Chapter 7:The Dangerous Mission

Kai felt the weight of the room shift as the large man at the center of the gathering cleared his throat. His presence alone was enough to make the air feel heavier. He was a towering figure, broad shoulders wrapped in a dark military uniform. His face was scarred, his posture disciplined—clearly a high-ranking officer.

The murmurs in the room faded as his voice boomed through the tent.

"All awakened, listen here!"

The atmosphere turned serious in an instant. Conversations halted, and all attention shifted toward the man.

He unfolded a large map of South Korea, pinning it to a wooden board. Several areas were marked in red.

"This," he pointed to the red zones, "is our current situation. The infected zones are spreading. Seoul, Icheon, Busan… and more. Our supply routes are failing. We've lost contact with several squads."

A few of the awakened exchanged uneasy glances.

"We need people to go into Danger Zones to secure supplies and Save the Squads." His voice hardened. "We're short on time. Some of you will be assigned to Rank B Danger Areas."

The room tensed. Even among the awakened, Rank B zones were considered near-suicidal missions.

A few awakened muttered under their breath. "That's insane…" "Even a full team might not make it…"

But before anyone could protest further, Kai raised his hand.

"I'm going."

Silence.

All eyes snapped toward him. The tension thickened.

A man from the crowd scoffed. "Hey, kid. Do you have a death wish? That's a Rank B zone. You'll be dead the moment you step in."

Kai smirked. "I know."

The room remained silent for a few seconds. Then, the large military officer let out a deep chuckle.

"Good." His tone carried a mix of amusement and approval. "A reckless one, but brave. I like that."

He folded his arms. "We're not sending you in unprepared. You'll be geared up properly before deployment. If you survive, we'll talk about bigger missions."

Just as Kai nodded, another voice rang out.

"I'm going too."

Kai turned his head.

A girl stepped forward from the back of the room. She wore a black combat jacket, fingerless gloves, and a katana strapped to her back. Her long black hair was tied into a ponytail, and her gaze was steady.

She was confident—and the way the others reacted, she wasn't just any awakened.

The crowd didn't look surprised by her decision. If anything, some of them expected it.

"It's Yuna…" someone whispered.

"She's already been to Rank B zones before…"

"She always comes back alive. That's why she's famous here."

Kai's eyes narrowed slightly. Yuna?

The officer gave an approving nod. "Fine. If a Rank B awakened wants in, I won't stop her."

The room's tension eased as people returned to their own conversations, though a few still threw glances at Kai and Yuna.

As things settled, Yuna walked straight up to Kai.

She grabbed his hand, her grip firm but warm. "Hey, you remember me?"

Kai's eyes locked onto her face. He studied her features—sharp, yet familiar. And then, the memory surfaced.

His school days. His old classroom. A girl sitting near the window, always carrying a book or a notebook. His classmate.

"…Yuna."

She grinned. "So you do remember. Took you long enough."

Kai exhaled, feeling a strange sense of familiarity in an unfamiliar world. "Didn't expect to meet someone from school here."

Yuna laughed lightly. "Yeah, well, I didn't expect you to raise your hand for a suicide mission either."

Kai shrugged. "Had to do something."

Yuna smirked, then patted his shoulder. "Alright then, partner. Let's go."

Kai could still feel the warmth of Yuna's grip on his wrist as she smiled at him. Her presence was familiar yet foreign at the same time. The last time he saw her, they were just classmates. But now, here she was, dressed in combat gear, standing among hardened awakened fighters, volunteering for a mission that could very well get them both killed.

Yuna let go of his hand and placed it on her hip. "You really just volunteered like that without hesitation? That's pretty bold, Kai," she said, studying him.

Kai met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "I need to get stronger," he replied simply. There was no need for further explanation.

Yuna's lips curled into a smirk. "Well, at least you're still the same. Always doing things your own way."

Before their conversation could continue, the large military officer in charge—his name tag read Lieutenant Kang—clapped his hands, gathering attention once more. "Alright, those of you who volunteered, follow me. You'll be receiving your equipment before deployment."

Kai and Yuna exchanged a glance before walking behind him.

The camp was more organized than Kai initially thought. Rows of tents stretched across the field, some acting as barracks while others served as makeshift hospitals. Armed guards patrolled the area, their eyes sharp and their weapons always at the ready. Civilians who had managed to escape the infected zones sat in small groups, their expressions hollow with exhaustion and despair.

Kai took in the sight, feeling the weight of the current world settle deeper in his chest. This was reality now. There was no more school, no more normal life. Only survival.

Finally, they arrived at the armory tent. Inside, crates of weapons and protective gear were neatly stacked. A few soldiers were busy maintaining firearms, while others sorted through supplies.

Lieutenant Kang turned to them. "Since this mission is classified as Rank B danger, you'll be given equipment suited for your current ranks. Don't expect high-end gear—we can't afford to waste it on those who aren't proven yet." He pointed at Kai. "Especially you. You just ranked up to E, right? You're on probation for this one. If you prove yourself, we'll reconsider what you get next time."

Kai didn't argue. He knew where he stood.

A soldier handed him a tactical vest, a small utility bag, and a newly issued dagger. Unlike his old Beast Fang Dagger, this one had a sleeker design, reinforced with a stronger metal. It wasn't anything special, but it was better than nothing.

[ Item Received: Standard Combat Dagger (Rank E) ]

Kai fastened the dagger to his belt, then adjusted the straps of his vest to make sure it fit snugly. Next to him, Yuna received a lightweight combat suit and a long sword. From the way she handled it, it was clear she was used to it.

Kai noticed her looking at him. "What?" he asked.

She raised an eyebrow. "You always had a preference for daggers?"

Kai shrugged. "I use what works."

Yuna twirled her sword before resting it on her shoulder. "Well, let's see if you can keep up."

Lieutenant Kang cleared his throat. "Alright, now that you're geared up, here's the mission." He spread out a map on a nearby table. "Your objective is to reach an abandoned military outpost on the outskirts of Daejeon. There are still valuable supplies left behind, including ammunition, rations, and possibly medical supplies. However..." He tapped a red-marked section of the map. "This area has been classified as a Rank B monster zone. Scouts have reported an increased presence of *Infected Beasts* and *Mutated Crawlers*. Expect resistance."

Kai's eyes narrowed. "How many survivors have attempted this route?"

Lieutenant Kang exhaled through his nose. "Three squads. Only one made it back."

Yuna's expression darkened slightly. "That's a bad survival rate."

Lieutenant Kang nodded. "That's why we're sending in awakened this time. Normal soldiers stand no chance." He folded the map and looked at them. "You leave at dawn. Get some rest while you can."

Kai gave a small nod, then turned to leave. But before he stepped out, Yuna spoke up. "Hey, Kai."

He glanced back.

Yuna tilted her head slightly. "Since we're partners for this mission, we should at least watch each other's backs."

Kai stared at her for a moment before nodding. "Agreed."

As he stepped into the cold night air, he checked his system one last time. His stats were improving, his skills were developing, and now, he had his first real mission in this new world.

Kai exhaled slowly. No plot armor. No guarantees. Just survival.

Tomorrow, the real challenge would begin.