Tansy moved like a streak of wind through the forest.

She sprinted forward, barely touching the ground before springing onto the trunk of a nearby tree. Her feet pushed off the bark, and she vaulted onto a branch before leaping to the next tree with effortless agility.

Tyler followed behind her.

But the difference in speed was obvious.

While Tyler could run fast, Tansy moved through the forest as if she had grown up inside it. Every step was precise, every jump perfectly timed. She used roots, branches, and rocks like stepping stones.

Behind them, the forest exploded with noise.

Deep, angry grunts echoed between the trees.

The giant ostriches had noticed them.

Not just one.

An entire pack.

At least eight of the nine-foot-tall birds thundered through the undergrowth, their powerful legs kicking up dirt and leaves as they chased the two intruders.

The "simple hunt" Tansy had planned had turned into a disaster.

Their hidden position had been discovered.

Now they were the prey.

Tyler jumped over a fallen log and caught up to Tansy for a moment.

"I told you not to do that!" he shouted.

Tansy didn’t slow down.

"If you want meat," she yelled back, "then danger is something you must meet!"

Tyler glanced back.

One of the massive birds crashed through a bush behind them, its long neck snapping forward like a spear.

"Dangerous situation is an understatement!"

Tansy suddenly grabbed Tyler’s wrist.

"This way!"

Instead of continuing forward, she pulled him sharply to the left, diving between two thick trees and forcing a sudden change of direction.

The ostriches barreled past the original path before realizing the prey had turned.

The delay gave them precious seconds.

Tyler ran beside her now, scanning the surroundings.

"Where are we?" he asked.

Tansy didn’t hesitate.

"I’m not sure," she admitted. "But it’s fine. If we reach the river and follow the flow, we’ll eventually reach Sector 11 again."

Her confidence was impressive.

Even while being chased by giant birds.

After several more minutes of frantic running, the sounds of pursuit finally began to fade.

The heavy footsteps of the ostriches grew distant.

Eventually, the forest returned to silence.

Tansy slowed first.

Then she bent forward, hands on her knees, catching her breath.

"I didn’t know ostriches hunted in packs," she said between breaths.

Tyler leaned against a tree and laughed tiredly.

"Next time, let’s hunt something that doesn’t eat tigers."

Both of them looked around.

The forest felt unfamiliar.

Before they could say anything else—

A sudden roar filled the air.

A sleek silver shape shot past them with blinding speed.

Wind blasted across the trees as the object passed.

Tyler and Tansy both stumbled backward.

A maglev train raced across elevated tracks just a few dozen meters away, its body gliding silently after the initial rush of wind.

Tyler stared.

"There are trains here?"

Tansy’s expression turned uneasy.

"Oh no..."

"What?"

"I think we ran farther than I thought."

She pointed toward the tracks.

"That rail line doesn’t pass near Sector 11."

Tyler followed her gaze.

Beyond the tracks stood a large structure partially hidden among the trees.

An abandoned building.

The concrete walls were cracked and stained, and half of the structure looked like it had collapsed long ago.

"Let’s check it out," Tyler said.

They quickly ran toward it.

"So about the train," Tyler asked while moving cautiously through the tall grass. "Is there a station nearby?"

"There is," Tansy replied. "But not near Sector 11."

She brushed aside a broken metal panel and stepped closer to the building.

"These trains are mostly used by Capital citizens. Sector people can only ride them if a Capital official personally takes them along."

Tyler raised an eyebrow.

"So transportation is restricted too."

"Everything is restricted," Tansy said quietly.

They reached the entrance.

The doors were long gone, leaving only twisted metal frames. Tyler stepped inside first, scanning the interior carefully.

The building looked like an old laboratory.

Broken machines lay scattered across the floor. Rusted consoles leaned against cracked walls. Several large metal cabinets had collapsed, spilling their contents everywhere.

Dust covered everything.

Half the building had caved in, burying entire rooms beneath fallen concrete. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Tansy exhaled slowly.

Tyler shook his head.

"Nothing useful here," he said. "Let’s head back."

But Tansy didn’t move.

Her eyes were fixed on something.

A faint glimmer of light reflected off the floor.

She walked toward it slowly.

Tyler followed.

Near the center of the room, partially hidden beneath debris, was a small metallic door set into the ground.

A hatch.

Tyler crouched and brushed away the dirt.

The metal surface was surprisingly intact.

They pulled it open.

Below was a narrow shaft with metal ladder rungs descending into darkness.

Tyler looked down.

"Huh."

Then he looked at Tansy.

"Are we actually going down there?"

Tansy’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Well... what if there’s something valuable?"

She said it like someone who had just discovered a treasure vault.

Before Tyler could protest, she swung herself onto the ladder and started climbing down.

Tyler sighed and followed.

As they descended into the darkness, Tansy spoke from below.

"You know, something like this actually happened before."

Tyler paused halfway down the ladder.

"What do you mean?"

"Years ago, someone found an old facility like this. Inside were ancient machines from before the war. He reported it to the Capital."

"And?"

"The Capital rewarded him by making him a Capital citizen."

Tyler raised an eyebrow.

"That explains a lot. Many people are yearning to go to Captial."

"After that," Tansy continued, "many people started searching for old buildings like these. Everyone hoped they might find something valuable."

Tyler looked down into the growing darkness.

"And these buildings?"

"They’re from before the World War," Tansy said quietly.

"The war that destroyed the old world."

"Do you know anything about the old world war?" Tyler asked curiously as they continued climbing down the ladder.

Tansy’s voice echoed faintly in the narrow shaft below him.

"Only what we were told in school," she said. "From what I heard, the war started when an orange-haired president from a country that loved oil and freedom decided to start a conflict with another nation that produced a lot of oil. That country was called as Ran or something?"

She paused for a moment, thinking.

"Anyways.... After that, everything escalated. Many countries started making Nukes and all. They said it is for Protection but–"

Their voices slowly faded into the darkness as they continued descending deeper underground.

---

As Tyler and Tansy continued descending deeper into the underground passage, far away in the Capital something entirely different was unfolding.

Inside the Capital stood a colossal hall—so vast that its ceiling disappeared into shimmering heights above. Every surface gleamed with polished gold. The pillars, the floors, the walls, even the intricate carvings decorating the chamber reflected warm golden light that bathed the entire space in brilliance.

Walking through this grand hall was a man whose appearance matched the extravagance of the place.

His skin carried a radiant golden tone, smooth and flawless like polished metal. His body was sculpted to perfection, every muscle defined as if carved by an artist. Even his hair flowed in a shimmering shade of gold that matched the opulence around him. The clothes he wore were not simple garments either—they were woven with fine golden threads that shimmered whenever he moved.

Behind him followed two women with silver-toned skin. Their appearances were equally striking, though far more subdued compared to the golden man. Dressed in elegant maid-like attire, they walked gracefully a few steps behind him, silent and obedient.

The golden man eventually reached an enormous sofa crafted from dark velvet and gold-plated frames. He sat down lazily, leaning back while casually resting one leg over the arm of the seat.

The two silver-skinned attendants immediately moved beside him.

One began massaging his shoulders while the other gently pressed his legs, their movements practiced and precise.

With a bored expression, the golden man reached toward a nearby console and tapped a button.

A large screen flickered to life.

The device had a strange retro-futuristic appearance, as if it had been designed with both ancient style and advanced technology combined.

On the screen, a program was already playing.

It showed wealthy Capital citizens participating in a hunting show. They rode luxurious vehicles across vast hunting grounds, chasing exotic animals with advanced weapons while cheering spectators watched from safe viewing towers.

The golden man stared at the screen for a moment.

Then he sighed softly.

"Ahh... how boring."

Even his voice carried an oddly charming tone—smooth, deep, and confident.

The silver-skinned attendants paused slightly, unsure whether they were expected to respond.

The golden man tapped the armrest thoughtfully.

Then a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Let’s have Capital Games this time."

He spoke the words casually, almost lazily.

But within the Capital, words spoken by someone like him were never taken lightly.

Within minutes, the quiet command would begin moving through the layers of the Capital’s authority— spreading like ripples through the golden city.

A new spectacle was about to begin.