Metallic leaves crunched underfoot as Aiden followed Rena through the neon forest. The trees buzzed faintly, like electricity pulsed in their roots. Above them, artificial sky shimmered with a strange, static-filled glow.
"Keep low. Listen more than you speak," Rena said as she crouched and motioned for Aiden to do the same. "And most of all… never trust the quiet. Quiet means someone's already watching."
They stopped near a clearing. Rena pulled out a rectangular panel from her wrist device and tapped it—a holographic map flickered to life.
"See this blinking light? That's the beacon. At the end of the hour, it activates and reveals nearby safe zones. That's where we want to be."
"How many of us make it out of this phase?" Aiden asked, still trying to control his breathing.
"As many as can survive," Rena replied. "But that never means many."
Suddenly, a branch snapped behind them.
Aiden turned fast, heart in his throat.
Two figures emerged from the trees. One was a young man—Asian, slim build, nervous energy. The other, a tall girl with braided hair and steady eyes.
"We don't want a fight," the girl said calmly, holding her hands up. "We've been tracking two people running this way. One of them has a weapon. Not us."
Rena raised her knife. "Names. Countries. Player IDs. Now."
The guy stammered, "I-I'm Takumi. Japan. Player #025. This is Amara. Senegal. Player #010."
"I saw you help that girl earlier," Amara added, looking at Aiden. "You're not like the others. We want to work together."
Rena frowned. "Alliances are temporary."
"Everything is," Amara said, "but four is better than two."
Aiden nodded. "We could use each other's skills. At least for now."
Rena lowered her blade. "One wrong move and I won't hesitate."
Takumi gulped. "Noted."
Then they heard it.
A scream—guttural, full of pain.
Then… silence.
A red flash in the sky.
"Player #006 – Eliminated."
"Cause of Death: Manual Weapon."
"Blood Rule Engaged: Zone Shrink Begins Early."
"What's Blood Rule?" Aiden asked.
Takumi tapped his device. "I just saw the system update… If too many players kill within an hour, the game punishes all survivors. That includes zone shrink, ambush events, or hallucinations."
As he spoke, the ground rumbled. Metal roots began curling inward, and the glowing sky darkened.
"RUN!" Rena shouted.
The four sprinted as the forest began collapsing behind them. Trees twisted, crunched, and fell. The arena was closing in.
They reached a narrow gorge, where the terrain stabilized. For now.
"Thirty minutes left," Amara whispered, checking her device.
They were still alive—but now they knew:
Every kill came with a cost.
Not just for the victim…
But for everyone else still breathing.
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