Han listened intently, his curiosity piqued. "So, you really believe he's on another level? It sounds like he could be a game-changer for us."
Ria nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Definitely. It's like he's not just some random survivor; he's acts like someone who's used to dealing with these kinds of situations. But that is impossible, because we were all suddenly thrust into this horror world. If there are others out there, I'd want him by our side."
Han shifted slightly, a mix of disbelief and surprise. "Hmmmmm, but, even though, he's only human, like the rest of us."
"True," Ria acknowledged. "But if we can find him, maybe he can help us figuring out our abilities better too. If we do survive, we'll need all the strength we can get."
"Let's hope we run into him then" Han replied. "We can't rely on luck forever. And we definitely were lucky to get out of that scramble with no more than just scratches."
"Agreed. I remember Adrien being injured heavily though," Ria said, her face twisted with mixed emotions. "First, let's gather what supplies first thing in the morning in the area. If we can figure out how to survive in this environment, that puts us a step ahead."
"Good idea. Let's get to sleep then for now."
With that, they each chose a corner of the cave to settle down, using what little material they had to put something between the ground and them, mostly their jackets and tops for cushioning.
...
The night was deep, shrouding the forest in an inky darkness that felt almost suffocating. Stars twinkled faintly above the dense canopy, their light struggling to break through the thin veil of clouds.
Adrien looked upwards, appreciating the view of the stary sky, when he felt a subtle pull from an invisible force, as if the stars were calling out to him.
For some reason, the stars felt alive today, if anything, the feeling was more troubling than comforting. It gave off the eerie feeling of being constantly watched, or the feeling of a stalker constantly on your heel. Shaking off the disturbing thoughts, he looked away and kept his eyes on the trail they were walking on.
Someday, he would think back to this moment and imagine, oh how right he was...
Adrien led the way, the chilling air biting at their exposed skin, moving purposefully despite the uncertainty that loomed. Behind him, Alex, Sarah, and Mel followed closely, the only sounds the crunch of leaves and an occasional rustle of leaves following the howling winds.
"We need to find somewhere safe to rest soon," Adrien stated, his voice steady.
"I don't want to spend another night exposed out here, I stink as well" Sarah replied, her tone revealing the anxiety that clawed at them all.
Just then, a faint noise reached Adrien's ears—a muted echo from the distance, it was subtle, but enough for him to barely hear. Without a word, he veered off the path, his improved vision guiding him through the underbrush until he found the mouth of a cave, half-concealed by creeping vines.
"Over here," Adrien called out, the expectancy in his voice evident as he cast aside the vines. The group followed, hearts racing as he stepped into the cool darkness. The air inside the cave held an eerie stillness, thick with anticipation.
As they ventured further, the quiet was interrupted by voices murmuring ahead. "Did you hear that?" Mel asked, trembling slightly with apprehension.
"Keep your eyes peeled," Adrien replied, tension crackling in the air. Mostly looking towards Alex
Adrien held up a hand, signalling his companions to be silent. It wasn't the time for rash actions, especially with unknown entities lurking inside, he hoped the people already inside were not aggressive.
As they pushed deeper into the cave, a faint glow illuminated a wider chamber ahead. Gradually, figures came into view—Ria and Han were sleeping around a modest pile of supplies, their startled expressions mirroring the group's surprise.
"Adrien?" Ria spoke first, disbelief etching her features. "Is that you?"
"Ria. and I don't believe I've met the other one yet?," he acknowledged, a hint of relief filtering through his guarded demeanour. "Didn't expect to find you here."
"Hello, the name is Han. I'm glad to say this is a relief," Han added, rising to his feet, his tension easing. "We thought we were completely alone."
"Good to see some familiar faces," Adrien replied, his tone steady and measured. It wasn't in his nature to embrace, but the knot of tension inside him unwound slightly at the sight of people he knew.
Mel stepped forward, her smile genuine. "We were just looking for any place to camp out. Mind if we join you?"
"Not at all," Ria said, gesturing to the ground. "There's enough space for everyone."
A chuckle from Alex made everyone turn towards her. Feeling everyone's gazes on her, she looked up, coughed awkwardly, "Sorry, it's just she said there's enough space for everyone, and, well, I guess there is, on the ground, I figured that'll be how we sleep from now on?"
"Not at all," Adrien replied, "We can make beds with materials in the forest, and hammocks, if need be, since they are easier to make and all, we just need a breather tonight, I'm sure it is well past 2 am by now."
"I never thought we'd find anyone else in a place like this," Alex remarked, breaking the ice as they began to set camp and settling around the fire.
"It seems luck can be on our side sometimes," Han chimed in, glancing around the group and meeting Adrien's eyes with a steady gaze. "We can watch each other's backs now."
Adrien nodded slightly, the idea of teamwork settling into his pragmatic nature. "With a larger number strong people, we might stand a better chance of survival."
As the night deepened around them and shadows danced along the cave walls, the group of now six people formed a circle around a fire Ria and Han had built for warmth.
Outside, the forest lay still, but within the cave, they could hear slight tremors and roars from afar still. It served as a constant reminder of the perilous situation they were in. It was very likely a beast would walk up on them in this cave, thinking it had found itself a lair, but having recovered most of his strength, Adrien was confident in his ability to deal with a singular monster.
The cave grew quieter, and the sound of even breathing filled the cave, indicating most had already fallen asleep. He could understand that they were tired, even more than him at that moment.
He doubted they all had the same regenerative abilities he had. He doubted they even had any abilities in common even. Adrien called out his status, and the window came up in his vision. He was lying on his back, so it went right above him.
This interface had appeared while they were finding their way through the thick forest. And everyone had it, Sarah and Mel included, they hadn't had time to discuss their figures, but they did confirm that each of them got one.
[Status
Name: Adrien Cortez
Age: 16
Race: Human/ Spark
Innate Ability: Genesis Architect/ Deus Mentalis
You wield the unparalleled power of creation, the essence of existence itself. Your mind is a boundless forge of innovation, capable of producing something from absolutely nothing—a phenomenon that defies understanding. This ability transcends physical limitations, bending the fabric of space and time, unravelling secrets of the cosmos, and granting insight into the forgotten and the yet-to-be-discovered. Your brilliance allows you to explore the unknown and invent concepts beyond mortal comprehension. With a single thought, you can bring ideas to life, creating objects, worlds, or even abstract constructs that reshape reality itself. You can delve into the mysteries of existence, exposing hidden truths long obscured and prying secrets from the minds of others, even those who believe their knowledge to be inviolable. The future holds no secrets from you—you steal its revelations and make them yours, altering the course of history.
Your mind is a singularity of infinite intelligence, an entity of pure thought that surpasses all known understanding. You see the universe not as chaotic or incomprehensible but as an elegantly woven tapestry, every thread laid bare to your unparalleled cognition. Logic, intuition, creativity, all become one within you, allowing you to grasp the essence of every problem, concept, or mystery instantaneously. With this ability, there is no question you cannot answer, no system you cannot decode, no solution you cannot find. Your intelligence precedes that of gods, transcending boundaries of time, space, and dimension.
Active Abilities: (Cosmic Awareness, Astral void, ??? )
Passive Abilities: (Passive regeneration, Awareness, ??? )
Strength (STR): 29
Speed (SPD): 34
Agility (AGI): 36
Défense (DEF): 27
Unique Title: ???
Intelligence (INT): 76
Health (HP): 38
Mana (MP): 45
Stamina: 17/36 (Restore by consuming food, potions or quenching your thirst)
Coins: 67 (Your handler has awarded you with 5 coins for surviving the first trial and 62 more for your kill count)
]
"Looking at my physical capabilities being quantified is such a strange feeling. But now I have a good grasp on the abilities I was using."
A light smile crept onto Adrien's face.
Now that he had time to think about the situation, he found himself growing calmer and calmer. Even though he had lost all his dreams and his tools, essentially losing all hope to his long-term goal, he could not help but smile.
'It looks like something right out of a fantasy story, only this is real life. But I feel like my chances of resurrecting the dead in this kind of world are much higher, after all, there's only so much science can do with so little time, taking into account our life spans. But with this kind of power, something that would otherwise take decades with science, would take a moment to achieve.'
Adrien found himself clutching his fists, his nails digging into his own palms, until he drew blood without even realising it. Letting out a sharp breath, he eased his fists and reaffirmed his mental state.
'I got a little worked up there. Step by step, we move.'
Alex who was lying on his jacket just to his left was doing the same, studying her status window while lying on her side.
'Status'
[Status
Name: Alex Lumen
Age: 19
Race: Human
Innate Ability: Entropy - You wield the power to deconstruct matter to its fundamental particles and restructure it at will. Whether it's breaking down a boulder into atoms and reshaping it into a majestic sculpture, turning air molecules into a barrier of solid crystal, or crafting entire constructs from raw energy, your ability transcends the laws of physics. The process is intuitive—guided by your vision. You're not limited to recreating known materials or forms; you can invent entirely new substances or structures that defy conventional understanding. This ability is as destructive as it is creative—you could dismantle an opponent's weapon mid-swing or disintegrate barriers in your path
Active Abilities: (Void entropy, ???)
Passive Abilities: (Shift, ??? )
Strength (STR): 21
Speed (SPD): 26
Agility (AGI): 24
Défense (DEF): 19
Unique Title: ???
Intelligence (INT): 27
Health (HP): 26
Mana (MP): 22
Stamina: 9/24 (Restore by consuming food, potions or quenching your thirst)
Coins: 32 (Your handler has awarded you with 5 coins for surviving the first trial and 27 more for your kill count)
]
Looking at her stats, Alex found herself unknowingly grinning widely. Realising what she was doing, she shook her head, " Am I excited? What a weird feeling."
Alex's eyes drifted over the cavern, the flickering firelight reflecting off the walls, illuminating the faces of her companions.
"Seems like we're all a bit more than just average humans now," she murmured
"Looking at your status?" Adrien Asked
"Yeah."
"Good night." He said after a moment of silence.
"Good night."