Free Riders Are Not Welcome (3)
-Whoa, what the hell.
-They're everywhere here too.
-Eh, I figured as much.
Go Cheon-su couldn't help but frown at the people scattered across the stopped escalator.
"This is..."
"Oh man, what a mess."
Park Chang-sik, spotting the same scene, hesitated and let out a sigh.
"There are people here too. What the hell happened?"
"Yeah, no kidding."
Go Cheon-su let out a sigh. He'd figured there might be passengers somewhere, but he hadn't expected to keep stumbling on them like this.
"Brothers, just tell me if these folks are in a dangerous state."
If they were gonna run into more of this ahead, he needed to gauge the threat level.
Not everything, but it was a solid clue all the same.
"Thanks, brothers."
Go Cheon-su headed straight up the escalator.
"H-Hey!"
Park Chang-sik yelped in surprise from behind, but Go Cheon-su ignored him.
He just stepped right over the people on the escalator and climbed up.
"Driver, follow me."
There was no way around it—they weren't gonna reach the top without stepping up. Feet were the most efficient.
"B-But..."
"No time to dawdle, driver."
Go Cheon-su gestured at the hesitant Park Chang-sik.
"Hurry up."
"Uh, okay."
Park Chang-sik seemed torn, but another red zombie howl echoed nearby, and he bolted into motion.
"This feels so wrong."
Go Cheon-su muttered low as Park Chang-sik staggered up, stepping over people.
"Just pretend you laid down a mattress."
Stepping on people wasn't easy, but when you had to, you did.
"Brothers, chill out."
Go Cheon-su reached the top and cautiously scanned around.
Nothing yet.
Whatever monster turned people into this, he still couldn't guess its type.
"Hm."
He nudged one of the bodies—no reaction. Just heavy, ragged breathing.
Are they sleeping?
Veins bulging, sure, but stable. Not mutating. Like they were just out cold.
"Whew. Feels goddamn awful."
Park Chang-sik crested the top, grimacing and sighing. He avoided Heukgu's gaze—the dog had trailed slowly behind like a guard—and spoke to Go Cheon-su.
"You're something else, kid. Saw it last time too, but you're fearless. Got some training or what?"
"Training?"
Go Cheon-su shook his head with a sigh.
"Don't even ask. It was rough."
"Knew it. You're no ordinary guy."
"Yeah. Not ordinary."
Unlike the viewers treating it like a joke, Park Chang-sik took it straight, so Go Cheon-su skipped the truth and headed toward another staircase leading up.
"Ssp."
More bodies sprawled there too.
All of them like this?
Not just stairs—people littered everywhere now. Go Cheon-su swallowed dryly.
If this is all there is, no big deal...
If they stayed down like this without turning zombie, they weren't a threat to him. More bodies actually meant fewer active zombies.
Crunch.
A sound cut the quiet. Go Cheon-su signaled Park Chang-sik to stay silent and peered toward it.
That's...
One zombie. And it wasn't just standing there.
Crunch.
It was eating something.
"Ah."
Go Cheon-su realized what and rushed in, swinging his axe.
Crack!
The zombie's head caved under the axe and flopped limp. Go Cheon-su yanked the blade free and kicked the corpse aside.
Underneath? Another person.
The meal had bulging veins too. Clearly caught unconscious like the rest.
"Hm."
He waited—no new zombie rose. Still just ragged breaths. Not dead yet either.
"Brothers, even if bitten, they stay like this?"
Damn scary stuff.
"Then you gotta tell me more, right?"
If losing consciousness was game over, knowing the enemy mattered.
Best he could wheedle out for now. Go Cheon-su glanced back.
"Driver, we're good to move."
Park Chang-sik, who'd frozen in place, sighed faintly and approached.
"Something? Dangerous?"
"Nah, nothing like that."
Go Cheon-su answered flatly, scanning around.
Just keep going like this?
Smooth sailing so far.
"All good, so let's keep—"
That wasn't the plan.
Aggro 1 - 09:59
He spotted the lit skill window late and whipped his head around.
SKREEEEE!
A piercing shriek slammed into his ears.
Red zombie. Charging with a roar.
"Driver! Stairs—run!"
Go Cheon-su waved him first. But Park Chang-sik didn't bolt without him.
"Can't keep owing you!"
Park Chang-sik stepped forward and jammed his metal rod straight into the red zombie's face.
Crunch!
The rod speared its mouth. But Park got shoved back instead.
"Gah!"
Ignoring the rod, the zombie barreled on. Park lost his grip and tumbled aside.
SKREEEEE!
It ignored him and lunged at Go Cheon-su.
"Tch."
Go Cheon-su clicked his tongue at the red zombie.
"Finishes the first target first, huh."
Fine. Fight started? End it.
He eyed the rod jammed in its mouth.
"Hey."
Go Cheon-su dashed to the wall, spun, and raised his axe.
"Never heard 'don't run with candy in your mouth'?"
Crack!
The charging zombie halted short of him.
Gurk?
The rod hit the wall first—couldn't advance.
"See?"
Go Cheon-su eyed the splintering rod lodged deeper, walked up casually, and swung.
"Told you not to run!"
Splorch!
Axe bit lightly into its head.
SKREEEEE!
Not enough. Go Cheon-su dodged its swipe and swung again.
Crack!
Under the eye this time.
SKREEE!
"Still?"
No insta-kill. Expected.
"Yeah, you'd tank that."
Crunch-crunch!
The zombie shoved; the rod against the wall cracked wildly.
"How 'bout here?"
Thwack!
Jaw and neck. Deeper bite.
"There we go."
Go Cheon-su pulled back and swung again.
Crack!
Neck mangled, but it'd take more chops.
Grrr!
Heukgu finally jumped in, snagging a pant leg. The zombie staggered, twisting.
Whoosh.
Its head turned; the freed rod grazed Go Cheon-su's hair.
SKREEEEE!
Back of its neck exposed.
"Hup!"
Go Cheon-su stepped heavy and buried the axe deep in its nape.
Splurch!
Different feel. The zombie spasmed and froze.
Splatter!
Axe out—zombie crumpled like paper.
"Ch-Cheon-su!"
Park Chang-sik rushed over, checking him.
"Y-You okay?"
"Yeah, fine."
Go Cheon-su sighed, eyeing the corpse.
Close call.
This axe cut better than normal, but it tanked hits. Thought it'd take 10 stacks, but spotting the weak point early was lucky.
Woof.
Heukgu trotted up with a quiet bark.
"What."
Go Cheon-su chuckled down at him.
"Want praise?"
He crouched, petting Heukgu's head.
"Good boy. But you jumped in kinda late?"
"Who's ditching who, brothers."
Heukgu was smart. Wouldn't let it get to abandonment.
That's why he helps like that.
Secures safety first, then clutch moments. Hell of a tactician.
"Driver, next time I say run for stairs, just go. I got reasons."
"Huh? Oh, uh, got it."
To the guy looking cowed, Go Cheon-su added,
"It's fine. Appreciate you stepping up."
Few would in that spot.
WOOF!
Sudden bark from Heukgu.
"What? Something else?"
Heukgu bolted up the stairs.
"...A person!"
Go Cheon-su's eyes widened; he urged Park Chang-sik.
"Driver, hurry!"
"R-Right!"
They raced up.
"There!"
Go Cheon-su pointed at vanishing Heukgu and sprinted.
A person! A live...
Scanning wildly, what caught his eye wasn't human.
SKREEEEE! SKREEEEE! SKREEEEE!
"Ah?"
Three red zombies charging from different directions.
No time for words. Go Cheon-su sized it up, dropped low, and rolled forward.
Crack!
The three slammed into each other.
But they weren't gone. Tough as nails unless nape-shot, they shook it off and roared.
"Cheon-su! Watch your eyes!"
Park Chang-sik grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher and charged.
SHHHH!
Fast work—pin out, nozzle triggered, white powder blasted.
SKREEEEE!
Zombies shrieked, faces coated.
Park sprayed wildly, hurled the empty can far, and hauled Go Cheon-su up.
"Go, go!"
Powder haze swirled like smoke. Go Cheon-su coughed, arm over mouth, and moved with Park.
Woof!
Heukgu waited ahead like a guide.
That...
A door hung oddly open. "Authorized Personnel Only" sign.
Woof woof!
Heukgu circled frantically, urging them—when a young woman in crew uniform emerged from inside.