Arson (Part 2)
-Boom! -Boom!
We spun around and headed back toward the entrance we'd come through.
"Right now?"
"No."
We weren't blowing up the electric vehicle charging station just yet.
"For now, hold off on using the rifle to trigger the explosion."
"Why?"
"Well..."
It would make too much noise. And with my Ice Spear available, there was no need to waste precious bullets.
I explained it to Jeong Suhyun.
"My Ice Spear can fire from anywhere in my line of sight. Personally, I think it'd be best to climb somewhere high and shoot from there..."
"...Somewhere high?"
Jeong Suhyun's expression turned puzzled. He seemed to have gotten used to my magic by now. Hearing me mention a high spot, he chimed in.
"Back on the hill earlier, this direction was..."
"No line of sight."
The walking path had been my first thought too. But even from the top of the rear hill, the Rocket Mart parking lot was out of view due to the terrain.
"Sigh... What about the Northdong Building right ahead then?"
"That's..."
The Northdong Building was a four-story structure directly facing the Rocket Mart. From the third floor or higher, sniping the charging station would be a breeze.
But I shook my head.
"Too close. Plus, clearing the inside would be a pain."
It housed accounting firms and offices likely still active even at dawn—accountants often pulled all-nighters.
"Tricky. No buildings around here with a view anyway."
"Exactly. No choice."
Despite being in a bustling area, the Rocket Mart had few nearby structures—a trait of big marts. It meant fewer zombies than expected, but it complicated our goal.
That left us with one option.
"Jeong Suhyun, empty all the ammo and stack it by that cart over there."
"...Junyoung?"
"We'll clear this spot and just blow it wide open. Even if there are a few thousand zombies nearby, so what? Stick to the original plan. Straight-up."
-Thud! Thud!
"Wha... what?"
Jeong Suhyun let out a stunned breath, clearly caught off guard. But in my mind, short of entering the mart itself, this was the best play.
"If you're good, check the bolt and chamber carefully. Misfires would suck."
"Ah, got it."
"Tell me when you're set."
I shoved the carts away from the thumping door. Might as well wipe out the parking lot and local zombies while we were at it.
"Ready."
-Click-clack.
I turned to Jeong Suhyun, who had chambered a round in the M16, and asked.
"How much ammo?"
"About 300 rounds. Fifteen mags' worth."
"Solid."
The bag's weight made sense now—all bullets. I nodded, grabbed a small chair from ahead, and handed it to him.
"This is..."
"Rest it here and fire. Head or upper body only. Legs are pointless."
"Got it."
"I trust you."
No reply. But he'd manage. Botch it, and we'd be in deep shit.
"On three, I'll open it. I'll take the front ones with Ice Spear. You shoot whatever's behind."
"Yes, sir!"
I eyed Jeong Suhyun steadying the rifle on the chair, then positioned myself at the door.
-Thud! -Thud!
Unlike last time, our quick return had the zombies still pounding away.
-Click.
I gripped the handle and counted.
"One, two, three."
-Creak.
The door swung open.
"Kieeeek!"
-Crash! -Rat-tat-tat!
"Ice Spear."
-Boom!
Zombies shoved through, but my Ice Spear turned them to chunks on impact. More trampled the mess behind.
"Ice Spear. Ice Spear."
-Boom! -Bang!
"Kiek...!"
-Splatter!
I kept blasting the sound-drawn horde with Ice Spear. So many came that our clothes were soaked in gore.
"Ice Spear!"
-Boom! -Crash!
"Kieeeek! Grrrk!"
How many spears? How many kills? The floor slick with flesh and blood slowed their charge.
-Clang! -Boom!
"Jeong Suhyun."
I called as they hesitated. Right on cue—
-Bang!
A distant crawler's head exploded.
-Bang! -Bang!
Charging zombies' heads burst one after another.
-Bang! -Bang!
One, two, three. Not a single miss.
-Bang!
"Kieeeek!"
-Thud -Splatter!
Dozens surged madly—from left, right.
"Kieeeek!"
Hordes leaped from every visible spot.
-Rat-a-tat-tat!
Jeong Suhyun's bullets shredded torsos and skulls. Full auto this time—their momentum stalled.
-Click.
"Reloading!"
M16 held just 20-30 rounds.
"Kieeeek!"
They charged relentlessly, ignoring tangles—even during his reload.
But.
"Got it. Ice Spear."
-Kablooey! -Splooey!
During reloads, my upgraded D-rank Ice Spear obliterated four at once. Normally two kills, but the packed horde amplified it.
"Ready."
"Roger."
-Bang! -Rat-a-tat-tat!
Seamless switch. We whittled them down in sync with his reloads.
How long?
"Jeong Suhyun, cease fire."
"Yes."
Mana running low. Smoke curled from his barrel.
-Rat-a-tat-tat!
"Kieeeek!"
-Bang! -Splatter!
But few left now. Noise drew stragglers, but sparse. No big bangs, no more crowds if he stopped shooting.
"Ice Spear."
-Boom!
I halted him. My spear pulped four chargers.
-Rat-tat.
Dozens trailed. Mana check.
Four shots left.
Minus Ashes Veil's reserve—barely enough for dozens.
I told him at the door.
"Suhyun, see that half-wrecked blue sedan? When zombies pass it, slam the door."
"Understood."
Needed at least five per shot. I timed their rush.
-Thud-thud-thud.
Gulp.
Whose swallow? Blood-drenched, eyes rolled back, they closed in. I waited.
"Kieeeek!"
"Grraaah!"
30m. 20m. 10m.
"Close it?"
"Not yet."
I shook my head. As they crested the car—
"Ice Spear. Now—close it!"
-Kablooey!
Four spears spawned mid-air, slamming down evenly into the pack.
-Boom!
Door shut.
-Splatter!
Flesh exploded.
Moments later, silence. Jeong Suhyun glanced at me.
Nod.
He cracked the door, checked outside.
"Urk..."
Dry heaves. I peered out too.
Chaos. Spears had mangled overlapping zombies into chunks. Gunfire headless or limbless corpses everywhere.
"You okay?"
"Yeah... Feels weird. Back at the office, shooting zombies didn't hit like this... Hoo."
"Gotta adapt."
"True."
I stood, sticky with gore, and eyed the Rocket Mart outer lot. No more incoming—area cleared.
Confirmed, I—
-Click.
—locked the door and told the catching-his-breath Jeong Suhyun.
"Hoo... Rest a bit. One or two hours."
Needed at least 10 mana to move. Same for him—he slung the rifle and flopped down.
"Yeah..."
Eyes closed, I asked.
"Mags left?"
"Six. Thought it'd run short, but we burned 'em."
Two-thirds gone. He didn't seem to mind.
Curious, I pressed.
"Not a waste?"
"What, the bullets?"
He shook his head.
"Lie if I said no. But I don't figure I'll live long enough to use 'em all anyway."
"So negative."
"...Positive in this hell? That's the crazy one."
Fair. Staring at the outer hellscape sometimes numbed me too.