Chapter 126 : The TL Series
Chapter 126: The TL Series
“······.”
Swoosh.
Baek Woohyun in the video slowly waved his hand away.
It was a light motion, as if shooing away a bothersome insect.
But the result created by that motion couldn’t be downplayed as just a wave.
CRREEAK-!
The five Etinels approaching to repel the intruder warped grotesquely along with the surrounding space, accompanied by a spine-chilling tearing sound.
Even though they had undergone several improvements and were entering the stage of nearing the late-version, they were smashed without even withstanding a single attack.
It was a sight that clearly showed the potency of Baek Woohyun’s [Distortion].
Moreover, the terrifying thing was that such an attack was used like a basic attack.
This was because [Distortion] was originally just an application of telekinesis, the basic ability of the ‘Annihilation’ build, so similar effects could be produced with slight variations.
The complete freedom gained in exchange for abandoning stats was fearsome like this.
“······.”
Swoosh. CRREEAK!
The fact would be clear by seeing even the Etinels rushing in next meet the same fate via [Distortion].
The fact that half-hearted numerical offensives are meaningless against Baek Woohyun with the ‘Annihilation’ build.
They would only be able to face him if they poured out hundreds endlessly, or if a stronger entity appeared.
Lol, seriously
He just waves his hand and they all die
That’s not power that should exist at this point?? Dang
Seems stronger than the Hackphysical build
“Stronger than the Hackphysical build? Hmm, I wonder. What do you think?”
“Honestly, I really want to see it. If Hackphysical in the Hackphysical build fought Hackphysical in the current, telekinesis build I guess? Who would win?”
“Seongcheol nim, which build do you think would win?”
“In my opinion, it would probably— no, wait. Are you trying to set up a close-range vs. long-range dynamic here?”
“…Tch.”
“Huh? Did you just ‘tch’?”
Tch, nonsense lololol
As expected, Gorosigak is a community specter lololol
Whichever you pick, it’s straight to the Gald Cup ON
You seem good at trolling, I was about to say~
Regardless of what became of Jeong Nayeon’s question that almost put Cha Seongcheol in a difficult spot,
The ‘Annihilation’—telekinesis—build Baek Woohyun also possessed an overwhelming and absolute strength, though perhaps different from when using the ‘Superhuman’—Hackphysical—build.
It was strength on a different level from when using the ordinary builds selected by the build recommendation roulette.
“The enemy is just one person! Block him somehow!”
“But he’s too strong— Gyaaah!”
CRUNCH!
Baek Woohyun twisted and killed all the security guards and Etinels trying to stop him and moved his steps towards the inner parts of the research facility.
Clearly, enemies kept appearing, yet his steps were unimpeded. He advanced leisurely as if walking through an uninhabited land.
Furthermore, because he knew the research facility’s structure as well as an insider, he didn’t fall into traps or get lost.
“All forces, gather at Sector C-3!”
“Transmitting again! All forces, avoid engagement with the intruder and gather at Sector C-3!”
Thus, when Baek Woohyun broke through the relatively less important above-ground floors and reached the underground level, it seemed the enemies finally realized the seriousness of the situation.
Abandoning the thought that an intruder being just one person wouldn’t get far, they began gathering all military forces in the research facility to one place.
Although, with nearly 30% of their forces already annihilated due to complacent judgment, it was essentially closing the barn door after the horse had bolted.
RATATATAT!
“Fire! Block him from getting close at all costs!”
“Etinels, forward deployment!”
“······.”
Still, having gathered a fair number of troops, they succeeded in establishing a defense line. And also in stopping and halting the advance of Baek Woohyun, who had lightly broken through two above-ground floors.
Of course, the enemies also knew well that no matter how long they held out, it would only be a delaying tactic. In the end, they would be completely wiped out by the intruder.
Since they wouldn’t be able to hold out until relief forces arrived even if they requested support, they needed some other method to turn the situation around.
For example, a way to dramatically increase their combat power.
And coincidentally, they had one usable means at their disposal.
“All forces, use the issued TL-02!”
“…TL-02?”
The expression of Baek Woohyun, who heard the shout from the person presumed to be the security captain, sharpened.
It was a natural reaction, as it was a name that anyone would associate with the TL-01 that had confused him before, seen as a kind of series.
It was all the more so because he suspected it might be linked to the secrets of ‘Reverse Planet’, perhaps as much as the copycat invaders.
“A new story hook with TL-02, here!”
“Sudden… not really. It’s a research facility, so it makes sense it’d be here.”
It connects here lol
The TL series doping drug must be separate
When I saw the effect description during the Geumsin raid, I thought it was for Awakeners only
If it’s 02, maybe it’s different? Maybe it’s for ordinary people
The one who showed agitation at the appearance of the new TL series doping drug wasn’t just Baek Woohyun. Cha Seongcheol, Jeong Nayeon, and the viewers in the studio were the same.
Even with the previous TL-01, they were surprised when the doping drug, which never showed its face in other stories, suddenly popped up.
Now a drug presumed to be its series version appeared, so they couldn’t help but voice various speculations.
“Interesting.”
Baek Woohyun did not stop the security guards from emptying the drug they pulled from their pockets into their mouths. He merely watched quietly with his eyes burning ashen.
Under this silent permission, the changes in the security guards who swallowed the drug called TL-02 were exactly the same as those shown by the Hunting Dogs in the past.
They were enveloped in an ominous blue glow, then their eyes completely turned a purplish color.
“”······.””
Simultaneously, a spine-chilling silence descended upon the battlefield, which had been filled with noise.
Just as the Hunting Dogs who had taken TL-01 had, the security guards who took TL-02 had changed into fundamentally completely different beings.
That much was clearly felt from their expressionless faces, as if emotions had been removed, and their gaze that didn’t lose track of Baek Woohyun even though their pupils couldn’t even be seen.
Of course, the security guards’ changes didn’t end there.
Having transcended being ordinary humans both externally and internally, even the abilities they possessed were far beyond the normal level.
In other words, their physical abilities had also dramatically risen. To the point where mere humans, possessing no supernatural ability whatsoever, could rival Etinels.
Thud!
The security guards surging towards Baek Woohyun all at once!
Their speed was incredibly fast, emitting a fierce momentum as if to avenge the situation where they had been pushed back one-sidedly.
It was almost on par with the Etinels running alongside them—what more needs to be said.
It wasn’t for nothing that it was said they gained physical strength rivaling Etinels.
Looking at this scene now, one could surely know that.
“······.”
However, undergoing a bizarre change to become a completely different being and gaining Etinel-level physical abilities was one thing; whether that would work was another matter.
In the first place, weren’t even real Etinels being cut down incessantly without being any hindrance whatsoever to Baek Woohyun?
In such a situation, it would be strange to think there would be a dramatic change even if several dozen more people with Etinel-level physical abilities were added.
The actual result was the same.
CRREEAK!
At Baek Woohyun’s gesture, space itself warped, crushing all beings within it. All at once, indiscriminately, security guards and Etinels alike.
A few on the outskirts of the [Distortion] range survived, but it hardly mattered since the enemies who had charged all at once were mostly dead.
With numbers like this, they were insufficient to exploit the opening after using a high-output [Distortion].
“Even though their physical abilities got stronger, charging like this in such a narrow place. Seems their intelligence inversely decreased!”
Ahh, refreshing
They all charged together for nothing and got wiped lol
Does taking TL-02 make you a meathead? Hmm…
Doping drugs are fu@king useless lololol
‘—Huh?’
Unlike Cha Seongcheol and the viewers admiring Baek Woohyun sweeping away the enemies, Jeong Nayeon couldn’t focus on the scene in the video.
It was because of the system message that abruptly appeared before her. More precisely, because the content written there was quite shocking, her mind was captivated by it.
And understandably so.
[Mission ‘Thorough Investigation of the TL Series Drug<3,000,000 won>’ has been created]
It was a mission with a whopping three million won on the line.
Moreover, the one who created the mission was ‘Anonymous Viewer 62’.
The very person who had earnestly requested that if anything related to Baek Woohyun came up, it must be relayed to him.
Wait, what mission
Three million won mission dang
How curious was he about the TL series
Here, even the minimum mission fee is in the hundreds, wtf
“Huh?!”
As those who belatedly discovered the high-stakes mission were flustered, Jeong Nayeon quickly opened the message window first.
Her intention was to quickly do what she needed to do before discussing things back and forth.
‘First, relay it to Woohyun!’
***
Jeong Nayeon: Anonymous Viewer 62 gave a mission!
Jeong Nayeon: He wants a thorough investigation of the TL series drugs!
Jeong Nayeon: The mission amount is a whopping three million won!
“…!”
Baek Woohyun, who received the message from Jeong Nayeon, stopped his advancing footsteps. Despite there still being enemies he hadn’t dealt with.
The message that Anonymous Viewer 62 had given a mission held that much value for him. Even separately from the mission completion amount.
Thus, he roughly pressed down the remaining enemies with telekinesis and sank into thought.
‘A thorough investigation of the TL series drugs…’
Presumably, as he felt a sense of strangeness when first seeing TL-01, this seemed to be something Anonymous Viewer 62 hadn’t prepared.
Since Baek Woohyun had half-concluded that Anonymous Viewer 62 was a developer of ‘Reverse Planet’, if it was something he didn’t know, then it must have been ‘inserted’ by someone else.
If that weren’t the case, instead of giving a mission like now, he could have given a reward after it was revealed, just like with the Pet System.
‘Then who… inserted the TL series?’
The thought that it might be other developers besides Anonymous Viewer 62 didn’t occur.
Judging from how Anonymous Viewer 62 presumably shut down the servers simultaneously with the Pet System update earlier, he seemed to be a very high-ranking developer.
Would such a person fail to notice something inserted by other developers and task Baek Woohyun with investigating it via a Special Mission?
“······.”
There was a target that came to mind with a ‘perhaps?’
Just not with enough certainty to point it out openly.
To find this out, in the end, there was no choice but to investigate the TL series drugs.
‘Let’s start with this research facility.’
“Ugh, ughhh…”
“Cough-”
Perhaps the drug effect had ended, as the security guards held by telekinesis groaned and twisted their bodies. Blood also streamed from their eyes, noses, and mouths.
It was a sight reminiscent of the weasel-like man who died from the aftereffects of TL-01. Perhaps this was a common side effect of the TL series.
Well, it would be strange if such a bizarre drug, which temporarily turns one into a fundamentally different being to gain power, didn’t have side effects of this level.
‘It’s no problem now, but what if the numbers increase, or the next version comes out?’
“Hmm.”
Wrinkles formed on Baek Woohyun’s brow as he assumed the worst-case scenario.
Unlike Awakeners, the number of security guards was overflowing. If all of them took TL-02, gained Etinel-level physical abilities, and charged, even that would be dangerous.
And if the TL series drug, which gives this much power even to utterly ordinary commoners, moves to the next version…
‘Even if it wasn’t Anonymous Viewer 62, I would have needed to investigate further.’
Baek Woohyun averted his gaze from the security guards who died from side effects and moved his steps towards a deeper place within the research facility.
To achieve various goals: the vengeful spirits’ revenge, completing Manmulsang’s request, investigating the TL series drugs, etc.
“Ah.”
And so, after walking for a while.
Baek Woohyun encountered, for the first time in a very long time since returning from ‘over there’.
The malice that humans possess—of unknowable depth.