Migration
"...Four inside that big building, three next to it."
"Are they staying put?"
"Yes, about 3—no, 40 meters away. Looks like they're inside houses."
"Confirmed. Ignore them."
I lowered my hand. The people, who had paused briefly, resumed moving in sync with me. I'd given them the signal before we set out. Simple: raise hand to stop, lower it to go.
Tap, tap. The quiet streets of the Our Love Church affluent neighborhood. I'd always walked this path alone before, but now countless people followed behind me.
'Gotta pass through fast.'
There were three trouble spots on the migration route. First, the back alley behind Our Love Church affluent area. Second, around Northdong Station. Last, the stretch from Southdong Station to Gaeseong High School.
Personally, I figured the first one wasn't worth worrying about. No one would bother us while we were moving, and the only ones around here were survivors or the fleeing black folks anyway.
But contrary to expectations, trouble hit in the back alley.
"Hold up."
Lee Yoon stopped me mid-stride. I scowled and asked him,
"...What is it?"
"Six coming this way fast. Looks like they're running."
"Direction?"
"North. From behind that alley over there."
Alleyway. I turned my gaze. The spot Lee Yoon pointed to was a narrow path between mixed-use complexes. I thought quickly as I looked at him.
'Can't afford to get bogged down here. Need to reach Gaeseong High in under two hours.'
The longer we dragged, the higher the chance of problems. Hell, even that hour of arguing earlier felt like a waste.
Ice Shield
Crack, crunch. That's why I sealed off the alley temporarily. There were other ways around, but this would buy time.
I told Lee Yoon,
"Ignore and push on. Vice Chief, keep reporting if they show."
"Got it."
Honestly, eliminating them would have been smarter. They could threaten our base members no matter the reason. But since they were probably just black folks, not Liberation Army, I took a defensive stance.
'If they had guns, I'd attack without hesitation.'
No gunfire at the church so far meant no guns. Plus, there was another reason not to fight.
'Could draw zombies.'
Better to hustle into the old city center. We kept moving. But not even 10 minutes later.
"Junyoung, it's those guys from before. They're still tailing us."
Lee Yoon's detection pinged again as we neared the old city center entrance. I grimaced. Hand raised to halt everyone, I sprinted back.
The base members stopped. I headed to the rear, spotting Jeong Suhyun scanning all around.
"Junyoung?"
"Jeong Suhyun, swap with Lee Yoon up front. Keep moving as planned, but halt if anything shows at the old city center."
"Got it."
Jeong Suhyun bolted forward. Lee Yoon swapped in simultaneously.
"Lee Yoon, where are they?"
"There, beyond that wall. Closing distance steadily. Under 20 meters now."
Lee Yoon pointed past the fence to the path we'd just cleared.
"Roger."
Frost Blink
I blinked instantly. Spotting figures, I hurled an Ice Spear.
Ice Spear
Boom!
"Gaaahhh!"
Two men tumbled to the ground. Darkness threw off my aim—that was the mistake.
"!!!!!!!!"
No idea what they thought they'd gain chasing us. The men tried to form up. Or tried to.
Ice Shield
Crack, crunch.
Thud!
If not for the Ice Shield I summoned right above the alley.
!!!!!!!
Men writhing beyond the translucent ice. I approached the shield and inspected them closely.
'Bingo.'
Black folks, alright. Looked like they had a detector too. That's how they tracked us and tripped Lee Yoon's sense.
'Doesn't matter.'
I blinked back to our group fast.
'One, two, three.'
Numbers checked out. Always count headcounts. Spotting a disappearance at night takes forever otherwise.
I swapped back with Jeong Suhyun right away. Raising my hand to Lee Yoon beside me, I said,
"Let's go."
We entered the old city center.
"Lee Yoon."
"Yes."
"Stick right behind me. Jeong Suhyun, cover the rear."
"Understood."
Old city center was uneventful, as expected. Blood Clump Zombies ignored me like always. I'd worried Jeong Suhyun and Jeong Dojin at the back might get hit, but false alarm.
"Ugh, the smell."
"Hold it."
Northdong Station reeked. Lee Yoon wrinkled his nose briefly, then reported,
"Clear inside."
"Sure?"
"Yes. Nothing within 100 meters via waves. Tested with a cat—nothing."
"Confirmed. Jeong Suhyun, hold position."
"Yes."
Lee Yoon and I dashed in to execute the plan. Couldn't leave Jeong Suhyun solo long—had to be quick.
"Jeong Dojin!"
"Yes!"
Jeong Dojin hoisted the cart and moved inside.
Clank. Cart caught on stairs. But no spill or tumble.
"Grab the front!"
"Okay. Chief Choi!"
"Got it!"
Kim Jungshik's group swiftly unloaded and strapped goods to their backs.
I confirmed him and headed deeper.
"Jeong Suhyun."
"Yes, nothing."
"Everyone, short break. One minute."
I'd counted heads meanwhile. Fourteen. Plus faces and skills verified one-by-one with Jeong Suhyun.
"Checks out."
"Yes, confirmed. Moving out."
Rumble. Inside the station, Jeong Dojin pulled the cart. Easier than lifting, even with his strength enhancement.
"...Uncle Gapsu."
"That bastard Jung-hyuk... damn."
"Killed even the babies..."
Kim Jungshik's group spotting Northdong Station corpses and darkening—that was another matter.
"Heave-ho."
We crossed the platform again.
"Hoo..."
"Air's shit."
Finally, into the subway tunnel toward Southdong Station.
"Three abreast."
Here, I bunched them up. Narrow alleys back at Our Love Church affluent area needed spread formation, but no point spreading in tunnels.
Drip. Water echoed.
"...Clear?"
"Yes."
We reached Southdong Station after tens of minutes. Blood stench, corpses. Lee Yoon and I stepped out quick, scanning Dongseong Market and Gaeseong High School vicinity.
Lee Yoon pointed at Dongseong Market.
"...Dozens there."
Dozens. Definitely zombies. He pointed down the path I'd carried Yoon Mina before.
"This way... not many."
"How many exactly?"
Numbers mattered. Zombies or humans, I had limits.
"Just under ten. But can't make out what they are."
"Fine. Just pinpoint exactly. They're stationary?"
"Yes."
Lee Yoon scribbled a rough map and positions on paper. I Frost Blinked to spots within 100m he'd marked.
Frost Blink
Second-floor rooftop. Plenty high. Streetlights glinting off heads smashing into them.
'Zombies.'
Not human. Makes sense—no Liberation Army wandering solo near Southdong Station at night, zombies still roaming, no matter their skills.
'But not certain.'
I squinted, scanning positions. Any Liberation Army remnants?
...All zombies. I blinked back to the group.
Frost Blink
"Wh-what was it?"
Lee Yoon, peeking from Southdong Station, asked.
"Zombies. Tell everyone to come out."
"Ah, yes."
Soon after, all out. I went to Jeong Suhyun, recounted together. Kim Yunjin, Jeong Dojin, Choi Yuri. Twelve, thirteen.
...Thirteen?
"Junyoung."
"Yeah."
I scowled immediately. Checked Kim Jungshik and Lee Yoon first—most critical. Lee Yoon anxious, Kim Jungshik stoic, both fine.
Women next—easy. All four accounted for.
Men then... As I scanned their faces and names,
Pat pat pat.
"Huff. Pant. Sorry."
Kim Inho emerged from inside, breathless.
"M-my, my stomach hurt."
"......"
I ignored him, glanced at Jeong Suhyun. His eyes reddened. He whispered,
"Checks out. Kim Inho. Weapon Summon skill, class Weapon Summoner."
Verified. I sighed, nodded.
"Yeah, back to position."
"S-sorry."
Glasses guy Kim Inho bowed, scurried off. Bathroom, huh.
'Not trivial.'
I wove through the men, saw Kim Jungshik chew him out, then turned.
'Variables...'
Zombies aren't variables. Worst case, Ice Shield them noise-free.
'Two.'
Remaining: Liberation Army, possible other survivors. And zombie waves I might miss.
"Move fast. Jeong Suhyun."
"Yes."
"If enemies chase from rear, blast 'em. I'll magic right away."
"Got it."
Former unlikely—doubted Liberation Army had better detection than Lee Yoon. And.
'Even if, I kill first.'
If Lee Yoon pinged en route to Gaeseong High, I'd collapse buildings.
"Let's go."
We stepped toward Gaeseong High.
Tap.
Tap.
Dark streets. Only our footsteps.
"Two ahead."
"Yes."
Few zombies: Frost Blink, silent kill. Blink, smash skull with pickaxe. Worked for up to two quick.
"Four behind alley."
Tap.
"Detour."
I raised hand, veered side street. Four-plus meant noise risk—no need to engage. Aggro on non-combatants would be disaster.
"Two up ahead."
Lee Yoon's detection spot-on. Under 100m to Gaeseong High now.
Frost Blink
I blinked, killed zombies fast.
Splat.
Splatter!
Zombie blood soaked me. Blinked back to position. Had to avoid luring Dongseong Market zombies.
'No issues.'
How far we'd gone?
"Anyone inside?"
We'd reached Gaeseong High School gate. Wide-open main entrance. But here's where it got tricky. Liberation Army inside? I'd have to clear again.
But.
"None in main building."
Lee Yoon said clear. I moved to our group's rear quick.
"Jeong Suhyun."
"Yes."
He reddened eyes without prompting, scanned Gaeseong High.
"Nothing visible."
I nodded. As I returned to Lee Yoon,
"...Junyoung."
"Yeah?"
Lee Yoon spoke again.
"There, on that 3rd-floor rooftop toward Dongseong Market—two presences."
"Two?"
"Yes."
"Not zombies?"
"Could be, but stationary. No slight movements."
I scowled. Figures there'd be some.
"I'll check quick. Everyone..."
I narrowed eyes, eyed safe zone.
"Wait behind the guard post."
Then Frost Blinked to a 4th-floor vantage overlooking the spot.
What I saw: one Liberation Army standing watch outside, one sitting.
I summoned Ice Spear fast.
Ice Spear
Boom!
Splatter!
One Liberation Army ducking—spear shreds face. Other mid-move—spear guts him.
I turned to confirm. Or tried to.
'Wait.'
Something off. I pondered the unease.
'What?'
Our group: fine way off. Mana: 40 left. Half gone, but enough.
'Remnants? Ruin Remnants?'
Checked for misses—nothing. But chest tight, like I'd overlooked something crucial.
'Kim Jungshik. No. Jeong Suhyun. No.'
Recited base members' names, classes. Nothing snagged.
'What?'
Not imagination. If I felt it, problem existed.
'...Liberation Army?'
I approached the corpses slowly. Thought.
'Remnants fled. Lee Yoon's skill.'
No issue. He detected two—these two. Fits Liberation Army base.
'Bases A to F. Minus Northdong Station, three confirmed. Plus here, four. No problem.'
Not manpower or base issue. Then...
'Wait.'
Then I pinpointed the unease. Location.
'How'd these get up here?'
3rd-floor rooftop. Over Dongseong Market.
Frost Blink
I blinked there.
Grrr. Zombies below. Now clustered around my Ice Spears.
'Ability?'
Fled here? No. Ability then? But needed stealth like Bae Sungkwan's.
'...Check.'
Torso remnants. I neared the chunks.
'This...'
Chills rose. Familiar name on his chest.
Clink.
I knew this name well. Man with limbs shredded by Ice Spear. Peeled the name tag from his mangled torso.
[Jo Jeongmin]
This guy.
'Sergeant, right?'
Definitely the one Ice Speared on the 3rd floor earlier.
'...How's he alive?'