Chapter 255

Chapter 255
Chapter 255

—

The Preliminary Phase

During that era, a solitary boundary split the globe in two.

Those who had Awakened and those who had not!

It was the singular way to resist the creatures pouring in from a different realm. Against monstrosities that remained unscathed by gunfire or even atomic strikes, only the few hundred thousand “Dimension Warriors” were capable of inflicting any harm. Consequently, the public viewed these Dimension Warriors as “saviors,” however……

“……That was nothing more than an illusion, a fantasy.”

Park Tae-woo sat within his workspace and spoke softly to himself. Bizarre entities wielding a terrifying, irresistible physical power. Villains and beasts that seemed plucked directly from ancient fables or religious texts. He had once heard that in the ancient past, humanity labeled the terrifying unknown as “Deity.” They did so in the desperate prayer that such entities might transform into benevolent protectors who would shield the common folk.

“Leader-nim. What do you mean when you call it an illusion and a fantasy?”

As a teammate nearby distributed documents and overheard him, Park Tae-woo merely turned his head away.

“How was it that you first encountered ‘Pangaea’?”

“Well. It was because I… had a passion for gaming. I was exploring different titles and stumbled upon it. I was drawn in by the promise that completing it would grant a ‘wish’……”

“Exactly. I followed the same path.”

With few exceptions, the majority of the participants—those beings the world worshipped as saviors and elevated to the status of gods—were originally nothing more than gaming obsessives. Park Tae-woo fit that mold perfectly. A recluse. Someone who didn’t fit into society. He had spent his days in a numbing cycle of starting and discarding countless games out of sheer life-weariness.

—I shall grant one wish to the individual who finishes this game.

That was the entirety of the remarkably brief teaser for the new project. He had found the game ‘Pangaea,’ where that lone sentence served as the only description. It promised to make a dream come true. No matter the nature of the request. He didn’t have a specific ambition in mind, but the boldness of the claim intrigued him, leading Park Tae-woo to begin his journey in Pangaea. As one might guess, the game featured a punishing level of difficulty, and before he could even process his situation, he found himself transported into ‘Pangaea.’

“…Do you truly believe gaming addicts who suddenly inherit godlike power would dedicate their lives to the cause of righteousness?”

“But still, since they were raised within the boundaries of civilized society, wouldn’t there be certain moral lines they’d refuse to cross?”

“There were, in the beginning.”

Park Tae-woo shut his eyes. The earliest participants were initially reserved. They stayed in the shadows without making their presence known. However, following the day the breach occurred and monsters appeared, the players who realized they were “essential” to the world’s survival began to act like unhinged predators. It was a descent into total chaos. It was an inevitable outcome. After all, many of these players harbored deep resentment and bitterness toward the world that had shunned them.

Instead of being restrained, these individuals suddenly became figures who existed entirely above the legal system. It became a society where even if a player engaged in horrific criminal activities, it was largely overlooked. This was the grim state of the modern world.

“Isn’t South Korea doing alright because of your presence, Leader-nim?”

Park Tae-woo shook his head without a moment’s hesitation.

“The reach of my influence barely covers Seoul. The count of Awakened who possess a rational moral compass is simply too low……”

Because their ranks were thin, the others felt even more empowered to act out. The conditions in the outlying provinces were significantly more dire. Though the administration worked tirelessly to suppress the news, data indicated that the felony rate among provincial players was higher than 80%. This figure ignored petty crimes and focused solely on the most violent offenses. There were simply too many ways for a player to break the law without leaving a trace if they were clever about it.

Even when proof was left behind, there was no authority capable of detaining them. This was particularly true in areas where the Hero Alliance held no sway. He had received intel that simple street gangs were evolving into sophisticated syndicates, yet he couldn’t spare any assets from Seoul. If the Alliance’s presence there faltered, those criminals would seize the chance to invade the capital immediately.

‘It is a heavy burden.’

Park Tae-woo. He was once just another typical gaming fanatic. A man who had never held any duty and was incapable of being responsible for anything had, by some twist of fate, become a hero to tens of millions. Regardless of how a title can change a man…… the weight of it was starting to become exhausting.

‘I am not a true hero.’

The weight of countless hopeful gazes was suffocating. Though he had reached this peak through a series of events, he was constantly plagued by the feeling that he didn’t truly belong here. Are saviors born, are they crafted, or do they simply emerge by accident? He was certain that he wasn’t one of them.

The initial day the creatures arrived. The day Wilhelm perished during the Great Expedition. When all the ‘gamers’ of Pangaea finally transitioned into ‘players.’ He had only happened to slay a Giant Mantis by luck after stopping at a shop to grab a pack of cigarettes. For a brief moment, he had been seduced by the applause and worship of the public. People flocked to him because of his sudden reputation, and before he knew it, the Alliance had been established.

‘I have just drifted with the tide until I landed here.’

Consequently, if a genuine savior existed on this earth, it wouldn’t be someone like him. There was only one figure Park Tae-woo considered a real hero.

Phantom.

The individual who had posted countless guides and strategies on the community boards. There was no one who had been as dedicated to Pangaea from the start. Even now, he could say with certainty that no one possessed a deeper understanding of Pangaea than that person. Whether it was tactics for slaying monsters, the secret properties of gear, complex crafting recipes, the paths for various missions, or talent trees—he was the one who uncovered and broadcasted the first hidden traits.

‘In some sense, it’s only logical that he is clearing the primary missions with such incredible marks.’

Even if he were given the chance to restart from the very beginning, he doubted he could beat those records. Still, if a restart were possible…… he truly wanted to try. To do it more thoroughly and flawlessly. If such a thing could happen, might he be able to stand as a genuine hero, rather than one created by a fluke? As things stood, the world’s stability would soon fail, leading to an absolute disaster.

“L-Leader-nim…… what on earth is that?”

In that instant, the world erupted into a frenzy. Park Tae-woo shifted his gaze toward the spot his teammate was pointing at.

‘A floating mass?’

A colossal island suspended in the firmament suddenly dominated his field of vision.

《The ‘Tutorial’ has commenced.》
《To take part, please face the ‘Island of God’ and clasp your hands together.》
《Any ‘Completed One (Player)’ is barred from entry.》

These messages manifested at once before the eyes of every living soul. The wall between the Awakened and the ordinary public finally started to disintegrate.

—

《Welcome to the ‘Island of God.’》
《The ‘Tutorial’ has commenced.》
《Prior to starting Main Quest 1, ‘Survival,’ each participant must choose a weapon.》
《Please adhere to the guidance provided by the ‘Fairy.’》
《‘Survival’ will commence in 30 minutes.》

Countless flashes of light deposited people across the landscape. As they surveyed their surroundings, they couldn’t hide their shock and confusion.

“W-What is happening?”
“Where are we?”
“Island of God? A Tutorial?”

They were on the shoreline of the island. There were at least several hundred people huddled together on the sand.

—Greetings! I am Iris! Welcome to the ‘Island of God’!

With a sparkling melody, a tiny winged being hovered in the sky above them.

“What are we supposed to do in this place?”
“P-Please, send me back home!”

Seeing the creature, many people began to scream in terror. However, the winged guide remained completely unbothered.

—Now, we are running out of time! My job is to train you so you can become legitimate ‘Awakened.’ So be quick and grab a weapon! That is, unless you want to end up as a snack for the ‘Hybrid Goblins’!

The fairy gestured toward a variety of armaments scattered across the beach. There was a wide assortment available: longswords, curved blades, heavy chains, battleaxes, longbows, and pikes.

“Hybrid Goblins?”
“You’re saying we actually have to fight?”
“U-Uh……”

The crowd remained paralyzed by indecision.

Step.

Suddenly, one individual took the first stride. Watching the man pick up a specific sword, the fairy began to clap her hands in delight.

—Excellent! You have a sharp eye, don’t you? To pick out the finest blade right away. That’s a wonderful start~

The man appeared completely unfazed by the situation. It was only natural.

‘This is surreal.’

……He was simply stunned. He never imagined he would find himself going through the tutorial again while being classified as a ‘non-Awakened.’

‘It looks like the Island of God shifted into this form once the Angel of Blessing took up residence here.’

Was it because the system now viewed him and Randolph as entirely separate entities? Regardless, he could piece together what had occurred. The Island of God had been repurposed into a ‘proving ground for the awakening of ordinary humans.’ Additionally, the Fairy Dragons, who were still quite young, had been tasked with acting as guides.

‘The growth process for Fairy Dragons.’

This was clearly how the Fairy Dragons were intended to mature. It was likely the path designed by the ‘Angel of Blessing’ to speed up the development of the Fairy Dragons, who would otherwise take centuries to grow. But that wasn’t all.

“What is that structure in the center of the land?”

I asked while pointing toward the island’s interior. Iris the fairy provided the answer.

—The Holy Star! It is the magnificent mark left by the ruler of this island and our sovereign. Isn’t it stunning?

I was the one who left it? A pillar of brilliance stood tall, radiating light from the heart of the island.

—The ‘Angel’ is currently resting inside. Only the select few who manage to achieve the highest marks during this tutorial will be granted the immense honor of an audience with the ‘Angel’-nim! And who can say? You might even be granted a Hidden Class!

Ah. It appeared the Island of God and the Holy Star were now linked as a pair. The ‘Angel of Blessing’ inhabiting the island had also merged with the ‘Holy Star’ at its core. It made sense; the ‘Island of God’ alone wouldn’t have the power to manifest a phenomenon of this scale.

—Now, the clock is ticking. Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Minutes flew by. Most individuals eventually reached for a weapon, though a few remained stubborn.

“I-I can’t do this! I won’t!”
“S-Stop. If you keep complaining, she might just take your head off!”
“Exactly! These fairies are savage creatures……!”

Many were trying to quiet those who were spiraling into panic. These were people who had some prior knowledge of these beings. Information regarding Pangaea was common knowledge by now. Specifically, ‘Fairies’ were known to be merciless predators. They were a species that would decapitate any human trespasser to use them as mulch for their forests. Brutal monsters without a drop of compassion!

—…What on earth are you talking about? Why would I do something so messy?

However, Iris looked at them as if they were speaking nonsense.

—Could you please refrain from comparing me to those brainless, low-tier fairies? You should consider it a privilege to be in the presence of a majestic ‘Fairy Dragon’…… good grief.

Sighing, she shook her head and moved on with her briefing.

—Now, if you’ve chosen your gear, try calling out ‘Status Window.’ Thinking it works just as well, but speaking the ‘Activation Word’ aloud helps sharpen your mental focus at the start!

The people, who had calmed down slightly, tried to summon the interface and were immediately shocked.

“W-What?”
“Is it possible that I’ve actually ‘Awakened’?”
“This is insane…… wasn’t this restricted to Dimension Warriors?”

The holographic windows hovered before them. It was undeniably the power previously held only by the ‘Dimension Warriors.’

“Am I really one of the Awakened now?”
“H-Hurray!”
“I can’t believe I’m an Awakened……!!!”

Shouts of joy erupted from the group. Being an Awakened was a ticket to the upper class. It meant a life of luxury and protection. Having watched the elite enjoy such status for over a year, they couldn’t help but be ecstatic at their transformation.

“I assume we’re free to leave once we finish the tutorial, right?”

—Absolutely! You can even secure a Class right here. You can gain levels, earn SP through combat to boost your talents, and become an even more formidable Awakened!

A man began to shake with excitement upon hearing the fairy’s confirmation.

“Ah, I knew it! Everything my brother said was the truth!”
“What are you talking about?”
“The fact that the other world, ‘Pangaea,’ was originally a game! I’ve heard all the details. I know about the talent trees for unlocking special classes and the secrets of hidden traits!!”

The man was overwhelmed with thrill. Others who understood the implications felt the same. These were people who already had some grasp of Pangaea’s mechanics. They were all coming to the same conclusion.

‘Knowledge is the ultimate power.’
‘The more I know, the more I can take.’

This was a land of pure potential. A golden chance for those who had nothing to claim everything for themselves! They weren’t about to let this slip away. They needed to clear the tutorial with the best possible stats. The lingering fear was replaced by a newfound greed and determination.

Just as the thirty-minute countdown hit zero.

—In that case, I wish you all the best of luck…… wait, what?

Iris the fairy suddenly froze in confusion.