The Countdown for Survival

[ANNOUNCEMENT: DO YOU WANT TO MAKE IT YOUR TERRITORY?]

"Sure!" I agreed without hesitation, flashing Yu-Song-Hwa a bright smile.

"See? I told you we’d survive." My voice was cheerful, despite the oppressive atmosphere surrounding us.

The night sky stretched above like a vast ocean of stars, with the full moon casting a silver glow over the ruined remains of Seoul. For a brief moment, everything felt peaceful.

BOOM!

An explosion shattered the stillness. The flash of light lit up the horizon, far enough away to keep us safe, but close enough to rattle the ground beneath our feet.

BANG! BANG!

Gunfire erupted soon after, sharp bursts echoing off the desolate streets.

Yu-Song-Hwa's eyes widened, panic creeping into her voice. "What’s happening?!"

I shook my head, jaw clenched. "It must be other survivors... no zombie knows how to handle a gun." Despite my calm tone, doubt gnawed at me. Who were they fighting, and what did it mean for us?

[ANNOUNCEMENT: Registration completed.]

The system window popped up again, casual as ever, unaware of the chaos unfolding around us.

(A new function?) I wondered, reading the glowing text before me.

[Owner: Park-Song]
[Building options available to the owner.]

I stared at the display, a flicker of recognition in my mind. (Where have I seen something like this before?) The window shifted, revealing a list of choices.

**[Options:
1# Electric Enhancement
(Your base will be enhanced with an electric field.)
Requirements: 10 points or Electric Cable x4, Metal Bar x14, Transformer x1

2# Wooden Barricade Enhancement
(All entrances will be blocked with wooden plates.)
Requirements: 5 points or Wooden Plates x20, Nails x80

3# Trap Placement
(Your base will be covered with traps in all fields.)]**

[Notice: You can only choose two options per month.]

(Two options per month? Cruel system...) I grumbled silently but understood the logic behind it. Resources were limited, after all.

I glanced at my status window.

[POINTS: 40]

"Hey, Yu-Song-Hwa, what should we pick?" I called over to her. She ran up to me, standing close as we both studied the screen.

"..."

The weight of the decision hung in the air between us. Even the explosions and gunfire seemed distant now, as though the choice we faced was the only thing that mattered.

I glanced at my watch. "It’s almost 6 o’clock. Hurry up!" I urged, already preparing to head to the rooftop.

"Electric cables and wooden barricades should do for now," she suggested after a thoughtful pause, her voice steady.

"Alright..." I selected the two options as soon as she finished speaking.

[ANNOUNCEMENT: YOUR BASE IS NOW BEING REINFORCED]
[BUILDING TIME LEFT: 15:00]

"Urgh... this system is really something," I muttered under my breath, but forced myself to calm down. We needed to stay focused.

"Yu-Song-Hwa-ssi~" I called her name in a playful tone, trying to break the tension in the air. "Looks like you'll be on guard duty tonight, seeing as you..." I pointed at her sniper rifle with a grin. "...have the perfect weapon for it."

I chuckled awkwardly, but then—before I could stop myself—the words slipped out.

"So... are you, uh... still single?"

(WHAT?! Why did I ask that?!) Panic flared up inside me.

Yu-Song-Hwa’s face turned bright red. "What do you mean by that?!" she stammered, quickly covering her face with both hands.

My heart raced. "No, no, I didn’t mean that—I...!" My words came out in a flurry of panic. "I meant to ask... were you... a former soldier?"

Her blush faded, and her expression shifted. Her once playful mood vanished, replaced by something distant and sorrowful.

I immediately regretted my question. "I’m sorry if I overstepped..." I said softly, hoping I hadn’t made things worse.

A long, tired sigh escaped her lips.

Trying to break the heavy mood, I awkwardly changed the subject. "By the way... how do you open the shop again? Do I, like, touch my hand to my waist or something?"

Yu-Song-Hwa chuckled, the tension easing just a bit. "Hiya~ don’t try to change the subject," she teased, a playful glint returning to her eyes. "It’s funny watching you squirm."

"You don’t know anything, do you?" Yu-Song-Hwa teased, stepping closer, so close our bodies nearly touched. Her breath was warm against my ear as she whispered, “Shop.” The word lingered in the air between us before she turned and descended the stairs, leaving me standing there, dumbfounded.

[ANNOUNCEMENT: TIME LEFT: 30:00]

(Time is running out…)

I stared at the countdown flashing in front of me. Each second that ticked by felt heavier than the last.

(I can’t survive with just this metal pipe… and I don’t even know what’s coming next.)

I followed her down the stairs, my mind racing. When I found her, she was gazing out over the city. The moonlight reflected off her blonde hair, making it glow, and her sharp yellow eyes flickered in the darkness like embers. There was something distant about her, like she was lost in a memory.

I watched her for a moment, then turned away. No time for distractions.

"Shop!" I commanded as I reached the rooftop again. The system window blinked open, and a list of items filled the screen.

[SHOP: Showing items suitable for the CUSTOMER]

1# Long Sword
(Attribute: +30 damage, -20 attack speed)
Heavy slashes, extended attack range but slower speed.
PRICE: 20 points

2# Katana of Ghost
(RECOMMENDATION: Close-combat types are recommended to choose!)
(Attributes: +30 attack speed, +40 movement speed, +20 defense)
INFO: A blade sharp enough to cut through metal, with a shadowy aura. When awakened, it merges with shadows.
PRICE: 20 points

3# Daggers
(RECOMMENDATION: Close-combat types should choose!)
(Attributes: +50 attack speed, +5 bleeding effect, +30 damage)
PRICE: 15 points

ADD: Become our shop's daily member to get a discount!

I snorted. (Great, even in a survival game, they’re trying to sell memberships.)

I scrolled through the options, stopping at the Katana of Ghost. For a split second, the name flickered, glitching like static on an old TV.

(What’s with that glitch? Maybe it’s hiding some kind of powerful ability…)

It was strange—the only weapon with a detailed description. My instincts told me to go for it, even though everything about this game seemed to enjoy messing with me.

(It's the only one that feels... different. I should pick this one.)

[ANNOUNCEMENT: TIME LEFT: 15:00]

(Gotta decide… no time left!)

I tapped the Katana of Ghost option in the blink of an eye.

[SHOP: You’ve purchased "KATANA OF GHOST."]
[ANNOUNCEMENT: -20 points]
[COINS REMAINING: 15 points]

(Here’s hoping this sword is worth it…)

Just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the system interrupted again.

[ERROR: Due to the item containing strong skills, your weapon will be restricted for the 1st phase of the storyline.]

"F*CK!!!" I shouted, my voice echoing across the rooftop. Of course, nothing comes easy in this world.

(I knew it… there had to be a catch. But the stats were normal—why the restriction?!)

[ERROR: Your item restriction is now completed.]
[ANNOUNCEMENT: Your item is being sent.]

Sigh I let out a long breath, rubbing the back of my neck in frustration. I needed to focus. Time was still ticking down.

Suddenly, I sensed someone behind me. I turned around sharply.

"AHHH!!! Goddammit, you scared the hell out of me!" I yelped. Yu-Song-Hwa was standing there, her eyes wide with curiosity, staring at me like I was some sort of puzzle she hadn’t figured out yet.

“How old are you, Yu-Song-Hwa-ssi?” I asked, trying to recover from the scare.

“I’m 21... and you?” she replied, her voice soft.

“I’m 20… so I guess I can call you Noona, right?” I grinned, trying to shake off the tension.

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t push it.”

I laughed awkwardly, but there was something distant in her gaze. The sounds of the explosions and gunfire echoed in the distance. We were running out of time.

"We still have some time left," she muttered, glancing at the countdown again. “But I hope we’re ready for whatever comes next.”

I reached into my bag and pulled out a small bag of chips. "Here, eat up. I don’t want my sniper running out of energy during the night."

I handed her the bag, trying to keep my hands steady despite the fear that gnawed at my stomach. I forced a smile, pretending everything was fine.

She hesitated, then took the bag, slowly munching on the chips. After a few moments, she glanced at me, a strange look in her eyes.

“Do you… have someone you like?” she asked, the question completely out of nowhere.

I froze, caught off guard. “Yeah, I did. But she’s probably dead now…” I answered, my voice colder than I intended. The truth of it didn’t hurt as much as it should’ve. I had bigger problems now.

[ANNOUNCEMENT: TIME LEFT: 00:10]

[ANNOUNCEMENT: You’ve received your item.]
[CHECK] [REMIND LATER]

"Alright then," I said, standing up straight. The weight of everything was pressing down on me, but I wasn’t about to give up. "Let’s survive the night."

End