Batter Up and the Black Orb Gamble
Goinmul: Anyway, from what I remember, there's one right as soon as you open the door.
KimHogu: Got it.
I took a deep breath. "...Hoo."
Trying to calm my nerves, I slowly clenched my trembling hands.
Goinmul: Once you've made up your mind, just go for it.
KimHogu: Ok;;; Goinmul left me with a few more tips and reminders, saying he had urgent business to attend to. All that remained was the gift box he'd handed over. I stared blankly at it for a moment, then reviewed my situation again.
"This is seriously like a game."
Except the biggest problem was that this was real. If I didn't want to die, I had to move. I checked the contents of the box again.
"...What's with all this stuff?"
When I sorted through the items carefully, it was packed full—weapons, armor, food, miscellaneous junk.
"This... a potion?"
The color and shape screamed potion. Probably was one. I checked the weapons first.
"Sword's the safe starter, right?"
No, better play it safe. I decided to poll the others.
More people were interested in me than I'd thought. Comments poured in faster than expected.
"Why ask about gender?" And what the hell is BareHands... fuck. I was about to curse back at the "die" comments when a long one dropped.
Then someone else chimed in.
Blunt weapons? I replied.
Scavenger replied to my comment.
I was convinced instantly. "...Makes sense."
Swords might look good at a glance—sharp edge and all. But if it gets stuck without cutting clean? Or ignores the damage and fights back?
"Yeah... skip swords."
Zombies don't feel pain. As she said, even if sliced, they'd likely ignore it and counter.
Then skip all blades.
Eliminating similar weapons left one option.
But my wise choice felt like an insult to someone.
Suddenly Geomseong lost it.
Was it worth getting that mad?
He ranted while I sorted gear, then finally calmed down.
But his next words were something else.
Should I? "Sigh."
I shook my head. No energy for crazies.
"Time to go."
I geared up, gripped the baseball bat two-handed.
Crack!
The bat smashed the zombie's head clean off.
"Kraaack!"
Headless, it stopped moving. Eighth? Ninth? Numbers didn't matter anymore.
"Hoo, easier than I thought."
Way easier. Zombies were slower than expected.
This calls for proof.
I snapped pics and posted to the gallery.
Moment of silence. Then comments flooded.
Good reactions. I grinned, satisfied—then spotted an unexpected one.
I checked the fresh corpses. Sure enough, two orbs from the nearby ones.
Real deal. Glowing faintly near the torsos, easy to spot.
I wiped the blood off one and asked.
That explained the no-drop one. I inspected my loot: one red orb, one blue.
Then the explainer showed up.
Bingo.
Straightforward. But gross—straight from zombie guts.
Still, I swallowed both at once. No way it's fake.
"...Kgh."
The effect was wild. Instant change as it went down throat. Hot, heavy burst in my gut.
Urk.
Muscles swelled moments later.
"...Oh."
I flexed my hand. Grip strength night-and-day different. Normally I'd be gassed, but power lingered.
Joints smooth too.
Unreal. Like oiling an engine. Not just feeling—body changed.
Status check: combat index up.
17 to 26. Nice.
...Survival still F.
Checked older corpses too—no orbs. Not high drop rate.
Last one had something dark. I froze instinctively.
"...What's this?"
Definitely an orb, but unlike red/blue. Weird light, color.
I scrubbed it clean and posted a pic.
Comments instant.
Special ability. Black orb felt different from red/blue. Black sphere, but watching it... alive, breathing.
Creepy vibe.
Hesitated, but committed. Popped it in.
Swallow—and oh shit.
"...Ghk!"
Cold. Ice-cold outside, burning inside. Short trip down esophagus felt like ice and fire ripping me.
"...Gah!"
Body twisted. Heart pounding, blood surging backward. But mind clear.
And... nothing.
Status unchanged.
"...?"
Lots watching. Replies stacked.
"...?" What the hell.
"...Fuck no."
These psychos. Gallery's for reference, not survival guide. My bad for trusting humanity.
Wait—this gallery has all races. Elves, dwarves, fantasy shit, mutants, smart monsters, pretenders.
Passive? Not dangerous dud then.
"Haa..."
Next time, store black orbs first. Got lucky...
Then—footsteps around the corner.
"...Grrrk."
Zombie. One more nearby.
But looks... off.
Skin darkish. Or aura?
"Red glow from its body."
Whatever. No biggie.