Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Yuseong Group (11) / Variant Zombie
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"Even if you ask me... Hmm. Since the infected started attacking from the first floor, maybe the people upstairs noticed and fled somewhere else?"
Her guess sounded reasonable at first glance. But if everyone had escaped safely, then why was the 21st floor such a total wreck?
"......"
In truth, I'd vaguely figured out the answer the moment we arrived on the 21st floor.
The answer was variant zombies.
'But how did a variant zombie show up this early? Weren't variants supposed to appear after some time passed?'
It was way too soon for one to appear just a few days after the virus spread.
'Is the planet's info wrong? Or is this place special somehow?'
Just then, Sera's urgent voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Joo-hyuk. Look over there. A survivor."
"Huh?"
My gaze naturally followed her pointing finger. At the end of the left hallway. Amid tightly shut cabin doors, one door alone was creaking open.
Soon, a woman in a flashy party dress cautiously poked her head out from the widening gap, crouched low.
Her expensive-looking dress was torn in places, exposing her bare legs, and dust streaked the fabric everywhere.
Everything seemed normal. Except for the fact that, the moment she stepped out, the floor around her grew steadily darker, taking on a dark red hue.
'Could that be...?'
But before I could resolve the doubt, our eyes met the woman in the dress. In that instant, her eyes lit up with joy visible even from afar.
"Rescue team!! You're the rescue team, right!? Please help me! Since yesterday, they've been..."
The woman desperately called for help as she took her first step toward us.
Grraaaaaah...!
A hideous roar echoed from the left hallway, so loud it seemed to shake the entire floor.
"......!"
The whole team reflexively swung our gun barrels toward the left hallway. The woman, too, whipped around toward the source of the sound, her face frozen in terror.
Just as her expression drained of color, a massive hand shot out from beyond the hallway like lightning.
The pitch-black, muscle-covered hand seized her slender head like a small ball.
"Ah... Ah..."
The instant her body was hoisted into the air, she instinctively sensed death and let loose a stream of yellow liquid between her legs.
Then the giant hand smashed her head mercilessly into the nearby wall.
Kwachik!
With a gruesome bursting sound, her head exploded like crushed tomato pulp, red blood and white brain matter splattering everywhere.
The "woman's" headless body thudded to the floor. It twitched for a moment before going still.
Behind it emerged a hulking monster. Even at a rough glance, it towered over 3 meters, its entire body swollen with balloon-like muscles.
Especially the right arm that had just pulverized her head—it was twice as massive and grotesque as the rest, mutated beyond recognition.
And the monster's eyes were locked straight on us.
"...Looks like we're fucked."
Sera spat out a curse.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Everyone, battle stations."
I could hear a slight tremor in Carlson's voice, the man who always stayed cool and issued orders.
The enemy's sheer size was worlds apart from any infected we'd faced so far.
'Damn, that thing's built heavy.'
Judging by its massive muscles and broad shoulders, it must've hit the gym hard in life. Or maybe just pumped full of steroids.
Kraaaaaah!
The variant zombie bellowed as if welcoming us, smashing through the hallway walls with its bulk and charging straight at us.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
At the same time, we all pulled our triggers without needing a cue.
Tatata-tang!
Flames spat from our muzzles as bullets tore into the enemy's flesh. Blood spraying around was proof enough.
But it was smart. Sensing bullets as dangerous, it crossed its arms in an X to shield its head and torso, barreling through the hail of lead.
That grotesquely mutated right arm served as a perfect shield.
"Damn it, everyone dodge!"
Carlson shouted urgently. It wasn't moving fast, but standing still would've meant getting pulverized by the charge.
We all leaped into the right hallway as one.
Except for one person—Park Min-ji. Paralyzed by extreme fear, she'd lost her bearings and bolted straight ahead into the front hallway, opposite our direction.
"Gasp!"
Midway, she realized her mistake and tried to turn back toward us.
But her fear-stiffened legs tangled, and she tumbled flat in the middle of the corridor.
"Hiiik!"
Park Min-ji screamed in terror at the approaching variant zombie. Her legs gave out; she couldn't stand. She just stared blankly at the oncoming monster.
'Can I save her?'
The team had already reached safety, but she was right in the path of its charge.
I hesitated for a split second. To save her, I'd have to dive into the monster's path myself.
It was a risky gamble that could end in mutual destruction.
Use Warp? Sure, that was an option. But coldly speaking, she wasn't worth burning my best card to save.
After all, a secret's power lies in no one knowing it.
That's when the anomaly hit.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Threat Detection Enemy movements and threat zones marked in red trajectories.
As I debated saving Park Min-ji or not, Threat Detection triggered, outlining the monster's movements and danger zones in red lines.
Every path toward her, including where she'd fallen, glowed deep red.
But one spot alone—a safe zone untouched by red. Just a few steps from where she'd fallen, at the front hallway entrance.
'Hmm... On second thought, saving the bitch might not be so bad.'
Time was short. No hesitation this time. I kicked off the floor and sprinted full-tilt toward the safe zone.
"Joo-hyuk!!"
Sera's desperate cry came late, startled by my sudden move. But I ignored the team's protests, grabbed Park Min-ji's waist where she lay, and hurled us both toward the front hallway.
Right then.
Kwaaaang!
A massive gust hit my back as the variant zombie's bulk whooshed past. By a hair's breadth.
Kraaaaaah!
Furious at missing its target, the variant zombie unleashed a deafening roar. Its giant fist slammed our former spot, cracking the marble floor like a spiderweb and shattering it.
"Hoo... Hoo..."
I panted roughly, looking down at Park Min-ji in my arms. Her body still trembled faintly against me, fear unshaken.
"You okay?"
Park Min-ji barely nodded.
Meanwhile, the variant zombie huffed raggedly in the middle of the ruined corridor, rage subsiding.
Its gaze shifted to the right hallway where the team had fled.
'Can't let it go that way.'
If it headed for the group, they'd be sitting ducks. Even if modern firearms let them hold it off, ammo was finite—the outcome was obvious.
'Gotta take this bastard down now.'
I couldn't lose proven team members to a single variant zombie.
I gently set Park Min-ji down. She'd passed out sometime. After checking a nearby cabin for safety, I Warped her onto the bed.
I yanked the pins from three grenades on my tactical vest and lobbed them at the variant zombie.
Confirming their arc, I shouldered my assault rifle and unloaded on its head.
Tatata-tata-ta!
"Come on, you steroid-junkie fuck!"
Whether my taunt worked or it just reacted to the threat, it whipped around and charged me.
Right then, the grenades detonated in sequence.
Kwakwakwang!
The explosion filled the corridor with dust and debris. But I knew—this wouldn't kill it.
Sure enough, it burst through the dust storm unscathed, bearing down on me.
'As expected. Its skin disperses damage with insane elasticity. But what about a blade that rips skin clean off?'
Grinning, I stowed my assault rifle and gear in my inventory. Then I gripped the shop sword that had claimed hundreds of Tower guardians and countless monsters.
'No matter how tough you are, you're nothing compared to the Tower's knight guardians.'
As it closed in, my vision tinted redder. Every move, every attack path, crystal clear before my eyes.
'Now.'
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Warp SSS Instant spatial relocation executed.
I Warped to its feet.
As it stumbled off-balance, I lunged and swung my blade.
Slash—
My sword cleaved its right arm clean off. The hide and muscle that shrugged off bullets and blasts parted like tofu.
Kraaaaaah!!!
The variant zombie collapsed, shrieking in agony.
"This fucker's not even half as tough as a Krallta."