Chapter 5: Gathering Storm
The days that followed blurred together. Every passing hour brought more news—most of it bad. The creatures emerging from the towers were becoming more frequent, more violent, and more devastating. Governments around the world were scrambling to respond, but no one had a clear strategy. The towers loomed over cities like grim sentinels, seemingly invincible, while fear spread like wildfire.
Jin and Min-Ho spent their time poring over any information they could find, looking for patterns, answers, or even just a lead. But the more they dug, the more it became clear that no one knew what was going on. The awakeners were a growing phenomenon, but there was no central group, no organized resistance. It was chaos, and everyone was left to fend for themselves.
Ha-Yoon had sent more videos—footage of awakeners in other cities, some banding together, others causing more destruction than the creatures themselves. Some were heroes, fighting to protect the people around them. Others were more reckless, using their newfound powers for personal gain or revenge. The world was changing rapidly, and the line between friend and foe was becoming increasingly blurred.
Jin couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out. He knew they needed to act, but what could two people do in the face of all this? Min-Ho's healing abilities were remarkable, but they wouldn't be enough to stop what was coming. Jin had spent sleepless nights thinking about the towers, the creatures, the powers, and the strange pull he felt toward the Torre outside the city. He had to do something—anything—to get ahead of whatever nightmare was unfolding.
One evening, as Jin and Min-Ho sat in the small apartment, Ha-Yoon called.
"Jin, I found something big," she said, her voice tense with urgency. "There's a group forming—an organized resistance. They're gathering awakeners, people who want to fight back against the towers."
Jin's heart skipped a beat. "Where?"
"Busan," Ha-Yoon replied. "They've set up a base there, far enough from the towers to avoid attacks for now. They're recruiting anyone who's willing to stand up to the towers and the creatures. You should come."
Jin glanced at Min-Ho, who had been listening quietly. The idea of joining a resistance group wasn't just appealing—it felt like their only option. But they were both aware of the risks. Busan was far, and traveling through a city in chaos was dangerous.
"How do we know they're legit?" Jin asked, his voice measured. "There are a lot of rumors out there."
"I've seen them myself," Ha-Yoon said firmly. "This isn't a rumor. These people are serious, and they're organized. They've already taken down one of the smaller towers. There are more like them popping up all over the world, but this group is one of the best equipped. They've got resources, intel, and they're starting to figure out how to fight back."
Jin felt a surge of hope. "When should we leave?"
"As soon as possible," Ha-Yoon said. "Things are getting worse by the day. If you wait too long, it might be too late to reach Busan safely. The roads are dangerous, and the creatures are moving farther out from the towers."
Jin nodded, determination setting in. "We'll go. Meet us when we get there?"
"I'll be waiting," she promised. "Be careful."
After hanging up, Jin turned to Min-Ho. "What do you think? You up for this?"
Min-Ho hesitated, clearly unsure. "I don't know if I'm ready for this. I can barely control my powers, and I've never fought anything in my life. What if I'm more of a liability than a help?"
Jin put a hand on his shoulder. "None of us are ready for this. But we don't have a choice. Staying here isn't safe. And we can't just wait around while the towers keep growing stronger."
Min-Ho swallowed hard but nodded. "Okay. I'll go with you. But what about you, Jin? You've been feeling something strange too, right? Ever since the towers appeared…"
Jin paused. Min-Ho was right. Ever since the towers had shown up, Jin had felt a pull toward them—an almost magnetic force that he couldn't explain. He hadn't developed any powers like the others, but there was something deep inside him that told him he was connected to all of this. He just didn't know how yet.
"I don't know," Jin admitted. "But I feel like something is waiting for me. Something… important. Maybe it'll make sense once we reach Busan."
The journey to Busan was perilous from the start. The roads were filled with abandoned cars, some still smoldering from the chaos of recent days. The closer they got to the outskirts of Seoul, the more desolate the landscape became. It was clear that people had either fled or fallen victim to the creatures that had begun to roam the land.
They encountered several military checkpoints, but none of the soldiers seemed eager to stop them. Most of them looked terrified—exhausted men and women who had likely seen things they couldn't comprehend. They waved Jin and Min-Ho through without much hassle, their eyes hollow with fatigue and fear.
By the time they reached the halfway point to Busan, the skies had grown dark, and the distant silhouette of another Torre loomed on the horizon, this one smaller than the one in Seoul but no less ominous. Jin couldn't help but feel that same pull again—a strange, inexplicable urge to get closer.
"We should camp here for the night," Jin suggested as they pulled over near an empty rest area. "It's too risky to keep going in the dark."
Min-Ho nodded, though his eyes kept drifting toward the distant tower. "Do you feel it too?"
Jin nodded. "Yeah. Every time we get close to one of those things, it's like it's calling to me. I don't know why, but it's getting stronger."
Min-Ho shivered. "I don't like it. What if it's trying to lure you in? Like it did with me?"
Jin considered that. The towers were mysterious and dangerous, and he didn't trust them. But he also couldn't deny that something deep inside him was connected to them. He didn't know if it was good or bad yet, but he knew it was important.
"We'll be careful," Jin said, though his mind was racing. "We just need to make it to Busan. The resistance might have answers."
They settled in for the night, taking turns keeping watch. The distant rumble of the towers echoed faintly in the background, a constant reminder of the looming danger. Jin stared up at the stars, his thoughts swirling with questions.
What were the towers? Why were they giving people powers? And why did he feel like he was on the verge of something monumental?
Morning couldn't come soon enough.