54. Meeting (3)
As Jeong Dong-gun had said, reclaiming the industrial complex required only the twelve-man reconnaissance team under his command. The moment the meeting ended, he and his heavily armed subordinates headed straight for the complex, where they encountered hordes of zombies.
"Fire Bahamut Bullets."
"Understood."
The zombies they met were cleared out with lavish volleys of Bahamut Bullets for the sake of the meeting. Pouring everything except the flame rounds that could damage the surroundings into overwhelming firepower, they began seizing the area section by section.
"Kieeeek!"
"Looks like that's the boss around here?"
"It's got prisoners. Let's take it out quick."
In the midst of the assault, they discovered a massive mutant spider zombie—presumed to be the queen ruling the industrial complex's center.
"Unload on it without mercy."
"Aye aye, sir!"
"Kieeeek!?"
Just like before, they overwhelmed it with Bahamut Bullets. Thanks to the generous expenditure of ammo, Jeong Dong-gun and his team exterminated what they assumed was the queen spider at the heart of the complex without even getting a good look at its face. Mopping up the remnants afterward was a breeze.
"Form squads of four. Sweep the stragglers immediately."
"Yes, sir."
The mutant spider zombies, thrown into chaos without their queen, fell to divide-and-conquer tactics in seconds. They methodically searched the industrial complex, as if it were routine.
Son Sang-hee sensed a hint of madness in their relentless extermination, as if they meant to eradicate every last zombie inside.
"D-Do we really need to be this thorough?"
"Miss one, and it could mutate into a bigger problem later. Better to wipe them all out now while we can."
"Ah."
But it was born of experience. Letting even one zombie slip could lead to a mutant rebirth, far harder to handle. So scouring the complex obsessively now, rooting out every hidden zombie, was the easiest path.
"Still, this isn't a residential area—it's an industrial zone. Not many wandering or hiding zombies."
"Yeah. Fewer than expected. Probably just the mutant spiders making it dangerous."
"Likely."
Even after such a thorough search, the zombies were sparse. They'd only run into mutant spider zombies en route; regular ones were scarce. Jeong Dong-gun figured the industrial zone's scale meant fewer zombies than a residential area would, and Son Sang-hee agreed.
And then...
"Captain. We've secured the cocoons."
"...Understood."
At the report of securing the prisoners supposedly captured by the mutant spider zombies, Jeong Dong-gun's expression hardened as he headed to the location.
Dozens of cocoons hung from the ceiling in a circular formation—evidence that the mutants had snared dozens of survivors. They writhed faintly, as if life stirred within.
"Prepare Bahamut Bullets, just in case."
"Understood."
"...Hmph!"
Anticipating trouble, Jeong Dong-gun ordered his men to ready Bahamut Bullets. Son Sang-hee and the soldiers stared grimly at the hanging cocoons.
What had become of those inside? Why capture people? Curiosity mingled with a growing dread.
"Damn it."
Jeong Dong-gun sliced a cocoon from the ceiling with his knife, caught the falling mass, and split it open. Inside was a human mutating into a mutant spider zombie. Whether it had been a zombie originally or turned inside the cocoon was unclear.
Realizing the spiders' goal wasn't food but breeding, Jeong Dong-gun cursed and moved to the next cocoon.
"Urgh!"
This one held a woman. She hadn't mutated into a spider yet, retaining human form—but calling her "safe" was impossible. Her belly bulged like a pregnancy, and at the sight, Son Sang-hee fought back nausea, grasping what lurked inside.
"Pregnant?"
"Grotesque."
Pregnancy or eggs laid in her womb? Either way, her abdomen swelled unnaturally. Jeong Dong-gun pondered if she was alive or dead.
She hadn't turned zombie yet, so she might still be human. But...
"All we can do is pray whatever's in there doesn't hatch right now."
"Indeed."
If it did hatch, the eggs might be manageable, but the mother? No clue how to handle her.
"Kill anything fully zombified. Transport the rest to the outpost. We've got Bahamut's teleport—process the cocoons fast."
"Understood."
Either way, Jeong Dong-gun's options were clear: execute the mutating zombies, save the non-mutated humans. It was the field commander's utmost compromise—cold calculus refusing to sacrifice subordinates for unknown strangers.
With no tech to reverse zombification, preventing new mutants and victims was the rational choice. His troops obeyed without question, smashing cocoons, killing mutants, and rescuing survivors.
"Not a pleasant job."
"No helping it."
Heads understood, but hearts ached. Son Sang-hee consoled him: unavoidable.
"Ah, Ms. Son. Take some photos of us and the site."
"Pardon?"
"We reclaimed the industrial complex as promised. Need proof for the meeting."
"Right. Yes."
Conditions met, rewards due. Jeong Dong-gun asked Son Sang-hee to snap pics with her smartphone.
"Alright. Time to head back?"
The meeting awaited verification. Clearing the complex, they gathered survivors, signaled Bahamut for teleport, and returned to the outpost.
"Pull every transport vehicle we have—now! Emergency patients!"
"Yes, sir!"
They loaded the non-mutated into emergency vehicles and rushed to Gyeongju University Hospital. Yu-na could heal, but her magic risked stimulating the eggs, so surgical expertise was safer.
"Grotesque."
Showing the captives to Director Han Jun-woo, he recoiled at the sight. X-rays upon arrival confirmed it.
"All spider eggs?"
"Yeah. Scans show the wombs packed with unhatched ones."
As suspected.
"What now?"
"Surgical removal. Those are mutant spider eggs—leave 'em, and who knows what they do to the mother."
Han insisted on physical extraction, warning of risks to the host.
"Figures."
"How tough are these mutant spider zombies?"
"Twice as strong as regulars. Weird acid that melts asphalt."
One issue, though.
"...Could use a few awakeners from Gyeongju. Not ready to die yet."
No guarantee against mid-surgery hatching. Han half-jokingly requested escorts.
"For the op?"
"Yeah. We're risking our necks here."
No joke—hatching meant disaster. He needed awakeners for staff safety.
"Ten should do."
"Solid backup. You sure?"
Ten was overkill, but strained Jeong's frontline.
"I started this."
"...Good deed."
"Burden on Gyeongju."
He accepted it as his initiative; Han called it noble, but Jeong shook his head, rejecting the comfort.
"Anyway, we'll schedule surgeries ASAP. No rest for the weary."
"Apocalypse—think doctors get breaks?"
"True. Streets overflowing with patients. At least some downtime's a blessing."
Han griped; Jeong quipped back. Accepting it, Han prepped for surgery.
Jeong steeled him:
"Just the beginning. More patients coming—brace yourself."
"Makes me wanna dump it all on Pontiff Yu-na."
Her healing could perfect it.
"She's prepping to summon Bahamut now."
"The Dragon God's descent."
But unavailable.
"Guess I push harder, then."
Han smiled wryly and headed to the OR.