[LoLman: lol…]
[Ragebaiter4L: Arnold is so funny and honest. Fucking GOAT.]
[TheSmartOne: He's right. That guy's a bum... no offense. I followed him all the way here.]
[Follower234: He's the definition of dumb if he thinks he can be a hero.]
[Follower623: Why is that his username?]
"I'm serious. This is probably the first time this loser has left his house," Arnold said with a sigh. "Don't even think about letting him join us. He'll just slow us down."
Lucas couldn't say a word because Arnold wasn't lying.
He really was a loser stepping outside for the first time since the apocalypse.
While everyone else had been growing stronger, he'd been hiding—too afraid to leave the safety of his home.
"Why should we turn him away?"
Carol's voice cut through the silence.
"We all started out scared. Too afraid to step outside. Then one day we finally took that first step."
"And are you going to take responsibility if something happens to him?" Saito asked.
The old man had been there that day too, quietly observing until now.
"Why would I?" Carol replied with a shrug. "I'm not the one who brought him out here. I'm just saying you don't get to decide what he does just because you're stronger."
Silence settled over the group.
Then Damian let out an awkward laugh.
"Well... the vice-captain has spoken."
He glanced around before straightening his posture.
"As long as he doesn't become a liability, he's free to stick around. Just remember—always put your own safety first."
"What kind of leader makes that his motto?" Gavin muttered under his breath.
Just like that, the group started moving toward the hole, with Lucas trailing hesitantly behind.
'I don't think anyone even asked whether I wanted to come along.'
He peeked over the edge.
A dark chasm stretched endlessly below.
The sight alone made his stomach twist.
'Maybe I should just run away when nobody's looking.'
"I'll send everyone down one at a time," Carol said as she stepped forward. "Who's first?"
"Definitely Arnold or Tank," Gavin volunteered, raising his hand.
"No. I'll go."
Damian stepped forward before anyone else could.
"It's my duty as leader to go first."
Arnold rolled his eyes.
"Can you people seriously not hear how corny that sounds?"
"Funny coming from the guy who wanted to be leader," Gavin shot back, nudging him with his elbow.
"Only because I didn't want anyone telling me what to do."
"Well, too bad. There's nothing you can do against those two."
Arnold's expression hardened.
He glanced at Carol and Damian before looking away.
"Only for now."
"I'm ready," Damian said.
Carol moved closer to him and placed her hand on his shoulder before moving away and closing her eyes.
He began to levitate before moving over the hole and going lower, he gave a thumbs up as he fully disappeared into the hole.
"Is that telekinesis?" Lucas wondered.
Gavin glanced at him and back at the hole before answering, "No, it's less impressive. It's one of her skills, 'Flight'"
"She can make anything she touches float for limited time,"
He said it was less impressive but Lucas was still very impressed by such an ability.
"Wait, you said one of her skills? That means she has more?"
"Yeah, when you reach the 1000KP target and advance to the next rank you get another set of skills"
"Seriously?"
'That means I can still get an attack skill' a small grin played on his lips.
"Has all of you here advanced to the next rank?"
"Not all, I'm still in the iron rank…"
"Could you two shut up, your voices are starting to piss me off," Arnold spat from the side.
"Sorry big man," Gavin replied with a bow.
By now Carol had lowered half the group.
Lucas knew he had to take the step, there was no turning back now that he was literally standing in front of the whole world.
Even if he knew this was like signing his own death warrant, he had to do it.
'Just how many of those creatures could even be down there?'
"Where do you think you're going?" Arnold shot Lucas a sharp look as he stepped toward the hole.
Gavin turned to him, his brows furrowing.
"You weren't actually planning on following them, were you?"
"You're free to join us if you really want to die," Arnold scoffed. "There could be hundreds of spiders crawling around down there."
He smirked.
"Maybe you should come with us after all. We can put you to the test."
The conversation died instantly.
Everyone turned toward Lucas, waiting to see how he'd respond.
"N-No, I think I'm good," he stammered.
"Pussy," Arnold spat.
Carol started toward him.
"I don't need your help," Arnold said before she could speak.
"Suit yourself," she replied with a shrug.
"Hey, weak fucks!" Arnold shouted with an obnoxious grin. "Watch my livestream if you want to see how things are really done!"
Without another word, he dropped into the darkness.
Lucas felt personally attacked, but for once he wasn't annoyed.
He was relieved.
In a strange way, Arnold's theatrics had probably just saved his life.
Gavin let out a sigh as he pulled up a screen.
"He's always been good at getting under people's skin. I can't wait until I get strong enough to wipe that smug look off his face."
"You all should remain on high alert," Carol said before leaping down the hole.
---
He fell through the dark foundation of the building, deep into an enormous cavern.
Several meters below, eerie green flames illuminated the cavern floor where the rest of the group had already gathered.
Its ceiling stretched several stories overhead, riddled with countless holes and tunnels that disappeared into darkness.
The green flames cast strange shadows across the stone walls, making the place feel more like the nest of some ancient monster than a cave.
BOOM!
Dust exploded into the air.
When it settled, Arnold rose to his feet completely unharmed.
Carol floated down moments later, landing lightly beside him.
"I told you I didn't need your help," Arnold said confidently.
"Congratulations," Carol replied dryly. "You proved you can survive a fall."
She pointed toward the walls.
"Now look at the result."
Arnold's grin faded.
The impact had echoed throughout the cavern.
And something had heard it.
Creatures began pouring from the countless holes in the walls.
Dozens.
Then more.
The scratching of countless legs filled the air as insects crawled out from every direction.
"I'll slow them down."
The giant shirtless man built like a tank stepped forward and slammed his foot into the ground.
BOOM!
The entire cavern trembled.
Cracks spread across the stone floor as a powerful shockwave rippled outward.
The insects at the front immediately lost their footing, stumbling and twitching as if the world itself had begun spinning around them.
A massive grin spread across the giant's face.
"I've always wanted to use this move on a large group."
The disoriented insects swayed helplessly.
The rest of the group didn't hesitate.
They charged.
Fire, steel, and flashing skills erupted across the cavern as they crashed into the confused swarm.