Surviving the Apocalypse with Crafting Skills

A special gunfire was resonating intensely from a building located to the left of our direction.

Even some congregation members seemed to be running towards us and falling with a “pik” sound, as if protecting us in some way.

If they were targeting us, they would have already shown their skill by piercing through the heads and chests of the congregation members.

“Seventy-five?”

“Perhaps. First, focus on the battle… ugh!”

“To kill the pastor! To kill the pastor!!! You heretics! Uaaaaaaaah!!!”

-tadatadatada…

After lowering our posture due to the suppressive fire coming from the opposite side near the hotel, we threw ourselves toward the next cover.

“Die, di-”

-tudut. tud.

The sound of the automatic rifle being wildly sprayed abruptly cut off due to another gunshot.

And it was quite close.

“It’s our side! Be careful with the shooting!”

Together with the rough voice shouting out, a man in winter camouflage ran toward us.

His gas mask had cracks that were roughly taped up.

The silver tapes wrapped around his military uniform suggested he might have been injured multiple times.

However, the bulletproof vest and magazine pouches strapped to his body remained intact.

Elbow and knee pads covered his limbs.

A silenced rifle equipped with optical devices and a handle was in his hand.

And hanging from his helmet—something incredibly rare to see—a four-lens night vision device.

Surely, this was a member of the ‘Spearhead’ organization.

“You guys-”

“F01.”

When Mr. James spoke first, the soldier stared at us blankly for a moment before starting to laugh.

“Damn it, you actually came. I never thought you’d really show up!”

“So who exactly was supposed to risk their life and come here!?”

“Unlucky fools? Haha, anyway, this is tear-jerkingly appreciated.”

-pfft.

“There’s a building! They’re firing from the second floor of the building! Kill them!!!”

As the direction of the suppressive fire changed, the man slightly leaned out and pulled the trigger twice.

“Aaaah!”

“There’s one behind the truck too!”

With no intention of engaging in close combat, the congregation members were wildly spraying bullets.

But evidently, their numbers had definitely decreased compared to before.

Or maybe their available ammunition had significantly dwindled.

The number of times they hit the car gradually decreased.

“That side is 7-”

“The 75th Ranger Regiment.”

“…75th what?”

“Rangers! Rangers Lead the Way! Haven’t you heard of it?”

Mr. James’ reaction wasn’t one of not hearing it.

He was frozen, shocked.

Leaning against the car and trembling like Ms. Angela.

But Rangers?

It sounded familiar, like something famous.

However, since they didn’t introduce themselves as Spearhead members, could it be because both are veterans?

“…Big red ‘One’. ”

Mr. James soon spoke after a brief pause.

Referring to the mark engraved on my gun.

“The 1st Infantry Division?”

The other person immediately understood.

Laughing, he extended his hand for a handshake.

“I was there during the Gulf War.”

“What, so we know each other then. Though I wasn’t there during the Gulf War—but ow!”

-ping, ping.

The sound of bullets ricocheting off metal plates.

And the sound of suppressed gunfire no longer audible.

[Carlos, we’re out of ammo. Looks like the other side is too.]

From the radio attached to the ‘Ranger’ called Carlos, likely the voice of the sniper who had been covering us came through.

“Ah…this is my last magazine too.”

[They’ve thrown down their guns and are preparing for hand-to-hand combat. Shit…there are still too many of them.]

Carlos carefully peeked his head out and looked back at us.

“Do you have enough bullets over there?”

Shaking the ammunition belt tied to his body and placing the magazine tied to his waist on the ground, simultaneously.

There was still about half of the slug rounds left.

All worth the effort despite the sleepless nights spent making them.

“…Wow, these people, their shotguns and bullets seem entirely homemade.”

[It’s lucky in misfortune. Just be careful. The enemies have split into three directions. Four each, left, front, right.]

The moment Mr. James heard the transmission, he raised his head.

But now, the complete darkness had enveloped everything.

The lights barely illuminated the surroundings faintly.

“The footsteps are almost completely inaudible.”

Is this the first time Mr. James has encountered the Rebuilt Church?

…That’s right, probably. Since when we met Hammerhead, we handled it together.

“…Whatever they eat, they’re the kind that make almost no sound indoors. Like ninjas with dicks.”

“Like seals (SEALs)?”

“They at least splash around. When you see them paddling with flippers, these church members seem more like special forces in comparison. But…”

Taking the rifle off his back and drawing a pistol and a dagger from his waist,

Carlos also lowered the night vision goggles with one hand.

“These bastards are weaker at night.”

No, even at night, they’re stronger than ordinary people.

Since they all have basic night vision.

But they can’t possibly be stronger than elite soldiers using night vision goggles.

Devices that turn night into day.

“I’m going to circle around to the right. Trust me and try not to shine any light to the right unless necessary. Go straight from the right to the left. Got it?”

“Alright.”

“Beware of friendly fire. Though, I assume you know that already.”

Gently patting Mr. James, Carlos detached the radio from his shoulder and handed it to me.

“He’ll inform you of the approach direction from above. His name is Cole.”

Did he manage to acquire equipment that still works in this situation?

Carefully taking it, I turned my head away from Carlos as he left and checked the remaining personnel.

Peeking out from behind the cover, Mr. James pointed his rifle forward.

And…

“Uuuh, uh, uuuh.”

Unable to bear it anymore, Ms. Angela collapsed, tightly gripping her gun.

When I carefully approached and firmly grabbed her shoulder, she jumped and trembled.

I could understand, but still.

It was inevitable that my heart felt heavy.

“Did you think you could save people without being prepared for this?”

“…Huhk, huk, huhuk.”

“Crying won’t help, Ms. Angela.”

[Whatever you’re doing, it’s best to get that person up quickly. Those bastards have gone too far.]

“Did you hear that?”

“…Ha, haa.”

“If you want to save someone, you must be prepared to take someone’s life—”

“How, how can a person do that to another person?”

“Isn’t it a bit late to ask that question?”

“Hanging people, killing them like that… Why, why would anyone do that? If they said it was because they were useless or beyond treatment, and they were putting them out of their misery, I might understand…!”

So compassionate it was stifling.

Someone fortunate to have been discovered by the Zeroth Empire.

And someone who survived only because Hans managed them directly.

“Angela—”

“If I had known, if I had known there were so many terrifying people like this… Not just to survive, but as sacrifices, sacrifices… This meaningless evil…”

“ANGELA DIETERICH!!”

I grabbed her arms and shook her violently.

Kung! A clear metallic sound rang out from her head where it struck.

“Do you think it matters why the evil exists when those bastards are coming to kill us right now?”

“Xuan Woo! What are you doing!”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re scared, but while trying to save people, don’t hold us back like this…”

“Damn it, leave that woman behind!”

-bang, bang, bang.

Gunfire was already heard from the right.

There was nothing more I could do to help her.

[The bastards are scattering. Get ready. We can’t see them anymore.]

Still, since she was someone we couldn’t lose, I had to stay near Ms. Angela.

-crash.

The sound of a fierce physical fight erupted from the right.

Footsteps started increasing from the left and front.

“…”

And suddenly, silence fell.

“…”

At that moment, Mr. James immediately bent his body and flattened himself on the ground.

Under the car.

He pushed the gun through the gap under the car—

-bang.

“—Aaaaaah!!!”

Along with the sound of the shot, the footsteps multiplied instantly.

Moving quickly in the direction of the sound, I aimed and fired at the dark-robed Newskin just about to pounce.

-bang, bang.

Out of eight, five disappeared, but there was one bullet left in my gun.

And one bullet left in Mr. James’s gun.

-bang.

I fired at the bastard jumping onto the hood and immediately swung the empty gun behind me.

-crack.

The startled enemy stumbled and fell, but a shock traveled through me from behind.

“Khak!”

“Die, you heretic!!”

The guy wielding a sword high above me from behind resisted with both arms, but sudden pain surged from a wound I thought had healed.

“Uuuugh!!”

If this continues, I’ll be stabbed again—

-bang.

A gunshot rang out nearby.

It wasn’t from Mr. James on the right.

“Huh, huu, huuu!”

It was Angela.

She immediately turned the muzzle and blew off the leg of the enemy approaching from behind.

“Aaaaaaaaah!!!”

Then the one-legged enemy lunged at Mr. James, but considering the size difference—not to mention his injuries—

Mr. James immediately threw him off, drew a knife from his waist, and began stabbing repeatedly.

“KiiyaAAAAAAH!!”

At that moment, watching everything unfold, a female Newskin lunged at Ms. Angela who was breathing heavily.

I tried to go help—

-pok, puuk.

The blade slashing across the jaw, neck, and cheek.

In an instant, she carved through the key areas, and the blade glinted red even in the darkness.

Pushing aside the gushing blood, Ms. Angela immediately got up.

“…Huh, huu, huuu, huuuuu!!”

And she immediately pounced on the corpse again, confirming its death by repeatedly stabbing the heart.

Again and again.

Again and again.

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