Zombie Vaccine
Zombie Vaccine
Looking at the bottom of the helicopter while lying on my back, there is only enough space above my body for about one arm to fit through.
And into that narrow space, a sighted zombie lying flat on the floor is screaming and forcing its body in.
Of course, the other zombies led by this bastard, along with those little zombie fuckers gathered by the sudden noise, are shoving their heads and bodies into the cramped space to eat me alive.
Ha.... This is all happening because of that gay-ass psycho bastard.
Just wait, you motherfucker.
I'll definitely survive and cut your fucking throat with my own hands!
Anyway, what the fuck am I supposed to do now?!
Squeeze!!
"Kuaaagh!!"
"Cut the shit, will you?!l"
For now, I've tightly folded my left arm and grabbed the sighted zombie's neck with my left hand raised to shoulder height, somehow keeping its snout from reaching me, but just blocking that snout isn't going to solve this situation.
Because up to three zombies can squeeze through that gap at once.
The only saving grace is that those ignorant zombie bastards shoved their bodies in without any order and got stuck together in the narrow space, but watching one head slowly wiggle out and get closer and closer, it looks like it's going to break free soon.
Before that happens, I somehow need to kill this bastard first, but....
"Oppa! Wh-, what do we do now?! Kyaaaah!!"
"Are you okay?!"
"The zombies can't get in on this side! Aah!!"
Thanks to the helicopter tilting slightly toward Kim Minseo's side rather than mine, the zombies haven't been able to force their bodies inside.
Thank god.
If even Kim Minseo turned into a zombie or if that space broke open and zombies swarmed from both sides, it would be an absolute death sentence, so I'm truly grateful.
Ah! Of course, I'm slightly worried about Kim Minseo too.
Even though they can't get their bodies in, the zombies are sticking their arms through, pulling and scratching Kim Minseo all over, but she's holding her own pretty well.
So keep holding on.
First of all, you need to survive for my sake.
Because I'm going to survive on my own terms.
"Kuak!!"
"I told you to cut the shit, didn't I?!"
Puuk!!
I had barely managed to poke its eye out with the flat-head screwdriver-like back end of the crowbar.
Naturally, the bastard didn't die, and it keeps pushing its body toward me, thrusting its filthy snout.
Because in a space barely wide enough for a single arm to pass through, it was impossible to stab deep enough to scramble its brains.
But in this kind of situation, it's a whole different story!
Peok!!
Puuk!!
When I forcefully slammed the palm of my hand against the hook-like top of the crowbar, the crowbar embedded in its eye drove in even deeper.
Stabbing while gripping the crowbar in my hand didn't allow for a proper posture to put any real force behind it, but slamming it with my palm like driving a nail with a hammer put a decent amount of power into it.
Just like that, a few times.
Peok!!
Puuk!!
Peok!!
Puuk!!
After hammering the crowbar home with my palm, the sighted zombie went limp, and I aggressively thrust my left hand holding its neck to block the narrow gap so other zombies couldn't get in.
Fuck, I've cleared the primary crisis for now, but how the hell am I supposed to get out of here next?!
My left hand—no, my left arm, which is pushing away the dead zombie's neck—is shaking violently.
At this rate, even if I escape from here, running away from the chasing zombies is completely out of the question...
"Keuk..!! Keuk!!"
Fuck, what the kind of situation is this now?!
Suddenly, Kim Minseo beside me started making phlegm-rattling noises and twisting her body all over.
Just like Jung Minchae and the others who turned into zombies on the subway.
If she had been bitten, she definitely would have screamed, but the fact that she didn't means you can get infected even by being scratched by fingernails.
That means....
"Damn it..!"
Veins are popping out on my left arm too.
Not the usual veins that were already there, but thick veins discoloring into a deep purple.
Hoo... Let's calm down.
It's fine, it's no big deal.
I had 53 coins left after raising my stats, and on top of that, I killed a few zombies, including the bastard I'm holding right now.
So I have more than enough to buy the zombie vaccine, which only costs 50 coins.
"Shop, buy zombie vaccine."
[You purchase the Zombie Vaccine (50 coins).]
A syringe containing the zombie vaccine appeared right before my eyes, and I quickly snatched it and plunged it into my left arm, but....
"Keuk..!! Keok!!"
"What the fuck, seriously..!"
At the sight of Kim Minseo twisting her body even more violently, I couldn't bring myself to press down the plunger where my thumb was resting.
Am I really going to die? Am I turning into a zombie?
I genuinely thought I could manage not to care whether Kim Minseo lived or died, but....
I quickly opened the status window and checked my remaining coins.
Coins: 11
Remaining coins: 11. I need to take down at least 20 more zombies to buy one more vaccine.
Can I hold out until then?
Anomalous symptoms are showing on my left arm, but unlike Kim Minseo, I'm not in excruciating pain or losing control of my body.
Why? Fuck, questions like this can wait!
"Oppa... Ke...!! Save... me... please... keheok..!"
This is driving me nuts!
Seeing Kim Minseo barely managing to beg for her life with bloodshot eyes rushed to flood me with a truly fucked-up feeling.
No need to hesitate.
Press it and inject the medicine, Kang Hajin.
What are you hesitating for over Kim Minseo?
How many times did you resolve not to be swayed in a situation like this?
But at that very moment.
Squeeze!!
Crun-ch!!
The windpipe of the zombie clenched in my left hand snapped with just the strength of my grip.
This was a hand that hadn't even had enough strength to stop trembling just moments ago.
Could it be because of the veins sprouting on my left arm?
No, did strength manifest as a result of the infection?
And why has it gotten so quiet around here?
At some point, the howling screeches of the zombies that had been screaming so loudly stopped reaching my ears.
They are walking away as if they no longer recognize us as prey.
If that's the case....
Puuk! Kkuuuuk-!!
"Heok..III"
"Fuck, if I turn into a zombie, just know I'm eating you first."
"Ah......."
Screw sticking the needle into a vein and administering the medicine properly or whatever—I drove the syringe needle straight into Kim Minseo's side and injected the medicine.
Then, quickly pushing away the zombie's neck, I wiggled my shoulders and wriggled out of the helicopter, pulling the crowbar out of its eye socket while watching the zombies completely ignore me.
Swooook-
Fuck, we don't have time!
Whish!! Peokeok!!!
The crowbar I swung immediately upon rising smashed into the back of a turned zombie's head, and I followed up by swinging it again to bash another zombie's temple.
Coins: 14
Swinging the crowbar while tracking the real-time coin updates through the still-open status window, I spun around and kicked two fallen zombie corpses toward the underside of the helicopter.
Deu-uuu- Thud!
Thud!!
The zombie corpses filled the gap between the floor and the helicopter.
And at the sight of myself feeling somewhat at ease....
"This isn't me!!!"
Peokeok!!!
I irritably smashed another zombie's head out of sheer annoyance.
Anyway, isn't this not half bad?
Perhaps because of the zombie infection, my depleted stamina isn't just back to normal—it's overflowing, and my strength definitely feels enhanced.
However, this filthy feeling and the excruciating pain starting from my vein-sprouting left arm...
"Keuk..I!!"
Terrible pain, like being burned by fire, creeps up my left arm and spreads to my heart and entire body.
And as my vision gradually turns red and everything I see starts splitting into multiple images, a splitting headache crashes over me.
Gr-rit!!!
Endure it! Turning into a zombie like this is the stupidest death I could ever imagine!
Fuck, Kim Minseo, you bitch-ass woman!!!
No, that fucking psycho bastard!!!
"You're dead, you fucking asshole!!!"
"Kuak!!"
Peokeok!!
Smashing the head of a zombie that reacted to my noise but merely stared at me as if dealing with a fellow kin, I sprinted down the escalator.
[A trait is generated.]
[You acquire Tenacious Mental Fortitude (D).]
[Player information is updated.]
A shutter made of black wire mesh is blocking the escalator leading down to the basement.
"Kㅡh..!"
Gr-r-rit!!!
A zombie grinding its teeth in front of the blocked wire mesh, and a man laughing uproariously from inside.
"Kwahahaha!! What a lovely sight? Very nice! I should've eaten you with my own hands, but... well, seeing you reduced to this state isn't half bad~ Kwahahaha!"
Grab!
At the man's mockery, the zombie's hand shot forward instantly, but its fingers only got jammed between the blocking wire mesh.
Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!!
"Whoa~ Whoa~ Calm down~ It's never going to open like that. Ah, you're a zombie so maybe you don't understand? Kwahahahaha~"
"Kㅡh......!!"
The eyes of the zombie, growling toward the man laughing his heart out, swept rapidly up and down the wire mesh.
Yeah, fuck, they're my eyes.
And I'm still not a zombie.
It feels like 80 percent of me has turned into a zombie, but I haven't lost my reason yet, and I'm still controlling my body well.
Except for the driving insanity of the pain and this growling sound.
Ah, I should probably include getting a bit stupider too.
Considering I was shaking the wire mesh instead of lifting it up.
Scanning the wire mesh, there were no spots where it was tied down, and considering that psycho bastard is on the inside, it meant lifting it upwards would open it.
Like this.
Deureureureuk!!!
"W-, what?!"
"What do you mean, 'what', you psycho bastard!!!"
"Holy shit!!!"
As the wire mesh vanished, the kitchen knife held in the startled psycho bastard's hand lunged out reflexively, but.
Sseuk-
Shwiik!!
After ducking the kitchen knife thrusting toward my neck, I raised my left hand, now completely covered in purple veins.
Flinch!
The moment the bastard flinched, pulling its upper body back along with its right foot reflexively to dodge my attack.
Sseuk- Grab!
Hwaak!!!
Moving my lowered right hand, I hooked the top of the hook-like crowbar onto the bastard's left leg and pulled it with all my might.
Along with its rising left leg, the psycho bastard's body and head tipped backward.
Teok!!
Stepping my right foot forward, with my body leaning forward as if catapulting out, I clenched my raised left fist with all my might and slammed it straight down toward the face of the psycho bastard, who was staring with wide-open, bulging eyes.
Peokeok!!! Thud!!
"Keheok!!"
Blood spurted from the mouth of the bastard, who slammed head-first into the floor, and spinning around quickly, I hooked the crowbar onto the raised wire mesh and hauled it down with all my might.
"Kuaaaaaagh!!!!"
I let out a scream.
Fuck, I can't hold out any longer!!
Leaving aside the burning pain tearing through my body, it feels like I'm about to lose my sanity.
Along with a splitting headache, my consciousness began to fade, and I shouted with the very mouth that had just been screaming.
"Shop! Buy Zombie Vaccine!!!!"
[You purchase the Zombie Vaccine (50 coins).]
Swishing my right hand, which had already dropped the crowbar, I snatched the syringe appearing before my eyes and jammed it straight into my heart.
Kkuu-uuuk!!
With my thumb pressing down on the plunger, I could vividly feel the medicine entering my heart.
Fuck, is it okay to do it like this?!
The pain rushed in along with the momentary doubt that something might have gone wrong.
"Keok..!! Eheok..! Uaaaaaagh!!!!"
Fuck, this hurts like absolute hell too!!!
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
Along with a heart beating as if it would burst, an indescribable agony swept over me, as if someone had poured oil onto a body already burning like fire, and my mind was consumed by pain to the point where I couldn't even form a thought.
I have no idea how much time passed after that.
During that time, I even wished that psycho bastard would jump up and shove a knife straight into my head.
Is it only me experiencing this? Or did Kim Minseo feel this kind of pain too?
If she had felt the exact same pain, zombie transformation aside, she would have completely snapped and gone insane.
That's how horrifyingly painful those moments were.
Yet I hadn't gone insane, nor had I become a zombie.
That's right, fuck, I survived!!
"Heok..! Heok..! Heok..! Heok..!"
My breathing was running wild as if I had just run a marathon, and sweat was pouring down like rain to a degree that made me wonder if it was okay to sweat this much.
Drip- Drip- Ddu-duk- Drip-drip-
Panting while lying facedown on the floor, I wiped away the thick, hanging snot and saliva dripping from my nose and mouth with my forearm, aside from the sweat falling from my face, and then laboriously rolled over to slump heavily onto the floor.
"Heok.. Heok.. Heok.. Hoo......."
Only now is my breathing starting to calm down a little.
Repeating long exhales and inhales until my breathing returned to a stable rhythm, I shook my head back and forth as I looked at the bastard lying motionless collapsed on the floor.
"Fuck...."
My eyes are fixed on the psycho bastard, but the head-shaking and the curse popping out of my mouth are directed at myself for making such a stupid choice.
I could have taken the medicine the moment I earned 50 coins, and in the first place, I could have just taken it myself instead of ceding it to Kim Minseo.
But because I didn't choose either of those options, I had to endure this insane agony.
I hadn't thought of it until just now, but judging by the reaction Kim Minseo showed when I injected her with the medicine upstairs, she didn't look like someone going through this kind of agonizing pain like me.
Rather, the moment the medicine was injected, she gasped for air and her body arched slightly like a bow, but soon that arched body went limp on the floor with a peaceful expression on her face.
I probably suffered this pain because I stubbornly held out without taking the medicine in order to earn coins, deal with zombies for later, and safely make my way down here.
Or maybe the administration method was wrong, or this drug just doesn't agree with me.
Anyway, despite all these various trials and tribulations....
"You're dead, you motherfucker..!"
I achieved my goal.
Now all that's left is ruthless retribution.
"Ugh..! Keuk..!"
Right on cue, that psycho bastard is coming to his senses.
Then let's grab the crowbar first.
Click- Grrr-euk-
Crawling on all fours to pull out the crowbar wedged in the iron bars, I dragged the crowbar in my hand and crawled over to where the psycho bastard was.
Because, annoyingly enough, I don't even have the strength to stand up.
Of course, I have the strength to torment that bastard.
That's why I'm crawling on the floor like this.
To save even a little bit of energy.
And if you can't even eat your prey after catching it all, you're a real retard.
"Hae-yu... Fuck, this is exhausting.."
"You, you bastard..! The one I killed..."
"Alright, alright. So just stay still for a second."
Thanks to landing on the back of his head, he must have gotten a concussion; he's wriggling his body, but like a limp, floppy squid, there's not an ounce of strength in him.
Grabbing the tips of his feet and pressing them down onto the floor, I placed the crowbar on his exposed inner ankle, positioning it for a clean strike.
Since it's hard enough to hit him twice, I need to smash them one by one, thoroughly, in a single shot.
"Wh-, what are you trying to do..!"
"I said it's fine~ Just stay still. It'll be over in a second."
"D-, don't! Don't do it, you crazy... ugh..!!"
"This bastard's trap is working just fine. More importantly, I'm exhausted, so don't make me talk!"
I raised the crowbar high above his inner ankle, and the psycho bastard, who had been shouting and clutching his head in a groan, stared with wide-open eyes....
"N-, no!!!"
"The hell it isn't."
Whish!!!
Kwajik!!!
Oof, that's gotta hurt.
It's a spot that really hurts even if you just bump it slightly.
"Kuaaaaaaaagh!!!!"