What Did You Say?

As we walk closer to the city walls, the following message appears.

System Call: Tiendas City Main Quest –

There Can Only Be One…Is A Multitiered Event.

Complete The 1st Objective To Unlock The Next.

Citywide Dungeon Will Load In 16:32:16

All Hunters Must Enter Within One Hour Of Dungeon Opening Or Accept System Punishment

People are wandering around the walls. Some of them are sleeping, many of them are in groups, some alone. Everyone that is awake is in a state of high energy. Hungry eyes rake over us as we enter their midst. I avoid going too close. When the dungeon opens, I don't intend to be one of the first ones inside.

The first ones to enter a dungeon are usually the first to die.

Experienced Hunters usually knew this and rarely moved in without doing a lot of scouting. However, these people are new. Most of them probably were not even Hunters until the System automatically promoted them as part of a Mandatory System Event. I shake my head. Poor things. They didn't even want to be caught up in this. But now that choice has been taken away from them.

"So, get this! One second, I was in my bathroom, rinsing out shampoo, and then the System Notification came up. I heard about Hunters talking about the System but I never expected to experience it for myself! Thank god I managed to get my clothes on before that beam of light teleported us all or I'd be naked out here!" A skinny man wearing a pair of pajamas laughs heartily as he retells the story of the dungeon opening to his friends. "Whew, the System sure is considerate! I'm excited to see what it's like to be strong!"

"Don't speak to them." I put my hand on Yin's shoulder. When she turns to look at me, I shake my head slowly. The excited glimmer in her eyes fades a bit as she stares into mine. Nodding slowly, she draws into me and I see a healthy wariness enter her gaze. That's right. Every single one of these people is not a potential friend. They are a potential enemy. "We���ll stay here on the outskirts and wait for the dungeon to open."

"So, you guys," Another man, slightly less pale than the one speaking before speaks up from a bucket he's sitting on. "What do you think? Is it worth entering the city again once it opens? I mean I don't know about you, but I heard of a lot of places getting destroyed after weird stuff happened. Is it worth going back inside?"

"Well, we don't all have family outside like you, Jack. Everything my family owns is in Tiendas. Even if it's festering with undead, I'm not going to let those bastards have it!" The thin man from before flexes his arms and roars to cheers from the onlookers. "We're Hunters now! I say we stay and fight! Besides, System Punishment…that sounds scary. Who knows what that could be? Compared to that I'd rather reclaim my home!"

"Yea here! Here!"

"Markus is right!"

"Right on man!"

The onlookers cheer though to be honest none of them have any idea what's going on. This is the nature of human beings. I've seen it before many times. When confronted with the unknown people seek to latch onto the nearest thing they can. Be it an idea, or another stronger person, they don't want to be alone. It blinds them to the truth.

"Well, I'm going for my family! This dungeon thing sounds awfully dangerous! You guys have fun, I don't want to kill zombies!" The one called Jack shrugs, his dull blonde hair waving gently as he stands up. Several of his friends call out to him, but he walks away, going into the forest. Yin tugs on my sleeve with a worried expression.

"Didn't you say the System Punishment is extremely dangerous?" She asks, and I hurriedly draw closer to her while looking around to make sure no one is listening in. "Mmp-"

"Shh…I told you. If these people find out we know anything they'll eat us alive! See if they won't!" I release my hand from her mouth. "Ouch! Did you really have to bite me?"

"Ugh…don't do that, Lin. But really, are you just going to let that man go to his death?" She seems disappointed in me, her cute eyes quivering angrily. I sigh, unable to argue with this dangerous being.

"Even if you tell him, he won't believe you. And it's not like he doesn't have chances of surviving the System Punishment…" I trail off because it's getting hard to meet Yin's eyes. I might be willing to hide the truth from her but actually lying to her face is too difficult. "Well, that is to say, his chances in there are not much worse than out here. You heard him. He knows nothing about being a Hunter. He doesn't even want to kill zombies. He'll just die if he stays." This time it's not strictly a lie.

"Hmph, I thought you were better than this. Why do I deserve to get help and no one else?" Yin mutters into my ear, though at least she's being quiet about it. "Is it just because I'm a pretty girl? Am I your type?"

"T-This..." My gulp is audible from this distance and the damn girl smells blood. She might be cute, but I'm beginning to wonder who's really the predator here a she closes in on my weak-spots. "It's not just because…"

"Not just because what? I get that you care about protecting me, but don't you have a heart for your fellow man? They're not zombies yet! You act like other people's lives have no value!" Yin pulls away from me abruptly crossing her arms. When I reach out to her, she smacks me away. Aware of the questioning gazes of the other campers nearby, I stop. Yin sniffs. "Don't touch me."

"Ugh, just listen to me okay. I know I do a lot of things without saying why, but if there's one thing you can believe me on it is that I would never hurt you. I always have your best interests in mind. Even if it might seem cold or cruel, I will protect you." I try one last time to reason with her. The stance of her shoulders softens, but she doesn't look my way.

"I never asked for your help." She growls and sits on the ground. I sigh, rubbing my temples. Well technically, in this timeline, she never asked me to help, but that's not true in others. Not that I can explain that to you without turning into a goddamn zombie. Ugh, I hate this. Sitting down nearby her, I give her some space while trying not to think about it. It's impossible. All I can see the angry set of her shoulders and the tight line her lips make when she presses them together. Annoyed, I can't think straight. I close my eyes, listening to the people around us talk.

"Well, that's that then. I bet all of these people are coming to enter the dungeon. How many do you think there are now?" Someone says.

"I heard there will be a counter when the dungeon opens that will tell us how many Hunters are left." Another person replies. I twitch my ears. Did I hear that right?

"Crazy dude. My sisters want to come. But I feel like it's going to be dangerous. Ahh, but I don't want to leave them for this System Punishment or whatever either. This sucks man!�� The first man continues. However, I'm not interested in what he's saying now. My eyes snap open.

"You! What did you just say?" I march over to the one who I think was speaking. "Who told you that?"