Hazie began speaking as she stride towards the exit, her voice carrying the sharp, matter-of-fact tone of someone used to giving orders.

  "As I said, Kai. There’s no turning back now. Whether you like it or not, our only option is cooperation—unless, of course, you’d prefer to die without accomplishing much. Which, honestly, is fine by me. I warned you, didn’t—"

  "Just get to the plan already," Kaiser cut in, his voice flat.

  Hazie paused, her lips tightening into a thin line as she regarded him. After a beat, she sighed. "There’s not much we can do, actually. I’ve used all my combined personas’ blood to delay it as long as possible with fake trails. But that’s gone now, so leading it on a false track isn’t an option anymore. And, given our current levels and my injury, facing it head-on is an absolute no-go... Yet."

  Pushing aside the tent’s fabric with a dramatic sweep, Hazie stepped outside, her boots crunching against the rocky ground. The world under the oceanic sky greeted them with a biting chill, the alien expanse above shimmering faintly with ethereal light and showering the black ground with dancing luminous lines, yet the mountains remained dim and eerie.

  She paused, lifting her head to gaze at the strange, endless water above. Then, casting a sidelong glance at Kaiser, she continued, "So, the plan is simple: we put as much distance between us and it as possible.

  The location where the boulder fell is far. We’ve got about half an hour, maybe more... or less before it gets here. Either way, that’s enough time to gather supplies. For now, we keep it behind us until I—"

  Hazie’s words were abruptly cut short as she took a confident stride forward, only for her right leg to buckle beneath her. She stumbled, falling flat on the hard ground.

  Kai blinked, the usual impassiveness on his face giving way to a flicker of amusement. The sight of Hazie—who just moments ago had been so commanding and sure of herself—tripping over nothing was too much for him to handle.

  "Aww... That stings!" Hazie complained, rubbing her forehead, grimacing.

  She glanced up, her glare sharp enough to pierce stone, only to find Kaiser’s mouth twitching with barely suppressed laughter.

  "Stop laughing," she snapped, her voice laced with embarrassment.

  That only made it worse, though. Seeing her sitting there, pouting like a child who had just been scolded, caused Kaiser to finally crack. A chuckle slipped out, quickly growing into a low rumble of laughter that he didn’t even bother to hide.

  "I said *stop laughing!*" Hazie shouted, her face reddening, though it wasn’t clear if it was from anger or humiliation.

  Kaiser held up a hand as if to defend himself, his laughter dying into a lingering grin. "Alright, alright," he said, the mirth still evident in his tone. He coughed, attempting to regain his composure. "So… we’re gathering supplies first, huh?"

  His eyes drifted to Hazie, who was still on the ground, glaring at him with all the ferocity of a kitten trying to roar a silent order. The sight was far from intimidating. If anything, it was... Adorable.

  They locked eyes for a long moment. Eventually, Kaiser sighed, letting his shoulders sag in resignation.

  "Fine... I’ll gather."

  Hazie gave him a smug little smirk, clearly satisfied, even as she brushed herself off and climbed to her feet. Her leg visibly hurting because hours of respite cannot heal an injured foot.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Time suddenly felt like a precious commodity the moment the distant rumble echoed through the alien landscape. After all, It was a sound that carried an unspoken promise of destruction, announcing a mysterious monstrosity was closing in on them. The threat had already forced Hazie to forsake one of her personas for the group's safety.

  Thankfully, Kaiser and Hazie had both managed to rest just enough to function. And the time she spent fixing her damaged suit for better efficiency, while Kaiser had stolen a few moments of waiting to study the ranking system through the interface provided by the mysterious ring were mere minute, at best. He would have liked to delve deeper into the descriptions of other terms *Bond*, *Zara*, and his relic, *Windslayer*. But there was no time. Kaiser had been forced to prioritize something far more immediate... Survival.

  As the only one fully mobile, the responsibility of scavenging for distant supplies had fallen squarely on him.

  It was frustrating, but Kaiser had to delay his curiosity and hold off from studying the ring’s descriptions due to the pressing circumstances. For now, survival demanded pragmatism—choosing retreat over confrontation. Truthfully, he would have much preferred to stand his ground and deal with Hazie’s pursuer once and for all. If not for the two critical factors holding him back.

  Firstly, Hazie’s survival was non-negotiable. Despite Kaiser's own immortality, he wasn’t confident he could keep her alive in a direct fight against an unknown and likely formidable adversary. Hazie had only one life to gamble with, and Kaiser wasn’t willing to risk being lost in this land without her guide.

  Secondly, his immortality was a secret he intended to guard fiercely. It wasn’t just about avoiding awkward questions or Hazie’s potential fear—it was about the immense value that others might attach to such a power. After all, we're talking about immortality here. Winning as an undying opponent one thing, but avoiding death entirely throughout the clash was another. Especially when facing an enemy whose strength and abilities were a complete mystery. Right now, surviving a battle wasn’t just about victory—it was about doing so discreetly, and with Hazie as a troublesome witness, a reckless approach wasn’t an option.

  All of this forced him into a corner, compelling him to take the rational route: following Hazie’s lead. Ironically, he knew her plan would inevitably lead to a confrontation with the creature in the end. Though Hazie had not explicitly stated it, Kaiser understood her resolve. She wasn’t going back to the camp until the monster was either dead or incapacitated. If Kaiser wanted a sanctuary, he would have to play by her rules and help her achieve that goal.

  The condition was harsh for someone seeking refuge, but it made sense. Hazie wasn’t the type to endanger the larger group for the sake of one stray survivor. As lovely as she may seem, she's not a naive girl and Kaiser respected that.

  However, nothing changed the fact that Hazie won't be out here if numerous players could handle the thing tracking her. Let alone, two lost players. It's impossible, to say the least but Kai had to make it work... Without dying, somehow.

  Hazie wasn’t na?ve or foolish, and her resourcefulness gave Kaiser some confidence. For now, the priority was buying time. Hazie’s injured leg was too problematic, making combat a non-option until she recovered. Their best strategy was to gather supplies and prepare for what lay ahead while keeping the creature at bay.

  The first step was to gather whatever resources they could to ensure their survival.

  The abandoned camp offered little in the way of supplies, but humans were nothing if not resourceful. Kaiser was tasked with scavenging food outside while Hazie stayed behind to do her part.

  Once out of her sight, Kaiser broke into a brisk run as he made his way toward the carcass of a four-winged bat-like creature—though its grotesque, insect-like features made it resemble something out of a nightmare. Eating and unknown creatures flesh wasn’t exactly safe, but for someone like Kaiser, the risk was minimal. As an immortal, he could afford to act as a human edibility tester.

  Using his blade, he carefully cut strips of meat from the creature. He packed the clean cuts into a makeshift bag fashioned from scraps of fabric.

  The entire process was quick and methodical. Kaiser worked with an urgency born of necessity, his senses on high alert for any signs of danger. Once he had enough, he made a swift retreat, his eyes scanning the horizon as he returned to the camp.

  When Kaiser returned, Hazie was already finished with her preparations. From the fabric of the tent, she had fashioned a simple bag, crude but functional, which housed a makeshift sleeping bag. Made of thin layers of material, stacked and secured with strips of fabric, formed a rough yet practical solution. Though it wouldn’t offer much comfort or insulation, it was leagues better than lying on the cold, unforgiving rocks without any kind of cover from the chilling atmosphere.

  She worked with surprising efficiency, using one of her twin daggers to slice the fabric neatly. The weapon itself caught Kaiser's attention—a sleek and sharp blade, almost more a tool than a weapon, like a practical military dagger designed for combat utility. One edge was razor-sharp, while the other was jagged and saw-like, perfect for versatility in both survival and battle. The metal gleamed, resembling pure silver, though Kaiser suspected it was something far more durable and unique, much like her armor.

  As Hazie rolled up the sleeping bag and tucked them into her sack, she secured the bag’s opening with a drawstring, knotting it with practice ease. Rising to her feet, she adjusted the twin blades that rested on her back. Unlike the dangling old-fashioned scabbards Kaiser was used to seeing, Hazie’s weapons were housed in a sleek, fixed sheath integrated into her lower back armor. The design was seamless, as if the blades were an extension of the armor itself when sheathed—an elegant fusion of form and function.

  Hazie glanced at Kaiser, brushing stray strands of pink hair from her face. “Done?” she asked, her voice brisk but not unkind.

  Kaiser opened his mouth to reply, but before he could utter a word, a deep, resonant rumble shook the ground beneath them. This time, it wasn’t just a distant echo—it was louder, heavier, the vibrations carrying an unmistakable sense of menace.

  There was no need for Kaiser to ask if this was Hazie’s doing; the answer was written plainly in her wary glance toward the source of the sound. Instead, he turned his gaze away from the direction of the tremor and shrugged.

  “...Yup.”

  Hazie didn’t wait for any further comment. With a nod, she hefted her makeshift sack over her shoulder and tightened the straps of her armor. Kaiser followed suit, his movements slower but deliberate, mentally steeling himself for what lay ahead.

  And with that, the race for survival had officially begun. The cold wind bit at their skin as they exited through the barrier of the abandoned camp, leaving the fire within the lone tent burning.