Betrayal at the Brink

  The air in the dungeon is thick with tension and the metallic scent of blood. Liam and the old man, whom the group has come to know as Gregory, are at the forefront, navigating through the dimly lit corridors. Their journey is occasionally interrupted by skirmishes with the monstrous inhabitants of this dark place.

  "Hey kid, still not there?" Mr. Grayson asks with a pointed look, his voice echoing off the stone walls as he effortlessly crushes the skull of another horned monster underfoot.

  Liam glances back, his spear resting casually over his shoulder. "Not much longer," he reassures, his gaze sweeping over the carnage that marks their path. He can't help but grimace at the gruesome sight. "By the way, can't you kill more cleanly?" he queries, gesturing with his spear to the neatly dispatched creature at his feet, a testament to his precision and control.

  The old man shoots him a glare, unimpressed. "Huh, what does it matter? A kill is a kill," he retorts, wiping his bloodied hands on his pants.

Liam's eyes drift to the group trailing behind them, their faces a mix of exhaustion, fear, and queasiness. "Not everyone is tolerant of gore," he points out, his voice laced with concern.

  The old man scoffs dismissively. "Not my problem," he grunts, his focus already shifting to the path ahead.

  Shaking his head, Liam addresses the group with a comforting smile. "Just hold on for a little longer. We're almost there," he says, his tone imbued with an assurance that seems to lighten the oppressive atmosphere, if only by a fraction.

  Liam's gaze momentarily shifts to Elina, who is cautiously following behind. Her auburn hair, gently swaying with each cautious step she takes, catches the dim light in the dungeon. Her eyes, filled with a mix of curiosity and concern, linger on Liam's back.

  "She's quite sharp," Liam thinks, a slight smile gracing his lips as he turns his attention back to the path before them.

  With a practiced ease, Liam summons the system screen, overlaying it onto his field of vision. It's a delicate balance, keeping one eye on the real and another on the virtual, but he's mastered it over time.

  They were indeed nearing the exit, yet Liam had deliberately chosen a longer route for a reason. His avatar, a persistent extension of himself in the system, is currently engaged in a fierce battle with a humanoid opponent. The struggle is intense, his avatar having fallen twice already to the superior strength of this formidable foe.

  However, there's a strategic advantage that Liam is keenly aware of. His avatar, blessed with the gift of infinite respawns, returns to the fight each time with undiminished resolve. The humanoid enemy, on the other hand, does not recover its health between their clashes. This relentless cycle of combat is slowly but surely wearing down the adversary.

  As they navigated the labyrinthine corridors of the dungeon, Liam, curiosity piqued, glanced sideways. "By the way, old man, how did you end up here anyway?" he asked, his tone casual yet tinged with genuine interest.

  The old man, maintaining his focus on the path ahead, let out a scoff. "How else? Just like you and everyone else," he replied gruffly, his response curt and devoid of detail. It was clear from his tone that he wasn't inclined to share more.

  Liam was about to press further when a sudden notification from his system diverted his attention. A small yet significant victory unfolded before his eyes. 

  [Congratulations! You have defeated a stronger enemy.] 

  The words brought a discreet smile to his lips. On the translucent screen overlaid upon his vision, his avatar stood triumphant, having finally overcome the formidable humanoid after two arduous attempts. 

  "Finally," he murmured to himself, a sense of relief and satisfaction seeping through him.

  But the system wasn't done. The notification shifted, evolving into a new message. 

  [Reward for the first victory over a stronger enemy has been unlocked.] 

  Liam's breath hitched in anticipation. "This is it," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. 

  The exit was within their grasp, but so was the challenge that awaited him, mirroring his avatar's recent encounter. He was prepared, yet he knew all too well that preparation did not guarantee success.

  His musings were interrupted by another shift in the system notification. 

  [Status window unlocked.] 

  Liam couldn't help but stare in disbelief. "Really, system? That's it?" he thought incredulously. "All this for a basic feature that should've been there from the start?" He mentally chided the system, feeling a mix of amusement and frustration. The situation demanded something far more substantial than a mere status window.

  Meanwhile, his avatar, having triumphed over its foe, was leading the 2D representations of the group towards the portal. One by one, they entered the shimmering gateway, their digital forms disappearing into the unknown. Liam watched closely, noting their progress.

  As the last figure stepped through the portal, another notification popped up, drawing Liam's attention. 

  [Congratulations! You have successfully led the stranded group to safety. Reward upgraded due to no casualties.]

  Liam's grip on the shaft of his spear tightened as he scanned the description of the second reward. A moment of contemplation washed over him before a smile crept across his face. 

  "That's more like it," he whispered, a sense of satisfaction infusing his words.

  The old man, Gregory, threw him a suspicious glare, his seasoned eyes narrowing. "What are you mumbling about, kid?" he grumbled, the gravel in his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous space.

  Liam turned towards him, his smile unwavering. "It's nothing," he replied with a nonchalant shrug. "Just that the exit is just around the corner." His voice was laced with confidence, a reassurance meant as much for himself as for the others.

  The old man held his gaze for a moment longer, a mysterious glint flickering in his eyes as if weighing Liam's words against some unseen measure. Finally, with a nod, he seemed to accept Liam's statement, turning his attention back to the path ahead.

  Behind them, the group let out a collective, albeit silent, cheer. Their fatigue was palpable, their hunger even more so, but the promise of the exit being so near breathed a new life into their weary bones. All, that is, except for Elina. Her intuitive gaze shifted between Liam and Mr. Grayson, sensing an undercurrent of something unspoken.

  "Um..." she began, her voice tentative, a question forming on her lips. But before she could articulate her doubts, Liam caught her gaze. He offered her a reassuring smile, his head shaking ever so slightly. The message was clear without words. Trust me.

  Elina's mouth closed with an audible gulp. She nodded slowly, suppressing her unease, choosing to place her faith in the young fixer who had led them this far.

  With mere minutes separating them from the much-anticipated exit, Liam's thoughts turned to the first of his system rewards—the newly unlocked status screen. 

  "Maybe it holds some useful information," he mused, hoping to glean insights that could give them an edge in whatever awaited them outside the dungeon.

 Silently, he summoned the status screen. It materialized before his eyes, its information laid out in a clear, concise manner, illuminated with a soft glow against the dungeon's dim backdrop:

 Name: Liam

 Age: 17

 Gender: Male

 Rank: Novice

 Attributes:

  Strength: 10/10

  Agility: 10/10

  Vitality: 10/10

  Intelligence: 10/10

  Wisdom: 10/10

  Charisma: 10/10

 Skills:

  -

 Unique Abilities:

 System 

 Oculus Mythos

 Nexus: Sovereign

  Liam's gaze lingered on his status screen, a mixture of perplexity and intrigue clouding his thoughts. The screen offered sparse yet somehow overwhelming information. Each attribute and skill seemed to open up a world he had yet to fully comprehend.

  He cast a discreet glance at the group, bringing up their status screens with a mere thought. The differences were stark. Each individual's numerical values paled in comparison to his, none surpassing a 4. They lacked skills or any unique abilities, their screens a testament to their ordinary lives—except for Elina. Her status held something unique, similar to his, a feature labeled as 'Nexus,' a term foreign to Liam, yet it resonated with a sense of importance.

  His curiosity piqued, Liam turned his attention to the old man. As expected, the seasoned warrior's status was far more formidable than his own. The numbers representing his attributes were higher across the board. His skills were numerous, with names suggesting physical prowess and mastery over the earth, yet his screen lacked the unique abilities that Liam possessed.

Name: Gregory

Age: 58

Gender: Male

Rank: Adept

Attributes:

 Strength: 13/-

 Agility:12/- 

 Vitality: 14/-

 Intelligence: 11/-

 Wisdom: 11/-

 Charisma: 11/-

Skills:

 Physical Enhancement 

 Earth Control 

 Combat Tactics

 Resilience 

Nexus:@#%&*@#%

  The moment had arrived. Before them, the swirling portal beckoned, its transparent form a stark contrast against the dim surroundings of the cave. Liam's attention was momentarily torn away from the fascinating revelations of the status screen by an audible gasp from the group.

  He looked ahead, noting that the portal was visible even without the aid of his magical sight—a marked difference from the one that had brought him to this place. Curiosity piqued, he activated his magical sight and observed the transformation; the portal was now bathed in a soft green hue, an indication of safety or perhaps something more.

  The group's reactions to the sight of the portal were a mix of emotions. For most, relief washed over their faces, the promise of freedom within their grasp. Elina, however, stood slightly apart, her heart beating with an inexplicable trepidation. She couldn't pinpoint the source of her unease, but the sight of the portal stirred something deep within her.

  Liam maintained his characteristic smile, a calm and composed facade that betrayed nothing of his internal musings. 

  Beside him, the old man remained silent, his eyes locked on the portal with an intensity that didn't betray his thoughts.

  Liam's gaze swept over the group, a reassuring smile on his lips. "Go ahead," he urged them gently. "There should be people outside waiting for you." He watched their hesitant faces, understanding their skepticism and fear, yet knowing that they needed to move forward. "They will deal with whatever comes next," he added, hoping to ease their worries.

  His encouragement seemed to have an effect. The first person, a man who had been particularly quiet throughout the ordeal, took a hesitant step toward the portal. His eyes met Liam's one last time before he stepped through, disappearing into the swirling green. His action served as the catalyst the others needed. One by one, they followed, their steps quickening with the prospect of freedom and safety. Despite their skepticism, exhaustion, and hunger overrode their doubts, urging them toward the promise of escape.

  Soon, the group had dwindled to just three—Liam, Elina, and the old man, Mr. Grayson. The cave felt larger, and emptier, the silence echoing around them. They stood before the portal, the last to leave, each lost in their own thoughts.

  Elina's hesitation was palpable, the uncertainty in her eyes reflecting the turmoil within. Sensing her unease, Liam placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  "It's okay, go ahead," he said, his voice steady and calming. 

  She looked up at him, wanting to voice the fears that clung to her heart, but Liam's gentle pressure on her shoulder urged her silently.

  She nodded, her resolve strengthened by Liam's encouragement. With a deep breath, she moved towards the portal, each step heavier than the last. At the threshold, she paused, turning back for one final glance. The sight that met her eyes froze her to the core.

  Liam was there, his smile still in place, a beacon of reassurance. But behind him, the old man, Mr. Grayson, stood transformed. Gone was the gruff but protective figure they had followed. In his place was a man with a fierce expression, his body coiled like a spring, his fist raised in a threatening arc aimed directly at Liam's back.

  Panic surged through Elina. She opened her mouth to warn Liam, to scream out in warning, but the words were trapped in her throat. And then, in a blink, Liam's hand pressed against her back, a gentle but firm push that sent her stumbling through the portal's swirling embrace.

  As the portal enveloped her, the last image that burned into her memory was Liam, still smiling, his hand moving to grasp his spear, pivoting gracefully to face the old man's treacherous attack.