Survival wasn't only about the environment; it was about other survivors. Days later, while attempting to navigate a heavily damaged section of freeway, Jack encountered his first significant threat: a gang of Dust Raiders calling themselves the Iron Reapers.
They had established a crude roadblock, demanding passage tolls from weary travelers. Jack's Hunter's Edge flashed a warning: [THREAT LEVEL: HIGH. Multiple Hostiles Detected.]
Their leader, a scarred man wielding a makeshift axe, approached the truck. Jack's instinct screamed at him to run. The Hunter's Edge advised caution, highlighting potential escape routes. Jack refused to pay. The situation escalated rapidly. He threw the truck into reverse, barely avoiding a spray of gunfire as the Reapers opened fire.
The ensuing chase was a desperate sprint through the ruined infrastructure. Jack's cunning and the truck's surprisingly rugged build allowed him to outmaneuver the raiders, driving into a dangerous, rubble-strewn detour that the Reapers were too cautious to follow. He had escaped, but the encounter solidified a chilling realization: the most dangerous thing in this game was other players.