Ark Shell-153

Ark Shell-153. It should have been the sweetest deal in life. I opened my eyes to a gender-reversed world where the sex ratio was utterly fucked— a paradise waiting for me, surrounded by women cooing and fawning. No worries about jobs, just snag a few wives, live it up with girls on either side... that future was right around the corner.

But could luck really screw me this hard? That dream world crumbled in less than a year. Suddenly, Monsters were swarming everywhere, people dropping like flies. The sky turned ashen, screams echoing from all directions. My genre flipped from dating sim to apocalypse in a heartbeat. All those events turned my "what's for dinner today?" into "how do I survive the day?"

Fuck... Looking back, I should've just been content with reality. No chasing glory or riches. My greed brought divine punishment.

"Urgh..." Agonizing pain from my crushed arm gnawed at my brain. I'd been chased by that shapeless abomination for hours now. Barely able to walk, I leaned on my companion, Seoyeun, inching forward.

"Give up. I won't last much longer. At least you survive."

"No way. How could I leave you behind?"

We hadn't known each other that long. She wouldn't have blamed me for ditching her, but here she was, dragging my dead weight. For a guy like me who'd planned to toy with her and toss her aside... the guilt just grew heavier.

[Grraaawr...]

Squelch, squelch— the horrific mass of flesh filled the hallway, closing in on us. If Seoyeun bolted now, she'd escape easy. No way we both make it. Time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to decide.

"Enough. Head to the survivor camp alone."

"What?"

Thud! Before the building fully collapsed into the thing, I shoved her out the window with all my strength. Even as she fell, that idiot Lee Seoyeun never looked away from me.

But I'd already made up my mind.

I want a break too.

The chased life had worn me down. My arm would rot from infection, no meds left—death was coming soon anyway. No more clinging to this terminal existence. I could feel it: the Monsters were eroding my mind. Better end this pain quick and find freedom.

Dying once was tough. Twice...? I'd died before coming to this world. Horrific, but less than now. Back then, a sleepy driver hit me clean—lights out before I knew it, almost painless.

"Haa..."

Legs gave out; I collapsed. Numbing agony burrowed into my flesh, devouring my sanity. Sweet metallic taste in my mouth. Forgot how to breathe properly ages ago.

Will that kill me quick...? I eyed the writhing Monster slithering right up to me. Every one had its cruel way: snapping necks 180 degrees, swallowing people whole. Shapes varied wildly—beyond comprehension. Humanity's doom was inevitable. Guns useless; stab or slice, they just regenerated. Even our slightly advanced tech couldn't dent them physically.

"Haa..."

I closed my eyes, back against the wall. Hoping for an easier world next time. No need for gender reversal—just happiness, whatever it took.

...Ah... Lost too much blood... So weak... Vision blurring... The spot around me stained red. Eyelids growing heavy. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Fool that I was, even now I desperately wished to live. If only I could grasp something—anything—within reach.

"A... a man? A real... man?"

Right before consciousness faded, hazy light flickered at the edge of my vision. It shimmered. Unclear what, but a foggy afterimage lingered, circling.

"No way... A living man... Am I dreaming? G-Gotta get him to the shelter. He can't die."

No... Can't hold on. Breathing shallow... My mind slipping completely...

"H-Help! What are you waiting for? Grab the serum—hurry!"

Into the deep abyss...

Dead? Faint sensations returned gradually, accompanied by steady beeps. Forcing my eyelids open revealed a grid-patterned ceiling tile. The sharp, medicinal smell of a hospital stung my nose.

Died again, huh. Same ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as last time. Waking in another world always started in a cliché hospital room. Once my mind cleared, I struggled to sit up.

No one's here... The vast white expanse—from floor to walls and ceiling—could hold ten people easy. But just me.

Ugh... Head hurts... Delayed headache from all the stress. Constant tension made it inevitable. Now relaxed, my body ached all over.

Pushing off the crisp white sheets, I gripped the IV pole beside the bed.

"Nutrients...? Who hooked this up..."

Clear fluid from the bag flowed down the tube into my hand. Wires snaked from my gown too, sending faint signals to monitors tracking vitals. I ripped off the annoying electrode patches, grabbed the pole again, and stood.

My legs wobbled badly. A couple steps, and I hit my limit.

No... Can't walk farther. Gave up quick. Not just legs—moving my muscles made my right arm, bitten by the Monster, scream in pain.

Curious, I sat back on the bed, rolled up my sleeve.

"Holy shit..."

Only a massive scar remained where the Monster had crushed it.

"Wait... so I didn't die?"

Thought I'd died clean and reincarnated. That world shouldn't have hospital rooms this big, or meds. Infrastructure was trashed—no functioning hospitals left.

Just escaped to another world? Arm proved otherwise. Still alive. Just barely hanging on, saved by someone.

But... who? I was Monster chow seconds away. No mere human beats a Monster—they shrug off bullets. Hack away, they regen endlessly. How'd anyone...

Ugh... don't know. Seemed like I heard something. Right as blacked out, a voice. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Faint... but said something... Details fuzzy.

Sighed deep, pulled sleeve down over the scar. Waiting might bring answers. No point forcing it now. Be grateful I'm alive.

...Mind settling, my narrowed vision brightened. Now I noticed the massive dissonance. The room, everything—cutting-edge tech I'd never seen. Heavy steel door, whirring machines straight out of movies. Even the floor: antiseptic tiles? Monitors everywhere, incomprehensible.

Half-dazed, I stared at the hologram. Touched the monitor out of curiosity.

Ping! Pop!

"Whoa!"

Reacted to my fingerprint, blue translucent window popped up. Hologram...? Tech so unreal, words failed. Forgot to breathe, frozen. Trembling hand hovered over it.

Beep!

I gawked, dumbfounded. Gibberish filled the screen, but then—

"Oh, you're awake. Wondered why the signal cut out. How's the body feeling?"

Hot breath tickled my ear, heavy pressure on my back. I whipped around, startled.

"Eek! W-Who... who are you?!"

"Me?"

Don't know when she snuck in. Woman readjusted her white coat slipping off her shoulders. Shook her ample breasts blatantly, swept back pink hair from her forehead.

"I'm Seo Yura. Owner of this shelter... and your savior. That work?"