Canon Fodder

CHAPTER 474 BURDENS

CHAPTER 474 BURDENS

WESTON

I sliced up with my Demon King’s Sword. The blade shot out with black energy as I channeled nen into it. I could only cast the Death Room skill once a day, but other than that I could push Nen into the sword to extend the attack. Some weird black energy of the demon exuding out it ripped the serpent in half. 

With it’s death, I leveled up again. Smiling wide, at least I was getting some gains. Since it cost Coins to raise your stats I was left to killing monsters. The experience due to my Player Passive Skill kicked in depending on the strength of the monster, raising me up quite a bit. 

“Can you please do something else?” The Dokkaebi asked. The imp in a top hat floated boredly next to me. 

“Quit fucking haunting me,” I said, slashing at him again. The black aura of the sword sliced right through him, showing he was a hologram, or illusion, or whatever he used to appear near me.

“You need to stop that, or I’ll kill you,” he threatened. 

“If you could, you would,” I said confidently. After denying all sponsors, I had gotten away from the Returner. Rather than meet up with the true hero of the story, I decided killing otherworldly sea serpents was in my best interest. The first one I killed gave me a whole two levels. 

Not every manhwa world had levels or status screens. I only tracked it by the Level number on my main status screen. I received an overall buff to myself, which would then transfer to new bodies with the World Lasting Physique. I couldn’t control the stats, but it was better than training for strength, that was for sure. 

“Leave me the fuck alone,” I said as another serpent moved for me. I was working my way West along the river. Killing each as I went. They were all overly agitated so I didn’t have to move much to find them. They came to me, each dying after a little struggle. 

“At least it’s about to get interesting,” the Dokkaebi said and disappeared.

“Wh-” I asked but felt the wind move. Floating myself away as fast as possible I narrowly dodged the monster. It was the size of a skyscraper and wider than two football fields. A good 500 feet tall and wide, it was like staring at a mountain. It’s Haki was immense and it’s ugly face stared at me angrily. 

The Demon in the Shadows watches expectantly.

And other such notifications of otherworldly beings watching me popped up. I ignored them. Because of my use of the Demon King’s Sword, and because of the fact that I killed everyone in my car mercilessly, I had gotten a lot of bloodthirsty followers. Each with names that had Black, Abyssal, or Demon in their names, I didn’t want to associate with them too much. 

Instead my eyes went to the monster before me. It was a giant hell frog. Red eyes, no teeth, it’s skin was black and blood red, it’s feet and body were covered in sharp horns and spikes. It began to draw in a breath and I raised my water puddle up and out of the way. 

As it breathed out a huge green mist filled the air. Instead of being targeted at me though, it was on the city around it. Obviously poison or venom, I got up and out of the way as it kept spewing out the deathly breath. It sucked in air again, then repeated breathing out the noxious vapor. 

“Let’s get some levels,” I said, pushing nen into my sword, causing it to turn black. Diving down at the kaiju, I hadn’t beaten monsters as big as this, but he would fall as well. 

—

EASTON

I escaped from the bank with ease. No one chased after me. No one called for help, nothing happened. The air around me covered in a green mist of poison, it was strong enough for normal people. My Viltrumite Physiology and Ailment Resistance barely registered the poison was there. 

“That’s weird,” I mumbled stopping my flight. I hovered in the air talking to myself. “I have my Viltrumite Form. Shouldn’t that have made me naturally strong?” All of my levels had been at 1 when I started. They were much higher now, but still. I had assumed going to New Halls would make me really strong. 

“Shit,” I mumbled, realizing that the only thing I really gained was flight. With each new Hall I would have to grow stronger. Which was useless in the Challenges. “I need the World Lasting Physique as a Challenger Slot.” I had thought I would be safe from needing it, but this world proved I had to have it. I didn’t doubt that I could grow stronger in the world more easily than without the Viltrumite Form, but it wasn’t an all powerful skill that could follow me everywhere. 

Annoyed, I began to fly again. Having robbed quite a few banks, I had a lot more jewelry in my sub-space and billions of won. It turns out I could convert 2,000,000 won to 1 Coin. So I wasn’t going to get quite the amount of levels I had hoped, but it was better than nothing. 

My eyes scanning for my next target I stopped as I noticed a girl run out of a building. Risking the poison in the air her mouth was covered by a small breathing apparatus. Like a green sac, she sucked on it as she ran down the street. Following behind her were three men. They held their breath as they chased her. 

The girl’s Haki was all panic as she ran across the street. The men were angry so I swooped down and knocked them out. I wasn’t much for leaving a woman in distress, so I floated after her. 

A slim body, she wore blue jeans and a black long sleeve shirt. Her black hair was shoulder length, jostling up and down with each footfall. Flying behind her, she had an amazing rump. Firm and well used. Moving next to her she didn’t have much of a rack but she was still pretty. 

“Where are you going?” I asked. 

She tried to scream, nearly dropping whatever she was breathing through. Stepping back, she stared at me wide eyed as I landed on the ground. I read over her Haki as she moved to hide something behind her. 

“Oh shit, you stole something from those guys,” I said, looking back to the people I knocked out. Feeling a little bad they were breathing poison. I was about to fly away when one of the huge serpents whirled around the corner straight at us. 

“Fuck,” I spat. Hoping he would go for the guys in the street rather than me I moved for the nearest building. It was locked, but after some force the lock broke allowing me inside. As I came in, a notification appeared. 

Hidden Sub-Scenario

For being the first to find the Seong-In Theatre

you receive additional Coins.

 

Unsure what Seong-In meant, I frowned as the girl I had saved rushed in. The door behind her closed on it’s own as the serpent came into view. 

“What the hell?” She and I both asked no one as a stream of notifications appeared. 

The Drunken Celestial leans forward in his seat.

The Man in only a Cloak joins the stream.

The Hidden Sage takes a peek.

A line of another dozen celestials watching me showed up. Each with weirder and weirder names. 

“Are you getting this shit too?” I asked. 

“Where are we?” She asked, pushing past me further into the building. 

I frowned, already having forgotten the name. “Notification I got said it was a dungeon.”

“Dungeon?” She asked, her haki telling me she wasn’t as lost as other people. “Seriously? Why didn’t I…Oh shit, you went in first.” She eyed me, putting a disgusted look on her face. “Well shit. Look dude, I don’t know who you are, but you should really get out of here. Dungeons are no joke.”

“Those fucking serpents outside are?” I asked with a laugh. “Lady, I don’t know who you are, but pretty sure you about got your ass kicked by some normal dudes. I doubt you could handle this either.”

I walked past her, out of the vestibule. Inside was as I expected from the description, a theatre. There was a ticket booth, behind it was a girl in a theater uniform. Maroon vest, white undershirt, bow tie. She wore a painted on smile as she eyed us. Behind her was a kiosk with popcorn and various candy arrayed in a glass case. 

“Good evening,” the woman said. Her haki was rather blank, but there. She felt almost empty inside. I guessed she was some sort of NPC of the dungeon. “100 Coins for entrance, please.” She held up her hand, pointing a finger at me. 

Looking past her there was a short set of stairs that led up into a dark hallway. Not really seeing any reason not to, I walked up to her. “Do I poke you?”

“Yes, to transfer Coins, you must touch fingers. The payer, will then have a request for transfer,” she said. I nodded, considering. I touched her finger then stopped as a screen popped up. One thing old me knew in this world, money paved the way for so many opportunities. “How about a little for yourself?” I asked, and sent her 200 Coins. 

“Oh, thank you,” she said, with a slight bow. Looking behind me then back to my face she put on a slight smile. “Perhaps the gentleman should check out the restroom.” 

“I’ll do that,” I said. Her Haki had spiked a little with the last sentence. Telling me there was something interesting in the bathroom. Praying it wasn’t a glory hole or something, I moved away as the woman that had followed me stepped in. 

“The door is locked!” She yelled at the girl at the desk. 

“Yes, this dungeon is locked until it has been conquered,” the girl said. 

“That is unacceptable. 100 Coins?! That’s robbery!” She continued yelling at the emotionless girl as I walked further inside. Walking past the glass case of candy, my Haki was sensing everything. But around me was a simple theatre. Though small, it felt a lot bigger than it had outside. Since dungeons were usually that way, I ignored that fact. 

Going up the three steps to the hall, a light lit up in front of me. On either side of me was a restroom. I stepped into the men’s room and felt it immediately. Hanging on the wall was a small vending machine. Inside was a huge amount of Haki. Whatever was inside, was strong. A large white metal box, normally condoms and the like would be inside. If we were in America anyway. Since past me didn’t go anywhere shady, I wasn’t sure if they had those things here in Korea. 

Unsure what else to do, I approached. When I did I received a notification. 

Purchase Stat Potion:

100 Coins

Please Choose:

Strength LV +1

Stamina LV +1

Agility LV +1

Mana LV +1

“The gains keep rolling in,” I said. I looked up to the sky. “I love you, Serendipity.” Luck was king in all worlds it seemed. I was able to purchase two of each before the prompt disappeared. The wall mounted vending machine no longer filled with Haki, I decided to save these for a rainy day. It would be better to drink the potions when I had spent all the money I could.

After throwing them into my subspace I headed over to the women’s restroom. “Occupied!” The annoying girl’s voice yelled from a stall. 

“Good for you,” I said as I bought potion after potion. As I bought the eighth and final, she flushed the toilet and walked out of the stall. 

“What are you doing?” She asked, frowning as I hid the last potion behind me. 

“Nothing,” I said, not interested in sharing. I was lucky she didn’t get too close to the machine or she would have gotten the prompt for the level up potions as well. “Just lost.”

She rolled her eyes as she walked to the sink. Washing her hands she said, “Get used to it. This world has gone to shit, and it’s only starting.” Her Haki said she knew what she was talking about. “Wait, you were flying.” She looked over at me, surprised. “What’s your name?”

“What’s yours?” I shot back. I had no chance in hell of remembering anyone’s name from the manhwa. But if she knew what was going on, she must have been another Returner or something.

“Kim Min-sung,” she said.

“Lie,” I said and turned around. Walking out of the restroom she ran after me.

“What makes you say that?” She asked, following me as I walked down the hall. The entrance behind me, I was ready for an attack at any moment. Dungeons were usually places where monsters attacked. I had to be ready. The hall stretched far ahead of us, either showing how big the screen rooms were, or there was a trap in the hall. My Observation didn’t show anything out of the ordinary so I kept walking. 

“I have a skill for telling lies,” I said.

“Me too,” she said. “Fine, I’m Han Sooyoung.”

“Weston,” I said, still not used to the Woon surname. 

“You’re American?” She asked. 

“Half,” I said. I side eyed her. She was all Korean. Dark hair, nicely proportioned figure, she stared openly at me, as if she was trying to recognize me. 

“How did you fly?” She asked. 

“Why should I answer you?” I asked.

She frowned. “Listen, I’m pretty sure I know a little bit of what’s happening. You answer me, and I’ll give you some hints about what’s going on.”

That sealed it for me. She was important to the story somehow. “I have a skill for flying,” I said. There was no point in acting like I actually cared about what was going on. A few more notifications popped up of people watching the events around us.

“What the hell is going on?” She asked. “Must be a boss coming.” She eyed the eerily long hallway. At the end of the light was a single poster mounted on the wall. “So where we are at is a theatre dungeon. From what I know, you are supposed to go to the different worlds of movies. Then keep them on canon to finish the story. We could die in them though, so you need to be careful.”

“Really now?” I asked, laughing. “I have no idea how to do that.” The point of the dungeon was rather close to my own calling in life. I eyed her again. “So what? We are partners now?”

“You can fly,” she said as if it was that obvious. “I figure that would be helpful in a new world.”

“It is,” I said with a nod. We came up to the poster mounted on the wall. Focused on the poster was a woman’s face, her mouth was wide open, showing her uvula. I read the words at the top, gulping.

“What does it say? That’s English, right?” She asked, pointing at the poster. 

“Uhhh,” I said, not sure I should say anything.

“Doesn’t matter, it looks like we can’t proceed without going through this,” she said. In front of us was pure darkness. My Observation couldn’t sense anything further a few feet away. I looked back to the poster on the wall. 

“Let’s go,” Sooyoung said as she touched the face of the poster. As she did, she was engulfed in light and disappeared. I grabbed for her, but she was already gone. My eyes focused on the poster again. At the top it read Deepthroat. 

I was starting to think we were in an Adult Theatre Dungeon. More celestial beings joining my stream, I should have known there would be stuff like this. All these perverts wanted a show for their money. Letting out a tired sigh, I set my hand on the poster. Resigned to the fact that I couldn’t escape it no matter what I tried.