When the time came the campfire and the floating tablet disappeared, bringing them to the another empty space with people laying on the floor as if they were sleeping.

The were the new blood that would decide whom to follow, survivors or heroes, the same way as before.

This time the newbies were more cooperative and before they knew it both teams had a new influx of young blood, the survivor team being more popular than the heroes team, mosly due to Tian's bad attitude.

Most of the newbies how were asking about Chris whom was in neither of the two groups, he sat there alone staring at the title of the new mission.

"Pitch Black"

A movie about a spaceship that crushed on an unknown planet carrying with it a famous killer called Riddick.

Because however they had shitty luck they arrived on the planet a few days before the sun eclipse when monsters from the underground come out and kill everything on the surface of the planet.

Of course Riddick and a group of people escape the planet in the end and that's all.

George already had the plans for the mission ready, they would probably had to make sure to find the crush site of the spaceship. They only hoped it wouldn't be too far.

Of course all the planning only gave Tian a headache, he knew full well that it was pointless to plan ahead, a huge waste of time, the system would ruin any plans or expectations.

The thing however was the to old and newer players, these useless plans were a huge boost in confidence. The newest players were really interested in seeing what these so called missions were about and their own future.

On the other side the survivors were already running around following Nick and doing some light warm up excercises, instead of being huddled up and talking about future plans.

Before long and after a lot of planning the Heroes begun their own training regime, one a lot harsher than that of the survivors. To begin with this training had two goals. Raising the old players' stats and figuring out the new players physical capabilities.

The most mysterious however to the new players was Chris, he trained by himself and talked to himself a lot. It was as if he was insane or something, of course the reason as to why he was speaking to himself is because he discovered a terrifying thing, the more he used the relics the weaker they became. Right now the Red Empress couldn't even come out as a hologram like before she could only comunicate with him through the device on his wrist, By her words it seemed as if the system was restricting her access more and more, in the end she would become nothing more than a useless chat bot unable to even interfere with missions.

Chris hadn't expected that at all, nobody told him that this would happen, he was now reluctant to bring her to this new mission, he still had time to put her into his inventory.

This was something that only those that had Relics would know, but Nick didn't even care about Relics and Tian probably had never touched one in his life. Maybe some of the dislike he had for Chris came from that. Tian had gone through many missions, but he had never come in contact with a Relic, he had been indoctrinated that Relics were the source of all evil, but last mission he had seen it happen as well. Normaly missions were like a walk in the park, of course there were deaths for the new players, but veterans like himself were in no real danger at all.

It was the same for Nick during their first mission and second mission, he was really relaxed and was sure of his survival.

Time passed as everyone was training, but when it came time to rest a huge uproar begun among the new players.

Hera had brought along food for the new survivors, while the Heroes had done nothing at all they had only cared about finishing the mission, they hadn't even thought about buying food for the new players, even last time they used Chris' supplies, since nobody had brought any food. To the Heroes however it was a huge disaster as they lost the new players trust, seeing them run towards the survivor's camp to eat something.

It was a complete loss in a way, but Tian and the other heroes knew full well what sort of place the survivors camp was. Nick wouldn't care even if they all died as long as he survived, while Hera and Chrysa were powerhungry despots that forced others to do all the work.

Mike knew that quite well, but he had to agree that their move to gain everyone's favours was well thought. While Tian's team only thought about how to complete the next mission and only brought spare weapons to share with everyone.

Although weapons were more expensive than food, the new players had no way of telling and wouldn't really care bout it when they were hungry and thirsty.

People always think about the near future and only dream about the future far ahead. It was no miracle that all the new players begun to see the survivors group more appealing, even before they were given food people were more keen on survival rather than playing the hero.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

The main problem however stemmed mostly from the leaders of the two groups, Tian was too self centered and a bit of an asshole, while Chrysa and Hera were literaly swindling the new players into joining them. Nick didn't care at all since he just found it amusing to watch.

To him the whole situation was like a brawl between children.

As time passed there was nothing of interest, the new players were a lot more easygoing, most of them at least.

"Everyone gather up, survivors and heroes will have to work together until you can find a safe place to cower"

Tian announced, but only after Hera and Chrysa moved towards him did the new players follow.That was because Hera and Chrysa knew that he was right, before they find the secret piece they are in the same boat as the survivors, there's nothing they could do.

"Since everyone is her listen up well, want it or not we're a team and if we survive we do it together, I understand that you think that being a survivor is easier, but in reality it's the opposite, you can ask any Mike, who used to be a survivor about what happened to the previous group of survivors"

Tian said, while bringing Mike to their sight, whom was happy to cooperate.

"During the last mission out of 6 survivors, 2 died early and I changed sides because I was left behind by the group, you think that the survivors are a group, but it's not so, all they do is order you aroud and then run away leaving you to die, they will use you as bait or even sent you to your deaths when they no longer need you"

His words caused everyone to look at Hera and Chrysa with eyes of doubt and suspicion, while Nick didn't even approach the group gathering, he had no interest in it at all, still running and doing some excercise of his own.

The situation didn't look good for the survivor group, Hera and Chrysa were boiling with rage, but could do nothing to dispell the atmosphere, it was true that being a survivor wasn't something noble or even decent. All they learnt is how to hide while the Heroes did all the job and gained all the rewards, honestly it was nothing to be jealous of.

The two felt lost as from the huge group they had before only a few people still agreed to follow them, the most cowardly and weak, this was the fate of the survivor group. On the other side, more than half of the new players had now joined the hero side, as for the food, they had long eaten and were fully satisfied, they had no need of the survivor group anymore.

"Wait, why do we need to train if all we need to do is survive"

One of the new survivors said and the other two agreed with him, causing Hera a headache.After Mike's words it was impossible for them to order those people around, it was completely depressing to find themselves in the position of nunnies to a bunch of lazy cowards.

The more time passed the more the teams were fighting over new and even old members begun to have their own thoughts. The main difference being the goal of the two groups, the survivors wanted to go home, while the heroes were there to stay until they died. To those that didn't know the gist of it all, it seemed obvious whom to follow. Those that stived to return home sided with the survivors, while those that wanted power and adventure sided with the Heroes.

Chris at times looked at the two teems exchanging members and only thought ill of them. In all honesty they were still part of one group, why bother scrambling for people, what didn't they understand from the simple description they were given.If you don't fulfill the mission objectives you die, quite simple and understandable.

If everyone joined the survivor team, it only meant that they would just be wait to die.

"Chris, can I have a word with you?"

Suddenly Mike approached him, truthfuly Chris was rather surprised since they had never talked before and to him, he was just another new face that would probably go and die in a ditch somewhere.

"What is it?"

Chris asked devoid of emotions.

"I want to form an alliance with you"

Mike said, which caused a hint of interest in Chris, if he was the Red Empress she would have jumped onto this opportunity to form a group of their own.

"What for, you already have the vast majority of people on your side, what do you want me for?"

Chris' words caused Mike to smile in a rather villaneous way.

"You see Chris, I have a plan that can only succeed with your help"

Mike said while signalling him to come closer.

"I need you to use your relic to hire the bounty hunter during the next mission"

Mike silently whispered towards him as they sat down to talk.

"That, you want me to hire him as your bodyguard?"

Chris' mind turned fast, but the answer was not what he had expected.

-I need him to kill Nick

-Not interested

-Then what if I offer you an offer you cannot resist?

-And what is that?

-I will help you become the leader of the Hero team

-But I don't...

-Shhh, I've seen how you looked at Tian, I know that you want to kill him, but that's not the right way to become the leader of the Heroes

-I don't...

-You can fool yourself, but I can tell that you're jealous of him

-No I'm not

-Sure, suit yourself, I saw how you were looking at the score board, but did you know that helping others also earns you points, by moving alone you will never reach the same heights as Tian

-I don't care

-But you do, why don't you ask your A.I. and it will tell you to take this offer while it stands

Chris was shocked, because the A.I. indeed told him to make the deal. The A.I. had long come to the conclusion that Nick and Tian were dangerous variables that messed up with the calculations.

Chris was shocked to find out that Mike's action was indeed favourable for himself, but he didn't know if he wanted to so, just because of logic.

He felt manipulated by the A.I. at the moment as if his actions were too dependant on the A.I., but until now, the A.I. had never really failed him, with the help of the A.I. he had been more than safe during the last two missions, thus he decided to trust it again.

"Alright I'm in"

He said as they shook hands and begun chatting about different things while training.