Guns and Blood (2)
"Hmm-hmm~ Hmm~"
A tune escaped my lips unbidden. Who knew loading six magazines with ammo could be this damn fun?
Leaning against the dresser, I packed the bullets in tight—one by one. Thirty rounds per mag. A total of 180 bullets.
Guess I'd have to ask Su-hyeon for a favor later. I needed a mag belt. There were probably some belts in the men's section of the large mart—maybe she could rig something up with those. If not, no big deal. I'd just use my backpack.
I slotted the fully loaded mags into my two Ingrams, then tidied up the bag. The water bottles, energy bars, and snacks I'd brought just in case—I dumped them out and stacked the ammo boxes at the bottom. Then the snacks and water on top, shoved to one side. Four spare mags in the remaining space.
The bag felt plump and heavy now. Slinging it over my shoulder with a grin of pure satisfaction, I checked my phone. Already afternoon.
Bzzzzt—
Right on time.
I picked up. "Yeah. Heading out now."
"Took you a while. You're sure you didn't get hurt or bitten?"
I chuckled. "Nah, I'm good. On my way."
Hung up and stood. Whoa, heavy. Even with my strength, I could feel the weight. First time in ages since getting that stamina achievement skill.
Two swords, a bow with a dozen arrows, a pair of SMGs, and this fat bag. The heft made my chest swell with pride.
Man, without that stamina skill, this would've been brutal. Picked it randomly as my second specialization, but hitting 100 stamina early was a godsend. For real.
No clue how long I'd been sitting there. Not really resting—just prepping my new gear. Stats were mostly recharged, so probably over two hours.
Feeling refreshed, I ignored the kids' room and headed down the stairs, out of the house.
The sun was setting.
"Whew."
Far off against the wall, the Special Forces guys were smoking. I smirked and dialed.
"Yeah, Sung-hoon? Something to say?"
"All clear here. Come on over."
Hung up. The Special Forces guys glanced at each other, murmuring. Seong Gyu-hyuk raised a hand, and four of them approached.
I nodded and crossed to the next house. Empty. So was the one after. Probably from the retrieval ops. A fair number of empty houses.
Next: a clinic. Three stories, but wide and squat-looking.
...How many inside? Military hospital in retrieval mode—probably not many patients.
I glanced at the Special Forces guys and entered the clinic.
Reception desk at the entrance, right by the ER. Quiet.
Grrrrowl— Grrrrowl—
Coming from the closed ER door. And from some room deeper in.
I drew my sword.
Shing—
* * *
"Whew."
The clinic had mostly just doctors and nurses. Not even that many. No inpatients—just a few in civvies. Probably flu or something.
Less than ten. Should've skipped it.
"Tch."
Stepping out, the Special Forces guys were smoking. Sip. Maybe I should bum one. Nah. Sun's dropping. Time to hustle.
"Next."
Across the road wrapping the clinic: houses and a warehouse side by side. The house looked standard. First-floor window smashed, but no glass on the road. Something broke in through it.
Nothing special. I nodded and crossed to the house. The warehouse next door was probably the armory.
Hope there's a good haul...
...Huh?
I stopped.
...House.
...Door. Smashed.
Not crushed by brute force like I would've done.
I approached the door, eyed the handle. Lightning-bolt splintered wood. And a black hole.
...Someone shot it.
I looked up, scanning the door and frame closely. Scratches. Faint bloodstains.
...Something's up.
Bzzzzt—
Phone. My voice dropped instinctively. I whispered into it.
"Yeah."
"What is it? Something in that house?"
"Dunno. Gonna check. I'll call."
Hung up, drew my sword.
Shing—
Grabbed the handle.
Grrrrowl— Grrrrowl—
...There.
Slowly opened the door. From the stairs. And the kitchen. Backs to me.
...Those guys...
I glanced back.
...Looks like.
Turned forward. Broad shoulders and chests. Neat haircuts. Tall, battle-hardened builds.
...Team 1 Special Forces.
...They were here.
Warehouse right next door. They'd pushed deep.
They'd risked their lives too. Them holing up here meant they needed shelter. The bloodied, gouged door told how desperate it got.
...Calm settled in.
I eased the door shut. Dialed.
"Yeah, Sung-hoon."
I said softly, "Found Team 1."
Silence.
Glanced back—Seong Gyu-hyuk lowering his phone from his ear. Eyes wide, staring at me, at the house.
I pointed at his earpiece. He raised it to his ear.
"They're not Team 1 anymore. I'm handling them now."
"Sung-hoon. Among them—"
He stopped.
I tilted my head at him.
Seong Gyu-hyuk said, "...Is there a woman?"
Woman?
I thought a sec, shook my head. "Saw two. Both guys. Not sure about more from here. Gotta go in."
He bowed his head slowly. Hung up.
Then scanned around and walked over. The other three Special Forces exchanged looks and followed.
I waited. They lined up beside me by the door. Their stance screamed elite training—no standing in doorways.
Seong Gyu-hyuk said, "We're entering too."
Pulling a shotgun from his hip.
...Hm.
I nodded, murmured, "Won't need that."
His eyes said he was going in regardless.
"...Let's go."
I gripped my sword tighter, flung the door open, and bellowed,
"Special Forces!"
"Grraaah!"
Two—no, three! Bursting from the open bathroom. All men!
"Graaaah!"
Coming!
Acceleration.
Auto-cast: Acceleration
I whipped through in a blur, piercing all three heads.
Couldn't bring myself to cleave them. Wanted to preserve their forms if possible. They weren't just randoms—they'd turned after fighting to the end in a hopeless spot.
Acceleration ended.
"—Guh—hk!"
All three crumpled at once. Blood sprayed.
Splat.
Dots on my face, clothes.
I ducked my head, listened. Growls. Breathing.
More somewhere?
...None.
Quiet.
Looked up—the Special Forces Team 2 inside, checking the bodies. Then bowed heads, somber.
No sobbing. Just quiet sighs as they stood. Same faces as always. Burying comrade's death deep, pushing on with the mission.
...I like that.
Shook blood off my sword, sheathed it.
Shing—click.
Walked to Seong Gyu-hyuk, pulled a pistol from my backpack's utility pouch.
"Here."
He eyed my hand, then my eyes. No refusal.
Nodded, took it, ejected the mag, checked the chamber. Safety on with thumb, hands down. All in one fluid motion.
Nodded back. I nodded too, started sweeping the house.
No sounds, but can't relax. Might be more.
Special Forces checked rooms, hand-signaled. Others nodded lightly, moved on. Seamless.
Finished first floor, up to second.
Huff—huff—
...There.
Paused on stairs, hand out slightly. Footsteps behind hushed.
But they're behind me. Crouched low, headed to the sound.
Blood on door. Handle too.
Gently turned it.
...Locked.
Special Forces flanked me quick, splitting left and right. Seong Gyu-hyuk with pistol, facing me. Nods.
I gripped the handle, twisted hard.
Crack!
Flung it open.
"Hic, aaah!"
Bang!
Auto-cast: Acceleration
Bullet! I saw it!
Spiraling through air. Realized then.
Woman's voice?! No—more importantly!
Stared at the bullet hurtling at my face. Yellow flash behind from powder burn—like a blooming flower.
Raised sword. Deflect it?! But if the blade snaps!
Twisted the sword to glance it, prayed inwardly. Gloves, please—don't let the sword break!
Bullet hit. Scraping feel. Vibration up my arm.
Acceleration ended.
Ping!
Sparks flew; bullet ricocheted into the wall.
"Aaah, aaah!"
Click, click!
Empty gun aimed at me, trigger pulling. Tight tee and skinny jeans. Stunning beauty. But face pale, blood everywhere.
...Ankles. Swollen beyond human.
"Aaah!"
Terror in her eyes, firing empties.
Click, click!
"Ga-yeon!"
Seong Gyu-hyuk brushed past, hugged her.
"Ga-yeon! You're alive!"
"Ah, aaah... aaah..."
Still staring at me.
I sighed low. Almost ate a bullet, fuck. No acceleration, and I'd have a hole in my forehead.
...Forehead?
...Headshot in that chaos?
This woman was no ordinary trainee.
"Who is she?"
I asked.
Seong Gyu-hyuk, holding her, turned. Tough-guy face, but tears welling.
"My little sister."