Apocalypse: The echoes of Madness

The air around him began to ripple, distorting as if the fabric of reality itself bent to his will. His cold eyes locked on the monster, a predator's gaze boring into its very soul. There was no mercy in his expression—only the quiet certainty of what was about to unfold.

Zane raised his hand, fingers curling slightly, and the room seemed to darken. Energy surged from him—silent yet overwhelming—wrapping around the beast like invisible chains. The creature writhed, its grotesque body contorting as the force held it in place. It roared, its fury mingled with fear, but Zane's expression remained unshaken.

With a sudden, crushing motion of his hand, Zane's power condensed. The energy tightened around the monster until the very air trembled. The creature's roar turned into a strangled cry as its form began to implode, its massive body crumpling inward under the sheer pressure. Cracks spread across its flesh, light seeping through like molten fire, as though Zane's power was tearing it apart from within.

The monster's glowing eyes widened in terror, and for the first time, it understood: there was no escape.

Zane's voice, low and cold, sliced through the chaos. "You sought immortality," he said, his words a death sentence. "You'll find none here."

With a final, deliberate motion, Zane clenched his fist, and the monster erupted in a burst of light and ash. Its roar was silenced in an instant, its twisted form obliterated, leaving behind only a faint, dark mist that dissipated into the air.

The room fell into heavy silence. The oppressive presence of the monster was gone, replaced by the unshakable weight of Zane's power. He lowered his hand slowly, his eyes still cold, his presence still commanding.

The illusion shattered, and reality began to return, but the memory of Zane's unrelenting force lingered—testament to his strength and ruthlessness.

The remaining monsters charged at Zane, their roars filling the chamber. He didn't flinch. Raising his hand, a ripple of energy burst from him, freezing them mid-charge.

With a thought, Zane's power crushed them effortlessly, their grotesque forms twisting and collapsing into ash. The room fell silent once more, the once-deadly horde erased in mere moments.

Lowering his hand, Zane stood unmoved, his cold gaze a stark reminder of his overwhelming, unstoppable power.

As the silence settled, Yuri began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open, and Arthur, who had been kneeling beside her, let out a choked sob of relief. He pulled her into a tight embrace, tears streaming down his face as he whispered, "You're awake… You're okay…"

The group gathered around her, their faces reflecting a rare moment of joy and relief. Even Zane, silent as always, lingered at the edge, his gaze softening ever so slightly. Yuri, still weak but conscious, began to cry quietly, overwhelmed by the warmth of her friends surrounding her.

Through her tears, Yuri suddenly asked, "Did you… did you find our bag?"

Arthur froze, confusion flickering across his face. "What?" he asked softly, glancing at the others.

James's eyes widened in realization. "We totally forgot about that!" he exclaimed, guilt flashing across his face.

Rose spoke up, her tone gentle but firm. "Let's go find it. We'll get it back."

With spirits slightly lifted but still weighed down by the blood-soaked horrors around them, the group set off once more. The halls were eerily silent, save for the echo of their footsteps. Blood stained the floors and walls, grim reminders of the nightmare they had endured.

Finally, they reached a locked room. Zane, wordless as ever, stepped forward. With a flick of his power, the door shattered, revealing a dim, filthy room. The stench of decay hung heavy in the air, and rats scurried across the floor, their eyes glowing faintly in the shadows.

Amid the grime and darkness, their bag lay discarded in the corner. Yuri's eyes lit up as she saw it, and she hurried over, trembling hands reaching for it. "I found it!"her voice filled with relief.

But just as she picked it up, her joy turned to terror. She froze, eyes wide with fear, and screamed, dropping the bag. "I… I saw something there!" she stammered, pointing toward the far corner of the room.

James stepped forward cautiously, his heart pounding as he followed her gaze. His flashlight swept across the darkness, illuminating the shadowed corner. There, curled up and trembling, was a small child, their eyes wide and filled with terror.

James knelt down, his voice soft and careful. "Hey… it's okay," he whispered. "We're not here to hurt you."

The group stared in stunned silence, the weight of the discovery settling over them. Yuri's tears began to fall again, her fear replaced by profound sadness. The sight of the child reminded them all of the horrors this place had hidden—and of the innocence that had been ensnared in its grasp.

Yuri knelt in front of the trembling child, her voice soft, comforting despite the turmoil in her heart. "What's your name?" she asked gently, her gaze searching his small, frightened face.

The child hesitated, his lips trembling, before finally whispering, "Kim Min-Joon." His voice was fragile, faint, as though it hadn't been used in years.

Yuri offered him a small, reassuring smile. "How old are you, Min-Joon?" she asked, trying to ease his fear.

"I'm… I'm fifteen," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

The group exchanged glances, confusion settling in. Min-Joon looked far younger—his frail body, hollow cheeks, and wide, innocent eyes made him appear no older than ten or eleven. It didn't make sense. How could a boy like him survive in a place like this, amidst all the horrors they'd faced?

Yuri's heart ached as she gazed at him, her mind racing with questions she didn't dare voice. How long had he been trapped here? What had he endured?

But it was Rose who stepped forward, her expression unreadable, her eyes fixed on the boy. There was something in her gaze—a flicker of recognition, as if she had known him long before this moment. "Are you… human?" she asked, her voice steady, yet laced with something deeper that made the others pause.

The boy lifted his head slowly, meeting her eyes. "Yes," he answered simply, his voice carrying an unexpected weight, as if that single word held a lifetime of secrets.

The group froze. A human? Here? In this cursed place? It seemed impossible.

But Rose didn't flinch. She continued to stare at Min-Joon, her heart heavy with a pull she couldn't explain. A sense of recognition tugged at her, as if she had seen him before—perhaps not in this life, but in a place beyond memory.

Rose stepped forward, her voice calm, unwavering. "I'm taking this child with me," she declared, her tone leaving no room for argument.

The boy, who had avoided meeting anyone's gaze, finally looked up at her. His eyes lingered on her face, surprise flickering in his expression, but he said nothing. Moments later, he turned his head away, retreating into silence. Yet something in his posture softened—perhaps a fragile trust beginning to form.

Cale frowned, concern flashing across his face. "No, we can't take a human child with us. We don't even know how far we'll have to go, or what we'll face next. He'll only slow us down."

James nodded hesitantly, glancing between Rose and the boy. "Cale's right. It's dangerous—for him and for us. He might not survive out there."

But Rose didn't waver. Her eyes remained steady, her resolve unshaken. "No," she said firmly, her voice carrying an edge of quiet determination. "I will take this child with me."

The room fell into uneasy silence. Zane, standing at the edge, turned his gaze to Rose. His expression was unreadable, his cold eyes lingering on her for what seemed like an eternity. Then, without a word, he nodded.

"Okay," he said simply. "Let's go."

Rose didn't look back. She stepped forward, extending her hand toward the boy. He hesitated for a moment, before reaching out and taking it, his small fingers curling into hers. Though he said nothing, the weight of his silent acceptance hung heavy in the air.

As they turned to leave, the group followed reluctantly, unspoken questions and doubts lingering like shadows. But in Rose's firm grip on the child's hand, there was a quiet promise—a determination to protect him, no matter the cost.

As they prepared to leave the dim, grimy room, the child hesitated, pointing to an old, dusty table in the corner. His trembling hand guided their attention to it. Rose, following his gaze, walked over and opened the worn, creaking drawer. Inside, tucked away in an aged envelope, she found a document.

The paper, yellowed and brittle, seemed to carry a sinister weight as she unfolded it. The others gathered around her as she read aloud the chilling words scrawled on the page.

They found out.

This is not the only experimental area. The next site is in Chuncheon. Further research and subjects await there. More answers lie ahead.

A heavy silence fell over them as the meaning of the words sank in. This nightmare wasn't over. It stretched far beyond what they had imagined. Rose clenched the document tightly, her expression unreadable. "Chuncheon," she murmured, the quiet resolve in her voice unmistakable.

With the document in hand, the group emerged from the cursed subway. The night sky greeted them, stars scattered like faint embers in the dark. The cool air hit their faces, a stark contrast to the suffocating dread of the tunnels below. Yet, there was no sense of time—no way to tell how many days had passed since they entered the subway's horrific depths.

As they stood there, weary but alive, Zane stepped forward. His gaze was fixed on the subway entrance. His expression was cold, unrelenting. Without a word, he raised his hand, and the ground began to tremble.

The air around them thickened, charged with an unseen force. Shadows danced as the earth beneath the subway station cracked and buckled. A low, ominous rumble echoed through the night as Zane's power surged.

The structure began to collapse, the once-imposing station crumbling like a sandcastle swept away by an unseen tide. Concrete shattered, steel twisted, and flames erupted from deep below as his energy consumed the entire station. The roaring destruction filled the air, drowning out all other sounds.

In a final, deafening explosion, the subway was no more. The ground smoothed over as if it had never existed—a clean slate, erasing the horrors that had festered within.

Zane lowered his hand, his expression as cold and unyielding as ever. The others stood in silence, the weight of what they had left behind—and what lay ahead—settling heavily on their shoulders.

Rose looked at the stars for a moment, clutching the document. "Chuncheon," she repeated softly. The night was quiet, but the battle was far from over.

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(To be continued)

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