The Author's POV

"Quickly change this to code black!"

Hurriedly shouting orders, Thomas disappeared from where he was standing.

"...Ah, goddammit! this is more serious than I had expected"

Quickly teleporting back into the black market, Thomas quickly pressed the emergency button causing the whole facility to turn red as alarms started ringing

-Daaaang!

-Daaaang!

-Daaaang!

Taking out his phone he quickly dialed a number

-Ring! -Ring! -Ring!

"...Hello?"

From the other side of the phone, a cold emotionless voice entered Thomas's ears.

"Boss we have a situation"

"...Explain"

"Dungeon gate 756, Code black, possible dungeon desync"

Pausing slightly, the cold voice said

"...I understand, you will be granted full authority regarding this matter"

-Tak!

Right after saying that, the person on the other side of the phone hung up, leaving Thomas standing there speechlessly.

"Goddamit! Why do I always have to do the dirty work!"

Cursing out loud and stomping his feet in anger, Thomas quickly dialed another number.

-Ring! -Ring! -Ring!

"Yes?"

Shortly after dialing the number, a male voice entered Thomas's ears. Hearing the voice, Thomas quickly shouted orders.

"Call in all alpha units with a rank F or below"

"...sorry?"

"Do it now! it's an order!"

"Y-yes!"

Suddenly being ordered by Thomas the person on the other side of the phone was left momentarily confused, but as soon as he noticed the urgency in Thomas's voice he immediately did as he was instructed.

-Tak!

Hanging up the phone, Thomas looked around. The whole facility was in a state of lockdown, and the whole place was dyed red as alarms constantly rang through the surroundings.

Pinching the middle of his brows, Thomas sighed.

"...I seriously hope the situation is not as dire as I think it is"

...

"Ahhhhhhh!"

Deep gashes started appearing all over my body as the Demon traced his finger around my body. It felt as if I was being cut by a cold metal knife.

I wanted to move, but I couldn't. It felt as if a massive boulder was weighing down on me, preventing me from moving.

Although the Baron of Everblood was not using his main body, the presence exerted by him wasn't something I could handle.

Baron of Everblood had killed countless experts throughout his whole life. He rose from being e regular demon to against all odds becoming a Baron ranked demon.

Countless sacrifices were made in his journey to the top―He had shed lots of blood throughout his journey to the top. He had also backstabbed demons whom he had once called friends just to be able to reach the point that he was now...

Just now, all that the baron of Everblood needed to do was release the killing intent that he had acquired through countless killings, to completely paralyze me.

Knowing this, I needed to buy myself time to adapt to the killing intent―it's just that it was much easier being said than done...It felt like a looming threat that was similar to a longsword that hung in my heart, ready to pierce it and kill me at a moment's notice causing my body to paralyze in fear.

Very soon, as I felt death coming closer to me, an idea came into my mind as I started speaking

"Aren't you curious as to why I know what you're doing?"

Halting, Baron of Everblood stopped tracing his finger on my body and looked at me

"...Speak"

"huuu, the only reason you haven't killed me yet is because you want to know how I knew you were trying to create a dungeon overload right?..khk"

Tracing his sharp black finger on my neck, a red line appeared. Blood slowly dripped down from the cut, falling onto the cold ground.

"...Get to the point"

"kh...not only do I know that you're trying to create a dungeon overload, but I also know that this isn't the only dungeon you're planning to overload"

Altough I knew that spilling what I knew was stupid, I had no choice. It was either this or death.

I had to buy time...

At least enough to figure out how to get out of this situation.

Moreover, me revealing what I knew to Baron of Everblood wasn't actually that significant of a matter.

Hierarchy mattered to the demons.

With the fact that he was Baron ranked demon, I knew that he didn't actually hold that much authority.

Even if I escaped from this ordeal, chances were that even if he reported what I told him to the higher-ranked demons, unless he brought proof, his findings would most likely get dismissed.

...Thus it didn't matter if I spilled what I knew. There was a high chance that the case would not go anywhere.

Moreover, what mattered to me the most was my life...As long as I bought time, I could definitely figure something out.

"!"

-Thud!

Suddenly, as soon as I finished speaking, the pressure that enveloped me magnified. My legs, which couldn't withstand the pressure finally gave out, and I knelt on the cold hard ground.

Gripping me from the neck, Baron of Everblood lifted my body up. My face was only a few centimeters away from his face.

We were so close that I could feel his breath on my face. The demon's breath was like hot steam. It slowly burned the skin on my face―turning it red. Facing Baron of Everblood's hot breath, my face winced in pain. Turning my head to the side, I tried my best to avoid his mouth...It hurt.

"...Speak!"

Gripping on my neck even harder, Baron of Everblood fiercely stared at me.

"...I know that you're planning in advance for when the mana in the atmosphere becomes dense enough for the monsters to be able to withstand human's atmosphere..Khuu"

Feeling the grip on my neck become tighter, I took advantage of the small gap that was created by the Baron of Everblood as he was distracted by my statement to free myself from his grip.

Staring at his now empty hand, Baron of Everblood stared in my direction. His already blood red-eyes turned a shade darker as he spat out his next words in pure fury.

"...Oh? It seems like someone has not suffered enough"

"Huff...huff..."

Holding onto my neck, I heavily gulped for air and glared at Baron of Everblood.

-Click!

"...huh?"

A thick black arm flew into the air as Baron of Everblood stood there rooted in his spot stupefied.

He couldn't react in time...

Slowly standing up, I sheathed my sword back into my scabbard.

"...damm this!"

Just that move alone used most of my mana...I needed to think of something quick.

...

Dungeon seekers, mission control room

Inside of a large enclosed room, twenty large tables, all with several computer displays, were filled with people tirelessly working together as they exchanged data. A large screen was at the front of the room, displaying rows upon rows of data for the entire team inside of the room.

On the side, on the walls, there was a multitude of clocks – displaying everything from the current time to the time every entrant has been inside of a dungeon. This was so that they could monitor if someone stayed inside of the dungeon more than the designated time.

On one of the large tables, with his hands leaning on the table, an individual who had a headset and microphone on his head looked to his right as he reported.

"reporting Alpha units have entered dungeon 756 [Red desolation]"

Thomas, who had his arms crossed, looked at the monitor in front of him where multiple camera views could be seen.

"Ask for a status report"

"Roger!"

...

Inside of a desolate world where a deep red sky enveloped the environment. Only the sound of the wind rustling through twisted, shrubby trees, could be heard.

Suddenly, the silence was disrupted as white-clad individuals materialized in the desolate world.

-Voom! -Voom! -Voom!

-Alpha teams, do a status report

"Alpha unit 70154, Check"

"Alpha unit 62584, Check"

"Alpha unit 75894, Check"

"Alpha unit 48334, Check"

"..."

"..."

-All teams confirmed―Alpha mission operation captain turn on your camera and report what you are seeing.

-Click!

Turning on the camera that rested above his peck, a white-clad individual with a golden ring on his arm spoke "Camera activated, taking measurements―trying to gain contact with dungeon guardians who had entered previously"

-khhhhh

Hearing a continuous static sound coming from his receiver, the captain shook his head.

"Unresponsive"

-Okay, order all Alpha teams to proceed forward

"Alpha teams, move!"

Marching forward in an organized pattern all the white-clad individuals followed the captain deep into the dungeon.

...

-shua!

Pfffff

A white line materialized in front of the Baron of Everblood and black blood slowly fell on the floor. Gripping my sword tightly, I applied more pressure on the handle of my sword that stabbed his body. In the heart.

"...you think this can actually hurt me?"

Grabbing the sword that stabbed his body, Baron of Everblood cruelly smiled as he slowly pulled the sword out from his body.

'Tch...you immortal bastard'

Seeing his nonchalant behavior as if a sword stabbing his body was nothing, my heart sank.

-Pam!

Before I even had enough time to retrieve my sword back, I felt a massive force on my stomach forcing me to bend over in pain.

Baaarf!

The force was so strong that my taste buds were engulfed in a bitter and sour taste as green liquid splurted from my mouth.

"kaaahhh..."

-Clank!

"To think you actually thought you had a chance against me"

Throwing my sword to the side, I could hear the sound of metal hitting the ground. Each time I heard the sound of my sword clattering on the ground parts of my heart shattered along with it.

...Without the sword I was nothing. My only chance at fighting back was gone.

Looking at the Baron of Everblood who was slowly approaching me with a wide grin plastered on his face, seemingly relishing my expression of despair...finally fear overtook me.

"Let me teach you what happens when you piss off a demon"

...

"...What's this?"

-Alp―khhh st―s rep...t

Not bothered in the slightest by the fact that the radio signal was getting disrupted, all of the alpha teams members stood rooted where they were as their eyes transfixed themselves on the horizon.

In their view, a massive wall of sand slowly approached them. It felt as if an avalanche was approaching them in a form of formless mass.

Soon it enveloped them.

Inside the storm, extremely high winds lifted the sand particles into the air, unleashing a turbulent, suffocating cloud that reduced the visibility of everyone inside of it to almost nothing in a matter of seconds.

-khhhhhhh

Apart from the raging sound of the wind, only the static sound of the radio could be heard.

...

"Ahhhhhhh!"

Staring at my arm which was bent at a weird angle, I screamed in pain. It felt as if a wave of electricity has coursed through my body. Excruciating.

"Now, now, we are only just beginning, don't disappear on me already"

Grinning evilly, Baron of Everblood licked his lips as he looked down on my body which was sprawled on the ground.

Staring at his expression that seemed to take enormous pleasure at my suffering, I hatefully glared in his direction.

Previously, when I was attacking him, I wasn't just blindly attacking him. I knew since the beginning that his body was immortal. That was because his body was actually fake. It was merely a part of his real body that could endlessly regenerate. Had he not done that, then he would've never been able to enter an F rank dungeon.

When I was attacking him, I was looking for his weakness, the core.

Everything in the world had a weakness. Even the strongest being in the world had a weakness, the demon king wasn't an exception. This was just the law of the world. Unless you were a god, no perfect being existed.

Because this wasn't Baron of Everblood's main body, his main weakness was a core that was used to operate his body. I knew exactly what his weakness was, yet I faced a new problem, I didn't know where it was.

I tried stabbing his body in multiple places, but it was to no avail as it always regenerated within seconds.

...and now that my sword was out of my reach, I lost all hope in defeating Baron of Everblood.

"What shall we break next"

..Hm?

Suddenly, as I was in the midst of despair, like a shining ray of hope. I saw a small cut on the demon's arm.

Previously when I had cut the demon's arm off, I watched him regrow it in an instant, but looking at it now it seems like it had not fully healed as a small scar remained.

-Crack

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Before I could rejoice, I felt the bones in my leg getting crushed causing me to scream in pain.

Relishing my pained expression, Baron of Everblood laughed loudly.

"Hahahaha, scream more!"

-Crack!

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!"

Alone in an empty castle, a demon laughed, whilst a human screamed in pain as the demon broke his legs. But unbeknown to the Demon, with each scream the human slowly approaching a shiny metal sword that laid on the floor.

...

"Alpha team respond, Alpha team!"

-Khhhhhhh

Staring at the screen that had turned black, Thomas quickly picked up the radio and tried to communicate with the Alpha team members but it was to no avail as all he heard was the static sound of the radio.

-Bam!

"Shit!"

Slamming his fist on the table, Thomas's hands rested on the table as he frantically thought of solutions. Time was tight, he needed to quickly think of solutions. The more time passed, the bigger the likelihood of the alpha team being in danger increased.

If he could've he would've already dived into the dungeon himself, but because he was too strong he couldn't, less he wanted to risk killing everyone that was within the dungeon...

Pacing around the room as he frantically called different numbers, Thomas suddenly heard an excited shout next to him.

"Sir, we're getting a signal!"

Quickly arriving next to the individual who had shouted, Thomas quickly took the radio from his hands and spoke.

"Alpha team do you copy―Alpha team do you copy?"

-Alpha team responding, we've found a survivor preparing first aid.

...

Inside of a dark enclosed space, a demon sat crossed-legged as a frown appeared on his face.

"...mh? is this it?"

Through the vision of his clone, Baron of Everblood stared at the lifeless corpse on the floor. He shook his head in disappointment.

It seemed like his new toy no longer worked.

-Shing!

"...huh?"

Just as he was about to end it, Baron of Everblood suddenly lost control of his clone's body as it slowly started disintegrating on the ground.

Looking to his right, his clone's arm, he could see a sword stabbing straight into it, exactly where the core was located.

Blankly staring at the now disappearing arm, Baron of Everblood looked up and saw the bloodthirsty expression of the young human who he was about to kill.

"Wait for me..."

-Vuaa!

Those were the last words he heard before he felt his connection with the puppet disappear.

...

As black ambers filled the air, the demon's body disappeared from my view.

-Clank!

Dropping the sword in my hand, I felt all my remaining energy drain from my body. Soon my body started twitching on the ground, and blood started dropping in the ground.

"Ah...is this how I die?"

...Hm?

What's this?

Touching my cheeks I could feel drops of water falling down from the corner of my eyes. Slowly tears started staining my face

...Was I crying?

Why was I crying?

I had already died once, why was I crying over such an insignificant matter?

'I am such a pussy'

how could a grown man like me cry? Pathetic.

Looking around, I could only lay on the floor pathetically as the floor became dyed in red. Slowly as the pool of blood around me expanded, vague recollections of my past life started resurfacing.

At first, my life was great...I had a warm family that loved me soo much. I was happy then. Too bad you only realize how much you cherished something until you no longer had it...

Since then my life had never been the same. I worked hard. I truly did.

...But all I got in return was a pathetic life where I would lifelessly be typing at my keyboard away. Every day was a struggle. My weight, my health, my job, my mental health―I was suffering so much.

Then...I was suddenly transported into my own novel.

A new beginning. A new start. I thought that maybe, just maybe I could use this chance to re-do my life. I did everything I could so that I could at least be happy. Was asking for a bit of happiness too much?

...I don't want to die.

My vision slowly became darker and darker...

My body slowly turned cold, and I could feel my breath become thinner by the second.

Slowly as my vision started to disappear I could faintly hear the sound of rushed footsteps coming my way.

...was my mind playing tricks on me?

Well, it didn't matter as my brain slowly lost its ability to think.

"...We've found..survivor...prep...aid"

Those were the last words I heard before I was enveloped in darkness.