Blood-Soaked Siege and the First Rescue

The entire city was blanketed in rotting blood and flames. Zombies staggered between cars engulfed in fire on the roads, scraping at shattered vehicle bodies. The asphalt was a sticky mess of blood and guts, and every step produced a wet squelch, squelch as shoes peeled away from it. The stench pierced the nose—burning rubber mixed with roasting flesh, making even breathing a torment.

I crouched low behind a car. That's when a horrific scene unfolded at the edge of my vision. A man stumbled and fell onto the road. In an instant, five zombies pounced.

One zombie clawed open his chest and chewed out his heart. Another tore into his arm, exposing white bone. Crimson blood sprayed like fountains with every strip of flesh ripped free, staining the road even redder. A woman who witnessed it from afar screamed in agony.

In that moment—like they'd been waiting—dozens of zombies whipped their heads around. Their eyes were clouded rot, black blood dripping down decayed cheeks. Rotten gums exposed teeth that clacked together with a clack clack.

The woman's sobs turned to screams, then to the wet sounds of severed meat being gnawed. Limbs were torn apart in different zombies' jaws, entrails spilling across the road. Blood and chunks turned the asphalt into a scarlet mire.

I gritted my teeth. "...So this is reality now."

One might think to hole up with plenty of coins buying food from the shop. But coins would have bigger uses later, and stocking food early was key. So I had to risk it—kill zombies, farm them.

I narrowed my eyes. I'd never seen a quest like this in Another World. NPC rescues were usually traps, with crap rewards even on success. But this was from my trait. Couldn't ignore it.

"The one I was supposed to relieve... Yoon Seoyeon?"

The convenience store was across the road. Lights out, but faint flashlight beam leaked through the glass door. Proof someone was inside.

The problem: the zombie horde blocking the front. Over a dozen scraped at door and windows. Rotten fingers raked glass with a screeech, screeech, the panes trembling like they'd shatter any second.

They were even more grotesque up close. Eyeballs melted to black goo. One chewed bloody chunks. Another dragged itself on arms, lower body gone. Monsters, not humans. Teeth clacked, piercing eardrums. Saliva and blood smeared the glass.

I gripped the spanner, took a deep breath. Sweat chilled on my skin.

"...Alright. First main quest."

Inside the convenience store hung a suffocating silence laced with moldy blood reek. Shadows seeped through the glass, amplifying unease, while zombies' nails scraped outside—screeech, screeech.

Yoon Seoyeon huddled behind the counter. Tense hands clutched the flashlight, beam jittering.

"Fucking asshole—why am I stuck here because of him?!"

Before the zombie outbreak, she'd been furious. Now? Worry and anxiety swelled over anger as time dragged. Zombie breaths, clacking teeth, blood stench... nerves frayed, gut twisting in terror.

"...Please, someone save me..." Her whisper teetered on tears. She pinched ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her hand hard, gritted teeth. Can't break now.

But staring at the relentless ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rotten fists pounding ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠glass, instinct screamed: It's gonna break soon.

Then—a dull thud from afar.

Yoon Seoyeon held her breath, peering up. Beyond the flickering light through glass, a shadow approached—sunglasses at night.

I slipped low between cars, targeting one zombie's skull—

Blood and pus hit my face.

The nearby zombie turned. Empty eyes oozed rot. Mouth gaped, spewing blood and foul saliva.

"Get lost!" I swung the spanner sideways, shattering its jaw. Teeth rained down.

It still twitched. I smashed its head into the asphalt, brains spreading.

Noise drew half the horde from the store. "Shit... fucked."

A dozen charged. I yanked open a car door, trapping one's head—slam! Skull crushed, neck snapped.

I dove aside. Dodged a grab, rolled low, spanner to ankle—crack! Bone snapped, it toppled. Stomped its skull.

"Kiiii!" The rest shrieked, charging. Flab jiggling, blood dripping. Half-flayed faces, guts dangling—pure monsters.

I breathed deep, swung hard—crunch! Rip! Eye popped, black ooze sprayed. Neck snapped, spine protruded. Blood and pus soaked me. Air thick with putrid breath.

Finally, the last fell. Around me: blood, corpses, brains everywhere. Asphalt a deep crimson bog sucking at my feet.

Panting, I approached the door. A shadow inside. In the dim flashlight glow, wide eyes stared back.

"...Yoon Seoyeon." Her voice trembled as she said my name.

"Kim Geon...?"

Yoon Seoyeon's chest churned with tangled emotions. The one who trapped her here and now saved her was the same guy. Rage and gratitude, resentment and relief—clashing feelings dulled her mind. Cognitive dissonance, body and heart at odds.

His voice broke the brief silence. "Hey... sorry. Couldn't make it with the world like this."

Truth was, I hadn't thought of her at all. Store loot and main quest were the real draw. But sorry was sorry.

She knew the situation, but tension's release unleashed sorrow, worry, fear, anger—overwhelming reason. Tears streamed down her face as proof.

"F-fucking... bastard, this is all because of you!!!" She punched my chest weakly while sobbing. No real force, but the emotion packed in was immense—grief, terror, fury, relief—all bursting with tears.

I blinked wide. ...Yoon Seoyeon crying?

To sum her up: face that matched her looks. Early 160s height, curvy bust, slim figure, bobbed hair, cat-like eyes. College star, even got casting offers in high school. Personality? Swears a ton, treats her senior like shit—bratty bitch.

Always armored in curses and prickliness, now eyes puffy red, tears uncontrollable. That alone spoke volumes of her fear.

She wiped hastily, but red rims betrayed her. Glanced up slyly. "...Why so quiet?"

I answered late. "Oh, sorry. Was thinking. But damn, you held out well."

Her lips twitched. "...Th."

"Huh? What?"

"...Thanks."

"Speak up, don't mumble. Can't hear."

Face flushing, she whipped her head away, then yelled. "Thank you!!!"

I clapped a hand over her mouth, index to lips, nodding outside.

I exhaled relief, whispered. "Phew... no more yelling."

She mumbled. "...Sorry." Crying, thanking, apologizing—this was new Yoon Seoyeon.

Inside the store, zombies still shuffled outside. I caught my breath, eyed Yoon Seoyeon.

"...We're alive for now."

Eyes still red, her voice steady. "Yeah. Saying it again... thanks."

I stared; she flushed, changed subject. "That sunglass? Can you even see?"

"This? It's a thing."

"Tch. And how'd you get here? Zombies everywhere."

"Plenty."

"Be careful. Community says 'Stigma'—kill zombies, get penalty, you're done."

"...Yeah?" I played dumb, probed. "Anything else besides Stigma?"

She hesitated. "'Tutorial players' everywhere."

"Tutorial...?"

"Yeah. Anyone who's played Another World ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even once. They give coins based on traits or playtime. I got some."

"You played?"

"Bit when it was hot. Too hard, quit after hours."

"How many?"

"Under 100. See, 94 coins."

"94 hours? More than I thought. Traits too?"

"Yeah."

"What'd you get?"

She squinted. "Mind your own."

"Huh?"

"I'm sharp, you know? In this world, traits and info are gold."

"True..."

"Asking first? You came solo—must be good."

I chuckled. "Didn't wanna play dirty as your oppa, but Seoyeon... know what's more important than traits or info?" Removed shades, grinned, pointed thumb at chest. "Your lifesaver."

She puffed cheeks cutely, relented, hands up. "Fine, lifesaver gets it. But explaining's a hassle—trapped here, drained..."

"No worries."

I offered hand like handshake. She tilted head, took it.

"Say 'share status window'."

"Share status...?"

She glared. "How'd you know that?"

Shrugged. "Trade secret."

"Ugh... yes, share."

I whistled. A-tier ability at Legendary... possible odds? Never saw it in 20k hours.

She peeked cautiously. "Why...? Bad?"

Remembering her earlier bluster, I smirked. Clueless about her own window.

"Hmm... seems useful?"

"Useful? That's it?!" She snapped.

"How good's yours? Show me! Wait, how many hours you play?"

20,000. Words died unspoken. No plans to share mine.

Instead, I stood, started inventorying 1.5L waters. Bottles vanished with a plop. Her eyes widened.

"...Whoa, really gone?" Then smirked mockingly. "That's your power? Lame."

I shrugged, kept going. Air where bottles were, numbers climbing:

Mineral Water 1.5L ×99

Mineral Water 500ml ×99

Bread ×27

Tuna Cans ×46

• • •

"Hey, water. You hogged the cold stuff."

"Sure."

Pulling from inventory, I felt off. An hour in, still ice-cold.

"...No way." Tested with ice cream. Waited melt time, pulled—steam rose. Still frozen solid.

Inventory time-stopped...? Or preservation? Theories swirled.

Yoon Seoyeon interrupted. "So, how long we staying?"

Essential quest flashed. Phone screen:

23:58

23:59

00:00

I clutched my head. Chat, inventory tests—lost track. Rookie mistake.

Yoon Seoyeon