12. New Specialization (1)

The McDonald’s was littered with corpses inside and out.

Stepping carefully over them, I emerged outside where the large man waited by a car.

Come to think of it…what was his name again? Hoon, I think?

“T-Teacher! That was…incredible!” he stammered with near-reverence.

I smirked, surveying the quiet streets. Only distant screams broke the peace.

…Wonder how my Acceleration looks to outsiders.

Fascinating thought.

“Area’s secure for now. Let’s move some corpses to the road before dinner.”

The man nodded obediently. “Yes, Teacher.”

We tied vinegar-soaked towels over our noses against the putrid stench – like rotten fish mixed with shit. Even through the cloth, the black ooze leaking from days-old corpses made me gag.

After hauling bodies and mopping the hardware store (for Suhyun’s sake – a comfortable base means comfortable living), we returned to the boarding house.

Dinner was samgyeopsal. The women chattered happily while the large man eventually overcame his nausea to devour pork belly wraps. I ate just enough before showering again.

Suhyun waited on my futon afterward. “You cleaned the hardware store for me?”

“Mhm.”

Her smile widened before she bent between my legs, skilled tongue making quick work of my exhaustion. After swallowing twice (enthusiastically), she still had energy to organize supplies downstairs.

…Good to have someone like her.

Lying back, I contemplated leaving eventually. My family in Jeju…likely dead or turned. Either way, that ending would be mine to deliver.

For now:

“Status.”

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The Chosen One

[Specialization – Time Adjuster] [Level – Max.]

[Title – Civilian]

Stats

[HP – 27/30] [Senses – 2/2]

[Strength – 11/25] [Agility – 4/4]

[Focus – 17/60] [Intelligence – N/A]

[Unallocated Points – 7]

Skills

[Active – Acceleration] (Auto-casting)

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Allocated 5 to Focus (60), 2 to Strength (27).

Then tapped the blinking specialization.

[New Specializations Available]

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1. Survival Expert

2. Shadow Warrior

3. Wild Hunter

4. Spatial Explorer

5. ??? (Locked)

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…The fuck?!

No descriptions?!

I tapped Survival Expert just to check-

[Survival Expert selected]

You fucking bitch! I didn’t confirm!

The screen vanished. My new status:

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[Specialization – Survival Expert] [Level – 1]

[Title – Empowered]

Skills

[Passive – Regeneration]

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Regeneration details:

– HP recovery: 1min 30s per tick (scaling with HP)

– Stat recovery: 45s faster per tick

…Holy shit.

At 100 HP, Focus would fully recharge in 5 hours instead of 20.

Perfect for my needs.

But then it hit me-each specialization clearly favors different stats. Time Adjuster (Focus), Survival (HP), the others probably Strength/Agility/???.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” I gripped my head.

Even in RTS games you specialize! Warriors get Strength, mages get Intelligence!

Why the fuck do I need to level everything?!

Unless…maybe this specialization gives 2 points per level?

…Yeah fucking right.

“Goddammit.”