Coward meets a Bloodthirsty Killer

My heart hammered against my ribs as we emerged onto the first floor. The air hung heavy with the iron tang of blood. Before us lay a landscape of carnage - scattered limbs, gnawed bones, the remains of those not quick or lucky enough to escape the monsters' fury.

I waved Max over urgently, motioning for him to cover Lucy's eyes. The poor girl had already seen too much horror for one day. As Max guided his sister away, bile rose in my throat. Dammit, I shouldn't have brought them here, but it had to be done.

Even Lucy's mother Alice seemed to have low resistance. Well, it doesn't mean I'm not feeling anything. It's just... I have seen a thousand times worse than this...

"Y-you guys are alive!" Then I heard a male voice and looked in that direction. It was probably the guard.

"Is he the one?" I asked Max to make sure. He meekly nodded his head. He was also scared to see such things on the floor. Well, this is not a game after all, not anymore. And he is just a kid too.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the train platform ahead. I jerked around to see a ragged band of survivors leap down onto the tile floor, blood and filth staining their clothes. At their lead stomped the hulking figure of man, the brutish bully from the train. His malevolent glare sent a bolt of fear through me.

At Jack's side clung a sultry woman with tangled auburn hair. She trailed her fingers along his arm, whispering slyly. Her skills in seduction were obvious, though her coy glances masked a serpent's heart. The rest of the group, three women and four men, hovered nervously behind their leaders.

I decided to use Identify on them before they reached here. On the bully first.

[Status]

Name: Jack

Race: Human

Class: None

Titles: [Bloodthirsty Killer Lv1] | [Cruel Leader Lv2]

Level: 4

XP: 100/1000

HP: 200/200

MP: 35/35

Strength: 21 Agility: 7 Dexterity: 8

Intelligence: 7 Wisdom: 7 Constitution: 12

Charisma: 6 Luck: 5

Skills: Intimidate Lv2 | Fist Strike Lv2 | Slash Lv2

Passive: Fear Aura Lv1 | Pain Resistance Lv1

"Hiek!" I stepped back in fear, my hands trembling. Because the bully, Jack was a real-life PKer, a murderer! Dammit! He's level 4 already too! Since he's got the [Bloodthirsty Killer Lv1], I'm sure he's already killed more than 5 people. I hate this guy!

But can I fight him? Although my stats are higher than him and I have still 15 stat points unused... His strength is really something. I think he poured all 11 stats into the strength and the rest 3 into the constitution.

I checked the other 6 people's status in a hurry too. This was important for my survival. The one man and one woman who is clinging to the bully are level 3, while the other man is level 2 and the rest are level 1. I am also sure the woman seduced the bully with her Seducing Lv2 and Love Aura Lv1 skills. I hate her too.

But that must be for survival. Yeah. From the moment game started to merge with reality, the old world's rules are gone. But it doesn't mean the game system will not punish this murderer. It is just that function hasn't merged with it yet.

"Well, look who we have here," Jack growled as his eyes locked on me. "The little coward too afraid to fight."

"Hiok!" I just stepped back in fright again.

"Oh, he found a chick too!" He looked behind me, more precisely at Alice, his eyes filled with lust. Dammit! I really shouldn't have brought them here.

"Oh, darling! Did you forget me?" A bewitching female voice sounded. That woman caressed the bully's face. I could see the other men beside them looking at her with passionate eyes. She is probably using her skill.

"No, you will always be number one." The bully replied licking his lips as he held her hands. "But I have to deal with this coward first!" His eyes locked onto mine.

"W-what are talking about? We have never met before." I replied as I averted my gaze, feigning ignorance.

"Huh?" He frowned, looking at me angrily. "Did you think I wouldn't see you running away?"

"I. I..." I stuttered.

"But you fell into my hands at the end, hahaha!" He laughed as a sword appeared in his hands.

My eyes widened as I stumbled backward. "N-no, please don't kill me! I-I will give this woman to you!" I looked at my back. "W-what?"

"Hehe! They already left you. It must be because they realized you are a coward." The bully laughed out like a maniac.

I looked around and saw Max bringing his family to the Lobby where the guards were. I saw Lucy looking at me strangely. I formed a smile at her. Sorry, I lied to you. I am not a brave person.

Then I looked back at the bully. "I-I will follow you. Please don't kill me! I know something useful to you!"

"Oh, tell me then." He asked curiously.

"T-there is a treasure on the third floor, it is very powerful too!" I spilled out.

"Huh? A treasure?" He shot me a confused look.

"Yes, a treasure. No, an item like the sword you are holding. It is a powerful and rare item!" I spoke.

"Oh, a powerful item?" The bully replied. Then he looked his back, at the young man in their party. "Is he speaking the truth?"

"Y-yes." The young man replied timidly. "The items may have started to appear too. But it will be protected by monsters. He didn't say that."

Dammit! You are a coward too! But that young man should have played the Eternal Quest too.

"Ah, yes! There are goblins around 20 that are protecting the item." I defended myself before he would question or got angry at me.

"Goblins? Again?" The bully frowned.

"Darling, aren't they just weak goblins? You can kill them easily, isn't that right?" That woman spoke again, hugging the bully's arm. Then she looked at me, her expression playful. Damn, I don't like that look. "Besides, don't we have some shields to use?"

"Shields?" He asked confused as he looked at me. His eyes lit up as he understood the meaning of her words. "Oh, you mean meat shields! Right! That way I can feel satisfied."

"N-no, please don't!" I pleaded.

But he didn't even listen to me. He lifted his right hand. "Joe!"

"Yes, boss, I will take it from here." The level 3 man with a deep scar on his back palms hurriedly spoke. He then came to my side and looked at me arrogantly. "Go, you will be leading us to the treasure!"

"N-no! P-please! There are scary goblins there!" I tried to beg.

"You will if you don't want to die!" A dagger appeared in his hands as he pointed its tip to my neck.

Gulp! I gulped in fear.

"Y-yes. I-I will do it." I gave in as my life was threatened.

"Good!" He looked at the bully, grinning like an idiot. "Boss, it's done!"

"T-this way." I then started to lead them toward the second floor via the stairways.

Their group followed after me. They are probably planning to use me as bait and kill me.

A small grin appeared on my face. Little did they know I was leading them to their doom. Definitely those three!