As everybody continued rampaging against the red barrier, desperately trying to break it down, the zombies took notice of the noise and instantly sprinted toward the group of people huddled near the barred double doors of the arcade. At the same time, the zombie shooter machines continued to spit out more zombies one after another until their number reached one hundred. The entire arcade was filled with sounds of despair, from desperate screams to children crying, as the situation rapidly spiraled out of control. The people gathered at the red barred double doors turned back in horror as the zombies charged toward them at terrifying speed, their bodies jerking and stumbling as they bumped into each other and crashed into nearby machines, yet never slowing down.
"This isn't good… they're coming!"
"Why aren't they stopping?!"
The people saw that the barrier would not break no matter how much they tried, and panic only grew worse as curses and cries filled the air. The middle-aged father, carrying his son on his shoulders, shouted out to everyone with urgency in his voice.
"Stop trying to break it! Just run!"
Hearing his words, some people immediately scattered in different directions, while others remained frozen in place, their legs stiff as fear took over. Mothers, arcade workers, students, and children alike stood paralyzed, unable to move as the horde closed in on them.
"Move! Please move!"
"I can't… I can't move!"
The ones who hesitated were the first to be caught as the wave of zombies crashed into them. What followed was pure horror as the undead tore into them without mercy, their hands ripping through clothes and flesh alike, dragging people down as screams filled the arcade. The sound of fabric tearing mixed with the wet, sickening noise of flesh being ripped apart, of bones snapping and bodies being forced open, while blood sprayed across the floor and machines. Their cries turned into desperate, broken screams as they were devoured alive.
"AAAAAH—! HELP ME! SOMEBODY—!"
"GET THEM OFF! GET THEM OFF ME!"
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE—!"
The horrifying scene froze everyone who witnessed it, fear gripping them completely as some turned pale, some covered their mouths in shock, and others vomited at the sight. Among them were the five boys, their faces drained of color as they stared at something so violent and unfamiliar.
"Fuck… is this shit actually happening?"
With Park Ji Hoon's words, the others snapped out of their daze. Kim Min Jun quickly forced himself to think, his eyes scanning the arcade as panic threatened to take over, until he noticed the far corners of the place, an area shadowed and partially blocked by machines. Without wasting another second, he grabbed the arms of the others and pulled them down.
"Get down!"
"The hell are you doing?! That scared me!" Lee Tae Yang's voice shook as he spoke, clearly terrified, while the others looked just as shaken.
"Are you crazy?! They're right there!"
Instead of answering immediately, Kim Min Jun raised a finger to his lips. "Sshhh, shut up and stay quiet alright?! They'll hear us."
His voice was low but firm, forcing the others to listen. Slowly but quickly, he began to crawl, keeping his body low as he moved away from the horde and from the people who were drawing the zombies' attention, carefully choosing a path that kept them out of direct sight.
"Follow me and stay down for a while… and try not to make a sound."
The other four exchanged nervous glances, their fear obvious, but they nodded nonetheless, trusting him as they followed closely behind, their hearts pounding in their chests while the horrifying sounds of screams and the screeching of zombies continued to echo throughout the arcade.
***
As the five boys crawled, keeping their bodies low and their movements careful, they eventually reached the far corner of the arcade where no zombies were nearby and no panicked people would run toward them. Once they were sure they were out of immediate danger, the five of them collapsed onto the floor, their bodies exhausted from the overwhelming fear, their hearts pounding uncontrollably as they gasped for air, their faces flushed red while they leaned their backs against the glowing arcade machines that concealed them from sight.
For a few moments, none of them spoke, their breathing heavy as the distant screams, cries for help, and the screeching of zombies echoed throughout the arcade, making it impossible to forget what was happening just beyond their hiding spot. Choi Woo Jin slowly pulled his knees closer to his chest, wrapping his arms around them as his head lowered, his voice coming out in a quiet, reluctant whisper.
"…Damn it… guys… is this actually happening…?"
The other four looked at him but didn't immediately respond, not because they didn't want to, but because none of them had an answer. Just moments ago, everything had been normal, and now they were hiding from monsters while people were being torn apart just a short distance away. As much as they wanted to deny it, there was no escaping the truth that this had become their new reality.
The atmosphere around them grew heavy, weighed down by fear and uncertainty, until Jung Hae Ryong, noticing that even Kim Min Jun had fallen into silence, so he decided to speak up. He reached out and gently placed his hand on Choi Woo Jin's head, lightly ruffling his hair as he spoke in a softer tone.
"…Hey. At least we're still together, right? That's… something good, isn't it?"
The others paused at his words, the tension in their expressions easing slightly as they realized that, despite everything, they weren't alone.
Choi Woo Jin slowly lifted his head, letting out a small breath as he ran his hand through his deep green hair. "…Yeah… when you put it like that… I guess it does sound better."
With Lee Tae Yang adding"…Yeah. At least we're together in this messed up situation."
Jung Hae Ryong then smiled faintly before pulling his hand back, then added with a slightly lighter tone. "…Isn't this kind of like those webnovels we read?"
Park Ji Hoon let out a small, uneasy breath before replying. "…If you say it like that… then yeah, you're right."
Lee Tae Yang nodded in agreement, though the tension in his face still hadn't completely disappeared.
Seeing that the mood had improved even just a little, Jung Hae Ryong turned his attention to Kim Min Jun.
"…You've read more of those than all of us. So what would the smart main character do right now?"
Kim Min Jun adjusted his black-rimmed glasses, his expression still serious as he forced himself to think despite the chaos around them.
"…Right… even if this isn't exactly the same… we can still try."
The other four instinctively leaned closer, forming a small huddle around him as they listened.
"…Our goal is simple. Survive for thirty minutes. So we should focus on that first."
Lee Tae Yang frowned slightly before speaking.
"…That sounds easier than it actually is. What if someone runs this way and drags the zombies with them?"
The others immediately nodded, clearly having thought about the same thing. "…Yeah… that's possible."
Kim Min Jun didn't deny it. "…You're right. That's why we can't just stay here forever. If people or zombies start moving toward this area, we relocate immediately, or else we'll be cornered."
The others thought about it for a moment before nodding, even if there was still fear in their eyes, it was better than staying still and risking being surrounded. It's better than getting eaten alive, they thought.
Kim Min Jun then continued.
"…Also, do you remember what the trial said about the inventory?"
For a moment, the others froze before realization hit them all at once.
"Oh… right."
"…Yeah, the items…"
Choi Woo Jin blinked, then asked hesitantly.
"But… how do we even get the access to the inventory? There wasn't even an explanation to open the inventory."
There hadn't been any clear explanation, but as soon as he said the words, or more specifically thought of "open inventory," a blue screen suddenly appeared in front of him, causing him to flinch in surprise.
"Whoa—!"
The other four immediately leaned in closer after noticing the blue screen appear, their heads nearly pressing against Choi Woo Jin as they stared at the screen in amazement. The inventory displayed forty-five item slots arranged in five rows and nine columns, and at the very top left corner sat a single item. An iron sword. The five of them stared at it, their fear momentarily mixed with disbelief and curiosity. It looks way more impressive in person, they thought.