Eve of the Storm (2)
Yeouido Starflex Basement Level 1, Disaster Preparedness Room.
Crunch. Crackle-!
"Grraaaahhh!!!"
Across a transparent boundary line, grotesque yet lively feasting sounds echo from inside and out. A collaborative mukbang, courtesy of the Shop and Zombie Bro.
"This is it... this is the life..."
I slurp down my special sous-vide samgyetang ramen—tender raw chicken poached in the water purifier's hot water, shredded into spicy instant noodles. The salty broth, soft chicken, and the rush of earning a fortune—no, a mountain of Magic Stones—it's pure heaven.
Former pro gamer insane lolololololol
Gnawing on a chicken leg while scrolling the gallery, a smile creeps across my face.
"Nice, everyone's coming up big."
Warmed by the wholesome vibes, I turn my head.
"Zombie Bro satisfied too, right?"
-Grrrlllk!
Beyond the transparent boundary, Zombie Bro's maws work furiously, buried in the mountain of ribs, beef cheeks, and pig heads I delivery-skilled over—each as big as me.
"Good call sending that over..."
Throwing a meat party for Zombie Bro wasn't just 'cause I raked in Magic Stones today.
Over the past six months, every time I scarfed cup rice or ramen, that drooling gaze plastered to the wall got kinda creepy.
No grill anyway, and meat piles were endless. Even after feeding Zombie Bro heaps, levels barely dipped.
"Zombie Bro ever get laid?"
Kaaack-!
"That's sex right there."
I haven't. Fuck.
Anyway, butcher section open, time to treat big.
Kaaaaack-!!!!
"Oi, Zombie Bro. Slow down. You'll choke."
Zombie Bro ignores me, chowing down. Conclusion?
"Zombies go nuts for meat itself."
Obvious they crave humans, but meat too? News to me.
"Gotta try feeding 'em first."
Classic zombie flick dilemma: If infection's goal, just bite—why eat flesh?
"This world's zombies didn't solve that either."
My Zombie Bro infects and eats. Both. Good boy.
Bottom line: They crave meat proper.
"Yeah... tasty stuff breaks human or zombie alike."
Shop hustled hard this time. My turn to chill.
Gallery mukbang? Heaven.
Post-apoc happy life.
"Alright! Next up in Zombie Omakase...!!!"
I yell, picking Zombie Bro's next treat.
"Special for Zombie Bro! Gopchang!!!"
Thus I savor chicken legs, Zombie Bro chews raw intestines—in sweet, grotesque leisure.
Hoping the outside world someday shares my everyday peace. Sincerely.
Far from the capital region.
In an era with no comms or power, regional isolation was inevitable.
Not just distance or fear.
Blame the voids between zones.
Cracked earth, warped terrain—impassable. Mutant swarms, plus inexplicable anomalies. Pure dead zones.
Yet threads connect the dots: Resistance.
Pop-!
Shattered highway, a black shadow slices air at blinding speed.
Whoom-!
Light kick craters asphalt into a vortex.
Speedrun, Cha Do-hee.
Screeech-!
"Ahh!! Came pretty far."
Deep skid marks at the skeletal Gyeongbu Expressway Manghyang Rest Area.
Secret Resistance dead drop for intel swaps.
She slips behind the building, pries open the heavy electrical room door.
"Empty."
Under massive transformer, red-lacquered [V] on vent cover. Opens carefully.
"...Already came and went."
Dusty bag inside: Pricier-than-gold antibiotics x3, bandages, notes spilling out.
[Dots connect through will to rebuild]
[South Eyes, Lighthouse Keeper receives capital region intel]
"Delivery confirmed."
Skips preamble, face hardens at report.
[Zone Reports]
[Daejeon – Juddak submerged, anarchy. Gallery/zone control impossible]
[Gimpo – Juddak executed. Warlord dictatorship]
[Incheon – State expelled. Incheon Juddak iron rule. Survivor castes, human farms operational, cannibalism observed.]
Cha Do-hee swallows bile, clamps mouth.
"...Fuck."
Grading humans like livestock.
But next shocks more.
[Daegu – Existence denied. Not radio silence—physical coords gone. Ocean where city should be. Anomaly suspected. Recon team vanished. Delete from maps.]
"...Insane."
Busan, Ulsan, Jeju: All [No info, check other drops].
[Comms anomaly persists]
[Long-range devices still can't connect regions]
[Suspect something blocking comms]
"Comms still down..."
Final note:
[To all in capital region]
[We know: You falter, countless disasters flood down.]
[Thanks for surviving. For not giving up in that hell. Sincere gratitude.]
[- South Eyes, Lighthouse Keeper]
"Hm..."
Do-hee pulls tattered Korea map, updates with red pen, murmurs.
"Gotta meet Gramps first."
1st Relief Center buzzes like a festival.
"Di-Director!! Success!!!"
A nurse hoists tuna and Saball Myeon triumphantly.
"Director best!!!! Sharing this would be amazing!!!"
"Real pro boxer!!"
"Does it when it counts. Haha."
Kang Seok-hyun beams, soothing nurses and survivors.
Pop-!
Dust and wind swirl.
"Urgh..."
"!!"
Wind dies; Cha Do-hee stands crooked, smirking.
"What? Party without me??"
"Do-hee! Perfect timing!"
"Do-hee! We beat your Speedrun with hyper-clicking and bought it all!!!"
She coughs dryly at their glee.
"Ahem! Good for you."
"That user's such a troll. 27 in 0.9 sec? Impossible..."
"Ahem! Sorry to rain on the parade, Gramps."
Thud-.
Bag lands at Kang's feet.
"Meds from other regions. Use where needed."
"Ooh, this treasure safe... Good work."
Do-hee eyes him clutching it joyfully.
"Gramps, talk."
"Hm..."
Kang sighs over notes and map. Relief Center head, Resistance key ally.
"Juddaks corrupted... Where does this end?"
"If hell has floors, capital's sub-100."
Do-hee leans on wall, bitter smile.
"Yeah... Red Zone above, Black beyond."
She pauses, drops the bomb.
"Gramps, shared Shop with other regions."
Kang's eyes widen.
"What'd they say? Using it well—"
"No."
Sharp cut.
"No Shops elsewhere. Capital-only update."
"How? System glitch?"
He stares blankly.
"Not a glitch. Maybe... just maybe."
Do-hee trails off, drops it.
"Maybe Shop's no system. Another Awakener like us?"
"What?"
"Think: Fair system discriminates regions? Plus Shop name."
She snorts.
"Starflex. Pre-apoc mega-mall chain. What system names after department stores?"
Silence.
"...Intriguing, but Juddak gallery turf—no other Awakener opens Shop. Wouldn't give rivals that power."
"Hmmm..."
Do-hee stalls.
"Not sharing with our Juddak yet?"
"Too soon. Maybe never."
Cold distrust in her eyes.
"You saw other Juddaks."
"..."
"Juddak role's too heavy. Can't risk corruption fallout. Plus..."
Pauses, stares void.
"Don't trust ex-hunters. You saw that day."
"...Saw clear."
"What happened vanishing to Green Zone. The truth."
No reply.
"I'm just messenger, mapmaker. Facts only. No folding till Shop ID'd."
"But Do-hee. Our Juddak's safe, stabilizing Yellow Zone. Who's official for Orange?"
She laughs, stands, loosens ankle. Tap on concrete.
Whoom-!
Air rips with sonic boom.
"Me."
Arrogant declaration draws Kang's wry chuckle.
'Yeah, you'd say that.'
Orange Zone: Dead zone anytime. Held by one: Cha Do-hee. Unregistered top-tier Awakener, solo-slaughtering intruders.
"Finish eating, Gramps. Rare fest."
"Leaving already?"
"When do I rest?"
Pangyo North Fortress fest too.
"Kaaaa! This hits!!!"
"Ugh... Feels alive..."
Private Kim cackles, drops empty cup.
"Hey, Choi Jin-su. 'PureAce' gallery nick? Can't even field-strip right, total trash."
"Nah, no me, no broth today."
"True true. Not PureAce—ChewAce!"
Laughter fills outpost.
Rumble rumble.
"...Huh?"
Kim frowns.
Gaze drops. Empty cup's red broth ripples faintly.
Rumble rumble-!
Heavy vibes climb cold concrete.
"Quiet."
Laughs vanish.
Bad vibes. Kim grabs military flashlight, clicks.
Clack-.
Beam pierces dark.
End hits... something.
"Wha... wha...?"
Pale light: Hundreds of freakish eyes gleam in black.
Twisted-limbed mutant horde surges like tsunami at the line.
One meaning.
"F-fuck... W-W-Wave..."