Third Scenario: The City of Ruins

Lore & Background

In this scenario, the environment itself acts as a hostile entity. The city, stripped of its former civilization and covered in rubble, demands constant vigilance. Participants must scavenge for resources while avoiding the gaze of high-level monsters that prowl the streets. The scenario primarily tests endurance and combat readiness, with Kim Dokja’s knowledge proving most useful for locating hidden supplies and sidestepping deadly encounters. Unlike later scenarios, strategic maneuvering takes a backseat to raw survival. This scenario is a solo ordeal for Kim Dokja; Yoo Joonghyuk does not appear here, and Yoo Sangah is rescued later during the fourth scenario, the Theater Dungeon. The City of Ruins instead highlights Kim Dokja’s ability to adapt on the fly, using his fragmented memories of the novel to stay one step ahead of the chaos.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled through the skeletal remains of skyscrapers, carrying the scent of frost and old blood. Kim Dokja adjusted his glasses, scanning the debris-strewn street not as a survivor would, but as an observer reading a script he had memorized by heart. Shadows lengthened between the ruined buildings, shifting into forms that defied natural law. Yoo Joonghyuk stood ahead, sword drawn, his expression unreadable behind layers of fatigue. "Don't go left," Dokja whispered, knowing exactly which alleyway held a trap from the original novel's third chapter. "The path is clear if we wait for the patrol to pass." The regressor paused, eyes narrowing at the reader who knew more than he should. In this city of ruins, information was the only currency that didn't freeze.

Reader's Guide

The primary objective of this scenario is survival within a monster-infested urban zone without losing all party members. Participants must locate safe zones and complete specific sub-quests related to resource gathering or dungeon clearing. The outcome typically results in the group advancing past the initial freezing phase, unlocking access to higher-level Constellation contracts. Successfully navigating the ruins grants essential items and reputation points needed for future challenges. In terms of plot impact, this scenario solidifies Kim Dokja’s role as a strategist rather than just a follower. It highlights the difference between Yoo Joonghyuk's muscle memory from regressions and Dokja's narrative foresight. Depending on the timeline, variations may occur where different side characters survive or perish based on reader choices.

Did You Know?

• This scenario serves as Kim Dokja's first major test of survival, where he uses his knowledge of the novel to locate resources and avoid threats rather than for large-scale strategic planning.
• Yoo Joonghyuk does not appear in the Third Scenario; he first meets Kim Dokja in the fourth scenario, the Theater Dungeon.
• Yoo Sangah is not rescued during the Third Scenario; she joins Kim Dokja's party later in the fourth scenario (Theater Dungeon).
• The monsters encountered here are not tied to a 'Freezing' mechanic; that mechanic belongs to the first subway scenario, not the City of Ruins.
• While some temporary alliances form during this scenario, major long-term party members like Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung are not recruited here.