Game Of Survival

Zane's breath hitched.

His entire body froze, every instinct in his mind screaming at him to run.

But he couldn't.

Not yet.

The Hollow Wraith stood motionless, wrapped in tattered, flesh-like cloth, its twisted grin stretching impossibly wide.

Its empty, soulless sockets fixated on him, its whisper slithering through the cavern like a ghost's caress.

"Run."

Behind him, Lyra's grip tightened around her spear.

Her breathing was shallow, controlled.

What the hell is this thing?

A system alert flashed violently.

[NEW ENEMY DETECTED: HOLLOW WRAITH]

HP: ??? (Unknown)

Abilities: ??? (Unknown)

Hostile Status: Passive… for now.

Weakness: ???

Zane swallowed hard.

If it wasn't attacking, why did it tell them to run?

Lyra took a silent step back, never breaking eye contact with the creature.

Zane did the same.

The Wraith's head tilted, almost playfully, as if amused.

Then—it took a step forward.

The air dropped by several degrees.

Zane's breath fogged instantly.

His skin crawled.

Something is coming.

A new notification blinked.

[DANGER DETECTED: PRESENCE OF MULTIPLE HOLLOW WRAITHS]

Status: Awakening

Threat Level: LETHAL

Zane's stomach dropped.

Slowly, movement rippled through the darkness behind the first Wraith.

Shadows unraveled, twisting and shifting, forming hunched, grotesque figures draped in decayed wrappings.

Not one.

Not two.

Dozens.

The cavern wasn't empty.

It was a graveyard of waiting horrors.

Lyra made the first move.

"Run. Now."

She didn't wait for a response.

Zane spun on his heel, bolting forward as fast as his exhausted body allowed.

The cavern echoed with movement behind them.

Rustling fabric.

Disjointed footsteps.

The wet, gurgling sound of something awakening.

Zane's heart pounded. His legs burned.

A system prompt flashed.

[SURVIVAL MODE ACTIVATED]

OBJECTIVE: ESCAPE THE HOLLOW DEPTHS

TIME LIMIT: UNKNOWN (INCREASING THREAT DETECTED)

STAMINA DRAIN: ACCELERATED (-4 Per Second While Sprinting)

The cavern twisted deeper into the earth, its jagged walls closing in as they ran.

Faint blue crystals flickered dimly along the stone, casting wavering shadows that danced like spirits.

Lyra skidded around a sharp turn, her voice sharp: "LEFT! GO LEFT!"

Zane followed without hesitation.

Behind them—the Wraiths followed.

They didn't run.

They glided.

Their feet never touched the ground, their bodies shifting like smoke.

Yet, they were fast.

Too fast.

Zane glanced back—and regret filled his veins.

They were getting closer.

One of the nearest Wraiths stretched out an arm, its fingers elongating unnaturally.

A notification flashed.

[WARNING: WRAITH'S TOUCH DETECTED]

CONSEQUENCES: INSTANT DEBUFF (UNKNOWN EFFECT)

Zane dove forward—

Just in time.

The Wraith's claws slashed through empty air, inches from his back.

He hit the ground hard, rolling before scrambling back to his feet.

[-4 HP: IMPACT DAMAGE]

"Shit," he muttered.

Lyra grabbed his arm, pulling him upright.

"No stopping!" she snapped.

Zane forced his legs to move, despite the burning ache in his muscles.

Up ahead—

A massive chasm split the cavern in two.

A narrow stone bridge stretched across the drop, barely wide enough for a person.

And beyond that—

A distant glimmer of light.

An exit.

Zane's pulse hammered.

"There!" Lyra gasped. "That's our way out!"

The bridge was crumbling, unstable.

One wrong step and they'd fall into the abyss below.

But they had no choice.

A new notification appeared.

[CHALLENGE EVENT: CROSS THE BRIDGE]

Stability: UNSTABLE (Chance of Collapse: 70%)

Speed Required: MODERATE

Wraiths Pursuing: 30+

Lyra didn't hesitate.

She ran forward, feet light and fast.

Zane swallowed his fear—and followed.

Each step sent small cracks through the stone.

Behind them—

The Wraiths reached the bridge's edge.

Then—they stopped.

They didn't chase.

They didn't move.

They just stood there, watching.

Waiting.

Zane's mind raced.

Why? Why stop now?

The answer came too late.

The Wraiths raised their arms in unison—

And the bridge shook violently.

[DANGER: WRAITHS ATTEMPTING TO COLLAPSE STRUCTURE]

Time Until Total Collapse: 8 Seconds

Lyra sprinted ahead, reaching solid ground.

She turned, yelling, "MOVE, ZANE!"

The stone beneath him cracked.

He ran faster.

[5 SECONDS UNTIL COLLAPSE]

The bridge lurched downward.

Zane leapt—

His hands caught the ledge—

But his grip slipped.

For a brief moment—he was falling.

Then—

A hand caught his wrist.

Lyra.

Her grip was like iron.

With a grunt, she hauled him upward, both of them collapsing onto the stone.

[ESCAPE SUCCESSFUL]

WRAITHS CANNOT LEAVE THE BRIDGE

EXIT REACHED

Zane gasped for breath, his entire body shaking.

He turned back.

The Wraiths stood motionless on the other side.

The bridge was gone.

But the Wraiths…

They were still watching.

Still smiling.

Still waiting.

And then—they began to whisper again.

The words were impossible to understand.

But Zane knew one thing.

This wasn't over.

Lyra exhaled, finally standing.

"Come on," she muttered. "We need to get as far from here as possible."

Zane nodded.

And without looking back, they stepped into the unknown.