As the leader wolf fell to Erin's blade, Rishitha and Erin managed to finish another wolf together. Ragith, in a flurry of rage and skill, struck down the last one. The battlefield fell silent, save for the labored breathing of the survivors.
[Global Mission: Prove Your Value – Partial Completion]
Participants Who Succeeded: Erin, Ragith, Rishitha. Participants Who Failed: 17. Time Remaining for Mission Failure: 20 Minutes. Failure Penalty: Death.
The blue screen hovered ominously in front of everyone, its cold words cutting through the already shattered morale.
"What… what does this mean?" one of the younger men stammered.
Rishitha's heart sank as realization dawned on her. "It means… the rest of you who didn't kill a wolf… have twenty minutes to do so, or…"
"Or we die," Mo Tang whispered, his voice hollow.
The group erupted into chaos.
"How are we supposed to kill anything now? The wolves are gone!" someone cried.
Victor, ever the opportunist, stepped forward, his expression sharp and calculating. "Simple," he said, his voice carrying over the panicked murmurs. "We find something—or someone—we can kill."
The implication hung heavy in the air.
"What the hell are you suggesting?" Mo Tang snapped, his usually calm demeanor cracking.
Victor smirked, spreading his arms as if it were the most logical thing in the world. "It's survival. If the mission says we need to kill, then we do what's necessary. You all saw the system—it doesn't care who or what. Just one kill. That's all it takes."
The group started to murmur among themselves, the fear of impending death twisting their thoughts. Victor's words took root, fueled by desperation.
"You mean… we just need one person to die?" someone asked hesitantly.
"Exactly," Victor said smoothly, his gaze sliding toward Rishitha. "And maybe we start with the person who claims to know everything but hasn't told us everything. If she's so special, maybe she doesn't need us to survive."
Rishitha stepped back instinctively, her heart racing. "You're insane! Killing each other isn't the answer!"
"Why not?" Victor pressed, his tone mocking. "You seem to have all the answers, don't you? Maybe you're hiding something. Maybe you're the reason we're here in the first place."
Before Rishitha could respond, Ragith stormed forward, his face contorted with rage. "You think she's the problem?!" he shouted. "She's the only reason we're still alive! If it weren't for her spotting those traps, half of us would already be dead!"
Victor smirked, unfazed. "And yet here we are, about to die anyway. Maybe your precious sister should've done more. Maybe she should've warned us sooner."
Ragith's fists clenched, his knuckles white. "You want to blame her? Fine. But don't forget—if you lay a hand on her, you'll be the next one to die."
The tension was thick as the group split into factions. Some sided with Victor, their desperation making them irrational. Others backed Rishitha, Erin, and Ragith, their loyalty and logic prevailing—for now.
Mo Tang tried to mediate, his voice steady but strained. "Everyone, stop this! Fighting each other isn't going to solve anything. We need to focus on finding another monster before time runs out."
Victor scoffed. "And how do you suggest we do that, genius? This forest is empty. The wolves were our only chance."
A flicker of guilt crossed Mo Tang's face as he realized the truth. Time was running out, and no one had an answer.
Rishitha's Eye of Knowledge activated, scanning the area for any signs of life.
[Searching...]
[No Hostile Creatures Detected Nearby.]
Her heart sank. "There's nothing…" she whispered.
Erin turned to her, his face grim. "Then what do we do?"
Before she could answer, Victor stepped forward again. "The solution is obvious. If someone sacrifices themselves, the rest of us live."
"No!" Rishitha shouted, stepping in front of the group. "I won't let that happen. There has to be another way."
Victor's smirk deepened. "And who's going to stop me? You?"
The group edged closer to chaos, the countdown ticking louder in their minds.
[Time Remaining: 10 Minutes.]
Just as the tension reached its breaking point, Rishitha's system chimed softly in her mind.
[Hidden Mission Activated: Save the Survivors.]
Objective: Prevent unnecessary deaths by leading the group to a hidden monster lair within the Whispering Woods. Time Limit: 10 Minutes. Reward: ???
Her eyes widened. "There's a hidden lair nearby. We can still do this!"
Victor laughed mockingly. "Oh, now you find monsters? How convenient."
Erin silenced him with a sharp glare. "If she says there's a lair, then we're going. Everyone, move!"
Guided by her system, Rishitha led the group through the dense forest, her Eye of Knowledge revealing faint traces of magical energy. The group followed reluctantly, the timer ticking down with every step.
Finally, they reached a small cave, its entrance hidden by thick foliage.
[Location: Hidden Monster Lair]
[Danger Level: Moderate]
[Detected Enemies: Shadow Beasts x5]
"They're inside," Rishitha said, her voice steady despite her fear. "If we work together, we can do this."
The group hesitated, but Erin and Ragith stepped forward, their determination infectious.
"Let's end this," Erin said, his sword glinting in the dim light.
The final battle had begun, and with it, their last chance to survive.
The cave was dimly lit, shadows flickering on the bloodied walls. The group was in complete disarray—some trembling, others weeping, and a few collapsed from shock and exhaustion. The faint stench of death lingered in the air, a grim reminder of the lives already lost.
A young boy sobbed uncontrollably, clutching a small knife, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Mom… I'm sorry… I don't want to die like this!"
Beside him, another woman muttered, "Stay calm… please…" but her trembling hands betrayed her words.
Rishitha stood frozen, her breath shallow as she scanned the scene. A half-beast monster loomed ahead, snarling, its claws dripping with blood. The corpses of the fallen littered the ground behind them, lifeless eyes staring into nothingness.
"I can't believe this is happening…" Rishitha murmured, her voice shaky. "But I can't deny it anymore… This novel I've read for so many years is coming to life… and we're living it."
She clenched her fists, her mind racing. What do I need to do to survive?
"Someone please help!" a desperate voice cried out.
Another person tossed a small, makeshift weapon. "Take this! We need to fight back!"
"No… we need to find monsters! That's the only way!" shouted another, frantically trying to rally.
Before the group could descend further into chaos, Erin stepped forward, his voice cutting through the noise.
"Everyone, calm down!" he commanded. "Take a deep breath and stop what you're doing!"
The authority in his tone startled the group into momentary silence.
Once he had their attention, Erin spoke firmly, his voice steady despite the chaos surrounding them.
"Have you all calmed down? May I have your attention for a moment?"
Murmurs spread through the crowd, but no one interrupted as he continued.
"In an emergency like this, even small commotions can lead to heavy casualties. From now on, I'll take charge of this situation."
"What? Who the hell are you?" someone shouted, the frustration and fear evident in their voice.
"Yes! Who do you think you are to order us around?" another chimed in, their voice cracking with panic.
Erin didn't falter. "I'm Erin. Just a normal person like you. But I promise you this: I will do everything in my power to ensure no one else dies today."
The group stared at him, stunned into silence.
"Crazy…" someone whispered.
"He's lost it," another muttered.
But Erin pressed on, unwavering. "I'll try my best to help everyone. But for that to work, I need your cooperation. This isn't a dream or a nightmare. It's reality. And the only way we're going to survive is if we work together."
Ragith, still fuming from the earlier argument, stepped forward, his voice sharp. "And what makes you think we should trust you?"
Erin locked eyes with him. "Because standing here arguing isn't going to save anyone. If you have a better plan, Ragith, let's hear it. Otherwise, let's stop wasting time and focus on staying alive."
The tension between them was palpable, but Ragith relented, stepping back with a scowl.
"Fine," Ragith muttered. "But if you screw this up, it's on you."
Erin turned back to the group. "Now, here's what we're going to do:
Those who can fight, arm yourselves with whatever weapons you have. Those who can't, help the wounded and stay behind. Protect them at all costs. We're going to move forward, slowly and carefully, and find another monster lair. We need to complete this mission. It's the only way to survive."
A few hesitant nods spread through the crowd. Mo Tang stepped up, his usual calm demeanor returning. "I'll stay back and heal the wounded. You take the fighters and move ahead."
Rishitha, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "I'll help guide the way. My system can detect traps and monsters."
Erin glanced at her, his eyes softening slightly. "Good. We'll need that."
The group began to organize, the chaos gradually giving way to order under Erin's leadership. The fighters, including Erin, Ragith, and a handful of others, moved to the front, while Mo Tang and the non-combatants stayed at the rear.
Rishitha's Eye of Knowledge activated once more, scanning the path ahead.
[Location: Hidden Monster Lair – Ahead]
[Detected Enemies: Shadow Beasts x3]
[Danger Level: Moderate]
"There's another lair up ahead," she announced. "Three monsters inside. If we work together, we can do this."
The fighters gripped their weapons tighter, their resolve hardening.
Erin raised his sword, his voice firm. "Let's move. Together, we survive."
And with that, they stepped into the shadows, their fates intertwined as the clock continued to tick down.