The group found temporary shelter beneath a collapsed steel canopy, half-buried by debris and tangled vines. The air crackled with static, and the world beyond flickered like a screen glitching.
"Twenty-one minutes left," Takumi said, panting, tapping his wrist device.
Aiden collapsed onto a chunk of metal, wiping sweat from his brow. "I thought this was just survival. I didn't think the environment would try to kill us too."
Rena checked the perimeter, silent and alert as always. Amara sat across from Aiden, sharpening a curved dagger with a stone.
"You ever kill someone?" she asked suddenly.
The question hit hard.
"No," Aiden answered honestly. "Not before today. I still haven't."
"You will," she said softly. "Or someone will kill you first."
Takumi nodded grimly. "A player chased me earlier. He slipped and broke his leg. I could've helped him. But… I ran."
"You did the right thing," Rena muttered. "Helping the weak makes you weak."
"No," Amara said, her voice low but firm. "It makes you human. This game is trying to rip that away from us. Piece by piece."
Suddenly—
A shout.
"HELP!"
The group jumped to their feet. A young girl—maybe thirteen—came stumbling through the brush. Mud-covered, panicked, bleeding from the shoulder.
"Please! I—I don't want to die!"
Behind her, a shadow appeared.
A masked player, broad-shouldered, sprinting with a machete.
Aiden didn't think. He stepped in front of the girl.
"Back off!" he yelled.
The masked player hesitated—then rushed forward.
Amara threw her dagger, hitting his leg. He staggered.
Rena lunged. One swift motion.
SLASH.
Blood sprayed.
The player collapsed.
"Player #033 – Eliminated."
"Kill Registered: Player #021 (Rena)"
"Blood Rule Pressure Rising. Environmental Shift Imminent."
The girl fell to her knees, sobbing. "T-thank you…"
Aiden knelt beside her. "What's your name?"
"Lila," she whispered. "Philippines. Player #104."
Takumi looked at Rena. "We can't leave her."
"She's a liability," Rena said coldly.
"She's just a kid!" Aiden snapped.
"She's another mouth to feed. Another body to protect. You want her dead? Keep her close."
Amara put a hand on Aiden's shoulder. "If we keep her alive, we stay alive too. Just a little longer."
Rena stared at them—then turned away without another word.
Aiden glanced at his timer. 10:12 remaining.
Already, the group felt heavier.
One new life.
One more target.
One more crack in the alliance.
---