Ch.9898. Ulsan Airport (2)

Bahamut’s advice could be immensely helpful in figuring out how to reach Ulsan in what was essentially an unknown situation.

Though Commander Jeong Dong-geon was also inwardly uneasy due to fear of the unknown, if this was a magical or mysterious phenomenon that could be handled with an Awakened’s power, it wasn’t particularly frightening or terrifying to him.

The reason was simple—if it was something done by a person, then Jeong Dong-geon, being a person himself, could certainly handle it. Above all… ‘This means it’s not magic or mystery beyond even Lord Bahamut’s capabilities.’

Being human, Jeong Dong-geon also had moments when he needed to rely on someone else.

With countless lives depending on his decisions, he inevitably felt the desire to escape that pressure, and thus needed a god to guide him.

Fortunately, Dragon God Bahamut had the charisma to be Jeong Dong-geon’s guiding deity, and often made difficult decisions that Jeong Dong-geon struggled to make on his own.

And now this dragon god was saying this wasn’t some unknown terror, but likely a phenomenon caused by someone’s power.

If that was the case, believing in that and moving forward without hesitation was the role of Jeong Dong-geon as a soldier.

“How far do you plan to advance, sir?”

“I want to recapture Ulsan Airport. I’m not sure if the United States will join our fight, but if we can secure American air support, our future operations will become much easier.”

After establishing a gateway to control the intersection and building a frontline base, Jeong Dong-geon mentioned Ulsan Airport without hesitation when his adjutant Son Sang-hui asked about his objectives.

From Jeong Dong-geon’s current location, going straight down would lead to Ulsan Airport. His plan seemed to be recapturing the airport and utilizing its characteristics to secure American air support through aerial routes.

“The road we’re using as our supply route isn’t problematic, but we don’t have any villages or towns to use as intermediate bases.”

Though they had liberated numerous villages, there were no intermediate bases—villages or towns—to help manage the supply route efficiently.

Of course, considering the villages and towns they had passed through, this statement might seem contradictory, but what mattered most in such places wasn’t the infrastructure but the people.

A village was worth protecting only if there were people who could be allies. If a village had no people and no zombies to attack it, there was no reason to protect it.

A village without local collaborators immediately lost its value as a base, and there was absolutely no reason to split forces to protect it.

“Are you considering the possibility of zombies in locations we’re unaware of?”

“Yes. If we were dealing with ordinary zombies or the mutant variants we’re familiar with, we wouldn’t need to worry about ambushes—observation posts at key points would suffice. But if our opponents are humans rather than zombies, they could strike at our most vulnerable moment and deliver a devastating blow to our supply lines. That’s what I’m thinking.”

However, with no intermediate bases, a strike on the supply lines could be fatal to the expedition.

One mistake could cut off the supply line, likely isolating the expeditionary force in Ulsan Metropolitan City. Since even the fuel for vehicles came through supplies, in the worst case, the expedition would have to walk the 20km distance back while being pursued by enemies.

Considering the worst-case scenario, Jeong Dong-geon needed to secure not only land-based supply routes but also aerial ones.

“So to prepare for the worst, we must secure Pohang Airport. In an emergency, we could even escape by plane.”

“…You’re saying we might fight against people.”

“Yes. Unfortunately.”

But this was a measure to prepare for fighting against people.

Son Sang-hui looked at Jeong Dong-geon with concern, but he had already made up his mind.

“And fighting people isn’t our first time. We’ve already eliminated Jo Sun-do, the tyrant of North Gyeongju.”

“Ah.”

Fighting people wasn’t exactly new to them—they had already engaged with raiders multiple times, and Jeong Dong-geon’s unit was the main force that eliminated the tyrant Jo Sun-do.

They were more familiar with fighting humans than anyone else, and thus knew better than anyone how to fight them.

That’s why…

‘I pray to the Dragon God that the muzzle of this rifle never points at innocent people.’

They knew better than anyone how easily violence could be triggered in this apocalypse.

Jeong Dong-geon wanted to avoid fighting people as much as possible, but he sensed that wouldn’t be easy.

“Well then, let’s move out.”

After looking at the gateway controlling the intersection, Jeong Dong-geon selected elite soldiers along with his adjutant Son Sang-hui and departed for Pohang Airport.

Riding in military trucks, nothing blocked Jeong Dong-geon’s group as they advanced.

For a while, they could enjoy a peaceful time observing village scenery and nearby farms, but…

“Commander, we’ve found what we’ve been looking for.”

“What is it?”

“A barricade, sir.”

“What?!”

As they approached Pohang Airport, they finally discovered a barricade.

At his subordinate’s report, Jeong Dong-geon rose with a surprised expression and observed the front from the slowing truck, confirming the presence of a barricade.

It wasn’t the typical metal barricade with no-entry signs, but rather a makeshift one constructed from numerous pieces of furniture from private homes. Nevertheless…

“This means someone is holding out here. Or was.”

This was an excellent chance to discover the whereabouts of Ulsan residents, which had been completely unknown until now.

Jeong Dong-geon immediately signaled the soldier driving the truck to stop, and the vehicle smoothly halted, gradually moving away from the barricade.

Given the distance, it was unlikely that whoever was at the barricade could see the truck without binoculars, but an Awakened with superhuman abilities or a detection-type ability user like Son Sang-hui might detect them, so they maintained a safe distance.

“There don’t seem to be any soldiers guarding the barricade.”

“It’s probably designed to waste our movement. But it’s effective—if we can’t remove it, we’ll have to take a long detour to reach the airport.”

When Son Sang-hui reported through binoculars that no soldiers were guarding the crude barricade, Jeong Dong-geon assessed it as a barricade meant to waste movement.

In reality, an Awakened could quickly dismantle it and secure a path, but the time and noise required for demolition were problematic.

During demolition, they would certainly alert whoever was holding out here about the intrusion. If they wanted to avoid that, they could take a detour, but…

“Other roads are likely already occupied as well.”

It was reasonable to assume that whoever set up the barricade had also occupied alternative routes.

The barricade showed a firm determination to hold out at Ulsan Airport, and Jeong Dong-geon had no intention of destroying it and antagonizing those holding out.

“Let’s just go over it.”

“Yes, sir.”

While the military truck had no choice but to detour, Awakened individuals could simply climb over or use small gaps or shortcuts to easily bypass it.

After parking and hiding the military truck in a suitable location, Jeong Dong-geon climbed over the crude barricade and marched toward Pohang Airport.

To avoid potential surveillance from Ulsan Airport, they hid in abandoned, dilapidated greenhouses and slowly advanced toward the airport. They successfully infiltrated the Ulsan Airport parking lot by climbing over the installed wire fence.

“Hmm.”

“Yes, sir.”

Communicating with soldiers through hand signals, they slowly infiltrated the interior by hiding among the cars parked at Ulsan Airport, gradually advancing in a crawling position.

Of course, there was a possibility that no one was at Ulsan Airport, but having discovered the barricade blocking entry, Jeong Dong-geon judged it highly likely that someone was there, hence the cautious approach.

And Jeong Dong-geon’s judgment was correct.

“W-what?! How did they get this close already?!”

Just as they successfully infiltrated Ulsan Airport, a sharp scream was heard, revealing someone who was shocked by their intrusion.

This stealthy infiltration seemed completely unexpected by the other side, and the survivor at Pohang Airport was bewildered but…

“Everyone up! Enemy!”

Despite the sudden appearance of enemies, instead of falling into panic, they calmly shouted that enemies had arrived and began encouraging preparations for battle.

Having infiltrated suddenly without warning, Jeong Dong-geon judged that the survivors at the airport had greatly misunderstood them as intruders. He immediately revealed himself from the darkness, raising both hands above his head to express that he had no intention of fighting, and spoke.

“Wait a moment, please! We didn’t come to fight you!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I still shudder thinking about what your cult did!”

“Huh? Cult? What do you mean?”

Jeong Dong-geon couldn’t help but be perplexed at the word “cult.”

He even wondered if some Balhut Cult soldiers stationed on Industrial Road had acted beyond their authority and caused this incident without his knowledge.

It was impossible for Jeong Dong-geon and his subordinate officers to perfectly control all troops, and naturally, the management of soldiers at observation posts or gateways was left to the discretion of field officers except for major guidelines.

Could one of those officers have ignored Jeong Dong-geon’s orders and secretly conducted an external expedition?

“I swear by the great Dragon God our cult worships and the heavens…”

“Considering what your Cult of Immortality did to Ulsan, you’ll never be forgiven by heaven!”

“…Did? Excuse me? What cult did you say?”

To calm those preparing to fight, Jeong Dong-geon mentioned the great Dragon God worshipped by the Balhut Cult and was about to swear they had done no such thing when he was left speechless by the woman’s mention of the “Cult of Immortality.”

Wait, what did she just say?

‘Oh? Not the Balhut Cult, but the Cult of Immortality? Is our cult known as the Cult of Immortality outside?’

Cult of Immortality? Not the Balhut Cult?

While the emergence of pseudo-religious cults during the apocalypse was common, this completely unexpected name left Jeong Dong-geon’s mind blank.

‘No, we’re being mistaken for a completely different religion!’

He didn’t know which deity the Cult of Immortality worshipped, but the Balhut Cult worshipped the Dragon God.

It was a cult that didn’t fit the keyword “immortality” at all, so Jeong Dong-geon raised his hands again to show he had no intention of fighting while shouting loudly.

“No! We’re not affiliated with the Cult of Immortality! Our cult is…”

“Strike first, win first!”

However, in the current apocalypse, everyone knew that striking first was easier and simpler than arguing.

As if there was nothing more to hear, the woman quickly launched a preemptive attack. Jeong Dong-geon lowered his hands, grabbed his rifle, and defended against the woman’s downward strike with a staff, trying to push her back.

“What?!”

“Mr. Jeong Dong-geon!”

“Commander!”

But he wasn’t pushed back.

As an Awakened who had survived countless dangerous situations, Jeong Dong-geon possessed superhuman strength.

Except for special beings like the Dragon Priestess, he was celebrated as the strongest Awakened in Gyeongju. In fact, Jeong Dong-geon’s level had exceeded 20, and he had even obtained the Warrior class.

“You blocked it? Here comes the next one!”

Instead, he was overpowered.

As if the first strike had been merely a probe, she swung her sharp-tipped staff, delivering a thrust too fast to see.

He tried to defend with his rifle, but his subordinates were shocked by the unbelievable sight.

“The commander allowed a hit?”

Even if it was a surprise attack during an attempt at persuasion, there were few Awakened within the cult who could successfully surprise Jeong Dong-geon, the strongest in the Balhut Cult.

Yet this unidentified Awakened, despite failing the surprise attack, managed to successfully thrust into Jeong Dong-geon’s body as if it were nothing.

‘She’s strong! At least beyond level 20! An Awakened who’s obtained a class! To think such a talent, worthy of being called a Named, would be at Ulsan Airport without any rumors or news!’

This meant the opponent, like Jeong Dong-geon, had long surpassed level 20 and successfully obtained a class—a superhuman.

Though he wasn’t knocked down by the superhuman’s thrust, Jeong Dong-geon realized the struck area was painful. He gathered his wits and tried to counterattack without even having time to draw the knife at his waist.

And he wondered why such a superhuman was here without any rumors or news.

‘Motorcycle helmet… I can’t identify the opponent’s face.’

If he could see the face, there might be a way to know the opponent’s identity, but they were wearing a motorcycle helmet, presumably to protect their face.

The build was a bit small for a man, but the voice was androgynous, so he thought it might be a boy whose voice hadn’t properly changed yet.

‘A boy? Could be a girl too… No, looking at the chest, must be a boy.’

Due to the ambiguous appearance, Jeong Dong-geon resorted to looking at the chest as a final measure, and the opponent’s chest was flat.

No, it was nonexistent. Completely absent. Flat as a board. It’s important, so I said it three times?

“Oh ho. You blocked that? That means you’ve also surpassed level 20, mister. What’s this? Has the leader of the Cult of Immortality finally shown up? Hunting big shots is my specialty.”

The opponent was also surprised that Jeong Dong-geon had blocked the surprise attack, but…

“Then how about this?”

As if to say this wasn’t enough, they began another fierce attack.