Hellscape (3)
"Drones..."
A chilling whine like hornets buzzing past their ears began echoing from all directions—whiiiine.
The sound of drones. More precisely, drone propellers spinning.
Cheol-woo had seen them in action at the company, used for reconnaissance. He'd piloted them in first-person view through a screen overlaying his vision. According to Jeong Gwa-jang, slap a bomb and fuze on one, and it became a suicide drone. And now, those very suicide drones were swarming toward them.
"Let's head to open ground. This spot's too dangerous."
"Isn't that backwards? Shouldn't we find cover from the drone attack?"
"The problem is, it's not just us who can take cover—drones can too. Wide-open sightlines are a hundred times better."
"Ha..."
Han Si-yeon was dumbfounded, at a loss for words. Did this guy never watch the news? Had he never seen reports from the Russo-Ukraine war? Drones had upended modern warfare, and here he was acting like he'd never encountered one before.
Hide first when drones show up—that was basic instinct, right? Prioritize finding shelter—that was normal, wasn't it?
Yet Cheol-woo was making an utterly counterintuitive call, defying both logic and gut feeling. But with him charging toward the open field without hesitation and Yuri following without a second thought, Han Si-yeon couldn't just stand there. She grabbed Kim Mi-young—the team leader huddled up, trembling and mumbling prayers—by the scruff of her neck and hurried after them.
Here they come.
One by one, drones emerged from behind the buildings. In the pitch-black darkness, they moved too fast to track with the naked eye. They weren't charging in a swarm; instead, they spread out first, maintaining distance. That alone convinced Han Si-yeon these weren't amateur pilots. They had real combat experience, at minimum.
"What are you doing!? Shoot them!"
While the drones fanned out, prepping to dive, Cheol-woo just tracked them with his eyes. The moment Han Si-yeon burst out in frustration, the drones plummeted toward them in unison.
The acceleration was so fierce they seemed to vanish into the shadows, turning Han Si-yeon's face ashen.
Straight-line trajectories. Now.
Too fast for Han Si-yeon, but just right for Cheol-woo. Irregular, slow-flying targets were tricky to hit. Even perfect aim had limits against bullet velocity; you had to predict their path. But at high speeds, drones flew straight, losing maneuverability. Incoming on a predictable line? Speed didn't matter—they were sitting ducks.
Only then did the HK-417's muzzle erupt.
Boom!Bang-bang-bang! Three-round burst, swing the barrel. Another three-round burst, pivot to the next target, repeat.
Drones with propellers shredded spiraled out one by one—thunk-thunk—crashing to earth and exploding.
Kim Mi-young clamped her hands over her ears at the chain of blasts, drool trickling from her lips.
"Sis. Mag change."
"Ah. Yeah. Got it."
The second he emptied the 20-round mag, he flung it back and drew his Five-seveN pistol, resuming fire. Yuri caught the rifle, fumbled the mag release with clumsy hands, and slammed in a fresh one. She was still shit at shooting, but she'd drilled this part solid.
"Sis! Rifle back!"
Five-seveN mag drained in seconds; he grabbed the rifle again.
Too many drones. Easily over ten downed already, and more kept pouring out endlessly.
Changing tactics?
Now they approached slow and erratic instead of high-speed dives. More time to react, sure, but it took 5+ rounds per drone now instead of 3. Mag swaps ramped up, and they'd accelerate whenever he reloaded.
"Damn...!"
Cheol-woo's rifle went quiet mid-fire on a low-flying drone—Han Si-yeon and Kim Mi-young were in the line of fire.
Sis would duck or prone between his legs instinctively in these spots, but these women lacked that sense.
Bang-bang! He emptied the mag and downed one, but the last was trouble.
As he swapped, the drone closed in. Han Si-yeon sensed death.
This was it. Even if hit now, she was inside the blast radius.
Eyes squeezed shut—then Yuri launched forward like a spring.
Just before impact at Han Si-yeon's feet—slash. A razor-sharp blade cleaved the air.
The drone slammed down with a crunch—not a boom?
Han Si-yeon's eyes cracked open. She gingerly picked up the wrecked drone—propellers trashed, but the fuze cleanly severed from the bomb.
The bastard sniping them from afar was crazy enough, but slicing just the fuze? What the hell?
Her gaze toward Yuri shifted instantly to honey-dripping adoration.
Yuri, uncomfortable, averted her eyes.
"Sis. Hold my spot a sec."
"Why? I'm fine, no injuries."
"Not that..."
"Then what?"
"...Never mind."
Cheol-woo started to chew her out but stopped. If he'd let it be, only Han Si-yeon and Kim Mi-young would've eaten the blast. Han's iris or fingerprint was the "key" to the lab door—one intact was enough.
But calling her out for risking it? She'd fire back, Psycho much? Or you're the one always charging to your death, dumbass. Yeah, better swallow it.
Sis must've been confident she could pull it off. Chest pounding now, he finally got her mindset all these years.
"Sis, wear this from now on."
"This!?"
Cheol-woo shoved an EOD suit at her. Bite-proof against mutants. Bullet-resistant. Drone blasts? Fine unless direct hit.
Nothing better in Hong Kong. Clunky for normals, vision-limited, but Yuri? She'd manage.
As Yuri grumbled "fuck fuck" and suited up, Cheol-woo handed the drone to Han Si-yeon.
"Can you ID the owner from this drone and bomb?"
"Cheap Chinese quadcopter with a Russian mortar round. Anyone worldwide could make it. No leads."
"Then let's bug out first. Mutants incoming already."
"...!"
Red eyes flickered distantly; Han Si-yeon's face drained white. She'd seen them before, but never a horde packing the streets like this.
Grrr—Kraaah— Growls closing in. They fired up the quad bike and fled.
They hit the building he'd scouted: clear inside, no mutants or people, no traps. Cheol-woo ushered Han Si-yeon and Kim Mi-young in.
"Full glass walls—no defending the first floor. Abandon it, seal the emergency exit, fall back to the second."
"What about you, Cheol-woo? Where to?"
"Gotta stash the quad bike and gear safe. Elevator still works. I'll park in the basement garage; use it to shuttle."
"Y-yes, got it...!"
Han Si-yeon nodded frantically. No time for second-guessing; her mind was blank. Disagree with Cheol-woo? She'd just freeze up.
"But does 5.7mm really penetrate mutant skulls? Safe to trust it?"
"Told you, yes. Tested in the field by a guy who escaped Hong Kong."
"Back in Korea, I emptied five face shots on one—no penetration."
"What? No way."
Han Si-yeon shot back with a baffled look, like don't bullshit me. Her reaction said she wasn't lying.
So that NewTontonMan boss was abnormally tough? Why do all these blue-drug survivors have some freak ability?
Jeong Gwa-jang hit near-sonic speed. Tonton leader tanked 5.7mm AP rounds. Not just the serum's base effects?
Then what about me? What am I?
"Hoo."
Cheol-woo cleared his head, focusing.
Gurgle—grrr rumble— Boiling spit beyond thick walls. Thud-thud-thud! Pounding windows, doors.
Crash! Glass shattering—Yuri and Cheol-woo bolted forward.
Yuri led, sweeping horizontally—slash—severing torsos from three or four mutants.
Bang! Bang! Bang! The rest dropped, Five-seveN rounds punching through skulls.
Path cleared; they dashed out and ran.
It penetrates.
Point-blank, sure, but shattering thick foreheads? Proven.
That Tonton freak really was an outlier.
"Stick tight behind me!"
"Got it!"
Yuri cleaved ahead; Cheol-woo mopped up pursuers.
But too many. Hundreds visible—probably thousands total. Olympic sprinters with steel-crushing grips. Trip once? Shredded beyond recognition.
"No good. Thin 'em out first. Sis, headset on, sit here."
"Headset? Why?"
"Just stay put. Seal your ears tight with it."
"Hey. Hey!?"
Click.
Cheol-woo yanked the M240 machine gun from the quad bike, rested the barrel on Yuri's shoulder.
Please don't— Yuri pleaded, teary-eyed. He confirmed the headset snug, then pulled the trigger.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-TAT!!!
The deafening roar swallowed Yuri's AAAAAHHHH!!! scream.
Ammo belt feeding in, red tracers lasered from over her shoulder.
Pfft-pfft-pfft! Rounds tore through the horde, dealing massive AOE.
Body holes? They shrugged them off. Hundreds needed to pulp torsos—but inefficient. Legs it was.
Shattered femurs toppled the front rank; followers tripped, mobility gone.
Two hundred rounds gone in seconds; smoke curled from the steaming barrel.
"Let's go, Sis."
"F-fu...cking... asshole... real motherfucker... shithead... aaa..."
Clearing the gun, he saw Yuri sniffling, tears streaming.
Headset off, finger-snaps by both ears—fine response.
Perfectly okay? Why the drama? Dropping worry, he scooped her up and tossed her on the quad bike.
"Start it on my signal."
"Ah. Ungh. Feels like my face got singed earlier. Still burning."
"Just nerves. Barrel was nowhere near your face."
"Motherfucker..."
"Now! Start it! Go, go!"
Roped the empty quad bike, towed it two-up ahead. Loaded gear slowed it to a crawl.
Worse, the machine-gunned horde was rising, pursuing.
Five-seveN rearward—bang-bang-bang! Some headshots... no drop?
High-velocity, but short-barrel pistol—penetration dropped at range?
No choice: grabbed HK417 from cargo, twisted back—bang! Bang! Bang! Heads exploded one by one.
Ah, this is it.
Cheol-woo's lips curved. The hefty kick and hand-feel of big rounds—pure comfort.
Five-seveN lighter, longer range, better pen? Sure, but 9mm Mike felt right in ways AP couldn't touch.
Gaze?
Prickling sensation—muzzle whipped around.
Sunrise glint flashing off glass. Locked position—bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!
Glint vanished. No satisfying impact.
No voyeur fetish here—Cheol-woo swallowed the bitter aftertaste.
"Get in quick!"
Basement garage ramp: Han Si-yeon yelled, door open. Spurted down, Cheol-woo slammed the steel shutter—clatter.
Watched warily, swallow hard—no breach from mutants. Not cheap Chinese crap, apparently.
"All gear secured?"
"Yes. And people gathering outside."
"People? The drone crew, maybe."
"Nah. Different bunch."
"How do you know?"
"Dunno. Gut says so."
"..."
Style felt off? Vibe different? Drone guys wouldn't peep—they'd grenade first.
Hard to explain, but definitely two distinct groups.
"So two forces already here... Time to hunker down."
"No. Why defend? We attack. I'll clear what I can now."
"Wha—huh?"
Attack? Did I mishear? You for real? Han Si-yeon's face went blank.