Chapter 388: Code Red (1) - Black Badger

It wasn’t just one or two.

Someone had been crushed. I couldn’t tell if it was a Badger, medical staff, or a reporter. There was no way to check with the Creatures forcing their way in.

A collapsing wall and medical equipment toppling over in a heap.

“Civilians out!”

The Badgers shouted.

“Out! Get out!!”

“Fuck, where did they come in from?!”

Those holding weapons fired in bursts at the living mass that surged forward like a wave.

Tadadadadang!

Gunfire blanketed the area.

Those without guns grabbed patients with no strength left near the walls and ran.

The quarantine ward wall crumpled like paper.

Reporters screamed and scattered in all directions.

Medical staff sprinted for the nearest beds.

The Badgers’ neck veins bulged.

“I said get the civilians out!”

“Hey! We can’t even treat you like this!”

“Run! You crazy bastards, run!”

“Earpiece connected.”

Amid the chaos, Yehyeon pressed a hand to his earpiece and stepped forward toward the Creatures.

He activated his morphing weapon. His earring melted down onto the floor. The weapon that had seeped into the soles of his shoes, part of his watch, and part of his belt—all of it was deployed.

A swarm of small silver butterflies bloomed into existence.

The butterflies rose into the air and flew toward the oncoming horde. Without hesitation, they rushed the Creatures. The front line collapsed as sharp wings tore through them.

For an instant, the enemy’s advance slowed.

In that opening, the butterflies melted all at once, transforming into a wall of silver spikes.

“Thank you!”

Someone who’d avoided being caught in the attack thanks to the wall shouted.

“Perfect timing!”

“Video wing.”

Yehyeon spoke.

“Where did the portals open?”

Among Black Badger staff were several drone operators.

They were exceptional. Every outstanding drone pilot was recruited by Black Badger. They were just as important as the Badgers themselves. The operators launched drones to grasp the situation, provide aerial support, and act as bait for Creatures during operations.

Already, the whir of drone propellers echoed from all sides.

Inside the quarantine ward, the torn ceiling revealed a darkened sky.

Drones that reached above the ward opened continuous fire on the Creatures.

Tadadadadadada!

Those climbing over the spike wall, those piling up behind the silver barrier like a landslide of debris, let out piercing death screams.

The one who had operated the drone when Hildebert fell into the amusement park spoke.

[Teleportation arrays are surrounding HQ.]

“How many opened?”

[Eight.]

The same operator who’d kept his composure even while flying a drone over the ruined amusement park.

His voice trembled ever so slightly now.

[The entire site is completely encircled.]

At the same time, screams erupted everywhere.

Curses exploded behind Yehyeon.

“They’re coming from behind too!”

Gunfire followed.

“Fuck! They’re everywhere!”

“Are the teleportation arrays outside the boundary, or inside?”

[Inside.]

When Yehyeon asked calmly, the drone operator answered in a shattered voice.

[All eight are inside the Core boundary, Commander.]

“Good.”

In stark contrast to the operator’s grim tone, Yehyeon sounded satisfied.

He switched his channel.

“Code Red!”

Yehyeon shouted into the earpiece.

“Ska! Code Red!”

[Yes.]

The aide replied.

[Issuing Code Red.]

For the first time since Black Badger’s founding, a Code Red alert was issued.

There were no Badgers left inside the tents now. Everyone with the strength to stand ran out and formed lines. Some carried those without strength to relatively safer areas. Others threw tents and medical supplies together to build defensive walls. Others fired nonstop.

Some were missing.

There was no leeway to look for those unseen or unresponsive.

Yehyeon shouted.

“Sordi!”

He called for the only Badger here besides himself who could use a morphing weapon.

A green-eyed man emerged from the tent, supported by Leeho, and let out a long breath.

“Yes.”

The snake-shaped ring melted down.

Even the parts that had seeped into his shoes and watch were mobilized. A stream of silver liquid rushed in the opposite direction of the spike wall Yehyeon had created. Advancing rapidly, it soon formed an identical wall of spikes.

KRAAASH!

Unlike Yehyeon’s wall, this one erupted upward with vicious speed.

Several leaping Creatures were skewered and thrust into the air.

Ricardo exhaled heavily.

“I’m out of material....”

“Activate the shield!”

Yehyeon ordered.

There were gaps the two silver walls couldn’t cover. Badgers sprinted there and slammed emergency shield devices onto the floor.

Devices similar to the one embedded in Martin. However, instead of spreading outward in all directions, the shield extended upward from the device.

The deployed translucent barrier blocked the Creatures charging in from all sides.

“It’s up!”

An urgently completed temporary trench.

The Badgers shoved every available item toward the trench walls.

Some forced people still outside into the narrow gaps of the trench, dragging them in. Others shouted at those left outside to run for the building.

“Run!”

Yun activated the turrets installed inside the quarantine ward.

Richard Green shouted while stacking items into a wall.

“Protect the medical staff!”

Badgers pushed the medical staff who hadn’t evacuated in time into the central tent.

Amid the uproar, the AI’s clear voice resounded.

[Code Red issued.]

[Initiating building shutdown.]

[Beginning HQ Core generation.]

[Portal Zone full operation.]

[Core generation in progress.]

[Core generation 10% complete.]

“We hold them here no matter what.”

Yehyeon looked at the Black Badgers.

Amid the violent chaos,

the Supreme Commander gave his order.

“Not a single Creature coming out of those teleportation arrays leaves this area. Creatures appear inside the Core and die inside the Core. None get away. Understood.”

“Yes!”

The Badgers answered in unison.

***

[Core generation 15% complete.]

The Core formed in a shape that encircled the teleportation arrays surrounding HQ.

That meant all teleportation arrays were contained within the Core. HQ Badgers were trapped inside the Core along with the Creatures. The Core was not a shield, but a prison—a hemispherical cage meant to keep Creatures from spilling into Center Core.

[Civilians are evacuating.]

Ska reported to Yehyeon.

The AI followed with another report.

[All-floor turrets active.]

The building’s windows opened, and the turrets installed on every level began firing.

Tadadadadadada!

Creatures crawling out of the teleportation arrays burst forth in waves.

Bullets rained down, slicing through the air.

Even turrets that required manual activation were all powered on.

Staff who had followed protocol inside now left the operating turrets behind and ran toward the Portal Zone. From the moment Code Red was issued, everyone inside HQ had been running—without looking back even once.

They trained for Code Red once every year.

An alarm they had drilled into exhaustion, yet one no one had ever truly believed would be issued.

They used to joke that issuing it would mean the Third War had begun.

And now it had been issued.

“Stick to the right!”

People shouted as they ran down the corridors, just as they’d practiced.

“Stick to the right!”

Black Badger HQ had two Portal Zones—one at the top floor and one at the lowest level.

Those closer to the top floor ran to the upper Portal Zone. Those closer to the underground ran to the lower one.

Portal Zone staff activated the portals without hesitation.

As they powered up every portal machine, Ska gave another order.

[We need help evacuating patients from the medical wing.]

Her calm voice echoed through the building.

[Those with strength, go help.]

Staff near the medical wing rushed toward it.

Meanwhile, the scientists followed their own evacuation procedures.

They disposed of hazardous materials according to regulations. They completely cut power to controlled-area doors. Every weapon was left behind. All unmanned weapons under development were activated and sent flying outside the building.

Preparations to leave were complete.

Hiroshi looked up at Martin.

“Martin.”

[I will remain here to assist in Creature suppression.]

Martin spun slowly, then displayed a smiling icon on the screen.

[Please evacuate quickly! You only have one life, Hiroshi!]

Kate grabbed Hiroshi and ran without looking back.

Those in the science division who had lived through a similar situation fled the corridor in silence, crying.

Without hesitation, they ran to the Portal Zone—where, unlike usual, every portal machine was active.

Many had already escaped beyond the HQ grounds # Nоvеlight # through the portals. Operating portals consumed enormous power, but Black Badger always kept emergency reserves for situations like this.

Those working at Black Badger had two worst nightmares.

The first was the current situation: Code Red.

The second was Code Black, a scenario where Creatures poured out of the Portal Zone itself. That was why the Portal Zones were built at the topmost and bottommost levels of the building. If Creatures erupted due to portal malfunction, they could destroy the top floor or bury the underground levels to block the influx.

It would have been better if it were that.

Hiroshi stood in line at the Portal Zone, tears streaming.

Code Black would have been better.

Then they wouldn’t have had to leave the Badgers behind.

They wouldn’t have had to feel the shame and despair of fleeing while others fought for their lives.

KABOOOM!

A tremendous roar shook HQ.

The explosion outside reverberated all the way down to the underground levels of the shut-down building.

The structure trembled.

Kate whispered,

“Aerial support.”

A small measure of relief crossed her face.

“The drones are up.”

“The Badgers will be okay, right?”

Scientist Sean chewed on his thumbnail.

Tear tracks were clearly visible on his cheeks.

“All the critically ill Badgers were in the medical wing, right? The ones staying inside shouldn’t be that critical, so they’ll handle it, right? Yun and Leeho won’t die, right?”

“Yun won’t die. That man doesn’t die. Never.”

“It’s good Mühlen was at home. He probably doesn’t even know what Code Red is.”

“I wish Hilde were here.”

Hiroshi whispered, wiping his tears with his arm.

Memories of the science wing came flooding back vividly.

“I’m scared....”

Ear-splitting explosions and a shaking building.

Staff shouted loudly, guiding people toward the portal machines. The AI’s clear voice announcing portal activation rang out without pause.

[Portal activation in five seconds....]

“Next fifteen!”

The scientists cried as they waited their turn amid the noise.

No one tried to cut in line.

No one complained about the delay or demanded to know why so few were being sent through.

They waited calmly for their turn.

Then Ska’s voice descended once more over their heads.

[Leave one portal machine open.]

Her voice was unwavering.

[So Hildebert can come inside.]