A building stood on a street where even the streetlights were unlit.
While a quiet commotion unfolded inside, someone was keeping watch over the surroundings.
"Why haven't they checked in? Isn't it about time for a shift change?"
Sensing something was wrong, he immediately took out his phone and called someone.
-RRRRING—!
The phone kept ringing, but no one answered.
One attempt to make contact was enough.
He immediately summoned his subordinates and ordered them to prepare.
"Emergency! Grab your weapons, now!"
At his command, ten gangsters who had been resting behind him rose from their seats.
Every one of them armed themselves with sharp knives, steel pipes, or, failing those, wooden clubs studded with nails.
"Boss, has something happened at the factory?"
"Yeah. We can't get in touch with them. We're heading over right now."
At his command, they headed toward the building across the street without a moment's hesitation.
Meanwhile, Veylord was in an empty room, putting on clothes to cover his naked body.
While searching for something reasonably presentable, he had come across a rather fine suit and a pair of dress shoes.
"Is this what passes for fashionable clothing here? It is not to my taste, but I cannot very well walk around naked."
The clothes were approximately his size, so he had no trouble wearing them or walking around.
"The fabric is of considerable quality. Every other piece of clothing was cut apart, yet this one remains intact. Perhaps someone intended to wear it."
Naturally, removing all clothing made surgery to harvest organs much easier.
However, completely undressing an unconscious person was no simple task.
That was probably why cutting their clothes off with scissors had been much quicker and more convenient.
"More importantly, how am I supposed to find this thing called a wallet and a mobile phone?"
He could manage without a wallet containing neither money nor cards, but a mobile phone containing contact information was essential.
"Besides, they are rather expensive."
According to Kang Chan-seong's memories, mobile phones were so expensive that he never replaced one unless it broke.
By the time Veylord finished dressing, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching.
'They've finally come looking. It seems they've discovered something went wrong.'
He had known that people were watching the place ever since he recovered his Magic Power.
After making one final adjustment to his suit, Veylord swept a hand through his hair.
The Magic Power gathered in his hand cut away the untidy strands, leaving his hair neat and well-groomed.
He examined his instantly improved appearance in the mirror, and a cold smile spread across his lips.
"Well then. Shall I get moving?"
Veylord straightened his back and turned around gracefully.
His eyes, however, were cold and arrogant, looking down upon the world.
-FLICK.
At that moment, a bright magic circle formed at the tip of his twitching finger.
***
The gangsters who had crossed over to the opposite building hurried down the corridor.
Their destination was the room where organ harvesting should have been underway.
"What the hell?! Where did those bastards go?"
"Boss, don't you think someone might've gotten to them already?"
Finding his subordinate's suggestion plausible, the leader immediately ordered a search.
"Split up and find them! If you find anything, contact me immediately!"
"Yes, Boss!"
They promptly dispersed to search for the missing men.
Meanwhile, the man they called Boss carefully examined the completely empty room.
"What the hell is going on? The operating room, the equipment, even the boxes containing the organs. Every last thing has disappeared."
The inexplicable situation had left him speechless when a scream suddenly rang out from somewhere nearby.
"What was that?!"
Startled, he immediately ran toward the sound.
At the end of a white corridor, he found one of his subordinates standing with his head lowered, his back turned toward them.
As though the building had not been maintained properly, even the fluorescent lights on the ceiling were flickering, lending the figure an eerie presence.
It looked exactly like a scene from a horror movie he had seen somewhere before.
"B-Boss… don't you think something feels strange here?"
"Yeah. I have to admit, something's a little off…."
"C-could it be something like a zombie…?"
"You bastard! Those things only exist in movies!"
Just then, one of the younger gangsters stepped forward with a knife in his hand.
"Boss, I'll go check."
"Yeah, all right. Go take a look."
At his leader's command, the young gangster slowly approached the figure. Despite his determination, his voice trembled with fear as he muttered to himself.
'This is my chance. I've got to make a strong impression on the bosses. I can do this….'
He approached the motionless man and gave his shoulder a light tap.
-FLOP!
The instant he touched him, the standing gangster collapsed helplessly to the floor.
"Huh?!"
Everyone was taken aback. At the same time, the tension that had been gripping them so tightly suddenly dissolved.
"What the hell was that? What did you do?"
Just as the leader was about to reprimand the subordinate who had stepped forward, a strange scream erupted behind them.
-SKREEEEE!!
They turned around to see someone screaming as he charged toward them on all fours.
"Huh?! Isn't that… Myeong-cheol?"
At someone's muttered recognition, they realized it was one of the gangsters who had accompanied them.
The problem was that he was running toward them with a grotesquely twisted leg and one arm flailing violently, as though he felt no pain whatsoever.
"Hey! Everyone, get your weapons ready!!"
Even before the order was given, the others had already assumed fighting stances at the sight of his alarming condition.
-SKREEE!!
Myeong-cheol charged toward them with a bizarre shriek, blood streaming from his entire body.
Everyone swallowed nervously.
"Hey, beat that bastard down!!"
At the command, they rushed Myeong-cheol without hesitation, swinging their weapons.
-THWACK! THUD! SQUELCH—!
Clubs struck his body with tremendous force, and knives plunged into his vital areas.
But none of it stopped Myeong-cheol from moving.
-SKREEEEE!
If anything, it seemed to have provoked him.
He immediately grabbed the shoulder of the youngest gangster, the one who had stabbed him, and pulled him closer.
"Huh?! G-get off! Get off me!"
The young gangster struggled desperately to break free, but Myeong-cheol's fingernails were embedded so firmly in his shoulder that he couldn't escape.
-CRUNCH!
At that moment, Myeong-cheol sank his teeth into the man's neck and tore away a chunk of flesh, spraying bright-red blood everywhere.
"GYAAAAAGH!!"
The scream of excruciating pain and the sudden eruption of blood terrified even these men, who had never hesitated to commit brutal acts themselves.
Then another scream rang out immediately behind them.
"AAAAAGH!!"
Turning around, they saw the gangster who had collapsed helplessly moments earlier clinging to another gang member and tearing into his neck.
-CRUNCH! CRUNCH!
Amid the horrific sound of muscles being chewed apart, the chaos unfolding both in front of and behind them left everyone at a loss.
'Damn it! What the hell is happening?! Are there really zombies in this world?!'
No matter how he looked at them, they were exactly like the zombies he had seen in movies and television dramas.
"F-fuck!!"
He couldn't even begin to understand what was happening.
But his survival instincts were screaming at him to flee.
"R-run!!"
He barely managed to shout before breaking into a run.
Seeing their leader flee, the others, who had been desperately trying to pry the zombies off themselves, took a step toward escape.
At that moment, an invisible force shot down the corridor from the opposite end and caught them.
[Air Arrow]
It was one of the most basic spells, compressing air into the shape of an arrow and launching it at an opponent.
Although it was not particularly lethal, it consumed little Magic Power and was frequently used to keep enemies in check.
But Veylord's version of this elementary spell was different.
-BOOM—!
The Air Arrow suddenly exploded right before their eyes, releasing compressed air that shattered every fluorescent light on the ceiling.
-RATATATAT—!
Then invisible particles descended upon them like a blast from a shotgun.
"GYAAAGH!!"
"AAAGH! IT HURTS!!"
"Something's stuck in my body!!"
The projectiles were sharply broken fragments of human bone.
As they embedded themselves in the gangsters' bodies, they caused agonizing pain and severe bleeding.
"Urgh!"
The most severely injured among them was their leader, who had been the first to attempt an escape.
Blood streamed from all over his body, and he realized he could no longer move.
-STEP. STEP.
At that moment, the sound of unfamiliar dress shoes came from within the darkness.
The footsteps were leisurely yet measured, and as they drew closer, his anxiety steadily intensified, shaking him to his core.
"W-who's there?!"
It was a desperate cry born of impatience and an instinctive desire to survive.
At that instant, his right hand suddenly shot upward before dropping lightly back down.
-SLAP!!
A sharp smack rang out, and everyone's heads turned simultaneously.
Every single one of them had just slapped themselves hard across the face.
"Be quiet. I have not given you permission to open your mouths."
The arrogant yet dignified voice instantly overwhelmed everyone trapped in the darkness.
"Nor have I permitted you to move."
Their entire bodies remained motionless, obeying his orders as though suspended from invisible strings.
More precisely, the Magic Power imbued within the bone fragments had seized control of their bodies.
-STEP. STEP. TAP!
Soon, the figure approaching through the darkness stopped, revealing himself beneath the moonlight streaming through a gap in the window.
The sight of his cold eyes, looking down upon them with the arrogance of someone who considered himself above everyone else, sent chills through their bodies.
'Who the hell are you?!'
He desperately wanted to shout those words, but his trembling lips refused to move.
"Have you still not understood the difference in our power? There is still defiance in your eyes."
At that moment, Veylord moved his finger slightly.
-CRACK! CRUNCH!
Their right arms all twisted simultaneously, bending at grotesque angles.
They wanted to scream at the unfamiliar agony, but their tightly closed mouths would not open.
'S-somebody save us!!'
Only after experiencing that incomprehensible power and pain did their eyes finally fill with terror.
"That is somewhat better. If any of you entertain even the slightest foolish thought, it will be your necks next."
This was no ordinary threat of the sort they themselves routinely used to intimidate others.
Confronted with genuine killing intent for the first time, they felt a phantom pain as though knives were slicing through every organ in their bodies.
'P-please spare me… I'll do anything!'
It was a heartfelt plea, shouted in terror as the man even wet himself.
Perhaps his sincerity had gotten through.
"You appear to be their leader. I shall permit you to open that foul-smelling mouth and speak on their behalf."
-SNAP!
Veylord snapped his fingers, and the gang leader's mouth opened, allowing him to draw a ragged breath.
"Haa… haa… p-please spare me! I-I'll do anything!"
A body that refused to move according to his will.
Beside him was a zombie burying its face in the corpse of a subordinate whose neck had been torn apart.
And beyond that was the overwhelming presence of something wielding an unknown power.
His will was far too weak to maintain his composure under such circumstances, and he was willing to do absolutely anything to survive.
If someone ordered him to kill the subordinate beside him, he would do it without hesitation.
Looking into the nameless man's wildly trembling eyes, Veylord gave a faint, mocking smile.
Then he demanded the information he wanted.
"In that case, speak. Where is the boss responsible for these deeds?"
"T-that…!"
The unexpected question caught him off guard.
At that instant, Veylord's finger gave a brief twitch.
-THUMP!
Suddenly, the head of a subordinate lying facedown behind him was severed and rolled toward his knees.
Before he could even comprehend what had happened, he found himself staring into the lifeless eyes of his dead subordinate.
-SPURRRRT!
Hot blood gushed upward and rained down over their heads.
"HIEEEEEK!!"
A shriek completely unsuited to his large physique escaped his mouth.
Only then did he understand what had happened.
And he immediately realized that the being standing before him was responsible.
With blood that had not even cooled yet pouring down over his head, he could endure no more.
"I-I'll talk! P-please spare me!!"
Having completely surrendered to terror, he immediately began revealing everything he knew.
***
Soft music drifted through a massage parlor.
In its finest room, a man with a body laden with fat lay naked and facedown on a bed.
Beside him, two young female massage therapists worked on his body from either side, kneading his muscles.
Just then, the door burst open, and a man wearing a gaudy Hawaiian shirt that made him look like a thug hurried inside.
"B-Boss! We've got big trouble!"
Irritated by the disturbance interrupting his relaxation, the man receiving the massage clicked his tongue and sat up.
"Tch! Just when I finally get a chance to rest! What's the problem?"
"Something's happened at the factory we set up in Garibong-dong."
"Ah, shit! So what?! Chang-gyu's there, isn't he? I gave him full authority to handle things himself!"
At that, the thug spoke again, his face pale.
"It… it looks like Chang-gyu has betrayed us. Most of the factory workers we've stationed in Garibong-dong and the rest of Seoul have…!"
Before he could finish speaking, an enormous fist shot out and slammed into the wall.
"What the fuck are you talking about?! Are you saying there's infighting within the organization right now?!"
"Yes, that's what it looks like!"
At that moment, the thug's phone rang.
When he looked at the screen, the caller ID read "Gwanak Factory Manager."
"Huh? It's Myeong-sik."
He quickly answered the call, and an urgent voice burst into his ear.
[B-Boss! We've got big trouble! There's an intruder here…! SKREEEEE!! GYAAAGH!! What the hell is that?!]
The sudden, grotesque shriek and the screams that followed were more than enough to convey the chaos unfolding there.
"B-Boss… I think the Gwanak factory too…."
"Ha! Shit! Start making calls! Check which factories are still safe and how many men they have, then request reinforcements from headquarters! And send the men out immediately! Have them assemble in Gwanak-gu!"
Having immediately grasped the danger, he did not let his pride get in the way.
He judged that whatever disadvantages he might suffer within the organization for requesting support would still be preferable to losing the factories.
'Damn it! How the hell did things turn out like this?! Chang-gyu, you bastard! Once I catch you, I'll throw you to the dogs!'
***
At that same time, Veylord entered an unlit building in Gwanak-gu.
"SKREEEEE!"
The first thing he heard upon entering was the howling shriek of a zombie.
Below it lay corpses that had been savagely bitten and torn apart, showing just how dreadful their deaths had been.
Yet the sight only filled him with greater delight.
"How delightful. To think so much deep-seated resentment has gathered here! This is the perfect place to recover my Magic Power!"
Just as in the place where he had first awakened, countless Vengeful Spirits remained trapped here, crying out for revenge and hurling curses.
Naturally, Veylord absorbed them and converted their resentment into his own Magic Power.
Because he avenged them while recovering his power, they promptly submitted to him, leaving behind their Resentment and lingering thoughts before departing.
'But this is nowhere near enough to regain my former level of power. To rebuild my once-mighty world, I'll need that…'
He needed power to return to his original world.
And as he continued walking forward, he devised plans to increase that power.
At that moment, the corpses sprawled along the path Veylord had passed began moving strangely, gradually pulling themselves upright.
"Groooan..!"
"Haaaagh!"
They had died so recently that warm blood was still flowing from their bodies, yet their eyes had already turned white like those of dead fish.
'That makes three buildings now. But it's still disappointing. If I'm going to create an Undead legion, zombies alone are nowhere near sufficient.'
It was partly because he still lacked Magic Power, but he also had no suitable materials from which to create Undead more powerful than zombies.
'Besides, the humans of this world are far too weak. Is it because Mana is so scarce?'
Compared to the world he had inhabited before taking possession of this body, there was far less Mana distributed throughout the atmosphere.
'If they were soldiers of the Empire, they'd have poured potions over themselves and fought for their lives.'
Even while lost in thought, Veylord continued absorbing the souls of those who harbored grievances, avenging them and collecting their Resentment.
Of course, he would still need to refine the Resentment they left behind.
Entering an office on the building's top floor, Veylord began rummaging through the disheveled desk.
'Where might they have recorded the locations of other buildings like this one?'
At that moment, he felt a strangely hollow sensation beneath the floor where he had stepped.
"A hidden safe."
Immediately realizing there was a hidden safe beneath his feet, he channeled Magic Power into his leg and pressed down lightly.
-CRUNCH! THUD!
The floor immediately caved in, and even the sturdy safe door was crushed out of shape, rendering it useless.
To finish, he tore the door off with a hand imbued with Magic Power.
Inside, he discovered several gold bars and bundles of fifty-thousand-won banknotes.
The contents had clearly been treated as precious possessions, arranged neatly without even a speck of dust.
"This is already the third building, and all three have contained secret storerooms like this. At this rate, I may develop some rather undesirable habits as a noble."
Considering that Kang Chan-seong, the original owner of this body, was a credit defaulter, he was in desperate need of a considerable amount of money.
The problem was that Veylord was gradually beginning to enjoy these unearned gains.
"I should sell this and pay off the debts first."
For now, he needed to accumulate Magic Power to return to his original world.
Until then, he had no choice but to continue living in this body.
At that moment, he sensed a commotion beginning outside.
Realizing that people who had heard the disturbance were approaching with malicious intentions, he looked down through the window with contempt in his eyes.
"Tch. These bothersome little flies. I would have come to find them myself."
Outside the building, the flies had already gathered in a swarm, buzzing about with weapons in their hands.
Looking down upon them with a lofty air, Veylord pursed his lips and let out a light whistle.
-WHISTLE!
The Magic Power carried within the sharp whistling sound immediately swept through the building and reached the zombies whose bodies were drenched in blood.
-SKREEEEE!!
-SKRAAAAAH!!
Upon receiving their command, the zombies each let out a monstrous shriek and began charging outside simultaneously.
There were only seventy zombies.
The gangsters who had gathered outside, however, already numbered close to one hundred and fifty.
Despite the enemy force being more than twice the size of his own, Veylord remained perfectly relaxed, without the slightest sense of danger.
'I might as well take this opportunity to increase my forces.'
At that moment, chaos erupted inside the building as human screams mingled with the monstrous shrieks of zombies.