Duo Leveling LITRPG | Post Apocalyptic | SYSTEM-Chapter 178 - 219+220

A small, uninhabited island beyond Nedroum.

Perhaps because people rarely came here, the area—rumored to be where the spacecraft had been stored—remained untouched.

No dungeonization had occurred.

"Easy now… good! Bring it in!"

"Dropping anchor!"

The Ark players powerged to dock the cruise ship safely on the island, where even the traces of human presence had faded.

Their first priority was exploring the island.

The research facility was hidden between ravines just beyond a small hill.

"Fortunately, the power's still running."

A hydroelectric generator connected to the sea was supplying energy to the lab.

Though the place was thick with dust from years of neglect, it was still operational.

Bellatris tapped away at the control panel.

"As expected, fuel reserves are the problem…"

There was just enough to reach the moon.

The real issue was the return trip—there wasn't enough backup fuel in the facility to bring them back.

For now, the spacecraft was a one-way ticket.

"…I'll find a way to replace it with Power somehow."

The good news: everything was repairable.

They just needed time to prepare for a safe launch.

Twenty days until lunar impact.

The rest depended on the engineers' skill.

Time passed relentlessly.

"We're at the final phase of the test launch. If this succeeds, we can send the spacecraft to the moon immediately."

The scientists, who looked like they lived in birds' nests, stared at the holograms.

From the 3D-rendered spacecraft, engines ignited.

Straight into the sky.

"Altitude: 620 kilometers… Stage separation successful."

Their nerves were frayed thin.

How many failures had it taken to get here?

If it failed again, they didn't know what they'd adjust next.

But in the hologram, the spacecraft continued climbing.

Smoothly. Steadily.

Toward the moon.

"…It's working. It's working!"

"We did it!"

They embraced one another, laughing loudly—faces shadowed with fatigue now lit with joy.

It had taken eleven days to get this far.

"What time is it? No, wait—we have to tell Bellatris."

"…She's probably sleeping."

"Wake her up! She said to report success right away!"

The scientists hurriedly moved, banging on the doors of the once-silent dorms like they were about to break them down.

Even half-asleep, the players sprang up and came running at the news.

Jhin was among them.

Success.Success.Success.

The green text floating over the hologram explained everything.

Bellatris arrived shortly after, smiling in satisfaction as she looked at Jhin.

"What are you doing just standing there?"

"Huh?"

"Let's go. You're not skipping the moon mission, are you?"

The repairs had already consumed eleven days.

Only nine remained.

They had to conserve every hour they could.

"What about Clark?"

"I'm right here," said Millie, already on site.

Soon after came Tempah, drenched in sweat as if he'd just finished training, and a half-asleep Lutz.

Preparations were complete.

"All right. Let's launch."

At Jhin's words, the scientists jumped into action.

The research facility's ceiling opened, revealing the spacecraft under the pale light of the moon.

After changing into his spacesuit, Jhin headed to the launch platform.

Lutz, who had arrived first, wore a nervous expression.

"This is… happening fast."

"Yes. But we expected this."

"Still…"

The lunar mission party consisted of Jhin, Millie, Tempah, and Lutz.

Jhin had been selected for his rare spatial teleportation skill and potion-based healing abilities.

'Bellatris would've been great to bring… but she needs to stay behind and run the lab.'

Before long, Tempah and Millie arrived, wearing thick suits built for space.

"I'm glad they had a suit that fit you, Mr. Tempah."

"…They modified one. It's a bit tight, but powergeable."

That was the end of idle talk.

The launch signal dropped, and the four-person strike team entered the spacecraft.

It was tighter than expected.

"If I hang up a picture and pray, that's gotta be a death flag, right?"

"…Then don't do it."

Jokes with Lutz, whom he'd grown close to during dungeon runs, helped ease the tension.

Millie nodded firmly, and Tempah's face was set in grim determination.

Only the launch remained.

And then, right on schedule—

3, 2, 1… Launching Matris.

The gravity pressed down on them as the rocket lifted vertically.

Outside footage streamed through a screen onboard.

Some people prayed. Others clenched their fists and stared.

Adjusting trajectory.

The onboard system shifted the rocket slightly.

Now that they were near the moon, even the smallest margin of error mattered.

A voice came through from the research base.

It was Dean.

—"…How's the flight?"

"More comfortable than expected."

—"Good. The booster will detach soon, and then you'll fully enter space. From that point on, you'll be piloting with power."

"We've trained enough. Don't worry."

The Power control module had been installed by Bellatris. There was no reason to doubt its performance.

The rest depended on the players.

Jhin—it all fell on him.

—"Then I leave it to you—wait."

Suddenly, panic entered Jhin's voice.

—"An unidentified flying object is approaching the spacecraft! One moment…!"

Jhin looked at the screen and quickly found the target.

Whatever it was, it was flying fast—straight at them.

Soon, the visuals locked in.

—"It's a Red Wyvern!!"

A wyvern over level 100—how had it appeared here?

Jhin narrowed his eyes, confirming its type and movement.

—"At this rate, it's going to collide!"

The scientists' simulations had never accounted for monsters.

Even launching the spacecraft itself had been no small feat.

Had they included such variables, a 20-day launch deadline would have been completely impossible.

—"Mr. Jhin…!"

As Dean's urgent voice crackled through the comms, Jhin unfastened the safety restraints securing his body.

He turned to Lutz, who was watching the monitor with a tense expression.

"I'll need your help for a moment."

"…Huh? What do you mean?"

"We need to chase off those birds."

The plan was simple.

He would use Lutz's spatial movement skill to teleport outside the spacecraft, and then drive away the Red Wyverns—whether with fireballs or by the blade.

"…You'll die."

"Don't worry about that."

"No, I mean it. Even for you, this is too dangerous. You're talking about stepping outside a flying spacecraft!"

The Red Wyverns were rapidly closing in. Judging by their direct flight path, they looked ready to perform a suicide dive if needed.

"If I don't do this, it ends either way."

It was too late for hesitation.

If the spacecraft exploded, it wouldn't end with just their deaths.

In nine days, Earth would collide with the moon—a massive, apocalyptic impact.

"And besides… I'm not going to die."

Jhin activated Specter Legion, his entire body now clad in otherworldly armor.

He shrouded himself in power. It would be enough—for now.

"Millie. I'm counting on you to take care of the spacecraft."

"…Please be careful."

With the situation unfolding so quickly, Lutz had no choice but to obey.

He looked at the now-transformed Jhin and muttered quietly.

"Don't die. If you're gone… dungeon clears or anything else will be impossible."

"…You know, that sounds like a death flag."

Player 'Lutz' has activated Spatial Movement (C)..

Suddenly, his vision expanded as the sensation of floating overtook him.

By the time he regained awareness, he was at the boundary of the sky and space—where even oxygen grew thin.

In the distance, the Red Wyverns were barreling toward them at terrifying speed.

Equipment: Wings of the Dragonblood Warrior activated.

You may now fly freely for 10 minutes.

'Let's begin.'

Jhin spread his wings wide and shot toward the swarm of Red Wyverns.

The moment they noticed him, the creatures let out violent shrieks and spewed fire in his direction.

Kraaaaak! Kiiiik!

He tucked in his wings and accelerated.

Fireballs soared toward him, but he dodged with ease and sliced the throat of one Red Wyvern with the Meteorblade of Calamity.

It happened in an instant.

The others screamed in panic.

'No time to waste. I'll take them all down in one go.'

He funneled a massive amount of Power into his body and cut through the swarm.

Seven Red Wyverns in total.

In less than four minutes, they were spiraling down toward Earth—missing heads, wings, or both.

Holding his breath, Jhin looked upward again.

Good thing he was used to fighting without oxygen.

'The spacecraft…?'

It had already escaped Earth's atmosphere, heading deeper into space.

The booster had detached, and the Powerengine was glowing blue.

'Good. It worked.'

He clenched his teeth and redirected his flight path.

As long as the wings were active, he could fly in space.

The only issue now—was time.

He hurled fireballs downward to accelerate further.

Powered by power, the flames didn't need oxygen. That alone was fortunate.

'Almost there. Just a little more…'

He tore through the stratosphere, pushing toward the edge of space.

At this point, every passing second felt like a lance of pain stabbing through him.

But he endured.

The spirit armor of Specter Legion still held.

Equipment: Wings of the Dragonblood Warrior has expired.

Unfortunately, before he could reach the spacecraft, his flight time ran out.

He was now drifting in space—unsupported.

But—

'I can still make it!'

The remaining momentum pushed against his shoulders.

Even as his armor began to fray, Jhin reached out.

And finally—he made contact with the spacecraft.

'Success…'

Barely.

'Good thing I cleared the Gray Desert ahead of time.'

You have been exposed to radiation.

Partial Antibodies Detected.Radiation reduced by 30 Partial antibodies detected. Radiation reduced by 30%.Partial Antibodies Detected.Radiation Reduced By 30

Skill: Rapid Regeneration (F) activated.

Bubbles formed beneath his frayed armor. His damaged skin began to knit itself together.

If he hadn't built up antibodies during the contaminated bunker mission, he might not have made it.

After all, F-rank regeneration alone couldn't withstand space radiation.

Tap.

Lutz tapped him from behind.

Clad in a fully sealed spacesuit, he looked as if he might burst into tears.

He tugged at Jhin's sleeve—a clear signal: let's go back.

But Jhin pointed to the side.

"…?"

And there it was—Earth, as seen from space.

The blue oceans, the forests, the clouds swirling over a planet scarred by the apocalypse.

Still stunning.

More beautiful than anything he had ever seen in life.

'So this is what success looks like. I actually made it into space.'

He let out a quiet, bitter laugh and took Lutz's hand.

Together, they re-entered the spacecraft.

Inside, Millie was also watching Earth through the screen.

She let out a deep, relieved breath.

"…All right. Resuming course."

The comms had gone dark—likely due to the atmospheric transition.

Still, she dutifully reported their status toward the silent Earth.

She guided the ship, adjusting its path with power.

Vrrrrm.

March 12, 2020.

To prevent an unprecedented disaster—the moon's collision with Earth—

the Matris, Earth's first and only moon-bound spacecraft, had safely entered orbit.

Its course was now set.

They were headed for the moon.