Awakening
Today the world ended. Or maybe yesterday. Hell, coulda been last week. No clue. Been ages since I had any sense of time.
But that day the world went straight to hell? Crystal clear in my mind. Because of all fucking days, it had to be my first goddamn day on the job.
Twenty-seven years old. Prime age when everyone's yapping about specs, jobs, all that shit. And what was I doing at that crucial moment in my crucial life? Scratching my balls in my room, scrolling the gallery like a loser.
"Hmm... this one's pretty average..."
Instant non-recommend. Been living solo for a while now, but life's decent enough. Make enough from eating game items and day-trading coins to scrape by. Health management's on point too (secondhand bike rides while gallery surfing).
What I'm really lacking? "A total dead-end millennial life?"
Eh, but as you can see, I'm keeping my spirits high and cheery, so fuck it, pass. This is average for guys in their twenties these days anyway. What do you expect from an orphan dropout NEET?
Mmm, yeah. Just another ordinary day like always.
"Ah, fuck!!!! Another Trump-type rant."
That day some US president was trash-talking the Fed on Twitter. Fed's Powell grandpa fires back with, "I'll make you regret being born" (loose translation). Right on that day.
"Fuuuuck..."
Powell grandpa's one-two punch, plus my split-second bad call. Their unholy combo drained my bank account dry.
"The world's screwing me over..."
Like fire on my foot, they say. I hustled and snagged a sweet community alert part-time gig.
"Yeouido Starflex night security?"
Right by my goshiwon, and it screams easy money job. Good chance to build some social skills too, right?
"Let's do this. First day on the job!"
And just like that, I hit apply without a second thought.
"Oh wait, no suit?"
I had no idea back then. That it'd be the best choice of my life.
The next day.
"Age... twenty-seven, right?"
"Yep yep."
The Security Team Leader guy's handing over the reins. His vibe screams "full of regrets and complaints" from a mile away.
"So, military service?"
"Uh, yeah. Kinda."
Sorry, boss, I'm public service.
"Sigh... 'Kinda'? Just say yes or no."
"Haha."
"Listen, security gig's a breeze. Guide folks out at closing time, drop the shutters, patrol on schedule, stamp the logs. Rest of the time, crash here in the control room or play it smart. Got it?"
He hands over my ID badge. Holy shit, this is prime easy money.
Yeouido Starflex is a landmark beast—B2 all the way up to 15F. Got everything: department store basics like mart, clothes, sundries, luxury brands. Floors 8-9 cinema, above that a swanky hotel. Think department store meets Starfield.
Sounds hellish, but I'm only on B1, nights only—pure honey. And this control room? Barely anyone comes except staff. Slapdash patrols, hole up here, nap away.
"Oh, and... newbie."
He grabs his jacket, slams a master key bundle loaded with cards on the desk.
"Cover for me tomorrow."
"...Huh? Tomorrow's my first shift?"
"Family rite at my folks' place. Juniors gotta cut seniors slack—that's society."
Fuck, covering for the boss means daytime rush, like 1 PM start, not nights. Day one and he's pegging me as the sucker for full cover. Subcontractor class act.
"Sure. Whatever."
I grumbled inside, but desperate for rent money, I bit.
"Good, military makes 'em reasonable."
The [Starflex Mall B1 Manager] badge and master keys felt heavy around my neck.
The big first day. Pumped for overtime pay, I show up—and bam, yellow police tape blocking the store entrance.
"What the hell?"
Murder scene or something?
"Why can't we go in all sudden?"
"Looks fine to me..."
Crowd grumbling mixes with cops yelling.
"Hey, excuse me!"
"Lady! Told you, no entry!!"
A woman eyes my security uniform.
"Um... something happen?"
No way I know.
"My kid's dad and baby are inside... gotta get in..."
"Yeah, I uh..."
Atmosphere's off. Cops, even soldiers controlling the perimeter.
"What?"
Soldiers in central Seoul?
"Someone agro in the gallery about bombs?"
Nah, public service clueless. Weird vibe hits, I turn toward Yeouido Park.
Beep beep beeeep—!!!!
Phone alarm blares.
Ministry of the Interior and Safety
Unknown anomalies occurring simultaneously across the capital region and nationwide. Do not panic if you witness ground erosion or similar. Stay calm and await further instructions...
"Ground erosion?"
"Wasn't it gas leak?"
"Yunjae dad! What's taking so long!! They blocking us?"
Crowd buzzes, spilling onto the wide road. I get swept into the open square.
But then.
"Wh-what the fuck."
Yeouido Park: massive hole, asphalt melted weirdly like a sinkhole. Soldiers with rifles posted around it. Wasn't there yesterday during handover.
Glance toward Yeouinaru Station—road fully blocked.
"Military op in progress! Turn around!!!"
"I'm late for a meeting, move!"
"Go home! We gotta go somewhere!"
Gut punch. Something's wrong. My 27 years of NEET big data screams it.
Beep beep beeeep—!!!!
Ministry of National Defense
Unidentified creatures emerging from underground erosion in capital region, massive infection outbreak. Citizens: NO outdoor activity. Evacuate IMMEDIATELY to nearest underground facility or safe location.
That instant.
The massive sinkhole in the park center pulses.
"Huh...?"
Rumble rumble BOOM—!!
From the earth's maw, one crawls out. Human-shaped, but no fucking way alive. Dead? Nah—those ravaging eyes scream starving hunger.
Resurrected, maybe. Spot-on.
But the crowd? Mostly smirking cynically.
"Wait, movie shoot?"
"Candid camera?"
Some even whip out phones to film. Drawing more people.
I wasn't much different. From my room monitor, I'd probably comment 'CG looks like shit lol.'
But.
"Fire! Open fire!"
"Too many civilians arou—"
"Fuck ROE!!!! Didn't you hear?! FIRE!!!!"
Soldiers by the pit unleash hell. Rat-tat-tat—!!!!
Rifle cracks shred eardrums, zombie heads explode.
"Huh...?"
"Is... is that possible...?"
Crowd finally stirs.
"Side! It's on the side!!"
"Snap out of it, fucker!!"
One zombie springs like a pogo, snags a soldier's neck. Crunch crack—!
"Gaaah! H-help...!"
Blood fountains from the guy's neck, soaks shoes.
Seconds later.
"Kieeeek!!!"
"Gah! Why you— gaaah!!!"
Bitten soldier rises, chomps his buddy. And.
"Whoa...! Zombies!"
Some kid nearby nails it.
Yeah. Perfect name, kid's sharp.
That sparks it.
"Uwaaaah!!! It's real!!!!"
"Run! Run!!!"
"Kieeeek!!!"
Hell in minutes. Overturned strollers. People trampling each other. Screams of the fallen. Flesh-ripping tears. Bang bang—! Gunfire overlay.
"Help meee!!!"
"It huuuurts!! Stooop!!!"
I match the fleeing crowd's pace.
"F-fuck..."
Blood reek and sewer rot blankets Yeouido Park.
"Fuck this... fuck...!"
World's out to get me! That Security Team Leader bastard. Motherfucker!
Dodge roach-like zombies swarming from the hole, bolt for goshiwon. Instinct.
But soon, feet halt.
Thud—!
Earthquake vibes underfoot.
Thud—!
Something huge thrashes between buildings far off.
"Fuck... what the hell is that...?"
Black silhouette, easy 6 stories tall. Walls crumble in its wake. Cars below pancaked like cans.
Realization hits.
"Ah... no way home."
Goshiwon's 18-min walk. Run? 10 min. Plus gut says worse giants lurk.
Ministry of National Defense
[Citizens... evacuate IMMEDIATELY to nearest underground facility or safe location.]
"Nearest underground or safe spot..."
B1 control room from handover pops up. Snacks, water purifier. Ration right, week easy. Head there.
Grip my [Starflex Mall B1 Manager] badge and master keys tight.
"Thanks, boss!!"
Swim upstream through salmon-spawning crowd. Dodging lunging zombies. Blood-soaked folks fleeing raggedly.
Over police tape at Starflex entrance, dive through glass doors.
"Ah."
Inside same shitshow.
"Yunjae dad! Whyyy!! Kyaaah!!!"
"Fuck move!!!!"
"Everyone out!!!"
1F pure chaos. Luxury showcases smashed, couples gnawing necks.
"Coming through...! Fuck! Coming through!!"
Miracle dodge, hurl self onto B1 escalator.
"Kieeeek!!"
"Kiyak!!"
Agro pack follows, tangle and tumble down.
B1 mart folks still clueless.
"Wha— mommy!!!"
"What is that? Event...?"
No time for narration, folks.
"Everyone RUN!!!! It's real! Fuck, RUN!!!"
My yell futile—mart floods with blood spray from my tail zombies.
I tried. I'm just the newbie.
"Kieeeek!!!!"
"Kyaaah!!!"
Sprint past screams, vault carts, weave food aisles. Mountain of water pallets. See it—thick control room door at end.
"Kieeeek!!!"
Chilling rip behind. Zombie vaults shelf onto my back—
"FUUUCK!!! Eat shit!!!!"
Slide-tackle into room.
BAM—!!!
Slam door. Attacker smashes face-first into thick steel.
Click—!
Shaking hands lock every bolt.
Thud! Thud!
Zombie pounds like it'll rip through. Faint screams beyond.
"Huff—! Huff—!"
CCTV shows B1 mart turning hell live.
Legs give out. Stamp in barely, mutter:
"Overtime pay... definitely getting that..."
Needed some humor to swallow this.
....A week passes.
Still locked in control room.
"Ah..."
Only thing: surf internet. Some call it gods' prank. Others apocalypse redux. No solid answers.
Only sure thing: disaster texts cut with net 5 days ago.
Ministry of National Defense
[...Provisional government designates Yeouido, Jongno, Gangnam—suspected outbreak epicenters—as highest danger zones. Severed bridges, full lockdown on most Seoul areas. Survivors: stay safe, await rescue...]
"Provisional government" says it all. Isolate Yeouido, wait for rescue? Bullshit.
Days ago quakes, explosions—bombings?
"People here too...!"
Even Samsung Electronics 9F bite wasn't this bleak.
Rationed max, but today's peeled choco's last.
Worse: CCTV shows zombies still lurking B1.
"Why... won't they leave..."
Starve or door-dash farm and get munched. Hamlet dilemma.
Right then pondering that shit choice—
Ding—!
Cheery chime in my head. Semitransparent blue hologram pops before eyes.
You have met the awakening conditions.
Condition: Survive 7 days in a Black Zone
Difficulty:Extreme
Transcendent traits granted proportional to difficulty!
You have awakened as the unique class Architect!
"Wha...?"
No hallucination. Hand waves ripple the window. I blankly read down, then snort.
"Achievement unlocked? Awakening? Webnovel shit?"
Not shocked. Building-sized giants smashing shit, sprinting zombies real. Blue window? Old news.
"Status!"
You are the absolute ruler of buildings and domains.
Blueprint Domination (Lv.1) [Active]
Interfere with building blueprints to claim ownership of zones.
First skill grabs eyes.
"Blueprint Domination, huh..."
No hesitation—activate.
Instant: geometric UI floods vision. Starflex B1 blueprint unfolds from control room. Hundreds of grid tiles dense.
[Tiles claimable at current level: 4]
[No full building control. Secure zones first.]
"Oh... not whole floor at once. Go tile-by-tile like territory grab...?"
Swipe air: claim control room, outer hall, adjacent water/processed foods corner. Total 4 tiles.
Instant.
Ownership declared on 4 designated tiles!
Boom—dull blast outside door.
Thwack—!
"Huh...?"
Check CCTV quick. Three zombies loitering door—flung out like hit by invisible cannon at tile border.
Not just that. Soft light sweeps my 4 tiles—bloodstains, rot chunks on floor vanish like lies.
"Huh...?"
[Active] Interfere with blueprints to exercise absolute ownership over zones.
[Passive – Ownership]
• Instantly purifies contaminants in zone, ejects unauthorized hostiles.
• Manifests zone's original purpose as unique trait.
• Maintains all facilities' power/functions, auto-regenerates consumed items.
Skill deets sink in now.
"Th-this is what it does...?"
Maintains facilities, auto-stocks inventory?
"N-no way?"
One way to check.
Gulp. Steady breath, open door first time in week.
Corner turn—sight steals breath.
"F-fuck...?"
Everything stocked full. Center shelves: cup ramen mountains, rice pouches, stews, tuna cans neatly arrayed. Beside: 2L water pallets stacked man-height.
Whirr whirr. Wall fridges hum, frost cans. Shelf monitors flash ramen ads. Ceiling AC blows crisp cool.
"...This for real...?"
Apocalypse, and I've got a food corner fresh as opening day. Whole thing mine.