As soon as Lincoln had left his friends prepared for what was to come, or as he liked to say, 'presentable', they set off for the nearest town, which actually looked more like a forest because of the large trees and vegetation that had taken over the environment.
"I'm going to go over the plan just once more, so pay close attention to what I'm about to say. Are we clear?"
I asked, still with a serious look on my face, while they just nodded, confirming that they understood.
As I prepared to speak, the system's voice echoed in my mind, interrupting me just as I was about to continue.
*SFX for something appearing*
[URGENT WARNING:]
[Multiple varieties of monsters detected.]
[Would you like to activate the 'Energy Detection' Skill to get the location of the enemies?]
[YES]/[NO]
*SFX to something being squeezed*
As soon as I pressed that option, that same electronic sound that had echoed in my mind a few minutes ago came back. Only this time, the screen in front of me also disappeared, and another one appeared in its place.
*SFX for something disappearing and reappearing*
[Activating the 'Energy Detection' Skill.]
[... ..]
After the 'Skill' was activated, I closed my eyes and started to breathe deeply, trying to sense the presence of everything around me. After I did this, I'm not going to lie, but I almost had a fit. When I felt all those presences coming together, there were so many I couldn't even count.
"This has got to be a joke. How many monsters are there?"
I asked myself, letting out a long sigh without waiting for anyone to answer me. However, that same voice echoed in my mind again.
*SFX for something appearing*
[WARNING:]
[In total, 100 monsters were detected.]
After reading what was written on that screen, I won't lie and say that I wasn't excited for a moment. However, that excitement was also mixed with a little despair. After all, there were a hundred monsters that we would have to deal with, and when I say 'we', I'm referring to myself, since they wouldn't be able to cope with so many monsters.
As I pondered what to do next, an idea popped into my head. To my surprise, it seems that both the system and I came to the same conclusion at the same time.
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*SFX for something disappearing and reappearing*
Ring ~
[NOTE:]
[For everyone's safety, I recommend splitting up the monsters.]
Without understanding the reason behind those words, I decided to ask.
"What would happen if we all went together, without any preparation?"
[... ..]
[Probability of survival...]
[......]
[0%]
When I heard that, I confess I was perplexed, because the idea that we would have a better chance of surviving separately than as a group simply didn't make sense to me.
"Can you tell me what monsters are there?"
I asked, still trying to understand why our survival rate would be so low if we went together, rather than separately.
[... ..]
[I'm sorry, but unfortunately, I don't have that answer.]
After receiving that answer, I let out a small sigh and pulled myself together.
"Even if you don't have that answer, your recommendation was very helpful. So, thank you very much."
[... ..]
[THERE'S NO DECK.]
After I said those words inside my head, I can't explain why, but I felt a slight joy or something different coming from those words in the system. But maybe I was just mistaken.
After that, I turn to them. They also stop walking and start staring at me, not understanding the reason for my action.
"Guys, unfortunately, we're going to have to change our plan."
I said it with a neutral face.
"Why?"
Ronnie Anne asked, staring at me. From the looks on the others' faces, that was probably their question too.
"Apparently, my system was able to identify 'some' enemies further ahead."
I said that, emphasizing the word 'some' very well to make them aware of what we would be facing ahead.
As soon as I said those words, I immediately noticed the change in their expression. It was curious to note that the only person who didn't seem to be so affected by my speech was Ronnie Anne.
As no one had the courage to say anything, Ronnie Anne once again took her place as the leader of the group and asked me again.
"How many monsters do you have?"
Ronnie Anne asked, half thinking and also wanting to believe that it wasn't that many.
"If I were you, I'd sit down so you don't end up falling over."
As soon as I said that, even she, who was trying to appear calm in the situation, lost her composure for a moment.
"And that much?"
Ronnie Anne asked, trying to appear calm, but to no avail.
I didn't say anything and just nodded.
This time, it was Clyde who had the courage to ask.
"Lincoln, a little question... Are there more than 30 of those monsters there?"
Clyde asked, kind of wanting my answer to be no.
Before answering Clyde's question, I let out a long sigh.
"Dude, I'll be honest with you. If I had 30 monsters, you can be sure I wouldn't be like this."
Not finishing my sentence, I was about to add to it, but Ronnie Anne interrupted me.
"So, exactly how many monsters do you have?"
Ronnie Anne asked.
"To be honest, there are actually 100."
As soon as I said that, not only did Liam and Clyde end up falling to the ground, but Ronnie Anne and the other two followed suit and fell too.
"It's impossible..."
Liam said depressed, falling into a fetal position.
Clyde, trying to dispel the tense atmosphere that had formed in the group, stood up.
"Guys, I know it's going to be impossible for us to split up. But together, I think we can do it."
When Clyde said that, I could see the expression on their faces change from despair to one that indicated there was still hope.
In an attempt to reinforce what he had just said, Clyde turned to me and asked.
"Isn't that Lincoln?"
As soon as he said that, I let out another sigh and, with a serious face, said:
"I'm sorry, man. I kind of wish you had that option, but unfortunately, for reasons of survival, we're going to have to split up."
After I said that, I felt that same tense atmosphere in the air returning, even after Clyde had managed to dispel it.