Player of a Ruined World - Chapter 58

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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 058
A decent Skill had emerged.
It was a Skill that couldn’t be left out when talking about Buster.
Crackle—
—Doyun, how much longer? There are some suspicious figures over there.
Park Sangil’s voice urging me on.
I picked up the radio and responded.
“Preparations complete. Let’s begin.”
—Moving in first.
Vroooom—!
Vehicle 2 surged forward at maximum acceleration.
It plowed relentlessly through the zombie corpses scattered across the street and all manner of debris.
“…!”
“…!!”
Voices of people heard from a distance.
I couldn’t make out exactly what they were shouting, but they seemed panicked at the sight of Vehicle 2.
Bang!! Rat-a-tat!! Bang—! Bang!!
Simultaneously, gunfire erupted, and I could see sparks ricocheting off Vehicle 2’s exterior plating.
It seemed like pistol fire, but it was impossible to penetrate the modified vehicle’s armor with mere handguns.
Crash!!! Screech— Thud— Clang!!
As Vehicle 2 rammed through the barricade, the sound of everything shattering and collapsing reached us here.
Kim Suhan kept his eyes fixed forward, shifting the vehicle into drive as he asked.
“Doyun’s brother, we have an opening. Should we go in now?”
“Wait. Not until all of them follow Vehicle 2.”
“….”
“Anyone coming out of the buildings?”
“There seem to be a group of them in the building in front of the barricade. I saw light from the windows.”
“Light?”
“The kind of light you see when guns are fired.”
Were they talking about muzzle flashes?
“Have they come outside?”
“We should watch a bit longer to be sure.”
Screams and roars echoed from a distance, along with the relentless sound of Vehicle 2’s engine RPM climbing.
Vehicle 2 was tearing through the enemy group’s main position without restraint.
Vroooom—! Vroooom!
Thud— Clang! Screech— Crash!!
Gunfire continued without pause as Vehicle 2 smashed through the opposite barricade and burst outside.
Crackle—
—Doyun! Something’s wrong here!
Park Sanghun’s voice came through the radio.
Park Sangil kept his focus on driving, so Park Sanghun grabbed the radio instead.
“What exactly seems off about it?”
-These guys calling themselves an organization, their base is way too underdeveloped.
“Their modifications are suspiciously good though.”
-No, that’s not it. The people actually participating in combat are few, and they don’t have much in terms of weapons.
“….”
-And… most of the people here look way too thin. Seems like they can’t even get enough food.
After hearing Park Sanghun’s explanation, I asked with confusion.
“Are the ones carrying pistols also thin?”
-No, those guys look healthy.
“Leave the ones without weapons and no intent to attack alone. They’re likely captured Maker personnel.”
-Big brother! Did you hear what Doyun said?
-Busy!
The radio was filled with various static and noise.
Since something was constantly being smashed and destroyed, the clattering sounds and the noise of bullets hitting the outer panel all came through the radio.
Then Park Sanghun’s voice came through.
-Doyun! I think you just need to push straight through!
“Do you need support?”
-No! Even if we escape from here, I don’t think these guys will follow us.
“You’re saying they won’t be drawn out?”
-They don’t even have vehicles to chase us with, and they’re all just hiding and shooting!
After hearing Park Sanghun’s response, I looked at Kim Suhan, and he gripped the steering wheel with both hands and stepped on the accelerator.
Vroooooom—!!
The RPM climbing sharply and the engine roar pounding against my eardrums.
“Everyone brace for impact!”
The speed rapidly climbed to 120 kilometers per hour.
It wasn’t long before the barricade came into view for me as well.
They said it was 2 meters tall, but it was easily a massive wall standing 3 meters high.
The moment the bumper touched the barricade, I found myself holding my breath without realizing it.
Crash!!!!
My entire body jolted as if I were riding in a rubber boat, and the vehicle plowed straight through the iron plates and various junk.
Honk—!! Honk! Honk honk!!
Kim Suhan blared the horn with all his might while turning the steering wheel.
Bang!! Bang bang!! Bang!!
When I saw several of them firing pistols at us, Kim Suhan executed a threatening driving maneuver toward them.
The organization members jumped to the side in startled panic.
“Brother! I can’t find the entrance!”
“Over there, over there!”
“Where is over there!”
“To the right!!”
Kim Suhan quickly engaged the handbrake and turned the wheel, then rapidly shifted into reverse gear.
Watching his right hand move with such urgency, I was left speechless.
‘Is he a genius?’
This was no technique someone driving for the first time should possess.
The vehicle rotated smoothly through a perfect 180 degrees.
Screech!
Kim Suhan quickly released the handbrake and shifted into forward gear, then slammed the accelerator with such force that my entire body was pressed back against the seat.
Roooaaarrr—!!
Following that, the entrance to Jeongneung and the ticket booth beside it came into view.
An entrance blocked by iron gates.
Crash!!!
Kim Suhan simply plowed through.
My stomach churned.
It had been so long since I’d experienced motion sickness in a car that I felt dizzy.
“I’m going to… throw up…”
“Hold it together…!”
Kang Haneul and Hwang Anbae, sitting in the back, clamped their mouths shut and swallowed the rising nausea.
Do Sohee had her hand pressed against her chest, repeating deep breaths.
Judging by her pale complexion, Do Sohee was also experiencing motion sickness.
“Doyun’s brother! There’s a building ahead!”
Looking forward again, a building came into view beyond the pouring rain.
A single building positioned directly across from Jeongneung.
I hastily opened the passenger door and spoke.
“Once I’m out, deal with anyone entering Jeongneung.”
“All of them?!”
“Anyone coming to protect the leader will definitely be working together.”
“Understood!”
Screeeech—!
Kim Suhan brought the vehicle to a stop.
Click-clack! Click-clack!
The back doors flew open as Kang Haneul, Hwang Anbae, and Do Sohee jumped out of the car.
“Why are you all getting out too?!”
“Bleeegh!”
Kang Haneul and Hwang Anbae answered with retching instead of words.
Do Sohee remained crouched on the ground, dry heaving repeatedly.
If they were desperate enough to jump out of a moving car in a situation where they might get shot… well, I couldn’t say anything more.
“I’ll check the building, so all of you hide behind the walls.”
“We can… fight too.”
Hwang Anbae spoke while wiping his mouth.
I patted Hwang Anbae on the back.
“Ughhhhhh!”
“How are you supposed to fight in that condition?”
“…I can do it.”
My body felt uncomfortable, but my eyes burned with determination.
I turned to address the students.
“The enemy is armed with guns. Don’t rush in recklessly—take cover in that brush over there. Don’t move until they get close.”
“…Yes!”
“Everyone, move out.”
My party members scattered to their positions without needing instruction, each knowing exactly where to go.
After confirming the students were hidden, I yanked open the door to the building directly ahead.
Creak!
As I threw the door open roughly, a man sitting in a cross-legged position came into view.
He sat with his back to the entrance, his spine perfectly straight.
Whoosh—
I approached from behind, gripping my curved blade.
“Who are you?”
“…”
“Who…enters this sacred place without removing their shoes?”
The man slowly turned his head.
Upon seeing his eyes, my footsteps halted involuntarily.
‘What the hell is this guy?’
This bastard had no pupils.
Where the black irises should have been, where the whites should have been—everything was dyed crimson red.
Is he even human?
“Are you Yun Taeseong?”
I asked while pointing my blade at him, and he slowly rose from his seated position.
He didn’t answer my question, instead scanning me from head to toe.
“That protective gear…”
His words trailed off, then he smirked and walked toward the wall.
He grasped a long sword hanging on the wall.
If I charged before he drew it, couldn’t I sever his neck?
But my feet wouldn’t move so easily.
My instincts were screaming.
That I shouldn’t act rashly now.
“Are you a Player too?”
The man holding the long scabbard looked at me and asked.
With his eyes completely bloodshot like that, I couldn’t even tell if he was actually looking at me.
“Why are your eyes like that?”
I asked matter-of-factly, and the man holding the scabbard tilted his head in confusion.
“That wasn’t the question I asked.”
“You answer me. Are you Yun Taeseong?”
As I gripped the sword hilt and asked, he burst into raucous laughter.
His expression wore a gentle smile, yet that smile reeked with a metallic stench.
“Why would a man about to die need to know my name?”
“I need to know. So I can give you a proper grave.”
Shing—
In that instant, the man drew his blade and rushed forward with blinding speed.
‘Fast.’
I quickly swung my curved sword to deflect his attack.
Clang—!!
A heavy impact resonated through my fingertips.
He was clearly holding a sword, yet it felt as though I’d been struck by an iron hammer.
From just a single exchange, my upper body’s balance crumbled.
I hastily steadied myself and watched his movements intently.
Thud— thud— thud!
Had this bastard trained in swordsmanship before?
His stance and footwork with the blade were far from ordinary.
But what we’re holding isn’t a practice sword.
It’s a real blade.
The rules of sport mean nothing here.
Whoosh—!
A blade descended toward the crown of my head.
I quickly twisted my torso to evade, then swung my curved sword upward with all my strength.
A precise strike aimed at his wrist.
Scrape—!
But in that split second, he used the sword hilt to protect his wrist.
It was an attack where even the smallest mistake would be fatal, yet he blocked it perfectly.
Without hesitation, I twisted the blade to target his abdomen.
Whoosh—!
Simultaneously, I felt killing intent from the nape of my neck.
‘Dangerous.’
I stopped my attack and urgently lowered my torso. By the narrowest margin, I felt the eerie sensation of a blade grazing past my hair.
I quickly widened the distance with rapid steps and looked at his face again.
An expression of perfect serenity.
“You’ve got good instincts. Where did you learn?”
A question came from the man’s lips.
I had no intention of answering each of his questions.
‘That bastard… he was willing to sacrifice his flank to take my head.’
When I twisted my blade to target his abdomen, he didn’t think of defending or creating distance.
Instead, he twisted his blade in kind to target my carotid artery.
If the attack had continued uninterrupted, my head would have been severed clean off.
That creature would survive if it received healing from the Healing Factor while still breathing, but I would face instant death with no chance of recovery.
You think I might not die in one blow since I’ve increased my epidermis and muscle strength?
No, I realized it the moment we exchanged our first blows.
The weapon he’s wielding is also a No Way Home crafted weapon.
It seems he asked the captured Makers to create weapons and protective gear for him.
He studied my face intently, then raised the corners of his mouth and asked.
“It’s been a while since someone interesting showed up.”
“….”
“What’s your identity? How are you standing there unscathed after taking my attack?”
“That’s what I should ask you. Are you human or a Zombie?”
As I furrowed my brow, he maintained an expressionless face without answering.
Those few seconds of exchanged glances stretched out like taffy, adding to the tense atmosphere between us.
He seemed to find this situation entertaining, raising the corners of his mouth as he spoke.
“Yun Taeseong. I’m human.”
Only now did this creature reveal his name.
Since I had questions for him, I lowered the tip of my sword and asked.
“Why do your eyes look like that?”
“This? I got deceived by someone.”
“Deceived?”
At first he refused to engage in conversation, but after crossing blades a few times, his attitude changed.
Yun Taeseong shrugged and continued.
“We have a No Way Home Player on our side too.”
“….”
“I asked how to become stronger, and he told me a few things. That I needed to gather Makers to obtain crafted weapons and protective gear, or that I should enhance my equipment to use better weapons.”
“….”
After hearing that, I examined the sword he was holding and the protective gear he was wearing.
Upon seeing the equipment he had equipped, my eyes involuntarily twitched.
‘How did he manage to get that…?’
How had I not noticed earlier?
Yun Taeseong was already wearing equipment that had completed its second enhancement.
I haven’t even completed the first enhancement yet, so how did he reach the second?
And we were the first to successfully complete the Awakening Episode for our profession.
How did an unawakened Maker enhance equipment?
He shouldn’t be able to equip enhanced gear in the first place.
As I swallowed hard and stared, Yun Taeseong chuckled and showed me the protective gear he was wearing.
“See it now? What do you think, isn’t it beautiful?”
“That red protective gear… Don’t tell me you’ve already completed the second enhancement?”
As I glared at Yun Taeseong and asked, he smiled faintly and spoke.
“So you were a Player after all.”
“….”
“Now you understand, don’t you?”
“….”
“You cannot defeat me.”

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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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