Trampling the Vermin (2)
A three-story building a short distance from Benefit Mart. I stood on its rooftop, gazing down below.
The bustling streets around Benefit Mart, once teeming with crowds coming and going.
-Rat-tat-tat-tat.
But in this reality, an indescribable hellscape unfolded. I heard the sounds of countless shadowy figures shuffling about. And then.
"Kieeeek!"
A zombie wail I hadn't heard in quite a while.
"!!!!!"
"!!!!!"
-Bang-bang!
The sharp crack of a semi-automatic rifle, all too familiar. I moved from the high rooftop to the top of a lower building and watched the chaos unfold.
"Block them! Fuck! Block and bolt for the passage! You bastards!"
"Minyoung... our Minyoung..."
"Ah, Kim Siwoo, you fucking prick! Shut your damn mouth! It's not like there's just one or two women. You crazy fuck! Don't drag zombies here!"
"Aaaagh! Fuck off! Our Minyoung got crushed! Minyoung!"
-Bang!
"Kieeeek!"
"Ditch that crazy bastard! Fuck!"
-Aaaagh!
Three Liberation Army stragglers fleeing below got snatched by zombies and torn apart. From what I overheard, when the building collapsed, they tried dragging along a slave woman, and the noise drew the zombies.
-Crunch.
-Crunch.
The sound of zombies ripping into human flesh.
-Rat-tat-tat!
Gunfire rang out again. I traced its source and used Frost Blink once more.
'...That's a military vehicle.'
The Liberation Army had seized their base with their abilities. What allowed them to hold it was guns and the car barricades around Benefit Mart. And what kept it intact was military vehicles no human body could topple.
But even those vehicles couldn't hold back the zombie tide.
"Kwaaaagh!"
"Lieutenant Yi got dragged off!"
"Ditch him! Head to B-Point! Contact with Commander Hak? Support from Frog or Stork?"
"No good! Radio's dead! He's probably gone!"
"What? How the hell is radio down?! No walkie-talkies!?"
"Commander Jin! Zombies massing ahead! Fire?!"
"Fuck it. Ditch the radio! Shoot! Fire!"
-Rat-tat!
"Ammo's low!"
"Then just floor it!"
But I'd shattered their defenses. Precisely, I'd collapsed their strongest point—the main gate.
But the real issue wasn't the collapse itself. It was the noise it caused. And.
"Kieeeek!"
"Kieek!"
The hordes of zombies swarming in.
That's why the Liberation Army inside clashed with the city zombies.
-Rat-tat-tat!
-Bang!
"Grurk!"
"Gurk!"
-Br-r-r-r-r!
Gunfire echoed endlessly as charging zombies dropped. But more poured over them.
"Aaaaagh!"
"Kragh! Fuck! Fuck! The car!"
-Cr-u-nch.
In the end, the military vehicle flipped under the zombie wave. Sure, if they barricaded the doors inside, they wouldn't die right away. But against zombies locked on their target, escaping an overturned vehicle was impossible.
A slow death by suffocation or starvation, trapped with no way out.
Yeah. That was exactly what I'd feared back in Northdong, scrambling alone like a rat.
South Korea's military—with drones, helicopters, tanks—could handle zombie waves no problem. Zombies were just a bit tougher than humans: brainless, easily tricked. Modern weapons could wipe them out in a month.
But civilians like me, or reservists with standard rifles? Different story. Even with abilities.
It was like a natural disaster. The scenario I'd dreaded most.
Not the army, not horrific remnants, not other survivors.
Zombies. With 20% instant infection chaining into hordes of mindless monsters, sheer numbers could overwhelm even ability users. They crushed us with quantity alone.
-Zzzt.
Far off, a -zzzt crackle.
'Electricity ability.'
I turned. There they were: Liberation Army holding a small storefront as a barricade, picking off zombies funneled into a one-way kill zone.
-Rat-tat-tat!
Looking closer, reservist-uniformed men fired in orderly ranks, with one cap-wearing Liberation Army officer behind them.
-Zzzt-zzzt!
"Kieeeek!"
His skill seemed to discharge lightning, and damn, it packed a punch. Stronger than my Ice Spears—zombies fried on contact.
-Boom!
"Kieeeek!"
Six zombies charred at once.
'As expected. A real powerhouse.'
I'd figured. The gas ability user who kidnapped Kim Yunjin's group. And the lightning one Bae Sungkwan mentioned.
Others had tool-summoning statuses, but these were direct combat powers.
-Rat-tat!
'Even he can't hold forever.'
Zombies were endless. Men were few.
"!!!!!!"
"!!!!!!"
As I'd predicted, he stopped using his ability—probably mana drain—and grabbed a rifle. High rank, judging by how his orders snapped everyone into formation.
-Rat-tat-tat!
"Kieeeek!"
-Br-r-r-r-r-r!
Like a movie scene. They barricaded a small building, holding zombies at bay. Zombie corpses piled into new barricades, pushed back by guns and abilities.
-Zzzt-zzzt!
Tools flew, lightning occasionally arcing from behind.
But unlike movies, zombies didn't stop, and ammo/mana did.
"!!!!!"
"!!!!!"
A front-line Liberation Army got sucked into the horde. They switched tactics: unharmed women burst out front, kicked forward as bait.
'Bait.'
-Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Zombies lunged at them.
-Bang!
-Rat-tat!
"!!!!!!!"
"Aaaaagh!"
Dying women's screams. While zombies fixated, Liberation Army slipped out a side door.
-Kieeeek!
They took losses too. Zombies weren't blind.
-Kwaaagh!
Rear guard bitten.
-Bang!
Gunshots as a few got swarmed.
-Zzzt!
Lightning man and survivors fled—about ten. They blocked the narrow alley with trash cans and junk, then ran.
Opposite end had zombies too, but they were pros: heads low, noise-makers drawing eyes, silent moves.
'Remnants didn't touch their smarts.'
They knew zombie habits, like I did. No wonder they toyed with people from Southdong.
'And those roads look man-made.'
Probably carved Liberation Army paths.
Right then.
-Bang!
Last shots from bait squad.
"!!!!!!"
Two rearguards swarmed, survivors slipping away. I narrowed my eyes, watching.
Like Jeong Suhyun and me at Rocket Mart: using planters, lighting cars to lure zombies. Clear route, purposeful moves.
'Weird.'
Something off. City roads—even careful, zombies should've swarmed harder.
'At least alleys blocked, main roads avoided.'
Zombies ignoring them? No. Sensing less?
'Ability.'
Someone blurring perception—human or zombie.
'...Bae Sungkwan held out on a few things.'
Makes sense. Never trust Liberation Army.
I watched them head toward Southdong Office.
Southdong Community Center. From the 15th floor before, upper floors looked collapsed—unusable. But lower seemed functional.
"!!!!!!"
"!!!!!!"
Liberation Army inside gestured them in.
'New faces.'
Multiple bases. B-Point: Southdong Office.
'A-Point's the mart.'
Points marked bases for emergencies. F-Point Northdong Station meant C, D, E existed.
'Northdong Station for resupplying people... and extra bases.'
Benefit Mart defended well but poorly located. Smart ones wouldn't pin on one spot.
'Clear local zombies, seize Southdong—much easier.'
Northdong folk just obstacles.
-Tsk.
I clicked my tongue, shifting thoughts. Zombie numbers made full Southdong sweep tough. But with base positions, habits, mystery ability—paths between bases doable. Shuttled goods, people.
'Like that.'
Local density manageable. Couldn't hold whole district, but bases? Yes.
-Rat-tat-tat!
"!!!!!!"
"!!!!!!"
Gunfire from Southdong Office. Makeshift barricades and main gate as shields, picking off zombies, signaling lightning man's group.
-Bang!
'Ammo galore.'
Military vehicles suggested army defectors. Reservist ammo wouldn't burn like that.
-Rat-tat-tat-tat.
Geography and brains let Southdong group link with lightning man's.
"!!!!!!"
"!!!!!!"
Someone barked orders amid shouts. Snappy Liberation Army moves.
'Got it.'
They sealed the area fast. Desks and chairs barricading front. 1st/2nd floor fire thinned zombies hammering the gate.
Gun noise drew more, but firepower whittled them down.
This way, they'd clear zombies, claim Southdong Office fresh.
Of course.
"Ice Shield."
I had no plans to let that slide.
Perception skill tempted, but know when to cut losses. Mana at 39. Left 14 emergency, floated five Ice Shields overhead.
And.
-KABOOM!
Slammed them into Southdong Office and barricade.
Collapsing building. Crumbling barricade.
-Rumble-rumble.
-Crack!
"!!!!!!"
"!!!!!!"
-Kieeeek!
-Br-r-r-r-r!
Zombies swarming office, wounded/dying Liberation Army.
-Rat-tat-tat!
-Boom!
-Rat-tat-tat-tat!
-Aaaagh!
I leaned against the rooftop wall, listening to the din and screams.
'Lightning guy's toast.'
They'd handle themselves. Ice Shields collapsing the building with thunderous roar? Zombies inbound any second.
'Next up...'
Recover mana here, mop remnants? Or bail?
'Can't scout every base.'
Smashing main ones enough. Northdong Station F-Point confirmed C/D/E, but mana too low to check all.
'Gotta come back anyway.'
Mana at 14—stay one-two hours, retreat best.
'Hoo.'
I sighed, slumping against the wall. Two hours, then Frost Blink out.
'Ten blinks.'
Then.
...A faint burnt smell wafted from somewhere.
'...?'
-!!!!!!
Foul air and roar closing in. I stood blankly.
'Holy shit.'
Far off: massive flames, black smoke blotting sky. Obvious fire, visible miles away.
'......'
I clocked it instantly. Benefit Mart. The mart with my ten Ice Shields embedded, engulfed in fire.
Blaze surged from the huge structure.
-Rumble!
Building crumbling. Massive collapse, debris raining.
'No.'
-!!!!!!
Fire devouring Benefit Mart—twice Rocket Mart's size—grew fiercer.
Heat and noise palpable even here.
'Fucked.'
I Frost Blinked to the tallest nearby building.