Heartbeat in the Ruins
Even if it was a zombie, as long as it tasted good, I curled up and barely managed to stand. The surroundings were a complete warzone. The once peaceful, sparkling Eunhaeng Sagori had been turned to rubble in an instant, like it had been carpet-bombed.
All I could see was a massive ship? No, that was the Ark. Like something ripped straight out of the Bible, the Ark had crashed right into the middle of Eunhaeng Sagori, splitting it in two. Beyond it, I could barely make out the half-destroyed Junggye Comprehensive Mall.
What the hell is this insane situation? And even in this...
I was the kind of guy who smirked faintly. My chest was pounding like crazy. It felt just like when I was a kid on my birthday. Or Christmas. I'd never even noticed if my heart was beating before. But now, I could feel every throb. The euphoria was beyond words. I'd thought my heart was dead.
"Heart sounds killer, huh?"
I looked down at a zombie with a smashed leg and head. Its clown face looked like it was ascending to heaven. Screams echoed from all directions. I heard cars crashing into solid objects too.
What a mess.
It was definitely dangerous. I had the gut feeling that the daily life I knew was gone. But for some reason, no sense of crisis hit me. If anything, it felt comfortable, like I'd been waiting for a day like this.
Strong live, weak die. I'll survive my way.
I moved forward. But something felt off.
In a situation like this, don't they give you powers? Skills or whatever. Where are mine?
There was nothing about skills. Just some cryptic message about injecting a unique origin. Just in case, I stretched out my hand.
"Fireball!"
No reaction. I even tried a pose.
"Sichun Sword Style, Eight Dragon Strike!"
Nothing changed. I checked for a status window.
What? The status window popped up. So I must have awakened. But what the hell is this job? Revelator? Nothing special besides the job. Am I like those protagonists who start at F-rank with no abilities?
Or maybe it's sealed for now?
I tilted my head and checked the status again. It looked normal.
Maybe I can raise stats with these points?
I licked my lips and invested points mentally. Imagined putting 1 into Agility.
Agility increased by 1!
I saw Agility rise by 1 in real time. Startled, I stepped back.
"Huh?"
My body felt lighter instantly. I took a light step. It was definitely feather-light, like I could fly. I did a sergeant jump. Kicking off the ground hard, I leaped nearly 2 meters effortlessly. Was this even possible?
Whoa, insane. Just +1 Agility and it's this much?!
I remembered a game I used to play. Stats felt huge at low levels—one point made a big difference. I whistled.
At this rate, I'm basically superhuman.
No skills was disappointing, sure. But like this, I could live the life I couldn't in reality.
I turned direction. Going home mattered, but I wanted to preemptively kill any troublemakers nearby. For a quiet night.
Plus, if all humanity's dealing with zombies, there'll be survivors and bitten ones turned.
Society wouldn't hold. Hell, Korea was done. I headed to the convenience store in front of my place. As expected, two guys were ransacking it, drooling like animals in real time.
And amid that—
"Don't do this, aaagh!"
"Fuckin' part-timer bitch."
The convenience store clerk trying to stop the two men had his head smashed in. Ruthless.
They're loving the chaos, huh.
This was a problem. They thought they were embracing evil, but they were just half-assed imitators. Time for a lesson.
I approached from behind and kicked one hard in the back.
Straight kick.
The guy messing up the shelves flew forward. As he turned, I closed the distance in a flash. I straightened my leg to his throat. It didn't pierce—just pressed close.
Thrust kick.
With explosive acceleration, I shoved him away. The force snapped his neck, killing him instantly.
Acquired 1 Apocalypse Point (AP)!
Thanks to awakening and stat buffs, killing was a breeze. People died so easily. New world.
"Who the fuck are you? Crazy bastard!"
"What else? Janitor cleaning trash. Or crusader in a cape?"
"You fucker!"
The remaining pig charged. He kicked decently fast. I bent my knee to block his ankle.
Block leg.
Crack!
"Aaaagh, you fuck!"
"Then die."
I grabbed his hair. Chopped wildly at his face and collarbone with my hand blade.
Axe strike.
I hammered relentlessly. He squealed like a pig getting slaughtered, flailing. But his face caved in real time, flesh tore, blood sprayed everywhere. As I beat him gleefully, he went limp like a puppet with cut strings.
Hah, fuck. So damn thrilling. Electric!
Acquired 1 Apocalypse Point (AP)!
"Slow even in dying."
Success. I spotted two backpacks the pig had brought. Claimed them immediately.
Alright, let's see what to take.
Canned goods with long shelf lives first, then instant foods like cup ramen—all packed in. Watching the bags fill didn't excite me much. Added water and drinks too. Not enough space for all the booze.
Done.
I left the store and headed home. The way back was noisy like a warzone. I scanned for people nearby. Anyone to help? Nah.
Anyone to kill?
Minimize variables. In times like these, sudden zombies were risky, but humans were worse.
Arriving home felt oddly disappointing. Thud, thud!
"Hm?"
A weird sound. Looking around, I saw the neighbor's door. Someone was headbutting it. The sound was faint but vivid.
Awakening sharpened my senses?
I set the bags down and approached. Cautiously, I saw a woman in familiar clothes.
Oh, the girl next door.
I scratched my head. We knew each other vaguely—no reason to kill. Dangerous to linger. Tapped her shoulder.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Grrrk?!"
She turned. I flinched. Her eyes were blood-red. My gaze shifted to the mailbox nearby.
[Shin Chaerin]
"Chaerin? You okay?"
"Kaaak!"
Shin Chaerin lunged like a zombie. I backed away, startled. But she was faster than expected. She stopped right in my face. Wondering what to do, she just stared blankly. Even now, she was stunningly beautiful.
"Huh?"
Her red eyes glared. Then she tilted her head curiously. Nodded like she understood, and went back to the door. Looking closely, I saw a bite mark on her ankle. An inexplicable sense of loss hit me.
Fuck, she turned zombie? The neighbor girl?
I clutched my chest. The loss was crushing—I couldn't speak. I'd eyed her for a while. Such a pretty girl, now a zombie. But why'd she stop attacking?
Wait, don't tell me...
I approached slyly. Groped her ass. Bite me? Whatever. She turned, then headbutted the door again. I chuckled.
For some reason, the zombie won't attack me.
A crazy thought crept in. Fucking her wouldn't be wrong, right? Why not? End times. Live by desire—bad?
I grabbed her wrist gently and led her. Eyes glued to the door, she followed. Took her home. Dropped bags at the entrance, led her to the first-floor bedroom. Laid her on the bed, swallowed hard.
Zombie won't attack me. Classic trope from dramas—immune or kin treatment.
She hadn't awakened, far as I knew. Some secret? Whatever, time to find out. How? Sex!
My lips curled. Approached, groped her breasts. I'd only admired from afar. Chance to fuck a girl like this. Squeezed harder; she stared blankly, unmoving.
"Gr, grrr."
More aggressively, hands on both tits, massaging. They jiggled firm and springy in my palms. Wasting this slutty body on work? Humanity's loss. I'd monopolize.
Even through clothes, the volume was insane.
Slim body, huge tits. Glamorous slender archetype!
Swallowed, pressed closer. Our eyes met—hers vacant. Licked her neck ravenously, sucked. Soft, sweet. No special care, yet idol-trainee skin.
No, her looks are already insane.
Hickeys bloomed red. Slowly stripped her. Naked, I undressed. Time to start.
"Gonna put it in, Chaerin."
"Ah, auu."
Licked my lips, pressed against her.