-[Alert: Current shelter is unsuitable for long-term activity and cannot accommodate more than 10 individuals.]

-[Alert: High-value target pop-up is restricted due to shelter standards not being met.]

"Seriously, again? Where do they expect us to go now?"

"Someplace like a hotel or government building, I guess."

"Yeah, like I'd happily walk into a place with thirty heavily armored guys with shields coming at us."

Sacramento. Weather: extremely overcast. Constant blizzard.

The white death blanketing everything in sight swept over California’s capital city in a fierce storm, as tens of thousands of players fell from above. Predictably, the buildings in Sacramento couldn’t possibly hold this many people.

Thus, one by one, bodies began to pile up on the deep snow. Some were corpses of Russian or Chinese alliance forces, and others were Operators. But whichever they were, the snow quickly buried them, making them nearly impossible to locate.

Moreover, this mission came with an unprecedented respawn cooldown—eight hours in real time, or an entire day in virtual reality if a player died. This led to an entirely new level of risk aversion previously unseen in the game.

But just because most players chose a cautious route didn’t make it the correct one. Soon enough, they realized that combat was inevitable to complete the mission in Sacramento.

"What are we going to do?"

"It's not like we can't stay here. Let’s select a few people to scout the area for any secure strongholds nearby. I can go if needed."

"Alright, then I’ll recall the guys scavenging for construction materials."

This scenario was occurring all over Sacramento.

The outcomes were mostly as expected: either getting wiped out or surviving while patrolling the surroundings, or encountering other players to form alliances—or engage in deadly skirmishes.

Whether to kill or ally, either choice had its advantages, and if a team managed to maintain their shelter until the operation’s end, they could replicate it as a base for future operations at the forward command post in San Diego. This prospect added an enjoyable chaos to the mission.

Consequently, those deployed in Sacramento had to constantly make decisions—whether to keep alliances with other players or betray them, how much damage to risk in battles while scavenging, and the potential rewards from eliminating others.

A true free-for-all.

Sacramento’s situation was spiraling into utter chaos.

Of course, there were exceptions.

"Only a prison would have this many iron bars everywhere."

"And to think they’ve locked every single one…ugh."

Crack!

Iron bars melted, shattered, and were smashed by explosions. More than a dozen of them blocked the path forward. To prevent prison escapes, reinforced doors had been designed in layers, all of which now barred the way for Dice and Harmony.

However, tools like thermite torches, adhesive explosives, and nanite launchers melted away not only the bars but even the thick steel doors that could’ve withstood several people colliding against them. Soon, the two had reached the cafeteria.

Of course—

Clang!

"Damn."

"They sure went all out to welcome us."

As soon as they entered, all the cafeteria bars closed, and armed inmates began slinking out, equipped with guns and bulletproof vests.

They looked like they’d stop at nothing. Nearly all of them were in for crimes like murder, robbery, and drug trafficking, as well as countless other unspeakable acts, and they hesitated not a bit in dealing lethal force.

In other words, if not for the blizzard, they would have already stormed out to kill any survivors in Sacramento.

However—

"Fire! They’re shooting at us, damn it!"

"Bullets aren’t penetrating!"

The Icarus Operators here had far more experience in urban warfare and close-quarters combat than all these convicts combined.

Unlike these convicts, who’d only committed crimes without receiving any professional CQB training, the prisoners fell like leaves in autumn. It didn’t take long for Harmony and Dice to start their mechanical hunt, pulling the trigger without hesitation, green-tipped rounds slicing through the air.

Every bullet that passed through the convicts’ cheap body armor was lethal, piercing the soft flesh beneath and leaving them waiting for death.

"Open the door! Damn it, open it already!"

"Who the hell lowered the bars? Ahhh! My arm!"

Their attempt to contain the Icarus operatives with mere bars and blockades was futile. These prisoners failed to realize they’d trapped themselves as well, eliminating any chance of rescue.

In less than five minutes, over seventy convicts had been ruthlessly mowed down. Trained with precision shooting, Harmony and Dice left the prisoners defenseless, unable to hide behind cover as their legs shattered or windpipes were punctured.

As a last-ditch effort, a double-locked steel door released sleep gas from above, but Dice casually loaded nanite canisters into his chemical launcher.

With a soft pop, the two cleared the dual security system, making enough space for both to pass through.

And this was not an isolated occurrence.

"Uh, up ahead…looks like at least two platoons are approaching. We can’t hold them all off."

"Closing the gate and releasing sleep gas. You still have the vapor napalm canisters, right?"

"Roger that. I’ll take care of it."

In the facility control room, Harmony took control of the entire prison’s gate closures and sleep gas deployment.

Normally, a facility of this size would require detailed blueprints to memorize, but after countless missions with Eugene, both Harmony and Dice had honed their skills in quickly mapping out layouts.

The two of them managed to infiltrate a massive correctional facility that would ordinarily need ten or more operators, simply because Harmony’s skills with the control room let her manipulate the environment perfectly to Dice’s advantage.

"There are so many enemies here. Soon, we’ll be picking up dropped weapons to keep up."

"Hmm…"

"Is something wrong?"

They’d either spent too much time, or luck had run out.

Harmony turned to Dice, considering options.

"Return to the control room. Looks like we’re about to get some help."

"Help?"

"Who else?"

A live CCTV feed displayed on the screen.

"Let’s hand over the grunt work."

Seven additional Icarus operatives were approaching the facility.

-[Alert: Sacramento State Prison has been upgraded to a new shelter -> Sanctuary.]

-[Alert: Some interior design and defense/respawn system setups are now available for this sanctuary.]

-[Alert: Sanctuary rating - S+]

-[Alert: TunTunConda House (Sacramento State Prison) sanctuary is now active.]

"Now that we’ve activated it, I’m actually a bit scared. I feel like Eugene will be so horrified he’ll leave."

"It’s too late now."

-“Not gonna lie, that’s a pretty humble remark for someone who just blew away seven people in an instant, lmao” -“These people are definitely insane.” -“At least show an ounce of sympathy for the ones you killed, lmao” -“No wonder she kept picking up grenades mid-battle, that crazy explosive freak, lmao” -“Please stop, lmao”

Harmony and Dice.

TunTunConda House Sanctuary registration complete.