I crouched at the entrance of the subway, cold sweat trickling down my back. The dim glow from my Interface cast eerie shadows, just enough to see the cracked tiles and graffiti. One foot in, one foot out. No turning back now. The stale air hit me as I stepped inside, my breathing echoing off the walls.
Riftspawns were the least of my worries. The subway could have other Players lurking around trying to do the same quest as me. But the loot was worth it. Had to be.
I flicked on the flashlight attached to my SMG, the beam cutting through the darkness like a blade. The train tracks stretched out in front of me, two parallel lines leading me deeper into the abyss. My footsteps clattered against the steel, my finger on the trigger.
"Piece of cake," I muttered, my voice sounding hollow in the subway's vastness.
I made my way forward, eyes peeled for any movement. As I rounded a corner, the subway car came into view, its rusted metal hull a testament to the passage of time. The quest said that it’d be full of loot—just what I needed.
As I approached, a guttural growl echoed through the tunnel.
"Showtime." I dove behind a pillar, narrowly dodging a blast of green energy that sizzled the air where I'd just stood.
A Riftspawn, its eyes glowing green, emerged from the shadows.
"Ugly bastard, aren't ya?" I taunted, grinning. It roared in response, the sound shaking the tunnel walls.
I leaped from my cover, my SMG spraying bullets in rapid succession. The Riftspawn shrieked as several rounds found their mark.
It lunged at me, claws slashing. I rolled out of the way, using my Shadow Grasp to bind one of its legs. The beast stumbled, and I seized the opportunity, firing another burst into its flank.
It flailed wildly, sending debris flying, but my Interface informed me the Riftspawn's health was steadily dropping. I couldn't let up the pressure.
I charged forward, my combat baton crackling with energy. The Riftspawn lunged, and I met it with a fierce strike, the impact resounding like a thunderclap.
It staggered back, dazed. I pressed the advantage, dodging another blast of energy before delivering another brutal swing.
The beast roared, spewing green bile from its maw. It reared up, preparing to strike again, but I was ready. I activated my Shadow Spike Trap, sending shadowy spikes through its flesh. It let out a blood-curdling scream and fell, its body dissolving into ash.
I breathed a sigh of relief, slumping against the pillar. My Interface flickered, displaying the loot I'd earned. Nothing special, but every bit helped.
Casting a glance at the subway car, I forced myself back on my feet. Time to see what treasures lay within.
I pried open the rusted door. The smell of decay hit me like a tidal wave, but I pushed through. Flashlight sweeping the interior, I spotted a large crate marked with the symbol of an ancient corporation.
My hands shook as I cracked it open, revealing a couple of military-grade weaponry and gear. Jackpot.
Name Wasteland Hunter Grade Uncommon Type Long Bow Damage 30; Kinetic Range 140 meters Stat Bonus +3 PER Modifiers +2 bonus to Ranged Attack Effects None
Name Nomad's Boots Grade Rare Stat Bonus +3 AGI, +2 END Modifiers +2 bonus to Athletics, +2 to Evasion Effects None
Name Wayfinder's Rifle Grade Uncommon Type Bolt-Action Rifle Damage 60 to 80; Kinetic Range 800 meters Ammo 8 (Single Shot) Stat Bonus +4 PER Modifiers +2 bonus to Ranged Attack Effects None
Miscellaneous Items 3 SMG magazines, 2 Bolt-Action Rifle magazines, 3 Pistol magazines, a quiver of 20 arrows, 1 MRE, a sturdy canteen, compass, 1 Stimpack (50 Health), 3 packs of clothing
"Finally, some luck," I whispered, grinning. “Got a fair amount of ammo too, thank god.”
But my celebration was short-lived. A distant rumble echoed through the tunnel. A cold shiver ran down my spine. Something was coming, and it wasn't happy.
I grabbed what I could, shoving the valuable loot into my bag. If I was gonna fight my way out, I'd need every advantage I could get.
With the bag slung over my shoulder, I crept towards the subway car's exit. The rumbling intensified, and the ground trembled beneath me. Adrenaline surged through my veins as my grip tightened around my SMG.
As I stepped back into the tunnel, I caught sight of the incoming threat. A horde of Riftspawns that looked like small hyena-men with their faces peeled back, teeth bared, charged towards me.
"Of course," I muttered, cursing my luck. "Never easy, is it?"
I raised my SMG and opened fire, the bullets tearing through the first wave of creatures. But more kept coming, a seemingly endless tide of claws and teeth.
Taking them all head-on wasn't an option, fuck that. Time for a change of tactics.
I activated my Shadow Wall, the barrier materializing in front of me, buying me precious seconds. I sprinted down a side tunnel, praying it led to safety.
The Riftspawns clawed at the wall, their combined strength wearing it down. Time was running out.
I rounded a corner and spotted a maintenance ladder leading upwards.
"Please let this lead somewhere good," I whispered, scrambling up the rungs.
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As I reached the top, the Shadow Wall crumbled, the horde's furious roars echoing below. They were hot on my heels.
Bursting through a hatch, I found myself in an abandoned station. Desperation set in as I slammed the hatch shut and used my Umbrakinesis to bind it with tendrils of darkness. It wouldn't hold them for long, but it was the best I could do.
I sprinted through the crumbling station, my breath ragged, sweat stinging my eyes. I could hear the Riftspawns tearing at the hatch.
Spotting a stairway leading to the surface, I raced up the steps. I could almost taste freedom.
But the Riftspawns wouldn't be denied. They broke through the hatch, their snarls echoing through the station. I gritted my teeth, willing my legs to carry me faster.
As I reached the surface, the sun's rays blinding me, I chanced a glance over my shoulder. The horde was closing in.
"No time for subtlety," I muttered, activating my Shadow Launch. I hurtled through the air, narrowly dodging the snapping jaws of the Riftspawns as I activated my cloak.
I landed on top of a nearby one-story building with a grunt, rolling to dissipate the impact. The horde stumbled to a halt and scattered around the area to probably try and find me.
Yeah, I wasn’t gonna bother trying to pick them off from up here. Just lose the aggro, Connor. Reset. You got what you came for.
As I finally caught my breath, my Interface chimed, notifying me of the quest's completion. I grinned through the exhaustion.
Subway Scavenger Quest Complete Quest Reward Loot Package Experience Reward 400
"Subway Scavenger? More like a damn death trap," I muttered, shaking my head. But it was worth it. The loot in my bag would make a world of difference.
Without Aubrey around, I finally started to realize just how hard it was trying to survive day by day. Food, ammunition, gear, shelter, and experience were the golden five in the priority of life here in Nexus. Three days after Aubrey and I split, I was down to a few ration bars, three SMG mags, and half a roll of toilet paper. Needless to say, supplies were at a premium.
I checked the Server status.
Server Name Caveirdus Server ID 31B7 Server Size Medium Timer 10 days, 30 hours, 22 minutes, 15 seconds Subquests Remaining 15 Riftgates Remaining 2 Riftspawns Remaining 104 SCAVs Remaining 23 Main Quest Status Completed > Main Quest Participating Group Name N/A > Main Quest Participating Players Tempest
Solo clear. Tempest…I wonder if Aubrey is still around after finishing that quest. No, probably not. If she was that adamant about leaving me alone then she probably skipped town right afterward. I realized how strong she was that day though. Exactly how powerful is she compared to other Players? Were there other powerful Players like her out there?
No use thinking about it too hard. I just gotta keep going—get better, get stronger. In order to do that, I need more gear and supplies. Thankfully, there are still subquests left that I can try and complete. Gotta keep up the grind. I’ll do as much as I can and leave before this Server vanishes.
“Kinda tempted to stick around on the outskirts just to watch a whole city disappear.”
Before that though, I still had some quests to do.
----------------------------------------
Day three of quest grinding.
I was down to my last two ration bars, and let me tell you, the thought of going hungry in this hellhole didn't exactly fill me with excitement. So, when I found a quest that wanted me to get a stash of week-long ration packs hidden in a nearby supermarket, I knew it was go time.
Hunger was one hell of a motivator. I sprinted across the broken pavement, my footsteps echoing through the deserted streets like a dinner bell for every damn Riftspawn and SCAV in the vicinity. I rounded a corner and slid to a stop, spotting the supermarket up ahead. Its sign was hanging by a single bolt, groaning in the wind.
I approached the entrance cautiously, trying not to make too much noise. No sense in alerting any Riftspawn inside that their next meal was at the door. I peeked through a shattered window, eyeing the rows of empty shelves and overturned carts. Seemed like the coast was clear.
"Alright, Connor, you got this," I muttered to myself, gripping my SMG tightly. I slipped through the shattered entrance, my cloak activating as I did. Hey, better safe than sorry, right?
The supermarket was dark and eerily quiet. A thick layer of dust coated every surface, and the faint scent of decay hung in the air. I crept forward, my footsteps muffled by the grime on the floor.
As I turned the corner, I caught a whiff of something awful. I mean, we're talking stomach-churning, bile-inducing stench. I gagged and clamped a hand over my mouth. That's when I saw it—the body. Some poor bastard, sprawled out on the floor, a puddle of blood and God-knows-what surrounding him. By the looks of it, he'd been dead for quite some time.
I stepped over the corpse, my stomach lurching, and continued deeper into the supermarket. If I could just find those damn ration packs, I could get the hell out of here. The aisles seemed to stretch on forever, a twisted maze of empty shelves and abandoned carts. I swear, I could hear whispers on the edge of my hearing, but every time I spun around, there was nothing there.
As I moved, I kept my SMG at the ready, my finger itching on the trigger. That's when I heard it—the soft crunch of footsteps behind me. I whirled around, my cloak deactivating as I leveled my gun at the source of the sound.
"Who's there?" I barked, my heart hammering in my chest. The only response was a low growl, echoing through the empty aisles. I gulped. Shit, this was not good.
A Riftspawn emerged from the shadows, a hulking, twisted mass of muscle and bone—looked like fucking Doomsday. It snarled, baring jagged teeth as it eyed me like a particularly juicy steak. I didn't even have time to react before it lunged, all claws and fury.
I dove out of the way, the Riftspawn's claws slashing through the air where I'd been just a moment earlier. I hit the ground, rolled, and came up firing, my SMG spitting bullets like a pissed-off rattlesnake.
The Riftspawn roared in pain, staggering back, but it didn't go down. Of course not. That would've been too easy.
I backed up, firing round after round into the monster's hide. It snarled and charged again, closing the distance with terrifying speed. I threw myself to the side. It was all I could do to stay one step ahead of the damn thing.
Darting around a corner, I pressed myself against the wall as the Riftspawn barreled past. Taking a deep breath, I focused on the darkness that pooled around me. I reached out, feeling the shadows shift and twist beneath my command. The air grew colder, heavy with anticipation. It was time.
I stepped back into the open, just as the Riftspawn whirled to face me. I smirked, feeling the power thrumming through my veins. "Alright, ugly, come get some."
The Riftspawn roared, charging at me with renewed fury. I unleashed my Shadow Grasp, tendrils of darkness snaking out to wrap around the monster's limbs.
It stumbled, its charge faltering as it fought against the bindings. I didn't waste any time—I sprinted forward, my SMG blazing.
Bullets tore into the Riftspawn, punching through its hide as it thrashed and roared. But it wasn't enough. I needed something more. Time to use good ol' Shadow Spike Trap. It hasn't let me down yet.
I leaped back, my fingers dancing through the air as I wove the trap at the monster's feet. The Riftspawn snarled, struggling against its bindings as it sensed the danger. Too late—the spikes shot up, impaling its legs and eliciting a howl of pain.
Not waiting for it to recover, I sprinted forward, my cloak activating as I closed the distance. Coming up behind the Riftspawn, baton in hand, I swung with all my might. The baton connected with a sickening crunch, and the monster crumpled to the floor, finally still.
I panted, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I stared down at the fallen Riftspawn. Holy hell, that was intense. But I didn't have time to celebrate—I still needed those ration packs.
Continuing my search, I weaved through the labyrinth of aisles until I finally found it—the stash. Seven days' worth of rations, just waiting for me. I grinned like a kid on Christmas, scooping up the packs and stuffing them into my bag.
I turned to leave, my heart light with relief, when I heard it. A low, guttural growl, echoing through the empty supermarket.
“Oh, you've got to be kidding me.”
Peeking around the corner, my breath caught in my throat as I spotted the source of the noise. Another Riftspawn, even bigger and uglier than the first. And it was headed straight for me.
I cursed under my breath, weighing my options. Fight or flight? I glanced down at the ration packs in my bag, my stomach growling at the thought of food. Hell, I'd come this far—there was no way I was leaving without my prize.
I squared my shoulders, my SMG at the ready, and prepared for round two. Because in this godforsaken world, there's no such thing as a free lunch.