After killing the goblin and distributing his stat points, Adam felt his muscles shifting and altering slightly, his skin and bones becoming a bit firmer.
“The feeling of the stats remodeling my body is never pleasant," he muttered, "but at least I’m stronger now, relatively speaking. It’s going to take forever to get back to my old power. Hopefully, I can reclaim my old class. Without it, I’m going to be in serious trouble, especially if everyone who survived the last part of the tutorial is here too. Most of them want me dead, but they should be in the same weakened state I’m in right now. Maybe I should hunt them down first before they become stronger. But who am I kidding? I don’t even know what I should do, stuck in this ruined city. It’s apparent no living human is here, not with goblins, horned rabbits, and who knows what else wandering these streets. Should I leave and head to the next city? But it’s too far to walk on foot. Maybe one of the cars around here still works. Let’s try and find a working car, and if there’s none, I’ll just march.”
With no other options, Adam began walking through the city, searching for any cars that might still work. After an hour of fruitless searching, he glimpsed a bus that appeared to be in relatively good condition, with only minor scratches and dents marring its exterior.
Feeling a spark of hope, he scanned the area for any signs of monsters. Seeing none, he approached the bus and carefully examined it. Aside from the broken glass and a few dents, there were no major issues. He moved to the door and started forcing it open. After a bit of effort, the door gave way, and he stepped inside.
To his horror, a group of goblins lunged at him from under the seats. Reacting swiftly, he leaped out of the bus and rolled on the ground, but not before one of the goblins managed to scratch him. Scrambling to his feet, Adam turned to see eighteen goblins emerging from the bus.
“Okay, eighteen goblins is a bit much for me at the moment, especially since they’re all armed with knives. This place is too open—they can surround me easily. I need to find somewhere I can face them on my terms,” Adam thought.
Deciding on his next move, he sprinted away, scanning the ruined city for an alley or enclosed space that could give him an advantage over his ugly pursuers. After about three minutes of running, he turned left onto a street, only to be met with an even larger group of goblins. Before he could retreat, the first group arrived, blocking his escape.
“Damn it! I should have tried to kill those bastards from the start. Now I’m seriously screwed. Why can’t luck ever be on my side?” he muttered. “Well, it’s do or die now. Come at me, you green freaks! Let’s see who makes it out alive today.”
Screaming at the goblins, Adam pressed his back against a wall to make it harder for them to surround him. Just as the goblins were about to attack, an arrow pierced one of them in the head, killing it instantly. Surprised by the sudden death, both Adam and the goblins froze. More arrows flew from seemingly nowhere, killing several more goblins. Panicked by the sudden turn of events, the goblins scrambled to find cover from the hidden archer, with some even attempting to flee. From both ends of the street, a group of people wearing armor and wielding weapons straight out of a fantasy tale appeared.
From one end of the street, three figures appeared: two men and a woman. One of the men was imposing, clad in heavy armor and wielding a morning star, with a large shield strapped to his arm. The other man was his opposite—slender, wearing light leather armor, and armed with two short swords. The woman among them was draped in a flowing robe and carried a large wooden staff.
From the opposite end, a single woman appeared. She had striking short red hair and was clad in light armor, her katana gleaming with a razor-sharp edge.
The moment the group appeared, they surged into the fray, cutting through the goblins with ruthless efficiency. The towering man at the forefront was a living juggernaut, absorbing the goblins' attacks as if they were mere insects, while his morning star swept through their ranks with brutal force. His sheer presence was a wall of unstoppable might.
Right behind him, the slender man darted and weaved with astonishing agility, his two short swords flashing as he slashed through goblins with swift, precise movements. He skillfully took cover behind the giant, carving a path of destruction with every stroke.
At the rear, the woman with the staff unleashed a barrage of ice shards, her magic freezing both goblins and the ground beneath them. The chilling spells turned the battlefield into a treacherous expanse of ice, further complicating the goblins’ attempts to fight back.
The red-haired woman, meanwhile, was a whole other beast. She sliced through a whole group of goblins by herself, moving like a ghost among them. Each goblin she passed fell headless, a testament to her unrivaled skill.
In mere seconds, the tide of battle had turned, and the once-menacing group of goblins was no more.
Adam stared at the group, his mind racing. These people are definitely not normal. They must be players too, but how are they so strong so fast? Those three have already unlocked their first class, and the red-haired one is at least on her second advancement. Am I the only one who had my stats reset? What kind of mess is this? Well, at least I’m still alive. Let’s just hope they’re not with one of the clans that want me dead. Even if they are, most low-level players don’t know my face.
After the last of the goblins were dealt with, the group turned their attention to Adam. They quickly checked for injuries before focusing on him.
The red-haired woman, her katana still dripping with goblin blood, approached him with a piercing gaze. “Hey, you! What are you mumbling about? Why are you here alone? What happened to your team, and what’s your rank?”
Adam took a deep breath. “First, thanks for saving me. My name is Mike. I don’t have a rank—I’m not with the military. I’m here all by myself. You guys must be players, right? Did you find yourselves here right after the system message two?”
The red-haired woman narrowed her eyes, her katana pointed toward Adam. “System? Players? What are you talking about? I’m asking about your awakening rank. And what do you mean you don’t have a team? Do you have any idea how dangerous this place is? Even for the awakened, being here alone is like signing your own death warrant. You’re not an outlaw, are you?”
Adam’s mind raced. Awakening? What in the world is she talking about? How does she not know about the system? They’re clearly players—how else could they be so strong? Are they messing with me?
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. No point in stressing out. I can just ask them what’s going on. That’s why I’ve been searching for people anyway.
“Look, I really don’t understand what you’re talking about,” Adam said, trying to stay calm. “I’m not familiar with this ‘awakening’ you mention, and as far as I know, I’m not an outlaw. The last time I was on Earth was five years ago. By the way, we are on Earth, right?”
“Hey, boss, this guy is either crazy or an outlaw. Either way, it’s not our problem. We’ve done what we came to do. Let’s just leave him here and head back; he sounds like trouble,” the slender man whispered to the red-haired woman.
“I agree with Shroom,” the huge man chimed in. “Besides, we shouldn’t linger. We might have closed the gate, but there are still many dangers in this city. We were lucky to only encounter goblins.”
“I think we should take him with us,” said the mage. “If he’s crazy, we need to get him some help. If he’s an outlaw, we should turn him over to the authorities.”
“Hey, I can hear you fuckers, you know!” Adam called out. “Calling me crazy and all that shit, what happened to manners in the last five years?”
“How can you talk about manners with that filthy mouth of yours, especially to the people who saved you?” Shroom retorted.
After a moment’s thought, the red-haired woman nodded. “Alright, I’ve decided you’ll be coming with us. I want to hear your story, and if I feel you’re a threat, I won’t hesitate to deal with you. Do you understand?”
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Adam nodded.
“Shroom, go get Rika, LinLin, and Roy prepare the car,” she continued. “I’ll keep an eye on our guest here.”
“So, what’s your name?” Adam asked. “I gathered the names of your team from the conversation, but not yours.”
“You can call me Lex,” she replied.
After a while, Shroom returned with a short man carrying a black bow on his back, while LinLin and Roy arrived with a tank-like vehicle. They all got into the vehicle with Adam, and it started moving away from the ruined city.
“Alright,” Lex said once they were underway, “now that we’re all here, let’s hear your story. Why was a regular human like you in the middle of a monster nest, and how did you manage to survive?”
Adam sighed. “Well, there’s not much to tell. Five years ago, I was transported to a different world by something we called the system. We were given a mission, and upon completing it, we were promised we could return to our world. So, we did. Just a few hours ago, I found myself in this ruined city, and I guess you know the rest.”
“Yep, definitely crazy,” Shroom muttered. “I told you we should have left him where we found him, but no one listens to me.”
“Nobody listens to you because you’re a jerk,” LinLin retorted.
“Why don’t you say that when I’m not driving?” Shroom snapped. “Roy, switch with me for a second. I’m going to teach this airhead a lesson.”
“Can’t you two go one minute without arguing?” Roy interjected, shaking his head.
“Okay, everyone, chill for a moment,” Lex said, raising a hand. “And you—our boss here—didn’t ask for the short version of your story. You basically told us nothing. So, once again: who are you, and what were you doing alone in a monster nest? And don’t give us any more of that system nonsense, or you won’t like what happens next,” Rika warned, his eyes narrowing with a threat.
Adam met Rika’s gaze steadily. “Listen, I appreciate that you helped me, but let me make one thing clear: don’t threaten me. You might end up regretting it later.”
“Regret? And what could a normal human like you possibly do to make me regret anything?” Rika laughed, mocking Adam.
“Alright, Rika, enough,” Lex said, cutting him off. “But what he said is true. We saved you, and all we’re asking for is the truth. Instead, you keep spinning us a tale that no sane person would believe.”
Adam, feeling exhausted from the conversation, sighed. “Look, the problem is that what you’re calling nonsense is the truth. If you’re unwilling to believe it, I don’t know what else to say.”
“Alright, let’s say we believe what you’re saying,” Lex said. “How did you manage to survive in that city for even a few hours? Even E-ranked awakened individuals would struggle.”
“I guess I just got lucky,” Adam replied. “I only encountered a horned rabbit and two goblins before getting ambushed by the group you just dealt with. But I’ve been meaning to ask—what exactly is this ‘awakened’ you keep mentioning?”
Lex studied him, trying to gauge the sincerity of his confusion. After a moment, she sighed. “You really don’t know what an awakened is?”
Adam nodded.
“Okay, I’ll humor you. What do you know about dungeons? And the calamity from five years ago?” Lex asked.
“I know about dungeons. We had them in the world I was in. They’re basically pocket dimensions that contain monsters and unique treasures. But this is the first time I’m hearing about the calamity. Is it related to the awakened?” Adam replied.
“You know dungeons are pocket dimensions, which is more than most regular people do. But you know nothing about the awakened or the calamity, which is common knowledge. You really are a weird guy,” Lex said, giving him a curious look. “Listen, I’ll tell you about what happened five years ago and the calamity, but only if you seriously explain this system and the world you’ve been in.”
“Come on, Lex, don’t buy the crazy guy talk. You’re better than that,” Shroom said from the front of the car.
“I hate to agree with that idiot, Lex, but I think he’s right this time. This just seems like a pain in the ass. Let’s just drop him here,” Rika added.
“So what’s the real reason, Lex? You’re the last person to entertain a crazy person,” Roy asked.
“Again, I’m right here, fuckers,” Adam interjected.
Lex sighed. “Well, I think he might not be crazy. Maybe he’s one of the lost.
Everyone turned to her, sadness in their eyes. “Lex, this is about your little brother, isn’t it? That’s why you agreed to take him with us,” LinLin said gently.
“I know, I know. Don’t give me that look. But if there’s even the smallest chance, I have to try,” Lex said.
“So what are the lost?” Adam asked.
“I’ll tell you, but do you agree to my terms?” Lex asked.
“Sure, I’ve got nothing to lose,” he replied.
“Okay then,” Lex began. “Five years ago, strange gates appeared all over the world. No one knew how they came to be or what they were made of. Humans, being naturally curious, tried to explore them, but no one who went inside ever came back. Fearful of these gates, governments worldwide issued orders to lock them down. That might have been their biggest mistake because, after a while, the gates opened by themselves and released hordes of monsters upon the world, causing unprecedented destruction.
"Thankfully, the first waves of monsters weren’t so powerful, so we managed to fend them off, though not without a huge number of casualties. That event is what we call the Calamity. The monsters weren’t the only thing the gates brought. They also released a strange type of energy we called mana. Because of this mana, some people started to gain superpowers. We call them the awakened because these powers usually manifest after having a weird dream. They are the ones responsible for clearing the gates of monsters and keeping humanity safe. Do you have any questions before I get into the next part?”
“No, please continue. I finally feel like I understand what’s going on,” Adam replied.
“The reason I've been telling you all this and being patient through your crazy talk is that I believe you might be one of the lost,” Lex said. “I told you the gates brought mana and monsters, but that wasn’t all. They also brought the crystal disease. When the gates appeared, many people around the world were engulfed in an indestructible crystal-like material. The weird thing about the crystal disease is that it doesn’t harm the human body in any way. You could even say it protects them. But those people are trapped, unable to do anything even though their bodies and minds function normally.
“These people are the lost. They are the reason why so many tried to explore the dungeons when they appeared, thinking they might find a cure. But even after the awakened showed up and conquered the gates, no cure was found. Most of the world gave up on ever finding one. I thought I had given up too, until I found someone who doesn’t seem to know anything about what’s now common knowledge, even among children. Someone who must be crazy, living under a rock, or inside a crystal to not know this basic information. So, which one are you? A crazy person or one of the lost?” Lex asked her voice tinged with hope, fear and anticipation.
Adam took a deep breath, feeling the pieces finally coming together in his mind. “Yeah, I think I might be one of the lost you’re talking about. Don’t take it to heart though; I might be wrong. The only reason I think so is because when I woke up here, there were shards like crystals all around me. It fits with everything I’ve been through and what you’ve told me.”
The car suddenly stopped, plunging the interior into a heavy silence. The group's eyes turned to Adam, their expressions intense and accusatory. “You fucking bastard!” Rika spat through gritted teeth. “After everything we’ve done for you, you’re just going to lie and give her false hope that her brother might still be alive?”
Rika lunged at Adam, his hand reaching for him, but before Rika could grab him, Adam delivered a swift punch to Rika’s neck. Rika staggered back, coughing violently. “I warned you, man, but you didn’t listen. The only reason I tolerated your bullshit this long is because you helped me, not because I’m afraid of you,” Adam said, his voice steady.
“You dare attack one of us, you ungrateful bastard?” Shroom roared, reaching for one of his swords, ready to retaliate against Adam.
“Everyone, stop! Roy, hold Shroom,” Lex commanded while restraining the recovering Rika. Roy, sitting beside Shroom, did his best to keep him from acting out.
The car fell into an even heavier silence, the tension palpable as everyone’s hands moved toward their weapons. “Mike, what’s the meaning of this? Why did you attack him?” Lex demanded, her eyes burning with anger.
“I understand that he’s your friend and you feel the need to defend him, but really? Why did I attack him? Here’s the answer: I didn’t. I just defended myself,” Adam said calmly.
“You—” Rika began, but Lex cut him off.
“Stop. He’s right. I’m sorry; we were in the wrong. But still, you lied to us. No regular person could ever hurt an awakened with their bare hands,” Lex said, her voice filled with accusation.
“I didn’t lie to you,” Adam retorted. “I never claimed to be a regular person. You’re the ones who labeled me as such.”
“You’re right, but you still didn’t correct us,” Lex said, her tone sharp.
“Because I didn’t know,” Adam replied. “Remember?”
“So everything you said about being one of the lost?” Lex asked.
“Just like I said, it’s not 100% certain, but there’s a high chance since everything fits together when you put it all together,” Adam replied.
“You’re still going to stick with this story?” Rika began.
“Mike, listen,” Roy said. “We’re helping you because we want to, not because we expect something in return. If what you’ve been saying is a lie, just admit it. We’ll still take you to the city, but if you continue with this, you’re only going to hurt Lex.”
“Enough, all of you,” Lex interjected. “I understand you all want what’s best for me, but this is my decision. I will decide if I’m going to believe him or not.”
“What’s your brother’s name?” Adam asked.
“What?” Lex replied, confused.
“Like I said, I’m not 100% sure, but there’s a high chance that the lost are people who were sent to the other world with me. I might know your brother if he was one of the significant figures over there. And before any of you start accusing me again, I might not know him, so take everything with a grain of salt.”
“His name is Toreen” said Lex
Adam felt as if he were cursed upon hearing the name. He had planned to lie and claim he knew whoever she mentioned, just to end all this bullshit. But out of all the names she could have said, she had to mention one on his kill list. Wait, maybe it's another Toreen. I mean, her brother could just have a similar name, right? There must be another red-haired bastard named Toreen.
“By any chance, is his last name Sigfrid?” Adam asked.