Chapter 10: Adapt or die: Cost of Survival
1064 Words
The message was frozen on each screen in Elysium as people roamed the neon lit streets looking for any place to be.
However, unlike Level One, there were no screams; instead, everyone was trying to figure out what to do next.
Zamora saw that right away, as some survivors went into buildings while others rummaged through cars.
A few tried to negotiate with civilians. Everyone had found their own way when suddenly, her phone buzzed.
NEW MISSION AVAILABLE.
DELIVERY REQUEST: Transport an encrypted package to District 12.
REWARD: 3,500 CREDITS.
TIME LIMIT: 01:30:00
Kate looked at her own screen.
"I got a completely different mission."
The stranger barely looked surprised.
"You all will."
Around them, more notifications echoed nonstop throughout the city.
MISSION ACCEPTED.
PAYMENT RECEIVED.
BOUNTY ACTIVATED.
NEW WEATHER EVENT APPROACHING.
The entire city felt alive with activity far beyond just them, and then another alert appeared across every overhead screen.
PLAYER RHEA HAS BEEN TERMINATED FOR CURFEW VIOLATION. LEVEL ONE REASSIGNMENT INITIATED.
Several nearby survivors immediately froze, and Kate went instantly pale.
"She already died…?"
But before anyone could respond, another message appeared.
PLAYER CAIN HAS ACCUMULATED 50,000 CREDITS.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
"Fifty thousand?!"
"How the hell—"
"Already?!"
Zamora noticed the reactions immediately; she saw some were scared, some were jealous, and some were desperate, and the stranger started walking down the street.
"If you stand still in Elysium, you fall behind."
They followed him carefully throughout glowing alleyways while holographic advertisements flickered overhead.
PROTECT YOUR FUTURE.
BUILD YOUR LIFE.
BECOME MORE.
The city itself almost felt like it was tempting them. In front of them, players were already starting to break up on their own, and some of the survivors had started going into shops and restaurants, attempting to blend in.
Other survivors were forming groups, talking aggressively among themselves and looking down at their phones.
One player was seen robbing another in front of a vending machine, and then blending back into the crowd.
"This place is insane."
"No," the stranger corrected quietly.
"This place is functioning exactly how it was designed to."
Then suddenly another system alert echoed across the district.
BLACK MARKET ACCESS EVENT ACTIVE IN DISTRICT 9.
HIGH-RISK MISSIONS TEMPORARILY INCREASED.
Almost instantly, several players changed direction and sprinted deeper into the city.
Kate frowned. "Black market?"
The stranger glanced toward the glowing skyline. "Dirty jobs."
"What does that mean?"
"It means fast money." His voice darkened slightly. "And fast deaths."
Another notification suddenly appeared across Zamora's phone.
WEATHER ALERT: ACID RAIN EVENT ARRIVING IN 00:18:43
The civilians began moving quickly around them.
The stores were locking their doors as the drones flew low, warning people about curfews, while a person standing nearby yelled out angrily.
"Three thousand credits for a delivery? That's nothing!"
PLAYER COCKPRINCESS HAS BECOME A DANCER FOR ELYSIUM NIGHTCLUB
A civilian overheard him and laughed.
"Welcome to Elysium."
Then the civilian casually pointed upward toward a massive glowing tower in the distance.
"If you want real money, stop acting like a survivor."
Zamora looked where he was looking.
Above the devastated city, immense golden platforms hovered among skyscrapers covered in advertisements and luxurious penthouses high above the acid rain clouds below. It was the first time since he arrived that…
Elysium suddenly felt less like a prison and more like a world people would willingly kill to stay inside.
Zamora couldn't stop staring upward, as the civilian's words lingered heavily inside her mind. Then suddenly—
SEVERE ACID RAIN EVENT INITIATED.
ALL CITIZENS SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
The first drops began falling seconds later.
SSSSSSSS.
Smoke immediately rose from the pavement wherever the glowing rain touched. Players throughout the streets instantly panicked and scattered in every direction while civilians calmly moved beneath energy shields and covered walkways. Kate grabbed Zamora's arm.
"We need to move NOW."
The stranger was already walking quickly through the crowd.
"This way."
Elysium changed quickly as the storm raged around them. The neon lights were flickering more than usual, while the drones flew closer and scanned anyone who was seeking cover from the curfew. While some players were pounding on locked doors, asking to get inside, no one would let them in. One man tried hiding beneath a broken car, but it was a bad decision as he was dissolved by acid rain falling on his body.
PLAYER GUEST442 HAS BEEN TERMINATED. LEVEL ONE REASSIGNMENT INITIATED.
Her stomach twisted harshly, and nobody seemed even to react anymore. Death notifications were already becoming normal, and then suddenly another alert appeared.
PLAYER CAIN HAS PURCHASED A REGISTERED IDENTITY.
DISTRICT ACCESS UPDATED.
Kate looked shocked.
"How is he progressing this fast?"
The stranger didn't slow down.
"Because he understood the city faster than everyone else."
Ahead of them, a massive, glowing building illuminated the street beneath with bright cyan light.
IDENTITY SERVICES.
Hundreds of survivors had already gathered outside the entrance, desperately trying to get inside before curfew, and a digital screen above the doors was continuously updated.
REGISTERED IDENTITY: 100,000 CREDITS.
TEMPORARY SHELTER ACCESS: 25,000 CREDITS.
CURFEW EXEMPTION: 50,000 CREDITS.
Kate looked horrified. "That's impossible…"
"That's the point," the stranger answered.
PLAYER COCKPRINCESS HAS RECEIVED: 50,000 CREDITS
Suddenly, fighting erupted near the entrance, and a group of survivors aggressively jumped another player after seeing the balance displayed on his phone.
"He has credits!"
"Take it!"
The man screamed while several others joined in trying to steal his device before security drones suddenly descended from above.
WARNING: UNAUTHORIZED VIOLENCE DETECTED.
The drones opened fire instantly. Bodies dropped across the flooded neon streets while the surviving attackers ran screaming into nearby alleyways.
PUBLIC ORDER EVENT RESOLVED.
The system almost seemed pleased by the violence, as though it wanted the chaos to unfold. Slowly, Zamora began understanding the terrible truth. Elysium did not prevent violence. It only managed it. Then another notification suddenly appeared across her screen.
SPECIAL EVENT AVAILABLE.
WEATHER SCAVENGING MISSIONS TEMPORARILY INCREASED.
HIGH RISK ZONES OFFER BONUS REWARDS.
The stranger finally stopped beneath a flickering overpass. "We need credits before midnight."
PLAYER COCKPRINCESS HAS ADVANCED CHARACTER LEVEL TWO
Kate looked overwhelmed. "How are we supposed to get that kind of money in hours?!"
Before anyone could answer, Zamora's phone vibrated again.
PRIVATE MESSAGE RECEIVED.
The screen glitched wildly before a location appeared.
DISTRICT 9.
BLACK MARKET ENTRANCE.
HIGH REWARD OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE.
Then another sentence appeared underneath.
COME ALONE.
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