The moment the unfamiliar figure stepped closer, something in Demos snapped.
Instinct.
Warrior instinct.
Even broken… even half-dead… his body moved before thought.
"—!"
With a sudden burst of force, he launched himself off the cold stone.
Pain screamed through every muscle in his body.
But he ignored it.
He landed hard.
Skidding.
Then—
He rose into a battle stance.
Fists clenched.
Shoulders tight.
Eyes burning.
A wounded beast refusing death.
Silence.
The cave air froze.
The elderly woman stopped immediately.
Just… stopped.
For a moment, surprise flickered across her face.
Then—
A soft smile.
Warm.
Almost proud.
"Ah… Demos," she said gently. "You truly are a warrior."
She shook her head slowly.
"But there is no need for that here."
Her voice softened.
"I come in peace."
Demos didn't relax.
Not even slightly.
His stance remained sharp.
His eyes tracked every movement she made.
Trust didn't exist in his world.
"I am Akira," she continued. "A healer… of this dying tribe."
That word—
Dying
Demos' eyes narrowed slightly.
Not fear.
Analysis.
"…Dying tribe?" he repeated coldly.
Akira stepped forward slowly, hands raised in calm surrender.
"Please… you don't need to be afraid of me."
"I'm here to help you."
Demos didn't answer immediately.
His gaze flicked to her hands.
Then her face.
Something about her…
didn't feel like a threat.
But he didn't lower his guard.
"What do you mean… dying?" he asked.
Akira's expression darkened instantly.
"Our tribe is collapsing."
Her voice dropped.
"We are sick. Starving. And hunted."
Demos' eyes sharpened.
"Hunted by who?"
Akira hesitated.
Then—
"…The Tall People."
The name meant nothing.
But the weight behind it did.
Demos leaned forward slightly.
"How many remain?"
Akira's voice broke.
"Fifty…"
A pause.
"…from five hundred."
Silence.
Even the cave seemed to tighten.
Demos' expression didn't change—but something behind his eyes hardened.
Five hundred reduced to fifty.
That wasn't decline.
That was extermination.
"What happened?" he asked.
Akira looked away.
Shame. Pain. Memory.
"They came without warning."
Her voice shook.
"The Tall People…"
"They were like mountains walking through the forest."
"They burned everything."
"Killed without hesitation."
Demos' jaw tightened.
"And you survived."
"Yes…" she whispered. "Barely."
She swallowed.
"Our leader—Gorlack—bought us time."
"He sent warriors to die so others could flee."
Demos went quiet.
The words settled like stones in his chest.
Sacrifice.
Survival.
Collapse.
Everything was already broken here.
Akira suddenly dropped to her knees.
Hard.
Her forehead slammed into the stone floor.
CRACK.
Blood burst instantly.
"DEMOS!!" she cried out. "GREAT WARRIOR OF SPARTA!!"
Her voice shook violently.
"Please… save us!"
"We will follow you to death itself!"
"I don't want to watch us disappear!"
The cave erupted behind her.
Forty-nine survivors poured in.
One by one.
They dropped to their knees.
Foreheads pressed into stone.
A broken tribe kneeling before a stranger.
Before their last hope.
Demos stood still.
Watching.
Silent.
Then—
A light flickered in his vision.
[SYSTEM INTERFACE DETECTED]
He blinked.
A glowing screen hovered in front of him.
Real.
Visible.
But only to him.
He reached out—
And it responded.
Like it was part of him.
He turned slightly.
"…Can you see this?"
Akira lifted her head quickly.
Confused.
"No," she said firmly. "I only see you."
Demos looked at the others.
"What about you?"
A man tilted his head.
"…A white box?"
He blinked.
"Can it be eaten?"
Silence.
Demos' eyes narrowed.
Only I can see it.
He focused.
The screen expanded.
NAME: DEMOS S. SPARTA
AGE: 15
LEVEL: 1
HEALTH: 26/100
STRENGTH: 10
AGILITY: 10
INTELLIGENCE: 10
ABILITIES:
(##$#) — Sealed
(#_#$#) — Sealed
(#$$#$$) — Sealed
UNIQUE ABILITIES:
— Five-Colored Lightning: Sealed
— Ice Age: Sealed
LANGUAGE PACK: INSTALLED (AZURAN)
SKILL: HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT (Lv.1)
Then—
It changed.
MISSION COMPLETED: Survive 20 Minutes
REWARD: +2 Strength / +2 Agility
A new line appeared.
And it made everything feel heavier.
NEW MISSION:
BECOME THE LEADER OF A DYING TRIBE
REWARD: ONE-HANDED AXE
PUNISHMENT: INSTANT DEATH
Silence.
Demos stared at it.
Long.
Still.
Then slowly—
He exhaled.
There was no choice.
Not really.
He lowered his hand.
And looked at the kneeling tribe.
"…As of today," he said.
His voice was calm.
But absolute.
"I, Demos S. Sparta… will lead you."
A pause.
Then—
The cave shifted.
Relief.
Shock.
Hope.
Like air returning to lungs after drowning.
Laughter broke out.
Crying followed.
Children clung to elders.
For the first time in a long time—
They believed.
Akira lifted her head, tears streaming freely now.
"You… you will truly lead us?"
Demos didn't answer the emotion.
He only asked:
"Where is Gorthok?"
Akira blinked.
"Outside… with the others. Roasting Harn boar."
Demos turned slightly.
"…Good."
He exhaled slowly.
"I will rest."
A pause.
"Three moons."
Akira quickly bowed.
"Yes, Tribe Leader."
"I'll bring you food."
Demos nodded once.
"Do it."
Without another word, Akira led the tribe out of the cave.
One by one.
Leaving him alone.
In silence.
In darkness.
With a system only he could see…
END.