Sig and Alex collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, as their mission finally came to a close. A previously unnoticed door suddenly materialized on the wall beside them, revealing the way out and the next room to explore.
Amidst the sound of their labored breathing, Alex let out a triumphant laugh that echoed through the chamber. Sig looked at him, a mix of confusion and amusement etched on his face.
"What's so funny?" Sig asked, still trying to catch his breath.
Alex wiped a tear from his eye and grinned. "I can't help it, man. I'm just so relieved that we made it out of there alive!"
Sig nodded, his own exhaustion giving way to a sense of elation. "Yeah, it's hard to believe we actually did it," he replied, a smile spreading across his face.
Together, they sat there for a moment, savoring the feeling of accomplishment that came with completing their mission. Sig cast a quick glance towards the glass wall he had been observing earlier and noticed the ghoul still wandering around. With a hint of satisfaction, he remarked to himself, "It seems that my theory was correct after all."
As they both stood there, Alex finally worked up the nerve to break the awkward silence. "Hey, do you mind if we share some information so we can better understand our situation?"
Sig nodded in agreement, relieved that he was taking the initiative to speak. "I was actually thinking the same thing. You can start if you want."
"Thanks. So, I was just wondering if you happen to know where we are or how we got here?"
Sig shrugged his shoulders, his confusion evident on his face. "Honestly, I'm just as lost as you are. The last thing I remember was sleeping in my shabby apartment. Then, all of a sudden, I woke up here with all these strange missions, system and skills."
Sig inquired, "What types of missions did you undertake before arriving here?"
Alex responded, "Well, my first mission involved finding an exit in a labyrinth maze. It was quite challenging, but I eventually succeeded. My second mission was a bit more stealthy; I had to carry out a heist and obtain an object without being detected by the security cameras."
Sig nodded in understanding, "Interesting. My first mission was also to find an exit, but it was within a container of sorts. I had to use my senses to escape. My second mission was even stranger; I had to fight off a wooden doll. It was quite bizarre, but I managed to prevail."
Alex was intrigued, "A wooden doll? That sounds like something out of a horror movie. Well, I'm not surprised after what we just had to experience."
Sig chuckled, "Yes, it was definitely a unique experience. But I'm glad I made it out in one piece. Before we wrap up, may I ask one more question? I'm curious if we were given the same personalized mission, mine was to make it out alive with both players. Would you mind sharing what yours was?".
Alex hesitated for a moment before responding, "Well, mine was a bit unconventional. Please don't be frightened."
Sig leaned in, intrigued. "Go ahead, I'm all ears."
"I was instructed to leave the area by myself," Alex revealed.
Sig's eyes widened in shock and he instinctively moved away from Alex, feeling uneasy. "Uh, okay. That's, uh, different."
Alex quickly reassured him, "Please don't be afraid. I had no intention of carrying out that mission. I'm not a killer and I'm grateful to have you by my side. If you hadn't joined me in this room, I wouldn't have made it this far. In fact, having a companion has been the greatest reward amidst all the chaos."
This information was extremely crucial as it would dictate his future interactions with other players in the game. Any of them could have a motive to kill him, whether it be for the mission, side missions, a particular skill, or even just for the thrill of it. He felt fortunate to have encountered someone who had the strength of character to resist the temptation of immoral actions. Their virtue gave him a sense of security and peace of mind.
"Great to hear that," Sig exclaimed, extending his arm for a handshake with Alex. "I'm really counting on you from now on."
"Absolutely, man," Alex replied, firmly gripping Sig's hand. "You can count on me too."
"Hey, have you ever used one of these store usage tickets before?" asked Sig as he rummaged through his inventory.
"Nope, not yet," replied his companion. "But I've been curious about them. What do you think they're for?"
"Well, I guess we won't know until we try," Sig said with a shrug. "Shall we try using it and see what we can find?"
"Sounds like a plan," his companion agreed.
Sig retrieved the store usage ticket that they had obtained during their previous mission and mimicked the actions of tapping on a touch screen.
------------------------------
[Store]
[Available items:
1- Food Supply - 1 Tokens
2- Arm gear (Common) - 8 Tokens
3-Window Of Opportunity (Passive) - 15 Tokens ]
[Available tokens: 21]
[Healing Station : Fully heal yourself from injuries and status ailment- 5x Tokens]
------------------------------
"Hmm, a passive skill? What exactly does it do?" Sig asked with a curious tone.
The response window appeared before him, displaying the following message:
[Window Of Opportunity (Passive): Reflects any and all debuffs currently active. You will still be affected by the status debuff. You can control the individual affected by this skill.]
Sig furrowed his brow, intrigued by the potential of the skill. "Hmm, let me wrap my head around this for a moment. So, it's like having an invisible shield that can defend me without any effort on my part. Impressive," he exclaimed with admiration. Suddenly, an idea dawned on him, and he blurted out, "Hang on a second, I have this permanent blindness debuff. Could I use this skill to permanently blind my enemies as well?"
Without any further delay, Sig purchased the skill and tried it on the only person on the room. While also purchasing the Healing station to recover his bleeding arm.
[You have lost 1 token]
[You have purchase Food Supplies]
[You have lost 5 tokens]
[You have been fully healed]
[You have lost 15 Tokens]
[You have purchased and learned 'Window Of Opportunity (Passive)]
Alex's panicked voice broke through the silence. "Huh? I can't see! Sig, are you still here? Did the lights go out?" he exclaimed. Suddenly, he remembered Sig's condition and corrected himself, "Oh, wait... you're blind, so you wouldn't know."
Sig's heart skipped a beat as he realized the potential of his skill. His disability had always been a hindrance to him, but in this situation, it was his greatest advantage.
Sig had used his ability to blind Alex, but when he considered removing the affliction, it vanished. Alex let out a sigh of relief and exclaimed, "I can see? What just happened...oh my god, that scared the crap out of me." His voice trembled with the aftereffects of the experience.
Sig asked, "Have you finished browsing the store?"
Alex responded, caught off guard, "Oh, yes! I managed to get some useful items that I'm excited to show you later."
"Great," Sig said. "Let's go to the lobby and take a break. I want to eat and rest before we move on to the next room. Is that okay with you?"
"Sure thing," Alex agreed.