Chapter: Hunting Mode — The Bandits of Sector Six
In the untamed depths of Sector Six, the rules of civilization faded into echoes. The further from the Dwarven Mist encampments and organized zones one traveled, the more evident it became:
The forest was lawless.
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A group of five teenagers weaved through the dense underbrush, laughter mixing with the sharp crackle of broken branches. They were not hunters by trade—but they had learned to hunt in this world. Modern clothes clung to them like ironic costumes: loose hoodies, ripped jeans, sneakers caked with forest grime.
At their center was a tall boy in a white sweater, its sleeves smeared with dirt but still bearing a logo of a brand long forgotten. His name was Jev, and unlike the others, his demeanor wasn't manic or wild. It was focused. Cold.
His four companions—Rael, Nix, Bruno, and Sye—trailed behind, each carrying hastily-packed satchels filled with looted supplies: dried food, rune batteries, basic gear.
They had just finished a raid.
A group of friends, no older than them, had been camping near an abandoned relay tower. They weren't fighters. They weren't even prepared. The "hunters" had watched them for hours before striking.
No warning.
No negotiation.
Just overwhelming force.
Rael, a thin boy with a sleeveless hoodie, swung a captured signal device lazily in one hand.
> "You saw their faces, man? Like—dude, they didn't even try to run. What's the point of setting up camp if you're that soft?"
Bruno, a stockier kid with buzzed hair, laughed as he kicked a stray ration pack down the slope.
> "Sector Six, bro. No one cares about rules here. We're just playing the system the way it lets us."
Nix, quieter than the others, adjusted his backpack, which was overflowing with stolen gear.
Sye, the smallest but loudest, piped up.
> "They should've joined a stronger faction. Travelers, pfft. More like Pushovers."
Jev said nothing.
He kept walking ahead, pushing vines aside, eyes sharp and analytical.
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As they reached a clearing, the group they had raided earlier—five teens, bound and humiliated—sat slumped near a toppled log, their equipment confiscated, their shelter destroyed.
Jev approached them slowly, crouching down.
> "Don't hate the players," he said flatly, "hate the system that left you out here unprepared."
One of the captured teens—a girl with a torn denim jacket—glared at him.
> "We just wanted a place to start. You're not even building anything."
Jev's lips curved into a faint, dry smile.
> "We don't build. We take. Because in this sector, if you're not claiming, you're losing."
Rael kicked some of the stolen supplies into a pile.
> "You guys thought this forest was some utopia? No admins. No protection. Just code and chaos."
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The group's Systematic Guides pinged faintly.
[Notice] Player Activity Flagged — Sector Six, Subsection D
Status: Neutral. No Rule Violations Detected.
Note: No Moderator Presence Active. Proceed as desired.
Jev stood up, pocketing his Guide without even looking.
> "No moderators. No consequences."
Nix looked around.
> "We should move before anyone from the organized sectors responds. Maybe swing through Sector Seven next?"
Jev nodded.
> "Sector Seven's building something. Travelers... Resistance... Whatever. They'll be too busy rebuilding their Orange zone after the raid. We'll strike where they don't expect."
As they prepared to leave, Jev turned to the captured group.
> "Be glad we're not worse. Others won't stop at supplies."
And with that, the bandits melted back into the forest, shadows among the lawless wilds, leaving behind broken camps and bitter memories.
In Hunting Mode, the only rule was survival.
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Chapter : Riven's Countermeasure — Deploying the Ghostline
The room was dim, save for the soft glow of multiple holo-screens projected over a cluttered wooden desk. Riven sat hunched forward, his lean figure silhouetted against the ever-scrolling lines of code and tactical data.
His fingers moved with methodical precision across the keyboard, assembling counter-algorithms, drafting connection links, and building a "Ghostline"—a hidden surveillance relay meant to track non-affiliated players moving through the forest sectors.
The "big house" was nothing fancy. Despite its size, it was a patchwork of retrofitted tech and raw wooden architecture—almost laughably primitive compared to city-grade facilities. But Riven preferred it that way. Harder to trace. Easier to control.
Suddenly, the door slid open with a soft hiss.
Goldie floated in, her holographic cat ears flicking, tail trailing light particles. Her tone was casual but layered with underlying tension.
> "Riven, we've got a situation."
Riven didn't look up from the screen.
> "Raiding parties. Sector Six. I'm aware."
> "Not just that. The network pings show clustered movements. Could be coordinated packs. They're adapting."
> "Of course they are," Riven muttered, his eyes narrowing as he finalized the Ghostline node encryption. "I expected them to."
Goldie floated closer, watching him.
> "We'll need field response. You can't keep absorbing hits while we're setting up. It'll wear the recruits down."
Riven leaned back, exhaling slowly. His tired eyes scanned the projection of the southern territories. Sector Seven—Oliver's zone—was stable but fragile. Sector Six was a predator's playground.
He tapped his earpiece.
> "Aurelia."
The comm buzzed.
> "Yeah, boss?"
> "Send Oliver. Nico. And the new recruit. Zack."
Aurelia's voice on the other side had a note of skepticism.
> "You're sending Zack already? Thought you wanted him on reserve for high-tier response."
> "Change of plans," Riven said bluntly. "They're not learning anything sitting safe. Sector Six is bleeding. They're going to stop it."
> "Understood. They'll be out in five."
Riven disconnected and turned back to Goldie, still floating by the side of his desk.
> "They'll need to sweep the old relay towers. Re-establish comm nodes where possible. And... make noise."
Goldie raised an eyebrow.
> "Bait?"
> "Exactly. Draw the hunters in. Then we mark them. Tag and trace. The Ghostline won't catch them if they stay scattered, but if we force them into movement patterns, we'll see everything."
Goldie flicked her tail, impressed.
> "And if the recruits get overwhelmed?"
Riven's expression was cold, but there was a thin edge of confidence.
> "Zack won't let them."
He stood, grabbing his coat, his worn gloves sliding back into place.
> "This forest is a server. Fine. Time to debug."
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Meanwhile, in the outpost barracks…
Oliver strapped on his light chest rig while Nico loaded up his blade holster. Zack sat quietly in the corner, flipping a dagger between his fingers, his face unreadable as always.
Aurelia entered, tossing a data drive to Oliver.
> "New orders. Sector Six cleanup. Riven wants you to flush the rats."
Oliver caught it, nodding.
> "Understood."
Nico grinned, stretching his shoulders.
> "Finally some actual action."
Zack stood, silent, spinning his dagger one last time before tucking it into his sleeve.
No words.
But they were ready.
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