Load, Aim, Fire (2)
“Human?”
The undertone of that question implied there was something other than a human. Something Lopez possessed.
Han Min-seong nodded at Ju Kang-rim's question.
“Is taking out Sergeant Lopez all there is to it? If there's no other objective, I'd like to propose we team up.”
Ju Kang-rim pondered the meaning of “other objective.” There really is something. That meant Han Min-seong might be acting on someone else's commission.
“We're all skilled hunters despite appearances, and I'm no slouch myself. You don't seem like you'd hold us back either, Mr. Ju. It's dangerous out here—wouldn't it be better to stick together?”
Ju Kang-rim considered it for a moment. His goal was Lopez anyway. But he was curious what Han Min-seong was after from Lopez. Plus, this raised the odds even higher that Lopez was an immortal.
He glanced subtly at Yoo Wol-ryeong, but she showed no reaction. It was up to him.
“Fine. Let's do it.”
Han Min-seong's group moved forward boldly, as if they already had a good idea where Lopez was headed. And the farther they went, the more zombies and booby traps they encountered.
But Han Min-seong and his hunters were no amateurs either—they deftly avoided the traps.
Shwick, thunk.
Han Min-seong's crossbow bolt sliced through the air and pierced a zombie's skull.
Guns were powerful and popular, but the noise drew zombies unnecessarily. Frequent fights meant falling further behind Lopez.
“Disarm the trap.”
The hunters neutralized the trap before the zombie could trigger it. This was the sixth one. They pressed on without casualties.
Yoo Wol-ryeong watched Han Min-seong quietly before speaking softly.
“You know him?”
“He was a senior when I joined General Gerald's command.”
At the mention of Gerald, Yoo Wol-ryeong narrowed her eyes. She couldn't possibly be unaware of the strongest awakener—and immortal.
“An immortal?”
“Nah. His end was pretty pathetic.”
Ju Kang-rim gave a wry smile as he stared at Han Min-seong's back.
“Ah, not that we were comrades or anything. Truth be told, the officers under General Gerald were... more like rivals than brothers-in-arms, to put it kindly.”
Rivals was still too soft a word. Gerald relentlessly pushed his officers, and a colleague's promotion meant your own obsolescence. Obsolete officers were shipped to hellholes and went radio silent. They had no choice but to risk their lives for results. Stabbing backs or tripping up peers was common.
If that had saved humanity, it might've been excusable as ruthless necessity in crisis. But they were fighting a doomed war from the start—their supreme commander was one cause of humanity's downfall.
And among those officers, Han Min-seong was infamous for his ruthlessness.
Han Min-seong, A-rank awakener, nickname Blood Taker.
A simple ability: drain life force to empower weapons. But that life force included others', not just his own. To absorb it, he had to touch them directly—which meant draining allies to use it properly.
A-rank efficiency was insane, but no one wanted to team with him. Ju Kang-rim felt the same.
But if you weren't the one sacrificing, he made a fine ally.
Back then, he looked like a heartless son of a bitch without a drop of blood or tear to spare...
Now he just seemed like a prickly leader of an ordinary hunter group. But Ju Kang-rim knew the selfish beast lurking beneath.
Han Min-seong's subordinates back then were less comrades than bullets to chamber. He'd charge in with his unit and come back alone—no one cheered that.
Societal scorn had suppressed his nature until Gerald's command freed it. The more fodder he fed through, the more value he squeezed out, climbing high.
Ju Kang-rim had competed fiercely with him too.
Not hard to understand. Attachments hindered his ability, so avoiding them made sense.
But that selfishness led to his end: surrounded by zombies, ignored by his entire unit—including the officers.
In the end, guys like me or Han Min-seong were just bugs under Gerald.
Then Yoo Wol-ryeong asked something else.
“How did you know that hunter was after Lopez?”
“Huh? Oh, 'cause it's Han Min-seong.”
“What does that...”
“His power's tough to use without backing. He's probably been in bed with the military from day one. And they're the ones who tasked him.”
“...The military?”
“I said there are no other hunters in the area. Only the military tracks that. Most hunters are on their payroll anyway.”
But unregistered hunters like Ju Kang-rim were off the grid. AWOL ones existed, but per military intel, none here.
“He took my card but didn't give one or reveal affiliation. Means he has a fixed client. Hunters taking direct orders from the military—for the dirty jobs Bari Unit can't touch.”
Bari Unit: Korea's national zombie hunters. Their captain was a monster even among S-rank awakeners. As prime firepower, she was likely at Bukhansan now.
“Hunters on a black ops mission near Itaewon? Gotta be US base-related. With the Gangbuk crisis forcing retreats, but their target isn't Sergeant Lopez.”
Ju Kang-rim grinned. Yoo Wol-ryeong tilted her head in surprise.
“If not, then?”
“Defense Ministry wouldn't know about Lopez yet. They were probably on another gig, got interfered with, and gave chase. Interference bad enough to derail the mission. Whether they got tasked with him specifically...”
Ju Kang-rim chuckled.
“Honestly, I'm just using them. Handy side help against Lopez.”
No guilt dragging innocents in. Immortals were humanity's common enemy. Zombie hunters should hunt zombies. Guilt was for puppies, kittens, or unarmed civilians.
“Can you guess what they're after?”
“Something best left alone.”
Black ops, US base, non-national hunters, Lopez. Ju Kang-rim had a hunch, but better not dig deep. Too dangerous for him.
Rumors had swirled about such an item back then.
“You sussed that out just from no business card?”
“Anyone'd think I had genius insight. Nah, just hunch. Hunch. Plus, I know what that guy's power is.”
Yoo Wol-ryeong fixed him with her big, black surveillance-cam eyes.
“Figuring out affiliation, goal, mission, intent from no card? Rare talent.”
Ju Kang-rim flushed. Essential survival skill serving Gerald in resistance hell: eyes wide, vigilant, intuitive moves.
“...Gotta have that much after regressing.”
Then—thunk—flesh tore. A lead hunter collapsed.
The hunter rolled clutching his thigh, screaming. Han Min-seong's group ducked for cover.
Tat-tat-tat-tang, bang, bang.
Gunfire echoed.
Han Min-seong ground his teeth. “1 o'clock, white SUV—target inside!”
Overturned cars piled like graves downhill. Massive pileup. Bullets poured from a large van at the center, shredding earth and wrecks.
“Damn it, cars block approach!”
Cars offered cover but slowed rushes, forming natural barricades.
“Argh! Kuaaaak!”
The downed hunter still screamed, clutching his leg. Another hunter moved to help—Ju Kang-rim yanked him back by the collar.
Bullets grazed hair by inches.
“Bait.”
Injured as bait to draw rescuers. And here, extra role: lure zombies with screams.
“Graaaah, gaaah!”
Nearby zombies swarmed at the cries—more sensitive than gunfire.
Han Min-seong gritted his teeth as zombies encircled. No choice—he pistol-shot the hunter's head. Screams stopped.
Others bit lips but blamed no one.
A zombie neared Han Min-seong. He calmly machete-smashed its skull. Something gleamed in its mouth.
He yanked a nearby hunter aside.
Boom.
Shrapnel flew, dropping hunters.
“Crazy bastard...”
Han Min-seong staggered up. Close blast, but the hunter blocked most shards.
His eyes met Ju Kang-rim's. He'd seen the human shield play.
Han Min-seong tensed, but Ju Kang-rim said nothing, just looked away.
Yeah, you'd do the same.
Han Min-seong rose, grinding teeth. “Grenades, pins pulled, in zombie mouths!”
Hunters panicked, wary of approaching zombies. Couldn't kill recklessly—had to gun them down despite noise.
Per Han Min-seong's order, they drew weapons. Ju Kang-rim reevaluated Lopez.
He'd known Han Min-seong's nature, but Lopez mattered now. Too cunning for enhanced zombies.
Immortal confirmed.
Yet future knowledge confused him. Prepared enough for hunters, but media-shown end was too pathetic for one.
Something clicked.
“Gotta close in. Flank route?”
Meanwhile, Han Min-seong planned pursuit.
“Right building corridor—blind side.”
“Do it. Watch traps. Rest hold zombies, draw fire.”
He eyed thoughtful Ju Kang-rim. Saved a life, but every hand counted.
Ju Kang-rim finished thinking. “I'll take left building.”
Han Min-seong frowned. Left meant crossing bullet-swept road. But Ju Kang-rim wasn't showboating—odd vibe since first injury.
“No, come right with...”
“Nah. I'll solo—stick to flank. Draw eyes from here.”
Gunfire paused briefly—Ju Kang-rim dashed.
Tat-tat-tat-tang.
Bullets chased his silhouette, nearly hitting—then his foot hit shadow.
“What?!”
Han Min-seong blinked. Ju Kang-rim's outline blurred momentarily.
Not illusion. Bullets veered off.
Ju Kang-rim vanished into left entrance.
“What the... awakener?”
Han Min-seong scanned for his companion. Yoo Wol-ryeong was gone.
Just as planned.
Ju Kang-rim knew his Saingeom's upgraded “Stealth” worked daytime, faintly masking presence and blurring outline—enough to disrupt focus briefly.
Sufficient for road-crossing. It worked.
And I figured a few hits wouldn't kill me.
He'd checked the wound: standard rounds, no effects.
The entered building's corridor was wrecked but passable. Through it, two alley turns to ambush spot.
But Ju Kang-rim veered elsewhere.
If you're not a zombie.
Twisted grin as he read the enemy's mind.
If you're just a human who won't die, the answer's obvious!