Chapter 4:
CODE Z: AS A SWORDSMAN
[ANNOUNCEMENT: Time left: 00:03]
[ANNOUNCEMENT: Time left: 00:02]
[ANNOUNCEMENT: Time left: 00:01]
[ANNOUNCEMENT: Wave 1 has begun]
"Alright then," I said, standing up straight as the weight of the situation pressed down on me. My body trembled, but I wasn’t about to fold. "Let’s survive the night."
[ANNOUNCEMENT: You have received a gift from the shop.]
A black coat appeared before me, rippling in the cold breeze as the system’s notification flashed. I stared at it for a second before picking it up.
(What’s this?) I asked myself, running my hand over the smooth fabric.
[Black Coat: Info (This coat guarantees the wearer lands critical hits on enemies.)
ATTRIBUTES: +20 Defense, +20 Stealth]
I threw the coat on, and immediately, I felt lighter. The fabric was snug but not restrictive, and it almost seemed to mold itself to my body, protecting me while still allowing full movement.
(I hope this helps…)
"It’s starting," I muttered, looking out over the city. Yu-Song-Hwa crouched next to me, her sniper rifle ready.
"I haven’t seen any signals yet," she whispered, her sharp eyes scanning the empty streets below us.
Then suddenly, she tensed, her breath hitching. "Wait! I see movement… They're coming from the east!" Her voice was tight, but steady.
"How many?" I asked, my grip tightening on the Katana of Ghost. My heart pounded, and adrenaline surged through me.
"Seven…" she replied quickly, her voice all business now.
"I’ll cover you from the back. You just focus on shooting, okay?" I said, trying to sound confident. In reality, fear gnawed at me. I had no idea how strong these things were.
[ANNOUNCEMENT: Yu-Song-Hwa has activated Eagle’s Eye]
[PASSIVE SKILL: Activated]
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Yu-Song-Hwa’s sniper rifle cracked through the stillness. I watched, momentarily in awe as her shots pierced through the air, each one dead-on.
"Four down…" she murmured, her voice calm and focused. "But two fast zombies are coming from the west."
"Leave them to me!" I shouted, unsheathing my Katana of Ghost. The blade glowed faintly in the moonlight, surrounded by its shadowy aura.
(F*ck! They’re too fast!) I cursed inwardly. The zombies barreled toward the base with terrifying speed, their limbs moving unnaturally. (I’ve gotta act now or it’s over!)
Without thinking, I leapt from the third floor, my body hurtling toward the ground below.
[HEALTH: 50/100]
I winced as I landed hard, pain shooting through my legs, but I forced myself to stand.
(That’s fine… that’s what I needed.)
[ANNOUNCEMENT: Tiger’s Movement has been activated.]
[MOVEMENT SPEED: Increased by 30%]
"Activate skill!" I shouted as the rush of power surged through me. My muscles responded immediately, my speed and agility heightened.
[ANNOUNCEMENT: Strike for the Head activated]
The Katana of Ghost pulsed in my hands as I swung toward the nearest zombie. The blade connected with a sickening thud as I cleaved through its head, severing it in one clean motion. Blood splattered across the ground as the body crumpled.
But the second zombie wasn’t as easy. It moved faster than I anticipated, dodging my attack and slamming into me with incredible force. I stumbled backward, barely keeping my footing.
Slam!
It hit me again, knocking the wind out of my lungs. I gasped, trying to recover, but the beast was relentless. Before I could react, it slammed into me a third time, sending me crashing to the ground.
[HEALTH: 20/100]
I lay there, dazed, struggling to breathe as the zombie loomed over me. Its hollow, lifeless eyes glared down, and its decaying teeth snapped inches from my face.
(This is it…) I thought bitterly. (I’m going to die right here.)
[ERROR: Your base is being invaded by a stronger species.]
(What!?) Panic surged through me as the reality of the situation hit. The zombie’s twisted grin, its feral gaze, all of it was more monstrous than any I’d faced before.
And suddenly, my past came rushing back to me.
FLASHBACK
I was back there again, standing amidst the wreckage. The screams, the fire, the chaos—it was all too familiar. My parents, my little sister… their faces flashed before my eyes. They were gone. I couldn’t save them. I was too weak, too helpless.
But I wasn’t a helpless kid anymore. I was stronger. I had to be.
PRESENT
A new energy surged within me. It was like fire coursing through my veins, fierce and uncontrollable. The world around me seemed to shift—everything slowed down, and a strange red haze clouded my vision. My body shook, not with fear, but with power.
(What is this…?)
I felt the overwhelming force building inside, ready to explode. For a split second, I thought I could unleash it, but before I could make sense of it, the zombie lunged for me.
BANG!
BANG!
Gunshots rang out, and the zombie was flung back, its body convulsing before crumpling to the ground.
I blinked, still disoriented, as two figures stepped into view.
"Move aside, kid," a deep voice rumbled. "We adults will take it from here."
I looked up, my vision blurry, to see two men standing over me. One of them, tall and imposing, held a smoking gun, while the other had his fists clenched, ready for action.
"Kwon-Ji-Han," the tall one said, offering me a hand. "And this is Gil-Yong. We’re here to clean up your mess."
I took his hand, still trying to comprehend what just happened. "Thanks…" I muttered, my voice shaky. "But I had it under control."
"Sure you did," Gil-Yong said with a smirk, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Next time, maybe try not dying before we show up."
I stood, my body aching, as the two of them prepared to finish off the remaining zombies. They moved like seasoned veterans, each strike and shot precise and deadly.
Their teamwork was perfect. In minutes, the remaining zombies were reduced to lifeless heaps on the ground.
"Not bad, rookie," Kwon-Ji-Han said as he holstered his gun. "But next time, try not to get yourself killed, okay?"
I nodded weakly. "Yeah… I’ll try."
End
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