Eli woke up screaming.
Which was awkward, because he wasn't dying.
He bolted upright behind the rock outcrop, bow clutched in his hands, heart pounding like it had personally taken offense to the concept of sleep.
"Okay," he panted. "Okay. That's fine. Just… nightmares."
The plains stretched out in front of him, bathed in pale morning light. The grass shimmered with dew. The air smelled clean, almost peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Eli squinted at the horizon. "You're suspicious," he told the grass.
The grass did not reply, which only made things worse.
A familiar translucent panel slid into view.
STATUS CHECK — HERO: ELI PARKERHealth: OptimalWeapon Integrity: StableRespawn Anchor: ActiveDeath Count: 0
System Tip:Rest improves performance.
Eli stared at the last line.
"…You let me sleep?"
The system, again, did not respond.
Eli slowly stood, stretching. Everything hurt just enough to remind him that yesterday had been real. The bow felt lighter in his hands now, balanced, almost comfortable.
That realization unsettled him.
"Don't get used to this," he muttered to himself. "Comfort is how you die."
As if summoned by his paranoia, a sharp whistle cut through the air.
Eli ducked instinctively.
Something slammed into the rock above his head, embedding itself with a solid thunk.
Eli stared.
It was an arrow.
Not his arrow.
"—HEY!" a voice shouted from somewhere off to his left. "Don't move!"
Eli froze.
"I wasn't planning to!" he yelled back. "I'm very stationary right now!"
Footsteps approached—fast, deliberate. A figure crested the nearby rise, bow raised, posture tense but controlled.
She stopped when she saw him.
They stared at each other.
She lowered her bow slightly. "You're… a Hero."
Eli blinked. "You say that like it's a diagnosis."
She snorted despite herself. "Same."
She stepped closer, eyeing his weapon. "Plains?"
"Uh. Yeah," Eli said. "You too, apparently."
"Name's Harper," she said. "I woke up over there." She gestured vaguely east. "Thought you were a Stalker."
Eli glanced at the arrow lodged in the rock. "Do Stalkers usually wear hoodies?"
"…Fair point."
They stood there awkwardly for a second.
Then Harper sighed and extended a hand. "Congrats on surviving your first night."
Eli shook it gratefully. "Congrats on not killing me."
"Low bar," she said, smiling faintly.
Miles did not wake up screaming.
Miles woke up coughing.
He rolled onto his side and hacked up water, sputtering until his lungs stopped trying to revolt.
"Note to self," he groaned. "Do not sleep near lakes that hate you."
The cliff overlook was damp but intact. The anchor glowed faintly nearby, steady and reassuring.
The spear hovered a short distance away, gemstones dimmer in the morning light.
Miles pushed himself up slowly. "Morning."
The spear pulsed once.
Miles smiled despite himself. "I'll take that as a greeting."
The system panel appeared.
STATUS CHECK — HERO: MILES CARTERHealth: Minor fatigueWeapon Integrity: StableRespawn Anchor: ActiveDeath Count: 0
System Tip:Hydration is recommended.
Miles stared at the lake. "I think I'm good."
He stood, stretching sore muscles, and glanced at the horizon. Storm clouds lingered far off, but the immediate area was calm.
Too calm.
"…I don't trust this," he said.
The spear drifted closer, as if agreeing.
Marcus woke up angry.
Specifically, angry that he was not dead.
"Still alive," he muttered, sitting up and wiping sweat from his brow. "Disappointing."
The volcanic ridge glowed faintly beneath him, heat rolling upward in waves. The anchor hummed quietly, embedded firmly in the rock.
The fire spear floated nearby, its glow subdued but present.
Marcus eyed it. "You let me sleep."
The spear tilted slightly.
"Don't get smug," Marcus warned. "I don't even like you yet."
The system panel appeared.
STATUS CHECK — HERO: MARCUS HALEHealth: Elevated stressWeapon Integrity: StableRespawn Anchor: ActiveDeath Count: 0
System Tip:Cooperation improves survivability.
Marcus laughed bitterly. "With what? The lava?"
The spear pulsed faintly.
Marcus frowned. "…You're not counting yourself, are you."
The spear did not deny it.
Lena woke up annoyed.
Which was impressive, because she hadn't gone to sleep.
She sat cross-legged near her anchor, arms wrapped around her knees, glaring at the sword resting against the cavern wall.
"You could've warned me you were going to whisper," she said.
The sword's shadow rippled.
"Yes, you were whispering," she snapped. "I don't care if it was 'ambient resonance' or whatever. That counts."
The system panel appeared.
STATUS CHECK — HERO: LENA MORRISHealth: StableWeapon Integrity: StableRespawn Anchor: ActiveDeath Count: 0
System Tip:Mental fatigue increases error rate.
"Oh, I'm the problem?" Lena shot back.
The sword remained stubbornly silent.
She groaned and stood. "I'm going to find literally anyone else to talk to."
Eli and Harper walked together cautiously, keeping a steady pace through the plains.
"So," Harper said, glancing sideways at him. "First impressions?"
Eli considered. "The system has the personality of a loading screen."
She laughed. "That's generous."
They crested a hill—and stopped.
Ahead of them, several figures were already gathered near a shallow ravine. Different weapons. Different stances. All equally wary.
Eli swallowed. "Please don't be hostile."
Harper raised her voice. "Hey! Heroes! Friendly! Probably!"
A pause.
Then a man holding a massive hammer made of swirling air stepped forward.
"…Define 'probably,'" he said.
The gathering was awkward.
Ten people, give or take, spread out just enough to avoid immediate disaster.
Weapons were held, but not raised.
Names were exchanged hesitantly.
Air Hammer. Blood Axe. Trident. Sword. Spear. Bow.
Miles arrived shortly after, dripping wet and apologetic.
"Sorry," he said. "Lake tried to murder me."
Marcus showed up last, heat rippling around him.
"Is this a support group," he asked dryly, "or a cult meeting?"
Eli blinked. "Oh thank God, sarcasm."
The system panel appeared for everyone simultaneously.
MULTIPLE HERO PROXIMITY DETECTEDSynchronization in progress
System Tip:Cooperation improves regional stability.
There was a collective groan.
Harper crossed her arms. "We're being peer-pressured by reality."
Miles raised a hand. "Quick question. Does anyone actually know what we're doing?"
Silence.
Marcus sighed. "Fantastic."
Lena squinted at the panel. "Did it just say 'regional stability'?"
"Yes," said the Battlefield Hero quietly. "That's… not comforting."
The system did not clarify.
Somewhere deep within its unseen architecture, new parameters adjusted.
Heroes had begun to gather.
And the system was paying attention.