Unreal Engine - PVP Game Prototype

I'm looking to prototype a third-person, server-authoritative action-combat PvP game where your visible Gold is your power, health, and score; the prototype exists only to prove the combat and the greed-vs-safety loop is compelling. This is a game in which a player's wealth is simultaneously their power, their health pool, and their score. I have a budget of $12k for this prototype, a well defined narrow scope, and am OK to use all free asset packs for graphics. I have a thoroughly documented brief, focusing on whats in scope for Phase 1 (prototyping) and what is a consideration for a Phase 2 contract based on the success of the prototype. I can share this brief after we start discussing. The game session loop is a single tight cycle. 1. Buy in (fixed). Pay a fixed amount of Gold from your fake balance. Your new character starts at Level 1. 2. Create character. Choose one weapon (sword, spear, or bow) and allocate 10 starting stat points across Vitality, Strength, and Dexterity. 3. Spawn safe. You appear in the shared safe zone. You cannot be attacked here; you can see other players and their values. 4. Leave to hunt. Step out of the safe zone. A ~3-second exit timer runs, after which you are fully PvP-vulnerable. There is no protection in the open world. 5. Fight. Engage other players in action combat. Win and you absorb 90% of the loser's value (they lose 100%; 10% is removed from the economy). Your Gold rises, raising your level and granting stat points. 6. Bank (only when safe). New stat points are held until you return to the safe zone, where you allocate them at the trainer menu. This forces a return trip and creates a natural risk window. 7. Decide: push or cash out. Back in the safe zone you may keep playing or press Cash Out to end the session and record your final value. This is the core decision the whole game orbits. 8. Death = total loss. If you die in the open world, your character and all its Gold are gone (hardcore). A “You Lose” screen offers Exit and Play Again; playing again means a new Level-1 character and another fixed buy-in.