"Uhm, I apologize if it felt like I was being rude to you. That wasn't my intention."
If Nathan was to have any chance of surviving this so-called tutorial phase, whatever it entailed, then making amends was the first step. Clear the air, smooth over tension, and ensure no hard feelings linger. It was a tactical move as much as a moral one. He needed clarity before plunging headfirst into the unknown, and nothing clouded focus faster than interpersonal conflict.
"Just know to answer your elder appropriately next time," the man replied curtly, waving off Nathan's apology with half-hearted acceptance.
Nathan nodded and didn't push further. That seemed to satisfy the guy, who promptly turned to the others, shifting the topic. "I'm guessing we all know why we're here, don't we?!"
It appeared Nathan's apology had trapped the man in an awkward role as the overbearing adult figure. No one wanted to be labelled that. Maybe that had been part of Nathan's plan. Or maybe not. He wasn't sure himself.
Then, with an eye-roll and a sneer, the man muttered, "And who the hell invited a dying granny to a life-or-death situation?"
His gaze landed on the elderly woman leaning on a walking stick. It was crude, yes, but a fair point. In a scenario where teamwork and physical ability might determine life or death, every ounce of strength counted And right now, the strongest-looking individuals were a muscular thug in a singlet and perhaps the guy in the business suit, though it was hard to tell what muscle might be hiding beneath that attire. Nathan didn't hold high hopes.
"Hey, you're being rude," the man in the office attire interjected, stepping up. He seemed the type who liked to stand on principle, even if it meant trouble.
Classic do-gooder. Probably thought he was some kind of peacekeeper.
Still, the thug had a point. As unpleasant as it was, Origin Expanse didn't discriminate. From newborn infants to the elderly, it pulled people in indiscriminately. No one knew the selection process. There was no pattern, no reasoning behind it just randomness cloaked in cruelty.
"I think we should start by sharing names," Nathan offered, steering the conversation somewhere productive. "You know... for better coordination."
"Ri-right. The kid's right. Names," the office guy agreed quickly. "I'll go first. I'm Subaru Tadaomi."
"Rory Cooper," the thug grunted.
Not much was said about him as they moved on.
"Marvelous. Marvelous Winston. And you, try not to look down on us old folks too much. You might just get stung in the back... unknowingly."
She raised her stick in mock warning. Rory scoffed but didn't respond. She was old and near death anyway; what sting could she possibly deliver?
"Anna Paula," the next woman said calmly, her demeanour cool and guarded.
"Nathaniel Lockwood," Nathan said, voice low but clear.
With introductions complete, they all fell silent, attention naturally drifting toward the one obvious feature of the otherwise empty room, a single, closed door.
"Do we head out through that door, or just sit here twiddling our thumbs?" Subaru asked, breaking the silence.
It was a valid question. Despite the room being well-lit, there was nothing to suggest what the tutorial entailed. No prompts, no instructions. Just that door.
Without needing to speak, they all came to the same conclusion. The door was their only lead.
"Before we do that, can we all confirm that we see the same status screen?" Rory suggested. "We should make sure there aren't any discrepancies."
He began reading aloud from his own display:
[Name]: Rory Cooper
[Age]: 33
[Race]: Human
[Rank]: Dormant
[Level]: -
[Stats]: Locked
[Available Stat Points: -]
[Talent]: Locked
…
As he spoke, the others nodded in confirmation. According to them, everything matched aside from name and age.
Nathan wasn't fully convinced. They could be telling the truth. Or not. The system was private, after all. Only the user could see their actual profile. But it didn't matter. Nathan only needed to focus on surviving. Everything else was just background noise.
"Alright. Now can we get back to the matter at hand?" Subaru asked, clearly eager.
Nathan wondered if he had a family waiting for him. His urgency spoke volumes.
"Fine. One question then, who's going first?" Rory asked.
Good question. A vital one.
Origin Expanse wasn't known for mercy. It was infamous for its ruthless challenges, especially during the tutorial phase. A test meant to strip away weakness and force awakenings under dire conditions. It was a sink-or-swim start.
Opening that door could lead anywhere: a monster's lair, a crumbling cliff, or something far worse. But standing around wouldn't make it safer.
The group fell into uneasy silence. No one volunteered.
Nathan looked around, taking silent stock of each member.
Rory? Absolutely not.
Subaru? Clearly hesitant. He avoided eye contact like it would assign him the task.
Anna? Stoic, but not eager.
Marvelous? Honestly, she was the most logical choice. She was the oldest, the least likely to survive long-term. In crude terms, she had the least to lose.
'Go on, Grace. Be the hero,' Nathan thought, not daring to voice it.
No one did.
Despite their situation, their humanity held strong. No one was willing to throw the old woman under the proverbial bus.
Nathan sighed. He had hoped Rory might step up, but the thug was proving to be all bark and no bite.
"I'll go first," Nathan said suddenly.
He didn't want to. But he had to.
Was it out of kindness? Maybe. But also because he could see where this was heading. Eventually, someone was going to snap. Rory would look for someone to push forward, and Nathan was already on the outs with him. He was the fat kid, the easy target, the path of least resistance.
Subaru wouldn't step in when that happened. Not unless he wanted Rory turning the tables on him. And Anna? She was exempt from confrontation for reasons Nathan couldn't explain.
Grace? Despite her age, she showed no signs of budging.
So it fell to Nathan. Better to volunteer now and earn some respect than be bullied into it later.
It might buy him a little influence. Maybe even admiration. That is, assuming he survived whatever waited on the other side.
Without another word, he walked to the door, heart pounding, hand gripping the handle.
No hesitation. No turning back.
He pressed down and pushed.