Player of a Ruined World - Chapter 23

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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 023
This was a skill that felt like a last resort before death itself.
With Frenzy in my current state, I could even defeat the Water Demon in a one-on-one fight.
The problem was that this skill wasn’t purely advantageous.
When I activate Frenzy, I lose all reason and rampage in a murderous frenzy to kill Zombies.
A skill where I can’t predict where I’ll go while its effects persist.
‘If Frenzy wears off in a place full of Zombies… I’ll be completely defenseless for 12 hours.’
For 12 hours, the Zombies would tear my body apart, and my corpse would vanish from this world.
If I died while asleep, I wouldn’t even know I was dead.
It was the same in No Way Home.
When I activate Frenzy, my character stops responding to my key inputs and hunts Zombies like a madman.
Then when the effect ends, I collapse like a film cutting out, and the Zombies tear me apart until I die.
No matter how you look at it, the risk is enormous.
But I know how to use this skill.
The method to maximize Frenzy’s advantages.
This is… what I should consider a gift from Gaia.
“Select skill Frenzy.”
[Are you sure you want to select the skill ‘Frenzy’?]
“Yes.”
[Once a skill is learned, it cannot be undone.]
“I understand.”
[You have learned the skill ‘Frenzy Lv.1’!]
[If you wish to enhance your skill, please say ‘Skill Enhancement’.]
When I raise my Epidermis stat to 100, a skill is generated.
And when I reach 110?
Even if bitten by Zombies from the first episode, my skin won’t be pierced.
I won’t die even if I sleep on the street for 12 hours or get bitten and torn apart by Zombies.
“That was truly insane.”
This was information only known by those who had played No Way Home and those who had invested in the Epidermis stat.
No matter how much someone played as Buster in the game, most would give up without enduring the early growth phase.
So much so that even those curious enough to invest in Epidermis would leave comments like this.
-No Way Home questions are crazy.
-I leveled Epidermis to 70 but there’s no effect. What is this?
└Why would you level that? If you’d put those points into Strength, you could one-shot most Zombies lol
└No lol if it’s a Zombie-killing game, you should use weapons. Why level Strength at all? Are you braindead?
-That’s why people ask about Buster. They wouldn’t ask these questions with other characters.
└Exactly. With so many characters to choose from, why Buster specifically?
└Lol Dumbmeliers don’t know about that lol
└It’s not that they don’t know—they enjoy it. Perverts.
It was a post from Yanben on No Way Home.
To that extent, I would be seen as a deviant by other players.
Someone who attempts things no one else does, things no one else is curious about.
I received plenty of criticism in Yanben, and out of spite, I didn’t share the information that a skill is created when Buster’s Epidermis stat exceeds 100.
So it’s information only known by people who, like me, tried things one by one.
Most people followed the game story, and there was no one who played No Way Home like me, hunting zombies on the streets for no reason.
Even if there were, a deviant who hunted over 10,000 zombies and invested all those points into Epidermis… probably doesn’t exist.
I don’t know how many people know this information, but wouldn’t those who do know have chosen Buster?
I first discovered Frenzy when my Epidermis stat was at 600.
The zombies had grown enough that I hadn’t invested enough Epidermis stat to endure being bitten.
Thanks to that, as I mentioned earlier, I collapsed after an hour and was torn apart by zombies, meeting Yuda Hee.
But now it’s still the first episode where the zombies’ physical abilities haven’t increased.
And my Epidermis stat is 110—enough that it won’t be pierced even if bitten by a zombie.
Even if I collapse for 12 hours, I won’t die unless I collapse in a Mutant’s lair.
As long as only Mutants don’t appear while I’m unconscious.
As long as my luck isn’t absolutely terrible.
I can survive collapsing on the street for 12 hours after using Frenzy.
And when I wake up, I’ll be able to confirm the points I’ve acquired at an absurd rate.
I’ve steadily obtained first-clear bonuses and climbed to a stable trajectory smoothly.
No, I climbed at an absurd rate.
Now it’s time to receive the reward for that effort.
“How many points do I need to strengthen Frenzy?”
[To strengthen the skill Frenzy, 100,000 points are required.]
In the game, strengthening Frenzy required 30,000 points.
Both Balhwa and Frenzy are almost three times more expensive than in the game.
Does that mean the effects are that much greater in reality?
Knock, knock.
Following the sound of knocking on the door, I lifted my head.
“Doyun, we’re ready.”
Park Sangil’s voice came from beyond the door.
“I’m coming out now.”
With a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped out.
“Everyone has their weapons, right?”
“Yes!”
Six people stood waiting for me, fully armed.
People wearing weapons and protective gear crafted by the Maker.
Park Sangha spoke with a regretful expression.
“We don’t have enough points to equip everyone. I didn’t realize protective gear would have five parts.”
“Did everyone here receive both protective gear and weapons?”
“Yeah, for now six people. I crafted protective gear for you too, so that’s protective gear for seven people total.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Those who chose Maker are running on empty points now.”
Now that I think about it, how many Makers are there anyway?
With everything in chaos, I hadn’t even learned the Survivors’ character abilities.
When I asked people about their character abilities, they all answered willingly.
Out of ten high school students, five were Shooters, and the remaining five were Makers.
All five middle school students were Healing Factors, and among the five Elders, one was a Shooter and the remaining four were Whispers.
This… is actually a better combination than I expected?
Whispers weren’t necessary right now, but once the second episode began, they would be essential to every party.
I’d already been concerned about lacking Whispers as our numbers grew, but it seemed the Elders could serve as our informants.
“This feels… strange somehow?”
“You’ll get used to it soon.”
Park Sangil, unfamiliar with the protective gear he’d equipped, made an awkward expression while repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fists.
Protective equipment could be divided into five areas.
Chest protection covering the chest, back, abdomen, and waist.
Arm protection guarding the shoulders and upper arms.
Forearm protection worn like gloves, extending to the forearms.
Thigh protection covering the pelvis and thighs.
Shin protection extending from the ankles to the shins.
Apparently, weapons and protective gear were only crafted for those participating in the Mutant hunt.
Everyone wanted to go, so they even drew lots.
A total of six people were selected.
The three brothers, one Elder, and two high school students.
Lee Kwanghyun approached me with a bitter expression.
“I want to go too, but…”
Lee Kwanghyun showed me a blank white piece of paper.
It seemed you could only participate in the hunt if your paper had a circle mark on it.
Since protective gear could be crafted later by accumulating more points, there was no need to rush.
I reassured him that it was fine and spoke to the people in the living room.
“Then the rest of you, please protect Building 118. Zombies can’t enter the Safe House, but Mutants can enter anytime.”
“I’m sorry we can’t go with you.”
People offering their apologies one after another.
Did they really need to apologize for something decided by lottery?
I was already grateful for their earnest commitment.
“There’s no need to apologize. It was drawn fairly.”
“…”
“You all gave your all for four hours to activate the Safe House, so please recover your strength while we’re away.”
After finishing my words, I walked straight toward the entrance.
Park Sangil gave a few instructions to those remaining in Building 118, embraced Kyeongeo, and came out into the hallway.
“Sangil hyung.”
“Hm?”
“Did you put on the protective gear and confirm the stat increase?”
“Of course. The boost was incredible.”
Once I equipped protective gear on all parts of my body, my stats surged dramatically.
My health, strength, and agility each increased by 10 points.
The protective gear also becomes bound to the wearer, so no one else can use it.
Since we can upgrade it later through the Maker, as long as they don’t die, they’ll grow stronger.
The equipment crafting consumed 500 points per body part.
These people obtained a +10 boost to all stats for 2,500 points.
Park Sangha approached me next and handed me something.
“Here, this is yours.”
“Thank you.”
I accepted the protective gear from Park Sangha and equipped it all right there.
Then a System Message appeared before my eyes.
[You have equipped all protective gear.]
[Strength, health, and agility increase by 10, and the equipment you are currently wearing is bound to you.]
[You can upgrade your protective gear through the Maker in the future.]
Zzzt—!
At that moment, static electricity crackled from the protective gear I was wearing, and this message notification appeared.
[Buster’s ability resists the protective gear’s effect!]
[The stat increase effect is reduced by half.]
[Strength, health, and agility increase by 5.]
Yeah, this is Buster for you.
It’s not garbage for nothing.
While everyone else’s stats increased by 10, Buster’s only increased by 5, half the amount.
According to the No Way Home character settings, Buster has an inherent stat growth and possesses a resistance to protective gear effects.
Because the game developer included this setting, Buster became even more marginalized in people’s attention.
After equipping all the protective gear, I repeated sitting down and standing up to confirm there was no discomfort in my movements.
Regardless of what material it was made from, it was light like thin fabric and elastic like rubber.
Including myself, seven elite members equipped with protective gear and weapons gathered on the first floor of Building 118.
I asked the Elderly Grandfather and the high school students.
“Could you all tell me your names?”
Before we departed, I asked for their names.
If the one in Building 204 was Uidae-jong, then knowing their names would make it easier to identify them when Uidae-jong transformed into their appearance.
The Elderly Grandfather in his sixties smiled faintly and opened his mouth.
“Isn’t it a bit late for introductions?”
“…I apologize. I’ve been too preoccupied.”
“Just kidding. You’re quite serious, aren’t you?”
“…”
“The name’s Gwak Cheolmin.”
Gwak Cheolmin, the grandfather, sheathed his curved sword and extended his hand for a handshake.
It was the name of the Elder I had asked to set up the barricade.
After shaking hands with him and looking at the high school students, the two straightened their postures and introduced themselves.
“I’m Kim Suhan, and this is Kang Haneul.”
The two high school students who had moved alongside me when clearing out the Zombies in the district.
“I’m sorry for the late introduction—I’m Baek Doyun. I look forward to working with you.”
“Yes! We look forward to it as well!”
After the brief introductions, we moved toward Building 204.

* * *
Whoooosh—!
As we moved through the rain toward Building 204, I checked the 3D terrain map.
Building 118 was located on the right side of the district, while Building 204 was on the left.
With over 2,000 households in this Large Apartment Complex, the distance between buildings was considerable.
“Safe House status.”
[Current Survivors: 64]
[Danger Zone: Building 204]
Building 204 still maintained 64 survivors.
Just in case, I had brought Molotov cocktails as well, and it seemed the Mutant was indeed in Building 204.
The survivor group from Building 118, including myself, numbered 38, which meant there were 26 people in Building 204.
“Everyone, please gather over here.”
Before entering Building 204, I called my group to Building 108 across the way.
Park Sangil asked while shaking the moisture from his hair.
“Has the Safe House status changed?”
“No. I have some additional information to share about the Mutant.”
My group then listened intently to my explanation.
“When you encounter a Mutant, you must kill it in one swift strike if possible. The Mutant reveals its true form once it’s discovered by humans.”
“True form? It has a different real appearance?”
“Yes. It looks like a Gakdagwi.”
At the mention of looking like a Gakdagwi, Park Sangil made a disgusted sound and frowned.
The high school students, unfamiliar with what a Gakdagwi was, tilted their heads in confusion and asked.
“What’s that? A Gakdagwi?”
“Have you ever seen an insect that looks like a mosquito with long, thin limbs?”
“Ah… so that’s a Gakdagwi?”
“Yeah, just imagine a person that looks like that.”

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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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