Allied Forces (2)
The refugees settled safely into their temporary residences, and the Balhut Cult's resettlement support program kicked into gear for them. From here on, they'd receive guidance on living within Balhut Cult territory, along with job placements, all in a secure spot where they could reclaim some peace.
"Refugees are all safe. Confirmed they're getting the support program too. Let's head back to Ulsan."
"Yes. Then I'll join you."
Once she'd seen the refugee support in motion, Jin A-yeon headed back to Ulsan with Son Sang-hee. They'd held off returning straight to the frontline in Ulsan to ensure the safety of those who'd fled all the way to Gyeongju, but the Balhut Cult had shown genuine intent to settle them securely. Now they could return to Ulsan Airport with peace of mind.
Son Sang-hee, Jeong Dong-gun's adjutant, tagged along to fight by her commander's side. They piled into a vehicle she drove, bound for Ulsan.
"They're doing construction around here."
"Yes. The Immortal Cult might've buried bodies in fields or woods for sabotage, so we're digging up every key intersection spot, checking one by one."
On the road back, soldiers shoveled farmland or tore it open with tractors, excavating corpses hidden inside. In the freezing cold—temps dipping below zero, blizzard whipping around—it was heartbreaking just to watch them hack at the iron-hard ground with picks.
Worst job imaginable for the troops, but they had no choice. Without it, those buried bodies could rise as undead, threatening nearby villages or outposts. Even in this brutal chill, soldiers ventured out for snow clearance and soil checks.
They'd gripe to the sky, "Garbage just keeps falling from heaven!" But the heavens stayed indifferent, dumping more snow.
"Can't Turn Undead handle it?"
"Doesn't work on plain buried corpses—they're not zombies. But if they're already undead when buried, magic hits them. Yu-na herself cast Turn Undead over high-risk spots before excavation started."
Jin A-yeon mentioned the spell out of pity, but it was a no-go. Turn Undead only worked on actual undead, not fresh meat. At least the preemptive casts meant no undead surprises mid-dig—Choi Yu-na had blanketed danger zones and headed back.
"So... the High Priestess stepped up herself...? Don't know much about military stuff, but doesn't that mean the troops couldn't delay?"
"Pretty much."
"High Priestess has no clue how people tick."
Might've made it even more hellish. With the Balhut Cult's High Priestess braving the subzero herself, casting Turn Undead for max safety, how could grunts lounge in warm outposts? Even after she left, Balhut Cult soldiers wept blood, grabbing shovels, tractors, and snowplows to dive right in. By the time Jin A-yeon hit Ulsan, half the work was probably done.
Still, with the second refugee wave outbound to Gyeongju soon, finishing fast would ease things ahead.
"Keep at it, soldier uncles!"
"We're still in our prime twenties!"
"Garbage keeps pouring from the sky! Ahahaha! We're doomed! The world's ending... wait, it already did!"
Jin A-yeon cracked her window, cheering diggers in the fields, but got back prime-of-life gripes and sky-trash wails.
Hmm, fair enough—even awakeners would bleed tears shoveling in this gale.
"Must suck."
"They're using heavy equipment, so a day or two tops. Just key routes—makes the rest easier."
Small mercy: tractors and plows in play. With those, snow and digs could wrap quick, back to outpost naps.
"Oil ain't cheap."
"It is. But they value awakener health and lives more."
"Hmm. Makes sense. In this era where vehicle fuel's gold..."
Heavy gear cost oil, scarce in the apocalypse. Korea's stockpiles dwindled; machines guzzled what little remained. Manpower saved fuel, but Balhut Cult prioritized awakeners over thrift.
"Ah, we trade with the US—get Texas crude."
"You got a fuel hookup?"
"Yes."
"Damn, competent."
US ties meant ample fuel for tractors and plows. Without it, awakener-first or not, troops would've shoveled eternally in tears. Jin A-yeon eyed Son Sang-hee in awe—her rough life far from modern comforts made Balhut Cult's civvy perks hit home.
"You're back. Heard about the refugee ambush."
"How's it here? You good? Looks rough."
Chitchat done, they reached Ulsan Airport. There stood Han Seong-geun, escorting refugees. Jin A-yeon asked what went down.
His voice darkened. "Not good. Soon as they saw us bugging out of Ulsan, Immortal Cult dropped the mask."
"Yeah, knew that. Undead hid in the refugees, hit us sneaky."
Ambush scars littered roads. Casualties among civilians? Wails echoed from makeshift outposts. Cult medics and cleric-healers worked, but too many wounded, too few hands.
"Fight broke out nearby?"
"Yeah. Skeletons swarmed here just now, but usually we clash at Ulsan Bridge. We've barricaded key spots, but skeletons just slow down—don't stop."
"Can't reinforce barricades with more allied troops?"
Serious battle. Son Sang-hee asked about extra garrisoning at hotspots, per Han Seong-geun's report of skeletons reaching the airport.
"Main force's here guarding refugees and prep. Could pull from here for hotspots, but..."
"That'd break the alliance."
Balhut Cult needed refugees to grow; Ulsan Airport put kin first. Ditch them? Alliance crumbles. Only choice: pack the airport with allies for safety. They were cornered.
"They know refugees are our soft spot. Hitting here so boldly? Don't care if they live anymore."
"Dropping the act? What? Too sudden. Played normie org fine, then bam?"
"No idea. Declared no war—just attacked when they learned we teamed with Balhut Cult. Scared neutrals into joining us."
Immortal Cult exploited it: hammered key routes to the airport, threatened the base to block reinforcements. Smart, but civilians couldn't fight back.
"All that work wasted. Don't they care?"
"Dunno. Got neutral support fast, at least."
Pre-Balhut, Immortal Cult faked civility—no zombies under their thumb. Neutrals griped quietly. This assault flipped them all to Ulsan Airport en masse.
"Commander Jeong?"
"Leading elites to rescue isolated camps and refugees. Most wounded here are from those runs."
Neutrals siding? Allies welcomed them. Necromancers fielded zombie hordes; numbers favored the enemy. But many neutrals couldn't reach solo—roads blocked by fights.
"Non-isolated camps make it fine. Isolated ones fight hard. We rescue, gain more support."
"You're proxy-commanding for the boss here?"
"Yes. Commander left me in charge. I trust his skills fully—managing this place."
Non-isolated came easy; isolated were pinned. Rescue for support: Jeong Dong-gun's elite vanguard dispatched.
Left command vacant, but Han Seong-geun filled it.
"Officially named me proxy, of course."
"Had to."
Han Seong-geun, Ulsan resistance vet with citizen backing, could sub for Jeong Dong-gun. Cult troops obeyed Jeong unquestioned; his backing let Han steer them.
"Rest is simple. While Uncle Jeong saves neutrals, we hold here. That it?"
"Yeah. Ulsan's top awakener A-yeon's here—solid."
"Damn right. Holding till the end."
Plan clear: defend Ulsan Airport till Jeong Dong-gun returned with survivors. Fighting? Jin A-yeon's wheelhouse. She gripped her spear, flashing a razor grin, ready.
"I'll rally the troops then. Orders, Acting Commander Han Seong-geun?"
"Yes. Let's defend this place with our lives."
Son Sang-hee acknowledged Han as temp commander to hold till Jeong's return. Buoyed by the two awakeners, he swore to guard it fiercely.