Laine's boots pounded against the cracked pavement, the sound echoing between the skeletal buildings. His breath was steady, calculated—he wasn't running in panic. Every step, every turn, was deliberate.
The armed men split into two groups, cutting through side streets to box him in. From the rooftops, shadows shifted—more of them were moving above.
The screen flickered again in front of him:
[Hunter/Prey Mode – Tactical Pathfinding Active]
Suggested Route: 36% Survival Probability
Darl smirked. Only thirty-six percent? Guess we'll have to improve that.
He took a sudden left into a narrow alley barely wide enough for his shoulders. Rusted pipes lined the walls, dripping cold water. A ladder clung to the side of one building, leading to the rooftop. Without hesitation, he grabbed it and climbed.
By the time he reached the top, the wind hit his face hard. From up here, the city stretched out like a broken maze, and he could see the hunters closing in from three directions.
But he wasn't the same boy who had hidden in that basement for five days. Something inside him… had changed.
The moment he focused, glowing lines appeared in his vision—highlighting weak points on walls, unstable ledges, even the weapons the hunters carried. He didn't know how or why he could see them, but instinct told him exactly what to do.
One of the masked men climbed up after him. Darl waited until the man's head appeared over the ledge—then drove his boot into his face, sending him crashing back down.
The others shouted, pointing. Gunfire erupted. Bullets tore through the rooftop, chunks of concrete flying into the air. Laine darted across the roof, leaping over a gap onto the next building.
Another screen prompt appeared midair:
[Combat Opportunity Detected]
Target: Isolated Hunter – Right Flank
Success Probability: 82%
Darl landed in a crouch, turned sharply, and charged toward the indicated position. The hunter didn't even see him coming until Darl's hand snatched the man's weapon away, slamming the butt of the rifle into his jaw.
The man collapsed. Laine exhaled slowly, looking at the gun in his hands.
"Looks like the prey just got an upgrade."
From somewhere in the distance, a deep, distorted voice came through a loudspeaker:
> "Target located. All units—engage at full force."
Darl tightened his grip on the weapon, his eyes glinting like a storm.
Alright… let's see who survives the next twenty-four hours.