Episode 2 – A Nightmarish World (4)

There was a unpleasant fact about long rangers in post apocalyptic worlds that annoyed me.

From a certain standpoint, there was an advantage in taking out enemies from afar. But it also had its disadvantages.

For instance, one could always run out of ammo at unpleasant situations. I found myself in such a situation. The handgun has ran out of rounds and I don't have any extra rounds.

"Shit!"

I cursed.

Grrr— Step—

At the sight of the approaching night crawlers, I slowly stepped backwards until I was forced to stop. There was no space to move further.

I glanced behind me and noticed I have reached the edge of the building.

The feeling of fear that has been sealed all this time starting flooding back in. The building was eight stories high and the next building was too far so jumping was out of the question.

It was a complicated situation.

If I faced the night crawlers head on, I will get overwhelmed by their numbers and get devoured alive. On the other hand, If I tried to jump to the next building, I will be heading straight to hell.

"Calm down now..."

I took several deep breaths in order to calm myself. There were methods I could to handle the situation even if I was out of salt. It seems I have to use the old fashioned way.

A group of night crawlers rushed towards me and I responded by shifting to the side. The result?

The fallen night crawlers became paintings on the ground below with their crushed bodies.

Really now. It was very easy to make them fall off the building since they were creatures with low intelligence.

Kuweeok— Kyaaaack—

Everytime the night crawlers would try to catch me, I would immediately shift to the side and make them fall off the building.

Using this method, I was able to steadily reduce their numbers. Unfortunately, I didn't get any coins since I did not kill them directly. But I can't be too greedy in this situation.

I have been looking at the time and I have around four minutes before the scenario ends. Will I really be able to last that long?

As I was fighting off a night crawler, nails flew from a blind spot and scratched my shoulder. I immediately responded by swinging the machete.

[Some Great Lords have taken notice of your adversity.]

[Some Great Lords are impressed by your will to survive.]

[500 coins has been sponsored to you.]

The constellations watching found my suffering to be amuzing. I felt like a crown performing for an audience. Indeed, I was a crown and the constellations were the audience.

[Ah! What's this? Isn't this very interesting?]

Aurora appeared and flapped her wings in the air. She was looking at me with a cocky smirk.

[Oh my, aren't you a very lucky bastard? It seems some Great Lords have taken interest in you.]

"... What?"

[You should be receiving an system message shortly. If you want to survive your current predicament, I suggest you pick a supporting constellation.]

Just as she finished speaking, I received a system message.

[Sponsor Selection]

Select your support constellation from the list below. The chosen constellation will be your biggest supporter throughout the Scenarios. Choose wisely, your chosen sponsor cannot be changed.

*Mother of Chaos

*Ruler of War and Wisdom.

*Chaos Architect.

*??? ??? ???

Four choices were presented before me. There were some names I knew and there were one I didn't know. Even so, one fact remained the same.

They were all asking me to choose. To become an apostle or die.

Sponsor Contract.

It is made between constellations and walkers who wants to become their apostle. It allows the constellation to grant their apostle their own stigmas, as well as support them through coins.

In essence, the constellation takes responsibility for the walker; any actions made by the incarnation reflect upon their constellation sponsor. It was the most important event for walkers since most constellations have high standards.

But as I knew the true face behind the sponsorship contract, I couldn't bring myself to choose a sponsor from this list despite there being some big shots like 'Primordial Evil Dragon' and 'Goddess of War and Wisdom.'

First was the Mother of Chaos/Primordial Evil Dragon.

She was Tiamat, the mother of all dragons and possesses one of the strongest attack skills that even myth-grade constellations would envy. Wasn't she the constellation supportor of Nam Jinhyuk in the novel?

Secondly, Ruler of War and Wisdom.

Her real name was Athena, a constellation from Olympus. As the goddess of War and Wisdom, she had many blessings that can enhance one's physical abilities and mental fortitude.

Then, there was the Chaos Architect.

Strangely enough, I didn't recall any memory about this constellation. Maybe it was a passing constellation that I had forgotten along the story. Therefore, choosing this constellation will not be the right decision.

Then lastly, there was a constellation without a name. It was because the constellation had refused to reveal his name. Even if I wanted to choose a constellation, there was no way I would choose someone who wouldn't reveal his name.

My mind began to work quickly.

On one hand, If I choose any constellation from this list, I will be able to survive. But the instant I choose a support constellation, I won't be able to reach the final scenario. On the other hand, I didn't choose any constellation, I will be left to fight against the endless horde alone.

With the involvement of the constellation, the situation has become much more complicated than before.

[The constellation 'Primordial Evil Dragon' is awaiting your choice.]

[The constellation 'Ruler of War and Wisdom' is awaiting your choice.]

[The constellation 'Chaos Architect' is awaiting your choice.]

[The constellation '??? ???' Is awaiting ypur choice.]

My mind was working quickly, trying to choose the best choice. In the end, a decision was made.

[You have chosen not to select a support constellation.]

This was the road that I've already decided to walk from the beginning.

[The constellation 'Primordial Evil Dragon' is greatly displeased at your choice.]

[The constellation 'Ruler of War and Wisdom' is disappointed.]

[The constellation 'Chaos Architect' is interested in your choice.]

[The constellation '??? ??? ???' Is interested in your choice.]

I wasn't surprised because it was an expected message. The constellations were people and they had different reactions. Some reacted negatively while others were interested in my choice.

There was doubt in my mind but there was no regret. The contract was never a fair deal to begin with.

I will survive in this new world and become strong. There were many ways to do so without becoming the toys of the constellations. I know all of them because I was the only reader of the story.

[Haha! Are you sure? You might regret it later.]

Aurora was mischievously smiling at me. I didn't have time to be looking at her right now. I was busy evading the night crawlers who were currently trying to bite me.

Cut, Slash, Crack—

The machete severed a night crawler's arm and found its way into the forehead of another.

They had gotten too close so I cut them down immediately.

Night crawlers had a danger rating of grade 9 yet they were viewed as a high risk species. Their bodies was made from human base. If it was any other creature, I will have been already dead.

I looked at the time. Three minutes. Only three minutes left.

Keok—

My right thigh was pierced by black fingers. I groaned as the pain coursed through my body.

The surface of my skin was turning black.

This was why night crawlers were so dangerous. If they bite or scratch you, you will slowly become infected and turn into a night crawler.

Damnit! If only I had just one combat skill, then maybe...

"Wait..."

I remembered I indeed have a skill thay could help me in my current predicament.

I hurriedly activated said skill at once.

[Skill 'Blood Demon Ki' has activated.]

[All your overall stats will increase.]

A dark aura slowly rose from my shoulders and my body was filled with newfound power. It was the skill that Nam Jinhyuk used to dominate the ruined world.

Kwang—

The ground scattered as I leaped towards the horde with all my might.

Slash— Crack—

The machete was swung and blood flew in the air.

My vision was blurry. The machete was swung randomly and the night crawlers got crushed by the overwhelming violence.

At this moment, I have become the Mad Demon of the battlefield.

Slash! Cut! Cut! Slash! Cut! Stab! Cut! Stab! Slash! Slash! Cut! Cut! Slash! Cut! Stab! Cut! Stab! Slash! Slash! Stab! Stab! Cut! Slash! Slash!

The machete pierced the forehead of the night crawlers one by one as time continued to tick by.

[02: 00]

The machete pierced into the skull of a lone night crawler.

[01: 40]

I kicked an approached night crawler in the stomach and slashed at the next one at the right.

[01: 20]

"Argghh!"

I groaned as my back was clawed by a night crawler before swinging the machete backwards.

[01: 00]

I slashed two night crawlers and slammed the handgun into the face of another.

[00: 50]

Suddenly, the number of the night crawlers increased by tenfold and I found myself being overwhelmed by their increasing numbers.

[00: 40]

After I cut down a night crawler, my shoulder bone got pierced. Next was my thighs, arms, chest and back. I was getting pierced from all directions.

[00: 30]

The night crawlers grabbed onto my body one by one. Now my arms and legs were sealed so I could not move. The worst was yet to come.

[00: 25]

"Arrggghhhhh!!!"

I screamed.

Nails and teeth rapidly tore away at my flesh and bones. As this rate, forget turning into a night crawler, I will be devoured alive by fucking zombies.

[Exclusive skill 'Omniscent Wall' has nullified most of the pain.]

Although the most of the pain had lessened, it didn't change my current predicament.

[00: 20]

Damnit, can't that timer count down faster?!

[What did I say? You should have chosen a helper when you had the chance and now look at you. How pitiful.]

Aurora looked down at me. Indeed, my situation was pitiful.

[00: 10]

She disappeared with a bored face. She must have thought my fate was sealed and left.

At this moment, the night crawlers were always ripping out my organs and feasting on them.

Damnit, the pain was unbearable. Thankfully, by some miracle, I didn't have to bear it for long.

Three, two, one...

Thud—

The night crawlers stopped eating me and suddenly dropped to the floor and turned into ash. It was time.

[Congratulations, you have passed the scenario.]

I was saved.

[500 coins have been given as compensation.]

[The Scenario effect will begin shortly.]

[All injuries sustained during the scenario will be healed.]

Those were the last things I saw before I finally lost consciousness.