Abe trudged toward the safe zone, his muscles aching and his mind racing. As he approached, the air around him shifted—it felt lighter, warmer, and far less oppressive than the rest of the dungeon.
Ava:
"Safe zone reached. No hostiles detected within range."
"Finally," Abe muttered. He stepped forward and found himself in a small, open clearing with glowing, crystalline stones embedded in the walls, casting a soft, white light. In the center was a group of people—four, to be exact.
They were all armed, and the way they carried themselves made it clear they weren't just wandering amateurs like him. Abe hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should approach, but before he could decide, one of them—a girl with long, dark hair and piercing blue eyes—noticed him.
"Hey! Another survivor?" she called out, stepping closer.
Abe raised his hands cautiously, trying to look as non-threatening as possible. "Uh, yeah. Just passing through. Don't mind me."
The girl smirked. "Relax, we're not going to rob you. I'm Alice, and these are my friends."
The others turned to look at Abe. A younger girl, who looked almost like a smaller version of Alice, waved shyly. "I'm Sarah," she said softly.
Two others stood behind her—a tall guy with a massive axe strapped to his back and a girl with a bow slung over her shoulder.
"That's John," Alice said, pointing to the guy with the axe. "And Abby, our archer."
"Nice to meet you… I guess," Abe said awkwardly.
John crossed his arms and studied Abe for a moment. "You don't look like much of a fighter," he said bluntly. "How'd you make it this far?"
Abe scratched the back of his head. "Uh, luck? And maybe some help from my… instincts."
Alice raised an eyebrow. "Instincts? You mean like skills?"
Abe froze for a moment. He couldn't tell them about Ava—something told him that was a secret worth keeping. "Something like that," he said vaguely.
"Hmm," Alice said, clearly unconvinced. "Well, either way, you're lucky you found this place. Safe zones aren't exactly common."
Sarah stepped forward, holding out a small flask. "You look tired. Here, drink this. It'll help with the fatigue."
Abe hesitated but eventually took the flask. The liquid inside was bitter but refreshing, and he felt a wave of energy wash over him almost immediately.
"Thanks," he said, handing it back.
"So, what's your plan?" Abby asked, her arms crossed. "You're not planning to wander around aimlessly, are you? That's a good way to die."
"I was thinking about heading back to the entrance," Abe admitted.
John snorted. "Good luck with that. The dungeon shifts, you know. Paths that lead back one day might lead deeper in the next."
"Wait, what?!" Abe exclaimed.
Alice nodded. "He's right. This place is alive, in a way. You'll need to stick with people who know what they're doing if you want to make it out alive."
Abe sighed, rubbing his temples. "Great. Just when I thought things couldn't get worse."
"You're welcome to stick with us for a while," Alice said, her tone casual. "But you'll have to pull your weight."
Abe considered her offer. He wasn't sure if he could trust them, but going alone didn't seem like a great idea either.
"Fine," he said finally. "But don't expect much from me. I'm still new to this whole… dungeon thing."
Alice grinned. "Don't worry. We'll whip you into shape in no time."
As the group settled back into their positions, Abe sat down on a nearby rock, his mind racing with thoughts.
Ava:
"Caution: monitor these individuals closely. They may have their own motives."
Abe sighed. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ava."
Ava:
"You're welcome."