Duo Leveling LITRPG | Post Apocalyptic | SYSTEM-Chapter 33 - No Room to Run

Chapter 33 - No Room to Run

"Hoo..."

Jhin let out a soft breath, turning his body, still radiating the heat of battle.

’I can handle this,’ he thought.

Tala, a third-stage Dungeon Disease patient, wasn’t much different from a regular monster in a D-grade dungeon.

Technically, her level was over 80.

Realistically, Jhin shouldn’t have even stood a chance.

But when the fight actually started, it was a whole different story.

’D-grade dungeons might be worth a shot too.’

He had already maxed out all his stats — strength, stamina, agility, all of it — at 100 points, thanks to the quests he completed in the "Trial nexus" on Hell difficulty.

That alone had boosted his actual power by the equivalent of 19 full levels for each stat.

’And if I add the level-up points on top of that...’

His strength now was almost three times higher than his visible level suggested.

But Jhin wasn’t satisfied.

He knew better.

He wasn’t the only one out there who pushed their stats beyond their level.

The "Heaven Beyond Heaven" players were out there — veterans who understood Exodia better than anyone.

If someone said they were level 100, their real strength was probably way beyond that.

’And dungeons... dungeons won’t wait for us to catch up.’

The rate at which dungeons grew left no room for complacency.

When humans could no longer handle the dungeons... it would be the beginning of the end.

He had no choice.

He had to get stronger.

"Jhin... they’re coming."

At Millie’s words, Jhin lifted his head.

He had already sensed it — the cold, biting energy leaking out from the darkness of the tunnel.

Before long, red eyes began to gleam along the railroad tracks.

Dozens of them, at a glance.

Some hung from the ceiling, some crawled along the walls, some walked on the ground like twisted insects.

With a face drained of color, Caleb asked:

"A-are those... all...?"

"Yes. Third-stage cases."

Humans who had succumbed to Dungeon Disease, or rather, not humans anymore...Monsters.

Creatures people now called Greed.

"They’re swarming from behind too!"

Millie turned quickly, pistol raised.

More Greed was pouring in from the opposite tunnel.

And above them — even from the platforms of Stoneveil city Station — monsters descended.

Had they been waiting here, lying in ambush?

It didn’t feel like a coincidence.

"...We’re completely surrounded."

At Millie’s report, Jhin tightened his grip on his longsword, there was no escape route.

Heartbeats quickened, while breaths deepened.

The battle broke out in an instant.

"Uaaaahh!"

Luke swung his sword at a charging Greed — but it was useless.

Not even a scratch.

The difference in level was overwhelming.

Realistically, Luke and Caleb were only capable of fighting monsters from E-grade dungeons.

Here, they were helpless.

KIAAAA!

Their attacks only seemed to agitate the Greed even more.

"Uh... huh? I beat that filthy one easily before..." Luke muttered in confusion. freewebnσvel.cѳm

But luck was not on his side.

The Greed he provoked this time was a speed-type.

In an instant, it lunged at him.

Jhin moved —swift and clean.

With a single slice, he decapitated the Greed just before it could sink its teeth into Luke’s throat.

"...Aaaaargh!"

Too late, Luke shrieked and toppled backward, landing hard on his rear.

Jhin frowned.

Meanwhile, Millie and Caleb kept scanning their surroundings.

The ring of Greed closed in tighter, and tighter.

"What should we do?" Millie asked.

"...Hmph."

Jhin glared at the oncoming Greed.

There was nothing behind their blood-red eyes — nothing but ravenous, overwhelming desire.

"Everyone else... they must have headed toward Eastport Station, right?"

"Yes, I believe so."

Eastport Station had a big underground shopping mall.

Above ground, there was a department store, and the area itself was packed with commercial districts.

If any place still had food and supplies left, it would be there.

Though... now that it had become part of a dungeon, there was no way to know what horrors were waiting inside.

Still — it was better than heading toward an abandoned station with nothing.

Besides, food was running low.

"Let’s head that way too."

There was no way Jhin could abandon the survivors who fled there, chased by the Greed.

But Millie shook her head.

She glanced toward the tunnel, where a flood of Greed kept pouring out.

"There are way more of them on that side. It’s too dangerous.

And... that ominous feeling from the tunnel... it’s definitely not normal."

"I know," Jhin said quietly.

"But even if the survivors hadn’t gone that way,

I still would’ve gone."

Millie furrowed her brow.

"You’re planning to take them down, aren’t you?"

"Yes."

"I can’t just leave them alone."

"You really think that’s possible?"

At that moment, Caleb, who hadn’t been following the conversation at all, cut in awkwardly.

"What are you two even talking about?"

Jhin smiled a little and said:

"I’ll explain everything to you. But first..."

"Yes?" Caleb asked nervously.

"Stay close to me.

Don’t leave my side."

KIAAAA!

The Greed launched their attack in full force.

(*)

Greed.

The monsters born from the third stage of Dungeon Disease — former humans, now fully mutated.

Every mutation was different.

Some sprouted wings.

Some grew extra eyes.

Some had additional arms, or legs.

Some became bloated and grotesque.

Others shriveled, skeletal and horrifying.

"Greed evolve by using human desire as their medium,"

Jhin explained, even as he kept fighting —even as he cut through the endless tide —

his words as steady as his blade.