Cyborg Zombies
The Yeokcheon team's composition was, to put it bluntly, a mess.
Two close-range dealers.
One sub-tanker plus sub-ranged dealer.
One supporter specialized in buffs.
And me.
No main tanker or main ranged dealer among the members.
The supporter was half-baked, specialized only in buffs with not a single healing skill.
This unbalanced team had been assembled purely based on their future potential.
But that was fine.
“Heal.”
I could fill in whatever was missing.
The healing spell drives out the corrupted energy.
The bite marks on Karla’s forearm vanished in an instant.
“If you get bitten by these things and don’t get treated, you turn into a zombie.”
These cyborg zombies weren’t undead created with dark mana.
They were the virus type you only saw in zombie movies.
Cyborg zombies, a fusion of machine and flesh, were a real tragedy that had occurred in “some world.”
“Eek!”
Ping Lei hesitated.
The kid was scared.
“There’s no cure if you get bitten by a zombie, right?!”
“Heal works.”
“That’s not how it goes in movies!”
“They don’t even release zombie movies in China. Where did you see one?”
“Well……”
“I already told you. Just say something if you get bitten. Heal is enough.”
Paradise’s Night had caused massive damage for exactly that reason.
Cyborg zombies pouring out from beyond the gate.
Even a low-grade healing spell could prevent infection, but back then information was scarce and there were no supporters.
Clack-clack— The five dolls Kim Youngsoo controlled moved in perfect coordination, taking down the cyborg zombies one by one.
“Ugh. These zombies are so tough, I’m running out of strength.”
“You’re already pulling your weight just fine, so don’t worry.”
A walking buffer.
Plus the dolls were handling their share of the work.
At this rate, we had more than enough.
You have devoured the essence of a Cyborg Zombie.
Devoured Essence: 100%
Essence Grade: Rare
You have perfectly absorbed the essence of one species.
Skill — Metallization has been added.
Metallization was a skill that layered metal over the skin.
My body had already been remodeled into the vessel of a Primal Species, and I had fused Spiked Carapace into it.
I resonated the cyborg zombie’s essence with the Spiked Carapace.
Rumble!
The gray carapace darkened to black.
The Spiked Carapace had become even sturdier with the addition of metallic properties.
If I absorbed the essence of an Iron Slug from the Tower, my defense would become absurdly high.
“Gruuuh……”
The number of cyborg zombies had visibly decreased.
Ping Lei, who had been swinging his swords, looked around.
“Did we get them all?”
“Hey, don’t say that!”
Lee Jiyoung screamed the moment she heard him.
Rumble—!
As if on cue, the ground shook.
Part of the ruins collapsed, and hundreds of cyborg zombies crawled out.
“Don’t run your mouth.”
“Ahem.”
Ping Lei cleared his throat.
The second wave of cyborg zombies was even more troublesome than the first.
Some had their arms modified into guns.
At the very back, a massive zombie wearing a doctor’s coat looked down at the party.
The microscope where its eyes should have been swiveled left and right, and the sight was deeply unsettling.
The ranged cyborg zombies thrust their arms forward.
Blue particles gathered at the muzzles.
Solar Energy Shot
Yellow energy blasts rained down like a storm.
Lee Jiyoung’s multi-layered barrier shattered like glass.
The moment the barrier broke, she immediately deployed another one behind it.
The cyborg zombies’ attacks were powerful, but they couldn’t even graze a single hair on the party.
“You’ve got about a third of your mana left?”
“A little more than that.”
“We can’t drag this out.”
Paradise’s Night had an entry requirement of Bronze rank or lower.
From another angle, that meant you needed to be at least Bronze rank to handle a horde of cyborg zombies.
The fact that Lee Jiyoung hadn’t been pushed back while tanking was impressive.
The cyborg zombies fired once more, then began recharging their energy.
“You four take the front.”
“What about you, team leader?”
“I’m going inside.”
Ranged-type cyborg zombies.
They looked ridiculous, but the compressed solar energy rounds they fired packed serious power.
The team would pressure them from the front.
I would slip inside and create chaos—a diversionary tactic.
There was also the variable of the boss zombie standing there with its arms crossed, watching.
“With your spatial manipulation, you could probably deflect the ranged attacks too.”
“Forget it. Save your mana. You’ve already used about half, haven’t you?”
Karla hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“Yes, team leader.”
“Cyborg zombies have high durability. Focus on firepower.”
I waved my hand dismissively.
If you got too eager, combat efficiency dropped sharply.
Especially when facing large numbers, managing stamina was part of the battle.
“Nyx, Victory’s Blessing.”
Blessing of the Night has settled upon your body.
All stats increased by 40%.
Polar Night recovery rate maximized.
“But how do you plan to break through that horde?”
“Jiyoung will help.”
The moment I finished speaking, Lee Jiyoung constructed a barrier in the air.
A Vibration Barrier that could be deployed at any location simply by designating coordinates.
I stepped onto the hexagonal tiles fixed in midair and activated Agile Hind Legs.
I soared over the front line of cyborg zombies.
“Gruuueeer?”
The cyborg zombies all turned to look at me at once.
“Begin the assault!”
I shouted at the top of my lungs.
* * *
Paradise’s Night was a gate so difficult that even Bronze players on the verge of promotion struggled to clear it.
Cyborg zombies.
They carried a virus that could turn even players into zombies if not healed in time.
The parts fused with machinery and covered in steel were extremely durable, so attacks had to focus on exposed flesh.
The arm-modified zombies could even launch ranged attacks.
Only players who had surpassed the Silver rank limit of level 150 could reasonably handle them.
Yet the Yeokcheon team fought them head-on without retreating an inch.
“Hah.”
Karla let out a battle cry, then steadied her ragged breathing.
Dozens of cyborg zombies had already fallen to her scythe.
Her lungs burned from nonstop movement.
When she drew in fresh air, her body gradually regained vitality.
At that moment, a yellow sphere flew straight toward the stationary Karla.
Vibration Barrier
With a powerful rebound, the energy blast was deflected.
Karla glanced at Lee Jiyoung and gave a small bow.
“Hehe, I’ll cover all the openings!”
When Yu Jinho trained Lee Jiyoung, he focused on two things.
First was calculating the coordinates of the Vibration Barrier.
Second was the “field of vision” itself—seeing the entire battlefield.
The greatest strength of the Vibration Barrier was its utility.
By layering multiple barriers, it could break enemies down at the molecular level.
It was also perfectly capable of covering allies’ openings, just like now.
Clack—
At Kim Youngsoo’s finger snap, the dolls charged the cyborg zombie that had been approaching Lee Jiyoung.
“Mister, nice!”
Lee Jiyoung clenched her fists cutely.
Kim Youngsoo responded with a light smile and moved his hands again.
Meanwhile, Ping Lei’s face twisted as he cut down cyborg zombies.
“Damn, that’s an annoyingly effective tactic.”
Yu Jinho had charged alone into the middle of the cyborg zombie horde.
Thanks to him, the team members could move much more freely.
Most of the arm-modified cyborg zombies had their attention drawn to the deeply embedded Yu Jinho.
Even the zombies farther from the front line had switched targets to him, causing their formation to collapse significantly.
Even so, there was another reason Ping Lei was angry.
‘I want to stand on equal footing too.’
He had already admitted to feeling inferior.
Yu Jinho was a brilliant sun.
He seemed to shine even brighter than Zhang Wufei, the giant of the Nine Dragons Syndicate.
Ping Lei was trying to catch up.
But the road ahead still looked long.
“It’s because of you zombie bastards that I’m thinking like this!”
Slash!
His dual swords crossed and severed a cyborg zombie’s neck.
“Don’t get too far ahead.”
At Lee Jiyoung’s words, Ping Lei immediately fell back.
After repeatedly clearing the 19th floor, they had grown accustomed to each other’s spacing.
“Jiyoung.”
“What is it, Nyx?”
“I shall go assist my contractor.”
“You think you can break through that many?”
“Hohoho, I have my ways.”
Spiritual Manifestation
An ability gained after absorbing additional orichalcum.
Even while inhabiting the homunculus, Nyx could transform into a spiritual body.
Pop—!
Shrinking down like before, Nyx approached Yu Jinho.
Yu Jinho, who had been fighting desperately in the middle of enemy lines, widened his eyes.
“What are you doing here?”
-I have come to assist you. Quickly, accept me.
Nyx, assimilated with Polar Night.
Shhhhh—!
The power of Polar Night under Nyx’s control swept through the cyborg zombies.
“Goddess, I’ll handle defense myself, so just focus on attacking.”
The carapace, further reinforced by Metallization.
He simultaneously activated Rock Skin, deflecting the ranged cyborg zombies while gaining the defense boost.
Despite charging deep into enemy lines, Yu Jinho had almost no wounds.
-If that is what my contractor desires, then so be it.
Nyx confidently swung Polar Night with abandon.
Around the time most of the cyborg zombies had fallen, the boss monster that had been standing with arms crossed finally began to move.
“You lot will make fine new research materials.”
Mad Cyborg Zombie Kitan
A zombie with a microscope instead of eyes and a chainsaw and gun muzzle where its arms should have been.
As the modified variant zombie approached, Ping Lei charged forward first.
Unique Ability — Clone
Ping Lei split into five clones.
Using the stamina he had been conserving, he scattered the variant zombie’s attention.
“Now!”
“Thanks.”
Karla gave a short reply, then accelerated by compressing space behind her, combining her unique ability with her skill.
Her scythe created countless vibrations.
Accelerate
The variant zombie’s forearm tumbled to the ground.
“Kekeke, these new materials are quite lively. I like them.”
“Who would entrust their body to a quack like you?”
“Don’t you want a perfect body that will never experience death? Like this.”
When the variant zombie slightly shrugged its shoulders, a bundle of tentacles shot out and grabbed the fallen arm.
The arm began regenerating as the tentacles intertwined in midair.
It was the core ability of Kitan, the boss monster of Paradise’s Night—Healing Factor.
Yu Jinho stared at the sight, then suddenly spoke.
“Jiyoung, barrier.”
“Ah, got it! Master!”
Vibration Barrier x 2
Miniature hexagonal barriers.
However, the location where they were deployed was peculiar.
They appeared in the middle of the tentacles that had been intertwining around the arm.
The overlapping barriers crushed part of the tentacles and sealed the junction point between them.
Yu Jinho let out a small laugh.
“It’s not like I asked you to wait while transforming.”
“I’ll dissect you too!”
Thud! Thud!
The variant zombie gave up on reattaching its arm and charged at Yu Jinho.
At that moment—
Hundred Beasts Emperor Martial Arts
2nd Form — Mountain Tiger’s Blue Claw
The claw technique unleashed with enhanced nails raked across the variant zombie’s opposite shoulder.
Bone and muscle were torn away.
A wound larger than the one Karla had inflicted appeared, and the other arm also fell to the ground.
“Master, I’ll block that too.”
A barrier formed at the shoulder.
The variant zombie, now missing both arms, thrashed about.
Similarly, both legs were severed, leaving only the torso to tumble across the floor.
“Th-this is impossible……”
“It is.”
Boom!
Hundred Beasts Emperor Martial Arts, 1st Form—Dragon Emperor’s Fist crushed the variant zombie’s head.