Chapter 5:

Wave 2

CODE Z: AS A SWORDSMAN


After the last zombie fell, we regrouped on the rooftop. The wind was cold, and exhaustion weighed on all of us, but there was no time to rest. Kwon-Ji-Han and Gil-Yong, the two brothers who had saved us, stood nearby, scanning the horizon.

Yu-Song-Hwa kept her sniper rifle close, eyeing the two newcomers with curiosity, while I couldn’t help but feel out of place. The fight had been brutal, and the look on their faces told me things were only going to get worse.

Gil-Yong finally spoke up, breaking the silence. "So, rookie, you almost got yourself killed back there, huh?"

I shrugged, trying to play it cool despite the embarrassment gnawing at me. "Yeah, thanks for the save."

Kwon-Ji-Han chuckled softly. "You’re in the game now. Close calls like that are part of the deal. But you’ll have to toughen up if you want to survive the next wave."

"A game?" I asked, still trying to grasp what they were saying.

Gil-Yong nodded, his expression turning serious. "Yeah. This isn’t just some random zombie apocalypse. It’s a twisted, real-life survival game. Everything follows a set of rules. The waves, the upgrades, even the bosses."

"So we’re stuck in this game until… what? We survive it?" I asked.

"Survive, level up, get stronger," Kwon-Ji-Han said. "And maybe, if you’re lucky, find a way out."

[ANNOUNCEMENT: Party Formation Available]

A system notification flashed in front of me, and Yu-Song-Hwa raised her eyebrow. "We can form a party now," she said. "That means we’ll be able to see each other’s abilities, right?"

"Exactly," Gil-Yong smirked. "Makes things a lot easier when you know who’s good at what."

We all accepted the party formation, and a system window appeared listing our abilities.

[PARTY:
1# Park-Song – Unique Ability: Strike for the Head
2# Yu-Song-Hwa – Unique Ability: Eagle’s Eye
3# Kwon-Ji-Han – Unique Ability: Titan’s Fist (Locked)
4# Gil-Yong – Unique Ability: Avatar of a Gamer ]

"Avatar of a Gamer?" I asked, eyeing Gil-Yong.

He grinned. "Yeah. I can transform into my avatar from one of the games I used to play. Guns, swords, the whole package."

Before I could ask more, the next system message appeared.

[ANNOUNCEMENT: Time left until Wave 2: 00:05]
[ANNOUNCEMENT: Wave 2 starting soon.]

Kwon-Ji-Han’s expression hardened. "No time for questions. Get ready. This wave is going to be a lot harder."

Yu-Song-Hwa already had her sniper rifle trained on the horizon. "I’ll take the high ground again."

I gripped the Katana of Ghost, trying to calm my nerves. The air felt heavier, darker. This wave was different.

[ANNOUNCEMENT: Time left: 00:03]
[ANNOUNCEMENT: Time left: 00:02]
[ANNOUNCEMENT: Time left: 00:01]
[ANNOUNCEMENT: Wave 2 has begun.]

The ground trembled as the second wave started. In the distance, we heard the growls of the approaching horde. But something felt wrong—more dangerous than before.

"I see movement," Yu-Song-Hwa shouted from her sniper position. "More zombies than last time. And something big… really big."

I squinted at the horde. There, towering above the rest, was a massive figure. Its body was covered in bone-like armor, and its glowing red eyes radiated a malevolent hunger.

[ERROR: Boss Level Detected – Undead Juggernaut]
[WARNING: Difficulty Level: High]

"Shit," I muttered. "We’ve got a boss."

The Undead Juggernaut stormed through the lesser zombies, smashing them aside as it charged toward us. Every step it took shook the ground.

"What’s the plan?" I asked, panic rising in my voice.

Gil-Yong grinned. "I’ll distract the big guy. You guys handle the smaller ones. When I give the signal, hit it with everything you’ve got."

Before I could respond, he was already sprinting toward the Juggernaut. He moved with agility, weaving through the oncoming horde like it was second nature.

"Cover him!" I shouted. "Yu-Song-Hwa, take out as many zombies as you can!"

"BANG!"
"BANG!"
"BANG!"

Her shots rang out, picking off zombies with deadly precision. Meanwhile, Kwon-Ji-Han and I moved to intercept the rest of the horde. We fought back-to-back, slicing through the undead, but the Undead Juggernaut was getting closer—and fast.

Gil-Yong was dodging its attacks, but the boss’s movements were quicker than I expected. Its massive fists slammed into the ground, creating shockwaves that sent him flying back.

FLASHBACK: Gil-Yong’s Memory
Gil-Yong remembered being a scrawny kid, sitting in front of the TV, playing games while his brother Kwon-Ji-Han practiced boxing in the background. Their parents always compared them—Gil-Yong, the gamer, and Kwon-Ji-Han, the fighter. But it was during one game where Gil-Yong had realized his true strength. In that world, he wasn’t weak. He was a force to be reckoned with.

"I’m not weak anymore," Gil-Yong whispered, pushing himself to his feet. His eyes lit up with determination. "Activate Avatar of a Gamer!"

[ANNOUNCEMENT: Gil-Yong has activated Avatar of a Gamer]

His body shimmered with a strange light. In the blink of an eye, he transformed— into his game avatar. In his hands, he held two sleek pistols, a sword strapped to his back. He dashed forward, firing off rounds at the Juggernaut, his bullets hitting the weak points in its armor.

"Over here, you ugly bastard!" Gil-Yong taunted, dodging another massive swing from the boss’s arm. He moved with agility, sliding under its legs and firing more rounds at its joints.

But the Juggernaut roared in fury, its eyes glowing brighter as it charged toward him.

"We need to help him!" I shouted at Kwon-Ji-Han.

Kwon-Ji-Han’s face was strained. His fists clenched tightly as if something was holding him back.

FLASHBACK: Kwon-Ji-Han’s Memory
He remembered standing in the ring, training for hours on end, while his brother, Gil-Yong, sat playing video games. They were different—so different. Kwon-Ji-Han always felt like he had to protect his younger brother. Even now, as they fought side by side, that same instinct kicked in.

Kwon-Ji-Han gritted his teeth. "I’m not losing him again! I..  I WON'T LOSE THE CHANCE TO PROTECT YOU!!!!!" His fists began to glow with a faint energy.

[ANNOUNCEMENT: Kwon-Ji-Han’s Unique Ability, Titan’s Fist, is awakening.]

  []

He roared, charging toward the Juggernaut. His fists, now glowing bright with energy, collided with the boss’s armored body, sending cracks through its defenses.

The Juggernaut stumbled, but it wasn’t done yet. It swung wildly, catching Kwon-Ji-Han in the side, sending him crashing into a wall.

[HEALTH: 30/100]

I rushed forward, dodging zombies as I moved toward the fallen Kwon-Ji-Han. My body trembled with fear, but something else stirred deep inside me—something powerful.

Suddenly, everything slowed down. I could see the Juggernaut’s movements, its weak points glowing faintly in my vision.

[ANNOUNCEMENT: Park-Song’s hidden potential is awakening.]
[New Ability Unlocked: Observing Point]

"Now!" I shouted, my voice carrying over the battlefield. "Hit its head! That’s its weak spot!"

Gil-Yong, still in his avatar form, fired a series of precise shots at the Juggernaut’s head. Kwon-Ji-Han, recovering from the blow, charged forward, his fists glowing even brighter.

With a final roar, Kwon-Ji-Han delivered an earth-shattering punch to the Juggernaut’s skull. The impact was so intense that the boss’s head caved in, and with a final groan, the massive beast collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

[ANNOUNCEMENT: Wave 2 Complete.]
[Boss Defeated: Undead Juggernaut

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