The next day, the entire school was closed, and all classes shifted to homeschooling. Outside, the situation had gotten worse, with the Necroflora creatures causing even more chaos.
Several police cars arrived at Jae Hyun, Min Joon, Seok Woo, and Ji Hoon's homes, picking them up along with others. The atmosphere was tense as they were driven to a secure location for training.
Once inside a heavily guarded facility, they began their training. Police officers guided them through various self-defense techniques, followed by focused firearms training. The session was led by two individuals: a woman named Officer Yuna and Agent Kang Ji Woon.
As the group practiced, they exchanged some light-hearted, albeit nervous, banter.
Min Joon, sweating from the intense drills, wiped his forehead and jokingly said, "So, when do we start fighting those creepy zombie things with our bare hands?"
Seok Woo, trying to lighten the mood, grinned. "I can't wait to show them who's boss! Just don't get in my way, alright?"
Ji Hoon, always the one to find humor in dark situations, chuckled. "I mean, we are basically living in a zombie movie, right? Next thing you know, we'll be in a survival show."
Jae Hyun rolled his eyes, trying to focus on the target in front of him. "Can we take this seriously? You guys keep joking around, and we're going to end up getting eaten by those things."
Haera, standing off to the side, was busy inspecting her firearm, her expression stoic as always. She was the quiet one, always calm and collected, but her serious demeanor made the others feel a little uncomfortable.
"Hey, Haera," Min Joon called out with a teasing smile, "You sure you're not secretly a superhuman with all those weapons knowledge?"
Haera barely looked up, her voice calm and sharp. "I don't need to be a superhuman. I just know how to use a weapon properly." She gave a small, almost imperceptible smirk before returning to her training.
There was a slight awkwardness among the group. Haera was known for being the most indifferent and aloof, her detachment making it difficult for the others to truly get close to her. She never seemed to care much about what others thought, and her cool, detached personality made things more awkward than usual.
After a while, Agent Kang Ji Woon addressed the group, signaling a change of plans.
"Jae Hyun, Haera," Agent Kang called out. "I need you two to go out and deliver food and supplies to the local residents. You'll be working like delivery drivers, so make sure to stay safe and get the supplies where they're needed."
Jae Hyun, slightly surprised, nodded. "Got it. But, why us? I mean, we're trained in combat, not delivery."
Agent Kang gave him a serious look. "Your martial arts skills are reliable, Jae Hyun. You'll be able to handle any threats on the way. And Haera... she's more than capable with weapons. You two can cover each other."
Jae Hyun glanced over at Haera, who was already moving to gather her gear. There was a quiet tension in the air, mostly because of Haera's indifferent nature. She had always been the most distant, rarely engaging in group activities or conversations. This left Jae Hyun feeling a bit uneasy, especially since he wasn't used to her cold demeanor.
Haera looked up, meeting his gaze for a brief moment. "Let's get going," she said flatly, her tone giving nothing away.
The two of them left the training facility, loading up the supplies into the back of a police vehicle. As the car started, Jae Hyun couldn't help but feel a strange sense of discomfort. The situation was dangerous, but it was the awkwardness between him and Haera that made things feel even more tense.
"So," Jae Hyun started, trying to break the silence, "you're not exactly the talkative type, huh?"
Haera glanced at him briefly before answering with a slight shrug. "I'm not here to make small talk. I'm here to do my job."
Jae Hyun sighed, realizing this wasn't going to be easy. The tension between them was palpable, but he couldn't let that get in the way of the mission. They had more important things to worry about now.
"Right," Jae Hyun muttered. "I just hope we can get this done without running into any trouble."
But trouble, as they both knew, was never far away. And as they ventured deeper into the chaos of Gangnam, they would soon discover just how dangerous the streets had become.
Jae Hyun and Haera rode in a police car driven by an officer named Baek In Yul, a name so rare that even in Korea, it stood out. In Yul, a middle-aged man with a stern gaze but a calm voice, tried to ease the tension as the car moved through the eerily quiet streets.
"So," In Yul began, glancing at Jae Hyun and Haera through the rearview mirror, "this is your first time doing something like this, huh? Don't be too tense. Just focus on the task and trust your instincts."
Jae Hyun nodded, shifting in his seat. "I guess. But it's not every day you get sent to deliver food while monsters are out there roaming the streets."
In Yul chuckled, the sound low and gruff. "In situations like this, anyone can be a hero. Even a delivery person. Just remember, heroes don't work alone. So, the two of you, look out for each other."
Haera kept her eyes straight ahead, showing no reaction. Jae Hyun glanced at her briefly and muttered under his breath, "Look out for each other, huh... if she even talks more than two words."
Haera caught his comment and finally turned slightly, her voice cold. "I heard that, Jae Hyun. Focus on your own task."
Meanwhile, the situation outside grew increasingly dire. Police officers were busy shutting down access to key strategic areas. Train gates, docks, and intercity borders were being closed tightly to prevent the spread of the Necroflora virus, which was spiraling out of control.
The city center was filled with the sound of sirens, loudspeakers, and announcements from police patrol cars. "All citizens are advised to stay indoors. Maintain distance, avoid crowds, and follow health protocols. A state of national emergency has been declared!"
Officers moved quickly, setting up barricades and barbed wire along the city's borders. Checkpoints were established at every strategic corner, and every passing vehicle was thoroughly inspected. At the docks, ships were ordered to cease operations while heavily armed guards patrolled the harbor.
Kang Ji Woon, overseeing the situation from a command post, coordinated with his team. "We need to make sure there are no gaps for those creatures to escape the red zone. Tighten the patrols at the western and eastern borders. If the situation worsens, we'll dispatch additional evacuation teams immediately."
At the same time, social distancing measures were tightened further. Residents were instructed to stay home and only leave for essential purposes. Fear was beginning to grip the population, but officers and agents like Kang Ji Woon knew they had to act swiftly to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Inside the car, Haera finally broke the silence after what felt like forever. "We don't know how much time we have left before this gets even worse. So we can't afford to fail this mission."
Jae Hyun let out a long sigh, trying to suppress his nerves. "Yeah, no pressure. Just another day saving the world, right?"
In Yul glanced briefly at them through the mirror, a faint smile on his lips. "Relax, kid. If anything attacks, I'm here. And honestly, I think the girl beside you is far more dangerous than you realize."
Haera didn't respond to the comment, simply gripping the weapon on her lap more tightly. But there was a subtle smirk at the corner of her lips—one Jae Hyun failed to notice.
Jae Hyun and Haera arrived at their first drop-off point, a rundown building on the outskirts of the quarantine zone. The streets were eerily silent, with only the occasional crackle of static from their police radio breaking the oppressive quiet. They exited the car cautiously, carrying boxes of food and supplies toward the building's entrance.
Jae Hyun glanced over at Haera, who had her gun ready, her eyes scanning their surroundings. "Relax, Haera. We're just delivering stuff, not going to war."
Haera didn't respond, her focus razor-sharp. "You talk too much, Jae Hyun. Focus on the job."
Jae Hyun rolled his eyes. "You know, a 'thank you for helping' wouldn't hurt once in a while."
As they approached the building, a faint growling sound stopped them in their tracks. Jae Hyun froze. "Uh, please tell me that was just my stomach."
Haera's expression hardened as she raised her weapon, pointing it toward the alley next to the building. "Stay behind me," she ordered.
Before Jae Hyun could respond, a Necroflora creature emerged from the shadows. Its grotesque, plant-like appendages stretched toward them, its glowing green eyes locked on its prey.
"Run!" Haera shouted, firing her gun. The first few shots hit the creature's limbs, but it only slowed down momentarily.
Jae Hyun scrambled backward, nearly tripping over a box of supplies. "This is NOT what I signed up for!" he yelled, grabbing a heavy box from the pile and hurling it at the Necroflora.
The box hit the creature square in the face, momentarily disorienting it. "Ha! Take that, you overgrown weed!" Jae Hyun cheered, his confidence short-lived as the creature shook off the blow and lunged at him.
"Duck!" Haera barked.
Jae Hyun barely managed to dive out of the way as Haera fired a rapid succession of shots. Each bullet hit its mark, and the creature let out a guttural screech before collapsing in a heap.
Breathing heavily, Jae Hyun pushed himself up from the ground, his shirt now smeared with dirt. "Well, that was fun," he said sarcastically.
Haera glanced at him, unimpressed. "You threw a box at it. Impressive strategy."
"Hey, it worked, didn't it?" Jae Hyun shot back. "And let's not forget, I distracted it long enough for you to play hero."
Haera shook her head, suppressing a smirk. "If you call that 'helping,' sure."
They returned to the car, both of them slightly on edge but hiding it in their own ways. In Yul, waiting in the driver's seat, raised an eyebrow at their disheveled appearance. "You two look like you wrestled a wild animal. Everything okay?"
"Better than okay," Jae Hyun replied, plopping down in the back seat. "We're alive, and I saved the day with a box. You're welcome."
Haera sighed, leaning her head back against the seat. "Next time, try not to attract attention with your clumsiness."
In Yul chuckled as he started the engine. "Sounds like you two make quite the team. Let's hope the rest of the route is less… eventful."
But deep down, both Jae Hyun and Haera knew this was only the beginning.
Meanwhile, back at the training grounds, Seok Woo, Ji Hoon, Min Joon, Aria, Kian, Soren, Darian, and Yumi were gearing up for another round of intense training.
"Alright, everyone, get ready to run!" barked the instructor, a tall, no-nonsense officer who seemed to have an endless reservoir of energy.
The group groaned in unison. Ji Hoon, already out of breath from the earlier drills, muttered, "Is this boot camp or some kind of endurance torture?"
Aria smirked as she tied her shoelaces tighter. "Come on, Ji Hoon, a little running won't kill you. Unless you trip over your own feet again."
"Ha-ha, very funny," Ji Hoon retorted sarcastically.
As they started their laps around the training ground, Seok Woo and Kian led the group with steady paces. Soren and Darian, on the other hand, seemed to be more focused on competing against each other.
"Think you can beat me, Darian?" Soren challenged, a playful smirk on his face.
"Easily," Darian shot back, speeding up.
Yumi, running behind them, rolled her eyes. "You two are acting like children. It's a training run, not a race."
"Say that after you're not in last place, Yumi," Soren teased, which earned him a glare.
After completing their run, the group moved on to weapons training. They gathered around a table filled with various dismantled firearms.
"Your next task is to assemble these weapons as quickly and accurately as possible," the instructor announced. "And remember, in the field, speed and precision can save your life."
Min Joon leaned closer to the table, examining the parts. "I've only done this a few times before," he admitted, scratching his head.
"Don't worry," Aria said confidently, already picking up the pieces of a rifle. "Just follow my lead."
Kian and Soren exchanged glances, silently daring each other to finish first.
"Ready, set… go!" yelled the instructor.
Everyone sprang into action. The sound of metal clicking and parts being snapped into place filled the air.
Seok Woo worked methodically, his hands steady as he pieced together his weapon. Ji Hoon, on the other hand, accidentally attached a piece backward and cursed under his breath.
"Need help, Ji Hoon?" Yumi asked with a smirk, already halfway done with her assembly.
"Nope, I've got this," Ji Hoon replied stubbornly, though the beads of sweat on his forehead told another story.
Aria was the first to finish, raising her fully assembled rifle with a triumphant grin. "Done!"
"Show-off," muttered Darian, who was still struggling with a stubborn piece.
Soren finished next, nudging Kian with his elbow. "Second place. Better luck next time, buddy."
As the rest of the group completed their weapons, the instructor nodded in approval. "Not bad, but you'll need to be faster in real-life scenarios. Now, let's move on to target practice."
Despite the teasing and competition, the group felt a growing sense of camaraderie. They knew that in the face of the Necroflora threat, they would need to rely on each other more than ever.