Chapter 29

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 29

Chapter Title: Zombie Apocalypse (26)

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I barely managed to pull myself together and stand up.

My arms throbbed with pain, and my back felt like it was on the verge of collapse, but there was still way too much time left.

In 25 minutes, I could unlock the skill to end the possession. I wasn't certain they'd give it to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me, but in this state, they had no choice.

The [Skill] ??? was supposed to provide exactly what I needed right now.

"Grrraaah!"

"Grroooargh!!"

The refrigerator and front door blocking the officetel's entrance flew off, and despite us having cleared the street earlier, two fresh zombies charged at me with glowing red eyes.

"You little shits!"

I clenched my right fist and smashed down on one zombie's head.

Splat!

The other one coming at me simultaneously got blocked by my baseball shield.

Splat!

The moment I had some breathing room, I swung the baseball bat and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shattered its skull.

Yeah. These small fry were the kind of plague humanity could handle.

But that thing just watching me take out the two zombies? That was the plague humanity couldn't.

I had to get away from the officetel.

With that single thought, I bolted out of the officetel.

The streetlights brightly illuminated the boulevard. Zombies had a psychotic obsession with light— if that one prioritized destroying light sources first, maybe I could buy some time?

Thud.

What was that? Sounded familiar.

Shadows began creeping over the brightly lit boulevard.

"This can't be happening."

Thinking back, this was the evolved zombie that had leaped from the first floor to the third.

How far could it jump now?

I hurled myself aside, dodging its landing spot.

But it wasn't enough.

It closed in with quick, bounding steps and swung its leg at me.

Composure.

Using Composure, I barely managed to raise my baseball shield.

And I thought a little more.

I couldn't just block it.

I was overwhelmingly outmatched in strength and stamina.

Instead of blocking outright, I angled the shield to deflect, subtly redirecting the attack's path.

Kakakakang!

The sound of its aluminum bat scraping against the kick rang out.

Was this right? It was still a human body, right? A corpse?

As I quickly backed away from the evolved zombie, I finally got a good look at it under the glaring streetlight.

Four days? Five? It had been around for a while, but there was no rot or decay—its body was taut and firm.

A perfectly balanced, muscular physique.

This body came from a higher layer than this one.

Not the bulky, brute-force build from physical skills like Vulcan Rudric's, but something refined, like Julian Loa's or Miyama Asui's—compressed combat potential.

The kind of body I dreamed of achieving one day in Yoo Sian's form. The evolved zombie's clothes were charred at the edges, like it'd been burned.

It had come from the direction of the gas station.

"A zombie that was on fire..."

The gas station exploded, flames spreading.

Zombies would've naturally gathered there, and a burned one would've needed mana replenishment.

If this fifth-day zombie had started cannibalizing its kin faster than the others?

If it'd evolved quicker as a result?

No. Not "if"—it had.

It was standing right in front of me.

The proof was here.

"Haaa..."

Time slowed once more.

Composure triggered on every attack, but I couldn't use Insight.

Was the power gap too vast? Even if I read the attack, what could I do?

Kakakakang!

I deflected with the baseball shield, which had worked best so far!

Kaaaaang!!!

With all my might, I swung the bat in my right hand down on the zombie's head.

I really, truly put everything into it, but the evolved zombie just tilted its head slightly.

"Ha. Fuck... Iron skull."

My right hand went numb from the impact, but the zombie indifferently swung its remaining arm.

Splaaat!

The attack didn't land properly, but I couldn't sacrifice my right arm, so I desperately twisted and offered my left instead.

My body lifted into the air.

I twisted to land on my back for maximum surface area, and the bag on my back helped a bit.

The nutrition bars were probably mush now.

Then my left arm started screaming in agony.

"Kaaaaagh!"

It was broken.

No doubt about it.

"Ahh..."

I used my bat-gripping fist to push off the asphalt and stand.

My knuckles were scraped raw, but it hurt less than my wrecked left arm.

Thud.

The evolved zombie leaped again.

This time, low and straight at me.

I aimed to exploit its speed.

If it moved that fast, matching it with my full-power bat swing...

One-handed, but trusting my strength, I swung with everything I had.

Splaaaaat!

The hit connected.

If it'd been a baseball, it would've been a homer clearing the fence—perfect form.

But why?

It barely budged it back?

My right hand ached so bad I wanted to drop the bat, yet this thing that took my full-power strike...

"■■■■■■■■"

The evolved zombie uttered incomprehensible words.

Even if it had the Ability User's Blessing of Tongues from the Status Window, that didn't sound like speech.

Had it actually spoken?

"Brrrraaah."

It scratched its throat and growled low.

The evolved zombie stepped forward and thrust its fist.

I wanted to cry, but I tried to deflect...

My left arm wouldn't rise.

Splaaat!

I twisted desperately, offering my left arm again.

"Kuhuk..."

This time I didn't fly far, but my right arm scraped the ground.

Blood poured from the gashes.

My left arm was useless, and now my right wasn't normal either.

"Haaa... Why..."

This was just the tutorial...

I wanted to go back, fast.

The slight regret about parting with Na-eun vanished from my mind.

I wanted to return to Global Academy, gear up with good armor and equipment, build Yoo Sian's strength.

Ditch this Lee Sian possession body.

Those thoughts kept surging.

Run.

Where to?

The evolved zombie staggered slightly as it approached.

I looked down; lifting its charred clothing revealed a caved-in ribcage.

My earlier attack had worked, but it was a zombie.

It wouldn't die without a headshot.

Suddenly, it veered to the roadside and started devouring a zombie corpse with a burst skull.

'Recovery... That's not recovery!'

"Uwaaaaaah!!!"

I screamed and ran.

I didn't know where.

If I could just survive the remaining 4 minutes.

If the recovering zombie prioritized destroying lights again.

I'd escape.

Escape this damned world.

Escape this world where everyone but me is powerless, where the Plague Lord treats human lives like toys...

"Why... here?"

I'd run blindly right back to the officetel.

The officetel where Na-eun and I planned to hole up for five days before returning.

The selfish, isolationist officetel I refused to face people in.

Where the first-floor windows, second-floor windows, and room 304 on the third were all smashed...

Why? Why come back?

Thud. Thud.

I'd run so far, yet it closed the distance in an instant.

Time...

20 seconds.

I could last 20 seconds...

Just take one? Two hits and survive.

I swallowed hard and glanced back.

Dropping the bat from my right arm, I gripped the baseball shield with my left.

Still, not head-on.

A fist like a flash came at me.

"Shit."

BOOM!

"Uwaaaaaaaaagh!!!"

My left arm was complete rags.

No combat rest or anything—this was done.

The shield was bent useless, and everything just hurt.

I wanted to quit.

Leaning against the officetel wall, I waited out the time.

Judging I had no fight left, the evolved zombie approached slowly.

Sure enough, the return skill appeared.

"Haa... Haa..."

The minimum requirement was already met.

If I ditched Lee Sian's body now and returned to Yoo Sian...

Yeah, even the final quest...

Tutorial quests should be this straightforward...

It ended in a mess, but let's finish it.

Go back.

"You damned zombie bastard!!!"

Why was Na-eun on the first floor? No, right in front of me?

Glancing back to check my state, tears streamed down her face.

Her breathing was ragged with fear, but she gripped the baseball bat two-handed, aiming it at the evolved zombie.

Me.

I could just return and be done...

But you.

What about you, left behind?

Time crawled.

I swallowed hard.

But there was no answer.

Left arm shattered, weapons gone.

No stamina, no mental strength.

What if I hadn't possessed Lee Sian?

I'd have been working out at the gym as usual, making love, then noticed zombies at night.

Might've barricaded at home, avoiding the old zombie.

Joined Eung-eun's mart team? I had the bat.

Pretty strong, so maybe leader instead of that half-deaf guy.

Fought Bulkwang Wave too? If we lost, would've Na-eun—the prettiest girl—been taken by their boss who I bashed?

Would Lee Sian have stood for that?

Clang.

Na-eun tossed the bat behind her and raised her arms in a guard.

Splat!

The evolved zombie swatted her away like an annoyance.

Ha... Was the Yoo Sian-tainted me only thinking of fleeing?

Even possessed, the woman I loved was risking death to block the zombie for me.

What if it was pure Lee Sian, untainted by Yoo Sian?

Increase assimilation.

Reduce the weak Yoo Sian ratio obsessed with fleeing to the original body.

80%. 85%. 90%. 99%.

A thick rage toward the evolved zombie surges.

Na-eun, who spent these five days with me in this crumbling world, sharing every moment—my lover, whom this zombie bastard knocked away. I want to kill it.

I want to beat that fucker to death!!!

100%.

I'll beat that fucker dead and survive this damned world with Na-eun!!!

"I accept!"

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