chapter 37 - air

The sanctuary was unlike anything they had imagined. The clearing was dotted with glowing stones arranged in a circular pattern, their light pulsating softly, casting a warm and calming aura over the group. A crystal-clear stream ran along one edge, its gentle babbling providing a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind. The air here was cool, almost refreshing, as though the forest itself had granted them a reprieve.

The survivors collapsed in small groups, some drinking from the stream, others tending to their wounds. But the tension in the air lingered, an unspoken acknowledgment that their safety was temporary.

Erin stood near the edge of the clearing, his sharp eyes scanning the forest. He hadn't let go of his sword, its hilt still faintly glowing from the residual heat of the fire. Rishitha approached him cautiously, her hand pressed to the wound on her arm.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "For what?"

"For saving me. Back there."

He gave a slight nod. "You saved us first. If you hadn't warned us about the Crawlers, we wouldn't have made it this far."

Rishitha hesitated. She wanted to tell him about the Eye of Knowledge, about how she knew things she shouldn't, but the words caught in her throat. What if he doesn't believe me? What if he thinks I'm lying?

Instead, she said, "I'm just trying to do my part."

Nearby, Ragith paced back and forth, his fists clenched and his jaw tight. His sister, Rhea, sat on a rock, her face pale and her leg wrapped in a makeshift bandage.

"This is all your fault," Ragith growled, glaring at Victor.

Victor raised an eyebrow, his usual smirk firmly in place. "My fault? I don't recall being the one who set those traps or summoned the Crawlers."

"You manipulated everyone back there, stirred up chaos when we needed unity," Ragith snapped. "If you hadn't been trying to turn people against each other, maybe fewer of us would've died!"

Victor's expression darkened, his smirk fading. "Careful, Ragith. Blaming me won't bring anyone back."

Rhea placed a hand on her brother's arm. "Ragith, stop. It's over now. Let's just… focus on what's next."

He exhaled sharply, his anger barely contained. "Fine. But I'm watching you, Victor."

Mo Tang knelt by the stream, his hands glowing faintly as he channeled his healing abilities. Several injured survivors had gathered around him, their expressions a mix of hope and desperation.

"Hold still," he said gently to a young man whose arm was bent at an unnatural angle. As Mo Tang's hands moved over the injury, the faint glow intensified, and the bone slowly realigned itself.

"Thank you," the young man whispered, tears in his eyes.

Mo Tang managed a tired smile. "Don't thank me yet. We still have a long way to go."

Rishitha watched from a distance, her heart heavy. He's doing everything he can for them, but it's not enough. None of us are enough.

As the group settled, the global system chimed again, its blue screen appearing before everyone.

[New Mission Alert]

[Mission: Prepare for the Next Trial]

Time Remaining: 12 Hours

Objective: Fortify the Sanctuary and Rest]

Reward: Bonus Experience Points, Access to System Store

Failure: Increased Difficulty in the Next Trial

Erin read the notification aloud, his voice steady but grim. "We've got twelve hours to rest and prepare. That means setting up defenses, rationing supplies, and getting as much sleep as we can."

"And how are we supposed to do all that?" someone muttered.

"We'll figure it out," Erin replied firmly. "Together."

Despite Erin's words, the group was far from unified. Fear and exhaustion had frayed their nerves, and arguments broke out over the smallest things—who would take the first watch, how to divide the remaining food, and whether they could trust Rishitha's warnings.

Victor, ever the opportunist, seized the moment to sow further discord. "Why should we follow Erin?" he asked, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "He's just another survivor, like the rest of us. What makes him the leader?"

"Because he's the only one who's stepping up," Mo Tang snapped, his patience wearing thin.

Victor sneered. "Oh, sure. Let's put all our faith in Mr. Perfect and hope he doesn't get us all killed."

"Enough," Erin said sharply. He stepped forward, his gaze locking with Victor's. "If you have a better plan, let's hear it. Otherwise, stay out of the way."

Victor held his ground for a moment before shrugging. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you when this all falls apart."

As the group worked to fortify the sanctuary, Rishitha found herself alone near the edge of the clearing. She stared out at the dark forest, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear and determination.

This isn't just a story anymore. It's real. People are dying. If I don't do something, more of them will die.

Her system chimed, and a new notification appeared.

[Hidden Mission Unlocked: The Burden of Knowledge]

Objective: Use the Eye of Knowledge to uncover the truth behind the sanctuary.]

Reward: ???

Rishitha's heart pounded. She glanced back at the group, then at the glowing stones surrounding the clearing. The truth behind the sanctuary? What does that mean?

She took a deep breath and stepped closer to the nearest stone, her Eye of Knowledge activating once more. The faint outlines of ancient runes appeared, their meaning just out of reach. But as she focused, a chilling realization began to form.

The sanctuary wasn't just a safe haven—it was a trap.

The glowing stones seemed to pulse in sync with my heartbeat as I stood at the edge of the clearing. My mind was a chaotic mess—flashes of blood, screams, and that horrible feeling of helplessness surged through me. I clenched my fists, trying to keep myself grounded.

This isn't just a novel anymore. It's real.

The system had told me this was an abandoned story, one where the characters had gone haywire. But nothing—nothing—had prepared me for the raw fear and pain of watching people die in front of me. Their faces kept appearing in my mind, haunting me.

"Stop," I whispered to myself, shutting my eyes tightly. "This isn't the time to break down."

The system's familiar chime pulled me out of my thoughts. I opened my eyes, and there it was, floating before me.

[Hidden Mission Unlocked: The Burden of Knowledge]

Objective: Use the Eye of Knowledge to uncover the truth behind the sanctuary.

Reward: ???

The truth behind the sanctuary? My gaze shifted to the glowing stones encircling the clearing. They looked innocent enough, but the system wouldn't have given me this mission if there wasn't something more.

I activated my Eye of Knowledge, and the world shifted. Colors faded, replaced by the crisp, detailed overlays of the system interface. The stones lit up in my vision, ancient runes appearing on their surfaces. The text began to translate itself, forming fragmented phrases that made my stomach twist.

[Object: Sanctuary Stone]

Purpose: Containment]

Status: Active]

Warning: Power linked to external source. Time limit in effect.]

Containment? My breath caught. My instincts screamed at me that something was terribly wrong. This place wasn't just a safe haven—it was designed to keep us here.

"What are you doing?"

I jumped, the voice cutting through the stillness like a blade. Turning, I found Erin standing a few feet away, his sharp eyes narrowing at me.

"Just… checking the stones," I said, trying to sound casual.

His gaze flicked between me and the glowing stones. "And? What did you find?"

I hesitated. Should I tell him? Would he even believe me? "I think… this place isn't what it seems."

"Go on," he said, his tone calm but firm.

I pointed at the nearest stone. "The sanctuary isn't just protecting us. It's keeping us contained. The stones are connected to something else—an external power source. I don't know what it is, but I think there's a time limit."

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, he said nothing. Finally, he nodded. "Keep looking into it. We need answers."

As Erin walked away, I felt the weight of his trust settle on my shoulders. I can't mess this up.

I turned back to the stones, focusing harder, pushing my Eye of Knowledge to its limit. More fragments of information appeared, each one more unsettling than the last.

[External Source Detected: ???]

[Sanctuary Collapse Imminent: 11 Hours, 42 Minutes, 37 Seconds]

My heart stopped. Eleven hours. That was all we had before the sanctuary—our one safe place—would collapse.

I staggered back, the interface fading from my vision. My hands were shaking, my breaths shallow. Think, Rishitha. Think. What do I do?

Around me, the group was still scattered, some resting, others bickering. Victor was at the center of one such argument, his voice rising above the others as he planted seeds of distrust. Ragith glared at him from across the clearing, his anger barely contained. Mo Tang was tending to the injured, his face pale but determined.

And me? I was the only one who knew the truth.

If I tell them, they'll panic. If I don't, we're all dead.

My system chimed again, as if sensing my turmoil.

[Suggestion: Form a Core Team. Trust is Key.]

A core team. The idea clicked into place. Erin, Mo Tang, maybe even Ragith—they were the ones I needed to rely on. Together, we could figure this out.

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to take a deep breath. I can do this. I have to do this.

Because if I didn't, we were all going to die.