Next station: possible death. The next station is possible death.
April 28, 2023, 4:02 pm, Daegu Metro Line 2 Train, Daegu, South Korea.
Today was the day of the mission, and the preparations, upgrades, reinforcements, and final touches to the train were completed.
The cryostine cube that Hyungwon proposed would work as the train's main energy source worked, and it's icy core was now installed infront of the control panel of the train using huge cables.
The train conductor soon started the train, and it's engine roared as it breathed to life. The icy core vibrates, surging the train with just the right amount of power. The lights inside flicker before they finally turned on. The air-conditioning seemingly coughed and whirred before it exhaled its icy breeze, blanketing the whole train and all of it's occupants inside---all of Sanghoon and Hyungwon's team, geared up and ready for the fight of their lives.
Zeke and Jihyo were tasked to defend the first and second car of the train. They were supported by Sana, Sanghoon, and Hyungwon, and a few militia.
Ryujin, Hangyeol, Jinwoo, together with the remaining members of Sanghoon's settlement, were tasked to defend the third and fourth car.
Vanta was tasked alone to defend the final car, away from the settlers as to not startle them or cause unrest. He was also advised to not interfere with whatever that was happening.
As the whole settlement team posiioned themselves into their respective places, Zeke notices them do different mental preparations. Some were stretching, some were talking to each other to calm themselves, some were encouraging the other hesitant militia, and some did a sign of a cross.
Zeke thinks about the lives of all these people. Precious lives that are willing to do whatever it takes to win this battle---one of the many battles that they will have to deal with in order to survive and win.
And they know they have to win.
There is no other choice.
Zeke snaps out of his thoughts, then then notices Jihyo board the train, setting her eyes around the car with a concerned look plastered on her face.
"Did anyone prepare barf bags or medications for dizziness?" Jihyo suddenly announced. "They say that this ride will be a fast one, so I'm worried about those who have motion sickness."
"Don't worry about it much, Jihyo-ssi. We prepared some for the team."
"That's good to know, considering some of us had a heavy lunch, I feel its going to cost some of our teammates..." Jihyo said as she looks at Sana, who was standing on the side of the train. It seems like she was having trouble strapping her bulletproof vest on. Jihyo walks to her and immediately assists her in doing so.
"Hey, this goes here... and... here... and click! All done!" Jihyo said as Sana turns around and smiles at her.
"Thanks, Jihyo-ya. Will probably never get used to strapping these on, but I gotta adapt, I guess? This is our life now, so... gotta stay safe! Ehe." Sana said as she smiled.
"Yeah." Jihyo said as she then looks at her Manifest, the Seraphim, nestled comfortably in her right hand.
There was a long pause between the two as the only sounds that were heard were people around them murmuring about.
Sana takes a good look at Jihyo's face.
Her physical appearance hasn't changed, even in this apocalypse. She was still radiant, gorgeous, beautiful at every angle---front and side profile alike.
Although, Sana wonders what has changed in her personality-wise in the past months. She was still Jihyo, ofcourse: a bubbly, confident Park Jihyo that she knew and loved all these years. But of course, she also knew Jihyo had to acclimate herself to this dreaded catastrophe, as well as all those otherworldly fights they've endured so far... and Sana was now suddenly curious to know how Jihyo feels about all of it.
"...Was this your life for a few months, Jihyo?" Sana suddenly asked. "You know... Planning alot, fighting tough enemies..."
"Well, yeah." Jihyo replied as she slightly chuckled.
"Must've been a really difficult time for you and the others... I bet it took you awhile to adjust to it. How do you feel about it?"
"At first, I felt scared because I was alone for the first few hours of my dreaded journey across this icy hell. But then I met Zeke. And then the others at Minhyuk's settlement. There's something about each and everyone of them giving me strength. They encouraged me to explore new things I never thought I'd be doing---training, fighting, strategizing in combat, technique development... It feels wild and exhilarating and scary all at the same time... And now, I guess I'm a little confident and hopeful because of it."
"That's just amazing." Sana replied.
Jihyo then takes a deep breath.
"You know... This whole new way of living... feels somewhat similar to when we practice and perform our songs." Jihyo suddenly said.
"Eh...?! It's literally the same in your point of view?! How?!" Sana asked in a shocked tone.
"Of course it's not exactly the same, Sana..." Jihyo chuckled. "You know how we exert sooo much effort when we perform a tough-to-dance song like More and More and Perfect World and then fall flat on the ground unable to move due to fatigue? It's the same like that, but worse. Because we're literally trying not to die..."
"I understand." Sana said as she sighed. "Haaaaa....This apocalypse really sucks, Jihyo."
"It is. But it sucks less now that I got you by my side. You, and the rest of the people I've fought with. You all give me hope." Jihyo smiled as Sana soon grins back.
"Yiiiie. You can kiss me now, Jihyo-ya~" Sana cutely muttered.
"No. This woman... how many times do I--- goodness." Jihyo replied in a deadpan tone, and the two breaks out in laughter.
They soon see the last military soldier board the train and goes to Sanghoon.
"There's no one left at the settlement, Sanghoon-nim. Everyone's here. All 33 of us." A soldier said.
"Good... guess everyone's really ready..." Sanghoon said.
"...and there's no turning back. Once these doors close, it's do or die, damn straight to icy hell." Zeke muttered.
The round, red alarms above the train doors begin to beep, signaling that the doors were about to slide to a close.
Everyone glimpses at the damaged subway outside as the doors slowly shut.
With the whirring of the engine, the train finally sets off.
Zeke takes a deep breath, shuts his eyes, and mentally prepared himself for the battle by reminding himself of the plan...
"The plan is fairly simple: Ram the whole speeding train into Erythos, grab his digital notebook, and know what's really going on in this Koul'in invasion. Once we board the train, it's game time." Sanghoon began.
"We'll start off real slow and then pick up the speed as we close in on Erythos. We'll reach top speed by the time we passed just a few stations, so, everyone has to immediately brace for whatever happens." Hyungwon added. "But it's honestly more than that."
"To be able to ram the whole thing towards the enemy, the train has to survive the trip first---all five sections of it. We know of Erythos' long range stalactite and stalagmite abilities, and we all know that it will attempt to penetrate the train at every conceivable angle and draw us in. Luckily for us, the steel reinforcements on the whole train will endure his magnetic abilities, but should it fall, then we'll have to take matters into our own hands. Which means all of us will defend the train. We will give out your placements later once we sorted it out." Sanghoon said.
"And when we reach him at such a high speed, how do we survive the crash?" Zeke asked.
"By the time we get close, everyone will immediately head towards the backmost part of the train, where we have placed cushions and other shock absorbent material around it. With those established, we can endure the hit when the train collides with him. For good measure, I've assigned Vanta there alone to defend it while we are on the way." Hyungwon said.
Zeke opens his eyes, patching up the memory of the plan as the train whizzes past a collapsed station platform slowly.
4:22pm, Ganchang Station.