Special Forces. (3) – Dual Swords and Arrows

Dual swords. A bow and a quiver loaded with thirty arrows. I wished there were more arrows, but the others needed to defend their homes while I was gone. Su-hyeon, Eun-seo, and even the guys had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gotten pretty decent at archery practice. No major issues there. Or at least, I hope not. The building was sturdy enough. They'd reinforced the shutters and windows properly, right?

A needless wave of worry made me glance back. I smirked and lit a cigarette.

One month and one week since the apocalypse began. Heading into the second week soon. In that short—or was it long?—time, I'd grown pretty attached. Already missing Su-hyeon. Ye-eun too, Eun-seo, and the unnamed woman. ...My women. Stay safe until I get back.

"Hoo." I exhaled a long plume of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠smoke and kept walking.

Yongsan. Han River Middle School was coming up soon. The tree-lined road had plenty of cars parked along the shoulder. And others crashed into each other, flipped over. No road had come through the apocalypse unscathed.

Following the map, I spotted the school in the distance. And on the roadside in front, a few people stood around. Men in plainclothes, looking pretty relaxed. But they weren't just any guys. Their builds gave it away. All around 180cm tall, broad shoulders, thick chests and pecs—clearly men who'd put in the work. Their movements were natural, like they knew an empty street like this was no threat.

That's them.

They spotted me. Heads turned one by one. One stepped forward, raising a hand. A greeting? I raised mine in return.

There were four of them total. Ages from late twenties to late thirties, judging by looks. I reached them and said, "Special Forces?"

The one who'd stepped forward and raised his hand. Short but neatly styled hair, thick eyebrows, handsome guy-next-door face. He extended his hand. "You're Han Sung-hoon, right? You look exactly like in the videos. Special Forces Team 2 Leader, Seong Gyu-hyuk."

Oh. The Special Forces leader I talked to on the phone. I shook his hand. "Nice to meet you. Han Sung-hoon."

"These are my team members. We'll talk on the way."

Seong Gyu-hyuk led the way as he explained. "Team 2's mission is to escort you to the operation site and observe the situation before pulling back."

He glanced at me. "Whether you're with us or not."

I smiled. I'd heard multiple times they wouldn't do any rescue ops. Not even Team 1 was bothering with that, so no way they'd rescue some guy from YouTube videos. Besides, their gear was basic—no real weapons. Tonfas and batons. Must've scavenged from an empty police box.

I nodded with a smile. "Where's the op site?"

"Yongsan US Army Base."

...US base. I tilted my head. "Didn't the Americans pull out? I think I saw something on the news about turning it into a park."

Not entirely sure. News like society or economy sections were never my thing.

Seong Gyu-hyuk nodded. "Correct. They were phasing out to Pyeongtaek. That's gone by the wayside now, but some facilities remain. And US troops guarding them."

"So the armory's still there."

"Yes. Not a ton, but enough to use right away."

Five men walked an empty road. I nodded as we went. "Pyeongtaek, huh? The new spot?"

"Yes."

Tch. I clicked my tongue lightly. "Kinda disappointing. If they hadn't moved, there'd be way more goodies."

I didn't know where the president or Special Forces were holed up. But targeting this place made sense—it was the closest base to us, and to them.

The leader glanced at me. Nothing meaningful. He said, "You sure you'll be okay? Alone?"

I chuckled. "Depends on how many there are. How many do you think?"

"Hard to say. Didn't count, but at least a few hundred. The problem isn't the remaining base facilities—it's the park. Swarming in a wide-open space, and it's close. Dangerous."

Park, huh... I looked at the leader. "Did Team 1 get hit by the ones in the park?"

Seong Gyu-hyuk nodded slowly.

Hmm... Swarming...

"You good?"

The leader eyed me. His gaze shifted subtly. I was smiling.

...A lot, huh. Leveled up against zombie waves, so more swarming sounds fun. Kinda exciting thinking about the levels.

I met his eyes and nodded. "I'm good."

The developing park area. Former site of Yongsan US Army Base. We arrived.

"We'll wait here."

They hopped onto a low retaining wall, sitting casually. Good vantage—close enough to observe the base without drawing eyes.

Seong Gyu-hyuk said, "Armory's inside the base, next to the hospital. Path won't be easy. Be careful."

"Got it. Will do."

I answered and started walking.

"Sung-hoon."

I paused and turned. The leader nodded. "Good luck."

I nodded back and faced forward. Then drew my bow.

Shing— The bow slid free from the quiver. Already visible from here. The developing park. Swarming with them.

I glanced at the base. Looked like any American suburb—wide roads, big spread-out houses and low buildings in neat blocks, straight out of a movie or drama. Signs and plaques in English. And nothing moving there.

Lots inside facilities and houses, probably. ...But bow's not great indoors.

I nocked an arrow, aimed at the park, and drew.

Pwaaang— A faint circle. The horde, over a hundred meters away. One lit up red.

I released.

Pew.

One jerked like electrocuted and faceplanted. I kept drawing arrows, sniping nonstop.

Duplicated during the walk, now over forty stacked up. Draw, loose. Nock, fire. No hesitation. Nearly one per second, rapid fire. Every one a headshot.

Soon, one left. I lowered the bow.

"Hoo."

Cleared ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the close ones heading my way. Even if a few wandered over, I'd be fine for a bit.

Slid the bow back into the quiver and stood. Felt eyes on me. The Special Forces stared, stunned. Hundred-meter headshots, all perfect hits—unbelievable.

Seong Gyu-hyuk murmured low, "Impressive archery. What'd you do before?"

Hmm. Can't exactly explain the status window. I smirked, hand on sword hilt, and walked. "You'll see."

Yongsan US Army Base. Nothing special aside from the low, sprawling buildings. Problem: windows. Past a big cafe-restaurant and houses to the hospital. At least six buildings to pass.

Didn't notice from afar, but windows shattered everywhere. Some inward, glass inside; others blown out, shards everywhere. And distant bloodstains. Dark red, still fresh.

Team 1 member went down ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there, probably.

I scanned around and advanced slowly. Drew one sword.

Shring—

First up: the cafe. ...A lot.

Wooden fence around terraces and roadside planters. Probably let Team 1 sneak in undetected.

I stopped and pulled out my phone. Called Seong Gyu-hyuk.

Silence on his end. Shocked, probably. Good idea to plan for full stat recharge at least once. Minimum five hours.

After a pause, Seong Gyu-hyuk asked, "You think you can?"

I glanced aside. Not far, the stone wall. Special Forces sitting there. Faces indistinct, but tense, worried looks.

I answered. "Yes."

Hung up.

Then strode into the cafe. Big steps, boldly.

Krawrl?!

They spotted me through the window. Heads snapped around.

I shouldered the door open hard.

"Kraaaah!"

They surged. I whirled into them.

Splurt!

Blood sprayed everywhere. Severed skulls and brains fountained up with it. They crumpled in a heap.

"Hoo..."

I wiped blood trickling down my cheek with my knuckles and pushed out the cafe door.

Screee— Hit it too hard; hinges damaged.

Slashed down to shake off blood. Sheathed.

Shring—click.

Descending the cafe steps, I glanced aside. Eye contact with the Special Forces. Eyes wide, expressions blank. Even battle-hardened spec ops never seen anything like this.

Seong Gyu-hyuk extended a thumbs-up.

I smirked. Can't freak out yet. Haven't even started.

I turned and walked on, flashing them a thumbs-up over my shoulder.