Chorus: No Need to Wait for the Monster

I didn't even need to wait for it to become a monster. Because a monster already existed on the battlefield.

Tap—stab!Tap—pierce!Slash—thrust!

There was nothing that needed protecting in the first place. The raid party members only reacted after Lee Hana had already stabbed and vanished from sight.

Lee Hana's movement skill had one major weakness. It only allowed forward and backward movement, with no ability to change direction.

But that weakness became meaningless in the face of such speed. Tap—thud!Tap— If it was fast enough, nothing else mattered. It felt as if the forward step, the thrust, and the retreat step had all been cast simultaneously in perfect unity.

She was literally erasing the swarming zombies at lightning speed.

"Wow, holy shit! Is that even a human's movement?!"

"How is the difference this big? I'm using skills too."

"Dude, how can you even compare yourself to her? Pick on someone your own size."

"A gold medalist really is on another level."

Conversely, Lee Hana's movement skill also had a major strength. It didn't consume any mana. That advantage was what let her maintain these lightning-fast thrusts.

"How much mana does she have that she can keep spamming skills like that?"

"Yeah. Maybe she only invested in magic power?"

Contrary to their guesses, Lee Hana barely used her attack skill, Fente. Thrusting in combination with her forward skill was more than enough.

She only used the attack skill when she needed to rush in and help a raid member in danger.

"That makes sense."

"Looking at her movements, she must have gone all-in on agility."

Thanks to that, I could comfortably observe the fight.

"Don't block the right path there—move aside. Give Lee Hana room to pass."

Giving instructions through the microphone mounted on the fire truck was enough.

The battle didn't last long. There weren't many zombies left to begin with, and Lee Hana took them down so quickly that it ended in no time.

"Good work."

I handed Lee Hana a cold drink.

"Thanks. But wasn't it a bit much to suddenly open every entrance like that?"

"I calculated everything. If it got dangerous, I could always handle it with my towers."

"I guess that's true."

Lee Hana nodded as she looked at the towers packed across the apartment rooftop. Then she stepped right up to me and asked accusingly.

"Suhyuk-ah, isn't your skill way too overpowered?"

"It's pretty good."

"It's not just good. You could probably clear everything by yourself, couldn't you?"

It was true. I was growing stronger at an exponential rate.

"I was surprised to see arrows flying around even at night."

"The towers don't rest."

"That's exactly why it's so broken! It's unfair!"

"Are you really in any position to say that?"

Had she not heard what the raid members were saying about her?

"What did I do?"

Lee Hana asked with a blank, innocent look as if she had no idea.

"They said you weren't even human."

"Who the hell said that?! Who called me inhuman!"

She stomped her foot, pretending to be angry.

"I've got a great idea! Since we'll have to keep fighting anyway, we need training too, right? So find whoever said that and..."

"You just want to beat them up, don't you?"

"It's called sparring! Spar-ring!"

"How many people could even face you in close combat? You're so fast."

A boxing champion's punch is already too fast for most people to perceive. The tip of a fencing blade moves several times faster than that. And now a fencing gold medalist was using skills on top of it.

Could any human truly react to thrusts delivered at that speed? Almost no one could dodge them. Skills made the impossible possible, but reacting and making split-second decisions was still up to the person themselves.

"You saw how well Nuna performed? Hehe! Yeah, yeah. I am pretty fast, aren't I!"

Her shoulders were puffed up with pride. It was honestly kind of cute.

"Ah, that's right! Why won't you call me Nuna?"

"Why? We're basically the same age anyway."

"Still, you should call me Nuna!"

"What's the age difference even matter for. So how old are you?"

"That's... don't ask!"

I didn't need to. I'd already seen it in online articles. Lee Hana was twenty-four—two years older than me. Calling her Nuna wouldn't have bothered me at all. I just deliberately avoided it because she was so obsessed with the title.

"But how did you chain the skills together so quickly?"

"Um... it just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠worked? I used Retraite at the exact same time as thrusting with Marche Fente."

The forward step, thrust, and retreat step had all gone off almost simultaneously.

Normal movement skills usually created a delay when changing direction due to recasting, or they slowed down because of inertia. But Lee Hana had moved as if the laws of physics didn't apply to her.

It had to be because each skill was completely independent.

Maybe splitting forward and backward like that was actually a stroke of genius?

At this level, it was definitely worth investing two skill points.

"Honestly, I didn't know I could move this fast either."

"It's your first time using the skill, so that makes sense. But is your body okay?"

If Lee Hana got injured, it would throw off all my plans.

"You moved that fast. I was worried you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠might have hurt yourself."

No matter how much the skill enabled impossible movements, she was still the one moving her own body. Since Fente was essentially a lunge, the strain on her thighs had to be enormous.

"Were you that worried about Nuna?"

"Let's go with that."

"Heh, it was nothing. It does put a bit more tension in my thighs than usual, but it's not enough to worry about."

At those words, my eyes naturally drifted to her toned, elastic thighs. Lee Hana was wearing that form-fitting leather suit again.

Without thinking, I found myself scanning her figure.

How does she move that fast carrying those breasts?

Maybe she wore some kind of high-strength compression wrap? Otherwise it would probably hurt like hell.

"Th-then I'll head out?"

"Where are you going? Get in the fire truck."

"Ah, right?"

It was time to move. I sat in the passenger seat of the fire truck and issued commands through the microphone.

"Moving out."

"Yes!"

Some rode in the cargo trucks we'd looted ahead of time, while the rest would acquire vehicles along the way and load up.

Our destination, DC Mart, required passing the police station and the area around Isan-dong. Since the distance was considerable, we'd brought the raid members in vehicles.

Last time we'd gone to the police station, the roads had been blocked by abandoned cars. What worked in our favor was that the wave had hit during a time when traffic was light. Plus, many of the blocking vehicles either had drivers who'd turned into zombies or keys left in the cup holders.

In that panic, no one had the presence of mind to grab them. Thanks to that, we'd easily been able to clear one full lane.

We took whatever vehicles we needed. If we couldn't find the keys, we simply pushed them aside with other cars.

"Raid Leader, this cargo truck has the keys in the ignition too. Should we take it?"

"Bring it. We can load more raid members."

"Understood."

Since we were looting a large supermarket, the more cargo trucks the better. I hadn't expected to gather quite this many, though.

"Whoa, what a view."

Lee Hana, sitting in the back, leaned forward between the seats.

"Don't move around too much."

"But the zombies are fine, right?"

She completely ignored my warning to be careful.

"They're still scouting."

"How?"

"With the towers."

"It can even do that? That's so cheap."

Amused, I glanced back and saw her puffing out her cheeks.

"It's not cheap when it's also protecting your safety."

"That's true. Hehe."

Chatting like that, we soon reached the area near the police station.

"From here on, proceed slowly. Everyone except the drivers, get out."

"Yes!"

The raid members quickly dismounted and formed up.

We had already cleared the mutants and swarms that had been blocking the path to DC Mart, but there could still be stragglers.

"The towers will provide cover, so start by clearing the vehicles blocking the first lane."

I split the raid into three teams: Team A to clear the road and open the path, Team B as the main force, and Team C to protect the vehicles.

"Understood. You guys follow me."

"Yes!"

Just as Team A started moving to clear the vehicles—

Whoosh—thud!Thump! Crunch!

A shadow burst out from between the buildings and was sent flying before collapsing.

Zombies agitated by the loudspeaker. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠That was only the beginning. Groups of zombies started pouring out from every alley.

"Krrraaagh!"

"Krrrk!"

"Krrgh!"

"They're coming!"

"Stay sharp and keep formation!"

This was exactly why urban combat was so dangerous. You never knew where they'd pop out from.

Rumble rumble rumble.

Towers began materializing on the rooftops of the buildings surrounding the road.

Fire.

Bang—swish—thud—pew—thump—tap—

All the summoned towers released their strings at once.

Thud—pierce!Whoosh—crunch!

Spears and hammers blocked the entryways.

"Brace for impact!"

The few zombies that broke through were stopped cold by the shield wall.

Once their momentum died, they were nothing but prey for Lee Hana.

Swoosh! Like a spear shooting out from between the shields, Lee Hana's rapier pierced straight through their heads.

The raid members responded calmly now too. All their accumulated combat experience was finally starting to show.

"Fuck, there's DC Mart."

"Took forever to get here."

"I thought I was gonna die when the buff ran out. You're not telling us to charge in like this, right?"

It had taken longer than expected to reach this point. We had to clear zombie groups at every interval. They weren't full swarms, but a head-on battle in open field was too risky, so we'd used the towers to wear them down before finishing them off.

"Everyone gather up. We'll proceed after eating."

"Gather!"

I ordered the second-class residents who'd come along to begin food distribution.

"Hehehe, I wonder what's for lunch?"

"I smelled meat earlier, didn't I?"

Morale rose noticeably whenever mealtime came around. It wasn't just because it satisfied their appetites—the cooking skill also came with a mental recovery effect. That was why it sold for a high price back in WAW.

Of course, I had no intention of selling any. The auntie's cooking had essentially become military supplies.

"Suhyuk-ah, do you always get to eat food this delicious?"

"Yeah."

"Who made it? Was it you?"

"No way. Anyway, when we enter the mart, you stay outside."

"Huh? Why?"

"We need someone guarding the rear as well."

I couldn't risk sending Lee Hana—who I'd decided to raise properly—into a dangerous area.

"Will it be okay without me?"

Of course, if Lee Hana joined the entry team she would be a massive asset.

"Looks like someone's gained confidence. You're even saying things like that now."

"That's not what I meant! It's just... dangerous."

"Don't worry. It's not like this is my first or second time looting a mart."

And I'd never failed once.

Before we fully entered the mart, we patrolled the surrounding area and cleared out the zombie groups. Given the area's high foot traffic, the numbers were considerable.

"We'll start by clearing the underground parking lot. Take point."

"Yes, understood."

I gave instructions to the veterans through the walkie-talkie. Using a loudspeaker inside this dungeon-like space was out of the question.

"Grrrrrr..."

"Graaagh... Krrgh..."

"Krrrk..."

I summoned towers in advance to scout the interior. The parking lot was packed with figures. It really was a dungeon. Most of them should have already gone up to the surface, yet so many remained.

"Krrk!"

"Graaagh!"

"They're coming! Shields forward!"

The zombies reacted violently to the sound of our entry. But at this point, a group of this size was cleaned up quickly. Surprise attacks were the real threat.

"Watch behind the pillars and between the vehicles."

"Yes."

That was why tower scouting was so important.

"Not there—check further back."

"Understood."

However, expecting accurate sniping from the towers was difficult. The ceiling was low and there were far too many obstacles.

"Krrraaak!"

Sometimes, no matter how careful we were, we still missed some.

Tap—stab!

"Ack! You scared the hell out of me!"

Even those unexpected variables were neutralized thanks to Lee Hana.

"You idiot, focus properly!"

"Sorry!"

It was the woman who had joined us from Jeonil Apartments.

"Um, thank you, Hana. And I'm sorry."

"It's fine. It's dark down here, so it happens."

The underground parking lot lights were still mostly on, but several were broken.

"We need to reach the lowest floor. We don't have to clear every single one, so move quickly."

"Yes, understood."

The raid members picked up their pace.

After clearing the lowest floor, we positioned large tower trucks side by side to narrow both the entrance and exit.

"Clear up to the stairs on the first basement level, but don't open the door."

"Understood."

There weren't many zombies near the stairs, so it was finished quickly. We had secured the staircase connecting the parking lot to the store.

"Once it's clear, open the door and secure it. Then come straight back down."

"We'll tie ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it with rope."

Whether the zombies hadn't noticed or not, there was no combat until the team returned.

"Did everyone get their rice balls?"

"Yes."

"If you feel your stomach emptying during battle, eat them."

"Understood."

"Thank you."

Some people were simply happy to receive food, but others looked puzzled.

"Just how long are we supposed to fight that he's giving us these?"

"It's probably just a snack. To keep us motivated."

"You think?"

The real reason I'd handed out the rice balls was to maintain the buffs. I had no idea how long this battle would last either.

"Is battle preparation complete?"

"Yes, everyone is ready."

After hearing the veteran's reply, I climbed into the fire truck. Then I activated the siren.

Weeeeee— Weeeeee— Weeeeee—

Bee-yong— Bee-yong— Bee-yong—

The raid members turned deathly pale, clearly not expecting me to sound the siren even here.

The siren that started from the deepest underground level slammed into every floor of the building.

The best way to conquer a dungeon is to clear it out first, then enter.

KROOOOOOAAAAA!!!

KYAAAAAAAAAAAK!!!

In answer, a frenzied chorus of pure madness poured down into the basement.