The Zombie Mutant
"Lee Hana."
"She's pretty."
"Pardon?"
Damn.
She was so stunning that an involuntary sigh of admiration slipped out of me. She didn't fall short of Han Chaei at all. If Han Chaei was cute like an idol with delicate, graceful features, Lee Hana possessed the elegant, atmospheric beauty of a movie actress. Even her flustered expression looked like a scene straight out of a film.
"I feel like I've seen you somewhere before?"
"If you watched the Olympics, you would know."
Lee Geonwu chimed in agreement.
"The Olympics?"
"Hana is an Olympic fencing gold medalist, after all."
"Now that you mention it, I remember."
She and Han Chaei had been paired together as the Kendo Goddess and the Fencing Goddess. The famous scene was probably when she took off her helmet at match point in the finals and wiped away her sweat. They had even done a photoshoot during the Olympics or something like that.
"But what's that sword?"
Lee Hana pointed at the black blade.
"I imported it from overseas. It's a custom-made Spanish rapier from Grand Armory. The production alone took three months."
Lee Hana drew the sword and explained.
"Sorry about that. My sister gets like this the moment the topic of fencing or swordsmanship comes up."
Lee Geonwu scratched his head and laughed.
"It's fine. I was the one who asked. Anyway, how much did it cost?"
"Around seven million won. The master craftsman at Grand Armory forged it personally."
"It's a beautiful sword."
"Heh, you know your stuff. Isabel is more beautiful than any other blade."
It wasn't just empty words. The circular silver guard that gleamed like a jewel didn't look fragile in the slightest.
"Do fencers usually collect rapiers?"
"It's just my sister's hobby. It's completely different from a fencing foil."
"Oppa, don't interrupt while I'm explaining."
The way they bickered was exactly like siblings.
"Representative Kim Suhyuk, we'll take our leave now."
"Understood."
"Could you please tell the residents that they're welcome anytime?"
"I will."
The representative of the Isan-dong Coalition left as well.
"Everyone, gather up."
"Yes!"
Group B lined up neatly in front of me with perfect order. The newly joined members stepped back in surprise at the sight.
"You guys go stand in the back too."
"Ah, yes."
I sent the still-dazed Lee Geonwu party to the rear.
"We're distributing equipment starting now."
"Yes!"
The equipment list included helmets, stab-proof and bulletproof vests, joint protectors, gauntlets, combat boots, batons, large riot shields, and more. I started by outfitting the Lee Geonwu party first. They had given up their gear to join us. Besides, WAW users would definitely be useful.
The next priority was the tanks. We divided the remaining defensive gear appropriately. However, I didn't distribute any helmets. You never knew when someone might betray us, so it was best to stay prepared.
After completing my own full armament, I scouted the surrounding area.
I should check over there.
I summoned a tower at a spot where a zombie cluster was likely to appear. Investing in increased summoning range definitely made things more convenient.
It's a humanoid mutant.
It had bloated muscles as if it had overdosed on drugs. Its peeled skin left the muscle fibers completely exposed. A humanoid body-reinforcement type.
Humanoids are simple yet tricky.
Of course, that was only if we didn't have towers.
"We're heading back. Get ready."
"Yes!"
I had left towers on every high-rise building along the return path for reconnaissance.
"You guys head back and prepare for combat."
"You're not coming with us?"
"I'm going to lure the mutant and the zombie cluster together."
"Understood!"
"Wait a moment!"
Lee Geonwu interrupted my conversation with the veteran.
"What is it?"
"Are you saying you're going to face both the mutant and the zombie cluster at the same time?"
"That's right."
"Aren't you a WAW user too, Representative? You'll get annihilated."
He opposed my plan with a deadly serious expression.
"Hey, newbie. The boss has his methods, so just follow along."
"No, it's seriously dangerous!"
The veteran dragged Lee Geonwu away by the arm.
Worrying over nothing.
I'd just show him. That none of this posed any threat to me whatsoever.
In the middle of an intersection packed with zombies, the mutant stood arrogantly.
Switch to manual.
Between the densely packed buildings, a perfect blind spot where it wouldn't notice me.
Fire.
Twang!
Whoosh—
An arrow slicing through the shadows aimed straight for the back of its head. Even until the moment the arrow arrived, the creature didn't seem to notice.
Clang!
It spun instantly and swatted the arrow away with the back of its hand.
"Grrrrrr...."
Truly astonishing reflexes. The longbow snipe that had never missed before had failed.
"Well, it couldn't be that easy."
I immediately switched to the next longbow tower. It was positioned on the rooftop of the tallest building in the area.
"Kwooooooo!"
The mutant's spine-chilling roar. The responding zombie cluster came rushing in with a heavy rumble.
Tatata!
But faster than that, the mutant that covered a hundred meters in three seconds reached toward the longbow the instant—
Dismiss.
I canceled the summon at the last possible moment.
Fire!
The second shot.
Bang!
It dodged lightly as if it had known all along and charged straight toward the building.
The oppressive pressure of facing the mutant in person made me truly understand what it meant to transcend human limits.
Even thirty veterans wouldn't stand a chance.
It would trigger a primal fear that went beyond mere physical differences.
However, what the creature was facing wasn't human.
The thing reached the building in an instant and began scaling the wall.
Crash!
It shattered the glass wall.
Crunch!
Smashing through the outer wall, it climbed as if it were flying.
There were no further shots. No more attacks were necessary.
Just quietly—so as not to alert the prey.
I reached out toward its longbow tower.
And the moment it lifted its peeled face above the rooftop—
Whooooong—!
The wooden maul tower that had been spinning in perfect timing hit a home run.
Bam!
"Krgh!"
The mutant was hurled into the air. It had certainly thrown off the limits of the human body.
But it couldn't defy gravity.
Crunch!
It sounded like bones shattering all the way from the bottom of the cliff.
Its elastic muscles couldn't absorb the full internal shock of the impact.
"Fire."
Swish! Bang! Thud! Clang!—
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!
A simultaneous barrage of arrows slammed into the mutant's torso. Caught in the aftermath of the fall, it had no choice but to become a living pincushion.
"As expected, it's tough."
But true to its powerful regenerative ability as a mutant, it forced itself back to its feet.
"Kwooooo!"
With a rage-filled roar, it clung to the building once more.
This time its movements were far more cautious. It spiraled upward along the building.
Yeah, come on up.
The instant it reached a window—
Creak—
A high-speed summoned wooden longspear ambushed it.
Clang— Crash!
Even in its damaged state, it leaped clear to dodge.
Whoooosh—!
Then the wooden hammer aimed for its head.
Thud thud.
Stones fired from the stone bow rained down.
"Grk!"
The mutant dodged with agility as if it were on flat ground.
The constant harassment only bought time at best.
Unlike normal zombies, mutants had high intelligence. It learned the opponent's attack patterns and refused to fall for the same trick twice.
Whoosh!
Finally reaching the rooftop, the mutant leaped high.
It was trying to avoid the maul's attack. It didn't know, but the maul's cooldown had already finished anyway.
No matter how smart it is, it's still just a zombie mutant.
Toward the creature soaring through the air—
"Fire at will."
The long-range towers surrounding the rooftop released their strings simultaneously.
Thud!— Bang!— Thwack!— Tap!— Swish!— Thunk!—
Thudthudthudthud!!
Floating in midair, the creature couldn't move an inch—like a bug caught in a spiderweb—and had to take every arrow.
The densely packed arrow feathers looked like the melted wings of Icarus.
Crash!!
The mutant that slammed headfirst into the road never moved again.
Click.
I stepped down from the fire truck's passenger seat and approached the corpse. A mixture of expectation and excitement.
"I didn't think it would actually drop one."
On the pitch-black asphalt road lay a sharply forged assassination dagger.
◈ Enchant: Sharpness
◈ Wound Aggravation
I could only spot the dagger after the information appeared. The blade and handle were dyed pitch black. It didn't even reflect light, as if given a matte finish.
"Real items actually drop?"
The options were quite good. It was such incredible luck that simply calling it a jackpot didn't feel sufficient. Honestly, I had thought I might not get one until the second wave began.
A dagger, huh.
I picked up the item left behind by the zombie mutant and fell into thought.
This feels off. Is it really okay for things to progress this quickly?
My experiences over the past three years were sounding an alarm. I felt a strong sense of unease at things being achieved too easily.
WAW was notorious for its ridiculously high difficulty. That was why servers kept shutting down.
"They're coming!"
A shout broke my train of thought. The short-haired guy in the driver's seat of the fire truck called out urgently.
"Move out."
I gave the order and climbed into the passenger seat. Without hesitation, I turned on the siren.
Wiiiing— Wiiiing— Wiiiing—
From far away, a dull chorus echoed in response.
The fire truck entered the apartment complex.
"Everyone, prepare for battle."
I lowered the passenger window and issued the command.
"Prepare for battle!"
The members of Group B were waiting with relaxed composure. But Lee Geonwu, the newcomer, was different.
"Wait a second!"
"What?"
"If you face the mutant and the zombie cluster at the same time, we'll be wiped out!"
Lee Geonwu's voice shook along with his pupils. It was ridiculous that he called me out to argue, but since he was new, I let it slide.
"I've already taken care of the mutant."
I casually lifted the dagger. Lee Geonwu opened his mouth in shock.
"Move further inside."
I instructed short-hair to park the fire truck deeper in.
"No way...."
A murmur close to a sigh came from behind.
Groooooooar.
A black tsunami-like wave was surging forward.
"S-Shouldn't we close the entrance?"
One of the dealers expressed his worry.
"I already blocked it."
"B-But there's a gap!"
I had blocked the entrance with a wooden watchtower. However, I had left a small gap between them. Just enough for a single zombie to slip through.
"Shut up and prepare for battle."
"Y-Yes!"
I had no intention of letting Group B slack off. It was time for them to earn their keep.
Rumble rumble.
A faint vibration shook the ground. The end of the oncoming wave was nowhere in sight.
Even the previously relaxed expressions of Group B gradually turned pale.
It wasn't the scale of a cluster centered around a single mutant. While moving, it had absorbed every zombie group in the surrounding area.
Buzzing.
A commotion arose at the apartment entrance.
"What's going on?"
"Well, it's a group of survivors from outside. They're asking to be let in. What should we do?"
Lately, survivors from outside the apartment had been appearing frequently. It was because I had cleared all the zombies in the vicinity.
These guys who were just enjoying the safety I built are coming now?
Still, I couldn't exactly turn them away.
"Only let in those who can fight zombies. Assign them together with Group B."
"Yes!"
I ignored the quarrel happening at the entrance.
Time to get ready.
I resummoned the towers I had placed along the return path.
"That can't possibly all be coming this way, right?"
"If it does, the walls and everything will collapse."
"Are we really going to die this time?"
Group B was already imagining defeat.
Before the agitation could spread uncontrollably, I gathered them.
"Shut up and pay attention."
A silence fell as if the previous commotion had never existed.
"This battle is going to be a war of attrition. That entire cluster isn't going to rush this way all at once."
Arrows flew in four directions to ease their anxiety.
Beep— Beep— Beep— Beep—
Following that, car alarm sounds spread from far away.
Only then did Group B's expressions change to ones of relief.
Not only that. The towers installed at Jeonil Apartments also triggered car alarms.
"As expected! I knew you'd have a plan!"
"See, I told you!"
"Bullshit. You were so scared you didn't say a word."
Seeing the zombie cluster starting to scatter in all directions, the residents breathed sighs of relief.
"Don't worry. In the end, you guys will have to kill them all yourselves."
Then they swallowed their breath again.