Surviving the Apocalypse as an All-Time Best Overpowered Necromancer - Chapter 65

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

Episode 65
65. The Zombie Horde from the West (1)
“It raises magical power and increases the natural recovery speed of mana and core power.”
“It doesn’t seem much different from what Lee Gang-hyuk made?”
At Seo Hwa-rin’s assessment of the short dagger’s performance, Lee Gang-hyuk glanced at the accessory he was wearing, as if the reason had dawned on him.
“It seems she doesn’t know that a Mutated Zombie’s core can be used as material.”
She must have crafted it using only her own abilities, without utilizing the Mutated Zombie’s core!
Yet despite that, the performance was similar enough to what he’d made—which did surprise him somewhat.
But that wasn’t what mattered.
What mattered was…….
“Once they’ve cleared out the ones at Banghak Station, I should pay that place a visit.”
Securing the corpse of the Mutated Zombie at Banghak Station.
Lee Gang-hyuk’s eyes gleamed as he abandoned a plan he’d been putting aside the moment they mentioned clearing Banghak Station.
“Well, it looks like they’ve all headed down, so we should start heading back ourselves.”
“You both worked incredibly hard today.”
“Please, don’t mention it. Next time, I won’t put you two in danger like this again. I give you my word.”
At Lee Gang-hyuk’s words, both women smiled softly and nodded without speaking. More sincere than a thousand words, his expression moved them—and Lee Gang-hyuk silently reaffirmed his determination once more.
* * *
The return to the hideout proved easier than expected.
They already knew there were no zombies in the tunnel.
Still, the Grolar Bear estimated to be lurking in the nearby villages could catch their scent and chase them, so the three moved through the tunnel at maximum speed, alert to their surroundings.
“Whew, we made it.”
“I’m glad it was closer than I thought.”
The moment the hideout came into view in the distance, they let out sighs of relief—but only briefly, as a scream suddenly rang out from the direction of Jangam Station.
“Gaaaahhhhh!!”
“!!”
At the sound, all three instinctively turned their gaze toward Jangam Station.
“A survivor?”
“What should we do?”
Simultaneously, Seo Hwa-rin and Seo A-rin looked back at Lee Gang-hyuk.
Whether to save them.
Or to leave them.
They would follow their leader’s decision.
“…….”
Lee Gang-hyuk stared at Jangam Station in silence for a moment, then tilted his head as if sensing something amiss and asked back.
“Doesn’t something feel off?”
“Pardon?”
At his sudden remark, the two women expressed their confusion, and Lee Gang-hyuk pointed to the zombies near Jangam Station.
“Look there. The zombies aren’t moving—they’re just standing still. If they’d heard that scream, they should be rushing over, but they’re not budging at all. It’s as if they never heard it.”
At his words, both women frowned, sensing the abnormality.
Seo A-rin then spoke up in agreement.
“That’s right! Now that you mention it, it did feel forced—like it was squeezed out!”
“Forced? Ah! Let me check the list.”
At her words, Seo Hwa-rin seemed to remember something and logged into the community to check the Mutated Zombie list.
Then she cried out loudly.
“Found it! The Cricket! A Mutated Zombie that screams to lure people in!”
“A cricket, you say…….”
At her words, Lee Gang-hyuk stroked his chin and wore a bitter expression.
“It seems to have just appeared recently.”
“So…….”
“…….”
Just a few hours ago, it had been quiet.
There was no way that creature, which had been still then, would suddenly be screaming now.
As the three deduced that someone from elsewhere must have wandered in during their absence and been attacked by the zombie, Seo Hwa-rin and Seo A-rin’s expressions hardened.
Seo Do-gyeong, who had died not long before, came to mind.
Lee Gang-hyuk didn’t mention him directly but turned to face Jangam Station and asked.
“Is there a strategy listed for dealing with it?”
“Yes. Since it primarily attacks using sound, wearing earplugs would make hunting it much easier, according to the entry.”
“Can you make them, A-rin?”
Surprised by the surprisingly straightforward method, Lee Gang-hyuk asked, and Seo A-rin answered confidently.
“Of course! Easily. We have plenty of materials.”
“Good. Then let’s return to the hideout first, and once the earplugs are ready, we’ll move.”
“Yes!”
To grow stronger than the three from the Jungnang-gu Alliance, or stronger than any others, Lee Gang-hyuk needed Mutated Zombie cores. That was the only way to protect everyone.
So Lee Gang-hyuk decided to hunt the Cricket and returned to the hideout for now.
* * *
“Then I’ll get started on the earplugs!”
Upon arriving at the hideout, Seo A-rin said so and hurried into her room.
Just as with the bag, she seemed to enjoy applying her expertise.
“Anyway…….”
Seo Hwa-rin and Lee Gang-hyuk, observing her enthusiasm, smiled with satisfaction, and then Lee Gang-hyuk spoke as if seeking permission.
“Oh, by the way! I’ll take the short dagger with me. There’s something I want to check.”
“Understood. Then I’ll prepare a meal. Everyone must be hungry.”
“Thank you. I’ll be back soon.”
At his words, she nodded readily, and Lee Gang-hyuk, expressing his gratitude, took the short dagger and headed down to the first floor.
Moments later…….
‘Will it work?’
Standing in the lobby and gazing down at the short dagger in his hand, Lee Gang-hyuk stroked his chin.
And for good reason…….
When he’d created skeletons, his Crafting Skill had reacted and produced different unit types.
Without a doubt, if he had enough materials to craft other weapons, new unit types would surely emerge.
Then…….
What if a finished weapon was at his side?
What if it wasn’t a bone weapon he’d crafted himself, but a steel weapon made by a crafter? Wouldn’t something change?
Driven by curiosity, Lee Gang-hyuk brought a zombie loitering outside the building, beheaded it, placed the short dagger beside it, and used his skill.
“Undead Creation!”
[Creating Undead.]
[Your skill is exerting an influence.]
[Variable detected.]
[A usable weapon exists in your vicinity. Do you wish to use it?]
As a new notification appeared alongside the familiar ones, Lee Gang-hyuk’s expression brightened.
As expected, the short dagger had been recognized as material.
“Yes.”
[The list of createable undead is updating.]
[This is the list of createable undead.]
Bone Assassin × 1
“Create Bone Assassin.”
[Creating Bone Assassin.]
[Your Agility is exerting an influence on the ability of the Undead to be created.]
[Bone Assassin has been created.]
“Agility?”
When he’d created the Bone Swordsman and Bone Spearman, magical power had influenced their abilities. He’d naturally assumed the same would happen this time, but instead of magical power, Agility had been applied.
‘Does it vary by unit type?’
Admittedly, agility is crucial for an assassin.
But by that logic, Strength rather than magical power should have influenced the Bone Swordsman and Bone Spearman.
‘Why?’
What could be the reason?
Did it apply differently each time they were created?
Or was it the weapon?
‘I’ll find out if I test it.’
If he crafted a Bone Dagger from bone and created a new Assassin with it, wouldn’t he be able to tell?
“Bring them.”
Lee Gang-hyuk brought in two zombies total—one for crafting the Bone Dagger and one to transform into a skeleton.
He beheaded them both in one stroke and crafted the Bone Dagger. The reason was that the Bone Assassin hadn’t appeared in the list the very first time he’d created undead.
“Undead Creation!”
When he used the skill again, this time too it detected the weapon and updated the list, and he immediately created a Bone Assassin.
[Creating Bone Assassin.]
[Your magical power is exerting an influence on the ability of the Undead to be created.]
[Bone Assassin has been created.]
“!!”
Unlike before, this time magical power influenced the Bone Assassin instead of agility.
“It’s because of the weapon.”
Lee Gang-hyuk understood immediately, but a new question arose in his mind.
If the ability changed because of the weapon, did steel weapons always increase agility? Or did that also vary depending on the unit type?
He was curious, but to verify this, he’d need a steel weapon other than a short dagger.
‘I’ll have to get something as compensation when we visit the Kyung Hee University Shelter. Then let me check the performance.’
Deciding that he should receive a weapon in exchange for sharing knowledge with the Jungnang-gu Alliance members, Lee Gang-hyuk ordered the assassins he’d just created to attack the zombies outside.
That was when.
The Bone Assassins lowered their stance, gripping the short daggers.
For a moment, he thought they were about to charge.
The forms of the Bone Assassins grew slightly blurred.
It wasn’t like Concealment, where their appearance completely vanished—rather, it was as if the color had drained from them slightly.
How should he describe it.
Like watching ghosts in a movie?
“……Is it because their level is low?”
Their forms were far too visible, which seemed absurd and ridiculous.
On the other hand, if a Bone Assassin launched a surprise attack during a melee, it seemed like enemies wouldn’t see it coming.
Even as he thought this, a Bone Assassin approaching a zombie suddenly flashed its dagger, and the zombie’s head flew off.
True to their name as assassins, their attack power was respectable.
But wondering if it would work against people in actual combat, Lee Gang-hyuk was stroking his chin, about to order the Bone Assassins to stand down, when.
“Huh?”
Something felt odd, and he tilted his head.
“Ah!”
Then, realizing the reason, he looked at the Bone Assassins waiting outside.
Just now, when they killed the zombie, the other zombies nearby hadn’t reacted.
Normally, aggro would be drawn and all the surrounding zombies would swarm over.
But when the Bone Assassins killed, it was silent.
Was this their ability? Or was it mere coincidence?
“Hmm.”
Curiosity sparked, Lee Gang-hyuk ordered the Bone Assassins to attack a zombie right next to them.
Subsequently, the Bone Assassins lowered their bodies again and remained perfectly still, not attacking.
A few seconds passed.
The moment another zombie’s gaze turned away!
Slice—!
The Bone Assassins slit the zombie’s throat. And again, no aggro was drawn.
“So that’s how it works.”
Understanding now, Lee Gang-hyuk nodded and ordered the Bone Assassins to stand down.
Though their Concealment wasn’t perfect, the fact that they knew the right moment to strike was more than enough.
‘Perhaps…….’
It would work well enough against people too.
‘Seeing how they handle the Cricket this time will make things clearer.’
Having concluded his inspection, Lee Gang-hyuk headed up to the 23rd floor.
Creak.
Upon arriving on the 23rd floor, he happened to encounter Seo Hwa-rin just stepping out the door.
At the sight of Lee Gang-hyuk, she smiled brightly and opened the door she’d closed again.
“Oh! You’re back. I was just about to call for you, but you returned at a perfect time.”
“The situation went more smoothly than expected.”
As the sweet aroma wafted through the door crack, Lee Gang-hyuk’s mood lifted, and he answered with a smile.
At the same time…….
Seo Hwa-rin spotted the Bone Assassin standing in the back, tilted her head, and then, seeming to grasp the situation, asked again.
“Did you give the skeleton a short dagger? There seems to be a form I haven’t seen before.”
“Yes. It seemed the short dagger could be used as material, so I tested it, and as expected, a new unit type appeared.”
“A new unit type……. How did it perform?”
At her question, Lee Gang-hyuk showed a satisfied expression.
“Not poorly.”
“Given the way you’re saying that, it seems you were quite satisfied with the results?”
Reading Lee Gang-hyuk’s expression, Seo Hwa-rin smiled widely in congratulation, and Seo A-rin, who was inside, called out.
“Are you planning to keep standing out there? The food will get cold! Come in quickly.”
“She’s right? Please come in.”
At her call, Seo Hwa-rin’s smile deepened as she opened the door wider, and Lee Gang-hyuk bowed his head in thanks.
“I’m actually quite hungry myself. Thank you. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Please, no need for such courtesy. You both worked so hard today.”

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