Gi-Gyu smiled at the ranker once more before he dashed forward. 

Boom!

An explosion, too loud for just two swords colliding, was heard soon after.

***

‘This doesn’t feel like my own body.’

Something broke inside Gi-Gyu; seconds later, he found himself floating in the air. Although unfamiliar, it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation. He felt dizzy, just like when he drank for the first time, but his body moved more fluidly than ever.  

Slash.

‘Too slow.’

To Gi-Gyu, Choi Won-Jae’s sword appear to move in slow motion. Dodging the ranker’s sword with ease, Gi-Gyu swung Lou to wound Choi Won-Jae. Thanks to the Wound Aggravation skill, the injury on the ranker slowly turned darker.

‘He’s moving way too slow.’

Suddenly, Choi Won-Jae’s sword glowed, and a robust heatwave wafted from his body. Realizing the ranker had activated his skill, Gi-Gyu quickly stepped back. He had already enabled Accelerate, so his speed would peak in a few moments. 

Gi-Gyu shouted, “You’re too slow!” 

Lou escaped Choi Jae-Won’s attack as Gi-Gyu made a turn. After a complete turn with one of his feet as an axis, Gi-Gyu swung El to cut off a few of the ranker’s fingers. 

“Ugh!” Unable to counter the attack, Choi Jae-Won finally groaned in pain. Gi-Gyu wasn’t using any active skills, yet as if possessed by a higher being, he moved too fast for Choi Won-Jae to handle. 

Yeon Nam-Ju trembled and whispered, “T-this can’t be… This… I must be dreaming…” The ranker had been with Yeon Nam-Ju all his life. Choi Won-Jae always seemed invincible to him; now, Gi-Gyu was playing him like a fiddle. Yeon Nam-Ju felt like his world was crumbling down around him. 

Meanwhile, Gi-Gyu just focused on slashing Choi Won-Jae’s flesh and bones. After a few more minutes of fighting, the ranker moaned and crumbled down to the ground. To be more accurate, he fell because Lou had amputated both of his legs. The ranker’s legs flew across the room to join all the other limbs that littered the ground. 

Trying his best to endure the extreme pain, Choi Won-Jae asked, “W-who are you…? Were you sent here to target the Young Master?”

“What the hell are you talking about? I was just driving home when that jerk tried to pick a fight with me,” Gi-Gyu replied emotionlessly. 

“J-just kill me and let the Young Master live. Things will get very bad for you if you kill him,” begged Choi Won-Jae as if stating his last will. 

“Haa…” When Gi-Gyu sighed in frustration, Sung-Hoon rushed toward him and warned, “Please stop! If you go on any further, then…”

Slash.

But before Sung-Hoon could reach Gi-Gyu, Lou beheaded Choi Won-Jae. The ranker probably didn’t expect Gi-Gyu to kill him because even as his head took to the sky, his eyes remained wide open.

“Ugh!” Yeon Nam-Ju felt like he was being suffocated. 

Sting.

Gi-Gyu suddenly felt a sharp pain in his right eye, but he ignored it as he walked forward.

“Player Kim Gi-Gyu!” Sung-Hoon stared at Choi Won-Jae’s head on the ground in shock before grabbing Gi-Gyu’s arm. 

“Don’t stop me.” When Gi-Gyu warned him savagely, Sung-Hoon replied quickly, “I’m not trying to stop you. I’m not that crazy. What happened today is beyond repair at this point anyway. But that jerk over there… I know who he is, and if you kill him, things will become really annoying.” 

Studying Gi-Gyu’s face worriedly, Sung-Hoon asked, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Gi-Gyu gave Sung-Hoon a small smile before continuing to walk toward Yeon Nam-Ju. With each step he took, the pain in his eyes worsened. It was as if his eyeball wanted to pop out of his skull. And then there was the burning sensation in his chest: It wasn’t getting any better either.

Meanwhile, Yeon Nam-Ju begged, “P-please let me live. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to do what I did… I- I think I got too drunk…” The pathetic man was on his knees and rubbing his hands for forgiveness. 

Slice.

The speed at which Gi-Gyu moved was too fast for a low-level player like Yeon Nam-Ju to follow. Yeon Nam-Ju’s right hand fell to the ground with a graceful swing. 

“Ack… Ugh!!!!!!!!!” Yeon Nam-Ju sobbed due to the kind of pain he had never felt before. With a faint smile, Gi-Gyu reassured him, “I won’t kill you with my own hands.”

“Y-you mean it?” Feeling hopeful, Yeon Nam-Ju managed to look up at Gi-Gyu, who added, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you die on your own.”

Stab.

As Lou dug deep into Yeon Nam-Ju’s thigh, an almost cheerful piercing sound echoed inside the factory. Yeon Nam-Ju was the one with a sword in his thigh, but it was actually Gi-Gyu who was enduring a maddening amount of pain. Gi-Gyu’s right eyeball seemed fixated on causing him as much pain as possible. The unpleasant pain was too distracting, so Gi-Gyu closed his eyes. 

“Player Kim Gi-Gyu…” Sung-Hoon whispered, but Gi-Gyu couldn’t hear it: The whisper was buried under the screams from Yeon Nam-Ju and the Phoenix Guild players.

***

“Wh… What happened?” When Tae-Shik opened the door to the abandoned factory, he couldn’t believe the scene in front of his eyes. He moaned in distress when he saw the bodies littered all over the ground. Thankfully, some bodies were still moaning and screaming for help, so it wasn’t a complete massacre. 

“General Manager, we have taken care of all the patrolling players outside the factor—” Some surveillance department agents followed inside, but their words stuck to their throats when they saw the scene inside. 

“Urrggghhh!” Some agents even began to vomit at the gruesome scene. These agents were used to seeing the corpses of monsters and humans since they worked for the association. However, the sight inside the abandoned factory was beyond their worst nightmare. 

Sung-Hoon walked up to Tae-Shik and greeted him grimly, “There you are.”

“W-what happened here…?” Tae-Shik asked rigidly. Before Sung-Hoon could answer, a trembling voice called out to Tae-Shik, “H-Hyung…?” It was Gi-Gyu who slowly appeared from a dark corner.

Gi-Gyu’s face was stained with tears, and he was trembling like a reed in the wind. In a pained voice, Tae-Shik whispered, “Gi-Gyu…”

“H…Hyung… I…” Gi-Gyu staggered toward Tae-Shik as he stammered, “I… feel strange.”

The light from the opened factory door slowly shone on Gi-Gyu’s face as he walked forward, and Tae-Shik noticed that Gi-Gyu’s right eye had turned violet. Without a word, the general manager hugged Gi-Gyu comfortingly. 

“Huh? What? General Manager, one of the corpses here is…!” one of the agents who entered the factory yelled. When Tae-Shik didn’t respond, the same agent continued, “One of the corpses is disappearing!”

“What?” At the impossible news, Tae-Shik finally turned toward the agent. When Tae-Shik released Gi-Gyu for a moment, a system announcement rang inside Gi-Gyu’s head. 

[Cannibalism has been activated.]

[Player Choi Won-Jae is being egofied.]

[Egofication has failed.]

[Player Choi Won-Jae’s fragment has been absorbed.]

[You now have access to a part of Player Choi Won-Jae’s memory.]