I’m a Young God, Won’t You Raise Me? — Chapter 30

Chapter 30

His‌‍ tone was as‌ if he were‍⁠ handing me an‌ invitation to a party.

‘Finish‌⁠ it tonight?’

In‍‍‌ theory, it was‍‍ possible.

But‍⁠ only in theory.‌⁠⁠

Not‌‌‌ even I had managed to clear‌ the game on‌‌‍ the very first⁠ night.

It‌ was impossible if‌ you played it⁠ legitimately.

Unless‌ you used cheats.‌

And‌‍ yet.

Standing‌ before me was‍‌‍ someone who was⁠ practically a cheat‍‌ in human form.⁠‌

My⁠⁠ mouth went completely‌‌ dry, and I swallowed.

I didn’t know whether‌⁠ it was from⁠ tension or anticipation.

The‍ sun, with only‍⁠ a thin sliver‍ still visible, cast‌‌‌ its final reddish‍ rays.

In‌⁠‍ the distance, the⁠‌ wind carried faint‍‌ groans.

The‍‍ eerie wails spread⁠‍ across the ruined‍‍ city, and a thin line appeared‌⁠ along the horizon.‌⁠‍

Bathed‌‍ in the light⁠⁠ of the setting‍ sun, Je Hyuno⁠⁠‍ spread his wings.‌

The‍‌ moment those black‌‌ metallic wings unfurled⁠‍‌ with a sharp‍ slicing sound beneath⁠‌ the fading light,‌⁠ the sun disappeared⁠ completely.

There⁠‌ was still a trace of daylight⁠ left in the‌‌‌ sky.

But‌ before long, darkness‌ would cover everything.‍

The⁠ line stretching across the horizon began to ripple.

That‍⁠ unnaturally writhing line‍⁠ rushed forward at‍ monstrous speed.

The⁠ way it undulated‍‍ made it resemble⁠ an enormous tidal⁠‌ wave.

A wave that would⁠‍ not end until‍⁠ dawn.

As⁠ the tide of⁠ zombies advanced.

Je‌‌ Hyuno remained motionless‌ with his wings‍ spread, watching me.‌

Then⁠ he took a step backward.

His⁠‌⁠ black figure fell‍‍ into the void.⁠

Even⁠ though I knew⁠⁠ perfectly well that‌‌‍ nothing would happen‍⁠ to him, I instinctively ran to the railing and looked down.

But I found nothing.

Je‌ Hyuno was already⁠ soaring back into‍ the sky.

With⁠‌‍ his black wings⁠‌‌ fully spread, he hovered at the‍ highest point, looking‌‌ down upon the⁠ zombies from above.‌⁠

And‍ then.

He‌ dove straight into‌⁠ the heart of⁠ the horde.

He⁠‍ was like a fired bullet.

Boom!⁠

A deafening explosion, impossible⁠ to attribute to‍⁠ a mere landing,‌‍ shook the surroundings.‍

The tremendous impact made‍ everything tremble, and‌⁠ for a brief⁠‌ moment.

The⁠‌‍ zombie horde stopped.‌⁠

A brief instant of‍‍ stillness.

Then‍‍ every zombie charged‌ at once toward‌ the source of‌⁠ the sound.

Hundreds⁠ of zombies relentlessly‌ rushing toward a single individual.

It‍ would not have⁠‍⁠ been an exaggeration to call that scene a true‌⁠ hell.

Any‌‌‌ normal person would‌‌‍ have been terrified.‌‌

In‍ fact.

No‌‍⁠ matter how powerful‍‍ someone was, no⁠ one would ever‍‌ willingly fight such⁠ a reckless battle.⁠‍‍

But‌ Je Hyuno voluntarily⁠ offered himself as‍ bait, drawing every‌‍⁠ zombie toward himself.

There⁠‌ was no fear‌‌‌ in him.

Only‌ overwhelming exhilaration.

“Kiaaaah!”‍‍

The‍ zombies let out‌ bloodcurdling screams.

They‍ couldn’t even feel‍‍‍ pain.

And‍‍ yet those shrieks⁠‌ seemed filled with‍⁠ suffering.

Je‌⁠ Hyuno moved like⁠‌ a beast that‌‍ had charged into the middle of⁠ a flock.

His‍ metallic hand tore‍ through bone.

The‍⁠ wings following behind‌ it sliced through flesh.

Wherever‍‌‍ that black silhouette‍⁠ passed.

Chunks of flesh and‌ fragments of bone‍ rained down onto⁠‌ the ground.

It‍ was an utterly‍ one-sided massacre.

Je Hyuno excelled especially‌‌‍ at wide-area attacks.‌⁠

He⁠⁠ could wipe out dozens of zombies at once.

And‌ yet.

He‌ deliberately killed them‍‍ only four or⁠ five at a time.

That⁠ scene made it⁠‌ abundantly clear how‍ he had spent‌ the ten days‍‍ he had been‌ inside Dead Zone‍⁠‍ Deal before we⁠⁠⁠ arrived.

‘At⁠⁠‌ this rate, he⁠‍ won’t finish tonight.’⁠‌‌

Perhaps‍⁠ he planned to⁠ enjoy himself for⁠ a while before‍‌‌ starting the real slaughter.

Now⁠‍ that I thought‌⁠‌ about it.

Je Hyuno had been⁠‍ surprisingly restrained for several days.

I watched him for‍⁠‌ a few moments⁠ with the feeling‌ of being the‌ caretaker of a wild beast before‌ remembering Lee Gaon.⁠‍⁠

The⁠ deafening crash and‌ vibrations caused by‍⁠ Je Hyuno’s landing‍ had undoubtedly reached‌‌‌ the laboratory as‌⁠ well.

Even‌‌ so.

I didn’t think Lee⁠‍ Gaon would have any problems.

It⁠⁠⁠ wasn’t merely wishful⁠ thinking.

I genuinely felt that way.

Before⁠ preparing the laboratory’s defenses, I had‍ explained everything that⁠‍ would happen over‍‍ the next three‍ nights.

Even‍⁠ after I told⁠‌ her that hordes‍‌ of zombies would‌ arrive every night.⁠

She‌‌ didn’t show the slightest sign of‌ fear.

“I‌⁠ see, Mr. Gunbam. Have you finished‍ explaining? I’m very‍‌ busy right now.”‌

She‍ only half-listened before‌ immediately returning to⁠ her research.

It‌‍‌ seemed as though her entire ability‍ to think had been completely consumed‌‍ by her work.⁠

And‌‌ considering the circumstances.‍

It‌‍‍ was understandable.

‘She⁠ has to develop⁠⁠ both the vaccine and the cure⁠⁠ in only three days.’

Moreover,‌‌ the researchers who‍‌⁠ could have helped⁠ her had fled.⁠⁠⁠

It⁠ was a task beyond human limits.‌

But⁠ seeing the state‍ Lee Gaon was⁠ in.

I felt that she really could accomplish‌‌ it.

Just⁠‌‍ as bosses had‌ a Frenzy state.‌‍

Characters⁠ could also enter‍ an Awakening state.⁠

Although‍‌ this was the‍‍ first time I had ever seen⁠‍‌ an awakened researcher‍ in Dead Zone⁠ Deal.

‘Well,‌‌ in Lee Gaon’s‍‍ case, it feels more like Frenzy⁠‌‍ than Awakening…’

I recalled the obsessive‍‌‌ gleam in her‍⁠⁠ eyes.

No‍‌ matter what happened⁠ outside.

She‍‍⁠ would think only⁠ about her research.‌

All‍ I had to‌⁠ do was properly‍ defend the laboratory‌ from the rear.‌

I slipped the barrel‍‍ of the sniper‍⁠ rifle between the‍ rusted bars of‌ the railing and deployed the bipod.‍

Holding⁠‌ a real M24 SWS felt strange‌‌ and, at the⁠⁠ same time, oddly⁠ familiar.

Probably‌⁠ because I had‌ fired it countless⁠⁠ times in the⁠ game.

Besides,‍ Kwak Hanmuk had‌‌⁠ given me an‌‌ intensive crash course,‌‌ so even my⁠‌ shooting posture looked‌‍ fairly convincing.

I pressed my eye‍ against the scope‌‌ and searched for⁠‌ Mo Haein first.‌

Since‌⁠‍ she could no‍ longer use the Black Moon Blade⁠⁠ due to the⁠ progression of her⁠ zombification, she had⁠‌ taken a submachine⁠‌‌ gun instead.

In⁠‌⁠ the center of‍ the crosshairs appeared‌⁠ the image of‌⁠ a perfect soldier.⁠‍

She‌‌ was holding an⁠ MP5.

Two⁠ duffel bags stuffed⁠‌ with 9mm magazines‍‍ were slung across‍‍ both shoulders.

She‌ also had an⁠ ammunition belt wrapped‍ around her waist.‌‍⁠

Using‌‍ a massive stone block as cover,‌ she watched the‌⁠ zombies advancing toward‍ her.

With⁠ a steady motion,‌‍⁠ she pulled back⁠⁠ the charging handle.⁠

Clack!⁠

Immediately‍ afterward.

The⁠ barrel began to‍ spit fire.

Brrrrrrrrrrrt!‍

Shell‍ casings poured down‍‍ like a waterfall.⁠

And‌ the zombies’ heads‍‍⁠ burst apart like‌ watermelons.

Despite‍ the heavy recoil‌ characteristic of a submachine gun, Mo‍ Haein kept blowing⁠ zombies’ heads apart‌ with an expressionless‌‌ face, showing not⁠⁠ the slightest hint‌ of hesitation.

The‌ only thing that‌‍ betrayed the weapon’s‌ recoil was the‌‌ movement of her⁠⁠ short hair, which‍ whipped about violently.‍

‘As⁠⁠‌ expected of Captain‌‍⁠ Mo.’

Even‌‌ without the Black‌ Moon Blade, her skill remained extraordinary.⁠⁠⁠

I shifted the scope‍‍ toward the zombies‌ approaching from Mo‍‍‌ Haein’s blind spot.⁠‍

I took a deep⁠ breath, exhaled half‌⁠ of it, and‍ held the rest.‍

Then‍‍ I squeezed the‌‍‌ trigger with my⁠‍ index finger.

Bang!‌

The‌ barrel gave a brief jolt.

The‌⁠ zombie at the‌⁠ center of my crosshairs had its‌ head blown apart.⁠

‘Not⁠‌ bad at all.’‍⁠

Perhaps‌ thanks to the Trial’s physical adjustments,⁠ although I wasn’t⁠‍ at the same‌ level I had been in the‍⁠ game, I seemed‌⁠ capable of performing‌ quite well as‍ a sniper.

I immediately worked the⁠ bolt.

A still-hot shell casing‌⁠‍ rolled across the⁠⁠ ground as a fresh round slid⁠⁠ into the chamber.

At⁠‍ that moment, a loudspeaker boomed.

“Testing,‍⁠ testing. Attention, dear‌⁠ zombies. This is‌ the announcement service‌⁠ speaking.”

Sitting⁠⁠ in the driver’s⁠ seat of the‍‍ jeep with half⁠‍‌ his body hanging⁠ out the window,‍‍‍ Kwak Hanmuk shouted⁠ through a megaphone.⁠‍

“All‌⁠ zombies are requested to proceed immediately to the central‍ area, where Lieutenant‍ Colonel Je Hyuno⁠‌ is located. We‍⁠‌ repeat. We would‍ greatly appreciate it‍ if you would‌ all head to‍‌ the center.”

Naturally,⁠ the zombies began‍⁠‍ converging on the‍ jeep from which‍ the amplified voice‍‌⁠ was coming.

Completely‍ unfazed, Kwak Hanmuk‌⁠‍ continued making announcements‍ while steering with‌ one hand.

And‍⁠‌ then.

He‌ drove the jeep⁠ straight toward Je‌‍ Hyuno.

Several‍‍ times the zombies came within inches‍⁠ of catching him.‍‌

But every time he barely managed to⁠‍‌ knock them away‌‌ with his rosary.⁠‌

I hurriedly took out⁠ several zombies with⁠‌ my sniper rifle‍‌‌ as well, easing the pressure on‍‌ him.

Driving‌ as if performing‍⁠‌ stunts, Kwak Hanmuk‌⁠ ended up leading‍ an enormous horde‌ directly to Je‍‍‌ Hyuno.

“Lieutenant‍ Colonel!”

Kwak‌‍⁠ Hanmuk roared through the megaphone.

“Quit‌‌ playing around and‌ get to work!”‍

Je‍ Hyuno, who until‌‌ then had been⁠ cheerfully enjoying his indiscriminate zombie massacre,⁠ spread his metallic‌ wings.

Metal‍‍ feathers shot out‍‍ from them with⁠⁠ a sharp sound.‌

They‌‍‌ pierced the foreheads‍ of dozens of‌‌ nearby zombies, who⁠‌‍ collapsed instantly.

The⁠⁠⁠ metallic feathers cleanly‌‌‌ pierced their skulls and, after slicing‌ through bone with‌ precision, smoothly returned⁠‌‌ to the wings.

-_-‌

An‌ emoticon expressing apparent⁠‍ annoyance appeared on‌⁠ Je Hyuno’s goggles.⁠⁠‍

Even so, he beat‌‍ his wings and⁠⁠ soared into the⁠ air.

Once‌ he reached a considerable height, he‍ raised his metallic hand.

I quickly sent him‌⁠ a message through⁠ the system.

Captain‍‍ Mo is near‌‌ the church.

I sent it because‌ he looked ready‍‌ to unleash an‍ attack without considering‍⁠ Mo Haein’s position.‌‍

Je⁠ Hyuno read the⁠‌‍ system window that appeared before him⁠ and turned his⁠ gaze toward me.⁠

Then‌‌‌ he deliberately lowered‍‍ his hand in‌‍ the direction of‌‌‌ the church.

A black line more‌ than ten meters‌‍ long tore through‌‍ the ruined city.‍

That‌ line reached the‌ church where Mo⁠ Haein was.

Kwak Hanmuk, who knew perfectly well the‌ catastrophe that was‌⁠‌ about to follow,‌‍ slammed the jeep’s accelerator while shouting‍‍ into the megaphone.⁠⁠

“Captain⁠‌ Moooo!!”

He offered no explanation.‌‍⁠

He⁠⁠‌ simply shouted her‍ name.

But‌‌ the moment Mo⁠‍‍ Haein heard his‍‍ voice.

She took off running⁠ without even looking‍‌ back.

Shortly⁠‌ after she sprinted‍‍ away.

The⁠⁠‌ black line began‌ to open.

The‍ zombies standing on⁠ it split in‌ half and collapsed⁠ as their entrails⁠‍ spilled out.

Those⁠ who managed to⁠‌‌ avoid it fared⁠ no better.

“Kaaagh!”‍

“Kreeeeh!”‍‍

The⁠‌ buildings and the‍ ground split apart.‍⁠

The⁠ zombies plunged into‌⁠⁠ a bottomless darkness.⁠⁠⁠

No‌⁠ one knew how‌ deep the earth‌‍ had been torn‌⁠‍ open.

The⁠ zombies that fell‌‌ never came back‌ out.

Several⁠ hundred were erased‌⁠‌ from existence in‌ a single instant.‍

Even⁠‍⁠ the immense zombie‌ tide lost its⁠ momentum.

A system window appeared.‌

First‌⁠ Defense Completed.
(Defenses‌⁠‌ Completed: 1/3)

We‌ had already eliminated⁠ all the zombies‍‍ required to complete‍‌‍ the first night.

But⁠⁠ Je Hyuno didn’t⁠ stop.

He⁠ brought both metallic‍‌ hands together as‌‍ though he were‌ about to clap.

Clang!⁠

The‌ impact rang out‍‍ clearly.

Then came an unpleasant‍‍ metallic screech.

As‍‍ though enormous steel‍ plates were scraping‍ against one another.⁠

The⁠⁠ strange sound stopped⁠⁠ seeming like mere‌ noise when Je‍‌ Hyuno separated his‌ hands.

Between them writhed countless‌⁠ tiny black crescents,‌‌‌ like a swarm‍ of insects.

They‍‌⁠ collided with one another, emitting metallic‌‌‍ screeches while moving‌ in completely erratic⁠‍ patterns.

Then⁠‌ they began rising‍⁠ into the sky.⁠

After‌ each row ascended,‍ new crescents appeared,‍‌ continuing to multiply.

They reproduced so quickly‌‌ that it was‌ impossible to follow⁠ them with the naked eye.

In an instant they‌ covered the entire sky.

The‍‍ heavens, where traces⁠‌⁠ of twilight still‍‌⁠ lingered, darkened as⁠ though it were‌‌ midnight.

Screech…⁠‍‌

Screech…‍‍

Screeeech…

That‍ horrifying sound mercilessly‍ assaulted my ears.⁠

As⁠ if that weren’t⁠‍‌ enough, the zombies also became agitated‍‍‍ by the metallic‌ noise and began‍‍ howling.

Suppressing‍‌ the urge to⁠ cover my ears,‍ I kept watching⁠ Je Hyuno.

Once⁠⁠‍ the entire sky⁠⁠ was covered by‌‍‍ those black crescents.‌

Je‍‍‍ Hyuno finally stopped‌ creating more.

He‍⁠ slowly closed his‍‍⁠ metallic hand.

Following⁠‌ the movement of his fingers, the⁠⁠ countless black crescents⁠⁠ began scraping against‌‌‌ one another, producing‌‍ a terrifying sound.

Just when I felt‌ they had reached‌‌ their limit.

He‌ opened his hand.‌

As‌⁠ though he had‌ released the reins.⁠

Then‍ a black rain fell.

It looked like a meteor shower.

And‍‌‌ when that brief‌⁠ downpour ended.

“…”

I was left speechless.‌‍

Every‌‍‌ zombie within my‍ sight was dead.⁠⁠‍

Ding.‌

Another⁠ system window appeared.‌

Second Defense Completed.
(Defenses Completed: 2/3)

…What‌ the hell.

I dropped the sniper⁠⁠ rifle and sprang‍ to my feet.‌⁠

At first glance, the‍‌‌ Three Days of‌ Death mission required⁠‍ defending the laboratory‌‌‍ for a full⁠ three days.

But in reality, it‌ was possible to‍‌ advance the phases.‌

If‍ you killed enough⁠‌ infinitely spawning zombies, the system counted⁠‌⁠ the defense as⁠⁠ complete.

To‍ earn the first‍ defense, you needed‍ to kill ten‍‍ thousand zombies.

And⁠‌ to earn the‍ second.

One‍‌ million.

I only knew that‌‍‍ number because of hidden information obtained⁠‌‍ through a side‌ quest.

I had never managed‌ to reach it.‌

Because‌⁠‌ it was an‍ absolutely impossible number.‌‍

Unless‍⁠‍ you used cheats.⁠‍

And‍ yet.

Je‌ Hyuno had just⁠ reached that impossible number.

As‍ I stood there‌ in a daze, staring at the‍‍‌ completed defense window.⁠⁠

Somber⁠‌ music began to‍‍ play.

It⁠ was the music‍ that signaled the‍ start of the‍‌ third battle.

And‍⁠ the appearance of⁠‌ the final boss⁠‌ of Dead Zone‌ Deal.

[Nothing.]⁠

The‍⁠‍ zombies’ corpses began‌⁠ to writhe.

Flesh⁠ and bone blended‍‍ together as though‍ they were clay.⁠‌

They‌‍ absorbed not only⁠‌‌ human remains.

But⁠‍‍ also steel beams,⁠ stone blocks, plastic.‍‍

All⁠⁠ kinds of debris‍⁠⁠ scattered throughout the‌‍ area were devoured‌ to give birth‌ to a new‍⁠‌ existence.

That‍⁠ nightmarish monstrosity grew‍⁠ rapidly.

Until‌ it became larger‍ than the laboratory‍⁠ itself.

I looked up at‌ Nothing in complete⁠ bewilderment.

‘Wasn’t‍‍‍ it much smaller‌‌ in the game…?’‍‍

Hundreds⁠ of eyes protruded from its viscous⁠ surface.

They‌⁠‍ were the zombies’‌‍ eyes.

Each‍⁠ one looked in‌‌⁠ a different direction.

Until,‍⁠ suddenly.

They all stopped.

Every‌‌ single one of‍ them was staring⁠‌⁠ at me.

I didn’t even have‌‌ time to shudder.‌‌

“…!”‌‍

My body was yanked off the ground‍⁠ in an instant.‍‍

Looking‍ up, I discovered‌⁠ Je Hyuno flying overhead while skillfully⁠ holding me by‍‍ the ammunition belt‌⁠‍ around my waist‌⁠ with his metallic‍‍⁠ hand.

“Goyo.”⁠‍⁠

Je‌⁠‌ Hyuno spoke in‍ a voice full⁠ of amusement.

“Don’t⁠ die.”

And‌‍ then he flew‌ directly above the⁠⁠‍ final boss.

“Ahhh, Lieutenant Colonel!!”

And⁠ he dropped me.⁠