Long Live the King (1)

The madman, Oh Jin-uk. This middle-aged man had been a high-ranking figure in the cult. I even remembered seeing his face a few times. So I didn't feel any pity for him. No pity, but… I did remember him as a good person. This wasn't one of those fabricated memories, either.

Whenever I was summoned by the cult leader, Pastor Oh Jin-uk would call out to me as I passed by, making sure I didn't get held up too long. '…Such a young child.' He'd barely suppress the complicated emotions in his voice, letting out a deep sigh. 'What's your name? Kang Hyun? That's a cool name. Cooler than mine, even.'

He was the kind of person who would smile and talk to me like that. Our encounters were so brief they barely left an impression, but in this cult, anyone who didn't look at me with disgust was practically a saint. He even gave me snacks. I don't remember the taste anymore—since I gave them all to my sister—but Oh Jin-uk had been a good man.

The problem was that being a good person wasn't enough to change a cult claiming millions of followers. I stared at his severed head rolling on the ground, then, feeling a bit unsettled, I carefully placed it beside the corpse.

I turned my attention to the status window floating in my vision.

My stats had risen thanks to reaching Advanced Heavy Swordsmanship. Strength by two points, Agility by two, and Perception by one. I had twenty points left to spend.

Twenty points. That was enough to start buying some things if I wanted. Thinking about how laser rifles and armored vehicles cost a hundred points each… I still couldn't afford the really good stuff, but it was a respectable amount.

Pure points: 1,600,000. Since the most expensive items were things I couldn't even identify, expensive didn't necessarily mean better. Still, the value of the Shop was undeniable.

I debated whether to save up more or level up my Plunder skill, but then my eyes shifted to the direct options floating in my vision.

Just like when I'd chosen the perks for Martial Arts and Shooting, three different options waited for me. They overlapped quite a bit with the Predator's methods, but One Cut, Two Halves would clearly affect them simultaneously. Swallow Drop was optimized for consecutive attacks. And All Things Return to One would provide corrections no matter what weapon I used.

My choice was already made.

… [YES]

All Things Return to One was useless to me. Unless the Crusader's Sword suddenly lost its auto-repair function, there was almost no chance I'd need to use a weapon that didn't benefit from Heavy Swordsmanship in an emergency. Besides, with Martial Arts already at Advanced, I had no reason to look for other weapons. Even Shooting was Advanced.

That left One Cut, Two Halves and Swallow Drop. The reason I chose Swallow Drop was simple. Thanks to the vambrace on my left arm, I couldn't afford to take any hits. In other words, my body's defensive capability was the key.

If I'd obtained Immunity it might be different, but with only Regeneration, I was still a glass cannon that couldn't withstand even a single zombie attack. In that situation, even if One Cut, Two Halves let me smash things better, I could only handle one opponent at a time. Swallow Drop was the only choice that could cover that weakness. Consecutive attacks meant consecutive defense, after all.

Most of all, I liked that it wasn't restricted to Heavy Swordsmanship. I could probably apply it to Martial Arts too. Not so sure about Shooting, though.

Once I'd made my choice, my sister approached.

“Oppa~?”

The moment I saw her coming, the same window I'd seen before appeared in my vision.

But it looked different from before. The differences stood out clearly—in both stats and skills. My sister had invested all three points she'd gained into Athletics and Shooting. I could roughly guess why.

Just as I'd chosen Swallow Drop as the best way to survive against multiple zombies, she had picked Roadrunner. While I believed the best defense was a good offense, she chose to create distance by running. The perk even synergized well with the Snipe she'd selected.

“…Oppa?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

But I didn't have time to dwell on it. My sister suddenly shoved her face right in front of mine.

“What are we going to do now?”

She tilted her head and asked, “We're going to kill the President, right?”

My sister's Perception was high. There was no way she hadn't heard what I'd said to Uncle Oh Jin-uk. We hadn't talked much, but I'd told that man I was going to kill the President. Because if I didn't do it, no one could. Because it was something only I could do—

—well, not really. The guy was just an asshole anyway.

“Before that, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠we need to check the basement.”

The lab, the secret research facility, whatever it was. The place waiting for us down there.

“Okay~ Then…”

My sister loaded fresh rounds into her magazine and followed behind me. The path back was peaceful, as if every zombie in the area had been dragged out and killed. I caught glimpses of civilian houses caked in dried blood, flesh, and guts. The ordinary people who had once lived on this North Island. I didn't know how they'd felt about the resort right below them, but they seemed to have just been living normal lives before disaster struck.

Now the whole world was probably in the same state. Would killing the President make this place any different? Who knew.

“Uh…”

Even when we reached the bridge area, I didn't pay much attention. I didn't have the mental bandwidth for it anyway.

KAKAKAKAKAKANG!

Gunshots rang out. Screams ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠followed right after.

“…The fuck?”

We started running at the same time. My sister kept pace right beside me. Even though I was much stronger and more agile, she matched my speed. The situation was a total mess. Bullets flew like rain. Soldiers screamed, fired their guns, and screamed while firing. The things they were shooting at were zombies.

Many collapsed after being hit, but there were too many of them. Fear had consumed the soldiers. Their aim faltered in panic, and even as they were pierced by bullets, the zombies charged forward to seize their prey. Then the zombies wearing body armor would stand back up. In a situation where aiming was already difficult, it was a disaster.

“Ah, aaaaagh—!”

I was starting to understand the situation. It might have been speculation, but I'd seen something earlier. The madman Oh Jin-uk. That man had possessed Immunity, and the zombies had followed him. Had he really stripped them of their clothes one by one? I'd guessed that he somehow had the power to command zombies. Just seeing how he'd gathered them when we fought was enough proof.

[Madness (Current Default Setting | Caused by experimental results conducted at Exodus Arcadia)]

That was what the Insight had shown me. Experimental results. I suspected that Oh Jin-uk's death had triggered something.

Whatever the case, there was no reason for us to stay here. We ran.

“Oppa!”

“Head for the resort!”

I raised my rifle as I ran. Maybe I should've taken Mobile Shooting. I struggled to correct my shaky aim and pulled the trigger.

KAKAKAKAKAKANG!

The zombies charging at us collapsed on the spot. The chaotic sounds of rifles firing from all directions tangled together. People were fighting in terror. There was no reason to help them. So I didn't. Our goal was our own survival. Not the survival of humanity.

Finally, we reached the resort. Windows barred with iron grates. My sister looked back at me, and I shouted.

“Get out of the way!”

I yelled sharply and slammed my back foot into the ground, twisting my body. The moment my sister stepped aside, I spun and lashed out with my leg. A back kick. The martial art I'd looted from Kim Chae-hyun bloomed at the tip of my foot.

And then—

KWAAAAAAAANG!

The entire wall holding the iron bars collapsed. The grate folded in half and tumbled into the building. A zombie that had just been rushing toward the noise was crushed and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shattered. I quickly jumped over the windowsill with my sister.

“Where to now?!”

Where? I rolled my eyes. If I were the President…

“To the basement!”

He'd be on the third underground floor. My sister nodded, and we both aimed our rifles and pulled the triggers at the same time.

KAKAKAKANG! KAKAKANG!

KANG! KAKAKAKAKANG!

Every time our two rifles spat fire, zombies were knocked down. The island's population had already been massive. Once the zombies started spreading, their numbers must have exploded. Speed was what mattered now.

While firing, I turned a corner and thrust my forearm at a zombie that lunged at me with a shriek.

CRUNCH!

Its teeth slid uselessly across the vambrace that could even stop rifle rounds. Before the zombie could pull back or do anything else, I grabbed its collar and wrist, spun my body, and—

KWAAAAAAAANG!

The zombie slammed headfirst into the ground, convulsing before going still.

“Kang Ahyeon, slugs!”

We couldn't use the elevator. Too many zombies were pouring in. There was no time to ride it down properly, and no path for retreat. That left only one option: the stairs.

A horde of zombies was already surging down from the stairwell. Without hesitation, I pulled out the double-barreled shotgun from behind my back and aimed it. I hooked my finger around the trigger.

KWA, KWAAAAAAAAANG!

Scattered lead pellets. Lee Ye-eun's parting gift swept the radius with death. As the tide of death flooding down the stairs faltered, I slung the shotgun behind me and drew the Crusader's Sword.

“Cover me and follow!”

I leaped into the midst of the dead. The sword gripped in my hand slashed out.

SHAAAAAAAACK!

The blade chopped zombies into pieces. I stepped forward and sliced again. In the process, I truly felt the power of Swallow Drop. The moment I swung, a method flashed through my mind. The principle was simple. But putting it into practice was difficult. It was something you couldn't imitate unless your skill had reached the extreme. A technique that required an innately robust body.

When you swung the sword, you absorbed the full recoil into your waist, twisted the blade path, and swung again. It was neutralized ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by strength and swordsmanship that had completely entered the realm of the superhuman. A horizontal cut performed by twisting the waist with the sword drawn back. The bodies of the entangled zombies, their ribs and spines, their necks and heads—all split apart.

Normally, that would be the end. I'd have to thrust out the Crusader's Shield to block or rely on my sister for cover. She was already extending the shotgun to provide support. But this time was different.

I inhaled sharply. Before I even exhaled, I twisted my waist and shifted my foot position. I absorbed the sword's momentum with my body before it could stop, twisted at the waist, and swung again. The important thing wasn't stopping the sword and swinging once more—it was smoothly redirecting it into another swing without pause.

SHWAAAAAAAACK!

The concrete stairwell was sliced apart, scattering fragments. The zombies' frenzied assault faltered. But my Swallow Drop wasn't limited to just two strikes. I took another step. Absorbing the recoil into my waist again, I delivered another horizontal cut.

SHAAAAAAAACK!

I crushed a fallen head underfoot, pushed aside a split torso, and my waist absorbed the recoil to swing once more. Four times, five times, six times… Faster than the chunks of flesh could fall, I unleashed seven slashes in a single instant. An art forged from overflowing strength and skill.

SLASH!

When my Swallow Drop finally stopped, over a dozen zombies lay completely shredded on the ground.

“Haa, haa, ha…”

My waist ached. No matter how much strength I had, I couldn't use it infinitely. The force I had to absorb grew larger too. If my Strength increased more, I could probably do more, but for now, seven was my limit.

I flicked the blood from my sword and jerked my chin at my sister.

“Let's go.”

There were no more zombies on the stairs. I sheathed my blade, raised my rifle, and walked forward. A closed door stood in front of the stairs leading down to the third basement level.

“…Thorough, aren't they?”

Ordinary zombies couldn't open doors. Just keeping it closed was enough. Well, that made sense. I let out a dry chuckle and met my sister's eyes. Then I boldly opened the door and stepped onto the third basement floor.

All that remained was finding the President—

Click.

“I never imagined you would actually be able to kill someone who wouldn't die even after being shot.”

Ah, fuck.

The moment I crossed the threshold, a gun barrel filled the edge of my vision. A pistol aimed at me from a carefully measured distance.

“And I certainly didn't expect you to be able to do it on the first day.”

The President, Park Do-hyun, was pointing a gun at me. His stance was rock-steady, suggesting his Marine background wasn't just talk. No matter how strong I was, I'd die if I got shot. I wasn't faster than a bullet.

“Now then… why don't both of you put down your weapons and come with me quietly?”

He smiled as he spoke to me. I glanced at my sister. Yeah, there would always be a chance to turn the tables. For now, it was better to follow his instructions rather than try anything reckless…

“Ah, I'd advise against doing anything rash. Despite how I look, I—”

BANG!

Mid-sentence, the President's head jerked as it was pierced. Blood flowed, and bits of brain matter splattered. When I turned my head, I saw two things. My sister, expressionless, drawing a pistol from her waist and firing. And in her hand, the pistol still smoking from the barrel.

It was the symbolic pistol that had once been used to assassinate a president, or so I'd heard.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BAAAAANG!

My sister walked over to the fallen President's corpse and emptied every remaining round into his face. The handsome middle-aged man's features twitched with every impact. I stood there awkwardly with my hands half-raised, staring blankly at my sister until she finally turned to me with a smile.

“You're not hurt, right?”

At her refreshingly casual question, I couldn't say a word. I just nodded.

She's fucking terrifying.