I’m the Only One with Powers in the Apocalypse – Chapter 5

—————————————————————–

Translated By Arcane Translations

Translator: Xrecker

—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Carefully.

One step at a time.

I leaned against the right wall, peering outside.

The long stretch of road.

The line of parked cars.

No sign of life.

I cautiously stepped away from the wall and sidestepped.

My view opened up.

A three-way intersection, with a road leading uphill, was right in front of me.

Where the hell was I?

The streets were unfamiliar, the buildings foreign.

Normally, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought, just walking until I found a familiar landmark. But now, everything was strange.

I pressed myself against the left wall. The long row of shops, the street lights lining the sidewalk, and the traffic signals blinking above the road painted the street with splashes of color.

It was quiet.

“Ha… ha…”

My own breathing sounded unusually loud. I gripped the baton tightly and slowly stepped out of the building.

I listened intently.

For any sound.

For any sign of movement.

I scanned my surroundings constantly as I stepped onto the road.

Cars were parked everywhere.

But the doors were all closed.

Even as they fled, the drivers had closed their car doors.

Damn it.

I carefully walked between the cars until I spotted one with an open door.

There!

A white, new-model Avante! Perfect!

I grabbed the window frame and slid into the driver’s seat.

Closing the door would make a loud noise.

Even the sound of a car door could attract something in this silence.

Couldn’t there be at least the sound of a barking dog?

Sigh.

I carefully pulled the door closed and reached for the ignition.

And then I realized.

…There were no keys.

Damn it!

This was driving me crazy.

I needed a car with keys, not just an open door. I got out of the car and continued walking between the vehicles.

The sight of all these cars lined up, yet utterly silent and still, was unsettling. And here I was, walking alone in the middle of this wide road.

…Found one.

…Shit.

A blue 5-ton truck.

Driving this thing would be loud.

…What should I do?

My stomach growled.

Ugh…!

Damn it…!

Ha… Damn it. I hadn’t eaten anything all day, just run like hell, and now I was starving.

Damn it.

Change of plans.

The car could wait. These cars weren’t going anywhere, so there was no need to rush.

First, I needed to find something to eat and survive.

I left the road and returned to the sidewalk. It was a bizarre sight. In the dead of night, every shop was open. Goods were still displayed on the shelves. But there were no shopkeepers.

I grabbed a utility pole and looked around. There was a convenience store up ahead.

Ah, shit.

The silence made me uneasy.

Were there even any people left in this place?

I crept along the sidewalk, trying to make as little noise as possible. The convenience store drew closer.

Was there a clerk inside? Keeping a wary eye on my surroundings, I peered inside.

At the counter…

No one. But… blood on the cigarette display…

Sprayed as if someone had dumped a bucket of it.

…Should I go in?

Was there a dead body in there?

…This was crazy.

“Ha… ha… ha…”

My breath hitched in my throat with tension.

Sigh. I had to go in.

I needed to eat something.

I cautiously pushed the convenience store door open and peeked inside. Music played softly, but there was no other sign of life.

Good.

It seemed empty.

I carefully stepped inside. It was bright. I would be clearly visible through the glass walls. Like a spotlight was shining on me.

Damn it, I had to grab something and get out quickly.

I cautiously made my way to the refrigerators. Ramen, snacks, anything would do, but I needed something to drink first. No, I should grab some frozen dumplings first.

I took a step towards the freezer section.

Then, I heard the chime of the door opening.

I instinctively ducked down.

Shit!

What was that?!

One of those beasts?!

What?!

My hand, gripping the baton, was sweating. I was squeezing it so tightly it trembled.

“See? I told you no one was here.”

“Yeah, but look at that blood.”

…People?

Girls’ voices?

I cautiously peeked over the display rack I was hiding behind.

…High schoolers?

Two girls, one in a school uniform, the other in casual clothes, were looking at the bloodstains and talking.

What were they doing?

Were they here for food, like me?

Then they were allies.

Ah… shit.

I felt a sense of relief.

“…Ahem.”

I cleared my throat and slowly stood up. The girls gasped and turned to look at me, their faces etched with fear. They reached for the door.

…Look at them fumbling for the door. If I were one of those beasts, they’d be dead already.

“I’m here for food.”

I said softly, holding out my hands, palms up. The girls flinched and stared at me, their eyes wide with terror.

“I’ll grab something to eat and leave. If you’re here for food too, hurry up. You never know when those things will show up.”

I said my piece, regardless of whether they were scared or not. I kept my voice low and quiet. If these girls screamed, this convenience store, essentially a sealed box, would become my tomb. I didn’t care if they died because they screamed like idiots, but I didn’t want to be dragged down with them.

I was here to do what I needed to do; they could do whatever they wanted.

“Hoo… hoo…”

Trying to maintain an even breath, I stood there for a moment, hands outstretched towards the girls.

Judging by their expressions, they seemed to have calmed down a bit. They weren’t completely clueless. They hadn’t screamed.

I glanced through the glass walls.

Good.

Still quiet.

I glanced at the girls and grabbed some frozen dumplings, stuffing them into my bag. What else should I grab?

Snacks…

I wasn’t full.

Those nitrogen-filled bags wouldn’t fit much in my backpack.

I’d just grab some more dumplings.

Two bags, three bags.

And drinks.

I grabbed a large Gatorade, shoved it into my bag, and turned around. The girls were picking out food.

…Why were they grabbing gum?

They wouldn’t be able to chew it.

Then, a crashing sound echoed from somewhere nearby.

Followed by a scream.

Someone had been attacked!

Damn it, it was close!

The scream was so loud!

Like someone screaming at the top of their lungs with a loudspeaker!

It reverberated through the convenience store!

The girls screamed.

“Kyaaa!”

And at that moment, a dark figure sprang up from behind the counter.

“Graaagh!”

Oh no!

It had been lying down behind the counter!

Damn it, I hadn’t checked!

It was the convenience store clerk!

Half of his face was missing!

His jaw hung open, teeth bared!

“Graaagh!”

The clerk leaped over the counter, eyes rolled back. He leaped with his body hunched over. Like an animal.

“Aaaagh! Kyaaaaa!”

The girls screamed and collapsed to the floor.

Why were they sitting down?!

These crazy bitches!

The clerk lunged at them.

I lunged at them too.

Trapped between us, the girls clung to each other and screamed.

I saw the clerk’s jaw drop open. It opened so wide, his lips tore at the corners!

Holy shit!

If I was late, I was screwed!

Even a moment’s hesitation would be fatal!

Faster!

Even faster!

The clerk, mid-pounce, froze in mid-air.

“Groaa—aa—aa—”

Incredible!

He moved in slow motion, like in a special effects shot!

But this wasn’t the time to be impressed!

I swung the baton upward with all my might.

The metal connected squarely with the clerk’s face.

Crack! His nose broke instantly.

Blood droplets slowly dispersed into the air.

His face caved in.

I gripped the baton with both hands and swung again, like a baseball bat.

The metal slammed into his face again.

Thwack!

His… his eyes!

His eyes…!

His eyeballs popped out!

Like… like boiled eggs!

Holy shit!

“—aa—uh—uhrgh!”

The clerk spun in mid-air and crashed into a display rack.

The rack toppled over with a crash, sending merchandise flying.

Accelerate wore off!

“Kyaaaaa! Aaaaagh!”

The crazy bitches were still screaming!

I quickly slung my bag over my shoulder and grabbed one of the girls by the arm, pulling her up.

“Get up! Now!”

You clueless bitch!

“Kyaaa! Agh! Kyaaaaa!”

God damn it!

The clerk twitched on the floor, making grotesque gurgling sounds.

“Gurgle! Grargh!”

He… He was going to get up!

Shit!

I heard noises from outside.

…Roaring.

No, animalistic growls.

We’d…

We’d been discovered…!

“Kyaaa! Aaaaagh! Aaagh!”

The crazy bitches were sitting there, hands trembling, screaming their heads off, attracting the attention of whatever was outside.

I couldn’t get out like this!

I didn’t know where they would attack from!

Shit, what should I do?!

I looked around.

One wrong move here, and I was dead!

“…!”

There!

I found it!

The storage room behind the counter!

It was slightly ajar!

Thank god!

I grabbed the girl’s arm and dragged her towards the storage room.

“This way! Or you’ll die!”

The bitch was still screaming and refusing to move!

I heard more roars from outside.

“Graaagh! Graaagh!”

It wasn’t just one!

It was the sound of multiple beasts roaring at once!

They were coming!

“Kyaaa! Aaaaagh!”

These fucking crazy bitches!

I roared at them,

“Get over here! Do you want to die?!”

With a yell and a hard tug, she finally moved. I grabbed the other girl, the one in the school uniform, and pulled her along. This bitch was practically being dragged.

“Graaagh! Graaagh!”

Crash!

The glass walls shattered!

Dark figures swarmed inside!

Shit!

I grabbed the girl in the uniform and dove into the storage room. The last thing I saw was the beasts stumbling over each other as they piled into the store.

I shoved the two screaming idiots into the storage room, spun around, and slammed the door shut. A glimpse of a blood-soaked, monstrous face flashed past the closing gap.

Slam!

“Shit!”

The door was closed!

And immediately began to rattle violently.

Roars echoed from outside!

“Graaagh! Graaagh! Graagh!”

“Kyaaaaa! Kyaa! Aaaaagh!”

This was fucking insane!

My heart was pounding, and my mind was blank!

With trembling hands, I fumbled with the lock and finally managed to secure it.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Graagh! Graagh!”

I leaned against the door, my body jolting with each impact. Damn it, the door was going to break!

Was there anything I could use?!

Cleaning supplies! Right in front of me!

I grabbed a mop and jammed it under the door handle.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

More! I needed something more!

I grabbed a shelf stacked with boxes and dragged it over to the door.

“Graagh! Graaagh!”

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Aaaaagh! Kyaaaaa!”

Amidst the cacophony of screams and roars, I gripped the storage room door with both hands, gasping for air.

“Huff… huff… huff!”

This was…

This was fucking insane…!

Then, a message appeared before my eyes.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇