Apocalypse Livestream and Legendary Rewards

I blinked at the Apocalypse Livestream and the cascade of historic rewards floating in the air. Sa-eun was quick on the uptake too—she was staring right at it.

Whoa, this is it. That community I used to haunt for hot deals. It looked exactly like the one I'd frequented for HotDealChan steals, popping up like a status window. Hell, it even had multiple channels. When the fuck did they prep all this?

Of course, the biggest one was the Community channel. Hmm, not the humor section?

What's this? Posts are starting to pop up one by one? One had already hit featured status. Curious, I tapped it to read.

What the hell is this? I was stunned after reading it. Someone was already staking a claim on a thread and recruiting survivors amid all the chaos. Impressive, gotta admit. And like the comments mentioned, this guy was kill ranking #2.

Rankings don't always mean raw power, but this fucker's on Sa-eun's level. No underestimating him. Selfishly speaking, I'd love to pull him to our side, but in this world, would a guy acting like that really join us? Rounding up and holding survivors together ain't easy. Plenty of people will bite on that post—they'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rather lean on someone than survive solo. Hell, in the old world, tons of folks got dogs or cats just to avoid being alone. Warmth hits different now.

And it's a cathedral, no less? Holy, clean—perfect spot to hole up with others. I knew exactly which one too. Made his intentions even more suspect. Basing at a cathedral. Already rallying people. Post hits featured right away. 21 recommendations—21. Could be genuine goodwill, but I couldn't help smirking.

As if. You don't hand the fish to the cat. In this apocalypse, pure intentions were rare. Anyone with them was just cannon fodder waiting to get backstabbed.

Sa-eun covered her mouth with her hand. She'd seen it too.

"Oh my, you saw that post?"

"Yeah. Impressive guy."

"And he's got more kills than me."

A hint of a pout on Sa-eun's lips. I patted her shoulder.

"Doesn't mean he's better. You're the best, senpai."

"What're you saying? Heh."

She glanced at me for a moment, like she had something to say. I stretched lazily, waiting. Outside, zombies were scarce now. Spotless, like before the first trial kicked off.

"Senpai, you got something to say?"

"Yeah. You gonna go?"

"Where? To that guy? Nah, you're joking, right?"

"For real?"

I chuckled. Turning from the sunlight pouring through the window, I replied.

"World's gone where trusting others is a luxury. Why trust a guy like that?"

"True. He seems good in a fight, but other survivors?"

"We stick ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to our own. Taking in randos now? Risky. No guarantee they'll help."

"Yeah! That's right. But is it really over?"

"Seems so. No clue when the next game's coming."

It'd notify us, but the wait would suck. Staring at the sunlit street littered with blood-soaked corpses, I wondered if I should grab breakfast. Then the alerts I'd been waiting for hit.

Whoa, whoa. What the hell is all this? I was floored. Sa-eun must've gotten rewards too—suddenly she was clutching ash-gray tickets, one in each hand.

"Wh-what? What's this? Exchange ticket?"

"I got one too."

"How do we even use it? No instructions. Exchange ticket, so... where do we go?"

"Dunno. What now?"

The moment I voiced the question, fireworks exploded in the air. Startled, I looked up—and some entity appeared.

"What the—?"

A white body like a dog or cat, topped with yellow-dyed hair, red eyes, and a delinquent girl-character face. Looked like that Arorong con from before.

Sa-eun sidled up to me. "What is that thing?"

It grinned and spoke. "Yes, hello! I'm Arorong, the guide NPC and one-of-a-kind mascot for this apocalypse, the Divine Game!"

Arorong's high-pitched girly voice. Total internet meme material. But calling itself a guide NPC? Wild. Is this what they call the metaverse or whatever?

Can't underestimate this one. Even I could tell it wasn't just some goofy mascot. Obvious at a glance. NPC, after all. So I stayed wary. Cute looks could fool people. And in this world, some idiots might attack an NPC for kicks. But this defenseless cutie as an NPC? Nah.

Arorong met my eyes, narrowing them and twitching its brows. "Oho, a standout here, huh?"

"Me? Why?"

"Nothing. Congrats on becoming champion. Whee, while others barely hit double digits, you soloed triple, plus a mutant. Insane!"

"Hmph."

Overhyping it. I played it cool on purpose. But mutant entity—that Mutatio from the rankings?

"Hey, do the zombies we killed have fancy Latin names?"

"Kinda their real names. Normal ones are Terra, mutants are Mutatio. Note: Mutatios are rare."

Acts like they're common as dirt. Sa-eun, though, was all in on the cute. "Aww, so adorable! You little white fluff?"

"Eh? Don't love that race talk."

"Sorry. Puppy then?"

"Nope."

"But those paw pads? Total cutie!"

Sa-eun went wild petting Arorong's head. Weak to cute things, huh? Arorong panicked, trying to shake her off.

I smirked watching. "Eek, hold up! Stop petting, ugh, th-there, that's weak!"

"Cute overload!"

Anyway, time for business. I got serious with Arorong. We had a right to know shit.

"Alright, Arorong. Question: how do we use the exchange tickets?"

"Simple. Give 'em to me, I'll gacha instantly."

"Oh yeah? Me first then."

I handed over the tickets. Arorong snatched them with a wicked grin, like it held a death note.

"No rigging or anything. Pure luck."

"Know that. Quit yapping—long tongue's sus."

"Fair. Hehe!"

Arorong fondled the two Artifact Gacha Tickets, then gaped wide and swallowed them. What the fuck? Then it floated up, white body glowing like a gacha machine in rainbow lights.

Arorong threw its arms up. "Woooo! Gachaaaa!"

"Fucking nuts."

Something shot from its mouth: a sky-blue lightning-infused straight sword and a multicolored ring. I caught them reverently. Descriptions popped up.

What the fuck, insane! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jackpot! Then Sa-eun did her gacha. I swallowed hard. Those screamed top-tier.

Whoa, for real? Does the sword need separate growth? Like with enhancement stones?

But the ring—that was straight-up a status window. I glanced at Sa-eun. It displayed perfectly.

Everything, for real? Even her kinks? Stuff you'd only know by asking direct. Fuck, this is next level? All mine? Felt wrong peeking, but damn, exciting. Dick twitched.

And the ring had sub-space. Inventory function, basically.

But more left. Arorong chimed in friendly-like. "Wheee, gacha jackpot! Congrats! Ahem."

"Arorong."

"Yes?"

"Gotta summon you every time for gacha?"

"Yep. Worried about me running around? Aww, so sweet!"

Playful tone. Didn't bite.

"But tons of people. Korea ain't just Junggye-dong. You'll be summoned everywhere."

"No worries. I'm one yet many. Zero workload!"

One yet many? Clones? Makes sense. Can't be just one NPC for nationwide service.

"What's the Magic Water Tank?"

"Right beside you."

Instant answer. Looked—fridge-sized tank, ash-gray and friendly. Tilted the lid: full of fresh water.

Fuck, this much moisture without water sources?! Water shortages incoming—this solved it.

Felt eyes on me, looked up. Arorong grinning at me. Dunno about others, but it creeped me out. Normally cute chars like that charm me—Sa-eun's reaction's standard. But this bugged me hard. Still, needed answers from it.

"Arorong. What're Akasha?"

"The cosmic organizers hosting this whole event."

"Yeah? Who's the boss?"

"Survive to the end, you'll see."

No easy answers. Fine. Pulled the Designated Item Summon Ticket.

"This?"

"Designated Item Summon Ticket. You included, 13 on the peninsula got it."

More than expected? Whatever. Arorong read my face, licked lips with a sultry smirk. Kinda funny.

"Name a specific item or describe features. You'll get a match."

"For real?"

"Yep!"

"Like, Excalibur?"

"You'd get it. But heads up."

I smirked bitterly. Knew it. No free lunch.

"Could be an Excalibur signboard. Or a toy sword that looks like it."

"Excalibur's an artifact, though?"

"Who knows. Those count as items—just super low grade. Imagination and description key."

Even names lumped as "items," not guaranteed artifacts. Salesman bullshit. Akasha pros at this.

Tough choice. "One more. What's next to the Community channel?"

"Apocalypse HotDealChan. Shop function."

"Pots, essentials?"

"Yep."

"With points?"

"Right! Everything imaginable—check it."

Opened it. Carrot market locked. Akasha's own list instead.

This one! Grinned. That's my pick.

"Sweet. I'll take Gluttony's Blessing."

"Oho, not one to underestimate. Plenty pricier options?"

"Yeah, but my luck's good. Gut says go."

"Approved."

Ticket crumbled to dust. Mint-green talisman fluttered down. This it? Grabbed it—description appeared.

Wha—?!