Editor’s Survival Guide - Chapter 79
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Editor’s Survival Rules Episode 79
ep13. Blood Raining (11)
There are times when I feel like it was all for this moment.
When I endure without knowing the meaning of my existence, only to discover a certain sentence.
When cold, ancient hatred melts away without reason under the dawn light.
When I see those newly stepping into the despair I barely escaped from.
I thought to myself.
Ah, it was all for this moment.
All of that was foreshadowing for this narrative.
Squelch-!
The sensation of stepping on air transmitted from beneath my feet.
It’s an absurd expression, but there was no other way to describe it.
The moment I crossed the rift, a world of indescribable texture greeted me.
Strangely awkward gravity.
Air with a peculiar character that was neither fragrant nor foul.
Paths and corridors that didn’t properly reflect light, making their very existence questionable.
I walked following Cha Si-eon while being conscious of these unfamiliar sensations.
As Cha Si-eon had said, the interior of the rift was tangled like a maze.
But Cha Si-eon, who had already been down this path, navigated without hesitation.
We walked for about 5 minutes like that.
Cha Si-eon turned off the searchlight.
Then light leaked in from beyond the corridor that turned ahead.
-Here, target.
Cha Si-eon communicated with hand signals.
I nodded once to indicate I understood.
Our operation was simple.
Cha Si-eon would draw the Big Cat’s attention while I picked up fragments and ran away.
We didn’t need to fight the creature to tear off pieces of the Big Cat.
Simply picking up what had fallen on the ground would be sufficient.
This was possible because the Big Cat was already in terrible condition.
I don’t know why the Big Cat ended up in this state, or why it’s trapped in a place like this instead of its own stronghold.
I have no idea about the circumstances, but this was clearly an opportunity that would never come again.
An opportunity we could neither wait for nor give up on.
So I simply think to myself.
Perhaps my sudden involvement in all this was entirely for this moment.
Yes, it’s an overly romantic fantasy.
I think so myself, but somehow I felt like everything would work out well.
Collecting the fragments and returning safely.
Using them to stop the operation of the Special Zones.
If we could end this arduous battle.
I wouldn’t mind submitting a letter of apology to the god I’d been cursing all this time.
-Test.
Cha Si-eon sent another hand signal.
It meant to first adapt to seeing the Big Cat in person.
This was a mandatory step for agents seeing the Big Cat for the first time before being deployed in operations.
I nodded and searched for the Big Cat beyond the corridor with my eyes.
In that moment, my overwhelming hope turned to despair.
That thing was.
War given substance.
The bastard child of domination and death.
A dictator wielding the father’s authority.
An executioner borrowing the mother’s breath.
Let the living worship only through death.
Praise through death.
Submit through death.
Atone through death.
Die.
Die.
Die, die die die die.
Slap-!
“….”
I snapped back to my senses after being slapped across the face.
I had somehow been dragged back inside the corridor.
And in front of me was Cha Si-eon, who had just struck my cheek.
-Breathe.
Only then did I realize I had stopped breathing.
I forced my lungs to pull in air.
After taking several deep breaths like that, my mind finally returned.
-Are you okay?
I nodded and wiped my face.
Just from seeing it, my head felt like it was being torn apart.
The pressure was incomparable to when I first saw the dangerous entities at the Train Station or Hospital.
I had heard plenty about first encounters with the Big Cat, but I never imagined it would be this intense.
After calming my mind, I sent a hand signal to Cha Si-eon.
-I’m fine. Again, test.
This time Cha Si-eon nodded, and I poked my head out toward the corridor again.
“….”
Perhaps because the initial shock had worn off.
This time I could observe with a clear mind.
Beyond the corridor was a space about the size of a high school auditorium.
Unlike the dark corridors we had passed through, this space was moderately bright.
So I could see it completely.
The wounded and collapsed Big Cat.
Its crouched body was slightly larger than a 1-ton truck.
Dense bones protruding through its skin made it look like it was clad in armor, giving it an imposing appearance at first glance.
But upon closer observation, you could see a disgustingly emaciated body beneath those bones.
Its body was smooth in a way that made it impossible to tell whether a layer of hide had been peeled off or if the inside and outside had been turned inside out.
Wire-like blood vessels were tangled haphazardly across its hairless, glossy exterior.
The sight resembled a science lab specimen with its belly turned inside out.
If that were all, its naked appearance would merely be revolting.
But the bones protruding from within had twisted its entire body into chaos.
Those bones looked like snake scales when laid flat, and like porcupine quills when standing upright.
However, due to their varying sizes and lengths, they achieved harmony in neither configuration.
Of course, the most discordant thing was its face—impossible to tell whether it wore a mask or had an exposed skull.
Why did they name it the Big Cat?
The skull protruding sharply like ears.
The thick, folded haunches.
And the sharp claws sprouting from its paw tips.
These features were somewhat similar to those of a cat.
But that was all.
It didn’t possess a single charming aspect of a cat.
Originally, that thing’s real name was “Skinned Beast.”
However, that intuitive name was changed before long.
Even if citizens knew that name, their survival rate upon encountering it would still be 0.
Moreover, Management Bureau agents also feared the “Skinned Beast.”
So they changed the name.
To make agents underestimate and confront it.
The cute name “Big Cat” was a kind of insult meant to belittle that thing.
“…”
Looking at the “Big Cat” somehow made me want to burst into tears.
It wasn’t a joke – if I stayed like this, I really felt like I’d start crying.
So I went back into the corridor and caught my breath.
-You’re doing well.
Cha Si-eon encouraged me.
But I was in too much agony to easily gain courage.
-Give me time.
-3 minutes.
Cha Si-eon responded to my hand signal.
I gratefully took those 3 minutes and breathed deeply.
Just looking at it drains my mental strength – what kind of monster is that thing?
Now I understand why Cha Si-eon tried to separate me before the “Big Cat” appeared.
Cha Si-eon knew.
He knew that people seeing that thing for the first time would receive a shock severe enough to lose consciousness.
I want to lose my mind like this too, but that won’t do.
If I miss this opportunity, the situation will return to complete uncertainty.
When “The Bleeding Island” disappears, the “Big Cat” will disappear too.
Of course, if this is a very special specimen, it might reappear in some form.
But that’s just speculation.
Even if it does appear, tracking it again and experimenting with the fragment’s effects would be too distant and complicated.
So right now, I had no choice but to pull myself together and get it done.
I suppressed my churning stomach and opened my eyes.
Then I faced the “Big Cat” for the third time.
Had I developed some immunity in the meantime?
My breathing no longer trembled.
My eyes didn’t grow hot either.
But…
Gulp-
“…?”
I swallowed hard while looking at the “Big Cat.”
For some reason, saliva had gathered in my mouth.
It was a reaction I couldn’t understand myself.
Anyway, the fear had completely disappeared.
I confirmed I had adapted and returned to send a hand signal.
-I’m ready.
Cha Si-eon nodded.
-I’ll go in first. When you hear the third gunshot, you come in too.
Cha Si-eon gave brief instructions.
I was about to nod but stopped.
Cha Si-eon looked at me wondering what was wrong, and I thought for a moment before extending my hand to him.
Then I sent a hand signal with my other hand.
-Good luck.
Unlike me who just had to grab the fragment and run, Cha Si-eon had to lure the “Big Cat” and buy time too.
A situation where he might die.
I wanted to show my respect for Cha Si-eon taking such risks.
But this guy.
Why is he just staring at me blankly?
Cha Si-eon just stared until I felt embarrassed, then arrogantly snorted.
Then he slapped my palm and just walked past.
As if asking who was worrying about whom.
What’s really wrong with this bastard?
Fine, I know you’re amazing enough.
So please stay alive and keep showing off.
Cha Si-eon crouched low and entered the space where the “Big Cat” was.
Almost simultaneously, there was a scraping sound of bones clashing.
The “Big Cat” seemed to have sensed the presence and reacted.
Bang-!
The first gunshot.
Keeeeediidididi-!
A bizarre cry followed.
But was it just my imagination?
That sound seemed familiar somehow.
Taang-!
Then the second gunshot rang out.
I caught my breath while observing the outside situation.
Cha Si-eon had been driven to a corner of the space.
No, rather than driven, he had lured it there.
The “Big Cat” chasing Cha Si-eon had moved quite far from its original position.
And where it had left was scattered with fragments that looked like broken bumpers, like a traffic accident scene.
Keeeeek-!
The “Big Cat” swung its front paw toward Cha Si-eon who was cornered.
Cha Si-eon rolled his body to dodge.
He dove between the “Big Cat’s” legs and thrust his knife between its armor-like ribs.
The caught-off-guard “Big Cat” jumped back.
Then it irritably whipped its tail like a whip and raised its head.
Krik- kik kik kik-!
A sound like winding a spring came, then the “Big Cat’s” emaciated body suddenly swelled up.
It became huge like a balloon and glowed brightly as if it had swallowed a light bulb.
I anticipated the impact and took cover inside the corridor.
Kwaang-! Bang-! Bang-! Kwakwakwakwa-!
Roars and explosions burst out in succession.
It was “Fire Breathing,” one of the “Big Cat’s” attack patterns.
Even though I had taken cover behind the wall, the impact was considerable.
The strong vibration passing through my body made my stomach lurch.
I felt nausea rising and covered my mouth.
I forced myself to swallow it and looked outside again, only to be met with a desperate scene.
The flames the “Big Cat” had spat were scattered everywhere, still burning.
Dense black smoke rose above them.
Beyond that acrid smoke, only the “Big Cat’s” hideous silhouette was visible.
I couldn’t find Cha Si-eon.
What happened to Cha Si-eon?
Is he alive?
He must be alive.
Don’t die, damn it!
I felt my heart pounding as I searched for traces of Cha Si-eon.
That’s when it happened.
Bang—!
A third gunshot rang out.
This bastard, he really was alive!
I felt relieved at Cha Si-eon’s survival and rushed out of the corridor.
The visibility was extremely limited due to the smoke, but it didn’t matter.
I had already confirmed the direction and distance earlier.
I sprinted forward just like that.
Then I swiftly snatched up a fragment of the “Big Cat” that had fallen on the floor.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Sleepy0Clock
Sallowing saliva? DONT EAT THE CAT.