Platinum Skies (The Manifests Series #2)

[34] Stuck In The Middle

The province of Miryang.

A province that was well known as one of the great places to witness the scenery of mountains and valleys. It was home to a myriad of historic landmarks, including ancient academies, honored temples, and a now defunct decades old water resovoir.

It was also the place where the ice valley of Eoreumgol was found---a valley known for its cold climate even in the midsummer season.

Now, most these landmarks are seemingly lost in history--buried in snow and ice as the aliens known as Koul'ins blatantly destroyed the city with its cryostine bombs.

Only a few buildings and intact roads remain---one of the last indicators of the once beautiful city's existence.

May 17, 2023, 5:09am, Miryang, South Korea.

The tires of Cat's new armored car rumbled as it travels towards Miryang. Within the car's walls were the whole team---who were now packed and raring to go for a new mission, despite still having wounds from their battle with Damascus days ago.

The rendezvous point was on one of the houses near Sicheong-ro Road, near the football stadium.

As the van enters Miryang, the team glances on the view of the outside. Desolation was clearly evident on the city---with some areas completely flattened and covered in snow, like a barren field on a harsh winter. Only a few batches of towering buildings were left standing, and even the landmarks were destroyed.

Scattered everywhere were piles of Koul'in apparatuses, broken cryostine cubes, and other strange and otherworldy stuff that seemed to indicate that there was once a huge clash of humans versus Koul'ins in several parts of the city.

Cat looks down onto her phone several minutes later, with the route to the coordinates plastered onto it. Sanghoon has given them this specific route to take, and advised them to strictly commit to it. He said it was for their own safety.

A few turns and detours, and soon, they arrived.

For safety measures, Zeke and Jihyo went down the van first and began scouring the area for clues on Sanghoon and his team's whereabouts. Soon, they come across different buildings.

"Is this the place where Sanghoon said is his outpost?" Zeke asked, gazing at what seems to be a completely obliterated apartment building.

"Mhm. It said so in the coordinates." Jihyo replied, who was looking away at Zeke.

"It... It doesnt even look human-friendly." Zeke commented. "I mean, look at it. The building is literally collapsing, and tons of rubble are on the side. I even think that cryostine cube next to a fallen wall is just waiting to explode. Do you thnk they... I dont know, found some secret bunker in there and just piled it with rubble?"

"What are you talking about? What in---" Jihyo looks towards Zeke he seems to be looking in the opposite direction. "Aish, pabo, the building is right here!"

Jihyo yanks Zeke through the shoulder and makes him look at the actual building, which just behind him.

It was, ofcourse, fully intact, with its foundations keeping it upright. Its walls, albeit torn apart, still faintly glistened alongside the snow and ice that was around it.

"Ooooooh, I see, I see. Sorry about that." Zeke said, scratching his head.

Jihyo gestures the team inside the van that it is safe to go down. Mina sets off first, waddling quickly towards Jihyo.

"So they are here, yes? Our allies?" Mina asked.

"Mhm. I wonder how they are...? One way to figure out. Come on." Jihyo said as the team slowly walks towards one of the houses in the ares.