Chapter 42
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Sky Tower Bishop
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Places where you could take in the entire city at a glance were rare.
The Sky Tower observatory was one such uncommon spot. Its panoramic view was breathtakingly beautiful, drawing countless people to the tower's observation deck.
Of course, Jason's gaze wasn't fixed on that stunning scenery. All the way up the transparent staircase, his eyes remained locked on Park Si-hyun's back of the head.
For a look directed at the man who had saved his life, it was awfully irreverent—but he had his reasons.
'Team Apocalypse.'
The Eastern man had introduced himself as a member of Team Apocalypse.
Coincidentally, just two days earlier, Jason had met another man who called himself part of Team Apocalypse. It hadn't been a pleasant encounter.
That Western man had been in league with the Salvation Church cultists, and they had ambushed Jason's group.
That was when Jason first learned of the existence of psychics—and that their powers were brutally overwhelming.
They had planned to hole up behind cover and trade gunfire, but when the American stepped forward, the cover was ripped out wholesale.
Considering that cover had been a massive concrete wall, it was utterly absurd. Exposed without any shelter, they were easily subdued by the cultists. Those who judged the situation and tried to flee swiftly were cut down by the cultists' bullets.
That was the backstory of how Jason and the Shelter C survivors ended up captured by the Salvation Church cultists, subjected to cruel torture.
Even though Park Si-hyun had killed the cultists and saved them, the mysterious common thread of 'Team Apocalypse' left Jason no choice but to stay wary of him.
That was why he'd decided to follow Park Si-hyun all the way to the top floor. If the man had some ulterior motive or changed his mind, Jason planned to kill him with this rifle.
He himself might not come out unscathed, but at least he could save the other survivors...
Whether he knew of Jason's thoughts or not, Park Si-hyun just kept walking in silence.
After climbing the stairs for quite a while, they finally reached the top floor—the 120th. Jason spoke first. He'd overheard the cultists' conversations and knew a large number of Salvation Church devotees were inside, along with their bishop, whom they called 'His Grace.'
"Uh... shouldn't we come up with a plan before going in?"
Park Si-hyun replied.
"Let's scout the interior first and then figure it out."
Jason found it odd. The door to the 120th floor was shut tight. The only way to scout inside was to open it and peek.
But there wasn't even the tiniest gap. Opening the door would inevitably alert those inside.
Wasn't the whole point of 'scouting' to proceed with utmost caution? If they got spotted, it wouldn't be 'scouting' anymore.
What was he thinking?
Just as Jason was about to voice his doubts, Park Si-hyun placed his hand on the wall. Incredibly, the wall warped grotesquely, forming a small gap—a hole just big enough to peer through.
Jason realized it was some kind of psychic power.
This Eastern man was a psychic, just like that Westerner.
Did that mean 'Team Apocalypse' was a gathering of psychics?
And how many of them were there...
"Let's go."
"Y-Yes?"
As his thoughts spiraled, before he could respond, Park Si-hyun kicked the door down. *Bang!* With the rough sound of the door flying open, the Salvation Church cultists inside came into view.
The cultists scrambled for their guns. But Park Si-hyun's rifle spoke first. *Bang!* The harsh gunshot rang out as the bullet pierced a cultist's body.
Jason tried to help, but the shooting was so precise that his aid wasn't needed. But those inside weren't just cultists.
"Great apostles of the divine! Smite the heretic!"
A young woman in bishop's robes bellowed at the top of her lungs. She had a voluptuous figure that would turn heads on any street.
Jason cursed under his breath.
"Damn it!"
Or so he thought, but it came out loud. Not that he cared.
At her shout, what emerged from behind her was none other than... zombies. Not ordinary ones, but mutant zombies.
A red monster that looked like a frog flicked its tongue at them. Jason knew its name well: Frog.
He also knew it was a monster on a whole different level from regular zombies—far stronger.
He'd once fought a Frog head-on and lost precious comrades because of it.
But he quickly regained his composure. It was just one, after all.
Factoring in that the Eastern man was a psychic, and that Jason had a rifle in hand, it seemed manageable.
But the next moment, Jason had to abandon that thought. Frogs dropped from the ceiling. One, two, three...
Four more Frogs appeared. Now there were five in total. Five monsters flicking their tongues at them.
In an instant, his fighting spirit vanished, replaced by despair. He staggered back.
"L-Let's run."
But Park Si-hyun just shrugged at his words. He discarded the rifle and gripped a shotgun.
The next moment, all five Frogs charged at him.
Jason was certain the man was done for.
No matter how good the firearm, if the one wielding it was human... there was no way to beat those mutant zombies. That was common sense to him.
??
But what do you know—reality was something else entirely when the lid came off.
Park Si-hyun kicked at the first charging Frog. Jason wanted to ask if that thing could really be sent flying like some stray mutt, but incredibly, it was.
Then the shotgun in Park Si-hyun's hand roared. He'd taken a hit to his pride from the Tyrant, but it was undeniably top-tier among personal firearms—a high-performance weapon.
A single shotgun slug slipped right into the Frog's open mouth as it flicked its tongue and blew its head apart. Instant death.
'Did those things go down that easily?'
Jason felt his common sense crumbling.
The other Frogs rushed in too. *Bang! Bang!* One died mid-charge. It wasn't a totally meaningless sacrifice.
He'd successfully kicked one away with his foot, but two Frogs closed in. They lashed out their tongues, wrapping his arm and leg.
Jason knew survivors bound by those tongues had their bodies crushed to death. But at the same time, doubt crept in.
Did that 'common sense' apply to this Eastern man?
Park Si-hyun tensed his body. His Aegis-enhanced strength was more than enough to break free of the tongues. No, beyond breaking free—he grabbed them and...
Twisted. The long tongues twisted like tornado fries. The Frog writhed in agony, but he ignored it, flicking a steel pipe rolling on the floor with his foot.
As he touched it, the pipe morphed into a sharp metal spear, and he thrust it into the Frog. It met some resistance, but it didn't last.
The spear pierced the Frog's eyeball. Even so, the undying Frog thrashed, but Park Si-hyun calmly thrust once, twice, three times...
Until the body went limp.
Now only one Frog remained. It gaped its maw wide and bit him successfully. To Jason's eyes, it looked like it had clamped onto his right arm.
Jason cursed himself for just standing there, doing nothing.
He hurriedly raised his rifle and aimed at the Frog. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Park Si-hyun's right arm moved. The Frog's bite force was impressive, but not enough to pierce Aegis.
He yanked his arm free and swung a fist at the Frog. *Thwack!* With a solid impact, the Frog recoiled, covering its eyes. His punch had landed right on target.
Blood streamed from its eye. Park Si-hyun raised the shotgun. Sensing death, the Frog made a final struggle. And the shotgun fired.
At the same moment...
Alicia, the Salvation Church bishop, aimed her rifle at Park Si-hyun.
"Die, heretic!"
The rifle fired.
A body pitched forward.
Park Si-hyun stared at the bishop crumpling forward with a bullet hole in her chest and muttered.
"Thanks."
* * *
The Salvation Church bishop was dead. The experience converted accordingly.
「Class experience has increased. (Solo party bonus +150%) (First Elite NPC kill bonus +300%)」
「Class level has risen to 27.」
It hadn't been long since hitting 26, but it jumped straight to 27.
Even accounting for killing the cultists below and the five Frogs, the bishop must have yielded a hefty chunk of experience.
'That said...'
I clicked my tongue. I hadn't originally planned to kill the Salvation Church bishop. Well, I was going to kill her, but at least after extracting some info first.
Of course, I couldn't blame her for that. If Aegis hadn't blocked it and the bullet had hit a vital spot, I could've been in danger too.
I wouldn't have died, but I'd have taken serious damage at minimum.
I thanked the survivor man.
"Thanks."
The survivor man bowed his head hastily and replied. A far more respectful expression than the insolent stare from before.
"No, thank *you*."
I brushed off the Frog fluids staining my Aegis and checked the bodies. Just in case any were playing dead. I prodded each one with the spear.
None were alive.
I headed to the staff-only area at the far end. A red sign read 'Authorized Personnel Only,' but I ignored it and placed my hand on the door.
There was a lock, but picking it was child's play for me now—like lying down and eating rice cakes.
Finally, the administrator's room door swung open.