The morning sun climbed higher, burning off the last traces of desert chill. Heat radiated from the grass and sand along the riverbank, but for Owen, it was a welcome change from the endless arid wasteland. He adjusted himself, scanning the terrain ahead. The river wound lazily through the grassland, shimmering with promise. Civilization might be just beyond the next bend, or at least some sign of life other than death.
Blair moved ahead effortlessly, her feet crunching against rocks and soft earth. She glanced back at Owen with that familiar grin that made his stomach tense with both relief and anxiety. "Morning, boss. Looks like the world's giving us a little daylight to play in."
Owen exhaled slowly. "Daylight is nice, Blair, but I'd rather keep our heads intact. These rivers attract every predator for miles. I don't trust it."
"Trust? In this world?" Blair laughed, spinning a knife between her fingers. "You either trust your own strength or you die. And I plan on keeping you alive, boss."
As they walked, Owen noticed small insect-like creatures skittering across the wet sand and rocks. Some were tiny, barely the size of his hand, but their aggressive posture made him tense. He watched as one lunged at Blair's feet. She kicked it into the river without breaking stride.
"Are these worth anything?" Owen asked cautiously, checking his system interface.
Blair raised an eyebrow. "Weak little things like that?"
Owen frowned and tapped his arm. His kill points flickered. "Hmm. That explains why my points aren't increasing as much. I'm at 426 now."
"Just a bit more," he muttered, his voice low but determined. "We keep moving, keep alive, keep points coming."
The river meandered through the grassland, bordered by reeds and bushes. Blair's eyes kept scanning, constantly alert. Every so often, larger insects appeared, one to two feet long, their segmented bodies glinting in the sunlight, pincers clicking. Without hesitation, Blair would leap, strike, or tear them apart. The attacks were brutal and fast. A massive stag beetle-like insect tried to ambush them from a bush. Blair grabbed it midair, snapping its neck with a sickening crack before tossing it aside. Blood and guts splattered across the rocks.
Owen flinched but followed, hurling a rock at another insect. He killed it, but barely, and the sound of the creature's exoskeleton cracking sent shivers down his spine. "I still don't like this. Every step feels like we're being watched. And these insects… disgusting."
Blair laughed darkly, wiping blood from her forearm. "Disgusting, yes. But delicious points. And fun." She flexed her fingers. "You're moving slow, boss. Step it up."
Owen jogged to keep pace, muttering, "Cautious, Blair. Cautious."
For several minutes, the river led them through a stretch of sparse trees and grass. The insects dwindled, and the world felt slightly calmer. Owen adjusted his pack and exhaled. "452 points. That's… not bad. Just a bit more and we might actually be able to—"
Blair interrupted with a shout, pointing. "Birds! Boss, look!"
In the distance, near a calm bend in the river, a flock of massive birds drank from the water. They were nearly two feet tall, their wings broad and beaks curved. A dangerous glint shimmered in their eyes.
Owen frowned. "Blair, careful. They are be huge, don't underestimate them. They will definitely fight back if attacked."
Blair crouched, picking up rocks from the riverbank. Her muscles flexed under her shirt as she hefted one. "We need the points, boss. The sooner we get good shit the higher the chance of us living." She hurled the first rock. The bird nearest her squawked as the rock smashed into its skull. Its wings flapped helplessly before it crashed into the river, blood spraying.
Owen's jaw tightened. "Blair…"
She laughed, tossing rock after rock with brutal precision. Each one smashed into a bird, instant kills from her strength. Within moments, ten of the thirty birds were dead, some plummeting into the river with grotesque splashes. Their feathers and blood coated the rocks.
The remaining birds screeched, flapping violently, and took to the air. Blair's laughter grew louder, manic and delighted. She caught the next bird midair, tearing into its chest with her bare hands. Its wings beat frantically before she snapped its neck cleanly.
Blair swung, grabbed another bird mid-flight, and twisted its head with a sharp crack. She tossed it aside like a ragdoll. "Boss, this is why you need to train your upper body more. These birds are fun, but I don't want you messing up the rhythm."
Owen wiped sweat from his brow. "I'm trying, Blair! You make it look easy, but it's insane!"
Blair grinned, charging forward. She punched another bird midair, blood and feathers exploding outward. Its talons scratched her arm, but she barely flinched. She grabbed it by the wings, ripped them apart with her strength, and tossed the body into the river.
Owen swing his machete hitting a bird in the wing. It screeched, spiraled out of control, and crashed into the grass. He breathed heavily. "That's all I got, Blair. I can't keep up with you! They are too fast and agile."
She laughed hysterically, flexing her muscles. "You don't need to keep up. You need to survive and enjoy the show. Boss, this is fun. I love mornings like this."
The flock began to regroup, circling above them warily. Ten remained alive, their eyes now locked on the two humans. Blair's grin widened. "Alright, boss. Final round. Let's make it memorable."
She gathered more rocks and hurled them with lethal precision, smashing two more midair. The remaining birds screamed in terror and charged toward them. Blair leapt forward, meeting them head-on. Her fists slammed into feathers and beaks, tearing flesh and bone apart. Blood and gore coated her arms, but her movements were fluid, precise, and terrifying.
Owen rushed to help, stabbing and slashing at the remaining birds, managing to kill one, but the others forced him to retreat. "I got one! That's it! Blair, they are too fast!"
Blair ripped another bird in half, spinning and smashing the last few with her fists and rocks. She stood in the middle of the small clearing, breathing heavily, blood dripping from her arms and face, laughing like a demon.
Owen staggered beside her, wiping sweat and blood from his face. "You… you are insane. But… efficient."
Blair turned to him, wiping a smear of blood across her mouth. "Insane? Maybe. Efficient? Absolutely. We survived another morning. You ready to keep moving?"
Owen swallowed hard, checking his interface. Kill points updated. He exhaled slowly. "Yes… finally have enough for a 10x draw. Let's keep moving."
Blair laughed, picking up a bird carcass and twirling it like a weapon. "Less death? Not in my vocabulary, boss. But alright, we move."
Owen glanced down the river, already anticipating the next wave of threats. "At least we have water… and a little more breathing room."
Blair smirked, tightening her fists. "Breathing room is temporary."
The river glittered in the sun. Blood stained the rocks and grass. Birds lay scattered around them. The fight had ended, but survival was far from over.