The Last Defense of Seoul
"Let us not let our soldiers die in vain." — President Choi Jaeyeol
On the screen before us, the zombies of Group C were clearly visible as they pushed through Mapo-gu, heading toward their next target. "Please, please, they have to stop..." But the scene on the screen was merciless. With a fierce battle already raging against Group B, the arrival of Group C signaled the total collapse of the Seoul defense line.
"Group C is 1.3 million strong, pushing down from Incheon as we speak. If the defense line is breached, all of Seoul will fall in an instant!"
"Prioritizing the defense of the area south of the Han River and the southwestern outskirts of Seoul is paramount. We must hold the line at all costs before they reach the city center!"
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s voice boomed, but the only response in the conference room was silence.
"What the hell do you expect us to do!" A general stood up abruptly and slammed his fist onto the table. "Special Warfare Command? Armored divisions? Do you really think that stuff can stop 1.3 million of them? It’s impossible!"
"General, please, stay calm." The Minister of National Defense tried to calm him, but another general interrupted, furious.
"Calm? Does that make any sense? The defense line is already crumbling because of Group B, and now you’re saying Group C is pouring in on top of that? It’s literal hell!"
The voices of the generals grew louder. Some threw their files and stormed out of their seats.
"What is the point of all this? Strengthen the defense line? We have no available troops! No troops, no ammunition, nothing left!"
"Are you even coming up with a strategy? Are you just suggesting we give up and retreat?"
The conference room turned into chaos in an instant. Group C had pushed down from Incheon toward Seoul with almost no resistance. The Special Warfare Command and mechanized infantry divisions had attempted several containment operations to block their advance, but there was a limit to what they could do. Even if one fell, dozens of other infected took their place, surging toward Seoul like a tidal wave.
In the north of Seoul, the 1st Mechanized Infantry Division of the Special Warfare Command, tasked with the main defense line along the Han River, prepared to fight against the 1.3 million of Group C. They reinforced the defense line around major intersections like Sangam-dong and Mok-dong, and armored units and airborne troops were thoroughly deployed to the high ground and intersections at the front.
But the wave of Group C was massive.
"We are low on ammunition! Command, we need ammo support immediately!" The infantryman’s voice over the radio was desperate.
"It takes time to send ammunition! Supplies are backed up even in the rear!" That was the only answer that came from the command post.
Although they had succeeded in the initial defense against Group A and Group B, the scale and overwhelming numbers of Group C were enough to overcome any strategy or defense line. Under the force of that violent mass of 1.3 million infected converging on Seoul, the defense line gradually collapsed.
"Group C cannot be stopped!"
"If you can't stop them, what do you suggest we do!" The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff gritted his teeth. "Should we give up? Retreat? Or come up with a better plan!"
"A better plan? If there was one, we would have done it already! We can't handle this!"
"The Group B defense line is on the verge of collapse, and Group C is pouring into Sangam-dong. Do you really think the defense line can hold!"
As Group C's attack began, the defense lines of Group A and Group B began to retreat. "Group B, the northern defense line has been breached! Requesting follow-up support!"
"There are no support troops. Each unit must hold on its own!"
"We can't hold any longer! Group C is breaking through the defense line!"
And countless soldiers died, screaming in agony. Because they could not become infected, they were killed by their own allies the moment they were bitten. Or they took their own lives. Young men, the grateful youths who protected this country, were dying in vain.
"Group C has started to break through the defense line. We must urgently prepare for reorganization and support from follow-up units. We must block the central access road to Seoul. Deploy the Marines and armored vehicles quickly!"
Finally, Group B and Group C met. Group C infiltrated the rear of Group B, and the two groups merged into one.
"Mr. President, Group B and Group C have merged. Retreat is currently impossible. The units are almost depleted. The defense line of Seoul is now..." The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff bowed his head. "The Mapo Station defense line has collapsed."
The screen showed in real-time the sight of Group C heading toward the center of Seoul. The Minister clutched his head and slumped into his chair. "It's over... Seoul is finished..."
However, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff gave one last order. "All troops, establish a final defense line in the center of Seoul. We will fight to the end."
I approached the Chairman and pressed down on his shoulder. At that moment, his shoulder felt so cold and heavy under my fingertips. Blood was dripping from the Chairman's lips. Tears were streaming from his eyes. His pain was my pain.
That is why. I had to be the one to give this order.
"...Let us not let our soldiers die in vain."
Throughout the night of battle, I watched the soldiers fall one by one. Their expressions, their pain, their final moments—they wouldn't leave my mind. Even in the moments when bullets flew and explosions erupted, I felt sorry for how they fought, how afraid they must have been, how desperate they must have felt. A sense of regret welled up, choking me. They fought with their lives on the line, but I couldn't protect them. Why should I be alive? Why was I the only one who survived? Everything felt shameful.
"Retreat all troops!" He heard my words, bit his lip, and let blood drip. I, who had been holding his wrist, saw the bloody tears streaming down his face. We had already reached our limit. We could no longer force futile deaths.
"Stop it. No more deaths are worth it. Retreat everyone."
So that all soldiers could survive, I could no longer send them to the front lines of death. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff bowed his head once again.
-Kim Sehee-
The roar of gunfire, the sound of battle, and the thunderous noise of fighter jets and cannons. Only after the hellish sounds filled the surroundings could I move. The noise outside was beyond imagination. The constant sound of gunfire and explosions, and the bizarre cries of the zombies. The zombies moved toward where the gunfire was heard. They poured out from every part of the buildings like an ant colony. I could hear windows breaking, and the sight of zombies falling from them and smashing into the ground unfolded before my eyes. Even with broken bones and twisted bodies, they were crawling, drawn by the gunfire.
"Be careful, there might be infected ones," I whispered.
Jang Yeeun nodded, ready to draw her bow at any moment. The 'time to move,' that time had come. The hellish noise outside acted as a shield, hiding our movements. We began to descend quickly, using the rope. 3rd floor, 2nd floor, 1st floor—every time we passed a floor, my breath grew shorter. Sweat formed on my fingertips, and tension flowed through my entire body. But my blistered hand suddenly began to sting.
"Ah..." As the pain grew stronger, I lost my grip on the rope. The feeling of floating in the air and the fear of falling shook my brain. At that moment, Jang Yeeun caught me in a bridal carry.
"...Be careful."
As I caught my breath and looked at her, Jang Yeeun smiled slightly and carefully set me down on the floor. We finally set foot on the ground. The outside was still chaotic, and at that moment, Jang Yeeun raised her bow.
Thwack!
"...There are still many infected."
Even in the darkness, the shadows of the moving infected were constantly visible. But despite all that, we had to move. Trusting each other, to escape this hellish space. Being careful not to touch any zombie byproducts, we tightened our backpacks, which were full of survival essentials like Calorie Mate and a radio, and began to move carefully.
It was a 20-minute walk to Mapo Station. At that moment, a massive explosion was heard from far away again.
BOOM! BOOM!
The explosion that shook the earth seemed to vibrate the air and shake the sky. The reason I chose this time. Because from this moment on, the military would pour out their final firepower to buy time for a retreat. Their roar would draw the zombies, and that would create time for us to move.
"It's now or never! Move!"
I saw a group of zombies in the distance rushing toward the direction of the explosion. The wind hit my face, and my heart was beating fast. I was as careful as possible so that the zombies wouldn't hear my footsteps, but I couldn't slow down. The time for the roar was 10 minutes.
"Faster!"
The road was littered with zombie byproducts and fallen obstacles. Exploded cars, broken windows—countless obstacles. Like a hunted animal, I only looked ahead and ran and ran again.
"Mapo Station... just a little more!"
Finally, Mapo Station was in sight. But at that moment, clatter! A bloody hand burst through the car window.