Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Swarming Survivors - 5 (+Duck Down Quack Illustration)
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In Survival Life, cataclysm dungeon breaks happened more often than one might think.
It was because there were so few users.
The tiny handful of veteran players were so stagnant that they just shrugged it off.
Even when monsters got buffed by the cataclysm, they barely noticed the difference.
It was like a level 70 user facing a level 20 monster boosted to 25—no big deal.
But in reality, it was a massive event.
With most survivors around level 20, monster enhancements posed a huge threat.
It all stemmed from people blocking each other from entering dungeons.
If I can't have it, neither can you—that nasty spite kicking in.
Arrows raining at dungeon entrances deterred even the boldest survivors.
Sometimes gunfire echoed, leaving everyone just watching warily.
The fact that it was a cataclysm dungeon made it poison for them.
No one entering led to the break, and in a rage, it spewed monsters.
The monsters bursting from the blue dimension gate were definitely enhanced, bigger too.
And there were unfamiliar ones.
Owl Bears.
Survivors knew of them from guides, but seeing one for real was new.
Bang.
A low gunshot rang from a building.
It didn't stand out amid the surrounding chaos.
Oh Jeong-min pulled away from the Dragunov sniper rifle's scope.
The hit Owl Bear staggered briefly but soon charged at someone.
"This thing won't die."
"You should've aimed for the head."
Kim Ji-eun, prone beside him, chided.
"No, it's not slow like I thought. Hard to hit."
The two lived in a bunker in a Hannam-dong luxury villa cluster.
Oh Jeong-min was a scion of the Mirae Group, and Kim Ji-eun, though not his secretary, had ended up with him through connections.
Auction house folks called them the Hannam Holdouts, and they didn't deny it.
They'd traded with other holdout teams killed by the veterans but didn't share their mindset.
They distrusted whoever had that brainwashing trait.
Thanks to that, they'd escaped Kang Sung-ho's demon clutches—unbeknownst to them.
Oh Jeong-min scoped up again, fired, and cursed.
He'd just pissed off the Owl Bear.
"Damn it! This ammo's defective!"
"A craftsman doesn't blame his tools. Let me try."
Kim Ji-eun stepped up but failed a headshot too.
Instead, she drew some monsters' eyes their way—a mistake.
Sensitive bastards.
"Even our Kim Ji-eun can't handle it? Huh?"
"...Shut up and run."
While they bantered, things around the museum worsened.
But neither worried.
They'd secured an escape route with plenty of firepower.
They grabbed gear and headed to the roof.
A few goblins charged ferociously, but they were already gone.
"Let's go."
As they tried crossing to the next roof via rope—
Oh Jeong-min spotted people bursting from an alley.
Normally he'd ignore, but not this time.
One outfit was unforgettable.
He halted, tapping Kim Ji-eun's shoulder.
"Hurry up, what's the holdup?"
"See that guy?"
"Rabbit headband... looks like Bunny Duo."
"First time seeing Bunny Duo for real."
Their auction house fame meant everyone knew their look.
But no one expected actual rabbit headband and just panties.
They hid at the railing, watching.
Oh Jeong-min tsked at ghouls chasing them—then startled.
The woman was commanding a ghoul.
"Isn't that the Ghoul Queen?"
"Not her—the other one."
"Wait, that's not the point. Then that's Kimbap Lover?"
"No way."
Kim Ji-eun denied but couldn't look away.
They met raging goblins.
And that was it.
The lead rabbit-headband panty guy whooshed forward, smashing them.
The two barely tracked Bunny Duo's moves and were awed.
"Is that human? A person?"
"Ignoring paralyzing poison too... extra effect?"
"Can't keep watching—his panties are burned in my eyes."
Oh Jeong-min griped, looking away; Kim Ji-eun too.
The normal-ish one was the big guy, presumed Kimbap Lover.
Spying on him, they freaked.
He stared right at them.
"..."
Hid behind the railing, but his gaze lingered.
Like a warning.
Don't try anything stupid.
Only after he vanished into the museum did the unease fade.
Hunter's Instinct had alerted him to danger.
Oh Jeong-min wiped sweat from his brow and grinned.
"Let's tail them."
"You've finally lost it."
"Why'd we come out? To team up with folks like that."
"Those feral eyes? We'd die before cooperating. Forgot the labyrinth already?"
"No, labyrinth guys charged to kill. Approach calmly, won't be so savage. Bet on it."
"Such optimism."
At her sarcasm, he gripped his sniper.
"Gotta enjoy these times more. Let's go."
But things worsened.
Too many monsters pouring from the museum dungeon.
Highly enhanced, most attacks barely scratched.
Soon, survivors fled.
That's when Yeouido government shelter agents arrived.
Jang Won-taek checked drone footage, baffled.
"When'd those guys get here?"
They'd said Kim's bunker...
Maybe detoured post-meeting.
Kim So-ryeong rushed up with a report.
"Some monsters breached the museum."
"Museum. Lots of national treasures inside."
The parent corp had amassed tons—quality and quantity insane.
Jang Won-taek groaned imagining monsters trampling art he didn't even value.
Kim So-ryeong asked cautiously.
"Secure them?"
Art's bulk made it impossible.
Jang Won-taek shook his head.
"Nah. Art's nothing in this ruined world. People first—prioritize survivor safety."
"Deploying now."
Hyun-woo was pumped.
Time for his trained Striker Team to shine.
Veterans wowed at Comprehensive Gymnasium Station bloodbath.
He could too.
Hyun-woo loaded his rifle, passing teammates.
"Move out."
Lieutenant Jo and Lieutenant Im led soldiers following.
Dungeons attract people.
People attract monsters.
Thus, chaos ensues.
This simple formula never failed.
Normally scattered, survivors lurked nearby buildings, eyeing chances.
Maybe enter if it calms—wishful thinking.
Didn't know the dungeon type, but surely good loot inside.
"Run!"
Seizing a quiet entrance moment, survivors dashed.
Ignoring the torso-sized toad at the mouth.
After orcs and Owl Bears, no biggie.
But the Crying Toad was deadly.
Guluk! Guluk!
It puffed its lower jaw huge, then leaped invisibly fast.
Lead runner took a headbutt, knocked out.
"Fuck this tiny toad!"
"Kick it! Shove!"
As someone tried kicking—
The Crying Toad sensed threat, latched to his leg.
He panicked, prying; it swelled massively.
Then exploded.
Puhak!
Toxic innards sprayed.
Three around him, prying it off, got drenched.
"Kwaaaak!"
Flesh-burning agony left them helpless.
The leg guy especially—clothes and meat burned to bone.
"Euhuk!"
They fled in agony; tension spiked.
That damn toad too fast to react.
Then, noisy alley rumble.
A goblin rolled out pancaked; panty pervert burst forth.
He spotted emerging toads, flinched.
"Crying Toads?"
"Smash 'em back!"
Sung-ho tossed a long mace from behind.
Magic metal-reinforced by Ppashing crew—insane durability.
Best for smashing monsters flat.
Seok-hyun caught it, bashed the charging toad.
Crying Toads harden foreheads on impact.
Sung-ho knew, advised accordingly.
Crack!
Something shattered; toad flew far.
Da-jeong, running up, pumped her fist.
"Bunny home run! Home run!"
"You too!"
She mace-smashed jumping toads.
Entrance toads cleared instantly.
Dead pre-explosion, no toxin spray.
Veterans clearing entrance drew eyes.
"That's Bunny Duo?"
"Real panties only..."
"Rabbit headband too."
"Clothes?"
Seok-hyun's avant-garde look hooked curiosity.
One woman leaned from a window, yelling.
"Bunny Duo, I love you! Fuck me!"
Seok-hyun glanced, thumbs-down.
Laughter erupted despite gravity.
"Puhaha!"
"Bunny Duo has standards!"
Meanwhile, Da-jeong sent a ghoul inside to scout.
"Swamp area... monsters incoming?"
"Not over yet."
"Block with ghouls?"
"Pointless. People might attack. Leave it."
Dimension gates useless—cataclysm needs local monsters purged to close.
Then a paper plane flew in.
Sung-ho jumped, snatched it—Yu-hyun's.
"Mi-kyung and museum. Owl Bears there."
"Let's go."
Sung-ho and Seok-hyun bolted; Da-jeong cupped hands, bellowed.
"Approach and die! Stay away!"
Shouts from everywhere.
"Why die?!"
"Tell us why!"
"Not normal dungeon! Cataclysm! All monsters enhanced! Won't die easy!"
"Fuck, should've said sooner!"
Someone bellowed in pain—recent toad victim.
Da-jeong glared that way.
"How'd we know it's cataclysm? We ain't entering!"
"Just share info!"
"We just learned, idiot! What'd you do? Tryna leech?"
"People in danger, you profit?"
"Total morons? Don't butt in ignorant. Blame who for your stupidity?"
No reply.
Tense listeners held breath, expecting explosion.
Da-jeong, annoyed, led ghouls away.
Gate vanished; monsters surged.
Late Striker Team engaged.
Tatang!
Monsters bled, tumbled under bullets.
Enhanced or not, couldn't tank gun KE.
"Concentrate fire!"
Hyun-woo's order; team focused entrance.
Monsters dropped on exit; cheers rose.
Endless-spawning dungeon finally quieted.
Strikers around entrance, guns ready, relaxed.
"Whew..."
"Finally over."
"Guns shredded... need swaps later."
"Don't worry."
Hyun-woo safetied his weapon, exhaled deep.
Monsters no match for modern arms.
Missed Owl Bears, but lesser ones easy.
Keep hunting, big gains.
Then—
Blue gate rippled; massive hand thrust out.
Snatched a teammate drinking nearby, yanked in.
"Hk!"
"Huh?"
"W-what!"
Soldiers recoiled in horror.
Insanely huge hand.
Hyun-woo tensed, backed off.
"Come out! Show yourself!"
All gulped, aimed at entrance.
A mangled corpse flew out.
Lower body gone; upper crushed like pressed.
Horrified by gruesome sight.
Hyun-woo recalled the giant hand.
Only one monster with hands that big.
Ogre.
End of Swarming Survivors - 5 (+Duck Down Quack Illustration)