I’m the Only One with Powers in the Apocalypse – Chapter 36

—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Maintenance Gloves… I should test them out. I looked around the room, but there wasn’t anything I could cut.

“…”

…Found something. I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to do this, but I’d found something.

The bathroom door.

A thick wooden door.

…I wondered…

I gently pressed the sword against the door. With a slight thud, the blade sank in a little.

“…”

I applied a bit more pressure.

The sword slid in smoothly. I had barely used any force. I had just pushed. The thick wooden door was pierced like a cardboard box.

…This was amazing.

I grabbed the other sword from the corner of the room. A faint smoke rose from the newly held sword, then quickly dissipated. It reflected the light differently now. I gripped the sword with both hands and thrust it into the door. It slid in smoothly. It didn’t take much effort to pull it out either. Three thin holes now marred the door.

“…Good.”

I could dual wield now. I hadn’t used both swords before because it took considerable force to pierce a skull with one hand. I wasn’t confident I could do it reliably. So, I’d used one sword with both hands for a powerful thrust. That was why I had only used one sword until now.

But if I could pierce a thick wooden door like this without much effort, I could definitely use two swords now.

“…Hoo…”

Maintenance Gloves… these were good.

I sheathed the swords and lay down on the bedding. I had chosen the new specialization by accident, but it was useful. And I had acquired a tattoo and gloves, so it wasn’t bad.

Good.

Starting tomorrow, it was back to raiding.

…Where should I go…?

The mixed-use building and the hypermarket. Those two places had the largest concentrations of prey in this area.

…Right.

I had cleared out the mid-sized supermarket, and even those inline skaters would take at least a week or two to clear it out completely.

The mixed-use building across from the gas station. I’d clear that place out completely so Soo-hyun could work without any interruptions, and secure that area as much as possible.

Starting tomorrow, it was a fresh start.

From level 1.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Morning.

…Damn it.

I couldn’t hide the tattoos. I put on a long-sleeved shirt and the Maintenance Gloves and went downstairs. I said I was wearing it because I didn’t want to get blood on my clothes, and they didn’t question it.

…They’d see the tattoos eventually.

Breakfast was clam doenjang jjigae and kimchi jeon. This was incredibly delicious! The stir-fried anchovies, sweet potato jeon, and braised black beans were also delicious. Grandma’s cooking was amazing. Or was it Ye-eun’s? Grandma’s joints seemed to be bothering her lately; she wasn’t moving around much.

I made eye contact with Ye-eun and said, “This is delicious.”

“Thank you,” she replied with a smile. So, it was Ye-eun’s cooking. She was a great cook. Whoever ended up with her would be a lucky man.

Home-cooked meals were the best. I ate with gusto.

As I ate, I overheard that So-eun was an aspiring webtoon artist. Soo-hyun was asking her when the next chapter would be ready, saying it was really interesting.

Hmm.

I knew she drew, but I didn’t know she was seriously pursuing it. If it was interesting, I’d have to read it sometime. She was quite shy and introverted, so drawing must have been her outlet.

“What are you going to do today?” Soo-hyun asked as I ate.

I swallowed and replied, “I’m going to that big building’s parking garage. I need to clear that place out completely to make the path to the hardware store safe. It’s safe now, but I want to be extra sure.”

Soo-hyun grinned and patted my back. “Okay. Don’t get hurt. Okay?”

She patted my back like I was a child… I chuckled and looked at Hoon, the large man. He and his wife were now eating with us. They must have become closer after having samgyeopsal together last night. I overheard that the new missus was also thinking of going to the mid-sized supermarket. She was even thinking about leaving the house; she must have recovered quite a bit mentally. It would be good for the baby to get some sunlight, better than being cooped up inside.

I said to Hoon, “Could you go to the hardware store with Soo-hyun? She wants to go, and she’ll probably need a lot of stuff. It’ll be heavy.”

Hoon smiled and nodded. “Of course, sir! You’ve helped us so much; I’m happy to help in any way I can. Soo-hyun, just leave the heavy lifting to me. I’ll carry everything.”

Soo-hyun smiled. “Thank you. Eonni, I’m borrowing your husband today.”

The new missus smiled. “Okay.”

Oh.

She was smiling. She looked even more beautiful when she smiled. She kind of resembled that actress, Hwang Shin-hye, when she smiled.

Hoon had a good wife. How had he managed to snag such a beautiful woman?

Still… I glanced at Soo-hyun. She was definitely different from the new missus. Soo-hyun was cuter, like a red panda. She was the cutest among the women here. Small and cute, just my type. And she was quite enthusiastic in bed.

“Mr. Han, should I tell the inline skating club about… that project…?” Hoon asked.

Project? Ah, gathering the bodies and burning them. I nodded. “Yes, please let them know.” “Don’t worry, I’ll tell them, and we’ll take care of it together.”

This guy was diligent. He was timid, but he was definitely diligent. Soo-hyun, Hoon, and Ye-eun, the great cook… …This wasn’t a bad group to be with. I finished my meal, feeling content. Right, time to go.

I went back to the rooftop room, attached the two swords to the lifting belt, and left the house. I always had to be careful when leaving. I scanned my surroundings as I stepped outside, and then I noticed something—or rather, the absence of something.

The bodies of the four old thugs, which had been rotting in front of the supermarket, were gone. Hoon must have moved them. A trail of something… unpleasant… led from where the bodies had been to the inside of the supermarket. …He must have thrown them inside. He must have assumed he was done with the supermarket after raiding it for the past few days. Right. I wouldn’t have to see that place again, now that it was cleared out.

I walked towards the convenience store and stepped onto the road. A wide, eight-lane road. Almost a straight line from the convenience store. The mixed-use building across the street, mostly obscured by the cars stopped at the traffic light. I slowly walked towards it. I reached a 5-ton truck parked by the sidewalk, crouched down, and sat next to it.

Grrrr… Grrrr… A faint rumbling sound carried by the air. These things didn’t sleep. They didn’t eat. And yet, they were still… alive. …Alive… that wasn’t quite the right word. Strange creatures, driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh, completely indifferent to their own kind once they had turned.

It was hard to call them zombies. They didn’t rot and decompose like the zombies I had seen on TV and in movies.

They just… stayed the same.

Strange. Human beasts.

…Time to hunt.

I placed my hand on the side of the truck and slowly moved towards the taillights. They hadn’t spotted me yet. The entrance to the underground parking garage was quite dark. The entrance itself and the interior seemed to have lighting, but the ramp leading down didn’t. At night, cars relied on the streetlights; during the day, they relied on sunlight to find their way in. The building was so large, it cast a long shadow over the ramp, making it almost invisible from here.

I walked past the truck and onto the sidewalk, then slowly approached the wall of the parking garage.

Grrrr… Grrrr… They were there. I could hear them clearly. I leaned against the wall and peeked inside. …At least twenty, just from what I could see.

There were probably many more inside. …Over twenty… I could gain over twenty levels in one go. I slowly drew both swords.

Shing—

A clean, crisp sound. The firm grip provided by the Maintenance Gloves felt good. The entrance to the underground parking garage was about fifteen meters away.

…Should I taunt them?

…No. If I called them out from here, the bodies would pile up on the sidewalk. It would be better to start the pile at the entrance, blocking the path of the human beasts inside.

12 Accelerate charges.

Enough. “…Hoo…” Deep breath. “…Haa…” Accelerate!

Grrr—rr—rr— The low growls stretched and distorted. I immediately pushed off the wall and ran. Fifteen meters. If I ran fast enough, I could take out at least two before they even reacted.

Tap—tap—tap— My footsteps echoed, overlapping, in the enclosed space of the parking garage entrance.

From the edge! To the left edge! Tap—tap—tap— I was there! “Hah!” Thwack! Thud! I thrust both swords with all my might! Damn it!

My right hand had pierced through the head cleanly, but my left hand had only pierced the neck!

My left hand was still clumsy! But the swords were definitely going in more easily now! I barely needed any force!

“—Gr—ugh.” Tap-tap-tap!

My footsteps echoed like a burst of gunfire! Done! Accelerate!

This time, I’d do it properly! Right hand!

Thwack!

Left hand!

Thwack! I sidestepped to the right and thrust again, alternating between my right and left hands. I wasn’t sure if this was faster.

It almost felt slower. But I had to use my left hand! I had to practice!

Thwack! Thwack! I had stabbed four when… “—Gyaa—raagh?!” Their heads snapped towards me! Accelerate!

Stab!

Damn it, stab! I continued stabbing, alternating between my left and right hands, sidestepping to the right.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Damn it,

I had been holding my breath! I took a step back and gasped for air. “Hoo!” “—Gyaa—rarrgh!” Their arms shot up! Accelerate! [Auto-cast: Accelerate] Eyes. So many eyes! Dozens of eyes gleaming in the darkness, fixed on me. I lunged forward and stabbed the ones closest to me.

Thwack! Thwack!

I sidestepped to the left!

Thwack!

Damn it, the bodies were in the way! I jumped back.

Thooom—aa— “—Gr—raagh!”

Accelerate wore off.

Thump!

The sound of my landing echoed, followed by the thudding and crashing of the bodies collapsing. And then, they charged.

Thud!

Crash!

Some tripped over the bodies, others jumped over them, and some tripped over the ones that had already fallen.

They moved in a chaotic frenzy, their only goal to reach me.

“Graaaagh! Gyaaagh!” They were coming! Accelerate!

The one on the right first! I took a large step forward with my right foot and thrust with my right hand.

Thwack! And then the one behind it with my left hand! Thwack!

I sidestepped to the left, continuing to stab. Thwack! Thwack! “Hoo!” “—Gyaa—raagh!” Accelerate.

My left hand was still awkward! Damn it! I stepped forward with my left foot and thrust with my left hand. Thwack! I moved to the left, piercing three more heads. It was definitely different. My left hand was clumsy. It felt like I was trying to use chopsticks with my left hand. It was awkward! Damn it! “—Gr—aagh!” Accelerate!

Focus! Focus! Left hand! Left hand! Thwack! Thwack! I stabbed twice with my left hand and reached the left wall. I stepped past the bodies and thrust again with my left hand. “Hah!” Thwack! “—Gr—raagh!” Accelerate.

Damn it, this time, only my left hand! Thwack! I moved past the bodies, continuing to stab with my left hand.

Thwack! Thwack! Stepping forward with my left foot still felt awkward. I had to concentrate more than with my right. But I had to practice. Time was running out. Back! I took two large steps backward. Just as my feet were about to hit the ground, Accelerate wore off. “—Gr—aagh!” …Accelerate.

…How many had I killed? “Status.” …1 Strength left. Good. One more. I lunged forward and stabbed a head—with my left hand. Thwack! Done. Time to escape. I immediately turned and ran. After about three steps, I heard sounds behind me. “—Uh—oogh!” Thud! Crash! Multiple bodies collapsed at once, like a collapsing stack of cargo. Accelerate.

I ran onto the road and sprinted towards the convenience store. I activated Accelerate one more time and didn’t stop running until I reached the boarding house. “Hoo… ha…” I could hear roars coming from across the road. “Graaagh! Gyaaaaagh!” …They didn’t seem to know where I was. They were roaring on the other side of the road, but they weren’t coming over, even though I was right there.

Hoo.

Good. That was 27 levels. A message appeared.

…What?

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇