The air in the classroom hung heavy with anticipation. The afternoon sun casting shadows in the classroom . Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle in the hallway, sent shivers down their spines. Eun Ji's question, "What should we do to kill time?" echoed unanswered in the tense silence. Each member of the group retreated into their own thoughts, their faces etched with worry.
Mr. Im, however, couldn't seem to tear his gaze away from Hwang Jin. The boy sat in a corner, eyes closed, seemingly unfazed by the chaos that had unfolded. The memory of Hwang Jin's swift and brutal takedown of the creatures replayed in Mr. Im's mind, a stark contrast to the quiet, unassuming student he knew from class. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Mr. Im approached Seung Min, who was hunched over the school plan, tracing potential routes with a trembling finger.
"Seung Min," Mr. Im whispered, his voice hoarse, "do you know anything about Hwang Jin? He's... different from what I remember."
Seung Min, startled by Mr. Im's sudden presence, looked up. "Hwang Jin? Not much, sir. He's always been a quiet kid, kept to himself mostly. Didn't participate much in class activities."
Mr. Im frowned. The quiet kid he knew wouldn't have been able to move with such deadly precision, wouldn't have possessed such a cold efficiency in eliminating the creatures. There was more to Hwang Jin than met the eye, a secret hidden beneath his calm exterior.
Meanwhile, across the school...
Nari and Jin Hyuk cautiously crept down the deserted hallway, their eyes scanning every corner for signs of movement. The silence was broken only by the soft squelch of their shoes against the grimy floor. They were on a desperate search for any other survivors, a glimmer of hope in the midst of this horrifying nightmare.
Suddenly, a guttural moan echoed from an empty hallway. Jin Hyuk's hand instinctively flew to the hilt of his sword, his heart pounding in his chest. Nari gripped the rusty pipe in her hand, her knuckles white with tension.
They peeked cautiously into the classroom. A lone creature, its body contorted at an unnatural angle, shambled aimlessly around the room. Jin Hyuk, with a practiced flick of his wrist, unsheathed his sword. He moved with a silent grace honed from years of training, dispatching the creature with a single, swift blow.
Just as they were about to move on, the sound of footsteps approaching made them freeze. Two figures emerged from around the corner, both clad in the school uniform. A young female student,with long brown hair, short in heigh with curious eyes, took the lead. Behind her trailed a slightly younger boy, his face hidden behind the screen of a phone held aloft on a makeshift stick.
The girl, oblivious to the danger they had just witnessed, rushed forward, her eyes widening in recognition. "Jin Hyuk! Oh my god, is that really you?!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.
Jin Hyuk blinked, momentarily taken aback. He didn't recognize the girl, but the way she addressed him sent a jolt through him. "Who are you?" he asked cautiously.
"It's me, Soo-ah ! Don't you remember? From class!" Soo-ah continued, her voice bubbling with a nervous energy. "You're Jin Hyuk Hansol, right? From the Hansol family?"
The name hung heavy in the air. The Hansol family, a name synonymous with wealth and power, a family that had dominated Ulsan's social scene for generations. Jin Hyuk winced internally. He wasn't interested in flaunting his family's name, especially not in these dire circumstances.
The boy behind Soo-ah finally lowered his phone, revealing a mop of unruly black hair covering his forehead and Shadowing his eyes. And brought the phone back to it's original angle.
Soo-ah nudged him playfully. "Don't be rude, Min-joon! But seriously, Jin Hyuk, it's amazing to see you here! You're like, a total hero! Did you see the way you took down that thing? So cool!"
Jin Hyuk, unused to such fervent admiration, shifted uncomfortably. "It was nothing," he mumbled, his gaze flickering between Soo-ah's enthusiastic chatter and Nari, who stood silently observing the scene, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.
"And sorry for Min-Joon he's a bit shy" said Soo-ah.
Min-Joon turned the phone to face Soo-ah, her wide, curious eyes glimmering under the dim hallway light. "Hey everyone, still alive here in Ulsan! We're currently holed up in the school, but no worries—Jin Hyuk Hansol, yes *that* Jin Hyuk, is here with us!" she said, her tone dripping with excitement as Min Joon briefly panned the camera toward Jin Hyuk.
Jin Hyuk stepped back uncomfortably, avoiding looking directly at the lens. "Soo-ah, cut it out. This isn't the time for—"
"Relax, hero," Soo-ah interrupted, her voice bright and nonchalant. "People need hope right now. And look at this view count! We've got over 1,000 watching live!" She gave the camera back to Min Joon. "To everyone asking, no, I haven't seen any other survivors except these guys. But we're staying strong. Right, Jin Hyuk?"
He didn't respond. Instead, he crossed his arms and asked, "Soo-ah, did you see anyone else alive while you were wandering?"
Soo-ah shook her head, her smile dimming. "No... just the creatures. They're everywhere. It's terrifying." Then, as if trying to lighten the mood, she added, "But with Jin Hyuk here, we'll be fine! He's got this awesome sword. Is it your family's heirloom? You know, the one on display in the school?"
Jin Hyuk stiffened, his jaw tightening. He chose not to answer, his eyes flickering to Nari, who was watching the exchange silently, her face unreadable.
"How did all this even happen?" Jin Hyuk asked instead, his voice low.
Soo-ah tilted her head thoughtfully, the stream still running. "I don't know the details, but luckily it's not the whole country. It's just Ulsan. The military has sealed the city off and is taking action. You know, evacuating important people and stuff like that."
"Evacuating?" Nari's voice cut in, sharp and skeptical. "Have you contacted anyone for help?"
"No," Soo-ah admitted, her cheerful tone faltering. "Everyone's busy with their own stuff, I guess. That's why I'm live streaming—someone has to take notice, right?"
Nari ran a hand through her hair, clearly frustrated. "You're wasting power. The electricity isn't stable—it comes and goes, and right now, it's out. You should save the battery."
Soo-ah smirked, Min Joon capturing all angles. "Oh, I don't have to worry about that! Did you guys not notice? I'm using the latest *Geno Phone evo 13*! It's solar-powered!"Min-joon showing them the phone and turned the camera back toward Soo-ah , practically posing. "I've been working with Genesis Technologies, and they gave me access to this baby. Best phone on the market, and it's keeping me connected."
"Genesis Technologies?" Nari asked, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't they a biotech company?"
"They are, but they do everything," Soo-ah explained, clearly in her element. "They're one of Korea's biggest growing companies. Biotech is just one of their branches. They've got tech, consumer goods, even energy research. There's a Genesis facility right here in Ulsan, but it's a biotech one. Crazy, right? But It's now in flames "
Jin Hyuk exchanged a glance with Nari, processing the information. It made sense now why Genesis had been so prominent in recent years. But before he could say anything, Nari frowned and said flatly, "Okay, Soo-ah, we get it. Chill with the advertisement."
Soo-ah stuck out her tongue playfully at Nari. "Fine, fine! No need to be so serious, Nari." Then, looking back at her phone, she added, "But seriously, everyone, if you're watching this, please send help!"
"We need to move now"said Jin Hyuk. They began to move. Nari was fascinated how soo ah was still confident in this horrific moment.