Jonash's mind was still buzzing. His body was sore, his stomach aching with hunger, and the adrenaline that had once kept him sharp was starting to fade. He had survived the night, managed to take down a wolf, and even received food from the system—but now what? The jungle stretched on endlessly, a maze of dense trees and undergrowth, with every shadow a potential threat. He was no longer sure what was real, or where the boundaries of the game began and ended.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden rustling sound ahead. Jonash stopped dead in his tracks, instinctively reaching for the sharpened stick still clutched tightly in his hand. The jungle was quiet for a moment, and then a figure appeared through the trees.
Jonash tensed, ready to fight. But then he saw it—a campfire, the faint orange glow cutting through the shadows of the jungle. He blinked, his mind racing. Other people.
He stepped forward cautiously, scanning the area for any signs of danger. The figures around the fire were humans, no beasts in sight. They didn't seem to notice him yet, their attention focused on the flames and whatever food or supplies they had.
Jonash moved closer, staying low, trying to remain unseen. But as he neared, one of them, a man sitting near the fire, turned his head sharply in Jonash's direction. His eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto Jonash's.
"Who's there?" the man called out, his voice steady but firm.
Jonash froze, a spike of panic rising in his chest. He had no idea what to expect. Another hostile player? Or someone who could help him?
"Easy, Eryk," a woman's voice interrupted. "We've been through enough already. No point in scaring him."
The man, Eryk, relaxed slightly, but his gaze remained wary. The woman standing beside him was tall, with long, messy hair that framed her sharp features. She looked like she'd seen a fair amount of this world already, her clothes a patchwork of various materials that hinted at her resourcefulness.
"You're new," she said, her eyes sizing Jonash up. "You look like you've been running from something. A beast or...?"
Jonash nodded, unable to hide the exhaustion in his face. "Wolves," he said, the memory of the previous night still fresh. "I... I'm just trying to survive."
The woman gave him a sharp look, then sighed. "You're not the only one. Name's Ava." She gestured to the fire. "Sit down. You look like you could use a break."
Jonash hesitated, but then the hunger in his stomach pushed him forward. He dropped down onto a log by the fire, not wanting to seem weak but feeling a sense of relief that he wasn't alone anymore. The warmth of the fire felt good against his chilled skin.
"Thanks," he muttered, pulling his legs up to his chest. The crackle of the fire was oddly comforting, and for the first time since he woke up in this place, he felt a flicker of hope.
Ava handed him a small piece of meat on a skewer. "You'll need it," she said, her tone softening a little. "We're all just trying to get by."
Jonash took the meat gratefully, chewing slowly. It tasted better than anything he'd had since he arrived in the jungle, and for a moment, he just focused on the taste, on the way his body absorbed the warmth. He hadn't realized how much he missed the simple act of eating, of feeling human again.
"So, you're not the first one to crash here, huh?" Jonash asked, trying to make conversation.
Eryk snorted from the other side of the fire. "We've been here a while. It's not exactly a 'crash,' though. More like a forced detour."
Jonash raised an eyebrow. "Forced?"
"Yeah," Eryk said, leaning forward, his eyes scanning the trees around them. "We got pulled into this place against our will. The game—whatever it is—doesn't exactly give you a choice. You get dropped in, and then you have to figure it out. Fast."
Ava nodded, her expression turning serious. "The 'game' isn't what you think it is. If you want to make it out of here, you need to understand the rules. And those rules are... complicated."
Jonash blinked, confused. "What do you mean? I thought we were supposed to... tame beasts or something? That's what the system told me."
Ava chuckled, though it didn't sound like a friendly laugh. "Yeah, sure. Taming beasts is just one part of it. But there's a bigger picture here. And it's dangerous. You've probably already heard about The Apex."
Jonash's stomach twisted at the mention of the name. "The Apex?" he repeated, the words foreign on his tongue.
"Not surprised," Eryk said, running a hand through his short, dark hair. "You're new, after all. But they're a group of players, some of the most dangerous ones here. They're not just looking to survive—they're looking to control this place. And trust me, you don't want to cross them."
Ava's gaze turned to Jonash, her eyes piercing. "They've been here longer than we have. And they've got resources—beasts, weapons, you name it. They've been hunting anyone who doesn't fall in line with their plans."
Jonash's heart raced at the thought of crossing paths with them. He had barely managed to survive the wolves, and now he was supposed to worry about rogue players, too?
Eryk leaned back against a nearby tree, his expression dark. "We've been keeping our heads down. But that doesn't mean they won't find us. You should do the same. Keep to yourself. Don't get mixed up in whatever The Apex is planning."
Jonash nodded, trying to digest everything they were telling him. Keep to yourself. Don't get mixed up. Those words seemed simple enough, but the weight of them pressed on him. This wasn't just about survival anymore. This was a game that had turned into something much darker. A world where the players weren't just trying to survive—they were fighting for control. And Jonash had no idea where he fit into that.
A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. "So, what now?" Jonash asked, turning to the third person at the campfire. He hadn't said much since Jonash arrived—a teenager, barely older than Jonash himself, sitting silently with his arms wrapped around his knees.
Milo looked up slowly, his expression blank. He hadn't spoken much, and Jonash wasn't sure if he was just shy or if something was bothering him. The teenager's eyes had a distant look to them, as if he was seeing something far beyond the jungle.
"Nothing," Milo said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "We wait. That's all we can do."
The silence stretched on, heavy with unspoken thoughts. Jonash didn't know what to make of the teenager. He was quieter than the others, but there was something unsettling about his gaze. Like he wasn't fully there, or maybe he was just too aware of the dangers around them.
Eryk, noticing the tension, cleared his throat. "Milo's right, in a way. There's nothing we can do for now. But you should know one thing, Jonash," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "The Apex isn't the only danger here. The jungle itself is alive—more than you realize. There are creatures out there that make wolves look tame. And if you think this is all just a game, think again. It's real."
Jonash swallowed hard, the weight of Eryk's words sinking in. As if on cue, a low growl echoed in the distance, a sound that made Jonash's blood run cold.
The group tensed, every one of them instantly alert. The firelight flickered in the sudden stillness.
Eryk stood up slowly, scanning the trees. "Stay close," he said quietly, his voice hardening. "It's not a beast. It's something else."
Jonash followed Eryk's gaze, his heart hammering in his chest. What was it? Another player? A predator? Or something else entirely?
The question hung in the air as they waited, breathless.