3. Base Camp (2)

While unscrewing, I considered something.

Could this box cutter work as a weapon?

…That thought disappeared in 10 seconds.

The blade snapped clean off.

Damn it.

This can barely scratch skin.

I need to smash skulls, not fiddle around with a broken box cutter.

Setting aside the shelf box, I kept unscrewing while brainstorming.

Think.

Think harder.

This metal pipe is probably stainless steel or similar.

Meaning it’s light.

Not a solid, heavy-duty pipe.

So how to attack with this?

Swing downward?

It’s too light.

Might be weaker than the baton.

Can this even deliver fatal blows?

With each screw removed, my faith in this metal pipe dwindled.

……Wait.

There is a way.

Not swinging – stabbing.

Use it like a spear.

This pipe is about 1.5 meters long.

Good length, and if I stab properly, it shouldn’t bend or break.

The baton can’t be used as a spear – the handle would just slide in.

Only good for blunt force.

Alright.

Let’s make a spear.

With this.

All screws removed.

“Hoo…”

The shelf is half disassembled.

Just need one pipe.

No need to take it all apart.

I gripped the pipe and looked around.

……Ah……

This might be tough.

Sweaty hands could make this slippery.

It’s powder-coated, but just in case… should wrap something around it……

“…Hmm.”

Immediately unbuckled my belt.

Used the box cutter to slit the buckle holes.

Damn, this is tough.

After some cutting, it’s wide enough for the screws.

Wrapped it around the pipe, screwed it tight.

…Now a grip.

Genuine leather sticks nicely to hands.

The spacing leaves 0.5m of the 1.5m pipe as grip, but whatever.

Beggars can’t be choosers.

Belt seems securely fastened.

Now……

Need to modify the spear tip…

Ideally sharpen the metal to make a proper point, but no tools or time.

…Maybe stomp it?

No.

Unless my shoe soles are steel, soft sneakers won’t bend this.

Ah, damn.

It’s just a convenience store storage.

What fancy tools could there be?

This is all I’ve got, fuck.

Returned boxes to shelves and slumped against the wall.

“…Haa, status…”

———-

Chosen One

[Specialization – Time Adjuster] [Level – 2]

[Title – Civilian]

Status

[HP – 3/6] [Senses – 2/2]

[Strength – 4/5] [Agility – 4/4]

[Mind – 3/8] [Intelligence – N/A]

[Allocation Points – 0]

Skills

[Active – Acceleration] (Auto-casting)

———-

……Need to wait for recovery.

Using this as a spear is good, but with Mind at 3, I can’t act recklessly.

Need to secure Acceleration.

Leaned my head against the wall, spear in hand.

“…I’m Han Seong-hun. Your names?”

The casual girl looked at me with a hoarse voice.

“Kim Ye-eun… This is Kim So-eun. My sister.”

Ye-eun, So-eun.

I see.

Checked my status screen.

How long until Mind recovers to 5?

Last time I woke up disoriented – no idea how long I slept.

Glanced at the girls.

Ye-eun has long hair in a ponytail.

So-eun has a bob cut.

Can’t see So-eun’s face well to compare, but Ye-eun’s quite pretty.

Body-wise… didn’t scrutinize but nothing unpleasant to look at.

Better than ugly, but more importantly – will they cause trouble or not.

“Listen carefully about exiting.”

Ye-eun looked at me.

So-eun flinched.

“I’ll stab those things to death with this.”

Pointed to my forehead.

They should understand.

Ye-eun paled.

“Not the time for horror or hesitation. Survival matters. You saw what they do.”

Alternated looking between them.

Only Ye-eun’s face is visible.

“Resting first. When we start – no screaming. Help if you can.”

Ye-eun trembled slightly.

“How… how can we help…?”

Glanced at the door.

Recalling…

How many were there?

How many poured in earlier?

Remember at least 4.

Maybe more, maybe exactly 4.

“Hoo…”

Nodded at Ye-eun.

“…When I open that, they’ll charge. After I stab, you must close it.”

Ideally wouldn’t need their help.

“I’ll handle it, but might need door assistance. Understood?”

Ye-eun kept lowering her frightened head.

No answer.

So-eun didn’t move either.

Ah……fucking hell.

Wish I had one guy who’s thrown punches before.

With teamwork and Acceleration, could handle four, but fuck.

Had to be women……haa…

Don’t expect help then.

Told them just in case.

Lucky if they help, otherwise solo.

Fuck.

“Resting now.”

Set bag aside and lay down.

An hour or two should restore some stamina.

Took 4 hours to reach Mind 5.

Plenty of time to study status after waking.

Figured out the recovery rate too.

10% per hour.

HP recovers 10%, other stats sync with HP.

With HP at 6, that’s 0.6/hour. When HP exceeds 4, 1 point is consumed to restore other stats by 1.

10 hours for full HP recovery.

15+ hours for full stat recovery.

…Damn.

Need excessive rest.

Must level up to increase recovery.

Mind first for more Accelerations.

Then HP.

Not sure about Strength and Senses yet.

Seems to deplete with activity, but exact mechanics unclear.

Sat up.

The girls stirred awake.

They were napping too.

Sleeping in this situation?

“Hoo…”

Ye-eun asked as I rose.

“…Starting?”

“Have to.”

Placed the baton on a shelf.

It’s bent – can’t retract.

Leaving it.

Gripped the spear and door handle.

Left the blocking shelf for now.

Will only open enough to stab.

Ah……nervous as hell.

“…Opening.”

Heard a girl swallow hard.

Turned the lock slowly.

…Click.

…Silent.

Heart pounding violently.

If this goes wrong, we die.

“…Hoo…”

Eased the door open silently.

Kudos to the store owner for maintenance.

Peeked inside.

Saw triangle kimbap displays, coffee machines, hot bars, refrigerators.

No beastmen.

Where’d they go?

Looked down.

“…!”

Fuckers are lying on the floor.

Can’t tell if prone or collapsed.

Why?

…Too dangerous to check.

What now?

Vision sharpens.

Heart hammers.

Mental chatter vanishes.

Licked my lips.

Pursed them and whistled.

Wheet!

“Grrrrrl!”

Growling, the figures jerked upright. Heads swiveling.

Plaid shirt college student, suited salaryman, jeans youth, high schooler.

Four males.

Looking for the sound source.

Haven’t spotted us yet.

The slightly ajar door helps.

Staring won’t solve this.

Whistled again.

Wheet!

“Grrrl!”

All four snapped their heads toward us.

Fuck their faces are grotesque.

Chunks of neck missing, torn shirts, cheeks and noses ripped off……

“Graaah! Graaaaah!”

Charging!

Fuck, Acceleration!

Now!

[Auto-cast: Acceleration]

“Graa-a–a—“

Plaid shirt leaps over counter, suit guy vaults it, jeans kid slams into wall, high schooler lunges –

Time stops.

No, slows.

Again.

Same distance!

Always freezes at this range!

Raised spear toward high schooler’s head.

Sorry not sorry, you little shit!

“Uraaah!”

Stabbed the brat’s forehead with full force.

Crack!

Fuck!

Won’t penetrate!

This won’t kill!

Yanked back.

Stabbed again with all my might.

“Graaah!”

Squelch!

Revolting sensation traveled up the spear.

Pierced the high schooler’s skull.

His eyeballs bulged grotesquely.

Fucking horrifying!

Yanked the spear out violently.

“—a–a-aaah!”

Acceleration ended!

Slammed the door shut.

BAM!

Closing force met charging force with a crash.

Screams and sobbing.

Locked it immediately.

Click!

“Graaaah! Graaaaah!”

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

“Huff, huff, huff!”

Fuck!

Stepped back, spear ready.

He…heart might explode.

First time killing with intent.

“Huff, huff, huff!”

So-eun crying, Ye-eun comforting.

Spear coated in sticky blood and hair, feeling insane.

I just killed someone.

Jaw trembling.

“Graaaah! Graaaaah!”

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Door vibrating visibly.

“Hoo, hoo, hoo.”

No.

That wasn’t human.

Killing was right.

Gritted teeth, deep breaths.

[Level Up]

Message appears.

Clenched jaw, inhaled deeply.

Kill them all.

Keep going.

Exterminate every last one.

Apocalypse?

Fuck that.

Like I’ll die here.