Chapter 20: The Scavenger in a Wasted Land
The break room was silent, but Klaus's mind was buzzing.
The holographic schematics of the nanotech armor, made possible by swapping the Progmatrix, rotated slowly above the terminal in his quarters.
He was on the verge of a massive power leap—but construction would take days.
Days he didn't plan to waste.
"Cortana," he said, testing the new name.
It sounded cleaner, sharper. Less like a threatening shadow and more like a precise tool.
>> Designation updated. Unit 'Cortana' online. How may I assist, Klaus? <<
The voice in his head was the same, yet the name made her feel different—
more like a partner than a parasite.
"Show me the match queues. It's time to put our new credits and efficiency to work."
A panel flared to life before him, listing the available worlds.
Several options were grayed out, bearing the flashing red seal >> LOCKED <<.
>> ZOMBIE WORLD: [LOCKED – GOLD LICENSE REQUIRED] <<
>> ALIEN INVASION: [LOCKED – PLATINUM LICENSE REQUIRED] <<
>> GHOST WAR (STEALTH): [LOCKED – GOLD 3 LICENSE REQUIRED] <<
Klaus ignored the locked worlds.
His attention went to the mode that had always been open—but now gleamed with deadly allure.
>> BATLEROYALE – MODE: URBAN RAID (TARKOV-STALKER) <<
>> DIFFICULTY: HARD <<
>> ENVIRONMENT: CITY OF 'KARZAK-7' (POST-COLLAPSE, RECENT) <<
>> FEATURES: <<
>> - 250 RECRUITS. <<
>> - ELITE SECURITY BOTS (PROFESSIONAL LEVEL). <<
>> - HIGH-DENSITY LOOT: CRATES, SAFES (CHANCE FOR EPIC ITEMS), SCATTERED SUPPLIES. <<
>> - ARMAMENT: MODERN TECH (UP TO 2025). <<
>> - DURATION: 10 DAYS OR EXTRACTION VIA DESIGNATED POINTS. <<
>> BASE REWARD: 5,000c + RETAINED LOOT. <<
Perfect. A paradise for a scavenger.
Two hundred and fifty players meant chaos at the start—but also more potential loot left behind.
Elite bots meant nowhere was truly safe.
And the promise of Epic items in safes made his Collector's heart race.
His 1-ton inventory ring would be his ultimate weapon here.
While others struggled with weight limits, forced to carry only essentials,
he could clear an entire block without worry.
"Register us," he ordered.
>> Confirmed. 'Urban Raid' match initializing in 60 seconds. <<
>> Recommended strategy: Initial focus on high-density scavenging in peripheral areas to avoid player chokepoints. Prioritize safes. <<
Klaus closed his eyes, visualizing the plan.
He wasn't after conflict—he was after accumulation.
Cortana's Auto-Combat Mode would be his ace if a fight was inevitable,
but stealth and collection would be his primary weapons.
The transition came with the familiar pull.
This time, the world materialized with the sound of distant alarms and the smell of fresh smoke and concrete dust.
He stood in a small apartment room, cracked walls, shattered window.
Outside, the night sky of Karzak-7 glowed with sporadic fires.
A city that had "fallen" maybe a week ago.
His gear: a generic tactical jumpsuit.
Starting weapon: a Glock 19 [COMMON] with two magazines.
Basic, but reliable.
>> Environmental scan complete. We're in a low-income residential district. High potential for basic loot, low probability of safes. Recommending movement toward central commercial district—route marked. <<
Klaus's HUD shimmered, tracing a zigzag path through alleys and ruined buildings.
He nodded silently.
Before leaving, his eyes adjusted to the dim light.
The room was ransacked. He checked the nightstand drawer—nothing.
Under the bed: a water bottle and a can of beans.
Basic loot.
He stored them in the ring with a thought. Weight: 1.1/1000 kg.
He stepped into the stairwell, Glock in hand.
The corridor was dark, power cut.
From one of the apartments came a muffled sob.
He ignored it. Priority 1: Collect.
Outside, chaos.
Abandoned cars, shattered glass, and the distant rattle of gunfire—
not the dull cracks of old rifles, but the sharp bursts of modern assault weapons.
M4s, AK-12s.
The sound was urgent. Deadly.
Following Cortana's route, he entered a looted convenience store.
The shelves were empty, but behind the counter he found his first Ammo Crate—
green plastic, shoebox-sized.
>> AMMO CRATE [COMMON] <<
>> CONTENTS: 5.56mm x60, 9mm x30, M67 Frag Grenade x1. <<
Excellent.
Ammo for a weapon he didn't yet have—and a grenade.
He stored the crate whole. Weight: 8.4/1000 kg.
Next target: a small bank branch.
Glass door shattered. Inside—empty boxes, scattered papers.
Behind the manager's counter, under charred documents, a Small Wall Safe.
Not the main vault, but something.
>> Level-1 safe detected. Requires explosives or heavy tools to open. <<
He had neither.
Shooting the lock would be noisy and pointless.
He marked it on his map for later.
He moved on—a shadow through the ruins.
In a laundromat, he found a Tactical Ballistic Vest [UNCOMMON] in a staff locker.
Far better than his basic armor. He put it on immediately.
>> Warning. Motion signature at 50 meters. Three targets. Coordinated movement. <<
Klaus crouched behind an overturned van.
Three figures advanced down a side street in a tight triangle formation—
helmets, vests, M4 rifles.
Not recruits. Too precise. Too synchronized.
>> ELITE SECURITY BOT [LEVEL 5] DETECTED. <<
Guardians.
Actively patrolling.
If they spotted him with just a Glock—it would be a slaughter.
He froze, barely breathing.
The trio passed by, scanning rooftops and windows, ignoring his alley.
Fast. Lethal. And loud with their heavy gear.
A threat—but also a beacon.
Where they patrolled, there was value.
>> Elite patrol presence suggests nearby high-value area. Possible higher-tier safes. <<
When the bots turned the corner, Klaus slipped the other way,
deeper into the commercial zone.
Cortana led him to a mid-sized office building, its glass façade destroyed.
The crooked sign read: "SysTech Innovations."
The lobby was a battlefield.
Bodies—five, maybe six recruits—lay scattered among dozens of shell casings.
The fight had been fierce. And recent.
The stench of blood and gunpowder hung thick.
>> Caution. Recent engagement zone. High probability of remaining players or ambush. <<
He needed no reminder.
He moved with surgical care, clearing corners before exposing himself.
The corpses were already looted. Nothing useful.
Then—Cortana's silent ping.
>> Low-level energy emission detected. Source: Vault room, second floor. Signature matches armored container. <<
A safe.
He took the emergency stairs.
Second-floor door ajar. He nudged it open with his boot, Glock raised.
The corridor led to a steel door—ajar.
The SysTech Vault.
Inside, small room, lined with Wall Safes like the one in the bank.
This time, he had the means.
In the corner, beside a fallen Elite Bot, was a Hydraulic Sledgehammer [COMMON].
>> Suitable tool detected for Level 1–2 safes. <<
He grabbed it—heavy, but manageable—and approached the first safe.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
The noise was deafening, but after several precise hits, the lock broke.
Door swung open.
Inside: not money, not gold, but a MPX Submachine Gun [UNCOMMON] with three magazines.
>> AMMO 9mm – 90 ROUNDS. <<
Huge upgrade.
He holstered the Glock, raised the MPX—balanced, ergonomic, efficient.
Now he had real firepower.
He turned to the second safe.
More swings. Door open.
Inside wasn't a weapon—but an artifact.
A small Jade Dragon Statue [EPIC], intricately carved, glowing faintly from within.
>> EPIC DECORATIVE ITEM: 'JADE DRAGON' DETECTED. <<
>> USE: SELL OR TRADE IN BAZAAR. <<
>> ESTIMATED VALUE: 25,000–40,000 Credits. <<
Klaus almost laughed aloud.
This was why he came here.
He stored it reverently in the ring. Weight: 11.7/1000 kg.
A fortune for a few grams.
The third safe was empty. Someone beat him to it.
No matter.
He'd already struck gold.
>> Alert: Multiple heat signatures approaching rapidly. Four targets. Aggressive movement. Likely drawn by noise. <<
He glanced at the map—coming up the main stairs.
No easy exit.
"Auto-Combat Mode. Authorized for defense," he whispered.
>> Confirmed. War Control Protocol initiating. Synchronization in 3... 2... 1... <<
That familiar shift—his consciousness stepped back.
Cortana took over.
His body rose, MPX leveled with robotic precision.
He positioned himself in the vault's blind spot.
The first recruit burst in, AK-12 at the ready.
Cortana reacted before the man even registered the scene.
A short, controlled MPX burst.
Rat-tat-tat.
The man dropped.
>> ENEMY RECRUIT ELIMINATED. +100 EXP. <<
Second one tried to retreat.
Cortana stepped forward—unwavering aim.
Another burst. Down.
>> ENEMY RECRUIT ELIMINATED. +100 EXP. <<
The last two outside opened fire blindly, bullets sparking off the doorframe.
Cortana stayed calm, pulled the M67 Grenade, bit the pin, held one second, perfect arc—
Thunk. BOOM.
Two kill markers flashed.
>> +100 EXP. +100 EXP. <<
>> Threats neutralized. Returning control. <<
The nausea and fatigue hit—lighter this time. The neural serum was working.
Klaus gasped, leaning on the wall. Four men dead in eight seconds.
He looted them fast—ammo, smoke grenade, spare vest.
Useful, but common.
The real prize was already secured.
Exiting through a side route, he gazed at the burning city.
Day one in Karzak-7 was ending—and he was already far richer.
"Urban Raid" was a dreamland for a Collector with limitless storage
and a combat AI in his skull.
As night fell and he hid in the ruins, Klaus smiled in the dark.
This world wasn't about survival.
It was about acquisition.
And he—Klaus, the Scavenger—guided by Cortana,
was the greatest treasure-hunter the System had ever seen.
The hunt had only just begun—
and the 249 others had no idea what predator they were up against.