[2 AM – FORCED MARCH]
They had been walking for an hour.
In the darkness. In the cold. In absolute exhaustion.
No one spoke.
There was no energy for conversation.
Only the sound of dragging footsteps on the sand.
And heavy breathing.
Alex checked the system periodically.
[DEBUFF: SLEEP DEPRIVATION – MODERATE]
[All stats -15%]
[Reduced concentration]
[Reaction time increased by 20%]
Every hour awake worsened the debuff.
And they had been awake for 21 hours without proper sleep.
He looked back.
Matthias's green light was still visible.
Maybe 4 kilometers away now.
He had gained a kilometer in the last hour.
He's catching up.
"How much longer can we keep this pace?" Raven asked, her voice hoarse.
"I don't know," Alex admitted. "Emily, how are you doing?"
Emily stumbled slightly. Kira caught her.
"Tired. Very tired."
"Can you keep going?"
"I have to."
But she was clearly at her limit.
[Emily – Stamina: 15%]
They all were.
