Trolley Dilemma (2)
The gallery was overflowing with real-time best posts brutally depicting the current state of the Orange Zone.
Honestly thought I was pretty damn strong in the Orange Zone
Even poked around the Red Zone entrance at Jamsil a few times and did well in uncharted Orange Zone areas
But even one or two of them was too much for me fml lmao
Guild leader died first
Rest of the guild got shredded and I alone ran to an abandoned shop, just barricaded the door and my lower half got ripped off...
Maybe the capital region is done for
Feels like we've held out pretty long already
I'm done for so everyone survive on your own ????
How strong are Red Zone zombies...?
“...”
Even a fairly strong Awakener's despairing last words, dying so pathetically. Even more horrific posts kept appearing below.
Wtf...?
Posts saying Pangyo defense line and 1st Relief Center breached are bullshit don't believe
Survivors and stalkers there holding with their lives rn
Real problem is zombies leaking through defense gaps;;
They're grouping in small packs spreading to Orange Zone residential and refugee alleys
Unarmed civilians getting shredded defenseless, infect on bite and turn same so rotting from inside;;
Ah fml... infections rising realtime?
We'd already suspected, but this ain't normal.
“...This is seriously bad.”
I'd been chilling comfortably here, so I hadn't witnessed the outside world's reality firsthand.
But this made it hit home hard.
How cushy my life was, sucking on honey.
With things this dire, posts straight-up trolling users started popping up.
Mole zombie crawled up, yeah.
Hunter Ham squad came down and shredded it saw with my own eyes, yeah.
But not showing now? Means per Hunter Ham standards this ain't shit yet, yeah.
If real crisis they'd be here already idiots lmao
Stop whining and hold out lol
That time mole headed straight for Green so they came;;
Aight then what about Suwon flying mutant raid~~?
“Guilds are like that...”
Groups prioritizing raw survival and gain over ethics.
I'm different. I had reason to help them.
Some liked guilds too, but timing issues kept them away.
“Tch...”
With the crisis, I was quickly brainstorming ways to help.
How could I aid them.
“Juddak? You said Juddak's strong.”
Bribe admin to send her? Idea flashed.
Finishing Suwon issue late saw delayed lil
Don't give up I'll make it no matter what
Light Juddak Hwang Juddak...
She was going, pure physical no movement skills.
“Tch. No good.”
Plus key was handling regional issues and my top VIP user.
“Wanna grant Speedrun's request.”
I checked the pinned top post by Speedrun again.
Know how kids treated in this world but pls
I'll handle defense line and relief center... pls... anyone save the kids...
“...”
Speedrun's raw emotion and hellish reality vivid through screen.
Seeing these, hallucinations whispered in my ear unbidden.
— Don't go to subway station! Nooo!!! You'll die!!!!!!!!
— 3rd floor fire door... how drop fire door? Fml! Manual manual where!!!!
— Auntie!!! That's not your daughter!!!! Don't go back!!!
— Hazard lights!!! Hazard lights!!! I turned em on!!!! Come down here!!!! No don't go up!!
— Siren agro pull!!!! No noise!!!! Fml!!! Just quietly come down here!!!! Nooooo!!!!
— Zombie teacher! Zombie teacher!! You fml bastard!!! Die outside!! Go die!!!!
— ......Teacher.... can't you just spit it out...? Ate so much one person...
“...”
Memories of wailing all night watching CCTV.
“Oops.”
I shook my head hard, shaking off thoughts instantly.
“Right, so how to help?”
Speedrun handling defense and relief seemed strong, but no spare for shelter clearly.
“...How to help cleanest way.”
Secure shelter safety while diverting all zombies from defense at once. Something needed.
As I pondered.
Crack- Kwash! Crunch!
Bone-crushing, munching grotesque yet jaunty sound in my ear.
“...Huh?”
My gaze went beyond transparent barrier.
Zombie Teacher chomping spine like puppy wagging tail, fully engrossed, ignoring me.
Kyaaak-!
Usually drooling or clawing at me, now fixated on huge bone.
“Wait...! That's it....”
Saw him, realized how to help.
“Grooo...! Zombie Teacher!”
- Grrr?
Zombie Teacher paused chomping, tilted heads at me. I grinned.
“Day I'd owe Zombie Teacher comes.”
Time for another feast.
****
Same time.
Kwaaaang―!!!!!
Before Pangyo defense line soldiers guarded, ground shook, dust rose.
“Haa... haa... heuk...!”
Top of mountain of mutant corpses reeking blood.
“Fml almost died...”
Cha Do-hee stood stomping head of building-sized giant mutant.
Drip. Plop.
Dark red nosebleed dripped nonstop from her perky nose.
“Ah...”
She roughly wiped, but body screaming past limits.
Veins burst eyes blood-red, legs trembling like snapping any sec.
“Ugh...”
Hundreds zombies wave pouring at barrier.
Leading unknown giant mutant.
All handled by one Awakener, Cha Do-hee. No wonder.
“...”
“...”
Hundreds soldiers ready to pull triggers, lowered guns, stared dazed at Do-hee.
“No... way...”
“What... is that woman...?”
“Human... right...?”
“Couldn't even see...”
As they muttered trembling.
Tatadak-!
Commander Kim Tae-hyeong jumped down barrier, approached blood-soaked shaking Do-hee.
Kim slowly, sharply saluted her.
“Pangyo North Fortress commander, Captain Kim Tae-hyeong. Thank you...!”
Do-hee staggered off giant corpse at salute.
Thud-!
“Kuh...!”
Legs gave on landing, knelt on ground.
Impact dropped small bag she carried, spilled open.
Plop-.Along trinkets, crooked writing/drawing paper fluttered on wind to Kim's boot.
[Thanks! Hope you win!]
Kids from shelter drew cheers for barrier soldiers, to pass on.
Kim and soldiers eyes reddened instantly.
“Th-this... miss... truly thank you. We...”
Choked Kim tried thanking again.
“Haa... haa... no time... for greetings.”
Task not done. One more place to save.
Kids in danger. No time.
Reach shelter before they do.
[Protect Pangyo North Fortress, 1st Relief Center, Slum Village Entirely]
📍 Success Probability:1% / Difficulty: Hell
🎁 Failure Penalty:Awakener abilities stripped & all stats reset
Success prob and difficulty unchanged. Ominous.
Maybe already too late.
Even superhuman speed can't save all harsh reality.
Prepare bear all blame alone.
“...Still gotta go.”
Do-hee dragged crumbling legs, bit torn lips, forced stand when.
Drdrdr-!
Heavy footsteps from darkness again.
They coming once more.
“Haa... fml. Persistent bastards.”
Do-hee swallowed curse, gripped slipping dagger but.
Drop-!
Overlimit right arm spasmed limp.
“Go, miss.”
Kim murmured low seeing.
“What?”
“This drawing... Slum Village kids from your gallery post, right.”
Kim asked staring ahead.
Do-hee panted rough no answer.
Bloody bitter smile on his lips.
“This Pangyo North Fortress regular army. Giant maybe, but those? No chance.”
“What you talking... you guys alone how-”
“Leave to us. Never breached once since fall.”
Hundreds soldiers behind gripped weapons, showed solid backs to Do-hee.
“Go! Trust us!”
“Thanks!”
“Thanks for support!!!”
Soldiers' resolute shouts, Do-hee finally chuckled.
“Pfft... from old timers... to soldier uncles...”
Do-hee pulled rider goggles down.
“All... aged so coolly.”
Whoom―!!!
Crushed asphalt, shockwave swallowed her gone.
* * *
Pangyo North Fortress after she left, heavy silence.
“...”
“...”
Kim stared her direction, slowly turned.
Drdrdr-!
Mutants wave incoming.
Tiny vs 1st wave, no tough zombies, but all knew.
“None?”
“None here.”
“Empty.”
No ammo left anyway.
“Captain.”
Adjutant approached in heavy quiet.
“Post-fall we didn't rebel stayed regular army cuz...”
Private Choi nodded with others at Kim.
“All thanks to you, captain. Honor serving.”
“Honor, company commander!”
“Honor!!!”
Hundreds soldiers, facing death, most desperate sincere salute.
“...Company commander moved.”
Kim bloodshot eyes took in each soldier, drew heavy greatsword from waist.
“Salute company commander!!!”
“Loyalty!!!”
“Loyaaaalty!!!”
Far, first mutant rank appeared, final salutes poured on him.
“We stay regular army to end!”
Kim leveled greatsword on rifle, hoarse final roar.
“All, fix baaaayonets!!!!!!”
Click―! Clank!
Hundreds bayonets locked in rifle barrels cold metal rang fortress.
Soldiers roared charging barrier monsters final bayonet charge, that instant.
Weeeeng-!
Night sky tore.
Literally ripped open.
“Wha...?”
Resolved soldiers froze.
“Th-that's...”
“Sy, System...?”
“Shop... shop portal!!!!”
Soldiers knowing shouted.
From portal, beyond imagination poured.
Plop plop! Splat!
Huge spine etc massive raw meat rained empty lot far from barrier.
Overwhelming blood/meat stench blanketed battlefield.
Fresh brutal smell perfectly stimulated mindless beasts' instincts.
- Kyaaaak!
- Gigigik!
Mutants charging barrier stopped like lie, eyes turned to meat drop.
Soon ignored barrier, scattered turned direction fully.
“No way...”
“Turned... scattering...”
Hundreds soldiers bayonets up, dazed watched scene.
No sacrifice, disaster averted before eyes.
Thud-!
Kim dropped rifle, collapsed powerless.
“Miracle...”
He uttered trembling voice, full joy.
“System's miracle...!!!”