"Wait!!--"
Kim Woo-jin yelled his voice echoing through the train station the people around him coming to a holt. The people nearby might be shocked or frightened by the sudden outburst. Others looked puzzled, unsure what triggered the yell.
The sudden yell created an awkward atmosphere, the outburst grabbed people's attention, making them wonder what happened.
Kim Woo-jin looked around shoked at seeing he's back in the subway station. "Did I really regress?.." Kim Woo-jin had so many questions but the platform announced the arrival of the Busan to Seoul train, he had no choice but to go in he walked towards the same middle seat he had sat on. His thoughts were filled with millions of questions, ideas, and ways to not die like last time.. he was skeptical but sure enough he had regressed back in time.
He thought: "I have more to worry about right now. The goblin attack." Sigh "aren't goblins those green creatures from video games?" As Kim Woo-jin continued to think The woman next to him noticed his serious expression. She was tired and sleepy she didn't sleep for two whole days and she didn't even know what time it was, noticing the man next to her had a watch she wanted to ask him but was frightened by his serious look.
"He must be really busy right now, I'll just be a bother"
Meanwhile Kim Woo-jin was trying to figure a way solution to this predicament. He touched the pocket watch around his neck
"This thing..." He thought before the lights turned off, it was happening again.
The middle-aged man who had spoken up earlier said again
"It's probably a power outage or electrical failure."
Kim Woo-jin had an Idea he clearly remembered the goblin came in from the second door so if he could seize the moment and make a run for it he won't die like last time.
After the power outage the doors of course opened the light from outside shining in before anyone could say anything Kim Woo-jin bolted out of the train his coat flowing in the air as people wondered what the heck he was doing he went up the subway station stairs hearing the sudden chaos below but he continued on to salvation as a unknown person.
"I made it out of there.." sigh
He thought, he made it out of the subway tunnel and was met with a desolate, post-apocalyptic cityscape with a dark and ominous tone. Buildings on either side, some of which are severely damaged and destroyed. A gray, cloudy sky that casts a somber mood over the entire scene. Debris and rubble scattered throughout the area, the sense of a catastrophic event having ravaged the city.
"What happened?"
And before he could process the ruined city, He was disturbed buy a system notification.
Ding!
[The divine entity 'Chancekeeper' has taken an intrest in you]
"Chancekeeper? Who?"
[He asks if you'd like to make a contract with him]
"What are you talking about?"
efore anything else he he heard a "khsquiek!!" And knew that wasn't Amy good Kim Woo-jin quickly hid behind some broken debris his heart thumbing at a fast rate he felt like he was having a heart attack huge footsteps came in his direction, instead of goblins it was an Orc it was 7 feet tall as it sniffed out the surroundings. Sniff Sniff. It's nitriles widening Kim Woo-jin was already thinking of making a run for it.
"Was this what everyone was running from?"
The orc lefts it's loud footsteps could be heard from afar he sighed in relief looking back at the system which glance back at him
[...th-]
"Shut up."
It went silent as Kim Woo-jin was thinking about his next move he couldn't stay out in the open like this he had only one choice.. to return back to the subway station. He sighed
"Ihave no other choice..."
He said going back down the chaos and screams had stopped the subway station was destroyed blood scattered over there and some blinking lights the moment he stepped off the last staircase he was met with a goblin the little green creature staring at him as his hands were in his coat's pockets.
"..."
"..."
It screamed running towards him but Kim Woo-jin was faster he took out the same pen that he had used to pierce it's eye out and stabbed it in the eye again Kim Woo-jin wasn't the type to miss which brought back a memory of when he was little. Kim Woo-jin was playing on his own when a basketball bounce next to him he saw some people waving at him.
"Hey! Kid!"
"Do you mind pacing the ball?!" Another said as the rest of the team looked at him, all eyes were on the small child. He picked up the basketball it was heavy to him, he threw it with all his might it flew a couple of meters into the air then lost flight instantly the guys chuckled.
"Aww poor kid", "nice shot bud"
Before they could continue the ball kept moving it bounced onto the basketball court onto the metal poll and bounced up into the air perfectly going through the ring like magic they're jaws were on the floor how was that possible? They turned back towards the kid who was now already gone.
*Back to the present*
Kim Woo-jin indeed stabbed the goblin in it's eye it fell screaming from pain he stood on top of the squirming goblin his expression unreadable and lifeless his grey eyes having a faint glow in them he just lifted his foot and stepped on it's head.
"Gah!!"
The goblin shrieked he stepped harder it continued to scream louder he stepped harder and harde--
"Hey!" A familiar voice called out
"..!?!"
It was that middle-aged man from the train with a few others.
"Huh?"
They all were puzzled and surprised by the scene before them.
"You're that guy who ran out earlier.."
The man said his expression simple and calm, Kim Woo-jin after snapping out of it he stopped stepping on the goblin it now dead with the pen jammed deeply into it's head, he bent down and pulled it out as the looked at him with disturbed looks.
They whispered to each other as Kim Woo-jin was busy in the background.
Middle-aged man said "he killed that thing with just a pen and his bare hands?"
Another
"He doesn't seem so sane... Are you sure it's okay to bring him with u-"
"What are you guys talking about?"
Kim Woo-jin asked leaning into the circle they all jolted back frightened by his sudden appearance.
"Oh my god!"
"Ah!"
The middle-aged man runned his head smiling as he extended his hand towards Kim Woo-jin.
"Sorry we haven't introduced ourselves, my name is Park Tae-Hyun"
He smiled kindly. The hands are clasped together in a firm handshake, conveying a sense of agreement or partnership.The arms extend from the left and right sides of the frame. handshake between two individuals, set against a dramatic background that highlights the significance of the moment. Kim Woo-jin smiled back.
"My name is Sung-min"
Why he lied? Because he knows they won't even remember a single detail of him even if he said his real name.
"Nice to meet you uhh... Song-min."
He's already forgetting.
"Oh! and this is Jae-seok my youngest"
He gestured to the other guy next to him, he had sharp features and seemed worry of Kim Woo-jin.
"And that's Ji-Hoon my eldest son"
He pointed at the other person he was with a slightly more friendly face probably his age. They all stood awkwardly before Park Tae-Hyun cleared his throat.
"By the way, how did you manage to kill that goblin with just your bare hands?"
He asked curiously Park Tae-Hyun was a idiot he knew the moment he saw this guy he was strong from his point of view Song-min was someone incredibly strong to be able to kill a goblin like that. "I must get him on our side" he thought.
Kim Woo-jin just raised his pen showing it off as if it was a mighty sword.
"I guess this lucky pen helped me."
There was an awkward silence.
"..."
"...?"
"Pfft!..."
As they stared at each other a announcement was made a notification popped up in front of them.
[The tutorial is complete. Welcome players to the 영원의 Game]
Kim Woo-jin looked at the notification, "so my suspicions were correct... It's a game"
"Hmm..."
Lost in thought Kim Woo-jin didn't pay any attention to the other three in front of him he was processing. Park Tae-Hyun rubbed his eyes and blurted out.
"You know I can't seem to properly remember his face every time I look away from him..."
Jae-seok was too busy looking at Kim Woo-jin's clothes than his face. "He's dressed like he's some wealthy heir, it's the apocalypse couldn't have killed that goblin with alone non the less with a pen?!"
Ji-Hoon look at Park Tae-Hyun his expression a bit scared and unsure like a child who'd just seen a ghost.
"Y-you can see his face?..."
Park Tae-Hyun was a bit put off by that question. He turned to Ji-Hoon with a raised eyebrow.
"What do you mean? I can see his face perfectly fine... It's just really hard to remember for some reason."
He just looked more horrified trying to brush off what he had said.
"Oh... Okay, I didn't mean anything it's just kinda dark in here."
Park Tae-Hyun turned to Kim Woo-jin his voice soft and polite.
"We were actually just looking for more survivors, we setup camp west. Would you like to come with us? You're probably looking for a safe place to hide."
Kim Woo-jin looked at them and nodded his head. This was the best option for him right now plus these guys seem to have some type of understanding about the current situation.
"Yeah, if you don't mind"
Jae-seok rolled his eyes. His expression displeased visible from his frown.
"Sure let's just bring in more people as if we aren't too Many already"
Park Tae-Hyun nudged his arm a little, laughing nervously.
"Please don't mind him, we can't leave someone in need."
Kim Woo-jin's just shrugged.
"He looks handsome while upset at least~"
They had a nice laugh, while Jae-seok was Holding Ji-Hoon back from attacking Kim Woo-jin. They began walking to were they had set up camp. Kim Woo-jin was curious as to where they could possibly camp in a literal subway they slowly walked into the darkness.
A warm light hit his face like a gentle mother's touch. It was a freaking camp literally there were injured and tired people, you could see the fatigued faces they looked scared frightened hoping to be rescued They noticed as they saw Park Tae-Hyun return and his group but with someone following behind them, non other than Kim Woo-jin.
The onlookers were curious who this young sophisticated man came from, perhaps a wealthy person
'if a rich billionaire's son is here then the government will definitely send a rescue team!'
they all thought the same thing as Kim Woo-jin walked past the people his coat flowing in the wind as if he owned the moment though in his brain he was awkwardly praying for this moment to end "why are they staring at me?" He thought.
"Uncle!"
A high pitched female voice called out presumably calling Park Tae-Hyun, then a familiar face came running towards them the very same person Kim Woo-jin saved before his death it was the Zombi- woman from the train.
She stopped in front of them with a worried expression looking at Park Tae-Hyun she asked if he was hurt anywhere or if he felt tired, and checked up on the other guys they all had a friendly air around them especially Jae-seok was specially nice towards which caught Kim Woo-jin's eye. She finally noticed him standing there his hands in his pockets there was a brief silence before she finally spoke up.
"Hello, you must be another survivor uncle rescued?.."
He wouldn't call it a rescue more like a disturbance.
"Yes."
Park Tae-Hyun smiled looking at the lady.
"This is...uh what's your name again?"
He looked at Kim Woo-jin again specifically his face.
"My name is Jin-soo"
Rubbed his head embarrassingly.
"Sorry, I'm not usually the type to forget names... anyway this is Young-Ja, she helped us greatly."
Kim Woo-jin smiled tilting his head to the side a playful grin.
"It's okay it happens. Nice to meet you Ms. Young "
She blushed.
"Good to meet you too Mr. Jin"
Jae-seok cleared his throat.
"Shouldn't we take care of the injured first?"
"Injured?"
Kim Woo-jin asked. Jae-seok nodded adding.
"A lot of people got hurt while, fighting the goblins that came out of the "rifts"."
"What is a rift?"
"It's where those green creatures came from dump*ss"
Ji-Hoon answered.
"This should've been common knowledge to you if you didn't choose to run like a coward earlier."
Young-Ja hit his arm, annoyed.
"Don't say that.." "sorry he can be a bit of a jerk sometimes."
Kim Woo-jin wasn't exactly offended people like Ji-Hoon are actually easy to deal with because they are not intelligent.
"I'll be looking around for a bit"
He said turning away without another word they all just stared at him as he walked away. Young-Ja closing her eyes said.
"Maybe he's just an introvert?.."
Park Tae-Hyun agreed.
"But he's strange isn't he?"
Jae-seok just nervously stared at Kim Woo-jin's disappearing figure as if holding something back.
"..."
Ji-Hoon on the other hand fuming.
"That's why your face is so glitched out"
They all went they're separate ways though the lingering feeling of forgetting someone important, something oh! Kim Woo-jin or rather Jin-soo for them was wearing a silver pocket watch around his neck. His is face, voice and faded out of their memory... only leaving a lingering presence.