At first, Xavier believed the cave was a comfortable refuge for the survivors, but he quickly realized it was far from that. The cave was dark and damp, with uneven surfaces and rocks jutting from the ground at multiple spots. Despite that, the survivors were huddled together, trying to crouch in the small space while covering themselves with threadbare blankets. Luckily, a few survivors were using their Cards to expand the space and make room for the group that had just arrived.

A few candles and lanterns cast a dull, feeble light in the cramped space. But Xavier did not need that to notice that there were a lot more injured and sick people in the cave than he earlier assumed. Most survivors had a permanent expression of fear and hopelessness etched on their faces, something that Xavier did not like. A few people had healing Cards, but those were insufficient to tend to the numerous injuries and sicknesses. They had to use their Cards judiciously as the energy required to use their effects was enormous.

As a result, the entire cave reeked of gloom and despair. Xavier imagined the gloom slowly seeping into his bones, and the thought rattled him. He knew that feeling and vehemently shook his head to clear his mind of those thoughts trying to take hold of him.

I have to leave. Soon.

But he could not. Not when there were so many sick and injured people who had nowhere to go. He looked around, and his eyes landed on Pauline, who gave him a rueful smile.

Xavier cleared his throat and began to speak as he looked around.

“I am Xavier Vador, and I am a resident of Alsburg, or what it used to be before the apocalypse struck our lands. We have a small community of survivors in Haven, our new settlement, and we have managed to procure enough food, medicines, and weapons to kill monsters. I request you all to consider leaving this cave and following me to Haven.”

Pauline had been busy handing out the meager ration they had to the survivors and only paused for a second before continuing to do so, ignoring his words.

Xavier looked at the injured survivors, who exchanged nervous looks but did not utter a word. They continued to stare at him warily.

“I know I am a stranger to you all, but trust me, I have no ill intentions and-”

“Says the lad covered in blood and carrying several weapons with him.”

Xavier’s gaze flicked to the corner, where a bald man in his mid-forties was seated beside a lantern, his face covered in scars and claw marks.

He did not speak to Xavier but continued to talk to his group.

“Do not be fooled by this young man. This world has no kindness or compassion, only selfish interests. I'm pretty sure he will lead us to a trap, and we will turn cannon fodder for the next monster wave attacking his Haven so that his people escape while we die.”

He spat at the word Haven as if it was a disgusting disease.

Xavier raised an eyebrow and asked, “What makes you so sure of that?”

The man pointed to his bald head, “I did not lose them getting fooled by little rats like you. I smell a trap, and you all would be wise enough not to walk into it.”

Xavier pointed at Pauline. “Perhaps she could tell you how this little rat killed the monsters that would have annihilated almost everyone you saw walk in through that door behind me.”

Everybody’s attention flicked to Pauline, who was busy putting a wet cloth over the forehead of an old woman whose skin was burning with a high fever.

“He did help us, and without his support, we would have returned with fewer people.”

“So he just kills a few monsters, and we all follow him blindly?” The bald man asked incredulously.

Pauline seemed to be torn about the decision.

“I am just saying that we are running low on ration and medicine. Plus, we also need more and stronger weapons.”

Another woman sitting next to the bald man asked, “So, he is just a good samaritan who showed up out of nowhere and wants to help us? Just out of the goodness of his heart?”

Xavier frowned. They were talking about him as if he was not even there.

Why do all the elders dismiss me as a child? Mom has this annoying habit as well.

“No. I never said that. I wish to add you all to our army of able warriors who can fight and help with tasks. Those who can fight will do so, while those who can’t can help in other tasks such as cooking, carpentry, or whatever you are good at. I want to offer you a safe place to live, provided you all do your bit to earn your keep.”

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The crowd began whispering amongst each other while occasionally casting furtive glances at Xavier.

“How do we know that we can trust you?” The bald man asked, his eyes narrowing.

Xavier needed to smack him but stayed calm and answered, “You don’t. Not unless you see it with your own eyes. I can only offer you a chance, but whether you want to take it is up to you.”

Again, the survivors began whispering with each other. Frank, who had been silent all this time, spoke loudly.

“I know him. We used to study in the same class in school before my family moved to another town. He has always been a nice guy.”

Xavier offered him a small smile.

“Plus, he also said that they destroyed the monster gate in their village. So we would be a lot safer there compared to here.”

Frank added, and that made everybody look at him again. However, this time, their gazes showed a glint of respect and approval instead of the earlier distrust.

“Is that true, Xavier?” the bald man asked, looking him in the eye. It was the first time he addressed him as Xavier, not lad or young man. He was also not scowling like earlier.

“It is. But make no mistake: We go out and fight monsters and risk our lives every single day. If you think we would let you sleep in a nice bed and offer you warm food twice a day, you are grossly mistaken. I am here to offer a deal, not to open a charity.”

Xavier kept looking the bald man dead in the eye. He expected him to throw a fit or probably utter a few curse words, but surprisingly, the bald man snorted and shook his head.

Linsey walked up to him and said, “I am in. But you have to teach me how to fight. The way you attacked the Kobolds with some invisible arrows was mind-blowing.”

Xavier chuckled, “I used Air Bullets, and you need a suitable Card to do that. But yeah, I can teach you how to fight.” He looked at the others, who were still debating whether he was worth their trust. He could not find fault with that. It would be stupid if they decided to trust a random stranger suddenly. Xavier thought of how to make them believe him as his gaze flicked to the right.

He could sense the Kobolds' arrival and hear their loud footsteps and the sound of trees being ripped apart.

“Can somebody take a look outside?” Xavier asked.

A Card holder stepped forward and waved his hands in the air, pointing toward the front of the cave.

“We all can. They can’t see us, but…” He began proudly but stopped midway as the Card’s powers took effect. A pale light shimmered over the stone wall, slowly turning it opaque before it became transparent.

“....oh fuck” He cursed, forgetting his earlier words.

A glance outside the cave was enough to tell that something had gone horribly wrong.

There are even more Kobolds than before.

Xavier peered through the illusion created by one of the Card Holders, allowing them to take a one-way look outside the cave. The monsters had no such Card, but that did not stop them from following the scent of blood and reaching closer to their hideout. Xavier feared they would be surrounded by the Kobolds soon. They appeared from all directions, and their numbers were too high for him to be comfortable about a possible fight.

200? Or maybe 250?

A few women shrieked upon seeing so many bloodthirsty monsters heading toward the cave, while one or two even fainted due to the overwhelming fear. The situation was quickly going out of control. They would soon get trapped in the cave with nowhere to go.

Xavier glanced back at the survivors. The fighters were still exhausted from the earlier battle, while the rest were unlikely to do any damage to the Kobolds. If anything, most survivors would only crawl behind each other in fear, resulting in more harm than anything else.

However, a few survivors attracted Xavier’s attention as he used Judgment on them one by one.

Jeremy Heckler(Extraordinary Support) – 363 - Energy

What is that?

He never heard of such an occupation, but Xavier figured that he didn’t have much time to think. Extraordinary Support sounded like a pretty unique Class Path. Hopefully, it was going to help.

“Jeremy, do you have some Cards like Haste, Strength Boost, or the like?” Xavier asked Jeremy, his voice echoing through the cave.

Jeremy was taken by surprise when he was called out. He looked left and right, only to shudder when he noticed that Xavier stared intently at him.

The others also turned their heads in his direction, making him feel even more uncomfortable.

He was socially awkward and felt like hiding underneath some rocks.

“Mind your own damn business, guys!!!” Pauline Fisker shouted.

Everyone turned their heads away. That was enough to calm Jeremy Heckler, who kept shivering as Xavier continued staring at him.

“I-I have so-some useful Cards.”

“Alright, buddy. Use them on me and keep them active!” Xavier ordered, turning around without waiting for Jeremy's response.

He shot one glance at Pauline Fisker and strode to the cavern’s exit.

“This is the least I can do to show my sincerity. I hope you won’t make me regret this.”

In the next instance, Xavier stepped outside the cavern. He entered the bloody battlefield.

A large-scale battle was about to ensue.