Chapter 15: 2 Vs. 20

Chapter 15: 2 Vs. 20

1.

Do you know where Baek Jihun went? Even just roughly.

I, I dont know. My hyung said that if he ran outside, he would eventually die to the zombies, so he told us to just leave him be

Hmm.

Finding Baek Jihun immediately seemed difficult.

Not only was it unclear whether he was alive or dead, but we would have to follow his trail and search the entire city to find him.

It was clear that this would be a very arduous task, and even if we succeeded, it was highly likely to take a long time.

Baek Seona seemed to realize this as well. Her face hardened, but soon, noticing my concern, she softly smiled.

Dont worry about me. We have to save the people in the shelter as soon as possible.

It was a calm smile.

Despite not knowing whether her entire family was alive or dead, she was worried about the strangers in the shelter.

Alright.

I nodded and continued the interrogation.

How many people are in the shelter?

According to what Baek Seona had told me beforehand, the building currently used as a shelter was the largest supermarket in the area, D-Mart.

D-Mart was a large, five-story supermarket that sold various types of food, clothing, bedding, appliances like refrigerators and rice cookers, and outdoor products like tents and burners.

In other words, it was an excellent supply depot in a disaster like this.

Originally, a nearby high school served as a temporary shelter building, so people gathered there, but they moved to D-Mart in search of food and supplies.

As a result, a massive number of people had gathered there.

Ah, there are just over 1,000 people. Yes.

What? From what I heard, it was nearly 1,500?

Ah, ah

Park Sangcheol began to sweat coldly. As I raised the hammer again, his mouth started moving like a motor.

That, that! Cheolnam said it! He said to kick out all the useless people!

Kick them out? Outside, where the zombies are roaming? Thats basically killing them, isnt it?

Yes.

Thats unbelievable.

Baek Seona muttered as if she was dumbfounded.

I frowned.

Theyre worse than I thought. So, how many ability users are currently controlling the shelter?

About 20 in total.

Not all the ability users would have agreed with you. What happened to those who disagreed? Did you kill them all?

Yes.

I see.

I continued the interrogation.

The detailed structure of the mart, the current layout of people, specific abilities and ranks of the ability users, and even the state of their defense.

After getting a nail hammered once into his hand, Park Sangcheol would hesitate, but as soon as he saw the hammer, he would spill everything.

After that, the interrogation was over.

What do we do, Doha oppa?

Baek Seona spoke with a serious expression.

In order to rescue the people in the shelter, we need to subdue about 20 ability users. But to charge in leading the zombies like this time

They had filled the first floor with civilians without any abilities and monopolized the second to fifth floors among themselves.

In other words, if we were to charge in with zombies in tow, the first to be harmed would be the innocent civilians.

Even if we managed to suppress them, it would defeat the purpose.

There are only two ability users on our side, you and Rena. No matter how strong the two of you are, this time it seems difficult. Lets look for more people who can help us.

Hmm Im not sure.

People who could help us. Where were we supposed to find them?

In a world like this, finding ability users willing to risk their lives for a cause with no compensation would be no easy task.

Even if we managed to find another group of survivors, there was a possibility they could be in a similar situation. Actually, I considered the likelihood to be quite high.

But

We should try it ourselves.

What?

I was confident.

Even if there were 20 ability users on their side and we only had two,

It was just repeating 2 against 1, 20 times.

2.

Baek Seona held her breath silently. She was hiding in the restroom on the first floor of the D-Mart.

As part of Dohas plan, Rena carried her stealthily into the first floor.

The power of an ability user is truly amazing.

Rena jumped over all sorts of obstacles without making a sound, as if she were a cat, not a human.

Being carried on Renas back was more thrilling than any ride she had ever been on.

I want to awaken my ability and help people too!

After taking a moment to calm her breathing, Baek Seona checked the time on her smartphone.

[01:59]

The current time was 1:59 AM.

It was almost time to start the operation.

An operation to eliminate the 20 ability users in the shelter, with just the three of them - Doha, Rena, and her, who had no abilities.

The operation that Doha came up with seemed to have a fairly high chance of success, even in Baek Seonas estimation.

Thats why Baek Seona came here.

Doha reallyis a person we must not turn into an enemy.

Baek Seona swallowed hard and kept her eyes on her smartphone screen.

[02:00]

How much could they resist in the deadly darkness, where it was hard to distinguish the person right next to them amidst the relentless streams of water from the sprinklers and the loudly ringing fire alarm?

It was hunting time.

4.

The ones who first realized the situation were not the guards but the ability users who were sleeping on the second floor.

The guards, all keeping watch from the roof of the Mart, knew nothing about the commotion that had broken out on the first floor.

Ugh Damn it. Its loud. Whats this noise?

The sleepy-headed man woke up rubbing his eyes.

Then the bald man lying beside him dived under his blanket and answered.

Umm I dont know. Im sleepy.

Stop sleeping and get up. Cant you hear some noise from the first floor? If we can hear it all the way up here, it must be quite loud?

Haah

The bald man got up. They both listened carefully.

Everyone quickly We need to start more fires Even with the remaining clothes

It sounded like a womans voice amplified through a speaker.

The expression on the sleepy-headed mans face gradually hardened.

Damn it. What are those bastards doing! Wake everyone up!

Hey, you idiots, wake up! Theres a rebellion on the first floor!

With the noisy commotion, the other ability users who had been sleeping on the second floor started to wake up one by one.

Hoo, my head hurts from the hangover

Huhwhat, a rebellion?

Leaving the task of waking the others to the bald man, the sleepy-headed man ran towards the escalator leading to the first floor.

As he got closer, the womans voice became clearer. And then he began to smell something.

That smell was

Ugh, it smells like something burning. Is that the smell of oil?

Smoke was rising from the first floor. As soon as he noticed it, fire alarms started ringing throughout the D-Mart.

Ring-ring-ring-ring

Immediately, the sprinklers attached to the ceiling were activated.

Whoosh!

Ugh, damn it!

What, what is it? Rain?

You idiot, its the sprinklers!

Damn it, stop this noise! My heads about to split! Is there a fire?

The sleepy-headed mans expression became serious.

Those on the first floor had started a fire, activating the fire alarms and sprinklers. Unless they all suddenly went crazy, it was clear that they were plotting something.

Even though he didnt know what the plot was, he knew it wouldnt end with this. They had to be prepared.

The sleepy-headed man was about to issue a warning.

Everyone, stay alert!!

Thunk- Thunk- Thunk-

In an instant, the entire mart was shrouded in darkness.

It was a blackout.

At that moment, the sleepy-headed man sensed it.

Were screwed!

He didnt know who the enemies were, but it seemed they had come prepared.

In this noisy and blind state, it was impossible to coordinate with allies.

To survive, he had to stay alert.

Hoo

The sleepy-headed man went into a state of high alert.

He lowered his posture and remained vigilant in all directions.

If there was any luck, it was that he was near the escalator leading to the first floor.

The fire they had set on the first floor didnt seem to go out despite the stream of water from the sprinklers, probably because they had used oil. That light was dimly illuminating the second floor.

Of course, it was a really faint light, but it was better than nothing.

At that moment, while he was on guard,

Thump. Thump.

A man appeared in front of him.

!?

The man almost didnt give off any presence.

He was wearing all-black stealth clothing that didnt reflect any light, and in his hand, he held a sashimi cutting knife that didnt shine because it was coated with black ink.

And most importantly, he was wearing night vision goggles on his head.

He was an assailant!

D-Damn it, bring it on!!

The sleepy-headed man tried to activate his ability immediately.

However, in the next moment, the man in stealth clothing vanished from his sight, and a woman in stealth clothing appeared in front of him.

?

What?

That was the last thought of the sleepy-headed man.

He died by having his neck twisted 180 degrees by Serena, who stood behind him, without even realizing how he died.

Kim Doha pointed toward the other ability users with a hand signal.

Serena nodded her head, and the two disappeared back into the darkness again.

Kim Doha thought to himself.

One down.

Nineteen more to go.