1000%
"One more."
A single phrase that silenced everyone. And as a new zombie targeted Go Cheon-su, the aggro reading shattered records.
Aggro 90 - 00:30
1000%
It was possible precisely because of the chaos. Go Cheon-su started sprinting like a madman, ramping up his speed.
His destination was, naturally, the train racing along the rails.
Bwaaaaaang!
As if mocking him, the locomotive blared its horn loudly.
"You goddamn...!"
Time was ticking away relentlessly. The engine was picking up speed in response.
Go Cheon-su bashed through the obstructing zombies with his gun and charged forward.
Kraaaaa!
"Get out of my way!"
Kwachik!
The strength at 1000% was utterly terrifying. The clown-masked zombie crumpled comically and tumbled aside.
Thwack! Pow!
More reliable than bullets. Zombies fell like autumn leaves before the gun Go Cheon-su swung.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Yet the threats persisted. Zombies leaped from all directions, stretching out hands to claw at him even slightly.
"All of you, fuck off!"
Go Cheon-su rejected the onslaught of desperate grasps and finally reached the rail's edge.
Clang-clang. Clang-clang.
The ground's vibrations transmitted straight to him.
"Kuhk."
His body, overly enhanced, felt even those tremors intensely. Go Cheon-su gritted his teeth to maintain balance, breathing in rhythm with the beats.
Tap-tap-tap-tap.
His leg nerves steadied. But the rail's side was gravel. He nearly twisted his ankle multiple times, forced to scream.
"Fuck, stop!"
His body hadn't adapted. The engine seemed just a bit farther, that subtle gap refusing to close.
Aggro 90 - 00:20
Time slipped away mercilessly.
"I said stop!"
Viewers piled on in agreement.
Ditch her?
Go Cheon-su swallowed dryly.
Yeah. That was the surest way. Losing balance was largely because he wasn't alone. Ditching Jang Seo-yeon would let him board for sure.
"Brothers."
Reading the harsh chats, Go Cheon-su smiled.
"Weren't you all talking like we were parting ways forever?"
At least Jang Seo-yeon had given her all to survive together. Better than most viewers just typing from comfy seats.
"Jang Seo-yeon."
Aggro 90 - 00:10
Countdown begins. Go Cheon-su adjusted his grip on Jang Seo-yeon like launching a projectile.
"Hold on tight, even if it hurts."
"Huh?"
As Jang Seo-yeon voiced confusion, Go Cheon-su hurled her with all his might.
"Uwah!"
Suddenly airborne, Jang Seo-yeon slammed into the locomotive's rear.
"Kek?"
She reflexively reached out on impact, but her body slipped through a large gap below the railing.
"Ah!"
Tak!
Her hand belatedly grabbed a railing pillar, leaving her dangling from the engine. A precarious moment—she'd plummet to the rails soon.
"Hold on tight!"
That's when Go Cheon-su tossed his gun, flailed his arms wildly, and accelerated insanely.
Aggro 90 - 00:05
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Aggro 90 - 00:04
"Goddamn Yang Min-cheol!"
Aggro 90 - 00:03
Three seconds left.
Tak.
He reached it. Go Cheon-su grabbed the railing and vaulted up instantly.
"Jang Seo-yeon!"
2.
"Got you!"
1.
Go Cheon-su hauled up Jang Seo-yeon, who clung to the pillar.
0.
Buzzer-beater.
"Haa."
Go Cheon-su slumped against the rear wall of the engine, exhausted.
"We made it."
Gazing at the zombies chasing the engine's tail, he gasped for the breath he'd held. As the Aggro skill reactivated and numbers climbed again, he spotted crawlers in the distance howling.
Basking in viewer praise, Go Cheon-su raised a weary thumbs-up with a drained expression.
"Told you, brothers—I ain't dying."
Saving Jang Seo-yeon was a bonus.
As Go Cheon-su let out a hollow chuckle at the return of *lick*, Jang Seo-yeon stood and shuffled toward the side passage.
He meant to call her for thanks, but froze.
"Wait...!"
Boarding the engine wasn't the end. One issue remained unsolved.
Go Cheon-su hurried after her.
"Go Cheon-su..."
Jang Seo-yeon, ahead, spoke in a trembling voice.
"Look in front."
Go Cheon-su peered past her head at the engine room door.
"That...!"
The window was smeared with blood.
Go Cheon-su gritted his teeth. If true, he'd owe Yang Min-cheol an apology.
"I'll check first."
Jang Seo-yeon advanced slowly, peering cautiously through the door.
"Ugh...!"
She grimaced. Unable to contain curiosity, Go Cheon-su joined and looked inside.
"Fuck."
Zombie corpses were visible. Probably poured in at the worst timing when Yang Min-cheol opened the door.
"Huh?"
Spotting something, Go Cheon-su grabbed the handle. Jang Seo-yeon startled, clutching his shoulder.
"Going in?"
"We gotta eventually to stop the train later."
Aggro had pulled at least 10 from zombies and crawlers as the skill reignited. Better to handle any inside now.
One more reason, though.
"And look there."
Go Cheon-su pointed; Jang Seo-yeon gaped.
"That's...!"
Yang Min-cheol. Blood-soaked, hard to recognize, but definitely him.
"Yeah, Yang Min-cheol. I need to check inside."
Dead or infected, confirmation would ease his mind. Go Cheon-su had Jang Seo-yeon step back.
"Hold this."
He reached for the gun strapped to her. No hesitation now—she handed it over.
"Hoo."
Go Cheon-su exhaled deeply and opened the engine room door.
"Urk."
Blood stench assaulted him. Turning, he saw about three zombie corpses, heads smashed—clearly dealt with.
"Yang Min-cheol..."
Only Yang Min-cheol left.
Go Cheon-su frowned at the radical suggestion.
Go Cheon-su sighed, prodding Yang Min-cheol with the gun. No reaction.
Can't tell if wounded.
Covered in blood—his own or from zombies? Unconsciousness was the issue. No way to check awareness left doubts.
Logical. Couldn't wait forever if he didn't wake.
"Yang Min-cheol."
Go Cheon-su tapped his shoulder with the gun.
"Hear me?"
No response.
Driving me nuts.
Then Jang Seo-yeon entered.
"What, not waking?"
Go Cheon-su nodded.
"Yeah, seems knocked out."
"Ha."
"If bitten, he might be turning."
Go Cheon-su scanned around, asking her,
"Got any rope or string?"
"To tie him?"
"Yeah. Safest bet."
"Nope."
Jang Seo-yeon shook her head.
"I'd have said if I did."
No choice. Go Cheon-su raised the gun high.
"If turning, he'll wake soon."
Even a sudden lunge was fine. Record Accumulation boosted his base stats from 1 to nearly 1.9x, plus active Aggro.
"I'll handle him the second he stirs."
He'd planned to take him to Daejeon together. Was it too much for a high schooler? Guilt weighed heavy.
"Kuh, euk."
A groan from Yang Min-cheol's lips. Go Cheon-su gripped the gun tight.
"Yang Min-cheol!"
He shouted,
"That you?!"
"Kuhk..."
Yang Min-cheol twitched without answering.
"Damn."
Go Cheon-su grimaced.
"Wish we'd stuck together longer."
As Yang Min-cheol twisted his arm up, Go Cheon-su clenched his teeth. Eyes opening would decide everything.
"Kek."
Then, Yang Min-cheol slung his arm behind his head.
"It hurts..."
Click.
Go Cheon-su lowered the gun. He grabbed Yang Min-cheol's head and lifted it.
"Hyung?"
Yang Min-cheol's half-lidded eyes stared blankly at him.
"You...!"
Confirming his face, Go Cheon-su sighed in relief.
"Not bitten?"
"No. At the end, I had 'em but slipped and just hit my head..."
Grab.
Go Cheon-su pulled him into a shoulder hug.
"Thank god."
Really thought he was gone.
Startled by the chat, Go Cheon-su inspected Yang Min-cheol closely.
"H-Hyung?"
Yang Min-cheol yelped as Go Cheon-su poked around.
Confirming no wounds, Go Cheon-su hugged his shoulder again.
"Seriously, relief."
Confirming safety let pure joy flow—a good thing. Go Cheon-su smiled with a sigh, standing.
"Can you get up?"
"Yeah, feeling better now."
Go Cheon-su offered a hand; Yang Min-cheol took it, rising slowly.
"Whew, thought you were dead, kid."
Jang Seo-yeon chimed in belatedly. Yang Min-cheol grinned sheepishly, then blinked as something hit him.
"Huh? But how'd you two board?"
The engine hadn't stopped mid-fight with zombies—crushed underfoot, just honked a few times.
"Long story."
As Go Cheon-su summarized, Jang Seo-yeon gulped.
"Ah! Speaking of, Go Cheon-su, you!"
She grabbed his face, turning it.
"How are you that strong?"
"What do you mean?"
"You threw me!"
Phrase ripe for misunderstanding.
"Wait, hyung? Threw you?"
"Yeah! And that's not all!"
Jang Seo-yeon yelled excitedly.
"Carried me running! Caught the moving train on foot!"
"For real?"
Yang Min-cheol stared incredulously at Go Cheon-su.
He shrugged.
"When death's knocking, superhuman strength kicks in. Surprised me too."
"Right? Crises unlock hidden potential. So cool."
Go Cheon-su smiled at her sparkling eyes.
"Anyway, later. Clear the corpses first—they stink."
That's when.
Tzzzzzzt.
Static burst from the nearby radio handset.