I Descend
My screams fell on deaf ears as the military vehicle set off without a hitch. This was a world overrun by the P.V. Virus, after all. The process of venturing outside was meticulously segmented, like astronauts donning spacesuits before stepping into the void. Once the vehicle rolled into an isolated chamber, the door we'd passed through slammed shut behind us. Only then did the gate leading beyond the sector creak open. The massive wall parting felt almost surreal. Maybe I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Or perhaps it was because what I'd thought was an impenetrable barrier opened far too easily.
Nera is now free. You can use her anytime, anywhere.
"Nova, begin scanning."
"Got it."
Nova fiddled with a small rectangular device. It was too perfectly angular to call a smartphone, and the screen on top displayed dots in various colors. No way... that was...?
"Cadavers detected within a 10km radius. Five of them, all 3.0 stage or lower."
Scan for lonely cadavers within 10km right now. Free of charge~☆
"More than I expected."
"Yeah, they've definitely increased. The other squads are slacking."
"Is that a one-time thing? We just need to work harder."
"Agreed."
Just as the rumors said—diligent bunch. But anyone would freak out at the sight of a monster like a cadaver. They might have joined the enforcers with the best intentions, but good intentions don't guarantee your body keeps up. It wasn't slacking so much as a lack of ability, right? Oh, would that sound even more insulting?
Carlos glanced at me. Why's he checking on me?
"Opening the vehicle."
It had that function? With a sharp hiss, the roof slid back. Whoa! Open-top ride!
Carlos gripped the wheel with one hand and drew his pistol with the other. On closer inspection, it wasn't just any pistol. It was the protagonist's signature weapon, unlocked late in the story: Finisher.
Soon, he casually drove while popping off shots at every cadaver in sight. The blasts were more boom than bang, cannon-like roars echoing repeatedly. Yet his driving hand and body didn't budge, recoil-free even as he fired. No wonder the kids called the other squads lazy. It's easy when it's this effortless. The higher-ups never get the struggles of the grunts.
"We'll walk from here."
Thunderbolt from a clear sky. Wait, why? Weren't we just supposed to patrol by vehicle?
"We have to thoroughly clear the bloom sites. If they hear the engine and flee, it becomes a headache."
The squad members disembarked one by one. Rira slipped on massive gauntlets over her fists. Nova pulled four orbs from a black rectangular case. The orbs floated up on their own, orbiting her. In order: Piercers and Qubits—weapons by name.
Piercers were straightforward melee tools relying on raw physical prowess, true to their brutal design. Qubits were controlled via brainwaves—a versatile transforming weapon. Shields one moment, lasers the next, on Nova's command. Among the squad, Nova packed the heaviest firepower. In the game, she was a must-have Tier 1 party member.
Her one flaw? Fragile as glass, just like her small frame—a glass cannon. Protect her, and she unleashes hell; slip up, and she heads straight to the afterlife. Side note: most of her deaths were courtesy of Rira. Once Rira's stress hit critical, her menhera (PTSD) exploded, almost always leading to team kills. And the victim? Always the frail Nova. I'd suffered every hardship because of Rira. I'd managed her stress perfectly, but on long expeditions, she'd always snap before we returned. Cue reloads to hours-old saves out of spite. Come to think of it, that pisses me off. Rira, if not for you, my playtime would've been half!
Some might ask why keep her around. Simple: berserker. Rira maxed out strengthening traits—not just physical stats, but regeneration too. She wouldn't die easily. No menhera outbursts? She's the knight stabilizing the party! She just occasionally kicks herself off the bus. Love-hate relationship, really.
"What about you? Coming along?"
"Yes, I haven't found the sample Dr. Licht mentioned yet."
Carlos nodded curtly and advanced. The vibe shifted—everyone's aura changed. Even Rira didn't pick fights with me, Nova's vacant expression sharpened with focus, and Carlos had been serious from the start. I felt like the odd one out, like I was on a casual stroll. Zero sense of crisis.
"Cadaver."
Carlos raised Finisher. One shot. The dog-like cadaver jerked its head back from the bullet. Frost crept over its skull, then spread body-wide.
Crack!
Frozen white solid, it shattered outright. White Crystallization—protagonist exclusive. The frost was cosmetic; really, anti-body rounds. As the protagonist, Carlos harbored a uniquely evolved P.V. Virus—a living vaccine. His strain lowered targets' body temps, slowing activity, then devoured the sluggish virus. Cadaver power stems from P.V., after all. No virus in the cells? No power. Like an outward immune response.
What else? Pure cheat skill, 100% observer-proof. Hit guarantees death. Why? He unlocked both mutation and radiation traits. Enforcers post-Star Adaptation Procedure enhance one of four types. His were the rare ones—protagonist buff, obviously. Yeah, protagonists are OP. But... why use it so early? Balance breaker! Bluntly, it could kill me too! Should I thank him for not being a scrub? At least the sector won't fall to cadavers!
That's why the protagonist slays overlords straight to the ending—insane traits. Buoyed by Carlos's cheats, the squad pushed forward. Rira drew aggro up front, Carlos sniped the threats, and Qubits mowed down the rest.
Beep.
"4.0 stage. Careful."
"Roger."
Hey, didn't you hear "careful"? She's charging right in—looks like a cadaver fan!
Boom!
"Taken care of."
Didn't even look, just called it. I saw it crumble, sure!
"Ah."
Right—my mission! Nooo, what have you done? My precious 4.0 cadaver boss is dying!
"Don't worry. I held back. But dawdle too long, and the cells might fully die off."
Listen to that tone—like a scolding. Fine, fine, I'll hurry. But first!
"I've completed my mission, so I'll head back to the vehicle."
Can't pass up free time. Give me 100 reasons I should tag along.
"...Planning to go alone?"
"Leave her, Captain. She likes solo ops, and we don't need her type anyway."
"Wasn't worried. Just... suspicious how she's hiding her power. Feels off letting her roam solo."
"...Yeah. Somehow, her activation index read 2.5 stage at initial inspection."
Rira's glare hit me. Nova's too. Well, when you put it like that, I got nothing.
"I was just here to retrieve a cadaver corpse."
Boop, I know nothing~ So please, leave me be.
Truth was, Nera was just exhausted. Straight-up sulking. No more motivation!
"Fine... Not trustworthy, but do whatever. We can hunt you down and end you if you betray us."
Hah. As if... But scary enough—they'd chase me to the death. Their pace? Totally doable. Nova's "frail" is enforcer-relative; sans vehicle, they marathon-sprinted through cadaver packs. Might not even need the truck. Rira or Carlos could outrun it on foot.
Tension hung briefly. Then Carlos turned away without regret. Hehe, freedom time at last.
Why insist on staying with the vehicle, even throwing a tantrum? Tired, sure. Sulking, yeah. But deep down, I'd been waiting for this. Vast wasteland, no eyes on me? Perfect stage for me.
No real chance to test my full power till now. Game knowledge let me theorize my growth, but theory's not enough. In this deadly world, cockiness kills in a blink! Plus, no guarantee I'd wield it perfectly. Knowledge ≠ mastery!
Yes, verifying my power is my "duty." Cadaver corpse packed tight—no leaks. Time to hit the bloom site. Pre-planned the route before the vehicle moved. Safely clear the last one solo, far from the truck—no exposure.
Let's run!
I inhaled deeply. Unleashed the power I'd constantly suppressed. Veins slowly bulged under my skin. Virus surging, body morphing. But at a threshold, it halted. Eh, don't wanna turn full monster. Full power, yet stay human-ish? Hurts otherwise. Responding to that, my Mimic power evolved beyond mere imitation—locked to "bishoujo" form. Mild veins? Common among enforcers. Mutation-trait ones morph way more cadaver-like.
Chitchat over—time to go!
One step. Vehicle shrank to a dot. A few more. Clouds overhead whooshed past. Vehicle gone. Ground-skimming dash: success!
Surprisingly, humanity lingers outside the sector. All carriers, though—holding human form now, but future cadavers. Survivors split: Remnants (just trying to live) and Bloomers (embracing cadaverization).
In ruined worlds, mad ones emerge. Short life left? Might as well kill, loot, rape—humanity ditched. Their danger? Intelligence. Cadavers eat cadavers; stronger ones grow by devouring. An intelligent one? Strategically consumes all nearby. Next target? Human havens. Why enforcers purge routinely, targeting bloom sites especially.
Hehe, 1st Squad owes me. This body's handling one personally.
Honestly, a bit worried. Peaceful world girl here—no kills ever. Would I chicken out? But seeing humans devoured alive? Numb. Even dudes pounding cold corpses. Knowledge vs. reality differs. Human skin, human words... hard to see as "people." Was this Rira's feeling toward me?!
"You crazy bitch! Why...!"
Ugh, loud. Bad uncle, but I'll detach those mutated bits specially!
"Stop! Stooop...!"
Still crying. My blood-formed tentacles sprouted fangs. Crunch—swallowed his head. Screams ceased. Skill name? Haircut. Wrong head? Monkeys fall from trees sometimes. Even perfect me slips occasionally.
...Boring. No strong ones? Bloomers mostly 2.0-3.0 stage. Feels like pointless lowbie grinding, not power-testing. Nah, positive spin: numbers don't threaten me. Yes! Meaning in wielding power itself.
FYI, free blood control? Mutation + radiation combo. Traded body morph for maxed blood function!
Yahoo! I'm a Blood Master now! Too childish? True Ancestor works. Super handy. Finger-gun? Pierces all. Fake sword swing? Curves slice everything in range. Or shape-specific attacks like now!
Actually fun. First time it feels like the game world! Doing the imagined! VR gaming for real. Shame—everyone dead mid-experiment. Time for last straggler.
Hiding in the building, trembling. My radar sees all. Footsteps spook him more. Bad deeds demand punishment—can't just hide. Your four friends already paid karma.
Here!
"Eek...!"
Whatcha doing?
"Stay back...!"
Terror-stricken, he hurled nearby rocks wildly. Bishoujo smiles, yet no joy? Farewell gift insufficient. Hood hides my face; inside, grotesque blood crawls. Thinks I'm barely-human cadaver. Now, how to finish him?