Chapter 2: First Summon of Mobilized Soldiers
Outside the storage room, two zombies were still slamming against the door, each blow harder than the last.
pressed himself against the back of the door, listening to the wood splintering. He didn't rush.
He couldn't take on both at once—the risk of getting hit in close combat was too high. He had to lure and kill them one by one.
He bent down, picked up a binder from the floor, and threw it hard through the small window above the door toward the corner of the hallway.
Clang—
The binder hit the wall and bounced, scattering pages everywhere.
Both zombies froze, turned their heads, and with a roar lunged toward the source of the sound.
pulled the door open, slid out hugging the doorframe, and caught up to the one in the back in three steps.
The dagger plunged diagonally into the back of its neck, the blade piercing through the cervical vertebrae. A short gasp escaped the zombie's mouth, and it fell face-first to the ground.
The one ahead heard the noise, spun around, and charged back faster than expected.
sidestepped half a beat, drove his knee into the zombie's leg bend, and as it stumbled, drove the dagger in through its temple. When he pulled it out, a string of black blood came with it.
Less than half a minute total.
He caught his breath, wiped the dagger on his sole, and swept his peripheral vision down both ends of the hallway.
No other movement for now.
"System, summon two mobilized soldiers."
[Consuming 10 . Summoning…]
[Success.]
Two beams of white light silently exploded at the corridor corner. When the light faded, two figures in camouflage stood there, rifles slung across their chests, helmets pulled low.
Seeing , they both snapped to attention and saluted.
"Reporting! / reporting!"
returned the salute without wasting words.
"Fall in. Clear the building with me."
"Yes, sir."
Both chambered rounds and shouldered their rifles, their movements synchronized as if cast from the same mold. One took point, the other covered the flank.
The three advanced up the stairs.
The stairwell was dark—only half the emergency lights were on. The smell of blood mixed with a strange disinfectant odor hung in the stale air.
At the second-floor landing, a zombie was sprawled over the railing. Hearing footsteps, it jerked its head up and charged down with a roar.
Bang—
The first shot grazed the zombie's shoulder and hit the wall, sending brick chips flying.
adjusted his aim slightly. The second shot followed right away, hitting the forehead square on. The zombie pitched backward and rolled down the stairs, stopping only when it hit a fire extinguisher at the corner.
didn't say a word. He just pressed his thumb against the dagger's handle.
An ordinary mobilized soldier—two shots to drop one. In a narrow space like the stairwell, that was good enough. Those five points weren't wasted.
The three continued upward.
When they reached the second-floor corridor entrance, raised his hand and pressed down. All three stopped instantly. Two zombies at the far end of the hallway, and one more was pressed against the window of the office on the left, banging its head against the glass.
tilted his head.
"Take the far ones first. The close one will come to us."
didn't speak. He knelt on one knee and set up his rifle.
Three rounds in quick succession. The two in the hallway dropped one after the other. The one in the office, startled by the gunfire, crashed through the window and tumbled into the corridor. Before it could get its footing, put a round through its skull.
The conference room door was slightly ajar. Inside, at least seven or eight were huddled together.
used the tip of his dagger to nudge the handle. The door opened a crack. The nearest one immediately pushed out, and dropped it with a single shot.
A second followed, then a third. The two men held the doorway, alternating shots, and not a single zombie made it past the door frame.
Half an hour later, the second floor was quiet.
leaned against the wall and wiped his face. His sleeve came away with a layer of dust.
More than a dozen bodies lay on the floor. The lingering smell of gunpowder still hung in the hallway.
"Someone's on the third floor." lowered his rifle and tilted his head, listening for a few seconds.
nodded. He could already see the two green dots on his map.
The three ascended to the third floor. The hallway was empty.
walked to the door and knocked.
" . The zombies outside are cleared. Open up."
No sound from inside, but he could hear someone crying quietly.
knocked twice more.
"I'm here to pick people up. If you stay shut in, and something new comes up, I'll have to pull out myself."
That did the trick.
The lock clicked. The door cracked open. Half a face appeared in the gap—a face streaked with tears and sweat, lips trembling, too scared to make a sound.