Surviving without God

«.......»

Complete silence now ruled the dining hall.

Mother lay on her back. Bandit corpses were scattered everywhere. The walls and floor were drenched in blood, strewn with chunks of these scum’s flesh.

Gunther’s gaze swept across the scene.

«Where are the boss and the priest?..»

The boss was the first he found. The lower half of his body lay near the entrance. The expensive clothes and tattoos made identification easy. The upper half was nowhere to be seen, but that no longer mattered.

The priest’s body was slumped against the far wall. He had collapsed into a pool of blood, back resting against stone. The cause of death appeared to be massive blood loss from deep cuts beneath his knees. After studying those wounds for a moment, Gunther raised his voice.

— Eddie!

— Huh? Yeah!

A face popped out of the disposal hatch.

— Search outside. Check if anyone escaped. Check the prisoners too.

— Got it. Leave it to me.

Thud-thud.

Eddie’s footsteps faded away. Gunther immediately walked toward the heap of corpses in the center of the hall.

And then—

Whoosh!

Without warning, he drove his sword straight into the pile.

Clang!

Instead of tearing flesh, sharp metal rang out. In the dim light, a shadow slipped out from beneath the bodies. Blood pooled in the X-shaped scar across the man’s face, running down his cheek and chin.

— Impressive. You noticed.

— ...Didn’t look like someone at your level would die in a trash heap like that.

— Hm. Is that what you decided while spying from the ceiling like a rat?

Gunther never took his eyes off the scarred man.

About thirty-five. Ash-gray hair. Yellow eyes. He resembled a wolf.

The scarred man returned the stare. Calm. Unsettlingly calm. Did he not care that his boss and men were dead? His lips parted slowly.

— You’re planning to fight. Not the wisest decision for either of us.

He wasn’t wrong. This battle would weigh heavily on Gunther. The opponent’s strength—around late 2nd hierarchy—was no joke. And besides—

[3 minutes remaining until “Overdose” ends]

His limit was near.

Still, Gunther did not step back. He tightened his grip on his sword.

«.......»

The cafeteria air was stale. Old, rancid blood clung to it—so thick even fresh slaughter couldn’t mask it. How ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) many people had been thrown through that hatch into the spider’s jaws?

— A sense of justice... good timing.

Seeing the resolve on Gunther’s face, the scarred man twisted his lips—

Shh!

Like a bullet, he shot forward, dagger flashing.

Clang!

Steel collided instantly. Sparks burst as blades screeched against each other. Footsteps split in opposite directions. Without pause, heavy steel rained down again.

Clang! Clang! Dzzzing!

A relentless exchange. The man moved as if dancing, spinning around Gunther, twin blades whirling at impossible speed. Gunther calmly assumed a defensive stance, parrying, tracking.

They had crossed paths once in the previous life, but then the Paladin and priest interfered. This was their first true duel. He needed to read him.

«Definitely... unusual.»

In his right hand—a short crescent-shaped dagger. In his left—a long serrated blade. Strange weapons. Difficult.

Yet he wielded them as extensions of his limbs. Not chaotic hacking. The curves described by the daggers seemed random, but there was rhythm. Intersections. Repetition within structure. A school of swordsmanship. And a high-level one.

«How does a mere gang officer possess technique like this?»

Clang! Clang!

Despite that, the balance began shifting toward Gunther. The man had already fought once. His stamina was nearly depleted. His wounds were serious. Breathing grew ragged. Movements heavy. Gunther increased pressure, driving him back toward the corpse pile. It had to end before «Overdose» expired.

— Kh...!

Under a crushing barrage, the man misstepped—his foot landing on a dead hand. His center of gravity shifted. Balance cracked. He tried to recover.

Too late.

Gunther’s sword was poised to pierce the opening—

[The King of Ninety-Nine Defeats shouts for you to withdraw your sword!]

Gunther froze.

«...What?»

An utterly unexpected message.

The King of Ninety-Nine Defeats values justice. Hates villains. And yet this god stopped him from killing this wretch?

For a split second, Gunther’s eyes lingered on the message—

Fwoosh!

An object flew through the air.

Boom!

Smoke bomb.

With a deafening crack, gray smoke exploded outward, swallowing everything. Acrid powder burned his nose, forcing him to bend.

«No!»

Despite the sting, Gunther lunged and thrust blindly.

Resistance at his fingertips.

— Kh!

A stifled groan.

Then—

Thud-thud.

The scarred man’s presence vanished beyond “Serpent’s Nest” detection range. When the smoke cleared, a long blood trail remained.

The enemy was gone.

«Damn it...!»

The retreat was so swift pursuit was meaningless. Gunther stepped forward once. Twice.

Stopped.

— Ah...

His frustration had a target.

«...King of Ninety-Nine Defeats.»

Before he could speak—

[The Drug-Addicted Saint urgently says you should hear their story first]

[Alphonse of Red Street beckons you with unusual seriousness]

[The King of Ninety-Nine Defeats begins explaining]

.

.

.

After hearing the explanation, Gunther had to admit—

It was the right choice.

More than that... he was glad he had not completed the strike.

***

No time to waste.

Gunther left the ruined hall and regrouped with those in the prison.

Rather, with one “person.”

The two male non-combat NPCs were nowhere to be seen.

— What happened? — Gunther asked.

Eddie scratched his head.

— I just got here after finishing off the remaining bandits...

Only one woman remained inside the cell. She sat calmly against the wall, several bandit corpses lying nearby. When Gunther and Eddie approached, she even waved.

— Where are the other two?

— With that racket outside? You think those cowards stayed put? They bolted long ago, sniveling the whole way.

— ...I told them to remain.

— I tried stopping them.

She shrugged.

— They’re grown men. Their choice.

Creak—

Gunther watched her step out from behind the bars.

Dark green hair. Turquoise eyes. At first glance she looked experienced—tattoos on arms and legs, height over 170 cm. But looking closer, she seemed even younger than Brody.

She caught his gaze and smiled broadly.

— Handsome big brother, what are you thinking?

— Why didn’t you leave?

— Huh? You told us to stay.

Gunther pointed to the dagger at her waist.

— You’re different. You had the skill to leave alone.

She smiled slyly.

— There are a few reasons I stayed...

She bowed politely.

— First, I had to thank you.

— .......

— My name is Roanna.

She clearly had plans of her own. Gunther didn’t care. He turned away.

He headed toward the bunker exit. The bandits inside were dead, but outer posts might return.

[Duration of “Overdose” Lv. 1 has ended]

[Would you like to view debuff list (7)?]

Side effects hit at once. His vision blurred. His body felt like lead.

Even small fry would be dangerous now.

«And there’s the Public Safety Bureau rumored to be tied to this gang.»

He quickened his pace. Eddie and Roanna followed in silence. Minutes passed with only heavy breathing and footsteps.

They reached the surface entrance.

And—

— Finally crawling out?

A massive silhouette stood at the staircase’s end, backlit by dim light. The giant stepped down and waved cheerfully at Eddie.

— Oh. Our troublemaker’s fine too.

Gunther’s thoughts crawled sluggishly.

— Ryan? How are you here...

— What do you mean? You told me to come.

— I did?

Ryan tilted his head.

— Wasn’t you? There was a message in our room. Even had coordinates.

«.......»

Gunther remembered his “helper.” Timely.

— Hope you didn’t come empty-handed.

— Please. Follow me.

Gunther, Roanna, and Eddie followed Ryan. Several bandits lay flattened near the entrance.

— Behold! I’ll safely escort you to your destination!

A carriage stood on a massive frame.

The group exhaled as one.

Time to return.

.

.

.

The carriage ride blurred.

Gunther’s battered body demanded sleep. Head against the window, he drifted in and out.

Eddie and Roanna were no better. With death no longer imminent, accumulated exhaustion crashed down.

— O-oh, sis...

— ...Dad, where are you? Hrnn...

Clop-clop. Wheels turned steadily.

When they ascended to Middle City via the “Phantom Lift,” Gunther briefly woke at the strange weightless sensation. Each time, Ryan reassured them.

— Almost there. I’ve called a healer. Just sleep.

Gunther never asked where they were headed. Ryan wouldn’t take them somewhere dangerous.

He closed his eyes again.

Ding!

A cheerful notification tore away the haze.

[Personal Scenario Completed] ✔

You escorted Eddie to safety.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[Level Up! / Lv. 50]

[Strength: 40 → 41]

[Level cap reached. Complete hierarchy evaluation to transcend to next stage]

[Selecting promotion trial]

✔ Trial determined based on past deeds.

✔ Influence of «???» stat considered.

[“Eddie Wilder” joins your scenario as an ally]

[“Brody Wilder” joins your scenario as an ally]

[Easter Egg: Fate Fracture Point Occurred]

[You broke a predetermined sacrificial cycle and opened a possibility that did not exist in this world]

[Distorted fate opens a new path]

● Savior You saved victims destined to be sacrificed to an evil god. They were walking toward predetermined death, but through wit, persistence, and endless courage, you returned them to life. The rescued will never forget you.

— Companion affinity permanently +15.

— The rescued will influence your journey, offering support, information, and sponsorship in various regions.

● Unintended Assistance The Mother you destroyed was originally the vessel of “Weaver of Despair.” His long-standing enemy, “One Who Flies Ahead of the Wind,” is extremely pleased and wishes to present a gift.

[Item Obtained! “Crystal of Superspeed”]

Effect upon absorption: +10% to all movement-related abilities (movement speed, dodge distance, jump height, fall cushioning, etc.).

● Reward Karma +400

[Current Karma: 853]

[Accumulated Karma: 2175]

[◇ smiles at you]

And just as the flood of messages ended—

Thud-thud-thud!

Rapid footsteps. A stumble. Someone fell—then immediately sprang up and flung open the carriage door. Orange eyes scanned the interior.

From Gunther, crusted in dried blood.

To Ryan, smiling widely.

To Roanna, alert, eyes round.

And finally—

Eddie.

— ...Hi, Brody.

Eddie’s face was swollen and bruised beyond recognition.

But alive.

Brody trembled, breath catching. She slowly lowered herself to the ground.

And bowed deeply.

— Thank you...

Once more.

— Thank you very much.