Thugs (6)
Crack!
Go Cheon-su's axe slammed into Joo Sang-jin's arm.
"Gaaahhh!"
"Apologize."
"Ughhh!"
Ignoring Joo Sang-jin's screams, Go Cheon-su barked at him.
"Apologize for what you did."
"You crazy bastard…!"
"Apologize."
Go Cheon-su was unrelenting.
"I said apologize."
The viewers' hot reactions lit up the chat, and Go Cheon-su raised his axe once more.
"Apologize."
"W-Wait…."
Joo Sang-jin raised a trembling hand. Already battered from repeated axe blows, he'd lost all will to fight.
"I-I'm sorry. Stop."
"Can't hear you."
"I said I'm sorry…!"
Desperate to survive, Joo Sang-jin screamed it out.
"I'm sorry! Happy now…? Just stop!"
"Nope."
Go Cheon-su grabbed Joo Sang-jin by the hair.
"Grahk!"
"Not to me. To them."
The victims were Oh Young-jun and Yang Min-cheol. Go Cheon-su twisted Joo Sang-jin's head toward them.
"And apologies aren't done like that…."
Crack!
"Like this."
Slam! Slam!
Go Cheon-su yanked Joo Sang-jin's head up and down, smashing it into the ground over and over.
"Guh? W-Wai…."
Joo Sang-jin couldn't finish. Go Cheon-su didn't hesitate or pause, relentlessly pounding his head like a piledriver.
Joo Sang-jin flailed his arms weakly in resistance at first, but soon went limp.
"Go Cheon-su."
Jang Seo-yeon approached after finishing off the other gang members.
"Go Cheon-su, that's enough."
Splat!
"Enough!"
Only when she grabbed his arm did Go Cheon-su flinch and stop. Joo Sang-jin lay there like a bloody ragdoll.
"Hoo."
Go Cheon-su exhaled deeply and turned. Yang Min-cheol and Kim Ha-ryeong were checking on Oh Young-jun.
"…Cheon-su!"
At Kim Ha-ryeong's shout, Go Cheon-su hurried over. Oh Young-jun's wound was severe.
"Ngh."
Bright red blood poured from the knife slash. That alone would've been manageable, but dark purplish veins snaked up his neck.
Go Cheon-su glanced at the severed arm. Lifting his shirt revealed the infection spreading from the stump.
"Cheon-su, the infection's accelerating."
Amputating had slowed it initially, but it had already spread systemically somewhat. The new injury weakened his immunity, worsening things fast.
"Urgh, damn it."
Oh Young-jun groaned, looking up at Go Cheon-su.
"S-Sorry."
He had nothing to apologize for. Joo Sang-jin was the fuck-up.
Go Cheon-su scratched his head lightly. The experiment failed, but options were limited now.
'At least I know injuries affect infection speed.'
But he hadn't cut off the arm just for that.
Go Cheon-su asked Oh Young-jun, "Did you find Black Tattoo's base?"
"The… location…."
Wincing in pain, Oh Young-jun propped himself up.
"Yes, I reported it."
"Can you tell us?"
Time was short; he needed intel at least.
Seeing Go Cheon-su's cold expression, Oh Young-jun swallowed dryly.
"No helping it, huh."
"I'd help if I could, but there's nothing more. All I can do is…."
Go Cheon-su trailed off, and Oh Young-jun shook his head.
"No need. I get it. You don't have to say more."
He gritted his teeth and stood. Jang Seo-yeon, Yang Min-cheol, and Kim Ha-ryeong reached out, but he shook his head firmly, refusing help.
"I'm fine. I can still move."
Go Cheon-su's eyes widened.
Before losing his mind, he'd be stronger than a normal person. The chest wound sped it up, but severing the initial site slowed progression—for now.
"I'll guide you there myself. I can manage that much."
Resolved to lead them to the culprits before turning, Oh Young-jun steeled his face.
"…Alright."
Even fueled by rage, this calm was impressive. Not your average extra, Go Cheon-su thought, then addressed the group.
"Time's short. Let's move fast."
He gripped Yang Min-cheol's shoulder.
"You ready? Time to settle grudges."
"Yeah, hyung."
Yang Min-cheol glanced at the fallen Joo Sang-jin, voice firm.
"Let's crush 'em together."
Black Tattoo's hideout wasn't far.
"Hah, huff."
Oh Young-jun led them, breathing ragged for a different reason now.
"Almost… there."
"You sure you're okay?" Jang Seo-yeon asked beside him. He nodded weakly.
Kim Ha-ryeong murmured, "He's about to turn. It's natural."
"Hey."
Jang Seo-yeon scowled and sighed. Meanwhile, Go Cheon-su and Yang Min-cheol spotted two trucks ahead and exchanged looks.
"All there, looks like."
A reefer truck and a cargo van. Go Cheon-su ducked into an alley, signaling the group.
"Listen up. Eleven left max."
They'd taken out three and six earlier.
"Eleven—we could rush 'em head-on. But prep a bit. Let's see how the boss reacts first."
Unknown variables meant someone needed to bait and test responses.
Go Cheon-su eyed Oh Young-jun. Understanding dawned; he sighed and spoke.
"I'll do it."
"Think you can?"
Go Cheon-su had been waiting. Oh Young-jun nodded.
"Promise me. Smash those fuckers flat."
"Promise."
He'd proven his chops. Believing it, Oh Young-jun stepped out slowly.
"Alright, let's go."
Go Cheon-su led the rest via back alleys, aiming for stealthy approach.
"Come out, you bastards!"
Oh Young-jun's shout pulled eyes. Baiting perfectly.
"Hyung, boss is Goo Yong-hyeon. Red-dyed hair—probably still is."
Yang Min-cheol provided ID. Go Cheon-su gripped his axe tight, halting to peek out.
"Come on out!"
Oh Young-jun yelled right in front of the trucks. Black Tattoo thugs blocked him.
"What's this one-armed freak?"
They muttered in confusion, then recoiled in shock.
"Wait, he's infected?"
"What? Infected?"
"For real! Look at him!"
Chaos erupted. A man stepped forward from the back.
"Why the racket?"
Red-haired, filthy-looking. Goo Yong-hyeon shoved through, glaring at Oh Young-jun.
"Who the hell're you?"
Goo Yong-hyeon scowled, displeased by his mere presence.
"Who else…?."
But Oh Young-jun loathed him too—a walking nuke to kill.
"Here to kill you…."
Goo Yong-hyeon glanced at his thugs, barely-suppressed amusement on his face.
"Huh? What'd you say?"
He burst out laughing.
"Come to kill me?"
His snicker spread; thugs mocked Oh Young-jun.
"Kill the boss like that?"
"Worry about your own ass first."
"Even the gutless cripple crawled out."
Laughter filled the air. Utter humiliation, but Oh Young-jun stood calm.
"…Hah."
That killed Goo Yong-hyeon's mirth.
"The fuck?"
Glaring steadily, Oh Young-jun made him raise a brow.
"Hourglass bitch wants to die quick?"
Their stares locked fiercely. Thug laughter faded. Silence fell.
'I'll remember you, Oh Young-jun.'
Go Cheon-su clenched his fist, watching.
Whether vengeance or zombification, no anxiety showed on Oh Young-jun's face.
Go Cheon-su chuckled dryly at chat, signaling the group: get ready.
'Fine. Weapons same as before.'
Nothing special compared to prior thugs. Oh Young-jun drew all eyes, letting close inspection.
Just time the assault now.
"Fuck this. I'll handle him myself."
Goo Yong-hyeon snapped, arm extended. A thug handed him a sharpened steel pipe.
"Just finished the car with all parts scavenged. Now this loser's ruining the vibe?"
They'd found intact parts beyond those Go Cheon-su saw—valuable, but not now.
"You're dead today."
As the pipe hit Goo Yong-hyeon's hand, Go Cheon-su signaled.
They crept up silently, swiftly.
"Raaahhh!"
Oh Young-jun roared again, drawing eyes. Goo Yong-hyeon startled, hesitating.
"What the—gone mad?"
"Grahk!"
A thug flew from Jang Seo-yeon's pipe swing. Goo Yong-hyeon whipped around.
"Wh-What?!"
Ignoring his shock, Go Cheon-su's crew dove in.
"Guh?"
"Agh!"
Jang Seo-yeon and paired Yang Min-cheol swung pipes wildly, stunning foes.
"Arghh! My eyes!"
Under cover, Kim Ha-ryeong darted with her dagger, precise strikes to eyes and philtrums.
"A-Ambush!"
"Protect the boss!"
Too late. Thugs yelled alarms in vain.
Crack! Crunch!
Go Cheon-su led, axing hands so they couldn't wield weapons again. Screams everywhere.
Goo Yong-hyeon, mid-kill on Oh Young-jun, gaped blankly.
"What…? The fuck?!"
He froze spotting Yang Min-cheol.
"Yang Min-cheol?"
"You?"
Go Cheon-su approached.
"The punk who messed with our Min-cheol?"