Game Of Survival

The Blood moon loomed overhead, its sickly red glow stretching across the twisted trees and shattered ruins like a predator's gaze. The air was thick and unmoving, filled with the scent of moss, dirt, and dried blood.

Zane's back was pressed against the cold stone wall, his heartbeat thundering in his ears. His muscles ached from exhaustion, every inch of his body screaming for rest. But he couldn't stop.

They were here.

Across from him, Lyra remained perfectly still, crouched behind a broken wooden beam. Her golden eyes flicked between the shadows, calculating.

The Blood Pact had arrived.

A deep, metallic screech echoed through the ruins.

Zane flinched as Arnold—a massive brute clad in leather and metal—dragged his twin cleavers across a broken stone pillar, his grin widening.

"I know you're here."

His voice was low, guttural, filled with the kind of certainty that made Zane's blood run cold.

Below, three figures moved like hunters in the dark, weaving between the ruins, spreading out into a triangular formation.

Enemy Status

[ENEMY DETECTED: BLOOD PACT SCOUTS]

Arnold (The Butcher) – LVL 6, Melee Specialist

Weapon: Twin Cleavers (High Damage, Slow Attacks)

Trait: Bloodlust (Stronger when an enemy is bleeding)

Iris (The Shadow) – LVL 5, Stealth Assassin

Weapon: Dual Daggers (Fast Strikes, Low Defense)

Trait: Shadow step (Moves faster in darkness)

Orion (The Hound) – LVL 4, Tracker

Weapon: Short bow (Medium Range, Bleeding Arrows)

Trait: Hunter's Mark (Can track wounded enemies over long distances)

Zane swallowed hard. Three against two.

Arnold, towering and monstrous, was all muscle and brute force. His cleavers gleamed with fresh bloodstains, his scarred lips curled in an eager grin.

Iris, the assassin, moved like flowing shadow, her daggers spinning between her fingers, waiting to strike.

Orion, the tracker, was deadliest of all. His sharp gaze flicked across the ruins, analyzing every footprint, every sign of movement.

He was looking for them.

Lyra shifted beside Zane, her hand gripping his wrist.

"They're spreading out," she whispered. "We have one chance."

Zane clenched his jaw. "A chance for what?"

She nodded toward a rotting wooden scaffolding near the fort's southern wall.

A trap.

Zane's mind raced.

Lure them in. Collapse it. Escape.

It was their only shot.

He met Lyra's gaze. She was already waiting for his signal.

Zane nodded once.

[NEW OBJECTIVE: TRAP THE BLOOD PACT]

Step 1: Lure them to the weak scaffolding.

Step 2: Collapse it to slow or eliminate them.

Step 3: Escape into the forest.

Zane's fingers closed around a loose stone.

His body ached, his muscles protesting the movement, but hesitation would kill him.

With a carefully controlled throw, he hurled the rock toward a shattered stone column across the ruins.

CRACK—STONE STRIKES STONE.

The sound echoed like a gunshot.

Iris whipped toward the noise, daggers raised.

"There."

Arnold's grin widened. He stalked toward the sound, boots crunching over broken stone.

Orion moved carefully, bow half-raised, scanning the terrain.

Zane forced himself to stay still.

Then—Arnold stopped.

His head tilted.

He sniffed the air.

A chill ran down Zane's spine.

He knows.

Arnold let out a low chuckle. He adjusted his grip on his cleavers.

"You think you're clever?"

[ALERT: BLOOD PACT DETECTED THE TRAP]

Chance of Success: 40% (Enemies are aware!)

Zane's chest tightened. They had to move. Now.

"NOW!"

He swung his club with everything he had.

The rotting wood cracked—

The entire scaffolding collapsed.

CRASH—THUNDERING WOODEN DEBRIS FELL.

[TRAP SUCCESSFUL—PARTIALLY]

Iris: Caught under debris (-25 HP, Immobilized) [Stunned]

Arnold: Minor injuries (-10 HP, Slowed) [Still Standing]

Orion: Dodged! (No damage)]

Iris let out a choked gasp, pinned beneath the rubble.

Arnold staggered back, blood running from a fresh cut on his forehead.

Orion, the fastest, had already moved.

His eyes locked onto Zane.

"Found you."

"RUN!" Lyra shouted.

They bolted through the ruins, weaving between fallen pillars and broken stone.

Zane's legs screamed in protest, his lungs burning. His stamina bar flashed red.

[STAMINA WARNING: 5/50 REMAINING]

Severe Exhaustion Effects: -30% Speed, -15% Strength

Orion moved first.

An arrow sliced through the air.

WHISTLE—THUNK!

A sharp pain tore through Zane's side.

[-8 HP] [BLEEDING STATUS: MINOR]

Zane stumbled, nearly falling.

Lyra grabbed him, yanking him forward. "MOVE!"

Arnold's furious roar shook the ruins.

"This isn't over, rats!"

Ahead, Lyra pointed.

"There's a river down there! We can lose them in the water!"

Zane forced himself forward, lungs burning.

Behind them, Orion raised another arrow.

Another shot.

Too fast.

Lyra turned, eyes narrowing—

She hurled a throwing knife.

THUNK—THE KNIFE STRUCK ORLEN'S BOW, KNOCKING HIS AIM OFF.

The arrow missed by inches.

Zane didn't wait.

The river came into view—rushing waters, jagged rocks.

Lyra jumped.

Zane took a deep breath—

And followed.

SPLASH—COLD WATER ENGULFED HIM.

The river's current dragged him down, twisting and spinning.

He kicked upward, breaking the surface, gasping for air.

Lyra was ahead, fighting the current.

The Blood Pact stood at the cliff's edge, watching.

Arnold pointed a cleaver.

"This isn't over."

[ESCAPE SUCCESSFUL]

Blood Pact will continue hunting you.

Find a new safe zone.

Survive until dawn.

Zane floated downstream, lungs burning.

He had survived.

But the hunt wasn't over.

Not yet.