Out of the shadows of Gear Savannah, a figure stepped out: a girl with crimson eyes. Before anyone knew what hit them, a smoke bomb went off in the middle of the tussle between the Novgovians and Wyolanders, wrapping everything in a smokescreen. Amidst the chaos, with everyone hacking and coughing, Marshmallow and The Goat Horse were yanked away by their wrists with some superhuman speed.

"What the heck?" Marshmallow managed to sputter. He didn't get a chance to think another thought before he was running, or more like being dragged, at a mind-blowing speed. Right beside him, the Goat Horse tried to say something, maybe a question or an exclamation of surprise, but his voice got swallowed up by the whirl of smoke.

When the smoke finally cleared, Marshmallow got a moment to realize who their mysterious savior was.

Wait... I've seen her before!

The girl with the crimson eyes. Marshmallow remembered the exact moment he first saw her. It was at the cube, just before the game started when Marshmallow noticed those unusual eyes and thought they were artificial. Guess not. Now she was decked out in weather-appropriate boots and a military uniform, with a rifle slung over her back. Quite the getup for the occasion. Marshmallow, still trying to catch his breath, gawked at her.

"How did you do that?" he managed to ask, still in awe of their rapid escape.

Without slowing down, the girl shot Marshmallow a look that seemed to size him up, her crimson eyes glowing with an unusual intensity. "You're the Jolly Rank. Couldn't let you get whacked by them."

So there's someone in this game who's been paying attention.

Marshmallow grinned. Suddenly, he thought of SonicEcho, who hadn't even noticed his Jolly Rank position. The Goat Horse, catching his breath, looked at the girl with newfound respect and gratitude. Their savior, with just a few words, had proven to be a valuable ally and perhaps a lifeline in the wild, unpredictable world of Gear Savannah.

Once they were safe from immediate danger, the trio stopped to catch their breath. The fog behind them had dissipated as if it had never been there. The girl, with her crimson eyes that seemed to catch every little detail of their surroundings, surveyed them for a moment in silence.

"I'm Samanteye, but you can call me Sam," she said, breaking the silence. Her revelation seemed to be just the tip of the iceberg of a much deeper and more complex story.

Marshmallow, still stunned by the incredible speed of their escape, nodded, trying to piece together the fast-moving puzzle. "I'm Marshmallow, and this thing next to me you can call Goat Horse."

"Thing? Call your sister 'thing'!" The Goat Horse retorted sharply, shoving Marshmallow. Then Marshmallow shoved him back, and at that moment, Samanteye stepped in to separate them.

"Are you guys for real? What are you, kids?" She facepalmed. "Anyway, back to business. I've seen how you move in the game, Marshmallow. Your Jolly Rank isn't something to be ignored. Despite having no kind of head start, you're doing pretty well. And then..." she paused as if weighing how much to reveal, "I can't take down those guys alone. There are too many, and they're too strong. Especially that leader. I need all the help I can get. And I need you too, Goat Horse."

The Goat Horse, who'd been more of a bystander up until now, stepped into the convo. "Those guys? How tough are we talking?"

Samanteye let out a sigh. "Already went toe-to-toe with them once. Had a buddy, a C Rank, but that leader pretty much shredded him," she admitted, a hint of tension in her voice. "We're dealing with an A Rank. Not the kind you can just knock over, especially not solo."

Marshmallow was floored by how quickly things were escalating. Just this morning, he'd been psyched about teaming up, and now he was staring down the barrel of an A Rank! What was it about Gear Savannah that was drawing crowds?

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Well, the answer's kinda obvious, isn't it?

"Sam, what's the deal with all the players here? Are we all chasing after the Prismatronic Core?" Marshmallow said, arms crossed.

Samantheye gave them both a look that was tough but not without hope. "You know about the Prismatronic core? No way!" she said, sounding impressed.

"Why?" The Goat Horse piped up.

Samantheye tapped her chin. "Here's the scoop. It seems like the Prismatronic Core quest pops up randomly for some players who've nailed the very first optional default quest, which is hitting level 5 within a week. The Survivor Game's only been on for 48 hours. How'd you hit level 5 already? I'm a B Rank and I'm just at level 11."

Marshmallow was puzzled. "It's a long story, not sure this is the right time to dive into it," he said, uncertain, then pressed on, "But spill about you. You're a B Rank? So, you got a Unique Skill?"

"Yep, see these eyes?" she said, pointing to her eyes. Right then, her eyes started glowing intensely, as if there was an LED light behind them.

"What in the world is that?" The Goat Horse asked, looking seriously intrigued.

"My eyes are crimson in real life too, but with my B Rank, I've got this special ability, Red Eye Revelation. And thanks to that, I can tell you..."

Samanteye suddenly jerked her head up to the sky.

"I can tell we need to book it!"

She grabbed the duo by their wrists again, the ones who'd taken down Grimgoat, and started sprinting as hard as she could.

BOOM!

Right where the trio had been chilling, there was an explosion, like a laser had just gone off behind them.

"What in the world!" Marshmallow yelled.

"That's the leader's ability!" Samanteye shouted as they bolted. "His Very Unique Skill lets him whip up those freaky explosive light beams, but I've got no clue what it's based on!"

"So, what's the game plan?" the Goat Horse shot back, having morphed into his equine form, breaking free from her grip. Samanteye, taken aback for a second, got ready to lay down the strategy.

"Book it! We're toast in a head-on clash. One hit from that and we're crispy. Right now, it's all about the retreat."

As the trio dashed across Gear Savannah, the ground beneath them seemed to buzz, echoing like it was picking up the vibes of their chasers. Samanteye was leading the charge with fierce determination, her crimson eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of an escape from the death trap they'd stumbled into.

"Here, quick!" She yelled, pointing at a hidden crack between two massive rocks tangled with metallic vines. Without a second thought, they squeezed into the tight hideout, their heavy breathing echoing off the cold, damp walls. Inside the cave, their breaths slowed, but the air was still thick with tension.

"That guy... his power's unlike anything I've seen so far," Marshmallow whispered, his voice laced with clear fear.

"Yup. A Ranks are on a whole other level. His Very Unique Skill, that light explosion... deadly," Samanteye nodded.

Meanwhile, the Goat Horse, back in his humanoid form, had wedged himself into the cave too, and was now pacing restlessly. "So, what's next? We can't just chill here forever."

Samanteye locked eyes with Marshmallow and the Goat Horse. "We split up. I'll draw their attention elsewhere. You guys go hunt for the Prismatronic Core."

Marshmallow hesitated, aware of the risks. "Splitting up could be our biggest mistake..."

"No time," Samanteye cut in, "it's the only way to give us all a shot."

A sudden noise from outside cut their conversation short. The Novgovians were close. Their temporary sanctuary wasn't safe anymore, and it was only a matter of time before they were found.

"Alright," Marshmallow agreed with a nod, "but we're meeting up again, right?"

"Definitely," Samanteye replied, a hint of a smile touching her lips. "Wouldn't be fun otherwise. In the center of Gear Savannah, there's a huge tower with a massive metal Moose sculpture on top. Meet me there at dawn tomorrow. If I'm not there, don't wait for me."

Marshmallow and the Goat Horse nodded, then shared a look of understanding with Samanteye. She then bolted from the cave, disappearing among the gears. They waited a few moments before making their move to leave the cave too.

Without warning, the cave's quiet was shattered by an explosion. The rock wall in front of them gave way under the force of a devastating attack, turning into a cascade of glowing debris. Through the dust and smoke, the enemy leader's figure materialized, as imposing as death itself, with his arm still extended forward.

His voice, cold and sharp as steel, sliced through the thick air. "Game over," he declared, a malicious grin warping his features, reflecting the dying light of the day on his shiny armor. He was alone, but no less menacing.

Now what do we do?