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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: 2. Checking Abilities (1)
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Can't even make it to the second floor.
I collapsed onto the crumbling stairs, catching my breath.
"Haa, haa, haa."
In both hands, I gripped my phone and telescopic baton.
The phone was drenched in sweat.
I wiped it on my pants, then pulled out the half-empty Gatorade from my bag and chugged it down.
"Haa."
Feeling a bit better now.
I set the empty Gatorade aside, took out a water bottle, unscrewed the cap, and while drinking, peered at my phone.
There has to be some kind of response to this mess.
There just has to be.
We've got the army, fighter jets, fuck, everything!
YouTube was already flooded with videos.
...Wait.
This one looks Japanese?
Uploaded by some overseas Korean?
...America...
China...
Russia... Germany... Malaysia...
...It's happening all over the world.
All over the world.....
These... beast-like things are popping up everywhere.
Even one of them spreads like wildfire, charging and biting madly.
I'd just experienced it firsthand.
But if this is happening everywhere on Earth?
...Crazy... what the hell.
What the fuck is going on.
[President's Emergency Press Conference]
News.
Press conference? Doesn't look like it's broadcasting yet.
I tapped the news.
[The president is expected to declare a state of emergency starting at 6 PM tonight. A government official indicated the possibility of martial law and military deployment.]
Short.
I read the details.
Martial law?
Military?
"Haa, haa."
The world's gone insane.
Yeah.
Do whatever it takes.
Anything to stop people from dying.
Martial law, army, deploy it all!
"Haa, haa."
Ah, fuck.
I'm so damn tired.
I set the phone down and sprawled out on the stairs.
The baton gripped in my left hand felt really uncomfortable.
I lifted my hand.
Telescopic baton... pretty hefty.
But it just looks like a little stick?
In movies, you swing it forward and it extends with a whoosh...
Shwick!
Oh! The sound's huge!
The telescopic baton shot out, turning into a full baton!
Ooh... looks pretty damn usable.
Does it hurt?
I smacked my palm with it.
Ugh.
Super solid.
I thought telescopic batons were just plastic junk, but no.
Swing this right, and it might crack a forehead open.
...Suddenly feeling tense?
I glanced up the stairs.
Quiet.
I peeked at the street from beside the stair railing.
No one there.
Phew, lucky.
...No one?
I peeked outside the railing again.
Cars sat abandoned on the road.
The traffic light switched from red to green.
The cars didn't budge.
No people, nothing.
Eerily desolate.
...This is getting scary.
"Haa... haa..."
I pulled away from the railing and leaned against the stair wall.
My back was soaked from all the sweat.
Ah, the wall feels cool.
But.....
Why aren't there any people...?
I clearly saw those beast-like things chasing after humans.....
...Still, no people might be a good thing. Might as well call a taxi now.....
...Taxi?
Are there even taxis?
With human beasts charging everywhere, anyone desperate to escape would grab every taxi in sight, right?
Plus... people with cars would probably bolt in their own vehicles.
I checked my phone.
Searched for traffic and roads; highway camera images popped up.
Tapped one, and it linked straight to news.
[Highways Extremely Congested]
...News article, but no text.
Just a photo.
The highway was completely jammed with cars.
Packed so tight there wasn't even standing room.
...Where the hell are all these cars trying to go?
Saw it in the news earlier.
It's not just Seoul.
It's happening nationwide.
Simultaneous outbreaks worldwide.
...Call a taxi?
Even if I call one, where do I go?
...Where's safe?
Where the hell is safe.....
...Wait a sec.
Mom. Dad.
Bitch Sister.
Everyone okay?
I called my parents.
No answer.
Bitch Sister didn't pick up either.
"Haa... fuck..."
I clutched my head and groaned, but no answers came.
Damn, my hair's completely soaked.
Like I just got out of the shower.
I brushed my hair back and chugged more water.
My body felt limp.
Too tense, too exhausted.
Just wanna crash for a bit, fuck.
...Calm down.
Worrying my ass off won't solve shit once this blows over—hell, it won't blow over, and it ain't helping anyway.
Calm down.
"Huu... huu..."
It's the apocalypse.
The apocalypse has come to the world right now.
"Huu... haa-huu..."
Calmly.
Let's review it step by step.
What did I see earlier?
I saw humans transformed, then the police station. And then a bunch of stuff appeared in front of my eyes.
Definitely.....
"...Status."
⚔ STATUS ⚔
Chosen One
[Specialization - Time Adjuster] [Level - 1]
[Title - Ordinary Person]
Status
⚡ Stamina: 1/6
💨 Senses: 2/2
✨ Strength: 2/5
💪 Agility: 1/4
🍀 Mental Power: 1/7
🛡️ Intelligence: N/A
📊 Distribution Points: 0
Skills
[Active - Acceleration] (Auto-cast)
Debuff
[Fatigue - All stats -1 per hour] (03:33:43)
Yeah. That's it!
...Wait.
Stats look a bit different?
Stamina was like 3 or 4 earlier, right.....
Only 1 left now.
Strength and Agility dropped too.
...The debuff... that's why.
Goddamn it.
Anyway, Time Adjuster.....
What the hell is this?
Specialization?
No clue what any of this means.
Active skill.....
Acceleration.....
The cop suddenly slowed down in mid-air earlier.
Acceleration.....
...The cop didn't slow down.
I sped up.
If not for Acceleration, I might've been caught and fucked earlier.
"Haa..."
Lucky, I guess.
I tapped Acceleration.
Good thing I have this.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Acceleration
Accelerate for 5 seconds. Consumes 5 Mental Power.
...Mental Power 5?
Hold up.
Mental Power's at 7 now?
...Means I can only use it once?
No, then how do I recover Mental Power?
No more details?
Damn.
Really unfriendly system.
Huu, no good.
Too exhausted, can't think straight.
Upstairs looks quiet, so I'll climb up a bit, rest...
Deal with the rest after some shut-eye.
I hauled myself up, and my whole body screamed in agony.
Sprinting full-tilt ain't good for you.
Ugh.
The spot where I'd sat was damp and wet.
I crawled up the stairs, gripping the railing, two more floors.
Then collapsed again.
What the hell is this building for?
Residential? Commercial?
"Haa, haa."
Ah, whatever.
Just rest a bit.....
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Cold!
I snapped my eyes open and bolted upright.
Ah, freezing! Fuck!
"Huuu, huuu."
Dark!
Damn, is it night?
How long was I out?
Then a bizarre sound echoed from afar.
Like a wolf howling...
...No.
This is... a scream.
I went to grab my phone but stopped.
Pure instinct.
The stairs I'm on have a full glass outer wall.
Road's visible from here.
Turn on the phone, and only my spot lights up.
Anyone outside couldn't miss that glow.
"...Fuck..."
I mouthed the curse silently.
This whole situation felt way too alien.
The road looked surreal.
Bright streetlights, cars parked haphazardly, not a soul in sight.
Not even a delivery scooter.
Where'd everyone hide?
Or did they all turn into beasts and run off to bite people?
...Wait.
Cars?
...Cars.....
"Huu..."
Damn.
Steel yourself!
Can't stay trapped on these stairs forever!
Ah, right.
"...Status."
⚔ STATUS ⚔
Chosen One
[Specialization - Time Adjuster] [Level - 1]
[Title - Ordinary Person]
Status
⚡ Stamina: 5/6
💨 Senses: 2/2
✨ Strength: 5/5
💪 Agility: 4/4
🍀 Mental Power: 5/7
🛡️ Intelligence: N/A
📊 Distribution Points: 0
Skills
[Active - Acceleration] (Auto-cast)
Oh.
Debuff's gone, and stats recovered nicely?
Must've crashed hard between floors.
Fuck, good nothing happened while I slept.
Hold up.
Stamina, Strength, and Mental Power all at 5?
That can't be right?
Strength was 2 last time?
...Ah.
Recovers based on something.
In that case...
Stamina, probably.
Other stats recover alongside Stamina, looks like.
Wish there was a manual to explain this shit kindly, but this damn message window won't even show anymore.
Anyway, I get the gist.
Ah?
Wait.
Wasn't there another command?
Status, and...
"...Achievements?"
🏆 ACHIEVEMENTS 🏆
Achievements [1/???]
1. First Specialization Acquired.
Ooh!
1/???
Looks like there are a ton of achievements.
Number 1 keeps blinking.
What is it?
I tapped number 1.
[1. First Specialization Acquired.]
[Reward - Storage.]
?!
What the hell.
"Storage?"
[ ] [ ]
Two slots...?
Storage? Store what?
I picked up the water bottle and moved it to an empty slot.
Nothing happened.
What the hell is this storage.
Gimme some explanation!
"Huu..."
Fine.
Don't know, don't know. Priority is getting out of here first.
I whipped my head around, and the storage vanished from view.
No close button or anything; guess it disappears when you look away.
Alright.....
Got the basics.
Time to head out.
I descended the stairs slowly.
A cool breeze whooshed in.
I stepped toward the glow of the streetlights.
Telescopic baton in hand,
leaning on the wall,
peeking outside,
cautiously.
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