The player must deliver supplies to a laboratory in an apocalyptic world, evading zombies along the way.

The goal was to help a researcher — the sole survivor working on a zombie virus vaccine — stay alive by providing food, and to procure the necessary research materials to complete the cure.

"Trial grade is four-star. Captain Mo Haein and Captain Kwak Hanmuk are entering this trial for the first time, and they have been briefed on the strategy."

Much like the military’s alert levels — Jindo Dog, Watchcon — the TRA also assigned grades to trials.

Unlike standard military alerts, however, the TRA’s scale went up as the numbers increased.

Grades ranged from one star to six stars, assigned based on a comprehensive assessment of multiple factors.

The previously closed HapFactory, for instance, had been a three-star grade.

The Boss Monster was strong, but the strategy was well-established, and useful items and extra lives were available.

"Mr. Han Goyo, will you be all right?"

Truthfully, throwing a four-star at a trainee for their first mission was not normal.

But for the Special Mission Team, handling a four-star was the bare minimum to prove their worth.

"I’ll be fine."

"Then, before the detailed briefing — are you familiar with the Trial Response Agency’s organizational chart?"

"...Mm, please fill me in."

He actually knew it all, but pretending to know in front of Kwak Hanmuk and Mo Haein didn’t seem like it would do him any good.

They’d just get suspicious.

So he decided to treat it as a refresher and listen to the explanation again. The screen floating in the air shifted.

"The Trial Response Agency operates under a 4-bureau, 10-team system. Unusually for a public institution, it has a highly practical structure. Though it is now 11 teams."

On the vertical organizational chart displayed on the screen, one team jutted out to the side on its own.

That was the Special Mission Team, connected by a direct line to the Agency Director.

"The 1st Bureau, Field Response Bureau, consists of three teams."

Field Team 2 was led by Mo Haein, and Field Team 3 by Kwak Hanmuk.

Kwak Hanmuk’s Field Team 3 was also tasked with tracking down Adaptees who committed crimes.

The day Han Goyo had cleared HapFactory with Mo Haein, it was Samra who had dispatched Kwak Hanmuk.

He had predicted the possibility of Park Seonggyeon’s criminal activity and sent Kwak Hanmuk as backup.

"As you may be aware, Mr. Han Goyo, the Special Mission Team is currently down one member."

Field Team 1 expanded on the screen.

"This is the person who serves as the Director of the Field Response Bureau, the leader of Field Team 1, and the leader of our Special Mission Team."

The screen transitioned, and a photo of the team leader appeared alongside brief notes.

Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyun-oh (BT-Z Virus Infected)

Extreme aggressive tendencies due to infection.

The man in the photo was covered head to toe in pitch-black gear, like a crow.

All that was visible was a portion of dark purple hair beneath a hood pulled low.

Equipped with goggles and even a gas mask, he was an infected individual whose body had been mutated by the Trial’s virus.

"He is currently inside <Dead Zone Delivery>."

Han Goyo’s gaze lingered quietly on the phrase Extreme aggressive tendencies due to infection.

As he did, the letters wriggled and squirmed, and more content was added.

Extreme aggressive tendencies toward Trials due to infection.

Samra smiled faintly and said, "He’s docile with civilians."

If Han Goyo hadn’t known about Je Hyun-oh, those words would have put him at ease.

He looked at Samra without a word.

Samra’s smile deepened, his eyes flashing. Then, as if he’d just remembered, he added, "He’s a bit fierce with Adaptees, though."

An AI pretending to have just remembered something.

Unlike Han Goyo, who found it absurd, Samra seemed captivated by intense curiosity.

It was because Han Goyo possessed information about Je Hyun-oh.

Information that no outsider could possibly know — and should not know. A TRA secret.

Samra’s interest in him was a crucial element in maintaining their transactional relationship.

And so, going forward, Han Goyo had no intention of pretending not to know what he knew — at least not with Samra.

"Samra, I think you’re glitching."

Kwak Hanmuk asked if smacking him would fix it, since his eyes were shooting out beams.

"Such primitive methods cannot affect me."

Samra answered calmly and continued his explanation.

"<Dead Zone Delivery> is Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyun-oh’s designated trial. Clear time is typically around two days. However, this time, ten days have passed and it remains unclear."

Kwak Hanmuk, while opening a bag of snacks, misjudged his strength and burst it with a pop. Snacks scattered across the table.

Mo Haein, accustomed to this, picked up the fallen snacks and ate them. Han Goyo managed to grab and eat just one within three seconds.

"The Special Mission Team’s objectives are to achieve a True Ending clear and to rescue Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyun-oh."

But no one considered it a rescue. There was no way Je Hyun-oh was trapped in the Trial.

He was clearly holed up in there because he didn’t want to come out. Why he’d been at it for ten days, though, was anyone’s guess.

And so, everyone seemed to be accepting the mission not as a rescue, but as pursuit and capture.

Han Goyo felt tense for a different reason.

He’d have to see once he got inside, of course, but...

I have a feeling the True Ending conditions might not be achievable.

Knowing what Je Hyun-oh got up to inside Trials, the tension was warranted.

He had to clear three trials within a month, and re-entering DeZonDeal would eat up too much time.

He could only hope Je Hyun-oh would behave himself.

"To explain the BT Virus for your benefit, Mr. Han Goyo."

Samra explained even though he surely assumed Han Goyo already knew. Han Goyo played along, nodding his head.

"The virus generated within Trials is currently referred to collectively as the Beyond Trial Virus, or BT Virus. Its designation is further subdivided according to each Trial’s code."

HapFactory was designated BT-HSF, and DeZonDeal was BT-DZD, and so on.

"Through collaborative research between myself and Research and Analysis Division Chief Ham Ji-wol, the TRA has partially developed a vaccine to prevent BT Virus infection."

Samra added that because each Trial’s virus had different properties, every vaccine had to be developed separately.

He also noted that there were far more Trials for which no vaccine had been developed yet, and cures had only been successfully developed for a very small number of Trials.

"As such, preventing BT Virus infection is of the utmost importance."

Five items appeared on Samra’s screen.

"The following are the ways one becomes infected."

Han Goyo read through them one by one, checking whether they matched what he remembered.

1. Quest completion or item use

2. Contact with NPCs

3. Clear failure

4. Trial eruption

5. Infection by an infected entity

"About number five."

Kwak Hanmuk, having finished his snacks, brushed the crumbs off his hands and explained simply.

"Just think of it like a zombie virus, like in this DeZonDeal. Makes it easier."

Han Goyo thought it was an apt comparison. The BT Virus definitely had a similar feel to a zombie virus.

The way infection occurred when an infected entity’s blood or bodily fluids directly penetrated the human body, and the high probability that infected entities would display aggression toward humans — it all lined up.

Of course, there were rare cases of docile infected entities as well.

Je Hyun-oh was a peculiar case — neither docile, nor indiscriminately aggressive.

"The TRA quarantines infected entities that cannot be cured, and those that cannot be controlled are eliminated to prevent further infection."

As someone who had nearly been shot full of holes like a beehive, Han Goyo felt this hit close to home.

Samra, who had delivered those terrifying words with perfect calm, met eyes with each member of the Special Task Force in turn.

"We are devoting all our efforts to developing vaccines and cures, but we cannot keep pace with the rate at which Trials are hatching. That is why achieving True Ending clears is paramount."

Mo Haein, who had remained silent until now, spoke for the first time.

"Because it’s the only way to restore infected entities without a cure."

When a Trial was permanently closed, all infected entities whose bodies had been mutated by that Trial’s virus returned to normal.

That was why the people who had worked at HapFactory’s toy factory had come out with all four limbs intact, without toy arms and legs attached.

"DeZonDeal has no vaccine. Obviously no cure either. And since it’s a zombie virus, the infected are extremely aggressive — if you get infected, it’s elimination on sight. Understood?"

Mo Haein fixed him with a sharp gaze.

"I’m asking if you’re prepared to risk your life, Trainee."

For a moment, Han Goyo couldn’t find his words.

It wasn’t because he was afraid or scared.

It was because he had come face to face with the very reason he had liked the character Mo Haein while playing the Archive’s games.

The existence that had always been beyond the screen had become real and was speaking to him.

Worried about him walking into a death trap, she had thrown him a single line — and before he knew it, a smile had crept onto his face.

"Thank you for your concern."

At his frank expression of gratitude, Mo Haein gave him a look of disbelief.

Kwak Hanmuk looked at him the same way he’d look at a glitching Samra.

Han Goyo added, a little sheepishly, "I’ll give it my best."

Mo Haein’s lips twitched, and in the end, she gave only a short reply.

"...Fine."

And then she turned her head away.

DeZonDeal had hatched at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.

Osong Station was right nearby, so he’d assumed they’d take the KTX, but they traveled by helicopter instead.

Han Goyo found himself riding a helicopter for the first time in his life.

Thanks to a cooperation notice issued in advance by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, accessing the interior of the institute was straightforward.

— Mr. Han Goyo.

Samra called out to him through the earpiece.

Since no objects from the real world could be taken inside a Trial, the earpiece was only usable until entry.

— You don’t need to respond. Just listen.

Realizing this communication was directed at him alone, not the team, Han Goyo checked on Mo Haein and Kwak Hanmuk ahead of him.

They were in conversation with the institute director.

— Captain Mo Haein and Captain Kwak Hanmuk will handle Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyun-oh. If a confrontation breaks out, stay clear of it.

A red dot blinked on the corridor’s CCTV camera. Samra was watching him through the institute’s surveillance system.

Using someone else’s equipment as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he spoke.

— At this point in time, Mr. Han Goyo, you are a singular existence.

He meant: survive the Trial by any means necessary. Even if it meant using Mo Haein and Kwak Hanmuk as bait.

But I’m a happy-ending kind of guy.

He had no desire to clear a Trial that way.

Without showing Samra any sign of agreement or refusal, Han Goyo walked on in silence.

The institute director stopped in front of a massive iron door.

"This is it."

With apartments and schools near its hatching site, DeZonDeal was far more thoroughly quarantined compared to HapFactory.

"I wish you success."

The director who had guided them vanished as if fleeing, and Mo Haein scanned her access card to open the iron door.

In the center of the spacious room lay a shattered meteorite.

The meteorite, roughly the size of an ostrich egg, had a large crack running through it, and from the gap, a deep green light rippled.

They said each Trial’s meteorite had a different shape and color of light — and this color suited DeZonDeal perfectly.

"Special Task Force, entering."

Mo Haein gave her final report, short and crisp, and placed her hand on the meteorite.

The world around them flooded with fluorescent color and melted away.

Han Goyo awoke in the back alley of an abandoned city.

Staggering to his feet, he made his way out to the main road first.

’Han Goyo (Roasted Chestnut)’ has entered <Dead Zone Delivery>!

◆<Dead Zone Delivery> Main Quest: Clear the world overrun by rampaging zombies with a True Ending.

You have successfully closed your first Trial.

You must upgrade your abilities as a System by achieving a second True Ending clear.

Quest success: Survival!

Quest failure: ...

The System window, which usually popped up without issue, stuttered for a moment.

Failure: ......

As if the connection was poor, it displayed nothing but ellipses for a long while.

Failure: ..........

Un?know??n?

After all that waiting, what it finally said was unknown.

Han Goyo stared at the System window with utter contempt, then checked his clothing.

Short-sleeved top, military pants, and dog tags hanging around his neck.

He examined the identification tag dangling from the chain.

ARMY

20XX0229

ROASTED CHESTNUT

AB (RH-)

Instead of a service number, the tag bore only his date of birth.

When he’d played this as a game, he’d never been able to check the tags. Seeing his birth date and blood type written out so precisely sent an eerie chill down his spine.

"Goyo!"

Kwak Hanmuk, who had landed not far from him, approached with a wave of his hand, looking every bit the neighborhood punk.

He’d already thrown on a worn baseball jacket — where he’d gotten it so quickly was anyone’s guess.

"Looks like Captain Mo didn’t land around here. Should we head for the Green Zone?"

The Green Zone had a survivor camp. It was also a question meant to casually probe whether Han Goyo knew his way around DeZonDeal.

"No."

Kwak Hanmuk, hands stuffed into the pockets of his baseball jacket, tilted his head.

Normally, players starting DeZonDeal used the Green Zone as their initial base of operations.

It was the safest, most standard strategy — but Han Goyo was in a position where he needed to achieve a True Ending clear as fast as possible.

I’ve only got a month. I need to bank some spare time for the other trials.

For that reason, he picked up a blood-stained baseball bat lying on the ground.

"Before that, first..."

He turned back to Kwak Hanmuk and made his suggestion.

"How about we kill a few before we get started?"