Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: 5. Luring (3)
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"Grraaarak!"
They're coming!
The moment I saw the human beasts gaping their maws and reaching out with their hands, I spun around.
And ran.
I burst out of the alley, brushing past a clothing store.
Kaboom!
A massive explosion roared from behind.
The glass door by the mart's side entrance shattered completely, shards raining down with a clatter.
"Kaaak! Grraaarak!"
They're chasing me! Chasing!
Fuck!
I flew past a herbal clinic.
"Grraaarak! Kaaak!"
Close! So close!
These fucking human beasts are insanely fast!
I was just about to zip past a rice cake shop.
"Kyaa-a-a---a-----"
What?!
Crazy! I didn't even use it!
That means they're that close!
...Fuck!
I hurled the large axe I was holding forward, then yanked two tomahawks from my belt.
Spinning around, I saw several human beasts tangled up right in my face, moving sluggishly in mid-air.
I swung the tomahawk with all my might.
"Hrah!"
Splat!
A human beast aunty clutching a shopping basket.
It sank right into her skull!
No time to waste!
I swung hard again!
Thunk!
A mart employee in an apron.
Straight into the crown of her bobbed hair!
Even small, an axe is an axe.
But it just embedded—it didn't dig in deep.
Not like the large axe.
No idea if that'll kill her, but the point is, no time for two swings.
I didn't even think to pull the axe out—just bolted away.
And that's when I realized it.
Objects I let go of are affected by Acceleration too.
The large axe I'd chucked ahead was floating lazily in the air up front.
I sprinted full tilt and snatched it.
"--a-aarak!"
Acceleration wore off!
I poured everything into bolting forward.
Crash!
Behind me, collapsing noises and tumbling chaos. Probably the skull-smashed human beasts tripping.
Are they dead?!
Oh!
The head's definitely the weak spot!
Damage the brain in any way, and they drop easy!
The more I kill, the more I learn!
"Kaaak! Kyaaak!"
Fuck, this is nuts.
Closing in fast!
Swords in both hands plus axe—it's heavy!
Ugh, fuck!
Again!
No, shit.
No time to hesitate!
Five seconds—run!
I hauled ass like a madman and reached the convenience store.
"Hah, hah."
Glancing aside, human beasts were sluggishly shuffling about ten meters away.
I dove straight into the store and flung open the storeroom door.
Corpses by the counter.
Human beasts I'd killed.
I chucked the heavy large axe into the storeroom and spun back.
Yeah.
Right here!
"--ararak! Kraaak!"
A stampede of pounding feet.
I gripped the storeroom door and peeked out.
Human beasts thundering past in a herd.
I sucked in a deep breath.
"Over here, you fucks!"
The human beasts whipped around toward me.
And all crashed forward in a heap.
Unable to handle their own momentum, they tumbled, tangled, piled up, and collapsed in an instant.
They saw me.
They know where I am!
The bastards spasmed to their feet.
I slammed into the storeroom and bang! shut the door.
Locked it tight.
Screeech!
I shoved a beverage rack hard, jamming it between the door and wall.
Done.
"Hahk, hahk!"
That instant, a roar erupted.
"Kraaak! Kaaak!"
Kaboom!
The door shuddered with an explosive thud.
Crazy fuck!
"Kaaak! Kyaaak!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The door trembled violently.
"Hahk, hahk."
A chill raced down my spine.
It won't break, right?
If it does, it's all over.
I yanked another rack over and barricaded the door.
Hold.
Hold on!
I snatched the axe from the floor.
"...!"
Fuck.
This axe... it's not like the spear.
Spear's just thrust. This needs swinging.
Not ideal for a cramped storeroom.
Catches on walls, snags on racks.
Next to me, a rack with a telescoping baton.
I set the large axe there too.
And drew my sword.
Shing—
This... is a sword.
Never done kendo, but I've seen a few YouTube vids.
You can thrust with it too.
Not a spear, but compared to that blunt pipe spear, this is way sharper.
Just thrusting should be far more efficient than the square-ended pipe.
"Hoo, hoo."
As long as the door doesn't shatter.
If those hinges hold just this once.
I gripped the sword two-handed, glaring at the door.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Kaaak! Grraaarak!"
Human beasts roaring and pounding the door.
I'd seen their habits already.
Thirty minutes like this, an hour tops, then they quiet down.
They'll pass out or zone out somewhere nearby.
Just hold out here.
Door, just hold!
"Kaaak! Kraaak!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Hoo, hoo."
Part of me wants to crack the door and stab heads right now.
But no can do.
Already burned two Accelerations.
"Hah, hah."
Tense.
That door...
Steel door—solid itself.
They can't break through.
Problem's the hinges.
Screws are taking constant impacts.
Door was already creaking when I escaped here days ago.
How long will the hinges last?
"Hoo, hoo."
I deep-breathed amid the bangs and roars. Reckless plan, maybe.
But I was certain.
No other way, and this one would work—I knew it.
Convenience store storeroom: sealed tight.
Relatively sturdy steel door.
Lure 'em in, then snipe.
Reason I came up with this? Their pack-hunting instinct.
If they patrolled in twos or threes spread out, no way I'd risk this.
But they clump together.
Herded somewhere.
To farm food, tools, gear—you gotta move around.
To level up, gotta kill 'em somehow.
How to handle packs?
Lure and pick off one by one.
Only way I could think of.
"Kraaak! Kaaak!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Hah... hah..."
About ten minutes in.
Door's holding steady.
Lure. Destroy.
My idea, only method ready to go—but way too reckless.
I know that.
Wish I had a gun.
...Gun...?
Gun...
Even with a gun, would it be fine?
Guns are loud as hell.
Hear 'em from hundreds of meters.
...Gun...
Useful.
But risky too.
...Something not a gun, but ranged to take 'em out.
...What?
Door's still banging, roars nonstop, but my mind calms.
Gripped sword two-handed, stared at door, deep breaths.
...Got it.
A bow.
Bow... or crossbow.
With that, pick 'em off quietly from afar, one by one.
...Once I'm stronger, hunt for a bow or crossbow.
Not now.
Too weak for long trips; need more growth.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Banging slowed bit by bit.
Roughly thirty minutes, feels like.
Little longer, and it'll go dead quiet.
...Lucky the door held.
...Good.
Need to refresh Acceleration uses too—time to rest.
"Hah, hah..."
Sheathed the sword, slumped to the floor against the wall.
Full recovery? Probably by sunset.
...Oh, right.
Leveled up.
Level 13 now.
...Twelve kills, damn.
Put 1 into Mental Power—now 15.
Good. Three Accelerations.
2 points left.
...Recovery's priority—dump in Stamina.
Skills
[Active - Acceleration] (Auto-cast active)
...Huh?
Why's Mental Power at 1?
Oh, recovered.
Stamina cost 1.
Hmm... so only 1 Stamina used.
Makes sense—just walked a block from home, climbed stairs, sprinted like hell.
Less than ten minutes total.
1 point. Fine.
Issue is...
...Strength.
Secured three Accelerations.
But Strength...
Hah... capped at five kills per go?
No, wait.
Apocalypse hit days ago—my head's fucked.
Killing five at once ain't normal.
Average joe? Unless trained fighter, can't take one.
How block a full-force lunge and bite?
Only 'cause it's me do I gripe about five not enough.
Fuck, hilarious when I think about it.
"Heh heh..."
Buried my face in my knees, chuckled, then pulled my phone from my bag.
[Su-hyun. Gonna be late tonight. Eat dinner without me.]
Moment later.
Bzzzt—
Reply.
[Where are you?]
[Just nearby. Be back ASAP.]
[Everything okay?]
[Fine. Just nearby. Got something to handle.]
[Got it. We'll eat without you then.]
[OK. See ya.]
Hmm...
......Pretty normal chat.
Feels off for the situation, but whatever.
Looked around.
Dozens of boxes: canned drinks, PET bottles, snacks.
Hungry? Grab whatever.
Wait here till recovered.
With that, I lit a cigarette leisurely.
"Hoo..."
Smoke swirled lazily.
Tastes good.