Strategic Lure from the Heights
The return trip was uneventful. All I had to do was avoid making loud noises and stay out of sight, so I easily vaulted the back fence and slipped onto the trail I'd used to reach the Northdong Office.
"..."
Thud, thud.
The mountain path was still deserted—no people, not even zombies. Instead of heading back toward the villa, I veered onto the hiking trail. I needed to scout that route to check on the mart and the church.
"Huff... huff..."
The weather was infuriatingly clear. But with my lack of exercise, even climbing this gentle slope was exhausting—especially since I had to stay vigilant for any zombies that might pop out.
"...Life."
I paused midway up the rear mountain and gazed down at the city. The view of Northdong from above was utterly horrifying. Dried bloodstains splattered everywhere like spilled paint. Zombies wandered aimlessly with their guttural grrrs. Wrecked cars, trailers turned to charred husks from fuel leaks—it was like a glimpse of hell in the afterlife.
I perched on a mountaintop exercise machine, pondering how to punch through that mess.
Our Love Church and Rocket Mart.
The Our Love Church was up in the affluent housing district. I narrowed my eyes at the distant cross. It was a massive building, a bit far from my position, nestled above the wealthy neighborhoods—which seemed less ravaged by zombies than other areas.
Tsk...
But it was a lousy spot for survivors to hole up. The houses were hard to breach and easy to defend, but in the heart of the city, they'd lose power and water eventually. Once the mart's food ran out, it'd be a death trap—starvation central.
There had probably been survivors at first, but after twelve days? Unlikely. And to get through those neighborhoods, I'd have to cross the bustling streets—solo, that looked damn near impossible.
Then Rocket Mart?
Rocket Mart was east of the Northdong Office, north of my Happiness Villa—a big supermarket not far from the church. Unlike the church, it had detours like the ones around the office where I'd met Jeong Suhyun.
If I could clear the upper road at the intersection leading to the mart, it was one-way, so I'd have easy access to the back entrance.
But there's no sign of gunfire at all.
I squinted. My eyesight was decent, and scanning around the church and mart, I saw no human traces—no bullet marks, nothing. It confirmed Jeong Suhyun's story didn't add up. Still, a week had passed since they left, and zombies could've overrun the places by now. Not certain.
Frustrating.
In the end, nothing changed: I had to go see for myself.
So how to approach.
I narrowed my eyes again. Even from here, there were hundreds of zombies visible. Even taking my planned route via the northern intersection road, I'd face dozens.
...Just head home to my parents?
Suddenly, their faces flashed in my mind. Almost two weeks in—were they okay? I worried.
No.
Going home was as impossible as ever. To hit the highway on foot, I'd need to cross the Han River via a bridge, which meant navigating downtown. If I could do that, I wouldn't be dicking around here.
In the end, manpower shortage. Skill shortage.
That's why I was stuck agonizing.
Fuck... In zombie novels, they move around fine.
But having lived through it, I realized a zombie outbreak crippled survivor mobility. Imagine a lion escaping Seoul Children's Grand Park Zoo. Even just the news would cause pandemonium. Lions don't bother humans when full, and escapes are one or two at most.
Zombies? Hungry lions by the hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands loose in the city. That's why I was busting my ass clearing the villa area and taking the long mountain detour to the office instead of a straight shot.
Sigh...
What should've been a ten-minute stroll to the church and mart was out of reach now.
But I can't skip it.
So I racked my brain. How to safely reach the mart and church. How to make contact.
Whish.
Basking in the mountain breeze, I thought it through. What I had: a wooden stick swung with average adult male strength, Ice Spear—24 shots every four hours—and Ashes Veil.
The stick and veil were emergency backups. My real weapon: Ice Spear.
But what then.
Even maxed out, it only guaranteed 24 zombies down. Pathetic for navigating that chaotic downtown.
I could snipe from a safe spot like the villa, but in the busy streets swarming with hordes? No base, no safehouse.
Snipe from afar?
A idea hit me. Ice Spear had no range limit, right? Why not spam them from the mountain?
"Ice Spear."
I summoned one. It floated where I wanted, moved by my will.
Splat!
I hurled it into a tree ahead, shattering it.
Crack!
This time, high in the distant air.
Tsk, sun's too bright.
But I confirmed it: an Ice Spear materializing in midair about 100 meters away.
If so...
Whoosh.
I willed it to plunge downward. It rocketed into a cluster of shambling, aimless zombies.
...!!
No sound from this distance, but I saw three zombies' torsos explode.
...!!!!
And the noise drew the surrounding horde surging toward it.
Idiot.
This Ice Spear skill was better than I'd thought. As long as no obstacles blocked line of sight, I could summon anywhere in view.
I'd been too dumb, trapped in my villa bubble, underusing it.
Wait.
That sparked more: no need to kill nearby zombies. Just lure the ones at my destinations to one spot.
Not bad.
Blow up a car or smash windows—draw them all there. Unlike looting the convenience store day one, I was safe up here.
I looked downslope.
About 500 meters? Fuck, hard to gauge.
I eyed the intersection near Rocket Mart. Dozens clustered nearby; with those in cars and shops, easily over a hundred.
"Ice Spear."
Zombies staggering on the ruined road. I gauged distances within earshot from the intersection, picking spots to embed spears.
Not too far, not too close. Noise has to last till I descend.
Skipped building windows—loud burst, but short duration.
Regular car perfect.
Ideally, one with an alarm that wails without exploding. In this silent city of the dead, a blast might pull unwanted hordes.
Or... explode something elsewhere.
That seemed better. I spotted the police station, 100 meters from Rocket Mart. It was wrecked, but a pristine police car sat out front. Zombie cops shuffling around—probably night shift, caught off guard.
They switched Northdong PD cars to EVs for that green campaign, right?
Worked in my favor. I'd heard something about it.
"Ice Spear. Ice Spear..."
I conjured five above the station, hovering 100 meters up, aimed at two police cars.
No survivors inside, right?
Unlikely after twelve days in downtown central. If any, tough luck. Worst case: zombies swarm the blast, some smoke—nothing major. And highest odds: empty.
Whoosh.
I committed. Go big or go home—I slammed the spears down.
...!!
My will and gravity launched them at blinding speed.
...!!
Sound faint, but I imagined the thunk. Spears shattering. Alarm blaring wee-oo wee-oo.
And—
...!
The cars crumpling, losing shape.
!!!!
!!!!
Hordes around the station swarmed in on the noise. But it wasn't over.
A small flame from the crushed rear grew.
Not exploding?
Right then, as fire engulfed it—
——KABOOOOOM!!!!
——FWOOSH!
A massive explosion ripped from the police cars, thunderous roar as flames shot skyward.