The group emerged from the glitch-filled ruins into a field of black glass—smooth, cracked, and sharp-edged. Heat shimmered from below. A scorched wind blew across the wasteland.
Warning: Sector C3 – Hazard Zone: Temperature Rising
Secondary Threat: Flame Wraiths Detected
Aiden squinted into the distance. "That can't be real fire…"
Rena held out her hand—then yanked it back. "It's real enough."
Suddenly, the earth rumbled. The glass cracked open, and from beneath the field, they rose—Flame Wraiths.
Translucent, humanoid, and burning from the inside out.
"Run!" Amara shouted.
The team scattered as the wraiths lunged, leaving molten trails in their wake. Lila slipped, a shard slicing her palm. Aiden caught her, dragging her toward a rock outcrop.
"These aren't players," Takumi said, panting. "They're AI-generated. The game's trying to flush us out!"
"Or test how we react to chaos," Amara added grimly.
From above, drones hovered, recording every move. The Flame Wraiths weren't fast, but their presence forced players out of hiding.
Suddenly, one wraith cornered a group of strangers—three players Aiden didn't know. One of them, a tall woman with silver hair and a Turkish flag on her band, charged forward with a shock baton, yelling in her native tongue.
The wraith burst into shards of glass and fire—but so did her.
Player #037 Eliminated
Cause of Death: Overload Explosion – Flame Wraith Core
"Don't get too close!" Rena barked.
Aiden checked his inventory. One Echo Dart remained. His target—Player #082—was closing in. Only 40 meters away.
Then he saw him.
A man with cybernetic arms, moving like a machine. Calculated. Cold. He wasn't running from the flames. He was using them as a screen.
"That's my hunter," Aiden realized. "He's using the chaos to get close."
"Then take him out first," Rena said.
"But we're surrounded by fire."
"Good. So is he."
Aiden nodded. Pulled out the Echo Dart. Took aim.
Thunk. The dart embedded in the man's shoulder.
Echo Lock Initiated – Player #082 Tagged
The hunter turned, realizing he'd been marked.
That was all Aiden needed.
"Now!" he shouted.
Rena hurled a plasma blade. It hit the wraith near the man, which exploded—engulfing him in flame.
Player #082 – Eliminated
Target Neutralized. Hunt Bonus Awarded.
The firestorm died down. The glass field hissed and cracked, cooling slightly.
The team regrouped, burnt but breathing.
Lila looked around. "How many are left?"
Remaining Players: 46
Amara looked toward the red sky. "Too many. And too few."
They were alive—for now.
But in this game, survival came at the cost of humanity.
And the fires weren't done burning yet.
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