"I'll be honest..." Zeke began. "E-World Tower isnt really part of my itinerary, based on my South Korea package tour brochure. Is it okay to tour this place? What do you think...?"
"Zeke... you gotta stop pretending we're your tour guides and you got lost in your tour," Minji said, giggling. "You've been at it since we left."
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I know that. I'm just trying to lighten the mood, because, you know, we are in a very, very hostile place right now... and it's way too early for this kind of menacing aura..." Zeke said as he looked toward the Koul'in base.
April 19, 2023, 5:30 am, E-World Amusement Park, Daegu, South Korea.
[MAJOR EVENT: OPERATION SHIBA]
The team's caravan stopped beyond the parking lot of the park, where the fog was no longer hampering their field of vision. They look around, and they realized they were in the plaza of the park.
A once, lively place, the plaza was now nothing but piles of bricks and steel rubble. The arching entrance that serves as one of the landmarks of the park has fallen, and the fountain pool nearby now completely frozen in solid ice. Barren trees surround the area, as if the place was just... dead.
"This is the part where we split up, right, Mr. Seojun?" Zeke asked.
"Mhm. Your team will head toward the tower, while we cover the rides area." Seojun replied.
"Will you guys be okay...?" Zeke asked.
"Yes. Ofcourse. We will." Seojun replied.
"Seojun-nim wouldn't bluff in a crucial moment like this. We are prepared this time. I believe we can do this, so I'll help him!" Minji added.
"I wanted to make up for the time I couldnt protect Sana-unnie. So if this is the way... Even if I'm nervous, I'd fight for this." Miyeon said.
"Well, I'm part of this team, so I guess I'm joining this battle, too. Don't worry about us, Jihyo-unnie. This is a battle we choose to participate in, and we will be fine." Ryujin smiled.
"Well, that's more than enough validation that we can do it, hmm?" Seojun said. "Now, you should be off."
"Take care, Seojun. Minji. Ryujin. Miyeon."
"You as well, Minhyuk-nim!" Minji replied.
Before Zeke and Jihyo's team finally departs for the tower, they were stopped by Seojun.
"Zeke, Jihyo." Seojun suddenly spoke as the two looked at him.
"A word of advice. In this particular situation, you should choose your battles. Not every enemy is worth wasting sweat on. It's all about increasing our survivability 'til we get to our goal, and that is to rescue those who need to be rescued. We can't save them if we are exhausted, or worse, dead."
"How do we know if the battle isn't worth it, Seojun-nim?" Jihyo asked.
"For me, it's when you expend so much energy on an opponent that you think would only waste your time. You'll just... know." Seojun replied.
"...We got you, Mister Seojun." Zeke replied as they both nodded. "Please take care."
Seojun smiled as he turns to his team. "Ryujin, Minji. Miyeon. Follow me, and ready your weapons." Seojun smiled as he began to walk towards the rides area, while Zeke and Jihyo's team ventured toward the tower.
YOU ARE READING
The Wielder's Winter (The Manifests Series #1)
Fanfiction"I'm going to save and protect ALL of my loved ones, so help me, you stupid cane!" An icy apocalypse has fallen on South Korea, and it's up to a Filipino ONCE and the leader of TWICE to find and save the rest of her friends! Grab your pipe wrench...
