Disclaimer: This novel is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real events, people, or places is coincidental. The author does not endorse or promote any harmful or illegal activities, including violence, discrimination, or harmful survival practices. The novel's content is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as a guide for real-life survival or preparedness. Always prioritize safety, respect, and well-being in your actions and decisions.
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After killing the sad face zombie, Min-su instructed Hana, "Hana, retrieve the Nexarion from the Smiley Face." Hana nodded and carefully extracted the Nexarion from the zombie's body.
Min-su then turned to Min-ho, "Min-ho, bring me a white piece of cloth and a blue one." Min-ho raised an eyebrow, confused by the unusual request, but didn't question it. He quickly fetched the cloths and handed them to Min-su.
Hana returned with the Nexarion in her hand, and Min-su told her, "Wrap it with the blue cloth." Hana carefully wrapped the Nexarion, and Min-su took the white cloth and wrapped the Nexarion from the Sad Face.
Min-ho watched, still puzzled by the strange procedure, but didn't ask any questions. He trusted Min-su's judgment, knowing that he had a reason for everything he did.
As they continued to clear the floor, Min-su and Hana turned a corner and found themselves face to face with another Smiley Face zombie. Its creepy smile sent a chill down Hana's spine, but Min-su remained calm. With a swift strike, he beheaded the zombie, and Hana quickly retrieved the Nexarion. Min-su wrapped it in the blue cloth, his movements precise and deliberate. "Let's go," he said, leading Hana back to the others.
After clearing the floor, Min-ho, Min-su, and Hana returned to their apartment to leave their loot inside.
As they ascended to the rooftop, Min-ho's smile faltered when Min-su said, "You'll also be joining us, Min-ho." His heart skipped a beat, knowing what Min-su had planned.
On the rooftop, Min-su instructed Hana to stand five meters away from him. Hana nodded, her eyes fixed on Min-su with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Min-su then turned to Min-ho, his expression serious. "Min-ho, I'll show you what I meant by 'joining us'." Min-ho's mind raced, his heart pounding in anticipation.
At the rooftop, Min-su asked Hana, "Which Nexarion do you want, agility or defense?" Hana chose agility, and Min-su tossed an agility Nexarion to both Min-ho and Hana. He kept the endurance Nexarion for himself. "Swallow it and get ready. I'll fight you both together."
After taking the Nexarion, Min-ho and Hana experienced similar symptoms. Min-ho's physique transformed, his body overflowing with stamina and vitality.
Min-su announced, "I'm coming!" and charged towards them with his katana still sheathed. Hana was caught off guard, but Min-ho anticipated the attack and deflected it. Min-su praised, "Impressive, you've really improved! Hana, today's training is about fighting as a team. Match your moves with your teammate."
Hana nodded, prepared herself, and fought alongside Min-ho. Meanwhile, in a nearby building, a girl and her younger brother watched the intense battle from their rooftop window. The girl commented, "They must have ganged up on him for his food." The boy replied, "They're well-equipped with weapons and vests." The girl suddenly remembered something and urged her brother to close the curtain, fearing they might be noticed and targeted.
Min-su trained Hana and Min-ho for hours until the sun began to set. Exhausted, Hana and Min-ho struggled to keep up, but Min-su seemed unfazed, his energy levels still high enough to take on a tiger.
After dinner, Min-su gathered everyone's attention. "Listen, there are still people alive in the building across from ours. And as we go down, the number of Variables is increasing." Min-ho connected the dots, "You want us to ingest many Nexarions to become stronger than average mutant humans, right?" Min-su nodded, and Min-ho continued, "So how many do you want us to ingest?" Min-su replied, "First, one of every half-mutant Nexarion, and then we'll focus on a single attribute."
Hana asked, "How did you know there are still people alive in that building?" Min-su answered, "I saw it with my own eyes." Hana was shocked, "How could you see that far?" She then asked, "Are we going to help them?" Min-su replied, "Yes, but that will be on the 13th day. If they can survive until then, we'll go and let them join in our team. Until then, we'll clear this building and gather all the Nexarions we can find in this apartment."
Min-ho thought ahead, "Brother, if we clear one floor a day, it'll only take four more days to finish this building. That leaves us with seven days before the zombies mutate. What will we do then?" Min-su smiled, "What else? We'll be training, obviously."
Hana wondered, "What's our plan after the zombies mutate?" Min-su outlined their strategy, "First, we'll awaken. Then, we'll leave here and establish a new base. We'll secure and reinforce it to prepare for what's to come in the future."
Hana asked, "Why are we leaving this building?" Min-su explained, "There are many factors, such as no surrounding walls, a small rooftop, and more."
He then asked, "What do you think is the best location for our next base: hospital, supermarket, or school?" Hana suggested the hospital, citing its medical supplies and equipment. Min-ho preferred the supermarket, highlighting its food and useful appliances like generators and solar panels.
Min-su countered, "You both have good points, but others might think similarly, making us vulnerable to attacks. Hana, you mentioned medical equipment, but do you know how to use it?" Hana admitted she didn't.
Min-su continued, "Our best option is the school. Min-ho, you attended the nearby school, right?" Min-ho confirmed. Min-su reminisced, "I also studied there. The school had a surrounding wall, three buildings - main, infirmary, and canteen - and a large playground. We'll have food, medicine, a safe place to stay, a wall to keep zombies out, and a playground for farming. Am I wrong, or do you know a better location?" The group was silent, impressed by Min-su's thorough consideration.