CHAPTER 8

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Chapter 8: In the Shadow of Ruin

The world felt hollow without Eun Woo.

Jung Hee moved through the remains of Seoul in silence, the city that had once been his home now reduced to a wasteland. The streets were filled with debris, crumbling buildings, and the occasional distant growl of monsters that still roamed the wreckage. But for now, Jung Hee was alone.

The weight of his loss hung heavy on his shoulders, a constant ache in his chest that wouldn't go away. The grief, the guilt—it was all too much, but he couldn't afford to stop moving. He had to keep going, even if every step felt harder than the last.

He needed supplies. Food. Water. Anything that would keep him alive long enough to figure out his next move.

Jung Hee entered an abandoned building, its windows shattered and the walls cracked from the destruction. The air was stale, thick with dust and the lingering smell of smoke. As he moved through the empty rooms, his eyes scanned for anything useful—canned goods, bottled water, even a weapon, if he was lucky.

But most of what he found was useless—broken furniture, rotting food, shattered glass. The city had been picked clean by survivors, and what little remained wasn't enough to sustain anyone for long.

Still, Jung Hee didn't stop. His hands were trembling from hunger, his throat dry, but he pushed through the exhaustion, searching every room, every cabinet, every corner. There had to be something.

In the back of the building, he found a small stash—barely enough to last a day or two. A few cans of food, a dusty bottle of water. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.

As Jung Hee packed the supplies into his bag, a wave of loneliness washed over him. He had spent so much time fighting alongside Eun Woo, relying on each other to survive. Now, every task—every decision—was his alone.

The silence was deafening.

With a heavy sigh, Jung Hee slung the bag over his shoulder and made his way back outside. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the ruined city. The monsters would be out soon, and he needed to find a safe place to rest.

He couldn't stay here. Not in this city. It was filled with too many memories, too many ghosts. He had to go. He know the best that if he stay any longer, he might die too. So, he quickly run out of the building to look for a new place to hide. That's the last time he will be having a company with him who always comfort him and help him.

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End of Chapter 8

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