Survivors' City
Ace stepped out of the dormitory and into a massive open space.
His breath hitched.
There were thousands of people outside.
It wasn't just the ten of them. It wasn't just the people from his school.
This was an entire city filled with people who downloaded the game.
Mia came to a halt beside him, eyes wide. "This… is insane!"
Ace couldn't disagree.
The area stretched for miles. Towering neon buildings lined the streets, and large digital billboards flashed messages:
[WELCOME TO THE PLAYERS' DISTRICT.]
[DAY 1: SURVIVAL RATE: 72%.]
Ace's stomach twisted. Seventy-two percent of every player from the last round could survive. That meant a huge chunk of players had already been wiped out.
But what stood out the most?
The energy.
Players were milling around like this was some kind of festival.
People were talking, laughing, and even trading game strategies. Some were standing in circles, showing off their stats on screens, while others were arguing over what kind of games would come next.
A player ran past them, grinning. "Yo, did you see that trivia round? Easiest thing ever!"
His friend nudged him. "I don't know, man… Some people got wiped out for no reason."
Mia shook her head in disbelief. "They're acting like this is a convention."
Ace exhaled. "Because the game hasn't really started yet."
No guns.
No fighting.
No actual danger— just weird challenges and forced elimination.
People weren't taking it seriously.
To most of them, this was just an advanced virtual reality.
Ace clenched his jaw.
That was the trick.
The game was letting them think this was just a fun experience.
That they had time.
That they could enjoy themselves, make friends, and strategize.
Ace wasn't buying it.
Mia crossed her arms. "You feel it too, don't you?"
Ace nodded. "Yeah."
This was the calm before the storm.
And when the real game started…
Most of these people wouldn't be ready.
Ace and Mia walked deeper into the Players' District, observing the mix of excitement and overconfidence around them.
Some players had already started forming groups—trading knowledge, discussing strategies, and even making alliances. Others treated it like some social event, laughing as if they had all the time in the world.
A holographic display floated above the streets, flashing key statistics:
[TOTAL PLAYERS: 70,000]
[NEXT GAME STARTS IN: 23 HOURS]
Ace frowned. 70,000 players?
So many had entered this game.
And yet, despite everything, most were acting like nothing was wrong.
Mia nudged him. "We should figure out how this place works."
Ace agreed. They couldn't afford to be careless.
They approached a group near a market stall, where a tall guy with sunglasses was loudly explaining something.
"...Yeah, so each of us got randomly placed into different game sessions. Some people got puzzles, others got dumb trivia, and some even got physical challenges."
A girl beside him added, "They clearly separated us so no one would realize how big this place is until we got here."
Ace's stomach twisted. That made sense. Every group had thought they were the only ones.
A shorter guy laughed. "Bro, I bet they're just testing us before the real fun begins."
Ace narrowed his eyes. Real fun?
Mia muttered, "They're underestimating this."
And she was right.
Most of these people still saw it as a game.
They had no idea what was coming.
–––––––––––
They walked further down the street, where a massive digital signboard caught Ace's eye.
It read: THE SURVIVORS' RULES
They walked further down the street, where a massive digital signboard caught Ace's eye.
It read:
SURVIVORS' DISTRICT RULES:
1. You may roam freely until the next game begins.
2. No escaping the district.
3. You must participate in all games.
4. Failure to comply will result in elimination.
Ace clenched his jaw at that last line. Elimination.
They were still being watched.
Mia crossed her arms. "So, we're free to move… but we're still trapped."
Ace exhaled. "For now."
Whatever the next game was, it would be far worse than the first.
And if people kept treating this like a joke…
Most of them wouldn't make it.
Engines roared through the streets as players drifted and did burnouts, filling the air with the sharp scent of burnt rubber.
Ace and Mia stopped to watch as several high-end sports cars swerved around in a reckless display of power.
"Where did they even get these cars?" Mia asked, raising an eyebrow.
Some were normal cars, while others looked like something straight out of a racing game.
A guy nearby, leaning against a motorcycle, smirked. "They were already here. Guess the game doesn't mind us having some fun before the next round."
Ace frowned. That was suspicious.
Mia pointed ahead. "Look."
Ace followed her gaze toward a crowd of players gathered near the city's edge. Their excitement had shifted—instead of celebration, they looked… uneasy.
The reason became obvious as they approached.
A massive, glowing blue barrier surrounded the entire city.
It stretched high into the sky, pulsing faintly like an energy field.
Ace scanned the area—several wrecked cars were scattered near the barrier, some with cracked windshields, others completely totaled.
Someone had already tried to escape.
A guy in a white hoodie crossed his arms. "Tch. It's a waste of time. The moment you touch it, you're done for."
Ace and Mia exchanged a look.
Mia asked, "Done for? You mean…?"
The guy nodded toward a burnt patch of ground.
"We watched three guys try to ram through it." He exhaled. "The second they touched the barrier… they disintegrated. No blood, no screams. Just—" He snapped his fingers. "Gone."
Ace's stomach twisted.
The Eclipse Arena.
That's what the system had called it.
This wasn't just a city. It was a sealed battleground.
Mia crossed her arms. "So they don't even need to guard us. We're already trapped."
Ace exhaled. "Yeah. And now everyone knows there's no way out."
The atmosphere had shifted.
The players who had been laughing and showing off were now whispering, uneasy.
For the first time since they arrived, they were realizing the truth.
This wasn't just a game.
They were prisoners.