Game Of Survival

Zane stood at the edge of the clearing, staring at the sky.

The sun had long set, but the night was not dark. Instead, an eerie red glow bathed the treetops, as if the sky itself had been painted in fresh blood.

His heartbeat quickened.

Lyra's words echoed in his mind.

The sky turns crimson before the Bloodmoon. It means… they're coming soon.

A system notification blinked into view.

[EVENT ALERT: THE BLOODMOON HUNT HAS BEGUN]

All monsters in the area have increased aggression.

The Blood Pact is now active and hunting.

Survival Objective: Last until dawn or eliminate the hunters.

Zane exhaled slowly. This was it.

He glanced at Lyra, who stood nearby, securing the straps on her leather armor. Her golden eyes gleamed in the firelight, but there was no fear—only readiness.

"We have a few hours before they reach us," she said, her voice steady. "If we stay here, we're dead."

Zane gripped his spiked club. "Then what's the plan?"

Lyra crouched, tracing a rough map of the terrain into the dirt.

[LOCAL MAP UPDATED]

Current Location: Forest Outpost

Nearest Safe Zone: ??? (Unconfirmed)

Danger Zones: High-Risk Areas Marked

She pointed to their campfire.

"This place is too exposed. We move before they box us in."

She tapped a dense forest area to the east.

"There's a ruined fort here. It's partially collapsed, but the walls are intact. If we're lucky, we can hold out there."

Zane frowned. "And if we're not lucky?"

Lyra gave him a humorless smirk. "Then we die creatively."

Great. Fantastic.

Before leaving, they gathered what little supplies they had.

[INVENTORY CHECK]

Zane's Gear:

Spiked Club (+8 ATK, Heavy, Slow)

Rusted Dagger (+3 ATK, Fast, Fragile)

Water Flask (60% full)

Bandages (1 use left)

Dried Meat (Restores 10 HP, Slightly Increases Stamina Recovery) 

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)

Lyra's Gear:

Bone Spear (+10 ATK, Light, Durable)

Throwing Knives (x3, Fast, Precise)

Smoke Bomb (1 use, Temporary Concealment) And Other

[STATUS UPDATE]

HP: 35/35

STAMINA: 25/50 (Fatigue Reduced)

HUNGER: Moderate (-5% Strength)

THIRST: Low (-2% Speed)

BLOODMOON EFFECT: Night Creatures Are Stirring...

"We move fast, we move quiet," Lyra said.

Zane nodded. "Got it."

They extinguished the fire and vanished into the shadows.

The deeper they went, the more unnatural the forest became.

The usual chirps and rustling of wildlife had disappeared. In its place was something else.

A low, guttural growl.

Zane's muscles tensed.

Ahead, something shifted in the mist.

A dark silhouette stood between the trees, hunched, waiting.

The system flashed a new warning.

[NEW ENEMY DETECTED: BLOODMOON HUNTER]

HP: 80/80

ATK: 18

DEF: 10

Abilities:

Enhanced Smell (Can track prey over long distances)

Pack Tactics (Stronger when hunting in groups)

Bleeding Claws (Inflicts Wound Debuff on hit)

Lyra whispered, "Damn. These weren't here last time."

The creature tilted its head toward them, sniffing the air.

Zane's fingers tightened around his club. "We fighting?"

Lyra shook her head. "Not if we can help it."

She pulled a small pouch from her belt and crushed it between her fingers.

A thin, pungent mist spread outward, masking their scent.

The Bloodmoon Hunter hesitated, sniffing the air again.

Then—it turned away, stalking in the opposite direction.

A notification appeared.

[ITEM USED: SCENT MASKING POWDER]

Effect: Reduces chance of enemy detection for 5 minutes.

Zane exhaled. "That was close."

Lyra smirked. "You get used to it."

They pressed on.

After nearly an hour of silent travel, they reached the ruins.

The stone walls were cracked, covered in vines, but still standing. A wooden gate hung off its hinges, barely functional.

Inside, the remains of an old watchtower leaned dangerously to one side.

Zane scanned the area.

[STRUCTURE ANALYSIS: RUINED FORT]

Defensive Strength: Moderate

Entry Points: 3 (Main Gate, Broken Wall, Watchtower Roof)

Resources: Limited (Scavenge for usable materials?)

Lyra looked satisfied. "Not perfect, but better than nothing."

Zane gestured to the entrance. "Can we block that?"

Lyra frowned. "Not enough time."

A new notification flashed.

[ALERT: BLOOD PACT SCOUTS DETECTED]

Hostile Players Nearby

They are hunting.

Zane's stomach tightened.

Footsteps. Slow. Deliberate. Getting closer.

Lyra whispered, "Up the tower. Now."

They climbed the crumbling stone steps, moving as quietly as possible. Below, dark figures emerged from the trees.

Zane's breath hitched.

They weren't monsters.

They were people.

[NEW ENEMIES: THE BLOOD PACT]

Arnold (The Butcher) – LVL 6, Melee Specialist

Iris (The Shadow) – LVL 5, Stealth Assassin

Orlen (The Hound) – LVL 4, Tracker

Arnold's voice echoed through the ruins.

"I know you're here."

Zane's pulse pounded.

This wasn't just survival anymore.

This was a hunt.