Bang! Bang! Bang!
Loud, insistent pounding echoed outside the classroom door, which Daniel had swiftly secured with his quick thinking. Daniel, the epitome of a protagonist – charismatic, resourceful, and brave – had always radiated a natural leadership aura. Now, in this desperate moment, he embodied it.
"Everyone, stay back!" Daniel shouted, his voice firm and commanding. "We need to figure out what's happening before we open this door."
His authoritative tone steadied the panicked classroom, and all eyes turned to him for guidance.
I gazed at Daniel, a pang of jealousy stirring within me. His natural leadership and heroic aura only highlighted my own inadequacies. As a self-proclaimed side character, I felt overshadowed.
But Daniel's voice snapped me back to reality.
"Did everyone receive the earlier message?" he asked, his tone calm and authoritative. "We're apparently in a tutorial phase. To escape the school building, we need to defeat the tutorial boss."
His words sparked a murmur among the students. Daniel's leadership was infectious, and his confidence steadied the group.
"Obviously, I have a strategy to take down the boss," Daniel began, "but first, I need to know everyone's classes. Let's start with me. I've chosen the Magical Swordsman class."
As he announced his class, Daniel proudly placed a hand on his chest, and the room fell silent. Gasps and whispers erupted, reflecting the class's astonishment. Magical Swordsman was an elite class, far superior to the common classes most of us had received.
Eyes widened in awe, and some classmates exchanged envious glances. I couldn't help but feel impressed, despite my initial reservations.
Olivia stepped forward, her hand on her chest. "I chose the Archer class."
Daniel nodded thoughtfully, encouraging the others to share.
"I'm Berserker!" someone shouted.
"I'm Mage!" another called out.
The declarations continued, with most students announcing common classes. However, two exceptions stood out: Warlock and Supreme Knight.
I hesitated, unsure if I should reveal my true class. The description flashed in my mind:
[Class: Necromancer]
Grade: Mythic
Description: The sole ruler of the dead, embodiment of disaster and calamity. Can revive and control deceased foes and allies, turning them into immortal companions who protect the holder at all costs.
Fearful of unwanted attention, I lied: "I picked the Warrior class."
Daniel's piercing gaze lingered on me, as if sensing deception. But he said nothing.
With everyone's classes revealed, Daniel began outlining his plan to defeat the tutorial boss.
Daniel outlined his strategy. "Kyle, Jake, and..." He paused, searching my face for a name, then continued. "You three will lead our frontline."
His gaze lingered on me briefly.
"Olivia, Beatrice, and Jason will provide long-range support, covering our flanks. The rest, focus on eliminating smaller threats and safeguarding our support team."
The group nodded in agreement, except for me. My silence sparked a fleeting glance from Daniel.
Daniel's gaze lingered on me for a few tense seconds before he turned away, his voice firm. "Alright, let's move out. Three... two... one, now!"
The door swung open, and a miniature, green creature charged into the room. Its club, ridiculously oversized, swung wildly as it sprinted across the floor. In a comical twist, the creature ran headfirst into a wall, crumpling to the ground, unconscious.
The students stared, bewildered.
"M-monster!" someone stuttered.
The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on the diminutive creature.
Without hesitation, Daniel sprang into action, grabbing a nearby chair and smashing it into the creature's skull. The goblin's lifeless body slumped to the ground.
[Ding! A dead entity detected nearby. Revive corpse?]
The sudden message flashed before my eyes, sending a jolt of excitement through me. A sly grin spread across my face, but I swiftly masked it with a frightened expression, wary of drawing attention.
Daniel, however, noticed my fleeting smile. His piercing gaze locked onto mine, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Let's move out!" Daniel commanded, leading the group through the halls with caution.
As we navigated the deserted corridors, we stumbled upon other classrooms, gruesome scenes of carnage and death unfolding before our eyes. Blood-soaked floors, lifeless bodies of fellow students...
Daniel abruptly raised his arm, signaling us to halt. We froze, clustered around the corner.
Peering around the bend, I spotted a cluster of green-skinned creatures, armed with crude weapons and clad in tattered brown rags.
Something about Daniel's swift decisions and battle-ready instincts struck me as odd. His actions seemed almost... practiced.
"I knew it," I thought, a growing sense of unease settling within. "Daniel's behavior is too seasoned, too calculated. This isn't his first time facing this chaos."
I pushed aside my doubts about Daniel for now, focusing on the more pressing threat. My gaze returned to the green creatures, their crude weapons at the ready.
Clutching the table leg tightly, my makeshift weapon, I prepared for the worst.
"Kyle, Jake, and..." Daniel gestured to me, his eyes apologetic for forgetting my name again. "We'll execute a surprise attack. There are only four of them. If we strike swiftly, they won't stand a chance."
I nodded, and on Daniel's signal, we charged forward.
With a swift motion, Daniel led the assault. We burst into the fray, catching the goblins off guard. The creatures' shrill shrieks filled the air as we overwhelmed them.
Swing after swing, we battered the goblins to death.
[Ding! Goblin defeated!]
[First Kill Reward:]
+60 EXP
+30 Gold
The system's notification flashed before my eyes, a grim reminder of our new reality.
[Ding! Dead Entity detected. Revive?]
The system's prompt reappeared, taunting me. I gazed at it with frustration, knowing I couldn't utilize my Necromancer abilities openly without revealing my true class.
"Let's move," Daniel ordered, oblivious to my internal conflict.
I fell in step behind him, masking my disappointment. Our group pressed on, driven by the shared goal of completing the tutorial and escaping the blood-soaked building.
***
This is my newest creation and I look forward to seeing it become one of the best!