Micheal closed his eyes, and he saw the man broken and bloody in the snow.

He tried to take his mind off it, but every time he would circle back the blood on the snow.

Maybe it was how fast it had happened that was bothering him. The System had arrived a week ago, and already people were willing to torture others to get ahead.

The fact that this was a contest and the man was healed was of little comfort to him. They had still done it. And if he’d been alone, he would have been helpless to stop them.

“You need to focus on something else.”

He blinked at Markus. He’d been so lost In thought that he’d almost forgotten Markus was there.

“You can and should decompress and consider what you saw, but only after you're safe.”

Micheal blinked at the old man. “I…your right. I’m sorry.”

Markus’s smile was soft and sad. “Don’t be. No one should have to see that, especially not someone so young.”

Micheal opened his mouth, then closed it. “How do you deal with it?”

Markus scratched his chin as they rounded a bend. “Well, first, I think it’s important to keep a balanced view of humanity. When you stare into the dark for too long, you start to think that’s all there is. It’s not true. As hard as it is to remember sometimes.”

“There’s always going to be people that want to hurt others for any number of reasons. But there are always going to be people who want to help… Knowingthat, really believing it. That can help carry you through some rough spots.”

Micheal stared at the man, a mix of emotions fighting in his chest.

A lot of the time, age didn’t seem to grant wisdom. His grandparents were…well, he wasn’t on the best terms with them. But Markus made him think he’d just been talking to the wrong old people.

Heh, wrong old people? What criteria do they need to qualify as the ‘right’ old people?

He shook his head. “Thank you, Markus. I can’t imagine the System giving me a better teammate.”

The old man grinned. “Aw shucks, your gonna make me blush!”

They started laughing, only for it to be cut off by a flash of light from the pillar and a booming System announcement.

”The Roaming Ruckus is the first party to stand in the pillar for the required time. They have gained the most rewards! But do not fear! For second and third place are still open!”

They shared a look. “How the hell is someone moving that fast? And they already have a group name? What the hell!”

Markus laughed. “Yeah, that sure is something, especially since that means they somehow found each other in time to get to the pillar before everyone else. Are they just that fast?”

“Or they might have a communication Skill that made it easy to organize themselves. Though that still doesn’t explain their speed.”

Markus shook his head. “It’s certainly a mystery.” He stared at the pillar, which couldn’t be more than five minutes away now.

“You know what I’m thinking?” He asked.

“That you wanna be the second team through the pillar?”

Markus flashed his teeth, his grin equal parts savage and cheerful. “Exactly.”

~<>~<>~

“God damn, they are quick.”

Quinton blinked at the air before nodding.

“Well, I shouldn’t be surprised that people who already have a team name are ahead of the curve. I wonder if they have jerseys?”

Another thought occurred to Margie, and she immediately pressed her hand to Buford’s snout.

Red light washed over the dog, and his muscles and bones grew in a flash.

He shook his head, sending sparks of yellow flying from his jaw.

Margie started running through the snow to the pillar that couldn’t be more than a hundred yards away.

“Come on, Quinton!”

He started walking after her, not bothering to run. “Why?”

“Because,” she huffed. “We’ve made decent time, but not amazing. So If we’re this close, then just about everyone else is, too, including my party. So move!”

~<>~<>~

“Who comes out on top is going to matter.”

Steven glanced at Clark. They had drifted to a few conversation topics after clearing the obstacle course and now had drifted back to this.

The second half of the course had been dangerous but faster. The two of them had found their stride, and Clark trusted Steven to catch him, letting him take riskier jumps.

Now they were almost to the pillar.

“Of course it matters, but how do you think it’s going to play out?”

Clark stepped over a fallen tree, its branches stretching toward the sky like crooked bones.

“It’s going to go one of two ways, most likely. The city falls into territories controlled by different factions, or one group pulls ahead and takes control of the city. Or the government retakes control, but every day that seems less likely.”

“Huh.” Steven hadn’t considered the politics that much. His focus had been on surviving the next day. Of course, if the politics spiraled out of control, that would become a matter of survival.

“What outcome are you hoping for?”

Clark stroked his beard and studied Steven. “Well…it depends. Multiple factions limit what good any individual group can do, but it will also stop any true monsters from gaining too much power. Each faction will keep the others in check, for better and worse.”

He hummed. “But if one group pulls ahead…well, that’s the monarchy problem. A single group with that much power can do amazing things with the right leader…or they could become the worst kind of tyrants. It’s the most extreme option either way. As for what I’m hoping for…”

He met Steven’s eyes. “I intend for my group to become a leading faction or the leading faction. Either way, I’ll sleep better at night with a hand on the wheel.”

“And I want y-“ Clark was cut off as the System laughed.

”The Roaming Ruckus is the first to hold the pillar! They have snatched first place from you crawling masses, but fear not, losers! While an overbearing/edging-on abusive sports parent would tell you that second place is just the first loser, I’m not quite that into baseball! So second and third place will also gain rewards, albeit lesser ones.”

Steven and Clark looked at each other and then started running for the pillar.