Min Joon: Follow me, get on the boat!
Kim Yuri: Where did you get the boat?
Min Joon: No time, hurry! We only have 1 hour to get to the communications tower. Move it!
Everyone got on the boats, but the problem was one boat could only hold two people at most, and the other was a 6-person boat.
Ji-hoon and Leon got on the 2-person boat, and the rest got on the 6-person boat. Min Joon had found two radios at the gun shop before leaving. He gave one to Ji-hoon and kept one himself.
As they were heading towards the communications tower...
Suddenly, the sound of gunfire and boats came from behind them.
Leon: Hey, Ji-hoon, who are they?
Ji-hoon: I found these binoculars at the gun shop. See what it is.
Leon looked. They were the group Bit.
The Bit group attacked and started shooting.
Leon: Ji-hoon, go faster, move it!
Leon picked up his gun.
Ji-hoon: Who the hell are they again?
Leon: The same bastards who arrested us with Park Woo-jin.
Bit Soldier: Operation to eliminate Leon and Ji-hoon commencing.
The shooting started.
Ji-hoon: Your heads will ache!
Leon: Whatever happens, just dont stop!
Leon killed one of the soldiers. But the boats were increasing.
Leon, shooting, shouting over the gunfire:
They are increasing! Ji-hoon, do something, damn it!
Radio sound – static, then Min Joon's voice:
Ji-hoon? Ji-hoon, what is going on there? I lost you! What is that gunfire?!
Ji-hoon, with one hand on the radio, shouting:
That Park Woo-jin group is attacking us, Min Joon. You go ahead, we will find a way!
Min Joon, over the radio, angrily:
No, impossible! I will not leave you behind!
Sound of the radio cutting off – Min Joon cuts it off.
Suddenly, the enemies said, laughing and angrier than ever: Hey scumbags, we found you. Our new boss will give us a reward when he finds out we killed you. You killed Keliron!
Leon: You idiots, this is pointless! There is not much time left! Ulsan is about to blow up! You should be helping us to save your own lives!
A soldier to another soldier: Kill them, we will save Ulsan ourselves...
Suddenly, the sound of a sniper shot rang out. And the soldier fell to the ground. The boat lost control and suddenly capsized.
Min Joon had come back. Armed to the teeth.
Min Joon: I will not leave my brothers alone. I will save them, you bastards.
Jin-ho: You really missed us that much, huh, you trash?
The shooting started from all sides. Bullets rained down on the Bit group. A second jet ski swerved, the driver thrown into the water.
Min Joon got close to Leon and Ji-hoon. But suddenly...
A military boat appeared, equipped with a machine gun.
The muffled sound of the large machine gun filled the river space even before seeing its source. A harsh, rhythmic sound that overpowered all the scattered gunfire. From behind a bend in the river, a steel-gray monster emerged. A military boat with a sharp, aggressive design, and on top of it, a heavy machine gun whose barrel turned directly towards them.
A Bit group soldier shouted with wicked joy: Look! Backup arrived! Now see how we tear you apart!
Min Joon's eyes widened with anger and anxiety. Damn fate! Where did a military boat come from?
Leon quickly analyzed the situation. They were in a small, defenseless boat. The machine gun could turn them into splinters in the blink of an eye. Escape was impossible. The larger boat was at a safe distance, but would be in direct line of fire if it moved.
Ji-hoon, with a pale but determined face, looked at their weapons: break-action rifles, handguns, and Min Joon's MP5. None of them would do anything against that monster. We need a big hit... an explosion.
Suddenly, Leon's gaze fixed on the Bit group's light boats that were now circling them more confidently. On one of them, extra fuel was strapped in a small metal barrel.
Leon, with a shout that overcame the engine noise: Min Joon! Look at that boat on the left! The fuel barrel! Ji-hoon, you have to get us right to the edge of that military boat!
Min Joon did not hesitate for even a second. He changed the MP5's magazine. On it. I will provide covering fire. But it is a one-shot chance!
The machine gun on the military boat roared to life with a thunderous sound. Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat! Large bullets churned the water a few meters away, slamming into the wooden dock by the river, splintering wood into the air.
Ji-hoon yelled and twisted the throttle of the small boat all the way. The engine screamed in protest. The boat shot forward like a spear, taking an unpredictable zigzag path.
Min Joon took cover behind a metal seat and fired short, precise bursts towards the military boat. His aim was to hit the machine gunner or at least force him to take cover. His bullets sparked off the boat's armor.
Leon picked up the .22 break-action rifle. He took a deep breath. In a world that seemed to have slowed down, he could hear his own heartbeat in his ears. The small boat trembled beneath his feet. Wind and spray burned his face. He stared not at the machine gun, but at that metal barrel firmly strapped to one of the Bit group's boats.
The military boat turned slightly to the right for a better aim. That was the moment.
Ji-hoon: Now, Leon!
The small boat, in a dangerous maneuver, instead of pulling away, dove directly towards the military boat, passing at an extremely close range in its deadly shadow. This temporarily took them out of the machine gun's line of sight but exposed them to fire from the other small boats.
Leon stood up. His feet planted firmly on the trembling deck, his body resisting the wind. He shouldered the rifle. That barrel was a small, swaying target. Just one shot. Just one chance.
A bullet from a Bit boat hit his arm. A sharp pain like fire shot through his arm. But he did not even flinch. He held his breath. Calculated: wind, his boat's movement, the target boat's movement.
Bam!
The sound of his rifle shot was lost amidst the machine gun's roar. For a moment, nothing. Then...
Impact! The bullet hit the metal wall of the barrel, creating a small hole. For a second, fuel just dripped from it.
And then...
Whoomp!
The barrel exploded with a blinding explosion. Raging flames shot into the sky, immediately engulfing the boat carrying it. But that was not all. The initial explosion also detonated the other fuel barrels on the same boat and even the neighboring boat. A chain of fire and smaller explosions lit up the river.
The fire quickly spread to the military boat that was positioned very close by. Flames crawled across the water towards it, reaching its fuel tanks or secondary ammunition.
KRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUM!
A massive explosion, bigger than all the others, split the military boat in half. Its steel hull tore like paper, and large and small pieces of it, along with fire and black smoke, were hurled into the air. The shockwave hit Leon and Ji-hoon's small boat, violently shaking it, water rushing in.
The sound of the machine gun was silenced forever. The remaining Bit group boats fled into the distance in terror and disarray.
Relative silence fell, only the sound of crackling fire and gasping breaths.
Ji-hoon, his face blackened by smoke and his eyes wide with shock, looked at Leon. Leon was sitting on the deck, pressing his wounded arm with his good hand. Blood dripped between his fingers.
Min Joon quickly approached them with the larger boat. His face was a mix of anxiety, pride, and disbelief. Dangerous idiots... you really did it.
Leon sighed with pain and exhaustion and gestured to Ji-hoon: Now... let us get on those remaining pieces of the military boat. At least it is a floating metal hull.
Ji-hoon gave a small, tired smile. We captured a military boat... just broke it a little first.
With the help of the others, they made their way to the largest floating piece of the military boat's hull—a part of the front deck that was relatively intact, with a small engine on it that still worked. They started it. Now they had an armored vehicle, albeit half-wrecked.
Kim Yuri looked at Leon from the larger boat, her eyes filled with tears of relief and fear. Leon just nodded once to indicate he was okay.
Min Joon took the helm again, this time the helm of the metal wreck-boat. He glanced at his watch and his face contorted. Now the time is really up. Communications tower. Immediately.
Jin-ho: Oh guys, we have half an hour. This boat will not escape faster.
Min Joon: I see it, there it is.
They finally arrived and got off the boat, and unfortunately, Motrises were blocking their way.
They knew if they had to fight the Motrises again, their time would run out, so they were forced to just distract them.
Yuna: I saw somewhere that zombies are attracted to different sounds. We need to activate a car alarm from a distance.
Yuri: Alarms activate on impact. If we shoot at the car, like the windshield, it will activate.
Min Joon: Give me that sniper rifle.
Min Joon focused. Focused.
Leon: Be careful, Min Joon, be careful.
Min Joon: Do not rush me... do not rush me.
Suddenly, Min Joon fired. He hit the target and the alarm activated. The Motrises rushed towards the car with intensity.
Jin-ho: Hurry, before they come back, we have to close the gate.
Everyone started running.
Leon: Min Joon, give me that harness. I will go up, and you cover me. I will come back down.
Min Joon: Five minutes left. Get it faster.
Min Joon threw the harness while moving, and Leon caught it. Leon went up and reached the first section of the tower. A Motris came towards him, charged at him, and slammed Leon hard to the ground. Just as it was about to attack again, boom.
A sniper bullet came towards the Motris. The Motris was wounded. Leon used the opportunity, kicked the Motris, pushed it, and finally, with all his might, pushed the Motris down.
Min Joon, a bit nervous: Leon, you wasted time on a mistake. Hurry up, three minutes left. I can hear the fighter jets.
Leon looked down. He was at a great height. Leon was scared for a moment and froze in place.
Min Joon over the radio, worried and scared: Why are you frozen? Hurry up!
Suddenly, Kim Yuri came on the line over Min Joon's radio: Hello, Leon.
Sound comes from the radio, with a slightly shaky static but full of emotion. In the background, the sound of wind and the anxiety of others can also be heard.
Yuri: Leon... listen. Take a deep breath. Just listen to my voice.
Leon, at the height, is breathing rapidly. His eyes are fixed on the depth below. Yuri's voice reaches him like a lifeline.
Yuri: I know how scared you are right now. I can see you from down here too. Like that night you were beside me and I was afraid of every sound... remember? You told me: I will sit with you for now.
Leon breathes more calmly. He grips the metal railing tightly.
Yuri: Now it is my turn. I am with you too. Not physically, but with my whole being. You are not alone. We are all here, right below, watching you. Watching the hope that you represent.
Leon, in a shaky voice: Yuri... I...
Yuri, cuts him off with a calm, firm tone: No. Listen. You are the strongest person I know. You have gotten past monsters and people worse than monsters. Past loneliness and loss. This height? It is just another obstacle. Like those walls you broke before.
When I look up and see you up there... I see how we are fighting. Not just to survive, to breathe... but to survive for afterwards. For that day when we will not have to climb anymore, will not have to fight anymore. For that clean pillow... and for the peace we are finally going to reach.
Leon, takes a deep breath, his voice becomes steadier: Yeah...
Yuri, with a voice full of tears and a smile: But to reach afterwards, we first have to get through now. And you are the key to our now.
Min Joon, from the background, anxiously but more muted: Two minutes, Leon!
Yuri, quickly and passionately: Can you hear? They need you. Ulsan needs you. I need you. Not just to save me, but so that after all this darkness, you will stay by my side and prove to me that the world can still be bright. Now... please go. Go and send that signal. For all our futures. For the poor humans.
A brief silence falls on the radio, only the sound of the wind.
Yuri, calmly, like a promise: I will be waiting here. I promise I will not move from my spot until you come back. So you promise me you will come back.
We hear the sound of the radio cutting off, and then the sound of Leon's firm and fast footsteps starting to climb again, this time with renewed energy and focus.
Leon's speed increased even more than before, and he was acting faster.
Leon at the top of the tower - radio in hand
Leon took a deep breath. He pressed the radio tightly. Further away, in the gray sky, the thin black shadows of fighter jets were circling like birds of prey.
Leon, in a loud, firm voice, but slightly shaky from fatigue and excitement:
Anyone who can hear my voice... listen! My name is Leon... Leon Whistlander. And I am speaking to you directly from the heart of Ulsan, from the top of the communications tower!
A brief silence, only static.
Leon, with more intensity:
The Minister of Defense... he lied to you. A complete lie. Ulsan is not empty! There are still living people here... trapped, but alive! If you bomb us, you are killing innocent people, survivors like us!
Suddenly, another voice comes on the frequency, full of astonishment and doubt.
Pilot, from the radio:
My God... this... is this real? A human? Hey, hey Mr. Whistlander! I can hear you clearly! Can you repeat?
Leon, breathing rapidly:
Yes, yes! Your voice is clear! We are here!
Pilot, in a hurry, his voice indicating a rapid change in situation:
Your message received! Listen, we can not completely halt the operation, but we can give you an evacuation window. Five in the morning... exactly at dawn. We will send a helicopter for extraction. Are you alone?
Leon:
No! Seven others are with me. All of us are healthy survivors.
Pilot:
Good. Tell me the landing site. It needs to be a precise and safe point.
Leon, without a moment's hesitation:
Villa number 14, Songju Street, South Sky neighborhood. The large, flat courtyard behind the building. We will turn on lights. You will spot it from above.
Pilot:
Got it. Villa number 14, Songju Street. Five a.m. But listen... the time window is very tight. If you are not there on time, we will have to return without you. I repeat: five a.m., do not be late.
Leon:
Understood. Thank you. Really... thank you.
The roar of the fighter jets' engines gradually fades into the distance. They are temporarily retreating.
Leon detaches from the radio. His legs are frozen and shaking. He drags himself with difficulty to the edge of the tower and looks down towards the small spot where the others are waiting. Then, like a sack emptied of energy, he falls onto his back on the ground. Gasping for air.
Leon, under his breath, eyes closed:
Whoa... thank God... it passed us by... it passed us by...
Bottom of the tower - the waiting group
A few minutes later, Leon reaches the group on shaky legs. Everyone gathers around him. Kim Yuri is the first to reach him.
Kim Yuri, inside the radio, her eyes filled with tears of joy and fear:
Leon... hero... well done! I knew it... I knew you could do it! Thank you... you really saved us, from a certain death...
Suddenly... it seems we will not see a good day after all.
Kim Yuri, violently, pointing her finger:
Oh God... who... who is that?!
Leon, tired but alert, quickly turns around:
Who? Where?
The others notice too. All eyes stare towards the end of the street. From behind the shadow of an old van, several figures slowly emerge. Leading them is a familiar black leather jacket and gelled hair.
Park Woo-jin.
And behind him, a larger creature, with darker skin and a wounded but still massive body... Keliron. Alive. But now under command.
The group immediately takes a defensive stance. They run towards the boats, but Park Woo-jin quickly appears in front of them, and when they tried to turn back, they saw Keliron.
Park Woo-jin, with an inverted smile, his voice thin and full of mockery:
Oh-ho... turned into fleeing mice, huh? Dirty little trash... thought it was over? Hahahaha...
Da-som, despite her fear, says firmly, while slowly backing away:
Very well... so what is the next plan?
Park Woo-jin, his smile fades, his eyes become empty and emotionless:
Plan? Simple. You are going to die. And you will die. Right here, right now, before that false helicopter arrives and you take your wishes with you to the grave.
Keliron behind the survivors lets out a growl from the depths of its throat. The final confrontation, precisely on the threshold of rescue, has begun.