Chapter Text
They were apparently going to start a game of capture the flag.
Percy couldn’t help but stare at the white flag tucked into Kim Dokja’s vest, peeking out from where it sat on the man’s back. Everything had happened so quickly, from when they’d left Yoo Joonghyuk on the theatre’s roof, to where they were now, with Gong Pildu on the ground and a new station ‘representative’.
“...Is something wrong?” Kim Dokja turned towards Percy, giving the teenager an awkward smile. Percy looked back into the man’s black eyes before he shook his head.
Honestly, Percy found it quite commendable how Kim Dokja had taken control over the station, especially in a world as dog-eat-dog as it currently was. The man had registered, adapted, and adjusted to the scenario introduction in a way that allowed choice rather than complete domination.
Some of the landlord alliance members milled awkwardly around them, watching as people began leaving through the tunnels. Safety in what is known rather than the unknown, Percy thought as he eyed them.
“...Hey,” Kim Dokja drew closer to Percy, the awkward smile still present on the man’s face. “I know I just asked but is there, uh, anything wrong?”
“Ah, no, you’re fine.” Percy said back, blinking slowly. “Sorry, I’m still lost in the situation and well, in this country. Uh, doing great? We’re doing capture the flag for this scenario, huh?”
“Seems it.” Yoo Sangah approached them too, aiding Kim Dokja who had stared at Percy slightly lost. “Our current idea is to head toward Changsin Station using line six, while a few people stay and others scout it out.”
“I see.” Percy nodded, “Is there anyone–”
Percy closed his mouth, head swiveling toward the subway tunnels as his hearing picked up faint, unnatural noise. He distantly noted Kim Dokja and Yoo Sangah followed his motion, looking at the tunnels with confused expressions before they too, heard the noises.
It was a bike engine, a loud horn sound blasting through and echoing as the sound bounced through the long tunnels. Light began to appear out of the darkness as the motorcycles drew closer at a rapid pace before the screech of breaks echoed through the station.
“We’re finally at Chungmuro, that took a while.” A faint voice said.
Percy stepped forward as he slightly strained his ears, squinting into the tunnels as if he could see the new strangers. His ears could pick up the sound of footsteps, a quick count under his breath totaling the group as a party of five.
“Really, it took them quite a while to break the scenario.”
“Quiet, you. They’re going to hear, and on that note, don’t you know that the scenarios are different between stations?”
Four men and one woman drew out of the shadows, casually conversing with each other. Percy stared them down from where he stood at the edge of the platform, having unconsciously moved forward while listening carefully.
Halfway out, the entire group stuttered in their steps, darkened eyes widening slightly when they saw the station. Percy watched as pupils dilated, eyes moving from left to right to take in the complete sight.
From their perspective, it was definitely a view that raised the hairs on one’s forearms.
The broad combative stance the black-haired young man took at the edge of the platform with unwavering confidence, the gleam and glow of his bronze sword in the light, the beast-like look in his sharp green eyes– it’d given the newcomers a pause, a shiver down one’s spine.
In an instant, the atmosphere grew tense and cold. Each breath that went through the group’s chests sat heavy and unwilling, and when they exhaled, the condensation unnaturally hung heavy.
“Remain where you are.” Kim Dokja’s voice calmly cut through the tension, a strong command that had the newcomers moving their wary eyes from Percy to the man.
A clamour sounded from the newcomers as they regained their breath, the clank of weapons echoing as they locked onto the white blade Kim Dokja lofted at them.
“Ooh, that’s quite the welcome, how scary.” A man let out a low whistle, his eyes slowly flicking between the white of Kim Dokja’s sword and Percy’s otherworldly bronze. “I’m shocked beyond words, y’know?”
“Shut up.” Kim Dokja coldly replied. “Put your weapons down and come this way.”
The man was the first to set his weapon down, stepping forward with both of his hands raised, palms facing them in surrender. His companions followed behind, though much more shifty and nervous than who Percy presumed was the leader.
“Don’t be so wary, we’re not here to fight.”
“Then why did you come?”
“Well, let’s not jump straight to questioning. How about an introduction? I’m Kang Ilhun from the Dongdaemon group.”
Kim Dokja was silent for a moment. From what Percy could see, his eyes had become sharper, an almost blue color entering them as he stared at the ‘Dongdaemon’ group.
“And who are you..?” Kang Ilhun questioned, head visibly turning between Kim Dokja, who had been speaking for the station the entire time, and Percy, whose threatening and dangerous aura could not be hidden.
“Kim Dokja.”
Percy remained silent, jolting when Kim Dokja gently poked him in the side with his elbow. “Percy Jackson.” He said finally.
“Ah, Kim Dokja-ssi… A foreigner…?” Kang Illhun murmured, “Then, Dokja-ssi is the station representative, if I see that flag correctly?”
Kim Dokja nodded, his stance still steady and wary. “Get to the main point, would you?” He commanded.
“So hasty!” Kang Ilhun coughed out in faux surprise, “We’re worried about our own safety, you know? We didn’t come to fight– but to make an offer.”
“We want to make an alliance.”
“His face is handsome but his words are shifty,” Percy complained to Yoo Sangah, where the entire group, sans Lee Gilyoung, was huddled. “Something about him makes my instincts bristle.”
Yoo Sangah nodded at Percy’s words, “Shifty indeed. What should we do? Should we accept his offer?”
“I’m saying no, I also feel shifty about them.” Jung Heewon shook her head, turning slightly to stare at where the strangers still stood on the tracks. “That ‘winning secret’ seems like a lie.”
“But there is no doubt that they have information about the scenario that we don’t.” Lee Hyunsung said in response. “But I agree that we should still be wary of them.”
Kim Dokja shrugged. “For now, I have an idea.”
Kang Ilhun and his group drew closer when Kim Dokja beckoned them, the entire party looking around the Chungmuro station as they finally entered beyond just the tracks.
“I’ll decide once I meet your representative.” Kim Dokja firmly stated, staring Kang Ilhun in the eye. “Where is your representative?”
“At Dongdaemun. If that’s your choice, I’ll guide you…”
Kim Dokja, Yoo Sangah, Jung Heewon, and Lee Hyunsung all climbed onto the group’s bikes, sitting carefully in the backseat as the drivers prepared to leave.
Kang Ilhun blinked at Percy, who remained standing on the station platform. There was a certain look in his eyes that Percy didn’t like, a seedy look that quickly vanished. “What about your… friend? Will he not be accompanying us?”
“No.” Kim Dokja said shortly, “We’ve spent enough time idling, let’s go.”
“If you’re sure.” Kang Ilhun said slowly, casting one last glance at Percy before he called out for the group to set off. The man looked back at Percy twice, a strangely twitchy expression on his face before it faded into neutrality.
Percy watched the bikes go while holding an uncapped Riptide in his hand. Kim Dokja turned to look back, giving the teenager a nod that Percy returned before they were swallowed by the tunnel’s darkness.
“They left you behind?” A grumbling voice came from behind Percy, one Percy made a face before he slightly turned his body to look.
Gong Pildu stood there, staring at Kim Dokja’s fading back with a scrunched face. The Landlord spat at the floor, clicking his tongue but keeping a wary distance from Percy and Percy’s pointy sword.
Percy narrowed his eyes. Gong Pildu took another step backwards.
“They’ll be back soon.” He said shortly, returning his gaze to the tunnels. Percy opened his status window, allocating a few coins to his stats. It never hurt to be extra prepared.
“Huh?” Came from behind. “What’s that?”
Percy leapt down from the station platform, landing deftly on the tracks. His eyes began tracking the moving shadows as the teenager stalked forward, sword held at ready.
“!?”
“Push through to the flag holder!”
Surging out from the darkness were dozens of people holding hand-made weapons, aggression painted boldly across their bodies as they charged towards the station. There were over twenty, a large number, but not large enough to defeat Percy.
The demi-god surged forward, crashing against the opposing wave using the flat of Riptide’s blade. Several of the invaders went flying, arching high above the crowd as Percy demonstrated the full use of his enhanced strength.
One of the men in front of him made a face before Percy was on him, slamming his dirty shoes into the invader’s chest with a painful sidekick. He immediately moved a step to the right, dodging the rough looking spear stabbing for his torso.
Percy delivered a slash with his sword at the same time he trapped the spear into his armpit, turning harshly to wrench the weapon out of the invader’s grip to knock a few of the others about.
The demi-god skillfully twirled the spear into his left-hand, hefting it before throwing it powerfully. The spear pierced through the clothing of one of the men trying to sneak past, embedding into the subway wall and pinning the man there.
Percy continued fighting, a one-man army as he mowed down invader after invader. It was quickly after the battle had begun that Percy made eye contact with a man wearing a red bandana, something Percy instantly recognized to be a ‘flag’.
“Damnit…!” Flag man cursed, before–
[The Myeongdong representative ‘Kim Hyuntae’ has used the additional effect of the ‘red flag’!]
[The Myeongdong Group has received the buff effect of the red flag!]
[Attack and defense have increased by 5% each!]
“Kid, get back here! I can’t shoot if you’re in the way!” Gong Pildu roared from behind Percy, a familiar feeling prickling at Percy’s skin– the man’s turrets were aimed in his direction. “ Move!”
Percy thrust his left hand into the air, slapping back and forth aggressively, a universal signal for ‘go!’.
“Are you crazy!?”
Percy repeated the motion, ducking under a slash to deliver a pommel strike to the invader’s sternum before popping back up to wave again.
“It’s your death wish…!” Gong Pildu growled out as the entire area under Percy’s feet flashed red. In an instant, the sound of rapid gunfire began to echo, bullets piercing through the enemies.
Percy initialized his shield, using it to protect his body as he concentrated his strength into his legs. The demi-god jumped up, flying over half the crowd as he locked eyes on his target. The flag-man had fallen more towards the middle of the pack, eyes wide as Percy jumped for his head.
The teenager rammed into the man with enough power to rival a truck, shield held in front of him as a battering ram. In an instant, the representative was downed, Percy taking the chance to wrench the flag off his head before he was into the air again, leaping towards the back of the crowd.
[You have obtained the flag of the ‘Myeongdong Group’.]
[Will you claim the flag and join the King’s Road?]
[Y/N]
“Huh?” Percy said, squinting at the window as he soared through the air, blocking bullets with Riptide. “What?”
“Percy!” A voice sounded over the chaos, Percy’s eyes moving from the window to meet Kim Dokja’s. “Over here!”
Percy jumped toward him, landing smoothly on the ground just as Kim Dokja swung his sword, a wall of fire emitting from the sword the blocked escape. The demi-god whistled at the sight before he looked down at Riptide.
“Are you going to do something like that?” He asked the sword, still conscious of what had happened back in the movie theatre. Riptide did nothing.
“Pardon?” Kim Dokja asked, turning to blink at Percy.
“Oh, nothing.”
With the wall of fire blocking escape, the battle was quickly finished, leaving silence in its wake. Kim Dokja surveyed the downed group with furrowed eyebrows. “Where…?” He murmured.
Percy tilted his head as he collapsed his shield, also looking over the field of groaning bodies and corpses. It was then he remembered the windows, and the newly obtained flag in his hand.
“Oh, are you looking for the flag?” He asked Kim Dokja, who cast a glance at Percy only to do a double take when he saw the red fabric in Percy’s grip.
“When did you–” Kim Dokja started before he sighed, closing his eyes only to look at Percy with a sharp gaze. The rest of the group began to approach from the tunnels, dragging behind them Kang Ilhun. “Do you plan on claiming the flag?”
Percy hadn’t been planning anything.
“I won’t stop you if you do, but the King’s Road will be difficult.” Kim Dokja continued, voice slightly softer than previously. “I hope that, unlike with our unfortunate friends here, that we–”
Percy thrust the flag out towards Kim Dokja’s chest, who accepted it with a startled expression as the man stumbled backwards from Percy’s force. Maybe too much force because he let out a slightly choked cough.
“I wasn’t planning on taking it, I didn’t even know you could do that before the message came up.” Percy rolled his eyes. “Don’t want to be a representative of some station I don’t even know about, anyhow.”
There was a slight pause as Yoo Sangah stepped forward and translated for Percy, but once she was done, Kim Dokja smiled at Percy.
“Ah, that’s not how the scenario would work, but nevertheless, I wanted to say even if you became a representative, I hope that we could remain allies.” Kim Dokja said, “But since you’ve given me the flag, I hope our comradery will remain strong.”
“If you’ve got my back, I’ll get yours.” Percy shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. Kim Dokja had been strangely formal even though his gaze was sharp and calculating. It itched at Percy’s skin. “Well, what’s the next step?”
Kim Dokja nodded while smiling before his gaze shifted, warmth and casualness gone as he looked down at Kang Ilhun.
It was later that Kim Dokja explained the next step, having gotten new information.
“The hidden scenario is about claiming ten stations.” Kim Dokja explained. He and the party members– sans Percy and Lee Gilyoung– had gone to Myeongdong Station, “We have to claim at least one station or else we’ll all die. It’s a full fledged war, where everyone will be going for each other’s power.”
“That’s… It sounds like a difficult scenario.” Yoo Sangah said anxiously. “Will it be alright?”
“It’ll be fine.” Kim Dokja said with conviction, smiling at the entire group.
“This hidden scenario… Should we occupy a new station right away? We’ll die if we don’t claim one everyday, and you best take care of your subjects.” Jung Heewon said.
“Subjects…? Anyhow, we need to find out more about the people who attacked us. We’ll head to Dongmyo. Will you three come with me?” Kim Dokja looked squarely at Lee Hyunsung, Jung Heewon, and Percy.
“Then, what about me?” Yoo Sangah asked, confused. Her voice was shaky and anxious, and she looked down to hide her face behind her bangs.
“You’ll remain here.” Kim Dokja said. “I want you to watch over the station.”
“Ah, really… But…” She sounded glum.
There was a brief moment as Kim Dokja consoled Yoo Sangah, uplifting her spirits and raising her esteem, one Percy watched awkwardly as he had something to say as well.
“Hey everyone. In that way, I will give Yoo Sangah-ssi a job position. What do you think?”
Both Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon made considering faces, before nodding. Percy also gave his agreement, entrusting whatever job Kim Dokja had planned to Yoo Sangah.
[Chungmuro Station’s representative, Kim Dokja is transferring some of his authority to group member ‘Yoo Sangah’.]
[Group member ‘Yoo Sangah’ has become the deputy of Chungmuro Station.]
[In the future, group member ‘Yoo Sangah’ can deal out punishments on the behalf of the representative.]
“This position… To me?” Yoo Sangah stuttered, looking terrified. She looked at the group members gathered around her, who all nodded firmly at her.
“I will leave it to Yoo Sangah-ssi.”
“Ah.” Yoo Sangah swallowed, bowing her head. When she raised it up, she looked like she had realized a goal, a determination in her tear-filled eyes. “I’ll do my best.”
Percy smiled before he spoke up.
“Uh. Sorry to ruin the moment.” Oh good, his voice didn’t crack, he was nervous it would. “But I have to say, I think I’ll remain at the station with Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung.”
“Huh!?” Yoo Sangah blinked, the only person who actually understood what Percy was saying.
“What?” Kim Dokja asked, confused. “What’s happening?”
Yoo Sangah and Percy saw Kim Dokja, Jung Heewon, and Lee Hyunsung off, waving goodbye as their backs faded into the subway tunnel. As he walked away, Yoo Sangah slapped her cheeks with her palms, as if to encourage herself.
“Kim Dokja entrusted the position to you, so you got this.” Percy said casually, “What’s the plan, Deputy Leader?”
“The plan…” Yoo Sangah murmured, her hands still on her face. “The plan… We have to build our camaraderie, have to come up with plans if people invade, if monsters invade…”
“Everyone, please gather!” Yoo Sangah suddenly yelled out into the air, turning in her place aggressively to stare at the station members. They all blinked at her before a few began to slowly come forward
Some of the others didn’t move until Percy glared at them, and one particular fellow didn’t until–
[Chungmuro Station’s deputy, Yoo Sangah, has used the punishment.]
In an instant, the reluctant man was on the floor, groaning in pain. Percy dragged him to where the rest of the station members were by the scruff, dumping him next to a small crowd of men who cringed away from him.
Faster than Percy expected, Yoo Sangah had organized the station into groups, putting them around the sentries from Gong Pildu’s skill to guard different areas. Any rebellious members of the landlords were quickly quieted, smashed flat under Yoo Sangah’s determined fist.
“Uh, what about me?” Percy inquired, waiting until Yoo Sangah had breathed out a quiet sigh while everyone dispersed to their respective stations. The flaxen-haired woman startled, blinking at him.
“Oh…” Yoo Sangah looked at him with a considering expression, muttering silently to herself before clapping. “I should put you on B3. You have abilities relating to water, yes? Are the bathrooms too far?”
Percy shook his head. “Not at all,” he assured her. “One floor is easy, and there are pipes. You want me to watch over Line 4?”
She nodded, “Line 4 is linked with Seoul Station and City Hall, which could be possible attackers. I’ll put Gong Pildu on B4 for Line 3, and switch between floors myself to watch over everyone.”
“Sounds good.” Percy shrugged. “Lee Gilyoung?”
“He’s still sleeping.” They both cast a glance at where the young boy lay, his small body moving up and down with silent breaths. “Whatever he did while you guys were in the theatre dungeon really tired him out.”
Percy remembered Titano senior bursting through the theatre ceiling. “Yeah, it really did.”
“When he wakes, I’ll take him around with me, but for now, I’ll stay here and watch over him. Once he wakes, I’ll start moving up and down.” Yoo Sangah nodded. “I can’t imagine letting Gong Pildu look over him, and I’d be worried if you got too distracted protecting him.”
“It’s alright, I’d be able to handle it no problem.” Percy shrugged. “But Lee Gilyoung’s a good one, I can’t imagine him causing much fuss regardless if he was with you or me."
Yoo Sangah cast a glance at Lee Gilyoung. “I hope so.” She murmured. “I hope he won’t be too saddened when he wakes up and Kim Dokja isn’t here… He’s quite attached to Kim Dokja, isn’t he?”
“He is, but he’s a smart kid.” Percy agreed. “He’ll understand the situation.”
There was silence for a moment as Yoo Sangah stared forward with narrowed eyes, clearly thinking. “Do you remember what our supply situation currently is?”
“Supplies..?” Percy muttered. “Hmm. They weren’t bad, and it’ll be a bit easier now since some people left. Do you think we should go outside to grab more?”
“Let’s wait for a day or two to see how fast they deplete. If it's needed, do you mind going out with a few people? I remember last time you went out with Kim Dokja, both of you returned unharmed despite the poison fog.”
“I don’t mind going out, but it’ll be a bit easier if I go solo, even if it takes several trips. The trick I use to counter the fog is really tiring.”
“I see.”
"If you..." Yoo Sangah hesitantly said. "If you don't mind me asking, why did you choose to stay behind instead of going with Kim Dokja?"
"Well, I was worried."
"O-oh-"
"About Yoo Joonghyuk and Lee Jihye." Percy continued. "He's still on the roof, right? Lee Jihye is watching over him, but I saw her take a few bad blows during the fight we had with Yoo Joonghyuk. I bet she's been standing post at his side since we left, so I want to make sure she doesn't tire herself out. I can't think Yoo Joonghyuk would react well if he woke up and someone random was beside him. And even if he does freak out, I can probably tank him."
"Is that so." Yoo Sangah sighed, still looking a bit forlorn.
Percy could tell what she was thinking. "I didn't stay because I was worried about your capabilities to lead. Kim Dokja picked you out, right? You've got the charisma to lead the station; they'd only just fear me." They already did, flinching as if he were the boogeyman. It was the same kind of reaction Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja got.
It was so different. At Camp Jupiter and Half-Blood, most demigods hadn't shunned away from Percy, had respected and listened to him because they valued strength and survival. These were civilians who were used to a normal life and not used to individuals like Percy and Yoo Joonghyuk, who reigned at the top of the pack because of their strength.
There was another moment of silence before Percy nodded. “I guess I’ll head up to B3. Make sure no one's slacking off, right?”
“Yeah.” Yoo Sangah smiled at him, a shaky but determined smile. “I’ll make sure no one attacks from Line 3. Stay safe.”
“You too.” Percy agreed as he turned to walk away, waving one hand as he jumped up the broken stairs.
The people assigned to B3 by Yoo Sangah all startled when he appeared. Someone Percy distantly remembered kicking in the stomach refused to even look at him, staring at a particular spot on the wall as if it held the secrets of the universe.
Percy frowned as he moved forward, aiming for the middle floor to settle against a pillar. Leaning against it, Percy let his gaze slowly drift across the station. Everyone seemed haggard but determined, standing by turrets or leaning against walls like he was with weapons at ready.
The demi-god’s weapon was capped inside his pocket, yet no one here even dared approach. Percy’s general aura was enough to scare the small fry of this station away. For a few hours, the only thing Percy did was stand there with his arms crossed, straining his senses in case anything was off.
“Percy!” A voice came from the staircase coming down from B2, breaking his concentration.
Percy looked up, smiling when he spotted Lee Jihye coming down. Her sword clinked at her waist as she bounded down two steps at a time. Pulling up to Percy’s side, the other teenager tossed a bottle of soda at him.
“Oh, thanks.” Percy grinned at her, popping the top open to sip at the drink. Lemon-lime flavor. “How’s Yoo Joonghyuk?”
“Master? Still knocked out cold, but his breathing is fine and his wounds are starting to disappear.” Lee Jihye said, leaning against the wall too.
“Should you have left him up there?” Percy tilted his head, pointing his finger up.
“Yeah, he’s still up there. I figured it was fine, since the dungeon is complete anyway. There’s no rewards up there, and monsters are lurking around on the lower levels now. Plus, master would probably wake up if anything actually dangerous approached.”
“Would he?” Percy made a worried face, which Lee Jihye waved off with a laugh. Well, it was probably fine. Lee Jihye likely needed to come down, there was only so much one could do waiting by an unconscious body before the loneliness struck.
There was a slight pause before both teenagers shared a glance, before they sighed as one, sliding down the wall to sit on the grimy floor. It was okay, they were all grimy. Percy needed to take a make-shift shower later and wash his week-old boxers.
“You know, it’s a bit late to say this, but this whole thing is crazy, isn’t it?” Lee Jihye chuckled, her hand reaching up to bury itself in her hair. Her face was angled down, her body language closing off. “I was preparing for the CSAT, and now I’m summoning naval fleets? Like, seriously?”
Percy nodded in agreement. “My life was already crazy enough before this.” He complained, knowing the other would understand his tone. “I was supposed to be in America, at Camp with my girlfriend. Now I’m in a country I can’t even speak the language of yet, without even knowing how I got here.”
“I have a sword!” Lee Jihye said hysterically, gesturing at the weapon laid across her legs. “I’m violating the Swords Control Act! I’ve killed people! Where did Master even get this thing? Well… it was probably an item from some dungeon if I think about it…”
“Tell me about it.” Percy sighed, spinning Riptide across his fingers. “Can you imagine how I got mine? My paraplegic Latin teacher threw a ballpoint pen at me to kill another teacher who was actually a monster. And he wasn’t paralyzed either, just a horse.”
Lee Jihye thunked her head against the wall, making nonsensical groaning noises. “I want to eat McDonalds… I’ve had enough ramyeon… enough chips…”
Percy scratched his head, furrowing his eyebrows at the sensation of grease. “Now you’re making me hungry. What I wouldn’t do for some pizza right now…”
Both teenagers made grumbling noises together, the universal language of teenage angst.
“Lee Jihye, you came down?” Yoo Sangah blinked as she came up the steps, a smaller head of brown by her side.
“Lee Gilyoung! You woke up!” Percy smiled, waving at the kid who trotted towards him to firmly settle by Percy’s side.
“He woke up twenty minutes ago.” Yoo Sangah joined their line, settling on Lee Gilyoung’s other side. “Was a little disoriented for a bit, but understood after I explained the situation to him.”
“Any disturbances?”
“A few ground rats, but Gong Pildu took those out really fast. Despite his personality, his skill is quite useful, isn’t it?” Yoo Sangah sighed, casting a glance at the stares. “Anything up here?”
“Not at all.” Percy shook his head. “Nothing from what I can tell is moving near us, none of the sentries have been going off either. Just quiet.”
“I hope that’s a good thing.” Yoo Sangah murmured before she looked at Lee Jihye. “How long have you been guarding Yoo Joonghyuk?”
“Ah?” Lee Jihye blinked at being suddenly addressed. “Uh, for about a day?”
“Have you slept at all? Eaten?”
“A little bit.” The bags under Lee Jihye’s eyes were heavy.
Percy exchanged glances with Yoo Sangah. Percy had gotten rest earlier while the others had been at Myeondeong station. He wasn’t sure about Yoo Sangah, but her face still looked bright, contrasting his and Lee Jihye’s more haggard faces.
“I can go up to Yoo Joonghyuk and you can rest down here for a bit.” He offered, Yoo Sangah translating for him.
“Lee Gilyoung and I can watch over you.” Yoo Sangah gently added, smiling at Lee Jihye.
“I mean… that’s fine. But what about you? Have you gotten some rest?”
“Don’t worry about me.” Yoo Sangah patted her chest, a proud look on her face. “Years of working at my company have trained me for this. You can even borrow my knee!”
“...If you’re sure.” Lee Jihye said hesitantly.
Percy stood up with a grunt, ignoring how his back and knees cracked at the movement. The teenager patted Lee Gilyoung’s somehow soft hair before heading towards the staircase. “Have a good rest,” He called back. “Yoo Sangah, you should sleep too. Lee Gilyoung can wake you up if anything happens.”
“Watch out for the monsters on the first few levels of the theatre!” Lee Jihye yelled as Percy walked further away, “They can’t get past the reward floor, but they’re on those levels before!”
“Got it! Thanks for the warning!”
Percy made his way back into the theatre, looking at the interior. The lights that had previously lit the hallways and posters had gone out. The rubble, cracks, and decayed feeling made the theatre feel eerie and distorted.
Just as Lee Jihye had warned, the bottom levels had monsters. Ground rats scuttled on the first floor, peeking at Percy from the shadows with their beady eyes. The other floors also had ground rats, but a strange mantis-like monster additionally.
Titano’s cousin, he supposed, looking at them.
Most weren’t aggressive, but the few that were Percy took down with ease, slashing them with Riptide. Faster than expected, the teenager found himself reaching the rooftop.
Opening the door, Percy found Yoo Joonghyuk, still lying on the floor. Lee Jihye had covered him with his own coat, tucking it around the man like it was a blanket. His face was at rest, eyebrows unfurrowing and slack. It was like this Percy could see the faint eyebags under the man's eyes, and traces of dirt all across the man's coat. It was clear that he, too, this unflappable man, was tired of the apocalypse.
Percy thumped down beside the man, reaching out a hand over the other’s face. Holding still, it was only when Percy felt the faint sensation of breath on his fingers that he withdrew, completely lying down on the soft grassy rooftop.
The broken dome was still above them, the sun having set, revealing a cloudy and distorted night sky. Distantly, a monster cried out, a shrill shriek that cut off midway through, as if something far bigger had dug its claws in.
Percy stared up, the quiet allowing him to hear not only his breathing and heartbeat, but Yoo Joonghyuk’s breathing too.
How crazy was it, Percy mused to himself, that if Percy really strained his hearing, he could hear Yoo Joonghyuk’s heartbeat too? What were all those stat upgrades doing to him?
“Kim Dokja said this scenario is going to be difficult. Do you guys know anything about it?” Percy said into the air.
[Master of the Skywalk sighs at you, offering you their best wishes.]
[He of the Paion doesn’t look at you. They hope that offers you their answer.]
[500 coins have been donated.]
“Isn’t that just amazing?” Percy threw his arms out, only wincing a little when his right hand hit Yoo Joonhyuk in the chest. The man took it like a champ, though he was unconscious. “This whole… Capture the Flag scenario is ridiculous.” He complained. “This whole apocalypse is ridiculous. How’d I end up in Korea in the first place?”
[Spear that Parts the Boundaries of the Seas tries to console you]
[Spear that Parts the Boundaries of the Seas suggests taking it easy.]
[750 coins have been donated.]
“Taking it easy?” Percy furrowed his eyebrows, “I don’t know… This whole thing is a fight to the death. I’m not sure anyone can take it easy, even if they were someone with insane knowledge like Kim Dokja.”
[Abyssal Black Flame Dragon suggests you join the King’s Road to enjoy the bloodbath.]
[Spear that Parts the Boundaries of the Seas disagrees with their fellow constellation.]
[Abyssal Black Flame Dragon snaps at their fellow constellation.]
“That’s a new modifier,” Percy murmured, blinking at the screen.
[Demon-like Judge of Fire tells their fellow constellations to calm down.]
[Secretive Plotter looks at Incarnations Perseus Jackson and Yoo Joonghyuk with a considerative expression.]
[Prisoner of the Golden Headband watches over the entire debacle.]
For a while, Percy watched the blue screen scroll with messages as he lay by Yoo Joonghyuk’s side until that too fell quiet.
“Isn’t this surprisingly okay? You get along well with people.”
Percy snapped back to himself when he heard Yoo Sangah’s voice, blinking blearily at the woman who stood in front of him, Lee Gilyoung, and Gong Pildu. Lee Gilyoung had fallen asleep using Gong Pildu as a pillow, and Percy, unwilling to leave next to Gong Pildu alone, had also started drifting toward Morpheus’ domain.
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“You were smiling just now.” Yoo Sangah smiled awkwardly. Gong Pildu snorted in response as she sat down hesitantly next to him.
Percy tuned out as they made short conversation, the prickling feeling at his skin tugging more now he was actually awake and not half asleep. He didn’t remember when it had started, but there was a distinct feeling of being watched.
Discreetly, Percy moved his gaze around, scanning the area for who could be looking at the small group with such interest . His gut told him the presence wasn’t hostile, but the sensation of being watched was never a pleasant one.
Where…?
Percy focused on one deliberate spot, one that nagged at him a lot more than anything else. Nothing visible was there but he swore he could sense a slight presence. The demi-god narrowed his eyes, as if that would help him see through the solid concrete wall with likely nothing but rock behind it.
Concentrated as Percy was on that one particular spot, he didn’t even notice the faint commotion until Lee Gilyoung grabbed at his arm, tugging him upright to line up with Gong Pildu and Yoo Sangah.
Putting the strange presence out of mind, Percy focused on what was in front of him.
What would be average in New York, but an uncommon number of ground rats here, were rushing out of the Line 4 tunnel, all charging straight into Gong Pildu’s turrets as if death held all answers. Even though the bodies of their fellow monsters were piling up, the rats kept coming, screeching and raving.
“Hey! Huddle up!” Yoo Sangah called out to the station members, urgency in her tone. “The enemy is here! Gather around Gong Pildu-ssi! We will go with the same exercise we practiced this morning!”
Percy watched, slightly taken aback, as the people moved in orderly ranks, heading for predetermined positions.
“When did that happen?” He questioned Yoo Sangah with a grin. She must’ve done something with the occupants while he was trading shifts guardian Yoo Joonghyuk and Lee Jihye– the station members had become quite obedient.
Yoo Sangah smiled proudly back, confident in her own work as the cooperation in front of them worked, the ground rats all collapsing far more easily than the occupants had expected.
A voice from the tunnel rang out. “As expected, Hamelin’s Flute wasn’t enough.”
“How can the 9th grade species compare to a place eaten by Yoo Joonghyuk?”
A group emerged. Four men and one woman.
Percy had already uncapped Riptide before they’d fully emerged, standing in front of Gong Pildu and Yoo Sangah with furrowed eyebrows. Behind him, Gong Pildu cursed. He too, felt something off about the situation.
“Damnit… quickly, call the samurai girl!”
“Already here.” Lee Jihye pulled up next to Percy, staring at the invaders with the same expression. A chill filled the air as both Percy and Lee Jihye glared down, white puffs of air in front of them. “And don’t call me a samurai, not if you want to get beat up.”
“Who are you? Where did you come from?” Gong Pildu growled at the newcomers.
“It’s real. The Maritime Admiral and Armed Fortress Master has become a team.” One person said mockingly, though he was staring at Percy as if he could bore a hole into Percy’s skull. “But who is this…?”
“He looks handsome and dangerous. Could it be Yoo Joonghyuk? I thought he would’ve left the station already.”
“You fool. Yoo Joonghyuk is a native Korean. In what world would he be a foreigner?”
“What nonsense are you saying? Quickly go back from where you scurried from, otherwise I’ll shoot to kill!” Going Pildu roared.
The men and women didn’t acknowledge Gong Pildu at all, opting to shoot Percy weird looks as they continued talking to each other.
“This is unexpected. What sort of incarnation is he? I can’t predict anything from his appearance at all.”
“It’s no matter. Who is on the dragon side?”
“Numbers 5, 6, 8, and 9. Not apostles, but quite good.”
“So there five of us left, ignoring the one outside of Seoul.”
“The five of us are enough, regardless of unexpected developments. Let’s sweep them away.”
Percy frowned. They were confident– too confident, to the point of being entirely dismissive.
The first man who came forward was the one with a seven written on his face, “I will take the Maritime Admiral. She isn’t a big deal without the sea.” He said leeringly, looking Lee Jihye up and down.
“You bastards…!” Lee Jihye cried out in outrage, rushing forward. Gong Pildu backed her up, the turrets glowing red as they infused with energy before firing explosively.
Percy stood where he was as Lee Jihye charged forward, still suspicious of group’s intentions.
“As expected from one of the Ten Evils.” The man with an one on his cloak laughed. “If we came less prepared, we would’ve been swept away. 3 and 4, take care of Gong Pildu. Be vigilant and attack the turrets one by one.”
“Number 2, “ One continued, “Take care of everything else, but prioritize backing me up. I’ll be taking care of the flag holder, and the dog guarding it.”
Percy narrowed his eyes, lowering his center of gravity. Oh, this guy was about to get it.
With a bang, Percy leaped forward, going low. He was clearly faster than One expected, as Percy met widened eyes before he planted his fist into the man’s stomach, sending him flying backwards.
Percy refused to let him have breathing room, already on him with Riptide flashing dangerously. He kept his motions sharp and clean, dealing superficial cuts with Riptide’s sharp edge but heavy and powerful kicks.
“W-What? Was the Maritime Admiral this strong at the beginning? Hey, isn’t something wrong?”
“Damnit, why are these two turrets so hard?”
“...Who are you?” One said, voice low and growly. He was barely able to defend from Percy’s onslaught, out of breath and tired.
The strangers were struggling. Percy couldn’t help the wild grin that crossed his face at their complaints, still cornering One.
“I thought you were going to sweep us away.” He taunted. Any blow One attempted with his daggers, Percy easily knocked away with Riptide or a simple black. “Cocky, aren’t you?”
One frowned before he suddenly threw one of his daggers at Percy’s face, causing the demi-god to drop to avoid it. As he did so, Percy’s instincts screamed at him, a blaring alarm that had him activating his shield without another thought.
A loud roar echoed through the station as explosions broke out, dust and debris flying everywhere. Percy gritted his teeth from where he crouched, having guarded against the initial impact with his shield.
The explosion, while dangerous and loud, hadn’t affected him much; he’d been more off to the side. What he was worried about was the others.
Percy caught movement in the smoke.
In an instant, Percy sprinted forward. Blurry lines streaked past him as he ran, as swift as the wind, as his vision narrowed on a target.
A man, grabbing Lee Jihye’s head, the big ugly one with the seven written on him. He leered down at her, sleazy and gross. The woman, sneering at Yoo Sangah and raising a foot to step on Lee Gilyoung’s small head. The two men laughing at the downed Gong Pildu, blades raised high to plunge into the landlord’s legs.
The back of One, heading in a straight line right for the flagpost.
Riptide clinked in Percy’s grip. In that moment, it felt like his heart was about to vibrate out of his ribcage. Whether it was from fear or rage, he didn’t know.
Before anyone could register it, Percy had already brought the man grabbing Lee Jihye down. Blood splattered across the tile, a bright, dangerous red that had the watching subway occupants swallow shallowly.
Seven cried out, a high-pitched shriek that cut off as Percy slammed his head into the tile, cracking the ground with the pure force he’d use. The man’s arm– or the stump where the arm used to be– hung limply, blood gushing out from the clean cut.
Percy turned his gaze to the others, meeting the shocked eyes of One.
That very same instance, the entire subway station shook, causing the standing occupants to stagger. There was a sound of creaking and cracking, a horrible sound that had the invaders backing away, looking around in fear.
It stopped for just a moment. Then, the ceiling burst.
Water poured into the station from the upper floors, a violent current that swept the invaders away with distorted screams. Only One was able to escape the initial flood, plunging a dagger in the ceiling.
However, the man did not expect that the water would reach for him, and he too, was swept away in the flood.
Just as fast as the water arrived, it was gone, rushing into the tunnels and disappearing into the darkness. The station, even though it had just survived what was essentially a natural disaster, was completely dry, only the broken ceiling and memories explaining what had happened.
Even the blood stains had been wiped away.
Lee Jihye sat up from where she had been dropped, blinking slowly in shock. Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung also looked startled, Gong Pildu’s jaw open wide. The subway occupants, injured from the explosion, groaned as they too, got up.
Percy took in a deep breath, trying to put his beating heart at ease. His hands were still steady, he distantly noted, gripped tightly around Riptide.
“I swept them away.” Percy smiled at them, a little sad and crooked. “Gave them what they said they were going to give me, eh?”
“Well said.” A deep voice came from the stairs. Percy looked up, meeting the eyes of Yoo Joonghyuk.
“You must have had a good nap.” Percy said teasingly, voice a little dry. He coughed once, “And you came when the fun was over.”
“Seems like I did.” Yoo Joonghyuk looked around the station, his eyes lingering on Lee Gilyoung and Yoo Sangah. The man stopped by Lee Jihye, supporting her as she stood up. As she stood, Yoo Joonghyuk looked at the hole in the ceiling. “Was this you?”
“Yeah.” Percy said sheepishly, also looking at it. It wasn’t a pretty hole, and if Percy looked hard enough, he could see the pipes he’d burst to get the water from. “I got a little angry.”
“A little.” Yoo Joonghyuk repeated dryly. “Do you regret it?”
Percy opened his mouth to speak but froze before any sound came out. The demi-god snapped his head around, staring at the subway tunnel with glaring eyes. Movement.
Yoo Joonghyuk stepped to Percy’s side, looking at the same spot as Percy.
“You..!” A voice growled out from the shadows, scratchy and hoarse. A man– One– limped out of the tunnels, battered and banged up. There was a wide cut on his cheek, yet no blood leaked out. “You ruined my plan! You and that other man..!”
“The Avatar ability.” Yoo Joonghyuk deduced coldly. His sword clinked in his grasp as the man unsheathed it, slow and deadly.
“What sort of unexpected plot twist is this!?” The man sneered out, half raving in his fury. “You! When did you get off!?”
“Get off?” Percy frowned, sending a confused glance to Yoo Joonghyuk. “Like– the train?”
“No,” Yoo Joonghyuk shook his head, eyes gleaming gold. “He’s referring to a title.”
“Ch, quit talking amongst yourselves using something I can’t understand! Who are you?” One demanded, glaring at Percy. He pushed himself off the wall, staggering from left to right before he leveraged a dagger in Percy’s direction. “You’re an anomaly, and you’re together with Yoo Joonghyuk!?”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes sharpened. “You know who I am?”
“Of course I do.” One laughed, “I know your future, your past, and all your struggles…! I have information that would be of great use to you, if you join hands with me! I’d be far more of use than the companions you’ve gathered thus far!”
Yoo Joonghyuk remained silent, only staring at the man with a calculating glare.
“Dude, I just swept you and your own friends away with a flood.” Percy pointed out, “How would you be of more use if I could defeat you that easily?”
“ A flood?” Yoo Joonghyuk murmured. Percy didn’t look at him.
One ignored Percy, appealing to Yoo Joonghyuk with all his might. “We can reach the end! The revelations can carry us through! Think carefully, how will you break through the remaining scenarios alone?”
This guy was talking as if Yoo Joonghyuk also knew the future. Percy side-eyed Yoo Joonghyuk. Well, that wasn’t impossible.
“You talk too much.” Yoo Joonghyuk abruptly said before stepping forward. His sword flashed under the subway lighting, and Percy had the pleasure of watching the smile drop right off One’s face. “I have a better idea on what to do with you.”
Percy watched the backs of black vanish into the subway tunnels, noises of shouts and screams fading as One scrabbled into the darkness.
He in turn, went to help Gong Pildu up, supporting the landlord to the side where Lee Jihye sat. Lee Jihye had been the closest to the explosion, while Gong Pildu had been heavily beaten by the two who were targeting him.
Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung moved over as well. The brown-haired boy was a little dusty but for the most part, unharmed. Yoo Sangah had taken the brunt of the damage, hair tousled and a bleeding wound on her shoulder.
As Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung treated the two heavily injured occupants, Percy went around the rest of the station. Most of them were only mildly injured and could treat themselves. The ones with deeper wounds Percy treated himself, wrapping bandages as tightly as he could even as the injured person groaned in pain.
“Did you get your shoulder treated?” Percy asked Yoo Sangah as he returned, finally wiping off the bit of dirt stuck to his face. He’d stopped by the supply pile before going back, holding a small plastic bag with goodies in it.
She nodded up at him, Lee Jihye using her lap as a pillow while Lee Gilyoung leaned into her side. “Thanks for checking on the rest of the station.” She rasped out. Percy handed her a bottle of some sports drink, which she gratefully accepted. “Any deaths?”
Percy shook his head. “There were only a few major injuries, but they’ll survive. Has Yoo Joonghyuk returned from the tunnels yet?”
“No.” It was Yoo Sangah’s turn to shake her head. “We’ve been hearing a few noises, but no sign of him.”
It’d been over three hours since Yoo Joonghyuk had stalked like a hunter into the tunnels. Had his prey been that elusive?
“Speak of the devil.” Gong Pildu suddenly spoke, looking at someone behind Percy’s back. The landlord scoffed to himself before turning his head to look away.
Percy turned, meeting eyes with Kim Dokja as he emerged from the tunnels. Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon followed close behind, eyes widening at the damage to the station. Behind them were strangers– one of which had no pants on?
Lee Gilyoung sprang to his feet, eyes bright even though he’d been asleep moments prior. The boy rushed towards the tunnels, colliding into Kim Dokja and sticking himself onto the adult’s right leg like a remora.
“Have you been well?” Percy heard Kim Dokja ask as the demi-god also stood up, walking to the edge of the platform.
Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon both rushed past Kim Dokja and into the station, fussing over Yoo Sangah and the destroyed state of Chungmuro. There was rubble everywhere from Percy’s outburst and the occupants were wounded, but strangely, no blood or bodies around.
“What happened?” One of the strangers murmured, looking over the small crowd of injured. “Was it the apostles…?”
“Apostles?” Percy frowned, watching them as Kim Dokja approached him, Lee Gilyoung still stuck on his leg.
“People are claiming to have read a book of revelation detailing future events,” Kim Dokja explained, seeing the look of confusion on Percy’s face. “Calling themselves the Apostles. We encountered a few while we were out.”
“They called each other by numbers.” Yoo Sangah supplied. “Does that sound like them?”
“Y-yes.” The stranger stuttered.
Kim Dokja looked at the overall destruction, his face a carefully crafted mask before he turned to Yoo Sangah and Percy. However, Percy’s attention had already shifted, his head turning to stare into one of the tunnels.
“Where’s Yoo Joonghyuk?”
“Speak of the real devil.” Percy joked.
The millisecond Yoo Joonghyuk spotted Kim Dokja, his face went expressionless. It was a stone-cold visage as the man stalked forward, the same dangerous posture as when he’d followed the ‘Apostle’ into the darkness.
He said nothing, the cut off head of the said Apostle dangling from his hand. Percy balked at the sight, distaste curling under his tongue. Had Yoo Joonghyuk brought back a trophy?
Not quite, because the decapitated head began to scream.
“You!” It roared at the group on the platform. “You all ruined my plans, but you! You screwed up my plan!”
Yoo Joonghyuk threw the head in their direction. It rolled on the ground, making noises of derision before slowing to a stop, looking at Kim Dokja with a smug smile.
“The Avatar ability.” Yoo Joonghyuk said quietly to Percy and Lee Jihye, who had joined the group. He only spoke loud enough for the two to hear. “The real body exists elsewhere.”
Percy looked at the severed head more closely. Indeed, he had earlier noted that the man hadn’t been bleeding. It was here he could see the strangeness more clearly, just a black void where flesh and muscle would typically be.
“The Avatar ability…” Kim Dokja muttered, staring at the ‘Apostle’.
“Wow, I am really surprised. Pretending to be Yoo Joonghyuk, beating the apostles and the dragon… Who are you? What are you?”
“You.” Kim Dokja said, looking the avatar up and down as if he were looking at a worm. “Are you perhaps a writer?”
What was that supposed to mean? Percy was confused, looking between the head and Kim Dokja. Were people’s previous jobs and hobbies relevant to the apocalypse? Was Percy about to get called out for being unemployed? Or worse– a gamer? Wouldn’t that be embarrassing.
The lips of the ‘Apostle’ twisted, an amused sneer. “That’s right. You found out. It was I who wrote the Book of Revelations. The holy creator, in the flesh, yes?”
Percy was totally lost.
The demi-god watched the ensuing conversation like a tennis match, where Kim Dokja would say something, the ‘Apostle’ would say something but in a dramatic villain manner, and Yoo Joonghyuk would threaten to murder someone.
Correction, Yoo Joonghyuk did murder someone, and apparently, there were at least three people who knew the future.
Yoo Joonghyuk smeared his boot on the ground, getting off the last traces of the grime stuck to his boot. The grime that had previously been the ‘Avatar’.
“He was a mouthy bastard.” Yoo Joonghyuk removed his sword from Kim Dokja’s neck because he had been threatening two someones, because he was dramatic like that. The man stared at Kim Dokja for a brief moment before turning towards Percy.
“Lee Jihye and I will be heading out soon, are you with me?” Yoo Joonghyuk asked, drawing closer.
‘We are?’ Lee Jihye distantly asked in the background as Percy processed the request, blinking in confusion as the tone of the scene suddenly switched. Kim Dokja stared blankly at Yoo Joonghyuk’s back, before his expression flashed with anger.
“Hey! Where are you going?” Kim Dokja cried out in a fluster. “Just wait– are you taking Percy with you?”
“Since the future has changed, the plan has also changed.” Yoo Joonghyuk said, his back still toward Kim Dokja. He was looking at Percy instead. “Are you with me?” The man repeated.
Percy blinked again, looking between Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja.
Kim Dokja, who had Yoo Sangah, Lee Hyunsung, Lee Gilyoung, and Jung Heewon with him. Yoo Joonghyuk, who would be traveling with two teenagers with sea-themed powers. Someone out of the two clearly needed more snark in his life.
“Oh, what the hell,” Percy said. “Sure. But only if you buy me a translation skill.”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes slightly squinted. “I can do that.”
“Oi!” Kim Dokja yelled, outraged.