Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Chapter 10.
Another pack of hyena-like scavengers common in the Zombie Burst dungeon had been dealt with.
To be precise, this was yet another one.
Already the third group.
The remaining time limit:
『762/1,000』
『8 hours 01 minutes 19 seconds...... 18 seconds......』
All this had happened in just five hours.
Joo Do-gyeom hadn't been wrong to think that the Red Zone assault incident represented not the average for the Red Zone, but the average for humanity in this era.
'No wonder villains kept overflowing even when things reached that state.'
Unnoticed even by himself, anger flickered in the usually composed Do-gyeom's eyes before quickly subsiding.
Now wasn't the time for such thoughts.
Instead, Do-gyeom closed his eyes momentarily to observe his inner self.
'I've killed people.'
Especially when executing the last crossbowman—he'd deliberately utilized Heaven-Slaying Star.
Would there be any change?
'More than expected...'
Silence.
Serenity.
That single word perfectly described his current state.
No turbulence, no emotional stimulation.
Even though he'd committed acts that should have been highly appealing to Heaven-Slaying Star's nature.
Was it the Mind Fortification Ring's power?
'Or am I just naturally resistant?'
He couldn't conclusively determine whether Heaven-Slaying Star simply saw no difference between humans and monsters—both being merely "things to kill."
Because Heaven-Slaying Star's host, Joo Do-gyeom, was human.
'I'm not entirely sure... but at least there's no immediate problem?'
He kept observing cautiously, but the madness showed no signs of flaring elsewhere.
Nodding to himself, Do-gyeom opened his eyes.
He then quickly gathered the most valuable items from among the villains' corpses—small in volume but high in worth.
It was only natural to feel greedy.
'I need to expand my inventory soon.'
Many of the scattered items around him could fetch good money if brought outside.
Do-gyeom continued advancing toward his destination.
Most terrain obstacles could be overcome with his improved martial arts, but when encountering particularly difficult spots, he used the Infinite Rope for mobility.
Though still at its basic level, its convenience was undeniable.
Battles continued unabated throughout.
Zombies were plentiful.
And so were villainous scavengers like those hyenas.
Having grown considerably stronger through training, Do-gyeom maintained his composure amidst the chaos, continuously reassessing his situation—specifically regarding Heaven-Slaying Star.
In some ways—
No, undoubtedly this was the most crucial matter.
To maximize efficiency during combat, he mastered another martial art:
『Skill acquired: Split Mind Art (1 Star)』
Split Mind Art.
An inferior version of the Dual Mind Art—while similarly dividing one's consciousness, it doesn't enable true simultaneous actions.
Do-gyeom used it to separately observe his berserk state.
Through this, he discovered something.
The seemingly tranquil madness was actually experiencing frequent outbursts.
During combat, of course.
But even while simply walking.
Naturally, the agitation intensified during killings.
The surprising part?
How quickly Heaven-Slaying Star's turbulence subsided.
After battles ended.
In his previously calm state when consciously checking, he hadn't noticed—which now seemed strange.
'Why?'
The Mind Fortification Ring's power?
That likely played some role.
Whenever the madness stirred, he distinctly felt an alien magic energy moving to protect his brain.
But that alone couldn't explain it.
The energy briefly emitted by Heaven-Slaying Star's madness far surpassed the magic from the ring.
Yet its cessation was remarkably swift.
'What's the reason?'
As his pondering deepened—
Suddenly, a conversation with Vivien surfaced in his mind.
-"Wow, Joo Do-gyeom. You stubborn bastard. Doesn't it hurt? You're enduring this without even a single groan."
-"It hurts."
-"Then scream. Don't hold it in."
-"I can still bear it."
-"...You're something else. In all my years, I've never met anyone with patience like yours."
-"Strange words. My patience isn't exceptional. Just look at the number of villains I've personally killed—"
One word from that exchange stood out.
'...Patience?'
It seemed improbable.
Yet somehow fitting.
His extraordinary patience might be suppressing Heaven-Slaying Star's madness instead.
'If this is true...'
It would explain why the madness—which should have manifested more aggressively—took the bizarre form of fish assaults.
And why Vivien had chosen him as Heaven-Slaying Star's host.
In all the world, few could wield Heaven-Slaying Star as stably as Joo Do-gyeom.
The sad implication?
'There's no way to prevent incidents like fish assaults.'
They'll keep occurring intermittently.
As patience replaces bloodlust.
An absurdly comical situation.
'...Not entirely bad.'
At least this was safer than Heaven-Slaying Star's inherent homicidal madness.
'...It'll be fine.'
Probably.
Amidst this tentative certainty, Do-gyeom shattered or severed the death points visible through Mandatory Death Eye.
For dispatching already-dead zombies, no method was more efficient.
Ah—he gained another realization mid-action.
'Mandatory Death Eye...'
While activating automatically when channeling magic, it could be deactivated.
Specifically, by focusing his undivided mind (via Split Mind Art) where no bloodlust existed, it disappeared.
This proved highly meaningful.
Because—
'Prolonged use drastically increases energy consumption.'
Initially, maintaining Mandatory Death Eye wasn't particularly difficult.
But over time, the energy drain increased exponentially.
The same applied when facing stronger zombie variants.
Moreover, the madness's outburst frequency also rose.
Though repeatedly suppressed by his patience before becoming fully manifest.
'Continued use would pose greater risks.'
Either depleting energy until rationality crumbles—succumbing to Heaven-Slaying Star's madness despite innate resistance.
Or lacking sufficient energy for combat—plunging into grave danger.
'Neither outcome is desirable.'
With that thought, Do-gyeom—now with ordinary eyes—swung his massive axe again, sweeping aside a zombie horde.
A message arrived:
『Objective Complete. Zombies Eliminated: 1,000/1,000』
『Return to Earth? Y/N』
Do-gyeom decisively shook his head.
"Denied."
The immediate follow-up:
『Continuing Dungeon.』
『Remaining Time: 6 hours 59 minutes 20 seconds...... 19 seconds......』
『May return at any time.』
His gaze fixed far ahead.
Toward the cityscape at Zombie Burst Dungeon's center.
Easily recognizable.
Where corpses piled mountainously like apartment complexes.
There lay Do-gyeom's final objective in this dungeon.
'Death Reprieve.'
Unique Skill: Death Reprieve.
Exactly as named.
Grants its user a grace period when facing certain death.
Duration: approximately 10 minutes.
During this time—even with a destroyed heart or exploded brain—death is postponed.
If healing skills restore the heart or brain within this window?
Complete revival, naturally.
For close-combat warriors like Do-gyeom, no survival utility surpassed this.
'Still, brains require caution.'
While brain destruction won't kill, it severely impairs cognition.
Effectively turning one into a mindless berserker.
Though later skills or traits may allow normal function despite brain damage—
'Such skills are currently unattainable.'
Regardless, Do-gyeom needed Death Reprieve.
Not only useful for his close-combat style.
But also for additional benefits in his various plans.
Thus he remained in the cleared dungeon, advancing toward the central corpse mountain while continuously sweeping aside attacking zombies with his massive axe.
At considerable speed.
VROOOOM—!
An engine roar—rarely heard amidst zombie hordes—echoed loudly.
From a woman gripping her motorcycle's throttle to the limit.
Kim Han-yul.
Though most stats reached D- or D-rank—making her arguably Zombie Burst Dungeon's strongest contender—she was currently fleeing.
Why?
THUD, THUD, THUD—!
Because pursuing her weren't just ordinary MZ zombies, but also this dungeon's boss monster: the Corpse Giant.
Sweat poured down her palms and back as she white-knuckled the handlebars.
'Damn it. Why did I suggest fighting that thing?'
Zombie Burst Dungeon.
While the main objective is eliminating 1,000 zombies, a boss exists.
The Corpse Giant currently chasing her—mentioned earlier.
Any competent hunter knows this.
At this point.
All hunters inevitably wonder:
Wouldn't defeating this non-required boss yield amazing rewards?
Naturally.
Dungeons reward exceptional performance, sometimes revealing hidden pieces.
Hence Han-yul—on the verge of clearing Zombie Burst—gathered her team to challenge the Corpse Giant.
Current thoughts?
'Should've listened to the seniors. Shit...'
Obviously, other graduates must have tried before.
Yet all warned:
"That thing wasn't made to be killed. Just give up."
Han-yul thought herself different.
Even at equal rank, hunters vary drastically in skill utilization, magic control, combat instinct, and trait synergy—common knowledge.
By those metrics, she ranked among the most exceptional for her level.
But this?
'The Corpse Giant...'
That thing truly wasn't meant to be killed.
"AAAAAH—!"
As an involuntary scream escaped—
BOOM—!
Flames erupted from the Corpse Giant's body.
Han-yul instinctively cheered.
"What!? Did it work!? Wow!"
Her teammate—a mage who should've launched this massive fireball ten minutes ago from a rooftop—had finally landed the spell.
'Probably too busy fleeing to cast earlier.'
But better late than never.
Fire—undead's weakness.
A direct hit from such a massive fireball should damage even a Corpse Giant.
Death would be ideal.
As she thought this—
ROOOAR—!
The Corpse Giant parted the dust cloud from the explosion.
Its condition?
"...Just lightly charred."
To be precise—some holes had appeared.
But surrounding zombies immediately rushed in to fill them, restoring it completely.
It charged at Han-yul again.
THUD, THUD, THUD—!
ROOOAR—!
Now swinging its arms to demolish buildings.
The over-6-meter boss's strength easily bisected 21st-century apartment complexes.
Forcing her mage teammate—who'd been hiding inside preparing another attack—to flee screaming.
Apparently judging the fight unwinnable.
Han-yul agreed.
'...This is hopeless.'
Time to flee.
As far as possible.
Problem: the Corpse Giant tenaciously pursues marked targets until death.
'But if I gun it far enough while drawing aggro...'
Might work?
Just then—
Three mutant zombies materialized directly before her speeding bike.
"Oh, damn it...!"
Cursing, Han-yul kicked the bike toward them while leaping off, hands clasping midair.
Blue magic shimmered around her hands, forming a magic gun.
Trigger pulled.
The launched bike collided with magic bullets—exploding.
BOOM—!
Instantly eliminating all three mutants.
The problem?
ROOOAR—!
The Corpse Giant.
Full name: "Horrifically Amalgamated Corpse Giant" had closed the distance.
Its massive shadow loomed over Han-yul as she landed.
Turning, she faced its drooling visage directly.
"Hah, haha... I'm screwed."
Then—the Corpse Giant's enormous palm blotted her vision.
As Han-yul swallowed hard, resigned to death—
WHOOSH—BOOM—!
The giant's hand exploded violently, flesh scattering everywhere.
Han-yul's widened eyes saw a man standing before her—having just swung a massive axe in a clean arc.
The man—Joo Do-gyeom—turned to her with a puzzled voice:
"Kim Han-yul?"