The sun filtered weakly through the trees, barely warming the cold morning air. Ji-hoon's breath puffed in short clouds as Dusty trotted beneath tall, silent pines. Every sound—the creak of saddle leather, the crackle of leaves—made his nerves jump. He hadn't slept much. Even after escaping the mimic shack, his brain wouldn't shut off.
He kept checking the system for comfort, hoping to see something that reminded him it was still a game.
But nothing helped.
No logout button.
No friend list.
No save point.
No clue how to wake up.
Just the survival menu, his weak status page, and the blinking compass pointing west.
[Location: Greytree Forest]
Threat Level: Medium
Nearby Activity: Movement Detected – 230 meters]
Ji-hoon tensed. "Again?"
He slowed Dusty to a stop and crouched low in the saddle. He scanned the treeline, then dismounted and tied the reins loosely around a branch.
Sticking to cover, he crept forward through the brush.
And then he saw it.
A clearing ahead, smoky air rising above thin trees. Four figures—three men, one woman—gathered around a fire pit. At first glance, they looked like regular NPCs, but Ji-hoon's instincts flared. Their behavior wasn't scripted. It was casual—but alert. Two were checking gear. One woman was watching the trees. The fourth, an older man with a scar over one eye, stirred a pot over the fire while humming.
Nearby, an NPC was tied to a post. A teenage-looking boy. His head was bleeding, and he sat slumped, eyes glassy. Ji-hoon clenched his fists.
These weren't mindless zombies. They were thinking predators.
He brought up the system.
[NPC Scan: Bandit Faction – Red Runners]
Type: Dynamic AI Hostiles
Threat Level: High
Tactics: Ambush, Capture, Extortion
Known Behavior: Mockery, Psychological Torture, Smart Tracking
Note: Highly adaptive—may flank or follow you for miles.
Current Mood: Relaxed
"Relaxed? What kind of system tracks NPC moods?" Ji-hoon muttered.
He observed longer. One bandit—Wade, according to a nameplate above his head—held a bloodstained journal, reading it aloud in a mocking tone. "Dear diary, today I found a camp, thought I was safe. Hah! Guess not."
The others laughed.
Ji-hoon's stomach churned. These weren't just enemies. They were designed to enjoy hurting others.
He took a shaky breath. He wanted to help the boy—but he had no weapons, no armor, and no allies. Dusty was fast, but not faster than bullets.
He backed away slowly.
Snap.
His heel caught a dry branch.
All four bandits froze. The woman turned toward the forest like a wolf scenting prey.
"You hear that?" she asked.
"Yeah," said the one with the rifle. "East treeline."
Ji-hoon sprinted back to Dusty.
"Run!" he whispered, untying the rope in a blur and leaping into the saddle.
Shouts rang out.
"There he is!"
Gunfire cracked. Bark exploded. Ji-hoon ducked and urged Dusty forward, weaving through the trees as bullets sliced the air.
For ten minutes, it was nothing but panic.
Then silence.
When he finally stopped, far off the trail, Ji-hoon jumped down and crouched behind a rock. He gasped for breath, heart racing. Dusty snorted beside him, nervous but unhurt.
Ji-hoon pulled up the system again.
[Encounter Report]
Faction: Red Runners – Bandit AI
Hostility: Aggressive
Outcome: Escaped Pursuit
Player Status: Wounded (Minor Scrapes)
Morale: Decreasing
Fear Level: 32%
RECOMMENDATION: Avoid, Seek shelter before nightfall.
"Morale? Fear?" he mumbled. "This game tracks everything."
The more time he spent here, the more he understood: this wasn't just a survival game. It was a test. Psychological, emotional, mental. The enemies weren't just trying to kill him. They were trying to break him.
And he was starting to feel it.
He needed rest. Food. Tools. A place where he didn't have to sleep with one eye open.
The compass blinked again—Trader's Camp, still about a mile west.
He could make it before sundown if he moved now.
Ji-hoon looked back toward the bandit camp, thinking about the prisoner. He wanted to help. But what could he do? Die trying?
"Later," he muttered. "I'll come back later."
He guided Dusty through the forest carefully, avoiding paths and high ground. Every shadow looked suspicious now. Every gust of wind set his nerves on edge.
By the time the forest thinned and distant shapes hinted at structures on the horizon, Ji-hoon felt more like prey than player.
One thing was certain now:
The zombies weren't the only monsters in this game.