Joon-woo awoke to muffled whispers and the faint blue-gray light of dawn filtering through the corridor's crack. He opened his eyes slowly, sword still cradled against his chest, body stiff from sleeping half-upright. Mi-sun and Ha-jin hovered near the barricaded door, trying to stay quiet as they discussed something. He sat up fully, clearing his throat softly to alert them he was awake.
They turned, relief and uncertainty etched on their faces. Mi-sun attempted a small smile. "Good morning… if we can call it that."
He stood, stretching carefully. Outside, the sounds of distant chaos had not abated. Monsters still roamed, survivors still screamed, Rifts still shimmered. But morning brought a certain clarity. He had tasks to accomplish today: he wanted those healing herbs in the park and to scout other locations. The earlier he secured resources, the better.
"Any trouble?" he asked in a low voice, stepping toward the barricade.
Ha-jin shook his head. "Nothing major. Just some distant noises. No one tried the door again." His posture was marginally more relaxed now that he'd survived a night of apocalypse. Both of them looked marginally less terrified, though fear still lingered in their eyes.
Joon-woo nodded. "Good. Then we move out." He eyed them both. They were still armed with makeshift clubs. "If you're coming with me, I have a place in mind—somewhere we might find something valuable. But it'll be dangerous."
Mi-sun exchanged a glance with Ha-jin. "You're leaving? Where… where else is safe?"
"Nowhere is truly safe," he said flatly. "But I know a spot where certain herbs might have started growing—herbs that could heal wounds or restore energy. I want to claim them first." He kept details vague; no need to reveal he had foreknowledge. "If you prefer to stay here and hide, do so. But resources are key to surviving long-term."
Ha-jin chewed his lip. "You saved us, and… you seem capable. Sticking with you might give us a better chance than sitting here waiting to starve or get found by monsters."
Mi-sun nodded, gripping her spear-like rod. "We'll go," she said quietly. "We'll try not to slow you down."
He appreciated their willingness. At least with them along, he had extra eyes and a slight buffer if ambushed. Maybe they'd prove useful in fights, especially if they learned to coordinate.
"Alright," he said. "We need to head to a nearby park. Keep low, follow my lead. If we encounter monsters, listen to my instructions—no panicking."
They nodded, and he moved to dismantle the barricade. Each scrape of metal against wood made him tense, alert for any sign of monsters outside. When he swung the door open, the corridor lay empty and silent. Good. He stepped out, checking corners, then motioned them to follow.
Down the stairs, out into the ruined street. The morning light revealed fresh horrors: new cracks in walls, a half-collapsed bus shelter, and monstrous corpses strewn about. Something else too—he caught glimpses of ordinary citizens wielding crude weapons, grouping together. He noticed a trio of Awakeners cornering a lone goblin, attacking it with newfound Skills. People were adapting, fighting back. He didn't linger to watch, time was precious.
They headed east toward the park. Joon-woo kept them off main roads, darting through side streets. Occasionally, they heard growls or screams and paused, letting danger pass. Mi-sun and Ha-jin tried to walk silently, imitating his cautious steps.
After twenty minutes, the park's iron gate loomed ahead. Yesterday, he'd fought a Horned Brute near the statue. He hoped no new monster claimed that territory. If the special herbs were sprouting—the System might have triggered their growth overnight—he needed to secure them now. Healing resources would give him a massive advantage.
He led them inside, blade drawn. Mi-sun hovered close, spear ready. Ha-jin clutched his mop handle with both hands, knuckles white. The park's paths were strewn with fallen branches and twisted benches. No sign of large monsters immediately. Good start.
They moved carefully toward the statue where he expected the herbs. He remembered the location vividly: around the scholar statue's base, within a small dirt patch. With any luck, small green shoots would have emerged overnight, courtesy of the System's bizarre reshaping of reality. He scanned ahead, spotting the statue's silhouette. Perfect.
As they neared the clearing, he halted, raising a hand for silence. Mi-sun and Ha-jin froze, eyes searching anxiously. He'd heard something—a soft sloshing sound. Not claws on stone or paws on grass, but something wet and gelatinous. The bushes to the left rustled oddly. He signaled them to hold position and stepped closer to investigate.
Peering around a thorny shrub, he saw three shimmering blobs oozing along the ground. Slimes—translucent creatures known from his previous life's memories as early-stage monsters that often guarded small resources. These were Green Sap Slimes, likely feeding off whatever magical energy the new world infused into the soil. They'd be weak individually, but their acidic touch could burn skin and corrode metal if given time.
He needed to dispatch them cleanly. As he watched, one slime jiggled toward the statue's base. A flash of green caught his eye: tiny sprouts with broad leaves, glistening with faint magical dew. The healing herbs—exactly what he came for. The slimes must be attracted to the herb's mana-rich sap. If he let them linger, they might damage or consume the sprouts.
He backed to Mi-sun and Ha-jin, whispering, "Three slimes ahead, guarding the spot I need. They're slow but can corrode if they latch onto you. I'll take the lead. You two flank them—try to poke and distract. Don't let them surround us."
They swallowed, nodding. Ha-jin muttered, "We can do this, right?"
Mi-sun steadied her spear. "We can try. Follow his lead."
They moved as a unit. Joon-woo stepped into the clearing, blade raised. The slimes noticed him immediately, wobbling forward with a faint gurgling noise. No eyes, no faces—just shifting goo and a faint green hue. He approached the first slime, careful not to let it splash on his legs. He swung downward, a normal strike, aiming to slice it in half. Steel met jelly-like flesh, cutting through with resistance, like thick pudding. The slime quivered, splitting into two halves that wobbled weakly before collapsing into inert goo. One down easily—good.
The second slime jiggled closer, trying to fling a droplet of acidic fluid at him. He stepped aside, the droplet hissing as it hit the grass. Mi-sun stepped up from the flank, thrusting her spear low into the slime's side. Her spear didn't cut as well as a sword, but the pressure disrupted the slime's shape. Ha-jin circled to the other side, delivering a cautious strike with his mop handle. The slime shuddered, confused by multiple attacks. Joon-woo seized the moment, invoking Quick Slash. The enhanced speed let him carve a deep gash, splitting it apart. The slime's remains splattered harmlessly on the ground.
The third slime, seeing its companions destroyed, tried to retreat, slithering back toward bushes. He wouldn't let it escape. A runaway monster might lure others. He darted forward. The slime oozed quickly, surprisingly fast for its kind. He chased it behind the statue, where it tried to hide. He cornered it against a fence. With a swift downward cut, he ended it, goo splashing on the ground. He stepped back hastily to avoid any residual acid.
He returned to the clearing. Mi-sun and Ha-jin watched him, relieved. They managed to help, albeit modestly. Every small effort counted—the slimes never got a chance to attack him directly because the duo's presence divided their attention.
"Good job," he said, voice low and calm. "Now, watch my back while I check the herbs."
They nodded, taking positions facing outward, weapons ready. He knelt by the statue's base. As suspected, small green sprouts had emerged in clusters, each leaf shimmering with faint mana. He recognized these as Lesser Healing Herbs, known to restore minor HP or stamina when brewed into a tea or chewed raw. Early in the apocalypse, even a minor healing herb was a valuable treasure.
He carefully plucked a handful of leaves, selecting the healthiest ones. He used a scrap of cloth to wrap them, forming a makeshift pouch. This small harvest could mean the difference between life and death in a tight spot. He rose, satisfied.
As he stood, Ha-jin ventured quietly, "What are those?"
"Healing herbs," Joon-woo replied. "Minor effects, but helpful. If one of us gets hurt, these can ease the pain, maybe close small wounds."
Mi-sun's eyes widened, "That's… that's huge. Most of us have no potions or bandages." She sounded impressed.
He nodded. He had bandages and bars from the office too, but no need to brag. He had what he came for. Now, with healing resources and a growing power base, he could attempt riskier moves. Like seeking out another known artifact zone, or testing a small Rift's interior to grab a Skill Tome if one spawned. Rifts sometimes had hidden chambers with scrolls or weapon upgrades.
Checking the sky, he noted the sun rising higher, painting the ruined city in stark light. Monsters wouldn't vanish, but many nocturnal predators might lurk in shadows now, while day-active creatures roamed boldly. He'd have to stay sharp.
He turned to Mi-sun and Ha-jin. "We got what I needed. We can stick together longer if you want. Or part ways here. But I warn you, going off alone is dangerous."
They looked at each other. Ha-jin spoke, "If you don't mind us tagging along… we learn by watching you. We might be able to help more eventually."
Mi-sun nodded, "We'll pull our weight, try to get better at fighting."
He weighed the decision. Allies meant safer sleep shifts, more eyes on threats. It slowed him slightly, but these two already proved helpful as distractions and secondary attackers. He still recalled that synergy might matter later. Growth-Type Classes sometimes benefited from group hunts, learning cooperative tactics. Maybe having them around wouldn't be so bad, for now.
"Alright," he said. "Stay close. We'll find another target—maybe a small Rift I know about, see if we can get a Skill Book or a minor artifact. We improve step by step."
They agreed, relief and determination mixing in their faces. He led them out of the park, herbs secure in his pouch, blade at his side. The apocalypse raged on, but he moved through it with purpose. Today he'd harvest more than just herbs—he'd gather experience, confidence, and if luck favored him, more keys to unlocking his Class's true potential.
As they walked, Mi-sun followed closely, eyes scanning rooftops, and Ha-jin trotted behind, guard raised. Joon-woo allowed himself a thin smile. The day was young, and opportunities lay scattered like seeds in the ruins. He would pluck them all, forging a path no one else could match.