Chapter 12: Leap into the Dark
The "rest" at the Silver Refuge was a pause, not a recovery. Klaus spent most of the time at the terminal, studying the Bazaar and the System's mechanics. The Shadow processed information at a terrifying speed, cross-referencing data on prices, equipment stats, and fragmented reports from other matches.
>> Group matches have a 22% higher survival rate, but 15% less loot per capita, << the AI reported, its voice a constant whisper inside his skull.
>> Solo matches present higher risk but grant full rewards and tactical freedom. Your collection efficiency suggests this is the optimal choice for now. <<
It was true. Klaus didn't trust anyone. His only ally was the artificial intelligence living in his mind.
The alert came without ceremony. A golden notification flared across his HUD.
>> SOLO MATCH AVAILABLE: [CONFLICT ZONE - 'CANYON OF RUIN'] <<
>> RULES: <<
>> - BASE EQUIPMENT: M9 PISTOL (1 MAGAZINE - 15 ROUNDS). <<
>> - TECHNOLOGICAL LIMIT: WEAPONS UP TO 2005. <<
>> - DURATION: 7 DAYS. <<
>> - MAIN OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: COLLECT CRYPTOLITES SCATTERED ACROSS THE ZONE. <<
>> TRANSPORT IN: 10... 9... 8... <<
There was no time to hesitate. Klaus was already wearing a simple combat jumpsuit he'd bought for 200c. His tactical backpack was empty, his inventory ring reset. Everything he'd earned was stored in the System's warehouse, costing him 50c a day. Once again, he was nearly naked. The only exception was the Shadow. The AI was part of him now—an intrinsic advantage no one could confiscate.
The teleport felt like a familiar tug at his navel. This time, he didn't land in a lobby. The world materialized in a whirl of hot wind and sand. He was inside a transport aircraft, the wind howling through the open door. Below stretched a vast, arid gorge—the Canyon of Ruin. Rocket scars and artillery craters pockmarked the terrain, and at its center, a ruined city—plundered to the bone—lay like a corpse beneath the scorching sun.
>> TECHNOLOGICAL LIMIT VERIFIED. << the Shadow whispered.
>> Period: 2005. Possible armaments detected: M16A4 assault rifles, AK-74s, MP5 submachine guns, M24 sniper rifles. Beware of light armored vehicles. <<
The difference was palpable. Necropolis-7 was a knife. The Canyon was a hammer.
Klaus checked his M9 [COMMON]. A decent pistol, but against the rifles the Shadow mentioned, nearly useless. He needed loot—fast.
When the green light flashed, he jumped. The fall was smoother this time; his body adjusted instinctively. The Shadow must've helped, stabilizing his descent with micro-adjustments he didn't even notice.
>> Trajectory optimized. Aim for the rooftop of the commercial building to the northeast. It offers visual cover and multi-floor access. <<
He landed softly, released the parachute which dematerialized, and drew the M9. The silence was deep, broken only by the hiss of the wind between ruins. The heat was suffocating.
The first building he searched was an electronics store. Only burnt circuits and dust. The pressure felt different now—he understood the value of every second.
It was in a third-floor apartment of a residential block that he found his first treasure. Inside a closet, wrapped in a coat, was an MP5 Submachine Gun [UNCOMMON], with three 30-round magazines.
>> 9mm AMMO - 90 ROUNDS (2.5 kg) <<
Not an assault rifle, but a monumental upgrade. The rate of fire and accuracy at close-to-mid range made it a quick-elimination tool. He holstered the M9 and raised the MP5. The feeling of power—relative as it was—returned.
>> Warning. Heat signature detected. Two floors below. Slow movement—possibly human. <<
Klaus froze. The Shadow projected a ghostly outline on his HUD, showing the approximate location of the signature. He didn't have thermal goggles, but the AI used its enhanced sensors to build a tactical map.
He moved like a cat, descended the stairs, and took position beside the apartment door. The signature was right on the other side. He could hear labored breathing.
>> Threat evaluated. Lone recruit. Weapon: probable handgun. Alert level: low. <<
Klaus inhaled deeply. The ethics of Necropolis-7 applied here—it was him or the other.
He burst through the door. The recruit—a young man in a delivery uniform—spun around, eyes wide with panic. He raised an old .38 revolver.
Klaus was faster. The MP5 spat three short, controlled bursts. Rat-tat-tat. The man was thrown backward against the wall, a constellation of dark red blooming across his chest. He slid down, lifeless.
>> ENEMY RECRUIT ELIMINATED. +75 EXP. <<
No emotion. Just operational emptiness. Klaus searched the body: a few rations, a water bottle, and, by luck, an Interceptor Ballistic Vest [UNCOMMON], much lighter and more modern than his previous one.
>> Efficiency compromised. Recommend repositioning. Gunfire may attract attention. <<
Klaus nodded silently. He left the building, melting into the long shadows of the late afternoon. The MP5 was hot in his hands. The Canyon of Ruin was wider, more open, and deadlier than Necropolis-7—but he was faster, sharper, and not truly alone.
As he advanced toward the center of the ruined city, the Shadow whispered again:
>> Detecting anomalous energy emission 500 meters ahead. Matches Cryptolite signal. High-value objective. <<
Klaus smiled—a dry, predatory curl of the lips.
The game had begun.
And this time, he had an advantage no other recruit possessed: a demon in his ear, guiding every step, every decision, every kill.
The hunt for the Cryptolites—and every piece of 2005-era tech he could scavenge—had begun.