《Deadland》
Chapter 1: Lets Play!
It¡¯s the era of VR gaming. People are hooked, diving into games that feel so real it¡¯s like they¡¯ve stepped into another world.
Action, adventure, RPG¡ªthese genres own the market right now. No surprise there. What started as a student craze quickly spread, pulling in adults too. VR games are different, they say. It¡¯s not just about playing; it¡¯s about feeling. The rush, the floating sensation, the goosebumps¡ªit¡¯s addictive.
And then there¡¯s the latest contender in the VR world: a so-called groundbreaking title still in its experimental phase. But that hasn¡¯t stopped the hype. Everyone¡¯s either playing it or itching to get their hands on it. The premise? A zombie survival game where you climb the ranks, become the ultimate zombie slayer, explore diverse locations, and fight your way to the end against evolving undead. The PVP feature is one of the factor of its success. Players can fight each other while still battling the zombie hordes. And despite being unfinished, the game¡¯s already got people hooked.
Deadland: Rebirth.
Some wonder if it¡¯s all just hype. One of them is Kai, a 20-year-old who¡¯s turned VR gaming into a coping mechanism after losing his job. He grabbed the game during its pre-release phase. He is curious on why the hell is everyone so obsessed with a pre-release game? Is it just clever marketing? To him, it¡¯s just another zombie game.
¡°Man, I wonder what the full release will have,¡± Michael said, Kai''s long-time gaming buddy.
Kai ran a hand through his hair, his legs sprawled out as he sighed in annoyance. ¡°I¡¯m just glad I got to try the pre-release.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not buying the full version?¡± Michael asked, raising an eyebrow.
¡°The price is insane, Mike. No way I¡¯m dropping that kind of cash for a game. I¡¯ll stick to this pre-release and call it a day,¡± Kai replied.
The pre-release of Deadland: Rebirth costs $25¡ªa decent deal for something still in development. But the full version? That¡¯s a whopping $999. For someone barely scraping by, it¡¯s not even an option. Kai couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it. Sure, it promised more features, but at that price? It felt like a game meant for rich kids, not regular gamers like him.
"Aaaaagh! I really want to play the main release on launch day!" Michael groaned, clutching his head in frustration. The price tag was clearly driving him nuts.
"Dude, just stick to the pre-release, like I said," Kai replied, tossing the VR gear aside and heading toward the kitchen.
"Like hell I¡¯m gonna settle for this while everyone else is playing the full version!" Michael shot back, practically fuming.
Ezra chuckled as he grabbed a mug and poured himself some coffee. "Then work your ass off if you want it that bad," he said, taking a sip.
"Speaking of work... are you job hunting again?" Michael asked, his tone shifting.
Kai used to juggle two jobs¡ªa fast food gig and a delivery job¡ªbut losing both at once hit him hard. At first, getting fired from the fast food job felt like no big deal. But when the second one followed the next day, it crushed him. That¡¯s when VR became his escape.
"Yeah," Kai finally said, taking another sip. "Why? Thinking of joining me in the grind?"
"Hell no," Michael laughed. "I can¡¯t do what you do, man. Two jobs? I¡¯d die. I¡¯m fine with my one crappy job, thanks."This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
Kai smirked, but his mind drifted. What if he¡¯d gone to college? Would life be easier? Maybe. Maybe not. Life didn¡¯t come with guarantees. He¡¯d always been on a different path anyway. Back in high school, he was that kid¡ªthe troublemaker. Fistfights, suspension threats, the works. He liked the rush, but he knew it couldn¡¯t last. Somehow, he managed to graduate without getting expelled, though it was a close call.
Kai again sat besides Michael grabbing the VR and dropping the mug of coffee on the table. "Let¡¯s play one more time." He said putting the VR.
"Then let''s bet for this one?" Michael said with a confident tone, a tone that he knew he gonna win.
Deadland Pre released offered a feature where players can face themselves in a 1v1 game, where they can use weapons for killing each other, they will choose a location to battle and it''s generally like a first person shooter game but the twist is that there is still a zombies in the theme where it will spawn in a random time so they are killing each other while still getting rid of the zombies, killing them can give the player a rare items and a points.
Bang!
"You¡¯re too weak." Kai said teasingly as he killed Michael in the first round.
"Just you wait." He replied.
After that play, they play for another 2 rounds and decided to call it end.
The score is 3-0 in favor of Kai.
"That''ll be 10 dollars," the clerk said as Kai placed his items on the counter.
Kai had just picked up some vegetables and meat¡ªenough to last him for three days. It was part of his routine: a quick trip to the supermarket for dinner. He didn¡¯t mind it. Walking to the store was more like a workout than a chore. He saw it as exercise, something he needed to do regularly.
Living alone wasn¡¯t easy, but it was the reality. His parents were both gone. His mother had passed away when he was in high school, taken by cancer. Her death had changed him, turning him into the troublemaker he became. Then, just after he landed his first job, his father was in an accident. He was rushed to the hospital, but by the time they arrived, it was too late. His dad was gone.
It hit him hard. For months, Kai wasn¡¯t himself. He barely ate, barely left the house. But Michael, his friend, had been there. He pulled Kai out of the dark place he¡¯d been stuck in. Slowly, things started to feel normal again, but there was always that empty space. A mother gone. A father gone. Something was always missing.
Shhhh...
Kai stood in front of the mirror, his reflection clear and steady. His upper body was visible¡ªwhite skin, lean but not too muscular, not too skinny. Just right for his height of 5''9".
He always preferred cold showers. It had been part of his routine since high school. The shower was his favorite time of day¡ªjust him, alone, the cold water hitting his skin. It was the one time he could think clearly, the only moment when his mind felt truly at rest, yet fully aware. After a cold shower, he¡¯d go make dinner. He loved salty food, but over time, he learned that if he wanted to stick around longer, he had to eat balanced meals, not just salty and sweet stuff.
Bzzzzt!
As he prepared his dinner, his phone buzzed. A notification from a familiar game name¡ªDL, or Deadland. He didn¡¯t care much. He was busy. It was probably just another social media update.
Bzzzzt!
It buzzed again.
Bzzt!
Again.
Kai was getting annoyed. He thought about muting it, but then he saw the name again¡ªDeadland. His annoyance shifted to curiosity. What was it? Maybe an update on the main release? A pre-release patch? Or just some random shoutout to the players? Whatever it was, he decided to check.
Urgently Hiring!
Game Testers!
"We need 500 testers before the main release of Deadland!"
Requirements:
? Must be a VR gamer
? Must have played the pre-release
For more details, check the email and sign up. If selected, you¡¯ll be invited for a face-to-face interview.
Tester? Why would a game like Deadland, a huge hit with its pre-release, need so many people to test it? And they are hiring! A tester is someone developers hire to check if the game runs smoothly, if it''s player-friendly, and if there are any bugs left.
Kai hovered over the email. What if he applied? It was just for a tester role¡ªquick and easy, and he was looking for something to do anyway. But his curiosity wasn¡¯t satisfied yet. He had to know how much they were paying. The email didn¡¯t say anything about the rate, just a button to apply for a face-to-face interview.
Apply!
He wasn¡¯t sure if he really wanted it, but it was a quick job, right? Why not? He¡¯d earn some cash doing something he actually enjoyed.
Click.
Thank you for applying!
We¡¯ll contact you if you¡¯re selected for an interview.
The message flashed on his screen. The chance to play a game he couldn¡¯t afford was part of why he¡¯d applied. He probably wouldn¡¯t get to play the main release anyway, so why not take a shot at being a tester?
Bzzz!
Kai groaned. ¡°What now?¡±
He checked the phone. It was Michael. Kai figured he was calling about the hiring too. He would¡¯ve called him about it, but Michael sounded way more hyped than he was.
¡°Man!¡± Michael shouted, his voice full of excitement. ¡°Did you see the hiring?!¡±
¡°Yeah. I already signed up,¡± Kai replied.
¡°I signed up too. If this is the second job we were talking about, I¡¯d quit my current one in a heartbeat,¡± Michael laughed.
¡°You¡¯re crazy, Mike,¡± Kai said. ¡°I¡¯m hanging up now. Let me know if they accept you for an interview.¡±
¡°It¡¯s gonna be sick, man! Catch you later!¡± Michael said, ending the call.
It was a huge hiring push¡ª500 testers needed, so of course they were sending out invites to tons of Deadland players across the country before going global. But was it the right move? Hiring so many testers had its downsides too. Even if it helped the game, what would the outcome really be?
Chapter 2: Phase One
The next day, Kai got an email confirming he¡¯d passed the application stage and was moving on to the interview¡ªalong with Michael. According to the email, they¡¯d accepted 1,000 applicants for sign-ups, but only 500 would make it through after the interviews.
Kai had signed up reluctantly, his only real motivation being the chance to play the full version of the game. He didn¡¯t need to explain how good the pre-release was; anyone who played it could feel the excitement and satisfaction it brought. The thought of what the full version could offer was like a dream for VR gamers. Deadland had the potential to redefine VR gaming completely, and the chance to be part of that? It was too good to pass up.
¡°This is so exciting, dude! I couldn¡¯t even sleep last night,¡± Michael said, his voice full of energy. ¡°I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, like, ¡®What if I get in? What if I don¡¯t? What if I die before the interview?¡¯ I was losing it!¡±
Kai snorted. ¡°You¡¯re totally insane, but I get it.¡±
Michael wasn¡¯t kidding about his excitement, though. He¡¯d been the one to introduce Kai to VR gaming in the first place. Ever since, they¡¯d been gaming together, and now, they were both on the path to becoming testers. For Michael, the chance to play Deadland before anyone else¡ªeven in an unfinished state¡ªwas like winning the lottery.
¡°Dude, just think about it! Us, playing the full version of a game that¡¯s about to change VR forever! I swear, if I get any more hyped, I might actually shit myself,¡± Michael blurted, laughing like a maniac.
Kai rolled his eyes, smirking. ¡°Calm down, man. Honestly, I¡¯m pretty excited too. But, like, do you think if we pass the interview, they¡¯ll let us play or give us the full game after testing it?¡±
¡°Oh crap! The interview!¡± Michael froze. ¡°I totally forgot about that. I was already acting like we passed.¡±
Michael and interviews didn¡¯t mix. His current job didn¡¯t even require one¡ªhe got in through a family referral. But Kai knew how he was. Michael was the type to freeze up and sweat bullets during interviews, maybe even literally piss himself if it went bad enough.
Kai, on the other hand, had been through plenty of them. Sure, most of them ended in rejection, but at least he¡¯d learned something each time. By now, he had the process down, even if the success rate wasn¡¯t great. ¡°Fail, learn, repeat¡± had basically become his motto.
¡°When¡¯s the interview again?¡± Michael mumbled, barely getting the words out. Just hearing the word ¡°interview¡± was enough to make him grind his nails down to nothing, a nervous habit he¡¯d developed over time.
Kai gave him a light tap on the back. ¡°Hey, you wanna practice with me?¡±
Michael had to get over his fear of interviews if he wanted to have a shot at this. But when the fear was stronger than the drive to succeed, it felt like an enemy you couldn¡¯t defeat.
¡°Mike,¡± Kai said, tapping his shoulder again. Michael was zoned out, not saying a word. ¡°Hey.¡± This time, Michael looked up and nodded.
¡°Alright, here¡¯s the deal. We¡¯re gonna pretend this is a job interview at a game dev company. They¡¯re hiring testers, so it¡¯ll probably be about gaming experience,¡± Kai said.
¡°Right,¡± Michael replied, looking a little less nervous now.
¡°Okay. Let me think of a question.¡± Kai thought for a second, then came up with something that would test Michael¡¯s personal preferences.
¡°Alright, Mike. If you were testing a game and there was a feature you didn¡¯t like, how would you handle it?¡± Kai asked.
It wasn¡¯t a real interview, just the two of them sitting across from each other. But the tension coming off Michael was so thick, Kai wasn¡¯t sure if this mock interview was helping or making it worse.
¡°Just think about it,¡± Kai said, tapping his temple to signal for Michael to focus.
¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m thinking,¡± Michael said, sweat already beading on his forehead. ¡°Uh¡ can you repeat the question?¡±
¡°Sure. If you were testing a game and didn¡¯t like one of its features, how would you handle testing it?¡± Kai repeated.
¡°Uh¡ if I didn¡¯t like the feature?¡± Michael stammered. ¡°Well, I¡¯d... uh...¡± He trailed off, not finishing his sentence.
¡°Mike, stop starting every answer with ¡®uhm.¡¯ It¡¯s not helping you. And remember¡ªfail fast, learn faster,¡± Kai said, trying to steer him in the right direction.
They spent hours doing mock interviews, going over and over the same questions. It was clear Michael was getting better at it, but Kai knew the real interview would be a whole different beast. More pressure, more anxiety. It was going to be a lot harder when they were face-to-face with the interviewers themselves.
The day of the interview had finally arrived.
The room was packed with applicants, some already done with their interviews, while Kai and Michael were still waiting to be called. The place looked like a modernized gym¡ªspacious, sleek, and lined with air conditioners blasting cold air from every corner. Scattered around were machines and computers that seemed tied to the game''s development. But this wasn¡¯t the actual development hub, just one of the buildings they used for recruitment¡ªor so they¡¯d been told.
Kai glanced around and noticed something surprising: most of the applicants were young adults like him, probably in their early twenties. A handful looked older, but they were the minority. Some people were fidgeting nervously, pacing, or whispering to each other while stealing glances at the surroundings. Meanwhile, Kai and Michael just stood there, silent, waiting for their turn.
When Michael was finally called, Kai watched him walk in, trying to look confident. But when he came back out, he looked like someone had just rejected him. His head was down, his shoulders slumped, and his expression screamed frustration. Without a word, he tapped Kai on the shoulder.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
¡°I¡¯m heading out, man. Just call me if they include my name on the list,¡± Michael muttered.
¡°What happened?¡± Kai asked, concerned.
¡°Nothing. I just feel like I completely fucked it up,¡± Michael said, rubbing his face with both hands like he was trying to wipe away the regret.
Kai didn¡¯t push further, but he could tell it had been rough. The tension in the room was no joke. He could see it in the others, too¡ªsome were practicing mock interviews with their friends, while others kept darting to the bathroom. Probably puking from the nerves.
Kai knew that feeling all too well. He¡¯d been there before¡ªhis first-ever interview had left him so anxious he actually threw up. He¡¯d failed so many times since then that he¡¯d gotten used to the pressure, but seeing Michael like this hit differently. Michael had walked in looking composed, not even half as nervous as he usually was. But now? He looked like he¡¯d been through hell.
What the hell had happened in there?
"Applicant 31," the secretary called out.
Kai stood up, feeling the weight of a dozen eyes on him as he walked toward the interview room. A few applicants glanced at him, their expressions a mix of nervousness and curiosity. As he pushed the door open, he was surprised to see only one person sitting there.
Just one interviewer?
That was... odd. In Kai¡¯s experience, interviews usually had at least three people grilling you from different angles. But here was this guy¡ªskinny, dressed in a sharp black suit, sitting alone at the table.
Okay, this should be easier, Kai thought, trying to psych himself up. But something felt off. Why did everyone who left the room look so wrecked?
Kai sat down, doing his best to stay calm, when the interviewer hit him with the first question:
"If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?"
What the hell? Kai blinked. The question had absolutely nothing to do with gaming. Was this what threw Michael off? It wasn¡¯t a hard question, but it was so random that it caught Kai off guard for a moment.
Still, he knew better than to hesitate. Keep it cool. Make it unique. He thought quickly about someone who wasn¡¯t an obvious choice but still connected to the tech world.
"I¡¯d have dinner with Alan Turing," Kai said confidently. "His work didn¡¯t just shape modern computing¡ªit laid the foundation for the gaming industry, even if we don¡¯t think about it that way. I¡¯d love to ask him how he saw the future of technology and if he ever imagined people using his concepts to create virtual worlds for fun."
The interviewer raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly.
Despite being a troublemaker in high school, Kai still studied enough to know about Alan Turing, the computing pioneer. The first time Kai came across Turing¡¯s name in a textbook, it caught his attention¡ªnot just because of his groundbreaking contributions to technology, but because Turing was openly gay in a time when it was illegal in Britain. Despite his brilliance, Turing faced brutal persecution for his sexuality, and that stuck with Kai. It was wild to him how someone so instrumental in shaping the future of computing and technology had been treated so unfairly.
The interviewer leaned back in his chair, still smirking. "Turing, huh?"
Kai couldn¡¯t tell if that was a good sign or not, but he held his ground, hoping his answer stood out.
"Alright, next question," the interviewer said, this time signaling before speaking, unlike earlier when he jumped straight in.
"You¡¯re testing a game with a tight deadline, and you find a critical bug that would require delaying the release. The team is split¡ªsome want to launch as is, while others want to fix it. What do you do?"
Now this was a proper gaming question¡ªsomething that actually tested a game tester¡¯s problem-solving skills and ability to work with a team. It was tougher than the last one, and Kai could feel the pressure creeping up. Each question felt like leveling up in a game, with the difficulty spiking every time.
Kai took a moment, letting the scenario sink in. He knew what they were looking for: problem-solving, leadership, and confidence. He had to bring all three to the table with his answer.
Smirking, Kai straightened his posture. "I¡¯d calmly tell the team that releasing a game with a critical bug is like serving a fancy meal with a cockroach on the plate¡ªit doesn¡¯t matter how good the rest is, no one¡¯s going to enjoy it," he said, his tone firm but casual. "I¡¯d push for fixing the bug but suggest ways to soften the delay, like dropping a teaser or an early access version to keep the players hyped. At the end of the day, quality is what makes players stick around, and I¡¯d make sure the team understands that."
The tension in the room was thick, but Kai kept his cool. He knew this was just a test¡ªa test of skill, confidence, and staying sharp under pressure.
He was ready for the next question but then the interviewer spoke. "Done." He said signaling to kai to go out.
Kai glanced at the interviewer again, double-checking to see if it was really over after just two questions. And it was.
A few hours later, they were allowed to leave. The staff told them they''d send emails to those who passed the interview.
"Man, did I look completely out of it earlier?" Michael asked Kai.
"Yeah, you looked pretty down, Mike." Kai didn¡¯t bother sugar-coating it. Michael had looked like he was carrying the weight of the world.
"That¡¯s because that guy hit me with five questions, like hell."
Five questions? What? The interviewer only asked him two. Did the number of questions depend on how well they answered?
"So how''d it go inside?" Michael asked again.
"Just fine," Kai replied.
"Just fine, huh?" Mike raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "I bet you nailed it."
Kai didn¡¯t doubt it. The questions had been easy. It was just the atmosphere in that room¡ªintense as hell. The air was thick, there was barely any light, and that one interviewer sitting across from them made it feel like they were under a microscope. That tension was enough to mess with anyone¡¯s head.
"We''ll see. But for now, how about we eat?" Kai said, already walking toward a cheap restaurant nearby.
"Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m starving, man," Mike said, trailing behind.
Creak.
When they opened the door, the restaurant was nearly empty. There was one familiar face though¡ªthe girl from the interview. Black hair, eyeglasses, and a neck tattoo. Not huge, but enough to catch his eye. She was standing at the counter ordering her food.
Mike tapped Kai on the back, his eyes glued to the girl. "Man, she¡¯s hella pretty."
"Do me a favor, Mike, and find us a good spot to sit," Kai said, ignoring Mike¡¯s comment. "And what do you want?"
"Just a large burger and fries, fine," Michael replied.
As the girl walked past with her food, Kai stepped up to the counter. "One chicken salad and one large burger and fries," he said, glancing over at Mike, who was already sitting with the girl.
What the hell was he doing? Kai had told him to find a good spot, not flirt with some girl. Mike was completely different when it came to girls. The guy had been anxious as hell in the interview, but now? He looked like a whole new person. Kai, on the other hand, was just awkward around girls. It wasn¡¯t that he was shy¡ªit was more like he didn¡¯t get why he felt so off when they were around. Maybe it was because he¡¯d never had a girlfriend.
"Here, that¡¯ll be 13 dollars," the cashier said, snapping Kai back to reality. He handed over the cash, trying to shake off the weird vibe.
Kai walked over to where Mike was sitting. He was still with the girl. "Hey, Kai, over here!" Mike called out. "She said we could join her."
This was the worst-case scenario¡ªsitting across from a girl he didn¡¯t even know. He knew it was going to be awkward, but he had to get used to it. "Here," Kai said, setting Mike¡¯s order down in front of him.
Mike didn¡¯t even look at his food. His eyes were locked on the girl, not even blinking. Kai tapped his arm, getting Mike to finally glance at him. "Stop it, dude. Just eat," he whispered.
Kai picked up his salad and tried to eat, but his gaze kept drifting to the girl. She was eating the same thing¡ªchicken salad and cucumber juice. Then, their eyes met. Kai quickly looked away, but she didn¡¯t.
"Are you from here?" Mike asked, breaking the awkward eye contact.
"No," she replied, wiping her mouth. "I¡¯m from the neighboring city. Just had an interview earlier."
"Huh? Interview? Are you talking about the game tester hiring?" Mike asked.
"Yeah. How¡¯d you know?" She raised an eyebrow.
Mike grinned, his confidence shooting up. "What a coincidence! We applied for it too," he said, pointing at Kai.
Kai realized she was really the girl he had seen earlier, the one who looked completely calm during the tense interview. She had been chilling while everyone else was panicking.
"I¡¯m Michael, by the way," Mike said, leaning forward. "You are?"
"Naomi," she replied.
"That¡¯s a pretty name!" Mike said, practically glowing with excitement.
Naomi turned her attention to Kai, and Mike followed her gaze. "Oh, this is Kai," Mike said. "Hey, man, speak up," he whispered to Kai.
"How was the interview?" Kai asked.
"It was ruthless," Naomi said, catching Kai off guard.
Ruthless? She looked like she was taking it so casually, but maybe that¡¯s just how she handled it¡ªlike any other job interview.
"I agree, it was intense," Mike said, leaning back. "Five questions in a row. Like hell no."
Mike didn¡¯t even hesitate to say he got hit with five questions. Naomi looked at him, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. Kai caught it and wondered how many questions she¡¯d gotten.
"Mine was five too," she said, still looking at Kai.
"Yeah, duh. They asked us all five questions," Mike chuckled.
"It really depends," Naomi said, her voice a little more serious. "The interviewer asks more questions when they see someone is anxious."
"Yeah, I figured as much," Kai said, nodding.
They chatted for a few more minutes before parting ways.
The next day, Kai got the news¡ªhe was accepted as the 333rd tester for Deadland. Mike, on the other hand, didn¡¯t make the cut. But neither of them seemed too bothered.
"All 500 of you are now officially testers," the instructor said, leading the group through a massive building. "Most of you will be testing the game for a week. You¡¯ll each be assigned to a completely different VR setup."
They stopped in front of a room filled with strange machines¡ªcapsule-like pods that a person could climb into. These were the devices the testers would use. The idea was that using these pods would be way more effective than the standard VR gear.
"Now, let¡¯s get started. For the first test, you¡¯ll be fighting against zombies."
Chapter 3: Spawn Point
"Now, to explain the process," the instructor began, "you¡¯ll go through two phases of testing. The first trial is all about testing how responsive or bug-free the player vs. zombies feature is. So, you¡¯ll be killing zombies." He paused for effect. "The second phase is where things get interesting. It¡¯s the newest feature¡ªwell, it was already in the pre-release, but it was limited. Now, in Phase 2, you¡¯ll be testing the PVP Worldwide version."
The crowd buzzed with excitement. The new feature sounded like a game-changer¡ªanother PVP version with more players and bigger maps. It was like a battleground where zombies and players fought against each other in a massive post-apocalyptic world.
"This is the main reason you¡¯re all here¡ªthe Phase 2 trial of the expanded PVP version. Your job is to find bugs, and we¡¯ll fix them," the instructor continued.
A guy in the crowd shouted, "What about the compensation?"
"Oh, right! The compensation!" the instructor responded. "You¡¯ll get $700 for a week of testing."
Kai¡¯s jaw dropped. $700 for a week of playing a game? That was way more than he expected. He could barely earn that much working two jobs for a week, but here he was, just playing games and getting paid for it. Even the others in the room were hyped, some jumping up and down, others crying with joy. That¡¯s when Kai spotted Naomi again¡ªshe passed, just like him.
"You passed," Kai said to her.
"I expected it," Naomi replied, a smirk playing on her lips. "Bet your friend didn¡¯t even make it."
Kai shrugged. The number of questions asked during the interview was a good indicator¡ªmore questions usually meant the candidate wasn¡¯t good enough. The fewer questions, the better the chances.
"He did," Kai said.
"What? Are you serious?" Naomi¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yeah, unfortunately, he didn¡¯t pass," Kai said.
Naomi looked at him, an annoyed look in her eyes. "You knew, didn¡¯t you?" Kai said.
"What?" Naomi asked, confused.
"You knew he wasn¡¯t going to pass the moment you heard they asked him five questions," Kai said.
Before Kai could respond, the instructor signaled for them to start Phase 1 of the testing. He pointed to the capsule-like machines in the room. There were 20 capsules in one room, and several other rooms with 20 capsules each.
"Alright, here¡¯s how it works," the instructor said. "When you get in the capsule, you¡¯ll see a button next to your head. Just press it when you''re lying down, and that¡¯ll start the game. Simple as that. Once the game starts, select the PVZ mode, and play for an hour. After that, let us know what you find¡ªany bugs? Or suggestions for improvements?" He finished, pointing toward the machines. "Alright, go ahead!"
Kai climbed into the capsule, and it lit up around him. He spotted the button the instructor mentioned¡ªa red one, not too big, not too small, just there. He pressed it, and a thin chip-like device was attached to his head.
[Deadland]
A loading screen popped up, and Kai noticed the experience felt more like VR, but something about it was different. It was brighter, more immersive. He couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on what made it feel more real, but it definitely did.
[Loading] [CONTINUE]
[Choose a Mode]
¡ñPVZ
¡ñPVP
¡ñSolo
¡ñTeam
¡ñHardcore
¡ñPractice
There were a lot of options, but Kai¡¯s only choice for now was PVZ, where he¡¯d fight different types of zombies in a limited area. It felt like an arcade mode, but with progressively tougher zombies.
[PVZ]
The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
[LOADING]
DYK? In the PVP Worldwide version, you can earn rare items by killing other players?
The fun fact popped up, and Kai couldn¡¯t help but notice how much better the interface looked compared to the pre-release. The graphics were sharper, and the loading time was almost nonexistent¡ªone of the biggest complaints about the pre-release.
[CHOOSE A LOCATION]
¡ñAbandoned School
¡ñAbandoned Building
¡ñHospital
¡ñBridge
¡ñForest
¡ñMilitary base
¡ñPlayground
¡ñUrban
¡ñRural
¡ñCity
¡ñBeach
¡ñAirport
¡ñTrain
¡ñAirplane
¡ñBus
Clearly, this version had way more locations unlocked compared to the pre-release, which only had four: Bridge, Forest, Hospital, and the School.
[Abandoned building]
Boop!
[Choose a weapon]
In this trial phase, the game gives you a random weapon based on the type you pick:
[GUN]
[MELEE]
[EXPLOSIVES]
Click! [You have selected GUN]
[Your weapon will be "Pistol"]
Boop!
[Round 1] VS. Walker
A Walker is your basic zombie, the easiest to kill. Kai could take one out in a second. The key was the head¡ªaim for it, shoot, and down it goes.
BANG!
"Damn." The experience was so real, with gore in the main version¡ªbrains and blood splattering everywhere. The guns felt authentic too.
Kai faced more zombies in this phase: Walkers, the slow and easy ones; Runners, which were a pain because they moved fast; Spitters, the worst, spitting toxic gas; Tanks, huge but slow and strong; and finally, the Parasite Zombies, the most annoying ones. Surprisingly after playing for an hour there is absolutely no bug at all, the gameplay was great as well.
After leaving the capsule, they were told to write down their experience. Any bugs? Suggestions for improvement? Kai noted that there were no bugs, the loading times were quick, the gameplay was smooth, and the buttons worked flawlessly. He added that he couldn¡¯t wait for Phase 2 next week.
A week later
"Alright, moving on to Phase 2! This might be the last phase you¡¯ll test, but that¡¯s not guaranteed," the instructor announced.
In this phase, they¡¯d be testing the new PVP version. The exciting part? Players could see each other, team up, go solo, hunt other players, or take on zombies in a massive map.
"Just like last time, go inside, click the button, and choose PVP mode."
[Loading]
........
[Continue]
[Choose a Mode]
¡ñPVZ
¡ñPVP
¡ñSolo
¡ñTeam
¡ñHardcore
¡ñPractice
[PVP]
PVP was definitely Kai¡¯s favorite mode in the pre-release, but it was limited to just two players fighting in a small map. Now, it was a full battleground where players could see, talk, and team up with each other.
[Select A Role]
Scout
? Abilities: High agility, faster movement, and better stamina.
? Starting Items: Lightweight gear, a basic map, and a small knife.
? Perk: Can detect traps and hidden paths.
Medic
? Abilities: Heals teammates and themselves faster.
? Starting Items: First aid kit, bandages, and herbal remedies.
? Perk: Can craft advanced healing items.
Engineer
? Abilities: Repairs and builds fortifications.
? Starting Items: Toolset, basic materials, and a blueprint for a barricade.
? Perk: Can craft traps and advanced weapons.
Soldier
? Abilities: Superior combat skills and weapon handling.
? Starting Items: A basic rifle, ammunition, and a combat knife.
? Perk: Higher damage output and better armor durability.
Survivor
? Abilities: Balanced stats with no specific weaknesses.
? Starting Items: Random gear and a small food supply.
? Perk: Gains a small boost to all skills over time.
This was new. In the pre-release Deadland PVP, there was no role selection, but now, it was a huge upgrade. The ability to pick a role before jumping into the post-apocalyptic world was awesome. What role should he pick? Scout for agility? Medic for healing? Engineer for fortifications? Soldier for combat? Or Survivor for balanced stats?
For the long haul, maybe Engineer was the best choice.
[CHOSEN ROLE: ENGINEER]
"This is insane," Kai muttered, excitement surging through him.
After selecting his role, a new menu popped up in front of him: the inventory system. It was sleek and detailed, showing everything he carried.
Inventory:
? Weapons
? Ammunition
? Medical Supplies
? Food and Water
? Crafting Materials
? Special Items (rare and unique finds)
Weight Limit:
Carrying too much will slow you down. Manage wisely.
Another tab caught his eye: Points and Rewards.
Earn points by:
? Surviving each day.
? Killing zombies.
? Completing objectives (rescue missions, scavenging, etc.).
? Assisting teammates.
"So, I can trade points for items or materials? That¡¯s genius," Kai thought, impressed by how immersive the game had become.
BZZZZT!!!
"Shit!" Kai clutched his ears as the glitching sound drilled into his skull.
BZZZZZZT!!!
The red light inside the capsule flared up. Kai froze, unable to move. The chip glued to his head felt like it was burning into his skull. "Aaagh!" he screamed internally, his nose suddenly bleeding as the pain intensified.
BZZZZZZT!!!
[Warning!]
[The players will be logged out.]
Kai barely read the words on the screen before his vision blurred. What the hell was happening? Moments ago, he was hyped to experience the PVP mode. Now, it felt like a goddamn nightmare.
[FAILED]
[FAILED]
......
BZZZZZZT!!!
"LET ME OUT!" Kai tried to shout, but no sound came out.
[Cannot log out.]
[Failed 3 times.]
BZZZZTTTT
[Logging in, 3 seconds...]
3...
2...
1...
Click!
Swisshhhhhh!
The pain vanished in an instant, leaving only darkness. Kai blinked, trying to orient himself. His body felt heavy, his senses heightened. When his vision returned, he found himself standing in front of an abandoned building. It was dark, eerily quiet.
"Is this?" he muttered, doubt crept into his voice. "That glitch probably the worst thing I¡¯ve ever experienced," Kai said to himself, still shaken. He raised the pistol in his hand, staring at it in disbelief. It wasn¡¯t just realistic¡ªit was real. Even his arms looked exactly like they did in real life.
"Damn," he whispered, awestruck. "This might actually be the greatest VR game ever made."
Curiosity pulled him toward the abandoned building. Every step felt natural, his movements fluid. The sounds of his boots scraping to the ground, the faint sound of the empty structure¡ªit was all so vivid it left him speechless.
"Amazi¡ª"
BANG!
[You are slightly shot in the arm.]
Health: 97 (-3)
Kai hissed, diving behind a wall and grabbing his arm. Pain. Real, searing pain. Blood trickled down his sleeve, and his arm throbbed with every heartbeat.
"What the?" he whispered, his voice trembling.
Tu-tump. Tu-tump. Tu-tump.
His pulse was heard in his ears. Raising his trembling hand, he stared at it. This wasn¡¯t a VR game. He is too sure. The pain, the blood, the gunshot¡ªit all felt too real.
"This is real," Kai realized, his voice barely audible. "I¡¯m in the game?"
Chapter 4: Where Am I?
It felt too real. This wasn¡¯t some VR game he could log out of¡ªit was a life-or-death situation. The pain was too sharp, too raw to be fake. Fear gripped him, making his skin crawl with goosebumps. No matter how much he tried to push it down, it clung to him like a second skin¡ªthe fear of dying. But then a thought crept in: What if this is still just a game?
Could he respawn if he died here? What would happen if he stepped out and let himself get shot again, just to test it? No. That was a stupid idea. Shaking his head, Kai tightened the makeshift bandage around his bleeding arm, tearing more fabric from his clothes to stop the blood flow.
[CHALLENGE TRIGGERED]
[DEFEAT OR ESCAPE THE PLAYER]
[Reward: loot box]
There was no doubt now¡ªthe one who shot him was a player, just like him. That confirmed it: the other testers were stuck in this nightmare too.
"I''m having a lucky night," the shooter called out, his voice sharp and cocky. Definitely a man. "Hey, just surrender. I promise I''ll make it painless."
As if, Kai thought bitterly. There was no way he¡¯d give up without a fight. But what gnawed at him was the uncertainty. He didn¡¯t know how strong this guy was¡ªwhat kind of skills or tricks he had. Then again, the guy didn¡¯t know Kai¡¯s strengths or weaknesses either. All he¡¯d managed so far was a grazing shot to Kai¡¯s arm.
Clack!
Kai hurled a medium-sized stone into the dark, the sound echoing through the building. It was a decoy, nothing more¡ªa distraction to draw the man¡¯s attention while Kai slipped to a better spot. Moving swiftly but silently, he found cover in a new location with a clear view of the building¡¯s interior.
Then he saw him. Up in the rafters, sitting on the wooden beams, the man crouched with his gun at the ready. It was too dark to make out his face, but Kai could tell he was lying in wait, ready to pounce the moment Kai showed himself.
Forget fighting, Kai thought grimly. His priority wasn¡¯t fighting against him¡ªit was survival. The exit was closer now, and every nerve in his body screamed at him to make a break for it. The darkness could worked against him or he can use it, but then it limits his visibility, and the shooter clearly had the upper hand with a firearm and a high vantage point. Plus, Kai was already injured.
"Don¡¯t play games with me!" the man shouted, frustration seeping into his voice. "Just come out already!"
This was bad. Really bad. Kai had barely entered this messed-up game, and he was already neck-deep in chaos. First, it wasn¡¯t a game¡ªit was real. Second, some psycho player was trying to kill him.
But he didn¡¯t need to fight. He just needed to escape.
Kai grabbed another medium-sized stone and hurled it in the opposite direction, far from where he was hiding. The sound echoed, and sure enough, the man¡¯s head snapped toward the noise. That was all Kai needed¡ªhe slipped out unnoticed, his heart pounding as he made his escape.
[CHALLENGE COMPLETE!]
[REWARD: BASIC LOOT BOX]
[EARNED TITLE: ESCAPE ARTIST]
"Well, that was easy," Kai muttered to himself, jogging toward the forest. "Didn¡¯t think I¡¯d get out that fast." He tapped open his inventory mid-run, spotting the loot box immediately.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!
When he reached the forest¡¯s edge, the atmosphere shifted. It was pitch black¡ªdarker than the abandoned building had been. The towering trees blocked out the moonlight entirely, leaving Kai practically blind.
And then¡ª
"Uuuunngh!"
A zombie appeared out from the shadows, its groan low and guttural.
Kai blinked, deadpan. "Yo, can you, uh, point me in the right direction? No? Cool, thanks anyway." He smirked at his own joke, shaking his head as he took a step back.
It was a walker¡ªa slow, clumsy zombie he recognized from the game. "A walker." Kai muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief. It was the very first zombie that he saw upon entering this post-apocalyptic game. The walker lurched forward, its movements sluggish, barely keeping up with him. Kai sighed, already regretting his decision to joke around.
But he couldn¡¯t shoot it¡ªnot out of mercy, but because the noise would draw attention. Other players might hear it, or worse, it could attract more zombies. That was the last thing he needed. So, Kai kept moving, sticking to the dirt road. The ground was wet, like it had just rained, and mud clung to his shoes with every step. His footprints were clear, but there was no sign of anyone following him.
When he reached the middle of the forest, he jumped off the left side of the road, careful to leave no tracks. Then he doubled back, deliberately leaving footprints to throw off anyone tracking him. He jumped again, this time to the right side, and continued down the road where the mud wasn¡¯t as visible.
Click!
[Inventory]
Basic loot box [Open?]
[Opening loot box]
Cling!
Content:
? Black hoodie jacket (skin)
? Pistol ammo
? Healing aid
It wasn¡¯t much, but for a basic loot box, it was solid. The black hoodie was a bonus¡ªit gave extra invisibility at night, a simple but effective perk. It also counted as a basic skin, and most skins in this game came with useful benefits. The pistol ammo was a lifesaver, giving him a few extra bullets, and the healing aid? That was going to come in handy.
[Using Healing Aid]
[Health increasing +++]
[100/100]
Kai froze, staring at his arm as it healed right before his eyes. The bleeding stopped, and the pain vanished like it had never been there. It felt like magic¡ªexcept this wasn¡¯t a game anymore. His energy surged as his health bar filled.
Ahead, he spotted a small, abandoned house. It looked like it had walked straight out of a horror movie, the kind of place that screamed, Don¡¯t go in. But loot was loot, and in this game, looting was everything. Rare items could turn up anywhere, and he wasn¡¯t about to pass up the chance.
He pushed the creaky door open, wincing at the loud groan it made. Inside, the house was trashed¡ªwood splintered everywhere, furniture overturned, blood splattered across the floor. It was dark and reeked of decay, but there was no one here. No players, no zombies. Yet.
Kai opened a door to one of the rooms and spotted a massive cabinet. His gut told him it might have something valuable, so he approached it slowly, bracing himself for a jumpscare. With one hand on the handle and the other gripping his gun, he opened it.
Inside: a healing aid kit, a mask, and some thick clothing. That was it.
"Did someone already loot this place?" he muttered under his breath, closing the cabinet.
He moved toward the bathroom next. The stench was overwhelming¡ªa foul mix of blood and piss. The room was a wreck, the walls covered in mold, and the floor crawling with brown, wriggling organisms feeding on god-knows-what.
The bathtub caught his eye. It was filled with murky, filthy water. The mirror above the sink was too stained to see much, but he could make out faint shapes in the reflection. No loot here, either.
Just as he turned to leave, something moved.
His breath hitched. Behind me? No... above?
His eyes darted around. Then he saw it. The bathtub.
A finger floated to the surface.
Kai¡¯s grip tightened on his gun as he stepped closer, aiming at the water.
"Grahhhhhhh!"
A hand shot out, followed by the rotting, snarling face of a zombie. It lunged at him, water splashing everywhere.
Chk. BANG!
The gunshot echoed, and the zombie slumped back into the tub, lifeless.
Kai staggered back, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "I need some rest," he muttered, catching his breath.
This wasn¡¯t just any zombie. It was a swamp zombie¡ªa type that could swim underwater and drag its victims down with it.
Kai groaned, holstering his gun. "Next time, I¡¯m looting somewhere dry." When he stepped outside, it was still pitch black. Kai had no idea what time it was, but he kept moving, sticking to his current path. There were no clear signs of an exit, but he was certain there had to be one somewhere at the edge of the forest¡ªif this place even had an edge.
He trudged deeper into the forest, the darkness pressing in around him. It was the creepiest place he¡¯d ever been, with spiderwebs stretching across the narrow trail like traps waiting to snare him. At first, it was unnerving, but after hours of walking, the fear dulled. He finally reached the end of the forest, stepping out onto a highway.
The road stretched endlessly ahead, and for a moment, Kai thought it might lead to a town or city. But walking straight down the middle wasn¡¯t an option. Staying out in the open was a death sentence, so he decided to stick to the side, moving carefully to stay out of sight.
He kept walking, the hours dragging on. The darkness faded as the sun began to rise, painting the sky with dull streaks of light. Kai hadn¡¯t slept, hadn¡¯t stopped. He just kept going, one step after another. It felt like grinding in a game¡ªpushing himself past exhaustion, sacrificing rest for progress.
But he was used to it. Kai wasn¡¯t the type to quit halfway. He¡¯d keep moving until he found somewhere safe to stop, somewhere he could finally breathe and rest.
Huff.
Huff.
Chapter 5: Welcome To Ruin City!
The monster within isn¡¯t there to destroy you; it¡¯s there to teach you how to survive.
It was a long walk¡ªone that felt like it would lead to freedom. At the end of the highway, Kai finally saw it: a massive city stretching out in the distance. But freedom? Not quite. From where he stood, it was clear the place was far from perfect. The city was in ruins. Buildings were half-collapsed, walls were riddled with holes, and the streets were littered with debris. It was huge, though¡ªwide and sprawling, covering a ton of ground.
Kai¡¯s eyes landed on a nearby signpost. The original city name was there, but someone had spray-painted over it, leaving behind a new name: "Ruin City." .
"Huff," Kai exhaled quietly, keeping low as he moved down the road, careful not to draw any unwanted attention.
Once he reached the outskirts, he chose a building close to the road¡ªone that wasn¡¯t completely destroyed. The interior was still somewhat intact. There was a couch in the corner and a bathroom he hoped had running water.
"This is heaven," Kai muttered, collapsing onto the couch. It wasn¡¯t much, but right now, it felt like a five-star suite. His body sank into the cushions, and before he knew it, he was out cold.
[Logging out...]
[Failed.]
[Logging out...]
[Failed.]
Darkness. Complete and total darkness. There was nothing here¡ªno objects, no people¡ªjust an endless void. Kai could feel it, though. It was a dream. He couldn¡¯t even remember the last time he¡¯d had one. He was floating, weightless, in something that felt like water. It wasn¡¯t dirty, but it was pitch black, like ink.
Huff.
When Kai woke up, the sun was already starting to set, painting the sky with streaks of orange and purple. He groaned as pain shot through his body. Every muscle ached, his legs were stiff, and moving felt like torture. Not surprising, considering how far he¡¯d walked.
Rrrrumble.
His stomach growled, loud enough to make him wince. That¡¯s when it hit him¡ªhe hadn¡¯t eaten anything since entering this game.
"Loot," Kai muttered, his voice weak. He forced himself to stand, his legs protesting with every step.
Before nightfall, he had to find food. Supplies were everything here. He could already feel his energy draining faster without food, and he wasn¡¯t about to let himself collapse from hunger. This was a city¡ªthere had to be stores, warehouses, or something that hadn¡¯t been looted yet.
"I just hope I¡¯m not too late," he whispered, limping toward the door. Time was against him, and if he didn¡¯t move fast, someone¡ªor something¡ªmight beat him to it. As he opened the door to the building and it creaked open, a splattered rocks from walls are scattered in the ground and he can step on it, he is right. There is commercial buildings beside, not too far, there are restaurants, arcades, and finally convenience store his primary target.
Kai walked quietly through the empty streets, but something felt off. Why weren¡¯t there any zombies? This was a massive city¡ªwide and abandoned¡ªyet it was dead silent. Too silent.
Where the hell are they?
There were bullet casings scattered across the ground, clear signs of a fight, but not a single walker in sight. It didn¡¯t make sense. Maybe someone had already raided this place?
Creak.
Kai pushed open the door to a convenience store. To his surprise, it was untouched. The shelves were still stocked, food piled up as if no one had been here. High-calorie snacks, canned goods¡ªbasically gold in a survival situation.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
He moved toward the shelf, grabbing a few cans. Canned food was perfect for survival¡ªlong shelf life, lightweight, and easy to carry. He scanned for the most calorie-dense ones, stacking them in his arms like they were holy relics.
Blessings from above.
But before he could even open one¡ª
Chk-chk!
"Don¡¯t move."
A woman¡¯s voice. Familiar, but sharp and commanding.
"Drop the supplies. And drop your weapon," she ordered.
Kai slowly set the cans down, his pistol clattering to the floor next to them.
She wasn¡¯t panicking. He could hear it in her voice¡ªsteady, confident. If she¡¯d been nervous, he might¡¯ve taken a chance, but this wasn¡¯t the time to fight back. Survival came first. Comply, buy time.
"I¡¯ve dropped it, alright?" he said, raising his hands slowly.
The gun wasn¡¯t close enough to his head to be a real threat. That gave him an opening. If the barrel was right against him, any sudden move would¡¯ve been suicide. But this? This he could work with.
I just need a distraction.
¡°Damn,¡± Kai muttered under his breath, already formulating a plan.
He opened his inventory mentally:
[INVENTORY]
? Healing Aid x1
? Thick Cloth
? Protection Mask
[Thick cloth]
It was perfect. He could use it to throw her off balance. His supplies were scattered on the ground, and his pistol was within reach¡ªnot too close, but not too far either. If he was fast enough, this could work.
"Turn around," she ordered.
"Right," Kai replied, snatching the thick cloth and whipping it over his shoulder.
Whoosh!
The cloth sailed through the air, catching her off guard.
Huff.
In one smooth motion, Kai dropped low, sliding across the floor toward his gun. His knees scraped against the ground, but he didn¡¯t stop. He grabbed the pistol, spun around, and aimed it directly at her.
"Got you," he said, breathing hard.
The woman turned, now aiming her revolver at him. For a moment, the two of them stared each other down, guns pointed, tension thick enough to cut.
Then¡ª
"Naomi?"
Kai blinked, lowering his pistol slightly.
The woman hesitated, her eyes narrowing as she recognized him. It was Naomi¡ªthe same Naomi he¡¯d shared a cheap meal with not long ago. She still wore her glasses, but her expression was colder, sharper.
"Oh," she said, clearly stunned. Her revolver lowered just a fraction. "It¡¯s you."
Naomi looked just as exhausted as Kai, dark circles under her eyes as she shoved her gun into the tight pocket of her jacket. ¡°It¡¯s a mess,¡± she muttered, walking toward one of the shelves.
Kai knew exactly what she meant. The game. This whole damn nightmare. She knew it too¡ªthey were stuck here, and it hadn¡¯t taken long for either of them to realize it.
He quietly reorganized the canned goods before stashing them into his inventory. ¡°You realize we¡¯re literally inside this game, right?¡± he asked, breaking the silence.
Naomi grabbed a few cans herself before answering. ¡°Yeah. The moment I felt pain in my feet, I knew it was too real to be just a game.¡±
Kai nodded. It was the same for him. The pain, the exhaustion¡ªit was all too real.
¡°And we can¡¯t even log out,¡± she added, scooping up more supplies and slipping them into her inventory.
Kai hesitated, then sat down on the counter, his voice low. ¡°What if there¡¯s a goal we need to finish before we can get out of here? You know, like in any other game.¡±
It made sense, didn¡¯t it? Most games had an end¡ªreach a certain level, beat the final boss, finish the storyline, or climb the rankings. But this game? It didn¡¯t feel like it had any rules. There was no system telling them what to do. It was like they were writing their own finish line.
¡°I wish there was,¡± Naomi said flatly. ¡°But so far, it¡¯s just guns, zombies, and players.¡±
She wasn¡¯t wrong. In the real world, this game had a goal¡ªkill zombies, rack up points, become the strongest. PvP was the same: fight others, team up, and compete to survive. But here? None of it felt clear.
Breaking the heavy silence, Kai asked, ¡°By the way, did you run into any zombies around here?¡±
Naomi shook her head. ¡°No. The only reason I came here was because I heard a gunshot. When I saw you looting, I thought it was you.¡±
Kai frowned. A gunshot? While I was asleep? That was definitely possible. He didn¡¯t remember hearing anything, but the city was huge. It wasn¡¯t far-fetched to think someone else was lurking here.
¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± Kai said, his voice sharp. ¡°If you heard a gunshot, then someone else is probably staying inside this ruined city.¡±
The idea made sense. A place like this¡ªhigh risk, high reward¡ªwas the perfect spawn point for players who were willing to gamble. Naomi didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she stiffened, her gaze shifting toward the exit. Slowly, she stood and walked quietly to the door.
¡°Hey,¡± she whispered. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Hide. Now.¡±
Her tone made Kai curious. ¡°What?¡± he muttered, turning to follow her gaze.
When he looked outside, he saw a massive military tank rolling straight towards them.
"Let¡¯s go." Kai said, grabbing Naomi¡¯s hand and pulling her toward the storage room at the back of the convenience store.
Creak.
The room was pitch black, but not dark enough to completely hide them. All they could hear was their own heavy breathing.
Huff.
Huff.
"Why the hell is there a military tank in this city?" Kai whispered.
"Shhh, quiet," Naomi snapped, silencing him. They weren¡¯t cramped, but they were close, surrounded by shelves of supplies.
Rrrrrrrr...
The noise grew louder. The tank was getting closer, and soon they could hear the sound of boots hitting the ground as a few men stepped out in front of the store. Naomi and Kai stayed still, listening to their voices outside.
"What the hell, man! I told you he¡¯s too slow to drive a tank!" A bald man shouted.
"Shut up and help collect supplies," another man, taller and more muscular, barked. He wore military gear, and as the bald man walked toward the store, the others followed. There were five of them in total, all dressed like soldiers, and they are here to scavenge.
"Just wait and I¡¯ll be the one to drive it later," the bald man grumbled again.
The man with long hair rolled his eyes. "Just shut up and get this done," he snapped.
They began rummaging through the shelves. Some of the supplies were missing, looted by Kai and Naomi, who were still hiding behind the storage room door.
"Boss!" The long-haired man called out.
Isaac, the muscular leader, looked up from where he was leaning against a shelf, smoking. "What?" he shouted back.
"There¡¯s someone who already looted some of the supplies," the long-haired man said, pointing to the empty shelves.
Isaac walked toward the store¡¯s interior, his boots heavy on the floor.
Inside, Kai and Naomi were drenched in sweat. The heat was unbearable, and they could hear every word the men were saying, but they couldn¡¯t risk speaking¡ªthey knew any sound would echo through the room.
Isaac crouched by the shelves and noticed the missing cans. "So someone¡¯s already been here," he muttered, scanning the store.
Chapter 6: Survival Mode
"Just grab what you can and move," Isaac barked. "Hurry up."
The group swept through the store, taking everything they could¡ªcanned goods, drinks, snacks, vitamins.
"That¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s go," Isaac said, leading them out. The men climbed back into the tank, its engine roaring to life as they drove off.
Inside the storage room, Kai and Naomi were still crouched, drenched in sweat, waiting for the noise to fade.
"Let¡¯s get out of here," Naomi whispered, glancing at Kai as he wiped the sweat off his chin.
Creak.
They stepped out cautiously. Most of the supplies were gone, but a few scraps remained. Being in a group had its perks¡ªthey could carry more. For solo scavengers like Kai, inventory space was limited unless upgraded with points.
"Hey," Kai said, motioning for her to follow. "This way."
They slipped out of the store, sticking to the shadows, and headed back to the building Kai had holed up in earlier.
"This place isn¡¯t bad," Naomi said, tapping the walls as if testing their strength.
Kai headed straight for the bathroom to check the water. A grin spread across his face when he turned the knob. Water poured out of the showerhead. "No way," he muttered, then called out loud enough for Naomi to hear, "We¡¯re lucky!"
"Lucky how?" she asked, walking closer.
"The shower¡¯s working," he said, still grinning like he¡¯d won the lottery.
In a post-apocalyptic world, running water was a miracle. No electricity, no entertainment, and barely any clean water¡ªso finding a working shower was like striking gold. Clean water wasn¡¯t just for drinking; it was crucial for staying healthy, washing away dirt, and avoiding infections.
But Kai¡¯s excitement was a little... over the top.
Naomi raised an eyebrow as he stepped out of the bathroom, striking a ridiculous pose like he¡¯d just discovered a hidden treasure.
"Why are you grinning like that, you weirdo?" she said, crossing her arms and trying not to laugh.
"Shower?" Kai asked, glancing at Naomi.
She didn¡¯t look excited at all. Like, seriously? Who wouldn¡¯t lose their mind over a working shower in a world that¡¯s gone to hell? It was practically a miracle.
"You go first," she said, motioning for him to hurry up.
Kai grinned, giving her an exaggerated thumbs-up. "Got it. I¡¯ll be quick."
He disappeared back into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. The moment he turned the shower back on, cold water splashed onto his skin, washing away layers of grime. The chill hit just right, and for the first time in forever, he felt... alive.
"Perfect," he whispered, tilting his face up to the water as it ran down.
The mirror next to him reflected his image¡ªhis muscles were more defined now, his red-tinted eyes sharp under the dim light, and his wet black hair clinging to his face. He swiped it back with his hand, staring at himself for a second longer.
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Then¡ª
Cling!
A notification sound echoed in his head. It wasn¡¯t coming from outside. It was inside him. The system.
[The Game will formally start in an hour.]
Kai froze, shutting off the shower. What the hell did that mean? Formally start? Weren¡¯t they already in the game? So this was just... what? A tutorial? That would explain why killing zombies hadn¡¯t earned him any points.
"Hey!" Naomi¡¯s voice cut through from outside the door.
[Points & Reward System Unlocked]
[Chosen role abilities and perks will now be applied.]
[SHOP UNLOCKED]
[INVENTORY UPGRADE OPTION UNLOCKED]
"Did the system notify you too?" she asked.
Creak.
Kai opened the bathroom door, still dripping wet and half-naked. Naomi stood right there, arms crossed, looking mildly annoyed but not surprised.
"Yeah," Kai muttered, the earlier excitement wiped clean from his face. He stepped out, grabbed his clothes, and plopped onto the couch. "It¡¯s a tutorial," he added, letting out a dry laugh as he tugged his shirt and hoodie back on.
Naomi leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and frowned. "Try clicking the points & rewards menu," she said. "See if you have any points."
Kai pulled up the menu.
[Points]
CURRENT POINTS: 15
History:
? Killed a swamp zombie
? Escaped another player (earned the title "Escape Artist")
"Looks like I have 15 points," Kai said, scrolling through the screen, then checking out the shop menu. Naomi was doing the same. "How about you?"
Naomi grinned, clearly proud. "I killed three zombies on the way here, so I¡¯ve got 20 points." She smirked, clearly enjoying the bragging rights.
"Nice," Kai said. "That¡¯s enough for some decent stuff. Did you check the shop? I¡¯m looking at it now."
[Shop]
[Supply Drops]
? Basic Loot: 30 Points
? Silver Loot: 60 Points
? Gold Loot: 100 Points
? Diamond Loot: 500 Points
? Platinum Loot: 1000 Points
? Legendary Loot: 5000 Points
[Inventory]
? Upgrade for more space: Current space [5 items]
? 5X more space for 50 Points
? 10X more space for 100 Points
? 20X more space for 150 Points
And so on...
[Weapon Skins]
[Draw for 60 minimum]
? Graffiti Art
? Gold-Plated
? Neon Glow
? Carbon Fiber
? Chrome Finish
Unlock more skins through bonus loot and rewards.
[Character Skins]
[Draw for 60 minimum]
? Christmas Theme
? Military Theme
? Survivor Theme
Unlock more skins through bonus loot and rewards.
[Pet Companions]
[Draw for 50 minimum]
? Dog
? Cat
? Bird
? Rare
"Expensive," Naomi said, scrolling through the options.
Kai nodded. "Yeah, we really need more points if we want to get anything decent."
The prices were steep, and with how scarce points were, they¡¯d have to work hard to get anything worthwhile. Points were everything in this game¡ªuse them to buy stuff, or risk losing them if other players decide to kill you for them. Greedy players would start causing trouble the second this game got serious.
[SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT]
[ABOUT: POINTS SYSTEM]
Naomi looked over at him, eyes gleaming. "What do you think this is? Wanna bet?"
Kai thought for a second. "I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ll pass."
"Tsk," she muttered.
[FOR REWARDING PLAYERS]
[POINTS CAN BE EXCHANGED FOR REAL-LIFE DOLLARS]
[1 POINT = 1$]
"Well, I didn¡¯t expect that," Naomi said, her voice full of surprise.
Kai stared at the screen, just as shocked. Points could be exchanged for real money? What the hell? That changed everything. They weren¡¯t just stuck in some game¡ªthey could actually get out and cash in on their points.
A thousand points? That¡¯s a thousand dollars. The more points they had, the more money they could make. This was a game-changer.
But it also meant things were about to get a lot worse. Players would be even more desperate to rack up points, which meant more killing, more betrayal. They could kill zombies for points, sure, but they could also kill each other. And if they killed the right people, they could take their points and loot.
"I''m pretty sure someone¡¯s pulling the strings in this game," Kai said, sitting on the couch, his face lit up with a mix of thought and excitement.
Naomi raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "How do you figure that? What if it¡¯s just a bug or a glitch?"
"Bug? Glitch?" Kai scoffed, shaking his head. "That¡¯s what I thought at first, too. But think about it¡ªour bodies are actually here. What kind of machine or glitch can pull something like that off? We¡¯re feeling pain, we¡¯re bleeding when we get hurt... this isn¡¯t just some game error."
He had a point, and Naomi fell silent, chewing over his words. It didn¡¯t add up. If this was just a glitch, how could it physically drag them into the game? Make them feel real pain? Make bullets and injuries real? Someone¡ªor something¡ªwas running this game, and they were playing with people¡¯s lives.
Kai¡¯s thoughts raced. He wondered¡ªif they died now, with their current points, would they just respawn? Sure, they wouldn¡¯t gain anything, but at least they¡¯d get another shot. That wouldn¡¯t be so bad, right? But before he could finish that thought, the system screen flickered to life again.
[ANNOUNCEMENT]
[UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CANNOT LOG OUT OF THE GAME. YOU MUST SURVIVE FOR AT LEAST 1 YEAR TO GAIN A LOG OUT OPTION. IF YOU DIE BEFORE THAT, CONSEQUENCES WILL BE APPLIED TO YOUR BODY IN THE REAL WORLD. THIS MAY INCLUDE A COMA OR SOMETHING EVEN DEADLIER.]
Kai froze, his heart sinking as he read the words. Naomi¡¯s face paled beside him.
[EVEN IF YOU SURVIVE FOR A YEAR, DEATH WITHIN THE GAME AFTER THAT POINT CAN STILL RESULT IN SERIOUS REAL-WORLD SIDE EFFECTS.]
[LIMITED SPOTS FOR LOG OUT ARE AVAILABLE. THESE SPOTS ARE RESERVED FOR "THE CHOSEN"¡ªTHE TOP 10 PLAYERS IN THE RANKING SYSTEM AFTER 1 YEAR.]
[THE CHOSEN PLAYERS WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO LOG OUT, KEEP THEIR MONEY, AND DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO RETURN FOR MORE.]
Kai clenched his fists. "So we¡¯re stuck here... unless we make it to the top 10?"
Naomi nodded slowly, her expression grim as she read the rest of the announcement.
[RANKING SYSTEM]
At the end of the year, rewards will be distributed based on ranks:
[TOP 500-100] - 1000 Points Each
[TOP 99-50] - 5000 Points Each
[TOP 49-20] - 10,000 Points Each
[TOP 19-11] - 20,000 Points Each
The following ranks will unlock the "Log Out" option at the end of the season:
[TOP 10-1] - 100,000 Points Each
Chapter 7: Game Starts
I bet most of the players who saw the announcement felt their blood pumping, enough to make them jump straight into the madness¡ªkilling, looting, chasing that first big score.
They¡¯re not thinking about survival anymore. Not really. They¡¯re thinking about the payout, the riches the game promised. All we have to do is stay alive, climb to the top, and freedom is ours. But then¡ªjust like that¡ªthey¡¯re deciding our freedom for us? We didn¡¯t even realize we signed up to be guinea pigs. And now we¡¯re trapped in this twisted world where the only rule is to fight or die.
Still, part of me isn¡¯t complaining. I don¡¯t have anyone waiting for me back on Earth¡ªexcept Mike. No family to miss. And honestly, gaming has always been my thing. Way better than grinding two jobs just to scrape by. Not that I had a choice. Rent kept climbing, groceries cost a fortune, and every paycheck felt smaller than the last. Then I got fired.
I don¡¯t even know how I was supposed to bounce back from that. Couldn¡¯t afford a meal, let alone the bills. My biggest regret? Wasting money on games instead of saving it. Yeah, I fucked up. Mike was the only one who stuck by me after that. Shared his food, treated me like family when I didn¡¯t have one.
Thinking about all that now, I¡¯m not sure I even had the will to survive before this. But there¡¯s this little voice in my head, whispering, You love games, don¡¯t you? This is just another game¡ªand this time, you can make real money. It¡¯s like my brain and body are both on autopilot, agreeing to keep me alive.
¡°This is chaos,¡± Naomi muttered, staring out the window. Her face was tense, her eyes darting like she was trying to predict the storm before it hit. She looked worried, but I didn¡¯t say anything about it.
She¡¯s right. It is chaos. The announcement lit a fire under everyone, made them greedy as hell. Greedy to survive, to get rich, to avoid being the next one killed. Greed¡¯s got plenty of reasons to take over, but fighting it? That takes control. And that¡¯s not something you learn overnight.
I wasn¡¯t so much worried about the chaos that was about to hit. What really had me curious was what we¡¯d have to do to survive it. ¡°Got any plans?¡± I asked, genuinely wanting to know.
She turned and looked at me, her expression unreadable. ¡°Plans?¡± She smirked. ¡°I¡¯m not really into planning. I just go with the flow. If I survive, I survive.¡± She turned her gaze back to the window, like she was already lost in thought. ¡°What about you? Got any plans?¡±
She wasn¡¯t into planning, and I was. I liked to think ahead before jumping into anything. Not having a plan felt like a death wish. But my plan? It was basic. Obvious, really, for a world like this. Prioritize looting, focus on the essentials that¡¯ll be hard to find later, conserve ammo, optimize resources, and stay adaptable.
¡°I¡¯ve got a few,¡± I said, watching her stare outside, her back to me. ¡°But they¡¯re just the basics. Looting, finding a base. When the game starts, we¡¯ve gotta focus on earning points.¡± I wasn¡¯t trying to sound greedy, but that¡¯s how it was. We had to prioritize getting points, but not at the cost of pushing ourselves too hard. We had to work smarter, not just harder.
She turned and headed toward the bathroom. I couldn¡¯t read her, couldn¡¯t tell what she was thinking or what she was about to say. ¡°You don¡¯t look like someone who thinks too much,¡± she said. That threw me off. Did my black hair, red eyes, and whole vibe really make me seem like I wasn¡¯t thinking? Like who wouldn¡¯t think in a world like this? It¡¯d force anyone to.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
¡°I¡¯m just¡ª¡± I started, but she cut me off before I could finish.
She stood in front of the bathroom door, hand on the knob. ¡°My turn to shower,¡± she said, pointing inside.
[GAME STARTING IN 50 MINUTES]
I stared out the window. If the game was starting in 50 minutes, it¡¯d be full night by then. Glancing at the game screen, I noticed a time display.
6:00 PM.
The game would start at exactly 6:50 PM.
Next to it was a logo of the map¡ªbasically, the game¡¯s layout.
Cities:
? Oakfield (Current Location)
? Lakeside Haven
? New Haven City
? Greenway City
? Pinecrest City
Forests:
? Maple Ridge Wilderness
? Redleaf Forest
? Wolfsbane Woods
Beaches:
? Coral Bay
? Crystal Shore
Mountains:
? The Decaying Highlands
? Latchbo Pinnacle
Islands:
? La P¨¦ninsule Perdue
? The Light Archipelago
? The Deep Isles
? Munwaki Haven
Deserts:
? Solara Flats
? Sunset Mesa
This map felt way bigger than the one I saw during the selection process. The locations were more specific, more intense. It added a lot more pressure. We were in Oakfield city, a ruined city, or at least that¡¯s what the sign said. At first, I thought it was abandoned, that no one was around. But what we saw earlier proved there were players here already, looting the place.
Shhhhhhhh.
Even outside, I could hear the faint sound of water dripping from the shower. It wasn¡¯t loud enough to be heard from outside, though, so we were safe for now. Keeping things quiet, lowkey, was one of my main goals. We had to avoid drawing attention before the game even started. If we made too much noise, we¡¯d attract other players, especially groups. Facing a group with just the two of us? That¡¯d be suicide.
But just as I started to relax on the couch, I heard footsteps. Not Naomi¡¯s¡ªthese were coming from outside. I quickly peeked out the window and saw a shadow moving. A player?
Tap-tap.
Shhhhhh.
Tap-tap.
The sound of the shower and the footsteps mixed together, but I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off the shadow outside. It was getting closer, moving toward the door. I grabbed my pistol, silently slipping into a hidden spot where I could aim without being seen.
Chk-chk.
I cracked the window open just enough to see, and what I thought was a player turned out to be just a walker¡ªa zombie, stumbling along. Did it smell us? No way. Zombies in this game rely more on sight and sound than smell, so it hadn¡¯t detected us. And thank god for that, because dealing with a higher-level zombie would¡¯ve been a nightmare.
¡°Great,¡± I whispered, unloading my pistol.
I was relieved. No need to waste ammo or make a noise that would draw more zombies in.
But then¡ªBANG!
A gunshot rang out, the sound of blood and brains splattering across the ground. I saw it through the shadow outside. Someone had shot the walker. Someone with a gun.
Creak.
The bathroom door opened. Naomi stepped out, wearing a white tank top and grabbing her jacket off the table, she probably heard the sound.
¡°Was that a gunshot?¡± she asked, clearly not hearing it too well from inside.
I nodded and motioned for her to stay quiet. ¡°Lay down,¡± I said, grabbing my gun again. The walker was already down, its body out of sight, probably lying in the ground. But then, a shadow approached. This guy had something like a stick on his back and a gun in his hand, raised like he was proud of it.
¡°Just a walker?¡± he said, his voice dripping with disappointment. ¡°What a waste of a bullet.¡±
His voice was deep, raspy. Naomi, though, had already moved, sliding across the floor to grab her revolver from the couch. Her expression was focused¡ªshe was ready to shoot.
The silence continues, but the guy was still standing out front. Then he muttered, ¡°This will do,¡± and started walking toward the door, opening it slowly.
Creak.
He stepped inside, and we quickly ducked into the kitchen, staying low. I could see him now¡ªmedium-length red hair, piercings in his lips, a katana slung across his back, and a pistol in his hand.
He scanned the room, his eyes darting around, making my heart race. He was getting closer, and it felt like he was onto us. Then, out of nowhere, he shouted, ¡°OH GOD, I¡¯M GONNA BLOW MY ASS UP!¡± He ran toward the bathroom like a maniac, arms flailing like he was about to explode.
I was shocked. I thought he¡¯d found us, but it turns out he was just taking a shit.
Plop!
I stood up. ¡°He¡¯s definitely shitting right now,¡± I said, glancing at Naomi, who was also standing.
He was lucky to find a working bathroom this time tho, but shitting on the street is also an option tho in this post apocalyptic world, i guess he just preferred a nice comfortable feeling, naomi and I positioned ourselves beside each other, im on the other side and she is on the other side as we aimed the gun towards the bathroom.
It will be a checkmate.
Chapter 8: A Valuable Information
Shhhhhhh.
This dude was taking forever. We¡¯d been waiting outside for 15 straight minutes, guns ready, and he still hadn¡¯t come out. Part of me couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªdid he eat something that gave him post-apocalyptic diarrhea? Like, what the hell did he even find to eat in this ruined city? Expired canned beans? Zombie jerky?
Shhhhh.
At this point, I wasn¡¯t sure if he was still alive in there or if he¡¯d just fallen in and drowned.
¡°He¡¯s already dead,¡± I whispered, trying to joke, but Naomi immediately motioned for me to shut up.
Then the door creaked open, and the smell hit us overwhelmingly. Holy shit, I might¡¯ve been right¡ªdid he actually eat expired canned beans? The warm, foul air drifted out, making my stomach churn a bit, but we kept our guns aimed at him.
The guy froze, wide-eyed, his hands raising high up in the air. ¡°Oi!¡± he shouted, clearly startled. ¡°I¡¯m not an enemy!¡± He quickly dropped his katana and gun onto the floor.
Now that he was standing in front of me, I could see him more clearly. His red hair was really red, like fire-engine red, and he was tall¡ªprobably six feet or just shy of it. Definitely taller than me or Naomi who is probably at 5''4.
¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Naomi said firmly.
Her words triggered a weird sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Oh yeah, this had happened earlier. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what this guy was going to do now. He was just standing there, hands raised, no weapon in reach. If I were in his position, I¡¯d probably do the exact same thing¡ªno way out, no tricks to pull, and two guns pointed at me? Trying anything would be a death wish.
¡°Relax. I¡¯m not even moving... just don¡¯t shoot.¡± he said, his tone steady.
What struck me was how calm he looked. My gut told me this guy was no stranger to having guns aimed at him. He didn¡¯t flinch, didn¡¯t sweat¡ªjust stood there like it was another Tuesday. When Naomi pointed a gun at me earlier, I felt my heart pounding, my chest tightening with panic. Sure, I¡¯d think of something, but freezing wasn¡¯t an option. This guy, though? He was cool, like he¡¯d been through this kind of situation a hundred times before.
"Are you testers?" He said.
I kept the gun aimed at him while Naomi handled the talking.
¡°Yes, and I assume you¡¯re the same,¡± she said, her voice sharp, steady.
The man nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips before it faded. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said.
I stayed quiet. This was my first time seeing someone held at gunpoint like this. It was surreal, like watching a scene out of a movie¡ªbut way more intense when it wasn¡¯t me on the receiving end.
¡°Why don¡¯t we¡ª¡±
¡°Shut up and drop to the ground,¡± Naomi cut him off, shoving her gun closer to his face. She kicked his katana and pistol hard, sending them clattering against the wall with a sharp clink. The sound echoed in the empty room.
The guy didn¡¯t flinch. Calm as ever, he slowly knelt, bowing his head.
¡°Hey,¡± I said, breaking my silence. I looked down at him, curious. ¡°Did you just get here? Like, into the city?¡±
He hesitated, then raised his head slightly. ¡°No,¡± he said, short and straight. No sign he was lying.
Naomi didn¡¯t waste a second. ¡°How long have you been here?¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!
¡°Long enough,¡± he replied, just as calm, just as quick.
I glanced at Naomi. She was thinking the same thing I was. His answer didn¡¯t sit right. Long enough? What the hell did that mean? We¡¯d only entered this game yesterday. How could he have been here longer?
¡°Long enough?¡± Naomi repeated, her tone skeptical.
The man nodded, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. ¡°Yup. They didn¡¯t tell you?¡±
¡°Tell us what?¡± Naomi snapped, her patience wearing thin.
¡°How many of you are there this time?¡± he asked, his voice picking up energy.
¡°What are you talking about?¡± Naomi said, narrowing her eyes. ¡°Slow down. Who didn¡¯t tell us what?¡±
I couldn¡¯t follow him either. His words were vague, his vibe cryptic, and it was pissing me off.
¡°You¡¯re aware you¡¯re testers, right?¡± he said, his tone slow and deliberate now.
Testers?
He smirked again. ¡°You didn¡¯t know? The developers have been hiring testers since last year.¡±
What the hell? It took me a while to process what he just said. The developers had been hiring people for a year? That meant there were players who¡¯d been in this game way longer than us. Players who are far more experienced and this man in front of us was one of them.
And if he¡¯s still alive after being a tester since last year, that could only mean one thing¡ªhe¡¯s an experienced survivor.
The thought hit me hard. This guy wasn¡¯t just some random player fumbling his way through the game. He¡¯d been here long enough to figure things out, long enough to adapt, and most importantly, long enough to survive.
Naomi¡¯s grip on the gun tightened, her jaw clenched. I could feel the shift in the air. Earlier, it felt like we¡¯d cornered another player, but now? Now it felt like we were the ones being hunted.
¡°What are you planning to do with me now?¡± he asked, his tone casual, almost bored. ¡°I don¡¯t waste my time killing newbies, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about.¡±
If he was telling the truth, then his experience made him dangerous in more ways than one. A year in this game meant he was adaptable, resourceful, and probably had a stash of loot we couldn¡¯t even imagine. It also meant he¡¯d built connections¡ªmaybe even a crew.
I took a step closer, keeping my gun steady. ¡°And how can we be sure you¡¯re not lying? That you won¡¯t just kill us the second we drop our guard?¡±
He smirked, but there was a seriousness in his eyes. ¡°You think I¡¯d waste my time on you? Look, I go after the big players¡ªthe ones worth the points. Killing newbies like you? Sure, it has its perks, but it¡¯s not my style. You¡¯re not even worth the energy.¡±
He was blunt, but he wasn¡¯t wrong. Killing us wouldn¡¯t be much of an achievement, especially since we hadn¡¯t even racked up any points yet. Still, his confidence put me on edge.
I glanced at Naomi. She was ready to pull the trigger, her eyes locked on him. I could feel the tension in the room growing thicker by the second.
¡°We¡¯ll let you go,¡± I said finally, my voice steady.
Naomi shot me a sharp look, clearly questioning my decision.
He raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. ¡°Smart move.¡±
¡°But on one condition,¡± I added.
His smirk faltered. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡±
¡°You give us something in return.¡±
He paused, considering my words. Being an experienced player, he had to have more loot than us. But loot wasn¡¯t what I wanted most. Information¡ªvaluable intel about this world¡ªwas the real prize. I just realised that the difference between life and death often lies in knowing what others don¡¯t. So if we knew something the other don''t we can avoid those we must avoid in order to survive in the long run.
¡°What if I give you some info and some loot?¡± he offered, his voice laced with amusement.
I blinked. ¡°You¡¯re awfully generous.¡±
¡°Call it a goodwill gesture,¡± he said with a shrug.
I exchanged a glance with Naomi, then nodded. ¡°Fine. Deal.¡±
[GAME STARTING IN 25 MINUTES]
The timer flashed on the screen. We didn¡¯t have much time. In 25 minutes, the real chaos would begin. Players would turn on each other, and the zombies¡ªalready a threat¡ªwould swarm in even greater numbers.
¡°We better make this quick,¡± I said, my voice low.
The man smirked again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make it worth your time.¡±
He raised his head and tossed something toward us. "Here," he said casually.
It landed with a dull clink at our feet¡ªa military radio. A rare find and pretty damn useful, especially in a world like this. It could give us a huge edge in staying connected, even when apart.
"What? Don¡¯t want it?" he asked, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips. "Or would you rather have guns?"
Naomi didn¡¯t even hesitate. "I prefer guns," she said, her voice firm. "Radios are only good within a limited range, so it¡¯s not that valuable for us. Besides, sticking together is way better than splitting up and needing to communicate."
She had a point. The radio was great if you planned to go solo, but it wasn¡¯t exactly ideal for a duo.
He turned to me, raising an eyebrow. "What about you?"
I shrugged. "What choice do I have? If she¡¯s picking guns, then this radio¡¯s useless to me. So yeah, I¡¯m going with guns also."
He chuckled like he¡¯d expected that answer. Then, with a quick flick of his wrist, he pulled two items from his inventory¡ªa golden pistol and a silver pistol. Both gleamed like they belonged in a collector¡¯s case, not a wasteland.
"Here," he said, holding them out. "These are special. Go ahead, take your pick."
Naomi and I each reached out and grabbed one. The moment I held it, a small info screen popped up:
[GOLDEN PISTOL] (SKIN)
? +Precision
? +Ammo Capacity
? +Power
? +Adaptable
[SILVER PISTOL]
? +Precision
? +Power
? +Durability
? +Ammo Capacity
"For the information," he began, leaning back a bit, "I¡¯ll give you one thing that¡¯ll actually help you in the long run. You know I¡¯m one of last year¡¯s testers, right? Well, there are 50 more like me. We¡¯re called the Black Constellation. But here¡¯s the kicker¡ªout of those, there are 10 players who are in the top tier. The strongest in the game."
"So, in other words, we¡¯re screwed?" I said, half-joking, half-dead serious.
He chuckled, a low, almost mocking sound. "Not really. You just need to steer clear of them in the early game. I know you¡¯re not dumb enough to pick a fight with them right now. Even I, as one of the 50, don¡¯t bother with newbies. I prefer a real challenge."
"Tell us more," Naomi cut in, her voice sharp and demanding.
He nodded slowly, like he was deciding how much to share. "Alright. Here¡¯s the deal: I¡¯m just passing through this city, but I bet you didn¡¯t know someone¡¯s already running it."
I exchanged a quick glance with Naomi. That was news to us. Suddenly, the military tank we¡¯d seen earlier clicked into place.
"There are three people leading this city," he continued. "They loot together, stack points together, and they¡¯re ruthless as hell. I hate their guts. They¡¯ll kill anyone¡ªdoesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re the weakest of the weak. That¡¯s why you need to avoid them at all costs."
It doesn''t sound like he was concerned but rather he said it out of mercy.