Pohang (1)
Pohang! The vital industrial city that bore the weight of Korea's manufacturing, famously known as the city of steel. It was a place Bahamut had openly named to Yu-na, chosen for its geographical advantages and the potential to fill the many gaps in the Balhut Cult's capabilities.
Why Pohang, of all places? To explain that, one first had to understand the geography around Gyeongju, where the Balhut Cult had taken root.
"To the west of Gyeongju lies Gyeongsan, leading to Daegu. North is Pohang. South is Ulsan, and beyond that lies Busan."
"Lord Bahamut declared Pohang as our first point of expansion from Gyeongju."
Westward through Gyeongsan to Daegu. North to Pohang. South to Ulsan, then Busan. Gyeongju's eastern flank was a massive mountain range and reservoir—a natural barrier that blocked advances but served as a perfect defensive line. Thus, threats came from the west, south, and north: hordes of zombies. Bahamut had insisted they push north to Pohang first.
Hearing this, Yu-na gathered the Balhut Cult's executives and convened a council meeting.
"It's a sound strategy. Pohang has long been strong in fisheries. Above all, it houses the world's largest steelworks at POSCO. The city also has industrial complexes tied to steel production, which could greatly aid the cult's weapon manufacturing."
"I see no issues with it."
The executives were largely favorable toward advancing on Pohang. Surviving the apocalypse on Gyeongju alone was daunting at best; naturally, they needed to build the cult's strength, and Pohang offered most of what they required. Using its steel industry and factories, they could forge powerful weapons against the zombies. Its port and fisheries would ensure steady food supplies. So Lee Hyun-ah, who handled the cult's economy, nodded in approval, while her sister Lee Su-ah offered a passive agreement, deeming the gains far outweighed the risks.
"Come to think of it, pre-apocalypse news mentioned heavy industry plants entering Pohang, with mechanical sectors gaining ground alongside steel. Even some labs and factories for electronics, minor as they are."
Hwang Geun-chul added that recent developments included heavy industry, electronics labs, and factories. Pohang likely held dormant Korean technological advancements; seizing it could yield cutting-edge knowledge.
"Like it or not, Pohang has propped up Korea's industry. Reclaiming it from the zombies is a sacred duty for the cult—early or late, it must be done."
"We must show all across the peninsula that Korea endures."
"Yes. Our people in other cities—cultists and kin alike—need that confidence to fight and win!"
Beyond tech, there was symbolism. Park Cheol-gon built on Hwang Geun-chul's words, arguing that liberating Pohang, Korea's steel backbone since 1973, offered not just material gains but a banner of hope: the world hadn't ended, the peninsula hadn't fallen.
If that sparks resistance—passive or active—in cities across the land, it's a win for us.
We can't face every zombie on the peninsula alone.
That reckless hope could rally scattered fighters, blunting zombie momentum and easing the cult's burden. Politicians Park Cheol-gon and Hwang Geun-chul championed the advance for its political fruits; as the cult's influence grew, so would their power as founding executives.
"Securing the sea opens links to Japan or America. Trade via ocean routes isn't a bad idea."
Above all, the sea enabled foreign ties. Japan was ravaged, but tales of reclaimed cities echoed the cult's own. America reeled nationwide, yet its government endured. Physical sea links promised gains—or at least trade in goods and tech, Seo Un-jae mused simply.
"I agree it's promising. But the issue is we haven't even produced our first-generation awakeners yet."
"Liberating other cities is inevitable for the Balhut Cult."
"Can we take Pohang with just Gyeongju's strength? Its population was double ours—meaning twice the zombies, at least."
Jeong Dong-gun, commanding the military, judged Pohang beyond their current forces. The idea was good, but without first-gen awakeners, why rush? Pohang's double population meant double the undead.
"Above all, can our army reclaim a city from zombies without Lord Bahamut's aid? That's unproven."
"Hmm."
Without Bahamut, could they drive out Pohang's zombies on their own? Jeong Dong-gun's realism darkened the executives' faces.
"Our deployable forces are about 500, right?"
"Yes. Including scouts and vanguard, 550 at most."
"One fatal mistake wipes them out, and Gyeongju falls."
They'd weighed the prizes but balked at the how. Could 500 awakeners conquer Pohang? In unfamiliar terrain—a true expedition, unlike North Gyeongju—the horde loomed too large. The executives looked troubled.
Of course, all worries dissolved with one line from Yu-na.
"If it's a fight against zombies, Lord Bahamut will join us."
Against zombies—not humans—Bahamut had no reason to hesitate. With Yu-na securing his participation,
"I approve."
"Approved."
"Approved."
"Obviously for."
"No one opposes."
"Yep! Unanimous approval!"
Bahamut's involvement flipped the script. Their sudden pivot was shameless, but inevitable—his descent was near-cheating. Like in Gyeongju, Yu-na could lure the zombies into a single cataclysmic strike. Lingering remnants? The cult could handle those.
"...With Lord Bahamut joining, Pohang is ours. But it's odd, given his temperament. I figured he'd wait until North Gyeongju stabilized and our first-gen awakeners emerged."
With victory assured, the mood lightened. Pohang's worth was acknowledged; debate shifted to Bahamut's motives. Why now?
"The situation has changed. The Lord has something specific in mind."
"What might that be?"
Yu-na revealed Bahamut's true aim. The executives tensed, eyes on her.
"Variant zombies."
"...Variants are foes even seasoned awakeners struggle against. But with Bahamut Bullets, they're no threat to the Balhut Cult anymore."
Variants were formidable. Before the cult, they'd crushed survivor camps. Now, Choi's ironworks produced Bahamut Bullets for easy kills—but in the old days, they were apocalyptic terrors. Outside Gyeongju, they still turned survivors and even awakeners into more undead horrors.
"Yes, we know. With bullets bearing his power, variants fall. But... what if something stronger appears? Would Bahamut Bullets work?"
"Stronger foes are possible."
Yu-na spoke of zombies beyond variants. Fear and doubt rippled across the executives' faces.
"That's..."
"Not impossible."
Jeong Dong-gun affirmed it for the skeptics. Simply put,
"Bahamut's grace purged all zombies from Gyeongju. Other cities? Survivors remain inside, fodder for variants to evolve."
The cult hadn't seen worse because Bahamut cleared Gyeongju.
"Like our awakeners, variants grow by devouring human flesh. We swept them before they could, but elsewhere, they're ripening. And those cities lack the power to stop them."
Other cities got no such mercy. Variants lurked, potentially mutating into something deadlier—perhaps immune even to the cult's new weapons.
"Terrifying to imagine."
Only the veteran Seo Un-jae voiced it amid the silence. Now they understood: Bahamut eyed Pohang to preempt that nightmare.