Chapter 7: A Deserted Island with Nothing (1)
TL: Hanguk
Just 30 minutes.
That's the time it took for the strange phenomenon to occur on Earth and for the cities to lose function.
Many people lost their lives due to the monsters that appeared without warning, and the survivors hid in buildings waiting for rescue.
"Damn. What's the government doing?"
"What do you think they're doing? They're probably debating around a table while enjoying the protection of the soldiers."
South Korea is a military powerhouse.
Especially for the army, it's powerful enough to be considered next after the United States, Russia, and China.
However, even with such a powerful army, it's impossible to immediately suppress a national disaster that occurred simultaneously.
What's more, most of the army is concentrated at the front lines, so it inevitably took time to deploy troops for civilian rescue.
-Bang! Bang Bang Bang!
"Huh? Gunshots?"
"Soldiers! It's the military!"
"Are we being rescued?"
And even when the troops were somehow deployed, the problems didn't stop...
Monsters kept reappearing even after being killed, and in cities populated by tens of millions, the number of appearing monsters varied, making civilian rescue difficult.
"Huh? The soldiers are retreating?"
"What? No, why!?"
Of course, if mass destruction weapons were used, it might be a bit easier.
However, you can't go around using such weapons in a city where civilians are hiding everywhere.
As a result, the army's destructive power was halved, and they had to play tug of war with monsters relying on personal firearms, so the situation couldn't be resolved.
"We can't solve this by dispersing the troops to rescue many people at once. We need to concentrate the troops and seize one area at a time."
"Actually, even if they rescue people, there's a problem. Where will they accommodate all these people?"
"Even if we find a place, with factories stopped and limited supplies, the food problem will arise soon."
So, people with quick situational judgment claimed that they should not wait for rescue, but instead figure out a method themselves.
"What? Act by ourselves?"
"Are you crazy?"
Of course, the majority of people disagreed with this idea.
"There's some truth to that."
"Do we have a way?"
Certainly, there were some who agreed.
"According to the internet, the strange phenomenon that has befallen the world is faithfully following a game system. Then we should adapt to that system."
"Are you saying we should fight the monsters?"
"If necessary."
"You're crazy!"
"We've only been running away because the monsters were attacking us. We haven't thought about fighting back. If we work together, we can win. We can take down the weaker monsters first, gradually."
"That's too extreme. I thought we would look for a safe place to hide and then act..."
"As long as monsters exist, there's no safety. If you want safety, you must have the ability to not get killed."
"Why not just raid the police station for weapons?"
"That could work too. But whether we raid the police station or hunt monsters and level up, we still need to act outside."
There were many different thoughts as there were many different people in the world.
Although there were far more people who did not take action than those who did, challengers willing to adapt to the new system kept emerging.
"Huh? It seems like a giant wolf is looking this way?"
"Oh no, run!"
"Huh? Do-don't come!
-Roar!
"Ahhhh! Help! Save, save me!"
"What are you doing! Stab it all together!"
"It's, it's not moving?"
Of course, challenging doesn't guarantee success.
Monsters have their set activity areas, but if they are attracted, they run out of their areas and attract a wide aggro range, causing unwanted battles with monsters.
And when a powerful monster with physical strength like a Grand Dire Wolf comes along, people's adventurous spirit quickly turns into regret and despair.
"Weren't you a kumdo player! What are you doing!?"
"You Idiot! Real fight and games are not the same!"
"I read a post on the internet that says monsters have certain patterns when they fight like in a game! Watch carefully and analyze!"
"What are you saying! I'm about to lose my life, who cares about that!"
As if the nickname "human crusher" wasn't just for show, one party was again wiped out by the Dire Wolf.
Hunting monsters was not easy.
Certainly, many people were challenging it, but the system was not easy to adapt to.
In this respect, Seo Baek-ho was a very rare case.
With luck, calmness, and a proper battle sense, he was growing far easier than others.
***
-Kwaaang!
"I'm not scared at all anymore. You're a mutt."
I did not flinch at the momentum of the charging Grand Dire Wolf, and easily swung my sword up at its mouth.
-Bang!
Then the wolf's neck was exposed and I used a skill, pointing at the wolf's neck with my finger.
'Magic Bullet.'
- Pop!
Blood spurted out and a hole appeared in the Grand Dire Wolf's throat.
The power of the Magic Bullet might not match a real bullet, but it was far more threatening than a regular knife cut.
-Groan.
The Dire Wolf seemed to be hit not only in the throat but also in the neck bone by the Magic Bullet and the Grand Dire Wolf simply collapsed.
And, with its throat pierced, it gasped in pain, sticking out its tongue, and met its death.
-Swish!
The battle ended too easily.
The Grand Dire Wolf quickly turned into light and disappeared, and a reward message popped up.
"I'm getting used to using skills now."
My current level was 13.
After defeating the Golden Goblin, I leveled up once more.
I invested the stat points from leveling up in agility, achieving a score of 10 in all stats.
All of my stats were twice as high as their base values.
As a result, my physical ability had reached a level where I thought I could win a gold medal in any sport at the Olympics.
The high jump could easily exceed 1.5 meters, and I felt I could even break the 9-second mark in the 100m dash.
Most importantly, my strength had greatly increased and I was not easily pushed back in a power struggle with the Grand Dire Wolf, so I could say I had transcended the limits of a normal human.
'Of course, only my physical abilities are at that level.'
If I add the Leap skill to my increased physical abilities, I could even emulate the actions of a superhero in a movie.
Leap isn't just for jumping high; if used in the moment of a forward dash, it can also produce the effect of a charge skill.
Even though it consumes a large amount of magic power, it provides various options in battle and is very useful.
"This should be enough practice."
The reason I'm playing with the Grand Dire Wolf instead of storming into the safe zone is to adapt to my increased physical abilities and newly acquired skills.
The decision was made because I thought I hadn't fully made the newly acquired abilities my own, given the rapid growth.
"First, I need to recharge my magic power."
Now that I feel I've adjusted enough, I plan to head to the safe zone.
But before that, I went into the safety tent I had set up in front of the container to rest.
It was to recharge my consumed magic power.
The magic power naturally replenished over time, and recharging is faster when sitting than when standing, and it charges even faster when you rest in the safety tent.
'Recharging complete.'
It takes about 10 seconds to recharge 1 magic power.
It takes 20 seconds if sitting, and a full minute if standing.
[Would you like to dismantle the safety tent? YES/NO]
"Yes."
Shortly after, I dismantled the tent and carried out my plan.
First, I avoided the Grand Dire Wolf territory and approached the abandoned village.
Then I set up a safety tent in front of the Orc territory.
[Setting up a safety tent. Dismantling will be possible after 10 minutes.]
By the way, you cannot set up a safety tent during combat.
I would like to go closer, but the moment you attract the attention of the Orcs, it's considered a combat state, so this was the closest distance where I could safely set up a tent.
Now what?
'Magic Bullet.'
I just need to lure the Orcs over.
I attacked the nearest Orc with a magic bullet.
-Pak!
[You have defeated an orc and gained 50 experience points.]
[Orc defeat rewards will be given.]
-You've gained 9 coins.
-You've gained 1 piece of Orc leather.
Good luck from the start.
The Magic Bullet pierced right through the forehead of an orc who was digging its nose, and it was an instant kill.
-Crack!
I wish they would stay far apart so I could kill them one by one with sniping, but they were in a group, and as soon as one died, the rest started running towards me.
There are a total of five orcs left.
I kept shooting magic bullets until they got close.
[You have defeated an orc and gained 50 experience points.]
But it wasn't easy to hit a moving target, and fortunately, I was able to eliminate one more.
The distance between the remaining Orcs and me is about 2 meters.
They've gotten close enough to hear their rough breathing.
The moment the four Orcs that rushed menacingly towards me and raised their stone axes.
"Bye."
I stepped back into the monster-free zone inside the safety tent.
Then the four Orcs stopped and looked confused.
The safety tent's effect of blocking monster was effective.
'It's not the strong who survive, but the survivors who are strong, right?'
The ensuing battle was the epitome of cunning.
I fought with them while moving in and out of the safe zone of the safety tent, and the Orcs, being bewildered, were easily defeated.
The safety tent prevents monster attacks, but I also cannot attack monsters, so I had to fight this way.
[No rewards will be provided due to abnormal combat methods.]
[No rewards will be provided due to abnormal combat methods.]
[No rewards will be provided due to abnormal combat methods.]
[No rewards will be provided due to abnormal combat methods.]
The system messages seemed to protest against my craftiness, but I didn't care.
I achieved my goal.
My purpose is to clear the Orcs to enter the safe zone, not to earn experience points.
Of course, I would like to fight as coolly as a scene from a martial arts movie, jumping here and there, shooting energy blasts, but I thought there was no need to create variables by fighting multiple opponents when I'm not used to it.
"Hmm, shall I go into the safe zone then?"
I confidently walked through the empty Orc area and approached the safe zone.
*****
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