Chapter 25
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Motorcycle Stunts and the Zombie Horde
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Team Apocalypse features a stunt system.
By riding a vehicle through the stunt courses scattered across the map and pulling off stunt maneuvers, you can earn a set amount of experience points or rare items.
...And the reason I'm explaining this out of the blue is that the stunt course is right here inside this motorcycle factory.
A long, curving wooden ramp stretched out like a water slide, followed by a metal hoop.
The goal is to clear the course and smash through the glass window to exit.
'Shall I give it a try?'
As a side note, these stunt courses also serve as escape routes when surrounded by zombies. That's why veteran players memorize them and use them in the right situations.
I'm no different. In the game, I could clear the highest difficulty stunt courses with my eyes closed. But this isn't just a game—it's reality. Can I pull it off?
'No, I can.'
The motorcycle factory's stunt course is only low difficulty. Even if I fall, it won't kill me.
...It would hurt like hell, though.
I grip the clutch and shift gears. I close my eyes for a moment, then release the clutch. The motorcycle starts rolling forward slowly.
It feels like the start of some amusement ride. I grab the throttle and twist it hard before letting go, and the bike charges full speed toward the long wooden ramp.
From zero to max in an instant. Before I know it, my motorcycle is racing along the ramp.
Passing through the 'acceleration' section, I enter what’s known as the 'seesaw' section.
I lift the front wheel slightly to jump. The bike wobbles, but I manage to land on the opposite ramp. Whoa, that was close.
But overriding my fear is a greater sense of excitement. My heart pounds. After a brief pause to feel my heartbeat, I twist the throttle again and release it. All that's left is the metal hoop.
If my speed is even a little short, I won't clear the hoop—I'll either crash into it or fall short entirely. Luckily, the bike I'm riding is exceptionally fast. Grreeeak, grreeeak.
The bike races along, scraping the ramp with an eerie sound, then launches into the air. Is this what flying feels like? Reveling in the dizzying sense of weightlessness, my bike clears the metal hoop.
The wheel grazes the hoop slightly, but fortunately, it's just a brush, so the bike doesn't lose balance much. Thinking back, that was thrilling. One centimeter lower, and I'd have plummeted.
In any case, my bike smashes straight into the window in front of the hoop, shattering the glass effortlessly before landing outside the factory.
The bike is somehow still upright and fine. Even I'm impressed by how cool that stunt was. A message appears.
「You have successfully performed a stunt.」
「Job experience increases. (Solo stunt bonus +150%) (First stunt bonus +300%)」
I look around. Zombies wandering in front of the factory start heading toward me. I hop on the bike and leisurely ride off.
There are variant zombies mixed in, but they can't keep up with the bike's speed. I speed up and slow down repeatedly, building a zombie wave.
I don't forget to pick off variant zombies with my rifle now and then. They can't match the bike's pace, but they're still plenty threatening.
The zombie wave, numbering in the hundreds, has now swelled to nearly a thousand. My next task is to lead this horde straight into the arsenal.
Go ahead, take a shot if you dare.
I steer the motorcycle toward the arsenal, trailing the zombies like the Pied Piper.
Meanwhile, people are watching Park Si-hyun as he leads the zombies. They are survivors from Shelter D. Sophia, the de facto leader of the survivors, shakes her head in disbelief.
"What kind of lunatic is that guy?"
The other survivors don't say it out loud, but most are thinking the same thing.
Not content with bursting out of a factory window on a motorcycle, he's casually firing his rifle with that massive zombie horde on his tail. How strong must his nerves be...
"Aren't those variant zombies?"
"Zombies riding motorcycles now? Why not say they're driving tanks too?"
In short, it's that absurd. The man who spoke up after Sophia's retort quickly falls silent.
-But they couldn't even imagine that tank-riding zombies actually exist.
"What do we do?"
"What do you mean, what?"
"Shouldn't we save him?"
Sophia raises her middle finger and says,
"Does he look like he needs our help?"
"Well, no, but..."
"This works out perfectly."
"Huh?"
"While that idiot keeps them busy, we loot the factory for supplies. Let's move."
Whether Park Si-hyun lives or dies is of no concern to Sophia. She's curious about who he is, but tomorrow's water and food are far more precious.
If they don't secure supplies, the entire Shelter D will starve. She has no time to worry about some vagrant. Soon, the other survivors nod in agreement and start moving.
A giant with blue skin is watching me. A Destroyer. Strapped to its shoulder is a heavy weapon. The moment that thing fires, I'll be turned into Swiss cheese— that's clear.
But it can't use the heavy weapon. And why not? Because my tail is packed with zombies. Unless its own life is in danger, it won't risk firing now.
I stare it down, then turn away as it slowly approaches. I didn't bring Queen's AI module today.
'Wait just a little longer.'
My motorcycle charges forward. I plan to circle the arsenal repeatedly, sowing regular zombies like landmines. The zombies that lose me start wandering again, sniffing out signs of the living.
Many of them head inside the arsenal. Tomorrow, or the day after, when I enter the arsenal, they'll make perfect breakwaters.
I decide to head back to the plastics factory. I considered farming the surrounding factories, but with this many zombies stuck to me, I don't want the extra risk.
On the way back, I nearly got grabbed by a Jumper, but luckily, I make it to the plastics factory without incident.
I touch the plastics factory, and a small gap opens. I slip inside. Zixuan, who was inside doing a bizarre pose—handstand on a blanket— startles.
"You do yoga too?"
"Not well... It's just a hobby. I was bored, that's all."
Her face flushes red, and she hesitantly asks,
"How's it outside?"
I pull a bottle of water from the box and chug it down, complaining,
"Nothing but zombies."
I'd spent the whole day dealing with zombies while riding around. Oh, and I did that motorcycle stunt too. When I briefly explain to Zixuan, her eyes sparkle.
"I want to try it sometime. I was a stunt fanatic."
Her favorite movie is Once Upon a Time in China, her hobby is yoga, stunts... Compared to a shut-in NEET—written as unemployed, read as streamer like me—she must've been a super active social butterfly.
Perhaps feeling burdened by my admiring gaze, she shakes her head.
"By the way, no survivors?"
I had felt the gaze of some survivors while herding the zombies, but there was no point in acknowledging them, so I ignored it.
Since I didn't actually run into them, I shake my head.
"Haven't seen any yet."
"What about heading to that arsenal?"
"I'm planning to observe for a few days, then move."
I plan to watch the situation for a few days and strike at the perfect moment to enter the arsenal. After finishing my chat with her, I place my hand on the Sentry Gun.
「Used Metal Decomposition (Lv.2) to disassemble the Sentry Gun.」
「Metal Decomposition (Lv.2) experience increases.」
「Metal Decomposition level has risen to 3.」
Looks like the experience paid off; Metal Decomposition, which hadn't leveled up in a while, hits 3.
A gatling gun, high-performance camera... and Queen's AI module drop. I store the AI module in my backpack. So I can execute my plan anytime the perfect moment arrives.
Of course, I had no idea then that the perfect moment would come the very next day.
Zombies don't always have some tribal loyalty toward each other. For instance, Devourers can't hold back their hunger and devour any zombies they come across.
To briefly describe what I witnessed up close: one of the variant zombies started acting strangely and began eating other zombies. The other variants watched, then started imitating it.
Seeing this, the Destroyer attacked the variant zombie. Hit by a rocket launcher, the variant explodes without a trace.
The other variants that were doing the same turn hostile toward the Destroyer.
Of course, there's not just one Destroyer—there are three of them. No matter how many variants there are, taking down Destroyers armed with heavy weapons is impossible.
The Destroyers' heavy weapons roar to life. Before their overwhelming barrage, the variants collapse with pathetic wails.
The regular zombies just wander aimlessly amid the commotion.
And I, watching it all, have a question mark on my face.
?
What the hell is this?
After staring blankly at the scene for a moment, I realize this is the golden opportunity I've been waiting for.
I bolt without thinking. Straight into the arsenal. Without the expected interference, I enter the arsenal smoothly.
Cassiopeia Arms' arsenal consists of five floors total: four above ground and one basement. It's disgustingly huge. The moment I enter, I dash to the fourth floor.
I head to the management level on the fourth floor to activate the defense systems. It's crawling with regular zombies inside. Quite a few variants too.
...Whatever.
Body blow!
One regular zombie flies back from my tackle. I don't have time for trash like you. If a Destroyer gets inside, it's game over, so I ignore them and sprint straight to the fourth floor.
Then, at the fourth-floor stairs, I run into a Destroyer. Damn. Not three, but four? In the game, there were three, so I assumed it was always three.
Its veins writhe vividly. It snorts and readies its heavy weapon. The moment it pulls the trigger, I'll be blasted.
Aegis's defense or whatever won't save me from that. That's when it happens. Something bites my shoulder from behind. Thanks to Aegis, it's just a 'touch' sensation.
A regular zombie. A great idea hits me, and I grab the regular zombie by the scruff...
And hurl it straight at the Destroyer.
'Here's a gift!'
Apocalypse All-Purpose Machine