Towards the 102nd Floor
Humans are creatures of adaptation. Just a month ago, I didn't even know how to hold a club properly, but now I'm addicted to the satisfying crunch of bashing heads.
Crack! It's already been 27 days since I arrived here.
"I've never heard of a 'combat genius' before."
Splatter! I smashed a zombie's head with my baseball bat and caught my breath.
'I've probably taken down a few dozen today alone...' This one was probably number 300. I lost count a while back, but it's about right.
Checking the corpse, thankfully an orb dropped. A yellow one.
'Yellow orbs boost cognition, right?'
I swallowed it quick. My head cleared, my mind sharpened. The combat power on my status window updated nicely.
"Zombie season's finally over."
With so many wiped out, extermination's on the horizon. If Goinmul saw me now, he'd be proud as hell. Too bad he's still offline. Dead or alive? No clue.
I shoved the looted zombie corpse into a corner and posted proof.
It wasn't because I was a natural fighter, had combat talent, or athletic gifts. Purely thanks to the Digestion Ability from that black orb.
Digestion Ability was way more useful than I thought.
After that, I ran into more red zombies. Got bit again. No life-threatening danger like the first time—no gushing blood either. I'd eaten plenty of blue orbs, boosting my resilience and recovery.
And naturally, I realized...
"...No infection?"
Why no infection? Gallery intel confirmed red zombies weren't normal. Regular ones infect at ~5%, but reds as special types hit 95%. Basically certain if bitten.
But I was fine. Even with teeth marks.
Antibodies from repeat bites on the same spot? Or Geomseong's parasite pill still in me?
I checked my status window for answers. And got a revelation.
◈ Ability:Digestion Ability [P]
└[Poison Immunity: Zombie]NEW!
A new ability under Digestion Ability.
[Poison Immunity: Zombie] NEW!
Thanks, I guess... but what?
Didn't get it at first, but yellow orb boosted cognition made it click fast.
'So that's Digestion Ability's effect.'
It absorbs abilities from what I ingest. Probabilistically or guaranteed.
"Perfect. Now I can fight even bolder."
Zombie infection immunity made combat a breeze. Digestion Ability wasn't just steel stomach—bonus effects too.
Turns out this was key intel.
Orbs build resistance with overuse. But not for me. Maybe delayed. Point is, Digestion Ability affects orb resistance.
Bottom line: My orb absorption crushes everyone else's. Fast strength gains, tons of combat XP in short time.
Hardly any zombies left now. I wiped 'em. Per Goinmul's info, monsters respawn at 30 days. Three days, they'll revive.
Could wait and farm more. But I want next floor.
Most skip boss fights. Stairs lead straight through. No need to fight.
But confidence surged. Orbs galore, XP stacked. Real men don't run scared.
Hyped the gallery with motivation bait, then headed to adjacent roof. No zombies en route.
Gathered 103rd boss info—kinda unsettling.
'Golem zombie made of zombie flesh...?'
Boss: flesh golem from mashed zombie bits. Destroy core to kill. Gallery calls it Rag Golem.
'Should be fine.' Planned strategy. Arrived at top before I knew it.
Opened roof door. Massive flesh blob in center. Rag Golem. Patched corpses everywhere—arms from knees, faces on belly. Fits the name. Gross as hell.
'Core near heart.'
Behind it: straight stairs to sky. No landings, ends at iron door floating midair. Eerie yet cool.
'Open that for 102nd?'
Could skip boss. But I'll kill and conquer.
Gripped bat, crept close. Golem twitching, unaware.
'Now!'
Dashed lightning-fast, full swing at torso. Thud! Hands buzzed. Nothing.
"...?"
Golem twisted. Arm from knee kicked out. I backpedaled instinctively. Dodged.
'Way off my expectations...'
Ground shook. Leaned forward, rolled like boulder. Terrifying mass.
Dodged, swung hard. Thud! Palm stung—no effect. Like hitting slime.
'This... no way.'
Blunt weapons useless. Flesh too gooey. Confirmed: retreat.
Lucky—slow, huge, didn't chase downstairs.
Caught breath, posted.
Instant replies.
Scavenger recommended blunts? Nah, Goinmul did.
"...Ah."
Back to room.
Food running low. Goinmul still MIA. Emptied can gloomily, peeked at adjacent roof.
"...Give up on killing it?"
One try showed: need sword. Slice body, smash heart core. Blunt impossible.
Glanced at bat. Zombie killer—Wilson. My name for it. Friend, soulmate. Worn out now. Cracks everywhere. End nearing.
"...Wilson."
Choked up. Can't ditch blunt. Blunt supreme. Possible with blunt.
"One more go. We got this, Wilson?"
Wilson nodded. Smiled. With you, no problem.
Dinner done, grabbed Wilson. Breakfast on 102nd. Strutted to roof, bashed golem. I was spry; partner too old.
After exchanges, farewell.
Crack! Bat split. Heard it clear:
—Bye, thanks for everything.
"Wilson!"
Gathered shards, pants-shat.
Day 28 dawned. No time mourn friend. Food critical. Goinmul MIA. 2 days to zombie respawn. Bare-handed again.
"...Sword it is?"
No-skip option gone. I take words heavy. Called consistent sucker, whatever. That's me.
Blunt no answer. Need blade to cut skin, flesh, core.
Decided. Unblocked Goinmul, Geomseong.