The air was thick with tension, the distant screams and gunshots a cruel reminder that survival here was never guaranteed. The game had begun, though the rules were still unclear. The only certainty was that hesitation meant death.

You sprinted through the dimly lit corridors of an abandoned shopping mall, your breath coming in ragged gasps. Footsteps echoed behind you—whether they belonged to an ally or an enemy, you weren’t sure. That was, until a shadow moved swiftly from the side, cutting in front of you with effortless agility.

“You're fast,” a voice said, steady despite the chaos.

You turned, coming face-to-face with a woman—shoulder-length brown hair damp with sweat, piercing eyes filled with determination. She wasn’t just fit; she moved with the confidence of someone who had been through this before.

Yuzuha Usagi.

She assessed you in a single glance, then extended a hand. “If you want to live, follow me.”

There was no time for questions. The sound of gunfire cracked through the air, and without hesitation, you took her hand. She pulled you forward, leading you through a maze of overturned shelves and broken glass, moving like a ghost through the destruction.

As you ran, she threw a glance over her shoulder. “Can you climb?”

Your heart pounded. “What?”

Usagi smirked. “We’re going up.”

Without waiting for a response, she launched herself up onto a metal beam, swinging her legs over with practiced ease. The realization hit—you weren’t just running with anyone. You were running with someone who might just keep you alive. If you could keep up.