Former Delta Force soldier Cole Reynolds, after losing his job, enters Metis Technologies' global wilderness contest. The ship sinks in the Pacific, stranding survivors on isolated Babel Cay. The island's "cannibals" are Ferox—genetically engineered creatures Metis secretly created to hunt the contestants as live targets. When Damian announces the winner must mate with Ferox Zero to perpetuate optimized genes, Cole refuses, destroys the facility, severs outside contact, and stays.