A week passed, and things went from bad to worse. The monsters they encountered were all increasingly formidable, posing a growing threat to Enzo and Rose. Each confrontation left them battered and exhausted, their bodies and spirits tested to the limit. What started as a daring adventure had now become a desperate struggle for survival.
Despite their bravery and resourcefulness, Enzo and Rose could only manage to defeat one monster per day, sometimes two if luck was on their side. The rest of the time, they were forced to seek shelter and rest, allowing their bodies to recover from the deadly battles. However, the healing process wasn't as simple as waiting for injuries to mend. Magic power and mental exhaustion weren't things that could recover on a whim. Their minds were being pushed to the breaking point after each confrontation.
The constant threat and uncertainty weighed heavily on their minds. It was hard to find a moment of peace, even during their rest periods. The fear of encountering even stronger monsters lurked in every shadow, making them paranoid and cautious at all times.
Thankfully both Enzo and Rose specialized in scouting, so they could prevent fighting some monsters ahead of time. But the fear wasn't lessened for such. After all, only a fool would take their abilities for granted in this world.
The more full of themselves they become, the easier would they die, after all. So Enzo and Rose both kept this fact in mind and tried their best to not forget it. Not that it was hard when death was in every corner.
Moreover, it has been over a week since they split up from the group of survivors, but they hadn't even crossed a third of the distance needed to get out of the campus.
Enzo wanted to give up a few times and get out of the campus later on when he was stronger, but Rose kept telling him to continue. It was rather strange at the beginning that Rose wanted to get out of the campus more than Enzo, but he just shrugged the matter off. She must have her reasons, after all.
Though, at the same time, the more they stay on campus, the more Enzo's family could be close to dying. So it wasn't hard for Rose to convince Enzo again.
One day, after defeating a small - compared to the tiger from before - but deadly spider, Enzo's butterflies noticed a group of people. There were two men and three women.
As Enzo's butterflies observed the group from a safe distance, he and Rose exchanged wary glances. Strangers in this perilous place were always a cause for concern. The campus had taught them that trust should be earned, not freely given.
"They don't seem to be really strong," Rose whispered, her eyes never leaving the newcomers. "But that doesn't mean they can't be dangerous."
Enzo nodded in agreement. "We should approach cautiously," he said, the weight of past encounters with hostile survivors fresh in his mind. "Stay on guard."
Keeping their distance, Enzo and Rose made their way silently through the shadows, making use of their scouting abilities to avoid detection. As they got closer, they noticed that the group was sitting around a small campfire, their expressions weary but not aggressive.
'Are they really? What if a monster is attracted to the light? Are they dumb?' Enzo thought as he studied the group.
The two men appeared to be in their mid-twenties, wearing tattered clothing and carrying makeshift weapons. The women, on the other hand, seemed to be slightly younger and were huddled together for warmth and comfort.
'They all seemed to be students, at least.'
Enzo's butterflies relayed their observations back to him, and he felt a bit of empathy for the group. They looked just as exhausted and desperate as he and Rose had felt when they first started to get on this part of the campus.
Still, caution prevailed, and Enzo decided to keep hidden for a while longer, observing the newcomers from the shadows. As they listened to the conversation around the campfire, it became apparent that the group was also trying to find a way out of this nightmarish place.
"I can't take it anymore," One of the women said, her voice trembling with fear and frustration. "We've been wandering aimlessly for days, and the monsters... they're relentless."
"I know," Another woman replied, her eyes filled with sorrow. "We've lost too many already. We need to find a safe place or a way out. I can't bear to lose anyone else."
The two men exchanged a somber look, their resolve evident in their tired eyes. "We won't give up," One of them said firmly. "We'll keep searching until we find a way back home. We owe it to those we've lost."
Hearing their conversations, Enzo had only one thought in mind.
'Weak.'
While he knew that it wasn't supposed to be the type of thought to have when seeing those poor souls, he couldn't help but do it. While he pitied them, it was also clear that if he were to join them, they would just be a hindrance.
Their weapons were a clear reminder of that fact, as well, as they were makeshift weapons and not those they got from monsters.
And he hadn't left a useless group to join another one.
Taking a look at Rose, he could easily tell that her face was filled with empathy. She too was hearing their conversations through one of her avatars stationed near the group, and it was clear that she wanted to help them.
'Does she really want to? It's as clear as water that they would be useless, especially since we won't be able to protect them. Yet she still wants to help them?' Enzo thought, sighing internally.
Enzo knew that Rose's compassionate nature was both a strength and a potential vulnerability in this harsh world. While he admired her empathy and desire to help others, he also worried that it could lead to dangerous situations for both of them. The reality of this place was unforgiving, and feelings weren't accepted there, at least not at the moment when they were too weak to do anything freely.
"Rose," Enzo whispered softly, trying to draw her attention away from the group. "I know you want to help, but we need to be careful. They might not be strong enough to survive in this place, and we can't risk putting ourselves in danger for their sake."
Rose turned to look at him, her expression conflicted. "I know," she replied, her voice barely audible. "But... I can't help but feel for them. They're scared and lost."
"I understand," Enzo said gently, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "But we can't afford to take unnecessary risks. Our priority should be finding a way out and surviving. We can't let our emotions cloud our judgment."
"Can't we... at least stay with them for a while? We could help them grow a little, at least, right?" Rose looked at him dead in the eyes. She couldn't force him to do that, but she was inclined to at least try.
While the group before was filled with a bunch of lazy dogs, here they at least looked like they were trying their best to survive out there in the wild.
Looking back at her, Enzo had conflicted thoughts.