[Announcement]

' 2 more days left, be prepared for anything from Russian hit squads '

' Don't forget that they will be a huge danger to you, so you must use your offense and defense together to not die '

' Success in your first battles with 1st and elite classes '

Russian hit squads? What kind of a joke is that?

Ji-hoon looks at the announcement tempted to see if what the system says is real.

If they're Class 1 and elite, it's going to be a challenge, can't wait for the fight now.

"Mr. Tanaka!"

Hatoru enters Mr. Tanaka's room and Mr. Tanaka is startled.

"What happened Hatoru?"

"It's that Song Ji-hoon kid."

"I'm listening."

Hatoru takes a deep breath.

"He's going to fight two teams of the Russian secret organization, more exactly Horizon and Toyazo"

"Horizon and Toyazo?"

Mr. Tanaka sits and thinks.

Why would they want to put two powerful teams against a rookie? There's definitely something about that boy that makes him special.

"Mr. Tanaka, what are we going to do?"

"We're not going to do anything right now, we're going to wait and see what happens with that kid, please keep me updated on his status"

Hatoru is a little skeptical but doesn't want to argue with Mr. Tanaka.

"Alright Mr. Tanaka, I'll keep you updated on the status of him and his mission."

Hatoru leaves the room closing the door behind him.

Risky to let a rookie fight two dangerous teams, but I hope it's not something worse.

Ji-hoon puts his sword in its sheath and the sheath on his back.

I'm going to train a lot more in these remaining two days, No matter how hard I have to do it, I'll have more missions, maybe even more dangerous, I know that, but nothing scares me anymore.

Team 1 (Bait)

"Are you ready for adventure? You are equipped with some sophisticated and super safe equipment, just be careful not to destroy the material it is made of, otherwise you will be exposed to radiation and eventually die"

Mr. Kim offers them the gas masks which are super technologically advanced.

They take the masks and Soo-min's hand shakes on the mask but she takes it off and puts it on her face.

[Success]

' The technologized gas mask was successfully applied '

' It offers triple protection against toxic radiation '

' But don't break it, this mask is battery operated, and backup batteries will be instantly installed by the mask system after the previous set is depleted '

Seeing this announcement they feel both relief and concern.

Soo-min's legs get soft and she struggles to stand but Min-ji comes and holds her so she doesn't fall.

"Don't worry, we'll both get through this safely."

Soo-min feels a relief on her back and can stand again.

"I hope so."

Min-ji hugs Soo-min and Soo-min tears up.

Mr. Kim looks at Min-ji and Soo-min and rubs his head

How strange to see two people hugging after such a long time since I've seen anything like that.

Anyway, Mr. Kim takes a deep breath and starts talking.

"Now that you're equipped you can go on your mission, good luck to you all"

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Everyone is taking a deep breath and emotionally prepared for what's next on the mission.

They enter a machine and Mr. Kim presses a button outside the machine and the doors close.

I wonder what this machine is?

Soo-min asks herself and while looking at Min-ji.

[Announcement]

' You'll be outside in 3 seconds'

' Be ready for the mission! '

Everyone is wondering what this machine is, but they will soon find out.

' 3, 2, 1 '

Dingg

' Good luck on your mission '

The doors open and they are outside now, stepping out of the machine they realize it's a kind of elevator but more sophisticated.

The doors close and the elevator climbs back up.

Everyone is amazed, the place looks super weird with dense fog and dark blue skies.

"It's like before a rain!"

Everyone is still amazed but starts moving further away from the building.

Passing many giant rocks they come to a small street, in the past this was where cars passed every day and night.

The street is obviously cracked and with holes in it, with great care they move on, looking around and the fog slightly lessens as they continue walking.

"Hey guys, I understand that those creatures we've been told exist are roaming around Asia, including here, we should be careful about that"

Something with sharp teeth smiles grotesquely.

In Japan, Hatoru sits alone in the corridor looking out the window.

Someone approaches Hatoru.

"Hey Hatoru, do you know why Mr. Tanaka is acting so strange?"

"I don't know, possibly he's tired of sitting in a room for the rest of his life."

"He's pretty old but he's different now, he seems much different in a bad way"

Hatoru raises his voice in stress.

"I don't know Ren, you're annoying, just shut up already"

"What's going on with everyone these days? Whatever."

Ren walks away and leaves Hatoru alone.

[Announcement]

' Song Ji-hoon is currently training to face the Horizon and Toyazo teams '

' More information will be provided soon '

Hatoru clicks on another notification.

[Announcement]

' A new time machine has been opened '

' It has created an alternate timeline '

' It is important to take quick action on this '

Alternate Timeline? Why? What caused an alternate Timeline to be created?

Another notification appears so Hatoru reads it.

[Announcement]

' Alternate timeline name is "Courage" '

' Significant changes are Song Ji-hoon's death and the destruction of the original timeline '

Courage? Song Ji-hoon's death? Destruction of the original timeline? Why? What the hell is happening now and why is the original timeline the one affected by the death of a mere member of the organization?

Hatoru feels a shiver down his spine.

More importantly, who started that time machine? Of course if you do that in the past or future you can create alternate timelines but I've never heard that an alternate timeline can interfere with the original one.

Something doesn't make sense and I need to tell Mr Tanaka about this new information urgently.

Hatoru runs back to Mr. Tanaka's room.

"Mr. Tanaka, this announcement is super important!"

"I'm listening!"

"An alternate timeline has been opened under the name of Courage, the information is that Song Ji-hoon will die and his death will severely affect the original timeline"

"The first I'm hearing of this, then we need to take action quickly to save the original timeline"

So there really is something special about Song Ji-hoon, no one could have been so valuable that his death would affect an entire timeline.

"Someone started a time machine from the past or future and it resulted in the creation of an alternate timeline"

"Who could do that? It's understandable that there is the possibility of other users of these machines but still I don't understand so well, in the future or past, it's quite difficult to understand"

Hatoru is panicking because he doesn't know what to do at this point.

"Do you know how Song Ji-hoon dies? Maybe with more information we'll be able to save him from dying and also from destroying the original timeline."

"I don't know sir, I haven't received any information about Song Ji-hoon's death yet but just the fact that he's dying is a worrying thing"

"In this case we can't do too much, we have to wait a bit, although this time is super precious so that something worse doesn't happen in the future"

Hatoru is still panicked but nods approvingly.

"Alright Mr. Tanaka, I'll keep you posted but please don't keep this waiting long."

"It won't, I promise."

Blood is everywhere, terrible screams are heard and traces of a giant quadruped are on the ground.

The monster grabs Min-ji with its teeth and rips her in half, and her blood splatters everywhere and Min-ji's desperate scream suddenly stops.

Soo-min stares traumatised in place doing absolutely nothing, the others in the team are also traumatised.

"LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!"

Baek Yohan starts to run but the monster is quicker catching him and likewise ripping him in half with its teeth.

They all start running and the only one not moving from there is Soo-min. The monster looks into Soo-min's eyes and grins.

The monster approaches and stares into her eyes, the blood on the monster's teeth terrifies Soo-min.

Here...Is this the end of me?..Am I really that weak?

The monster opens its mouth wide and sees Min-ji's other half inside making Soo-min scream.

The monster shuts its mouth and leaves, leaving Soo-min completely traumatized and the monster goes after the rest of the team.

This monster...doesn't kill for hunger...but for the fun of it...

In front of Soo-min comes an announcement from the system that terrifies her even more.

[Announcement]

' You're losing oxygen '

' Your suit has been cracked '

' Run, run, run! '

Soo-min starts to run but stumbles and her mask cracks, more toxic air seeping in.

[Announcement]

' You've been contaminated '

' The oxygen in your blood is contaminated '

' Quickly enter the organization '

Soo-min looks forward and sees the monster's huge legs and when she looks she sees more blood on the monster's teeth.

At that moment Soo-min wakes up, trying to catch her breath but it's hard, she is in her room traumatized by the dream she had.

What was that dream?

[Announcement]

' Today you will go on a mission outside the organization '

' Success '

Soo-min freezes when she sees the message she received from the system.

No way.. does that mean the dream is a warning?

Soo-min is disturbed by this message and feels a terrible fear, and again she is struck by the dream memory of that creature.

She hears a knock on the door so she goes to see who it is.

She looks out the peephole and sees Min-ji carrying a backpack so Soo-min opens the door.

"Hey Min-ji, what are you doing with that backpack?"

"I prepared some things for our departure, Mr. Kim told us that it will take a few days for the mission if something doesn't intervene that will make them come and get us from outside"

"Hmm, alright then, I'll get ready right away"

Soo-min tries to close the door but Min-ji puts her foot in the door.

Auuuch

"Sorry but why did you put your foot in the door?"

"Well I got suits for the expedition, it's toxic outside, so here you go."

Min-ji gives her a suit and the same mask she saw in her dream.

"Hmm, thanks."

Soo-min takes the clothes and closes the door to change.

Same mask, definitely something out of place.

Soo-min takes off her clothes and changes into her suit and the mask she's holding.

Soo-min looks in the mirror.

Interesting.

Anyway, Soo-min comes out of the room where Min-ji was at the door waiting for her.

"You look beautiful in this suit"

"Thanks but where's your suit?""

"It's under this coat I'm wearing now"

Min-ji tugs the coat off a little and it shows underneath, the suit.

"Interesting, anyway, let's go"

"Come on"

They walk to the elevator and enter by pressing the 1st floor button.

[Announcement]

' Your departure is in 10 minutes '

' Hurry up to get there on time '

' Good luck again on your mission '

"Let's go elevator"

Min-ji gently kicks the elevator

The elevator doors close and it begins to descend to the first floor.

The elevator arrives on the first floor where Soo-min and Min-ji are greeted by the other members of the team.

"Hey girls, come on Mr. Kim is waiting for us."

They walk up and are greeted by Mr. Kim standing in front of a machine, similar to the one in Soo-min's dream, and this aspect terrifies her even more.

"Hey Soo-min, are you okay?"

Soo-min remains silent and stares at that machine.

Terrible memories hit Soo-min, other than what she saw in her dream.

Blood, howling, a monster-like creature with sharp teeth. Still but different, this time the one who dies is herself, not Min-ji or Baek Yohan.

"I think it's better if we cancel the mission"

"Why?"

Soo-min is silent for a few minutes.

"Tell me, why should the mission be cancelled?"

"I had a dream that the team was killed with cold blood by a monster."

Baek Yohan and Lee Junho laugh and Yeji smiles.

"It doesn't have to happen, it's just a nightmare without any special meaning"

"But what if it has a special meaning? What if it's a warning?"

"Stop being so superstitious, dreams aren't real, they're just brain projected stuff, nothing special"

Soo-min is silent again, looking at Yeji's face.

"So you're continuing the mission?"

Everyone says they will continue, except Soo-min who remains silent.

"Perfect."

Mr. Kim presses the button on the machine that opens like an elevator and they step inside.

Soo-min is the last to go inside.

"Good luck everyone."

Mr. Kim presses a button and the doors close, just like in that dream.

[Announcement]

' You'll be outside in 3 seconds'

' Be ready for the mission! '

Soo-min is terrified worse and worse and the rest are looking at this message and waiting to get out of this machine.

' 3, 2, 1 '

Dingg