Duo Leveling LITRPG | Post Apocalyptic | SYSTEM-Chapter 205 - 270+271

That was all Ike had done—bring Jhin into this world.

'So he's not all-powerful, after all.'

After all, hadn't he been captured and tortured by mere NPC fanatics?

Jhin looked closely at Ike's face.

The wounds from the torture had been healed with potions, but the scars still remained.

Capable, yes. But not omnipotent.

That, in Jhin's eyes, was the simplest definition of what an Administrator truly was.

'Then is opening the channel really something only an Administrator can do?'

He thought for a moment, then answered clearly.

"Yes. I would've refused."

Even without Ike's help, he would've found a way back to Earth eventually.

Strategies can be discovered.

And if they can be found, then he'd just find one.

Without wasting any more time, Jhin led the players straight toward the Black Ground.

From Paradise, a portal had been prepared—

and it took them right to the border of the Black Ground.

Thunder roared in the distance, and wild storms howled across the land.

Staring into that cursed territory, Ike spoke.

"If you want to return to Earth, the first thing you need to do is find the dungeon where the kill switch is hidden."

"...A dungeon?"

"Technically, it's not a real dungeon. It just takes the form of one."

It sounded ridiculous—but according to Ike, after the shutdown, he had hastily hidden the kill switch inside a dungeon-like structure.

When asked why, he answered plainly:

"So the Vaccines wouldn't be able to find it."

Even Vaccines weren't completely free agents.

If they could truly pierce through anything, find anything… would Paradise ever have existed?

'So they have limitations.'

And that limitation was the "dungeon" that had only come into existence after the world's shutdown.

A new space, not listed on any of the original maps.

"That's why they're using NPCs to search for it. With their own power, they can't even detect the dungeon's presence."

Jhin nodded as he gazed out across the Black Ground, where dozens—no, hundreds of Vaccines were moving.

There were thousands of them, not far from where he stood.

And yet, despite all that, they hadn't found the kill switch.

Ike's workaround had worked.

Then Jhin noticed them—fanatics weaving their way between the Vaccines, searching tirelessly across the desolate land.

There were many of them as well.

"It looks like they haven't gotten their hands on the kill switch yet… but it's only a matter of time. We have to get it first."

The kill switch was hidden in a dungeon within the Black Ground.

But with this many NPCs on the prowl, it was only a matter of time before they stumbled upon it.

"The real problem is those Vaccines. At this rate, we won't even be able to set foot in the Black Ground."

Michael said, his brows furrowed with concern.

And it was true—the sheer number of Vaccines was overwhelming, as if to block any possible approach.

It was a brutal reality for the players, who had struggled even to defend against intrusions into Paradise.

'And this place isn't just a wasteland. There are sudden windstorms, bursts of lava—it's a disaster zone…'

The Black Ground was dangerous.

Not just because of the enemies—but because of the land itself.

Could they really slip past the Vaccines, survive the disasters, and stay hidden from the fanatics long enough to reach their destination?

So, the players began to gather, trading opinions, trying to piece together a plan.

"What if we sneak in somehow?"

"Let's try invisibility spells."

"...Those won't work on Vaccines."

"How about opening a portal?"

"Come on. You all know you can't open portals inside the Black Ground. The power there is too unstable."

Ideas flew around the group.

But the consensus became clear.

"No matter what we try, there's no way we can deceive that many. Even Mr. Kyle wouldn't be able to pull it off…"

They would be erased by the Vaccines before even finding the dungeon.

That was the general belief among the players.

That's when Jhin, who had been quietly listening, stepped forward.

"You're right. Even I can't fool all of them. But…"

He grinned.

"There is a way to break through this situation."

"Oooh… Mr. Kyle!"

The players let out a low cheer, their eyes lighting up.

Everyone looked hopeful—expecting some clever, groundbreaking idea.

'Clever idea, huh…'

Jhin gave a casual shrug.

"You're right—we can't sneak past that many enemies. I don't have any stealth skills, and I'm not specialized in that kind of approach anyway."

"...So it's as we feared, then."

"Which leaves us with only one option."

Without hesitation, Jhin pulled out a pistol and loaded a bullet into the chamber.

Stretching his limbs slightly and taking a deep breath, he said—

"I'm going in through the front."

"...What? Come again?"

"Sure, stealth and infiltration tactics are great. But that's not the kind of strategy that applies here."

He looked toward Tim, who had been quietly listening.

Suddenly, Jhin recalled the time he asked Felix what mattered most in dungeon raids.

Back then, Felix had answered something different.

He had said: information.

And he had been right.

But sometimes, something else was more important than information. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Because not every situation plays out the same way.

Michael narrowed his eyes and asked,

"I'm sorry, but I don't follow what you're saying. What are you suggesting, exactly?"

"You don't need to understand. Honestly, once you hear it, it might feel a little silly."

With that, Jhin summoned the Goblin Ring—and burned it.

He could now see them.

The spirits of countless monsters who had died in the Black Ground.

'Looks like the Vaccines didn't bother erasing the souls.'

Maybe the Vaccines couldn't even see them.

That would explain why they just stood there, completely unaware, even while surrounded by ghostly presences.

'Or maybe… they're choosing not to move, hoping to erase everything with the kill switch later.'

Whatever the reason—it worked in Jhin's favor.

"Level. And an overwhelming difference in power. I couldn't do this before—but the current me can."

He extended his hand forward.

Because if the area was filled with souls—

there was something only he could do.

"Rise."

[Activating the exclusive skill of the 'Goblin King's Ring': 'Call of the Goblins.']

[The souls of monsters scattered across the Black Ground respond to the Absolute One's call.]

At Jhin's signal, tens of thousands of souls began to take shape.

Dahlia, who called herself a "pilgrim," was trudging across the wasteland, her body heavy with exhaustion.

Hundreds of pilgrims like her crossed the cracked, barren earth—land where not even a single blade of grass could grow.

These were the last remaining survivors of this world.

"Come on, everyone, just a little farther. We're almost there."

Without complaint, the pilgrims pushed forward, crossing the lifeless plain.

Even when razor-sharp winds whipped across the land, they dug into the dirt together, enduring it as one.

Once, the Black Ground had been a place they wouldn't dare approach.

But now, they pressed forward, relentless.

"Halt! From here, we summon the Vaccine and proceed."

Dahlia and the others, without so much as a moment's rest, pulled out their items and began the ritual.

All around them, Vaccines erupted into the air and scattered.

Meanwhile, Dahlia glanced over at her companion, Alekye, who was muttering with frustration.

He was especially prone to complaining about the Vaccines.

"What now?" she asked.

Alekye replied as if he'd been waiting to be asked.

"I just… I don't know if this is right."

"What?"

"We're supposed to survive by erasing this world, right? But how can that possibly be the right answer?"

Why were the pilgrims assisting mysterious monsters in destroying the world?

There was only one reason.

To survive.

That was the simple principle behind their actions.

"Who cares if it's right or not? If this is what it takes to live… then we have to choose it, even if it's wrong."

"Yeah, but… how does wiping out the world let us survive? What does that even mean? Dahlia—do you really understand it?"

"No! But His Majesty the Emperor made a deal with the Vaccine for our sake."

"That damn Vaccine, again and again…"

Alekye's voice rose a little. Dahlia glanced nervously at the Vaccines, then hissed:

"Shh… just stop already. What if they hear you?"

"Let them. It's not like I'm saying anything untrue."

Dahlia scanned the Vaccines again with a worried expression.

Thankfully, they didn't seem to have heard.

They simply went about their tasks in silence.

Then again—they always had.

The Vaccines had never spoken to her, or to any of the pilgrims.

Even the humanoid Tier 3 Vaccines were the same.

They only ever opened their mouths in front of confirmed "bugs."

'Or players…'

Dahlia swallowed a sigh and murmured,

"Do we really have a choice? In this cursed world, Eden is our only hope."

"I know… I know that."

"Then quit grumbling and help with the ritual. I heard players are approaching."

At her words, even Alekye gave in and resumed the summoning rituals for the Vaccines.

Time passed.

After summoning hundreds of Vaccines, one of the pilgrims at the front finally raised his voice.

It was Sir Bell, a knight and loyal servant of the Emperor.

"If we can find the kill switch this time, we'll erase those damned players and enter Eden."

It seemed the time had come to move. Dahlia rose to her feet, patting her weary legs.

And that's when Alekye, wide-eyed, spoke again.

"Dahlia."

"Ugh… what now? What's your problem this time?"

"No, really. Dahlia. Were there ever this many monsters in the Black Ground?"

She nodded.

"There are still a few left. This is the last surviving region in the world, remember? We're summoning the Vaccines to wipe them out completely…"

"Are you sure? About the 'few' part?"

"Alekye, why are you being so weird? What are you trying to say?"

Alekye grabbed her shoulders and pointed.

"Look over there! That way!"

Only then did Dahlia notice it—a massive cloud of dust was rising in the direction he pointed.

Could it be a razorwind?

'No… that's not it.'

It didn't take long for her to understand what she was seeing.

Because as it drew nearer, howling voices began to echo in every direction.

KIIIIIIIIIK!

KIEEEEKK!

KUOOOOOOH!

Dahlia gave a breathless laugh.

"Those are… monsters?"

"Looks like it."

The other pilgrims were now beginning to realize it, too.

Sir Bell stepped forward to calm the panicking group.

"It's fine! The Vaccines will take care of them—"

Just as he said, any monster that approached the Vaccines was immediately erased.

No matter how powerful they were, monsters were nothing compared to these world-devouring entities.

"Gasp—there's more coming!"

But as Dahlia stared toward the horizon, her eyes began to tremble.

Even while watching it unfold, she couldn't bring herself to believe it.

"How can there still be that many monsters left in this world…?"

It was known that some monsters still lingered in the Black Ground.

But only a handful, at best.

B-rank to A-rank at most.

They hadn't expected anything serious—certainly not enough to require Tier 3 Vaccines.

That's what they thought.

'One-Eyed Gargoyle. Cerberus. Minotaur. Ogre Warlord. Orc Chieftain. Goblin Tribe Leader…'

Even a brief glance revealed dozens of distinct monster types.

It was like a full catalog of every monster that had ever existed in this world had come charging at once.

"We—we need to move! Everyone move now!"

"Huh?"

"This is clearly the players' doing! Get it together! If we lose the kill switch to them, we're done!"

The pilgrims scrambled to pack their things and relocate.

And, as luck would have it, someone at the front shouted with urgency:

"A-a dungeon!"

"There's a dungeon ahead!"

As she cast one last glance over her shoulder at the onrushing horde, Dahlia turned toward the lone structure standing in the wasteland.

The dungeon.

The place where the kill switch was hidden.

The place that would decide this world's fate.

Leaving behind the clash between uncountable monsters and Vaccines, Dahlia said just one word—

"Enter!"

—and crossed into the dungeon.

Watching the monster horde pour forward like a tidal wave,

Jhin quietly swallowed the lump in his throat.