System Fall - Volume 2 - Chapter 1

With the ruins of the Manhattan Skyline behind me it was time to move on. The only thing left of the rooftops and buildings that had been webbed with bridges was an ugly scar in the distance and nothing more.

I focused on what mattered. What was in front of me after my arrival. The Survivor’s Compound of Central Island.

Where once the sidewalks bustled with people hurrying to their destinations, now those same pathways thrummed with the tenacity of those left behind. Tents and tarps were stretched out, making an almost shanty town.

 Survivors turned vendors lined the edges, their stalls made from scraps, each brimming with necessary commodities and the odd luxury item salvaged from the wreckage.

Where traffic lights once dictated the ebb and flow of vehicles, now stood makeshift signs for directions towards relative safety. The familiar glow of street lamps was replaced by the flicker of fire pits and the occasional working generator, casting an low yet comforting glow against the dusky backdrop.

I was a survivor in the new world, my stomach offering a hollow grumble as walked. I clutched at my stomach, and others noticed.

Vendors hawked their wares, trading necessities for survival. Tense but hopeful faces peered out from alleys and doorways, wary of danger but desperate for connection. The familiar sounds of human chatter filled the air, occasionally interrupted by the sharp ring of a hammer on metal or the soft hum of an old generator. The scent of cooking food wafted through the air and didn't help my hunger.

It wasn't my first time going through Central Island. I was privy to its secrets, its hidden paths and shortcuts. Pushing away from the thronging masses I moved through the Survivor’s Compound. I made my way toward the edges of the sprawl. The haggard faces around me told me all I needed to know about how hard things had been on the other survivors.

It wasn't entirely bad, though.

"I might take a while before I can rendezvous with my old team. But what would I even say if I met up with them?"' I wondered what that would look like, an encounter with faces I had seen perish, comrades with whom I had spent the longest time. This anticipation stirred something within me, a sensation that settled deep in my gut.

My path took me away from the Survivor’s Compound and towards a nearby borough.

While drawing near the buildings, my attention was abruptly drawn to a rustling sound nearby, the irregular clattering of metal against stone. There, amidst the remnants of civilization, a Harefox scavenged for its own meal within the remnants of a battered trash can. The bizarre creature was an unlikely blend of fox and rabbit, a testament to the twisted biodiversity that had evolved in System Fall.

Its twitching ears and darting eyes betrayed the hardiness of the new world, a shared trait amongst all of us survivors, human and otherwise.

As silent as the ocean winds that blew over the ruins, I moved past more of the survivors as I pursued my next meal. The sly creature bore an uncanny likeness in taste to an overripe avocado in flavor - an odd comparison, I knew, but the strange realities of this world made such things possible. My mouth practically watered.

My well-honed instincts led my approach, my footfall quiet. With one swift and precise motion, I lunged at the Harefox before it could bound away where I couldn't reach it. My sword, Legender, flashed in the dim light, a beacon of death that caught the creature unawares. The Harefox fell without even realizing the danger it was in. A single cut from Legender ensured a swift, merciful death. It was survival of the fittest but that didn’t mean I needed to be cruel.

Still. I had my next meal.

Claiming my prize, my focus shifted to the next essential task: fire. Looking for a suitable location, I moved away from the lifeless body of the Harefox.

I looked around and found myself a secured hidden corner away from the main borough, I began to gather dry twigs and leaves scattered around. Carefully, I stacked them, ensuring the necessary airflow to fuel the infant flame. With a piece of flint and a hard stone, I coaxed a spark onto a dry leaf. As the flickering flame gained strength, I fed it slowly until it developed into a stable fire.

I turned my attention to the Harefox. Efficiently, I skinned and prepared the meat, sterilizing my blade in the fire. I almost felt bad about using the Azure Gleam Knife. Almost. The smell of meat cooking afterwards did away with any protests I might have had.

As I sat there, tending to my meal and soaking in the warmth of the fire, I was keenly aware of the world around me. Every meal, every day of survival was hard-earned in this unforgiving brave new world. I almost laughed at that. Compared to what was coming, what I was experiencing was easy.

When the meat was just about done, I retrieved my secret stash of Tabasco from my pocket. It wasn't much, but it made bad meat terrible, and good meat amazing.

I went ahead and checked my status.

With the ruins of the Manhattan Skyline behind me it was time to move on. The only thing left of the rooftops and buildings that had been webbed with bridges was an ugly scar in the distance and nothing more.I focused on what mattered. What was in front of me after my arrival. The Survivor's Compound of Central Island.System Fall NotificationTitle: Safe Zone - Survivor's Compound - Central IslandDetails:The Survivor's Compound, has been designated as a Conditional Based Safe Zone for those who have survived the trials of the Tutorials. The Safe Zone designation will remain in place so long as at least 25 survivor's are within the Safe Zone.During the daylight hours, the Conditional Based Safe Zone will remain active, offering protection against the onslaught of monsters. No creature ofSystem Fallshall be allowed to cross its boundaries. However, it is important to note that conflicts and battles between survivors will not be mitigated within the safe zone.As long as the safe zone remains active, food and other vital supplies will be shielded from any and allSystem Falleffects that directly remove, decay, or spoil supplies, such as the Dark of the Night event or Cursed Bounty.The Safe Zone's protection against monsters is lifted at nighttime. System Fall NotificationTitle: Quest - Survive and StrengthenDetails:Within the confines of the Survivor's Compound, designated as a Conditional Based Safe Zone, a crucial quest awaits those who seek to survive and grow stronger amidst the chaos of System Fall.Your primary objective is to ensure the safe zone's continued existence by gathering and maintaining a minimum of 25 survivors within its boundaries and finding ways to grow and survive the coming days and nights.Where once the sidewalks bustled with people hurrying to their destinations, now those same pathways thrummed with the tenacity of those left behind. Tents and tarps were stretched out, making an almost shanty town.Survivors turned vendors lined the edges, their stalls made from scraps, each brimming with necessary commodities and the odd luxury item salvaged from the wreckage.Where traffic lights once dictated the ebb and flow of vehicles, now stood makeshift signs for directions towards relative safety. The familiar glow of street lamps was replaced by the flicker of fire pits and the occasional working generator, casting an low yet comforting glow against the dusky backdrop.I was a survivor in the new world, my stomach offering a hollow grumble as walked. I clutched at my stomach, and others noticed.Vendors hawked their wares, trading necessities for survival. Tense but hopeful faces peered out from alleys and doorways, wary of danger but desperate for connection. The familiar sounds of human chatter filled the air, occasionally interrupted by the sharp ring of a hammer on metal or the soft hum of an old generator. The scent of cooking food wafted through the air and didn't help my hunger.It wasn't my first time going through Central Island. I was privy to its secrets, its hidden paths and shortcuts. Pushing away from the thronging masses I moved through the Survivor's Compound. I made my way toward the edges of the sprawl. The haggard faces around me told me all I needed to know about how hard things had been on the other survivors.It wasn't entirely bad, though."I might take a while before I can rendezvous with my old team. But what would I even say if I met up with them?"' I wondered what that would look like, an encounter with faces I had seen perish, comrades with whom I had spent the longest time. This anticipation stirred something within me, a sensation that settled deep in my gut.My path took me away from the Survivor's Compound and towards a nearby borough.While drawing near the buildings, my attention was abruptly drawn to a rustling sound nearby, the irregular clattering of metal against stone. There, amidst the remnants of civilization, a Harefox scavenged for its own meal within the remnants of a battered trash can. The bizarre creature was an unlikely blend of fox and rabbit, a testament to the twisted biodiversity that had evolved in System Fall.Its twitching ears and darting eyes betrayed the hardiness of the new world, a shared trait amongst all of us survivors, human and otherwise.As silent as the ocean winds that blew over the ruins, I moved past more of the survivors as I pursued my next meal. The sly creature bore an uncanny likeness in taste to an overripe avocado in flavor - an odd comparison, I knew, but the strange realities of this world made such things possible. My mouth practically watered.My well-honed instincts led my approach, my footfall quiet. With one swift and precise motion, I lunged at the Harefox before it could bound away where I couldn't reach it. My sword, Legender, flashed in the dim light, a beacon of death that caught the creature unawares. The Harefox fell without even realizing the danger it was in. A single cut from Legender ensured a swift, merciful death. It was survival of the fittest but that didn't mean I needed to be cruel.Still. I had my next meal.Claiming my prize, my focus shifted to the next essential task: fire. Looking for a suitable location, I moved away from the lifeless body of theHarefox.I looked around and found myself a secured hidden corner away from the main borough, I began to gather dry twigs and leaves scattered around. Carefully, I stacked them, ensuring the necessary airflow to fuel the infant flame. With a piece of flint and a hard stone, I coaxed a spark onto a dry leaf. As the flickering flame gained strength, I fed it slowly until it developed into a stable fire.I turned my attention to theHarefox. Efficiently, I skinned and prepared the meat, sterilizing my blade in the fire. I almost felt bad about using theAzure Gleam Knife.Almost. The smell of meat cooking afterwards did away with any protests I might have had.As I sat there, tending to my meal and soaking in the warmth of the fire, I was keenly aware of the world around me. Every meal, every day of survival was hard-earned in this unforgiving brave new world. I almost laughed at that. Compared to what was coming, what I was experiencing was easy.When the meat was just about done, I retrieved my secret stash of Tabasco from my pocket. It wasn't much, but it made bad meat terrible, and good meat amazing.I went ahead and checked my status.