Chương 12: Survivor's Camp

Midnight, Mist Forest.

"Alright, team! Let's rest for the night. Who's good with fire magic? Tomas?"

"Yeah, I'll handle the bonfire."

"Emma! Hey, Emma! Are you there?"

"Ah! Yes?" The group of survivors gathered in the heart of the Mist Forest. The Tutorial had erupted in chaos, scattering everyone in panic. That decision proved fatal—many had died alone against the monsters. Those who stayed together and fought as a unit had survived. Leading them was Philip, the most charismatic figure from their office and the director's son. He had awakened a rare class that let him lead and protect others. Yet he never demanded blind obedience.

Philip genuinely prioritized everyone's survival and went out of his way to help, but he always asked for something in return: cooperation. Everyone had a role, just like in the office. Tomas had chosen Magician and awakened Fire spells, so he managed lighting and bonfires. Mia served as the group's cleric, barely keeping everyone alive. Hector acted as their Warrior, fighting and defending them from monsters. Lucas had become an Archer, picking off threats from afar or sensing danger with his sharp instincts.

And so on. The group of roughly twenty-three people had barely survived the last four days. As the Tutorial's end drew nearer, their anxiety grew heavier with each passing hour—about what they still had to do, and how.

"Emma!"

"Ah! What is it, Philip?" Among them was someone nobody trusted anymore. A girl who had betrayed a coworker, shoving him into danger before running back to the group for protection. If not for Philip's kind nature, most would have already driven her out. She was simply no longer trustworthy.

"I've been calling you this whole time! Help Tomas with the bonfire and use a shield spell to protect the area. What are you doing, just staring into empty space?"

"I-I'm so sorry, Phil. I just… I'm so afraid. I don't know what to do. I want to go home… to see my daughter again. Where is she? Is she alright? I…" Emma started crying, covering her face as sobs shook her. A few of the men felt a pang of sympathy, especially since she was widely regarded as one of the office's greatest beauties. Yet because of her actions and what she had done to Alex, no one approached her. Emma's tears no longer drew the attention they once did.

Deep within her sorrow burned frustration and anger—at the split-second decision that had ruined her life here.

"Emma…" Philip was gentler than the rest. Despite his bossy demeanor, he remained kindhearted. He walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry. We'll make it out of here, and you'll see your daughter again."

"R-Really?" Emma sniffed.

"Can I truly see her again? But we need points… If we don't gather enough, we'll all die!"

"We'll gather as many as we can and share them so everyone can leave," Philip said.

"That's what we agreed on, right, everyone?" The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. The group nodded in silence. Emma stepped forward and hugged him. Philip sighed and hugged her back, offering comfort while drawing strength from the moment. He felt important. Needed. Even though he had held status at work, he had never felt this level of power and connection before.

A sense of importance, of strength, of charisma—of authority beyond being just another cog in the machine. He was a leader now, a blazing combatant, a guardian. And he held them all together. It felt incredible.

"Ugh! I hate seeing that bitch cry all the time. Who does she think she is? Doesn't she realize we're all suffering?" A woman with shoulder-length black hair, sharp blue eyes, pale skin, and freckles stood with her arms crossed near a half-built tent made of monster pelts and bones. She wore a worn white blouse, black pants, leather boots, and carried a scepter.

"Come on, Emily, lower your voice. She can hear you," said a bald older man with a tired expression as he walked up behind her.

"I don't care…" Emily sighed, shaking her head.

"It's her fault Alex died! I saw it. She got close to him the second she thought he was strong, then discarded him like trash. What the hell is wrong with her? And it's not just Alex—two other people have died trying to protect her, Stephan." Stephan lowered his eyes and sighed.

"Listen, Emily. If you push back, they'll kick you out. You know how Philip is… he has a thing for Emma. He always has. This is finally his moment. Look at him—he's happy. And as long as he's happy, he won't let anyone remove her." Emily clicked her tongue, turned away, and helped prepare their meal. With Mia's assistance, they purified monster meat and began roasting it. Meanwhile, Stephan, a Water Mage, brought fresh water for everyone. In this brutal survival, they had at least figured out a few essentials.

Though far from everything. As the group sat around the bonfire, eating their meager portions and looking increasingly miserable, Tomas broke the silence.

"Just what is this Tutorial, anyway?" He was a young man in his mid-twenties, like Philip, but rougher in appearance with short black hair.

"There's no safe zone, no camp to claim. No way to escape. Just endless forests, mountains… and a damn sea. We each need 1, 000 points? It takes everything we have to kill one monster, and with points shared, we barely get one or two each…"

"So what?" Hector said, gnawing on a boar leg.

"We'll kill a hundred then. Problem solved. Don't be a pussy, Tomas. We're surviving. Whatever's happening outside… we've been given a chance. We can't waste it."

"You've adapted to this crap surprisingly well, Hector," Tomas replied, anger flashing across his face.

"Were you waiting for something like this to happen?"

"What?!" Hector shot up, furious. Much larger than Tomas, he had always been intimidating and mean.

"What the fuck? You wanna fight, bitch?" He grabbed his broadsword.

"Wanna go? Huh?!"

"Touch me and I'll burn you to a crisp, bastard," Tomas snarled. His eyes glowed red as giant fireballs formed in his hands.

"Try me." The two glared at each other, their mana auras surging wildly and startling the rest of the group.

"Hey, enough!" Mia cried.

"Don't fight over every little thing!"

"Shut up," Hector growled.

"I'll fight anyone who fucks with me. So all of you better watch your mouths. I'm the warrior here. I'm the one keeping you son of a bitches alive and—""That's enough." A hand rested on his shoulder. Hector gasped as Philip appeared beside him, smiling calmly. He was the only one wearing full white armor, earned from defeating a large White Stone Golem with the party.

"Hector, let's not fight over pointless things, alright?" Though his voice was kind and his smile gentle, Hector felt crushing pressure that made him tremble. Philip's aura rose like a pillar of light into the sky, surrounded by faint stars. Philip was no ordinary awakener. The class he had gained—and whatever supported it—was anything but normal.

"Tsk…" Hector shrugged off the hand and sat down roughly.

"Whatever, man. Let me eat in peace, Tomas. Fuck off." Tomas said nothing and continued eating, shaking his head. It was clear Philip controlled the situation. He was the only one holding this fractured group together. But how long could it truly last? [The Divinity {Pillar of Heaven's Light} admires your leadership and ability to control the situation.] [You have received +30 Tutorial Points.] [The Divinity {Pillar of Heaven's Light} offers you a special quest.] [Quest: Prove your Faith] [Objective: Convert 5 People into the Pillar of Heaven's Light Religion.] [Reward: Class Skill, Tutorial Points, Title, Class-Specific Equipment.] [Failure: Loss of Divine Favor. Possible Class regression.] Philip swallowed hard, hands trembling slightly as he read the messages. His eyes sharpened with determination. He knew that without their help, he was nothing. He had to do this, no matter how strange it felt. It was the only way they could survive.

"Anything for you… master."