Chapter 164

32

"What are you talking about, suddenly."

After saying that, Dane also realized. The fact that the gunfire and shouting had disappeared and all around had become quiet. Looking at Dane whose expression had changed instantly, Joshua opened his mouth.

"A few guys escaped from here earlier."

At the gaze looking as if asking what he meant, Joshua said once more.

"They ran away, in cars."

Still quiet but speaking in a somewhat anxious tone, he roughly swept his hair back.

"I think only the key figures picked themselves out and left. The ones remaining here were no different from disposable guys..."

"Why?"

Before he could even finish speaking, Dane asked. Joshua frowned and twisted up the corner of his mouth.

"What do you think the reason would be?"

Just as he repeated Dane's words as if it were what he wanted to say, the ground shook violently with a tremendous explosion.

"Ugh!"

"Duck!"

When Greyson reflexively made a sound, Dane immediately grabbed his head and pressed it down. Joshua, who had also almost fallen, barely regained his balance and composed himself when Dane suddenly drew his gun.

"What..."

The moment Joshua hesitated, a bullet grazed past him. Joshua, who immediately turned around, discovered a man screaming and tumbling behind him.

"Now we're even."

Dane said nonchalantly, pushed his gun back into his waist, and moved quickly. Joshua, who had nothing to say, sighed and turned to follow.

"What was that just now? Was it an earthquake?"

Dane didn't answer Joshua's question. In fact, they were thinking of the same thing, but didn't want to voice the ominous word. Instead, Dane gave a different answer.

"Let's hope that bastard has useful information."

The man shot in the stomach was lying face down on the floor, breathing roughly. Dane, who knelt on one knee and bent down in front of the man, said.

"Where did all the other guys go? You're not the only one left, right?"

Instead of answering, the man just panted and glanced at Dane. Seeing him form a loose smile at the corner of his mouth even though he must know he was dying, Joshua felt a strange mix of displeasure and eeriness.

"Speak."

"Ahhh, aaaahhh!"

When Dane suddenly pressed the gunshot wound in his stomach with his hand, the man let out a desperate scream. The man, whose eyes had completely rolled back from pain, drooled from the corner of his mouth and muttered.

"This is a holy war... a holy war..."

"What?"

At Dane's frowning question, he repeated the same words as if hypnotized.

"Strike down the cursed ones, bury them in the ground... Only God will..."

"Get a grip."

Joshua slapped the man's cheek. Then he blinked as if he had come to his senses somewhat and looked back and forth between the two people in front of him.

"What do you mean holy war? And what was that explosion sound? You guys aren't planning to all die here, are you?"

To Dane asking again, he grinned.

"Why not? You idiots."

The man who laughed with a strange "kihihi" sound muttered again.

"God is coming, everyone bow your heads. God punishes us, those who desire eternal life offer sacrifices. God is coming..."

"They all ran away, you moron."

Joshua spat out curses mercilessly.

"All that's left here are just bullet catchers. Stupid guys like you, got it?"

Though he coldly reminded him of reality, the man was still laughing.

"The moron is you."

He continued between gasping breaths.

"We are warriors guarding the final defense line. Guides who will lead you bastards to hell. Go to hell with those demon bastards, you demon protectors."

With those words, Dane and Joshua could understand. What these people were plotting.

"They were trying to hold us back."

At Joshua's words, Dane nodded.

"So we couldn't escape."

Then that explosion sound earlier was...

They simultaneously thought of the same thing. The word they had tried to avoid.

Bomb.

"They're planning to bury us completely, those bastards."

Joshua ground his teeth and growled.

"How many of those damn 'warriors' are there?"

He wiggled his index and middle fingers of both hands while saying the word 'warriors,' but the man didn't react.

"He won't tell us. There probably aren't many."

At Dane's indifferent words, Joshua muttered.

"Then they're betting on the bombs..."

This meant what just happened was only the beginning. They didn't know when the next bomb would explode. Or how much there was.

"Now I understand too."

Dane said coldly. Soon after, he looked at Joshua and gave a strange smile.

"The fact that you walked in here on your own feet."

"Hah."

It meant that whatever happened from now on, he bore no responsibility. Joshua let out a short exclamation incredulously.

"I know it's my own doing, so you don't need to confirm it for me."

Though it was a sarcastic tone, Dane chuckled as if he liked the content. Soon after, he looked down and muttered.

"This bastard's dead."

Joshua, who had been silently looking down at the man who was no longer breathing, said.

"Do you think he went to heaven as he hoped?"

"Who knows."

Dane replied indifferently.

"What's certain is that if we keep hesitating here, we'll also end up going somewhere, whether it's heaven or hell."

Then a signal sound came from Joshua's watch. Joshua, who immediately checked it, muttered.

"They're here."

He was referring to the 'team.' To Joshua, whose voice had become somewhat lighter as if relieved, Dane replied indifferently.

"Slow as hell. I'd think it was a DMV waiting line."

"Must be guys who used to work there."

Joshua also seemed displeased with their speed and joined in the sarcasm. Of course, since they weren't all former DMV employees, they immediately moved.

"Greyson, get up. Greyson!"

When he shouted at the man who was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, he soon opened his eyes. Greyson's mouth naturally opened when he spotted Dane's face.

"Venu..."

"Stop, be quiet. This isn't the mood for that."

Dane, who stopped Greyson with a calm voice, immediately put Greyson's arm over his shoulder and helped him up.

"Can you walk by yourself?"

"No."

At Greyson's shameless answer as he stuck close to Dane's body, Dane immediately looked back at Joshua.

"Josh, switch."

Joshua and Greyson simultaneously contorted their faces. But Dane had already slipped out from under Greyson's arm and, holding up one of his arms, pointed to the empty space with his remaining hand as if telling Joshua to get in.

"You can just continue."

"Yeah, Josh is right."

Greyson immediately chimed in with Joshua's words. For the first time, their opinions matched, but Dane thought differently.

"I'm a firefighter, I have to guard the rear."

Are you serious?

Joshua frowned, and right at that moment, another explosion echoed. Dane, who quickly caught Greyson who had almost fallen, pushed him straight to Joshua. At the critical moment of having to catch him unexpectedly, Greyson cleverly quickly turned his body and braced against the wall. Dane clicked his tongue briefly. Hearing that sound, Greyson and Joshua simultaneously looked back at him.

He did that on purpose.

To the two glaring menacingly, Dane said as if nothing had happened.

"Move, what are you doing?"

"Dane, together..."

Greyson said, but Dane immediately denied his words.

"Go out first."

The floor shook again. Unlike before, Dane shouted in a raised voice.

"Firefighters always go out last, hurry up and get out!"

At the rough shout, Greyson and Joshua had no choice but to move first. Greyson, who glanced back to confirm Dane was following, heard Joshua's muttering.

"He's not even on duty right now, what firefighter..."

But both Joshua and Greyson knew that was the kind of person Dane was. A man who always stood at the very back. And someone who was always ready to throw away his life...

When Greyson suddenly felt an eerie feeling, gunfire suddenly rang out from behind.

"Go, don't look back!"

Dane shouted, but of course Greyson wasn't someone who would listen to those words. When he immediately looked back, Dane was running at terrifying speed while aiming his gun.

"If you look back again, I'll kill you and have sex with Josh right here!"

"I didn't look back!"

Joshua shouted desperately, but when the horrified Greyson overtook him and ran ahead, he became incredulous.

"Fuck, I don't want to either...!"

Joshua shouted in anger, but Greyson didn't slow down and instead moved away from them even faster.