I left the inner door cracked ajar as Doris helped Bernie up the metal stairs.

  “Just shout if there's any trouble,” I called up, before turning my attention to the only person left in the room.

  Richard’s eyes were off somewhere else, no doubt reading through my logs. Eventually, his expression sagged, and he looked back at me. “I’m… so sorry for what happened at the motel.”

  “Can it.” I crossed my arms. “That means there is another bunker further west, right?”

  He nodded. “Most likely, yes. I… am unable to get the information from the other Guides to say where exactly, or if there are any other people there.”

  “I reckon the guy I murdered had already killed them off once they got their items.” I shook my head. “Almost got all of mine as well.”

  “That sort of violence is… unfortunate, but ultimately a consequence of distributing superpower indiscriminately. I should have warned you…”

  “It’s fine. I mostly blame myself for freezing up instead of being ruthless. It was like… it hit my critical weak point and I folded.”

  Richard tilted his head. “That’s a remarkably open statement coming from you.”

  “Yeah, well.” I shrugged. “I’m actually pretty traumatized from my day, and having a loose tongue is a result of that. A lot of bullshit for a shower and a dog, though.”

  He raised an eyebrow, and so I filled him in on what exactly happened from finding Bucky to our walk home. I asked Richard if the dog could secretly be part of the System, but he was almost entirely convinced that no, he wasn’t.

  “I’ve only seen one other… animal that has a System, but that was different to the STAR,” he concluded. “Even if we put Bucky in the pod—which I would never suggest—it wouldn’t do much for him. No ability to talk or sudden competence for utilizing the System screens and abilities.”

  I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. As much as I wouldn’t force the STAR on him, I wanted Bucky to stay safe and contribute to the group’s success. Perhaps I wished for too much. My attention revolved around to something much more important.

  “Alright, enough small talk.” I narrowed my eyes. “You said you’ll spill the beans once I got to level 5.”

  He opened and closed his mouth a few times before nodding. “That is fair. Please ask away, and I’ll answer what I can.”

  Shaking him and repeatedly asking what the fuck was probably not what he had in mind. Nor was it possible, considering he was an intangible being. But that itself was a good enough place to start this off.

  “You’ve used some very Earth references when talking to us. Who are you really, and where are you from?”

  His wireframe form wavered slightly as he took a deep breath in. “How familiar are you with simulation theory?”

  I was exhausted from the conversation already. My hands came up to rub at my temples as I tried to dig up knowledge from somewhere. “That’s like… the Matrix, right? As our digital simulations grow infinitely more detailed, eventually they would become indiscernible from reality?” I didn’t have the stomach to be told my life and all this struggle wasn’t real.

  “Close enough, yes.” He gestured to the ceiling, as if there was anything up there. “Outside of this reality, there is another universe of such simulations. Planets created through variations of these rules we call Systems.”

  “Did you make them?”

  Richard shook his head. “No, but I do control one. Part demi-god and part janitor. Over time, I crafted the STAR System from a failing world into something successful. But… I used to be just a man.”

  I furrowed my brow. He was laying out all the puzzle pieces, but my tired brain was having trouble even finding the edges to put together. “How does this all tie into Earth?”

  “The way in which these early System worlds were populated was by taking people from Earth. Killed and digitally replicated within the System, but the victim’s consciousness transfers over. Normally, this is a one-way street. But the invaders…”

  “Cockroaches found a way to scurry back down the pipe, and they arrived here.” I rubbed my eye. “Sounds like someone fucked up. Is this is all your fault?”

  “No.”

  “But you were taken from here, and you saw a way to get back? Did you know you’d be stuck in these rooms as a ‘Guide’? What about all the other Guides?”

  He sighed and brought out his chair so that he could sit down. I’d left mine up on the surface for Doris, so just stood and pulled a face.

  “I’m here to help as much of the world survive as is possible. I wish there was more I could do, but providing the STAR System is mostly my limit. Even this was only possible as I piggybacked on the back of the aliens’ efforts.”

  There was another related question burning around in the back of my mind somewhere, but I couldn’t quite place it. I’m sure it would come to me later. Instead, I just found myself more annoyed at the wireframe man.

  “Even assuming you’re doing this for the greater good, how does this benefit you?”

  Richard crossed his legs and leaned back in the chair. “It’s simple. If the roaches win, I will die too. As will all the other Guides and the STAR's influence on Earth.”

  I wasn’t sure if that was the truth, but with Sally saying that she trusted him, then I’d take his word for it for now. That made a lot more sense to me, then. He needed us as we needed him. Once you worked out someone’s motivations, it was a lot easier to be on the same page. That said…

  My eyes glanced over to the door. “I’ve seen the way you look at Sally, and she said you were flustered and nervous. Care to explain?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “I… Sally reminds me of someone I know. A long-time friend. It both reminds me of the stakes over my head and prompts me to be unbiased.”

  It stood to reason that he had to advise each of the people he was a Guide for equally, even if that was a self-imposed rule. I still felt like he was holding a lot back, but for now, my curiosity had been sated.

  “Speaking of that - I have two skillbooks and a rare upgrade stone that I was thinking of sharing with the others.”

  “No, use them yourself.”

  The bluntness of his response caught me off-guard. “Really? Spreading our power around won’t-”

  “I’ll be frank with you, Scarlet. Even with your head start, you are possibly on the back foot. I don’t have the full picture of how the phases will progress, but it is more important you survive alone than for everyone to fall together.”

  Even for someone as solitary as me, that seemed cruel and selfish. He was dead serious, though. I could read between the lines. With his life at stake, he needed to make sure his bunker put forward the best fighter possible for whatever was to come. I had proven I had the guts and savvy to get ahead against the odds, and he would push me to greatness…

  But I couldn’t do it at the cost of the safety of the others. If that put them at risk from people like the motel owner, then I couldn’t live with the guilt - even if it meant saving the world. I shook my head and decided to sleep on it.

  “Well, tomorrow I’m helping Sally get her foot on the ladder. After that, you’re pointing me towards a shop. I need a goal past that, though. Wandering aimlessly through the desert is tiring, so what’s my next plan?”

  Richard leaned forward and frowned, steepling his fingers in front of his face. “Have you seen that castle nearby?”

  I nodded.

  “It’s a dungeon. You’ll need to prepare, but it will have a Boss and the best rewards and experience around, compared to the smaller pockets of monsters you’ve been dealing with.”

  Assaulting a castle. I could almost suspend my disbelief enough to think it sounded fun.

  With a shake of my head, I went to step toward the exit. “Fine. Before I go tell the others it’s time to sleep, are you… going to start using your real name?”

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  “Are you?”

  I pursed my lips. “Touché.”

  The first thing I did as soon as my eyes flickered open was check my status.

  [HP - 90%]

  Fuck. It had begun. I looked over to the side, and Bucky was still asleep next to me. Last night, I had wrapped that old shirt around one of the pillows and he had settled down with no issue. My sleep, however, hadn’t been so great. The dream version of me had lurched between violent scenes of the motel manager stumbling around the underground casino with his brains hanging out, and waves of gnashing monsters trying to chase me down.

  I sat up and tried to apply a bandage, but the progress bar didn’t even appear. Nine days until guaranteed death.

  Everyone else looked to be asleep still, but I was too itchy to lie down for much longer. I slipped out from under my covers and went over to the door. By the time I had slowly turned the lock, Bucky was standing beside me, tail wagging.

  I was reasonably sure we made it out into the morning air without waking anybody up. Although we had plenty to get done today, I wanted everyone to rest well. Bernie especially, as he looked almost ill last night. He put on a brave face, but I think everything was getting to him. Stress wasn’t good.

  After opening up all the food crates from yesterday, I sifted through the plated meals for something that Bucky could eat. Although he didn’t seem fussy about what he scarfed down, I didn’t want to get him sick. I picked out something for myself as well and sat in my chair as the sun finished fully rising.

  Early morning out in the open, warm food, and a dutiful companion. It did feel like camping right now. Not entirely horrible, either… if I let the events of yesterday stay locked away in my mind.

  It was only a few quiet minutes of eating before the door opened up, and I turned my head to see the waitress emerge.

  “What a beautiful day to get maimed,” she said, smiling widely.

  I groaned. “Don’t make me regret babysitting you today.”

  “Babysitting? That’s hardly fair. I’m sure I can hold my own.”

  “You’re built like two straws held together with good intentions.”

  Sally put her hands on her hips. “And you’re wearing men’s pants.”

  “Pockets.” I put the last of the food in my mouth. “I like carrying shit.”

  The waitress pulled a face. “Well, they’re nicely tailored to better fit you, at least. Sorry, I’m full of apprehension over actually getting some experience.”

  I shrugged and put the cutlery away in my Inventory. “Perhaps this won't come as a surprise, but I’m not much of a morning person. Are the others up?”

  She nodded. “Groggy, but alive.”

  “Alright, let’s get moving then. Long day ahead.”

  Before sleeping last night, Bernie had scouted some monsters out east. Longhorn Bandits, all level 1 apart from a level 2 leader. Perfect for getting Sally started, and only made me slightly bitter that I hadn’t got my first levels there.

  I hadn’t made a decision about whether I wanted to share my upgrade items or not. Sleeping on it hadn’t really helped, and I just had Richard’s advice echoing around in my head. If I hadn’t had that slight mental break, then I’d have used them myself already.

  But almost croaking to an overweight greasebag had me rethinking how invincible I felt.

  We arrived at the crest of a small ridge, almost near the road again. There was a group of maybe ten humanoids skulking about in pairs, while the leader stood in the center.

  At a glance, they looked almost human. Pointed ears and sharper features pinned them as possible elves, but they were hunched over. Gray in complexion, but not quite sickly.

  “Dark elves, maybe?” Sally narrowed her eyes. “Looks like some of them are trying to dig tunnels. They don’t like the light.”

  I pulled a face. “I’ll defer to your expansive knowledge, nerd. Show me your knife.”

  She rolled her eyes and withdrew the blade from her Inventory. It was a bread knife.

  With a sigh, I went through my own intangible space and brought out a spear, the rare upgrade stone, and an uncommon skillbook. “Here, don’t say I never gave you anything.”

  “You’re hoarding items and not using them?”

  “I’m not going to stand and watch you get beaten to death because you have a short reach with a terrible weapon. But I also don’t want you riding my coattails.” I looked down at Bucky, who was sitting and watching the monsters intently. “While I’m here, I’ll help you stay alive, but I expect you to stand on your own two feet soon.”

  Sally huffed. “Sounds like you’re ready to run off and leave us. Fine, let me use these.”

  I watched as she removed the book and opened it, the magical item vanishing from her hands with a green glow. Her eyes went back to her Inventory as she used the stone from within it on the spear.

  The waitress whistled. “Seems like this System thing is weighted to give us power upgrades that match well with what we already have.”

  “Spill the details. I think there’s an option to share the info windows.” I wasn’t sure how much information Richard had managed to get in her head with his awkwardness and Sally’s short sickness, but she was right on that assumption.

  [Rat Queen Spear]

  [+3 Guile, +10% Movement Speed]

  [Provoke]

  [Taunt a target, Temporarily reducing their attack speed by 20%]

  “Not bad. Show me your Rare skill from your starting chest as well.”

  [Counter Reflect]

  [Block and return an attack. Block chance based on your Attack Speed. Reflect damage scales to your Guile]

  As vague as I would expect from the System. For some reason, the more powerful Rare abilities seemed to have the fewest actual numbers detailed, if any at all. It was as if the STAR was fudging things behind the scenes. It didn’t fill me with much confidence, but… I’d work with whatever I had.

  “Perfect.” I said, almost convincingly. “Here’s how we’ll do it. You provoke one of these assholes, and I’ll kill one. You can get the other. If you have any issues, back away and let me assist.”

  “I just have to avoid getting one-shot, then.” She beamed at me.

  The waitress was wearing the items I had given her yesterday. It looked as though the System wanted her to focus on Guile, so I’d funnel all the items I could to her if I didn’t need them. My belt was giving me the bonus stats since it was morning time, but I decided not to use Adjustment just yet. Against level 1 monsters, I shouldn't have any issues unless I was careless.

  “Alright, pull when ready.” I looked down at the dog. “Bucky, you will have to stay.”

  He looked up at me with a blank look on his face, as if he suddenly didn’t understand… or knew better.

  Yet he remained in place as the pair of us walked closer to the area the odd elves were walking around. Sally lowered her spear and pointed at the nearest pair with her outstretched hand.

  A red exclamation mark appeared over one of their heads, and they both turned to face us. Much like the ratmen, they decided running at the threat was a better idea than rallying more of their kin to fight us at once. I was starting to believe that monster intelligence was factored into their assigned level.

  To prove my point, one of them paused for a moment as he struggled to draw the sword from his belt. The other didn’t seem to clock that he didn’t have his buddy beside him as he charged toward the waitress with a club raised above his head.

  “Aren’t you going to draw your weapon?” Sally asked, her brow furrowed as she focused on the monsters approaching.

  “No need.”

  I allowed myself a little smile. Only day two of the apocalypse, and I was getting a decent grip on my powers.

  We waited as the two ran closer, up until the first was about a dozen feet away. Maybe it was a little mean to act so nonchalant while the elf ran at Sally, but it wasn’t like I had a smooth introduction to all of this either.

  At ten feet, Deny Life gave me the red flash of Killing Blow.

  My left arm lashed out, Doomchain flung from my grip with the end of the chain wrapped around my forearm. The barbed hook cut through the light armor of the monster, burying into his chest. I gripped and yanked on the chain as I stepped forward, pulling him toward me. The dagger now in my right hand jabbed out and sunk straight into his eye socket. I twisted the blade and sidestepped the corpse as it fell to the ground.

  “Holy shit,” Sally said, and then immediately threw up.

  Somewhat fortunately, the aftereffect of Killing Blow had caused the second elf to slow even further. His pale eyes were wide and staring at me. He feared me.

  I was more upset that the health gain from Deathforged didn’t top me up to 95%, but I shouldn’t expect miracles.

  Sally composed herself rather well, despite emptying out whatever she had eaten for breakfast. Her spear was up and readied even before the monster gathered his wits to come closer. It was actually painful to watch.

  Not only because of the apprehension over whether she’d be able to actually fight, but it was very awkward watching the two of them move so stiltedly and amateur. Maybe my own attacks were clumsy and haphazard, but felt fine under the haze of battle.

  Getting that chain had certainly been more of a boon than I’d thought, as it counted as a melee weapon, but had a good ten feet of reach to it - allowing me to use Killing Blow from a respectable distance away. I brought out Threadcutter as the elf stomped into range of the waitress.

  She made the first attack, narrowly missing the monster as he stepped to the side. While he moved closer to get his sword in range, Sally had already been in the process of moving back a step. As such, all his swing of the blade did was bounce from the shaft of the long weapon.

  With a streak of blue light, her spear lashed to the side, cutting through the arm of the elf before he had a chance to react. I assumed that was her reflect skill. As her opponent dropped his weapon to the ground in shock, she moved forward again and jabbed him in the chest. Close to, if not directly, the heart.

  The elf grimaced and clutched at the wound, falling over backwards.

  “Not bad. Aside from the throwing up, how did that feel?” I rested my axe across my shoulder.

  “Somewhere between exhilarating and disappointing.” She wiped her mouth off on her sleeve. “Which is quite the range.”

  I looked down to see that Bucky had disobeyed my orders and was standing beside me, his legs braced outwards, ready to leap in and protect me if necessary. Perhaps he was mimicking my care over the waitress, and I couldn’t fault him for that.

  “Loot them, then. Keep everything unless you get any Morale gear. I’ll trade you some healing items and then we’re going to pick up the pace.” I wouldn’t have Deny Life ready for a few more minutes, but I decided I’d just maim and hinder one and let Sally finish it off after dealing with the other half of each pair solo.

  This wasn’t netting me much experience, so the more I could funnel toward her, the sooner I could get back to my own mission.

  “Right back into it, just like that, huh?” She puffed out her cheeks and exhaled, looking at the corpses. “You really clicked into this so easily?”

  I shrugged. “My road was a little bumpier than this, but I did have the buff suspending my disbelief. The actual gritty part of combat you’ll just have to get desensitized to yourself, and in short order.”

  She grimaced, but gave me a determined nod.

  It was the smell of blood and sweat. The numb feeling when you struck bone, and it jolted your own arm. The sounds of surprised pain and gurgles of life leaving the bodies of these monsters. Most people hadn’t seen death up that close and visceral before.

  Not that I wouldn’t change my own prior experience of that. My left hand tightened into a fist as I tried to push those decade-old memories away.

  “C’mon Sally,” I tried to smile and lead her toward the monsters. “Let’s have a little fun with this.”

  I put away my axe and instead brought out my knuckleduster. She was still crouched down beside one of the corpses, a frown on her face as she looted them.

  After a moment, she looked back up at me; her perturbed expression unchanged.

  “Well, Scarlet. I think I found a way to repay you for the gifts.”