Second Ordeal – Interlude (2)

I spent some time resting with Chaerin. Before I knew it, the sun was setting.

After finishing my shower and changing into fresh clothes—orange tracksuit or not—I pulled out items from the ring and placed them around the room, grinning to myself. Now it looks a bit more prosperous.

Food sorting was done. Next up: checking the comments.

I chuckled lightly. The comment made it sound lively, but who knew what tricks they had up their sleeve? Plus, this was just a notification—no original post. They'd written it, left the alert, and deleted the rest. Why the hell bother?

'Weird. They really didn't want anyone else seeing it?'

Whatever. Worked for me. I smacked my lips and headed back to the room. I placed a water bottle next to the sleeping Chaerin, then stepped out again.

I killed time leisurely outside before heading to Pizza Academy. Been a while since I've been there.

'Near the station means crowds. More like swarms of zombies.'

The place itself probably wasn't intact either. Still, worth going. I wanted to see what kind of guy Joo Jintae was.

'He probably won't show himself. Watching from afar, using people as shields like the coward he is.'

If he really didn't show? I smirked. Even better. I'd show them exactly who I was.

'Let's see.'

Passing the sports park, I scattered blood into the air. Highly compressed droplets embroidered the sky one by one. I leaped toward them.

I floated lightly into the air, extending my foot. "Think it'll work this time?"

Stepping on each droplet, I ascended into the sky. Success. They stuck firm like nails in the air—no give even when I pressed down. Whistling, I tried pushing forward in this state. Like flight. Like levitation.

'Not like I'm Sun Wukong riding clouds.'

Snickering, I manipulated two compressed droplets. The rest I'd drop to the ground for detection. The ones underfoot propelled me forward at a decent speed. I focused just enough. It held steady—no wobbling.

'Definite. Proficiency's rising bit by bit through real combat!'

Good sign. At this rate, maybe the next level-up too? Smacking my lips, I relaxed my hands. I was getting hooked on my daily growth.

Looking down, I narrowed my eyes. 'Zombies everywhere. Even plenty hiding in spots.'

Could go by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ground, but it'd take time. This meetup was our first impression test. Couldn't afford to be late.

'But weird?'

Joo Jintae's group was at the cathedral on the opposite side. Jungkye-bon-dong. So why meet near Pizza Academy, way farther and in the wrong direction?

Not a prank. 'Wants to stay neutral?'

I mapped Jungkye-dong in my head. Just past Exit 4 was another cathedral.

Crossing my arms, I felt the cool breeze. Nice.

'No way... is Joo Jintae messing with the other cathedral's survivors?'

I shook my head slightly. Speculation. Maybe recruiting or absorbing them. For some reason, he was obsessed with expanding his group. Meeting at Pizza Academy? Just convenient timing, close enough.

Made sense. Problem was, I could only guess his real intent.

'I'll see soon enough.'

Passing the girls' high school and elementary school, I flew 10 meters up. The view from above felt alien. Zombies dotted everywhere. Higher up, they'd look like black specks.

'There.'

Jungkye Station at last. Exit 4 crawled with zombies. Watching briefly, I drew 150ml blood, forming 10ml bullets.

Fired them at the station zombies in a fan shape.

'Eight down. Looks better now.'

Time to boost stats. The Divine Game was unique. Points accumulated, but you couldn't just dump them anywhere. Players existed, each awakening abilities—compatibilities and counters emerged first.

Skills alone? Artifacts too. From low-grade to holy sword-level. More variables. Plus items like ability-nullifying flashbangs. Couldn't go all-in on stats blindly.

Balanced investment it was.

I put 30 into each. Looks good. Power surged through me. Like I could blow up a mountain.

Despite the commotion, other zombies just glanced around before shambling off.

'Can't see me up here.'

I stopped in front of the commercial building with Pizza Academy. Lowered altitude, peering down. Two guys. Checked their status windows and clicked my tongue.

'No Joo Jintae. Figures.'

Lackeys. They spotted me and approached.

"H-hey, Sung Najin, right?"

"Just like on CCTV. Whoa."

Off to a bad start. He didn't show, and they'd sold his face on CCTV. Just to be sure:

"Who's Joo Jintae?"

"Oh, he couldn't make it. Busy, so we came instead!"

"Yeah?"

I grinned. What a joke. Misreading my smile, they laughed along. Poor bastards. Regret joining him.

Drew 50ml blood, eyeing them. Big guy, glasses guy.

Fired a droplet at glasses guy's forehead.

Phut!

"Huh?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Magic stat's high—now bullets fly with a glance, no gestures needed. Still felt off, but growth was tangible.

Big guy stood stunned. I sighed from above.

"Hey, meathead, look at me."

"Uh, y-yeah. What the—? How?"

"You live. But relay my message to that pencil-dick."

"O-okay? Y-yes! Gulp."

Shaking like a leaf. No real tough guys around here.

"You broke the deal first. I'm very disappointed you sent proxies instead of showing for something needing trust. Plus, your proposal feels fishy, so one dies as example. Got it?"

"Y-yes, yes!"

"Relay it right. I remember your face."

"H-heek!"

Meathead bolted. Funny seeing that bulk run. Toward the nearby cathedral—Joo Jintae must be there.

Tsking, I screenshotted the corpse and posted.

"This calls for a preemptive strike."

Finished writing, chuckled. Then startled. Wait, this was a community. Rules?

"Oh shit. Hope I don't get banned for clanning."

Checked the board just in case. Once had a retard mod who nuked a big chan and ghosted. Infamous for arbitrary bans if he disliked you. Pureborn idiot. Could happen here.

No armbands visible. Even if, probably no intervention.

"Arolong."

She appeared, beaming. Cuter lately.

"Your idol, ArolongAro!" Pose.

"Divine Live ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠got armbands?"

"Yep!"

"What? Th-there are?"

Body tensed. Fucked. Already picturing appeals on the main chan.

Arolong tilted her head, snickered.

"Lol, nicknames fine. No strict per-chan rules!"

"Phew, relief."

"Managers vary, but no bans for this."

"Who are they?"

"You'll learn in time~?"

Won't spill easy. Akasha-related? High power? Real skill? Might be enemies later.

"Figures."

"Didn't even blink killing before."

"People're common. Killable, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠killed. Ban's the real issue."

"Is it...?"

She wouldn't get it. Missing announcements. Retard beef. Accidental slip. Then teary appeals to unban. Fucking sucks.

"Thanks anyway. Have a good one."

"Night's just starting for me. Sigh, happy surviving~."

She vanished. I smiled, raised altitude. Higher, droplets shook.

'Strain scales with height? Compress more?'

Added blood, compressed. Still shaky. Makes sense—can't Mars-hop yet. Limits exist.

'Doesn't matter. Figure it out, break it.'

Grinned. Peered down from 25m. Group emerged from nearby cathedral. Front guy screamed Jintae.

'Scouting close, you fuck.'

Checked comms. Post reactions split.

'Chaos. Over 80 comments.'

Just the opening skirmish. I'd sensed it vaguely.

'No point keeping Joo Jintae-types around long. Eunha's weird talk aside, she's right there. Bad to let him linger.'

Joo Jintae halted the group, approached alone. I descended slowly, making him crane his neck long.

Cleaner-looking than expected. 'Thought politician vibe?'

He bowed. "Sung Najin, nice to meet. Sorry for the discourtesy first."

"Don't do discourteous shit. But."

I focused. Checked his status window. Tilted my head.

This can't be. 'Why's the status window...?!'

I glared, incredulous. My lips curled up slowly.