9. Mart Raid (1)

The two I killed in the parking lot.

Level 38, 2 points.

Put into Vitality – now 28.

Growth plan: Hit 30 Vitality, moderate Strength, and most importantly – secure more Accelerations.

…What’s the max level anyway?

How far can stats go?

From gaming experience, sometimes cap is 50, other times 60 or 80.

Me?

No idea.

…Only one way to find out.

Fucking frustrating.

If you’re giving me a status screen, could you explain it properly? Why do I have to figure everything out through trial and error?

Damn it.

Leaned back in the chair grumbling until Acceleration recharged.

4 charges, full.

Exited the parking office.

Still morning. Lunchtime’s far off.

Cautiously moved along the wall toward the mart.

No telling how many inside.

No greed – take them down methodically.

Grrrr- Grrrr-

Deep, resonant growls.

Passing the wall revealed a small grilled squid stall attached to the mart’s open storefront.

Crouched by the stall wall, listening.

“Hrrr… Grrr…”

…Owner or mart employee.

One growling inside.

Past this stall lies the main entrance.

…Use Acceleration?

Slowly drew my sword.

Shhhk-

“…Huu… Hrk!”

Jumped up, sword ready.

Peeked inside!

Nothing!

Ah, collapsed on the floor.

Leaned down to see an apron-clad woman face down.

Gripped sword with both hands, slowly extending it above her head.

“Hup!”

Crunch!

Skull pierced.

[Level increased.]

Good.

Glad I saved Acceleration.

Now, the main entrance.

Double glass doors.

Step on the “Welcome” mat and they open automatically.

…Problematic.

Might not escape even with Acceleration.

Need to prop them open.

Something heavy…

…Damn.

Only one obvious option.

Looked around.

Bright sunlight.

Silent.

Nobody here.

“…Fuck.”

Sheathed my sword.

Stepped on the squid display to enter the stall.

Ah, fucking cramped.

Squid smell overwhelming.

Grabbed armfuls of cold grilled squid, dumping them into my bag.

About ten total.

Girls will like these.

Ziiip-

Carefully zipped up.

Noticed…

Door’s open…?

…Ah. Connects to the mart interior.

Blood stains on the frame.

Must have been serving customers when the beasts attacked, tried closing but failed.

Got bitten mid-attempt.

…Right?

Examining the corpse – hand torn to reveal muscle and bone. Clear bite marks.

Bingo.

Even with this entrance, better keep main doors open.

Lifted the corpse (fucking heavy – over 50kg) and pushed it toward the display.

No feeling grabbing dead flesh – like moving a soaked mattress.

Grabbed the pants waistband.

“Hup!” Shoved outward hard.

Crash! Thud!

“Haa, huff.”

Fuck.

Sweating now.

Heavy bastard.

Hope nothing heard.

Hand on sword hilt, waited – no reaction.

Seems beasts ignore natural sounds.

Boxes falling, objects collapsing – that’s fine.

…How loud before they react?

Curious, but not enough to test.

Will find out eventually.

That cracking sound earlier?

Climbed over display to see the corpse’s neck twisted.

Head lolling – neck snapped.

No guilt – already dead.

Carried the bleeding corpse toward the main doors.

…Glass doors.

Might be visible.

Mart interior coming into view.

Restrooms to the right.

Surprisingly large – separate men’s, women’s, and disabled.

Partition wall with stacked boxes nearby.

Mart is spacious and bright.

Well-organized despite visible disarray now.

Shelves toppled everywhere.

Heads popping up – more than expected.

Left side has packing counters.

Self-service area for boxing purchases.

Counted eight between restrooms and counters.

Luckily (or unluckily) they ignored my movements beyond the glass.

Sale posters on the doors helping obscure me.

“Huu… huu…”

Heavy corpse, potential visibility – tense.

Finally reached the sensor mat.

Released the corpse onto it.

Doors slid open.

“Graah?!”

They all turned!

“Shit!”

Ran backward immediately.

“Graaah! Kaaaah!”

Bang! Crash!

Impact sounds behind me – no shattering!

Thick glass!

Fuck, thank god!

Sprinted back to parking office.

“Huff, puff.”

Could’ve used Acceleration to attack, but safety first.

Only fight when victory’s certain.

If asked if I chickened out? Yes.

Chickening out is vital!

Survival instinct!

To grow stronger, must level up. To level fast, avoid all injuries.

Play safe, strike fast, escape faster.

That’s all.

Distant banging continues.

Glass doors holding.

“Huu…”

…Damn.

Glass doors…

…Wait.

If they’re banging but not opening, they’re locked.

…Why?

Beasts wouldn’t lock them…

Someone else did?

…Someone’s here.

Survivors who know the area.

Know marts are dangerous hives.

…Hah.

Survivors…

Only heard distant screams before – didn’t expect organized resistance.

Want to meet them.

Ask how they locked it.

…Anyway…

If doors are that strong, can’t use main entrance.

Would be spotted immediately.

…Was solving the automatic door issue anyway.

Leave the interior doors to the beasts.

…Alright.

Exited office, approached mart front.

Banging grows louder.

Climbed over squid stall display carefully.

Quietly now.

Dropped down, drew sword.

Shhhk-

“Kyaaah! Kaaaah!”

Bang! Crash! Thud!

Door pounding louder inside stall.

Gripped sword, cautiously peered out.

Growls unmistakable now.

“Graaah! Kaaaah!”

Thud! Bang! Thump!

…Doors won’t last.

Wall right before doors.

Narrow path barely fitting one person, packing counters ahead.

Leaned against stall wall, peeking out.

…More now.

Definitely eight earlier – now double that.

Others must have gathered.

From restrooms?

All clustered at glass doors.

Pounding and screaming like the doors personally offended them.

“…Huu…”

Here goes.

…Deep breath.

“…Ssshh!”

About 3 meters to them!

Leaped out activating:

Acceleration!

[Auto-cast: Acceleration]

“Graa—aa—–“

Whoooosh—whooo—

Everything slowed.

My footsteps, beast screams, door pounding – all slow motion.

Took two bounding steps.

One powerful lunge.

Thu—dak—

Both hands on hilt, thrust hard.

“Hup!”

Crunch! Crunch!

Two down instantly!

“—aa—rk!”

Released.

Acceleration!

[Auto-cast: Acceleration]

They haven’t noticed me yet!

Thrust hard!

Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!

Four more!

“–rr–raahk!”

Acceleration!

[Auto-cast: Acceleration]

Stabbed a white-haired old man through the skull!

Ping-

…?!

Fuck! Already weakening!

Turned immediately, sprinting back to squid stall.

Hand on wall, rounded corner as Acceleration ended.

Crash! Thud!

Multiple bodies collapsing.

“Kyaaah!”

Fuck! Sounds closer!

Spotted?!

Acceleration!

[Auto-cast: Acceleration]

No unnecessary risks!

Vaulted over squid display.

Landed, took one step before Acceleration faded.

“Grrrk!”

Not sure if detected.

All charges spent!

Sprinted around mart side toward parking lot.

Then – shattering sound behind me!

Glass doors breaking!

“Huff! Huff!”

Dove into parking office, slammed door.

Click!

Locked, leaned against door listening.

“Hah, huu, haa.”

Screeches outside.

Not from mart interior.

The streets.

They’re out.

“Huu, huu…”

…Still, door’s locked.

They’re screaming outside but don’t know my location.

Just wandering aimlessly.

Slightly reassuring.

Dragged chair against wall, sat.

“…Huu…”

Message floating before me:

[Level increased by 6.]

With squid stall woman – 7 levels total.

…Good.

“Haa, huu… Status.”

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

The Chosen One

[Specialization – Time Adjuster] [Level – 45]

[Title – Civilian]

Status

[Vitality – 26/28] [Perception – 2/2]

[Strength – 0/7] [Agility – 4/4]

[Spirit – 0/20] [Intelligence – N/A]

[Allocation Points – 7]

Skills

[Active – Acceleration] (Auto-cast active)

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

Level 45 already.

Good.

First… 2 to Vitality.

Now 30.

Vitality set.

Remaining 5 points…

…Extra Acceleration would help hit-and-run…

But takes 9 hours to fully recharge.

…9 hours…

…Alright.

Play it safe despite frustration.

Put 5 into Spirit.

Surviving.

Surviving to level up.

That’s what matters.

Phone shows 10:34 AM.

…Will barely make dinner.

Should message Suhyeon.