Surviving the Apocalypse as an All-Time Best Overpowered Necromancer - 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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Episode 108
108. A Day in December (9)
“How is Captain Kim Tae-sik doing?”
The moment the man spoke, Park Mu-jin’s expression hardened and he released a torrent of Mana.
Bang.
Immediately after, a deafening explosion erupted between them.
The Mana they’d unleashed collided in midair.
“…Thanks to you, he’s doing very well indeed.”
“I see.”
Despite the repulsive force that should have come from the collision of Mana, neither man moved from his spot as they continued their conversation.
“Your skills have improved quite a bit since we last met.”
Park Mu-jin didn’t bother to reply.
Was he nervous?
Just as the thought crossed his mind—
A message appeared before Lee Gang-hyuk’s eyes.
[He belongs to the Chungmuro Alliance’s Vanguard. There’s definitely a main force somewhere nearby. I’ll handle this, so please stop them with Team 2.]
‘The Vanguard?’
Lee Gang-hyuk’s expression froze as he read Park Mu-jin’s message.
The Vanguard—they were surely advance troops sent ahead to scout the enemy’s position and conduct preliminary skirmishes before a full war.
Which meant…
The Chungmuro Alliance was preparing for war just as the Jungnang-gu Alliance was.
‘I thought they’d wait until winter passed…’
Heavy snow was falling, so he’d judged that Chungmuro couldn’t move easily either. But now that the Vanguard had supposedly arrived nearby, his face stiffened involuntarily.
‘This is no time to hesitate.’
Worry wouldn’t improve the situation.
So Lee Gang-hyuk relayed what Park Mu-jin had told him directly to Jeong A-ram in a message.
[Understood. I’ll wait on the seventh floor. We’ll regroup there.]
“…”
He nodded.
The moment he received Jeong A-ram’s reply, he sent messages to Seo Hwa-rin and Kang Pil-du as well, then withdrew as quietly as possible.
And so…
While descending the emergency stairwell—
Crash!
Boom-boom-boom-boom.
“Ugh.”
A series of tremendous explosions echoed from above, and the building began to shake.
Park Mu-jin and the man must have clashed.
“Let’s hurry.”
“Yes!”
“Right.”
Convinced that even if Park Mu-jin faced someone strong, their numerical superiority would guarantee victory, they headed for the seventh floor.
Shortly after—
When the three arrived on the seventh floor, Yu Seol-hwa and Jeong A-ram approached them.
“What’s the situation?”
At Yu Seol-hwa’s question, Lee Gang-hyuk shook his head.
“I came down partway, so I’m not sure of the details. But with our numerical advantage, they should wrap it up quickly and be back.”
As Yu Seol-hwa and Jeong A-ram exhaled in relief, Lee Gang-hyuk asked in return:
“Do you know anything about the Vanguard?”
At the question, Jeong A-ram nodded and answered.
“I’ve heard of it once before. It’s composed of five teams of three members each, and their average level is around 25, or so I’ve heard.”
“Fifteen people around level 25… No, excluding the three up there, that’s twelve.”
Twelve Awakeners from Chungmuro.
They had fifteen people here, plus Skeletons, Electric, and Lim Jae-beom as well.
This was manageable.
‘That’s probably why Captain Park Mu-jin made the request.’
His confidence lasted only a moment before Yu Seol-hwa’s expression hardened rapidly.
“They say they’ll arrive in five minutes. They seem to be hurrying after hearing the noise.”
At those words, Lee Gang-hyuk’s eyes snapped wide as he thought of those he’d left on the first floor.
“Tell the people outside to stand by. We’ll wait here. The moment they enter through the stairwell, we hit them with a surprise attack and encircle them.”
“Will just two people be all right?”
When Lee Gang-hyuk laid out the plan, Yu Seol-hwa questioned him. She seemed concerned about the two who would regroup with them after the ambush and encirclement.
“I’m planning to send these down first. If those two strike and retreat upward with them, the enemy won’t be able to do anything.”
As he spoke, Lee Gang-hyuk gestured to the creatures he’d tamed, then descended to the fourth floor to hide them before the Chungmuro Vanguard arrived.
They’d heard the sound of fighting and would be rushing up in a hurry, so they’d likely come straight up the stairwell.
Even if they were cautious and searched floor by floor, there would be no real problem.
They’d simply attack them then.
‘Jumping down from four floors up would hurt pretty bad, wouldn’t it?’
Even for an Awakened body, jumping from the fourth floor would be a burden, making it hard for them to escape easily. With this judgment made, Lee Gang-hyuk positioned the Skeletons and returned to the seventh floor.
“Tell those two that the Skeletons are on the fourth floor and to open the door when they come up. They can’t open it themselves.”
“Understood. I’ll tell them right now.”
Yu Seol-hwa nodded at his words and relayed the message to those outside.
Then she drew her weapon and waited for the Chungmuro Vanguard to enter the building.
Shortly after—
When twelve Awakeners were spotted approaching through the window, everyone held their breath.
* * *
“Hold.”
Click.
The moment he arrived in front of the building, Yu Seok-ho, the captain of the Vanguard, furrowed his brow as if sensing something amiss and surveyed the surroundings.
“Hmm. Too quiet.”
He’d already received word that Park Mu-jin was engaged on the topmost floor.
But…
Park Mu-jin, having recognized Kim Woo-seok, would certainly know of their presence as well.
So why would he leave the rear undefended?
As he contemplated this impossible scenario, a subordinate stepped forward.
“Should we check the surroundings?”
At the subordinate’s question, he paused to consider, then shook his head as if he’d made a decision.
“Forget it. Rescuing the Kim Woo-seok team comes first. We go up immediately.”
“Yes!”
With those words, they entered the building.
“…”
Slip.
The two people hiding nearby quickly followed as the group entered.
The plan was to trap them with the Skeletons on the fourth floor the moment they climbed the stairs.
And so—
The instant the two stepped inside the building—
Whistle-thud!
Thwack, thwack!
Two arrows flew in, piercing through their thighs.
“Gack.”
The two collapsed from the ambush, and Yu Seok-ho, who’d been hiding, revealed himself.
“Tch. To think Park Mu-jin would leave only two rats behind. He’s gotten dull. Deal with them.”
“Yes!”
As the ordered soldiers charged, the two—seeing death was inescapable—activated their skills.
“Power Attack!”
“Burst Punch!”
The two aimed their skills not at the enemy but at the floor, and when the skills struck, a tremendous sound erupted.
Crash!
Crash!
“Ugh.”
They’d meant to signal those waiting above, but the moment they used their skills, their necks were severed and they died.
“There must be more rats nearby. Search every floor! They’re definitely hiding somewhere.”
“Yes!”
* * *
Crash!
Crash!
“!!”
The moment she received word that the Chungmuro Vanguard had arrived, Yu Seol-hwa’s expression froze at the consecutive explosions that followed.
She sensed the death of the two.
Grr.
Having lost two people so meaninglessly, Yu Seol-hwa gritted her teeth and spoke to Lee Gang-hyuk.
“…It seems they detected the ambush.”
At her words, Lee Gang-hyuk grasped the nature of the explosions and furrowed his brow as he gave orders to the Skeletons.
Though they were on a different floor, the Command Domain Effect allowed him to issue orders easily.
‘Attack the moment the door opens.’
Tap.
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
After giving the order, Lee Gang-hyuk released a Bone Bead from his bag, letting it drop.
Since they’d seen through the ambush, they’d be on guard.
The plan was to lure them into complacency when they saw the Bone Bead had no effect, then strike in that moment.
‘Damn it.’
Meanwhile, he found himself wondering if things had been like this from the start, whether those two would still be alive, and self-reproach began to eat at him.
Seeing this, Yu Seol-hwa placed a hand on Lee Gang-hyuk’s shoulder and shook her head.
The meaning was clear: their deaths were not his fault.
Nod, nod.
Lee Gang-hyuk gave a bitter smile and nodded, and soon after, he felt the Skeletons enter combat.
“Tactical Processing!”
Having entered combat mode, Lee Gang-hyuk used his skill to rapidly reshape the Bone Beads he’d scattered on the stairs.
Flash—!
“Ahhhhh!”
“My eyes!”
“You damnable bastards!”
As the Bone Beads transformed and emitted light, the Chungmuro Alliance members screamed.
But it was only brief.
As spikes erupted from the Bone Beads that were emitting light, those who were blinded and couldn’t dodge were pierced right through.
“Gack.”
“Hack.”
[You have neutralized a Chaotic Alignment Awakener.]
[You have neutralized a Chaotic Alignment Awakener.]
With dying screams, two notifications appeared.
Two had been killed by this attack.
At the same time—
The Skeletons came to a halt. There were no more enemies around them.
“Tactical Processing!”
Boom-boom-boom.
Using the skill again to remove the spikes, Lee Gang-hyuk turned to those waiting and shouted.
“Those bastards seem to have gone around the opposite stairwell. We’ll handle this side, so please cover the opposite stairwell. We’ll join you shortly.”
Whoosh—!
The moment she heard Lee Gang-hyuk’s words, Yu Seol-hwa whistled and moved to the opposite side.
“Let’s head down. We’ll regroup with the Skeletons, then cut through the lobby and flank them from behind.”
“Yes!”
“That’s good.”
Since there were no enemies on the fourth floor where the Skeletons were waiting, the three quickly descended the stairs and immediately took the Skeletons down to the lobby.
As expected—
The Chungmuro Alliance members were nowhere to be seen, having apparently retreated to avoid the Bone Beads.
Just as Lee Gang-hyuk was about to move to the opposite side, something came flying from outside the building.
Whistle-thud—!
Click! Click!
The Bone Shielders blocked the front, raising their shields.
Thwack—!
‘So they never had the intention to push through from the start.’
Seeing the arrows embedded in the shields, Lee Gang-hyuk understood that the Chungmuro Alliance members had retreated outside the building rather than going to the opposite side.
‘Are they abandoning those upstairs?’
Just as such a thought crossed his mind—
Clang! Clang!
“You rats!”
“I’ll give what hangs between your legs to the dogs! Ha ha ha!”
Mocking jeers came, as if they were taunting by striking their shields.
“…”
Just as they’d tried to use the narrow confines of the stairwell to attack the enemy, these ones seemed intent on using the advantage of the plaza in front of the building. Lee Gang-hyuk’s brow furrowed.
But something felt wrong. It seemed as if they were deliberately trying to draw his attention outside the building.
‘Six?’
Uneasy, he first counted the enemies outside, and that’s when Electric and Lim Jae-beom used their skills.
Whoosh.
The water summoned by Lim Jae-beom spread in all directions, and above it, Electric’s Spark fell.
Crackle-crackle-crackle.
Crackle.
“Ahhhhh!”
A man hidden nearby screamed and revealed himself.
He was a Concealment-type Awakener like Kang Pil-du.
“How dare you!”
Seeing this, Kang Pil-du lunged at the paralyzed man and severed his neck.
“Gack.”
Thud.
[You have neutralized a Chaotic Alignment Awakener.]
As the man died and a notification appeared, Lee Gang-hyuk hastily cleared it away and surveyed the situation.
‘Three dead, six outside. Where are the rest?’
There should have been twelve of them.
But only six were visible.
With three unaccounted for, Lee Gang-hyuk used a Water Snake to check the surroundings.
‘Nothing.’
There was nothing nearby.
‘Could all three be Concealment-type Awakeners?’
The moment doubt arose—
“Whoosh!”
Yu Seol-hwa’s team, having come down the opposite stairwell into the lobby, launched their attack.
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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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