Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: How to Break the Turf - 2
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The werewolf snapped the Emeras spear in half and kept prowling around the dimension gate.
Something was definitely there, but it couldn't see me. It must be burning up inside.
I showed my palm to the growling Dingo and checked my gear.
"Slingshot, chili bomb, Tokarev..."
I needed the Emeras spear too.
It was broken, but its piercing power hadn't gone anywhere.
The problem was timing.
I couldn't keep up with the werewolf's movements right now.
So I had to keep it disoriented and attack unilaterally.
If it hesitated even a little, its claws would shred my body to pieces.
"No need to face it head-on, right?"
I pulled out the chili bomb, and Dingo freaked out, fleeing to the corner.
"Dingo, you stay there."
I loaded the slingshot with the chili bomb and glared at the werewolf.
Patience wearing thin yet?
Don't you want to find me and tear me apart right now?
Krrrng—
Bloodshot veins crept into its eyes.
Its combat instinct must have activated—its movements were a blur.
To block claws swung in that state, I had no choice but to bait an attack.
"Sink down..."
As I waited a moment, the creature suddenly slowed.
Its Combat Instinct skill had deactivated.
The instant it came straight at me, I pulled and released the slingshot.
The chili bomb smashed into its chest, crumbling with a puff.
Kruk?
It flailed its arms in confusion, then sniffed.
Big mistake, buddy.
The werewolf deeply inhaled the bullhorn pepper powder and leaped straight up.
Kraaak!
It rubbed its snout furiously with its claws, going berserk.
Blood and saliva sprayed everywhere, dirt kicking up in clumps.
Having snorted that vicious powder deep, it must feel like its soul's being ejected.
Not that werewolves have souls, anyway.
"Here we go."
I quietly stepped out from behind the dimension gate and summoned the slot with the Tokarev.
Bang! Bang!
Bang!
Three shots hammered its chest and head.
As expected, it didn't die.
No, it was rampaging even harder.
The thing was tough to begin with, so of course.
I retrieved the spear and started running, keeping the dimension gate closed.
Hide-and-seek wasn't bad, but there was a risk it'd get fed up and flee.
I had to kill it and claim the skill, no exceptions.
Running at full speed, I heard the werewolf's heavy footfalls closing in from behind.
The distance wasn't that close yet, but let my guard down and it'd catch me in a blink.
I've done this enough times to know.
"Huff, huff!"
I spun around, drew the pistol, and fired.
Bang!
The charging werewolf couldn't overcome its momentum and tumbled.
Normally it'd shrug it off and keep coming, but it was already pretty battered.
I spotted a suitable tree and tossed the grappling hook.
The hook wrapped tightly around a sturdy branch, the rope dangling loose.
"Hup! Cha! Hup! Cha!"
This felt just like guerrilla training.
Instructor versus a werewolf ready to devour me.
I desperately climbed the rope as the werewolf's roar shook the forest.
Kwaaang!
But its pounce barely grazed my feet.
Hanging by my arms, I looked down.
The werewolf was losing its mind from not being able to reach me.
Its sergeant jump was about 3 meters—too short to hit my feet.
Soon it'd realize climbing the tree was faster.
Krrrng!
Sure enough, it dug its claws into the trunk and started ascending.
But you forgot one thing, didn't you?
I pulled out the chili bomb, and its snout twitched.
Moment of choice.
Would it drop from the tree to dodge the chili bomb?
Of course, I knew it wouldn't.
Fueled by hatred for me, the werewolf gaped its jaws wide, baring fangs.
"Nice big mouth. Eat this."
The chili bomb I chucked got perfectly sucked in.
It bulged its eyes, then flopped backward.
Kraaaak! Kaaak!
What followed was a gruesome spectacle unfit for open eyes.
Anyone unknowing would've thought it was self-harming.
I aimed the Tokarev at its head and fired.
A few gunshots rang out, and its movements slowed dramatically.
No matter how hardy, no one survives that many headshots.
It wheezed ragged breaths from its blood-soaked maw.
I'll end it quick.
I plunged the Emeras spear into its heart.
Kahk!
The werewolf's body convulsed, then went limp.
Finally, I slumped to the ground.
"Hah, hah..."
That was close.
Even lighter-bodied, climbing just a rope was taxing.
Without the Two-Stat Ring from Top-gong, I wouldn't have dared.
"Gotta treat him to a meal next time."
I massaged my sore shoulders and checked the messages.
"Yes."
I clenched my fist.
Level and points weren't thrilling.
But Combat Instinct was different.
This was a so-called Tier 2 skill.
"Not many skills boost stats like this."
In Survival Life, stat caps were around 20.
The devs' idea of human limits.
But Tier 2 skills let you break those in specific situations.
"Tier 1 is even crazier."
Prime example: ogre's Stone Skin.
Cuts all damage by 50%.
Ogres already have insane toughness and defense; with this active, they just won't die.
"Like punching a concrete wall."
Anyway, Combat Instinct boosts health, strength, and agility by 20% for 3 minutes.
That's why the werewolf prowling the dimension gate suddenly sped up.
But the trigger's tricky.
You need ferocious killing intent.
Half-hearted "I'll fight and bail" won't cut it.
In-game, it was casual voice input, though.
"Werewolves are vicious for a reason."
Still, not much different from me.
I opened my status window.
Four more skills and I'd hit 10.
Like the 5-item equip limit, skills cap at 10.
New ones replace the oldest.
My first was Survival Thirst.
With boosted health and evasion, it barely procs anymore.
"It's decent, but..."
I wouldn't miss it much.
If a better chance comes, swapping it out's fine.
Man, this werewolf didn't drop any items. Shame.
Guess I'd aim for the upcoming labyrinth speedrun.
I sliced off the werewolf's ankle and tossed it far away.
Then opened the dimension gate.
"Dingo, Dingo."
It bounded out panting, then whined at the corpse.
Wonder when this furball could fight alongside me.
At least two seasons away, probably.
I returned to the shelter with Dingo.
Yoo Hyun's trait was Doll Making.
He could craft dolls to control freely and see/hear through them.
Name aside, even paper airplanes worked fine.
Lacking combat prowess, he excelled at intel gathering.
One lap around in a paper plane revealed survivors and monsters' outlines.
At Sung-ho's request, Yoo Hyun and Mi-kyung climbed a nearby studio apartment and launched a paper plane.
It glided past the desolate villa district toward the golf club.
After maneuvering for a while, Yoo Hyun sighed.
"Whoa, the turf's brutal."
Mi-kyung, crouched beside him, asked,
"What turf?"
"Rough summary... Most folks here lack food, right? We're good thanks to Sung-ho hyung, but..."
"I've noticed this before—you explain way too much."
"Gotta build up for the story."
"Fine, spit it out."
"Anyway, this Kyung-jun guy's exploiting it. Offers food if they swear loyalty, bullying them into it."
"What does 'loyalty' mean?"
"...Killing people?"
"What?"
Mi-kyung's brows furrowed.
As she urged him on, Yoo Hyun held up a hand.
"Wait. Crowd's riled up—hard to hear."
"Okay, hurry."
Moments later, Yoo Hyun staggered up, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Whoa... that Kyung-jun's ruthless."
"How so?"
"Well..."
What Yoo Hyun heard went like this.
Kyung-jun was the embedded stone.
He firmly ruled the golf course and resented rolling stones—the newcomers.
People attract monsters.
He told some:
—Look at the barren surroundings. What're you gonna eat? Survivors are overflowing. Zombies'll swarm soon. Those bastards sniff out humans like ghosts.
—So what do we do?
—Thin the numbers.
People were shocked.
Kill people?
—One kill doesn't make you a murderer, right? Go do it. I'll give food.
—How can you say that? Kill someone?
—Watch your back after you leave?
The man noticed the weird looks from others.
He was already swayed by Kyung-jun.
—Ah, no...
Kyung-jun smirked.
—I'm picking suppliers for my company right now. Fail to supply, you starve or raid others. What's that different from my offer? Can't grasp this simple shit?
So Kyung-jun manipulated with food as bait.
New survivors had just a backpack each.
No days' worth of rations.
Kyung-jun had a sturdy bunker.
Massive stockpiles, no doubt.
Someone said,
—There's a grain center nearby! Hold steady!
—Just rice? Need sides too. Water? Gonna drink pigeon-shit river?
—Head to Gimhae or Jinhae...
—Think they'll welcome you? Listen. Nobody likes rolling stones.
—Then back to the city!
Pointing downtown, Kyung-jun scoffed.
—Fled radiation just to go back? Turn into rad-zombies?
Faces soured.
Kyung-jun pressed,
—Think it over. Join me, work's tough but livable. Not bad.
—How trust you? Give some food first...
His eyes were ice-cold.
—Don't get it twisted. You earn my trust. Not vice versa.
Reactions split.
Obey and kill?
Everywhere's risky—might as well join.
Opponents were majority.
They begged Kyung-jun repeatedly, to no avail.
With ten-plus underlings, attacking was impossible.
—Decide quick. Raid's on.
No zombies nearby, but who knows.
Under pressure, three shook his gloved hand.
His eyes changed.
—Beat these bastards.
—What?
Thirteen piled on five.
Screams echoed across the course.
One hid with stealth, but a goon sprayed paint, exposing him.
—Aaaah!
Kyung-jun handed a bow to one man.
—Grass sinking deep? Watch.
He hesitated, then loosed the arrow.
Thud.
All five dead.
To the remaining three, Kyung-jun said,
—I'm fair with rewards and punishments. Take this.
A goon dropped three backpacks.
Inside: food and water.
They gleefully grabbed them.
—Talk others into it. Bring more. Got it?
Bring clean survivors to force into killing.
Chilling, but none could defy Kyung-jun.
They were in the same boat now.
"...That's it."
Yoo Hyun finished.
Mi-kyung couldn't hide her unease.
"W-what kind of person is that? Kill anyone who won't obey?"
"Soo-yeon noona said it. He has goons murder, tries forcing Time Shelter open. He's always been like that."
"Then what do we do?"
"What can I say... Sung-ho hyung said monitor, so fly the plane."
"Even Sung-ho ajusshi can't handle it alone. Too many people..."
Mi-kyung fretted, but got scolded by Yoo Hyun.
"You've hunted with him—don't you trust him?"
"Not that, but."
"I do. Hyung's different from us. Soo-yeon noona said as long as no betrayal, he'll help somehow. Just do what he says."
"..."
Mi-kyung recalled finding food right after arriving.
Hard to believe with a ruler like Kyung-jun nearby.
He definitely had something.
But digging might end badly.
Mi-kyung decided good was good.
"Fine. Hurry, send the plane to ajusshi."
"Why call him ajusshi? Soo-yeon noona's older."
"My call."
"Heard it hurts him... One's noona, one's ajusshi."
"...Really?"
"Kidding. Whoa, you're blushing."
"Hey!"
Mi-kyung kicked Yoo Hyun's butt, launching the plane skyward.
Sung-ho caught it at the window and examined.
"Why'd it stop midway?"
Key info was there, so fine.
He sketched the golf course layout and pondered.
Kwon rarely left the course.
Trauma from past raids?
'Guess I gotta go in.'
Breaching the sturdy bunker was near impossible.
But the door wasn't full concrete.
'Gotta neutralize over ten guys.'
A few days ago, he'd hesitate.
Not now.
With solid items and skills.
Combine right, plenty feasible.
And Kwon—he'd kill him for sure this time.
Kill without murderer status.
No nearby monsters to exploit.
But Sung-ho thought of a way quick.
'That'll do.'
How to Break the Turf - 2 End