Apocalypse Survival Guide Chapter 44

Chapter 44. New Beginning (16)

【chanic Tyler】

That was the na of the owner of the bracelet we obtained. He was a chanic classified as a senior worker, and his na wasn't Evan or Jake, as stated in the record. Maybe it was the na of the last person who died. Or perhaps it belonged to a ghoul who killed them all.

I recalled the content of the conversation I had heard from the voice recording. It ntioned a dical area. A person nad Alex felt sothing was wrong with his body and went there, but ended up having to return because they weren't accepting any more patients.

'... They couldn't take more patients?'

It was still unclear whether they couldn't or wouldn't take any more patients. The detailed circumstances were unknown to .

The flu-like symptoms that spread like a trend before the outbreak. At first, I thought it was just a flu, but the flu was rely a side issue; I wondered if the real cause wasn't a weakened body. This was rely a guess.

Since I wasn't a doctor and had never experienced those symptoms, looking back now, I was truly fortunate not to have experienced them. Especially if those symptoms were the harbinger of turning into a ghoul.

I felt like I was uncovering sothing bit by bit, but it was superficial, and the frustration only continued to mount.

'I don't have the obligation to find out... but it feels unsettling.'

The sensation of being prodded bit by bit was bringing down. The atmosphere in the dark maintenance area added to the gloom.

- Hyun-woo, how do we use the chip that woman gave to us?

Nadia tapped lightly. Her small gesture snapped out of my thoughts, and I refocused on the bracelet of Tyler, the chanic.

- They didn't specify any particular thod, so I guess just placing it close would do.

If so specific thod was required, a broker would have inford us beforehand. I brought Tyler, the chanic's, bracelet closer to mine. A hologram for identity certification popped up and seed to rge into one.

The flickering hologram windows overlapped each other completely. Once they were fully overlaid, my na remained, but my rank had changed. I had beco a senior worker.

- You've been promoted.

While rank-up might've been more fitting, it didn't really matter. There's no sense in poking fun when it's only a temporary change, and seeing Nadia genuinely happy for refrained from making any remarks.

After a brief giggle, Nadia adopted a serious deanor and began tapping on the system console, knowing full well that ti was not on our side.

- Hyun-woo, let's find a way to cross over there quietly, if possible.

Just in case, I stored Tyler, the chanic's, bracelet in the bag, and we set to work examining the system console.

【Welco, chanic Hyun-woo. Today's assigned task is to repair the crane link of the cargo orbital vehicle waiting at Port 4. For detailed instructions, please proceed to the relevant port to confirm.】

It seems like this task was originally allotted to the person who held this rank. Since it wasn't of importance, I simply pushed the hologram ssage to the side to clear it.

Then, the repair platform status log appeared.

【Port 1 – Shuttle undergoing repairs. Current status: Heavy damage.】

【Port 2 – Shuttle undergoing repairs. Current status: Heavy damage.】

【Port 3 – Orbital vehicle undergoing repairs. Current status: Moderate damage.】

【......】

【Port 12 – Awaiting intake.】

Heavy damage. This notation changes according to the damage extent, but when it's marked as heavy damage, it generally indicates that repairs are challenging or will take an extrely long ti, potentially rendering the equipnt a total loss.

No matter how strict and stingy Base Heaven might be with asset managent, they usually dispose of it once it's reached a level of severe damage.

Since keeping equipnt too long hinders rotation, they're generally inclined to dislike such conditions. Therefore, the fact that the equipnt docked at port was in a severely damaged state suggests a high likelihood of being impacted by a terrorist attack.

【Main Power – Offline.】

【Auxiliary Power – Cable damaged. Activation unavailable.】

【External Fra Fastening Device – Lack of power. Inoperable.】

【Lift Device – Lack of power. Inoperable.】

The repair platform itself was overwhelmingly drenched in red, indicating at one glance that its condition was dire. Not a single component seed functional.

- As expected, energy is leaking sowhere in the middle.

- Can you fix it?

- Not with the current equipnt. A damaged cable indicates a need for a new cable replacent in that area. While the cable itself might be in the warehouse, the ghouls won't give us a chance to repair it.

Replacing a cable isn't particularly difficult if solely considering the technicality. It's rely a job of disconnecting the malfunctioning cable and attaching a new one. However, quick completion is impossible. It's a painstaking process.

- Instead, I can manipulate the circuit to gather remaining energy. Even if the output becos slightly weak, I can sohow gather the leaking energy...

Nadia wore a completely focused expression, guiding my hand as she moved it here and there. It would've been ideal if she could do it directly, but the authority was with , requiring my touch to respond to the console.

- I guess I need to ask the broker if it's possible to share authority.

A thod must indeed exist to expand Nadia's authority similar to how Ted had once done by making her an assistant. Frankly, elevating my rank held little significance.

Practically, it wasn't I but Nadia conducting these operations. Despite observing with my eyes, I couldn't comprehend what was being done, being devoid of knowledge in this area.

Operating in such a manner wouldn't be sustainable if repeated; guiding my hand to replicate her actions posed limitations. Moreover, the constraint in action ford a considerable problem. There's no luxury of hand-holding during life-or-death situations.

I would fend off the ghouls while Nadia operated sothing amid frequent occurrences of such situations. The possibility was exceedingly high.

Look; we were already slowed down because things had to be relayed through . As I applied strength to my hand to expedite our movents, Nadia firmly instructed to stay still, slapping my hand in the process.

Serving as nothing more than a dedicated pen for Nadia, I followed her lead until she successfully completed her task, then she calmly placed my hand back at my side, returning it to its original place post-use.

【Lift Device – Ergency power activated. So parts operating normally.】

The Lift. Given the trendous size variance between repairs, the movable booths are installed at each port to facilitate efficient repair work. We chose the lift as the ans to traverse the repair platform.

- From now on, the lift is under our control.

- Good. We just need to ride it now.

We planned to board the lift positioned on the far right port, then transition to the lift at the next port, repeating the process. Although moving over the platform would attract attention, it was preferable to traversing beneath.

Having done all we could, we opened the right door via circuit manipulation and entered the passage connecting to the repair platform.

Dong—Resonating footsteps traveled down the hallway, preceding us. So insistent were they that their quiet echoes lingered like a reverberation.

Despite being faint, the sound stirred a reaction from the ghouls in the dark. Moving stealthily, we shortly descended unhard to the repair platform, which, unexpectedly, was brighter than anticipated.

It wasn't suffocatingly dark. Flickering blue wisps appeared sporadically, their dance in mid-air reminiscent of the ghost fires known only by concept.

Seeing them, we exhaled our tension-streaked breaths slowly but silently. This was because we knew those blue wisps were not re ghost fires. Those were ghouls.

The externally protruded form called Blue Crystals from their bodies emitted energy into the air, radiating a blue glow. And there wasn't just one of them. About dozens, it seed, were in a dormant state.

A white, mist-like vapor slightly diffused in the air, rging with the eerie atmosphere from the ghouls' presence and the blue wavelength of the Blue Crystals, suffocatingly bizarre and anxiety-inducing.

Upon sensing any non-kin presence, they would imdiately screech and attempt every ans to kill us.

The thought that we had to pass through there made my head spin. The blue wavelength from the Blue Crystals spreading around made my head throb.

'We shouldn't stay here too long...'

Extended exposure to the special wavelength emitted by the raw Blue Crystal results in ntal issues, causing panic attacks, harm to oneself or others, or significant, enduring hallucinations.

Although becoming an indispensable new energy source ant that everyone knew but discreetly ignored this uncomfortable truth.

Admittedly, the situation had sowhat improved. Research acceleration on Blue Crystals led to the developnt of technology blocking part of the wavelength.

Our suits contained this technology, which was why we only experienced headaches. Without it, more severe symptoms would have manifested.

The only silver lining was the proximity to the lift.

【Grrr... 】

A sound, almost a whimper, not belonging anywhere but creeping towards us, gripped our ankles. Despite their faintness, their small echo was overtaken by the sound of sparking from nearby.

Suppressing a strong desire to use a flashlight and secure visibility, I attempted to grasp as much of the surroundings as possible. The system log indicated Port 12 on the repair platform was awaiting intake, rendering it unremarkable, save for the workbench.

On the workbench appeared to be a set of repair tools, but it was inaccessible. A ghoul radiating blue light stood firmly there, back turned.

Rags of a chanic suit barely hung at its waist, indicating one of the workers here had turned into a ghoul.

Excessive greed carries risks. Trying to stealthily approach and rely retrieve the tools was relying on luck. Do not rely on fortune too much—I repeated this phrase over and over.

Soon enough, we managed to board the awaiting lift. Swift actions within silence. Although ghouls occasionally twisted their blue crystal-emitting joints and rapidly turned their heads, we lded into shadows and concealed ourselves each ti.

Even though Carry's hovercraft lights existed, similar in blue tone, their nature differed from that of hostile security robots, thus they remained unnoticed by the ghouls.

Subsequently, the lift began to move. We were about to ascend and avoid the ghouls' threat. Or so I thought.

【Warning. An abnormal energy flow has been detected in the zone. Circuit breaker is functioning normally.】

That is, until I felt a reoccurrence of the sensation that the whole area was shaking, as I had earlier at the maintenance area entrance.

Energy was abruptly supplied to the otherwise blackout-stricken platform, causing tal to screech and installed lighting to flicker wildly.

Light began cycling between bright and dark within the repair platform. The situation compounded further as the dormant broadcast system crashed over us.

【Notice. Lifts currently being realigned. Workers at Port 12, please brace for movent.】

With the urgent developnt of our exposure, the lights seed to fixate on us, cycling on and off in rapid succession. Naturally, all eyes turned towards us aboard the lift.

"..."

"..."

The irregular flickering of broken lights, mildly abrasive sparking sounds that prickle ear canals, broadcasts unbeknownst to our circumstance reverberating throughout, chills breezing down our spines, malfunctioning hearts exacerbated by sudden events, cold sweat streaming down cheeks.

And the ghouls, eventually awakened.

【Kiiaaak!】

【Kieeeek!】

No longer dormant, the ghouls, aiming to tear apart the perpetrator who disturbed their slumber, began their assault. Despite us not even ascending yet, with everything collapsing in chaos, a frantic call went out.

"Why aren't we going up!"

- It's warming up!

- What do you an, warming up!

- The motor's outdated, unable to exert full power! That abnormal energy earlier might've burnt so circuits...!

Damn it. Profanities surged up my throat. While not entirely stalled, the lift carrying us was slowly ascending. The problem was, the ghouls were closing in faster than we were rising.

【Kikikiik—】

Possibly laughing at us trapped like rats, the ghoul by the workbench advanced quickly, closing the distance with its gaping maw. Each thumping step sent my heart pounding as well, furiously so.

Nadia, realizing there was no place left to retreat, clutched my hand in fear. The warmth in my hand weighed heavily on my shoulders—a burden of responsibility. Breaths beca short amidst the pressuring presence detected from all sides.

Our current speed of ascension would never result in shaking off the ghouls. I knew exactly what was needed to slightly raise our survival probability.

I released my tension by clenching my jaw. What survival asked of was decisiveness, not cowering silently. I shook off Nadia's grip, hoisting her up swiftly and throwing her off the lift.

To be precise, I tossed her towards Carry, who, alerted to my resolve, amped up its thruster output, ensuring she landed safely.

Fortunately, Nadia managed to land securely atop Carry. She was startled but then, grasping the situation, extended an anxious hand towards .

- Hyun-woo!

- You go up first!

Since the ghouls already discerned our presence, raising one's voice wouldn't worsen matters.

'The real problem is...'

All the ghouls on the repair platform were reaching out to us. Additionally, they were attempting to climb the lift.

Now, what to do.

- ... I'm screwed, aren't I?

Despite aiming for calm comprehension, the reality my mouth reflected independently was brutally accurate.

The shrieks tearing through the air tightened around my throat.