5:00 AM.
The hospital was still. Outside, streetlights flickered against the creeping dawn. Inside Room 204, Sung Jinwoo—newly supercharged, occasionally on fire, and mostly emotionally constipated—slammed face-first into his pillow like a dead man collapsing into his coffin.
THUD.
"…Finally," he mumbled, already halfway unconscious. "System… don't bother me or I swear I'll uninstall you…"
And then he was gone.
No dreams. No thoughts. Just coma-tier sleep, but this time by choice.
He slept like someone who had run from sandworms and chugged poison glands,.Because… well, he had.
---
Elsewhere – In a dimension no man was ever meant to see…
The Architect floated within a cold, lifeless realm of logic and light. It pulsed with dead energy—like an abandoned throne room built of data and dust.
He stared into the void. But this time, the void refused to stare back.
"…No connection," he whispered. "No link. No interface. No access."
His glowing fingers trembled as he tried to reach into the familiar data stream that should've let him oversee Sung Jinwoo's progression.
> [SYSTEM ERROR: ACCESS DENIED]
[HOST: UNRECOGNIZED]
[ADMIN PRIVILEGES: REVOKED]
[FAILSAFE LOCKDOWN INITIATED]
He collapsed into a kneel, ancient robes of code fluttering around him.
"Gone… It's all gone."
It wasn't just that the system was hiding. It was completely out of reach.
As if something had hijacked it entirely.
A terrifying thought began to form.
"The Shadow Monarch… if he finds out I've… lost his successor… I'll be annihilated."
He clutched his hooded head.
"Maybe I can reroute through the backup channels… override the firewall… restore emergency access—"
> [REQUEST TIMED OUT]
[SUGGESTION: CRY HARDER]
He screamed, the sound echoing through dead code.
"NO! I REFUSE TO DIE AS A FOOTNOTE!"
He slammed his hand against the control rune, hoping to at least trigger a single spark of access—
Nothing.
Not even a flicker.
"…What is this? What kind of system could override me…?"
He paused.
And shivered.
He didn't know it yet, but the culprit was laughing in red and purple sparkles somewhere above reality.
---
Back to the Hospital – 6:30 AM
Nurse Cha Mirae pushed her glasses up as she strolled through the hallway.
Room 204.
The boy who'd survived the double dungeon. The one in a coma for four days. Official reports were vague. Hunter Association had placed an observation request on him. She expected another thin, pale, barely-conscious patient.
She opened the door.
And her brain blue-screened.
He was asleep. Shirtless. Muscles cut like they'd been chiseled by divine hands on a caffeine rush. The sunlight danced off his chest in cinematic slow motion. His abs were graded. She saw six of them clearly, but could swear there were more hiding in stealth mode.
Nurse Cha blinked. "He was… in a coma?"
She cleared her throat. "Just doing vitals. Completely professional."
She tiptoed closer. His breath was calm, peaceful. His hair slightly messy. His jawline looked like it filed swords for fun.
"…It's just muscle. Just muscle. Relax…"
Her hand reached out, fingers inches from his chest—
SLAP.
Jinwoo's hand snatched her wrist mid-air, eyes snapping open.
A lifetime of assassin instincts activated.
He could disarm her in three moves, paralyze her in two. But what came out of his mouth was—
"…WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
The nurse froze like she'd been hit by a petrify spell.
"W-vitals! Checking—!! Y-your—!!"
"You check vitals by touching my chest?!"
Her face turned crimson. "I-I was going to use the stethoscope!"
"WHERE IS THE STETHOSCOPE THEN?!"
They both paused. Her hand was still mid-air. He was still shirtless.
Time stopped.
Finally, he let go and turned away, dragging a blanket over himself in shame.
"Great," he muttered. "Assassin one life, stripper the next."
She fumbled with her tablet and squeaked, "Y-You're scheduled for discharge tomorrow morning. A-Around ten…"
He sat up a little, rubbing his face. "Tomorrow, huh…"
His voice softened as his eyes drifted to the window.
His mom. Still in eternal slumber. He hadn't even seen her yet.
"Got it," he said quietly. "Thanks."
She nodded stiffly and left the room faster than a squirrel late for tax filing.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION – DING!]
> [Daily Quest: Prepare to Become Stronger]
Deadline: 18:00
• 10 km run
• 100 push-ups
• 100 sit-ups
• 100 squats
Reward: +3 Stat Points
Status recovery
Random Loot Box
Penalty for Failure: Penalty Zone
[Note: Maybe try completing it this time, champ.]
Jinwoo narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, we're doing this again?"
> [System: Yes. You still owe me for making me feel like an unpaid gym trainer.]
He stood up and cracked his neck.
"Let's see… How about I do 9.9 km? 99 sit-ups? 99 push-ups?"
> [System: I swear if you do this again—]
"I like the penalty zone," he smirked, stretching. "It has better mobs than this hospital food."
> [System: You realize that makes you insane, right?]
"Former assassin. Pain's just a warm-up."
> [System: I hope a sandworm steals your pants.]
---
[Quest Progress – 5:32 PM]
> [9.9 km out of 10 km]
[99 push-ups out of 100]
[99 sit-ups out of 100]
[99 squats out of 100]
He stood on the rooftop again, arms folded, gazing at the final "1%" on every task.
The clock hit 17:59.
He nodded to himself.
"Good enough."
> [System: OH COME ONNNNNN—]
[QUEST FAILED.]
[Penalty Zone Activated.]
Jinwoo grinned and walked into the growing light portal on the rooftop like he was stepping into a hot spring.
"Daddy's home."
> [System: You're not a protagonist. You're a disaster with a six-pack.]
-------
[Penalty Zone – Deciduous Forest Biome]
Jinwoo opened his eyes to the scent of pine needles and loam.
Birds chirped.
A gentle breeze tousled his hair.
The warm, golden light of dawn filtered through the swaying canopy.
He blinked.
Then blinked again.
"…What the hell?"
This wasn't the searing desert from before. No sandworms. No blinding sun. No endless dunes trying to swallow him whole.
This was… oddly picturesque.
He turned in a slow circle, absorbing the sights. Towering oaks. Mushroom patches. A stream babbling in the distance.
> "Welcome back to hell—but now with seasonal foliage!"
The red system's voice crackled to life with smugness thicker than Jinwoo's biceps.
"...Why does this look like a fairy tale?"
> "Because someone cheated their way in, and the system had to get creative."
"I didn't cheat. I strategically ignored your stupid sit-ups."
> "Tomato, to-mah-to. Doesn't change the fact that you face-tanked your way here instead of jogging like a good boy."
Jinwoo frowned, glancing around again. "This isn't right. Penalty Zones don't look like this in the show…"
> "Whoops. Meta commentary alert. Denying access to spoilers. Also denying logic. Also denying your comfort."
"Wait. You're serious?"
> "You're in a procedurally generated sub-instance of the main Penalty Zone, coded with its own biome and monster logic."
"…You made that up just now."
> "Damn right I did."
Before Jinwoo could argue further—
> Quest Activated!
Survive for 4 Hours in the Penalty Zone
Reward: +5 Stat Points, Random Loot Box
Failure: Forceful Extraction with Pain Multiplier x4
> Bonus Quest Activated!
Exterminate the Inhabitants of This Biome
Reward: Gacha Ticket + Skill Appraisal (1)
"Of course."
> "Time left: 3:59:57. Chop chop, fire monkey."
Jinwoo cracked his knuckles, that old thrill crawling up his spine.
"Alright. What kind of 'inhabitants' we talking abou—"
SKRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIK.
The trees trembled.
A massive, rippling click-click-click echoed through the underbrush.
Then it appeared.
A single, medium-sized monster with a twitching exoskeleton the color of dead leaves, antennae like whip cords, and obsidian eyes that reflected light like polished glass.
Dozens more followed, all of them identical.
[Species: Gnawleaper]
Type: Subterranean Arthropod
Behavior: Pack Hunter
Special Trait: Overwhelm Tactics
> "Introducing the Gnawleaper! One part roach, two parts regret!"
Jinwoo raised a brow.
"So… no sandworms, huh?"
> "Nope."
"Just these guys?"
> "Yup."
"Hundreds of them?"
> "Try two hundred swarms, five hundred in each."
Jinwoo blinked.
"…That's 100,000 of these bastards."
> "Ding ding ding! You've unlocked the 'Suffer More' achievement."
The first swarm emerged like a wave of legs and teeth.
Jinwoo's hands lit up with fire.
"Alright then... let's dance."
---
"Skill: Flame Impact – ACTIVATED!"
His foot slammed into the ground with volcanic force.
The ground cracked. Fire shot in every direction like a blooming inferno, swallowing the first wave of Gnawleapers in molten death.
Their screeches faded into ashes.
Jinwoo grinned as smoke curled around him.
"Still not enough."
He sprinted into the second wave, his body flickering.
"Skill: Soru – ACTIVATED!"
"Skill: Observation Haki – ACTIVATED!"
He darted through them like a blur, each strike calculated and deadly. He ducked, twisted, and slammed fists into exoskeletons with brutal efficiency.
"Skill: Iron Fist – ACTIVATED!"
One punch.
Ten bugs shattered.
He twisted in mid-air—
"Skill: Flame Tempest Kick – ACTIVATED!"
A crescent of blazing energy cut through the swarm like a hot knife through butter, slicing trees and Gnawleapers alike.
> "Warning: You've killed 3,204 already. That's only 3.2% of the swarm. Hope your stamina's good!"
"Yeah, yeah... watch me work."
"Alright, let's have some fun."
> "Reminder: [Title: Wormslayer] already active. +30% Damage against arthropod-class monsters."
He smirked. Wormslayer, huh? This is going to be too easy.
"Skill: Flame Impact – ACTIVATED!"
A burst of fiery energy erupted from his body, sending a shockwave that obliterated the first wave of Gnawleapers before they could even reach him. Their screeches were abruptly cut off as they crumbled into ash.
Jinwoo's eyes narrowed as he prepared for more.
"Skill Fusion:
[Combined Technique: Seismic Blaze Arts]
– ACTIVATED!"
He propelled himself forward, his legs a blur as he tore through the swarm with precision. Each kick sent multiple Gnawleapers flying, their bodies shattered on impact.
The monsters regrouped, climbing out of their holes, flooding the forest floor like a rising tide of chitin and death. Jinwoo didn't flinch. Instead, he narrowed his gaze and raised a hand.
"Skill: Flame Impact – ACTIVATED!"
He aimed his hand, firing rapid streams of flame toward the incoming monsters. Each shot turned the air to smoke and the Gnawleapers to ash. It was a relentless barrage, and they were falling faster than they could climb out of the ground.
> "You're 12 minutes in and already at 9,000 kills. At this rate, you're going to run out of monsters before you even start."
Jinwoo didn't respond. His eyes were locked on the next wave, coming at him from all directions. Hundreds more? Fine. Let's go.
He cracked his knuckles.
"Skill Fusion: Inferno– ACTIVATED!"
Jinwoo charged, releasing a wave of heat as his palm slammed into the ground. The earth shook, and a massive shockwave of fire blasted through the ranks of the Gnawleapers, sending them flying. Their screams were cut short as they disintegrated into nothing.
The battlefield was now a sea of charred corpses, but more kept coming, their numbers relentless.
"Skill: Armament Haki Full Body – ACTIVATED!"
He felt the heat of his body spike as his haki enveloped him, making him feel like a living weapon. Every movement was smoother, faster, and far stronger. The monsters who tried to strike him were met with an impenetrable defense, and those unlucky enough to come into range were met with a brutal counterattack.
"Skill Fusion: Flaming Iron Fist Barrage – ACTIVATED!"
Jinwoo blurred into action, firing rapid punches, each one creating a burst of flames that tore through the Gnawleapers. They exploded into a rain of ash and charred remains with every punch.
> "Your kill count is at 47,625. You're doing better than last time. At this rate, PETA will need therapy."
Jinwoo couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head.
"Can't help it. They attacked me first."
He didn't stop to catch his breath. His legs shifted, and he charged into the next wave, fists blazing.
"Skill: Flame Tempest Kick – ACTIVATED!"
With one brutal kick, he sent a shockwave through the ground, sending dozens of Gnawleapers flying through the air, only for them to crash into trees and explode upon impact. It was pure destruction.
Time passed. His body was drenched in sweat, his muscles burning, but he kept moving. He'd been an assassin in his past life, used to fighting with precision and speed. This wasn't new. The only difference was now he had an arsenal of insane powers to back him up.
A final wave of Gnawleapers flooded the field. This time, however, Jinwoo wasn't impressed. His mind clicked into overdrive.
He was going to finish this.
"Skill Fusion: Flame Tempest Kick – ACTIVATED!"
He launched himself forward with a fiery kick that created a storm of flames swirling around him. His legs moved like a blur, each kick obliterating anything in its path. The last of the Gnawleapers were incinerated instantly.
> "Bonus Quest Complete: Exterminate the Inhabitants – SUCCESS! Gacha Ticket received. Skill Appraisal Unlocked."
The final monster fell, and silence descended upon the forest. The once-dense underbrush was now a smoldering ruin, the only signs of life being the faint scent of burning wood.
Jinwoo wiped his brow, his chest heaving with the effort. Steam rose from his body as he surveyed the field. The fight was over. The monsters were gone.
"Well," he muttered, "that was fun."
"You've done it. All bugs exterminated. Good job. You've officially murdered nature. Again."
Jinwoo chuckled, his eyes scanning the wreckage. "Nature can take a vacation. I'm about to make some money."
As he caught his breath, a notification flashed in front of him.
> Title: Wormslayer Activated!
+30% Damage against arthropod-class monsters.
"Guess this title really came in handy, huh?"
---------
Author's Note:
Well, well, well... looks like Jinwoo's getting way too comfortable with all these monster obliterations, huh? From an assassin to a fire-breathing, haki-powered beast, he's handling these Gnawleapers like it's just another Tuesday. But hey, it wouldn't be fun if things weren't getting ridiculous!
Also, I had to give a shoutout to that Wormslayer title—because, honestly, who wouldn't want to be a certified bug-slayer? He literally took the "I'm not afraid of bugs" meme to a whole new level. And as always, the system's there to roast him, throwing in that hilarious commentary. I swear, if this system gets any sassier, we might need a new one to handle it.
Oh, and can we talk about that nurse scene? Poor Jinwoo didn't know what hit him—truly a man of few emotions, but when it comes to awkward moments? Yeah, he's a pro. Guess that assassin life never prepared him for nurse exams. Classic.
Anyway, we're just getting started. With Jinwoo tackling these penalty zones like it's his personal playground, who knows what chaos he's going to get into next? Leave your comments, suggestions, and ideas below—let's see what kind of crazy battles and ridiculous situations we can come up with together. (Also, if anyone's got a better title than "Wormslayer," hit me up!)
Until next time, stay safe and don't let any bugs near your house. ;