Surviving the Apocalypse as an All-Time Best Overpowered Necromancer - Chapter 19
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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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Chapter 19
19. Underground Parking Garage Subjugation Battle (4)
“The zombies have gotten faster, haven’t they?”
As they moved to tackle Grolla Bear, positioned between Basement Level 2 and 3, Seo A-rin asked upon noticing the zombies’ movements had accelerated considerably.
“Yes.”
Lee Gang-hyuk simply nodded in response.
But the two who saw his manner understood his level and smiled knowingly without a word.
‘So he acquired a skill and was thinking of hunting properly.’
‘That’s why he suddenly started hunting alone…….’
They’d grasped the reason why he’d tried to hunt alone, leaving them behind.
For that reason, the anxiety about facing Grolla Bear soon had vanished entirely.
Even before acquiring the skill, Lee Gang-hyuk had shown tremendous capability—so what would change now with this new skill in hand?
Unlike the two brimming with anticipation, Lee Gang-hyuk, who distrusted the skill he’d just obtained, stroked his chin while pondering how best to utilize Seo Hwa-rin.
As they descended toward the parking garage via the emergency stairs,
Lee Gang-hyuk, who’d been leading, continued down past Basement Level 2, prompting Seo Hwa-rin to ask with confusion.
“Wait, Lee Gang-hyuk, Basement Level 2 is this way…….”
“I want to confirm how many zombies are on Basement Level 3 before we tackle the creature.”
“Ah.”
The two nodded in understanding at his words and exclaimed in admiration.
Of course.
This underground parking garage extended all the way to Level 5. In other words, killing Grolla Bear wouldn’t finish the job here.
Once Grolla Bear died, the zombies congregated in the lower levels could surge upward like a tidal wave.
Checking the situation in advance and continuing the assault methodically was the right approach—yet the two bit their lips in self-reproach, realizing they hadn’t grasped even this simple fact themselves.
A moment later.
Having confirmed all the levels, he wore a satisfied expression.
“Fortunately there aren’t many. The zombies that were here must have heard us fighting on Level 2, started coming up, and got eaten by that creature.”
The number of zombies remaining from Basement Level 3 through 5 was fifteen. Ten of them were stationed on Basement Level 5.
The fighting sounds apparently hadn’t reached there, so they hadn’t climbed up.
This was manageable—they could handle Grolla Bear and then hunt those remaining.
Of course, hunting now would work too, but since it was better to conserve Mana, he called upon Electric instead of hunting them immediately, aiming to herd them to one side.
“Electric.”
“Kryaaaagh!”
Crackle-pop.
At that moment, without even giving an order, Electric unleashed sparks from the slope toward a distant point.
“……Good work. Let’s head up and begin hunting.”
As the zombies moved upon hearing the sound, Lee Gang-hyuk praised Electric and turned to the two, pointing upward.
* * *
“First, I’ll try to confirm whether I can control the creature using Corpse Control, then we’ll proceed.”
A Mutated Zombie was still a corpse, after all. So wouldn’t it be possible to tame it?
It seemed unlikely to work, but if it did, there’d be no need to fight.
He decided to attempt it first, then move to the next phase.
As the two nodded, Lee Gang-hyuk continued.
“As always, Seo A-rin, lay water on the ground, but bind it as much as possible so it doesn’t flow down the slope to the lower levels. Seo Hwa-rin, aim absolutely for the upper body—especially near the face. Whether the zombie breathes or not, I don’t know, but at minimum, if the esophagus burns from heat, the tamed zombies won’t be able to feed on it.”
“Understood. But what about visibility? Controlling fire while maintaining sight will be difficult…….”
At the question, Lee Gang-hyuk shrugged and pointed to the opposite slope.
“Don’t worry about that. I’ve already stationed one zombie on the opposite slope. When the others approach, it’ll alert us to any danger somehow.”
Honestly, since they’d cleared up to Basement Level 1, there wasn’t much to worry about, but he’d positioned a sentinel zombie just in case any stragglers had seeped in from outside.
When had he positioned the zombie?
Satisfied that he’d already taken measures without their knowledge, the two smiled, and Lee Gang-hyuk snapped his fingers, gesturing for them to watch as he pointed at Grolla Bear.
“Then let’s begin hunting. Corpse Control!”
[You use Corpse Control on the target.]
[The target’s Magic Power exceeds yours.]
[The target resists the skill. The skill fails.]
As expected.
He’d failed to tame Grolla Bear.
“It failed.”
“Aqua Field!”
“Fire Wall!”
Before his words of failure finished, the two used their skills, and an enormous volume of water materialized on the slope floor.
‘Is it okay?’
Concerned whether the Fire Wall could activate properly in this state, Lee Gang-hyuk’s brow furrowed instinctively.
But only briefly.
Whoosh-!
A wall of fire erupted from the slope’s ceiling, scorching Grolla Bear’s face.
‘So it can activate not just on the floor, but on any surface.’
His understanding of Fire Wall had deepened.
Satisfied that he could apply it in diverse ways going forward, Lee Gang-hyuk turned to the waiting zombies.
“Then…….”
With just those words, Electric immediately charged forward.
He’d instructed the other zombies to hold back lest they be caught in combined attacks, and ordered Electric to show the best offense it could manage in the current situation…….
But he hadn’t expected it to charge so recklessly.
What if Grolla Bear devoured it?
His worry proved premature. Electric’s movements were far swifter than the other zombies.
Perhaps because it was the corpse of an Awakener, whose physical abilities exceeded ordinary humans? At that very thought, Lee Gang-hyuk saw electricity flickering across Electric’s body.
‘Could it be…… stimulating its muscles with electrical current?’
He hadn’t ordered it to do that.
Yet it employed the technique as naturally as breathing—meaning this was a method it had frequently used in life.
‘That’s it.’
Startled by this unforeseen turn, Lee Gang-hyuk recalled the skill description mentioning corrected action efficiency, and hastily stretched out his hand.
“Melt Flesh!”
Sizzzzle-!
“Gahhhhh……. Krrraghhh. Gackk, KRAAAAAAHHH!”
The moment Grolla Bear’s upper body began burning from Fire Wall and it reached out to devour the charging Electric, he immediately melted the creature’s arm.
Whether from the pain of dissolving flesh or from being prevented from feeding,
the moment he used Melt Flesh, Grolla Bear unleashed a horrific shriek.
In doing so, the heat from Fire Wall seared into its gaping maw, burning its esophagus.
Simultaneously…….
Lightning surged from Electric’s hands as it closed on Grolla Bear.
At that instant.
Whoosh-!
Thud-thud-thud-thud.
Crack-!
A zombie stationed in the rear hurled a Bone Axe at Grolla Bear.
The moment the axe embedded in the creature’s flesh, Electric grasped it and released the electrical force directly through it.
Crackle-crackle-crackle-crackle.
Crackle-crackle.
“GAAAAAAHHHHH.”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Because the attack penetrated not skin but internal tissue, Grolla Bear shrieked and thrashed wildly.
“SQUEEEEEEE!”
The metallic shriek from its burned esophagus was more unbearable than the sound of slaughtering a pig.
“KUHHHHGH-!”
Heave.
Then, deeming Electric a threat, Grolla Bear abandoned its feeding intention and suddenly retched.
Emerging unexpectedly, an unknowable greenish liquid poured down upon Electric. The moment Lee Gang-hyuk recalled the order to evade,
Crackle.
Shhhwhoop-!
Electric’s form vanished entirely.
Volt Step.
Another skill it possessed had activated.
But the current body couldn’t withstand the backlash,
and part of Electric’s thigh was severed.
‘I can’t let it use that before strengthening it. Though…… losing part of the thigh is better than being melted by that.’
Deciding to conserve Volt Step as much as possible, Lee Gang-hyuk gazed at the wall partially dissolved by the liquid Grolla Bear had spewed, his brow tightening slightly with concern.
He worried that bringing the zombies too close might expose them to its stomach acid.
Reading his concern, Seo Hwa-rin, who’d been controlling Fire Wall, spoke.
“It’s Digestive Acid! It can’t be used until it feeds on another zombie!”
“Right! Seo A-rin, gather the water and wrap the creature’s legs! Then Seo Hwa-rin, use your offensive skill too. Let’s go!”
“Hah!”
Splash.
Upon hearing “Digestive Acid,” Lee Gang-hyuk nodded and issued orders, then observed the waiting zombies.
Whoosh-!
Thud-thud-thud-thud.
All the zombies promptly hurled the Bone Axes and Bone Spears they held, and as soon as the weapons lodged in the creature’s body, the water summoned by Seo A-rin rose naturally to knee height.
Then came the attacks from Seo Hwa-rin and Electric.
“Electric! Lightning Bolt!”
Crackle.
“Flame Rising!”
Whoosh-!
The skill Electric used traveled through the water Seo A-rin controlled, completely paralyzing Grolla Bear’s lower body.
The electrical current had penetrated deep within thanks to the numerous bone weapons embedded in its flesh.
“Gack…….”
Topple.
As a result, Grolla Bear’s body fell backward down the sloped floor.
Simultaneously…….
Perhaps influenced by the skill Seo Hwa-rin had used, the Fire Wall transformed into a colossal spear, hurtling toward the creature.
Crack-!
WOOOOOSH!
The spear-shaped flame pierced Grolla Bear’s abdomen, and the immense heat confined within exploded outward. Yet the creature still wasn’t dead.
Its esophagus completely charred, its skin scorched black beyond recognition and melted by heat, its lower body paralyzed—and yet it still clung to life. The thought repulsed him.
‘Just die already.’
The moment he wished for its swift demise, the zombies waiting in the rear suddenly charged forward.
They extracted the weapons embedded in the creature’s body as naturally as breathing, then relentlessly battered Grolla Bear’s head.
Thwack! Crack-!
How many minutes did the zombies continue their assault?
“…….”
Exhale.
The moment its breathing ceased entirely, Grolla Bear’s body went limp, and an alert appeared in Lee Gang-hyuk’s vision.
[Achievement Unlocked!]
[Hunt a Mutated Zombie.]
– You have successfully hunted a Mutated Zombie for the first time.
[Additional Experience Points granted for Achievement.]
[Congratulations. Your Level has increased. All physical abilities rise by 1.]
“Hm?”
For a moment, Lee Gang-hyuk’s eyes gleamed.
He’d already leveled up before confronting Grolla Bear, yet he’d gained another level.
The bonus Experience Points from the Achievement appeared substantial.
On the other hand, Lee Gang-hyuk, whose eyes had sparkled with joy, studied Seo Hwa-rin and Seo A-rin’s expressions.
He was checking whether they’d also leveled up.
But since they showed no particular change in expression, it seemed they’d hunted Mutated Zombies long ago.
More than anything, Seo Hwa-rin’s performance—whose anxiety had been palpable—was remarkably impressive in this battle.
As though making up for yesterday’s mistake,
she’d done her best to maintain visibility as he’d instructed, and when attack orders followed, she demonstrated tactical awareness, adapting her existing skills for combat as a precaution against unforeseen circumstances.
‘If she keeps this up, that’s more than passing.’
The anxiety that had weighed on him dissolved, replaced by anticipation for what lay ahead.
In combat and when exchanging opinions, he appreciated how she grasped things immediately, understanding without needing explanation.
“Let’s finish cleaning and head back up.”
“Yes! Sounds good. I’ll keep working hard!”
“Let’s finish quickly and go up! I’m so worried the rain might have ruined the fields.”
“The fields take priority?”
“Obviously?”
Reading the bright tone in her words, both their expressions brightened and they nodded hastily.
Seo A-rin even tilted her head slightly at the remark about the fields first, her expression playful. It seemed she’d wanted to tease him a bit since staying here longer seemed feasible.
‘Well…… at least for now it’s fine.’
Lee Gang-hyuk, accepting someone else completely for the first time, smiled awkwardly and played along with Seo A-rin’s joke.
Thanks to that, the mood grew even brighter.
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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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