Then Die: Gotbenom's Playground
Then die—the infamous violent crew Gotbenom of Junggye-dong. Gotbenom's head, Kim Sin-tae, just stared ahead with an emotionless face and vacant eyes. He was only seventeen now. But he was turning into a monster more emotionless than anyone.
I suddenly wondered. When did it start? 'From the moment I was born into this shithole family? After watching my little sister get raped and killed by our dad? After I killed that bastard and got out of juvie?' It didn't matter. This was the world now.
Pop. Crunch crunch. Pop. Crunch crunch.
With that blank face, he munched on his Pepero stick and looked straight ahead. In front of Kim Sin-tae were a man and a woman, covered in wounds and sobbing. Surrounding them were about twenty local punks and half-baked gangsters, all grinning like idiots. They jeered.
"Fuck, aren't they real siblings?"
"Fuck each other! Fuck!"
"No laws anymore, right? What's incest between family?"
"Or should I punch that bitch's hole first?"
It was a cauldron of chaos. Kim Sin-tae, who had provided the spark for all this, just watched. Like a mathematician seeking an answer.
The man and woman shook their heads desperately. In that instant—
Bam! Thwack!
"Aaaagh!"
The man clutched his wrist. It was crushed from the back of his hand up. Kim Sin-tae had swung his baseball bat.
Looking down at the woman beside the man, he smirked. "They say real siblings are natural enemies. Wonder if that's true?"
"P-please, spare us."
The woman begged, but Kim Sin-tae just sneered. A sadistic smile curled his lips.
"Sure, if you two fuck, I'll let you go."
"P-please."
"Yeah?"
Crunch! Right in front of her eyes, he smashed the man's other hand too. He might not have skills, but with awakening stats boosting him, it was doable.
The woman just trembled and cried.
"Fine, don't fuck. I'll just keep tormenting your bro then."
"No, I'll do it, I'll do it! Sob, bro, please."
Reluctantly, she kissed the man. At the sight, emptiness bloomed in Kim Sin-tae's eyes. He let out a long sigh. Unlike the cheering punks, he swung his bat like a maniac. The man and woman's heads exploded. Yellow brains and red blood soaked the floor.
Sin-tae grumbled. "Fuckin' hell. At least have some convictions. This is why normies suck."
"Sin-tae, but is that shit real?"
"What."
His sidekick sidled up and asked. Sin-tae emotionlessly glanced at him, then looked back at the corpses. Like he had regrets.
The sidekick grinned obsequiously. "Nah, saw on the community—superpowers and crap."
"Only basement weebs talk that shit. You retarded?"
"N-no, no! Haha, yeah! Got all the kids rounded up. Head to that church?"
The sidekick changed the subject quick. Sin-tae was pure evil by nature. The kind who'd rape a woman to death without blinking. Or boil a newborn fetus and play soccer with it.
Sin-tae sent his hollow gaze to the void. He shook his head. "To Eunhaeng Sagori."
"Huh? Why there?"
"Hyun-su went dark there. Plus, that #1 pisses me off. Might be there."
"What if there are girls?"
Sin-tae's face lit up. Tears even glistened in his eyes. "I get first dibs."
"Y-yeah! Haha."
Sin-tae smacked his lips greedily.
The next morning, I ate with Sa-eun. Mostly frozen stuff we'd stocked up on, but some fresh side dishes too.
Sa-eun marveled at the kimchi. "Whoa, this kimchi's so good. Super crunchy. You make it?"
"Nah, my aunt sends some over sometimes."
"She's a pro. Best kimchi I've ever had!"
"Haha, totally agree."
I nodded and smiled. Living with my aunt meant no food worries—housewife level 9.
Suddenly missed her place. 'Hope they're okay. Cousins too.' They used to live in Seoul, but last I heard, they moved to the countryside. No calls on my phone. And calling? 'No signal.' Akasha's doing, probably.
That raised a question. 'They got a full community system—why block signals?' Reason to cut phones and net?
Sighing, we finished eating. Sa-eun checked the fridge, frowning thoughtfully.
"Fresh stuff'll run out soon like this."
"Yeah."
"Sorry, my fault."
"No apologies needed, senpai. We scavenge more."
"Oh yeah, Latte Mart's not far, right?"
Yeah, on the way to Junggye Station. Top Plus beyond that. But who knows now. Early apocalypse, but groups might've claimed it.
"Senpai, split up?"
"Split?"
"You scout past the Ark. See what's there, situation."
"Sure. What about you, Najin?"
"Grab food from Latte Mart and big stores."
Not confident. Not much time passed, but sharp opportunists everywhere. 'Convenience stores and supers probably looted. Marts maybe thug-held.' Low expectations. Expectations lead to disappointment.
Sa-eun smiled warmly at my plan. Her glossy black hair swayed as she nodded. "Yeah, come back safe?"
"You too."
"Mhm."
She beamed. Stunning as ever.
Post-meal stretch. Washed yesterday's orange tracksuit. Slipped on a fresh one. Looked up. 'Compact housing roof has water tank, solar panels. Water and power good for now!' Don't waste, but better than most. Hope summer holds off.
Headed out first. Light jog.
"Hoo, ha, hoo, ha!"
Passed the bank like wind. Senses sharp, straight ahead. Quiet today. 'Won't stay peaceful.'
Latte Mart neared. Crept close, minimizing presence. 'Listen up.'
No sounds at first. But just in case, logged into Community Live. Scanned boards. Notorious groups or players? Always some in chaos.
"Hm?"
Joo Jin-tae's post had more likes. Another one too. Checked it.
"Ha, what the hell?"
Made my blood boil instantly. Never met, but public love call? Not just for attention—dude already doxxed our spot yesterday. So why me? 'Looks like publicity stunt. But feels like more. Like he's appealing to me somehow.' Especially the "for humanity" and "coexist" crap soured it. 'Politician talk from some failed hopeful.'
No good vibes for Joo Jin-tae. Hell, top of my kill list. These types clique up online in peacetime, fool people.
Catching breath, peeked out. Scanned Latte Mart entrance. Surprisingly, two guys there. Quick status check. 'What, look like kids? One even in uniform.'
Non-uniform one yawned, spoke. "Man, how long we on watch?"
"Thirty inside, we outnumbered?"
"Dude, you saw Sin-tae's power?"
"Street fights he's god. But numbers."
"Fuck, retard. Inside's old fucks and chicks. We win."
"Shit, finally escape adult duty?"
"Yup, bitch. Heh!"
Good intel. People originally in Latte Mart. Now thugs teamed up, raiding. Thugs'll win. 'Sin-tae? Rings a bell.' One of Sa-eun's harassers mentioned? Local violence circle boss, probably. Area's education zone, but shit schools and punks persist. Politicians' desk-jockey bullshit.
'Want mutual destruction so I swoop. Efficient fight.' But hurry. One side crushes, balance breaks.
Go in. Direct approach might work. Hid pooled blood on back, entered.
They spotted, tensed. "Wh-what?"
"A guy?!"
Casual greet. "Hey."
"Eh?"
"Good morning."
"Uh, wait."
"Quick question. Can I go in?"
Non-uniform stepped up, pointed, cursed. "Can't you see it's blocked, fucker? Worthless shit."
"Then die."
Pew! Blood bullet holed his forehead. Killing's easy. Thrilling. Always!
Defeated an enemy!
Acquired 1 Apocalypse Point (AP)!
Partner dropped, uniform kid panicked. As mouth gaped, closed in. "Yell and I'll cut your balls off, feed 'em to you."
"Uh, u-uh, eek."
Thugs or not, lotsa kids inside. "Scaredy. Question: how many pals inside?"
"Uh, ab-about twenty."
"Fire from hands, super strength, any?"
"Huh?"
Dumbass. Panicked or not, fuckin' slow. "Any? Answer."
"N-no. None. Why would there?"
Surprised. They don't know skills? How'd they survive yesterday? 'Ways to live plenty. Mutants not that common.'
Heart rate felt true. Used to my power. "Then die."
Drew sword, slashed. Sizzle, head flew. Clean cut visible. Writhing vessels, muscles, spraying blood. Thrill surged like soda fizz.
Defeated an enemy!
Acquired 1 Apocalypse Point (AP)!
'Whoa, sword's nice? Rips clean.' Corpses dusted real-time. Drained blood first, grinned. "Alright, time to discipline."
Entered. Heart pounding. Wondering what joy these fucks would bring.
Auto doors parted. I surged like wind.