Chapter 14: Party Mechanics
The glow of the system's notifications illuminated Ethan's dim apartment as he lounged on the couch, one hand resting on the pipe he had begun to think of as his signature weapon. He sighed, staring at the most recent update blinking in his vision.
---
System Update: Party Mechanics Unlocked
New Features:
Players can now form parties to share XP equally.
Party members can view each other's health percentages in real time.
A proximity marker provides a vague sense of each member's location during quests.
Parties can share a combined quest objective list.
Note: Party sizes are limited to six members.
---
"Well, that's... convenient," Ethan muttered, sitting up. He rubbed his chin, wondering if the Forge was starting to develop a sense of humor. "Are we sure this isn't turning into a co-op game?"
The timing couldn't have been better. After the raid, it was clear they worked better as a team, and this update all but confirmed they were headed toward something much bigger than they realized. Still, the idea of being tethered to others wasn't something Ethan was entirely comfortable with—especially with Karis watching everyone like a hawk, Naomi slipping in and out of conversations like a shadow, and Lucas radiating a bit too much optimism.
Another knock came at the door, and Ethan stood, already knowing who it would be. Karis and Lucas had practically adopted his apartment as their unofficial meeting spot since the raid, much to his dismay. Sure enough, Karis was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, while Lucas stood beside her, grinning.
"We're not done talking about the system update," Karis said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "This changes everything."
"Hi, Ethan," Lucas said, cheerfully ignoring Karis's sharp tone. "Hope you don't mind. We brought Naomi."
Naomi followed them in, her movements quiet and precise as always. "I told them we should've called first," she said with a faint smirk.
"Oh, don't worry," Ethan said, waving them in. "I've come to terms with the fact that my apartment is now team headquarters. Make yourselves at home. Again."
Lucas flopped onto the couch as usual, while Karis took her usual position by the wall, arms crossed and eyes scanning the room like she was expecting an ambush. Naomi perched on the armrest of the chair, her bow resting against her knee.
"Alright," Karis said, wasting no time. "Let's get one thing straight. This system update isn't just a gimmick—it's a game-changer."
"No kidding," Ethan said, sitting on the edge of the coffee table. "Sharing XP, health percentages, and a location marker? That's practically a cheat code."
"It's more than that," Karis said, her voice firm. "It means the Forge is pushing us toward larger-scale cooperation. Bigger challenges. We can't afford to mess this up."
Lucas leaned back, arms stretched across the back of the couch. "It's not all bad. If we're in a party, we can keep each other alive more easily. No more guessing who's on their last legs in the middle of a fight."
Naomi nodded. "And the proximity marker is useful for stealth. If one of us gets separated, we won't be completely blind."
"Right, because nothing says 'stealthy' like a glowing tracker," Ethan said, earning a faint chuckle from Naomi.
Karis didn't laugh. "This isn't a joke, Ethan. We need to take this seriously. If we form a party, we'll be tied to each other's progress. If one of us falls behind or fails a quest, it could impact the whole team."
Ethan met her glare with a shrug. "I get it. But we're not robots, Karis. We'll figure it out. That's what teamwork is, right?"
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Fine. Let's test it."
---
Party Formed:
Karis: Assassin (High Agility and Critical Damage)
Ethan: Bruiser (High Strength and Perception)
Lucas: Tank (High Vitality and Defense)
Naomi: Scout (High Agility and Stealth)
---
The system chimed softly as the party formed. Ethan blinked as faint glowing bars appeared in the corner of his vision, each labeled with a name and a health percentage.
"Well, that's creepy," he said, watching Karis's bar flicker as she adjusted her gear. "I feel like I'm spying on you."
"You'll get used to it," Karis said, her tone dismissive. "At least now we'll know when someone's about to drop."
"Speak for yourself," Lucas said, grinning. "I feel like I've got a permanent safety net now. Ethan, you better keep an eye on my bar."
"Sure," Ethan said, smirking. "But if it drops below 10%, I'm just going to yell, 'Duck!' and hope for the best."
Naomi tilted her head, amused. "At least it'll be entertaining."
Karis crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "Let's make one thing clear: if we're doing this, there's no room for slacking. We stick to the plan, no reckless stunts, no freelancing."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "That aimed at me?"
"It's aimed at everyone," Karis said, her tone icy. "But if the shoe fits…"
Lucas raised his hands. "Hey, we're all here for the same reason: survival. Let's not tear each other apart before the Forge gets the chance."
Naomi nodded. "He's right. If this system is pushing us toward bigger challenges, we'll need to trust each other. That's the only way we'll make it."
Ethan glanced between them, his usual humor faltering for a moment. He wasn't used to this—being part of a team, relying on others. But for better or worse, he was starting to feel like they were more than just a collection of strangers. They were becoming something closer to a family. A very dysfunctional family, but still.
"Alright," Ethan said, standing. "If we're doing this, let's do it right. But I have one condition."
Karis narrowed her eyes. "What?"
He grinned. "No calling me out every time I make a joke. It's my coping mechanism, and I'm not giving it up."
Naomi chuckled softly, and even Lucas cracked a grin. Karis, predictably, rolled her eyes.
"Fine," she said, turning toward the door. "But when it gets you killed, I won't feel bad."
"Noted," Ethan said, grabbing his pipe and following her. "Let's go save the world, one sarcastic comment at a time."