Express Bus No. 2 (3)
Of course, Go Cheon-su hadn't expected Heukgu to join in and fight in perfect sync with him.
"Driver! When I jump out, honk in five seconds!"
"Jump out? What do you—"
"No time to explain! Open the door now!"
Kraaaah!
Park Chang-sik hurriedly reopened the rear door, and one Gray Wolf charged in fast.
"Didn't you see how your friends died?"
Crunch!
Go Cheon-su smashed the axe's blade into the Gray Wolf's head before it could even fully enter through the door.
Kraaaah!
The Gray Wolf clawed at the doorframe. Go Cheon-su hammered its skull once more, then chopped off its arm to send it tumbling away.
"Guess you didn't."
The Gray Wolf rolled across the ground, away from the bus.
"Thanks, bro!"
But earlier, the bus had been going too fast for proper defense here. One slip, and he'd get dragged out, injured badly, or swarmed.
"Speed's dropped a ton, huh."
Park Chang-sik had slowed way down—the steering wasn't responding right anymore.
The remaining two Gray Wolves raced toward the rear door.
"Their learning curve sucks."
But no room for complacency. The moment the Gray Wolves lunged for the door, Go Cheon-su leaped out.
Krah?
The wolves skidded to a startled halt.
Thud-crash!
Go Cheon-su hit the ground wrong and tumbled forward several rolls.
"Urgh!"
Go Cheon-su sprang up, axe raised high.
"But I've got the rear secured now, bros...!"
Simple tactic, that's why.
Bwaaang!
Kraaaah!
The Gray Wolves whipped their heads forward at the long blare of the horn.
'Here it comes!'
Go Cheon-su charged, slamming his axe into the nape of Wolf No. 1.
Kraaaah!
Startled, No. 1 spun around.
Crunch!
Go Cheon-su swung again, caving in its jaw.
"Next."
As No. 1 staggered sideways, Go Cheon-su stepped forward—then No. 2 moved.
Kyeng!
But No. 2 yelped and froze before it could target him.
Grrrrrr.
Heukgu had bitten its hind leg—just like before.
"Where you going?"
Go Cheon-su smashed his axe into No. 2's turned muzzle.
Crunch!
Another blow. As No. 2 reared up in panic, claws slashing, Heukgu yanked harder on its leg.
No. 2 flinched—and Go Cheon-su brought the axe down fiercely again.
Kwajik!
No. 2 crumpled to the ground.
Crack! Kwajik! Kwaak!
Go Cheon-su chopped it like kindling, then finished off the twitching No. 1 for good measure.
"Whew."
Go Cheon-su drew a deep breath and turned to Heukgu.
"What the hell are you, anyway."
He'd said they'd team up, but he hadn't relied on Heukgu. No telling if a first-time partner would follow orders.
But Heukgu had helped on his own.
"Jaw strength like that, too."
Heukgu panted up at him, Gray Wolf blood staining its muzzle.
Go Cheon-su glanced at the chat.
"Bros, is this guy an item or what?"
Just a dog, sure—but useful.
"At least he seems willing to follow me, right?"
Go Cheon-su looked back at Heukgu, who drooled innocently, tongue lolling.
"Nah, probably not that."
"This is good enough."
Go Cheon-su turned. The bus had stopped.
Not to pick him up.
"Messed up on the debris, huh..."
The rear wheels were wrecked—the whole chassis sagged, rims shattered, axle bent. Cracked from the ride, now totaled.
"Driver?"
He climbed in through the open door. Park Chang-sik sighed and turned.
"I'm fine. You?"
"Good."
Go Cheon-su hefted the axe. Park let out a dry laugh.
"You're something else. How do you fight monsters like that?"
"Beats me. But no time to stand around."
Not all Gray Wolves were dead. The scarred one was missing—likely more of the original pack nearby.
"Let's go. We'll walk from here."
"Walk...?"
"Yeah. How far to Daejeon Complex Terminal now?"
Park groaned. "Few minutes that way, maybe."
"Got it."
Go Cheon-su stepped out again.
"Then let's hustle. Dangerous lingering here."
"W-wait. Didn't you kill 'em all?"
Go Cheon-su shook his head. Park stood, startled, and followed.
"Gotta move fast then. Can't have 'em chasing again."
"Sure. But we stick together till we see soldiers?"
"Huh? Not coming with?"
Blending in as civilians was an option, but Go Cheon-su wasn't risking it.
'Can't lose this axe.'
Forced disarmament for "safety" would suck.
"Shop."
"Damn."
Merchants popped up randomly—better hold some Zen. Supply boxes would appear soon, but he'd open them carefully.
Awooooo!
Go Cheon-su waved far off.
"Heukgu! Let's go!"
Time to hurry.
Daejeon Complex Terminal.
Soldiers swarmed the main gate overlooking the boulevard, barricades up.
"Hurry it up!"
"Bus leaves soon!"
"Move through procedures fast!"
New arrivals lined up long. Soldiers rushed checks for anomalies before clearing them.
"Us first!"
"We got here before!"
"Patient here...!"
Chaos from the crowd. Controlling soldiers grumbled among themselves.
"How long we gotta do this?"
"Yeah."
"Sort team needs more time."
Terminal garrison split into teams. These were 1st Guard Platoon, holding the entrance.
"No more coming, right?"
"Think we got enough. Scout units won't bring more."
Radio draws had swelled numbers. Sort team filtered them to buses as needed.
"Useless ones probably don't even know what's coming."
"Yeah."
"Meat shields just gotta clear the road to Cheongju Airport."
Then—uproar on the boulevard.
"H-help! Please!"
Someone ran their way. Platoon raised rifles, heads turning.
"What the—"
A middle-aged man in bus driver uniform.
"Help! Monsters behind...!"
Platoon glanced back. Wolf-like monsters chased him.
"Fuckin' pain."
They scowled, raising muzzles. Annoying with departure imminent—but civilians watched. Image first.
Bang!
Platoon leader's order—guns barked.
Bang-bang! Tat-tat-tat-tat!
Single shots mixed with bursts hit the monsters.
Kyeng! Kyaeng!
Beasts only—overwhelmed by 20 rifles, all shot and down.
"Clear."
Leader signaled; rifles lowered. A few dragged the man over.
"Th-thank you. You saved me...!"
"Alone?"
Man nodded. "Yes! Just me!"
"...Right."
Leader signaled again; soldiers took him to the buses.
"Hm."
Leader checked the corpses with others. All dead but one.
Grrrowl.
The scarred one. Leader bit his lip, raised his loaded rifle, fired quick.
Bang!
Bullet in the forehead. Life signs flatlined.
"Report."
Radio op grabbed his set. "H1, H1. This is S1..."
Leader eyed the bodies.
What the hell?
Something off. These moved fast—threat if platoon hadn't drilled.
But he came alone...?
Maybe fresh encounter, but felt wrong.
"Sir? Something up?"
A puzzled soldier. Leader shook his head.
"Nah. Just weird."
"Weird how...?"
"That guy outrunning these to here..."
Soldier shrugged. "Bus driver outfit, right? Probably hid nearby till now."
"Maybe."
Plausible. Leader shelved it, returned to post.
"Noisy even with departure time."
Then—a soldier appeared, black eyepatch over left eye. Leader saluted sharp.
"Sir! Company commander, sir!"
"...?"
The commander adjusted his scar-hiding patch, voice icy. "Platoon leader. Forgot no salutes in combat?"
"I-I... uh..."
"Used to push it 'cause I liked 'em."
Commander fixed him with his one good eye.
"Don't now. Unless you wanna expose I'm brass and get me killed."
"Y-yes, sir."
Just one rank up, but battle scars everywhere commanded more. Soldiers gulped.
"Heard from boarding platoon. Heading to Cheongju Airport soon. Prep your men."
"Yes, sir."
"You know the unit to Yeongdeungpo went dark."
Commander gripped his shoulder hard.
"Daejeon Station guys want us teaming up—fat chance. We're earning the division commander's nod."
"..."
"Platoon leader. You know you're my most trusted."
No answer. Commander murmured low.
"Lead 1st Platoon right—to Cheongju Airport."