Global Awakening: Only I Can Respawn

Lucifer and Asmodeus didn't look surprised by the announcement. Neither were the rest, as the fallen angels had already informed them about it.

The second disaster.

Lucifer wanted to tell YuWon everything about the disaster, but Asmodeus stopped him. Unlike Lucifer, he still had some lingering feelings toward being an angel and wanted the awakeners to go through the trial themselves.

Hence, Asmodeus didn't want them to interfere much in the trials. Even though they were just as much mortal as the awakeners. Anna was surprised by it because he had actively taken part in the trials in his timeline.

But since YuWon was alive and had received considerable strength, maybe he didn't find it necessary to screw over the gods himself. Either way, that was their situation.

"Alright, that's pretty much it, cockroaches. Oh, I almost forgot. The portal will open at midnight. Just so you people have time to prepare."

With that, the angel smiled cheerfully at the awakeners and nodded toward the fallen angels before disappearing.

"It's weird seeing a junior act all superior," Lucifer scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Heal up," YuWon instructed everyone.

As everyone got busy, YuWon walked up to the fallen angels. "I suppose you're staying back?"

Asmodeus nodded. They had already discussed each other's roles. The Awakeners would carry on as they were supposed to, while the two of them would stay behind as guides to help other mortals climb the world tree.

Lucifer wasn't pleased with the decision but obeyed Asmodeus. So did YuWon. It wasn't like he could force them to fight by their side.

"Alright, but could you help with the preparations?" YuWon asked. "It'll be a pain to get the newbies up to speed."

"I'll handle it," Asmodeus nodded, assuringly.

***

A few minutes before midnight...

"I'm not staying back," Lucifer announced, entering YuWon's room. "That old bastard can blow the gods for all I care, but I won't."

YuWon couldn't help but laugh. He already knew Lucifer had made up his mind. Asmodeus might not want to screw over the gods, but Lucifer did. He was too full of pride not to.

"Welcome aboard," YuWon laughed, patting the guy's back. "Your experience will be much needed."

"Yeah, yeah, someone needs to carry your ass."

"We're done preparing," Anna arrived with the girls.

Some awakeners stayed back because of injuries or a lack of will to fight a disaster. Min-Ji and Hojin fell in the latter category, while Yuna stayed behind because YuWon asked her.

He wanted to have some people he trusted to stay back. Besides, since she was in a relationship with Hojin, it was only right for her to stay back and care for him.

"Good. Now we wait."

"Not for long," Lucifer commented, counting down with his fingers.

With a burst of light, the portal appeared as soon as he finished counting.

"You're an annoying, cocky bastard," YuWon shook his head as they got up to leave.

"Same to you, bitch." Lucifer retorted.

***

After stepping through the portal, the group found themselves in the middle of a massive lake, surrounded by mist, and giant water lily leaves floating on the water. They were standing on those leaves and each leaf held ten or fewer people on it.

They were in awe, but the peace didn't last long. The water beneath them suddenly had many ripples. Those who had survived the mole disaster quickly climbed the lily's stems.

"Everyone, get off the leaves!"

Others quickly followed suit. Just then, something burst out of the water. It was a monstrous, two-headed, dragon-like beast. But Lucifer called it the Hydra Disaster.

As the hydra appeared before them, so did the quest notification.

[Trial: Swamp of Lerna]

[Type: Survival]

[Objective:

>> Survive for two days on the lake without being killed.

>> Alternatively, kill the Hydra to clear the trial.]

[Rewards: To be revealed after completion.]

"...so this is what Lerna looks like," YuWon couldn't believe what he was seeing.

The swamp of Lerna was part of the famous tale featuring one of Hercules's labors. The more he recalled about it, the more YuWon realized the dangers of being there. After all, the Hydra wasn't the only thing they had to be worried about there.

Since the Hydra is here, the water must be toxic. So should the fruits in this region.

Everything they could eat or drink, from the water to the fruits, was poisonous. Hence, surviving in the swamp won't be as easy as the notification made it sound.

They'd have a better chance of killing the creature instead. But how will he explain it to the rest?

[You have gained a special status effect!]

[Curse of Lerna]

[Description:

Poison Mist: The toxic air of the swamp slowly drains everyone's health.

Swamp Madness: Staying too long in the Hydra's presence can cause hallucinations.

Night Hazard: Enemies become stronger at nightfall.]

[The artifact: Traveler's Bracelet has negated the curse effects on you.]

Thank you for that.

Even with the curse lifted, YuWon wasn't happy for long. He was the only one immune to the scenario. The rest of them will be affected, regardless. Some people might even die from the poison from prolonged exposure to the toxins.

"Yeji, don't waste your heal on the rest," YuWon mumbled.

Yeji nodded. After the incident involving her losing control, she lost the urge to help anyone. Hence, YuWon's request didn't bother him. As for the rest of his group, no one cared about the others.

"This will be easy," Lucifer suddenly smiled. "Dealing with a two-headed Hydra-ling is far better than dealing with the actual thing."

"That thing is the child of the real hydra?" YuWon asked. "Wait... who even impregnated that thing?"

"Did you mean who didn't?" Lucifer laughed. "A few entities have an obsession for certain... things."

"...I can't believe this," Yeji chimed in. "Why was none of this mentioned in ancient texts? I used to read a lot of them so—!"

"You don't believe the gods to tell you everything, do you?" Lucifer scoffed. "What you humans know about them is just the tip of the iceberg compared to the truth. Let's focus on getting rid of this thing for now."