Chapter 42. Mock Battle (1)

The company’s aptitude test was divided into three main sections.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The first was physical ability. The goal was to test natural reflexes and inherent powers by sending employees through a pitch-black trial—at least, that was the idea.

But I guess I ruined that one.

The second section was intelligence, specifically, the ability to strategize and form tactics. Though, it wasn’t a written test or anything with scores and rankings.

Eun-Ho tried to think about the system message regarding the upcoming Mock Battle.

[Mock Battle]

- A simulated war game where everyone commands the same number of troops. Victory goes to the team that captures the enemy’s flag.

Basically, each participant would be given identical forces, and had to outmaneuver their opponents to steal their flags. It was a straightforward test of strategic thinking.

However, there was something different about this trial compared to the others. They had to choose their own battleground.

Eun-Ho had stayed up all night flipping through dozens of proposal documents. He read and reread each one, memorizing their details, analyzing pros and cons, trying to figure out which option gave him the best shot.

Then, he saw the question on the screen.

[Question. You’re about to be buried alive! Where would you prefer to be buried?]

[1. City]

[2. Mountain]

[3. Ocean]

“What the heck is this? Is this a joke?” someone muttered.

“Buried alive?”

“Are we sure this isn’t some kind of personality test?”

One person hesitantly started, “If I had to pick, I’d say moun—”

“City!” Eun-Ho shouted, loud and confident.

The room went quiet.

Ji-Eun blinked at him, wide-eyed. “

Um...

Eun-Ho?”

“It’s the city,” he repeated firmly. “Everyone, you should pick the city.”

“Wait, what?” she asked, confused.

He could see from her face that she didn’t understand, but she gave a hesitant nod anyway.

“Right, I mean... If we’re getting buried alive, we might as well do it together in the city, I guess?”

No, that wasn’t it at all,

Eun-Ho thought.

“I think this question is actually asking us to choose the location for the next trial, the mock battle,” Eun-Ho explained.

“

Huh?

” Ji-Eun tilted her head in confusion.

“There are too many people here for a battle, don’t you think? Maybe they are letting us choose the battleground to split us up.”

“Then why all the talk about being buried alive and such? They could’ve just told us to pick a trial location.”

“I don’t know why they wrote it that way,” Eun-Ho replied.

Though it was clearly written in the proposal that once the Mock Battle began, each Subject would be deployed to the nearest location according to their chosen type.

“But, if someone picks the mountains or the sea, no one knows where they'll end up,” Eun-Ho added.

It was a completely randomized drop based on their choice. Besides, in a test like this, choosing something unpredictable for no good reason was just asking to lose.

“Then if we pick the city, does that mean we’ll be fighting somewhere nearby, Hyungnim?” asked Jae-Hyuk.

Eun-Ho nodded and said, “Yeah, most likely.”

“

Hmm...

But isn’t urban warfare known for having the highest civilian casualties? I heard it’s hard to make a solid strategy in that kind of environment.” Jae-Hyuk voiced his concern with a serious look.

Unlike the others, who were just going along with things, he used to be a soldier, so he naturally viewed this more tactically.

However, Eun-Ho shook his head. “There aren’t any civilians left to be harmed.”

“

Oh...

”

Seoul had long since become a ghost town. The only people left were scattered survivors, meaning there were no civilians to protect or innocents to worry about.

“And if things go south, there are plenty of places to hide.”

Eun-Ho shot a glance at Yul as he said it, and only then did Jae-Hyuk nod, finally understanding.

“Plus, if we’re close together, we might actually be able to work as a team,” Eun-Ho added.

“Oh! Right, that makes sense,” Jae-Hyuk said with more confidence.

“So Yul, if you end up alone, use your ability to hide, okay?” Eun-Ho said gently.

“’Okay!” the five-year-old answered with a determined nod.

Even a toddler couldn’t escape the harsh reality of this every-man-for-himself world. This was their first true taste of standing on their own.

“Sol-Ah! Do you think we’ll be okay?” one friend asked with nervousness as she squeezed Sol-Ah’s hand tight.

“Of course we are. Just don’t die, okay?” Sol-Ah replied with a half-smile, her grip just as strong.

At that moment, as their hands locked and the final seconds ticked away, a message appeared on the screen.

[There are 30 seconds remaining until selection ends.]

The edges of the screen turned red and flashed.

[Warning: If you don’t choose within the time limit, a location will be selected randomly.]

“Eun-Ho...!” Ji-Eun seemed nervous as she looked at him, eyes wide with fear.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry,” said Sol-Ah as she gripped Yeo-Jin’s hand tighter.

“Please Yul...” Han-Wool held little Yul in his arms and locked eyes with Eun-Ho.

[There are 10 seconds remaining to complete the survey.]

A silent nod passed among them. No words were needed anymore.

They all turned to the screen and said at the same time, “City.”

[You have chosen: City. Please confirm.]

Let’s go together. Whether it’s being buried alive or this so-called mock battle,

Eun-Ho thought.

“Confirm.”

[Selection confirmed!]

[Mock Battle trial will begin now!]

Just then, an announcement flowed through the air, signaling that everyone had finished making their choices.

Fwoosh—!

Then, an impossibly bright light flooded the room. Even with eyes shut, the sheer brightness pierced through eyelids, drawing groans from everyone.

[Transporting to the combat zone.]

[Brace for impact.]

Thinking he should remind them of one last thing, Eun-Ho said, “Oh, and if things get dangerous—”

But then, there was a flash.

“I’ll... try to—”

Then the world went dark. There was no light, no sound, no words—just silence.

***

[You have been transferred.]

[By the Administrator's authority, the Eye is now open.]

Before sight returned, his hearing came back first. The first conscious thought that crossed Eun-Ho’s mind after feeling that he’d been relocated was, “

Why does everything feel heavy?

”

A suffocating weight pressed down on him from every angle. Instead of air, coarse particles filled his mouth and lungs. Then, he could feel something tiny crawling across his skin.

“

Haaa

.”

A breath instinctively escaped him, and in that moment, dry, gritty dirt seeped into his mouth. He forced his arm upward, struggling against the loose, crumbly pressure. As he moved, grains of sand slid down his sleeves and across his chest.

This can’t be real. They actually buried me alive? What kind of system does that?

[The Crow from the Bureau of Management asks if he already died and got buried that fast.]

[The Prince from the Bureau of Investigation sighs as he was hoping to enjoy the show.]

In total darkness, Eun-Ho couldn't see anything, including the Eye. Only the voices of distant observers rang in his ears. He decided to ignore their nonsense for now.

Sssk—

Still on his back, Eun-Ho bent one knee and pushed upward. The dirt shifted, and a bump emerged on the surface—a sign that he wasn’t buried too deep.

Bit by bit, arm by arm, he clawed his way up and out of the earth.

“

Ptooey!

”

Coughing up mouthfuls of soil, he wiped the remnants of his burial off his face, out of his hair, and from inside his clothes. Now that he could finally breathe, he glanced around.

Where am I?

It wasn’t their typical urban battlefield with a dirt path, wide open grass fields, towering trees, and a massive pond. Rather, it appeared like a peaceful public park.

If there’s a park this size in Yongsan...

There was only one place it could be—Yongsan Family Park, prime land nestled in the heart of Seoul.

He drew in a deep breath, letting the wide, open sky and the vast stretch of greenery fill his lungs and calm his nerves.

The grass field was huge, bigger than most school tracks, with flat terrain and clear visibility in every direction. There were no teammates, no enemies, and no attacks, meaning no ambush yet.

“Now for the distance...”

Before the battle truly began, Eun-Ho scanned the area and started calculating terrain advantages and possible sightlines.

[A flag has been deployed at the border zone.]

[Both sides will now receive troop deployment.]

That was the official signal that the match had begun.

Fwoomp!

In the middle of the field, a massive black pole, as tall as a first-floor building, slammed into the ground like a telephone post. Black smoke started rising along it.

Then, the smoke clumped and twisted, slowly taking shape. Finally, it unraveled into a dull gray flag, snapping sharply in the wind. But it didn’t stop there.

The smoke boiled and expanded outward, like a firework detonating in reverse. As if a smoke bomb had been dropped from the sky, it surged across the ground. The black haze exploded outward in a wide, sweeping circle.

Within seconds, a dark, eerie fog blanketed the field.

[The Prince from the Bureau of Investigation crosses their arms, asking if the trial is finally starting.]

[The Crow from the Bureau of Management can’t hide their excitement, muttering that a real man should be good at tactics too.]

[Multiple observers are requesting high-powered soldiers!]

It all happened in an instant. The soil at Eun-Ho’s feet started absorbing a dark aura like a sponge. Without warning, it started moving.

The dirt writhed all across the ground, like sprouts pushing up after a long winter’s sleep.

Puff! Puffff!

With dry, cracking noises, the earth burst upward.

Craaaack!

Then, what came out was a skeleton

[You have acquired a Skeleton Soldier(Lv. 1).]

[Remaining units: 100]

“Skeleton soldiers?!” Eun-Ho muttered.

[Ferry Man from the Bureau of Management tilts their head, wondering since when were these monsters a thing.]

From beneath the mounds of dirt, skeletal heads poked through like seedlings. Joints creaked, limbs wobbled. One after another, the pale figures rose from the earth. It was a true army of the dead.

“

Ugh...

”

“My arm... Where’s my—”

Clatter!

“My leg!”

“

Graaaaugh!

”

They weren’t just corpses anymore—these were graveborn revenants, crawling from makeshift tombs. Skulls reattached to necks, and arms slid into place beside shoulders. They picked up rusted armor, broken swords, or whatever they could find. Not just one, but all hundred of them were doing that all at once.

[Unit deployment has been completed for Subject Lee Eun-Ho.]

[Please check your unit status!]

“My unit status?” he muttered it aloud, and a translucent window popped up beside the rattling skull in front of him.

Numbers flickered beside each Skeleton Soldier, along with a label.

[Skeleton Soldier Number 72]

- Affiliation: Lee Eun-Ho (Temporary) Royal Guard

- Rank: Recruit

- Stats: Stamina (3), Strength (0), Intelligence (2), Judgment (1), Agility (1), Endurance (8)

- Trait: Undead

- Skills: Clattering(Lv. 99), Bone Dislocation(Lv. 1), Bone Bomb(Lv. 1)

- They were lucky enough to cross back over the River of the Dead, but their living senses are long gone.

- They are weak in combat, but could serve as decent meat shields.

- Visual, auditory, and tactile senses are dull, but this makes them less susceptible to pain or fear of annihilation.

“

Ha...

”

In the heart of a lush city park, there were no people, pets, or bicycles. Only the army of Skeletons clattered in the breeze.

Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!

[Current loyalty: 50%]

[Remaining units: 100]

Crack!

While he studied the soldiers’ stats, a loud wooden thunk echoed nearby. The clumsy Skeletons were bumping into each other, with their limbs swinging wildly. Just like that, one knocked another’s head clean off.

Clatter!

However, the beheaded soldier calmly bent down, picked up his own skull, and snapped it back into place on his spine.

Crack!

I guess they aren’t exactly killable. Or maybe, they are already dead.

A system message cut through the air like a siren, snapping Eun-Ho from his thoughts

[You have 3 hours.]

[If the flag is not under your control by the end, you will be deleted. Your trial reward will be based on how many soldiers survive.]

The trial was to capture the flag.

So who’s my enemy?

Clatter! Clatter! Clatter—!

The sound wasn’t just noise now. It was thunderous.

Eun-Ho looked up, and the once-empty field was now packed wall-to-wall with Skeleton Soldiers.

Haaa. So they’ve got skeletons too?

He exhaled, resigned.

However, unlike Eun-Ho’s army of pale, ivory bones, the enemies were cloaked in pitch black. These were black-boned skeletons, as if they'd been dipped in ink.

At their head marched a figure just as grim—not a living man, but a skull-faced commander. A horned helm, carved from monster bone, adorned his head. His eyes blazed with murderous intent, glowing like embers in the dark.

“Punish the traitor of death!”

“Traitor...!”

“Eliminate him!”

To top it off, the flag had spawned smack in the middle of the enemy’s camp, right where the black-boned skeletons had crawled up from the earth.

“And they’ve already taken the flag?”

Eun-Ho tried to remember the system message about the flag.

[A flag has been deployed at the border zone.]

[Ferry Man from the Bureau of Management protests, shouting that this is nowhere near the border zone!]

[A few observers question the blatant imbalance.]

[Many observers express high hopes for Subject Lee Eun-Ho’s cunning strategy!]

“Damn system...”

It was so obviously rigged that Eun-Ho couldn’t help but let out a dry, bitter laugh.

“Hold formation!!” the enemy commander roared.

Broad-shouldered and radiating authority, the two enormous horns jutting from his helm only added to his intimidating presence. He didn’t just lead, but commanded as if it were his birthright. The most surprising of all was that he was organizing a formation.

The enemy leader wasn’t just some mindless monster. He was establishing a defensive formation that was calculating and deliberate. Eun-Ho thought that this guy probably wasn’t just another mob.

“Guard the flag with your lives!!”

The enemy leader moved with all the grandeur of some ancient empire’s general. If it weren’t for the fact one could see right through his ribcage, one would actually be fooled.

“If you come any closer, I’ll blow myself up!”

“

Uoooorgh!

”

“

Graaaagh!

”

The black Skeletons roared back in eerie unison, each one shaking and rattling as they raised bone fragments in their hands.

Are they threatening to self-destruct?

Of course they had the same Bone Bomb skill that his own Skeletons did. They were warning him that if he got too close, they'd blow themselves sky-high.

So charging in blindly is a death sentence. If I wasn’t careful, I’d be caught in a chain explosion.

“

Grrrrk...

?”

“I-I’m s-scared?”

His own troops weren’t faring so well. Their posture slouched with their eye sockets dimmed. Instead of preparing to fight, they just scratched their skulls like confused puppies.

[Your Skeleton army is overwhelmed by the enemy’s presence.]

[Your army’s morale has dropped.]

[Due to low morale, your attack power has slightly decreased.]

[You will get tired more easily.]

In contrast, the enemy had a full formation in place. As if the open, coverless terrain wasn’t bad enough, Eun-Ho’s troops also started with a debuff. Hopeless was an understatement.

“Troop status.”

[Displaying current troop status assigned to Lee Eun-Ho.]

[Remaining units: 100]

[Skeleton Soldier Number 2]

[Skeleton Soldier Number 11]

[Skeleton Soldier Number 65]

...

Even so, Eun-Ho could see one opening. A slim, fragile chance—something only

he

could spot on this battlefield. One that those boneheads would never be able to come up with.

“Summon.”

Fwoosh—!

He equipped the two items: a round shield gifted by the foul-mouthed guy, and a black blade that melded perfectly into his grip. The balance, the weight, and the way they fit together all felt right.

He drew in a deep breath, steadying himself, and stepped forward into the fog. “Units 1 through 10! Step forward!”

“Stepping... forward...!”

Clatter...!

A handful of Skeletons—exactly ten of them—broke formation, jerking forward with their awkward, clunky gaits.

Well then... Let’s break through not just the enemy formation, but this damn system as well!