Jason said angrily, “So what the fuck happened there, I asked you to do something about Alex. He could have died your healers, for god sake, instead of…,” As tensions rose within the group, Alex reached out and firmly gripped Jason's shoulder, his voice filled with concern. "Jason, it's fine. I'm alright. Nothing bad ended up happening," he reassured him, his eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and understanding. “I should kill them right here. They are absolutely worthless,” Jason said, shocking everyone present. Alex gripped harder, looking at Jason firmly.
Jason took a deep breath, his anger subsiding as he realised the gravity of his words. He met Alex's gaze, remorse evident in his eyes. "You're right, Alex. I let my emotions get the best of me. I shouldn't have said those things."
Bernard and Caroline remained silent, their expressions a mix of surprise and relief. They understood the tension but were grateful that their friend was unharmed. They recognised that Jason's outburst came from a place of concern, albeit expressed in a misguided manner.
Attempting to defuse the situation, Mark stepped forward and offered an explanation. "I'm sorry, everyone. I haven't been completely forthcoming about my abilities. When I chose the druid subclass, I acquired a title called Emissary of the Flora. It grants me a passive skill that allows me to connect with plant life mentally. They speak to me and guide me. Additionally, I have been given a stat called Earth Affinity, which strengthens as I interact with the plant life."
His revelation sparked a mix of curiosity and intrigue within the group. They listened attentively as Mark continued, "The plants advised me to stay out of harm's way during the encounter. They promised to protect me if I followed their instructions."
Jason's initial scepticism shifted to curiosity as he listened to Mark's words. While still cautious, he began to grasp the significance of Mark's connection with nature and the potential benefits it could offer to the group.
Realising the need for unity, Alex spoke up again, his voice calm yet assertive. "We're a team, Jason. We need to support and trust each other. We can't let fear and anger cloud our judgment. Mark's abilities could be invaluable to our survival. Let's focus on working together and finding the best way to navigate this new world."
Jason nodded, a mixture of gratitude and determination crossing his face. He recognised the importance of unity and support in a group environment. They were all thrust into this new reality together, and their collective strengths and skills would be crucial for their survival.
But the group still felt uneasy about how easily Jason had said such words as if it were a typical statement. They all shared the same thought: would Jason actually follow through with it?
Mark was the first to break the silence, saying, "The plants are telling me that we should take the wolf's meat as food." Jason agreed, recognising the idea's practicality, especially since none of them had any provisions. Strangely, though, they all noticed that they didn't feel hungry. They wondered why that was the case. Jason proposed a wild theory that one of their stats might have reduced their need for food, considering their newfound abilities. Surprisingly, the rest of the group didn't dispute it. In fact, they supported the notion, pointing out that their current reality allowed Jason to shoot balls of mana like it was second nature.
Together, the group began the task of butchering the wolf, although their lack of experience made the process rather primitive. Jason volunteered his sword, which he identified as a Basic Sword with a +10 strength bonus. However, Alex pulled out an axe that proved to be more suitable for the task. With each swing, Alex swiftly removed the legs of the wolf, repeating the process until the animal was dismembered.
Now they faced a dilemma: what to do with the remaining parts of the animal. Should they simply leave it behind? Mark intervened, suggesting they leave it as a tribute to the forest. He believed that by offering the carcass as nourishment, the forest would guide them to a safe place to spend the night. The group agreed, realising they weren't particularly hungry and the four massive limbs would suffice. They left the carcass behind, and as Jason glanced back, he noticed roots starting to spread over it. He chose not to mention it to the others, keeping it to himself.
The group walked for a long time, following Mark's lead until they began to hear the sound of running water. They arrived at a clearing with a small lake in the middle. Mark assured them that the water was drinkable, as it was the same source the forest relied on. Jason couldn't help but appreciate having a druid with them, realising that without their knowledge, they would have been stranded in a forest full of unknown dangers.
They decided to set up camp near the lake. However, before they could proceed, Jason spoke up, addressing Dorothy, Adrian, Steve, Mark, and Maria directly. "Hey, guys, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for what I said earlier. You all aren't useless at all, and I was still coming down from the adrenaline or whatever that was." His words showed genuine sincerity, expressing his remorse for his previous outburst.
The group's tension began to ease as Jason's apology and explanation sank in. They understood that the intense situation they found themselves in had triggered an emotional response, and Jason's outburst didn't reflect his true character. The distinction between killing monsters for survival and the thought of harming a fellow human being became apparent to everyone. They realised that their actions in this new world were driven by the necessity to survive, not by any malicious intent.
On Earth, people hunted animals for sport or entertainment, but this was a completely different scenario. Their current circumstances demanded a different mindset. They were no longer playing a game or engaging in a recreational activity. Every decision they made was about their own survival and the protection of their group. They had to adapt to this new reality and face the challenges that lay ahead with a focused determination to overcome them.
But then, out of curiosity, Jason asked his companions what level they had reached. Dorothy, Adrian, Steve, Mark, and Maria responded with level 0. Jason's assumption had been correct - in order to gain a level, one had to participate and contribute actively. He then suggested that they should focus on levelling up, offering his assistance to help them progress. The group exchanged determined looks, ready to take on the challenge.
However, Adrian's response was filled with arrogance and a dismissive chuckle. He scoffed at the idea, claiming that he could take care of himself and didn't need Jason's help. This unexpected defiance caught Jason off guard. He couldn't help but question Adrian's previous behaviour, remembering how the man had seemed to hide behind a tree during the wolf attack. Jason confronted Adrian, asking him where he had been during that crucial moment. Adrian glared back at Jason, the tension between them growing. Jason couldn't help but think about how much of a dick Adrian was and wondered how they would manage to work together effectively.
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Jason dismissed Adrian's glare and turned his attention to Mark, inquiring if it was acceptable to start a fire. Mark looked down and explained that the forest generally preferred they refrain from doing so, but would make an exception due to the offering of the wolf's remains. A grin formed on Jason's face, appreciating the forest's generosity. He then requested Mark's assistance, along with Bernard and the reluctant Adrian, to gather firewood. Adrian shot another glare at Jason, but he paid it no mind.
As Mark, Bernard, and Adrian ventured off to collect firewood, Jason noticed that darkness was starting to settle in. He gathered everyone else together, urging them to assemble. He turned to Caroline and inquired if she had levelled up. Caroline shyly responded, revealing she had reached level one and acquired three skills: Stealth, Hunter's Eye, and Moment of the Rogue. Stealth provided her with the ability to remain unseen at the cost of stamina, Hunter's Eye enhanced her tracking and accuracy, and Moment of the Rogue granted a 10% boost to agility. Jason nodded in approval, and Alex complimented her on her well-rounded set of skills. Caroline blushed. Curiosity piqued, he asked her about the rarity of her newly acquired skills. Caroline opened her stat page and confirmed that all three of her skills were classified as common.
Jason wondered why Caroline didn't have uncommon skills, so he turned to the only other person in the group who had levelled up. "Hey Alex, what rarity are your skills?" he asked. Alex checked his stat page and replied, "Uncommon." This only added to Jason's confusion, but he had a theory brewing in his mind. He shared his theory with the group, explaining how both he and Alex had subclasses while Caroline did not. Drawing from his experience in games, Jason explained that subclasses were often unlocked after reaching a certain level with the main class, allowing for more specialized abilities. He wondered if this was the difference between them. Jason then turned to Caroline and inquired about her titles. She revealed that she had the "Forerunner" and "Rogue" titles.
Before Jason could continue, a root suddenly sprouted in front of them, pointing in the direction that Mark, Bernard, and Adrian had headed off to collect firewood. The group turned their attention to the peculiar sight, their curiosity piqued by the mysterious movement of the forest itself. Jason couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, but he also sensed that the forest was trying to guide them. With a determined expression, he gestured for Alex to make haste because he had a bad feeling.
Jason and Alex set out, looking back at the group and instructing Caroline to take care of Steve and Dorothy. "I have a bad feeling about this," Jason said, his voice filled with concern. "If we don't return in a couple of hours, move far away from here. Something bad has happened." Caroline nodded, determination in her eyes, as Jason and Alex followed the trail indicated by the root.
As they ran, Alex turned to Jason and asked what he thought had happened. Jason's expression grew grim as he replied, "I'm afraid they might have been attacked. Not by wolves, but by other participants." Alex's shock was evident as he questioned why that would happen. Jason pondered momentarily and suggested, "Perhaps it has something to do with the side quest. It mentions being the last one standing or gaining the backing of the majority."
Before Jason could finish his sentence, he abruptly stopped running, causing Alex to stop. "We don't have time for this," Alex urged, sensing the urgency of the situation. But Jason's horror-stricken face caught Alex's attention. "Look at the tutorial screen," Jason demanded, his voice trembling. Both of them turned their attention to the updated tutorial console.
Tutorial Console
Main quest: Survive
Secondary quest: Acquire tutorial points from defeating enemies
Side quest: Be the last one standing or gain 51% backing from the other participants
Duration: 3 months
Tutorial points: 5
Participants: 989/1500
Rewards will be calculated at the end of the tutorial.
The numbers on the screen sent a shiver down their spines. Over 500 participants had already lost their lives in less than a day. Silence filled the air as Jason and Alex exchanged glances, expressions filled with horror and a renewed sense of urgency. They ran and ran until they heard yelling. Jason's heart pounded as he recognized Bernard's voice, shouting in distress. With a surge of adrenaline, he and Alex sprinted towards the commotion. There, they witnessed a horrifying scene—Bernard was held captive, his head inches away from being severed by a ruthless assailant.
Without a second thought, Jason summoned a shadow bolt, channelling it into a concentrated blast. With precise aim, he unleashed the Shadow bolt, sending it hurtling towards the assailant. The bolt struck the assailant's weapon with a powerful impact, knocking it out of his grasp. The weapon spun through the air before embedding itself deep into a nearby tree, which began crumbling under a dark miasma.
Jason took a proper look at his surroundings, his eyes scanning the grim scene before him. There, lying on the ground, was Adrian. His throat had been brutally slit, and his lifeless body lay motionless. His hands were stretched out as if in a futile attempt to crawl away, his eyes empty and glazed over. Adrian was dead.
Jason immediately shifted his attention to Alex, his face frozen. He gave Alex a firm slap, jolting him out of his frozen state. Confusion filled Alex's eyes as he looked at Jason, but before he could utter a word, all he heard was Jason's resolute voice saying, "This is not the time." Those words snapped Alex back to reality, and he realized the urgency of the situation. If they didn't act now, they would be next.
Jason's gaze shifted to the area behind a nearby tree, where he knew Mark was safely cocooned within a protective shield of roots. As for the mysterious assailant, he nonchalantly whistled, summoning two more individuals from their hidden positions. Jason's instincts told him they were in deep trouble. He turned to Alex, his voice filled with determination, and said they needed to fight them and hopefully escape.
But once again, Alex found himself frozen in place, his mind overwhelmed by the unfolding events and the words that left Jason's mouth. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Jason swiftly activated his identification skill, revealing the details of their Challengers: a warrior (Level 3), a rogue (Level 4), and a formidable warrior (Level 6). Jason couldn't help but feel a mixture of shock and concern at the sight of someone already at such a high level.
Jason's gaze locked onto Alex, who had regained his composure. With determination in his voice, Alex addressed their adversaries. "Hi I'm Alex and this is my friend Jason, could you tell me your name and subclass?"
The man sneered at Jason's question and retorted with disdain, mocking their suggestion of introducing themselves. "what do you think this is, Show and tell? I'm gonna fucking kill you and loot your corpse, then let the wolves have their way with it," he declared with a sadistic grin. The rest of his group cheered him on, revelling in anticipation of the impending violence.
Unfazed by the man's threat, Alex maintained his composure and responded calmly, "I believe we can come to a reasonable agreement here." The man looked at him with a mixture of confusion and interest, prompting Alex to continue, "We don't have to resort to violence. Let's talk it out and find a peaceful resolution."
The man seemed to ponder this momentarily, his gaze shifting from Alex to Jason. Suddenly, he asked, “You got any females with you?” and a lecherous smirk crossed his face. Disgust filled Alex's expression as he realized the man's intentions. However, before he could voice his protest, the man's underlings intervened, arguing that they should be the ones to deal with the group since they were of lower levels, and he took the exp from the last guys.
Grumbling in frustration, the warrior conceded, "Fine, have at them, boys. But make it quick." With his permission given, the underlings eagerly prepared themselves for the upcoming confrontation, ready to attack Jason and Alex.