Chapter 2 – Sole Successor of the Magitech Civilization

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“May the glory of the ancients be with you.”

A familiar female voice.

“This time as well.”

Flash—!

Then, an intense light enveloped me.

“Haa, haah!”

I woke up in bed from that dream. It was my familiar studio apartment. Startled, I looked out the window and saw the scenery I had longed for.

Before the invasion. The city exactly as it was before it was destroyed.

“Did I really come back…?”

The dream I just had was the Trait Awakening Dream. The content of the dream differed from person to person, but mine was similar to the past.

If there was one difference, it was the addition of the words, ‘This time as well.’

‘Then my trait should have returned too.’

As I projected that will, vivid letters began to appear in my mind.

[Sole Successor of the Magitech Civilization].

‘Yes!’

To suppress the trembling excitement, I closed my eyes for a moment.

I had been given a chance to make up for all the mistakes of the past!

However, on the other hand, I knew that now was not the time to indulge in sentimentality. Being granted a trait was essentially the same as saying the Monster Invasion was about to begin.

I decided to prepare immediately.

“Well then… shall we get started?”

I concentrated my mind and began to feel the mana within my body.

For me, having handled mana for a long time, it was a very easy task.

And mana is ‘ability’ itself. While the method of use might differ depending on one’s trait, it was the clear source of all power.

I drew mana to my fingertips and directed it toward an old alarm clock next to the bed.

It wasn’t expensive, but it was made of aluminum rather than plastic.

Aluminum was not a strong metal, of course, but it was sturdier than common plastic and lighter than steel.

In other words, it was the perfect material for early-stage summoning.

‘Summon [Worker Bug].’

Whoosh—!

My mana flowed into the alarm clock, and as if folding origami, it began to fold the clock to create something.

Click— click-click—

After a short while, the alarm clock became something shaped like a small pill bug, about 20cm in size.

“I feel strangely nostalgic.”

It had been a very long time since I used summoning arts using common household materials as a medium rather than powerful materials.

“Ding?”

At my words, the Worker Bug let out a light alarm sound.

I flowed my will through mana for a moment and began giving the Worker Bug various commands. This was to tune my abilities.

‘Defense form.’

Clang-clink!

As soon as I told it to take a defense form, the Worker Bug immediately turned into a ball. A satisfied smile bloomed on my face once again.

‘Return to original state.’

Clink-clatter— click-click—

“Ding-ring?”

The Worker Bug returned to its original state. This time, I instructed the Worker Bug to go to the other side of the room and come back.

Trot-trot-trot-trot—

It was a meaningless, simple command, but my Worker Bug began to scurry without a single doubt.

“Good.”

This was enough to satisfy me.

Now it was time to give this Worker Bug some actual ‘work.’

* * *

The first thing I did in the past after creating a Worker Bug with my ability was to make it fight. In effect, I had driven it into a death trap, but the creature marched toward the monsters I designated without a word of complaint.

But what on earth could a tiny bug, barely a span of 20cm, actually do? All it did was get trampled in a perfect posture while giving its all.

‘What, that’s it?’

It was a moment when my vague expectation—that there must be something to it since it was an ability—was brutally crushed.

Since I had to pour almost all of my mana into creating a single Worker Bug at the time, the disappointment had been even greater.

Of course, now that I clearly knew the true value of my ability, I knew for certain that the ‘work’ a Worker Bug does is not combat.

That is why it is called a ‘Worker’ bug.

I carefully opened the window, creating a gap just wide enough for the Worker Bug to pass through, and gave it an instruction.

‘Go find something made of a similar material and bring it back.’

“Ding!”

As if happy with my command, the creature let out a small alarm sound and headed out the window.

‘It’ll do well on its own, just like before, right?’

I no longer needed to worry about the creature.

Meanwhile, I had other things to do.

‘Should I check the resources I have first?’

Thanks to long-term survival, this had become a habitual action.

First, food.

The place I lived in back then was a small studio apartment with a kitchen, but embarrassingly, I wasn’t the type to cook often.

‘Twelve packs of ramen… four bowls of instant rice. A bit of side dishes.’

Besides that, there were two cans of tuna, one small bottle of cola, and six large bottles of water.

‘I should eat first.’

I started eating the side dishes that were likely to spoil first.

‘Oh, stir-fried eggplant?’

In the past, this was a side dish I would have shuddered at, but now it was different. It was because I had eaten nothing but retort-packaged foods since surviving alone.

‘I can admit this is a rice thief.’

I stuffed everything that was difficult to store into my stomach and put the rest into the hiking backpack I usually used.

Then, I packed the bag full of sturdy clothing, such as jeans and winter socks, and zipped it shut.

It was preparation to become self-sufficient.

‘I can’t just wait like last time.’

In the past, I blindly waited until the situation ended.

The police will come soon. The military will clean it up soon. The government will handle it soon. It was a foolish mindset, entrusting my life to others.

This time, that must absolutely not happen.

‘I must protect my own life.’

As I finished packing the bag, a small, familiar sound came from the window.

“Ding—”

“Ah, you’re back already?”

Turning toward the window, I saw the Worker Bug carrying something in its mouth. Only after opening the window wider to let it in could I identify the object.

“Oh, it’s a desk lamp?”

Where did it find this?

Well, it didn’t really matter. Having recovered some mana through eating and resting, I immediately set to work.

‘Summon one more [Worker Bug].’

Whoosh—!

Once again, my mana flowed out in a chunk and covered the desk lamp. This time too, it created a small aluminum pill bug.

Click-click—

“I guess it worked well.”

The one made from the alarm clock was tilting its head while looking at the new pill bug.

“Ding-ring. Your friend is here.”

Tick-tick—

As if responding to my words, the one made from the desk lamp flickered its small incandescent bulb.

“Ding-ring—”

Watching their reactions, I wore a satisfied smile.

Of course… it was a smile of someone about to put them to work.

“Good. This time, both of you go and gather materials.”

The snowballing had begun.

* * *

About nine hours had passed since I awakened my ability in the middle of the night. The sun was slowly beginning to rise. I searched my memories for a moment.

“It seems it’s about time for the invasion to start…”

“Kyaaaah!”

“Correct.”

During the past nine hours, I packed my bags, got sufficient sleep, and prepared my body and mind. Additionally, I increased the number of Worker Bugs in my spare time, and their number had now reached five.

After that, I became more short on mana than materials, so instead of sending the Worker Bugs to work, I kept them on standby in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Two were made from desk lamps, two from alarm clocks, and one was made from an aluminum sash bar found somewhere.

I ordered them to take defense form and put them in my bag. Since they had almost no attack capability and their movement speed was still very slow, it was faster to carry them myself if necessary.

After putting them in the bag and looking outside, the situation was clearly deteriorating.

“Kweeeeeek!”

Four-legged beasts with large rake-claws on their backs were walking the streets, attacking pedestrians.

“Rake Wolves… Right. These were the first ones.”

Rake Wolves are weak.

They were monsters that ordinary people with weapons could sufficiently handle. But conversely, it meant that ordinary people without weapons would find them difficult to deal with.

“Help me!”

“Aaaagh!”

Screams were heard here and there, but there wasn’t much I could do right now. I was in a situation where I was struggling just to survive myself.

Fortunately, however, the damage was not expected to be that great.

“Open fire!”

Bang— Bang-bang—

Police officers immediately stepped in and began to suppress the situation.

Beeeeeeep—

That wasn’t all. They began sounding air raid sirens and warning the people.

“Currently, unidentified lifeforms are attacking humanity worldwide. Please wait safely inside your homes until the situation is resolved. We repeat—”

But I know how absurd the assumption that the ‘situation will be resolved’ is.

Soon, monsters that cannot be dealt with by police weapons will begin to appear, and after that, Ability Users and the military will join forces to hold out…

Eventually, even military weapons will become useless.

A world will come where they must endure using only the power of Ability Users.

Meanwhile, this also meant something slightly different for me.

Now, while the initial confusion has not yet subsided.

If I don’t go out and secure a spot in advance, it will be harder to establish a base later.

“Now, shall we head out?”

I put on my bag and stepped outside.

There was a place I had thought of as a suitable location to build my ‘Main Base.’

* * *

The bag was quite heavy.

‘Why is the bag so heavy?’

Only then did my slender arms catch my eye.

“Huh?”

It was a body completely different from the muscular one I boasted in the past.

Additionally, skin that was pale rather than white due to a lack of sunlight, and scrawny legs greeted me.

“Ah…”

It was my body from the days when I was ordinary. Since I spent all day wrestling with a computer, it was natural in a way.

Seong Siwoo, the perennial second-place pro gamer of a strategy simulation game that was as popular as a National Game. That was me.

But that was all a story of the past.

Anyway, the world only remembers the first place.

The meager second-place prize money had long been spent, and now I was merely the protagonist of a meme that occasionally circulated as a joke on the internet.

‘I need to grow my physique quickly…’

I scanned the surroundings with an anxious heart.

Perhaps because it was the early stages of the situation, the state of people’s emotions was at its worst even though the situation wasn’t that severe yet.

“H-hic… uuuugh…”

There was a middle-aged man sitting on the ground crying.

“I’ll kill them all! I’ll kill everyone! We’re all going to die…”

There was also a young woman who seemed to have lost her mind.

‘I must be careful.’

Even if they looked like nothing more than weak-hearted people, this was now a world where no one knew what ability anyone had awakened.

In other words, a slip-up could lead to a dangerous situation.

Since I was fully aware of that, I carefully avoided such people and began walking quickly toward my destination.

Trot-trot-trot—

Meanwhile, the police on the street were also on high alert, scanning the surroundings.

It was understandable.

Monstrous creatures that looked like they belonged in a movie had invaded, and they were the first line of defense to protect the citizens.

‘The military will be here soon, so just hang in there until then.’

Of course, the situation would continue to worsen after that, but by then, this problem would no longer be just a matter for the military or police, but would ascend to a problem for all of humanity.

It was just as I was offering that kind of mental comfort to the police and began moving my feet.

“Excuse me, excuse me! Man with the large hiking bag!”

Someone began calling me.

Looking back, two police officers were gesturing toward me.

“Excuse me. Didn’t you hear the broadcast? Please return home quickly.”

It seemed the police were worried about me.

I gave the most plausible reason.

“Ah, I stayed out overnight… I’m on my way home now.”

At my words, the officer smiled.

“Ah, then we’ll escort you home.”

It was likely to reassure me, and on the other hand, to protect me. Of course, it was a measure I didn’t need.

“It’s okay. I’m almost there.”

I waved my hand dismissively and declined.

“No. Monsters could appear anywhere.”

“I’m really okay.”

When I declined again with an awkward smile, they began to take a firmer stance.

“No. Protecting citizens is our duty.”

At this point, I couldn’t refuse any further.

“Then I’ll ask for your help.”

I gave them a light nod and led the way.

* * *

“Um… is this really the place?”

The two police officers asked me repeatedly, sounding suspicious and anxious.

“Yes, I told you it is.”

At my answer, they shrugged and simply continued to scan the surroundings.

It was a natural reaction.

We were heading into increasingly secluded areas. The number of people around us was noticeably decreasing, and the number of police officers was also dwindling.

“Isn’t this area designated as a Redevelopment Zone?”

“Ah, you know about that? Haha. My home is a bit poor.”

As I gave a strained smile, the officer looked embarrassed.

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t know people still lived here.”

“I believe almost no one lives here anymore.”

That was the truth.

And that was the reason why I came here.

The two police officers, who followed me anxiously as I entered between empty buildings that were entangled like a maze, looked clearly afraid.

“We’re almost there.”

“Ah… yes…”

Only then did they let out a sigh of relief at my words.

Shortly after, I pointed to a suitable house and spoke.

“Ah, it’s that house.”

“Then we’ll see you to the entrance.”

‘As expected, they’re doing this.’

This wasn’t what I wanted. I just wanted to reach my destination quietly and without anyone knowing.

But of course, it wasn’t as if I had no way.

That was why I had been releasing the Worker Bugs onto the street from time to time, avoiding the eyes of the two police officers, in preparation for such a case.

“To the entrance… sounds good.”

It was just as I said that.

“Ding-ring-ring-ring!”

Tick-tick-tick—

Suddenly, a loud alarm sound and flashing lights began to blare noisily from over the wall of the building across the street.

“Huh? I wonder what’s happening? Isn’t that an alarm?”

At my words, the two police officers immediately sprang into action.

“I’m sorry, but please go inside first!”

“We’ll check that out first!”

The police officers dashed away like arrows.

“Yes! Thank you for your hard work!”

I shouted a loud thank you behind them.

* * *

“Ding-ring-ring-ring—!”

Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick—

The alarm continued to ring until the police approached.

“Hyunsu, you go that way!”

“Yes, Senior Officer!”

They were entering the building in an orderly fashion, cutting off the retreat paths. Given the situation, they naturally had their guns drawn.

“Police! Please open the door!”

Bang-bang-bang!

But there was no answer to the knocking.

Rustle— rustle-rustle—

Click click—

Only strange sounds echoed.

In a situation that could be dangerous.

They made a decision immediately.

“Entering!”

Bang— bang-bang!

They shot and destroyed the door hinges quickly and accurately.

Boom!

They began to enter.

However, they couldn’t help but be appalled.

“This… it’s an empty house?”

“I-I think it’s been at least 10 years since anyone lived here.”

To make matters worse, the talismans stuck bleakly here and there were enough to make their legs tremble.

“W-where was the alarm?”

“There doesn’t seem to be any alarm system…”

They searched the place where the sound had come from, but there were only four mysterious aluminum balls lying still.

“W-what is this?”

“I don’t know. Could it be the owner’s belongings?”

Other than that, no matter how much they searched, they couldn’t find anything strange. Rather, there were only traces that the electricity had been cut off long ago.

It was a spine-chilling feeling.

The two police officers eventually put their guns back into their holsters and had no choice but to decide this.

“Right. Hey, let’s just check on that person from before and go back.”

And the two police officers returned to the entrance of the house from before.

Bang-bang-bang!

“Did you get in safely?”

“Is anyone there?”

Click—

“Huh?”

“Uh, Senior Officer, the entrance is open?”

Even the place the man had called his home was an empty house.

The two police officers felt a chill run down their spines.

“Hey. Let’s just go back.”

“Uh… Yes… I think that would be for the best.”

It felt as if I were possessed by a ghost.