CHAPTER 4
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Chapter 4: The Fight for Survival
The air was thick with tension as the monsters closed in. Jung Hee's heart raced, his mind scrambling for a way out. The creatures' glowing red eyes reflected in the dim light, their jagged claws scraping the ground as they prepared to strike.
There was no escape. They had to fight.
"We need weapons," Jung Hee muttered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his own heart.
Eun Woo's eyes darted around the area, searching for anything they could use to defend themselves. The monsters were closing in fast, and there was no time to think—only to act.
"There!" Eun Woo hissed, pointing toward a pile of debris just a few steps away.
Without hesitation, Jung Hee lunged toward the debris, grabbing the first thing he could get his hands on—a broken piece of metal pipe, rusted and jagged at one end. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. He tossed another pipe to Eun Woo, who caught it with trembling hands.
The creatures were upon them now, their screeches piercing the air as they lunged forward, claws outstretched.
"Get ready!" Jung Hee shouted, his grip tightening around the makeshift weapon.
The first monster leaped toward them, its jaws snapping open, rows of razor-sharp teeth gleaming in the faint light. Instinctively, Jung Hee swung the metal pipe with all his strength, the rusted edge connecting with the creature's side. The impact sent a shock through his arm, but the monster barely slowed.
Before he could react, the creature barreled into him, knocking him backward. The world spun as he hit the ground hard, his breath knocked out of his lungs. The monster was on top of him now, its weight pressing down, its hot breath reeking of decay.
Jung Hee struggled, his body pinned beneath the creature's massive form. Its claws scraped against the ground next to his face, and its teeth snapped inches from his throat.
"Jung Hee!" Eun Woo's voice was frantic as he swung his own pipe at the creature, hitting it squarely in the back. The monster screeched, momentarily distracted, and Jung Hee used the opening to push the pipe up between him and the creature.
He wedged the metal pipe across the monster's throat, using all his strength to hold it back as it snapped and thrashed above him. The creature's claws dug into the ground, trying to get closer, but Jung Hee pressed the pipe against its neck with every ounce of strength he had.
"Help me!" Jung Hee shouted, his arms trembling from the effort.
Eun Woo was there in an instant, his own pipe slamming into the side of the creature's head. The monster roared in pain, its red eyes flaring as it twisted, trying to shake off the blows. But Eun Woo didn't let up, landing strike after strike with a fury Jung Hee had never seen in him before.
With their combined strength, they managed to keep the monster pinned, holding it at bay with the metal pipes wedged under its jaw. But the creature was strong—too strong—and every second felt like a battle for survival.
"We can't hold it for long!" Eun Woo gasped, his arms shaking.
Jung Hee's muscles burned, his grip slipping as the creature continued to thrash and snap, its claws raking across the ground in a desperate attempt to free itself. He could feel the pipe starting to bend under the pressure, and panic surged through him. They needed to end this, and fast.
"On three!" Jung Hee grunted through gritted teeth. "We throw it off—then we go for the kill!"
Eun Woo's face was pale, but he nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. "Got it."
"One," Jung Hee began, his heart pounding in his ears. The monster's claws scraped closer, tearing up the ground beneath them.
"Two," he continued, tightening his grip on the pipe as the creature's teeth snapped dangerously close to his face.
"Three!"
In one swift motion, they both shoved upward with all their strength, sending the monster reeling back. It screeched as it stumbled, momentarily off-balance. Jung Hee didn't waste a second—he sprang to his feet, gripping the pipe like a spear, and drove it forward with everything he had.
The jagged end of the metal pipe plunged deep into the creature's chest, and the monster let out a deafening howl. Its glowing eyes flickered, dimming as it collapsed onto the ground, twitching violently before finally going still.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Jung Hee stood there for a moment, his chest heaving, the pipe still clutched tightly in his trembling hands. He stared down at the creature's lifeless body, barely able to comprehend what had just happened.
Eun Woo, still gasping for breath, staggered over to him, his face pale but alive with relief.
"We… we did it," he panted, dropping his weapon to the ground with a clang.
Jung Hee nodded, though his heart was still racing, his body shaking from the adrenaline. They had fought off one of the monsters—but there were countless others still out there. And they were far from safe.
"Come on," Jung Hee said quietly, tossing the bent and bloodied pipe to the side. "We have to keep moving."
Eun Woo nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Yeah… let's get the hell out of here."
Together, they turned and started down the dark, debris-filled street, their senses on high alert. The city was still burning, and the night was far from over.
But for now, they were alive—and that was all that mattered.
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End of Chapter 4
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