The sun rose, but it wasn't the sun they remembered. Instead of a brilliant gold, it filtered through the heavy crimson haze like a dying ember, casting long, bloody shadows across the supermarket floor.
Still, the light meant one thing:
They had survived the first day of the apocalypse.
Jeesuk was the first to wake. His internal clock, tuned by years of discipline as a student and class representative, wouldn't let him rest a second longer. He sat up slowly, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword before his eyes had fully adjusted.
The supermarket was quiet, save for the soft, rhythmic breathing of his friends.
Then his gaze settled on Yoorie.
She was leaning against a stack of crates, her head tilted slightly to the side. In the dim, reddish light, the sharp edges of the world seemed to soften around her. Jeesuk found himself staring, his usual stoic mask slipping.
He noticed the delicate curve of her features… the way a stray lock of dark hair fell across her forehead.
She looked peaceful—
a stark contrast to the girl who had been gripping a ruby wand and facing monsters just hours ago.
For a moment, Jeesuk forgot about being a Level 5 Swordsman.
Forgot about the timer.
He just saw Yoorie.
The girl he had always noticed—
but never approached.
A strange tightness formed in his chest.
He reached out, his fingers hovering just inches from her face, wanting to tuck that stray hair back—
but he stopped.
He couldn't afford distractions.
Not when the world was ending.
He pulled his hand back just as Yoorie's eyelashes fluttered.
Her eyes opened.
And for a brief moment—
they met his.
"Jeesuk?" Yoorie whispered, her voice soft with sleep.
Jeesuk straightened instantly, his composed "Class Monitor" expression snapping back into place.
"It's dawn," he said evenly. "Wake the others. The timer is still counting."
Yoorie sat up, rubbing her eyes as the blue system panel flickered to life before her.
Her breath caught.
[TIME REMAINING: 03:15:05]
Time hadn't just passed—
it had rushed forward.
They didn't have half a day.
They had three hours.
Yoorie stood, her legs steady now despite the cold floor. She walked over to where Kyna, Minnie, Liyana, and Minji were curled together, sleeping for warmth.
She shook them gently, calling their names until they stirred awake.
Across the aisle, Jeesuk wasn't gentle.
He leaned close to Joel and said in a low voice, "Joel. Wake up. There's a monster behind you."
Joel shot up instantly.
"WHAT—?!"
He grabbed for a weapon that wasn't even there—
then froze as he saw Jeesuk standing calmly in front of him.
Silence.
Then—
Yoorie laughed.
A small, soft sound that echoed lightly through the empty store.
Even now—
some things hadn't changed.
"Alright, everyone," Yoorie said, her tone turning serious as she adjusted her backpack. "Check your gear. We're heading back to Model High. We have three hours to reach the Science Lab."
They stepped back into the crimson world.
But the streets weren't silent anymore.
Movement.
Everywhere.
Groups of students emerged from alleys, buildings, shops—moving in the same direction.
It looked like a migration.
A silent one.
A frightened one.
"Look at them," Minnie whispered. "They're all heading to our school."
"Which means the entrance will be chaos," Liyana said, gripping her weapon.
As they approached the main bridge leading to the school district—
Jeesuk stopped.
His hand lifted slightly.
Signal.
Everyone froze.
"What is it?" Kyna whispered.
"A blockade," Jeesuk said quietly.
Yoorie peeked over an abandoned car.
Her stomach tightened.
A group of students stood in the middle of the bridge, armed with bats and metal pipes.
They weren't fighting monsters.
They were stopping people.
Taking from them.
At the front—
laughing—
was a boy in a Vocational School uniform.
Minji's voice trembled.
"It's them… the ones who left me."
"They're taking supplies," she added, barely audible. "So they can get stronger first."
Yoorie's grip tightened on her ruby wand.
A faint golden pulse flickered beneath the stone.
Anger.
Joel didn't wait.
He spotted a heavy metal bat near a car tire, picked it up, and hurled it with full force.
CLANG!
It slammed into the lead bully's shoulder.
"RUN! GUYS, RUN!" Joel shouted.
Chaos exploded.
Jeesuk moved instantly.
He grabbed Yoorie's hand—
firm.
Warm.
His fingers laced with hers as he pulled her forward.
"Don't let go."
They ran.
Past confusion.
Past shouting.
Past danger.
Liyana and Kyna guarded the back, weapons raised, ready to strike if anyone followed.
They didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
Not until—
Model High School appeared ahead.
By the time they reached the Science Lab building, they were breathless.
Yoorie glanced at her panel.
[TIME REMAINING: 02:30:15]
They made it.
But—
they weren't alone.
The hallway was filled.
Students from different schools sat along the walls, injured, exhausted, silent.
Some had bandages.
Some stared at nothing.
The air felt heavy.
Like something was waiting.
"We made it…" Minnie whispered. "But… this place…"
"It looks like a war zone," Joel finished.
Jeesuk slowly let go of Yoorie's hand.
But the warmth remained.
He turned toward the lab door.
Sealed.
Unmoving.
"The System is locking it," he said. "No one gets in until the timer hits zero."
"So we just wait here?" Joel asked. "With all these people?"
"And those bullies could show up anytime," Kyna added.
Yoorie looked at Minji.
Still shaking.
Then at the door.
Her wand felt heavier now.
Alive.
She could feel it—
something behind that door.
Power.
Danger.
Something far worse than before.
"They'll come," Yoorie said quietly.
Her eyes hardened.
"But this time—"
She tightened her grip on the wand.
"We don't run."
Kyna stepped forward beside her, a small, fierce smile forming.
"Exactly."
"It's our school, after all."