Chapter 1: The Midnight Bell (1)

Chapter 1: The Midnight Bell (1)

Humans all possess the innate desire to survive, and Ryu Min is no exception.

If not for that, I wouldnt have made it this far, he thought to himself.

From level one to level twenty, Ryu Min fought tooth and nail through the perilous survival game, shedding 98 lives along the way. Now, in the 99th life, he stands before the ultimate challenge: the final boss room. And he stands alone.

Yet, fate was not on his side.

[To enter the boss room, a minimum of five players are required.]Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

What?!

Ryu Min could hardly contain his disbelief at the audaciousness of the games demands.

At least five players are needed?!

He had fought his way through 20 levels alone, but now he was expected to find four more comrades to join him?

He had already conquered a quest that was deemed impossible for a solo player, and now this. The weight of defeat burdened Ryu Mins shoulders as he pondered the daunting task ahead.

If we needed at least five players, they should have made it clear from the start!

There were no hints in the quest message or any indication prior to entering the boss room that such a requirement existed.

Overwhelmed by the turn of events, Ryu Min almost missed the next message.

[A player has been identified in the boss room. The condition was not met, and the player will disappear.]

What?!

Before he could even react, Ryu Min began to disintegrate on a molecular level. With his last breath, he cursed under his breath.

[You have died.]

[Congratulations. You have met the condition for the Rune of Time Reversal.]

[Rewind time to the first round.]

[You have used 100/100 lives.]

[All remaining lives have been used.]

[The skill Rune of Time Reversal has automatically disappeared.]

As the shadow of death loomed over him, Ryu Min was reborn once again, this time as a lowly level 1 novice player.

Starting the 100th regression.

****

December 31st, 2021.

In front of Seouls Bosingak Pavilion, citizens and reporters alike had gathered to await the toll of the bell marking the end of the year.

Many citizens are eagerly waiting for the bell-ringing ceremony to welcome the hopeful new year.

As it was the last battle, there was a need to plan more carefully and thoroughly.

While mentally reviewing the plan and making a commitment, the moment arrived.

Finally, its time. Lets count down together!

The hosts voice rang out and the countdown to death began.

20! 19! 18!

People eagerly joined in, counting down from 20 with hopeful expressions.

3, 2, 1!

The Seoul mayor and several other celebrities stood before the bell, ready to ring in the new year with a loud clang.

Dang! Dang! Dang!

Happy New Year 2022! May you all have a blessed year ahead!

Yayyy! Cheers erupted, and the faces of the celebrants were aglow with happiness.

But their joy was short-lived.

[Kik, kik, kik. Humans are amusing, arent they? Celebrating the new year without realizing their predicament.]

A voice suddenly boomed in their minds, causing the laughter to fade from their faces.

What was that? Did you hear something just now?

What did you say?

I didnt say anything!

People looked around in confusion, unsure of what was happening. They turned to each other, trying to figure out who had spoken.

Only one person remained calm amid the chaos: Ryu Min.

He had experienced similar situations 99 times before and knew exactly what was happening.

I cant panic. Everything is proceeding as it should be.

After a tense silence, unpleasant laughter echoed in their minds again.

[Hehe, Hehe, Hehehe You look like monkeys trapped in a cage when you all act this startled. But dont worry, you will get used to it, humans are adaptable creatures, after all.]

What? Where is that voice coming from?

Are they playing a prank at the broadcasting station?

How can they film a hidden camera at a bell-ringing ceremony?

The confusion was overwhelming. Just the sound of a voice was enough to send people into a panic. Even celebrities forgot to ring the bell.

Theyre trying to mess with us. A beautiful angel cosplayer will appear at any moment.