The first thing I heard was Ken's voice.
"Wake up, sleeping beauty, or do you want me to kiss you?"
I groaned, forcing my eyes open to glare at his broad grin. "You even think about it, and I'll make sure your face looks worse than those imps."
Ken grinned and clapped a hand on my shoulder. It still felt sore from the fight. "Glad you're awake. You've been out long enough."
"How long?" I muttered, sitting up slowly. My head still throbbed, but at least the room wasn't spinning.
Emily leaned over, a small smile on her face. "Seventeen hours. You were the last to wake up. Most of us were only out for a few hours, but you…" She trailed off, glancing at Ken.
"...slept like a baby," Ken finished, smirking.
I rolled my eyes, about to fire back, but a familiar chime interrupted me.
[Rewards Distributed]
"Right on cue," Ken said, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. "While you were drooling on yourself, we got some updates. The system's changed a bit."
He kept his tone light, but I could sense the weight behind his words. There was something else, some guilt he wasn't saying aloud.
"First off, there's the System Store. Costs 200 SP to unlock, and it's pretty basic—just raw materials like ores, herbs, leather, and wood. Useful, but we'll need crafters to make the most of it."
Emily chimed in, "Then there's the Dimensional Inventory. That's 400 SP to activate. It's a personal storage space, tied to each player individually. No sharing, but it's convenient."
"And the Comrade System, only 50 SP," Ken added. "It lets players link up and communicate better. Good for group safety."
I rubbed my temple, trying to process. "So... upgrades cost points we don't have?"
Ken grinned. "Exactly. That's why we're pooling points for now. The System Store's our priority—food, construction materials, and weapons are top of the list. Civilians will need help until they can stand on their own."
Emily's voice softened. "It's not gonna be easier."
Ken straightened, his warm tone shifting to something more responsible. "We've got to step up, Avi. Come on, the others are waiting."
We gathered in the gym, where Alex stood at the center, his commanding presence keeping the group focused. Lena was at his side, a notebook in hand.
"Here's what we know," Alex began, his tone calm but firm. "After the first wave and the reward distribution, our capable players rise up in numbers. Now, we have 52 Fighters, 47 Supports, and 32 in the Production Class. Some civilians are still unclassified, but we're monitoring their potential."
He gestured to Lena, who continued, "The System Store only sells raw materials. That makes the Production Class crucial—they're the ones who'll turn those materials into weapons, armor, potions, and food. Without them, we won't be able to sustain ourselves."
I opened my menu to check my SP.
[SP Total Updated]
[Player contribution Ranking
1st: Avi = 1000SP
2nd: Ryan = 500 SP
3rd: Ken = 300 SP
4th: Tyler = 200 SP
5th: Mia = 150 SP
6th and below = 70SP]
[Current SP: 1062]
Not bad, I thought. Most of it came from ranking points, but my kills had added a decent amount too. Still, unlocking upgrades wasn't cheap. The Dimensional Inventory alone would set me back 400 SP. And as for the store...
My thoughts were interrupted by Tyler's sharp voice.
"I worked hard for my points," he argued. "Why should I hand them over so some useless crybabies can sit in the corner and leech off us?"
Ken's expression darkened, but his tone stayed warm, almost disarmingly so. "You want to try saying that louder, Ty? Maybe to the faces of the people you're calling useless?"
Tyler stiffened, glancing at Alex for support. He didn't push further, though, muttering under his breath.
Alex intervened, his voice measured. "Not all points will be shared. Civilians contribute 20 SP as a protection fee. Fighters and stronger players pay 50 SP. It's fair and ensures everyone benefits. Those who refuse are free to leave and fend for themselves."
Ken smirked, his warmth replaced by a sharper edge. "Good luck with that, Ty-Ty."
Alex continued, "Points aren't just for kills. Leadership, support, and crafting matter too. Everyone has a role to play."
_________
After the discussion with everyone, our group decided to went back to our spot in the gym.
The six of us—Ken, Emily, Ryan, Mia, Sophia, and I—sat in a loose circle. The atmosphere was tense but hopeful.
"Let's set up the Comrade System first," Ryan suggested, his voice steady. "Better safe than sorry."
We all used our SP and activated it. As the system started to sync and upgrade, I decided to observe the others' profiles using clairvoyance.
Ryan (Level 3)
New Skill: Holy Body – Enhances physical resistance and adds the Faith stat.
Mia (Level 3)
New Skill: Purify – Removes status ailments or provides cleansing magic.
Sophia (Level 2)
New Skill: Barrier – Creates a protective dome for herself or a group.
Ken (Level 3)
New Skill: Reinforce – Temporarily boosts equipment defense to match his natural resistance.
Emily (Level 2)
New Passive Skill: Mana Proficiency – Allows manual skill casting at higher mana cost.
Everyone seems to be growing well, heck, Emily even achieved level 2 and gained a passive skill. After looking at their progress, I decided to look at mine as well.
Avi Eques (Level 3)
Stats:
Strength: 16.943 → 17.104
Defense: 11.007 → 11.130
Stamina: 9.080 → 9.143
Agility: 14.047 → 14.110
Intelligence: 8.034 → 8.090
Skills:
|Clairvoyance|
|?a??k??|
The cryptic skill caught my eye again, now having a synchronization rate.
|?a??k??|
Synchronization: 0.8%
|Battle Instinct|
-Predict certain enemy moves.
-Fighting proficiency enhanced based on stats.
I frowned at the description. "What are you, really?" I muttered under my breath.
Ken's voice broke through my thoughts. "You good, Avi?"
I looked up, meeting his concerned gaze. "Yeah. Just thinking. Thanks for checking."
Ken smiled, his usual warmth returning. "That's what I'm here for."
As the others settled in for the night, I leaned back, my thoughts swirling. The system, the alliance, the skills—it was all a puzzle. And I was determined to solve it even if I have to sacrifice all of my brain juices.