Fall of the Old Capital

Trekking through yet more ruins, you find yourself in a zone with a high concentration of spores. You were scavenging for supplies and didn't notice the moment your gas mask failed. Realizing this, panic initially seized you, but then it dawned on you—the virus isn't affecting you.

In your relief, you fail to notice the monsters closing in. You bolt, but one of them clips you, sending you crashing to the ground. Through the haze of pain, you see four creatures looming over you.

Suddenly, gunshots ring out—Anthony comes charging toward you, cutting down the monsters. A girl pulls you aside.

— What are you doing, Mia? What if the infection has already started? We need to just...

Mia cuts him off sharply, refusing to let him finish:

— We can't just leave them like this! Besides, the wound isn't even that serious—just a common laceration near the abdomen. It's unlikely the spores had time to get inside.

Mia begins to dress your wound.

I hope we don't deal with another outbreak here... I'm so tired of seeing this.

As she finishes, Anthony lunges forward, immediately leveling his weapon at you.

— Now talk: where are you from and what do you know!

I won't let that mistake happen again! Not this time!

— Anthony, stop it! We just saved them, and now you're pointing a gun? We aren't animals... Let them catch their breath.