Crash!
The reinforced glass of the first door shattered under a single swing of the Tang Blade. Stephen kicked through the shards, clearing the way as Seok-woo and Yong-guk charged in behind him. But there was a second barrier. Fortunately, its straps were loose. Seok-woo and Yong-guk pried it open just enough for Stephen to jam his blade in and slice the restraints clean. The second door gave way.
Jin Changwu stumbled backward, shouting, "Don't let them in! Get them out, now!"
Dan's men rushed forward, but froze when Stephen stepped in, his eyes cold as steel. "Try it. I dare you."
The carriage fell silent.
"Stephen?! You're still alive?" Dan's voice cracked as he stood, his face twitching. Behind Stephen were the battered survivors of Car 13. If they made it through, Stephen would complete his mission—and Dan knew it.
"Everyone, move! Get inside!" Stephen barked. "Sang-hwa! Now!"
Sang-hwa saw his wife make it through, then sprinted. The glass behind him imploded as a wall of zombies poured in. The first ones lunged, fast and feral. Stephen grabbed Sang-hwa by the arm, dragging him through as his blade swung in a brutal arc, splitting the lead zombie in two.
"Seal it! Now!" someone shouted.
Hands flew—locking straps, pulling curtains, tying down what they could. The horde slammed into the glass, clawing at nothing. For now, they were safe.
Stephen clapped Sang-hwa on the shoulder. "Hell of a run, man—"
His words died in his throat. His palm came away wet. Not with zombie blood—this was fresh, oozing from Sang-hwa's shoulder.
Damn it.
"Husband?" Seong-kyeong's voice wavered. Sang-hwa's face was pale, his veins rising, breath ragged.
"I'm sorry…" he rasped.
"He's been bitten!" one of Dan's lackeys shouted.
The car erupted in panic, people stumbling back as if fire had been thrown into their midst.
Stephen felt his chest tighten. In the original timeline, this was where Sang-hwa fell—fighting until his last breath. Despite all the changes, fate had circled back.
Seong-kyeong's tears fell like rain. "No! No, you're not leaving me!"
Sang-hwa tried to raise a hand to brush her hair back, but stopped—afraid of infecting her. He forced a smile. "As long as you live… I'm okay. Take care of our child. I'm sorry I can't walk with you any further."
"You're a bastard!" she sobbed, striking his chest weakly. "You promised me!"
"Rui-an," Sang-hwa murmured suddenly, a faint smile on his lips. "Let's name her Rui-an."
"How do you know it's a girl?" she cried.
"She will be. Beautiful… like you." His words trailed, his skin paling, his pupils dimming—the change was coming.
Seok-woo pulled Seong-kyeong away as Sang-hwa trembled violently. Kim Jin-hee sobbed in the corner. Jin Changwu's shrill voice cut through the chaos: "He's turning! Throw him out before it's too late!"
Sang-hwa's fading eyes flicked to Stephen's Tang Blade. End it, his gaze said. Don't let me become one of them.
"No! Don't!" Seong-kyeong screamed.
Stephen tightened his grip on the blade. His heart wrenched. Could he really do it? This man had fought for all of them. Heroes didn't deserve to die like this.
"What's the matter, kid? Too soft?" Dan sneered. "Give me the blade—I'll do it."
Stephen's anger flared, but then—he saw it. A familiar figure, crouched near the bar. The Fat Man. The so-called "Son of Destiny." And in his trembling hands—an A-grade immune serum.
Stephen's mind snapped to a decision.
"Dan," he said coldly, "you just did me a favor."
He surged forward, blade flashing. Dan yelped, diving behind a table, thinking Stephen was coming for him. But Stephen wasn't after him.
He was going for the Fat Man.
The Fat Man pressed himself against the wall, muttering, "You don't see me, you don't see me, you don't see me…"