Chapter 1: The Unseen Invaders.
The day had started like any other.
Jung Hee and Eun Woo walked side by side through the busy streets of Seoul, chatting casually as they navigated the usual chaos of city life. It was a beautiful day, with clear skies and just enough warmth in the air to make the walk pleasant. People bustled past them, too wrapped up in their own worlds to notice the two friends, whose conversation seemed to flow as naturally as the traffic around them.
"You're still talking about that mochi place?" Jung Hee asked with a teasing smile. "You're obsessed."
Eun Woo grinned, nudging him with his elbow. "Come on, man, I'm telling you—it's life-changing. Once you try it, you'll thank me."
Jung Hee shook his head but couldn't help smiling. It was moments like these that reminded him why life felt so easy when Eun Woo was around—everything seemed lighter, less complicated.
They turned a corner and found themselves on a busy street lined with food stalls and small shops. The sound of people chatting, the clinking of dishes, and the occasional call from a street vendor filled the air. It was a peaceful day, one of those rare moments when everything felt just... right.
That was, until it wasn't.
It started with a murmur. People stopped in their tracks, looking upward with confusion etched across their faces. Jung Hee followed their gazes, his brow furrowing as he squinted into the sky. At first, there was nothing unusual—just the wide blue expanse overhead.
But then, the sky began to shift.
A strange ripple spread through the clouds, as if the very fabric of the sky was being pulled apart. The blue above them darkened, turning a deep shade of purple, swirling and twisting like a storm that wasn't quite natural. Jung Hee felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
"What the hell...?" he muttered, his voice barely audible over the growing murmur of the crowd.
Eun Woo's expression turned serious, his playful grin replaced by a look of confusion and concern. "Do you see that?"
Before Jung Hee could respond, the sky seemed to tear open. A massive void appeared, a swirling black hole that stretched across the sky like a wound in reality itself. The air around them grew heavy, charged with an energy that made the ground beneath them feel unsteady.
Panic rippled through the crowd.
People started pointing, their voices rising in alarm. Mothers grabbed their children, pulling them close. Vendors abandoned their carts. The peaceful day had turned into something far more sinister, and fear spread through the streets like wildfire.
"Run!" someone screamed from the crowd, but no one knew where to go.
Jung Hee's heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the massive void, its darkness swallowing the light from the sun. He and Eun Woo exchanged a glance, the same unspoken question in their eyes: What is that?
Suddenly, from the center of the void, shapes began to emerge. They were monstrous, twisted forms that descended slowly at first, like shadows slipping through the fabric of the sky. But as they drew closer, their features became more distinct—creatures unlike anything Jung Hee had ever seen before.
Their bodies were black, slick with an unnatural sheen, and their eyes glowed with a menacing red light. Long, jagged claws extended from their limbs, and their mouths were filled with rows of sharp, glistening teeth. They moved with a terrifying grace, descending from the void in a slow, steady stream, their dark forms casting a shadow over the city.
Jung Hee felt his blood run cold. He had never believed in monsters—at least, not until this moment.
The creatures touched down on the ground, and the chaos erupted into full-blown panic.
People screamed, running in every direction. The once-bustling street had become a scene of chaos as the monsters began tearing through everything in sight. They swiped at buildings with their claws, sending debris flying. Cars were overturned, glass shattered, and the air was filled with the sound of people's terrified cries.
"We need to go, now!" Eun Woo shouted, grabbing Jung Hee by the arm and pulling him back.
Jung Hee's body moved on instinct, his legs carrying him forward as he followed Eun Woo through the chaos. But no matter how fast they ran, the monsters seemed to be everywhere. The city was being overrun.
Eun Woo glanced over his shoulder as they darted down a side street, his face pale with fear. "What the hell are those things?"
"I don't know," Jung Hee replied, his heart pounding in his ears. "But we have to get out of here."
As they rounded a corner, Jung Hee caught sight of one of the creatures descending from the sky just ahead of them. It landed with a heavy thud, its massive claws digging into the asphalt as it turned its glowing red eyes toward them.
Jung Hee's breath caught in his throat. "Eun Woo, look out!"
Before Eun Woo could react, the creature lunged at them with terrifying speed. Time seemed to slow as Jung Hee's body moved on pure instinct. He shoved Eun Woo out of the way just as the creature's claws slashed through the air, narrowly missing him.
Eun Woo stumbled but quickly regained his footing, his eyes wide with shock. "Jung Hee, we can't outrun them!"
Jung Hee's mind raced, his thoughts a jumbled mess of fear and desperation. He knew they had to keep moving, but the city was collapsing around them, and the monsters were relentless. There was no escape.
"We need to find somewhere to hide!" Jung Hee shouted, his voice barely audible over the sounds of destruction. "If we stay out here, we're dead!"
Eun Woo nodded, his face set in grim determination. "Let's move!"
They sprinted down another alley, their hearts pounding as the monsters continued their relentless pursuit. The ground shook with every step the creatures took, and Jung Hee could hear the screams of people still trapped in the chaos behind them.
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End of Chapter 1.