Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 033

My mind spins, and my body won’t move. Having experienced being overshadowed by light while looking at the night sky, it feels more like real PTSD symptoms than a metaphor.

I close my eyes for a moment, practicing mental control through a crack in meditation.

– Beep! –

Then a sharp system notification sound penetrates my ears. Slowly opening my eyes, what I see is…

[Difficulty has increased.]

[Experience gained +30%]

[Item quantity +45%]

[Item rarity +45%]

[Trauma appears in the Rift]

Updated quest information.

‘Darn it. Even trauma?’

The difficulty increase due to the dive is expected, but the appearance of trauma made me uneasy. Trauma is a very tricky phenomenon, and sometimes it can be more challenging than boss strategies.

‘Seems like it’s related to a family’s tragic traffic accident.’

Behind several lines of system messages, a four-lane road stretches to the horizon. Buildings on either side of the road are made up of black shadows. Some of them twist or lean at strange angles, creating a grotesque atmosphere.

“The concentration of negative energy has increased! Estimated to be Rift level 2, confirmed safe movement without any anomalies!”

Hwang Man-deuk, who has been eating professional packed meals for five years, skillfully summarized the situation. The rest of them were busy rolling their eyes in awe.

Except for Hwang Man-deuk, it seemed like no one had any experience with diving. Of course, I also found this eerie and dreamlike scene fascinating, but that was one thing, and I wanted to figure out a way to survive.

‘It doesn’t seem too complicated.’

Still, since we all ended up in the same place, we could consider ourselves lucky. Just follow this long road, and we’ll reach our destination.

– Kwoong! –

Just as I thought we were lucky, a loud noise erupted from behind.

On top of a high iron hill, a large washing machine and air conditioner were looking down at us as if they were alive. The eerie gaze sent chills down my spine.

“Home Appliance Monsters?!”

“Yes!”

– Thud! Thud-thek-thek-thek! –

The washing machine and air conditioner, with agile movements, descended to the ground and rushed towards us with a determined force to pound us.

The washing machine had arms and legs made of wires, resembling a person, while the elongated air conditioner approached in a flow, like a combination of a robot vacuum cleaner and a water flow.

The levels of the two home appliance monsters were around 30 each, several times more powerful than the toy monsters on the second floor.

– Thud! Roar! Thud! –

What was astonishing is that these home appliance monsters kept falling incessantly. We had to run instead of confronting them. There must be an escape route somewhere.

‘Uh-oh. No, not that!’

Yeo Jin-soo’s sword was enveloped in blue magic. But before he could stop it, the mysterious exhaust sound approached.

– Vroom! –

– Skreeek! –

Tires made a deep mark on the ground as a white luxury sedan blocked our path a few steps away.

[Information Window]

▶ Name: Wife

▶ Category: Assistant

▶ Skills: [Booster]

[Transform]

Ignoring the car’s shocking name, since it was an assistant, let’s ride it.

Let’s see if we can withstand the onslaught of the vacuum cleaner, air purifier, refrigerator, and others like a wave.

– Boom! –

The driverless sedan honked as if urging us to board quickly. Without hesitation, I opened the driver’s seat door and jumped in.

“Get in!”

The members were already boarding the vehicle before I could say anything. Yeo Jin-soo, who had raised his magic, realized his near mistake and wiped the cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

– Vroom! –

I stepped on the accelerator without hesitation. The massive impact of the refrigerator slamming into the rear bumper made a sound, but it turned into momentum, and the car shot out like an arrow.

‘Phew, that was a close call.’

– Vroom, vroom, vroom.

–

Before my startled heart could settle, the navigation system automatically turned on.

[13km remaining to the destination.]

[Caution: Pursuit from behind.]

[Caution: Pursuit from behind.]

‘Is this a racing game?’

Through the rearview mirror, I could see delivery trucks and box trucks following closely. Even with full acceleration, they were closing the gap.

“Gil-seong take care of it.”

“Understood!”

– Boom! Bang! Pwoosh –

A bundle of explosive devices blew the delivery truck into smithereens. However, relief was short-lived as, breaking through the black smoke, a 5-ton box truck shot out at an unbelievable speed.

– Vroooom! –

– Weeiiiiing! –

The cover of the cargo compartment of the 5-ton truck that had closely trailed us opened. Inside were home appliance monsters, packed to the brim.

“Suppress them!”

– Swooosh—! –

Hwang Man-deuk’s punch landed on the swirling washing machine, which was aggressively rushing towards us. The washing machine, firmly embedded in the road, bounced off with a satisfying impact and exploded.

However, the monsters kindly waited their turn, one by one.

– Pah-am.

–

– Hoo-ung, –

Six or seven home appliance monsters leaped at us simultaneously. Quickly hitting the brakes in time, they swept through the empty air.

– Screech— Screech! –

The tires squealed as the car shook as if it would flip over.

“Focus, focus!”

– Screech –

– Vroom! –

The car spun once, then returned to its normal course. My heart swelled with excitement due to the stunt racer technique I employed, but before I could catch my breath, another obstacle appeared.

[Caution: Obstacle ahead]

[Caution: Obstacle ahead]

‘What is this now?’

As I heeded the navigation’s warning sound and looked ahead, a massive obstacles made by the home appliance monsters themselves came into view.

– Vroom-

– Screech— Screech –

With a tight maneuver and consecutive evasions, I avoided the obstacles. Simultaneously, explosive bullet from Gil-seong incessantly pierced the pursuing box trucks. Breaking through that, the flying home appliance monsters were barely repelled by Hwang Man-deuk’s punches and Yeo Jin-soo’s swordsmanship.

‘Ugh.’

The excessive mental strain felt like my head was about to explode.

[Caution: Drawbridge ahead]

[Caution: Drawbridge ahead]

As severe dizziness set in, making me feel like I was losing consciousness, the navigation flickered, projecting an image of a drawbridge lifting its legs.

‘What’s this?!’

If I gave up now and slammed the brakes, we would undoubtedly be caught by the horde of pursuing home appliance monsters.

‘Oh right. The Assistant skill!’

As soon as I regained my composure, an additional gauge bar appeared next to the fuel gauge. Below it, the words ‘Buster Gauge’ were illuminated in fluorescent green.

[97%]

[98%]

[99%]

The gauge rose with each acceleration. The booster gauge reached 100% just before climbing the drawbridge precariously.

‘Please!’

Activation.

A conspicuous button popped out from the center of the Clarkson. As soon as I saw it, I pressed it as if to smash it down. The clicking mechanical sound was heard, and booster engines protruded from the rear and side of the vehicle.

“Hold on tight.”

“Confirmed!”

– Vrooom! Fwaaaaaaaah! –

‘Ugh!’

As the engine roared like an explosion, my body was thrown backward. I kept an eye on the front, fearing the steering wheel might turn.

Just at that moment, when the overwhelming gravitational acceleration felt like my consciousness would fly away.

– Shuuuuuuung –

The sensation of floating, like when riding an amusement park ride, overwhelmed me. We flew through the sky for what seemed like several seconds.

– Phwaaah! –

‘Ugh!’

With a recoil that felt like my spine would break, we safely landed. The perceived angle of the legs seemed to exceed 60 degrees.

[200m to the destination.]

‘I almost burned out…’

Nearly there.

I accelerated with relief. There, colorful buildings appeared. There must be a passage somewhere to go upstairs.

– Baaang—Paaaah—! –

“Leader!”

“Hmm?”

– Kwaaaaaaah! –

The world turned upside down.

What was that just now?

Glass shards scattered around, and the members sat upside down, arms and legs flailing. Everyone’s expression contorted in pain.

– Piiiiiiiiing.

–

A long ringing noise echoed.

Glass shards pierced the skin, and somewhere, a head bumped with a thud.

“Is this… how I die?”

As severe pain set in, my consciousness began to blur. In the sensation of time passing slowly, I activated ‘Final Finish’ with desperate concentration.

– Wuuuuuuuuung! –

[‘Final Finish’ has been used.]

[The next attack is enhanced with the power of a finishing blow.]

– Roar! Swish—Paaah! –

After colliding with my shoulder against the glass, it bounced off the car and flew out. I barely regained balance in mid-air and touched the palm of my hand to the ground, spreading my fall like a paratrooper.

After tumbling like a somersault, I finally managed to stop.

– Kwaaagwaang—Kungkuuung….

–

The luxury sedan I was riding rolled six times and stood pitifully. The car was severely crushed and turned into a wreck.

– Kwajik—Pak! –

Hwang Man-deuk, who looked like a bear, tore off the twisted door from inside and came out, holding Gil-seong and Seo Eun-ha tightly.

“I guess being in the rear seats helped protect them.”

Beside me, Yeo Jin-soo, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was pointing his sword towards something with a determined look.

“More than that, if it had been a little later, we could have died.”

– Guooooo! –

An indescribable force of the unknown surged. I clapped my hands and then made a fist.

– Tuk—Toodoong.

–

The glass shard embedded in my forearm came out, and the flowing blood stopped on its own.

The pain from hitting my head on the ceiling and the discomfort as if my shoulder had dislocated completely disappeared.

‘It even has healing capabilities.’

I feel strange. A sense of empowerment, as if I could do anything, overwhelmed me, and my head, which had been dull, cleared up like a refreshing sky.

– Jiim—Chulkk—Jiiiiiing—Cheok Chejeok! –

Conveniently called a mixer truck, the ‘thing’ that had been a loud commotion and distortion transformed into a humanoid robot.

That’s probably the culprit who attacked us. A VR game mixed with elements of battle racing. This is going to be a hit.

‘It seems like my sense of reality is becoming dull.’

Did I become loose in the head after dying and coming back to life? Talking about such impressions.

– Kuwung! –

– Geeeer! –

The mixer truck robot, now in a posture that seemed to be pulling a seated row, let out a roar.

[Trauma: Mixer truck at the Crossroads]

The system, not sparing even the one who is not the boss, displayed the name of the trauma in a splendid style, just like the opening scene of a boss battle. It implies that the opponent is not to be taken lightly.

‘Maybe it’s a good timing.’

Although I used the leader skill for survival, it didn’t seem bad to deplete the combat gauge at this timing. While the members clashed and fought on the 4th floor and in the boss battle on the 5th floor, the combat gauge would surely fully recharge.

Carefully, I threw the explosive repair sword towards the Mixer truck robot in the awkward posture.

– Shwook Shooook! –

– Paaaaah –

-!

A large hole pierced through the thick torso. Whether it’s trauma or whatever, it was naturally a one-shot kill.

[Defeated Trauma ‘Mixer truck at the Crossroads.’]

[Acquired 380 points.]

– Uuuuuung…..

–

The momentary feeling of superiority, as if becoming the creator, was short-lived. I returned to being a feeble Isaac.

[Stress has reached a dangerous level.]

[Rest is necessary.]

‘Ughhh!’

A headache, as if my head was about to split open, attacked me. I immediately opened the inventory and used a ‘Packaged Americano Size M’ as a potent prescription.

Adding a short meditation, I quickly dispelled the headache. Then, I felt gazes upon me.

“……!”

“Leader.”