Chapter 27

Chapter 27
Chapter: 27

Chapter Title: Dice Gimmick

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Whether it’s pressing a specific sequence of buttons or adhering to specialized regulations to reach the heart of an Erosion Core—those types of hurdles are collectively referred to as a gimmick.

While the term “gimmick” carries a different connotation internationally, in Korea, its usage stems from the terminology found in strategic walkthroughs for boss raids.

Because Korea is the global frontrunner in successfully harvesting Erosion Cores, the entire world has adopted the Korean definition of “gimmick” specifically for these operations.

According to Han Sang-ah’s briefing, Grade 2 cores might feature them, but from Grade 1 upward, they are a guaranteed obstacle.

“You never finished your time at the Academy, but surely you kept the manual on your phone?” she had asked.

“That fifteen-hundred-page beast? I skimmed it, but I don’t recall a single thing,” I replied.

Good grief, if I possessed the mental capacity to memorize a tome of that size, I wouldn’t be here; I’d have passed the high-level civil service exams and secured a comfortable government post instead.

Regardless, keeping Han Sang-ah’s warnings in mind, I plunged into the cavernous opening that led toward the Erosion Core.

The second I landed, I was greeted by the very gimmick she had described.

“Now what is this supposed to be?”

A die face had been etched like a tattoo onto the back of my hand. The ink was shifting across my skin as if it were a sentient creature, the pips constantly rotating to display new values.

“Alright, so how am I meant to use this?”

As if responding to my question, monsters materialized right on schedule.

“Talk about a bizarre fashion statement.”

They were essentially animated remains. Shambling corpses sporting the chonmage—that traditional samurai hairstyle with the shaved crown—decked out in male kimonos that were saturated with the fluids of decay. They advanced toward me, clutching blades in both hands.

“And look at those grins. You guys really should have seen a dentist.”

Their open maws were filled with rows of pitch-black, rotting teeth.

Setting aside their strange attire, I noticed glowing digits hovering above their heads. The objective was becoming clear. As far as gimmicks went, this one felt remarkably intuitive.

To confirm my theory, I waited until my hand displayed a 3, then purposefully drove my spear toward the torso of a creature marked with a 6.

The weapon passed through the monster as if I were striking thin air.

“Matches only, then.”

It was impossible to land a physical blow unless my number aligned with theirs. However…

When I raised my spear to parry a counter-swing, the force of the impact rang through my arms with painful clarity.

“What a one-sided arrangement.”

It seemed the rule of matching numbers only applied to my offensive moves. A wave of irritation washed over me.

“Hey, this specific gimmick won’t be easy to incinerate.”

I couldn’t quite gauge how much I would need to stoke the Paradox Flame to bypass this rule.

In my prime, I had successfully burned almost everything imaginable, excluding abstract concepts like the fabric of time or space. Was this gimmick truly on that untouchable level?

“Fine, give it your best shot.”

Roughly five of the undead samurai crept forward, their fingers tightening on their katanas before they charged with chilling shrieks.

“…Actually, this might be a stroke of luck.”

Going into this blind would have been a catastrophe. If the number on my wrist didn’t sync with theirs, I couldn’t touch them—meaning I couldn’t even apply the Paradox Flame to their bodies easily.

Thinking back to Kim Ji-hyun—if I hadn’t pushed my internal energy channels to their limit during that fight with the Taekwon Piercing specialist, I would likely be facing a near-death experience right now.

“Even as rotting ghouls, their swordsmanship is respectable.”

I had already mapped out the rhythm. The number on my arm rotated every 15 seconds. The digits above their balding heads changed every 3 seconds.

“That’s one.”

The Paradox Flame ignited brilliantly on the shoulder of a monster whose number matched mine. Even when the numbers shifted a moment later, the fire didn’t go out; it continued to consume the target.

So, a successful strike allowed secondary effects to take hold. That was logical—if it weren’t the case, the dice changing would effectively heal every injury.

“At least there’s some fairness in this… what a break!”

By this point, taking down five corpses was trivial. They were demolished in heartbeats.

With a sickening crack, I took off a head with a well-placed kick, letting the flames finish the job while I turned my attention to the massive fortress looming in the distance.

“I wonder how many levels that thing has?”

It appeared incredibly far away, yet it dominated the horizon.

It was the quintessential image of a Japanese fortress. I imagined masked creeps lurking on the tiled roofs and figures in white makeup playing traditional instruments inside.

“What was the name? Himeji?”

Just a random fragment of trivia floating in my brain.

“There’s a quick way to lose everything here.”

I could pick up a nearby rock, coat it in Paradox Flame, and launch it at the fortress. With my current power, I could even bolster the rock’s structural integrity.

The fire would then roar through the entire structure like a localized sun, consuming the fortress and every bit of durability within the Erosion Core.

Their physical forms would dissolve like ice cream left out in the heat, and their structures would crumble like dry leaves.

It sounded efficient, but… a Paradox Flame of that magnitude would be beyond my ability to steer. I would end up incinerating everything indiscriminately.

“I’d probably get arrested for public endangerment.”

An unguided Paradox Flame only protects its creator. My spear, my prized shoulder protector, and the durability of all my equipment—all of it would turn to ash.

“No point in being that reckless yet.”

My current outfit was sturdy but replaceable… except for these gloves. It would be a waste.

Furthermore:

“The prizes for clearing this Erosion Core would be destroyed too.”

Even if I won, the fire would leap from the environment straight to the loot.

“…If I’m backed into a corner, I’ll reconsider.”

A shortcut would cost me far too much.

“The easy path always has a hidden price.”

Grade 3 cores were small enough that burning through their life force worked quickly and spread easily. But this place was too vast to rely on simple concepts like vitality or physical strength.

This felt more like a test of reinforcement.

Clack. I shouldered my spear and began the trek toward the fortress.

“…”

The journey was strangely quiet. The fortress itself appeared completely deserted. No movement, no noise.

If my heightened senses weren’t picking up anything, it meant that for a core of this rank, the area was legitimately empty.

“That guy in the hooded gear wasn’t lying.”

They had actually managed to tame this place. They probably funneled all the monsters out to launch an assault on Japan.

Otherwise, leaving the heart of the core unguarded made no sense. I broke into a sprint, heading for the highest tower.

Sliding the door open, I found a room lit by a few guttering candles. An elderly man in full plate was kneeling there, his helmet resting on the floor beside him.

Was that Marudōyoro? The “revolving back armor” that Koreans often associate with flamboyant samurai gear.

“Hey there, pops. Did everyone leave you behind? You’re the only one left to watch the place?”

Despite his advanced years, he was wearing a spiked collar. It was enchanted with magic and looked completely out of step with his historical armor.

The design was incredibly intricate—I had no idea how it functioned. Are the descendants of Dan-gun really using these things to control people now?

“Who goes there?”

Unlike the previous monsters, his voice sounded human, though it was heavy and dark. I suppose wearing a leash like that would do that to a person.

A square hearth was carved into the floor in front of him.

“I was wondering what happened to the prisoners. Is this the end of the line?”

A cauldron the size of a barrel was simmering over the coals. The sight of human limbs and heads bobbing in the liquid made my stomach churn.

“A ritual of sacrifice.”

Unlike his collar, I understood the purpose of the pot instantly. It was expertly crafted.

“You toss people in, and the dead from this massive graveyard rise back up?”

“The dead? Those are my devoted subjects who pledged their lives to me, continuing their service even in the afterlife.”

I smirked at the old man as he began to rise.

“Sure, devoted zombie subjects. Whatever helps you sleep. Serving a master who’s on a leash—what a tragic bunch.”

He listened without expression, then donned his helmet and stood up. In that split second, a wave of pure murderous intent crashed into me.

“Prepare your weapon. Your insolence will only serve to dull my steel.”

My playful demeanor vanished instantly. This was no joke. The guardian of a Grade 2 Erosion Core? This was a genuine, spine-chilling threat.

This man was a true warrior.

“They actually caught this monster alive and put a collar on him.”

The guy in the hood wasn’t on this level. Killing? Maybe. Capturing a force like this alive? That’s a different league entirely.

The archer kid wasn’t even close to this strength. Maybe twenty years ago he would have been.

“Your disrespect earns you a grave.”

There was no number over his head. The dice gimmick didn’t apply to him.

“Quit talking and draw your sword.”

I shifted into a serious combat stance, leaving all jokes behind.

“As you wish.”

As he moved for his blade, I lunged forward to strike first.

“Krrgh.”

My spear collided with his lightning-fast draw, but the weapon recoiled as if I’d struck an immovable object.

“You have no sense of dignity.”

A dark, misty energy spiraled around his blade. For a brief moment, the sounds of weeping children, the roar of fire, and the crash of falling timber filled my ears.

I have to use everything I’ve got. Even then, the odds of surviving are slim. I’m likely going to die.

“Witness this steel.”

His blade was on me in a flash.

Given his speed and power, I anticipated a flurry of at least eight connected strikes. I wreathed my spear in Paradox Flame and braced for impact.

The first blow landed. I parried it, but the vibration rattled my teeth.

The second. I blocked it, though my hands were trembling from the raw power.

The third. I sidestepped, but my balance was compromised. I prepared for the finishing blow.

The fourth was coming. I was out of position and unable to block.

I clenched my teeth, trying to visualize a way out. If I couldn’t stop it, I had to at least deflect the worst of it.

“…?”

But his follow-up was basic. It was almost embarrassingly simple.

I rolled out of the way, and a shockwave of sword pressure tore through the space I’d just occupied. It was a laughably easy dodge.

He was fast and strong—but that was the extent of it. There were no complex patterns, and his opening move was so fundamental I wondered if I’d misread the situation.

No way…

“Impressive.”

I stared at him, completely baffled.

“What exactly are we doing here?”

We swapped a few more blows.

“Do you have memory loss? Who are you, really?”

At first, I suspected he was toyng with me. But that wasn’t it.

“…During the process of being brought back, much of my former life has slipped away.”

“Ah, I see.”

Finally, I felt like I could breathe again.