Yuri immediately pulled up her Trophy Slot.

Blessing Strengthening (S)A Thousand Faces (A)Runner of the Night (A)Messenger (B)Lucky Day (A)

Her current slot configuration was truly not suitable for combat, especially when the opponent was a True Vampire.

I need to run away.

Yuri immediately threw herself out the window.

Crash!

Ahhhh!

W-whats going on?

The startled citizens screamed upon seeing someone suddenly falling from the third floor. Yuri disregarded the citizens reactions and immediately stood up to activate Runner of the Night (A).

Swoosh!

Yuris figure blurred until she became completely transparent.

She disappeared!

Ah! Shes a ghost!

The people started running away in panic, and Yuri blended in with them.

I have to run as fast as I can.

Yuris goal wasnt too grand. The nearest Dimensional Elevator was located only three blocks away, and that was actually the reason she stayed here. She wanted to make sure that her escape route downstairs was nearby.

Ill win as long as I reach the elevator

However, Yuri had to stop moving upon entering an alleyway.

A familiar boy was waiting for her in the alley.

You run much faster than you did earlier, sis, Stigma said as he looked directly into Yuris eyes.

Is he clairvoyant?

The boy laughed upon seeing Yuris stern look.

Hahaha! You look funny. Anyway, do you have anything else to show me?

...

Of course, I do.

Yuri opened her Inventory and pondered. I dont think a gun would work against that monster.

Yuri just had to break through Stigma once, and she would be safe as long as she managed to get into the elevator located behind Stigma. It didnt matter even if she had to sacrifice some of her limbs.

Yuri eventually decided that a spear was the best weapon to use in an alleyway, especially when she only had to charge forward.

Stigma clapped upon seeing Yuri pulling a weapon out of nowhere.

Wow! Was that magic? Where the heck have you been hiding that long thing?

Yuri bit her lips. Blessing Strengthening.

Fwoosh!

Yuris silver-colored magic engulfed the spear in her hands, and an unexpected message popped up in front of her eyes.

[Lucky Day (A) has been activated. Blessing Strengthenings effects are tripled.]

Yuris gloomy expression brightened upon seeing the system message.

Lucky Day works here? Then, I might be able to

A True Vampire was strong, but Yuri was still a Heaven.

I can get through him.

In addition, Yuri didnt have to kill Stigma. She simply had to go past him once.

Having made up her mind, her spear felt more reliable than usual today.

Kekeke! Stigma simply laughed out loud at the sight.

***

If a third party were here, then they would say that Yuri Alekseyev was in a mess.

Yuri was just one step away from the elevator, but she couldnt make it.

Ah, it was pretty fun. Stigma laughed and squatted in front of Yuri. Yuris limbs were bent in strange directions, and she could only look at Stigma helplessly.

Hey, sis. Are all humans in your world as strong as you? Are you the one who killed Paradox?

...

I guess youre not Paradoxs killer based on your expression. In other words, there are people who are stronger than you, am I right? Stigma retrieved a lollipop from his pocket. He peeled off the wrapper and stuck the lollipop in his mouth. It would be a shame if you die here. I really had fun playing with you, sis.

Grab!

Stigma grabbed Yuri by the ankle and dragged her away.

Theres this guy called Chef, and hes apparently good at healing. Ill tell him to fix you up, then well play again, sis.

...

Yuri closed her eyes without saying anything.

Right now, she wasnt even concerned about herself. Her mind was filled with nothing but the details of Tepes goal.

I have to let people know about Tepes plan no matter what.

Yuri gnashed her teeth. She forcibly lifted her fractured wrist and tapped on a hologram window with her trembling fingers.

[9, 12, 362, 26, 52, 17, 141, 5.]

Huh? Stigma turned and let go of Yuris ankle. He approached her with puffed cheeks and grumbled. You shouldnt make any unnecessary movements, and I also didnt give you permission to move, did I?

Crack! Crack!

...! Yuris eyes widened as Stigma broke all her fingers one by one.

Stigma then patted her head and said gently, You need to behave well and be nice. Can you do that for me, sis?

T-this madman!

Yuris eyes quivered ever so slightly as she glared at Stigma.

***

Huh? Skaya repeatedly blinked.

She was floating around the room when something caught her attention.

Snap!

Skaya snapped her fingers, and Seo Jun-Ho instantly appeared in front of her.

Seo Jun-Ho gnashed his teeth. He turned to Skaya with a face covered in soap bubbles and asked, sounding slightly resentful, Why did you Teleport me here?

Wait, calm down! I didnt call you to ask for ice, Skaya hastily answered, Have you already seen that post in Community?

Post? What post? Seo Jun-Ho said. He immediately realized that Skaya didnt Teleport him here for fun, so he quickly logged in to Community.

[9, 12, 362, 26, 52, 17, 141, 5.]

Seo Jun-Hos eyes narrowed when he saw the post.

It was posted by Thousand Faces just a few minutes ago.

Thousand Faces?

Yes. Have you seen this ID before? The advance party members were the only Players on the 6th Floor right now, aside from Chef. In other words, if Chef wasnt the one who had posted it, there could only be one person who could have posted it.

Yuri Alekseyev

I think so, too. Theyre the only one who comes to mind...

Yuri Alekseyev was a Heaven with a penchant for working alone. Therefore, everything about her was shrouded in mystery, and it included her skills as well as her age.

You have no idea what these numbers mean? Seo Jun-Ho asked.

Yep, no idea. I used a few different cryptographic hermeneutics, but it still doesnt really make sense. I think theres a codebook for it.

A codebook?

Something like the twelfth word on page nine and the twenty-sixth word on page three hundred and sixty-two. Its a type of cipher.

I see, Seo Jun-Ho nodded and memorized the numbers. Then, Ill have to visit the Russian Player Association to find out what the numbers mean.

I suppose so.

...Can you get me some water?

Seo Jun-Ho washed his face and told her. Ill be back.

***

Seo Jun-Ho came down to Earth and immediately requested a Teleporter.

A Teleporter? Where are you going?

Russia.

Shim Deok-Gu frowned upon hearing Seo Jun-Hos explanation.

Thats not good. Yuri Alekseyev has never left a trace like that before.

Which means that her situation is dire...

Seo Jun-Ho didnt bother mentioning it, but there was a possibility that Yuri Alekseyev was already dead.

A Heaven could easily deal with a vampire apostle, so

Yuri Alekseyev must have stumbled upon a True Vampire.

Seo Jun-Ho didnt even have to think deeply about it to know the result. After all, he had faced a True Vampire before, so he knew that a Heaven would struggle against a True Vampire.

Did you call me? said a Teleport as they entered the room.

Seo Jun-Ho reached out his hand for a handshake and said, To the Russian Player Association, please.

***

I-it is such an honor to meet you like this

The President of the Russian Player Association was deeply moved to hear that Specter had visited him in person. However, his expression quickly turned grim upon hearing Seo Jun-Hos reason for his visit.

Are you sure? Is it really Yuri who left that message?

I came here to confirm that.

...

Do you know what these numbers mean? asked Seo Jun-Ho.

The confused president finally recovered, and he retrieved four books from a nearby bookshelf.

You can check it. Its from left to right

Lets check it together.

Seo Jun-Ho opened the books and organized the words.

The twelfth word on page nineHuman.

The twenty-sixth word on page three hundred and sixty-twoExtermination.

The seventeenth word on page fifty-twoWar.

The fifth word on page one hundred and forty-oneReady.

Seo Jun-Ho muttered, Extermination of humans and get ready for war?

My god!

Seo Jun-Ho glanced at the pale president.

Y-Yuri told me that she would focus on the enemies ultimate goal.

So youre saying that Seo Jun-Ho looked at the four words once again.

This is Tepes ultimate goal?

Yuri Alekseyev was clearly telling them to prepare for war because Tepes was planning to exterminate humankind.

But this is strange... Seo Jun-Ho was aware that humans needed human blood to exert their full strength, similar to how the werewolves needed moonlight. So why are they trying to exterminate humankind?

I-I have no clue.

...

Ill have to watch Paradoxs memories again. Seo Jun-Ho nodded.

He actually hadnt gone through the entirety of Paradoxs memories. He only watched the important parts because Paradox was hundreds of years old, which meant that he was bound to have a ton of memories.

However, Seo Jun-Ho figured that there had to be some information related to Tepes plan within Paradoxs memories.

Seo Jun-Ho got up from his seat. Ill get going then.

W-wait!

The President of the Russian Player Association hurriedly took out a transparent green jewel from a drawer.

This item is called Jade of Life, and it was created by a Player in Mongol.

Jade of Life?

Yes. Its an item that indicates the condition of the individual connected to it.

Seo Jun-Ho stared at the jewel and said, The light is off...

No, its not! The President of the Russian Player Association looked like he was about to cry as he said hurriedly, The Mongolian Players arent strong enough, so

Oh, I see.

In other words, the Jade of Life couldnt detect the life force of the individual it had established a connection with if the individual in question was too far away.

Unfortunately, the Mongolian Players werent strong enough to climb up to the 6th Floor, so the President of the Russian Player Association could only ask Seo Jun-Ho for help.

The President of the Russian Player Association hurriedly handed over the Jade of Life to Seo Jun-Ho.

Could you please check if Yuri is still alive on the 6th Floor? he asked desperately, She has been by my side since she was young, and I already consider her my child, so please please help me find out if shes still alive.

...

Seo Jun-Ho stared alternatingly between the Jade of Life and the president.

Eventually, Seo Jun-Ho sighed and said, Sigh, Mr. President

I-I will give you anything! If you want, I can give you money, items, or even territory in Frontier

Its fine. Seo Jun-Ho wrapped his hands around the presidents trembling hand. Ive never met her before, but Yuri Alekseyev is a member of the same advance party as me, so you dont have to worry because

The presidents hands eventually stopped trembling. Seo Jun-Ho pulled the Jade of Life out of the presidents hands and stared at the latters face before continuing. Specter does not abandon his colleagues.

***

Seo Jun-Ho checked the Jade of Life as soon as he came up to the 6th Floor.

The light is on.

However, the light was faint and the interval between flickers was long.

He said that the light will tell me a lot about Yuris condition

Yuri Alekseyev was in terrible condition based on the light. Even worse, she might actually be on the brink of death right now.

Which direction is it Seo Jun-Ho moved the Jade of Life around. East?

Seo Jun-Hos intuition was telling him that he had to go east. In addition, Paradoxs memories had also told him that the Vampires House was located east of Trium.

Seo Jun-Ho fell into deep contemplation. As long as there isnt any True Vampire there, I should have no trouble getting past security by myself

The lights flickering interval was long, and the light was dim as well. This meant that if Seo Jun-Ho wanted to save Yuri, he had to go there as soon as possible. However, he still had to watch Paradoxs memories once more.

In the end, Seo Jun-Ho decided to book a nearby hotel room first. As soon as he stepped into the hotel room, he commanded. Recall Frost Queen; Summon Frost Queen.

Pong!

The Frost Queen holding a fork in her hand abruptly appeared in front of him.

...

She stared at Seo Jun-Ho without saying anything, but one could see the anguish in her expression. It looked like she was just about to eat a cake but was abruptly teleported here.

Surprisingly, the Frost Queen didnt kick up a fuss. She put down her fork and asked, Sigh, whats going on? Whats with that grave look?

Wait, replied Seo Jun-Ho. He then summoned Seo Jun-Sik and finally explained, I need you guys to go through Paradoxs memories.

And what is it that we need to find out? asked the Frost Queen.

You want us to find out how exactly is he going to exterminate humankind, is that right? said Seo Jun-Sik.

Seo Jun-Ho nodded. Thats right. In the meantime, Ill be looking for Yuri Alekseyev.

The Frost Queen and Seo Jun-Sik would go through Paradoxs memories while he would rescue Yuri Alekseyev. This was the best plan that Seo Jun-Ho eventually came up with at short notice.

We have to hurry up. This is a race against time.

Seo Jun-Ho felt as if a clock was ticking in his head.