[Lower Local Channel Notification]
[Gate Open]
[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
Gangseo-gu, Seoul — Emergency Disaster Shelter.
Notifications from the World, National, and Local channels—one-way broadcasts rather than two-way comms—were visible and audible even to civilians. Faces inside the shelter had gone a sickly blue.
Had anyone ever heard this many gate alerts in a row in their entire lives?
WEEEEENG—
Outside, the sirens wailed without rest. At the unending sound, children whimpered and clamped their hands over their ears.
Someone muttered, “Even in the dark age before the first S-rank appeared, it wasn’t like this.”
“If I’d known it would get this bad, I’d have moved to the provinces… All that for Seoul housing prices, seriously—”
“Didn’t I tell you ages ago to move back to the farm? People who think about their own skins have already headed down!”
“You’re the one who said the countryside wouldn’t do because of the kids’ education! And you said when it gets dangerous, Seoul’s better because rankers and guilds are everywhere!”
“Keep your voice down, will you!”
“What’s the point now? Stop arguing—do you want one of these? It’s an energy bar. Kiddo, you want one too? There’s chocolate.”
At the gentle words of a stranger, the child huddled under a blanket stole a glance at their parents. The wife let out a long sigh.
“Tell the…