We backed away cautiously, forming a tight circle in the middle of the chamber. The scuttling noises faded into the shadows behind us, but the tension didn't ease. Every one of my classmates was alert, eyes wide, breaths shallow. The smell of damp stone and faint rot pressed against us, making the air feel heavier.
Rina rubbed her temples, muttering, "We can't just wander blindly. We need a plan."
Kaori nodded, fists clenched. "We should figure out what we're dealing with… maybe there's a pattern, a weakness, something we can exploit."
Then, unexpectedly, Mei—usually quiet and meticulous—straightened suddenly, her eyes wide with realization. "Wait. I think… we have a system. A… a system that tracks us."
"System?" someone echoed, half in disbelief, half in dread.
Mei's fingers trembled slightly as she whispered, "I don't know how it works… but maybe it's like… a game interface. If we try to see it, we might understand our stats, abilities, everything we can do here."
Kaori scoffed at first, shaking her head. "This is insane. What are we, characters in some RPG?" But her voice cracked slightly, betraying unease.
Mei took a deep breath and then said aloud, as though testing the idea:"Status."
For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then—light. Bright, translucent panels flickered into existence before her, floating in the air. Lines of text, numbers, and strange symbols scrolled across the interface, illuminating her face in a pale glow.
Her gasp cut through the silence. "It… it's all here! Everything about us!"
Some of the others shrank back, shielding their eyes. The glow seemed too clean, too unnatural against the oppressive dark of the dungeon.
I felt my pulse quicken. Could this really be… a system? Some kind of interface for this world?
I took a deep breath, feeling the responsibility of leadership settle heavier on my shoulders. "Everyone… try it. Say it aloud. Just say—'Status.'"
One by one, my classmates spoke. Each time, a panel appeared, the translucent light hovering in the stale air, filling the chamber with an eerie hum like a swarm of distant insects. Some faces lit up in awe, others twisted in confusion or fear.
I stepped forward, my voice calm but firm. "Status."
A glow spread before me, and for a moment I felt weightless. Then a translucent panel appeared in front of me, revealing… me.
-
Hinata – Character Status
Name: Hinata
Age: 20+
Class: Class Representative / AbsorberLevel: 1
HP: 100 / Energy: 50
STR: 8
DEX: 10
CON: 14
INT: 15
WIS: 17
CHA: 18
Skills:
Replace: Upon defeating an enemy, there is a fixed % chance to absorb one of its traits or abilities (racial, unique, or skill-based)
Traits: None yet
Equipment: School uniform
Notes: Calm, responsible, observant. Strong leadership instincts.
-
I blinked at the panel, letting out a slow, uneasy breath. Everything—the numbers, the skills, the traits, even the faint hum of potential power—it was all there, laid bare.
"This… this changes everything," I murmured under my breath. Not in fear, but in wary wonder. "We can understand this world. We can learn. And… maybe we can survive it."
Around me, the other panels hovered in the dim light. My classmates stared at their own stats with a mix of disbelief and awe. Some whispered excitedly, others looked as if they wanted to shut their panels away and forget they'd seen them.
"So… look at this," Kaori said, pointing to her panel. "I get bonuses with bows… and it even shows my accuracy. This is incredible!"
Rina examined hers carefully, frowning. "I have… shields. Defensive abilities. Makes sense, I always protect people in drills. But it's all quantified here… it feels unreal. Like I'm being dissected."
Saki bounced on her toes, grinning nervously. "Guys, check this out! I can craft potions, and the panel even shows the potency percentage! I've never seen anything like this!"
Mei adjusted her glasses, her face still pale. "Mine is… crafting quality. +25% on items I make. I guess this explains why I've been obsessed with details for so long."
Yuna's voice was soft, almost reluctant. "I… I have stealth bonuses. Movement speed, quiet steps… I always noticed I could move without being seen." Her words trembled as though she feared saying them aloud might make her a target.
Kaori leaned toward Saki, eyes gleaming with reckless excitement. "This is like a game, but it's real. We could… train, get stronger, figure out exactly how far we can go."
I smiled faintly, though my stomach twisted. "It's important we share what we know, but also… we have to be careful. There may be dangers, and knowledge itself could be a target."
At that moment, Emi, who had been silent until now, raised her hand slightly. Her face was pale, her voice sharp. "I think… maybe we should keep some things secret. Not from each other completely, but… if enemies can sense or copy this system somehow, telling everything could kill us. Some abilities, strategies, or personal strengths… they might be safer kept private."
A pause followed, heavy and uncomfortable. For a moment, the only sound was the faint hum of the glowing panels.
One by one, the others nodded—but not all with ease. Kaori smirked, though her eyes flicked toward Mei with something unreadable. Rina's agreement came with a sharp glance at Saki, as though measuring her trust. Even Saki's grin faltered into something thinner, more cautious.
I felt the weight of leadership press harder, the glow of the panel before me suddenly colder. "Then it's decided. We'll be honest about immediate threats and team coordination, but personal skills, potential, or experimental abilities… we'll keep those private until we're ready."
A murmur of assent rippled through the group. But beneath it, I could sense it: a new undercurrent. Hope, yes. Power, certainly. But also the seed of suspicion.
The panels hovered, glowing softly, casting shifting shadows on the dungeon walls. In their cold light, I realized the truth: this system didn't just give us power. It gave us reasons to hide. To compete. To fear each other, even as we stood together.
And though the faint flicker of hope burned in my chest, I also felt the first chill of unease settle in my bones.