The wind felt colder now.
Or maybe it was just him.
Arman stepped out of the house, gun steady in his hands. The island that had looked peaceful from the sky was now echoing with distant gunfire and smoke.
A notification pulsed in the corner of his vision.
Remaining Players: 87
"Eighty-seven already?" he whispered.
[Correction: 86.]
A gunshot cracked somewhere far to his right.
He swallowed.
"Don't update me like that…"
[Real-time awareness increases survival probability by 12%.]
"Do you ever stop calculating things?"
No response.
The safe zone boundary shimmered faintly in the distance — a faint blue wall slowly crawling inward like a closing jaw.
He checked the map again.
"I'm near the edge."
[Negative. You are outside the next safe zone.]
His stomach dropped.
A new white circle had appeared further inland.
"How far?"
[Estimated travel time on foot: 6 minutes 42 seconds.]
"And the zone?"
[Collapse begins in 90 seconds.]
Arman inhaled sharply.
"So I can't just hide."
[Correct.]
He started running.
Not blindly — but low, keeping close to walls and fences.
He remembered something.
High risk. High reward.
High traffic areas would be closer to the center.
More loot.
More killers.
He avoided the main road and cut through a patch of trees.
Gunfire erupted ahead — rapid, controlled bursts. Not panicked.
Different.
Skilled.
He crouched behind a rock and peeked.
Two players were fighting near a warehouse. One moved recklessly, spraying shots wildly.
The other—
Calm.
Precise.
Three shots.
Head.
Chest.
Finish.
The reckless player dropped instantly.
Arman felt it.
That wasn't luck.
That was experience.
The calm player looted quickly, movements efficient. No hesitation.
Then suddenly—
The skilled player stopped.
Turned slightly.
Looked directly toward Arman's hiding spot.
Arman's heart froze.
There was no way he could be seen.
Trees covered him.
Distance was at least 60 meters.
But the player tilted his head slightly.
As if listening.
Then walked away without firing.
Arman exhaled shakily.
"He knew…"
[Unknown.]
"No. He knew."
His remaining player count updated again.
Remaining Players: 63
"Sixty-three already? It's barely been minutes."
The blue wall in the distance began moving faster now.
A low humming sound filled the air.
"Time to go."
He sprinted again.
This time more confident.
His upgraded Firearms Handling made his movements smoother. Less clumsy.
He entered a small two-story building just inside the safe zone.
Inside, he found:
Ammunition
A basic vest
A small med kit
He equipped the vest.
[Defense slightly increased.]
"Good."
He moved upstairs and checked the windows.
Gunfire echoed closer now.
The island was shrinking — forcing everyone together.
That's when it happened.
A soft chime.
Different from the others.
Hidden Condition Met.
He blinked.
"What?"
[Unique Trait Awakening…]
His vision flickered for a split second.
Suddenly, faint red outlines shimmered briefly beyond the walls.
Silhouettes.
Two.
Moving outside the building.
He stumbled back.
"What was that?!"
[Skill Unlocked: Predator's Sense – Level 1]
Description: Briefly detects hostile intent within short range. Cooldown: 60 seconds.
Arman's breathing quickened.
"I didn't buy that."
[You did not.]
"Then how—"
[Hidden traits activate based on behavior patterns.]
"Behavior patterns?"
[You hesitate before killing. You analyze before moving. You choose lower-risk engagements. You observe.]
He stared at the wall.
"So… I unlocked something because I'm cautious?"
[Correction: Because you survive intelligently.]
Footsteps approached downstairs.
Two players.
Exactly where the red outlines had been.
Arman moved silently to the stair corner.
His hands didn't shake this time.
He waited.
The door opened.
One player entered loudly.
The other covered the doorway.
Teamwork.
"They're smarter," he whispered.
[Probability of survival in direct confrontation: 41%.]
"Helpful."
He grabbed a glass bottle from the table and threw it across the room upstairs.
It shattered loudly.
The two players reacted instantly.
"Upstairs!"
Both rushed up together.
Mistake.
As soon as they committed to the stairs, Arman leaned out from his corner and fired at the second one first — the one covering.
Two shots.
Down.
The first player spun around in panic.
Arman adjusted aim faster than he thought possible.
Three controlled shots.
Silence.
Double Elimination
+240 EXP
Level 2 Achieved
His chest rose heavily.
"That… worked."
[Tactical thinking efficiency increased.]
He laughed nervously.
"I'm not weak here."
[Correction: You are adapting.]
The building suddenly shook.
The blue wall had reached it.
The windows crackled with energy.
"Move!"
He jumped out the back and ran deeper into the safe zone.
High above the island.
Far above the clouds.
A dark chamber filled with floating screens observed the battlefield.
One screen zoomed in on Arman.
A tall figure stood before it, face obscured in shadow.
"Interesting," the figure murmured.
Data scrolled rapidly.
"Level 2 already. Hidden trait activation… that early?"
Another screen displayed rankings.
Most players had aggressive growth patterns.
High kill counts.
Fast leveling.
Arman's stats were lower.
But his survival curve—
Unusual.
The shadowed figure tapped the air.
"Flag him."
A symbol appeared next to Arman's profile.
Potential Candidate.
Back on the island—
Remaining Players: 29
Arman froze when he saw the number.
"Twenty-nine…"
The island had gone quieter.
Less random gunfire.
More deliberate shots.
The reckless ones were gone.
Now only the efficient remained.
The safe zone had shrunk to a cluster of industrial buildings and rocky hills.
He moved carefully, activating Predator's Sense again.
A faint pulse.
Three red outlines flickered on a rooftop ahead.
Snipers.
Watching the field.
Waiting for movement.
He ducked immediately.
"They're controlling the center."
[Correct.]
"So we're being herded."
[Affirmative.]
His eyes widened.
"Wait… are you adjusting difficulty?"
Silence.
"Answer me."
[System ensures competitive integrity.]
"That's not an answer."
A bullet struck the rock inches from his head.
Sharp. Precise.
Same rhythm as before.
His stomach tightened.
The skilled player from earlier.
On the rooftop.
Watching.
Testing.
A shot fired intentionally close again.
Not to kill.
To pressure.
"He's playing with me…"
[Threat Level: High.]
Arman's heart pounded.
He was being hunted.
He activated Predator's Sense again.
The red outline on the rooftop flickered brighter than the others.
Different.
Stronger.
He gritted his teeth.
"Fine."
He sprinted left, breaking line of sight.
Another bullet cracked behind him.
He dove behind a rusted truck.
Breathing hard.
"I can't win in a direct fight."
[Correct.]
He looked at the shrinking circle again.
It was closing fast now.
Forcing rooftop players to move soon.
An idea formed.
"If he thinks I'm prey…"
He fired three wild shots toward another direction.
Then immediately repositioned silently along the truck's blind side.
Moments later—
A shadow dropped from the rooftop.
Landing exactly where Arman had been.
The skilled player moved fluidly, scanning.
Arman watched from ten meters away.
Up close now.
The player wore higher-tier gear.
Movements clean.
Confident.
Arman's heart hammered in his ears.
[Warning: 1v1 engagement probability rising.]
The skilled player paused.
Then spoke.
"You're different."
Arman's blood ran cold.
He hadn't expected words.
The player turned slightly.
"You're not panicking like the others."
Arman stayed silent.
The player chuckled softly.
"Good. I was getting bored."
Suddenly—
A third player fired from afar.
Both Arman and the skilled player reacted instantly.
Arman shot first this time.
Landing two hits on the distant attacker.
The skilled player finished them with a precise shot.
Remaining Players: 12
For a brief second—
Arman and the skilled player stood in silence.
Temporary allies by coincidence.
Then the skilled player looked at him fully.
Through the helmet visor, Arman felt it.
Evaluation.
"You'll survive longer than I thought," the stranger said.
Then—
The blue wall surged violently.
Forcing immediate movement.
The skilled player backed away.
"Run," he said calmly.
And disappeared behind cover.
Arman stood frozen.
Why didn't he kill me?
[Unknown.]
The final circle began forming.
Tiny.
Open ground.
Rocks for minimal cover.
Remaining Players: 8
Arman exhaled slowly.
Level 2.
Predator's Sense.
Basic gear.
And something else.
He felt it now.
The System's gaze lingering.
Watching more closely than others.
He clenched his jaw.
"I won't die here."
[Statement recorded.]
The circle shrank again.
Gunfire erupted from three directions.
Explosions.
Screams.
The final stage had begun.
And somewhere above—
The observer smiled faintly.
"Let's see," the shadow murmured.
"Will you break… or will you evolve?"
On the battlefield below—
Arman stepped into the open.
Not as prey.
Not yet as predator.
But something in between.
And the System watched very carefully.