Rowan's gaze swept over the group, his eyes narrowing slightly as he waited for someone to confirm what he had just said. His words hung in the air like a challenge, leaving the group in an uncomfortable silence.
Lyle broke the quiet first, his voice steady but cautious. "Yeah, we know about the battle royale," he said, his eyes flicking briefly to the others before locking back on Rowan. "And the special quest is to gather a group and keep them safe—for now, that's part one. That's all we know. I didn't want to say anything because we don't know what comes next."
The twins shifted, their shared body tense. Connor's brow furrowed as he spoke up first. "But I thought you said we'd help each other out so we could be some of the last standing—boost our chances of survival," he said, his voice tinged with disappointment.
Jacob, arms crossed over his chest, followed up smoothly, finishing the thought. "Guess you had other plans."
Lyle met their gaze, unfazed. "Yeah, I had other plans. I'm making sure more than one of us makes it out of this battle royale," he said firmly, glancing at his sister, Aria.
Rowan tilted his head, smirking again as if amused. "I figured you guys were a bit behind," he said, stepping back and rolling his shoulders, eyes casually scanning the group like he was sizing them up all over again. "Looks like you've got a lot to learn."
Jacob shifted his weight slightly, the conjoined form adjusting naturally as he stared Rowan down with quiet defiance. "And you think you've got it all figured out?"
Rowan paused at that, his smirk faltering just a moment. His expression softened briefly—though just for a heartbeat. "Not everything," he admitted, voice quieter now, touched with weariness. "But enough to know that staying with a big group can be a death sentence. You never know who's hiding knives behind their backs." His gaze drifted to the Plumacrypt corpses littering the field—grim reminders of survival's cost. "You've gotta know when to fight, when to run, and who to trust."
Lyle's brow furrowed as he stepped forward, arms crossing. "And what's your play, Rowan? You just 'happened' to stumble on us?" His voice was sharp with suspicion.
Rowan's smirk twitched back to life, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Nah," he said easily. "I've got my reasons. Right now, you lot look like you could use the help. Besides, if I'm sticking close to the group with the quest, maybe my chances of survival go up. I'm a betting man—and you look like the winning side. Works out for both of us."
Markus, wiping blood off his cheek, eyed Rowan skeptically. "And what do you want for this 'help' of yours?"
Rowan glanced at his axe, fingers tracing the worn edge as he answered. "If I'm part of the group, I get a shot at making it out. And you all seem... interesting enough."
Connor let out a sharp breath, leaning slightly forward as Jacob chimed in right after, brows raised. "You sound smart for someone our age… How old are you?"
Rowan didn't miss a beat. "Sixteen."
Jacob's eyes narrowed. "Sixteen? And you know all this?" His voice carried clear doubt.
Rowan only chuckled, shrugging. "You don't have to trust me. I don't trust any of you either. But trust that I'll do what's best for me. And sticking with you guys? That's what's best for me right now."
Lyle looked Rowan over for a long moment, then gave a curt nod. "Alright. You can join us."
As if on cue, a sudden shift rippled through the air, the system voice echoing around them:
Quest: Archon of Man — Part One Objective: Recruit individuals to be part of the new Earth civilization.
Description: The world you once knew is gone. Change is inevitable. With every great shift, there must be those who step forward to lead. You have been chosen to spearhead these transformations, to guide humanity toward its next era. You meet the requirements to shape the civilization of man.
Part One: Recruit people to be part of this new beginning.
7 / [N/a]
System Notification: Rowan Ashford {Human, Level 18} has been successfully integrated into the newly forming civilization, spearheaded by Lyle. As a chosen leader, Lyle's responsibility grows, and with each new recruit, the foundation of this emerging society strengthens. Rowan's skills and experience may prove invaluable in the challenges ahead, but trust remains uncertain. Will he be a reliable ally or a wildcard in this grand endeavor? Only time will tell as the civilization of man begins to take shape.
Would you like to share this quest with the following people? Yes or No
Lyle hesitated, his thoughts swirling. After a moment, he shifted his answer to No and moved on without a second glance.
Lyle gave a small nod and gestured to each person. "Alright. Let me introduce everyone." He pointed first to Markus. "That's Markus," then gestured to the girl beside him. "And this is my sister, Aria." His hand moved to the scruffy-looking man. "That's Finn," and then to another figure standing a bit awkwardly. "Ramsey—he's, well… Ramsey." Finally, his hand stopped at the twins. "And that's Connor—and Jacob."
The twins gave Rowan a shared, wary glance.
Rowan grinned. "Nice to meet you all."
Markus eyed him warily. Aria hesitated as if about to wave, but instead settled for a polite nod. "Nice to meet you," she said softly.
Jacob tilted his head slightly. "What's that on your axe?" he asked, curiosity clear in his voice.
Rowan smirked, glancing at the etchings along his weapon. "Oh, that? That's my soul skill."
Connor perked up slightly. "Soul skill? What kind?"
Without a word, Rowan tossed his axe high into the air. Everyone instinctively tensed, ready for a fight—until Rowan vanished from where he stood, reappearing smoothly right where the axe landed, catching it with a grin.
Jacob's eyes widened. "Whoa! That's awesome! Do it again!"
Connor, still connected to Jacob, groaned. "Really? You're encouraging this?"
Rowan laughed, indulging Jacob's excitement as he teleported back and forth, showing off. The rest of the group exchanged exhausted glances, clearly less impressed.
As they began walking back to camp, Rowan continued teleporting around them, always landing near Jacob, who clapped and cheered like a kid seeing magic for the first time.
Connor, clearly frustrated, finally snapped, "Jacob, stop hyping him up! You're only making him worse!"
Jacob just grinned mischievously. "What? It's cool!"
Rowan winked at them both. "See? He gets it."
Behind them, the others trudged along, weary and resigned to the antics, while Lyle simply watched in thoughtful silence—already considering how Rowan's ability could be an asset in the battles to come.