Chapter 60 — Survivor
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**Cave 2 – After the Blast**
Darkness.
Smoke.
Min-young's eyes fluttered open—just a sliver.
She heard footsteps.
Heavy. Steady.
She tried to speak.
"I'm… going forward…"
Her eyes closed again.
Then—
She jolted.
She was moving.
Someone was carrying her—piggyback style.
Strong shoulders. Steady pace.
She looked back.
They were deep inside the cave.
Wearing someone's else Mask.
She screamed.
"What?! Who are you?! What are you doing?! My comrades are there—let me help them!"
Tears spilled.
The man didn't stop walking.
"Don't bother. No one survived except you."
Min-young's breath hitched.
"When the blast happened… one person covered you."
Flashback—split second.
Jin-young stepping in front of her.
Shielding her with his body.
Then the explosion.
She sobbed harder.
The man continued.
"You were lucky I got there in time. Even if you survived the blast… you would've died from blood loss and toxic gases."
She looked down.
Her left leg—broken, crudely bandaged.
Blood still seeped through.
The man's voice was calm.
"I stopped the bleeding as best I could."
Min-young tried to see his face.
He wore a heavy charcoal trench-mantle layered with weathered tactical gear. A cloth covered his forehead. On his back—an obsidian bow with glowing blue energy string and arrows.
She whispered.
"You're not native… How can you speak Korean?"
He glanced back—just enough for her to see a faint smile.
"Korean…? I've survived more than 1000s years. I learned every language while traveling… searching for the cure to this curse."
He looked forward again.
"My name is—"
Min-young's eyes closed.
Unconscious once more.
He kept walking.
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**Cave 3**
Hyung stood in the blood-soaked chamber.
Kim Ji was on her knees—crying quietly.
He looked at her.
"Let's go."
She didn't move.
He picked up the masks from the fallen soldiers.
Slipped one over his face.
Then another over hers.
"Let's go."
Kim Ji's voice broke.
"Everyone… died."
Hyung's tone was steady—quiet.
"I know. It's the life of soldiers. We are destined to die on the battlefield. For those who survive… we carry forward our dead comrades' wishes. To make our nation livable. That's what we decided. How can you forget?"
She sobbed—harder.
But stood up.
Started walking.
Hyung walked beside her—protecting her side.
He looked at her tears.
Wanted to wipe them.
But couldn't bring himself to reach out.
So he just stayed close.
Silent guardian.
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**Cave 1**
Smoke.
Destroyed walls.
Dead bodies.
A silhouette turned slowly toward the camera.
One glowing blue eye pierced through the white haze.
It stared.
Unmoving.
Waiting.
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*End*