The forest churns with mist and chaos. Panicked beta participants have scattered across the treeline — some screaming, some frozen in fear, others sprinting blindly into danger. The first waves of infected surge through the fog, drawn by movement and sound, their groans echoing through the trees.
Kai crouches behind a barricade, muscles coiled, eyes sharp. Every second counts. His pack digs into his back, shoulders ache from tension, but he doesn't dare slow.
[Day 11 – Beta Activation – Ongoing]
The forest is alive with motion and sound: branches snapping under frantic feet, muffled shouts, the hiss of metal tripwires, the wet thump of infected collapsing. The scattered players are easy prey — and Kai can feel it. Every misstep could lead to someone dying before they even understand what's happening.
Through the haze, Kai spots a figure moving unnaturally fast, cutting through the chaos with calculated efficiency. The male avatar — the one he had noticed earlier — is sprinting straight toward a pack of infected. His instincts flare.
Without hesitation, Kai charges.
The fight is brutal. Infected lash out from every side, teeth snapping, claws raking. Kai swings his hatchet with precision, rifle firing in short bursts. Splinters fly, groans pierce the fog, sweat stings his eyes. The male avatar struggles but follows, dodging, balancing, moving with surprising agility. Every step, every breath tells Kai more than numbers ever could: stamina, awareness, experience.
"Follow me!" Kai shouts, cutting through the screams and groans.
The avatar hesitates, then scrambles behind him, tripping over roots but regaining balance. Kai notes how carefully the player moves — conserving energy, scanning surroundings, adjusting movements with precision. This isn't a newbie; someone has survived these conditions before.
Inside the cabin, the base feels impossibly safe compared to the chaos outside. Barricades hold, traps are intact, and the small farm glows under the dim moonlight filtering through the windows. Kai slams the door, gasping, muscles burning from exertion.
The male avatar collapses onto the floor, helmet damp with sweat, chest heaving.
"Thanks… didn't think I'd make it," the avatar says, voice rough, edged with real fear.
"You ran straight into them," Kai replies, still tense. "That could've ended badly."
The avatar glances around the cabin, taking in the barricades, supplies, and weapons. "You… prepared for this?"
Kai shrugs, flexing sore fingers. "I've been on this world, a little longer than the rest of you… you all aren't ready."
He studies the avatar closely — how they check surroundings, shift weight, control breathing, and assess the environment. Careful. Calculating. Experienced. Yet still learning. He doesn't know their identity yet, but he senses this player could be an ally — possibly the first in a flood of chaos that has turned the forest into a war zone.
Outside, the mist swirls, stretching shadows into warped shapes. Every snapping branch, every distant groan could be a threat. Kai resets a bent wire, adjusts a tin can alarm, oils his rifle lightly, checks the hatchet edge. Survival is not just about fighting; it's about energy, awareness, and timing.
"This is your chance to survive," he tells the avatar. "Stick close. Don't panic. Follow the rules."
The avatar nods silently, still catching their breath. Eyes scanning the cabin, evaluating supplies, calculating the next move — they're learning fast.
Kai exhales slowly, chest heaving. The cabin feels like a fortress, but he knows it's only temporary. They need to survive the night — the first chaotic beta night — and the storm of participants and infected still roaming the forest.
Every decision, every conserved movement, every careful observation could determine who lives… and who doesn't.
[Day 11 – Beta Activation – First Night Survival]
Kai tightens his grip on his hatchet, rifles along the wall at the ready, and glances at the misted treeline. Somewhere out there, the world is testing them both. And for the first time, he realizes this ally could make all the difference.
End of Chapter 7