Rescue Mission
1262 Words
BOOM!
Another explosion echoed in the distance.
The flames rising into the night sky became even brighter.
The screams had not stopped.
Arthur's expression grew serious.
Twenty-three survivors.
If they delayed any longer, many of them might die.
"Prepare yourselves."
The people around him looked nervous.
"You're really going?"
Arthur nodded.
A middle-aged survivor stepped forward.
"But... what if there are too many monsters?"
Arthur looked toward the burning district.
"There probably are."
Everyone became silent.
"Then why risk it?"
Arthur did not answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at the frightened faces around him.
Children.
Elderly people.
Families.
Just a few hours ago, they had been in the same situation.
Desperate.
Terrified.
Waiting for someone to save them.
"If nobody helped us..."
Arthur slowly spoke.
"Would we still be here?"
Silence filled the courtyard.
The middle-aged man lowered his head.
Nobody could answer.
Because everyone knew the answer.
No.
They would have died.
Arthur picked up his machete.
"We're not strong enough to save everyone in the world."
"But if people are dying right in front of us..."
He looked toward the burning district.
"I at least want to try."
For a moment—
Nobody spoke.
Then several survivors suddenly lowered their heads.
Their eyes were filled with respect.
Aiko smiled softly.
Yuna grinned.
This was exactly why they trusted him.
DING!
---
Leadership Increased!
Survivor Loyalty +10%.
---
Arthur blinked.
Even the system approved.
"Alright."
He looked at Aiko and Yuna.
"We leave in five minutes."
---
Five minutes later.
The apartment gates slowly opened.
The streets outside remained terrifying.
Burned vehicles.
Abandoned luggage.
Blood stains everywhere.
The smell of smoke filled the air.
Arthur walked at the front.
Aiko and Yuna followed behind him.
The three moved carefully through the silent streets.
Occasionally, zombies appeared.
But compared to before, Arthur dealt with them easily.
Slash!
A zombie's head rolled across the ground.
DING!
---
Zombie Eliminated.
Experience +2.
---
Yuna looked amazed.
"You're getting stronger every hour."
Arthur nodded.
It wasn't his imagination.
Each level-up significantly improved his body.
Soon—
The distant screams became clearer.
"HELP!"
"THEY'RE BREAKING THROUGH!"
"AAAAAH!"
Arthur's expression changed.
They increased their pace.
After several minutes—
They finally arrived.
The scene before them was horrifying.
A supermarket had been surrounded by nearly fifty zombies.
The entrance had already collapsed.
Several survivors were desperately using shelves to block the doors.
Some were injured.
Some were crying.
Among them were even children.
Boom!
A zombie smashed against the barricade.
The survivors screamed.
"They're coming in!"
"We're dead!"
Arthur frowned.
The situation was worse than expected.
Then—
A massive roar echoed.
ROOOOAR!
Everyone froze.
Another mutant.
A large zombie over two meters tall slowly emerged from the horde.
Its arms were extremely long.
Sharp claws dragged against the ground.
DING!
---
Appraisal Activated
Name: Claw Mutant
Rank: F+
Threat Level: Medium
---
Arthur sighed.
Another one.
Mutants were appearing more and more frequently.
This wasn't a good sign.
Inside the supermarket, a young woman suddenly noticed them.
Her eyes widened.
"Someone's outside!"
Everyone looked toward Arthur.
Hope instantly appeared in their eyes.
"Please save us!"
"Help!"
Aiko's expression softened.
Arthur tightened his grip on his weapon.
No more hesitation.
"Let's move."
Yuna nodded excitedly.
"Right!"
The three immediately charged.
Arthur moved first.
Bang!
The Thunder Pistol fired.
Blue lightning exploded.
Several zombies were instantly blown away.
The survivors inside stared in shock.
"What was that?!"
"A gun?!"
Arthur rushed into the horde.
Slash!
Stab!
One zombie after another fell.
Yuna also began fighting with a metal pipe.
Although clumsy—
She was much braver than before.
Aiko remained behind, supporting and watching their backs.
ROOOOAR!
The Claw Mutant suddenly noticed Arthur.
Its blood-red eyes glowed.
Then—
It charged.
Fast.
Very fast.
Arthur immediately raised his machete.
CLANG!
Sparks flew.
The impact forced him backward.
The mutant attacked again.
Slash!
Its claws narrowly missed his chest.
Arthur counterattacked.
Bang!
The Thunder Pistol struck its shoulder.
The mutant roared in pain.
However—
The surrounding zombies began rushing toward Arthur.
Too many.
Even he was beginning to feel pressured.
Inside the supermarket, the survivors looked desperate.
They wanted to help—
But they were too afraid.
Then—
A man suddenly gritted his teeth.
"Damn it!"
"If we don't help him, we'll die anyway!"
He picked up a metal rod.
A young woman followed.
Then another.
And another.
Soon—
More than ten survivors had gathered.
Their fear was still present.
But so was hope.
The man took a deep breath.
"Open the door!"
Everyone froze.
"W-What?!"
"We have to fight!"
The barricade slowly moved.
Arthur noticed this.
His eyes widened.
The supermarket doors opened.
Several survivors rushed out.
"For our lives!"
"Kill them!"
The battlefield instantly became chaotic.
For the first time—
Humans were fighting together.
Arthur smiled.
Perhaps...
This was how civilizations began.
People helping each other.
Trusting each other.
ROOOOAR!
The Claw Mutant suddenly leaped toward one of the survivors.
A young woman froze.
She could not react.
Arthur's expression changed.
Too far.
He wouldn't make it in time.
Then—
Aiko suddenly ran forward.
"Aiko!"
Without hesitation, she grabbed the woman and pushed her away.
Slash!
A claw tore across Aiko's shoulder.
Blood splattered.
Silence.
Arthur's pupils contracted.
"...Aiko?"
Aiko fell to the ground.
Blood slowly stained her clothes.
The world suddenly became quiet.
Arthur stared blankly.
Then—
Something inside him snapped.
A terrifying pressure erupted from his body.
Golden light filled his eyes.
The surrounding zombies suddenly stopped moving.
Even the Claw Mutant looked frightened.
DING!
---
Hidden Condition Triggered!
Strong Emotional Response Detected.
King's Aura has temporarily evolved.
---
Arthur slowly raised his head.
His eyes had become ice cold.
He looked directly at the mutant.
The creature instinctively took a step backward.
For the first time—
It felt fear.
Arthur's voice became frighteningly calm.
"...You hurt her."
Boom.
The ground beneath him cracked.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
Because Arthur's aura had completely changed.
The air itself seemed heavier.
Like a king filled with fury.
ROOOOAR!
The mutant suddenly tried to flee.
Too late.
Arthur disappeared.
Boom!
He instantly appeared before it.
Everyone's eyes widened.
So fast!
Arthur grabbed the mutant by the face.
"...Die."
BANG!!!
He slammed the creature into the ground.
The street cracked apart.
The mutant screamed.
Arthur raised the Thunder Pistol.
Blue lightning gathered.
Then—
Bang!
The mutant's head exploded.
Silence.
Everyone froze.
The battlefield became completely quiet.
Arthur slowly turned around.
His cold expression immediately disappeared.
Because—
Aiko was still lying on the ground.
Blood continued to flow.
Arthur rushed toward her.
"Aiko!"
Her eyes slowly opened.
"...Arthur?"
Arthur immediately knelt beside her.
For the first time—
Panic appeared on his face.
"You i***t!"
"Why would you do that?!"
Aiko weakly smiled.
"...Because... someone needed help."
Arthur became speechless.
Even injured—
She was still worried about others.
Aiko slowly looked at him.
"...Are you okay?"
Arthur froze.
Then—
He laughed bitterly.
Was she asking about him?
Even now?
"You really are unbelievable."
Aiko smiled weakly.
Arthur gently held her hand.
"...Don't scare me like that again."
For some reason—
His voice sounded softer than usual.
Aiko blinked.
Then—
A faint blush appeared on her pale face.
"...Okay."
Nearby—
Yuna smiled.
The rescued survivors looked at the two.
Even they could tell.
Their relationship was becoming something special.
Far above them—
The red moon silently watched.
The apocalypse continued.
But amidst all the chaos—
A small flower of love had quietly begun to bloom.
- Writer
