The gym was filled with an uneasy silence, a tension that lingered like a fog. Though there was an air of stillness, it was only a shallow reprieve. The countdown in the corner of the room was a steady reminder that time was slipping through their fingers, and whatever came next, it would be soon. The gym offered a semblance of safety, but only if you didn't listen too closely to the ticking clock in your mind.
Avi leaned against the wall, eyes flitting over the space as he took in the sight of his friends. The scattered group was trying to catch what little rest they could. Some shifted uneasily in their spots, eyes darting to shadows that didn't exist, while others tried to appear nonchalant. Ken sat off to the side, his broad frame propped against the wall, his usual easy smile missing. The tension in his posture was unmistakable, the way his eyes tightened when he thought no one was watching.
"You good, dude?" Ken's voice broke through the silence, a note of concern threading through it. His words were more than casual, more than the usual teasing banter. This was Ken without his armor, raw and uncertain.
Avi hesitated, refusing to meet Ken's gaze. His voice, when it came, was low and steady. "Just thinking."
Ken's eyes narrowed as he studied Avi, seeing the strain in his expression. "Got a plan brewing in that head of yours?"
Avi's eyes swept across the room again, scanning each face. "I'm thinking," he said, the words heavy with unspoken truths, "about how we're going to survive whatever's coming next."
Ken's jaw tensed, but his voice was calm, a hint of the protective leader he was emerging in the way he shifted to face Avi. "What, another wave of those... things?"
Avi didn't need to say it out loud. They both knew the answer. "Yeah."
Ken pushed his hands through his hair, the movement sharp and agitated. The light in his eyes, the playful glint that usually followed his smirks, was replaced with something else—something closer to resolve and fear. "You think they're coming straight for us?"
"I don't think. I know," Avi replied, the words cutting through the air like a warning. "We can't afford to underestimate them. A single mistake could cost us everything."
A shadow of a smile tugged at Ken's lips, but it was thin and brittle. "If I didn't know you better, I'd say you're starting to sound like the leader of this whole mess."
Avi's gaze sharpened, a flicker of something passing between them—a silent acknowledgment of the burden that came with the role. "I'm not the leader, Ken. I'm just the one who's going to make sure we don't die. There's a difference."
Ken's eyes searched Avi's for a moment, and then he smirked, the expression almost playful, but it didn't reach the edges of his eyes. "Still sounds like leadership to me."
Avi rolled his eyes, but a ghost of a smile pulled at his lips. "Shut it, Magnum."
The banter felt hollow, a temporary reprieve from the weight pressing down on them. Ken's posture remained tense, a muscle in his jaw jumping with each passing second. He wasn't the same carefree friend Avi had known. Whatever was brewing beneath the surface, it was eating away at him.
"Alright, get some rest," Ken said finally, breaking the moment. His voice carried a soft command as he clapped Avi on the back, the touch meant more for reassurance than instruction. He moved to a corner of the room, settling against the wall with his eyes trained on the entrance, as if he could will away whatever might come next. The fear, though, was there in the slight quiver of his hands, the way his eyes tracked the shadows.
Avi took his position at the front, scanning the room, ears straining for any hint of movement. His Clairvoyance skill buzzed in the back of his mind, the anticipation sparking a prickling along his spine. It was sharp and clear, but not yet useful.
He let his gaze wander over the group, mentally going through their stats. Ryan's numbers stood out first:
Ryan Haskins
Species: Human
Status: Normal
Job: Paladin
Lvl: 2
Stats:
Strength: 15.210
Defense: 10.682
Stamina: 9.562
Agility: 11.013
Intelligence: 7.560
Skills:
|Holy Touch| Can damage demons on contact.
Ryan's strength and defense were solid—exactly what they needed for a frontline fighter. The paladin could be a wall, a shield against whatever storm was coming. His intelligence, while average, didn't hinder him in this fight. His skill, Holy Touch, wasn't about strategic finesse but raw power. It'd be effective, especially against demonic opponents, but would need his physical strength to truly shine.
Avi's eyes shifted to Mia's stats. If Ryan was a wall, then Mia was the hope that kept them standing. A healer with a sharp mind, she was vital in turning the tide of battle.
Mia Zhang
Species: Human
Status: Normal
Job: Healer
Lvl: 2
Stats:
Strength: 7.734
Defense: 6.211
Stamina: 8.443
Agility: 10.252
Intelligence: 12.657
Skills:
|Heal| A basic healing skill that restores a small amount of health to a target.
Mia's strength lay in her intelligence stat that is higher than Ryan's, an edge that had the potential to tip the scales in their favor. Her Heal skill would benefit greatly from her high intelligence, making it potent enough to sustain them in prolonged skirmishes. While her defense and stamina might not hold up to heavy fighting, if she could stay focused and keep up her spells, she'd be indispensable.
Avi's gaze shifted to Sophia, who would need to balance defense and movement.
Sophia Voss
Species: Human
Status: Normal
Job: Shield Mage
Lvl: 2
Stats:
Strength: 7.982
Defense: 7.444
Stamina: 8.120
Agility: 10.100
Intelligence: 13.004
Skills:
|Protect| A skill that projects a transparent, yellow shield around her target, capable of blocking low-powered attacks.
Sophia's stats balanced defense and agility—perfect for a role that needed to withstand strikes while maintaining mobility. Her Protect ability, enhanced by her intelligence, would create a shield that was tougher and more resilient, giving them a crucial line of defense. While not as powerful as Ken's raw defensive capability, it could buy them time when they needed it most.
Avi took a breath before looking at Ken's stats. He already knew what they'd show: a different kind of strength.
Ken Magnum
Species: Human
Status: Normal
Job: Warrior
Lvl: 2
Stats:
Strength: 9.561
Defense: 17.491
Stamina: 15.806
Agility: 5.301
Intelligence: 8.839
Skills:
|Fortress| Unyielding Bastion: Temporarily summons a barrier.
|True Justice| (hidden passive): Embodies righteousness.
Ken was built for defense, a shield in his own right, and it showed in his stats. His Fortress skill was the embodiment of that defense, a barrier that would only be as strong as his defensive stat allowed. While not as agile as Sophia, his stamina would keep him holding the line long after others might falter. The True Justice passive was an enigma, but in a battle, it meant that Ken's righteous willpower would help him weather the storm.
Finally, Avi's eyes turned to Emily. The one with a different kind of strength.
Emily Chen
Species: Human
Status: Normal
Job: None
Lvl: 1
Stats:
Strength: 5.481
Defense: 5.147
Stamina: 5.324
Agility: 5.638
Intelligence: 17.923
Skills:
None
Emily's stats were skewed heavily toward intelligence—the highest he'd seen among them. While she didn't have any combat skills yet, the sheer power of her mind could make the difference in a crisis. If she ever gained a magical ability, it would be potent, more effective and powerful than most of theirs. But for now, she was vulnerable, and that was a dangerous place to be in a fight.
After a while, when everyone in the group woke up, Avi's eyes move to each of them, settling on Ken last. The large, athletic young man stood by the wall, his posture tense, hands flexing into fists as if to remind himself of his own strength.
"Ken," Avi said, his voice steady but not domineering, drawing the attention of the group. "Based on our fight earlier, you were tough. I recommend that when the wave starts, you position yourself in front, protecting the others as a tank."
Ken's gaze met Avi's, and for a moment, a flash of determination crossed his features. "Got it," he said, and Avi could see the weight of responsibility settling over him, the faintest tremor of apprehension there, quickly suppressed.
Avi's eyes shifted to Ryan, who stood with the calm of a veteran. "Ryan, you've got a heavy hand and the reflexes to match," Avi said. "It might be a good idea for you to push forward with Ken when things start getting rough. We need that strength."
Ryan's expression was stoic, but a spark of pride lit his eyes as he nodded. "Understood, Avi."
He turned to Sophia, who was already fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve, her eyes darting from the walls to the ceiling as if expecting something to leap out at her. "Sophia, I know you're new with that shield magic you casted in our classroom earlier but it will help a lot in keeping everyone alive," Avi continued. "If you stay in the middle, you can guard Mia and reinforce the front line. That way, we'll have a safety net."
Sophia's lips tightened into a thin line, and she nodded, resolve shining in her green eyes. "I'll be ready," she said, voice more steady than before.
Finally, Avi glanced at Mia, who was wringing her hands, her eyes full of worry. "Mia, I think what you did earlier was healing. I suggest you focus on healing and support. That way, you can keep us strong when it matters most."
Mia's eyes widened with a mixture of surprise and gratitude, a small smile breaking through her tension. "I'll do my best," she whispered.
Avi let the silence settle over them for a moment, his eyes moving over each of them one last time. They were raw, vulnerable, but there was a spark in each of them. It was the only thing that would give them a chance.
"I know that earlier today, we are all normal students, I almost got into detention earlier. I'm not even sure if what I'm telling you guys will help us but that's my observation. Let's kick whatever's butts that's going to come at us."
Ken stepped forward, the movement drawing a collective breath from the room. His usual carefree smile was gone, replaced by a hard, focused expression. "Avi," Ken said, his voice low, "I know we're preparing for a fight, but... make sure you don't do anything reckless too. "
Avi's expression softened for a fleeting moment. He met Ken's eyes, understanding the weight behind those words. "Don't worry, Ken. I'll be the first one running when the enemy arrive," he said, his tone was with humor but laced with the smallest trace of seriousness.
Ken didn't say anything more, but the tension in his shoulders eased slightly, and he nodded once, as if to say he understood.
Avi took a deep breath, forcing the tension from his body as he turned back to the group. "Alright, let's make sure we know our positions. If the waves hit, we stick to the plan. Ken and Ryan, take the front. Sophia, stay in the middle and guard Mia if necessary. Mia, focus on healing whoever's in the most danger. We keep moving, we keep strong."
The quiet murmur of agreement spread through the room, the gravity of the moment pressing on them but bringing them together. They were ready, or as ready as they could be, and now it was just a waiting game until the real fight began.
Avi scanned the room one last time before the group set out. "Before the waves start, let's find supplies," he said, breaking the tension. "We need food, weapons, and anything that could help us survive."
Ken's eyes met Ryan's, and they nodded in agreement. "We'll head out of the gym and search around the school grounds," Ken said. "It'll be faster if we spread out and cover more ground."
Avi looked at the three girls, seeing the worry in their eyes. "You three should stay here and search inside the gym. It's big enough that you might find food or supplies we can use."
Sophia nodded quickly, glancing at Mia, who was fidgeting nervously. "We'll check the storage rooms" Sophia said, her voice resolute.
Mia looked up at Avi, her eyes searching for comfort. He gave her a small, reassuring nod. "Stay safe, and make sure to keep together. Let's all meet back here in an hour."
Ken and Ryan gave a quick wave as they turned toward the gym's exit. The boys stepped into the hallway, their figures merging with the shadows as they vanished into the dimly lit corridors.
Avi took one last look at the gymnasium. The space, normally bustling with chatter and laughter, now felt alien and silent, an uneasy prelude to the battle to come. He exhaled slowly and followed Ken and Ryan, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders but not as heavy as the worry for the girls behind him.
Emily took a deep breath and looked at Sophia and Mia. "Let's start with the closest storage room," she suggested. "There could be food or anything useful."
Sophia nodded, her expression set with determination. "We'll check the medical supply closet too, just in case."
Mia's eyes flicked nervously to the entrance of the gym, the echoes of footsteps fading in the distance. "Be careful," she whispered as they split up, each moving to search their designated sections of the vast gymnasium.
An hour crawled by, the tension thickening in the air.
The sound of hurried footsteps finally broke the silence, and the boys returned, faces strained but carrying the hope of supplies and survival.