Dying Light: Volatile Virus

Rais' base is an imposing and heavily fortified structure. From the rooftop where you stand, you see the following details:

Perimeter Walls: Tall concrete walls surround the compound, reinforced with layers of sharp metal sheets and barbed wire. The occasional flash of floodlights sweeps over the area, creating alternating zones of light and shadow.

Entrances: The main entrance is guarded by a tall, sturdy metal gate, with armed guards patrolling on both sides. Smaller entrances, likely for vehicles, are flanked by makeshift barricades and spikes to prevent intrusions.

Watchtowers: Several makeshift watchtowers rise above the walls, constructed from rusted scaffolding and wooden planks. Armed guards with rifles and spotlights survey the surrounding area from these elevated positions.

Interior Structures: Inside the walls, you can glimpse the compound's layout. A central concrete building dominates the space, likely Rais' headquarters. It has multiple stories, narrow windows, and reinforced doors. Around it, smaller buildings and storage areas are scattered, likely armories or supply depots.

Vehicles: A few military trucks and jeeps are parked near the gates, ready for quick deployment. Some are equipped with mounted weapons, while others appear to be loaded with supplies.

Atmosphere: The area buzzes with activity. Guards patrol in pairs or small groups, armed with rifles or makeshift melee weapons. Their voices mix with the crackle of radios and occasional distant gunfire. Floodlights illuminate parts of the base, but large areas remain cloaked in shadows, providing potential cover.

Rais' base exudes an air of danger and control, a stronghold that reflects the ruthlessness of its leader.

You kneel down, while taking your specialized M4, and aim. With precision, you shoot at the UV light spots, breaking them instantly with the shots, that also instantly call the guards' attention, and the infected nearby, and in some distance.

Then, while you get up and save your specialized M4 back, you see how the Volatiles rush. Their yelling growls, aren't growls, but more as war yells, but you prefer to not listen to what you are hearing.

The guards easily get overwhelmed, and die, so you also dash quickly to join.

The inside of the base becomes a warfare battlefield of death. Rais' gang stands no chance against the Volatiles along you. After a moment, you see a fade red trail running away, so you get curious and start following it. And a Volatile starts to follow you.

After a moment, Rais' base is almost emptied, and you keep following the fade red trail, until you suddenly enter in a hallway, and see now 2 red trails coming from the room in front of you.

You open the door, and see Tahir and Rais, both aiming at you, and they shoot. You remain standing, as all bullets impact on your vest, doing nothing to you.

You start walking around the office, and then, the Volatile following you enter, and starts walking around too.

Volatile: "Is any of this who you want to capture?"

-"Yeah, I recognize one of them... Get the big one, I get the small one."

Both Tahir and Rais remain nervous in panic, hearing the growls of the Volatile while you seem to respond to those growls. Then, Tahir gets prepared as the Volatile easily gets up of him, and starts killing him with low difficulty, but he resists, so you help grabbing Tahir's arms so he can't defend himself, and the Volatile kills Tahir, devouring he's neck.

You see Rais escape, so before he continues running through the hallway, you get your specialized M4, and aim. But before you can shoot, a Virals gets Rais, and starts biting him. You quickly start running while saving your specialized M4 between your back and your backpack.

When you reach Rais, you instantly push the Viral away, and then grab Rais.

-"Nowhere to run. Let's do this easy, alright?"

The Viral gets up and quickly runs to bite Rais again, but you grab the Viral's head with your left hand, stopping it, while you remain looking directly at Rais.

Rais glares at you, breathing heavily, his voice sharp with desperation.

Rais: "You think you've won? You have no idea what's coming!"

The Viral struggles in your grip, snapping its jaws, while you tighten your hold, glancing at it briefly.

-"And what's coming?"

Rais smirks despite his situation, his voice low and mocking.

Rais: "Chaos. You may have me, but you've only delayed the inevitable. Harran will burn."

-"Well, I'm not concerned. I want whatever you have used to save the information of that uncompleted process of a cure for the virus. Wherever it is, is what I want."

Rais narrows his eyes, his smirk fading slightly as he studies you. His tone is cautious but defiant.

Rais: "You think I'd hand that over so easily? It's well-hidden—far from your reach. Even if you find it, do you think you can stop this infection? It's unstoppable."

-"I was sent to obtain it, not to stop the virus. I don't care if the virus stops existing or continues. We can do it the easy way, or... Maybe you want a talk with their teeth? I guess I can add you in the menu of tonight, as special dish."

Rais glances at the snapping Viral in your grip, his defiance faltering for a moment. He grits his teeth, his voice tense but laced with fear.

Rais: "Fine... it's on a USB drive, hidden in my safehouse. But you'll never find it without me. You need me alive, or you'll get nothing."

-"Well, you can either be useful, or be replaced by the Volatiles. I'm sure by how many nests they may have all around Harran, and the Slums, they for sure know where this safehouse is located."

Then, the Volatile who was devouring Tahir appears, walking slowly and stopping at your side, staring at Rais.

Rais's eyes dart nervously to the Volatile at your side, its growls low and menacing. He swallows hard, his voice shaking slightly as he responds.

Rais: "Alright! It's... it's in the Old Town. A building near the bazaar, marked with a red flag. The drive is hidden in a safe behind a false wall. But you won't get inside without the code."

He pauses, glaring at you but clearly terrified.

Rais: "You need me for that."

-"I could break through. What do I get letting you life? Because I'm sure sooner or later I'll obtain it thanks to the Volatiles. And I can simply break the safe, and obtain the USB myself."

Rais's fear deepens, but he quickly tries to appeal to your logic, his voice urgent and calculated.

Rais: "If you kill me, you'll waste time—time you don't have. The Volatiles can't guide you through Old Town like I can. I know where every trap, guard, and safe zone is. Let me live, and I'll make sure you get what you're after without complications."

He leans forward slightly, desperation clear in his tone.

Rais: "Kill me, and you'll make this much harder for yourself."

You drop Rais, letting him more freely.

-"Alright, lets go then."

Then, suddenly, the Volatile stops you from start walking. Rais only hears growls, but you understand more what the Volatile says.

Volatile: "First. Did you eat?"

-"W-what?... No, I didn't since... Hours and hours ago... I even forgot when I ate last time. Why?"

Volatile: "Then, go and eat something first. Old Town is far, and is a long travel, so you better first eat, to also make sure you grow."

-"I'm not a kid, seriously, you need to stop with that."

Volatile: "No. You are a child for us. You must eat before going to the travel to Old Town."

Suddenly, the Volatile grabs both, you and Rais, leading you two to the office. Once inside, the Volatile closes the door, and holds Rais.

Volatile: "Eat!"

The Volatile yelled while pointing at Tahir's body, already being devoured partially, but still his body recognizable. You slowly move closer, doubting if you really should, but the closer you get, and the less focus you have on your mission, the more you smell the aroma from Tahir's dead body, making you hungry instantly.

You move closer, and then be on top of Tahir's dead body, and remain hesitating about devouring it. After a short moment, you stop thinking, and just go for it, biting and devouring what remains of it's neck.

The Volatile keeps holding Rais, while observes as you eat. Rais is unable to look, and tries his best to not look or hear anything.

After a big moment, you finish eating, leaving almost no trail of Tahir's body, and just what he was wearing, and the bones, along some flesh.

You sit down, and look at the Volatile.

-"... Alright... That was... Strangely... Weird for me..."

You talk, but you notice you growl slightly while talking, as your voice got deeper and sharper than before.

Volatile: "Now you can go. You are ready."

You get up and walk to the door. The Volatile moves aside, still holding Rais. Before you open the door, you turn to look at the Volatile.

-"Do you have a name?"

Volatile: "Zhrak... That is the name I was given in my home nest. It means... one who guides. And you? Do you have a name?"

-"Marco 'Fortaleza' Sanchez."

Volatile: "I don't like that name, I'll be naming you..."

The volatile starts thinking, and after a moment, the Volatile looks back at you.

The Volatile growls softly, tilting its head as it studies you with its glowing eyes. After a brief pause, it speaks in a low, guttural tone.

Zhrak: "I will call you... Draemir. It means... the one who walks between."

The name carries a sense of duality, acknowledging your current state—neither fully human nor fully Volatile.