Trapped Inside My Favorite Game

Chapter 7: The Future She Shouldn't Know

The dust from the collapsed western pass still hung in the distance.

No one spoke.

The members of Black Phoenix exchanged uneasy glances as they continued along the eastern route.

Every few moments, someone looked toward Luna.

She pretended not to notice.

But she could feel their suspicion growing.

One warning could have been luck.

Two would be impossible.

Kael walked at the front of the group, his expression calm as always.

Only Luna noticed the subtle change.

He had become even more observant.

He was paying attention to everything she did.

A scout suddenly appeared from the trees.

He dropped to one knee.

"Guild Master."

Kael stopped.

"Report."

"The eastern pass is clear."

"And the monsters?"

"They're advancing toward Ironstone City."

"How many?"

The scout hesitated.

"More than expected."

"Estimate."

"...At least three thousand."

Several guild members sucked in sharp breaths.

"Three thousand?"

"That's an army."

Kael nodded.

"We move."

The group picked up their pace.

After nearly an hour, the road climbed a rocky hill overlooking Ironstone Valley.

Luna froze.

The city below was burning.

Black smoke covered the sky.

Buildings had collapsed.

Thousands of frightened people poured through the gates while soldiers desperately fought waves of monsters.

She had seen the Ironstone Dungeon Break many times in the game.

It had never looked like this.

"It's worse..."

Kael stepped beside her.

"This isn't what you expected."

Luna quickly looked away.

"I've never been here."

"You reacted before seeing the city."

She remained silent.

Before he could ask another question, a loud horn echoed across the valley.

A wounded knight galloped toward them.

His armor was stained with blood.

He nearly fell from his horse.

"Guild Master!"

Kael caught him before he hit the ground.

"What happened?"

"The royal army..."

The knight coughed violently.

"...can't hold the southern gate."

"They need reinforcements."

Kael nodded once.

"We'll assist immediately."

The knight grabbed his arm.

"Be careful."

Kael frowned.

"Why?"

"The monsters..."

His voice shook.

"They aren't behaving normally."

Luna's heart sank.

Of course they weren't.

Nothing was normal anymore.

Black Phoenix rushed into the city.

People cheered the moment they recognized Kael.

"The Black Phoenix Guild!"

"We're saved!"

Kael didn't acknowledge the praise.

"Evacuate the civilians first!"

His guild split into smaller teams.

Some escorted children and elderly people toward safer streets.

Others joined the soldiers defending the walls.

Luna followed closely behind Kael.

A massive roar suddenly shook the ground.

Everyone turned.

The streets split apart as a gigantic creature climbed from beneath the broken stone.

It was over ten meters tall.

Its body was covered in jagged black armor.

Four glowing red eyes scanned the battlefield.

Long chains wrapped around its arms.

The moment Luna saw it, her blood ran cold.

"No..."

Kael drew his sword.

"What is it?"

She stared at the monster in disbelief.

"It shouldn't exist."

The creature was called the Abyss Warden.

It was a hidden boss from one of the game's hardest raids.

Players couldn't even fight it until they reached Level One Hundred.

Its appearance here was impossible.

The Warden let out an earth-shaking roar.

Every nearby monster immediately stopped attacking.

Then they all turned toward Kael.

Luna's eyes widened.

"It's controlling them."

Hundreds of monsters rushed forward at once.

"Defensive formation!" Kael ordered.

Black Phoenix obeyed instantly.

Steel clashed against claws.

Magic exploded across the streets.

The battle became complete chaos.

Kael charged directly toward the Abyss Warden.

His sword shone with blue mana.

One powerful slash struck the monster's chest.

Sparks flew.

The Warden didn't even move.

Kael frowned.

"It didn't cut through."

The monster raised one enormous arm.

The chains wrapped around it began glowing crimson.

Luna's breathing became uneven.

She knew that attack.

No...

He can't—

"Kael!"

He glanced back.

"What?"

"Move!"

Without hesitation, he jumped backward.

A split second later, the glowing chains slammed into the ground.

The entire street exploded.

Stone shattered.

Buildings collapsed.

A massive crater appeared where Kael had been standing.

Every nearby soldier was thrown through the air.

Dust covered everything.

When it finally settled, Kael stared at the enormous crater.

If he had remained there...

He would have died instantly.

He slowly turned toward Luna.

"How..."

She couldn't answer.

Because she remembered that attack perfectly.

It was called Chain of Judgment.

The Abyss Warden always used it after receiving its first wound.

Every experienced player knew that.

But no one in this world should.

The Warden roared again.

This time, crimson light spread across its armor.

Luna's eyes widened.

"No!"

Kael looked at her.

"What now?"

"It's entering its second phase!"

"What does that mean?"

She bit her lip.

Too late.

She had already revealed too much.

The Warden raised both arms.

The chains shot into nearby buildings, pulling enormous chunks of stone into the air.

People screamed.

"It's going to throw them!" Luna shouted.

"Everyone scatter!"

Kael didn't hesitate.

"You heard her!"

The guild immediately moved.

A heartbeat later, giant pieces of stone crashed into the streets.

The destruction was devastating.

But because everyone had already scattered...

Not a single Black Phoenix member was hit.

Several soldiers from the royal army stared in shock.

"How did she know?"

Kael looked toward Luna again.

His expression remained calm.

But inside, countless questions filled his mind.

She predicted attacks before they happened.

Not once.

Not twice.

Every single time.

That wasn't instinct.

That wasn't luck.

That was knowledge.

Knowledge no ordinary person could possess.

The Abyss Warden suddenly roared louder than before.

A dark portal opened behind it.

Another enormous hand emerged from the darkness.

Then another.

Luna's face turned white.

"No..."

Kael followed her gaze.

"What is it?"

Her voice barely came out.

"The dungeon..."

She took a shaky step backward.

"...is creating another boss."

The portal widened.

An unfamiliar system notification appeared before everyone's eyes.

Emergency Event

Multiple Boss Spawn Detected

Difficulty Recalculated

Survival Probability: 4%

Silence swept across the battlefield.

Even Kael looked at the glowing message with narrowed eyes.

Then he slowly turned to Luna.

Before the second boss had even appeared...

She already knew it was coming.

And this time...

There was no explanation she could possibly give.