The imp rolled its eyes. "You don't even understand that? How stupid."

"Think of the whole village as having 100 points. Whenever a building gets chipped, destroyed, or damaged in any way, you lose points. The more severe the damage, the more points you lose."

Another voice came up from the crowd. "Can we repair the village?"

Impish responded with a nod. "Yes, you can either use group points to repair it instantly, or you can choose to do it manually. Keep in mind that your score and rank will be recalculated at the start of each day."

The young man who had spoken earlier pressed on with his inquiries. "What's the purpose of the ranking? Are there any rewards tied to it?"

The imp shook its head, a mischievous grin spreading across its face.

"No, there's no direct reward. But it makes things more interesting, doesn't it? Don't you Humans love to compare and rank themselves against others. Kekekeke,"

The young man with a spear than asked. "How many monsters are we expected to face?"

Impish looked amused. "Haven't you ever played wave defense games? Like 'Orcs Must Die' or something similar?" it asked with a sly grin.

The young man nodded. "So, we're to face a horde of them? What types of monsters will we be up against?"

Impish let out a mischievous Laugh "kekeke."

"You'll find out tonight. As for the type of monster, let me give you a little hint — it's goblins."

"Good luck to everyone, and remember, the Imagin is also watching."

With those cryptic words, the imp vanished, consumed by a burst of flames.

Almost immediately, notifications began popping up.

[The lightning Chu enter earth room - 666]

[The limit Breaker enter earth room - 666]

[Eat to be Stronger enter ….]

[The Loli God enter ….]

[Martial God enter…]

[The Ball Crusher enters…]

[…]

[Total Imagin viewer: 15; God viewer: 0]

[12:00:00]

Above them, a countdown timer materialized in the sky.

A sense of urgency swept through the crowd, prompting one of them to step forward.

"Everyone, listen up! We need to cooperate. There are only thirty of us here. We must gather resources, fortify the village, and organize shifts for rest and watch."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the group, but a critical question quickly followed it. "And who will lead us?"

At that moment, a man with fiery red hair and a sharp demeanor moved forward from his trio.

He opened his palm, and a flame sprang to life within it, drawing the eyes of every survivor to its fiery light.

"I will lead us," the red-haired man declared.

Then, A bulky man stepped forward from the crowd. "You think you're the only mutant among us?" he retorted.

As he spoke, he raised his arm, which transformed into a beast's hand. Dust and small particles of earth began swirling around it, creating a small vortex of debris.

Then, with a sudden force that took everyone by surprise, the ground erupted.

A muscular woman had struck the earth with such power that a shockwave rippled through the vicinity.

"What are you debating about?"

"We should group the strongest together and let the rest follow our instructions. That's our best chance."

The crowd reacted with a mix of murmurs and nods, though many still kept their distance.

The muscular woman then says. "My name is Aphelia, before the apocalypse, I served in the military, so I'm no stranger to situations like these."

"Believe me when I say our survival hinges on cooperation. Don't be fooled by the reward to turn against each other; that is a trap designed to keep us on edge."

As Aphelia delivered her speech, Faust observed her.

'So, the mutations have already begun...'

His eyes swept over the crowd. 'Most of them still appear normal. But it's only a matter of time unless the system intervenes in some way. "

"And they're calling it mutant - I always thought awakened would be a more fitting name.'

Faust's eyes momentarily fixed on the countdown timer. 'Now, how should I approach this quest...'

His gaze then shifted back to Aphelia. 'Let's just observe for now.'

Meanwhile, Aphelia's voice rang out,. "So, does anyone object to us taking the lead?"

A hush fell over the crowd, the silence stretching out until it was finally broken by a young man armed with a spear.

"My name is Nex, I don't care who leads, but I'm heading out to gather some food."

He gestured to the woman beside him, who clutched a book against her chest. "She is Leslie. She'll go with me."

Aphelia's attention shifted to Nex. "You mentioned 'Orcs Must Die' earlier. What exactly is that? Could you explain it to us?"

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Nex glanced around at the gathered crowd, a hint of surprise on his face. "Has no one here played games before?"

The bulky man, his arms still bearing the semblance of beast-like strength, interjected gruffly, "Just answer the question, kid."

Nex shrugged. "Basically, it's a game similar to our current situation. When the enemy waves come, they start with 40 enemies per person. "

"So, if this quest is anything like that, we're looking at facing around 1200 goblins, give or take."

The crowd began to murmur among themselves.

"Better start doing something rather than wasting time in this stupid power play," Nex said, turning to walk away, with Leslie following behind him.

Aphelia, however, called out. "Wait! We should first organize and divide tasks based on what each of us can do best."

The red-haired man, who had been eyeing the departing Leslie, flashed a smile in her direction. "Sure, go ahead with the hunt,"

"But why bring along a frail lady like her? Leave her in my care."

Nex lifted his spear, pointing it directly at the red-haired man.

"I don't care who you are. Try to something on her, and we'll fight to death."

The red-haired man turned his gaze towards Aphelia, still smiling. "See? We're all survivors here, not just some civilians. If you want to lead, you'll have to beat them up."

Aphelia's response was swift, her eyes sharp.

"And what does that have to do with you asking for the woman to stay behind? Control your desires, or I'll cut your balls myself."

The bulky man moves forward. "You guys are wasting time," he said, his voice tinged with impatience.

He then turned to address the others. "My name is Braxton."

"As you can see, my abilities are very useful for building defense. Anyone with experience in building, creating traps, carpentry, or any relevant skills, step forward and join me."

Braxton then pointed at Nexs. "If what that man said is correct, we're up against a thousand enemies, maybe more, and who knows how many waves we'll face each night."

"Twelve hours is a long time. It's better to be prepared than sorry. So, if you want to survive, contribute. "

"And for those of you tasked with gathering food and water, remember to collect enough for all of us, or we'll have a problem."

The red-haired man laughed. Turning his attention to the rest of the group, he spoke with a casual disregard.

"If you don't have any skills to contribute beyond fighting, come with me. They're just goblins, after all. What's there to fear?"

He then gestured towards the west side of the village. "You can call me Asura. That area is under my control,"

"Cross into it without my permission, and we'll have a problem. Those who choose to follow me need to obey my orders, and I'll make sure you will survive."

His laugh rang out again, and with a flourish, he manipulated the fire in his hand into various shapes, eventually forming a fierce tiger made of flames.

His eyes landed on Leslie, and he gave her a wink. "You're always welcome in my area."

Nex eyes narrowed into a glare.

Asura then turned his attention to Braxton. "You should strengthen the defenses on my place."

"A smaller area is easier to defend."

Braxton scoffed at the notion. "How naive...".

"I'm planning defenses for the entire village, not just your little corner. You want specialized protection?"

"Then make it worth it. Offer something in return, and I might consider it after my main tasks are done."

With that, he moved off, a group of eight other people trailing behind him.

Asura shrugged and began to walk away.

As he did, 15 people chose to follow him and agreed with his approach.

With the groups dispersing in different directions, only five people remained: Faust, Nex, Leslie, Aphelia, and an old man wielding a gun.

The old man stepped forward. "You can call me Billy," he said, then turned his attention to Aphelia. "So, what's the plan?"

Aphelia, scanning the small group, directed her question towards Faust. "How about you? What is your name?"

Leslie, who had been quietly observing, leaned in to whisper something to Nex.

After a brief exchange, Nex nodded and joined Aphelia in looking at Faust.

Faust simply replied, "Just call me Faust."

Leslie's eyes widened in recognition. "I knew it, you're Faust McHollen, right?"

Aphelia, taken aback, interjected, "Aren't you supposed to be dead?"

Faust gave a nonchalant shrug. "The Faust you're referring to is dead."

But Leslie moved closer to Faust, her eyes sparkling with certainty. "No, I'm sure it's you. Your eye color and hair are different, but that face... you're him."

Eagerly, she pulled out her book and flipped it open to the picture behind the cover. "Look, it's you."

Faust glanced at the photograph, a hint of nostalgia flickering in his eyes. "Why do you even carry that book around?"

Leslie's responded enthusiastically. "Oh, the cover is just for show. The inside is filled with my personal notes. I've been recording all the mutations I've come across so far."

Nex stepped up beside Leslie. "I'm sorry if she's bothering you. She's always idolized you."

Faust, however, seemed dismissive. "Idolize..." he echoed, shaking his head slightly.

"There's nothing to idolize from a failure of man. That Faust is dead."

Leslie replied. "You're not a failure."

Faust respond. "Any man who cannot protect his own family is a failure."

Before Leslie could retort, Aphelia intervened. "That's enough for now. Since there are only five of us, let's divide the tasks."

She turned to Nex. "Can you handle gathering food for us? And maybe enough to share with Braxton's group as well?"

Nex nodded. "That's what I planned on doing anyway."

Aphelia then turned her gaze to Faust. "How about you go with them and check for any unique plant and animal? With your expertise, it should be easy."

"Sure," Faust replied

Aphelia continued. "I and Billy will look for a suitable house for us to fortify. What Asura suggested does have merit."

"If worse comes to worst, we can focus our defenses ."

Before they dispersed, she added, "Let's gather here in two hours before the wave starts."

With their tasks assigned, Faust, Leslie, and Nex began to move deeper into the forest.

As they walked, Faust addressed Leslie. "Can I have a look at your notes?"

Leslie hesitated for a moment. "Yes, you can look at it, but please don't judge too harshly. The quality isn't the best."

Nex, scanning their surroundings as he said.

"Don't sell yourself short, Leslie. Your work is good. I'm sure Faust will find it impressive."

Taking the book from Leslie, Faust flipped it open. His eyes scanned the pages, each filled with meticulous details and observations.

"It's very tidy and detailed."

The notes within the book were clear, offering insights into the various mutations they were witnessing.

Mutated Flora - Luminescent Fungi: "Observed a cluster of fungi emitting a soft, bioluminescent glow. The light seems to seem to pulse in a rhythmic pattern. Speculate potential use as communication tools."

Animal Mutation - Avian Species: "Encountered a bird species with metallic feathers. Upon closer inspection, the feathers act as solar collectors. The bird shows heightened energy and agility in sunlight."

Amphibious Adaptations: "Found a frog with skin that can mimic its surroundings, much like a chameleon. This camouflage seems to be a direct response to increased predator activity."

Core-Bearing Creatures: "Large predatory animal, resembling a wolf, had a crystalline sphere in its chest cavity. The core pulsates with energy. Potentially a source of power or mutation catalyst."

Insect Evolution - Hive Mind: "Noticed a colony of ants exhibiting complex problem-solving skills, suggesting a hive mind capability."

Each entry is accompanied by detailed descriptions and sketches.

Faust pondered the patterns in Leslie's notes. 'So, not every mutated animal has a core. It seems the stronger they are, the higher the likelihood of a core.'

Handing the book back to Leslie, he says. "I agree with Nex; these notes are impressive. You shouldn't underestimate yourself. Have more confidence in your abilities."

Leslie's eyes lit up with a spark of joy. "Thanks."

Nex, observing the exchange with a contented smile, thought to himself, 'It's been a while since I've seen her smile like that.'

He then turned his attention to Faust. 'For the duration of this test, we should stay close to him. Hopefully, he can continue to cheer her up.'