Snow crunched beneath boots as Jake watched the last Players disappear into the swirling white. The survivors huddled near the barricades, their eyes fixed on the orange glows fading into the storm.
"They'll come back with supplies, right?" A young boy tugged at his mother's sleeve.
"Of course they will, sweetie." She pulled him closer, her voice wavering.
Jake's watch pulsed. ISAC's calm voice cut through the howling wind. "Multiple heat signatures detected. Scavenger patrol approaching from the northwest."
"Perfect timing." Jake signaled to his team. "Remember, we need their supplies intact, damaged goods give less exp."
The squad spread out behind fallen concrete pillars. A group of ten scavengers emerged from the white-out, struggling against the wind with loaded backpacks.
"These rich bastards hoarding everything while we starve," one scavenger spat, adjusting his grip on a rusty AK-47.
DIAMOND's cold tone whispered in Jake's ear. "Optimal ambush window closing in three... two..."
"Light 'em up!" Jake burst from cover, his rifle barking. The other Players emerged like wraiths from the snow, boxing in the scavengers.
The fight ended quickly, with one death and several injured on his side. As Jake surveyed the supplies, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just another mission objective. These people were desperate, just like the survivors counting on them back at base.
"Check their packs," Jake instructed, kneeling beside the fallen scavenger.
"Got some meds here!" A Player hefted a bloodstained backpack. "Pretty good haul."
ANNA's warm voice chimed in. "Medical supplies detected. Composition suggests raided hospital cache."
The last 2 surviving scavengers huddled together, hands raised. One woman stepped forward, her face gaunt but defiant. "Please. We have children back at our camp."
"Don't listen to them," another Player scoffed. "It's just part of the game's dialogue tree."
Jake's hand tightened on his pistol. Something felt off about dismissing their pleas so easily. The woman's eyes held real fear, real desperation.
"Hey boss, what's the call?" His teammate shifted uneasily. "Quest log says eliminate or capture."
DIAMOND's clinical analysis cut in. "Hostile faction members frequently employ emotional manipulation tactics. Recommendation: Process as standard mission parameters."
Jake raised his hand, silencing DIAMOND. "What camp?"
"Two clicks north," the woman's voice trembled. "In the old subway station. We've got fifteen people there, mostly elderly and kids."
"She's lying," a Player named Alex stepped forward, rifle raised. "Come on Jake, they're just NPCs. Let's finish this and get back to base."
The wind howled between them, carrying stinging ice. Jake studied the woman's face - the way her chapped lips quivered, how her eyes darted between their weapons. Something about her terror felt too real, too raw for programmed responses.
"Lower your weapons," Jake ordered his team.
"What? But the mission—" Alex protested.
"I said lower them." Jake's voice cut through the wind. He turned to the scavengers. "I'll let you guys off." The scavenger woman blinked in surprise, her tension slipping slightly. "You mean it? We can go?"
The wind howled between them, carrying stinging ice. Jake studied the woman's face - her chapped lips trembling, her eyes darting between their weapons. Something about her terror felt visceral, beyond any programmed response.
"We're letting you go," Jake nodded and said firmly, lowering his weapon. "But if you're lying about that camp, we'll find you."
The woman nodded frantically, relief and fear mingling in her expression. Her companion stood silently, stunned by Jake's unexpected mercy.
As the scavengers slowly backed away, they suddenly broke into desperate sprints, their feet kicking up snow as they fled into the blizzard, Jake's team watched in confused silence. Alex opened his mouth to protest, then thought better of it.
"Move out," Jake commanded, signaling his team to gather the medical supplies they'd secured from the ambush.
The tense silence stretched as Jake's team exchanged skeptical glances.
"Are you kidding?" Alex shook his head, disbelief etched on his face, but he bit back any further protest. "Why, Jake?" Alex muttered as they trekked back toward the base, the cold gnawing at their coats.
"You can call me a hypocrite, but it was shocking. We killed them, and then I saw their faces—I felt terrible."
"ISAC, mark their direction of travel," Jake commanded quietly.
"Tracking hostiles. Northwest bearing confirmed. Warning: blizzard interference may compromise accuracy."
ANNA's gentle voice chimed in. "Medical supplies secured. Cataloging contents: antibiotics, painkillers, surgical supplies. Sufficient to treat approximately twenty-seven individuals."
Jake's team moved through the snow, securing the perimeter. The weight of his decision hung heavy in the air, mixing with the howling wind. A newer Player, barely has entered a fight their entire playtime, approached him hesitantly.
"Dude? Why'd we let them go? The mission parameters clearly stated—"
"Because sometimes the right choice isn't in the mission parameters," Jake cut him off, scanning the horizon. "The game have so much freedom.. And it's so different, so real. Let's try to not be the bad guys."
Alex snorted, checking his ammunition. "Different how? It's just really good programming."
Jake shook his head, remembering the terror in the scavenger woman's eyes. "You ever notice how no NPC in any other game begs the same way? How their eyes look when they're afraid?" He adjusted his pack, the medical supplies clinking inside. "Let's just go back and turn in the supplies to the base, this is all nice exp-"
DIAMOND's cold tone interrupted. "Alert: Additional heat signatures detected. Multiple contacts approaching from the northeast."
"Contacts identified as Scorchers," ISAC added. "Extreme caution advised."
"Shit," Alex hissed, dropping behind a fallen concrete pillar. "Now we've got real trouble."
The distant sound of flamethrowers growled through the storm. Orange flames licked the white sky, turning snowflakes to steam before they could land.
"This is what happens when we waste time playing nice," Alex muttered, readying his rifle. "Could've been back at base by now."
"Form up!" Jake commanded, his voice cutting through the wind. "Diamond, analyze their approach pattern."
"Calculating. Scorchers moving in standard purge formation. Probability of flanking maneuver: eighty-seven percent."
The flames grew closer, accompanied by maniacal laughter. Through the swirling snow, twisted figures emerged wearing makeshift armor decorated with burn marks and skulls.
"Burn it all!" A Scorcher screamed, his flamethrower belching fire into the sky. "Cleanse this world in holy flame!"
"T-This feels different from the scavengers," the new Player whispered, his hands shaking on his weapon. "These guys are insane."
ANNA's warm voice provided tactical options. "Nearby building offers elevated position. Structural integrity at forty-eight percent."
"Who the fuck are these guys? Move! Up those stairs!" Jake ordered, directing his team toward a half-collapsed office building. The Players scrambled up the icy steps as gouts of flame roared behind them.
"Those who resist the cleansing flame shall become one with it!" A Scorcher howled, their twisted laughter echoing off frozen walls.
"Shit, shit, these fuckers is crazy! ISAC, how many?" Jake demanded, taking position behind a broken window frame.
"Detecting twelve hostile signatures. All armed with incendiary weapons. Caution: Building temperature rising."
The new Player pressed against a wall, breath coming in sharp gasps. "This is scary as hell. The way they move, how they talk—"
"Shut! Focus!" Jake snapped. "Alex, take left flank. Everyone else, spread out and pick your targets."
DIAMOND's clinical tone cut through the chaos. "Alert: Structural integrity compromised. Support beams showing critical heat stress."
A massive explosion rocked the building's foundation. Through the smoke, Jake glimpsed a Scorcher holding what looked like a modified propane tank.
"Holy shit!" Alex dove away from his position as flames engulfed it. "They're not just using flamethrowers!"
"The flame hungers!" The lead Scorcher's voice carried a disturbing sing-song quality. "Feed it your flesh!"
Jake's mind raced. The building wouldn't last long under this assault. "ANNA, we need options!"
"Analyzing... Detecting water main beneath street. Structural damage could create flooding effect, neutralizing incendiary weapons."
"You heard her!" Jake shouted over the roar of flames. "Target the street! Concentrated fire!"
The Players opened fire, their bullets punching through the frozen asphalt. Steam hissed up through the cracks as water began spurting from ruptured pipes, quickly turning the battlefield into a treacherous mix of ice and slush.
"The flame! The flame betrayed by water!" A Scorcher screamed in rage as his flamethrower sputtered and exploded, engulfing him in flames as he collapsed to the ground.
"Now! Push them back!" Jake vaulted over the windowsill, his boots crunching on fresh ice. The other Players followed, weapons blazing in the swirling steam.
"This is insane!" The new Player shouted, firing wildly. "They're still coming!"
Indeed, even with their weapons compromised, the Scorchers charged forward, wielding makeshift melee weapons. Their eyes blazed with fanatical fury behind their masks.
"Die! Die for the flame!" One rushed Jake with a spiked club.
ISAC's calm voice cut through the chaos. "Warning: Detecting additional heat signatures. Unknown faction approaching from the west."
"More of them?" Alex reloaded, his hands shaking from cold and adrenaline.
The steam-filled air suddenly erupted with precise gunfire. Several Scorchers dropped, their bodies hitting the ice with dull thuds. Through the mist, figures in professional tactical gear emerged, moving with military precision.
"Raiders," DIAMOND announced. "Assessing threat level... Current engagement suggests defensive posture."
A gruff voice cut through the battlefield noise. "This is our territory, flame-fuckers! Back off!"
The remaining Scorchers turned to face this new threat, their religious fervor momentarily overcome by survival instinct.
"Think they're part of the mission?" Alex whispered to Jake.
Before Jake could respond, ANNA chimed in. "Multiple previous encounters recorded. Raiders maintain territorial boundaries but avoid direct conflict unless provoked."
"The flame remembers to burn! Retreat!" A Scorcher yelled, the ferocity of their initial charge dissipating as they began to back away from the wall of new threats.
"Everyone, hold your position," Jake commanded, keeping his weapon trained on the retreating Scorchers. The Raiders maintained their line, professional and disciplined.
A Raider captain stepped forward, his weathered face partially hidden by a tactical mask. "You're the new SHD operatives, right? From Kane's base?"
"That's right," Jake responded cautiously, DIAMOND whispering threat assessments in his ear.
"You've wandered into our territory." The captain's tone remained neutral. "We usually shoot trespassers, but we've got a... understanding with Dr. Kane."
Alex tensed beside Jake. "What kind of understanding?"
"The kind where we don't kill each other unnecessarily." The captain gestured at his men to lower their weapons slightly. "We keep the peace in this sector. No Scorchers, no Scavs running wild."
ANNA's warm voice provided context. "Historical data suggests that alliances with neutral factions can bolster resource security and enhance overall survival rates for Agents."
Jake's instincts told him to tread carefully. "We appreciate the help, but our mission is to secure critical supplies and prevent hostile factions from gaining ground. We might need your intel on the surrounding areas."
The Raider captain nodded, his gaze sharpening. "We already helped you once. Expecting more would be pushing your luck," The captain's voice hardened. "Get your team out of here. Next time we meet, the welcome might not be so friendly."
DIAMOND's cold analysis cut in. "Detecting elevated hostility markers. Recommend tactical withdrawal."
Jake signaled his team to back away slowly. "Understood. We'll respect your territory."
"Wait," the captain called out as they turned to leave. "There's a subway station north of here. Bunch of civilians holed up there. If you're really working for Kane, might want to check it out."
Jake's heart skipped a beat. The scavenger woman's words echoed in his mind.
"Those civilians," Jake hesitated. "They wouldn't happen to have any children there?"
The captain's eyes narrowed. "You've met their scouts."
"I let them live," Jake admitted. "Couldn't bring myself to gun all of them down."
A ghost of approval flickered across the captain's weathered face. "Maybe you're different from the other novice Agents we've encountered. Most just shoot anything that moves." He adjusted his rifle strap. "Those people in the subway, they're desperate. But they're not animals like the Scorchers."
A flare shot through the air, followed by multiple distant gunfire, then silence, Jake's squad gazed at the flare going down slowly, their expressions a mix of confusion and apprehension.
"Captain!" A Raider called out urgently. "Movement from the north!"
ISAC's voice cut through the tension. "Flare Trap triggered by nearby Agents, multiple signatures detected. Scavenger reinforcements approaching."
"Looks like your mercy brought company," Alex muttered, checking his ammunition.
The captain cursed under his breath. "This is your mess. Clean it up and get out of our territory." He signaled his men, and they melted back into the steam and snow like phantoms.
"DIAMOND, tactical assessment," Jake commanded, moving his team into defensive positions.
"Analyzing... Twenty-plus hostiles approaching. Primarily armed with salvaged weapons. Tactical suggestion: Use remaining environmental hazards to funnel attackers."
The scavengers emerged from the storm, more numerous and better armed than the previous group-They looked like a different scav gang. Their leader, a scarred man wielding a shotgun, opened fired without hesitation from the far distance, the first blast echoing ominously through the air and hit several people on his squad, but not enough to rendered them useless, yet.
"Take cover!" Jake shouted, instinctively diving behind an old filing cabinet that had somehow survived the elements.
"Dammit! They're trying to surround us!" Alex called out, peeking from behind a crumbling wall.
ISAC's voice rang with urgency. "Detecting flanking movements on both sides. Recommend immediate action."
The new Player's hands trembled on his rifle. "I—I don't want to die here!"
"You won't, take my pistol and gimme that rifle!" Jake assured him, even as bullets pinged off their cover. "ISAC, analyze weak points!"
"Structural analysis complete. Remaining water pressure could be redirected to create defensive barrier."
Jake's mind raced. The freezing temperatures, the water main they'd broken earlier—it could work. "Everyone, target the exposed pipes! Create an ice wall!"
The team opened fire, their bullets puncturing the remaining pipes. Water gushed out, instantly freezing in the bitter cold, creating a crystalline barrier between them and the advancing scavengers. The icy barricade formed quickly, a shimmering wall that glinted under the pale light filtering through the storm.
"Wow, damn!" One of Jake teammate exclaimed at the phenomenon, many of them is also intrigued.
"Nice move, Jake!" Alex shouted, his voice tinged with newfound recognition. "But it won't hold them for long!"
The barricade glistened like a frozen shield, but Jake could already see the scavengers adjusting their approach, calculating their next moves as they circled the ice barrier, their breath visible in the frosty air, a predatory glint in their eyes.
"Let's just bolt out of here!" The words tumbled out from a nearby Player, a mixture of panic and desperation. "Yeah, let's go!" Jake's team turned to the locked door behind them and broke the lock with their bullets.
The door splintered with a sharp crack, crashing inward to reveal a darkened hallway beyond. The icy wind howled behind them, filling the corridor with a gust of snow and bitterness.
"Move, move!" Jake shouted, shoving his teammate ahead before stepping into the corridor. As he did, a bullet ricocheted off the wall beside him, sending icy shards flying.
"Down this way!" Alex called out, his flashlight beam cutting through the darkness. ANNA's warm voice guided them through the maze-like building.
"Optimal escape route identified. Eastern stairwell leads to secondary exit."
The team rushed through abandoned offices, their boots crunching on broken glass and frozen debris. Behind them, angry shouts and gunfire echoed off the walls.
"They're still coming!" The new Player gasped, clutching Jake's pistol. "Why aren't they giving up?"
DIAMOND's cold analysis cut in. "Hostile pursuit indicates high-value target acquisition priority. They believe we possess critical resources."
"Just keep moving!" Jake ordered, pausing to spray covering fire down the hallway. The flash of his rifle illuminated twisted faces of determination among their pursuers.
"Watch out!" Alex yanked another Player back as part of the ceiling collapsed, blocking the corridor with a pile of frozen rubble.
"ISAC, alternate route!"
"Calculating... Emergency exit located two floors down. Structural integrity questionable."
They descended the icy stairs, weapons ready. Every shadow could hide a scavenger, every creaking sound might signal another collapse.
"Base perimeter within one kilometer," DIAMOND announced. "Detection range expanding."
A scavenger burst through a door ahead, swinging a makeshift axe. Jake's rifle cracked, dropping the attacker before he could connect.
"This is insane, I'm glad I was picked," the new Player whimpered. "This game is just completely insane... It's just so immersive! It actually feels like my life hangs in the balance!"
"Less talking, more running!" Alex shoved him forward as more bullets peppered the wall behind them.
ANNA's voice carried urgency. "Warning: Building stability critical. Recommend immediate evacuation."
They finally reached the emergency exit, its metal door frozen shut. Jake and Alex slammed against it together, the rust-frozen hinges screaming in protest.
"Push!" Jake commanded. The door gave way with a thunderous crack, spilling them into the biting wind.
"Base defensive systems detecting your approach," ISAC reported. "Marking optimal return route."
They sprinted through the snow, their pursuers' shouts fading behind them. The storm worked in their favor now, obscuring their retreat.
"Altitude advantage recommended," DIAMOND advised coldly. "Multiple escape vectors available via rooftop traverse."
Jake gestured toward a fire escape clinging to a nearby building. "Up there! We can lose them in the heights!"
The metal groaned under their weight as they climbed, ice cracking beneath their boots. Below, muffled curses and sporadic gunfire echoed through the white-out conditions.
"Base perimeter three-quarters kilometer," ISAC reported. "Multiple friendly signatures detected on approach vector."
Alex paused to catch his breath, frost coating his beard. "Those supplies better be worth all this."
"Worth dying for?" The new Player's voice cracked. "I thought this was supposed to be fun!"
Alex and the other teammates followed behind swiftly, catching up to the two idiots ahead of them, all of their characters build is all-rounders.
A female Player moved ahead, laughed, the most excitement she had experienced in weeks, "Guess the thrill of running for our lives beats a good old-fashioned dungeon crawl, huh?"
"Yeah, but I'd rather fight a mindless horde than crazed lunatics any day." Another Player caught his breath, glancing over the ledge toward the street below. The snowstorm wrapped everything in a blanket of white, muffling sounds as it whirled around them.
"Keep moving!" Jake ordered, helping another teammate over a particularly icy section. "ANNA, status on pursuit?"
"Tracking multiple signatures... dispersing into smaller groups. They're attempting to flank our position from street level."
The wind howled around them as they crossed between buildings, using old planks and debris as makeshift bridges. The city stretched out below, a maze of white-draped ruins and shadows.
"There!" Alex pointed toward a familiar silhouette in the distance. "The base's communication tower!"
ISAC's calm voice cut through their relief. "Warning: Detecting movement ahead. Multiple heat signatures converging on your position."
"They're trying to cut us off," Jake realized, scanning the rooftops. "DIAMOND, analysis?"
"Tactical assessment: Hostiles have predicted our trajectory toward the base. Recommendation: Create diversion."
The new Player clutched Jake's pistol tighter. "We're trapped?"
"No," Jake's mind raced. "We split up. Alex, take point with half the team. Make noise, draw their attention."And what about you?" Alex shot back, uncertainty creeping into his voice.
Jake locked eyes with him. "We'll circle around and cut through the back. They won't expect it. Get ready."
"Are you sure about this?" Alex frowned, his breath visible in the freezing air.
"Trust me," Jake replied, his voice steady. "We'll give them something to chase while the rest of the team makes it back to base with those supplies. It's the only way, here's my backpack." He's ready to die, after all, it's just a game. He feels like he's been gaming for too long, almost 4 days ingame although a day haven't passed in real life, maybe this could be a welcome break.
"You know this is nuts, right?" Alex shook his head, taking the backpack while Jake threw a final glance over his shoulder, he trusted Jake, like most of his teammates.
"But—" The new Player started to protest, these guys haven't even ask for his name.. "Just focus on getting back to the base, Just follow Alex," Jake cut in, pushing him gently toward Alex.
He whispered softly, "ANNA, shortest route back to base?"
"Calculating... Western approach offers sixty-percent success probability. Marking nav-points now."
Alex nodded grimly, gesturing to three other Players. "Let's move. Try not to die, Jake."
"Same to you," Jake watched them disappear into the swirling snow before turning to his remaining teammates. "We circle east, use the old parking structures for cover."
DIAMOND's cold voice provided updates as they moved. "Hostile forces dividing. Major concentration following diversionary team."
"Good," Jake breathed out, scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement. The chilling wind tugged at his clothes, reminding him just how vulnerable they were in this desolate landscape. "Let's move quickly now."
They picked their way across ice-slick concrete, every step calculated. Below, shadows moved through the streets, hunting them. The base's silhouette grew larger, a beacon of hope in the white-out conditions.
"Five hundred meters to perimeter," ISAC announced. "Base defenses detecting approach."
"Look!" A teammate pointed through the storm. "The security lights!"
The familiar orange glow pierced the white veil, marking safety. But between them and the base lay open ground—a killing field if the scavengers spotted them.
"ANNA, status on Alex's team?"
"Multiple engagements detected. Diversionary tactics successful but casualties reported."
Jake's grip tightened on his rifle. "They're buying us time. Let's not waste it."
They descended to street level, using abandoned vehicles for cover. The wind carried distant gunfire—Alex's team keeping the scavengers occupied.
"Three hundred meters," ISAC counted down. "Base defense systems engaging."
Automated turrets opened up, their fire cutting through the storm. The scavengers pursuing Alex's team scattered, seeking cover.
"Now! Sprint!" Jake ordered, breaking cover. His team followed, boots pounding frozen pavement.
DIAMOND's voice held rare urgency. "Alert: Hostile elements realigning. Pursuit imminent."
They ran, lungs burning in the frigid air. The base's gates loomed ahead, staffed by NPC guards and other Players who'd completed earlier missions.
"Opening eastern gate!" A guard shouted. "Covering fire!" The gates creaked open as Jake and his teammates reached the entrance, the automated defense systems firing at the pursuing scavengers who dared to close in.
Jake dove through the gate just as a burst of gunfire echoed behind him. The heavy gates slammed shut with a deafening clang, cutting off the chaos outside. He pushed himself upright, breathless.
Jake leaned back against the icy wall, catching his breath as the gates clanged shut behind him. NPC guards and other Players buzzed around, their voices muffled by his pounding heartbeat. He pulled up his HUD, the familiar interface offering a strange comfort amidst the chaos.
"Hey, Alex," Jake called through the comms, his voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through him. "Turns out I didn't die after all."
Alex's laugh came through, faint but genuine. "Don't make it a habit. We need you."
Jake smirked, shutting his eyes for a brief moment. "I'll hold you to that. But for now... I'm logging off. That was fun, but almost four days of this intensity? I need a real break. Feel free to take anything from my backpack while im off—and remember to turn in the supplies we just looted."
As the virtual world faded away, Jake pondered whether this incredible game had blurred the lines between reality and fiction too much. It felt so immersive, almost like he was living a completely different life.