The wilderness maintained complete silence during the entire day.
Too silent.
During the time when the sun attempted to shine through ash and mist Ethan detected the forest experiencing a shift in its emotional state. He had noticed distant roars together with guttural predator sounds while walking through the forest yesterday. Today all the animals seemed to have vanished from their usual places.
His movements became deliberate as he stepped through twisted roots while his boots made audible sounds. The environment carried a thick layer of earthy dampness with a faint metallic odor which appeared after the strange environmental pulses.
He checked his back multiple times while walking because he could sense multiple invisible pairs of eyes staring at him.
Ethan recognized footprints during midday that he hadn't seen since his departure from the city.
The soil showed a boot print deeply embedded while Ethan bent down to inspect the marks. The print appeared fresh since it had not aged more than one day.
The second print appeared in front of him with dimensions that were smaller and lighter than the first.
A pair of survivors?
His pulse quickened. The system had guided him through this ordeal while the monsters and himself remained his only companions for an extended period. A different survivor at this point created an intense mix of emotions within his stomach.
Relief? Or dread?
He carefully navigated through deadfall and low-hanging vines until he discovered the broken snare trap that connected two charred tree trunks.
A snapped vine dangled where prey had once been caught. The bones were neatly stacked next to a fire pit which displayed evidence of recent animal stripping.
The person who made this setup did not act like a typical scavenger because they showed evidence of organization. They were organized. Experienced. Alive.
DING!
~----~
[System Advisory]
[Human Activity Detected: High Probability of Encounter]
~----~
Ethan clutched his crowbar tightly while his face contorted into a bitter expression. Meeting humans should bring feelings of joy according to standard procedures. This dysfunctional system uses an incorrect way to express itself when it states this encounter.
He wanted to believe this was good news, maybe even an ally. But the new world wasn't kind. A survivor could just as easily see him as food or competition.
'Dammit!'
He walked westward by tracking human footprints until the forest transformed into a different environment. The mist grew thicker until it formed into living smoke that wrapped between the tree skeletons.
That's when he heard it.
A sharp snap of a branch underfoot. Not his own. Close.
Ethan stood frozen while his instincts reached maximum alertness. His muscles tensed, eyes scanning the trees. His instincts screamed that something existed even though no movement was visible.
The second crunch sounded intentional and produced a soft metallic noise as equipment rubbed against each other.
Human, definitely human.
The wheel appeared automatically, glowing faintly in his vision.
DING!
~----~
[Critical Threat Detected: Improvisation Draw Activated!]
…
'T-t-threat?!' Ethan scowled.
But he pressed his palm down without hesitation.
…
[Improvised Ability: Hunter's Pulse!]
>For 20 seconds, gain heightened spatial awareness. Nearby lifeforms are revealed through faint silhouettes and sound cues.
~----~
The world immediately shifted.
Two humanoid shapes emerged from the mist between trees as they stalked him from both sides with silent movements. The two figures stalked him instead of wandering through the area.
Ethan ducked behind a warped tree trunk, heart pounding.
"Not monsters," he whispered. "People".
A silhouette approached him while crouched down and held a primitive spear in his hand. The other survivor carried a longer object which appeared to be a salvaged rifle from the destroyed area.
Ethan's pulse raced as he weighed his options.
Running blindly through the darkness would transform him into their hunting target. The combination of fighting two armed humans with a crowbar made his situation hopeless.
The Hunter's Pulse faded, leaving silence.
Then…
Crack!
Another branch snapped, closer this time.
Ethan launched his grapple launcher into the air to catch a high branch with his tether. He moved through the canopy without noise while holding his breath until the figures appeared below him.
Two survivors; a man and a woman.
The man displayed broad shoulders and wore a chest plate made from welded scrap metal. He carried a hunting rifle which showed signs of rust.
The woman displayed a lean physique while her face was covered in ash and dirt as she held a metal spear.
The pair moved with trained precision while checking the spot where Ethan had been just a few seconds earlier. The man spoke first, voice low and gruff.
"Tracks are fresh. He's close".
The woman sniffed the air like an animal, eyes narrowing. "Close enough I can smell his sweat".
Ethan gritted his teeth. They weren't desperate scavengers… they were hunters.
DING!
~----~
[System Alert]
[Hostile Intent Detected: Threat Level Moderate]
…
The woman pointed toward Ethan's previous trail. "Think it's another awakened?"
The man nodded slowly. "Maybe. If it is… we'll see what kind of loot he drops".
The wheel spun again, and Ethan slammed his palm down.
…
[Improvised Gear: Static Chaff Emitter]
>Compact device releases disruptive electromagnetic field, scrambling basic optics and sensors for 30 seconds.
~----~
The crude device materialized, pulsing faintly. Ethan glanced upward; branches stretching to the next tree, offering a silent path over their heads.
He tossed the emitter downwind. It landed with a muffled thud, then…
BZZZ!
A sudden burst of static energy spread through the environment while distorting both light and sound waves. The hunters remained motionless while cursing as their improvised observation devices started to malfunction.
The man turned his face toward the commotion before he shouted "What the hell was that?"
Ethan moved swiftly through the trees by using silent grappling movements to reach other trees before he positioned himself behind the hunters. His shallow breathing and screaming muscles demanded absolute silence because the hunters were scanning the disrupted forest.
The emitter stopped functioning after producing only the man's string of curses.
Ethan descended into dense undergrowth behind them while maintaining a low position.
BADUMP! BADUMP!
His heart pounded against his chest with intense force.
His composure was in shambles.
Surviving swarms and apex predators and living forests had not prepared him for this new experience. These enemies operated with intelligence just like he did.
A question persisted in the back of his mind. Would he be able to take the life of another human being if it became necessary after killing monsters throughout his past?
Ethan remained uncertain about the answer to this question. He refused to consider the question in his mind. The mere thought of it made his stomach churn.
The wheel glowed faintly again, awaiting his next move.
He maintained his hold on the crowbar while observing the hunters advance without noticing his hidden position.
For the first time since the world ended, Ethan wasn't facing mindless beasts.
He was staring at the living, and they were hunting him like prey.