Chapter 87

46. Messiah (5)

Now, they are treated as mere byproducts of the rift, but the creatures that were once called monsters looked quite different when the rift first opened.

The first interdimensional beings called monsters resembled giant rats, as if a mouse had been enlarged to the size of a human.

They showed no hostility towards humans, but their habit of gnawing on everything around them and their grotesque appearance quickly led people to call them monsters.

Their combat ability was poor.

They had a shell, but it was as hard as an old log, and their movements were sluggish. Most importantly, the concept of resistance was not programmed into their brains, making them easy to kill with a single blow from a stick, even for an adult male.

There were other types, but none posed a threat to humanity.

They were no different from the exotic species discovered by Europeans in Africa or Asia.

Now, these beings are no longer classified as monsters but as native species of the other dimension, and they were the monsters that adorned the early days of the rift's opening.

The monsters we know appeared after that.

During the era when humans sent exploration teams one after another to "pioneer" beyond the rift, planted flags in various places in the other dimension, and when the atmosphere beyond the rift was surprisingly similar to Earth's and the land seemed infinite, calling it a blessing and an opportunity for humanity, and most importantly, when it was firmly believed that the other dimension posed no threat to humans,

they appeared.

There is some debate about what the first aggressive interdimensional being was, but no one denies that necromancer types were among the first group.

The fact that zombies appeared during the initial attack is accurately depicted in the remaining video records.

The scene of a reporter being torn apart by zombies in front of the camera was a declaration that the rift was not a blessing or an opportunity, but the entrance to the end of the world.

Necromancer types can turn human corpses into aggressive mutations and control them like long-term servants.

This is the unique power of necromancer types.

But that theory seems to be obsolete from today.

"Look at this."

Iamjesus pointed to a zombie standing blankly.

"It's not doing anything, right?"

Even with a living human right next to it, the zombie didn't move, let alone twitch.

If that were the only case, opponents might argue with various reasons and logic to refute my claim, such as there being a problem with the zombie itself or that, like how Awakened don't recognize monsters as enemies, zombies don't either.

But that argument loses its ground with a single gesture.

"Sis, come here."

When Iamjesus gestured, the zombie approached him.

No doubt about it.

A human is controlling the zombie.

"Even though we call them zombies, I think differently."

Iamjesus glanced at the zombie standing obediently beside him and spoke.

"They seem alive. I don't know why, but my heart tells me so."

He reached out his hand towards the zombie's face.

While the face, described as beautiful in its original form, was now a ghastly, pale, and twisted version of a zombie's face, Iamjesus stroked it without hesitation.

"......They're alive, sis."

I'm sorry for him, but I've been holding the ax handle since some point and have never let go.

I'm ready to move at any moment, imagining the zombie attacking him.

"Can't we take sis with us?"

I doubted my ears for a moment.

"?"

Take a zombie with us?

What kind of lunatic would think of that?

Ah, I heard there are such lunatics on PaleNet.

A creepy man who, though not as well-prepared as we doomsday enthusiasts, managed to find a suitable shelter and lived there, discovered that his once-adored idol had become a zombie and brought her into his room.

The story ends with the birth of a zombie couple.

Expanding on the story, it's about a reclusive shut-in, not much different from Iamjesus, who goes outside and blends with the many people he fears, leading to a story of unity.

"Do you want to become a zombie too?"

"Are you scared of sis?"

"Yeah, she's a zombie."

"No, I can control her well."

Iamjesus insisted.

It's absurd, but his words are not entirely unpersuasive, so I looked around for a counterargument.

I looked around.

There are still many zombies.

They stand and sway as usual, taking over the streets, but some have turned their heads towards us, their eyes as pale as their skin, staring at us.

"......"

It doesn't feel good.

I felt my blood run cold and looked straight at Iamjesus.

"Let's say this zombie is a person. But can it speak?"

"Speak?"

"What's the point of bringing something that can't communicate?"

"We can understand each other. We are like that."

I glared at him, who was naively speaking of his ideals, and smirked.

"Are you planning to use this zombie like the adult toys in your room?"

"No, that's not it!"

Iamjesus's eyes shook violently.

"Plastic! Plastic love. Between me and sis."

"Plutonium?"

"Yeah! Plutonium love! Wait, that doesn't seem right? Did I say it correctly?"

"......Placebo?"

"That's not it either! Anyway! It's pure love. I would never do that. With sis......"

He doesn't seem to be joking.

His pale face is flushed like a beet.

"Let's get out of here first."

"Okay!"

Thus, a strange combination of a human and a motorcycle, a madman and a zombie, was formed.

Bang!

Nothing changed.

I cleared the way and led the motorcycle.

The only difference was that a zombie was added to our group.

A short while later, we returned to the flower shop.

Iamjesus spoke to the zombie.

"Sis, do you remember this shop? You quit school and opened it, right?"

Iamjesus spoke to the zombie with emotion, but the zombie only stared blankly into space with its pale, lifeless eyes.

We passed the flower shop and retraced our steps.

Whenever Iamjesus saw a noticeable shop or remembered something from the past, he would speak to the zombie.

"Sis, the bread here was delicious, right? Do you remember the one you bought? It was the cheapest red bean bread, but it was the best bread I've ever tasted."

"Why didn't we go out that day? You said you wanted to ride in a Bentley? I secretly took my dad's car, but you didn't read my message, so I went on a night drive alone......"

"Why are you so slow at reading messages? You always reply a day later. Well, that's just like you."

Listening to his rambling, it seemed they weren't in a proper relationship.

This woman probably didn't like him.

Even his pale face, which could never be considered attractive, was flushed.

"Sis......"

Iamjesus stopped walking.

"Say something......"

I turned around.

"Huh."

I sighed involuntarily.

He was crying.

This foolish human was shedding tears in the middle of a horde of zombies.

Perhaps he knew.

That this woman didn't like him.

Perhaps his talk of plastic love was not a result of delusion or ignorance but an unconscious reflection of reality.

A cheap, practically unrecyclable love.

Anyway, it seems the time has come to end this strange adventure.

"Ugh......"

A zombie noticed us.

It was about to open its mouth.

Bang!

The rifle fired.

The bullet accurately penetrated the zombie's head.

Three-shot rule, right?

I don't want to believe it, but now I can only pray that this flawed theory is correct.

There was no choice.

If it opened its mouth and screamed, calling its comrades, thousands of zombies would surround us.

"Aren't you coming?"

It seems the flawed theory is indeed flawed.

The zombies, who were standing awkwardly, started looking around, and the ones hiding in the ruins began to crawl out at the sound of the gun.

The street, where only a few wandering zombies were visible, was quickly filled with dozens of zombies looking around.

"Hey! Are you listening to me?"

I asked strongly while observing the zombies.

But Iamjesus didn't hear me.

He was staring intently at the silent zombie that made him cry.

He opened his mouth to say something but closed it.

He had to.

Bang!

A powerful shockwave erupted near his heart.

At the same time, his eyes were shining brighter than ever.

Something was about to happen.

Something I didn't know, something I couldn't predict.

"Ugh......"

But the zombies wouldn't wait.

They noticed us.

Dozens of them started advancing, waving their arms.

I lowered the gun I had aimed.

The gun was now meaningless.

Instead, I got on the motorcycle and started the engine.

"Iamjesus!"

I couldn't wait any longer and pulled his arm.

Bang!

Another shockwave occurred.

It was stronger than the previous one.

So strong that my entire body trembled.

I felt the shockwave was strong even at close range, but I didn't hate it.

This shockwave is a symbol of the power of the Awakened.

Those who stand beside this pulsating power are said to gain similar strength.

Like Moon Hee and Gong Gye-min.

I'm here because of that.

I came here to get a piece of the power that a ten-year-younger kid spilled.

But the beneficiary of this miracle wasn't me.

"Ugh......"

My gaze was fixed on a single point like an arrow.

"Ugh, ugh......"

The zombie opened its mouth and made a strange sound.

It wasn't a normal groan.

The shape of its mouth, the precarious glow of its pale tongue, trying to force out words.

No doubt about it.

The zombie was trying to speak.

"......Dong-pil."

The dead spoke.

"Dong-pil......?"

It recognized the one who woke it and called his name accurately.

Seeing this, I muttered without realizing it.

"......Crazy."

No one would believe it.

Who would believe this crazy scene?

Even if I were in my prime as a professor, I would have been treated as a madman for something like this.

"Sis said it!"

Iamjesus looked at me with a joyful expression.

"Skeleton?"

He was surprised to see me, which is understandable.

His eyes probably saw my face with a more serious and intense expression than ever.

"......"

I once held a position where I made judgments and took responsibility.

We, who fight monsters, value human survival as the greatest value, regardless of the basis for judgment.

I have a feeling.

This is not a simple incident.

Let's think about the results of this phenomenon first.

The immediate result that comes to mind is one.

To restore zombies to humans.

This alone doesn't make much of a difference.

After all, humans are still so numerous that they are rotting, and the number of humans itself is a trap.

But I know another fact.

It was shown to me by my mentor, Jang Gi-yeong.

My mentor showed the potential of beings standing on the boundary between zombies and humans.

They are perfect candidates for the Awakened.

There are at least hundreds of millions of zombies on this Earth, and at least a million in Korea.

If we can turn them into humans?

If they are like my mentor, suitable candidates for the Awakened?

We can create a million Awakened.

Putting aside the risks, the Awakened are ideal tools against monsters.

As a once top hunter, I became obsolete and retired from the battlefield.

Now, on Jeju Island, my comrades are fighting a desperate battle, sacrificing countless lives to close the rift.

Moon Hee seems to be staying here to supply them with fighters.

If we can stably supply Awakened in this situation?

We don't need a million.

Thousands.

Just a few thousand would change the tide of the battle.

It means that the possibility of survival can be given to our doomed humanity.

"Burn the zombies."

Although I was overwhelmed by despair, I didn't lose my resolve.

I'm ready to stand up and fight whenever hope appears.

"Hurry!"

I do what I can.

"Where?"

"Just stuff them in the cargo area!"

I am a professor.

"Equipment?"

"Abandon it."

Once called the best among all hunters.

Bang

The satellite equipment was abandoned.

But something far more important was loaded into the cargo area instead.

"Hold on tight."

It was, precisely, hope.

Vroom-

The motorcycle roared and started to speed.

Numerous zombies were crawling out in front of us, blocking our path.

If we jump over the slope next to the zombies, we can easily escape, but it might drop our passengers and cargo.

"How can it not work?"

The next moment.

Bang!

A shockwave echoed from right behind us.

"Ugh!"

I know that the intensity of the shockwave increases inversely with distance, but this is the first time I've experienced it while in physical contact.

The shock was immense.

My insides were shaking, my head was buzzing, and on top of that.

Bang!

A second shockwave hit.

"......Huh!!"

My breath was cut off, and my vision went dark.

This feeling, no doubt.

It's the same shock I felt during a telepathy test.

"......"

I can't see or hear anything.

The feeling is like an endless fall into the depths of the sea.

A pale gray color is gesturing to me from far away.

Am I dying?

No.

I see a light.

"Skeleton?!"

A thin, unfamiliar but unmistakable voice.

"Phew!"

I came to my senses.

"Skeleton!"

Iamjesus asked worriedly from behind.

"......I'm fine."

For a moment, I saw a pale gray world.

I quickly regained my composure and stared ahead.

The zombies are parting.

By the command of this zombie's savior.

"Ha......"

I took a deep breath to calm down and sincerely praised my forum friend.

"Amazing."

But this is the world of zombies.

They have a king.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With each pulse, the space around it distorts, and the king is a pale, evil statue-like monster.

The king appeared before us.

Floating in the air, with thousands of zombies at its feet.

Small type - Infiltration type - Necromancer type monster.

The master of this city.