A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 862 Chapter 859: Side Story - Island Survival (4)

"By the way... what exactly is this Anomalous Phenomena Management Bureau?"

When Kim Han-ro inquired, Kim Runi responded with a peculiar smile.

"As you are likely aware... in this world, many inexplicable events occur. Among these, some are beyond human capacity to handle. This island, for instance... or phenomena like that. We are a national organization established to manage such occurrences."

"...So, you mean there are other things like this island and the reagent in this world?"

"Yes. Well, we can discuss those details later... Each anomalous phenomenon operates under its own set of rules."

Kim Hae-sol and Kim Han-ro both nodded in understanding at Kim Runi's explanation.

"If one learns these rules thoroughly, not only can they survive... they can also manipulate anomalous phenomena, much like how I brought you two here via phone. Therefore... our most pressing task is to uncover the rule governing that monster."

Upon hearing Kim Runi's words, Kim Hae-sol and Kim Han-ro began to outline the rules of the monster they had discovered.

"Understood. Let's share what we've found. First, while inside a building, it actively pursues us with its eyesight. Outdoors, however, it tracks us by the sound of our breathing. Furthermore, if we were to bleed, it seems to hunt the scent of blood, independently of our breathing sounds or whether we are inside or outside."

"Hm."

Kim Runi produced a notebook and began meticulously recording Kim Han-ro's observations.

Suddenly, Kim Hae-sol recalled another detail and spoke up.

"It also unleashes invisible slashes. It launched a blade from a distance of four or five meters, and something flew out, striking both me and Mr. Kim Han-ro. And..."

Kim Hae-sol reflected on the phenomenon he had witnessed firsthand.

"That invisible slash also appears to adhere to a specific rule. How should I put it..."

After a moment of contemplation, Kim Hae-sol nodded, summarizing his thoughts.

"It seems to be influenced by the surrounding environment."

"The surrounding environment... I see. I'll keep that in mind as well. And the rule I discovered is... when it duplicates, it does so irrespective of time and space, regardless of its location."

"Pardon? What do you mean by that?"

"I had originally infiltrated as part of the audience guide staff and observed the game. However, after that entity materialized, it had already reached the helipad area, adjacent to the audio-visual room where spectators were housed."

"..."

"And after realizing that, I checked the dock area too, but... it suddenly appeared there as well. It effectively sealed off every potential escape route from this island. By transcending space, I mean."

"Em."

At this revelation, Kim Han-ro stroked his chin, a look of intrigue on his face.

"That's quite interesting, in a way."

"Hm? What's so interesting about it?"

"Well... actually, regarding this island, there's a sort of urban legend passed down among our suppression team and the operations team. But that legend and the monster's instantaneous movement ability seem somewhat similar."

"Please elaborate. We need every scrap of information, even a mere legend, to better comprehend the rules."

"Ah, certainly. Firstly... to set foot on this phantom island, one must unconditionally receive a transmission through the communications tower located within the island. If a transmission isn't received, and one attempts to enter based solely on a sea chart, for some inexplicable reason, entry is 'absolutely' impossible. It's as if the island itself doesn't exist in this realm... Consequently, a story circulates among those who work here, suggesting that 'this phantom island is alive, it moves, and it's a spectral entity that abruptly shifts its position across the sea.'"

"Hm... that does bear a resemblance to the monster that appeared by suddenly moving through space."

"Ah, it's merely a ghost story. Rationally speaking, how could an island possibly move?"

"Hm, and a drug that transforms people into monsters is rational?"

"..."

Kim Runi glanced at the two men before speaking.

"Both of you must accept that there are phenomena that defy our common sense, anomalous occurrences. And that legend is likely, with a high probability, the truth. This island is genuinely alive, and it truly shifts its location spatially, roaming here and there. In any case, thank you for providing such a valuable clue."

Concluding his remarks, he seemed to have another thought and addressed the duo once more.

"First off, there is a method to definitively escape this island."

"Heok, wh-what is it?"

Kim Hae-sol's face lit up, but then, as Kim Runi continued, a peculiar expression crossed his features.

"The Anomalous Phenomena Management Bureau. Specifically, obtaining assistance from the Director. If anyone can help us, it would be her."

"Heok...! As expected, someone with such immense power..."

Kim Hae-sol maneuvers through the island, evading monsters and drawing nearer to its core, gaining valuable insights along the way.

"Yes. It’s distinct; a phenomenon originating from the island’s center appears to encompass the entire landmass."

What Kim Hae-sol observes is...

An unusual emanation, originating from the island’s heart, is being assimilated by the various monsters.

This phenomenon seems to influence the monsters, and as Kim Hae-sol approaches the center, the occurrences of monsters employing invisible slashes diminish.

"I believe there’s truly something at the island’s center. Furthermore... as the monsters venture further from the central influence, their invisible slash attacks become more frequent. It’s as if the power emanating from the island’s core is disrupting the monsters’ abilities."

"Hmm... how peculiar. Below the central communications tower lies a laboratory and an extraction facility. This is where resources are procured, studied, and subsequently refined into reagents. It’s conceivable that this resource’s influence is at play. However... until now, there has never been an instance where a resource’s power interfered with a compatible subject’s abilities. This is quite strange. If anything, proximity to the island’s center usually amplifies abilities, never impede them..."

Reacting to Kim Han-ro’s statement, Kim Runi posits a theory.

"Perhaps... that slash is an innate ability the female participant originally possessed. That woman might have been a different kind of anomaly, or perhaps she was influenced by one. When different anomalous phenomena converge, they might neutralize each other."

"Um... could that be possible...?"

As Kim Runi ponders this, Kim Hae-sol finally begins to grasp Yang Ji-hwang's consistently relaxed demeanor.

'So, she was a 'noona' who possessed a mysterious ability from the very beginning...'

A sudden realization strikes him.

'Wait, if she had that kind of inherent ability, and the island’s influence is hindering it, causing it to manifest only gradually the further she is from the center... then if we could take 'noona' off the island, wouldn’t she recover? Her original ability would likely become stronger than the one affected by the island.'

Suddenly, Kim Hae-sol remembers Yang Ji-hwang’s parting words.

If there’s a situation where you must save me, don’t save me.

'Why did she say that...?'

After a moment of reflection, Kim Hae-sol shakes his head.

'Never mind. For now, let’s focus on the immediate objective.'

"Alright, we must be close now, correct? First, we need to reach the second floor of the communications tower. We’ll go as far as the signal-jamming device. After that, either I or Mr. Kim Han-ro will disable it."

"Yes, understood."

Kim Hae-sol retrieves the phone from within the underground prison and proceeds towards the island’s surface.

Paat!

Taking a simultaneous breath, he clutches the red phone, dropped beside him, and flees.

In the distance, veiled by the fog, a structure identified as the communications tower is visible.

'The second floor of that building. Once I reach there...!'

Everything will be resolved.

Kim Hae-sol enters the first floor and then seeks an alternative route to regain his breath, positioning himself behind the phone.

With newfound caution, Kim Hae-sol opens the communications tower door and steps inside.

'Is there no one here...?'

Reassuring himself with this thought, he quietly searches for the staircase leading to the second floor.

Just as he is about to ascend the stairs.

"..."

Kim Hae-sol encounters a monster descending from the second floor.

'Inside a building... and it can see with its naked eyes...'

As this thought crosses Kim Hae-sol’s mind, he swiftly moves to bring the phone to his ear.

Sssst—

Silent yet astonishingly swift.

The monster, swathed in bandages, is suddenly directly before Kim Hae-sol’s eyes.

A single swing of its arm would mean instant death for Kim Hae-sol.

'N-No... there’s no time to answer the call... I’m finished...'

At that critical moment.

Jiiiiiing—

A potent vibration emanates unexpectedly from Kim Hae-sol’s embrace.

"Uh, uh...?"

It is the small device bestowed upon him by Kim Yeon.

This item was reportedly commissioned by Kang Min-hee from her laboratory.

Although it was confiscated upon his arrival on the island, he managed to retrieve it during the brief window when the host presented the personal belongings in boxes.

The device is now vibrating erratically.

And as this vibration intensifies past a certain threshold...

A brilliant light erupts from within Kim Hae-sol's embrace, initiating a pushback against the monstrous entity.

Chijijijik!

With a sound akin to burning, the monster retreats from the light's reach, scrambling up the stairs.

Chichichit—

The illumination ceases after a short period, and the device's operation also winds down, yet this interruption creates an opening for Kim Hae-sol.

He swiftly brings his phone to his ear and passes through the generated space.

***

"Heheok...heok..."

"What’s happening? What occurred?"

Kim Hae-sol removes his sunglasses and begins to explain.

"I've made it inside the building. However, perhaps due to the building's location at the island's core... an abundance of peculiar energy is flowing, which interfered with the effectiveness of the Glasses That See Death. Consequently, well... I briefly encountered the monster near the stairs."

"What did you say!? It seems you had a narrow escape. Let me see them for a moment."

Kim Runi briefly takes the Glasses That See Death and dons them himself.

According to Kim Runi, these glasses reveal events or entities connected to death when worn in the outside world. Conversely, when viewed from within this realm known as the 'Underworld,' they purportedly show matters pertaining to life.

In essence, he explains, they allow one to perceive the external, real world from this hidden dimension.

"This… it really was on the stairs. You truly had a close call, didn't you?"

"Yes, indeed..."

'Had it not been for Kim Yeon's device, I would have nearly perished.'

This thought is on the cusp of being voiced by Kim Hae-sol, but an inexplicable premonition urges him not to mention Kim Yeon's name.

'Why? Why do I have this feeling...? Ah, I understand now.'

Kim Yeon is known to have met Kang Min-hee in reality.

Furthermore, Kim Runi had stated that anyone meeting Kang Min-hee in reality cannot exist and requires psychiatric evaluation.

Caught in the unsettling dissonance between these two conflicting claims, Kim Hae-sol senses a strong imperative to remain silent on the matter.

'I'm uncertain of the reason... but for the time being, it's probably best to keep my mouth shut about this.'

"...It truly was... a close call."

Wiping away beads of cold sweat, Kim Hae-sol conceals the complete truth.