Plundering in the Apocalypse

(Shin's POV)

After a few minutes of pestering, Simon finally calmed down and we started watching a movie, a boring one at that. Well from my point of view at least.

'I don't get it. What's the point of this romance bullshit? Isn't that actress way too pitiful and also arrogant.'

'Why the hell is she this arrogant When she can't even afford proper food?'

In the movie, which we were watching. The female lead had a terrible character. She was poor so I pitied her, but she was also quite arrogant and bad-mouthed the main character for bumping into her. Even though it was a mistake and he apologized.

And

'Why would the main character find it amusing and start loving her?'

Am I the weird one here?

'I don't get it, I seriously can't understand their logic.'

I turned towards Simon who was crying happily over their romantic struggle, solving family problems, and happily marrying at the end.

'Look at this idiot crying over their happy ending.'

Let me be clear it's not like I am not happy with a good ending. It's just the male lead is too pitiful. I said romantic struggle. Yeah, It was the male lead's struggle for appeasing the female lead. Family problem? Her family problem. Any girl would probably get attracted to that kind of guy. Who solves all their problems, is handsome, rich, and with a nice personality.

"Rather than romantic struggle, I would say struggle of the main character for pleasing his woman and saying happy ending," I muttered under my breath. But it seems Simon heard me.

Simon stared at me in anguish

"You can't understand this Shin, 'cause you haven't experienced it. I am pretty sure once you truly fall in love, You would do anything for your loved one."

I stared shockingly at Simon for his unexpected reply.

"Sometimes even you can say cool things, huh Simon? But I am not a masochist like him who likes being bad-mouthed by a girl, every time they meet." I said in a single breath.

"I'm pretty serious, here," Simon said with a serious look.

I thought to myself. '

Does it look like I was joking? I was serious you know. Is he also a masochist?'

I started getting weird ideas so I calmed my mind and didn't say anything out loud.

"Yeah whatever, anyway."

I changed the topic. If my previous deduction of him is correct then, I might get in trouble if I continued this topic.

"Heh" Simon laughed as if he won a battle.

Is this seriously something to be happy about? I gave up.

"Have you seen today's morning news?" I asked while switching the TV off.

"Are you talking about 'Alna blitz' winning that showbiz award?" Simon replied while taking out some games.

"No, you buffoon. That Alien technology," I asked in a serious tone while ridiculing him.

"Oh that, yeah Shin. I heard about that, contacting Inter-spacial beings and developing new technology or something," Simon replied while pondering. And it seems like he didn't catch onto me ridiculing him.

"Yeah, what do you think about it? Simon." I questioned him seriously as if I never ridiculed him.

"Nothing really, not like it's gonna affect me in any way right? But it's nice knowing there are other living beings in this vast universe. We might get to know the truth behind the world and might solve many mysteries." Simon replied casually, and for some reason, it felt like he is learning philosophy somewhere.

"Well, who knows if they aren't hostile with us." I retorted.

"Haah, you like being a pessimist right? Shin." Simon sighed and asked as if it was the most obvious thing.

"It's nothing like that, I...just don't want to be too hopeful about things," I replied while sighing deeply and Simon seems to have caught on to that as he soon changed the topic.

...

***

(Third Person POV)

Shin and Simon talked with each other about different stuff for a while. Shin checked his phone and there was little time before lunch, so he decided to return home.

Simon said while walking him out, "Why not stay here for lunch?"

"Maybe next time, I already told mom that I'll be back by lunch" Shin replied as he didn't want to bother them.

"Ok, see ya." Simon understood it and didn't ask any further.

"Going back already?" Elena asked while seeing Shin returning home early.

"Yeah, I'll come again," Shin replied with a smile.

"Ok" Elena smiled slightly while nodding.

//Outside of Simon's house.//

"Hmm, nice weather." As it was the month of December, It was pretty cool and the sunlight was very dim. So in the afternoon, the temperature was pretty moderate.

Shin walked towards the bus stop at the city center. But Shin noticed that something was off. He was near the city center but it was way too quiet, Which was kinda creepy.

There was no one on the street, Which is always crowded and bustling.

"It's Sunday so it should not be like this."

But today not a single sound could be heard and even weirder, Shin could feel someone's gaze at him but can't find anyone. Even while looking around trying to point it out. There was no one around.

Shin thought to himself.

'This is way too creepy, this is like the quietness before a thunderstorm.'

"N-no way" fear started settling down inside his mind.

'Yeah, As Simon said I am being way too pessimistic.'

"It's just a coincidence, yeah coincidence. R-r-right?" Shin tried to console himself.

While walking toward his route to the city center, he came across an alleyway. It was dark, cause of the closed space between the buildings.

He was a little away from the city center. Not a single person could be seen around. Shin focused his gaze on the small alley about 2 meters wide. It was dark but little visible.

Shin saw someone rummaging in the trash bin, a figure about 4 feet tall 'must be a kid'. But why would a kid rummage through a trash bin?

Shin went inside the alleyway to have a closer look.

He could smell blood in the air, then suddenly a shiver ran down his spine. He started breaking down cold sweat. His eyes were wide open and locked onto something.

He saw a dead body of a woman with her stomach wide open, her intestines were bulging out and had been chewed by someone, her eyeballs were gouged out and foam came out of her mouth. There were bites all over her body.

It was terrible, he puked.

*Blurghh*

"Hah" "hah"

Tons of questions came to his mind.

'what happened here?'

'How did she die?'

'Why is her stomach chewed out?' and

'Who would do something like that?'

'Ah'

As if suddenly something struck him.

He came to a realization, 'Why would a kid rummage through a trash bin near a dead body?'

When he turned his gaze toward that child figure, he realized how wrong he was.

It wasn't a child or a person, it was something different.

A creature with a lush dark green body, pointy long nose and ears, no hair, disgusting face, and rag-like wearing. It was not human.

It was not something I have seen in my entire life.

Then and there I started losing my rationality. Before I could do anything. That creature noticed me and a burst of creepy laughter could be heard.

'kiekk''kkiekk'

'I was terrified, It wanted to kill me.'

Just from his gaze, Shin could feel his terrifying killing intent. It was like a predator hunting his prey.

Shin's legs gave away at the sight of that terrifying creature.

'I don't want to die.'

Shin turned his sight toward the street way he came from, but there was another one of those creatures who came running in. Maybe that was the gaze Shin felt before.

Shin had to escape from the further opposite end in the alleyway.

He punched his shaking legs with all his strength.

'augh'

Shin ran further inside the alleyway. Even with his weak body, he ran as fast as he could.

Those creatures didn't start chasing right after him, Instead watched him struggle.

As if a cat playing with a rat.

Shin felt miserable but he couldn't do anything as his life mattered the most. He ran the fastest he could with his weak constitution.

He stumbled and those creatures almost caught up to him. He got a few scratches but he didn't mind them and ran with all his might.

While thinking of a way to escape their chase. He thought reaching the City center would be the best choice, but contrary to his expectations.

From about 50 meters to him, he saw about 5-6 of those creatures killing people and everyone ran in fear and panic.

Bodies scattered around everywhere, it was displeasing but he didn't have time to think about that now, he wanted to survive anyhow.

Shin ran towards a yellow bus and hid in the back seat while crouching down inside, catching his breath, as it was the fastest he ran in his entire life.

He didn't know what to do.

After a few seconds, Shin heard an announcement made by the speaker in the city center-

[There are several cases of murders occurring everywhere in the city. Please stay at home and guard the entrance route. People outside escape to the nearest shelter. Any kind of transport is difficult due to the emergency. Again, this is not a drill it's an emergency.]

After hearing that announcement, his mind went blank.

'That means not only here but everywhere, this is happening.'

'Should I escape to Simon's house?'

'No, what about Mom and Dad?'

'At least they should be at home safe, but my mind can't be at ease until I meet them'

After a few minutes. His mind started going crazy. He almost lost his reasoning.

"Hah"

"HAHAHAHA"

He laughed crazily. At his miserable situation and his past self.

'Damn! why did I wish for the world to perish.' Yeah, his regret too.

"My everyday life was way better, why...why did this happen?" He wailed and started crying.

His thoughts were messed up.

'I don't want to die.'

'I seriously don't want to die.'

' I'm sorry for cursing out every day like this.'

'I just want my family to be safe.'

'I want to return to them.'

He checked his phone which was out of battery. 'Damn seriously.'

...

//After a few minutes.//

"Sigh"

Shin's mind finally started becoming clear. The sudden situation made him panic. But now he was fine.

'I should find out what's going on. But first I have to return home.'

'It seems like any kind of transport is not available currently. I should walk home, staying here won't do any good.'

'Even inside a bus, If I get surrounded by enemies. It will be difficult to escape.'

Shin walked out of the bus and headed towards a streetway, as he didn't want to run in the open. As it might alert those creatures.

Shin ran while taking cover, so as not to be found by those creatures or rather monsters.

Shin ran at a quick pace, as his stamina recovered after resting. He saw a construction site. It seemed like a new apartment was being constructed.

'No monsters were around.' Shin took a quick scan around.

While thinking that this area might be safe, he heard a voice coming from above.

'kiekk''kkiekk'

*Bam*

*Crush*

Shin looked up alert.

It seemed like one of those creatures fell from the 8th floor of the building on the left.

It landed on its head, the impact broke his spinal cord. So was rendered unable to move.

"It can't move, right?" Shin questioned himself. While cautiously walking toward him.

'kieeeekkkk'

Even in that state, his killing intent was terrifying. Shin thought to himself 'These are the monsters running chaos in the city and massacring everyone.'

'Should there be mercy on them?'

"No."

It was obvious.

Shin turned his back and saw an iron rod near the construction site. He grabbed it as hard as he could and went back near the monster.

It glared at Shin, even if Shin resolved himself but let alone kill anything he had never been in a proper fight. His experience at fighting was terrible. Rather he just got beat up.

But besides those thoughts, he smashed the rod at the monster's head but it didn't affect it much.

'kiek'

*Hupp*

Shin closed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and continued smashing with the rod.

*bang*

*bang*

*kkiekk*

*thump*

*thump*

...

After around 30 to 35 times of continuous smashing. It finally stopped moving.

"Haaah"

"Haah"

"How...How come it's so sturdy?" Shin muttered while taking a deep breath.

But just when Shin let out a sigh of relief.

*Klink!*

Something unexpected happened.

In front of Shin's eyes was something out of the world. Something he couldn't imagine even in his wildest dream. Even amongst all these weird things happening. It was by far the most extraordinary.

There was a blue shining translucent screen floating in the air in front of him. It looked like a hologram. But Shin didn't know its mechanism.

'Wh-wha-what is this?' Shin's mind which finally calmed down after all this time. Again, started going haywire.

There were few messages written on it-

[Congratulations you have awakened.]

[You have killed a goblin.]

[Congratulations you are the first person to have awakened in your dimension.]

[You have leveled up.]

"WHAT?" Shin exclaimed out loud.