One Rusty Pipe to Rule the World!

Fear, pain, and resentment.

It was all that hateful assassin's fault!

Nex's brain was inundated with pain. He gritted his teeth, enduring at all costs. This was worse than that time he had been shot at his PC!

But he didn't have time for this. He could already hear the shrieks growing louder and louder. THEY were coming!

The place was empty, not a soul in sight, no sign of any human inhabiting the area: he was on his own.

Nex rummaged through the wretched garbage, the foul smell sticking to his body. He needed something, anything! Ah, there! There was a long metallic pipe!

[Weapon Equipped? Very Rusty…]

"Tch— shut up if you won't help!" Nex dragged his body into the trash, entering a small cave-like pocket and closing the only exit as he waited, not moving a muscle.

— Shriek! Shriek! Shriek! —

He could hear them, fast little things whatever they were. 'Please be fooled by that rotting smell! Just go away,' Nex prayed.

He held the pipe so strongly that his hand hurt, but he did not care. Then a miracle seemed to happen. A loud noise resounded, the creatures leaving in a hurry.

"Thank God they—"

— CRASH!! Shriek! Shriek! —

His hideout's door was broken through, an enormous rat face springing inside. It bit at him, its sharp teeth colliding with the pipe.

What the heck?! There was still one?!

That wasn't the only issue. What the hell was wrong with this rat?!

Black rotting fur, lifeless red eyes, full of maggots, claws oozing with black liquid, skull half broken, and the smell, that smell! *Hurl* This thing wasn't alive! Zombie rat?!

"Are you kidding me?!"

Nex held to the pipe firmly, feeling the thing's rancid breath on his face. Oh god, this had to be considered an attack!

He had to do something! Nex resolved himself. "I am not dying here. I'm getting back up there and shoving a zombie rat up that bastard's ass!"

He found himself fueled by hate, that one wrinkly mentor char would have been so proud of him…

Nex extended a hand, reaching for the hole in the creature's head, plunging it deep inside. He started scooping the creature's flesh out, feeling the maggots wriggling.

He kept cursing with every scoop.

"Fuck that guy."

"Fuck this world."

"Fuck the goddamn cultists!"

"And fuck you, you useless piece of junk system!"

Then he suddenly stopped. He still wanted to curse more, a lot more in fact, but he had scooped the creature's entire brain already. It had completely stopped moving.

Tears escaped him as he chuckled. He was covered in zombie and maggots, having barely defeated one creature. So much for being a fantastic S-Ranker…

[Corruption Detected! Danger!]

[You Should Leave the Area!]

Yes, it did smell corrupted. Nex pushed the corpse, making his way out while gasping for breath. He glanced at his surroundings, brandishing his pipe.

Red glowing eyes everywhere, staring straight at him. Countless rats!

Nex gave a self-deprecating smile. Retreat to his corpse-full "hideout" and perish soon? Stay and die standing?

He gazed one last time at the bloody sky of this world. Well, this sure was fitting for one last heroic bout. He started cackling like a madman as he stared at the monsters.

"C'mon! It's time for one last pipe run!" Just like in that game…

"What? Are you scared?! Bring it on!" One final raid…

They all came out of the darkness, one after the others—countless creatures, enough to make a heroic figure cry.

Nex wasn't particularly strong, far from it… but so what?

The sea of rats charged his way.

"A pipe run, was it?" A voice made him jump up. Who?! A cloaked figure stood upright behind him but slowly walked toward the rats. "Sounds fun!"

The mysterious figure grasped a similar rusty pipe, not much of a weapon, as he advanced fearlessly. Nex couldn't tear his eyes away from the scene.

The rats lunged toward the man as he powerfully swung the pipe.

— Bam! Whoosh!! —

Rats exploded one after the others: their remains sent flying far enough for a homerun. Somehow Nex felt joy from the man…but then the rats engulfed him.

They bit every single part of his body, blood splattering all over.

No….What kind of stupid end was this?!

Nex froze. What the hell?!

"Hum, while it's fun, it really doesn't feel natural." A voice echoed out of the rat swarm. Then they exploded outward

Sturdy-looking muscles, a wide back, green sturdy scales, sharp claws, a reptilian face, but most importantly a gigantic grin, one that could even brighten the Apocalypse.

The lizardman spun around, using his fists to deliver deadly blows to the creatures, splattering them all over. He was unstoppable!

Every time the rats bit at him, their teeth hurt. He was so resistant that they wouldn't damage him even if he stood still.

Invincible, powerful, free! Nex felt entranced, more than he had ever been before. Not just because of the strength, but because of the aura.

He wasn't like Shadow Star, that used their power for profit.

He used his strength to live freely. This time it included playing with a bunch of rats while swinging a pipe as if a baseball bat.

— Shriek! Shriek! Shriek! —

The creatures finally decided to retreat. There was no way to win, and they wanted to live! Were those not zombified? Perhaps not…

But as they retreated, two headed Nex's way, deciding to leave with some takeout. Human limbs seemed right up their alley. They lunged at him, the lizard watching on.

"You think I'm easy prey?!!" Yes, he was, but instead of cowering, Nex shouted as loudly as he could, powerfully stepping up.

The pain from his leg almost made him falter, but he didn't. This wasn't the first time he endured broken bones for a raid!

"It's hammer time!!!" He screamed as he bashed them.

A rat bit on his good leg while he crushed the other's skull. Just as the first rat was about to rip the limb off, he fell directly on it, punching it over and over.

"That. Is. My. Leg. You bastard!!!" The rat finally panicked as it tried leaving with scraps of Nex's flesh in its mouth.

This should have been the end of the fight….but a wounded Nex kept bashing the thing, not letting it go until it finally stopped moving entirely.

He finally rolled to the side, staring at the bloody sky while regaining his breath. He had one leg broken and one leg punctured/bleeding all over, yet he was smiling.

Then his smile changed into a laugh. He was so fucked!

The lizard slowly left, having had his fun. "Wait up! Teach me how to fight!" The cripple dragged himself forward, following after his savior.

"Give it up, kid. I'm a lizardman. I only know how to fight like a lizardman. Besides, you've been bitten. You'll probably turn soon." He shook his head, continuing his journey.

This was Nex and Razark'Oph's first meeting: a lone lizard on his way home and a man on the verge of death….or not?!

"I said wait up, you bastard!!" Nex shouted, staring straight at the lizard as he followed him, utterly ignoring his flashing screen. [Absorbed Zombie Bloodline!] [Stamina Increased!]

Nex dragged himself through trash, rocks, metal, monster remains, and even a rhinoceros-looking creature. He kept going until they reached a town.

As guards were going crazy pointing at Nex, he chuckled to himself. 'Finally caught up with that damn lizard!' This was his last thought before falling unconscious…

[ Welcome to the Alcove! ]