Rocket Mart (1)
Damn!!!! I clutched my ringing ears and scowled at the deafening roar echoing all the way here.
The police cars, wrecked by my Ice Spears, had lost their shape and were burning endlessly now.
But the explosions aren't that big.
The two police cars spewed flames like they wanted to incinerate everything, but the fire only affected a radius of about two meters around them. It hadn't spread to the police station building with its gas lines. The blaze just kept shooting straight up into the air.
Whether that's a good thing or not...
Still, I'd achieved my goal either way.
—...!!
—Thud thud thud thud
The massive noise from the flames had drawn zombies from everywhere, all converging on the Northdong Police Station. Not just the north road I'd targeted, but zombies hidden inside shop buildings, on the rooftops of mixed-use complexes, even inside cars—they were all coming.
Sip...
—!!!!
The problem was, there were way more zombies than expected. Northdong had a smaller population than other Seoul districts, but the waves pouring out from every corner looked like a swarm of cockroaches in motion.
Hundreds, easy.
—.....!!!!
The zombies' wails sent chills crawling over my skin, even though my senses had sharpened.
What if that horde turned toward me? What the hell would happen then?
This isn't the time to stand around.
I snapped out of it. No time to dawdle like this.
That aggro won't last forever.
The explosions were pulling them now, but once they stopped and the flames died down, those zombies would look elsewhere. And the most likely spot? Just like before, this exact position where I was staggering around like an idiot.
Hoo.
If that happened, coming back from the mart to this walkway would be a nightmare.
—Step step
So I headed down the walkway toward my target, Rocket Mart, without delay.
—Whoooosh
Unlike the climb up, I moved fast going down and made it in about ten minutes, wind whistling in my ears as I entered the city streets.
Zombies... zombies... none here.
But this was downtown now, so I scanned every inch carefully as I went. Past the spot where the four-story Northdong Office was faintly visible, two blocks over, and I reached the intersection I'd aimed for.
—Swoosh
Perfect.
Even in the heart of the city, the zombie numbers were noticeably low. Way fewer than when I'd gone to the office or what I'd seen from the hill.
At this level, if I stuck to blind spots behind vehicles or buildings, I probably wouldn't draw aggro.
But safety first, always. I ducked behind a wrecked car nearby and checked my surroundings thoroughly.
Nothing up top, and that noise was pretty damn loud.
A few zombies lingered on the west and south roads of the intersection. Probably drawn by the roar but lost interest when the sound faded.
But the police station side is fucked.
Far off, hordes swarmed the flames, groaning —grrruuuuh.
The fire's still raging.
Crackling more than roaring, the flames kept burning.
I kept glancing that way as I sprinted across the intersection.
—Tadadadak
"Kieeeek!"
Then, a zombie hidden behind the wrecked car lunged at me.
—Tadak
It was in my blind spot; I spotted it late.
"Kweeeek!"
A middle-aged male zombie, mouth gaping wide to bite.
"You fucking— Ice Spear..."
I started to cast Ice Spear but stopped. Too close.
I gripped the wooden bat in both hands and swung hard.
—Pwoock!
Pain shot between my thumb and index finger, but I ignored it. I swung again with full force.
—Puck!
The zombie staggered back. No real damage, but that was the point—not to kill, just push away.
"Ice Spear."
—Puck!
—Pshut!
An Ice Spear materialized beside the zombie's head and obliterated its upper body. Dark red blood sprayed everywhere.
"Kieeeek!"
No time to waste. Nearby zombies had noticed the Ice Spear and the screams.
Too late.
—Tadak
I bolted toward Rocket Mart's parking lot up the road from the intersection, glancing at it as I ran.
About thirty meters in, the main entrance came into view.
"Kiiiiieeeeek!"
Fuck...
The entrance was barricaded with shopping carts and appliances. No clue if survivors were inside, but no way in through there.
—Tatadak
I veered off. Had to circle to the indoor parking lot side.
"Ice Spear."
—Pwoong!
But the indoor lot was too far. And the east side by it was too close to the chaos I'd stirred at the station.
Where's the underground parking?
So I headed west toward the underground lot.
"Kieek!"
"These goddamn bastards."
I kept running, shaking off the pursuing zombies.
First two in front got their heads smashed by Ice Spears. But the noise of upper bodies exploding just drew more—zombies calling zombies, spears calling more spears.
—Tadadak
"Kieeeek!"
"Kweeeeeek!"
Now dozens were chasing me.
"Ice..." No.
I held off on another spear and just kept running. No idea if the underground lot connected inside or if the doors were open, but anything beat this open space.
—Tadadak
Finally reached the underground parking.
Should've just stayed away.
—Kiiik
—Bang!
The vehicle entrance was locked, so I dashed to the employee pedestrian door.
—Click
Luckily unlocked. I slammed it shut behind me, piled nearby carts against it, and barricaded it tight.
—Bang! Bang! Bang!
Zombies pounded the door soon after, but that steel underground parking door wasn't giving way anytime soon.
Hoo.
Close call. But no time to rest. Hadn't cleared the mart interior yet.
I grabbed my shaking legs—out of shape—and caught my breath, heading deeper into the underground lot.
"......"
Good news: empty. Bad news: completely empty.
Bright enough for daytime indoors, but few lights on, as expected in an underground lot. Only a couple employee cars; otherwise barren.
—Step step
—Thud
Scanning the vast emptiness, hearing distant pounding on the door, I searched for the way up to the mart.
Elevator... better skip that.
I ignored the elevator I passed. Lights suggested it worked, but if power cut out mid-ride? Trapped and dead. Even if it ran, single entrance meant danger on exit.
Found it.
After a bit, I spotted a ramp about ten meters away.
Korea's biggest chains like Benefit Mart and Rocket Mart had these ramps in underground lots for wheeling carts down from the store.
Normally, solo shoppers took elevators, cart-pushers the ramp. But apocalypse now.
Perfect entry for me. I climbed cautiously.
Hoo...
Reached the first floor. Peering through the glass doors, I scowled.
Mart's lights are off.
Power wasn't out entirely, but why? The interior looked darker than the underground lot. Plans changed; I groaned.
No wonder... huge commotion outside and no reaction.
Should've suspected when no signs of life despite the explosions and zombie horde.
If so, no point in coming here.
Bad sign.
The sixteen survivors Jeong Suhyun mentioned. Whether that group kidnapping and raping people at the mart or church existed or not, I'd hoped humans were here.
Show them my powers, and even if they shot first, I could've gotten intel.
But.
Tricky now.
Exactly the worst-case I'd imagined. No telling what was inside. Clearing a maze of blind spots would be hell.
And it's humid in there. No clue why.
Something felt off, ominous. Even abandoned long-term, the main entrance was barricaded tight. No reason for that massive interior to be so damp.
Turn back or go in?
Draw the sword and swing, or sheathe it clean and bail?
Decision quick; action faster.
Turn back.
Priority one: reunite with family safely. No need to gamble pointlessly here.
Hoo...
Humans, zombies, or some unknown mutants—any scenario was a loss for me. Sane humans wouldn't survive in that darkness. Zombies could overwhelm Ashes Veil in seconds. Unknown variants? No interest in finding out.
Let's go.
Better to kill time in the lot and find an exit.
—Ttak
But as I turned from the shadowed mart interior to descend the ramp—
The energy of the Seventh Ruin Fragment is felt nearby.
This fucking...
A red system alert popped up suddenly. Like the previous "choose a new path" message in crimson letters.
What the hell?
I scowled at this contrived bullshit and called up my Status Window.