The Next-Door Survivor
Crash!
The sound of shattering glass echoed from outside.
Kim Saebyeok cautiously approached the window, parted the curtains, and strained his eyes to get a clear view of the source.
"!!!"
The creature was roughly the size of a well-built man, with a flayed, raw-red muscular body. It lacked a skull, leaving its pulsating brain completely exposed, and it flicked a long tongue like a chameleon. It wasn't a spider, yet it scaled the walls of the studio apartment building opposite his, extending its tongue like a whip-like tentacle to attack someone inside.
Saebyeok quickly backed away from the window. "What the fuck is that? It can climb walls?"
Retreating silently from the window, he began to sort and organize the supplies he had gathered today, making as little noise as possible. Remembering the lessons from his military readiness drills, Saebyeok decided it was best to pack everything so he could grab his gear and run at a moment's notice. Once packed, he meticulously checked the laces of his combat boots. Keeping his crowbar within arm's reach, he slowly lay down on the bed.
Is that a ghoul?
Saebyeok cursed his past self once again for never paying attention to pop culture. If he knew more about this kind of stuff, he wouldn't feel so utterly clueless.
Crash! Shatter!
"You motherfucker! You think I'm some kind of warrior, you piece of shit?! Come on! Come at me, you bastard! Arghhh!"
Thud! Thud! Screeech! Crash! Clatter!
"Help me! Help me! Please, save me! Ahhhh!"
The relentless cycle of shattering glass and agonizing screams drew closer to Saebyeok's building. He bolted upright. Instinctively moving away from the bed near the window, he crouched against the bathroom wall.
Should I use the tentacles? No, no, I haven't even tested them on a zombie yet... But would they work? No, the crowbar is safer. It's a solid weapon... Should I run right now? But what if I get caught?
As he agonized over his options, a massive crash erupted directly above his head—on the floor above.
Fuck, it's here! Shit, shit, shit!
Boom! Thud! Screeech!
"You son of a bitch! Die!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sounds of a desperate, chaotic struggle echoed from upstairs.
Skreeeech! Growl!
A bizarre, monstrous shriek rang out, followed by the sickening sound of tearing flesh and chewing.
Chomp, chomp, chomp. Gulp. Growl...
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Saebyeok gripped his crowbar with white knuckles.
Just pass by. Please, fuck, just pass by! I beg you. Let me live! Can't you give me some time to level up first? If I show him my tentacles, will he think we're buddies and leave me alone?
Crash!
The window of Saebyeok's room finally shattered. The monster had broken in.
Thud. Step. Step.
Saebyeok clamped his free hand over his mouth. The monster seemed blind, turning its head left and right as it searched the room, completely unaware of Saebyeok standing right in front of it. It was drenched in blood, its grotesque, whip-like tongue twitching. But thankfully, the struggle upstairs had taken its toll. The creature was severely wounded. A metal skewer was impaled in its back, and one of its arms had been severed, forcing it to limp around on three limbs.
Watching the limping, searching monster, a reckless thought crept into Saebyeok's mind.
Fuck, I think I can smash its head from behind... Shit, I have tentacles too! Just one hit... One headshot and it's over...
The monster turned its back to him.
Now! Fuck, do it now!
Alarms blared frantically in his head, but Saebyeok hesitated, and the golden opportunity slipped away.
Crash!
The sound came from next door. Hearing the noise, the monster immediately began to scale the wall like a giant mosquito.
Though there was some distance between them, Saebyeok thrust his right hand forward. With desperate, prayer-like focus, he visualized a spiral spear twisted dozens, hundreds of times.
Body Xenomorphosis!
Squirm, squirm, shreeeek!
Perhaps the heavens had heard his desperate plea. Unlike his clumsy trials earlier, black tentacles erupted from his darkened right hand like a high-pressure jet stream, twisting into a tight spiral and blasting straight toward the monster's head.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion tore a massive hole in the wall. Along with it, the monster's head vanished into thin air. The headless corpse collapsed limply to the floor.
You have defeated the Alpha Licker.
[Congratulations! First successful hunt of an Alpha entity.]
Death of multiple combatants confirmed.
Contribution calculation suspended.
All EXP and CP have been monopolized by Kim Saebyeok, who delivered the final blow.
You have acquired 1,000 CP.
You have defeated an Alpha entity using a skill.
[Additional 10 CP acquired]
The rapid-fire system messages, the metallic stench of blood, and Saebyeok's ragged breathing filled the silent room.
"Pant... pant... pant..."
Saebyeok reverted his arm to its normal state, his legs giving out as he collapsed onto the floor.
"Hiccup."
"???"
A small hiccup echoed through the hole in the wall.
"Hic... hic... sob... sniffle..."
The intermittent hiccups and soft weeping were unmistakably a woman's voice.
Saebyeok called out toward the hole. "Hello? Is anyone there?"
"..."
"Hello? I can hear you hiccuping..."
"Hic... y-yes..."
"Uh, my place is completely trashed. Do you mind if I crash at your place for a bit?"
"..."
"Hello?"
"...O-okay..."
Saebyeok felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, but he grit his teeth, grabbed his essential bag and water, and headed next door.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Excuse me..."
Beep, click.
A woman with messy hair and glasses opened the door, her makeup-free face drenched in tears. She was trembling violently, staring at Saebyeok as if he were a monster himself.
As Saebyeok offered a reassuring smile, a dark stain spread from the crotch of the woman's loose gray dress, dripping onto the floor.
"I'm really sorry. The monster completely shattered my windows..."
Saebyeok handed her a bottle of water and asked if she was alright, but she only responded with hiccups. When he offered it again, she finally took the bottle, nodding weakly.
Nod, nod. Hiccup.
She must have been incredibly dehydrated and exhausted, as she began to chug the water greedily. "Phew!"
She had downed nearly half of the two-liter bottle. Saebyeok missed his chance to mention that he had more supplies in his room. He decided it would be better to build some rapport with her first before retrieving the rest of his gear.
Looking down at the traumatized woman sitting on the floor, he spoke gently. "Um... excuse me."
At his voice, she flinched slightly and slowly turned her head toward him.
"I know it's a bit late for introductions, but I'm Kim Saebyeok. Hello."
She nodded.
"And your name is...?"
"...Ji-an."
"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that."
"...Ji-an."
Saebyeok leaned in slightly closer, and he finally heard her full name.
"Ma Ji-an..."
Wait, why does that sound familiar? "Do you happen to know me?"
She shook her head.
"Where are you from?"
"Incheon..."
He tried to find some common ground, but they had absolutely nothing in connection. Still, Ji-an answered his questions quite earnestly. To break the ice further, Saebyeok pulled out a Twix bar and a bag of potato chips from his pack.
"Here... let's share this."
Grumbleeee.
A spark of life returned to her vacant eyes. She took a bite and began to chew quietly. *Chomp, chomp, chomp.*
Only then did Saebyeok take a look around the room. The layout was identical to his friend's studio apartment, but the walls were covered in anime posters, and the bookshelves were packed with female-oriented fantasy romance novels. Next to the shelves, a computer monitor glowed, serving as the room's only source of light.
Flicker.
Just as Saebyeok leaned in to see what was on the screen, the power cut out completely. The warning from that user on TubeTube had become reality. No water, no electricity... Saebyeok felt a heavy dread settle in his chest.
"Sigh... The power's out, isn't it?"
"I-I think so..."
"This is going to be tough..."
The only sounds remaining in the room were the crunching of chips and heavy sighs.
"Are you originally from Incheon?" Saebyeok suddenly asked.
"Yes."
"Ah... I'm from Busan, so I don't really know Incheon well. The place next door belongs to a friend... Do you know of any safe places, or maybe somewhere with a lot of resources and supplies?"
"..."
No immediate answer came, but Ji-an's brow furrowed as if she were thinking deeply.
"There's Raiders Mart a little ways from here. The department store is too far."
"Are you planning on staying here?"
She shook her head vigorously.
"Then, do you want to go together?"
"..."
After a brief silence, Ji-an nodded eagerly.
"Let's rest up today and head out tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay..."
"Then I'm going to rest for a bit too."
Saebyeok settled into a corner of the room, leaning his back against the wall just below the newly made hole. Though his eyes were closed, his muscles were tense, ready to react to the slightest movement. He had come here because his own room was a ruined mess, but in an apocalypse, you couldn't blindly trust a complete stranger.
Ah! Dream Brand! I need to test this skill... Can I only use it when someone is asleep? Will it reach from this distance?
As Saebyeok leaned against the wall with his eyes closed, Ji-an got up and began moving around. The first thing she did was clean up the puddle of urine she had left on the floor. Then, she slipped into her closet, rustling around as she packed her things.
Sigh... She's on guard too. I doubt she'll sleep near me. I hope she doesn't lock herself in...
Click.
As always, bad premonitions had a way of coming true. Ji-an retreated into her bedroom and locked the door.
Well, it's only natural...
Saebyeok crept silently toward the locked door and gently placed his hand on the wood. He focused his mind, willing the skill Dream Brand to activate.
Swoosh—
It felt entirely different from when he used his tentacles. A cold, sticky energy crept out from the depths of his mind like a spiderweb, seeping through the closed door and wrapping around Ji-an.
Just in case. Better safe than sorry...
Driven by unease, Saebyeok cast the skill on her, despite not fully understanding its effects.
He closed his eyes, and suddenly, Saebyeok found himself in an entirely different space. It resembled a gray, ash-colored temple. In the center stood a statue with a human body and the head of an octopus. For some reason, a faint light radiating from the statue connected directly to Saebyeok, and a single thread of light extended from him into the distance. Saebyeok followed the thread.
"Huh?"
At the end of the thread was Ma Ji-an. To be precise, a strange brand was etched onto the back of her neck on the left side. She was shivering violently.
"Please save me... sob... sniffle..."
Saebyeok paused and thought for a moment. Deciding to make the most of this dreamscape, he cautiously approached Ji-an. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, trying not to startle her.
"It's okay. I'll help you."
"Ugh... waaaah! I'm so scared! I don't understand any of this. Why did the world suddenly change like this? I just took some time off work to stay home and enjoy my geek stuff... waaaah!"
Ji-an wept sorrowfully for a long time. Saebyeok wrapped his arms around her, gently patting her back.
"It's okay..."