The gym felt oddly still—almost peaceful, if you didn't pay attention to the ticking countdown in the corner of your mind. With every second that passed, I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to go to hell. Still, the place was quieter than outside, and for now, it would have to do.
I leaned against the wall, eyes scanning the room. The others were scattered around, trying to get what little rest they could. Some were fidgeting, while others, like Ken, looked outwardly calm—his broad frame sprawled against the wall, his usual grin nowhere in sight. Instead, there was a tightness around his eyes, something hidden beneath that casual demeanor.
"You good, man?" Ken's voice broke through the silence, laced with concern. His frame practically swallowed the space next to me, but there was no humor in his voice this time. It wasn't the carefree Ken I was used to.
"Just thinking," I muttered, unwilling to meet his gaze. I wasn't lying, but it was more than just thinking. It was strategizing. Trying to figure out the puzzle that was about to unfold.
Ken gave me a sidelong glance, as if weighing whether to push further, but he didn't. "Got a plan brewing in that head of yours?"
I didn't respond right away, still scanning the gym. "I'm thinking," I said again, "about how we're going to survive whatever's coming next."
Ken raised an eyebrow, his voice lowering as he shifted into a more protective stance. "What, you mean another wave of those... things?"
I didn't want to say it out loud, but it was exactly what I meant. "Yeah."
Ken stretched his arms behind his head, but the motion seemed forced, like he was trying to loosen up some tight muscles. "You think they're gonna come straight for us?"
"I don't think. I know," I said, glancing back at him. "We can't afford to underestimate this. We're in a position where the smallest mistake could cost us."
Ken let out a quiet sigh, his lips curling into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "If I didn't know you better, I'd say you're starting to sound like the leader of this whole mess."
I narrowed my eyes at him, not in anger, but in acknowledgment of the unspoken weight hanging between us. "I'm not the leader, Ken. I'm just the guy who's gonna make sure we don't die. There's a difference."
Ken smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Still sounds like leadership to me."
I rolled my eyes. "Shut it, Magnum."
The familiar banter felt out of place. It didn't erase the unease in the air, the deep-rooted tension that hadn't been there before. Ken was trying to push the weight aside with jokes, but I could see it—his hands were tense, his jaw clenched whenever he thought no one was looking. He wasn't the same carefree guy right now. He was carrying something heavy.
"Alright, get some rest. You've got guard duty next," Ken said, clapping me lightly on the back, but it was more of a comfort than a command. He headed over to the corner, settling down with his back against the wall, eyes already scanning the room as if he could anticipate the next threat. Despite his forced calm, he was still my protector. Still trying to watch over me, even if it hurt him inside.
As the others settled into their shifts, I began my watch. I focused my attention on the gym's surroundings, listening for anything that might betray the quiet. My Clairvoyance skill hummed in the back of my mind, but it wasn't much help here.
Not yet.
While standing guard, I decided it was time to take a look at the group's stats. I knew I had the advantage of seeing them, but I hadn't really paid attention to everyone's abilities.
Ryan's stats were a bit more straightforward:
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 stats were solid, especially in strength and defense. His role as a paladin made sense—he'd be a brick wall for the rest of us. But while his other stats weren't terrible, they were nothing extraordinary.
Next, I checked Mia. The healer.
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 stats weren't the highest in terms of physical power, but her intelligence was her biggest asset. If she could keep her mind focused, we could use her skill to patch up injuries in the middle of battle. Her Heal ability was basic, but at least it wasn't useless. And it was something we could count on.
Then I checked Sophia's stats. The Shield Mage.
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 balance between defense and agility made her a good candidate for taking hits and protecting others. Her Protect ability was more defensive than offensive, which would pair nicely with Ryan's solid tanking ability.
Ken, of course, was built like a tank too, but with a twist.
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's raw strength and defense were impressive, but his intelligence was about as useful as a brick wall. Still, his Fortress skill could be useful in holding the line and protecting the others when things got dicey.
Finally, I checked Emily's stats.
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
I frowned as I saw her stats. Emily had barely fought, but her intelligence was incredibly high. The highest I'd seen so far. Still, she hadn't leveled up like the rest of us. That made her vulnerable. And though she didn't have a job, I wasn't about to discount her just yet.
With all the stats in mind, I started to plan.
"Alright," I said, trying to keep my voice steady as I gathered the group's attention. "We need better weapons. Something solid—pipes, wood, anything we can get our hands on. This whole 'jungle gym' thing's not gonna cut it for long."
I glanced at Ken, who was standing off to the side, arms crossed and looking more serious than I had seen him in a while. Normally, Ken was the one cracking jokes, trying to lighten the mood, but not today. His usual confidence was tempered by the reality of what we'd just gone through. He was trying to stay strong for us, but the fear was there, underneath it all.
"Ken," I said, my tone firm, "You're gonna be on the frontlines. We need you taking the hits. You'll need a heavy shield, something that can take a blow from whatever's coming."
Ken nodded slowly, his brow furrowing.
Normally, he'd argue back, make a joke, or give me a hard time, but today... it wasn't happening. "Yeah, I'll get something," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "A shield that works."
I slapped him on the back, a little harder than I meant to, but it was enough to shake him from his thoughts. "You're gonna be fine, Ken. You've got this. You've always had my back, and I've got yours."
Ken met my eyes, his expression serious. "Just... don't do anything stupid, alright? I can't always be there to save you."
I gave him a grin, even if it felt a little forced. "You're the last person I'm worried about. It's me who has to keep you out of trouble."
Ken didn't smile back, but there was a flicker of something—relief, maybe—before he moved off to gather some scrap. I could tell he was still trying to figure out how to deal with all of this. It wasn't the same as before. This wasn't some video game; this was real life.
"Alright," I said, shifting my attention to the rest of the group. "We'll stick together. Ryan, you're on front-line duty too. You and Ken are going to take the brunt of the hits. Use that Holy Touch of yours—don't hold back."
Ryan gave a slow, steady nod, his gaze unwavering. His voice was calm, but there was a sharp focus to it. "Understood. I'm ready for whatever comes our way. Just give the word."
I nodded back, relieved by his level-headed response. Ryan wasn't the type to get rattled easily. His confidence wasn't brash; it was measured, controlled—he knew his limits, and he respected the situation. "Just remember, Ryan—don't get too cocky. Keep your head on straight."
Ryan met my eyes with a steady gaze, a faint smile touching his lips. "I know where I stand, Avi. I'll make sure we get through this."
I turned to Mia next, who had been quiet since we started. She wasn't as jittery as before.
After fighting in the last encounter, she had a clearer sense of what we were facing, but there was still fear in her eyes. That kind of fear wasn't easy to shake.
"Mia," I said, trying to sound reassuring, "You don't need to fight unless you absolutely have to. Focus on keeping us alive. Heal us up when things go south."
Mia gave a more confident nod than before, her voice steadier. "I can do that. I've seen what we're up against now. I'll do my best to keep everyone in one piece."
Her words were quiet, but I could hear the underlying strength in them. She was scared, sure, but she wasn't paralyzed by it anymore. She had a role, and she knew how important it was. "Good," I said, giving her a slight smile. "Just stay sharp. We're all counting on you."
She nodded, a bit more confident this time. "I won't let you down."
Then my gaze turned to Sophia, the shield mage. She had been quiet, but there was a subtle change in her posture. I could tell she was still uneasy, but there was a firmness to her that hadn't been there before. She had faced the fight, and she'd come out of it with a clearer understanding of what was needed.
"Sophia," I said, locking eyes with her, "You're gonna need to stay on your feet, keep moving. That Protect skill is solid, but don't just stand still. Keep everyone safe, but be mobile."
Sophia adjusted her glasses, looking more certain than I had seen her before. "I'll stay on the move," she said, her voice quieter than usual but with more resolve. "I know what to expect now. I'll do my part."
I could see the nerves still in her, but it was different from before. She was taking ownership of her role now, even if it made her anxious. "You're stronger than you think," I assured her. "Just keep moving, and we'll get through this."
Sophia gave a small, hesitant smile, then nodded.
Finally, my eyes landed on Emily. She was standing at the back of the group, arms crossed, her gaze darting from one person to the next, her usual shyness more evident than ever. She was trying to be brave, to be the strong one for us, but I could see right through it. She was scared.
"Ems," I said softly, keeping my tone gentle. "You stay with Mia and Sophia. You're not fighting unless you absolutely have to, okay? Focus on keeping them safe."
Emily looked at me for a long moment before dropping her gaze to the floor. "I... I don't know what I can do. I'm not like you guys. I can't fight."
"You don't need to," I said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You're more than just someone who fights. You're the glue that holds us together. You keep us grounded when everything's falling apart. Just be there for Mia and Sophia, and that's more than enough."
Emily gave a small, quiet nod, though her hands were shaking. "I'll try to... be strong. For you and Ken."
I could see it in her eyes—she was terrified. But she was also determined not to let it show. She wasn't one for fighting, but she was emotionally strong in ways we couldn't even understand yet. I couldn't protect her from everything, but I'd be damned if I didn't try.
"Good," I said. "Just... keep it together,
alright? We'll make it through this."
We all stood in silence for a moment, the weight of what we were about to face pressing on us, but there was something there—something unspoken. We didn't have all the answers, but we had each other. And for now, that had to be enough.
Then I looked at them, my voice taking on a more serious tone. "Remember, everyone, we're still just kids. Don't do anything stupid. Don't get reckless. We don't know what we're up against yet, so be careful."
They all nodded, but I could see the hesitation in their eyes. We had no idea what we were walking into. But we couldn't back down now.
"Alright," I said, turning toward Ken, who had found a heavy metal scrap. "We've got work to do. Get that shield ready, and we'll go from there."
Ken gave a firm nod, his usual joking demeanor replaced with something more focused. "On it."
And with that, we split up, each of us going to gather what we could. The unease was still there, but the responsibility weighed heaviest on me. It was my call, my plan, even if I wasn't sure I was ready for it.
But if I was going to make it through this.
I wasn't going to do it alone.
[Countdown: 07:07:12]