The dome's light flickered.
Time was running out.
[Safe Zone Remaining Duration: 3h 58m]
Arjun stood at the edge of the barrier, looking out at the ruined city.
The map hovered in front of him.
Now clearer.
More detailed.
Nearby Zones:
Zone 17-A → Neutral
Zone 17-B → Hostile
Zone 17-C → Controlled (Unknown)
"…Three options," Arjun muttered.
The older man stepped beside him.
"…Which one?"
Arjun didn't hesitate.
"Neutral."
"…Why not hostile?" the girl asked.
Arjun replied calmly.
"…Because we don't have the strength yet."
The system didn't argue.
That was enough.
"…Neutral means low resistance," Arjun continued.
"…And we need control fast."
The injured man frowned.
"…Control of what exactly?"
Arjun looked at the map.
[Zone Control Benefits]
Resource generation
Safe point expansion
Enemy suppression
"…Control of survival," Arjun said.
Silence followed.
Then—
The older man nodded.
"…Alright."
Arjun stepped forward.
The barrier shimmered.
He paused for a second.
Then—
Walked through.
The moment he crossed—
The pressure returned.
Not as heavy as before.
But still present.
The squad followed.
The dome remained behind them.
Fading.
Temporary.
They moved carefully.
Toward Zone 17-A.
The streets here were quieter.
Less destruction.
Less movement.
But not empty.
"…Stay alert," Arjun said.
The drone scanned ahead.
[Zone Entry Detected]
A faint pulse spread across the area.
Like the system acknowledging their presence.
[Neutral Zone — Contest Initiated]
"…Contest?" the girl whispered.
Arjun's eyes narrowed.
"…That means we're not alone."
Movement.
From the rooftops.
From the alleys.
From the shadows.
Figures appeared.
Not monsters.
Humans.
Five of them.
Armed.
Rough.
But organized.
"…So we're not the only ones playing this game," the older man said quietly.
The group approached slowly.
Their leader stepped forward.
A tall man.
Scar across his face.
Eyes sharp.
"…This zone is ours," he said.
Arjun didn't react immediately.
"…You just got here."
The man smirked.
"…And we're still alive."
"…That means we're doing something right."
The tension rose instantly.
The girl stepped back slightly.
"…This isn't good…"
Arjun raised his hand slightly.
Stopping her.
"…We're not here to fight," he said.
The man laughed.
"…Everyone says that."
"…Until they want something."
Arjun's voice remained calm.
"…We want the zone."
Silence.
Then—
The man's expression changed.
"…Then we fight."
The system reacted.
[Zone Control Conflict Detected]
New interface appeared.
Control Conditions:
Eliminate opposing group
OR
Force surrender
Arjun exhaled slowly.
"…So there's no easy way."
The other group spread out.
Taking positions.
Clearly experienced.
"…They've done this before," the older man said.
Arjun nodded.
"…Yeah."
He stepped forward.
"…Last chance."
"…Leave the zone."
The scarred man smirked.
"…You should take your own advice."
Silence.
Then—
Movement.
The enemy group attacked first.
Fast.
Direct.
Arjun reacted instantly.
Threat Prediction activated.
He moved.
Dodged the first strike.
Countered.
A clean hit.
The attacker fell back.
"…They're not weak," Arjun muttered.
The second attacker moved in.
Arjun fired.
The plasma shot forced him back.
The battlefield spread.
The squad engaged.
Not clean.
Not perfect.
But—
They held.
"…Don't rush!" Arjun shouted.
"…Control your movement!"
The older man blocked an incoming strike.
The girl dodged, barely.
The injured man supported from distance.
Arjun focused on the leader.
"…You're the key."
The scarred man smiled.
"…Then come."
They clashed.
Fast.
Sharp.
Precise.
This wasn't like fighting monsters.
This was different.
Unpredictable.
The man attacked.
Arjun dodged.
Countered.
But—
The man blocked.
"…You're not normal," the man said.
Arjun didn't respond.
He adjusted.
Faster.
Sharper.
A feint.
A step.
A strike.
The man staggered.
"…Got you."
Arjun raised the rifle.
Pointed directly at him.
Silence.
The rest stopped.
Watching.
"…Surrender," Arjun said.
The system waited.
The man looked at him.
Then at his group.
Then—
Back at Arjun.
A long pause.
"…We're not dying for this."
He stepped back.
"…We surrender."
The system reacted instantly.
[Zone Control Complete]
Zone 17-A: Captured
The map updated.
Blue.
Controlled.
Arjun lowered the rifle.
"…Smart decision."
The scarred man exhaled.
"…You're stronger than you look."
Arjun turned away.
"…No."
"…Just faster to adapt."
The zone pulsed.
Stabilizing.
New resources appeared on the map.
New options unlocked.
The war—
Had just changed.
And Arjun had taken:
His first territory