Distortion (2)

Reviewing the new abilities, I let out a deep sigh.

"Haa… Let's just test what I had planned first."

The condition to maintain gravity for 30 minutes had been shortened to 20—a welcome change. What used to require 10 hours of sustained gravity to max out the buff now only needed about six and a half. The time had been too long before, so I hadn't bothered investing in my mana stat. Now, finally, there was a reason to.

After releasing gravity, I experimented with the new ability in a quiet street corner free of the zombies' rotten stench.

"So… how does this work? Expansion…"

I murmured the skill name, pondering its meaning in my head. Expansion. An image of swelling or stretching. Suddenly, I recalled blowing soap bubbles as a kid—the way they'd grow enormous if you blew just right.

The moment that image surfaced, a sharp pop echoed from behind me, like a bubble bursting.

At that instant—

An invisible giant hand seemed to shove me from behind, unleashing a massive energy wave that rippled over my body. Every cell vibrated with shock, my feet left the ground, and I hurtled forward.

-KABOOM!

My stomach and face slammed into the wall first. Concrete chunks flew everywhere, kicking up a dust cloud. The impact had cratered the wall in the exact shape of my body. If this had happened early on, I'd probably be dead.

My muscles screamed, but the enhanced stats spared me any major injuries.

This trait is a total pain in the ass again, I cursed inwardly, brushing debris from my clothes and spitting out the dust.

Gray powder billowed as I shook off the shattered concrete. It'd take time to get used to this one.

As I took down zombies one by one, I grumbled about how annoying it was to hunt 200 a day. Wiping the black ichor from my knuckles on my sleeve, I kept walking.

That's when a thin red line snaked toward my back from behind—clear as a navigation path to a destination.

Sensing danger instinctively, I rolled sideways.

"What the hell?"

-Whoosh!

A coldly gleaming dagger followed the red line precisely, embedding deep into the wall right where I'd stood. Over half the blade was buried—thrown with serious force.

My gaze snapped to the trajectory's origin. There, in the shadows, stood a figure in a black mask and gray hood. Realizing he'd been spotted, his shoulders twitched, and he bolted.

Footsteps faded into the distance.

In that split second, I caught his info.

His swift retreat prevented me from seeing traits or more. Fleeing immediately after a failed first strike showed combat experience and sharp judgment.

This bastard ambushing me from behind?

Grinding my teeth, I glared at his retreating figure. Lowering my stance, I tensed my thighs for pursuit—

-Crackle.

Soil crumbled beneath my feet, like something collapsing underground. Ominous.

-Crack!

Asphalt spiderwebbed with fissures. Dark voids peeked through, and I plummeted.

Sinkhole?

Cold air whipped my face mid-fall, followed by a familiar chime.

"Ugh, fuck…"

Cursing, I plunged into darkness. Not a voice-activated game, but mocking luck triggered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this? Though I questioned if this was truly "luck applied."

-Thud!

I hit back-first, a dull shock rippling through me. Damp earth and mold assaulted my nose. Rising slowly, I scanned around—red zombie eyes gleamed from the shadows, fixated on me. Familiar faces from the Black Moon sewer event mixed with new ones: grotesque rat-zombies about a meter tall, with rat bodies but human faces and legs (Common), and Rare variants. Their ruby eyes flashed.

-Screech!

The first Common Rat Zombie lunged, claws slicing air—its path a vivid red trajectory again.

Twisting aside effortlessly, I invoked Black Eyes (Transcendent).

You again? Can't you explain nicer? I grumbled inwardly, but clearing this place and escaping came first.

Gripping my knuckles, cold metal bit my palm. I smashed the Common Rat Zombie's skull.

-Splat!

A dull crack, black ichor spraying. Full-scale battle with the horde began.

-Thud! -Crack! -Snap! -Crunch!

Mud splashed, sticky fluids and flesh flew. Fishy rot stung my nose. Chimes rang chaotically with each kill.

"Hoo…"

Panting roughly, I wiped sweat from my forehead with my wrist. Zombie goo and sweat made it slick. Their numbers made them no pushovers.

Gasping, I looked around—at least 200 down, but Rares messed with the count. Licking my lips left a bitter taste. Time to loot amid the corpses.

After looting, gazing at the faint sunlight filtering from the hole above, I considered climbing out. But then, at the far end of the darkness, a flickering blue flame caught my eye—like a will-o'-the-wisp, swaying.

Exhausted, with the daily quest unfinished and that suspicious "luck applied" message, I decided to check it out.

Squelching mud ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sucked at my shoes with each step. The tiny blue flame grew larger as I approached.

Arriving, I saw the space before it warping like rippling water—distortion, clear as day.

"Huh?"

Distortion usually wasn't this vivid, more like heat haze. Thanks to Black Eyes? Pondering the twist, I hesitated. A Legendary one would mean instant death on entry. Yet, oddly, it felt… comforting. Was this what luck meant?

Resolved, I prepared for mishaps. Before the dim portal, I sat cross-legged like a monk under a waterfall. Cold ground chilled my butt. Deep breath, activate 4x gravity. Weight crushed every muscle.

Just hold out six hours.

*

Six hours passed. Legs numb, neck stiff, but condition solid. I stood before the distortion.

"Hoo…"

One step, then another—

More chimes followed, but my vision faded to black. In the end, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a sucking sensation pulled my body somewhere.