Hell Scroll (15)
"I have something to show you, Section Chief."
"What is it?"
"The guys who were lurking around here until recently left something behind when they pulled out."
"Pulled out? Where to?"
On the way to the warehouse, Im Team Leader pointed out the window toward the sea beyond.
Across the water, a coastal strip crammed with chicken-coop apartments came into view. Hadn't that missile which downed the emergency chopper on their first day here come from over there? So those crazy bastards who shot down the chopper had been stationed there?
Cheol-woo's eyes narrowed to slits.
"They weren't ordinary mercenaries. Just looking at their gear, they all seemed like ex-regular army."
"So what did those bastards leave behind? Let's take a look."
"You're gonna be shocked."
Click. The warehouse lights flicked on, revealing what looked like a massive backpack.
What the hell? Cheol-woo stepped closer for a better look, and his eyes widened.
Attached to the bottom of the backpack-like thing was a nozzle. An unmistakable jet engine exhaust.
"Im Team Leader. This is..."
"Yes. It's exactly what you're thinking."
"Can you fly it?"
"Never tried, but it's got fuel."
"Holy shit..."
Awe escaped Cheol-woo's lips. This thing was definitely useful.
...If they could actually pilot it.
***
"Damn. Where the hell did they vanish to? It's like they're ghosts."
Miss, miss, miss again. Park I-sa slumped down in exhaustion, letting out a deep sigh.
The site of the Chinese air force's bombing—the building Han Sa-jang and Min Cheol-woo had used as a base—wasn't far off. He'd figured they'd catch up quick once they started chasing, but no such luck.
Even after mowing down wave after wave of mutants swarming in hordes, they hadn't caught so much as a glimpse of Han Sa-jang or Min Cheol-woo.
"Unless they sprouted wings or sank into the earth, how the fuck does this make sense?"
The area was crawling with mutants everywhere, but there were no traces of anyone pushing through in any direction. They'd found a bunch of charred mutant corpses near the subway station, suggesting some skirmish there, but it looked like a temporary hideout at best. Deeper in, mutants were thick as thieves—no way to enter sane.
"Maybe they just got vaporized in the bombing? The whole building turned to dust; no human traces left."
"Nah. They ducked into the subway to dodge the strike. Min Cheol-woo's not the type to go down to a simple bombing."
"..."
'Simple' bombing...? The team members listening intently blinked in disbelief.
No matter how elite a veteran, who survives a midnight precision strike? Rumors of chaos back in Korea must've rattled Park I-sa bad, shrinking his nerves. They chalked it up to him overhyping the newbie from fear.
"Or maybe... they really did sprout wings."
"You see a chopper take off? I sure didn't."
"Drone, then...?"
"A guy riding a drone? Get real."
"Or a jetpack."
"Fuck off, you imaginative shits."
Park I-sa shook his head and turned away. No answers in sight. They'd lost Han Sa-jang and Min Cheol-woo completely. No clue where to even start tracking again.
Time to admit defeat and start fresh.
"Tracking failed?"
"Yeah. No way to pursue anymore."
"Can't be helped, then. We're heading to the outpost we set up near the lab. You're welcome to tag along."
"Thanks, but no. With the trail cold, I'd rather focus on rescuing our stranded employees than chasing Han Si-yeon."
"Guess this is where we part ways."
Park I-sa shook the Houndmaster's offered hand with a wry smile. Moving to the lab outpost meant ambushing until Han Sa-jang showed. Fine for time-rich billionaires like them, but Park had no time to waste with employees' fates unknown.
Damn my luck. They're obviously dead...
Deep down, Park wanted to ditch those doomed bastards and lay in wait for Han Sa-jang and Min Cheol-woo. Stranded in Hong Kong's worst hellhole without gear? Toast.
But even if dead, he had to recover the bodies. Employee trust demanded it.
Shit, lose more guys scooping corpses? Just bail? The thought looped in his head.
What if word spread that Team 2 abandons stranded staff? Freeze their accounts, send goons to their families' homes—they'd fall in line. Loyal till death, right?
The moment his thoughts veered there—
Fuck. Why am I thinking like Yu Sil-jang...?
Realizing that was exactly how Team 1 operated, he squeezed his eyes shut.
I must've lost it for a sec. Can't end up like Team 1. No way.
His resolve for rescue surged instantly.
"We head into the northern urban zone. No firearms unless I say. Even on death's door, no shooting without orders."
"Yes, sir."
After splitting from the whites, Park I-sa's group pushed straight for the northern city district—the presumed isolation zone for Team 2 staff. Mutant central.
Firing weapons there? Suicide. Same for Im Team Leader's group; no loud signals without dooming themselves. Zero intel meant near-impossible rescue.
Tch. Guess I gotta radio...?
Revealing position via radio? Worst-case. Min Cheol-woo would sniff him out. But rescue first meant no choice.
As Park I-sa rubbed his throbbing temple in dilemma—
"Director! Look over there!"
"Shut your trap, idiot!"
Park I-sa smacked the loudmouth's head and snatched binoculars.
Better not be nothing... He scanned—and his face hardened at the human-shaped something in view.
A person flying through the sky. Insanely fast.
"Told you. Jetpack."
"You crazy fuck..."
Jetpack. Park's mental image had been stuck on Michael Jackson's goofy exit prop.
But that? Slicing the sky at jet-fighter speeds compared to that relic.
Human shapes crossing Hong Kong's core—a hours-long trek—in mere dozens of seconds, straight to the lab's mountain.
Ground spotters finally clocked them—rat-tat-tat—but they were already landing atop the peak, vanishing.
"Huh."
Then—rat-tat-tat-tat-bang—bean-popping gunfire erupted from the mountain. Multi-directional firefights everywhere.
It clicked quick. Peak holders had blocked mid-slope, expecting climbers or vehicles. But some mad bastard jet-packed straight to the top, shattering alliances as everyone scrambled to claim the 'key' first.
"Fucking insane."
Gunfire tapered to lull—then a chilling skreeee pierced the sky. A massive beam hurled into the peak.
Moments later, blinding flash atop the mountain. Even from afar, brutal shockwave hit—a massive blast.
"Holy fuck."
Park I-sa and crew lost words, muttering awe. Following that? Wiped out by now.
***
Fast.
Vreeee— Cleaving the sky with a roar, Cheol-woo felt exhilarated.
Three jetpacks. At least four riders. So double-ups: one strapped in, hugging the pilot tight.
Worried about takeoff weight? No issue; the engines handled two with ease.
Controls simple; quick to master.
Cheol-woo with Lee Joo-eem; Yuri with Han Sa-jang; Im Team Leader with local guide.
"S-Section Chief! Missiles locking from across the sea!"
"Relax. Won't hit."
"But...!"
Ignoring Lee Joo-eem's freakout, Cheol-woo focused. Tiny heat sig like a jetpack? No lock-on.
Sure enough, no launch plumes after ages.
But she sees that? Missiles aiming? Glancing seaward, Cheol-woo marveled.
Movement visible, sure—but launcher aimed here? Impossible to discern.
Lee Joo-eem's eyes were sharp. Note that.
"Section Chief! Ground fire!"
"Yeah. Hold tight."
Nearing landing, rat-tat-tat tracers flew. Cheol-woo jinked erratically.
Aimed shots? Impossible. Just blind luck ricochets to dodge.
Whizzing bullets made Lee Joo-eem gasp—then soft touchdown on the peak.
They're really going at it.
Out of sight, but gunfire below raged fiercer.
Cheol-woo grinned at the deafening blasts, shoulders loosening. Stalkers, drone-spammers now fragging each other to claim the summit first. Desperate crawls up the slopes.
"Hurry. Han Sa-jang. Eyes wide."
"Ack. Yes."
Best chance to manhandle Han Sa-jang like this. Cheol-woo yanked her hair, prying eyes open wide.
Retina and print scan: thick vault door irised open.
Descending endless underground stairs—about a minute in—
"Kyaaak!?"
Sudden mountain-shaking boom. Lights flickered, then relit.
Familiar. Bombing. No—stronger. Ballistic missile?
Cheol-woo, Yuri, Han Sa-jang shrugged it off, pressing on. Lee Joo-eem and Im Team Leader still quaking.
"Th-the entrance must be obliterated! How do we get out?"
"Don't worry. Secret passages."
"Where to?"
"No idea. That's why secret."
Multiple hidden lab exits. Destinations unknown, but safe egress guaranteed. Might pop out lost in hills—hence the guide.
Harbor with fueled boat? Nice.
Cheol-woo's steps halted abruptly.
"What's wrong, Cheol-woo-ssi?"
"..."
Shiii— Facing the inflowing draft, Cheol-woo's hackles rose.
Thick stench of death pulsed from ahead.