Shadows of the Past

Night had fallen as they found shelter on the top floor of a still-standing office building. Rain was still pouring down on the ruined city, making the atmosphere even more tense.

Aruna stood on the edge of the building, her eyes staring at the dark sky. Raka approached her, still trying to understand who this woman really was.

"You're not an ordinary person," Raka finally said.

Aruna didn't answer right away. She remained silent, as if considering something, before finally saying softly, "I'm not part of any group. I'm just a survivor."

Raka narrowed his eyes. "That's not an answer."

Aruna took a breath, then turned to him. Her icy blue gaze was sharp, but there was something behind it—the burden of the past.

"I come from the north, from a place that no longer exists."

Nadia, who was sitting not far from them, turned her head. "What do you mean?"

Aruna stared at the sky for a moment, then spoke in a flat voice. "A fortress. Built on an iceberg. We survived longer than anyone else, because the cold made it difficult for zombies to move. But humans…" he sighed, "humans are more cruel than monsters."

Raka listened in silence.

Aruna continued, "One day, a large group came. They claimed to want to work together, share supplies. But when night fell, they killed everyone. They wanted our fortress for themselves."

The atmosphere became silent.

Bayu, who was cleaning his weapon, paused. "So… you're the only one who survived?"

Aruna nodded slowly. "I didn't have time to save anyone. I could only run."

No one spoke for a few seconds.

Finally, Raka asked, "And now? Are you looking for those people?"

Aruna stared at him sharply. "I will kill them all."

Her tone was cold, without the slightest hesitation.

Vina bit her lip. "Then… you're not just surviving. You have a mission."

Aruna didn't answer, but her expression was answer enough.

Raka nodded. He could understand the feeling.

In this world, no one survives without losing something.

The Next Day

As dawn broke, they left the building and headed west, towards a safer place.

But when they reached the main road, Aruna suddenly stopped.

Her face turned serious.

Raka raised his weapon. "What?"

Aruna lowered her head and touched the wet asphalt. Instantly, a thin layer of ice began to form beneath her, spreading in a strange pattern.

Footprints.

Many.

And not just zombies. Humans.

Aruna stood up and stared north, her eyes narrowed.

"…They're here."

Raka immediately understood who she meant.

The group that had massacred his fortress.

And this time, a fight was inevitable.

A cold wind blew softly as Aruna stood still, her eyes glued to the footprints left on the wet asphalt. Her expression remained cold, but there was a glint of hatred in her eyes.

Raka stood beside her, gripping his weapon tighter. He knew that this was no ordinary encounter.

"How many are there?" Nadia asked in a low voice.

Aruna touched the footprints with her fingertips. Thin ice immediately formed on the surface, as if revealing something.

"Ten… maybe fifteen people. They move in formation. This is no ordinary group. They are trained."

Bayu took a deep breath. "So… do we escape?"

Aruna stood, staring straight ahead. Her gaze showed no fear at all.

"No," she answered. "I've waited too long for this."

Raka nodded. He could see the fire of revenge in Aruna's eyes—and he wasn't going to try to stop her.

Nadia snickered softly. "We're really going to fight them, huh? Well, I hope they're not worse than zombies."

Vina readied her bow. "If they're human… that means they could die."

Aruna walked first, followed by the others. They moved through the ruins of the city carefully, approaching the source of the tracks.

The further they walked, the clearer the signs of the enemy's presence became. Traces of campsites, cigarette butts, and dried bloodstains.

Finally, they heard human voices.

Raka signaled the others to hide. From behind the collapsed wall, they saw a group of people in black combat gear, fully armed. They weren't just ordinary survivors—this was an organized group.

One of the men, tall and short-haired, was talking to his men.

"…The fort in the north has been destroyed. But there are still remnants of people from there who might have survived. We'll make sure none of them escape."

Aruna clenched her fists. The air around her began to grow cold.

Raka realized something. "They're hunting people like you."

Aruna didn't answer. She just took a deep breath, then said in a low but firm voice, "I'll finish them all off."

Before anyone could stop her, Aruna stepped out of hiding.

Ice began to spread from her feet, spreading rapidly to the ground.

A man from the enemy group saw her and raised his gun. "Hey, who—"

SHRAAAKK!

An ice spear shot out at incredible speed, piercing her chest before she could pull the trigger.

The atmosphere immediately turned chaotic.

"What—?! Enemy!!"

The others immediately raised their guns, but Aruna was already moving. With terrifying speed, she ran towards them, her body flashing like a white shadow.

One of the men tried to shoot her, but before the bullet could fly, an ice sword had already slashed her neck.

The sound of gunfire exploded in the air.

Raka, Nadia, and the others immediately came out of hiding.

"Attack!" Raka shouted.

The battle broke out.

Aruna danced among her enemies, the ice sword in her hand gleaming in the moonlight. Every movement was fast and deadly. Blood mixed with the ice that had formed on the ground.

Raka shot a man who tried to attack Aruna from behind, while Nadia and Bayu held off the enemies from the other side.

One by one, the enemies began to fall.

Until finally, only one person remained—a short-haired man who seemed to be their leader.

He fell to the ground, his hands shaking as he tried to reach for his gun. But before he could shoot, an ice knife was already pressed against his neck.

Aruna knelt in front of him, staring at him with cold eyes.

"…Y-you… who are you?" the man gasped.

Aruna brought her face closer, whispering. "I am the person you should have killed in the northern fort."

The man's face paled. He began to tremble. "W-wait! We can talk—"

CRACK!

Aruna didn't give him a chance. The ice knife pierced the man's neck, ending his life in an instant.

Silence fell.

Raka approached, looking at the bodies around them. "So… is it over?"

Aruna stood up slowly, staring at her still-bloodied hands. Her expression remained cold, but something was different.

"…Not yet," she said softly.

Nadia sighed. "Seriously? There are more?"

Aruna stared far to the north.

"They're not the only ones."

Raka realized something. This battle was only the beginning.

And in the distance, a greater danger awaited.