Chapter 12
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Destroyer
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I shut down the computer and disassembled the AI module again.
It had only been on for a few seconds before completely blacking out. Even if I installed Sirius 2, I doubted it would run properly.
Using Queen could wait. What I needed right now was a sentry gun to protect me, not an AI system.
Having finished experimenting with Queen, I headed to the police station. I planned to get a machine gun there and complete the sentry gun by the end of the day.
The police station was pretty far from here. Even on the motorcycle, it would take about thirty minutes. It wasn't that distant, so I hopped on the bike and rode toward it.
But there were visitors already. A large truck parked in front of the station. And zombies strewn everywhere. It was Johnson and his crew. Goyle spotted me and aimed his gun.
I raised my own in response. Johnson lifted his. We glared at each other for a long while before he finally spoke.
"You're here to farm too, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Too bad. This station's ours already. Better back off unless you want bullets in you."
A clear warning. Part of me wanted to flip him off and pull the trigger.
But he was holding a machine gun, not a pistol. And his class was Gunner. Meanwhile, I had the screw gun...
It felt pathetically inadequate today.
"Fine."
There was no point clashing with him—it'd just cost me. So I nodded and backed off.
Goyle and one of the white guys behind him smirked at me. The others glanced my way too.
Especially Zixuan, who'd healed me yesterday—she looked apologetic. Fine. A shred of remorse was enough.
They probably had no choice because of Johnson.
That said... if this party had already pushed this far to the police station, they could hit the big mart anytime. After this, I'd need to beef up its security even more.
I rode off from the police station on my bike.
If not there, the only place for a machine gun was the military base. But honestly, going there was no picnic.
For starters, it was crawling with zombies. The whole base had turned, so that was obvious.
And there was a variant zombie there. Destroyer. A monster that used heavy weapons despite being a zombie.
It didn't stray far from the base, but piss it off and you'd end up Swiss cheese. Still, I didn't change course.
I was a veteran. I knew how to shake it off. Well... knowing and doing were different beasts.
Zombies swarmed at the motorcycle's exhaust roar. I stopped briefly and nailed their heads with screws. My level was 8. Time to grind nonstop to 15.
At 15, I could use Blueprint Synthesis on the Sci-Fi Notebook for a power suit. Strength and agility rivaling variants.
With the power suit and sentry gun, I'd hold my own against variants. I dragged the bike a bit, then cleared more zombies.
Repeating that, I hit level 9.
「Job experience increased. (Solo party bonus +150%)」
「Job level rose to 9.」
「Metal Reinforcement level rose to 2.」
Metal Reinforcement hit level 2. Now I could reinforce metal items even more 'efficiently.'
I tested it on my screw gun.
「Used Metal Reinforcement (Lv. 2) to reinforce Screw Gun x1.」
「Screw Gun」
Durability: 6/8
Attack Power: 8~29
Description: Fires screws. Low attack power, but minimal recoil and noise.
Restrictions: None
Max durability dropped by 2, but attack power jumped big time. Up by 3, no less. Satisfied, I planted a screw in a crawling zombie's skull.
[72nd Division]
After twists and turns, I reached the base. Zombies packed the main gate. I opted for a secret route instead.
Even regular zombies could draw the Destroyer's attention if I fought there.
The secret route? A sewer. I cleared nearby zombies, confirmed the coast was clear, and gripped the manhole cover.
Metal Transformation made a handle appear on the flat lid. I hauled it open. Stench wafted up. Ignoring it, I climbed down the ladder.
Then sealed the lid behind me. Darkness swallowed my vision. Flashlight on—the sewer lit up. I'd dodged the Destroyer, but zombies lurked here too.
The risk of ambush anywhere kept even me—now able to hunt them with a smile—on edge.
I trudged through the sewer. Step by step. Ears straining. Then footsteps echoed from ahead. I readied the screw gun.
A zombie appeared. A grotesque one, bloated from sewer water. It rolled toward me. Thought it was a Boomer at first—thankfully not.
I fired a few screw shots. It slumped. No way was I looting that thing. Left the corpse and kept moving.
At a manhole with light seeping in, I climbed the ladder and listened. Checking for zombies outside. Silence.
Reached out, used Metal Transformation, and popped the lid easily. I emerged at a barracks. No zombies—lucky.
Slapped the lid shut roughly and entered. Made it in safely. Now, find the machine gun. Random drop inside barracks.
I prayed it'd be near the entrance. No dice—just a rifle and some ammo.
And as I grabbed them, uniformed zombies swarmed. I blasted with the rifle. Might draw the Destroyer, but no choice.
Getting swarmed by that horde while popping off screw shots in the barracks? Pass.
The rifle performed great. With Metal Reinforcement, most zombies dropped in one shot. Cleared them quick and kept searching.
Pushing aside anxiety about the Destroyer showing up.
Found five more rifles, but no machine gun. Their weight was getting burdensome. Had to ditch one from before.
Not a total bust, though.
「Acquired Grenade x3.」
Even nabbed grenades.
「G380 Grenade」
Durability: 3/3
Attack Power: 100~380
Description: Standard-issue grenade for troops. Wipes regular zombies easily; even variants die to a critical hit.
Three of these bad boys. Their round feel.
In the old world, it'd be nerve-wracking. Now? Pure comfort. If Destroyer shows, these'll do it. Do it.
Mind control engaged.
Next, I scored the machine gun. ...Though its weight locked both hands.
If I could haul it back to the manhole, I'd be done here. But stepping out of the barracks...
A zombie twice human size, armed with heavy weapons. The Destroyer.
I ducked on sight. Its gun spat fire. Deafening roar, then explosions.
Glanced back. Barracks gate obliterated.
'Damn it.' The curse slipped out.
Dropped my backpack and machine gun, pulled a grenade pin, lobbed it. Destroyer's HP was 800, right?
Three crits could end it.
Sadly, it swatted the grenade away. Boom! Nearby regulars got caught, but it took zero damage.
Grabbed a rifle and unloaded. Recoil shook me. But its bulletproof vest deflected everything. Then its heavy weapon fired again.
Think objectively. In the game, how'd I handle Destroyer? The way to shake it...
I bit my lip. Grabbed backpack and machine gun, then bolted through the zombies. Crazy? Maybe. But my only shot.
Despite being a zombie, Destroyer was social. It didn't want to kill its own kind.
That'd stop its heavy fire.
Uwoooo!
Regulars, though? No such luck.
They clawed at me.
Scratch scratch.
My hazmat suit and bike helmet blocked most, but one bad scrape or bite...
And I'd join them shambling here.
Regulars multiplied. Considered ditching the backpack. But then—the zombies blocking me dropped one by one.
Silver flashes, and regulars fell without fail. My face lit up. But I couldn't hide my surprise.
'Why's she here?'