Crushing the Cockroach Colossus
J Q K The colossal monster approached slowly but surely. Thud, thud. Every time its legs slammed into the ground, filth from the floor splashed up, rotten water droplets splattering across their faces.
Wheel Zombie (Elite): A massive cockroach that has risen in rank through cannibalism of its own kind.
Kim Geon instinctively gripped his knuckleduster tighter. Sweat trickled down his spine.
"Kim Geon… that thing… we can actually take it down, right…?" Yoon Seoyeon's voice trembled, her eyes wide with fear, but her body was already poised for battle.
At that moment—
Chitter! Chitter! The black rat on his head ground its teeth, shuddering.
Before the words finished, the Wheel Zombie (Elite)'s face split open like human lips.
"……Aaaaaaaaah—!!"
A severed scream crawled out. It was a human voice. The final moments of countless victims were mingled in its wail.
Yoon Seoyeon's body shivered violently.
"Fuck… how the hell is that a zombie?! It's just a straight-up monster."
Kim Geon drew a deep breath.
"Yeah. A monster."
Blue light gathered and pulsed over his knuckleduster. Yoon Seoyeon gripped her baseball bat with both hands.
In the darkness, dozens of red eyes blinked in unison. Drawn by its cry, more Wheel Zombies crawled up the walls and ceiling.
He gritted his teeth.
Thud! The monster's leg crashed toward them. Blood and filth erupted like an explosion, turning the sewer into a battlefield.
*
Splash! The Wheel Zombie (Elite) shook its massive body, sending rotten water exploding in all directions. Its six thick limbs pounded the floor and walls as it charged at freakish speed—utterly mismatched with its enormous bulk.
"Seal of Corrosion!"
Yoon Seoyeon swung her bat wreathed in black energy.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
The corrosive aura seeped into its carapace, but the tough shell repelled the attack without a visible dent.
"Kraaaagh!"
The monster's massive arm swung at Yoon Seoyeon. Kim Geon yanked her arm and rolled away.
Boom! Debris blasted from behind like a storm. The wall cratered, concrete chunks raining down.
"It's too damn tough!" Despair laced Yoon Seoyeon's voice.
The narrow sewer passage favored the beast. Its bulk filled the walls, pressing from the front, while packs of Wheel Zombies (Rare) slunk in from behind, blocking the view. Trapped front and back—no way out. Suffocating pressure.
"This… doesn't it feel familiar…?" Yoon Seoyeon's voice shook, recalling a past hopeless encirclement.
Kim Geon chuckled softly.
"Yeah."
Seeing him smile amid the crisis left her stunned for a moment. The black rat trembled atop his head in terror.
Ignoring the cry, Kim Geon readjusted his knuckleduster.
"Gravity Release."
Gravity Buff Applied (x4): All stats +40% for 5 minutes
The air grew heavy. The oppressive weight squeezing his body vanished, replaced by liberation like breaking free from chains. His body felt feather-light. He clenched and unclenched his fist. Power surged differently through his fingertips. Every muscle fiber thrummed with life.
Then, the Wheel Zombie (Elite) lunged first. A truck-sized fist plummeted toward his head.
Boom! Splash!
The sewer shook. Massive waves of water pressure and rubble erupted. Yoon Seoyeon's vision went white. Despair filled her eyes.
"Oppa!!"
As tears blurred her sight—
Crunch!
She heard a grotesque roar from the monster's elbow.
*
The truck-sized fist crashed down. Kim Geon raised both hands to block it.
Crunch—!
The force transferred fully, cratering the floor. Concrete shards exploded like a gale, the entire sewer vibrating.
"Oppa!!"
Yoon Seoyeon's scream hit his ears, but he poured more power into his arms. Veins bulged on his knuckles and forearms, muscles writhing alive across his body.
"Raaagh!"
With his roar, he lifted the house-sized fist of the Wheel Zombie (Elite). Its colossal body soared into the air, making the trailing Wheel Zombies (Rare) pack freeze.
"Die!"
He hurled it into the rear group.
Kabooom!!
Earthquake-like impact. The monster's body crushed dozens, dark red fluids bursting everywhere. The sewer flooded with blood and guts, a nauseating stench choking the air.
"Kieeeek!"
The Wheel Zombie (Elite) thrashed, screeching like an insect. Kim Geon leaped lightly onto its back.
Crack! Snap!
Ripping out its six legs one by one, flesh and bone tore with echoes through the sewer. Legless, it writhed helplessly in agony. Standing tall on its belly, he raised his knuckled fist. A blue orb formed before it.
As it flashed, the pulse pierced the monster's head.
Splat!
The head exploded in chunks, dark red fluids cascading like a waterfall. The massive body convulsed a few times—
Thud.
—then slumped limp.
*
The Wheel Zombie (Elite)'s corpse floated on the rotten water.
◈ Install and wait one day for Wheel Zombies to hatch.
"…This drops?" he muttered, checking his inventory. A diversion item! Unsure of its use yet, he stowed it safely.
More rewards followed.
He pocketed the antenna and pulled out the rune stone. Yoon Seoyeon spoke in a trembling voice.
"Kim Geon…… you're…… seriously amazing."
Awe and fear mixed in her eyes. She was still shaking just looking at the corpse.
He tossed the rune stone to her.
"You take this."
Yoon Seoyeon fumbled to catch it, eyes widening.
"Huh? You did all the work…… why give it to me?"
"No traits I need come from it."
"Then…… use it?"
He shrugged. She hesitated, then crushed the stone.
Trait Acquired: Wheel Legs (Elite)
Effect: Movement speed x3 for 5 seconds (Cooldown: 180 seconds)
Yoon Seoyeon's face hardened instantly.
"What the…… Wheel Legs? Ugh…… even the name is gross."
Kim Geon stared at her in disbelief. A wry smile escaped him—her luck seemed better than his, despite his Luck Boost. This was the most useful trait from a Wheel Zombie rune stone, after all.
"Equip it in a slot. It's useful."
Yoon Seoyeon asked, voice whiny.
"This…… it won't actually give me six legs or anything, right?"
He swallowed a laugh, finding her adorable.
"Nah. Maybe six arms?"
"For real…?"
Pfft. Unable to hold back, he burst out laughing. Realizing the joke, her fist slammed into his side.
Thud!
He clutched his aching ribs, still chuckling. Then his eyes caught her status window.
『SYSTEM Status Window: Yoon Seoyeon』
Yoon Seoyeon stared gloomily at her coin count.
"Spent it all opening slots……"
He opened his own.
『SYSTEM Status Window: Kim Geon』
An overwhelming gap. Not just playtime difference. This coin disparity laid bare the world's imbalance.
He lowered his head, placing the black rat back atop it. It still trembled faintly, but its eyes gleamed oddly.
*
"Where to now?"
At his question, the black rat raised a tiny paw toward the front.
He stepped forward. Yoon Seoyeon followed silently.
The passage widened. The stench lingered, but the Wheel Zombies' presence faded, leaving eerie silence.
Soon, a small chamber appeared at the end, with a fainted white fluffball collapsed inside.
"That's… your wife?"
No sooner had he spoken than the black rat leaped down and rushed to it.
It hugged the white rat, bursting into desperate sobs like a child reunited with its mother.
??? Exclusive Quest
The chime recalled game memories. In Another World, the black rat was a silent vendor NPC selling items in sewer corners—no quests or talk. He'd never seen the white one. But now was different. The first Black Moon's loss? Or new settings from the world merge? Theories flashed.
Then, the white fluffball slowly opened its eyes. Calming her husband, it turned to him gracefully. Dignified speech and poise evoked old nobility, refined etiquette.
As she finished—
A trade window appeared. He stared at the list, mouth agape.
"…Huh?"
Items far beyond the black rat's shop, at bargain prices.
『SYSTEM – Shop Window (White Rat)』
He swallowed. 'Stigma Removal Potion? A Magic Stone substitute. And Legendary upgrade tickets?' Unheard of in the game.
Two items caught his eye: 'Sewer Map' and 'Remote Shop'. Black Moon randomized sewer layouts— a map was huge. Remote Shop fixed vendor inconvenience during events.
Coins short, he bought essentials.
Sewer Map: 10,000 coins
Stigma Removal Potion x100: 10,000 coins
Rest went to potions and sundries. Potions only from NPCs. His Annuity trait? Seemed more cost than benefit.
As coins drained, the white rat looked surprised.
Affinity up, he asked for a possible discount—worth a shot.
She looked regretful.
Another censored word. 'Specific terms again?' The glitches felt off, but they seemed unaware.
As he walked away, out of earshot, she placed a paw on her chest.
*
Yoon Seoyeon sidled up.
"Heading back now?"
He shook his head.
"Still places to hit."
Without the map, he'd waste time wandering. Now, a vast map spread before him, three markers glowing: J, Q, K.
He checked the next destination. Plenty of time.