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Mana Gate
Chapter 6: Shadows of Betrayal

Chapter 6: Shadows of Betrayal

The resort was eerily quiet, the aftermath of the goblin attack casting a long shadow over the camp. The survivors, weary and injured, gathered around the remnants of their defenses, their faces a mix of relief and sorrow. Ben had returned to the camp with Sarah and Emily, and with practiced deceit, he spun a tale of heroism and loss.

"The battle was fierce," Ben declared, his voice steady and authoritative. "Jack fought valiantly to give us a chance to rescue Sarah and Emily. Unfortunately, he was lost in the fray. We did everything we could, but the goblins overran him. We barely managed to escape."

The story was a carefully crafted lie. Ben's words painted him as a reluctant hero, a brave soul who had risked everything, while Jack was portrayed as a fallen casualty. The group, still reeling from the chaos and the intense battle, accepted Ben’s account with little question, their focus shifting to tending the wounded and securing the camp.

Meanwhile, Jack's fate was far different. The goblins, having captured him, had taken him to their camp deep in the forest. The journey was rough and jarring, but Jack’s senses were sharp, even in his restrained state. When they finally reached the goblin encampment, he was roughly thrown into a crude holding area, a small, dark enclosure surrounded by thick wooden stakes and guarded by a pair of wary goblin sentries.

Jack woke up groggy and disoriented, a throbbing pain in his head and dried blood caked on his forehead. The scent of smoke and rot filled the air, mingling with the acrid odor of goblin sweat. As he came to his senses, he took stock of his surroundings.

The enclosure was sparsely furnished with a few tattered blankets and some discarded food scraps. The flickering light from a nearby fire cast eerie shadows on the walls, and the sounds of the goblin camp—grunts, laughter, and the occasional clink of metal—reached his ears. The goblins had secured the area with makeshift barriers, their crude tools and weaponry scattered around the camp.

Jack's mind raced with the implications of his capture. The betrayal by Ben and the rest of the group weighed heavily on him. The thought of being abandoned by those he had fought alongside filled him with a deep, seething anger. He had trusted them, only to be left behind as bait for the goblins. The sting of Ben’s treachery was a bitter pill to swallow, and Jack's feelings darkened with every passing moment.

As he struggled against his bonds, the reality of his situation set in. He was alone, surrounded by enemies, and cut off from any immediate help. The group that had once been his colleagues had turned against him, and now he had to rely on his own resourcefulness to escape and survive.

Jack’s thoughts spiraled into a cold fury. He envisioned the faces of his former comrades, the betrayal etched into their expressions. The harsh truth was that survival in this new world was not just about battling goblins or navigating the dangers of the island—it was also about dealing with the treacheries of those he had thought he could trust.

The goblins moved about their camp, seemingly indifferent to Jack’s plight. He could hear them discussing their plans, their language a rough mix of grunts and guttural sounds. While he was unable to understand much, their tone and the occasional mention of “prisoner” and “escape” suggested that they were making plans to move him again or to use him as leverage.

Jack’s anger and betrayal fueled his resolve. He knew he needed to find a way out of this situation, to escape the goblin camp and confront the group that had left him behind. The thought of seeking revenge was a dark but motivating force. As he surveyed the camp and listened to the goblins' conversations, he began to formulate a plan. He had to be smart, patient, and precise. The path to freedom and justice would be fraught with peril, but Jack was determined to see it through.

The betrayal had transformed his fear into a burning desire for retribution. He had been cast aside, but he would not be forgotten. He would fight to escape, to reclaim his place, and to make those who had wronged him pay for their actions.

As Jack lay on the cold, hard ground of the goblin camp, his mind raced with plans and strategies. The harsh reality of his situation was clear: he was imprisoned, betrayed by his comrades, and surrounded by hostile enemies. Every movement he made was painful, and the weight of his predicament pressed heavily upon him. Yet amidst the chaos and despair, a small glimmer of hope flickered within him.

Jack’s attention was drawn to the familiar interface of the system that had accompanied their abrupt shift to this world. Despite the injuries and the bleak surroundings, the system’s holographic interface had not disappeared. It hovered in the air before him, a beacon of the new reality he was forced to navigate.

With a grim determination, Jack focused on the system interface, which had become a crucial part of his survival. The last battle had not only been a test of physical strength but had also provided him with an opportunity for growth. He had leveled up, and now he needed to make the most of the situation. The system’s interface offered a momentary respite from his grim reality, a chance to gain an edge in his dire predicament.

He navigated through the menu with a sense of urgency, his mind fixated on the attributes and skills available to him. The system displayed his updated status, including his level, attributes, and available points. His recent experiences had earned him a new level, and he had accumulated a few free attribute points and a skill choice. Now was the time to make crucial decisions that could affect his chances of escape.

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Jack’s gaze settled on his attributes: Strength, Agility, Constitution, and Mana. His recent battles had tested him, and he knew that each attribute played a vital role in his survival. But in his current state, with his injury and the immediate need to escape, agility seemed to be the most crucial attribute to enhance. The thought of escaping his confinement and evading the goblins was a pressing concern.

He allocated his free attribute points into Agility, boosting it to improve his chances of quick movement and evasive maneuvers. The system confirmed the changes with a brief flicker, and Jack felt a subtle shift in his body, a heightened sense of awareness and nimbleness. It was a small but significant improvement, and he hoped it would aid him in the escape.

Next, he turned his attention to the skill selection. He had previously chosen Space Storage, a decision that had proved useful in various situations. But given his current predicament—injured and bound—he needed a skill that could address his immediate needs. Healing seemed like an obvious choice, and Jack knew it could make a critical difference.

He selected the skill Heal from the available options. The system confirmed his choice, and a new icon appeared in his interface, representing his newfound ability. The healing skill was precisely what he needed to tend to his wounds and regain some of his strength. Despite his situation, a sense of cautious optimism began to take root.

Jack focused on his injuries, concentrating on the healing skill. He could feel a faint, tingling sensation as the skill activated, and the pain in his leg and other injuries began to dull. The process was slow but steady, and as the healing continued, Jack’s movements became less restricted. The gash on his forehead, which had been throbbing painfully, also began to heal, the dried blood giving way to smoother skin.

The healing process did not completely erase his injuries, but it significantly reduced the pain and improved his mobility. Jack tested his limbs carefully, finding that he could now move with greater ease. The healing skill had provided him with a crucial advantage, and he was grateful for it.

With renewed energy and a clearer mind, Jack assessed his surroundings more closely. The goblin camp was bustling with activity, their crude chatter and occasional laughter creating an atmosphere of casual indifference. The guards were relatively relaxed, their attention divided between their duties and their revelry.

Jack’s enhanced agility and improved condition gave him a renewed sense of determination. He knew he had to act quickly and carefully. The goblins had not yet discovered the extent of his improved condition, and he intended to use that to his advantage. He needed to find a way out of the camp, and he had to do so without attracting too much attention.

He began to strategize his escape. The camp was surrounded by a crude wooden fence, with a few gaps that might offer opportunities for stealthy movement. He observed the patterns of the guards, noting their shifts and routines. Timing and precision would be key to avoiding detection.

With his enhanced agility, Jack moved silently across the ground, testing the strength of his bonds and searching for any potential weaknesses in his confinement. The ropes were rough and tightly bound, but he noticed a small section where they had frayed slightly. If he could work on loosening them without attracting the attention of the guards, he might be able to free himself.

As he worked on the ropes, he kept a vigilant eye on the goblins, their movements providing a rhythm that he could use to time his actions. The pain in his leg had subsided significantly, and he felt more confident in his ability to move quickly when the time came.

The healing skill had provided him with a crucial boost, but Jack knew that his escape would still require careful planning and execution. The goblins were unpredictable, and any misstep could lead to recapture. He had to be precise, stealthy, and ready to act at the right moment.

After a few hours of painstaking effort, Jack managed to loosen the ropes enough to slip one hand free. He continued to work on freeing the rest of his bindings, his movements slow and deliberate. The noise of the goblin camp continued in the background, a constant reminder of the danger that lurked just beyond his makeshift prison.

As the night deepened, Jack’s chance to escape grew closer. The guards’ attention seemed to wane as they became more absorbed in their activities. Jack took a deep breath, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. It was time to make his move.

He slipped out of the ropes and crept toward the edge of the enclosure. The wooden fence was rough and uneven, but it offered some cover. Jack carefully navigated the gaps, his enhanced agility allowing him to move with greater speed and stealth. He kept to the shadows, avoiding the gaze of the guards and using every ounce of his improved skill to stay hidden.

As he neared the edge of the camp, Jack glanced back at the goblins, their figures now less distinct in the darkness. He had managed to evade detection so far, but the real challenge lay ahead. He had to get out of the camp and find a safe place to regroup and plan his next steps.

With one final check to ensure he was not being watched, Jack slipped through a gap in the fence and into the surrounding forest. The darkness of the woods provided a welcome cover, and he moved quickly, his enhanced agility making the journey through the underbrush easier.

The forest was still and silent, the only sounds being the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. Jack paused to catch his breath, his heart still racing from the adrenaline of his escape. The goblin camp was now a significant distance behind him, but he knew that the danger was far from over.

The night was his ally, providing him with the cover he needed to evade pursuit. Jack used the darkness to his advantage, making his way through the forest with careful steps. He needed to find a safe place to rest and recover, and he had to plan his next move carefully.

As he continued through the forest, Jack’s thoughts were filled with a mix of anger and resolve. The betrayal he had experienced would not go unanswered, and he was determined to confront those who had wronged him. The challenges of the island were far from over, but Jack was more determined than ever to survive and seek justice.