Plundering the Horrors (2)
Watching the Horror Survivor Gallery get plastered with screams, Han Yujin curled her lips in satisfaction.
'This is why I troll the gallery.'
In the end, the possible actions in this horror story were extremely limited. Open boxes. Or shake down the anomalies. And in the current situation, the most stable way to raise the exploration rate was, of course, opening boxes.
'Gotta take the risk.'
"Alright, first 10-pull of the day, here we go."
Han Yujin gripped her multi-tool knife. Using the gallery users' desperate wails as BGM, she jammed the blade tip into the tape sealing the [Recycling] box.
Sccccchhh—.
With a chilling friction sound, the tape split. At the same time, a foul stench leaked from the box's gap.
"……Urk!"
A reflexive dry heave burst out. It wasn't just rotten stink. The fishy smell of blood, decaying guts, and the acrid reek of formaldehyde mixed to claw at her brain. This was unmistakably the smell of rotting flesh.
Han Yujin held her breath and flung open the box lid. The moment she confirmed the contents, she forgot to breathe for a second.
"……."
The box was packed full. Human body parts, neatly sorted like they were categorized. Vacuum-sealed fingers stacked neatly. Dozens of eyeballs floating in transparent containers like specimens. And at the bottom, still faintly twitching hearts and unidentifiable guts slathered in goo.
The meaning of Recycling was literally reuse as parts.
Title: (GORE) Box Unboxing Review
Author: Anon
Putting a gore warning for conscience's sake. Real gore. Only look if you're curious.
(Photo attached)
The moment she posted, the gallery flipped out in less than a second.
In seconds, comments exploded. And at the same time, the screen switched.
[Post deleted by administrator. Returning to main screen.]
Soon after, questions from users who missed the horror started popping up in the gallery.
At that moment, a welcome notification popped up in the corner of Han Yujin's vision.
[??? Building ???? Room Exploration Rate: 39% → 41%]
"……It went up."
Han Yujin's eyes sparkled. Even amid this horrific sight, the exploration rate rose. Proof she'd done the right thing.
Han Yujin hummed as she headed back to the [Waste] section where she'd first woken up.
"Nice. Waste 10-pull time."
She approached the nearest [Waste] box. The gallery users seemed half-resigned already.
Shlick— The first [Waste] box opened.
"…What."
The box was empty. Just a few dust bunnies rolling on the bottom.
[Exploration Rate: 42%]
"Oh, this raises it too."
Excited, Han Yujin moved to the next box.
Shlick— Second box opened.
"……."
This time, the box was filled with unidentifiable black sludge. It seemed to pulse faintly.
[Exploration Rate: 43%]
The mood flipped. Unlike the shocking horror of the [Recycling] box, the [Waste] boxes were grotesque but not immediately threatening. Users started enjoying it bit by bit. Han Yujin's box openings turned into a gacha stream in seconds.
"Next!"
Shlick— Third box. Thousands of cockroaches inside. They scattered everywhere as it opened.
"Aaaah! Bugs! Hate 'em!"
Han Yujin recoiled in horror. Her one true fear.
[Exploration Rate: 44%]
Shaking off the cockroach trauma, Han Yujin headed to the fourth box.
Shlick— Fourth box. An old mannequin head inside, eyes closed in a creepy smile.
[Exploration Rate: 45%]
Shlick— Fifth box. Full of rotten hair.
[Exploration Rate: 46%]
Shlick— Sixth box. Seventh box. Han Yujin was in the groove. No more waiting for gallery reactions. Like a factory worker drone, she mechanically opened, checked, moved on.
Open, check. Open, check. Open, check.
[Exploration Rate: 48%]
[Exploration Rate: 50%]
[Exploration Rate: 51%]
[Exploration Rate: 53%]
The gallery had moved past shock to awe.
Less than 20 minutes conservatively until the timer hit red. Even accounting for last time's sudden speedup.
"Alright. One more then bail."
Han Yujin approached the last pristine [Waste] box in the corner. Unlike others, no dampness or dents.
"Rare item maybe?"
Expectant, she lightly sliced the tape with her knife. Just a bit more force and it'd...
—Zzzt!
Suddenly the tape split in half with a pop, and the box opened on its own.
"…Huh? Why'd it tear all the way…"
And before she could mutter anything.
"———————"
A hand-like thing burst from the box, grabbing it. Goosebumps exploded over her body.
Tat-tat-tat—!
Reflexively, Han Yujin spun and sprinted back the way she'd come. Didn't know what it was, but definitely not human, not something she could handle.
"Hah, hah!"
Maybe if she ran like hell she'd survive.
—Rounding the corner with that thought.
—Shhshshsh!
Chilling sound; looking back, spider-like long legs visible over the box.
—Crash!
Instinctively knocking over boxes as she ran. Glancing back hoping it'd stopped, now its body. A grotesque doll-like face blinking closer.
"Heuk, hah!"
Oh shit. Gonna get caught. Mind went blank white. End.
About to leave her last words in the gallery.
Krunch!
A nearby [Waste] box burst open, something black shooting out. It coiled around Han Yujin's waist with iron force. No time to dodge.
"Gyaaah?!"
With a scream, Han Yujin was yanked into the box. Right after she vanished, the grotesque legs swept the spot she'd stood.
—Bang!
The lid slammed shut. Perfect darkness.
—Scrrrrrrch!
Horrific scraping on the floor outside the box.
"Haa, haa…."
Alive for now. But Han Yujin had to hold her breath. The thing that pulled her in was right behind her now. Damp... furry warmth and breath.
Gulp.
Han Yujin swallowed dryly and very slowly... turned her head. In the dark, two bright yellow eyes with vertical slits stared back at her.