CHAPTER 6

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Chapter 6: The Awakening

The bridge loomed ahead, but Jung Hee and Eun Woo were surrounded. Monsters crawled from the shadows, their glowing red eyes fixed on the two friends. The quiet night was pierced by growls and snarls, and the bridge that had promised them a way out now felt like a trap.

Jung Hee's grip tightened around his makeshift weapon. His breath came in short, ragged bursts, his body aching from the endless running. There was no way out.

Eun Woo stood beside him, equally exhausted, his face pale under the harsh moonlight. But even now, there was a fire in his eyes—a determination that wouldn't let them give up.

"We're not going down like this," Eun Woo muttered, his voice low and intense.

Jung Hee nodded, but the creatures were closing in, their claws scraping the ground as they prepared to pounce. There were too many of them, and even if they fought with everything they had, it wouldn't be enough.

Suddenly, Eun Woo's body began to glow—a soft, pulsing light that grew brighter with every second. Jung Hee blinked in shock, his heart skipping a beat as he realized what was happening.

"Eun Woo… what's going on?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Eun Woo didn't respond. His eyes were closed, his face set in concentration as the glow around him intensified. The monsters hesitated, their growls turning into confused snarls as they sensed the sudden surge of power.

Then, with a roar of energy, Eun Woo moved.

In an instant, he was on the closest monster, his fists glowing with energy as he struck. The creature recoiled, its massive body thrown backward by the force of the blow. Another monster lunged, but Eun Woo was faster. His movements were fluid, each punch and kick infused with raw, crackling power.

Jung Hee stood frozen, watching in awe as his friend fought with a strength he had never seen before.

But something was wrong.

Eun Woo's breathing was labored, and though his power was overwhelming, Jung Hee could see the toll it was taking on him. His movements were growing slower, his strikes less precise. The glow around him flickered, and for a brief moment, Jung Hee saw the exhaustion on his face.

"Eun Woo!" Jung Hee shouted, rushing forward to help, but another monster blocked his path. He swung his weapon desperately, knocking it back, but he could feel the panic rising inside him.

Eun Woo was pushing himself too hard.

The monsters, sensing the shift in power, began to regroup. They circled around Eun Woo, their eyes gleaming with hunger. And though Eun Woo fought valiantly, the strain of his power was too much. His knees buckled, his fists slowing as the energy around him flickered and dimmed.

"Stop!" Jung Hee screamed, his voice cracking with desperation.

But it was too late.

The creatures lunged all at once. Eun Woo managed to throw one off, but the second creature was too fast. Its claws tore through the air, slashing across Eun Woo's chest with a sickening thud.

Jung Hee's heart stopped.

Eun Woo stumbled, his glowing eyes wide with shock. Blood spattered across the ground, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze. The light around Eun Woo faded completely, and he collapsed to the ground.

"No!" Jung Hee screamed, dropping his weapon as he ran toward his fallen friend.

The world blurred as he skidded to his knees beside Eun Woo, his hands shaking as he cradled him in his arms. Blood soaked through Eun Woo's shirt, and his breathing was shallow, his body trembling with pain.

"Eun Woo… no, please… you're gonna be okay," Jung Hee whispered, tears spilling down his cheeks.

Eun Woo's eyes fluttered open, his face pale and slick with sweat. He coughed, blood staining his lips, but somehow, he managed to smile.

"I… I couldn't stop them," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"Don't talk like that!" Jung Hee cried, his voice breaking. "You're not going anywhere. You're gonna be fine. We just have to get out of here."

But even as he said the words, he knew they weren't true. The wound was too deep, too deadly. Eun Woo's strength was fading, and the monsters were still out there, waiting for the moment to strike again.

Eun Woo's hand reached up, brushing weakly against Jung Hee's face. "It's… okay," he whispered. "You… you have to keep going."

Jung Hee shook his head furiously, tears streaming down his face. "No! Not without you. I'm not leaving you behind!"

Eun Woo smiled again, though it was weak, a ghost of the smile Jung Hee knew so well. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I… I couldn't… protect you."

Jung Hee's chest ached, his heart breaking into pieces as he held Eun Woo closer. "You did, Eun Woo. You protected me. You always have."

The sound of approaching monsters echoed through the air, but Jung Hee couldn't bring himself to move. His world had narrowed to the boy in his arms, the boy who had been by his side through everything, who was now slipping away.

"Please… don't leave me," Jung Hee whispered, his voice cracking.

Eun Woo's eyes fluttered shut, his breathing growing weaker by the second. "Take care of yourself… Jung Hee. You… have to keep going…"

And with those final words, Eun Woo went still.

Jung Hee's heart shattered. The world around him blurred, the sounds of the monsters fading into the background. All he could feel was the crushing weight of his grief, the unbearable pain of losing the one person he had sworn to protect.

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End of Chapter 6

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