02:13 AM – A Bloodied Beginning
Kaito stood over the lifeless body of The Butcher, his breathing eerily calm.
His fingers still gripped the bloodstained knife, its steel glinting under the flickering warehouse lights.
The man who had once been an unstoppable monster now y motionless in a pool of his own blood.
But Kaito felt… nothing.
No guilt. No regret. No hesitation.
> SYSTEM ALERT!
PLAYER #529 HAS ELIMINATED PLAYER #381 – THE BUTCHER.
RANKING UPDATED.
NEW STATUS: "UNRANKED THREAT."
REPUTATION: +250 INFAMY
48 HOURS ADDED TO YOUR TIMER.
Ren’s voice pulled him from his trance.
"You’re taking this better than I expected," Ren muttered, eyeing him warily.
Kaito gnced at his hands—steady, firm, as if they had done this a hundred times before.
"...I thought I’d feel different," he admitted, his voice devoid of emotion.
Ren’s smirk faltered. "That’s how it starts, rookie."
Kaito didn’t respond.
Instead, he crouched down and searched The Butcher’s corpse.
If this death was going to mean anything, he needed to take whatever advantage he could.
---
02:15 AM – Looting the Dead
The Butcher was massive, his body riddled with old scars from countless battles. But what caught Kaito’s attention was the dog tag around his neck.
A single number was engraved on it: 381.
So the pyers were numbered. That meant there were at least 381 others out there, each fighting for survival.
Kaito pocketed the dog tag.
Next, he checked the Butcher’s gear.
> LOOT OBTAINED:
- Cleaver of Execution (Weapon – Heavy Bde, +Strength, +Intimidation)
- Bloodied Leather Armor (Armor – Minor Defense Boost, Stained with Countless Kills)
- Keycard (No Label – Requires Further Investigation)
He slung the cleaver over his shoulder and tucked the keycard into his pocket.
Ren watched him with mild amusement. "Looting the dead already? You’re catching on fast."
Kaito met his gaze. "If I don’t take what I need, someone else will."
Ren chuckled. "Now you’re talking like a real pyer."
But before they could continue—
A sound echoed through the warehouse.
A low, mechanical whirr.
Kaito and Ren tensed.
A red ser flickered to life near The Butcher’s corpse.
Then, a monotone voice spoke from the shadows.
"Confirmed elimination of Pyer #381."
Kaito’s blood ran cold.
---
02:18 AM – The Watchers
From the darkness, a floating drone emerged.
It was sleek, bck, and silent, hovering midair as its red eye scanned Kaito and Ren.
Then, another voice spoke.
Not from the drone.
But from a hidden speaker system.
"Interesting… You weren’t supposed to survive that encounter, Pyer #529."
Kaito stiffened. "Who’s there?"
A low chuckle filled the air.
"The one who decides how long you stay alive."
Ren’s expression darkened. "Game Master."
Kaito’s stomach twisted.
The Game Master. The unseen force behind this entire death game.
He wasn’t ready for this.
> SYSTEM ALERT!
GAME MASTER HAS TAKEN NOTICE OF YOUR ACTIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE BEEN PROMOTED TO A “SIGNIFICANT THREAT.”
The voice continued.
"Your performance was quite… unexpected. But let’s see if you can keep up."
A sudden beep from the drone.
Kaito’s eyes widened.
It wasn’t just watching—
It was scanning him.
> SCANNING PLAYER #529…
THREAT LEVEL ANALYSIS: INCREASING.
"Let’s raise the stakes, shall we?" the Game Master mused.
Then—
BOOM!
A shockwave of red energy burst from the drone, sending Kaito and Ren staggering back.
And suddenly—
Their watches glowed.
> SYSTEM UPDATE INITIATED.
NEW RULE ACTIVATED: "BLOOD BOUNTY."
- PLAYER #529 NOW HAS A PRICE ON HIS HEAD.
- ALL PLAYERS WILL RECEIVE A BONUS REWARD FOR ELIMINATING HIM.
Kaito’s heartbeat smmed against his ribs.
The Game Master had just put a bounty on his life.
Ren let out a low whistle. "Well… that’s not good."
Kaito clenched his fists.
The whole city would be coming for him now.
---
02:21 AM – No Time to Rest
The moment the announcement ended, Kaito knew they couldn’t stay.
"Ren, we need to move. Now."
Ren nodded, already retrieving a small holo-map from his pocket. "Nearest safe house is five blocks west. If we—"
A gunshot rang out.
Sparks erupted as a bullet struck the metal crate beside them.
Kaito ducked instinctively, eyes darting to the warehouse entrance.
A group of figures had just entered.
Armed.
Smirking.
One of them, a tall woman with silver hair, twirled a combat knife between her fingers.
"Well, well," she purred. "Looks like we found our payday."
Ren exhaled. "That was fast."
Kaito’s grip tightened on the cleaver.
The bounty had already drawn in hunters.
And this was just the beginning.
---
End of Chapter 7
