Chapter 62
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: A Monstrous Visitor
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ha Dongseok, the leader who cleanly felled the Smasher with his greatsword, released the skill he had used. His swollen muscles contracted, returning to their original state.
‘Indeed, with one more trait, it's on another level altogether.’
Ha Dongseok thought to himself as he checked his status window.
Upon reaching level 10, he had become eligible for an additional trait, and conveniently, the Beast Warrior trait had dropped from the previous Smasher kill, so Ha Dongseok decided to equip it himself.
[Beast Warrior]
Wield power that transcends human limits to crush your foes.
Requires Combat Specialist trait to equip.
The new skill that came with acquiring this trait was Super Strength.
Super Strength Lv 1
Transcends the limits of latent power, permanently boosting physical abilities.
Permanently increases Strength by 2.
Value increases when skill level reaches multiples of 5.
It might seem like a decent skill at first glance, but comparing it to his Body Enhancement skill, maxed at level 7, changes everything.
Body Enhancement Lv 7
Boosts physical abilities for 1 hour.
Increases Strength by 2.
Value increases when skill level reaches multiples of 5.
Body Enhancement at level 7 has a fixed duration of 1 hour and boosts Strength by 2, but Super Strength has no duration—it's a permanent +2 to Strength. Factoring in cooldowns that prevent spamming Body Enhancement, Super Strength is ridiculously superior.
Ha Dongseok's base Strength was originally 5. After acquiring Super Strength, it became 7 by default, and activating Body Enhancement pushed it to 9. That was why he could stand toe-to-toe with the Smasher without being overpowered.
Once Ha Dongseok dispatched the Smasher, his subordinates, who had fallen back, rushed to his side.
"As expected of the boss!"
"One Smasher's nothing now!"
"Hearing this... that rat bas—er, Seo Taeil might actually have a point."
The man they called "rat bastard" Seo Taeil was currently handling operations for the base. He was the one who insisted all coins earned from killing zombies be invested in Ha Dongseok.
At first, most people rebelled, and even Ha Dongseok struggled to accept it.
It felt like a betrayal of trust to hoard everyone's hard-earned coins for himself alone.
That's when Seo Taeil boldly declared in front of everyone:
"I understand your objections. But as the achievement quests warn, the real threats aren't just regular zombies—it's the unknown mutants. Guns work now, but what happens when bullets fail against them? We'll need the power of this system that made us Awakeners!"
He continued that forging one ultimate warrior could handle any mutant. After deep consideration, Ha Dongseok followed his advice.
Surviving the zombie apocalypse had slowly convinced him Seo Taeil was right.
The first mutant, the Lacer, moved too fast for normal people to hit reliably with guns. Some died without landing a shot.
Ha Dongseok stepped up, proving he could solo a Lacer with Body Enhancement and weapons. After that, complaints died down.
Especially during the Zombie Wave, when the Smasher appeared—not as agile as a Lacer, but bullet sponges. Ha Dongseok handling it solo conserved precious ammo, which everyone appreciated.
Occasionally, some now argued the boss was strong enough, so they wanted coins too. But Seo Taeil shot them down every time.
A few disliked Seo Taeil, but his skills made him indispensable. No one dared exile him.
Without him, there'd be no ammo supply.
The weekly shop sold bullets, but not infinitely. They'd run out fast even buying everything.
If not for Seo Taeil's Bullet Crafting skill from his Weapon Crafter trait, they'd be clubbing zombies with rifles by now.
Bullet Crafting Lv 1
Produces 1 bullet per 1 coin.
Chance for extra bullets on crafting.
Extra bullet chance: 5%.
Requires Weapon Crafter trait to equip.
The first Smasher encounter mobilized the entire base's firepower to finally take it down—and that's when this skill dropped. Seo Taeil, the only Weapon Crafter, equipped it, earning his role producing ammo for everyone.
"Alright, back to our posts!"
With the Smasher threat cleanly handled by Ha Dongseok, everyone felt safe and turned to resume their duties.
"Useful, huh?"
As they walked away, a unfamiliar voice came from the dead Smasher's direction.
Startled, Ha Dongseok whipped around to see a man eyeing the corpse with amusement.
"Hey, who the hell are you? How'd you get in here?"
His subordinates spotted the stranger too. One approached him.
"Me? Name's Kim Jaehwan."
The man who introduced himself as Kim Jaehwan grinned innocently, unfazed by the approaching thug.
"Who asked your name? This ain't your house—get out!"
"...Nah, I don't think so."
"What? You little shit!"
Enraged by the blatant trolling, one subordinate cocked a fist—only for Ha Dongseok to grab his arm.
"B-Boss?"
"Stand down. This guy's beyond you."
The subordinate backed off, baffled by Ha Dongseok's words about the ordinary-looking man. Everyone else was confused too.
But Ha Dongseok sensed danger from Kim Jaehwan.
His instincts screamed warnings about the sudden intruder. Even with his superior physique, he hadn't sensed Kim Jaehwan's approach. A sneak attack could've been fatal.
That's why he pulled his man back.
"Kim Jaehwan, was it? Where'd you come from?"
"Saw your guys clearing zombies around here today. Followed out of curiosity."
"What's your purpose here?"
"Purpose? Got interested, that's all. Pretty impressive sweeping zombies with guns. Followed the trail... and found something even more fun."
With that, Kim Jaehwan pointed at Ha Dongseok.
"You're pretty strong, huh? Even the toughest guy I know couldn't solo a Smasher, but you made it look easy. Intriguing."
His playful tone carried an inexplicable chill for Ha Dongseok.
"Plus, I overheard. You hold all the coins here, right?"
"What? How the hell?!"
Shocked that an outsider knew such sensitive info, Ha Dongseok dismissed any betrayal— no benefit in leaking it.
"I've got my ways. Not important, though... I was wondering whether to take all your coins by force."
*Click! Click! Click!*
Instantly, his subordinates chambered rounds and aimed at Kim Jaehwan. His words left no room for anything but hostility.
"Boss! No need to listen to this lunatic."
"Just say the word, and we blast him!"
Fingers on triggers, ready to fire.
The distance was just over 5 meters—tough to miss. Any normal person would quake at the sights alone. But Kim Jaehwan's face was serene.
He continued casually, ignoring the guns.
"But taking them means killing you or blowing this place sky-high. Kinda wasteful, right? So here's the deal..."
In the tense silence,
Kim Jaehwan pointed at Ha Dongseok again.
"You. Become my subordinate."
The demand stunned everyone. This nobody demanding the boss submit? Absurd.
"...And if I refuse?"
"Then what I just said."
Forcefully seizing the coins.
"Boss, why entertain this guy?"
Seo Taeil approached from afar.
"No need to waste time on this nonsense."
He drew a pistol from his pocket and aimed at Kim Jaehwan.
"Hey, Seo Taeil!"
"This is how you deal with a psycho."
Squeezing the trigger, the bullet flew straight for Kim Jaehwan's forehead.
*Bang!*
They'd killed zombies aplenty, but never people—hesitation gripped most. Not Seo Taeil. He fired effortlessly.
A headshot like that? Instant death.
As Kim Jaehwan's body tilted back, everyone expected him to crumple. Instead, he leaned forward, back to normal.
"I'll say it once more. You. Become my subordinate."
No blood from a clear forehead hit. He even smirked casually. Ha Dongseok got chills.
"Th-this freak! Everyone, fire! Fire!"
*Bang!*
Seo Taeil fired again. Shocked, the subordinates unleashed a barrage.
*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*
*Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!*
Nearly 20 men emptied their magazines at Kim Jaehwan, fingers locked on triggers.
He didn't budge. Just stood there smiling. Pure terror.
Point-blank, no misses. Shell casings piled at his feet confirmed hits.
Yet no wounds. Not even torn clothes.
Incredible as it was, their eyes confirmed it.
"I'll say it once more. You. Become my subordinate."
Doubting if he was even human, Ha Dongseok hesitated on the demand.
Kim Jaehwan spoke first.
"Too rushed? Fine, take time. Ponder till day 7 of the Zombie Wave ends. If you decide yes, come to Anyang where I am."
"And if I refuse and leave?"
"Can't be helped. I'll track you and take the coins by force."
As if watching constantly, Kim Jaehwan vanished in an instant.
Ha Dongseok and the rest were speechless, haunted by the monster's visit.
```