Chapter 137

Chapter 137

In Great Britain, Charles, a journalist and human rights activist, was one of the leading figures in the HARD movement.

[“His Play is excessively HARD.”]

The acronym HARD stood for Harmful, with Adverse effects, Risky, and Dangerous.

The HARD movement was also known as the Anti-Kim Chul-Soo movement. Charles claimed that Chul-Soo had a profoundly negative influence on the world.

“There are countless cases of Players becoming disabled after imitating his style of Play. Even if we disregard such direct adverse effects, it is undeniable that his style of Play contributes to public sentiment that trivializes grave dangers.”

From Charles' perspective, the way Chul-Soo Played was far too reckless.

“Or he is sending an irrational message to society that one must Play like that to level up. Why must we bear so many risks? We are humans, and we have the right to live as such.”

Many social activists sided with Charles. With Europe at the forefront, the momentum of the HARD movement grew. The opinion that Chul-Soo’s style of Play was inhumanely intense began to gain traction.

“I know that an overwhelming number of people are fervent admirers of Kim Chul-Soo. But that does not necessarily mean they are right. Humans have always fought against wrongs, and will continue to do so because we are human.”

Charles turned his attention to the new Dungeon, New World, that Chul-Soo had recently entered.

“After experiencing countless deaths, even the most resilient of minds are bound to crack. Perhaps Chul-Soo has already lost his sanity. However, those Players are different.”

This time, it was not just Chul-Soo; other Players, including Bong King and his party, were also Playing in the New World. And Chul-Soo went so far as to admonish Lee Hyeon-Seong and Choi Gang-Byeok, claiming they were just basics, even though they were performing well. This infuriated Charles. In Charles’ eyes, Hyeon-Seong and Gang-Byeok were performing their roles adequately. Yet, Chul-Soo excessively berated and cornered them. Other regular Players witnessed it, and countless viewers saw it as well.

“Some of them will lose their minds, and their lives will be shattered. A family’s happiness, which once dreamt of a joyful life, will be broken. The countless children who have watched his livestreams will behave the same way and see their daily lives collapse. Yet, no one takes responsibility.”

‘Once they come out of the New World Dungeon, someone will surely have gone mad,’ Charles thought.

They had experienced too many deaths. Right now, they might be maintaining an alert state due to high tension, but as soon as they exited the New World, some minds would undoubtedly collapse.

‘The world must know that Chul-Soo’s style of Play is malevolent.’

Charles boarded a plane to South Korea to interview Bong King’s party.

‘Hyeon-Seong and Gang-Byeok might just agree with me.’

***

A meteor fell right above Cha Jin-Hyeok’s head. Seeing it directly, it was bigger than he had thought.

‘Activate Star Shield.’

He used the Star Shield to fend off the meteor.

‘It’s not an instant-death attack.’

Meteors were falling everywhere. To his senses, it felt like multiple Mages with Levels around mid to late 100s were targeting and attacking him at the same time.

“The dust is rising so thickly, making it hard to find the way. For now, my destination is to head back to the Eastern Ancient Castle Town.”

Jin-Hyeok recalled the optimal route of the New World.

1. Enter Azov Village.

Engage in a conversation with the guard and acquire the vase.

2. Enter the Eastern Ancient Castle Town.

Gather a few items and power up to fight the Fire Spirits residing in the Burning Fortress.

3. Enter the Burning Fortress.

Defeat the Fire Spirits and acquire the Thermal Flower embedded somewhere in the Fortress.

4. Re-enter Azov Village.

After delivering the Thermal Flower to the guard, obtain ownership of the vase.

5. Re-enter the Eastern Ancient Castle Town.

Deploy the vase in a special location located somewhere in the Eastern Ancient Castle Town.

When the vase was returned by the guard, it was supposed to be imbued with several special settings. It will then act as a key to operate the Clear Gate. This was the optimized route discovered after countless challenges by numerous Players. Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

‘Up to step 4, it was more or less similar.’

Originally, the guard would take the vase and do something with the Thermal Flower. What the guard did exactly was unknown. The important point was that after the Thermal Flower was extracted, the remaining vase, now with those special settings, was to be returned to Jin-Hyeok by the guard.

“Over there. The vase is lying on the ground.”

It was supposed to be returned to Jin-Hyeok with those special settings, but the guard had been burnt to death, preventing that.

“I will pick it up for now. I need to hurry before it gets destroyed by the meteor shower.”

While Jin-Hyeok could have simply picked it up, he threw himself at it. It would appear more intense that way. Rolling several times, he managed to rescue the vase.

He recalled the image of Hyeon-Seong, focusing on a single point. Although Jin-Hyeok had been disappointed with him numerous times before then, Hyeon-Seong looked great back then. Hyeon-Seong’s line was so earnest it resonated deeply with Jin-Hyeok.

“My vase knows not of failure.”

Jin-Hyeok wanted to recite a more impressive line, but he could not think of one in the rush. Though it was a pity, he finally inserted the vase into the slot.

‘I don’t even have the time to check the notification.’

The moment the vase was placed, Jin-Hyeok immediately exited through the Clear Gate.

[You have cleared the Dungeon 「New World」.]

***

In the Korean Region Minor Gallery, there was much debate on whether it should be upgraded from a Minor Gallery to an Official Gallery. Yet, for some reason, it still held the title of a Minor Gallery community. Traffic surged at the site.

[Honestly, isn’t he actually intense right now? Isn’t he going to die like that?]

[If it was that intense, could he livestream AND Play like that? LOL, what’s this intense concept even about?]

┗Are you dumb? You don’t understand?

┗?

┗The reason he livestreams like that is that the situation is intense. IntenseMan is always intense.

┗What the hell are you talking about? If it was really intense, could he run and livestream simultaneously? Normally, he would just run for his life.

┗Do you think Chul-Soo is normal?

┗Sorry.

[It looks like a lot of blood is flowing from Chul-Soo’s head.]

From the first-person perspective, it was hard to be certain, but the traces of blood made the injury look severe.

[Is he really livestreaming in that condition?]

[Excuse me everyone, but isn’t he genuinely intense if he is bleeding that much?]

The viewers were confused. They were wondering if Chul-Soo was genuinely intense, or if he was just acting.

Then, a Named user of the KRMG, NoOverpackagingPlz, joined the conversation.

[Of course, it’s freaking dangerous. Chul-Soo is just pretending to be nonchalant and squeezing out false composure for his livestream. I have told you many times before. Kim Chul-Soo is overrated LOL. He is going to croak from blood loss LMAO!]

[Written by: NoOverpackagingPlz]

As Joseph, who was NoOverpackagingPlz, flexed his huge trapezius muscles and posted his comment, countless users began to unite in condemning him.

┗When did this bastard come back here? If Chul-Soo is fluff, you’re bluff

┗Is that supposed to be a joke? Tsk tsk.

┗Damn it, I laughed T_T I wanna die.

[When will NoOverpackagingPlz kick the bucket?]

[Is NoOverpackagingPlz’s mom doing okay?]

[He is just a troll. Let’s not feed the troll.]

Joseph chuckled. As he mocked Chul-Soo, people began to rally around him.

[101 Reasons Why Kim Chul-Soo’s Play is Brilliant.]

[The Sole SSS-Tier Korean Streamer Providing Content No One Else Can.]

Chul-Soo’s Play began to be idolized, and Joseph was thrilled.

‘Huh?’ Joseph thought.

[Why is someone trying to assassinate Chul-Soo?]

In Chul-Soo’s first-person view, just after clearing the Dungeon and moving outside, someone came into view. It was an Assassin with blond hair and blue eyes.

[Holy shit! Chul-Soo got stabbed! This seems like an actual dangerous situation!]

[Who the hell is that foreign-looking girl?]

┗She’s like a foreign villain.

[This is a diplomatic issue. How dare they try to stab Chul-Soo? Is she out of her mind?]

┗But she’s pretty hot! ?

It was Kaylin, the Assassin from the Avengers Army.

Player name: Black Butterfly.