Stigma's Shadow and the Elite Beast

I tripped over my own feet. Yoon Seoyeon had just used her trait, leaving her mana completely drained. Unable to do anything more, she was nothing but sitting prey. A few zombies' gazes locked onto her, and they charged slowly but relentlessly.

I dragged my exhausted body toward her. There was no room for safe, calculated strikes. Pure instinct took over—I just started killing the zombies reaching for her.

Thud! My fist smashed into one, its head bursting like a balloon. One down.

I grabbed the napes of two more with my left and right hands, slamming them together like thunderous applause. Their skulls shattered simultaneously, blood and brains spraying. Two, three down.

I drove my elbow straight up into another's crown. Its jaw crumbled as it staggered and fell. Four down.

The last one. I gripped its head and shoulders, twisting with all my strength. Vertebrae cracked, and its spine ripped out. Five down.

A chill ran through me, freezing my body solid. It hadn't felt real in the game. But now I knew—dozens, hundreds of gazes turning toward me from somewhere out there.

No time to dwell. "Hey, Yoon Seoyeon... you okay?"

Her shoulders trembled like leaves in the wind. Terror had her eyes darting blankly into space.

"...H-huh?"

I dropped to one knee in front of her slumped form, matching her eye level. "That Stigma you mentioned? I've got it now. I'll draw the aggro—run when I do."

As I started to stand—her hand clutched my shirt.

"...Why go that far? We're not even that close. We barely said hi before. You could just ditch me. But... why risk your life to save me?"

Why indeed? Because of the main quest to rescue Yoon Seoyeon? Nah, I could've bailed—failing one quest wouldn't end the world.

Memories of Bad Luck penalties shoving me to the brink flashed by. Correction: essential quests were non-negotiable.

She was the girl I'd seen at my part-time job for a year, but we'd talked more in these few hours than all that time combined. Today, chatting those hours, I realized she was just scaredy-cat at heart. Like a cat hissing at treats out of caution? Her quirks were kinda cute sometimes. Who knows—maybe those hours built some attachment. I couldn't just leave her with this annoying Stigma hanging over us. Plus, I felt responsible for dragging her into this mess.

"What'd I say was more important than personal info earlier?"

"...Life."

"Right. Life. Consider this payback for saving your ass earlier. I'm pretty thorough with my math, y'know?"

I grinned, and her lips twitched. But she gripped my shirt tighter.

"What now? I said I'll draw aggro—run!"

Her face flushed beet red as she mumbled, "I... my legs... they're jelly. Can't stand..."

That moment—I slapped my forehead with a heavy sigh.

*

Honestly, even I thought it was ridiculous. Here this guy was, risking his neck to pull zombie eyes off me, and I couldn't even stand because my legs gave out. I felt pathetic. He'd probably ditch me now... In front of someone this devoted, I was dead weight. Useless.

Maybe it'd be better left alone. The thought flickered through.

But still—I didn't want to be alone. It was instinct, raw gut feel.

I slowly opened my clenched eyes. Right in front of me: his back.

"Arms work, right? Hop on quick. No time."

His voice was rough but firm—like an order, yet comforting too. Hesitating, I carefully draped my arms over his shoulders. His back was broader, sturdier than expected. And above all... warm.

A human warmth I hadn't felt in ages. His clothes and skin ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were soaked in blood, but oddly, revulsion gave way to relief. Faintly, beyond the metallic tang, a subtle scent lingered.

As my trembling eased, my heart started pounding instead—from that earlier vibration. *

I ran down the road with Yoon Seoyeon on my back. Leaping over blood-smeared asphalt and engulfed vehicles—

Moves impossible early on. But now? Different.

Thanks to the 10x EXP trait, my level-ups were insanely fast. Boosted Agility made my feet respond sharply; I trampled incoming zombies' heads to escape.

But—this wouldn't last. Stigma draws more zombies over time. They swarm like hyenas, no breathing room.

"Hey, Yoon Seoyeon."

She panted on my back. "..I didn't smell anything weird!"

"What? Keep an eye out—find spots with fewer zombies."

Stigma textbook play: survive 1 hour on the run. But my specs couldn't hack it yet. Stamina and Agility still low.

So—alternate plan.

Stigma can spawn Rare zombies if you're unlucky. Normies avoid it... but for me? Opportunity.

Zombies have strict hierarchy. Higher ranks claim turf; lowers steer clear. Rares might have minions, but rare.

Dangerous? Hell yes. But my base stats aren't normal. Doable.

Worst case, debuff it via Yoon Seoyeon.

Plan: Hide near Rare zombie. Ride out Stigma in its zone. Stigma ends—kill and bail.

Perfect. If a Rare spawns.

Screeech—

Metal tore overhead. I looked up—the streetlight ripped free, crashing down on me.

"...Shit!"

I dove aside. It smashed asphalt, shards flying. Staring at the wreckage, I smirked.

"I'm cursed as hell right now."

Mid-stride, Yoon Seoyeon spoke cautiously. "Huh? That alley... the tteokbokki shop. Isn't it weirdly clean?"

I checked. True. Unlike zombie-choked streets, the alley was eerily quiet, spotless.

"...Good call. Let's check it."

We ducked in.

I exhaled sharply. "Plan's on track so far."

But—a false hope. Icy dread crawled my spine.

Thud.

Thud.

A massive shadow emerged from the alley depths. Shoulders nearly scraping walls, skin rotted yet stone-hard. Red eyes gleamed, veins bursting like vines. About 4 meters—house-height behemoth.

It advanced slowly, surely, toward us.

"Wh-what the hell is that... a zombie too?!"

Fuck slipped out instinctively. "...Shit."

Because—this wasn't the Rare I'd expected.

One tier up. An Elite zombie.

"...Is tripped over my own feet the phrase for this?"

Lips parched. Dozens of commons lurked outside its turf, eyeing us. Ahead: thud, thud—earth-shaking steps closing in.

Trapped on all sides. Air choked off.

Thud.

Thud.

The Elite loomed before us. Each footfall cracked asphalt into craters. A massive hand rose slowly.

"...One hit and we're paste."

Crack! Its arm slammed down—my spot caved in. A car crumpled like a tin can, exploding in flames. Yoon Seoyeon stifled a scream on my back.

Gritting teeth, I bolted from the alley to the road. Behind—

Thud!

Thud!

The Elite's deliberate steps pursued.

"Get caught, we're dead...!"

I hurled through the horde, arms locked around Yoon Seoyeon. Trampling heads, vaulting shoulders—cat-like leaps carved a path. Arms lunged, but my sharpened reflexes slipped every gap.

BOOM! Its hand raked a building wall. Concrete collapsed in waves, glass shattering like fireworks. Wind whipped past my ear.

One slower step, and we'd be ground meat.

"Kim Geon...! The building!"

Yoon Seoyeon's shaky voice from my back. I glanced—left, half-collapsed storefront. Broken window gaped.

"Hold tight!"

I ramped speed, threading zombie gaps madly, full sprint. Rear: relentless quakes.

Thud!

Thud!

I kicked off the wall, grabbed the frame. Yoon Seoyeon whimpered.

"Kyaa!"

Twisting, I shoved us through. Glass shredded my forearm, blood spraying—but ignored. Cradling her, I rolled inside.

Thud!! Right behind—its arm cratered the wall. It clawed in, but the structure held. Rebar screamed, bent—but endured.

I slumped against the floor, gasping. Yoon Seoyeon collapsed beside, heaving.

Outside: slow thuds circled relentlessly.

Thud.

Thud.

"...We lived."

I wiped blood from my face. Felt her steady breaths behind, smirked.

Elite's red eyes flashed beyond the window. Wall-thumps shook the building. Rebar groaned in agony.

Win odds now? 1%. Lower, maybe.

Head-on? No survival.

Gasping, I racked my brain. Game-unseen variables. Reality-only cards: gravity, shop... and Yoon Seoyeon.

They intertwined—a faint light sparked.

"...One way."

Muttering, my heart raced. Hope in death's dark. One choice. One gamble.

Scanned around. Across the alley: crumbling building caught my eye.

"That one."

Elevator-equipped. Perfect for the plan.

Inside, buying time, I briefed Yoon Seoyeon.

"What? You sane?"

"No other path..."

"...Sigh, no say here. I'll help max."

"Thanks. Party up first."

Finally, bought 'Sturdy Spear' and 'Bandages' from the shop, slotted to inventory. Checked Stigma timer.

"Good. Move out."

(She could walk now, but piggyback was way more mobile. She seemed oddly pleased—nah, imagination.)

Entered the building.

Thud.

Thud.

Elite followed inside. I spotted the stalled first-floor elevator, pried doors by force, shoved in.

Quick inventory: pulled spear, sliced the snapped cable. Rumble—elevator plummeted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠deep underground.

Behind: Elite steps.

Wall-climbed like spiders to the fifth floor.

Arrival—

Good news. Peered down: it clawed walls with huge talons, spidering up the narrow shaft.

Inventory: bandages. Wrapped spear shaft tight like a grip. Bloody hands throbbed—no stopping.

Deep breath.

Leaped.

"...Gravity, 16x!"

Instant crush ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of invisible force. Blinding descent. Skin-flaying wind. Breath ragged. Heart hammered eardrums.

Spear tip locked on Elite's head.

But—

Clang! Blocked by its hand.

No...!

That instant—Yoon Seoyeon's voice from the fifth: "Seal of Corrosion—!"

Dark energy etched its forearm.

"Now...!"

Crunch—! Teeth gritted, I twisted the shaft. Flesh and bone split. Spear pierced hand, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠straight to skull—

Splorch.

Head exploded in shards.

No breather—I released gravity. Too-fast drop snapped the spear; shaft remained.

Jammed it into the wall to brake. Body tumbled onto elevator roof.

Sprawled on metal, gasping.

"...Hah. Fuck... Not even a full day in... This shit's brutal, for real."