CHAPTER 42: RPG-7

Riku opened his inventory and pulled out the RPG-7.

Suddenly, the launcher materialized in his grip a faint shimmer, the weight settling heavily across his arms. This was it, the weapon he needed to kill the Juggernaut.

Now of course, using this weapon has its pros and cons. The pros is that it’s powerful and can one shot an special infected like Juggernaut, the cons is the noise from the explosion would definitely attract a horde of zombies.

That’s the trade-off. Juggernaut is just as dangerous as the horde of zombies. And it was the risk he was willing to take.

Riku snapped open his inventory and willed one of the rockets into his hands.

The Juggernaut bellowed at the end of the street, its massive frame charging forward like a freight train. Every step cracked the pavement, each impact rattling through Riku’s chest.

"Shit—come on, come on..." he hissed, forcing the rocket into the tube. The metal clanged as it slid into place, locking with a solid click.

The beast was closing the distance fast—twenty meters, fifteen. Its fists pounded the ground as it ran, sending shards of asphalt flying into the air.

Riku swung the launcher up onto his shoulder, fingers white-knuckled around the grip. His breathing slowed, heart hammering against his ribs as he aimed down the iron sights.

Ten meters.

The Juggernaut’s face twisted into a grotesque snarl, drool flying from its jagged teeth as it thundered closer.

"This is for flipping my damn car."

He squeezed the trigger.

The rocket shot out with a piercing hiss, smoke trailing behind it. The warhead crossed the short distance in a blink and slammed straight into the Juggernaut’s chest.

BOOM!

The explosion tore the air apart, flames and shrapnel ripping through the beast’s massive torso.

Dust and smoke clouded the intersection. For a moment, Riku couldn’t see the monster. His arms trembled from the recoil of the shot, ears ringing from the detonation.

He lowered the tube slightly, eyes narrowed. "Stay down..."

But through the haze, a massive shadow still moved.

The Juggernaut staggered, its chest a gaping ruin of charred flesh and shattered bone, but unbelievably, it was still on its feet.

"Don’t tell me you can survive that?" Riku muttered under his breath.

He observed its stature, and it was slowly crumbling away from the extent of its injuries. And seconds later, it collapsed to the ground.

[You have completed the mission!]

[Rewards are credited to your account.]

[You have leveled up!]

He was glad to read from the notification of the system the confirmation of the kill. However, he quickly snapped back to reality because that explosion was so loud he could hear the zombies approaching his position from the other blocks and streets.

Riku crouched down and checked on Miko. The seatbelt had locked her in place.

"Hang on, Miko," Riku muttered, tightening his grip on the tomahawk.

He angled the blade against the strap and slashed downward. The reinforced belt resisted for half a second before snapping clean with a sharp rip. Miko’s body slumped, gravity pulling her toward the broken window.

Riku caught her before she could drop onto the jagged glass. Shifting his stance, he carefully maneuvered her limp form through the frame of the shattered window, cradling her against his chest.

Her face was pale, her breathing shallow but steady. Blood streaked her temple from the earlier crash, but she was alive. That was all that mattered.

He adjusted his grip, scooping her fully into his arms like a princess carry. The weight pressed against his aching shoulders, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward.

The moans were getting closer. The horde was on its way.

Riku scanned the street quickly. Most buildings were wrecked, doors hanging open, windows smashed. But to his right, a small bookstore stood with its glass front strangely intact.

"Good enough," he growled, bolting toward it.

He kept low, sprinting across the cracked asphalt with Miko in his arms. Perfect.

Riku slammed his shoulder against the door, forcing it open just wide enough to slip inside. He spun and kicked it shut behind him, locking it with the rusty latch. Dust rained from the hinges, but the frame held.

Inside, the bookstore was dim, the shelves still lined with yellowed paperbacks and scattered comics.

Safe. For now.

Riku set Miko down gently against the wall, brushing strands of hair from her bloodied forehead.

"To think that I returned to you, risking my life in the process. Well, I may have told you the rules of never sacrificing your own life to save others, but turns out, saving you was feasible," Riku said to her, but he knew she wouldn’t hear it.

Then he checked for her injuries.

He ran his hands along Miko’s arms and shoulders searching for fractures or dislocations. Nothing obvious.

He brushed his thumb across her temple where blood had streaked down from the cut. The bleeding had already slowed, a good sign.

Outside, the groans were swelling. The horde was gathering, drawn like flies to the sound of the rocket blast. But, it couldn’t find him and instead, they were just outside.

Still, he couldn’t just sit there and watch Miko bleed out. She needed something to stop the wound from reopening. Something to hold her together until she woke up.

He moved quickly, weaving between the narrow aisles. He spotted a small supply shelf near the counter.

A half-open drawer revealed a roll of old scotch tape, edges dulled but still sealed. Beside it, a stack of folded shirts—promotional merchandise for the shop, probably. Cotton, thin but serviceable. He yanked one free and tore it into long strips with sharp pulls of his hands.

On the floor near the register lay a case of bottled water, dust-covered but intact. Riku crouched, twisted one open, and tilted it. He carried the makeshift kit back to Miko and knelt beside her.

"Alright... let’s patch you up."

He uncapped the water and poured a careful stream over the wound on her temple. Blood and dirt washed down her cheek, pink streaks staining her neck and shirt. She stirred faintly at the cold but didn’t wake.

"Easy," Riku murmured, steadying her head with one hand. He soaked part of the ripped cloth, wiped gently at the gash, then pressed another clean strip firmly against it. The bleeding wasn’t bad anymore, but he wasn’t going to take chances.

He wound the strip around her head, securing it tight against her skin. The scotch tape came next. He tore short lengths with his teeth, pressing them against the bandage until it held firm.

Leaning back, he exhaled through his nose. "Good enough. Not pretty, but it’ll keep you alive."

Her breathing stayed steady, more even now. Riku sat for a moment, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his wrist and sat next to her.

He was exhausted from the earlier fights and he wanted to take a rest. After all, he now has his peace of mind after saving Miko.