Kaito—Kael in the world of Deathrun—felt the pressure tightening around him as he navigated the chaos of the city streets. Shadows moved like liquid, enemies striking without warning. Players screamed, some frozen mid-motion, neural feedback registering pain or worse. The broadcast feed, live across the globe, was a mix of awe and horror.
He ducked behind a shattered wall, catching his breath. His HUD flashed warning signals: Fatigue high. Neural strain increasing. The adrenaline pumping through his body was unmatched, but his focus remained razor-sharp. One misstep here would mean the end.
From the corner of his eye, he saw a figure moving with calculated precision. Unlike the panicked players, she wasn't running. She fought, slashing through monsters with deadly efficiency. Her avatar bore the name Liora, a tall, lithe rogue with silver hair that glinted even in the shadowed streets.
Kael hesitated. Approach? Or risk drawing her attention?
Before he could decide, a monster lunged from the shadows toward him. Liora reacted instantly, twin daggers flashing. In a blur of motion, she struck the creature down, its body dissolving into code before it hit the ground. Kael blinked in disbelief. She's not just skilled… she's a pro.
"You're… surviving," she said, voice calm, but her eyes sharp. "Not many make it this far in their first event."
Kael swallowed. "You're Liora?"
Her eyes narrowed. "And you are?"
"Kael. First dungeon, first special event." His grin was forced. "Not exactly a smooth start, but… I'm still here."
A flicker of amusement crossed her face. "Luck favors the reckless."
Kael felt the tension in his shoulders ease, just slightly. In a world where every step could kill him, finding someone competent to fight beside was… rare. Valuable.
The pair moved through the streets together, dispatching waves of shadows with a rhythm forming naturally between them. Every slash of Liora's daggers, every strike Kael made with his blades, felt synchronized, as if the game itself encouraged the pairing.
"Do you know what's behind this event?" Kael asked cautiously.
Liora's expression darkened. "Deathrun isn't just a game. It's watching, learning. The developers promised global beta, but I don't think anyone here survives just by skill alone. This event… it's designed to separate players who adapt from those who falter."
Kael frowned. "So… it's a survival test? For what?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. But whatever it is, it's bigger than us. I've seen veteran players die here—people who thought they were untouchable."
The city trembled as a massive figure emerged from the shadows—a golden, skeletal beast, larger than any dungeon boss Kael had ever faced. Its roar shattered the night, echoing across the broadcast feeds.
Kael's pulse quickened. "A boss… here? Now?"
Liora's eyes gleamed. "Not just a boss. A special spawn. And we're about to see why the world is watching."
Together, they sprinted toward the massive creature, weapons ready. Kael felt the thrill of danger and the sharp edge of fear. For the first time, he realized that in Deathrun, allies weren't just helpful—they were essential for survival.
And as the golden boss raised its claw, ready to strike, Kael knew the real game had only just begun.
The line between life and death was no longer blurred—it was absolute.
And he wasn't facing it alone.