Chapter 20: Paths to Take

"Name," a bored, gravelly voice droned from behind the wooden counter.

Niko stood before the man, blinking away the exhaustion that weighed on him like a lead blanket. The man sitting behind the desk was grotesquely overweight, his folds of flesh hanging like stacked dough beneath his chin. His small, beady eyes flicked lazily over a thin stone tablet, barely sparing Niko a glance. Everything about this man screamed laziness, from his heavy breathing to the slow, deliberate way he tapped his stubby fingers on the tablet.

Despite his initial impression, Niko knew better than to judge anyone in this world based on appearances. He had seen too much already—monsters, people with impossible abilities, and skills that defied all logic. Who knew what kind of strange talent or power this man might have?

"Niko," he responded, his voice rough with fatigue. His legs ached from the long walk, and his mind was foggy from the never-ending series of battles and escapes. The idea of collapsing into a bed, any bed, was the only thing keeping him upright.

The man sighed heavily, as if even the simple act of listening to someone speak was a monumental chore. "Full name," he grunted between wheezes, his hand still lazily poised over the glowing tablet.

"Niko Lazar," Niko replied, a tinge of impatience creeping into his voice. He had barely slept in days, and this bureaucratic routine was the last thing he wanted to deal with. But still, a small flicker of hope tugged at his thoughts—what if his sister's name appeared somewhere in this system? Could this bloated man hold the key to finding her?

The fat man asked a few more questions—age, occupation before being summoned, the name of the city he lived in. Niko answered mechanically, too tired to care, watching as the man raised his hand over the stone tablet. An eerie green light pulsed from the stone, casting long, grotesque shadows across the man's face. The tablet flashed briefly, confirming Niko's identity with some sort of magical verification.

With a dull thud, the man placed the tablet back on the counter and gestured lazily toward a nearby door. "Go in. Next," he muttered, his tone as uninterested as ever.

Niko didn’t bother with a reply. He trudged toward the door, the weight of exhaustion pulling at him with every step. His mind barely registered the dimly lit room he stepped into. Relief washed over him in waves as he looked around.

The room was large, the stone walls roughly cut and supported by thick wooden beams that crisscrossed overhead. The flickering lanterns cast a warm glow across the space, illuminating row upon row of simple wooden beds. It wasn’t much, but compared to the danger and chaos of the outside world, it felt like a sanctuary.

Without a second thought, Niko collapsed onto one of the beds. His body screamed in protest, aching from the relentless strain of the past few days. His mind, usually racing with thoughts of his sister, his survival, and the mysteries of this new world, slowed to a crawl. For the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to relax.

He stared up at the wooden beams above, his thoughts drifting back to Earth. It seemed like a lifetime ago that he had lived a normal life—playing games, chatting with friends, enjoying the comfort of modern technology. Now, everything felt so distant, almost like a dream. There were no games to return to, no online communities to joke with about wild theories of being transported to other worlds. This was real. Too real.

"I wonder if my sister is safe..." Niko muttered softly, his eyes growing heavy. The thought of his sister, however, quickly snapped him back to the present. Somewhere out there, she was still alive. She had to be. He clenched his fists, determination burning faintly beneath the layers of exhaustion. He would find her. He had to become stronger. He had to be ready for whatever lay ahead.

"Niko! Did you see that guy back there?" Simon's excited voice pulled Niko from his thoughts. The bespectacled young man dropped onto the bed beside Niko’s, his glasses askew as usual. "Weird skill, right? Do you think they keep track of everyone like that?"

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Niko blinked, still groggy, but nodded. Yeah... Maybe they have information on my sister too. His heart quickened at the thought. If the settlement kept records of everyone, there was a chance, however slim, that he could find some clue about her whereabouts.

Simon continued to babble on, his usual lightheartedness somehow intact despite the horrors they had witnessed. "I swear, there’s probably a skill for growing a second nose or something! This world is insane!"

A soft chuckle escaped Niko, though his mind was elsewhere. He made a mental note to seek out the fat man again. If there was even the slightest chance of finding his sister through the settlement’s records, he would seize it.

Louis’s voice joined them, as the tall, brooding man dropped onto a nearby bed with a heavy sigh. "Still smiling after everything, huh?"

Simon grinned, ever the optimist. "Why not? This is like... a dream come true! Well, minus the blood and constant threat of death. But hey, can’t have it all, right? Besides, being sad won’t get us back to Earth."

Louis raised an eyebrow but returned the smile. "Fair point."

As more people filtered into the room, Niko’s eyelids grew heavier. The weight of exhaustion finally caught up to him, pulling him deeper into the mattress. The soft green glow of his spirit orb floated above him, its gentle light soothing. Within moments, he was asleep.

Hours passed before the sound of shuffling feet and hushed whispers stirred Niko from his deep, dreamless slumber. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, still groggy but feeling more rested. The room had filled while he slept, with new survivors occupying the once-empty beds. Faces he didn’t recognize mixed with those from his group.

"Finally awake?" Louis teased from the bed next to him.

Niko yawned, stretching his stiff muscles. "How long was I out?"

"Not sure," Simon replied, adjusting his glasses. "But more people arrived while you were out. New survivors."

The room felt different now, more crowded and tense. People huddled together, some whispering quietly, others sitting alone, lost in their thoughts. The weight of what they had all been through hung in the air like a heavy fog.

Suddenly, the room fell silent as the doors swung open, and three men strode in. Niko’s attention snapped toward them. Their presence was commanding—each man wore armor similar to Marcos’s, but there was something more polished, more dangerous about them.

The first was short and stout, his stocky frame rippling with muscle beneath his armor. His hood obscured most of his face, but the hard line of his mouth spoke volumes. The second was tall and lean, his blonde hair glinting in the lantern light. A bow was slung casually over his shoulder, and his eyes scanned the room with cold precision. The third was younger, possibly a teenager, but his arrogance was palpable. His sharp gaze swept across the room with disinterest, as if he were already above everyone present.

The blonde man stepped forward, his voice calm yet authoritative. "Welcome, everyone. You’ve made it this far, and for that, you deserve recognition. Many have fallen before you, and many will fall after, but those who stand here today have proven their worth."

Niko felt his pulse quicken. He imagined his sister standing in a room like this, hearing the same words. The man’s speech was both encouraging and chilling, a reminder of the deadly reality they faced.

"This settlement exists to protect us," the man continued, "to give us a fighting chance in this world. But survival here isn’t easy. You have three paths before you, and the choice you make now will shape your future."

Niko leaned forward, his mind racing.

"You can choose to become a Protector," the man explained, "guarding the settlement from threats. Protectors are supported by the higher-ups, given resources, and trained to their full potential. But the cost is your freedom—you’ll follow orders without question. You’ll live in better quarters, higher up the mountain, but you’ll serve until you reach level fifteen."

Niko grimaced. The idea of being controlled, bound to someone else’s orders, didn’t sit well with him. He had his own path, his own mission.

"Next, you can become a Mercenary," the man continued. "No direct support, but you’ll have free housing for one month. After that, you’re on your own—finding your own missions, making your own way. But you’ll have the freedom to choose your battles."

Freedom. The word resonated with Niko. He needed the freedom to grow, to search for his sister without being tied down. He couldn’t afford to be shackled by rules and obligations.

"And lastly," the man said, his voice lowering, "you can choose to be a Citizen. Citizens take on jobs and tasks within the settlement. But be warned—leaving the settlement as a Citizen comes with a 95% mortality rate. The world outside is unforgiving."

Niko’s heart sank. The reality of their situation hit hard. The paths before him were filled with danger, but staying in the safety of the settlement meant giving up on everything. It wasn’t an option.

"You have thirty minutes to decide," the man finished, his eyes scanning the room. "