The First Trial (1)

I looked up into the empty sky alongside Sa-eun. Messages began etching themselves into the air one by one, busily.

Something scrolled down below it. Damn, it's working overtime.

A whopping 20 hours for the first stage. The details were bizarre. And on top of that, some special status effect. But a separate quest popped up.

The timer showed up the same way. I nodded slowly.

'Yeah, I get the gist. Just survive the remaining time, right?'

I got that much. But what the hell was Soul Dissolution? Suddenly, a constellation spoke up. Or maybe it was giving advice?

Simple and easy to understand. I flinched in surprise. So now the zombies would come after me? Oddly, this time only this one constellation messaged me, unlike before. Soon the others chimed in.

The notification colors were weird too. The others were gold, but this one was always gray. Probably hard to spot in urgent situations, since it matched the quest window color. Anyway, so that's what Soul Dissolution was. I let out a smirk. I'd half-expected it, but it still stung.

'Knew it. Those Akasha bastards know. They know what my ability is.'

Even if not exactly. They'd probably tweaked the rules after seeing someone like me who doesn't get attacked by zombies outright. Meaning from now on, I'd be zombie bait. Position mattered.

'Can't go home first.'

Chaerin the zombie was there. A steel door might hold, but the wooden front door? They'd smash right through.

'Tricky. A counter this quick? And it lasts 20 hours?'

Way too long. Time to think. Sa-eun sighed beside me.

“This isn't just visible to me, right?”

“Yeah, senpai. We're both players.”

“I don't get what's going on.”

“Senpai, from now on we fight together and survive. Got it?”

“Yeah... sure. I wanna stick with you too.”

In times like these, people you could trust dwindled fast. If a buddy you thought was solid stabbed you in the back? Not just the hit, but the mental recovery would suck. In that sense, Sa-eun was solid. A damn cool woman. I glanced around. No zombie signs yet. But soon.

“Senpai, first you need to know about your skills.”

“Skills? What's that?”

“Like superpowers you got after the world went to shit. Seen anything weird?”

“Huh? Oh yeah! Whenever I get mad, electricity sparks!”

I whistled and nodded. Sounded like electricity powers. Not bad at all. Useful in fights or whatever. Lucky to have her as my first teammate.

'Good luck.'

Better than solo. Now the real game began. I smiled faintly, lowering my voice.

“Senpai, listen up. To check your ability, just imagine it. The description pops up.”

“Really? Whoa, it does!”

“Memorize it. Now we find a safe spot.”

Sa-eun, reading her description, looked shocked. She shook her head, her glossy black hair swaying.

“A safe spot here?”

“My place is nearby, but no good.”

“Why?”

“Yeah. But there's better—the commercial building.”

I scanned around. Areas like Sanggye and Junggye-dong were packed with big and small commercial buildings. They weren't single-industry; hold one right, and you get variety.

'Head to the one on the way home.'

I outlined the rough plan. Sa-eun, done reading, nodded slowly.

“Sounds good. Let's move. I'll cover you.”

“Then we run.”

“Yeah!”

I kicked off the ground, bolting like an arrow. Worried Sa-eun might lag, but—

Crackle! Zap zap!

Electricity coursed over her body, sparks flying from her feet as she charged. I was stunned. She was faster than me. Like a superhero.

'Whoa, she's quick. Already adapted?'

Her athletic talent was top-tier. I hustled to keep up. Now I noticed her balanced, toned backside from all that training. Her ass jiggled wildly as we sprinted. Springy-spring♡ I pulled even with her shoulders. Glanced over. Boing-boing♡ Shaking fiercely. Her heart. So vast and ample.

'What would a body like that feel like?'

We'd been running a bit when Sa-eun braked hard. I stopped too, glaring ahead.

“Zombies.”

“Najin, fight?”

“Yeah, perfect—four of 'em. Get used to fighting with skills.”

“Got it!”

Four zombies emerged from a nearby apartment complex. As soon as I spoke, Sa-eun surged. She zipped in like lightning, smashing one's jaw with a rear straight. I saw the lightning-fast punch shatter it.

'Damn, gotta step up.'

I peeled off some blood I'd gathered and flung it at a zombie. Arrow-shaped, it pulped the head like a watermelon. I vaulted the falling corpse, catching my breath, closing on the next. Kicked hard into its face.

'Face kick!'

Its face vibrated, shoved back. I followed with an axe chop to the face.

I extracted blood from the zombie. But barely any came out.

'These bastards are really gunning for me. Barely any blood. Why?'

I inspected the corpse closely. It was turning pitch-black like oil, degenerating. Into something other than blood. What the hell?

“Whew, senpai. Over here!”

“Yeah!”

I naturally grabbed Sa-eun's hand and led her. She seemed surprised but ran with me. We crossed a bridge toward Eunhaeng Sagori. Checked right—San-an apartments, but no way. Crawling with zombies. Further on, a five-story commercial building with a big cafe. Skipped the cafe, slipped into the narrow ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠side entrance. Closed the glass door. Outside noise muffled a bit. Barred it with life-size cutouts and trash cans, then looked around. Sa-eun's eyes trembled.

“Just elevator and stairs?”

“Weird layout. First floor's all cafe. Two entrances otherwise.”

“Two?!”

“Right one leads to second-floor gym and third-floor cram school. Left to fourth-floor gukbap joint and fifth-floor clinic.”

Sa-eun nodded. Quick on the uptake, as expected. She smiled faintly, pointing at the glass door.

“We came in the left, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then up we go!”

“Hold on.”

I eyed the elevator. Flung some blood at the control board. It shattered. No one could use it now. We needed control.

“It's stuck on five, so block anyone coming in.”

“Smart. Let's go!”

Up with Sa-eun. Checked fourth-floor gukbap place first. Shut tight. Door looked breakable. Up to five. Door ajar. Unsettling. I listened, advancing.

'Presence.'

I smacked my lips. The thrill of another life-or-death fight tickled my chest. Hospital lobby had sofas, water cooler, TV. Desk trashed. I smiled faintly.

“Senpai, wanna check if the fourth-floor restaurant door's open?”

“Fourth? Sure.”

“On the way, pile more stuff on the first-floor door.”

“Got it!”

Sa-eun left sparking. Adapted that fast. Relieved. Now my turn. Smirking, I advanced. Cracked the treatment room door. Click, creak. Peering in cautiously—

The exam room door opposite burst open.

“Kahaaak!”

A gowned zombie spat drool, lunging. 'Recovery kick.' I swept its ankle with my sole, staggering it. Kicked ground, closed in. 'Whirlwind kick!' Leapt horizontal like a shuriken, double-kicking its chest. Felt the ribs cave in real-time.

Zombie slammed into the doctor's chair, dead. As I stepped out—warehouse door nearby flew open, nurse zombie leaping.

“Ha, one after another.”

“Kehehek!”

Even now, the nurse had a killer body. Probably dolled up a lot as a human. Zombie gaped wide, charging. Midway, gray udders flopped wildly. I raised and smashed my fist. Target: ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠jaw.

“Falling hammer.”

Smashed the jaw. Crack—zombie pitched forward. Still staggered up. Grabbed hair, yanked upright. Temple-smash with my forehead side.

'Temple strike.'

Zombie fully crumpled. Twitching on floor. Amid that, taut thighs exposed. Udder heaving.

'Time to test. Does my ability work under Soul Dissolution or not?'

Dragged nurse by hair to treatment room. Flopped on bed, ripped clothes.

“Alright, experiment time.”