Chapter 14 : Meeting Other Passersby

After resting, we resumed our exploration through the vast parking basement—a subterranean space that seemed to stretch endlessly. Concrete walls loomed cold and silent, with thin moss creeping through cracks in the aged cement. Dim lighting from flickering neon lights cast shifting shadows across the walls, creating an eerie atmosphere that was slowly becoming familiar to us.

The ceiling above dipped low in certain areas, forcing us to crouch as we passed through. The air was thick with the scent of rusted metal and dampness. Abandoned vehicles remained in place, swallowed by corrosion and coated in a thick layer of dust. Loose cables dangled from above, and puddles of water mirrored the gloomy light in places.

Not long into our trek, we spotted a familiar towering figure in the distance—a Burster. The creature, humanoid in shape yet grotesquely bloated, moved sluggishly, its body glistening with a greenish slime that coated its skin. Every now and then, it let out a shrill shriek that echoed throughout the basement.

"Olivia, can you shoot it from this distance?" I asked, keeping my eyes on the Burster, which hadn't yet noticed us.

"Leave it to me," she replied calmly, raising the Colt 1911 I had given her earlier.

We were about thirty meters away—far, but still within the effective range of the gun. I wanted to conserve Hyunsuk's shotgun shells and also test Olivia's shooting ability. I didn't expect much, but I believed she deserved the chance.

A soft gunshot rang out from the pistol. In an instant, the Burster reacted violently. Its swollen body convulsed, then inflated rapidly like a balloon punctured at its weakest point—then... BOOM!

A loud explosion tore through the air, spraying acidic green liquid in every direction.

The three of us stood frozen, exchanging silent glances.

"..."

"..."

"W-what's wrong?" Olivia asked, her voice slightly awkward.

We were still stunned. It wasn't just the fact that the Burster fell with a single bullet. What truly caught me off guard was the precision of her shot. Hitting such a target in exactly the right spot to cause that explosion, and from that distance, was no easy feat.

Hyunsuk was the first to speak. "Whoa... how did you do that, noona? Were you in the military or something?"

Olivia shook her head lightly. "No military training. But I've spent quite a bit of time at shooting ranges. Just a hobby, really."

"So because you practiced a lot... you can shoot that accurately?" Hyunsuk nodded slowly, as if learning something new for the first time.

Olivia raised the pistol slightly and added, "Practice is important. But so is understanding your weapon. This Colt 1911 has an effective range of about twenty-five meters. But since this room is calm and windless, the bullet traveled more stably. No external interference—so the shot went straight."

I stayed quiet, absorbing the detail in her explanation. I knew that shooting required practice, but I hadn't realized that it also depended so much on environment, bullet velocity, even air pressure.

Hyunsuk looked a bit impressed—or confused. Maybe both. He was only seventeen and hadn't undergone any military training yet.

I offered a dry smile. While I'd never even touched a real firearm due to the laws in my country, Olivia now looked like a seasoned marksman in front of us.

With the Burster defeated, we continued deeper into the basement. Our footsteps echoed against the empty concrete floor. Remnants of the creature's explosion still lingered in the distance, leaving behind glowing green stains and a stinging, metallic stench.

Olivia walked more confidently now, the Colt 1911 resting comfortably in her hands.

Then, amidst the silence, came a new sound—a scream, distant but quickly approaching. And then, hurried footsteps.

We turned toward the left. Two figures emerged from the shadows, running frantically, faces pale with fear. It was Robert and Joshua. Their breaths were ragged, and their expressions revealed something far worse than simple exhaustion.

Behind them, clinging to the ceiling, crawled a grotesque creature. A humanoid monster, gliding along the concrete like a massive lizard. It had no eyes, only a gaping mouth lined with protruding fangs. Its hands were flat, seemingly adhesive, letting it cling to the ceiling as it moved with unnatural speed.

The sound of scraping claws echoed, sending shivers down our spines. A foul, bloody stench radiated from its body. Every motion it made was accompanied by a harsh screeching noise, like raw skin scraping against stone.

Robert, nearly breathless, shouted, "HELP!!"

Joshua stumbled behind, his face flushed, body nearly collapsing from fatigue.

We immediately readied ourselves. Olivia lowered her stance, Hyunsuk gripped his shotgun tightly, and I reached for the fire axe strapped to my back.

Tension thickened the air. The flickering lights above us dimmed rhythmically, as if adding pressure to the moment. We didn't know if we could help in time—but we weren't about to stand by and do nothing.

This was the beginning of the next confrontation in this endless underground—

A place where light rarely touched the floor,

And the line between life and death was drawn by courage and a single, split-second decision.