The trio moved quickly down the narrow aisle of the train car, the sounds of chaos from outside echoing faintly through the metal walls. Joon-ho led the way, eyes darting anxiously. "The driver's cabin should be safe—at least for now," he muttered, gesturing ahead.
Min Jae glanced at him, noticing how Joon-ho's gaze kept flicking sideways. *That's… His system right?*
Curiosity burned. Min Jae hesitated, then peeked at the invisible interface only he could see. The message blinked harshly in blueish letters:
『SYSTEM ERROR. CORRUPTED』
A chill ran down his spine. *Not yet… why haven't I changed? Am I next?*
They rounded the last corner of the car, the cabin's door in sight. Then came a guttural screech—a sound of metal grinding against bone.
The pilot appeared, staggering into the aisle, body grotesquely twisted, limbs grotesquely long. His uniform hung in tatters; skin cracked and scaly. He raised one clawed hand. The screech repeated, more frantic, more hungry.
"Run!" Joon-ho yelled.
The three sprinted, but the cabin was cramped, a finite space. The pilot-monster swung wildly, swiping at the walls, the floor, anything in reach. A jagged talon caught the metal pole fixed along the side of the cabin, slicing it in half with a spark of metal.
Joon-ho's eyes snapped to the broken pole. Without a word, he ducked under the monster's next swipe, narrowly avoiding a lethal strike.
Swinging the pole like a crude sword, he slashed at the creature's arm. The monster roared, claws scraping along the cabin floor, swiping randomly. Sparks flew as the pole connected, scraping and denting metal.
Min Jae barely kept hold of Soo-min, backing up as sparks littered the aisle. The monster swung again, faster now, senses apparently frenzied. Joon-ho pivoted, slashing downward, but the creature's clawed hand lashed out, smashing the pole aside.
The momentum threw Joon-ho off balance. He tumbled to the floor, pole skidding out of reach. Pain shot through his shoulder, but he gritted his teeth.
Min Jae froze for a second, watching the monster advance, and realized: This isn't just a system error—it's survival now.
The screeches echoed as the cabin became a cage, metal walls creaking under the chaos.
Min Jae's heart pounded so loud he was sure the monster could hear it. Soo-min trembled beside him, clutching his arm as though that alone could anchor her to reality.
Joon-ho lay on the floor, chest heaving, the jagged pole just out of reach.
The pilot-monster lurched closer, each step a metallic scrape that echoed like a death knell. Its grotesque limbs creaked and cracked with unnatural angles, long nails scraping the floor in a whispering, horrifying symphony.
Min Jae couldn't breathe. His eyes darted to Soo-min, then to Joon-ho. *Do something… please… someone…*
The monster's head tilted unnaturally, eyes glowing a dull, sickly yellow. It hissed, low and guttural, the sound vibrating through the walls and into Min Jae's bones. Step by step, it advanced toward Joon-ho, deliberate and patient, savoring the fear.
Soo-min whimpered. "M-Minjae… what do we do?!"
Min Jae shook his head, paralyzed. "I-I don't know… I… I…" His words faltered as the monster raised its massive claw, nails curved like sickles, inches from Joon-ho's chest. Time seemed to slow, the world contracting to this....single.....dreadful....moment.
Joon-ho's eyes flicked upward, a small smirk forming despite the blood and sweat on his face. He raised his hand slowly, deliberately, as if taunting the creature.
The monster's screech filled the cabin, nails scraping the metal railing, a sound that made Min Jae's teeth ache. The creature lunged, and every nerve screamed in terror.
Then.
Fire erupted.
From Joon-ho's outstretched palm, a ball of flame erupted, growing, spinning, and searing the air. The monster's eyes widened in horror, a shriek catching in its throat as the fireball slammed into its face. The explosion was deafening, sparks raining across the cabin, heat pressing against Min Jae and Soo-min.
The creature's head imploded in a burst of flame and ash, body collapsing with a wet, sickening thud.
Silence followed, heavy and tense. Smoke curled through the air, stinging eyes and lungs.
Min Jae sagged against the wall, knees weak, heart hammering in disbelief. Soo-min's eyes were wide, trembling, staring at the charred remnants of the monster. Neither spoke. The cabin was still, save for the faint hiss of cooling metal and the distant chaos outside.
For a moment, the world seemed frozen. Then reality pressed back in, reminding them: this was only the beginning
Joon-ho stood, brushing ash from his arm, hair singed but perfectly composed. He turned toward the two of them, smirk lingering.
"Gotcha."