Day 3rd

As the morning light filtered through the dense canopy, the group woke up and began preparing for the day ahead.

Kai called for a meeting, and they gathered around the dying embers of their campfire. "We need to discuss our next steps," he said. "The zone is shrinking, and we need to keep moving. We also need to think about food, water, and scouting for enemies."

"I'll take the lead on hunting again," Roland offered, his experience in the wild invaluable. "Lucy, you can help me track game. Eva, you focus on finding water sources and keeping us healed. David and Kai, you can handle scouting and setting up our next camp."

David frowned, crossing his arms. "Why do I always get the boring jobs?"

Kai shot him a warning look. "We all have roles to play, David. This isn't about what's fun, it's about survival."

David rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath. The tension was palpable, and Roland stepped in to diffuse it. "Look, David, scouting is critical. We need to know if there are other teams nearby. Your magic can help us if we run into trouble."

David sighed but nodded reluctantly. "Fine. I'll do it."

As they finalized their plan, the minor argument left a lingering sense of unease. The team had noticed David's pattern of mistakes over the past few days, including a close call that nearly cost Eva her life during a previous fight. His refusal to own up to his errors and his tendency to blame others had eroded their trust in him.

Roland, although frustrated with David, kept his focus on the competition. He knew they needed every member to work together if they were to survive. They broke camp and started moving toward the center of the forest, their senses heightened by the ever-present danger.

---

The day passed much like the previous two, with the team moving cautiously through the dense forest. Roland and Lucy successfully hunted a deer, while Eva found a clear stream where they could refill their water supplies. David and Kai scouted ahead, keeping an eye out for other teams.

As night fell, they set up a new camp in a sheltered grove. They built a fire and prepared their evening meal. The atmosphere was tense, but they were growing accustomed to the rhythm of their survival routine.

David was assigned the first watch, much to his chagrin. He sat by the fire, grumbling to himself about the unfairness of it all. The rest of the team settled down to sleep, exhausted from the day's efforts.

Unbeknownst to them, a group of four enemy fighters had been watching from the shadows. The leader, a tall man with a scar across his face named Jared, smirked as he observed David's inattentiveness. "This is our chance," he whispered to his team. Beside him stood Margo, a fierce warrior with short, cropped hair; Ethan, a burly brute with a heavy axe; and Nina, a lithe archer with sharp eyes.

They waited patiently for David to nod off, which didn't take long. As he dozed, mumbling complaints, Jared signaled to Margo. She moved silently, creeping up behind David, ready to strike. Just as she raised her dagger, a knife flew through the air, narrowly missing her. Startled, she jumped back.

Roland, who had been sleeping lightly, was on his feet in an instant. His survival instincts honed from months in the wild had kicked in. "Enemy attack!" he shouted, rousing his teammates.

David woke with a start, realizing how close he had come to danger. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead as he looked gratefully at Roland, who ignored him and focused on the emerging threats. Jared and his team stepped out of the shadows, smirking arrogantly.

"Well, well, looks like you're more alert than your friend here," Jared sneered. "But it won't save you. We're taking this camp."

Kai stepped forward, his hand on his weapon. "You'll have to go through us first."

"Oh, we plan to," Margo said, her eyes glinting with malice. "Why don't you just make it easy and surrender?"

"Not a chance," Roland replied coldly, positioning himself defensively. "If you want this camp, you'll have to fight for it."

The two groups eyed each other, the tension thick in the air. Jared lost his patience first. "Attack!" he ordered.

The battle erupted with a flurry of motion. Ethan charged at Kai with his axe, while Margo and Nina went after Lucy and Eva. Jared squared off against Roland, confident in his ability to overpower him.

Kai and Ethan clashed in a brutal exchange of blows. Kai's strength met Ethan's brute force, each strike reverberating through the forest. Meanwhile, Margo and Nina attempted to flank Lucy and Eva, but Lucy's arrows flew true, forcing them to dodge and weave. Eva stayed back, ready to heal anyone who needed it.

Roland faced Jared, their weapons clashing with a metallic ring. Jared was skilled, but Roland's agility and instinct gave him an edge. They danced around each other, each looking for an opening.

David, initially stunned, cast protective spells around Eva and Lucy, finally showing some use in the chaos. His fire magic kept Margo at bay, giving Lucy the chance to line up her shots.

The fight was intense, each side landing blows. Roland took a glancing hit to his arm but fought on, adrenaline fueling his movements. He managed to disarm Jared briefly, only for Jared to pull out a hidden dagger, slashing at Roland's side.

Just as the battle reached its peak, Nina fired an arrow that struck Lucy's shoulder, sending her to the ground with a cry of pain. "Lucy!" Kai shouted, trying to reach her, but Ethan blocked his path.

In the ensuing chaos, Jared took advantage of Kai's distraction and, with a vicious strike, injured Kai's hand. Kai's scream echoed through the forest, and he fell to the ground, clutching his arm.

Seeing his teammates injured, Roland's vision blurred with rage. He let out a primal roar and charged at Jared with renewed ferocity. Their weapons clashed again, but this time, Roland's strikes were fueled by sheer anger and determination. He overpowered Jared, delivering a series of rapid, brutal blows that ended with Jared collapsing, unconscious, to the ground.

Margo and Ethan, seeing their leader fall, redoubled their efforts, but Roland was unstoppable. He swiftly engaged Ethan, dodging his heavy swings and landing precise cuts. Ethan stumbled back, unable to continue the fight.

Margo was next. She fought fiercely but was no match for Roland's fury. He disarmed her and, with a final, decisive strike, ended the fight. Nina, seeing her comrades fall, tried to flee, but Roland's knife found its mark, stopping her.

Breathing heavily, Roland stood amidst the aftermath, his own blood mingling with that of his enemies. His hair was disheveled, and his body was covered in cuts and bruises. His eyes glowed with a crimson intensity, giving him a fearsome, almost monstrous appearance.

Roland's team, injured and exhausted, regrouped around him. Eva quickly tended to Lucy and Kai, her healing magic closing their wounds. David, still shaken, muttered apologies.

"Are you all right?" Roland asked, his voice hoarse.

"We'll be fine," Kai said, wincing as Eva healed his wound. "Thanks to you."

Lucy nodded, pain etched on her face but gratitude in her eyes. "You saved us, Roland."

Roland looked at his teammates, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion. "We're not out of this yet," he said. "But we survived another day. You guy's rest I will be on guard and David" said Roland as David turned towards him to listen. "Good job today" said Roland while giving a thumbs up to him. David smiled slightly as the tensions between the team starts to ease up.

Kill count :

Kai +4

Roland +8

David +2

Lucy +2

Eva +0