Checking Skills
Checking Skills
If it was just this kind of distance, there was no need to ride a helicopter to move.
Because it was a short enough distance that you could just walk over.
Another zombie breeding ground was right at the War Memorial, located just less than 1 kilometer north of the shelter.
To think the shelter and the breeding ground were located with such a short distance between them, how ironic.
Anyway, despite being in such a close location, the reason we rode a helicopter filled with expensive fuel using coins collected from people was precisely because of that zombie army.
"What the fuck is with all of those?"
The place I was standing was the roof of the War Memorial.
No matter where I looked around from here—front, back, left, or right—all I could see were zombies.
And an uncountable, massive number of actual zombies at that.
Especially the sight of zombies swarming all over the wide War Memorial plaza was enough to give someone trypophobia.
Ugh, gross!
"How are you guys planning to test my skills here? You're not seriously expecting me to jump down there and kill all those zombies, are you?"
"Of course not. What you and we need to do today is reduce the number of zombies as much as possible. And if possible, eliminate and capture alive the Queen Zombie, the owner of the breeding ground."
"Queen Zombie? The fuck kind of thing exists??"
"Zombies are reproducing. If so, there must be a definitive medium. We call the monster that serves as that medium the Queen Zombie."
"So you're saying it's a monster you don't even know exists or not?"
...We haven't confirmed it with our own eyes. However, it's a monster that inevitably has to exist, and it's very likely to look different externally, so distinguishing it won't be that hard.
"Did that ajumma say that?"
"......"
At Hyunjun's lack of any reply, I smacked my lips with a bitter taste.
No matter what the identity of that ajumma actually was, these humans who might be the only surviving soldiers in Seoul were being moved by some unidentified ajumma.
Well, if she was a capable person, I suppose it'd be fine though.
"Was blowing up the bridge and reducing the zombies here all that ajumma's idea too?"
...That's right.
"So the big boss of the shelter was that ajumma."
No. Our Commander is...
"Forget it. What's that ajumma's identity? Is she a soldier? Or some kind of doctor?"
"Dr. Yeo Eunjung is South Korea's foremost biology doctor. She's a world-renowned figure, too. For us, we were lucky enough that she was staying in Seoul because of a conference..."
"She succeeded at a pretty young age for a doctor."
Hyunjun this bastard talks a lot more than I thought.
Cutting off the bastard's words at the appropriate timing, I reached out my hand as if asking for a handshake.
"What is it?"
"Lend me just 3 coins. And give me a weapon too."
"......"
With my current coin count at 257, after receiving 3 coins from Hyunjun and getting a dagger to use, I purchased Level 12 Agility and entered the building along with Hyunjun and four other soldiers.
There were three more soldiers besides the helicopter pilot, but to guard against any unforeseen situations, protect the helicopter, and safely secure our escape route, they decided to remain on the rooftop.
"The use of firearms is prohibited except in situations where lives are in danger. And the moment a firearm is used, we evacuate immediately."
"How many times are you going to say the same thing? And why are you walking so leisurely?"
"It's to minimize noise and draw as little attention from the zombies as possible. So don't act rashly either."
"Ha..."
Minimize noise to avoid drawing zombies' attention?
It's so ridiculous I'm speechless.
"What's that laugh for?"
"You've never been to a breeding ground before, have you?"
"......"
"What do you think made us get chased by zombies back at that apartment? Because we were crazy bastards shouting and fighting? No. We headed straight to the roof without encountering a single zombie in the apartment. And though we made a little noise, we didn't do anything that would specifically attract the zombies' attention. Yet, zombies started swarming into the apartment. Just like a swarm of bees trying to protect their hive."
"That means..."
"Yeah, it means zombies are gonna barge in here soon too."
......Why the hell are you only saying that now?
"You didn't ask. Plus, I thought you already knew since you were running your mouth like some kind of expert."
"You...!"
Along with Hyunjun glaring at me through clenched teeth, a voice poured out from the radio attached between his shoulder and chest.
-Captain! The zombies in the plaza are entering the building! That's not all! All the zombies in this area are gathering right here! We must evacuate immediately!
"See~? I told you so, right?"
"We'll revisit this matter once we get back..! Everyone back to the rooftop! Hurry!!"
"You think you can just leave without doing anything here? Not when we wasted all that fuel. I want to test your skills too, you know."
Just as Hyunjun wanted to check my skills, I too wanted to check the skills of Hyunjun and the soldiers.
Because I was curious just how strong the soldiers who safely protected the shelter were.
Though they seemed weaker than me, of course.
Puuk! Chwa-a-ak!!!
When I stabbed a dagger into the cocoon-like egg next to me and slashed downward, Hyunjun grabbed my shoulder and spun me around.
"What the hell are you doing right now? Didn't I order everyone to return to the rooftop?"
"Slashing.."
"What am I doing? Just earning some coins. Until those bastards get here."
Puk-puk-puk!!
Perhaps it wasn't time for them to wake up yet; I repeatedly jammed the dagger held in a reverse grip into the heads of zombies awkwardly sticking their hands out of the split-open eggs, and continued slashing open the adjacent eggs to kill the zombies.
"Didn't you say you came to reduce the numbers? Give me a hand, quick. And tell them to just keep the helicopter idling. Don't tell me you bastards are chicken-shitting out because of the things swarming over there? Ha... And those kind of bastards claim they want to test my skills... Sigh..."
Perhaps provoked by me shaking my head and clicking my tongue, the soldiers drew their daggers and began slashing open the eggs.
Compared to other buildings, it was low, but this building wasn't particularly short either.
Because the ceiling height of each floor was extremely high, it would take some time for the zombies outside to climb up here, which meant until then, we only had to deal with the bastards in this building, right here on the 4th floor.
That meant there was plenty of time to earn some coins on the side while testing each other's skills.
"Stand by so we can take off the moment we arrive."
-Yes, understood.
"If you disobey the next retreat order, you'll be left behind here all by yourself."
"Whatever. Just don't start whining about leaving in a hurry because you're pissing your pants."
"......"
Throwing a sarcastic remark at Hyunjun, who finished his radio call and warned me, I jammed the head of the zombie inside the slashed egg and turned my head to the side.
"Roughly a little over 10 of them. Let's handle 2 per person. I'll take on a few more, so don't shit your pants too much. Alright, I'm going first."
Tada-dat-
Hyunjun and the soldiers started running behind me as I began sprinting down the museum interior, which was wide like a corridor, enough for over 10 zombies to charge in a single line.
And soon, we and the zombies, closing the distance toward each other, collided.
"Krak!!!"
"K-aahk!!"
"If it had been a iron mace, it would've been a one-hit kill."
Due to the nature of a dagger as a weapon, it couldn't attack multiple zombies at once, but that wasn't a major problem.
It just got a little annoying.
Tada-dat-
Kwajik!!
Leaping forward, I struck the chin of the zombie right in front of me with my knee, sending it falling backward in line, slipped past the back of the zombie horde, landed on the ground in a low stance, and immediately spun around to jam my dagger into the head of the bastard collapsed on the floor.
Then, simultaneously as I stood up, I stepped back slightly to dodge the zombies rushing from the left and right sides in front of me, and as I rose up, I swung the extracted dagger to jam it into the right-side bastard's temple.
"Krak!!"
"Alright, now it's your turn."
After missing a strike in the empty air, the bastard charged toward me again.
Perhaps to avenge the two comrades who died in an instant, it lunged at me even more fiercely, but when all was said and done, it was just a zombie.
Grab! Hwa-ak!!
When I grabbed its outstretched right wrist and pulled it toward my body, the zombie's body tilted forward as if tumbling toward me, and right as I lifted my left knee to strike its chin upward, I swung my right hand in an arc and jammed the dagger straight into the lifted bastard's face.
Puuk!!!
With this, the time it took to deal with 3 zombies was between 5 and 10 seconds.
Nah. Generously speaking, it wouldn't have taken up to 10 seconds, so around 8 seconds would be more accurate.
Thankfully though, that monster-like bastard I faced before wasn't in sight.
I actually wanted to fight it once to see how much stronger I've gotten by acquiring a new trait and raising my agility even further.
Anyway, those guys aren't half bad either.
"Krak!!"
"K-aahk!!"
Puuk!!
Puk!!
One by one, the soldiers started plunging daggers into the zombies' heads.
And Hyunjun had just started moving to help his subordinates after finishing his share of 2 zombies.
While watching the soldiers fight, a heavy footstep different from ordinary zombies echoed from behind my back.
This sound... is that bastard?
"K-euh-euh-euh!!!"
"Why of all things is it you? I'd prefer that other bastard over you."
Kung-kung-kung-kung!!
The bastard running over while making loud footsteps along with a howl was the same monster I killed back at the shelter.
It was an easier opponent than that first monster I fought, but something of its level would be enough to gauge the soldiers' skills.
"Captain Kim! Stop messing around with the small fry and take that bastard. If it's too hard alone, you can do it together with your subordinates."
"......"
"Why? I killed that bastard all by myself, but 5 of you aren't enough? Then shoot your guns too. We just need to catch that bastard and get out anyway. Ah, if you're gonna make those guys an excuse..."
Tada-dat-
Grab!
Running toward the soldier who looked the most vulnerable, I extended my left hand, grabbed the back of the head of a zombie flailing its arms wildly, and slammed it straight down onto the floor.
Kwajik!!!
With a gruesome sound, the zombie went limp.
It looked dead already, but just to be sure, I drove my dagger into the back of the dead zombie's head, stood up, and pointed backward with my thumb.
Toward the back where the Hulk-like monster was sprinting over.
"Don't shit your pants and fight. If it looks like you're gonna die, I'll save you."
"Arrogant bastard."
"Captain!"
"We're going too!"
Spitting out a single word, Hyunjun started running toward the monster, and the soldiers who had finished dealing with their own share of zombies began following behind one by one.
"What are you doing? You not going?"
"I-I'm going!"
The soldier I helped last also ran toward the monster, and the 5-on-1 fight between the soldiers and the monster began.
Puk! Chwa-a-ak!!
And in the meantime, I slit open the zombie eggs scattered around here as well and checked the location of the zombie army running up the stairs beneath the railing.
"About 1 minute from now is gonna be our limit."
I checked before coming here, but a helicopter doesn't just flash and lift straight up into midair.
Because takeoff time isn't as fast as you'd think, we have to depart earlier than expected to prevent zombies from throwing themselves and clinging to the helicopter.
"I'll wait exactly 30 seconds more~ After that, I'm gonna kill it myself~"
Puk!!
Announcing the time limit while stabbing the egg, I began checking the soldiers' skills with my own eyes.
"K-euh-euh-euh!!!"
Koo-ung!!!
The monster's fist slamming down onto the floor, and Hyunjun narrowly dodging the fist and diving into its embrace.
That bastard was definitely stronger compared to the other soldiers.
The only time I briefly faced him was when I took him hostage, but roughly his muscular strength would be lower than mine, so 8 or lower.
If it's 8, it's the same as me, but I have a trait.
And agility... at that level, it's easily Level 10.
In a way, you could consider it stats similar to Jung Woobin who died by my hands, but one thing for sure is that Hyunjun fights much better than Jung Woobin.
As expected, Special Forces are different.
Puk-puk-puk!! Chwa-ak!!
A dagger rapidly thrust and embedded into the monster's flank slashed across, spraying blood, and Hyunjun, retreating backward to avoid the right arm swung close to his side like a hammer blow, shouted toward the other soldiers.
"Fall back! A single attack could cost you your life."
"Captain! Just use your guns..."
The moment a soldier's mouth finished dropping, Hyunjun pulled out a pistol from his waist.
Didn't he say that thing had an empty magazine!
Tang-tang-tang!!
Along with the muzzle breathing fire, the monster crossed its arms to cover its face.
And right through that gap, Hyunjun's pistol breathed fire again as he slid across the floor with a body that generated momentum, passing right between the monster's crotch.
Aiming for the lower blind spot that the zombie's arms couldn't cover.
"K-euh-euh!!!"
"Didn't die."
Drip-drip, blood was falling from its chin, but the monster, still well enough to scream, must have seen Hyunjun pass through its crotch as it instantly spun its body around and slammed its right foot down.
Koo-ung!!!
"Captain!"
"No!!"
Are those bastards blind?
Why the hell are they shouting and acting crazy looking at a guy who dodged just fine?
Unlike the soldiers' urgent shouts, Hyunjun quickly rolled his body to avoid the monster's stomping foot and raised his pistol muzzle toward its face again, and at the same time, the monster covered its face with its right arm, voluntarily blocking even its own vision.
Tada-dat-
Puuk!!!
Rising to his feet in that gap, pulling out his pistol while transferring the dagger to his left hand, Hyunjun jammed it into the monster's knee, then retreated backward to dodge the monster's attack of swinging its right arm—which had been covering its face—downward, and the monster's left fist plummeted down consecutively.
Of course, it didn't reach Hyunjun, who stepped back with another backstep.
And at that moment, the time limit I announced had completely run out.
Tada-da-dat-
Perhaps hearing the sound of my fast-running footsteps, the monster twisted its body and swung its right fist to attack me charging from the 5 o'clock direction, and I kicked off the ground and leaped straight up.
Whoo-oong!!!!
The monster's left fist thrusting toward me as I leaped over the fist cutting through the empty air with a heavy sound, and my right foot swung while twisting my body in midair, collided.
To be precise, the exact expression is that I kicked the side of the monster's flying fist with a spinning hook kick.
Puck!!!
My body flying sideways from the recoil and the monster's fist bouncing away to the side.
And the echoing gunshot.
Ta-ta-ta-tang!!!
Along with consecutively echoing gunshots, the monster's head tilted sideways, its bulky body collapsing down together with blood flowing down its cheek and neck, and at that sight, I clenched my teeth.
Fuck, I was gonna kill that!
Well, I guess I can call it even for lending me 3 coins and a weapon with this.
Anyway, I checked the soldiers' skills really well.
Those soldiers are about similar to or slightly stronger than Kwon Juha or Minseo, and Hyunjun is definitely on a different level.
Judging by his fighting sense, if his stats only backed him up, he might end up stronger than me.
Hmm... then that's dangerous....
Should I make an opportunity next time and just kill him outright?
Anyway, having someone stronger than me around is a hazardous factor for me.