Player of a Ruined World - Chapter 108

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Player of the Ruined World – Episode 108
As I sat in the vehicle checking the 3D terrain map, I wondered how far we’d traveled.
Soon the apartment’s main entrance came into view, and Park Sangil brought the vehicle to a stop as he spoke.
“I don’t see any Severing Cells. They didn’t follow us either—where did they go?”
With the Liquefaction Type present, it seemed the Severing Cells hadn’t pursued us.
If that were the case, they should be at the apartment, but I couldn’t spot them anywhere.
Crash!!
Immediately after, the sound of shattering glass echoed from the ninth floor of an apartment building diagonally ahead.
Simultaneously, something plummeted and struck the ground with a heavy thud.
Gripping my halberd, I moved toward the source of the sound and discovered a Severing Cell with its head crushed.
“Graaahhh!!”
“Cough-hack!!”
The cries of zombies echoing from the ninth floor.
Kim Hanna’s subordinates and the Severing Cells were locked in combat.
Park Sangil checked his remaining ammunition, then furrowed his brow and opened his inventory.
“I’m running low on bullets. From here on, I’ll use the crossbow.”
“Understood. Please conserve the ammunition as much as possible.”
Three red dots marked on the 3D terrain map.
The Reinforcement Type and Severing Type main body were certain, and the remaining one would be a Resonance Species.
I’d missed one Resonance Species that had been on the building’s rooftop when the Stage 5 Liquefaction Type appeared.
I then spotted Elder Chulmin and Kim Suhan rushing toward this location.
Elder Chulmin alternated his gaze between the ninth floor and the first floor, then raised his eyebrows and asked.
“Do we just need to take care of all of those?”
“No, let’s meet Kim Hanna first.”
“Wasn’t she with us?”
“It’s a long story. Let’s move for now.”
I moved ahead toward where Kim Hanna was located.
The building directly visible from the apartment complex entrance.
I rushed up to the eighth floor and burst open the front door.
Clang!
The shoe rack had definitely been full of sneakers before, but now not a single pair was visible.
Where had they all gone?
“Doyun, look there.”
Park Sangil behind me swallowed hard and pointed toward the living room.
Upon seeing the state of the living room, I too felt my throat go dry.
From the living room floor to the wallpaper, sofa, and dining table—blood was splattered everywhere.
What on earth had happened while I was away?
Elder Chulmin entered the living room to inspect the interior, then caught sight of the kitchen and his expression shifted to one of shock.
“What in the…”
Following Elder Chulmin into the kitchen, I could finally grasp what had transpired here.
Three people’s heads were crushed in.
From the way their crowns were caved in, it appeared they had their brains devoured.
Did that mean Kim Hanna had consumed three brains?
Just one more and the Quest would be complete—so why hadn’t she finished consuming the last one?
Then, suddenly, a chilling thought flashed through my mind.
I hadn’t even voiced it, yet my spine went cold and goosebumps erupted across my skin.
“What’s wrong, Baek Doyun?”
Park Sangil wore a puzzled expression, so I turned to face the group and spoke.
“Everyone, get back to the modified vehicle. Now!”
I shouted at them and was the first to move.
In all my time clearing this wretched game, had I ever felt such confusion?
Even when I suppressed the Zombie King’s rampage, I hadn’t broken into a cold sweat like this.
This is… a trap.
Click—click-click—
I turned the front door handle, but it wouldn’t open.
Even pushing with all my strength, it wouldn’t budge—as if a heavy package were blocking the entrance.
No, it wouldn’t move at all.
Then came voices from beyond the doorway.
“Got in? Got in, got in?”
“Caught it? Caught it, caught it?”
So many Severing Cells that I couldn’t even estimate their number were packed densely at the entrance, blocking the way.
They had known we’d return here and set a trap.
Hong Yeonhui in the living room couldn’t hide her shock.
“This can’t be right. They lured us here?”
“…”
“What about those Severing Cells fighting the Zombie on the ninth floor? They were clearly tearing each other apart…”
“That was bait. They were rushing us. Pushing us to come here.”
Three red dots appeared on the 3D terrain map.
The one that hasn’t moved 400 meters away from here must be a Reinforcement Type.
That’s the characteristic of a Stage 5 Reinforcement Type.
A Reinforcement Type whose ability to strengthen its subordinates has reached its extreme can no longer maintain a humanoid body.
It gives all its nutrients to its subordinates, so it removes everything except the minimum bodily functions necessary for survival.
First the lower body, then the upper body, and finally even the eyes.
Like a cocoon attached to a wall.
Like a bird’s nest.
It transforms into such a form.
And the two at 200 meters away would be the Severing Type main body and a Resonance Species.
During combat, I can’t check the 3D terrain map, so I had no way to confirm their movement paths.
While I was dealing with the Liquefaction Type, I couldn’t know where they moved or what routes they took.
‘They’ve already finished and left. So we’d let our guard down.’
The Stage 5 Resonance Species that had been on the rooftop.
If that creature had used a Skill on Kim Hanna, then my hypothesis would cease to be mere speculation.
It had turned Kim Hanna into a puppet to prevent me from consuming the hundredth brain, instructed its subordinates and Severing Cells to fight each other to hasten our steps, and deliberately cleared out the survivors so we wouldn’t notice them immediately.
Moreover, if it had withdrawn to a distance of 200 meters to lull us into complacency—
Then everything would fall into place.
“Figured it out? Figured it out. Figured it out?”
“Kek, clever. Clever?”
“Stupid, stupid?”
The mocking voices of Severing Cells echoed from beyond the entrance.
I threw all my strength into shoving the door open.
Crunch-crunch-crunch! Thud! Crack!!
I could hear bones splintering, but no space large enough for a person to escape appeared.
They would rather be crushed to death than let us out of here.
‘Why?’
I needed to find the reason they were keeping us trapped here.
Were they targeting L Tower?
Or the safe house?
‘No, the Mutants couldn’t possibly know the locations of our destination or the safe house.’
After running through a chain of interconnected thoughts, I stared at the living room with a vacant expression.
Then I cried out urgently.
“Everyone, come over here!!”
The group in the living room and kitchen rushed over to the shoe rack.
Their expressions showed complete confusion.
“Why? What is it?!”
Park Sangil’s face was etched with bewilderment.
Regardless, my gaze remained fixed on the master bedroom.
As everyone’s eyes followed mine toward the bedroom door handle—
Click.
The firmly shut door opened, and I could see a woman beyond it.
“Gack… Hack! Gack….”
The woman twisted her head, grinding her throat.
Tears streamed down her face as she contorted it in apparent agony.
It was Kim Hanna.
The group stared at her in shock, then swallowed hard and asked.
“Doyun, is Kim Hanna right now….”
“Being controlled.”
“Controlled?”
“It’s the Stage 5 Resonance Species’ ability. It can control any target it desires.”
“Is it like Whisper—do we just need to endure it for a certain amount of time?”
“So I just need to survive for a certain amount of time like with Whisper?”
When I offered no response, Hong Yeonhui beside me spoke in my stead.
“Once controlled by a Resonance Species… there’s no escape from that.”
“What?”
“Once you’re controlled, you remain controlled until death.”
“These bastards….”
Hong Yeonhui knew.
The abilities of a Stage 5 Resonance Species.
If I possessed a Skill that resisted mental derangement or status abnormalities like I did, a Resonance Species wouldn’t be a difficult opponent.
But without such a Skill… a Stage 5 Resonance Species became the worst kind of Mutant.
Because the Resonance Species’ puppet could never be freed until death.
There was only one way out.
I had to kill the Resonance Species currently controlling Kim Hanna.
The problem was that the exit was blocked, and I couldn’t kill Kim Hanna either.
I watched Kim Hanna while checking my Skill list.
The only Skill I could currently use was Balhwa.
“When I give the signal, we all move together.”
“Where to.”
“We’re jumping off the balcony.”
“…!”
“You’ve all done it before. Descending in a zigzag pattern.”
“After that.”
“We get in a car and rush to L Tower. We need to bring Sanghun back.”
“Is Whisper’s Skill stronger than a Stage 5 Resonance Species’ ability?”
“No, but it should be able to catch them off guard for a moment.”
Park Sangil clicked his tongue sharply and made a troubled expression, then Kim Suhan behind him fidgeted nervously and asked.
“You’re coming with us too, right? You’re not… trying to kill Kim Hanna, are you?”
“Can’t kill her. Most of my Skills are on cooldown. Besides, I shouldn’t kill her anyway.”
“Then you’ll be in danger, won’t you?”
“Come back within 10 minutes. Is it possible?”
“L Tower is right nearby, so it’s not impossible, but….”
“Kim Hanna’s subordinates and the Severing Cells will be on Jamsil Bridge.”
“….”
“Since these creatures are intelligent enough to think this far ahead, they must have orchestrated this situation deliberately.”
Who exactly devised such a plan?
It was true that Stage 5 Severing Types possessed intelligence.
But compared to a Stage 5 Euitaejong, it was significantly inferior.
Reinforcement Types and Resonance Species wouldn’t have this level of tactical thinking either.
Then there was only one answer.
‘These worms….’
One of the Survivors here had devised this insane plan.
The Survivors here weren’t dragged away by the Mutants.
They followed willingly.
Did they think they could survive by attaching themselves to the Mutants?
Without an Euitaejong present, there’s no way the Mutants would keep Survivors alive.
They’ll be used and discarded.
“So I just need to bring Sanghun?”
Park Sangil asked, and I answered while keeping my eyes on Kim Hanna’s movements.
“It would be best if Sanghun could restrain Kim Hanna with his Skill. Of course, we need to account for situations where auditory hallucinations won’t work either.”
“What do we do if the auditory hallucinations don’t work?”
“We’ll need to bring Vehicle 3.”
“Vehicle 3?”
“They dug pointless traps, so we need to strike back when they least expect it.”
As I spoke with a slight chuckle, Park Sangil tilted his head in confusion.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“We’ll take down the Reinforcement Type first. To do that, we’ll need three vehicles.”
….
“Vehicles 1 and 2 have already exhausted their Sandworm effect that blocks five impacts per hour, right?”
“Do we need that effect?”
“Yes.”
“We might use up all of Vehicle 3’s effect on the way back.”
Right, I’ve already accounted for that scenario.
“We still need it. While I’m dealing with the Reinforcement Type, I’ll need three vehicles to lure away the Severing Cells and Zombies.”
….
“The area where the Reinforcement Type is located has many alleys. We’ll need all three vehicles to lure them all out.”
After my brief explanation, Park Sangil nodded without hesitation.
“KRRAAAAAAHHHHH!!!”
In that instant, Kim Hanna charged at me with a roar.
I rushed toward Kim Hanna as well, shouting to my companions.
“Run!!”
Thud! Whoosh—Crash!!
I grabbed Kim Hanna’s right arm and threw her over my shoulder in a suplex.
My companions didn’t miss the opening and rushed toward the balcony.
After confirming they were all heading outside, I turned my attention back to Kim Hanna.
Whoosh!
I could see Kim Hanna’s arm streaking toward my carotid artery.
‘It’ll pierce through.’
I recoiled in alarm, creating distance between us.
Kim Hanna’s nails are different from ordinary Zombies.
Even with my elevated epidermis stat, if I let my guard down, they’ll pierce right through.
“Kim Hanna, can you hear my voice?”
“Grrrrrrr….”
“Kim Hanna! You need to snap out of it!”
“Kahahaack!!”
Like the street zombies craving human flesh, Kim Hanna had lost all reason.
Should I sever her limbs using the curved blade like before?
After finishing my thought, I drew the curved blade from my inventory.
Just as I was about to cut her arm—
Whoosh—!
I swung the blade toward her left shoulder, but Kim Hanna moved her head in that direction.
If I hadn’t stopped, I would have severed her neck.
Panicked, I twisted the blade and aimed for her lower body.
Slash!
Kim Hanna’s head followed the blade’s trajectory.
“Damn…!”
I couldn’t tell if it was Kim Hanna’s will or the Resonance Species commanding her.
What was certain was that I couldn’t use the curved blade.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t kill her—I couldn’t use the blade because I might kill her.
“Kim Hanna, please…!”
“Kahahaack!!”

* * *
“Hold on tight!!”
The group in the vehicle headed toward L Tower.
Park Sangil pressed the accelerator with all his might, seeing the zombies and Severing Cells blocking Jamsil Bridge.
Vrooooom—!!!
The Sandworm accelerated to 140 km/h in an instant.
Crash!!!!
Both Vehicle 1 and Vehicle 2 plowed through the zombies and Severing Cells without hesitation.
“Passing through? Passing through.”
“Breaking through? Breaking through. Breaking through?”
“So hard, so hard?”
The Severing Cells seemed bewildered by the modified vehicle’s performance.
A standard vehicle would never have been able to breach the cells’ swarm.
But these modified vehicles were specialized for breaking through obstacles, so the blades and triangular spikes attached to them were grinding the Severing Cells’ bodies apart.
Of course, their numbers were increasing through cell division, but that wasn’t important right now.
Park Sangil looked toward L Tower and asked Hong Yeonhui beside him.
“What do we do?! Without Whisper, there’s no way to contact the people up there!”
“Use the horn, use the horn!”
“What?”
“Sound the horn to alert them! They’ll figure it out and come down!”
As Park Sangil drove through Jamsil Bridge and approached the vicinity of L Tower, he began honking the horn according to Hong Yeonhui’s instructions.
Blaaare—!! Honk!!! Honk!!
Park Sangil pressed the accelerator while honking relentlessly.
Screech— screech—
“Uncle Sangil! Where are we parking the car?!”
“We’re not parking! If we stop now, we won’t be able to get back in!”
“What? Then the people on the 31st floor….”
“All we can do is hope they come down on their own!”
Park Sangil was right.
The zombies and Severing Cells chasing us.
If we stopped now, getting back in would be impossible.
The fact that the zombies and Severing Cells weren’t fighting each other proved Baek Doyun’s prediction was correct.
Kim Hanna was being controlled by a Stage 5 Resonance Species.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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