The clanging sound of boots against the gym's concrete floors was oddly comforting as I made my way back to our regrouping spot. I hadn't realized just how much I was looking forward to seeing the others again. Between scavenging for materials, just a few close calls with the local wildlife -students that had gone a little too mad with the whole 'system' thing, and occasionally wondering if I'd ever get a moment of peace, the company of my friends was like a fresh breath of air.
Ken, Mia, Sophia, and Emily were already waiting for me by the corner, looking slightly worn out but all in one piece. Ken shot me a half-smile, though there was a seriousness in his eyes that hadn't been there before.
"Everything alright?" I asked, slinging my pack off my shoulder.
"Yeah," Ken said, "just a bit anxious about what's coming next."
"I'm sure we'll be fine," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "We've got a solid team."
Before any of us could continue, a voice interrupted.
"Looks like you made it back in one piece," came Ryan's voice as he appeared from behind a stack of crates, with a person trailing behind him.
The guy looked like he belonged in a leadership seminar, not a battle for survival. His casual grin, tousled hair, and the way he carried himself made him stand out, even in a room full of students trying not to panic.
"Who's this?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ryan gestured to him. "This is Alex Santos. He is the president of the student council —sorry, "was"—and he's been the one connecting everyone, pulling together our resources."
I glanced at Alex with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "So, you're the one getting people to stop hoarding the last cans of beans?"
Alex chuckled, not bothered in the least. "Something like that. But right now, we've got more pressing matters to focus on. We've set up a strategy meeting, and I'd like you all to join us."
I shot a glance at Ken and the others. Unlike what I feared, there's actually people thinking straight during this chaos. I almost failed to hide my sigh of relief thinking that it's gonna be more than just the 6 of us facing the wave.
"Alright," I said, nodding, "Lead the way."
Alex led us down the hall, past the gymnasium, and into one of the storage rooms tucked behind some equipment. It wasn't much, but the place was as secure as any other we had at the moment.
Once we were inside, I noticed the others had already gathered—couple of other people I didn't recognize. Lena, as she introduced herself, was said to be an information gatherer, and Lucas, the quiet kid with a knack for defense games, gave us a brief nod before he turned his attention back to the whiteboard.
Ryan stood at the front of the room, a stern look on his face. "Alright, let's get started. Lucas, you've got the floor."
I used my clairvoyance to peek at his skills, |Defensive Mastermind| – A skill that boosts the group's defense capabilities, allowing user to foresee threats and recommend optimal placements for barricades, traps, or defensive units. This is a good skill to have for someone that is leading this strategy meeting.
Lucas adjusted his glasses, his hands trembling just a bit as he took the marker. "O-okay. So, based on the intel Lena's collected, we've got a rough idea of how many fighters, support classes, and production specialists we have."
Lena spoke up, her voice calm. "Excluding everyone in this room, we've got at least 30 fighters—mostly melee specialists—27 support players, including healers, buffers and shielders, and 20 production classes, mainly crafters and engineers. There are also around 200 civilians. We can't just throw all of them into the battle, so we need to use them strategically."
I shifted, looking over at Caleb, who was holding up a what seems to be blueprints, his demeanor seemed serious. "I've got my group of crafters working on barricades and tools. We can reinforce entrances and create traps to slow whatever enemies that charge towards us, but I'll need time."
"And the rest of us?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's our role in all this?"
"Good question," Lucas responded. "First off, we need to plan our defense based on the school's geography." He tapped the whiteboard, revealing a rough sketch of the school. "The front entrance is wide open, but we can block it off with barricades. The back's got more cover, but it's harder to defend. We'll need mobile units to watch the flanks."
Alex nodded in agreement. "The enemy could come from any direction. We need to prepare for multiple contingencies. We can't just rely on walls. We need a team ready to adapt."
Lucas took over the board again. "So, here's the plan:"
Mobile Response Team: This will be a small, quick-reaction force, ready to deploy wherever the enemy shows up.
Shield Wall: A front-line defense to absorb damage. This team will be positioned near the main entrance and key points.
Healing Stations: These will be set up near the center of the building where support can reach the injured quickly.
Flanking Teams: Smaller groups designed to outmaneuver the enemy, catch them off guard.
"We'll assign roles," Lucas continued. "Ryan, Ken, Mia, Sophia, Emily, and Avi—your team will form the backbone of our defense. We need a well-rounded team to handle whatever's thrown at us."
"And we'll need to hold the line until Caleb's barricades are up," Alex added.
Tyler, the school jock, who had been unusually quiet up until now, sneered. "You've got to be kidding me. You think this ragtag group can hold the line? Look at them—half of them don't even know how to fight."
I resisted the urge to smack him across the face. "At least we're not thinking of doing this solo, Tyler. Maybe you should take notes. You might learn something."
Tyler shot me a glare but stayed quiet for once—probably because Ken was standing right behind me, arms crossed, eyes narrowed in that way that made even Tyler hesitant.
"I'm sure you'll be fine, Tyler," Alex said, his voice surprisingly calm. "Focus on what you do best."
"Fine," Tyler muttered, his gaze shifting away.
"Alright," I said, trying to get the meeting back on track. "Let's get this done. We've got no time to waste."
As the group began to disperse and head toward their designated spots, Ryan called out, "Remember, everyone, teamwork is key. Communicate, adapt, and stay sharp!"
I caught Tyler's eye as he walked past me. "Hey, Ty," I said with a smirk. "You know, I'm kind of glad you're here. Might need someone to blame when things go wrong."
Tyler's nostrils flared, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he just kept walking while being followed by his lackeys.
"See you out there," I muttered under my breath.