The tension from the standoff with Robert Stein and his soldiers had finally begun to dissipate as Haruto led the rescued players away from the dungeon. The weight of his new skill, Absolute Strike, gave him a small sense of security, but the world around them was still filled with threats. The remains of the dungeon lay behind them, and ahead was the vast unknown.

As they walked, Haruto took a moment to inspect the group that had followed him out. There were only six other players who had survived the dungeon ordeal: three women, two men, and a young girl. They looked exhausted, their faces pale from fear and hunger, but they were alive, and that was what mattered—for now.

Haruto quickly assessed their levels. The two men were at Level 2 and Level 3, while the three women were all Level 2, except for the young girl who was Level 4, only one level below him. He found it intriguing but didn’t pry further. In a world like this, levels were a measure of survival, and knowing that the girl was close to his level gave him pause. However, he wasn’t ready to ask questions just yet.

As they continued walking, the silence between them was broken by one of the men stepping forward. He was tall about—185 cm—with short, dark hair and a sharp, angular face. Haruto immediately recognized him as Japanese.

"I'm Takeshi," the man said in Japanese, his voice calm but weary. "From Tokyo. You’re Japanese too, aren’t you?"

Haruto nodded but kept his response brief. "Yes."

Takeshi smiled slightly, though there was still a shadow of exhaustion behind his eyes. "Good to see another countryman here."

Next to Takeshi, another man stepped forward. He was about 180 cm, with light brown hair and a rugged face, his green eyes filled with a similar weariness. "I’m Conor, from Ireland," he introduced himself, his Irish accent soft but distinct. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Conor offered a faint smile, as if trying to lighten the mood.

The group began to relax a little, and the women introduced themselves next. The first was a tall, dark-skinned woman with striking features. Her sharp eyes and strong build suggested she had a level of determination that kept her going. "I’m Celestine," she said, her Portuguese accent marking her as someone from Brazil.

The second woman had a softer, more delicate appearance. She had pale skin and long black hair that hung over her shoulders. "I’m Ji-Hye," she said quietly, her voice laced with a South Korean accent.

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Finally, the young girl, who had remained mostly silent until now, stepped forward. She was smaller than the rest, barely over 160 cm, with a look of defiance in her eyes that didn’t match her youth. "I’m Emma," she said, her American accent unmistakable. "I’m from the United States.

No Language Barriers

Haruto was struck by the strange ease with which everyone communicated. He noticed it when Robert spoke to him earlier, but it was even more apparent now. Despite being from different parts of the world—Japan, Ireland, South Korea, Brazil, and the United States—there was no language barrier between them. The game, or whatever world they were in, had somehow erased the difficulties of communication. Everyone could understand one another as if they were speaking the same language.

Still, Haruto kept his thoughts to himself. He wasn’t ready to share much of his background, but hearing Emma’s introduction brought a rush of memories flooding back. Haruto had been born in Japan, but he had moved to the United States when he was young because of his father’s career as an investment banker. The thought of the United States reminded him of his family—his mother, his distant father, and his older brother, whose life had been claimed by drugs.

The memories were bitter, and Haruto clenched his fists as they surfaced. He hadn’t thought about his family since being thrown into this world, but now the past felt closer than ever.

"Where are you going?" Celestine’s voice broke through Haruto’s thoughts.

Haruto looked up, realizing that the group was waiting for his response. "I’m heading to the beginner village," he said, his tone firm. "It’s the closest safe zone for players like us."

There was a brief silence as everyone processed the information. The idea of a safe zone was appealing, especially after the horrors they had just endured. But in a world like this, Haruto knew that safety was relative.

"If any of you want to follow me, you can," Haruto continued. "But I won’t drag anyone along. It’s up to you."

Celestine was the first to step forward, her determination clear in her eyes. "I’ll follow you," she said. "You saved us, and I’m not about to throw that away."

Takeshi, the Japanese man, nodded in agreement. "Same here. Strength in numbers, right?"

Conor stepped forward as well. "I’ll come too. I’d rather stick together than be out there alone."

The others, however, were not as eager to follow. Ji-Hye and Emma, the young girl, exchanged glances before stepping back. Ji-Hye spoke first, her voice trembling slightly. "I... I think I’ll go my own way," she said, her eyes downcast. "I need to find my own path."

Emma, the young girl, followed suit. "Me too," she said, her voice steady but cold. "I don’t need anyone to protect me."

Haruto didn’t argue with their decisions. He knew that in a world like this, words meant little. Only strength could truly speak here. He had no desire to force anyone to stay with him, and if they chose to leave, that was their choice. Still, part of him wondered how long they would survive on their own. But that wasn’t his problem.

With the group now split, Haruto, Celestine, Takeshi, and Conor continued on their path toward the beginner village. Haruto’s thoughts were focused on the road ahead, but he knew that if these new companions turned out to be dead weight, he wouldn’t hesitate to abandon them.

The world they were trapped in was brutal, and survival demanded strength. If they couldn’t keep up, they would be left behind. Haruto had no room for mercy in a place like this.Robert had already proven how ruthless this world could be, and he wasn’t going to let himself be dragged down by others.

But for now, they moved forward together. The road ahead was uncertain, but Haruto felt a small glimmer of hope knowing he wasn’t entirely alone.

End of Chapter