Express Bus No. 2 (2)
"Ah."
"No freaking way."
"You shouldn't be telling us now of all times!"
It was unexpected. The moment he mentioned having a broadcast manager, the viewers erupted in a frenzy.
"What's up with that, folks?"
It felt like they'd hoped he wouldn't say the word at all.
"It's not like it's some big deal, right?"
If he had die-hard fans, it was only natural he'd have a broadcast manager too. He'd just stated the obvious, but Go Cheon-su couldn't figure out why they were reacting like this.
"Ah."
Then Go Cheon-su let out a hollow chuckle.
"You guys aren't scared that I'm the one getting the power, are you?"
A broadcast manager was, position-wise, on the streamer's side. To some viewers, they might be a bit annoying.
"The power that this Go Cheon-su is about to get... that's what you're afraid of, huh."
Go Cheon-su waggled his eyebrows teasingly at the viewers, then waved it off.
"C'mon, folks. What're you even worried about?"
No viewer had crossed the line yet. Having a manager didn't mean anyone was getting filtered right away.
"What, you think I'd do something to you guys?"
The viewers were Go Cheon-su's allies. The best setup was one where they all had fun and helped each other out—mutual benefit all the way.
No real talks had even happened yet, but they were already making a huge fuss. Go Cheon-su cut straight to the chase without waiting longer.
"Alright then. Anyone wanna explain this broadcast manager thing? Like, what qualifies someone as a die-hard fan...?"
Screeech!
That was when it happened. The bus lurched violently, sending Go Cheon-su tumbling sideways.
"Guh?"
Flat on the floor, Go Cheon-su rolled every which way with the bus's wild movements.
Thud! Go Cheon-su grabbed a pole hard and steadied himself, whipping his head forward.
"Driver! What the hell?!"
"Wolves on the left!"
Roooaaar!
In an instant, a Gray Wolf hurtled into view through the window.
Crash!
The Gray Wolf slammed into the window.
"Damn...!"
Shards of broken glass flew at Go Cheon-su.
Go Cheon-su dodged the shards and assessed the situation again. Thanks to the bus's speed, it had glanced off—thankfully, the Gray Wolf hadn't broken through.
Staring at the spiderwebbed cracks in the window, Go Cheon-su got back to his feet.
"Driver! How many are on us?!"
"Dunno! Like two?"
Go Cheon-su pressed against the window and peered out urgently.
"One, two..."
And then a third one spotted. Total of three.
"Chasing us from behind...?"
But no sign of the scarred one.
Chasing without their leader? That was weird.
'They all stopped when the leader went down.'
As Go Cheon-su puzzled over it, the bus pulled away from the Gray Wolves.
"They stopping? You're flooring it!"
Go Cheon-su swallowed a groan at the driver's shout.
'Not chasing...?'
These weren't slowpokes. They'd charged aggressively just moments ago.
As unease crept in, Go Cheon-su spotted a Gray Wolf throwing its head back and sighed.
"It's an ambush...!"
Awooooo!
Howling. Go Cheon-su realized there were way more than a couple.
"Driver! Get us outta here now!"
"What? But we got stops...!"
"If we die here, you ain't picking up jack shit anyway!"
Go Cheon-su yelled urgently.
"There's more than we thought! We gotta go!"
If they'd wandered into Gray Wolf territory, they needed to bail fast.
Awooooo!
Another Gray Wolf appeared ahead, howling.
"Shit!"
Go Cheon-su quickly checked his bag. Only two cans left.
Roooaaar!
A Gray Wolf charged straight at the front.
Crash!
Park Chang-sik yanked the wheel, and the Gray Wolf clipped the window frame.
"Hang on tight!"
He bounced it off and gunned the bus.
"Like you said, we'll try to shake 'em here first!"
Vroooom!
The bus revved hard. But a big rig like this had limits against nimble monsters.
Wooo!
Already several had latched on. Quick count: six total, three per side.
Crash! Smash!
And like they'd coordinated, the Gray Wolves started slamming into the bus.
Viewers shouted warnings, but Go Cheon-su could only grimace.
'What to do?'
If Gray Wolves poured in at once, the tight space would make it hell to fight.
'Escape...'
No aggro pulled yet. They were laser-focused on the bus, so he could bait them and bail.
'No.'
If more swarmed after, they'd be screwed. No easy ride replacement either.
Thud!
"Damn it!"
The bus rocked hard as Park Chang-sik yelled.
"Something hit the tire!"
Skreeeech!
Something was wrong. Tire shredded on debris? The bus was wobbling bad.
If it flipped now, game over.
Go Cheon-su glanced at Heukgu. The dog looked up with bright, sparkling eyes.
"Shit."
That wouldn't help. These smart Gray Wolves wouldn't scatter over one dog.
"If they won't back off... then we'll make the stage here."
"Driver!"
Go Cheon-su bellowed.
"Open the back door!"
"Wh-what're you talking about?!"
Park Chang-sik gaped in disbelief.
"Open the door and those things'll swarm in! You wanna die?!"
"You stay put!"
Go Cheon-su stretched.
"I ain't planning on dying!"
Still, Park Chang-sik didn't budge. It was a request that made zero sense.
"Driver! Open it!"
"B-but if I do...!"
"If we keep going like this and the bus stops, we're surrounded—no way out! Gotta open and lure 'em! Close it after one gets in!"
Finally getting it, Park Chang-sik's mouth fell open.
"Y-you mean...! But there's no way you can handle those things...!"
As he hesitated, Go Cheon-su dashed to the front and yanked the back door lever.
"I said open."
"W-wait...!"
Roooaaar!
Door open, Gray Wolves swarmed toward it.
"What're you doing?!"
"Just wait!"
If he wouldn't trust, he'd have to show. Go Cheon-su bellowed at the back door.
"C'mon, you bastards! Let's dance!"
Aggro 1 - 09:59
One Gray Wolf locked eyes and charged the back door.
Thud!
Go Cheon-su yanked the lever, slamming it shut.
Plan worked—one in.
"Gaaah!"
Park Chang-sik screamed.
Roooaaar!
The Gray Wolf roared at Go Cheon-su.
"Would've been better if it got stuck in the door..."
Infrared sensors would've popped it open again. Had to trap and fight one-on-one.
Roooaaar!
"Got it! Bro's grabbing the axe now—"
Then it lunged.
Snap!
Gray Wolf went straight for the bite. Go Cheon-su swung the axe sideways to match.
Crunch!
Hit. Axe bit deep into the Gray Wolf's cheek.
Yelp!
It screeched and crashed between seats.
"Ngh!"
But Go Cheon-su lost balance too, tumbling back from recoil.
"Damn!"
He pushed up and closed in, swinging the axe again.
Crunch! Thwack! Crack!
The Gray Wolf took hit after hit without even screaming.
"Who the hell! Told you! To jump in here!"
10. Wham!
Axe buried deep in its skull as the count maxed.
Severed. Head flew clean off.
"When I say go, we go, folks."
Gray Wolves were flexible and fast—prime ring material. Corner 'em and pound relentlessly.
"Trapping it between seats? All calculated."
Go Cheon-su held up the axe with a smug grin.
Yeah. Time to pick off the rest one by one.
"Driver! What're you waiting for?!"
"Uh, yeah?"
"Open the door again!"
Go Cheon-su barked, scowling.
"Hurry!"
"R-right...!"
Demonstration over. Park Chang-sik pulled the lever, opening the back.
Roooaaar! Growl!
This time, two charged almost together.
Aggro 3 - 08:21
"Ah, damn it."
Lurch!
Bad timing. Park Chang-sik shut the door with both aboard.
Impossible. They lunged together right away.
"Damn...!"
Go Cheon-su swung wildly.
Clang!
First one's jaw got smashed, but the second was still up.
Roooaaar!
Second leaped for his throat. Go Cheon-su dodged on reflex; it slid toward Park Chang-sik, crashing at the front steps.
"G-gaaah!"
Park Chang-sik screamed at the wolf inches away.
Screeech!
Panicking, he cranked the wheel—bus rocked wildly inside.
Bam!
Go Cheon-su slammed into a seat.
"Urk!"
No time for pain. First wolf charged again.
Crunch!
Axe cleaved its neck. It spewed blood and dropped dead.
"One down...!"
Go Cheon-su rushed the other.
"You're next!"
As he raised the axe high on the crawling Gray Wolf—
Stuck!
Axe caught on a seat handle from the wide swing.
"What?"
Roooaaar!
Gray Wolf lunged for his throat.
Crack!
Falling back, Go Cheon-su kicked its jaw—throat safe for now.
Roooaaar!
But down was bad. As it attacked again—
Chomp!
Chewing sounds; Gray Wolf twisted.
Yelp yelp!
"Wha...?"
Heukgu. Biting and yanking its hind leg.
"Nice one!"
Go Cheon-su freed the axe and slammed it into the flailing wolf's maw.
Crunch!
"No free rides! Biting paying customers!"
Splorch!
Axe split its forehead.
Thud.
Go Cheon-su slumped into a seat, watching it fall.
"Whew. Close call."
"Y-you okay?"
Park Chang-sik gripped the wheel steady now.
"Yeah, barely."
"Incredible. How do you fight like that?"
"I'm always training, y'know."
True enough. No handouts meant even Gray Wolves—unlike regular wolves—were doable.
That said...
Go Cheon-su glanced aside. Heukgu licked its chops, staring back.
"You're the real deal."
Beyond smart—brave enough to back up its feeder. Without that, Go Cheon-su might've been hurt bad.
Heukgu had saved the day.
"Driver, if more latch on, let 'em in one at a time."
"Again?"
"Yeah, don't sweat it. These wolf-lookalikes ain't that clever."
Go Cheon-su eyed Heukgu.
"And you—you're teaming up with me on this one."