Dave could only but gape at Alyssa after she was done explaining everything that happened over the past four days that he was out cold. Dave simply couldn't believe it all. Firstly, it was a whole lot for him to process that he was unconscious for a complete four days. He hated himself because he disappointed Cassie, and now he was not sure what Cassie's fate was. It angered and, at the same time, saddened him that he didn't come to his sister's aid. Even if it was because of circumstances that were beyond his control, Dave blamed himself. If anything had already happened to Cassie, Dave would never be able to forgive himself in the slightest.
"You should thank God that I was at the scene to save you," Alyssa said. "If I wasn't, I wonder what would have happened to you there by now, considering that you were lying there, in the open, alone and unprotected."
Dave looked at Alyssa with sadness heavy in his gaze and at the same time, fresh gratitude to her efforts to save him. Dave adjusted himself and sat up. He was very much comfortable now, after Alyssa ordered for the removal of the restraints. She had done so after explaining the current situation of things to him and also updating him on the emergence of the doors that led to the 0th Floor, and how people were certainly going to make finding one of such doors a priority regardless of whatever was happening.
Naturally, it was expected. Zony had, after all, made a heavy promise to everyone present on Earth #210797. The words of the God of Games were coined in such a way that made it seem like life within the boundaries of the tower was better and more promising than their lives right now. So, it was not far-fetched that many would start to seek out these doors. Any other world was better than the hellhole they were in.
"Then why are you here?" Dave asked after giving Alyssa's explanation a reasonable amount of consideration.
Alyssa sighed slowly. She stared at Dave briefly before turning around to cast her gaze on the group of people that sat in the corner of the room as if hiding. Alyssa's group was made up of three teenagers — two boys and a girl, whom she had also saved much like Dave. Alyssa was a medical doctor before this entire chaotic situation was put into play and that natural instinct to help others was still within her. While she lost some, she also managed to save some others and at the same time, fight to survive the ongoing attacks.
Alyssa took out a pack of cigarettes and opened it, looking at it and seeing that it was just about four left, Alyssa groaned with dissatisfaction. She shook her head and regardless, she had no intention of preserving them. Bringing the pack closely to her mouth, she bit onto one of the sticks and took it out before tucking it away in her pocket and taking out a lighter. Alyssa went ahead to light up the stick of cigarette and took a few puffs that she blew into the air. After smoking for a couple of seconds, she felt less tense and more coordinated, enough to finally respond to Dave.
"We would all die immediately if we made that decision," she told Dave. Alyssa hit the nail on the head, not muttering or stuttering to enable Dave to understand the weight of her words.
Dave's eyes grew extra wide as she wondered what would make Alyssa say such. How would they die if she was so skilled at healing people? Especially now that she could augment her medical knowledge and skills with the spiritual energy that she has. Dave just couldn't understand why she would make such a statement when they had not even attempted to find a door even once.
"What do you mean you would all die?" Dave asked, his expression clearly yearning for an explanation that would make sense in his head.
Alyssa took a few more puffs of her cigarette before speaking. "We are not suited for combat. I have a healing ability. Jake has this weird thing with animals. Sam creates this thick fabric…shockingly and finally, Luke. Luke has no ability and none of these kids have any form of training in survival, medical or combat drills. That's why I said that if we undertake the journey, there will be casualties."
Indeed, Alyssa was right. The three teenagers — Jake, Luke and Samantha, whom she called Sam — were not combat savvy, neither did they even possess any combat-based ability whatsoever. Alyssa, on the other hand, was not to find out the limit of her healing ability and using such a dangerous situation to do so was not, in any way, ideal. It was going to be utterly disadvantageous to them if something was to go wrong in the slightest.
Dave was massaging his arms to regain the feel of them after being restrained for four straight days as he observed the rest of the humans in the room. If what Alyssa told him about the sudden emergence of doors, that led straight into the tower, was true, then there was no time to waste. Dave had considered the possibility of travelling to wherever the tower was, along with Cassie, but this only made it easier. Unlike them, Dave was definitely a combatant and not a stranger to fights.
A few options popped up inside his head and whichever he decided to take would impact his journey from here on. He was either going to go solo and undertake the journey on his own but even with his combat skills, this was still too risky. If Dave were to run into two or three foes on par with the ape man that wore him out like this, then it was game over. At the same time, moving as a group would slow him down but it also offered him the advantage in numbers as well as Alyssa's healing ability should he ever need it.
Dave Mustang needed Dr. Alyssa Wright and her group as much as they needed him. Only through a fair proposition can both parties benefit and this was not far-fetched since they had the same goal — to reach the tower. Dave exhaled and looked at Alyssa.
"I can fight. This you already know," he started to speak, drawing their attention as they followed to see where this was headed. "I can lead us to the nearest door or at least clear a path. The abilities of those two are not entirely useless, and if we make use of it carefully and maximally, we would be surprised at how much we can achieve with a seemingly weak ability."