Chapter 2: The Gate Opens
Lizardman.
Each of them gripping a long spear.
Shick, shick—
Tongues flicking, exchanging glances with the sound of air being sucked out. Their own form of communication.
With spears pointed low, the guys approached cautiously, slowly closing the distance.
I was about to adjust the baseball bat when the iron shelf I smashed yesterday flashed through my mind. With this light wooden rod, I couldn’t counter those sharp spear tips.
“Tsk.”
I hurled the bat straight at the approaching lizardman’s face. At the same time, I cranked up the charge in my right arm’s bio-circuit.
Kyaaak!
The hit one, pissed off, screamed and charged in. The monster’s cold killing intent squeezed my skin, muscles tense with tension.
The sharp spear tip coming close for a grapple.
I twisted my body sideways.
The spear tip grazed my side narrowly.
... Not unfamiliar?
This body of mine, but like a weapon designed for combat, the trajectory of the spear and the distance to the opponents were drawn in my head like a precise calculation. Hunter’s instinct? Or the instinct of this body? I didn’t know.
As I dodged the relentless stabbing spear tip, the opponents rushed in all at once.
Point-blank, I reached out my fingers toward the eyes of the charging one.
Pajijik!
“Kyieeeek!”
The one wrapping his eyes and writhing.
The left one, seeing this, hurriedly pulled back his spear for throwing preparation.
I wrapped electricity all over my body.
Forcing each muscle cell to take charge, awakening forcibly.
Shwik!
I caught the sharply stabbing spear shaft in mid-air.
I scanned the formation of the opponents with my eyes.
One holding the spear, one with bare hands.
Wrapping blue lightning tightly at the spear tip, I dove in to the one who injured his eye in an instant.
Puk!
The lightning surged into the opponent’s body.
Pajijik!
“Kyiaaaak!”
With a pungent protein burning smell, the guy trembled and fell backward.
Another one, seeing that, stopped hesitantly. Fear flickering in the large reptile eyes. But not able to run, in a limbo state.
Panicked bare-hand opponent? That’s not easy.
This time, let’s flow current over the entire skin surface.
With charge wrapped in hand, I slammed into the guy, ignoring the weak struggle, grabbed the neck and poured electricity.
Pajijik!
“Kueeeek!”
The convulsing guy waved his nails in desperation.
“Euht.”
I barely dodged the nail brushing my cheek and withdrew my hand.
Bare hands are dangerous. If I used the spear to send electricity directly inside the body, it would be neatly crispy.
The guy raised his long nails and madly rushed. But still, the reach difference can’t be overcome.
Before the nail touched, I precisely stabbed the spear into the guy’s chest.
Pajijik!
“Kraaak!”
With a smoky scent, the clearing became quiet.
Hah, hah.
After catching my breath, the nerves in my whole body ached.
My legs losing strength, I leaned on the spear like a cane. Probably, the body uses electricity, the bio load is huge. The longer I maintain the current, the more stamina decreases.
Tuk—
A pebble popped out from the lizardman’s corpse and rolled on the floor.
Is this the mineral I saw in the community?
Information on minerals is still extremely rare even in the community. A stone faintly emitting blue light. I stuffed it into the bag corner. First, grab something that can make money.
Busseul—
Same pattern as before. A heavy presence approaching from beyond the bushes.
The grayish large figure revealed as the bush split. Flabby leather and grotesque face. The troll I’d seen in games so much.
The moment I entered the clearing, the nauseating smell made my stomach turn. What kind of smell is this?
The troll’s face, inhaling the smell of blood and burnt scent filling the clearing, strangely distorted.
“Kleuk, in, human! Tasty smell! Eat, ing!”
As if discovering delicious food, the guy came running with thuds. The ugly face getting smashed even more, eyebrows furrowed. Ugh, disgusting.
The raised huge fist fell to the side.
Kung!
The ground shook with the huge mass.
I immediately took position and stabbed the spear deep into the neck. I tried to send electricity familiarly but the fingertips only trembled, no electricity came out.
... Damn, already discharged?
Jureureuk—
Green blood flowing down the gray skin. Pulling out the spear, I widened the distance.
The guy raised his body brightly, wiping blood from the neck with his hand. The guy’s eyes clouded with malice after checking the blood on hand.
“Die!”
The heavy build came charging at a speed different from before.
In that short time, the neck wound was visibly healing. Crazy regeneration.
Now, I have to go all out.
“Huu...”
I forcibly squeezed the electricity, spreading it through the spine with a tingling. Concentrating the uncontrolled dispersing charge in the chest to the tip of the index finger.
Aiming thumb and index finger at the troll’s forehead.
“Bangya.”
Pajijik!
Instantly concentrated high-voltage lightning caused a fierce wind, precisely piercing the troll’s eyeball.
“Kaaak!”
The troll screaming in pain, covering eyes. Not missing the gap, I plunged in and stabbed the spear into the center of the chest with full force.
The tingly bio energy I felt when swallowing batteries, in reverse. With the sensation of directly pouring into the opponent’s internal organs.
Pajijijik!
“Kraaaak!”
In the hellish internal lightning torture, the troll screamed and convulsed.
[Power: 13%/100%]
The battery is slowly exposing the bottom.
Still, the monster-like vitality standing firm.
I took out a 2A battery from the pocket. Biting and crunching to squeeze electricity and pour into the guy’s body—
Puk.
“Kuk.”
My body floated backward and slammed hard into the tree behind. The shock from the back made my breath stick.
At the end of the shaking vision, the dark dirt floor came into view.
I put my knee down.
Pain rising from the side.
No hindrance to movement but bones ringing.
I thought I dodged, but it got caught at the fingertip.
The injury is large for a graze. No sensation in left arm.
Looking up at the guy, the body was sluggish because it was using energy for wound regeneration.
I have to keep sending electricity. To burn the regeneration cells themselves.
I took out two more batteries from the bag. Biting to tear the packaging and crunching to swallow.
Spark spreading in the mouth.
I should have been careful from the beginning, but I was complacent.
I stood up leaning on the spear that fell on the floor.
Just be careful not to let the guy’s arm swing.
At the end of the gaze, a puddle accumulated at the troll’s feet came into view. Blood pool from the lizardman corpse.
If I touch the outlet with wet hand, big trouble?
At the right time, the guy who finished regeneration approached with a grotesque sound. Stepping on the puddle.
I raised my trembling hand to aim at the guy again.
Due to the learning effect from before, the troll covering eyes with hand.
Now.
I concentrated all the charge at the stepping foot tip.
The body becomes light as if about to be launched.
Acceleration. I narrowed the distance instantly and dove into the guy’s arms.
The sharply shining spear tip.
Piercing the blood pool together, I stabbed the spear down on the troll’s instep.
Puk!
“Kleuk?!”
The guy removed hand from eyes and looked down at me.
I squeezed all the remaining power.
Pajijijik!!
“Kraaaak!!”
High-voltage current using blood as medium wrapped both the guy and my body. Muscles all over convulsed but I tightly gripped the spear shaft with both arms.
Kung!
The troll’s huge body toppled backward, shaking the floor.
Hah. Hah.
After calming the rising breath, I checked the guy’s chest. Up and down movement. Still breathing.
I raised the spear.
Puk! Puk!
System messages popping up in sequence.
I sheathed the spear and sat down with a thud on the spot.
Pain rushing all at once. Ribs, back, arms. After the fight, hellish pain came, and every time I breathe, the side aches.
I opened the status window.
[Shin Ara]
Level: 5
Unique ability: Electricity manipulation/???
Power: 6%/100%
[Power storage capacity increases.]
[Level up bonus available.]
The UI that makes me think of games. Is a hunter like a player? More than that, storage capacity? Am I becoming a battery or something?
[Choose the bonus.]
[Endurance]
[Basic combat skills]
[Strengthening leap]
[4. Thought acceleration]
Four choices.
My eyes stuck on 4. ‘Thought acceleration’. A skill that allows judgment in a split second.
“Hmm...”
Endurance is tempting too, but after fighting, in this world, brain is priority.
When I chose the bonus, the fog in my head cleared, and the afterimages of the split second began to be clearly imprinted.
At the same time, extreme fatigue came. I have to go back to the convenience store.
Should I rest for a bit.
Sunset light peeking through the branches. Can’t sleep.
My eyelids became heavy.
Dalk—
A sound of something rolling from the side.
Turning my head, a mineral and a red potion bottle were lying next to the troll’s corpse.
◈ Made from various herbs
◈ Diluted Medipolia for excellent recovery
[Regeneration Potion]
The highest quality potion made from various herbs.
Since it’s diluted with Medipolia which has excellent recovery effect, even normal wounds heal quickly.
Lucky.
I opened the cap and gulped it down.
“Puha.”
As soon as I drank, the side started itching. Lifting the clothes, the black and blue bruise and wound disappeared like a lie. The left arm without sensation recovered. Experiencing it directly, it’s an amazing thing.
“Huu, I survived.”
I stood up.
Lightened body.
First, I need to go back to the convenience store to spend the night, and grab more batteries. Since power is low, it’s worrying.
I took out batteries from the bag and bit them crunching.
Tasty.
Instead of batteries, I want to try eating outlet electricity too?
After a few steps, I suddenly turned back.
“...?”
No one.
But, footprints that weren’t there a moment ago are stamped on the muddy ground?
Footprints that look like human and animal...?
“What?”
I scanned the surroundings but no presence felt.
It was a bit worrying for a moment, but now, returning was first.
“As long as it’s not monsters.”
I turned my steps.
***
I pushed the convenience store checkout counter to the entrance and lay in the warehouse corner.
...
I closed my eyes for a moment and opened them, but the sunlight outside is already bright.
Ah, I don’t want to get up...
Power was higher than yesterday. It seems power increases just by eating. I filled the bag with batteries, canned food, and bottled water.
Seeing monsters coming from nearby, this place isn’t safe either.
After about an hour of hacking through the forest, I saw an abnormal phenomenon where vines stretched in one direction.
Space with refracted light. Beyond the boundary, a rectangular door floating in the air appeared.
[Discover the Gate]
📍 Location: [Forest]
🎁 Reward:High-density power source
[Undiscovered Gate Discovered]
[Gate clear reward: High-density power source]
[Explore the gate.]
Originally my goal was to go to the safe house.
But my thoughts changed. I have to get stronger to survive.
... Actually, more than that grand reason.
◈ High-density electrical energy source
[High-density power source]
Thud.
My heart trembled as if I met a long-lost lover. The current around the heart vibrates finely.
“... What will the taste be?”
I changed my taste and moved my steps.
Towards the jungle beyond the gate.