Episode 5-George's Awakening (2)

<The Mall Scenario>

George and I trekked into the mall with careful steps. Flare-zombies were everywhere, running around erratically. They would jump off random levels, screeching as they fell. They were igniting, and spat fire from their orifices.

(The flame-virus works by infecting humans, then reworking their insides to overheat. This causes them to go insane, while being hazardous to others.)

An example were a group of people being attacked right now. They were below us, and were running frantically. A large group of a hundred Flare-zombies were crowding around them. There was a young boy, who had some peach fuzz around his chin, and steely eyes full of fear and vigor. He was protecting his comrades, who were weaker. I saw men, women, and the elderly. They were using him to attack the zombies. He began to scream.

"HELP US!!! Anyone!! Please...!"

(Idiot. You'll only attract more. Bigger groups, bigger problems.)

The result of his desperate cries were enragement from his attackers. The group tried to flee into a store, and shut the blinds, but the zombies bursted through. All of those people were cornered. They began to scream out as they were eaten alive. First, it was the boy, then the rest.

"C'mon, George. We have to go somewhere else," I said in a low voice.

(Right now, the Constellations won't be sending donations or messages. They don't want to disturb this scenario. At least they have some form of ethics.)

George and I would be on our own. He couldn't fire his rifle, but he had a bayonet attached to the end. Still, it wouldn't end well if we attracted the flare-zombies' attention.

(A hidden scenario should open right about now.)

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[Hidden scenario - Mall Dungeon]

Category: Hidden

Difficulty: A+

Clear Condition: Destroy the [Bulbs of Flare and Disease]

Time limit: None

Rewards: Access to three other dungeons.

Penalty for failure: -

+

(The mall dungeon. In multiple cities and mainstream centers, the Dokkaebi would have placed these dungeons to tempt Incarnations. In the multiple apocalypse stories that I have read, malls are a great place for supplies, but come with high risks that aren't worth it.)

Sadly, the Dokkaebi knew this as well. They would create sub-scenarios to lead Incarnations into peril, while also leading them to hidden scenarios if they survive.

(A lot of humans hate the Dokkaebi, but people don't recognize how much they tamper and lead the scenarios. Especially the Constellations that seek stimulating scenarios to watch.)

I began to use hand gestures to lead George along. I pointed to the scenario window, and to the name [Bulbs of Flare and Disease.] I then mimed killing it by bringing my hand swiftly across my neck.

He nodded. I made sure he understood, though.

[You have activated "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint" Stage 2!]

(It seems that we have to kill the "Bulbs of Flare and Disease.")

I nodded when he finally thought the right answer. We began to silently traverse the mall. When we were farther away from the large horde, I pulled something out of my rain jacket. It was a bomb, made from motorcycle parts, and items that I bought from the Dokkaebi shop.

(Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle kids...)

I made sure that George got into position, and that he was in an area that was safe enough. I slowly went back to where I saw the group being eaten. When I was finally there, I actually saw something surprising.

"GAHHH!!! FUCK.... YOU!!!"

The boy from earlier. He had survived. He was being clawed apart from the hundreds of Flare-zombies that surrounded him, but he kept on increasing his stats to continue fighting. After their weapon broke, they began using hand to hand combat. It seems that they were trying to escape the horde by brute-forcing their way through. They tried running through the horde, but they were being tugged by the arms and bodies of the flaming fallen.

(Their strength must be high, as well as their stamina. But, he has another issue to deal with...)

[You have activated "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint" Lv.3!]

(Character Summary; physical information as well as mentality,) I thought. Windows began to open.

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[Character Summary]

Physicality status: Infected. They are morphing into an outside species. They have a strong sponsor. The sponsor doesn't want to lose their Incarnation to the Demon Kings.

Mentality status: Devolving. As they become stronger and exert more energy, the virus has more to feed on. They will shorty turn into a Flare-Zombie. Approximate time: 5 min.

+

(Close window,) I thought. The windows blinked away from my view. (It seems that they are trying to use LMCI, or Last-Minute-Coin-Investing, as I call it.)

LMCI happens when an Incarnation uses more coins in a last-ditch-effort to win a perilous situation. It was a good muscle memory, but coins weren't the only thing that they have to worry about. Incarnations needed powerful stigmas, and powerful fables to win.

(It seems that you received the bad end of the stick, my dear fellow.)

As I thought that, I triggered my bomb, and threw it at him.

"Wah!?!"

The bomb imploded, and it killed numerous Flare-zombies, as well as the teenager. I walked away before I saw it though.

(It's a meme, right? "Cool" people don't look at explosions.)

[You have earned coins for killing an Incarnation!]

[Amount: 2400 coins!]

(That's pocket change in these later scenarios. I'll need more for my plans.)

I returned to where George was camping. I knew we wouldn't have to deal with the flare-zombies, for the mall was wide, and my explosion would've echoed. We had very little time to execute my strategy.

***

George was feeling along the ground, while using his [Situational Awareness Lv.7] skill. He inspected the area, while I used my [Flames of Muspellheim] stigma to see in thermal. Together, we went deeper into the mall.

(This is only possible because of our ability pairing.)

By using his Situational Awareness, he would be able to track things down, be it a human or an animal. By using my [Flames of Muspellheim] stigma, I would be able to see heat sources. By working together, we would be able to find the [Bulbs of Flare and Disease.]

I tried to gain information from the Incarnations that died earlier, but they were in a fearful state that didn't offer any type of intrusive thoughts that I could pick through. They only thought things such as: (I don't wanna die!) - (Please, god!) - (It can't be this!) - (Noooo!!!)

It was annoying, as well as a waste of time to read all of those thoughts. But... perhaps I was being too negative. The boy I killed had much more useful information. He realized that the Flare-zombies are coming from below the mall, and he studied the maps that were posted here and there. I could barely read his thoughts, but images and sensory input flashed in my mind. Sometimes, thoughts couldn't be expressed with words.

George and I came across a restaurant. It was a McDonalds, filled with Flare-zombies. They were biting the air while convulsing. They screeched, and flames came out. Other zombies were moving, trying to find something to infect.

George and I began crawling onto the ground. More zombies were below us, and there was zombies above as well. If we attracted their attention, then we could possibly die. But... I knew we weren't going to make it in time.

Within the American Scenarios, it was estimated that millions of Incarnations died when they tried to explore and loot the malls in the early mid-scenarios. It was truly asinine that George and I could make it through unscathed.

(That's why I bought these.)

I held Specter stones in hand, from the Illusion Prison. I knew that a Prison would be there in South Korea, and that some Incarnations would have some stones.

(It's a dangerous item that reminds people of their trauma... Yu Junghyeok dreaded the Prison, as well as others.)

I clenched the stones in hand. I had to make sure that George would be safe. I pulled out a notepad and a pen, and began writing a letter.

"-George, we can't do this by ourselves. This place is flooded with Flare-zombies. Sadly, we need to clear this Dungeon to advance. These are Spirit Stones, which are given to people who survive the Illusionary Prison. It allows someone to become a ghost species temporarily, where they are unable to be attacked by material creatures. Also, it drives the person insane when it is ingested, unless they have powerful mental skills. Or, an attribute that allows them to see the Truth.-"

I tugged on George's boot. He looked back at me. I slowly handed him the note. He read it and thought-

(Wait! This is crazy! Ethan! What are you trying to do here? How do you know my attri-)

I stood up. Flare-zombies began looking at me.

"George, you need to eat the stones, one by one. You'll find the Bulbs, and I have faith that you can destroy it. It's highly unstable, so it's easy to attack. Take this."

I gave them a grenade, which was infused with my flame magic, and made from old broken bits from the Dokkaebi Auction house.

"Follow the blackest scorch marks. That's where the virus originates. It infects humans, recharges them, and sends them out until it dies. You have to be the one to kill it, Private Machen."

I stood up straight.

"I'm your Sergeant Major Nakamura, so you have to follow my orders. I trust you."

With that last statement, I run away from George, while yelling at the top of my lungs.

"YOLO, BITCHES!!! Right here!!"

The water-proof jacket I wore around my body made swishing sounds, while the sneakers I wore around my feet slapped against the linoleum tiles of the mall. Zombies began chasing after me. I looked back. George was running in the opposite direction as me, while clutching the stones that I gave him. He was surrounded quickly but-

"GWWWWWAHHH!!!JAAAEEEEEELLLLLL!!!!"

He quickly swallowed the stones before he was bit, which caused his guttural screams.

I turned back to the enemies that approached. I raised my two weapons.

"The virus kills the host by overheating. So, how about this..."

I aimed my swords at the zombies.

"Flame Thrust."