Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: How to Survive in Fusion Punk
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"Ah, but let's eat first."
Jin suddenly clutched his lower stomach.
And then he let out a groan, his face twisted like he'd been stabbed with a knife.
The group stared at him in bewilderment.
Suddenly?
But this was perfectly natural.
When humans face a major crisis, they shove all their petty desires into a closet until it's resolved.
Now that the danger had passed and safety was secured, the contents of that closet came tumbling out in a rush.
Hand over the food!!
And so Jin shot to his feet.
After rummaging through the underground space, he returned with both arms full of canned goods. Fenrir gaped at him in disbelief.
"Just how many are you hauling back?"
"To share with you guys... hmm, no can do."
Jin leaned against the sofa, avoiding Osia and Den, who were already dozing off with heads bobbing.
"Tired?"
"He said he hadn't washed or slept in three days. Tension's finally easing up. Thanks to whoever suggested food first."
"So what'll it be?"
"...Anything."
You little punk. Knew you'd want food anyway.
Jin chuckled and tossed over a can labeled "Processed Meat."
"Spoon?"
"None? Just drink it or eat it with your hands."
What kind of silverware fuss from a werewolf?
With those claws extended long, who needs a fork?
Oh, sweet corn. Yum.
Jin tilted his head back and shook the can empty. Golden kernels cascaded like a waterfall, filling his cheeks as he chewed away.
Fenrir pulled off his mask and joined in.
Come to think of it, this was the first time seeing his bare human face.
Jin glanced over—nothing too surprising. Sharp eyes like blades, a jawline to match.
Covered in rough, jagged scars.
"What're you staring at?"
"You're prickly."
Jin shrugged and cracked open a new can. He scooped out a few bites with his fingers before asking,
"TB... no, what's your deal with Taha?"
"Nothing much. We were comrades once."
"Did he backstab you?"
"Backstab? Nah. We just parted ways over differing views."
"Didn't seem like Taha saw it that way. Something about fate? An inner voice?"
Fenrir chewed his processed meat with a grimace.
"Beast Plague gone full throttle. Hoped it wouldn't, but yeah, he lost his marbles."
"Beast Plague? What's that?"
Jin tossed a can with the question; Fenrir snatched it midair and answered.
"Side effect of the Beast Serum. Irrational destructive urges surge up, and hallucinations kick in—like hearing voices. That make sense?"
"You too?"
"Sometimes."
Fenrir nodded frankly, then smirked wryly.
"No wonder beastmen get shunned. Treated like ticking time bombs."
At the cynical remark, Jin's gaze drifted back to Fenrir's jaw.
Looked like random knife scars at first, but nah—claw marks.
Probably vented the urges on his own face every time.
What a mess he's made of it.
Fenrir caught the look and scowled.
"You get used to it. Manageable. I've handled it fine for years."
"But Taha didn't hold back?"
"...His case is different. He achieved Shedding."
Jin snapped his fingers.
Right. Was gonna ask about that.
"Hey, good segue. So what's Shedding?"
"...Don't you think you're asking too many questions? What do you even know?"
Fenrir grumbled, but Jin just gulped down the can's broth, unfazed.
If you don't know, ask. Duh.
"Don't be ashamed to ask what you don't know"—Confucius said that, right?
Trivia break: The "ha" in "bulchiha mun" means "lower," implying even inferiors or the less knowledgeable.
Ask anyone without shame.
Fenrir matched his Solo level and outclassed him in common sense, so no issue.
But half-knowledge breeds the boldest fools.
Jin stared expectantly.
Fenrir sighed with a deflating chuckle and spoke.
And so, Shedding!
True to breaking the shell, it meant humans evolving a full step in every way.
A watershed moment met through specific conditions and enlightenment, regardless of power used.
Shattering the wall before you, facing a broader world.
That new world becomes the next wall.
Thus named "Realms"—the world enveloping you, boundary to beyond.
"Hmm."
Jin nodded eagerly, intrigued.
He'd experienced it himself, after all.
Fighting Killgit.
Lightning struck his mind; the world shifted in an instant.
Like new glasses.
Familiar now, but back then? Totally different.
And a thought flickered:
Crow, Rokan, Killgit—what Realm were they on?
Why their strength felt so vague? Now he got it a bit.
They live in different worlds.
Fenrir continued.
"Ordinary folks never experience it lifetime. Solos level 5+ are those who did... wait, how'd we get here?"
He scratched his head irritably and eyed Jin.
"...Anyway, Taha's a beastman who achieved Shedding. That clear enough?"
"Second Realm."
Jin tested the term fresh on his tongue.
"Back on track: Taha's spouting mad calmly 'cause of Shedding. Beastmen worsen mania with each one. Exactly, the risk skyrockets during the breakthrough."
Maybe unexperienced himself.
Fenrir added no more.
Just sank into the sofa, weary. Soon, soft snores.
Left alone, Jin's status window popped up.
「(Omen!) Beast of Turmoil 2」
📍 Objective: Eliminate Taha and dismantle TB.
🎁 Reward: Perk XP 9,000
Jin frowned at the box, arms crossed.
"Generous XP. Gonna make me suffer again, huh."
He muttered, then slowly closed his eyes.
Jin woke to noise.
Pounding footsteps. Screams. Thick blood scent.
He bolted up reflexively. Stretchers carried people into view.
Rescued resistance fighters—no doubt.
Two walked on their own.
One stranger, the other familiar.
The doctor from the old resistance base where he'd crashed.
Name was—
"Grace?"
"...Jin?"
Her dirt-and-blood-caked face lit with shock.
"You, how?"
"Albus called me."
"...Albus is here too?"
"Yeah, but talking's tough."
Meanwhile, recovered Osia and Den chatted with Grace's companion.
Dramatic reunion, but talk was grim.
Who's dead, who's gone.
Stories crushing survivors' shoulders.
Heads dropping limply.
Jin furrowed his brow.
Looked at Grace again.
"Just you and that guy intact?"
"Yeah."
Answer came, but they looked half-broken—walking shells.
Useless, even politely. Numbers irrelevant.
"Rest up."
Jin brushed past Grace.
Through screaming halls, up spiraling stairs to three floors high: living room with fireplace.
A figure warming by the fire turned slowly.
"Hic— you here?"
Jin eyed the old mug sourly, then strode forward.
Grabbed a chair en route, sat opposite, locked eyes.
"This right?"
Colonel tilted his head at the clipped question.
Q opened the door, approached; Colonel raised a palm to halt him.
"What're you on about?"
"Didn't see the faces downstairs? Morale's in the gutter, mushy mess. Can't fight like that. No matter the numbers."
Blunt as hell.
Q flinched watching from behind.
Jin ignored.
Not some frail elder—elite colonel.
No kid gloves needed. Hence the curt tone.
Colonel dry-laughed at the chill.
"And?"
"Gathering more stragglers changes zilch. Base wrecked, strongest ally dead. Real motivating."
Q frowned, stepped; Colonel blocked again.
"We considered that. But needs must. Need forces for TB. Hic—"
"You handle TB."
"Target slips away then."
"...Face Collector?"
"Yep."
Colonel tilted his bottle.
Thud.
Fenrir emerged from beyond, arms crossed silently.
Colonel wiped wet lips, eyed him.
"That's why we need you."
""Us?""
Jin and Fenrir in unison.
Q spoke at Colonel's nod.
"Strike team led by you two. Target: Taha. While you handle him and TB forces, we pursue Face Collector."
Basically, finish what Oren failed.
Then, the kicker.
"Success fee: 100 million credits each."
"Heek!"
Jin gasped, choked hard.
Coughed wildly; someone thrust a bottle forward amid chaos.
Snatched it, swigged—
Pffft! Misted the colonel's face.
It's booze!
Colonel burst laughing.
Fenrir spoke.
"You rate us that high?"
"Earned it. Surviving Crow? Solo cred."
Jin, wiping jaw with hand, perked up.
"...How'd you know?"
"Gotta vet hires."
Fenrir again.
"Crow involvement risk?"
"Looks like he backed off Mute Town. Temporary alignment, probably. Don't worry."
"No support? Government agents, right?"
"Budget's tight, sorry. Fee shows good faith."
Q eyed them.
"So? In?"
No real reason to refuse.
Chunky XP and fat credits at once.
Issue: squad.
Just ragged survivors? Too thin.
No proper backup either.
Then—
Bzzzzz—
Long vibration from his chest.
"Ah, sorry."
Jin grinned sheepishly, checked device.
Unknown number—maybe Kalifa? Tapped call, held to ear.
"Hello?"
Businesslike voice pierced.
[Wonder here. As discussed, we'd like to supply gear. Pick what suits?]
Photos and specs flooded messages.
Jin's eyes widened.
Slapped palm over mic, craned neck, cleared throat!
Leaned to speaker cautiously.
"Uh, s-sorry. Could you... give me all of them?"