Dying Light: Volatile Virus

After a short time jumping with impulse in the night, you notice a fade red trail in the distance.

All the streets of the Slums are filled with Blue and Cyan trails, and all red trails are inside buildings with purple UV light around them, what makes you wonder... Why is a survivor outside? But you quickly answer yourself, as must be a Nightrunner in search for supplies, Antizin, and anything else.

You follow the trail, after a big moment, you reach what seems to be a school, so you decided to get closer.

The school stands as a grim monument in the heart of the Slums, surrounded by the devastation that has consumed Harran. Here's what you see as you approach:

Exterior Visuals of the School

Military Barriers: Tall, reinforced military walls surround the school, cutting it off from the rest of the Slums. These walls are a dull, weathered gray, made of heavy concrete blocks topped with rusty barbed wire. The concrete shows cracks and bullet holes, evidence of earlier struggles or attempts to breach the perimeter.

Checkpoint: At the entrance to the school grounds, a hastily constructed military checkpoint blocks the way. A faded red-and-white barricade lies tipped to the side, with sandbags piled unevenly nearby. Abandoned, rusted-out military vehicles are scattered around, their paint peeling, and tires flat, adding to the sense of abandonment.

Graffiti and Decay: The once-bright yellow walls of the school are now faded and dirty, streaked with grime and the occasional graffiti left by survivors or scavengers. Some of the graffiti includes desperate pleas like, "Help us!" and ominous warnings such as, "Stay away."

Windows: Most of the school's windows are shattered, with shards of glass jutting out like jagged teeth. Some windows are boarded up with planks or metal sheets, while others remain eerily open, dark voids leading into the unknown.

Purple Glow of UV Lights: Around the entrance and along some of the building's exterior, faint purple UV lights glow. These lights, though dim and flickering, are enough to ward off the Volatiles nearby. Their soft hum is barely audible over the distant growls and screeches echoing through the Slums.

Overgrown Vegetation: The once-maintained schoolyard is now overgrown with weeds and wild grass. Cracks in the pavement are filled with plants, and vines climb parts of the walls. Nature is slowly reclaiming the area, adding to the desolate atmosphere.

Bodies and Blood: Scattered around the school grounds are decayed bodies of Biters and Virals, their flesh dried and gray. Bloodstains streak the ground and walls, hinting at violent encounters that once occurred here.

Silence Broken by Growls: Despite the eerie quiet, faint growls and the occasional screech of a distant Volatile fill the air, reminding you of the constant danger.

You move around, and try to open the entrance door, but it's locked. The UV light impact on you, but you don't feel anything. The light flickering seems to not affect you by the low time the light is impacting at you.

You search for other entrance, but you don't find any way, so you climb up. In the roof, you see a bunch of half bodies wide open. By the way this corpses are, they died by an explosion.

You see a door in the roof, so you try to open it, and is open, so you invite yourself to go in.

Once inside, everything is dark at first, and you can barely see. You descend, walking without any worry or concern, until you suddenly hear voices, floors below you.

Intrigued, you search for a way to go deeper, taking with raw force the objects blocking your way, and opening the locked doors, with ease. You don't care about the noise, and so, you continue going deeper and deeper.

When you get few floors down, you see human bodies, still emanating a weak but constant red fade trail from them. They died moments ago. You recognize their clothes, they are of Rais' gang.

You go deeper and deeper. The school is a complete mess with organization and the furniture, but very clean in who is inside.

After a moment, you finally walk downstairs to the basement, and after some walk, you hear in the distance, a female voice. For you it has a strange accent.

???: "That's... Plastic explosive, right?"

After hearing that, you quickly panic, knowing the gravity, and so, with quick speed, you start dashing your way. Impulsing yourself against the walls, and running.

After a moment, you suddenly get in some shower room, and see in the next a storage one, where are Crane and Jade, both looking at you, as you did noise in your way through.

Both instantly react by seeing you, but then they calm down, as after all, you still look human, if they don't pay attention to the red lines on your eyes, or your glove-hand claws.

-"Crane! What are you... Doing here?... And... Are those thing inside that green crate really plastic explosives?"

Your voice instantly makes them worried. Your voice sounds slightly strange. Crane knows your voice, and for him, it sounds slightly sharper and deeper. Is hard to describe, but is easy to notice is slightly different.

Jade raises the crowbar, and threats you to stay back.

Crane steps slightly in front of Jade, raising a hand to calm her while keeping his eyes on you, his expression tense.

Crane: "Marco...? Is that you? What the hell happened to you?"

Jade glares at you, her grip tightening on the crowbar.

Jade: "Stay back. I don't know who—or what—you are, but if you move any closer, I won't hesitate."

You rise your hands up, showing you are willing to stay back, but making them see instantly your glove-hand claws. Not very sharp claws, but still claws.

-"I'm fine. You would really know if you don't abandon me every single time though... Either way... Who is the girl? And what you want the explosives for?..."

Crane's eyes linger on your clawed hands, his unease clear, but he exhales and nods slightly, signaling Jade to lower the crowbar—though she doesn't fully relax.

Crane: "Look, Marco, it's complicated. I didn't have a choice back there. And this," he gestures to Jade, "is Jade. She's one of the survivors helping us hold things together here."

Jade's eyes remain narrowed, her tone sharp.

Jade: "And the explosives? That's none of your business unless you're helping. What happened to you isn't exactly... reassuring."

Crane glances at Jade briefly before returning his focus to you.

Crane: "We need the explosives to take out a Volatile nest. It's a risk, but it'll make the Slums safer for everyone. That's the plan."

-"... I see... A nest of Volatiles... In that case... I'll do it. They aren't interested in me either way. I can enter, go through anywhere, and be perfectly safe against any Volatile. I was walking all night through them, and they don't have any interest in me. So, I offer myself to do it. You know me, Crane. I'm much better equipped after all. You know my specialization, and I also wear a defense specialist uniform. If anything goes wrong with the explosions, I would be able to hold it too."

Crane looks at you, his jaw tightening as he processes your words. He glances at Jade, who remains skeptical, her expression hardening.

Crane: "Marco... I don't know if this is a good idea. You're not... yourself. Even if the Volatiles ignore you, that doesn't mean it's safe."

Jade steps forward, her tone sharp but measured.

Jade: "You say you can do it, but what happens if something changes? If they decide you're a threat, or worse, if you lose control?"

Crane sighs, conflicted, before meeting your eyes.

Crane: "You're right about one thing—you're better equipped, and if the Volatiles really don't care about you, that's an advantage we don't have. But this is a one-shot deal. If you screw up, it's over—for everyone. Are you absolutely sure you can handle this?"

-"I survived by my own, killing in my first night an entire group of Volatiles with my bare hands. And when we were outnumbered with a huge horde of Virals, you continued running, while I had to enter in a house nearby, and kill over 20 Virals with my, again, bare hands alone. Oh, and that huge one with a makeshift hammer of stone and metal, remember I stopped a swing of it. Crane, you abandoned me every single time, despite we were sent together with a main mission and goal to accomplish. But alright, if you really wanna make me not do it, then I won't flip the coin. Just make sure you flip the coin properly, and lands at your favor."

Crane's expression shifts as he listens to you, guilt flickering across his face. He looks down for a moment, exhaling heavily, then back at you, his tone softer but firm.

Crane: "You're right... I've left you behind too many times. Maybe I was trying to protect you, or maybe I didn't trust you'd hold up. But after hearing that... it's clear you've done more than anyone could've expected."

Jade watches the exchange, her grip on the crowbar loosening slightly, though her eyes remain sharp.

Jade: "Crane, are you really going to let him do this? If he's telling the truth, then yeah, he's strong—but what if something changes out there?"

Crane glances at Jade, then back at you, clearly torn. After a pause, he nods slowly.

Crane: "Alright, Marco. If you're volunteering, I won't stop you. Just... don't make me regret this. You'll need to set the explosives deep in the nest and get out fast. Think you can handle that?"

You low your hands down, and walk closer, until be aside Crane, and in front of the green box with the plastic explosives inside.

-"... Only handle?... I'll do much more than that. I'll enter as if is my own house."

Then, you put down your backpack, and save all the plastic explosives inside. Once you got all the plastic explosives in your backpack, you wear it again, but Crane and Jade instantly notice the gun on your back when you put down your backpack.

Crane's eyes narrow as he notices the specialized M4 slung across your back. His tone shifts, tinged with surprise and curiosity.

Crane: "Where the hell did you get that, Marco? That's not exactly standard-issue GRE gear."

Jade's gaze sharpens, her distrust clear as she glances between you and the rifle.

Jade: "You're carrying that into a Volatile nest? That's going to make noise—and noise is the last thing you want in there."

Crane raises a hand slightly to calm Jade, still keeping his focus on you.

Crane: "You sure you know what you're doing with all of this? Volatile nests aren't exactly forgiving, even if they're ignoring you right now."

-"I got it from the big drop of GRE. That one airdrop where you were running from me, and at the end, you injected me Antizin. I think you can imagine how is my actual situation."

You walk passing Crane, and stand in front of Jade. She still holds the crowbar with her hands, and ready for swing. But you offer a handshake.

-"Marco 'Fortaleza' Sanchez. Mercenary specialist in defense of GRE. Don't worry, I don't bite like the infecteds, neither bite."

Jade looks at your outstretched hand, her grip on the crowbar tightening momentarily. Her sharp eyes scan your face and claw-like hands before her expression softens—just slightly. She hesitates, then shifts the crowbar into one hand, extending the other cautiously to meet yours in a firm handshake.

Jade: "Jade Aldemir. Survivor... and someone who doesn't trust easily. Especially not someone walking around looking half-infected."

She steps back slightly, crossing her arms while keeping her gaze fixed on you.

Jade: "You might not bite, but if you lose control, I'll be the first to put you down. Nothing personal."

Crane sighs, shaking his head slightly as he steps between you and Jade.

Crane: "Alright, enough with the introductions. Marco, you've got the explosives. If you're going through with this, there's no room for mistakes. We'll guide you from a safe distance—just don't do anything reckless."

Jade glances at Crane, then back at you, her tone firm.

Jade: "Good luck. You're going to need it."

-"Alright, if you say so... Just take me to where is. I just need the location, and also, where to place the explosives. I think one person can do that, showing me where is, and also, where to place the explosives. So if any of you have other things to do, or want to use time for other things... Decide who will go with me."

Crane and Jade exchange a glance, a silent conversation passing between them. Jade looks hesitant, but Crane finally speaks up.

Crane: "I'll go with you, Marco. I know the area, and I can guide you to the nest and where to plant the explosives. Jade can stay here and make sure everything is ready for when we get back."

Jade narrows her eyes but eventually nods in agreement, her tone sharp.

Jade: "Fine. Just don't get yourself killed, Crane—or him, for that matter."

Crane gestures toward the door, motioning for you to follow.

Crane: "Let's move. The nest isn't far, but it's going to get riskier the closer we get."

You start following Crane. Crane opens the door, and you two leave, but then, you two encounter a Bolter, who instantly flees after noticing you two.

-"What was that?... Those green things on it's body... That was weird... At least it seemed friendly for running away and not attacking."

Crane stops for a moment, watching the Bolter flee into the darkness, his expression shifting to a mix of surprise and urgency.

Crane: "That was a Bolter. They're not friendly, Marco—far from it. Those green growths on its body? That's tissue rich in viral compounds. The GRE wanted samples from them for research."

He turns to you, his tone sharp but calm.

Crane: "If you ever see one again, don't let it get away. But right now, we've got bigger problems. Let's keep moving."

Crane starts walking again, glancing back to make sure you're following. But you suddenly grab him with your right arm over his waist. And then, you start jumping, impulsing yourself to the nearest building's roof.

-"Just focus on telling me where this nest is. And also, try to not abandon me this time... I don't really trust your word about GRE wanting samples... You also told me in the first time we encountered after reaching Harran, about GRE telling you to destroy all Antizin boxes."

Crane tenses slightly as you grab him and leap onto the roof, his surprise evident. He steadies himself, giving you a wary glance before responding, his tone defensive but firm.

Crane: "I told you, Marco, things changed after we got here. The GRE isn't what we thought it was. Destroying the Antizin was their way of keeping control over Harran—nothing more. I stopped listening to their orders after that."

He pauses, scanning the rooftops before pointing toward the southeast.

Crane: "The nest is that way, near the chemical plant. Stay on the rooftops—it'll keep us out of trouble. And don't worry... I'm not abandoning you this time."

He looks at you with a mix of guilt and determination before motioning for you to move in the direction he pointed.

You stare at him for a short moment, and then started impulsing your jumps again. Quickly, you reach where Crane pointed at, and you let him down.

-"Well? Any exact location of where I place the explosives on this... Huge building."

Crane takes a moment to steady himself after you set him down, scanning the massive chemical plant ahead. He points toward a large pipe system near the side of the building, where faint growls echo from below.

Crane: "The nest is underground. You'll need to find an access point—probably through one of the maintenance tunnels. Once you're in, plant the explosives in the central chamber. That's where the Volatiles cluster during the day."

He looks at you, his expression serious.

Crane: "There's no room for mistakes. Set the charges, get out fast, and don't detonate until you're clear. Got it?"

You put down your backpack, opening it and grabbing the plastic explosives, then wearing again your backpack after closing it.

-"How much time?"

Crane glances at the explosives, then back at you.

Crane: "Five minutes. That's all you'll have once they're armed."

You nod, and then jump down. With your claws, you slip down slowly on the surfaces, what helps you not take high falls. After a moment you walk and enter the sewer.

After a moment of entering, you start noticing the water being red, then more and more. After a big moment, you start seeing dead bodies all over, until suddenly, entering the nest.

The high amount of bodied, piled up all together in little mountains, but the low amount of Volatiles wandering around, along much Virals.

All seem to ignore you, until suddenly, a Volatile stops in front of you, and starts smelling you. And you suddenly feel something strange.

You don't move or react, but rise your left hand, and place a finger of your left hand under it's chin carefully. It's tongue hiding your finger from your view, and it's saliva covering your finger.

After a short moment of strange caress, the volatile slowly moves away, while continues to look at you, and you proceed to continue.

While you walk, you shake your finger, and then, you try to clean it poorly.

After a moment, you continue to walk around the so many piles of bodies, seeing the scene of Volatiles attached to the ground and with red lines grabbing them. You wonder what you see, so you look away, and continue your way.

After a big walk, you finally reach the central chamber, so you start placing all the explosives, and setting them, but instead of 5 minutes as Crane told you, you set them to 1 minute.

Then, quickly you start running quickly, your speed slow, as you feel your feet being very bothered while you run. After a moment, you suddenly feel your feet much better. You don't pay attention how or why, but relax about that bothering you, and continue running, now, much much faster than before, almost 300% faster.

Short later, the explosives start exploding, taking down the nest, and slowly, making the entire tunnels collapse.

Luckily, you reach to leave from where you entered, but before leaving, a Volatile suddenly grabs you. You still get out, and then Volatile gets out with you, still grabbing you.

You turn to look, as you feel it grabs your left hand, but then you notice, is placing a finger of your left hand to caress it's chin. The same interaction you did before, so you assume it must be that same Volatile, and then, you think you hear it talk between subtle growls.

Volatile: "What happened to our home?... Why did you bring the end to us?... I saw you were new, lost... I asked you if you needed guidance... And you took my home down..."

-"... W-what?..."

Suddenly, the moment is interrupted, as a UV flare falls near you two, instantly making you two affected. The Volatile instantly runs away, growling in pain, as you think you hear it's voice claiming how much it does hurt, burning it's skin, while you get away too.

You remain wondering, but then, quickly, Crane calls for you, claiming for explanations.

Crane: "Come on! I got it for you! Now it's your chance, Marco! Get out of there!"

Before walking, you turn to look at the Volatile, looking at you, and then, you whisper.

-"Wait me outside the Tower. A very tall building tower with purple light covering the entrance. I'll be there before the morning. I have something to do."

Volatile: "Why should I trust you?"

-"... I just need answers... And sorry for destroying your house, I thought... I was helping everyone... Is what I was told..."

Then, you start moving, climbing and jumping with impulse to get back to Crane, while you see how the Volatile runs away.

After a short moment, you get back to Crane.

Crane crosses his arms, his expression tense as he confronts you.

Crane: "What the hell happened in there, Marco? I said five minutes, and those explosives went off way earlier!"

-"I wanted to feel as the protagonist of any movie. Time against you, running for your life... You know... Also, caution with those flares, it actually hurt."

Crane narrows his eyes, clearly not amused by your explanation.

Crane: "This isn't a movie, Marco. You could've gotten yourself killed—and what do you mean the flares hurt? You're telling me UV light actually affects you now?"

-"Since time ago. Exactly... I think after you abandoned me after I was chasing you, and you injected me Antizin. Not very long ago this night. So yeah, I had to go up with a plan to can enter the Tower when I went there, time before getting in that school where you and Jade were in front of the explosives."

Crane's expression shifts, a mix of guilt and concern flashing across his face.

Crane: "Marco... if UV light is affecting you now, that means the virus is advancing faster than I thought. You're changing. Are you even sure you can go back to the Tower like this?"

-"Yes, Crane, I do. Also..."

You look down at your feet, and notice you are not wearing shoes anymore, and your feet seems to be sharper and bigger, almost with a tone of reinforced skin as there are some black color tone on your skin in your feet.

-"... That explains why I was feeling my feet bothering me while running to leave, and then in a sudden, that bother stopping... I guess no more shoes for me?..."

Crane glances down at your feet, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of your transformed, claw-like appendages. He exhales sharply, clearly unsettled but trying to keep his composure.

Crane: "Marco... this isn't just about UV light anymore. Your body's... adapting in ways we've never seen. You're turning into something else entirely."

He looks back up at you, his voice lowering, a mix of worry and curiosity.

Crane: "You're still in control... right?"

-"Yes, Crane... How do you think I'm not trying to kill you? Or still, how I may then be talking to you?... Let's just go, alright? I have... Other things to do."

Crane nods slowly, still uneasy but accepting your response. He gestures toward the path ahead, his tone resigned but firm.

Crane: "Alright, Marco. Let's move. Whatever you've got to do, just... don't lose yourself along the way."

He starts walking, glancing back at you occasionally, his concern still evident.

After a big moment of probably 5 minutes, or around so, you reach the Tower, letting down Crane from your grip on him while traveling with impulsed jumps.

Crane directly enters, but after being in front of the entrance door, the UV light impacts your feet, making you jump back, and caress your feet, while you also blow at your feet.

After a short moment, you get up from sitting down, and stand again, and now you use your backpack as a shield, trying to cover yourself as much as possible, and then you enter to the entrance inside the Tower. Now you had to do the jump of the broken wall to enter inside the Tower.

-"That... It hurt me much more than I thought... I felt my blood burning inside me."

Crane, who was waiting just past the entrance, turns back to see you struggling with the UV light. His brow furrows with worry as he steps closer, lowering his voice so others can't hear.

Crane: "Burning blood? Marco, that's not normal—even for someone in your state. The UV is affecting you worse every time. You need to figure out how long you can keep this up before it gets too much."

He pauses, glancing at the wall you need to climb.

Crane: "You good to make the jump, or do you need a minute?"

After wearing your backpack again, you approach the wall, and with a quick jump, you reach to be up of it, not requiring to climb to enter inside the Tower, but the guards, and all the people near the entrance to enter the Tower, place their eyes on your, and they suddenly panic by seeing your feet and hands.

By the chaos happening, Crane tries to calm the situation down, but after short moment, you start jumping around, up of the people, to get distance between you and the guards. But after a moment, Jade appears, alarming too, but then, Crane takes you to the elevator.

You two are in the elevator, but before it closes, Jade tries to stop it, but you grab her arms and pull her towards you. The elevator closes, and Crane selects the floor to where Dr. Zere might be, in his laboratory inside the Tower.

Jade quickly pushes you away, and you rise your hands up.

-"Sorry, but had to make you either enter or getting out. I don't have time to lose, and... Didn't wanted you smashed by the door of the elevator."

Jade glares at you, her breathing sharp and her hand instinctively gripping the crowbar strapped to her back. She steps away, keeping her distance but doesn't draw it. Her tone is tense and biting.

Jade: "You could've just let me stay out there! What the hell is going on with you?!"

Crane sighs, standing between the two of you, trying to mediate.

Crane: "Jade, calm down. Marco's... not himself, but he's still on our side. Right?"

He turns to you, his expression a mix of frustration and worry.

Crane: "Tell her, Marco. Tell her why you're really here."

-"I'm myself, what do you mean I'm not myself? I jumped up of everyone, trying to gain distance, where I could have killed them all, most probably easily, and I'm still talking to you."

Jade narrows her eyes, still tense but slightly less aggressive as she processes your words.

Jade: "Talking doesn't mean you're not dangerous. You've got claws for hands, no shoes because your feet turned into... whatever that is, and people are panicking because of you."

Crane steps in, his voice calm but firm.

Crane: "Jade, he's right. If he wasn't in control, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. He's still Marco—just... different."

Jade exhales sharply, crossing her arms but lowering her tone slightly.

Jade: "Fine. Then what's your plan, Marco? Why are you here?"

-"First, go to the doctor, and check my progress, along giving also a better research on me. Then as second, leave the Tower, and do something I think is important. And then, plan how to find Rais, and maybe gain allies in the way to capture him. Once I finish with my main mission, I will go to do my second main mission I have."

Jade listens carefully, her skeptical expression softening slightly as she hears your clear sense of purpose. She glances at Crane before looking back at you.

Jade: "Alright. You've got a plan, and it sounds like you're still sticking to your mission. Just... don't lose sight of who you are while you're chasing all this."

Crane nods, his tone calm but serious.

Crane: "We'll get you to Zere first. He'll figure out what's happening with your condition. After that, we'll focus on Rais and the rest."

Jade steps back, leaning against the elevator wall but keeping her eyes on you.

Jade: "Let's just hope Zere's ready for whatever you've turned into."