The ragged group moved through a silent block of charred storefronts and fractured asphalt. Joon-woo led from the front, as always, sword poised in a loose guard. The recent alliance with the four newcomers—Do-hyuk, Yeon-jin, Sang-min, and Eun-hee—plus Mi-sun and Ha-jin, had so far proved fruitful. They had scored minor supplies, some stamina bars, and basic gear. Each small success increased the group's cohesion, if only slightly.
Joon-woo's mind never stopped scheming. With his Growth-Type Swordsman Class, every serious fight and new acquisition could unlock hidden evolutions. He had Basic Sword Mastery, Quick Slash, Parry, and now Blade Echo. Four Skills already, a robust toolkit for early days. He hadn't revealed the full nature of his Class or capabilities to the others, maintaining a certain mystique. Their respect depended partly on the aura of competence he projected.
They approached a collapsed intersection. The road formed a sinkhole here, cracked pipes gushing water into a makeshift stream. Leaning close, Joon-woo recognized this area. In the future he remembered, a unique crafting material—Mana-Thread Fiber—would spawn in waterlogged ruins like these after the second day of apocalypse. The presence of water and Rift energy caused mutated algae to form silky strands that Awakeners could weave into lightweight armor.
Not yet visible, but soon. He logged this location mentally: return in a day or two, harvest the fiber. Another secret for later.
He turned to the group. "We'll circle around this sinkhole. The place I'm heading for is a structure with a low-level hidden dungeon. If we get in early, we might secure better items."
Do-hyuk frowned. "A dungeon already? I thought only random monsters spawned."
"Rifts create pocket dimensions," Joon-woo explained calmly. "Some act like dungeons—small enclosed areas with unique loot. By the second or third day, some stabilize enough to enter. If we find one in early stabilization, we can claim its contents before it's common knowledge."
They exchanged uneasy looks. Eun-hee adjusted her shield, voice tremulous. "This sounds dangerous. But we do need better equipment. Just… can we handle it?"
Joon-woo nodded. "We handle it carefully. Retreat if it's beyond us. I won't force a hopeless battle." He deliberately projected confidence; their morale depended on his calm.
They skirted the sinkhole, stepping over wet debris. A pair of lesser monsters—rat-like things smaller than a fist—scampered away at their approach. No threat. They continued until they reached a block of old warehouses. According to his recollection, a small Rift zone would appear here on day two, forming a pocket dimension inside one of the basements. If the timing was right, maybe he'd catch the portal forming. If too early, he could at least recon the site.
As they closed in, Yeon-jin raised her staff, whispering, "I see movement up ahead." All halted, crouching behind an overturned delivery van. Joon-woo peered over the edge, spotting figures at the end of the block. Another group of Awakeners—five of them, armed better than most. One carried a metal spear with a faint glow (likely a low-tier magical weapon), another wore patched-together armor scraps. They seemed more advanced, possibly having gained levels or rare drops from aggressive hunting.
These strangers were examining a warehouse door, muttering among themselves. If they found the Rift zone's precursor before Joon-woo's group, conflict might arise. He studied their posture: tense, alert, no sign of fear. They looked prepared to fight anyone interfering.
Joon-woo weighed his options. Two groups both wanting the same spot often ended in violence. He had no desire for a pointless clash, but letting them claim the zone first risked losing precious loot. He considered a strategic approach: negotiation or stealth?
He turned to his allies and whispered, "Another group ahead. Armed and confident. We can't just storm in. Either we watch and see what they do, or try talking. Thoughts?"
Do-hyuk bit his lip, "They look tough. If we talk, they might demand we leave or kill us."
Ha-jin nodded grimly, "They have better gear, right? Maybe they got a lucky monster drop."
Mi-sun added quietly, "Could we ambush them? Or is that too risky?"
Joon-woo grimaced. Ambushing humans carried moral and strategic risks. Killing monsters was necessary, but human alliances could form future trade opportunities. Also, these foes seemed experienced—no guarantee of a quick, clean ambush. He didn't relish starting a human conflict yet. The apocalypse might eventually force factions to battle, but day two might be too soon. Strengthening oneself first was wiser.
"Let's observe," he said. "If they enter and don't come out, maybe monsters handle them for us. If they come out wounded, we can bargain. We have time."
They settled in behind cover, watching. The rival team pried the warehouse door open, two of them slipping inside. The others guarded the entrance. Voices echoed—heated instructions, curses as they forced passage. Minutes passed. Then a scream from inside—one of their allies in trouble. The guard at the door peered in, hesitant. Another yell, then silence. The guard cursed loudly, stepping back.
A monster emerged, a hulking silhouette in the doorway. The rival group's guards shouted in panic. The creature—a towering simian beast with elongated limbs and shimmering fur—lunged, grabbing one unlucky guard and tossing him aside like a rag doll. The other guard thrust a spear futilely. The simian monster roared, revealing rows of shark-like teeth, and battered the spear aside, claws raking the guard's chest. Blood sprayed, and the guard fell screaming.
Inside the van's cover, Joon-woo's allies tensed. Yeon-jin whispered in horror, "They're being slaughtered!"
Eun-hee gripped her shield, wincing. Mi-sun looked at Joon-woo, waiting for his decision. The rival team was collapsing. Two dead or dying, and more screaming inside. The monstrous ape must be a mini-boss or elite monster guarding this proto-dungeon. If Joon-woo struck now at the monster's flank, he might kill it and claim credit. But would survivors from that group resent him or thank him?
He decided quickly: the monster was big prey. Defeating it might yield Stat gains or rare loot. With Blade Echo and a full party behind him, he had good odds. He signaled his group to move silently closer.
They approached, moving behind a line of toppled crates. The simian monster dragged a dying rival Awakener out of the warehouse, roaring in triumph. Inside the building, no sign of other foes—just muffled cries. The surviving rival team member—if any—was trapped inside.
Joon-woo spoke low, "I'll engage from behind. Yeon-jin, shoot any magic you have at its eyes. Do-hyuk, flanking slash. Eun-hee, shield ready to block if it charges us. Mi-sun and Ha-jin, move after we strike to finish it off. Sang-min, try to get around it, maybe strike the legs. Let's coordinate like before."
They nodded, hearts pounding. They advanced in a crouch.
The ape-like monster flung its victim aside and turned to sniff the air. Joon-woo invoked Quick Slash as he dashed in, aiming at the creature's lower spine. The blade struck true, a flash of steel cutting flesh. The beast howled, rearing up. Yeon-jin flicked her staff, summoning a spark of lightning that crackled at the monster's face. It jerked its head back, partially blinded.
Do-hyuk lunged from the opposite side, slicing the monster's arm. Eun-hee moved in front, shield raised, daring it to charge her. Sang-min circled low, bat poised. Mi-sun and Ha-jin hung back, waiting to exploit any opening.
The ape roared, swinging massive arms in a furious arc. Joon-woo ducked, but Eun-hee's shield caught a glancing blow. She staggered with a grunt. The monster tried to focus on one target, but multiple attackers confused it. Joon-woo used Parry when it lashed out again, deflecting a claw aimed at his chest. Sparks of Skill energy shimmered, saving him from a nasty slash.
Seizing the moment, he triggered Blade Echo, slashing diagonally across its torso. The sword struck once, and a ghostly afterimage repeated the blow a heartbeat later. The creature screamed, blood and fur flying. Its knees buckled.
Mi-sun sprang in, thrusting her spear at its belly. Ha-jin swung his mop handle at a wounded leg. The ape howled, off-balance, falling to one side. Sang-min rushed, bat landing a heavy blow to its head. The creature spasmed, trying to rise, but Joon-woo delivered a final, decisive downward strike at the base of its skull. With a violent shudder, the monster went limp.
Panting, they stepped back, heartbeats drumming in their ears. That was their toughest foe yet—stronger than any previous monster. They checked each other. Minor bruises, Eun-hee's shield dented, but no severe wounds. Good teamwork again.
Joon-woo scoured the corpse, hoping for a drop. Large monsters sometimes yielded something tangible. He rolled it over—a flash of faint glow in the chest area. Carefully, he reached in, retrieving a small shard of crystallized mana, about the size of a coin—Beast Core Shard. Perfect for future crafting or even direct stat infusion if processed properly. He pocketed it silently.
The rival group's survivors—if any—were inside. He stepped over the corpses of the rival Awakeners. Most lay dead. Inside the warehouse, he found one survivor leaning against a wall, arm broken, tears streaming. This survivor eyed Joon-woo's group warily. They offered no threat now. He considered leaving them or helping. The survivor had no real loot to trade, but might share information.
"Monsters got your team?" Joon-woo asked quietly.
The survivor nodded, eyes hollow. "All dead. I'm… just… can't believe—" He coughed, voice breaking.
Joon-woo sighed inwardly. He had limited medical resources. He offered a bandage to wrap the broken arm. The survivor muttered thanks, weeping softly. No valuable info from him, it seemed—just trauma.
They left the survivor behind to find their own fate, or maybe others would rescue him. Joon-woo had no spare healing herbs for strangers, and a broken arm wouldn't kill him immediately. Harsh world, harsh choices.
Outside again, Do-hyuk frowned at the cruelty but said nothing. They all sensed that saving everyone was impossible. They had to focus on their own survival.
With the big ape monster slain, Joon-woo felt stronger inside—like each major victory nudged him closer to another secret threshold. Still no prompt for a Stat gain, but patience was key.
He turned to the group. "We got what we could here. No clear loot except a core shard—just basic stuff. Let's move on. We have more places to check."
No one questioned him taking the shard. He'd established himself as leader and they accepted him claiming first pick. He nodded satisfaction. As they left the warehouse district, their footsteps crunching on broken glass, Joon-woo planned the next steps. Maybe returning to the park to see if more herbs sprouted, or heading toward known Key Fragment spots. The city was large; he had infinite hunting grounds and mysteries to unravel.
This alliance had proven useful. Each battle grew their confidence. If they remained loyal and helpful, he might shape them into a reliable squad. If they ever turned on him… well, his blade and Skills had proven effective enough. For now, he'd trust them with caution.
They walked on, the day's heat oppressive, smoke curling from distant fires. Monsters lurked in every shadow, but Joon-woo walked tall, forging his own destiny with steel and cunning. The apocalypse belonged to those who dared to claim it. He dared, and more.