The group of survivors huddled in anxious silence as the timer on the holographic display ticked closer to zero. Each passing second felt like an eternity, the dread building in their hearts like a storm about to break. Whispers of plans, arguments over strategy, and desperate prayers filled the air as tension hung thick. No one knew exactly what to expect, but everyone knew one thing: when the counter hit zero, survival would no longer be a matter of luck but of raw will and instinct.
The self-appointed leader, a tall man with a buzz cut and a booming voice named Derrick Langston, stood at the center of the group, barking orders.
"Stick together!" Derrick shouted, his voice rising above the growing rumble of the ground beneath their feet. "We don't know what's coming, but we're stronger as a group!"
Some nodded in agreement, clinging to the idea of safety in numbers. Others, with panic and distrust gleaming in their eyes, glanced toward the exits, ready to bolt at the first sign of danger.
Percy, however, wasn't among them. He had made his choice long before the countdown hit zero.
—
10 minutes earlier.
Percy had slipped out of the group while Derrick was giving his rousing speech about unity. The truth was, Percy didn't buy it. In his limited but valuable knowledge of TWSA, sticking with strangers was as much a gamble as going it alone—if not worse. Desperation made people unpredictable, and Percy knew better than to put his faith in someone else's plan.
He wandered into a dilapidated office building nearby, moving carefully through the shadowed halls. The air was stale, and the faint smell of mildew clung to the cracked walls. Dust-covered desks and overturned chairs littered the floor, giving the place an eerie, abandoned feel.
"Hidden treasures, huh?" Percy muttered under his breath as he rummaged through a filing cabinet.
In the novel, there were often items of value hidden in unlikely places—artifacts, weapons, even food. But here, in the real world version of TWSA, his search was fruitless. Drawer after drawer revealed nothing but faded documents and useless junk. A growing frustration gnawed at him, but Percy forced himself to stay calm.
"Better safe than sorry," he told himself, though his patience was wearing thin.
As the timer ticked down, he finally gave up, moving to the upper floor of the building to get a better vantage point. It wasn't much, but at least he'd be out of immediate harm's way when the second scenario began.
—
[00:00]
The countdown hit zero.
The ground quaked violently, sending debris tumbling from the cracked ceilings. Percy steadied himself against the wall, his heart pounding as a guttural roar echoed from somewhere in the distance.
From his perch by a broken window, he could see the chaos unfold. The group of survivors had scattered like startled animals as monsters began to materialize, grotesque creatures clawing their way into existence from shimmering tears in the air.
"Scatter! Run!" Derrick's voice rang out, but his command only added to the chaos.
Some survivors darted deeper into the building, climbing stairs to the second floor in search of safety. Others made a break for the streets, hoping to lose themselves in the labyrinth of ruins outside.
It didn't matter. The monsters were relentless.
One woman screamed as a hulking, quadrupedal beast leaped on her, its maw filled with jagged teeth. Blood sprayed across the pavement as her cries were cut short. A man wielding a makeshift bat tried to fend off a creature with too many eyes and writhing tentacles, but his weapon shattered on impact. He barely had time to register his mistake before the beast impaled him with a barbed limb.
Percy watched it all from his vantage point, his grip tightening on the cold steel pipe he had found earlier. His stomach churned at the sight of the carnage, but he forced himself to remain still, his mind racing.
"Damn," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "They're smarter than they look…"
He had expected the monsters to attack indiscriminately, but it was clear they were prioritizing targets that moved in groups. The larger the cluster of survivors, the more aggressive the creatures became.
Suddenly, a glowing notification appeared before his eyes, cutting through his thoughts.
[The Constellation [Watcher Of The Fractured Path] agrees with your assessment.]
Percy's face darkened.
"So they're here already," he muttered, glancing up at the sky. The presence of a constellation wasn't surprising—this was a game for their amusement, after all—but it was unsettling to feel their gaze so directly.
The message was followed by another:
[The Constellation [Watcher Of The Fractured Path] is intrigued by your solitary approach.]
Percy clicked his tongue. "Great. My life's a reality show now."
The ground shook again, and Percy's attention snapped back to the chaos outside. A group of survivors had barricaded themselves inside a convenience store across the street, but their efforts were futile. A monster resembling a massive, sinewy wolf smashed through the glass window, dragging one of them out with a sickening crunch.
"People really don't think straight under pressure," Percy muttered, his voice tinged with bitterness. He knew it wasn't fair to judge—panic did strange things to people—but it didn't make the sight any easier to watch.
Another notification appeared.
[The Constellation [Silent Harbinger Of Pity] acknowledges your plight.]
Before Percy could react, another message followed.
[The Constellation [Silent Harbinger Of Pity] has gifted you 200 coins.]
Percy stared at the notification, his grip on the pipe tightening. Coins were the currency of this world, used to purchase skills, items, and other resources. The gift was unexpected, but Percy couldn't help but feel a pang of irritation.
"Thanks, I guess," he muttered sarcastically. "Real generous of you."
He shook his head, forcing himself to focus. The coins would be useful later, but right now, he needed to figure out his next move. The monsters were thinning the herd quickly, and it was only a matter of time before they turned their attention to the building he was hiding in.
Taking a deep breath, Percy glanced at the pipe in his hand. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
"Let's see how long I can last," he muttered, stepping away from the window and into the shadows of the building.
The second scenario had only just begun, and Percy knew he was in for the fight of his life.