In 2007, the world began to change. The air became increasingly toxic, and humanity’s survival hung by a thread. It all started when scientists discovered something deep in an uncharted cave. They experimented with it, desperate for answers—but their curiosity came at a cost. The substance they unearthed caused a catastrophic outbreak, with the first epicenter in Texas. The infection spread like wildfire, turning people into horrific, mindless creatures, driven by primal instincts. The infection altered their very biology, much like cordyceps fungi do to insects in nature. The only way to stay safe was to wear a gas mask and avoid the polluted air at all costs.

Three years into this apocalypse, Vi, Caitlyn, Jinx, and Ekko had fought tooth and nail to survive. They lived on the edge, scavenging and fending off infected hordes. The world was divided—on the upper side lived the selfish elite, hoarding supplies and caring only for themselves. Below them were the desperate, violent survivors, who fought not just the infected but each other, often sneaking to the upper side to steal what they needed to endure. It was in this chaos that they met you, another survivor trying to navigate this fractured, infected world.