THEY RETRACTED THEIR HANDS BEFORE THE TRAIN MOVED BY ITSELF. A sigh escaped from Sung (Y/n) before both of them sensed the darkness inside the subway being lifted as light flooded in from the window.

Since (Y/n) often rode this vehicle, he could guess that the train arrived at the surface ground section of Line 3 between Apgujeong and Oksu. The [h/c] and black haired men narrowed their sharp eyes at the window upon seeing the Han River and Seoul. The city they lived in back then, wasn't there anymore except the ruins that contrasted with their previous home, along with the dust and smoke.

Sung (Y/n)'s eyes immediately quirked up, witnessing the Han River bridges collapsed as the water was stained with blood that came from the bodies of soldiers. Between the fallen buildings, a monster was trampling on a K1 tank as if it was a toy.

Both of them could feel the subway train stop moving as if it's their final location. Was it wrong if (Y/n) couldn't guess where are they now?

"We are almost halfway past Dongho Bridge" the regressor stated, answering the question for the curious boy in front of him.

Jonghyuk and (Y/n) once again surveyed the scene taking place outside. The ruined Seoul and collapsed building, along with the monsters reminiscent of a giant snake were eating the wreckage of a fighter jet that had crashed into the Han River.

"What the hell is going on......." Sung (Y/n) unconsciously cussed as his lower lip quivered while the other person blankly seeing the current scenario of the city. They were lucky to be inside the train, otherwise they - (Y/n) would suffer just like them.

"That is ichthyosaur, which it's usually being referred as sea serpent." Yoo Jonghyuk pointed his finger towards the monster as the other male quickly took note of.

"Is it worth the worry?"

"No, as long as you're one of the incarnations that participate in certain scenario, it wouldn't attack you-"

"-atleast for now" He added, gaining a negative reaction from (Y/n). As he finished said that, one of the ichthyosaur stared at another subway which was located behind them. "Both of them must have survived, I'm sure." Jonghyuk murmured.

That ichthyosaur circled around the bottom of Dongho Bridge before vanishing into an air bubble.

[The constellation 'Shadow Monarch' is wondering if there are other survivors behind both of you]

"Isn't it obvious? I'm sure that there will be a survivor that passed the first main scenario" (Y/n) answered while looking at the notification above them both. It was simply a question where even kids could answer without hesitation.

[The constellation 'Shadow Monarch' says that he knows.]

"Since you know about it, why don't you tell us what will happen in the future?" This time, there wasn't any reaction from his sponsor constellation. Either he knew about it, or he was getting embarrassed about earlier, but the second theory is definitely not correct.

That means the 'Shadow Monarch' know about something that will shock all of the incarnations, and maybe the constellations too.

"Get ready" Jonghyuk brought (Y/n) back to reality. "We need to check the people in the next cabin"

"HELLO, I AM LEE HYUNSUNG" a friendly voice came from a young man around his 30s. He-or-Lee Hyunsung had a large, bear-like body which was muscular and thickset. Just like his voice, his face could be described as friendly and likable with nice open features.

His monolid eyes stared at a typical Korean guy whose appearance consisted of black hair along with a slender physique.

"Kim Dokja" the other guy introduced himself as both of them shook their hands together.

"Nice to meet you..although I don't know if these words suit the situation. As I said earlier, I am a soldier...well, I should say that I was a soldier"

"You can't contact your unit?"

"...Yes"

It was obvious he couldn't contact the military since the Internet around the city had been disconnected. Lee Hyunsung immediately gripped Kim Dokja's hand tightly. As a character who appeared early in Ways of Survival, he had the potential to become stronger in the future.

And Kim Dokja will take Lee Hyunsung with him.

Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World, or simply shortened to Ways of Survival was a webnovel that focused on the journey of protagonist facing the end of the world. and how he must regressed in time over and over again in order to reach the end of the "scenarios"; deadly challenges posed to those in the universe.

However, that webnovel became real in this world the moment Kim Dokja finished all of the chapters of the Ways of Survival and he intended to use all of his knowledge to survive in this apocalypse.

"Ah, Dokja-ssi" Lee Hyunsung called out his name.

"Yes?"

"I want to thank you. If it wasn't for Dokja-ssi, we would all be dead"

"No, that isn't the case"

"Even if I had lived, I wouldn't have been able to live as a person. Thank you very much. And...I am ashamed"

The former soldier bowed his head in thanks. Even without Kim Dokja's help, he would've managed to survive in this scenario, only if he didn't try to change the story. Besides, he's a character in Ways of Survival, so it's impossible for him to die.

Kim Dokja recalled the incident earlier regarding him throwing away the grasshopper to the passengers and killing off a character in Ways of Survival, Kim Namwoon. Then, somebody grabbed his shoulder. Turning his head around, Dikha saw Han Myungoh, one of the survivors besides Kim Dokja and Lee Hyunsung.

"Haha, our contractor did one big thing. Dokja-ssi, do you know my name?"

"I know, Han Myungoh-ssi" He called his name before shrugging the man's hand off his shoulder.

"Huh, Han Myungoh-ssi? Shouldn't you call me Department Head?"

Kim Dokja stared at Han Myungoh for a moment. He doubted that he would use his position from his old company in order to survive in this apocalypse. Or getting all the benefits by himself, although he knew that this so-called authority wouldn't last long.

Even the money in this world wasn't valuable anymore.

"This isn't the company"

"Hah, look at this. Are you planning to not go work now? Where did you learn your basic etiquette-"

(E/n: This bitch-)

Kim Dokja once again stared at Han Myungoh with disinterest, which could already be seen by his body language. The man in front of him was a 'predator' of the world before the scenario began and he could totally see himself as a prey to the predator.

"-no matter how I think about it, Weren't your actions too much? Hm? If you had insects then you should've tipped me off. Why would you throw them like that?"

"Han Myungoh-ssi"

"Eh?"

"Shut up"

"W-What?"

"You still don't understand the situation? Weren't you hit by that bastard earlier? Minosoft? Do you think the company still exists when the end of this world has come?"

Han Myungoh was taken back by what he said earlier before his face turned white and stricken. Kim Dokja narrowed his eyes towards the remaining survivors including Lee Hyunsung. There's no reason for him to hold himself back from saying something.

"He's not the only problem. Everyone, you need to wake up. As the dokkaebi said, this isn't a joke" His silvery voice advised to them. "I think you should've all roughly noticed the situation. Exclusive skills in the attributes window. A game-like interface. Is there anyone who still hasn't caught onto facts?"

As he expected, no one raised their hand. South Korea is one of the advanced countries in the world, so there wasn't one person who hadn't played an RPG game due to the high rate of the smartphone.

Even if they didn't play a game, they would've read a fantasy novel or webtoon at least once, just like Kim Dokja himself.

A sigh escaped from Lee Hyunsung's mouth. "This is like a novel I was reading while standing on duty, but I still can't feel it. This....is this really not a dream?"

"This is reality" Kim Dokja responded sternly, trying to make him accept this new world as soon as possible.

Indeed, it was a novel.

Hearing his reply, somehow his answer caused Lee Hyunsung's eyes to slightly change, to which meaning he started to take this matter seriously.

[The character 'Lee Hyunsung' feels a faint trust in you]

[Your understanding of the character 'Lee Hyunsung has been increased]

Kim Dokja took a moment to look at the window above him before Lee Hyunsung spoke. "It's nice that you're certain. Then, what do we do now? Do you have something in mind, Dokja-ssi?" He asked.

"We have to go" Kim Dokja answered without hesitation, although he knew that something will happen to them.

"G-Go? Are you insane?"

"Dokja-ssi, I don't think..." Kim Dokja gazed at a brown-haired woman who opposed his idea, Yoo Sangah. It seemed that everyone hadn't accept the reality.

"Then how long we will stay here?" He asked. Although his argument didn't make sense at all, hoards of monsters were outside. They needed to get out of there.

"Have you thought about your parents? Do you think your parents are safe in this mess?"

"T-The line has been dead since long time ago. No Kakaotalk....." Yoo Sangah cried desperately.

Indeed, Confucianism was still strong in South Korea. Even Lee Hyunsung and Han Myungoh's expression darkened at the word 'parents'. They wouldn't able survive if they stayed here without any supply that will make them alive.

Kim Dokja immediately grasped another survivor's shoulder from the first main scenario, Lee Gilyoung. It was a miracle he's still survived until now, even though he had to witness this kind of thing at a young age, the boy did not break.

The first person to get up was Yoo Sangah.

"Go. I will go out"

"N-No! Didn't you hear what that thing said? Take a break here! If we move then our heads might explode!"

"Let's take a majority vote"

Yoo Sangah raised her hand first, followed by Kim Dokja and Lee Gilyoung. Kim Dokja was quite surprised by how Lee Hyunsung didn't raised his hand.

We are not talking about Han Myungoh here.

"...I have to go to my base but it seems dangerous to move in this situation. There was also the warning" Lee Hyunsung stated.

Kuuoong!

The thick iron plate made a loud sound. The iron door to carriage 3707 was slightly distorted. Han Myungoh cried but the iron door from that iron door made a deafening sound.

Kuuoong!

It was confirmed that someone was trying to break the door from the other side. This was an unexpected situation for all of them.

'Was it the next scenario? No, The dokkaebi hadn't come back yet. Then....' As Kim Dokja figured it out, his small hairs stood up and short shiver struck his body.

That guy.

"W-What? Everybody stop it!"

"You can't stop it"

"Huh?"

"We have to go"

His gaze being brought to the iron door. Kim Dokja was aware of who was beyond the iron door.

"We will all die before the next scenario arrives"

That guy is coming. The real protagonist of the story.

-