A new revolution has swept the world.
This unprecedented event, later to be known as the Awakened Revolution, was unlike anything humanity had ever witnessed before.
The Eruption of the Rifts.
Though only 1-star and 2-star Calamities emerged, the resulting casualties were staggering.
And most of the victims were ordinary people—bystanders who had chosen not to become Players.
Through this tragedy, the government realized they could no longer control the new world order through conventional authority.
Only Awakened individuals, operating within the same system, could handle the Calamities.
They could no longer stand idly by.
Thus, the government chose to co-opt them.
“So, you’re saying you want me to kill this dog-like monster?”
“Yes. It’s something only you can do, Yoo Junseo.”
Just a week ago, Yoo Junseo had been a social service worker.
Overnight, he became a figure wielding newfound power.
For Junseo, who loved games, the world’s transformation was thrilling.
It felt like playing a game as he hunted down Calamities.
With two 2-star Calamities under his belt, Junseo stood out even among the Awakened identified by the government.
The conical spear he wielded was the result of synthesizing all the Forest Goblins he had collected from the Eruption.
It was far more efficient and powerful than conventional weapons.
“This dog has killed thousands. I heard its name is the Hellfire Guard Dog.”
“Hmm…”
Junseo tilted his head at the government official’s report.
It was hard to believe a monster the size of a large dog had killed thousands.
But that was the nature of Calamities.
Even the 2-star Calamities Jun-seo had collected had taken the lives of over a dozen Awakened before being subdued.
“At least a 3-star Calamity. Maybe even 4-star?”
“…You would know best, Awakened One.”
“You want me to kill it alone?”
“No. Civilian Awakened and military Awakened will provide support. If there’s anything else you need…”
“What do I get if I kill it?”
Jun-seo cut straight to the point, and the government official hesitated.
Just a short while ago, Junseo had been a public servant, bullied by bureaucrats.
Now, he was in a position of power, speaking informally to those in authority.
It was intoxicating.
The official stammered, “Recently, the National Assembly passed the Awakened Certification System.”
“The National Assembly? You mean that tower over there? Since when did the honorable members become monsters?”
“Not there. We’ve set up a temporary National Assembly building.”
“Sure. And what does that have to do with my reward?”
“The government will soon establish an Awakened Management Bureau. The inaugural director position…”
“You want me, a former public servant, to be the government’s dog again?”
“N-no! Not at all!”
Junseo chuckled and patted the official’s shoulder.
“Relax, old man. Just kidding. Don’t get so worked up.”
“Ah, haha…”
“Alright. I’ll take the director position or whatever. But make sure the pay is good. And I’ll need military support for the next Eruption—I plan to take down at least five 2-star Calamities. Think about it.”
“Understood. I’ll contact the higher-ups…”
“Get it approved now. Otherwise, I’m going home.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Junseo smiled inwardly.
The taste of power.
He had no intention of letting it go.
‘If I take down a 4-star Calamity, maybe I can even aim for the presidency.’
He genuinely believed it.
*
[Eruption of the Rifts causes nationwide damage. Estimated casualties exceed 5 million.]
[The man-eating Hellfire Guard Dog, spotted throughout Seoul. What is it?]
[Awakened Certification System proposed. Awakened Management Bureau to be established.]
Even in the abyss, news traveled.
Junseo sighed as he scrolled through news headlines on his phone.
‘Is this what they call the apocalypse?’
It wasn’t just Korea—the entire world was in chaos.
In fact, Korea was relatively better off, as evidenced by the patriotic YouTube channels proudly claiming as much.
Though the Calamities were only 1-star or 2-star, the damage was immense.
Whether it was conventional weapons or not, the Calamities mocked human civilization.
In the end, only those within the same system—the Awakened—could handle them.
The 4-star Calamity, the Hellfire Guard Dog, had appeared in Seoul, devouring over a thousand people before settling on Namsan.
Just yesterday, I was nearly killed by it.
‘How did that thing even appear?’
It was unusual for a 4-star Calamity to emerge from the first Eruption.
Even in the game, such a thing was impossible.
For a 4-star Calamity to appear in an Eruption, the base had to be nearly fully upgraded.
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.
‘Selene.’
The Hellfire Guard Dog had trembled in fear at the sight of the Scorched Saintess, Selene.
That meant the Hellfire Guard Dog knew Selene.
Perhaps the Hellfire Guard Dog was a member of the Dungeon Abyss.
Both were fire-attributed Calamities, after all.
Could this disaster have been caused by a dungeon boss escaping?
And the cause was none other than me.
Selene’s actions, coming to see me, had resulted in hundreds of casualties.
“…Huh.”
I didn’t feel guilty.
But it was clear that the Scorched Saintess Selene was capable of causing unimaginable destruction just by existing.
I turned my head slightly to glance at Selene.
She was kneeling near the exit of the Abyss, in a posture of prayer.
She was so still I thought she might be dead, but the flames flickering around her moved like breathing.
She seemed to be standing guard, though it felt excessive.
‘Should I really take her with me?’
It had been a day of contemplation.
But no matter how much I thought about it, the answer was the same.
‘Of course, I should.’
A 5-star Calamity was as rare as plucking a star from the sky, even in Disaster Order.
It had taken me two years of playing the game to obtain Selene.
Now that the game had become reality, the value of a 5-star character was beyond measure.
I couldn’t pass her up.
And there was only one way to collect Selene.
[Would you like to set up a base?]
[Y/N]
I placed my hand on the Y button.
Ding!
A cheerful notification sound rang out.
[Current location set as base.]
[Current ruler ‘Actor’ is located in the Dungeon ‘Abyss’.]
[Dungeon ‘Abyss’ has been set as your base!]
With that, the previously locked base management menu in the status window unlocked.
[The base is the first step in Disaster Order.]
[From the base management menu, deploy Calamities, and command expeditions, synthesis, and enhancements.]
[Collect Exp to strengthen your base.]
I clicked on the base deployment window.
In the slot was the pixelated portrait of the Scorched Saintess Selene.
‘My first character is a 5-star.’
It felt like using a cheat code.
I clicked on Selene’s portrait. A list of her current equipment appeared.
[5☆ Ember Stake Sword]
[4☆ Rosary of Corruption]
[5☆ Shell of the Dead God]
‘Even this carries over.’
I couldn’t help but laugh.
The Scorched Saintess Selene was a fire-attribute character specialized in explosive damage.
I had equipped her with the most expensive gear, and even now, in this reality, it remained.
In the bottom right corner of the base management menu was my current Exp.
[Exp: 3375]
The amount of Exp was almost like using a cheat code.
It was physically impossible to gather this much Exp from the first Eruption.
‘I’ll save it for now.’
There was no reason to use the Exp yet.
With only Selene in my roster, I couldn’t perform synthesis or enhancements.
The only option was to send out expeditions, but there was nowhere to send them.
‘Wait.’
That wasn’t entirely true.
The news article I had just read came to mind.
Disaster Order wasn’t a game where the player moved around directly.
It was a game where you sent out minion-like Calamities on expeditions to farm items.
Which meant…
“Selene.”
I cleared my throat and called her name. In an instant, she turned around.
Before I could blink, Selene was standing right in front of me.
“My lord, you called.”
Her body, marred by burns, was partially exposed, but her flawless skin, visible through her ash-gray hair, glowed like white jade in the red flames.
I almost lost myself in her gaze but managed to compose myself.
“…Selene, do you remember the Hellfire Guard Dog we saw yesterday?”
“Yes. It was the guard dog at the entrance to the Abyss. I took it in because it had nowhere to go.”
So, it was indeed a Calamity from the Abyss.
My suspicion turned to certainty.
Either way, the Hellfire Guard Dog was a 4-star fire-attribute Calamity.
It would be useful to have early on.
“Ahem. If I ordered you to capture it, would you obey?”
“Shall I go now?”
Selene nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Then, biting her lip, she spoke.
“But my lord, promise me one thing.”
“…Go on.”
“I will obey any command you give. If you order me to kill, I will kill. If you order me to die, I will die. But please, promise me you will never leave again. Promise me you will stay here. Without you, without a place to belong, I…”
Selene’s voice trailed off as she clenched her lips.
“…Forgive my impertinence. It’s not my place to worry about such things.”
“…”
What am I supposed to do with this?
Her loyalty was overwhelming.
It was hard to relax in a base like this.
But for now, it was best to play along with Selene’s rhythm.
I’d figure her out gradually.
“I won’t leave.”
Selene’s shoulders trembled. Her red eyes glistened.
“…Then, carry out your orders without worry.”
“As you command.”
Selene dissolved into particles and disappeared.
She had left the Abyss.
The pressure lifted, and I finally relaxed my stiff body.
“Ah, now I feel like I can breathe.”
I sighed and opened my phone.
[Awakened Union mobilizes to subdue the Hellfire Guard Dog.]
A new news article had popped up while I was managing the base.
The photo showed a man with a sly smile, flanked by two 2-star Calamities, the Ember Foxes.
“…Well, it should be fine.”
What could possibly go wrong?
I swallowed the rising unease.
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