Game Of Survival

A dull, throbbing pain pulsed in Zane's skull. His body felt heavy, unresponsive, like he had been buried under layers of stone. The sound of rushing water echoed around him, distant yet deafening, as if he were submerged beneath its surface.

His vision flickered, struggling to adjust as he slowly regained consciousness. Something wet dripped onto his face. Cold.

Zane blinked hard.

Then—a sharp intake of breath.

His body spasmed as he gasped for air, coughing violently, water spewing from his lungs.

[SYSTEM ALERT]

STATUS: CRITICAL CONDITION

HP: 10/35 (Severe Injuries Sustained)

STAMINA: 1/50 (Physical Functions Impaired)

CONDITION: Hypothermia Risk Detected

A shiver rattled through him. His clothes were soaked through, the icy wind biting into his skin like daggers. His fingers trembled, barely able to move.

He pushed himself onto his elbows, his muscles protesting with sharp, stabbing pain.

Where am I?

The last thing he remembered was jumping from the cliff, the Hollow Stalker's unnatural gaze burned into his memory. The river had swallowed him whole, and after that… darkness.

Now, he was here.

He slowly turned his head. A riverbank. The ground was muddy and uneven, small stones pressing into his palms. The river stretched behind him, its dark surface rippling under the early dawn light.

[ENVIRONMENT UPDATE]

LOCATION: Unknown Region (Outskirts of Blackwood Forest)

WEATHER: Cold, Early Morning Mist

STATUS EFFECT: Wet Clothing (-15% Stamina Recovery, Increased Cold Damage)

A heavy breath left his lips. He needed warmth.

But first—he needed to check his gear.

[INVENTORY CHECK]

Spiked Club: Equipped, Heavy, Good Condition

Rusted Dagger: Equipped, Fragile (Close to Breaking)(x1)

Water Flask: Empty

Bandages: 1 Use Remaining

Dried Food: Slightly Damp (-5% Effectiveness)

Forest Map: Slightly Damaged

Venomous Thorns (Crafting Material)

Living Vine (Enchantment Material)

Gold Coin(x42)

Wolf Meat(x2) 

Beast Skin (Crafting Material)(x2)

Shadow Fang (Crafting Material)

Stalker's Hide (+2 DEF if crafted into armor)

Small Bones (Crafting Material)

His water flask was empty. That was bad. His food was damaged. That was worse.

And his stamina… practically nonexistent.

SURVIVAL OBJECTIVE: FIND SHELTER AND FIRE IMMEDIATELY.

Move, damn it.

Zane forced himself onto his feet, his legs shaking beneath him. His stamina bar flickered—a warning that he was running on fumes.

His vision blurred, the edges of his sight darkening.

Every step forward felt like walking through sand.

The trees loomed ahead, their gnarled branches reaching skyward like twisted fingers. He needed to get out of the open, find a cave, or anything that could serve as a shelter.

Zane barely made it past the treeline when he saw it.

A thin, wispy column of smoke curling into the air.

His body tensed. Smoke meant fire. Fire meant people.

Or worse.

Another system alert popped up.

[NEW OBJECTIVE: INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE]

Risk Level: Unknown

Potential Threats: ???

Potential Rewards: Warmth, Food, Shelter

He took a deep breath, ignoring the sharp pain in his ribs, and pressed forward.

The closer he got, the more details emerged. The smoke came from a small, flickering fire, nestled between large boulders near the base of a rock formation.

And someone was there.

A figure crouched near the flames, tossing dry branches into the fire. Their silhouette was covered in layers of mismatched clothing—patched leather, strips of cloth, and a hood pulled low over their face.

Zane hesitated, his grip tightening on his dagger.

Friend or foe?

If they were friendly, this could be his chance to recover.

If they weren't… he wasn't in any condition to fight.

He decided on the best approach.

[DIALOGUE CHOICE]

1. Announce yourself cautiously. ("I don't mean any harm.")

2. Stay hidden and observe.

3. Try to sneak closer and steal supplies.

He chose Option 1.

Zane raised his hands slightly, stepping into the firelight. His voice came out hoarse, rough from exhaustion.

"I don't mean any harm."

The figure tensed immediately, their hand darting toward their waist—toward a weapon.

Zane's body locked up. Wrong choice?

The firelight flickered across a pair of sharp, golden eyes as the figure slowly stood, revealing a woman—lean, battle-worn, and watching him with the sharpness of a blade.

Her face was partially covered by a cloth mask, her short, choppy hair a deep auburn. She looked like she had been in this world far longer than him.

Her voice was low, guarded.

"Survivor?"

Zane gave a slow nod. "Barely."

She studied him, eyes scanning his wounds, the dirt on his clothes, the exhaustion weighing down his stance.

Then, with a sigh, she lowered her weapon—a makeshift spear fashioned from a sharpened bone.

She jerked her head toward the fire.

"Sit. Before you pass out."

Zane didn't hesitate.

The warmth hit him like a drug, seeping into his frozen limbs. His stamina bar flickered, the effects of cold slowly fading.

The woman handed him a wooden bowl filled with hot broth.

Zane took it without hesitation, ignoring the slight tremble in his hands as he brought it to his lips.

The first sip burned his tongue, but he didn't care. The warmth spread through his body, easing the knots in his muscles.

A new notification appeared.

[STATUS UPDATE]

COLD STATUS REMOVED.

STAMINA RECOVERY INCREASED BY 10%.

HP REGENERATION SLIGHTLY INCREASED.

After a long silence, Zane finally spoke.

"You live out here?"

The woman watched him over the flames.

"For now."

Something about her tone was off. Not hostile. But tired. Wary.

Zane set his bowl down, exhaling. "Thanks for the food."

She nodded slightly, then poked the fire with a stick.

"Figured you weren't Blood Pact."

Zane blinked. "Blood Pact?"

Her golden eyes flickered toward him.

"The ones who don't ask before taking."

A chill ran down Zane's spine. He didn't like the sound of that.

[NEW OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE THE BLOODMOON HUNT]

The Blood Pact controls part of the region.

They hunt other survivors for supplies.

The next Bloodmoon Event happens in two nights.

Zane clenched his fists.

Survival just got a lot more complicated.