Olivia and Slade stood at the mouth of the cave, its dark maw pulsing with chaotic energies from all elements. Even without stepping inside, they felt vitality draining from their bodies, a chilling pull sapping their strength.
Suddenly, a notification flashed: -1 point... -1 point... -1 point.
A point vanished every five seconds. They exchanged a tense glance, then slowly backed away—eyes on the cave and rear for threats.
Ten steps out, the deductions stopped. Yet they felt hollower than ever, as if something had sucked the life force right out of their weary souls.
However, after a few seconds, the ambient energy in the air seeped back into their bodies, gradually filling the hollow gaps left by the deprivation.
Slade asked first, "Have you come across anything like this during your explorations?"
"No, this is the first I've seen. It feels like a truly unexplored area," Olivia replied. She turned back, eyeing the path they'd taken. "We might not be able to hide if we wait much longer—what should we do?" She looked to Slade.
Slade pondered it too. The cave was like poison: a temporary quench for their thirst, but hiding inside until the beasts passed would doom them.
He glanced at his points, earned before being ousted from leadership.
Apocalypse Roulette
Apocalypse Store
Points: 110
He had planned to play it safe, spinning only at 500 points. It wasn't wishful thinking—he had contingencies lined up before City 05's upheaval ousted him.
He figured post-ouster, points would come from kills: monsters, mutants, whatever had evolved in the apocalypse's brutal forge. Yet beast names told him another story.
Surviving animals weren't the same as those they'd known; everything and everyone had twisted into beasts, wielding survival through primal instincts and harnessed energies.
Whatever Olivia pulled off earlier had bought time then—but now, with threats multiplying, they had no clue when they'd be the ones tangled, torn apart like helpless prey.
Slade had originally spent 10 points on a <1st Level Spin> before leaving City 01 for their exploration.
Result:
Note: Let's play hide and seek!
This physique boosted Slade's confidence for wild survival, blending seamlessly into his veins—yet he had come to know it was just the bottom of the food chain.
It seemed humans had tumbled from the pyramid's peak to the bottom of the food chain.
Slade glanced at his
Note: Let's aim for the stars!
This had cost 15 points from the Apocalypse Store. He had trusted it to blast him out of most jams, but this encirclement felt trickier—red dots closing like a noose.
Both Slade and Olivia knew what had to be done: spin the Roulette or hit the Store. But without knowing exactly what they'd need to escape, the Roulette's gamble felt too dicey.
Digging their heels in, they stalled—eyes flicking between forest and cave, neither speaking first.
They could lure the beasts into the cave's drain, but that meant exposing abilities and secret skills. Neither trusted the other enough.
Rustle, rustle, rustle!
Trees shook; the ground trembled. The beasts were almost upon them.
They had to decide now—or there'd be no lives left to guard their secrets.