Just as Zack prepared to strike, the archer abruptly pulled back her bow and released a fully charged shot. The arrow struck a tree, causing bark to explode outward, and a figure emerged from behind it.
The man let out a low chuckle, his voice relaxed as he inquired, "Mind telling, how you spotted me?"
Zack felt it then— the faint pressure of the man's presence.
An aura, restrained but sharp. Judging by it alone, the warrior had been watching the archer just as closely. The fact that he hadn't withdrawn after being exposed said everything.
He was confident.
And possibly dangerous.
The archer scoffed and drew her bow once more, energy collecting along the string.
Noticing the shift, the warrior retreated behind cover and raised his voice, letting it carry through the trees. He proposed a temporary alliance; working together to thin the player count until only ten remained.
Zack listened in silence.
The archer hesitated, lowering her bow as she pondered the offer.
When she spoke, her voice was cold and sharp. "And why should I trust you?"
The warrior leaned out again, tension easing from his posture. He laughed softly.
"We keep our distance. Help when needed. No interference." He paused. "No backstabbing."
From behind a tree trunk, Zack gave a slight nod. As long as that condition held, it was doable.
Then the warrior's gaze shifted.
"What about you, mage?"
A shiver ran down Zack's spine.
He waited, listening for movement. When none came, he realized the question was meant for him. Had he been spotted already?
After a brief pause, he stepped just far enough into view to answer.
"Sure."
He didn't bother correcting the warrior's assumption, being seen as a mage was much safer than admitting he was a priest.
The archer turned sharply, eyes narrowing as she finally noticed him.
For a brief moment, confusion crossed her face before she glanced back at the warrior, clearly wondering how he'd detected Zack when she had not.
A skill, both Zack and the archer concluded at the same time.
The dark-skinned warrior grinned as Zack revealed himself, evidently pleased.
They repositioned quickly; each taking cover behind separate trees, spaced far enough apart to act independently if things turned hostile.
The warrior looked to the archer. After a brief pause, she nodded as well. Even if she disliked it, she wasn't eager to make enemies of two players who matched her strength.
They wasted no time after that.
Zack and the archer maintained their positions while the warrior deliberately exposed himself, acting as bait. Players drawn toward him never realized they had crossed an invisible line until it was too late.
Skills lit up.
[Ice Lance (Lv. 2)]
→ 552 Ice Damage
[Charge Shot Lv. 2]
→ 780 Physical Damage.
(Deals 150% physical damage. Damage increases the longer the shot is charged. Increase: 30% per second, up to 5 seconds max.)
[Crushing Advance Lv. 2]
→ 420 Physical Damage
→ Stagger (1 sec)
Anyone who took even two or three hits didn't survive the exchange.
Zack held back his buffs, but it hardly mattered. His Ice Lance alone dealt around 550+ damage, enough to end most fights outright.
Neither of the two so-called 'allies' had unleashed their full arsenal either; holding back one's skills was practically a norm in this situation, and Zack played the same cautious game.
Moments later, a translucent panel appeared in front of them.
Player count reduced to 100.
Zack blinked. Barely half an hour had passed since he'd met them. He glanced at the others. Their expressions didn't change, attention fixed outward rather than on the panel itself. Their faces remained vigilant.
The panel reappeared.
To increase difficulty, the zone would begin shrinking continuously.
Zack's attention snapped to the forest's edge. Flames crept along paths that had once been blocked, rolling steadily inward. Before he could fully process it, one final line appeared.
Event Activated.
That decided it.
All three recognized the danger immediately and moved deeper towards the center.
The warrior suddenly piped up. "Hey.. what are your names?"
Naturally, the archer and Zack completely ignored him.
Feeling offended but wanting to salvage the situation, he introduced himself as Dan.
Zack raised an eyebrow, then muttered, "CK," using a pseudonym on the spot.
The female archer hesitated but stayed silent, keeping her focus ahead. The warrior shrugged and kept pace, leaving a comfortable distance between them.
Zack didn't mind. They were still strangers, and caution was better hence the fake name.
Dan tried again. "So… what brings you two here?"
Zack tilted his head slightly, his mind racing. How do I answer this without giving him too much? .. Is there some hidden meaning behind the question?
He paused, considering his words carefully, then spoke evenly. "I'm gathering information. About the game."
Dan's expression lit up. "Oh, I can talk. I know a bit. They basically shoved me in here. I didn't really get a choice."
Dan: "And you? How'd you get picked?"
Zack told him that he received a letter inviting him to participate in the game, and before he realized it, he found himself here... which surprised the warrior.
A subtle, knowing grin appeared on his face but he said nothing, opting not to pry further.
A soft voice broke the silence. "I… came for a wish."
Both men turned. The archer's words were quiet, almost to herself. Neither expected her to speak.
Zack inquired quietly, "What sort of wish are you talking about?"
The archer cast him a cold, sidelong glance, saying nothing; her silence sharp, guarded, and unmistakably hostile.
Zack turned his gaze to Dan, who simply shrugged, clearly just as clueless.
He let out a soft breath but kept his mind alert. There were others like him present, some with knowledge from before they entered the game.
And judging by Dan's comments… it seemed he might have a personal connection to his sponsor.
The warrior tried to strike up casual conversation, and Zack subtly steered it toward his real objective; learning more about the game.
It worked better than expected since Dan was quite chatty.
Zack had nearly forgotten that he was a Priest, as he uncovered one important detail: a sponsor could select multiple champions and even group them together, though such arrangements came with drawbacks; most notably weaker champion perks.
Dan speculated that the perks could be crucial but they would remain locked until the tutorial was completed.
Unbeknownst to the warrior, the information he casually let slip was invaluable to Zack.
He had known nothing about the game until now. He had entered the game with no warnings and prior explanation, or understanding of how sponsors, champions, or rewards really operated.
His knowledge had been pieced together on the fly, drawn from observation and necessity.
***
Somewhere in the middle region, a group of six had established absolute control.
Anyone who wandered into their line of approach was cut down without hesitation.
One route had already been sealed by their presence; the other was steadily being devoured by the encroaching zone, its pressure compelling wandering players to retreat inward.
Their formation displayed a delicate collaboration. They didn't operate in the usual way.
Two Oracles served as the pillars of the group.
A Pagan stood just behind the frontline, prepared with layered rituals.
The Fighter and Defender maintained the choke point, one being aggressive and the other steadfast. The Assassin hovered around the fringes, hidden.
There were two leaders— one affiliated with the Light faction and the other with the Dark.
They never stood side by side, nor did they give commands audibly. Each governed their respective half of the formation, keeping a mindful distance.
The system pinged at the same time.
Participants Remaining: 100
"You know," the Fighter muttered, breaking the silence, "at least we survived not getting killed by our sponsors."
He glanced at the number and let out a slow breath. "Dropped below a hundred."
One of the Oracles— checked her own panel and gave a small nod, relief flashing across her face. "That was the threshold."
Across the clearing, the other half of the group noticed the exchange.
The Dark-aligned leader tilted his head slightly, listening. One by one, his people opened their panels, eyes flicking over the same number.
***
Elsewhere, something far more unsettling took shape.
A massive feline form emerged from the blaze… not just surrounded by fire, but created from it.
Its form was shaped from living fire, with edges formed by heat rather than flesh. The blaze did not impede it; the flames parted reflexively, yielding to its movement as if recognizing a dominant force.
Its eyes shone brightly and intently, disturbingly aware as they monitored activity beyond the fiery barrier. This was not a senseless being.
A predator, formed by an element that consumed everything in its path. Those who stayed near the perimeter discovered this reality too late.
The strikes were over before a scream could form. Bodies fell just inside the burning edge, reduced to ash in moments, the creature already turning its attention elsewhere.
[Infernal Lynx – Lv. 8]
Type: Elemental Beast (Fire)
HP: 1,000,000 / 1,000,000
The zone continued to contract, and the forest burned with it.
Trees ignited in succession as the boundary pressed inward, fire advancing in a widening arc.
With every step the zone claimed, the flames intensified and the elemental beast advanced alongside them, inheriting the scorched ground as its own.
And the battlefield grew smaller, pushing players out of cover, cutting off escape routes, and forcing encounters that could no longer be avoided.