Roles As A Team

The group finally reached the top of the building, panting slightly from the climb. The upper level was open to the sky, with several walls missing and the ceiling collapsed in places, leaving the area exposed but offering a clear view of the surrounding city.

The monstrous overhead bridge nearby loomed like a giant serpent, partially collapsed and twisted, debris scattered across the road below.

Essei looked around nervously, her eyes lingering on the bridge's wreckage and the wide, open space.

"Why are we up here?" she asked, glancing over at Laura. "This place is way too open, and that bridge is sure to attract attention."

Laura turned to her, her expression calm and thoughtful. "The best place to hide is actually in plain sight," she explained. "Most people will avoid this area because it's open and prone to attracting large gatherings of creatures."

"They'd rather find someplace hidden and small. But that also means they're more likely to run into other humans who can't be trusted. Here, we only have to deal with the creatures, not people who might want to backstab us, manipulate us, or try to take everything for themselves."

The others exchanged glances as they considered her logic. It made sense, in a twisted way.

The chaos of the apocalypse didn't just bring monsters—it brought out the worst in people. This strategy was risky, but it could actually offer them some protection by making them less of a target.

As the group settled down, Eric leaned against a broken section of wall, catching his breath. He glanced over at Laura, who had just opened her inventory and was rummaging through it.

Moments later, she pulled out a packed meal, the sight of it making his stomach growl. Essei and Miara's eyes widened at the sight, and Essei couldn't help but ask, "Did you… plan for all of this?"

Laura shrugged nonchalantly as she began unwrapping the food. "Not exactly," she replied. "I was at a shopping center when the system selection began. I was already restocking on supplies when I noticed the class selection. I figured I'd try out the inventory system, and it worked. So I just stored everything I'd bought."

It wasn't a complete lie, but it wasn't the full truth, either. The others didn't need to know just how much she knew in advance.

The looks on their faces told her something important—they hadn't even considered testing the inventory feature before the apocalypse descended. It was the only open function of the system during the first few hours, yet none of them had taken advantage of it.

Laura sighed and pulled out more packed meals for the others, handing them each a portion. "From now on, we ration everything," she said firmly, her tone brooking no argument. "Food is just as valuable as weapons out here. Hunger might end up killing us before any of the creatures do."

They all nodded, and for a few moments, the rooftop was filled with the quiet sound of chewing as they ate their meals.

The blackened sun was sinking lower in the sky, casting eerie shadows across the city. The oppressive gloom made it difficult to gauge the time, but Laura estimated they had about an hour left before the sixth-hour mark, when the system would finally unlock their class abilities.

As they finished their food, Laura turned to Essei and Miara. "Now that we're more settled, I need to know more about your classes," she said. "What can each of you do?"

Miara was the first to speak, fidgeting slightly as she answered. "I'm… I'm a level three Healer," she said quietly. "But I haven't really been able to use any healing abilities yet. I've just been trying to survive."

Laura gave her a nod. "Healers are rare, so that's useful," she said, though inwardly she wondered how much help Miara would be in a fight if she wasn't confident in her abilities yet. Still, a healer was a valuable addition, and Laura knew she'd have to work with Miara to help her reach her potential.

Then Laura's gaze shifted to Essei, who took a deep breath before responding. "I'm an Archer," she said, sounding almost reluctant. "Level two. I know it doesn't sound like much, but… I've always been quick on my feet. That's how I managed to outrun those creatures before you found me."

An Archer? Laura felt a pang of disappointment. She had expected Essei to have a class more oriented toward close combat, given her impressive agility. But instead, it turned out she was another ranged fighter.

That meant their group consisted of a Healer, a Summoner, an Elemental Mage, and now an Archer—three mid-to-long range classes and only one support.

She sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "We need a close-quarters combatant," she muttered under her breath.

With their current setup, they could manage against smaller groups of creatures, but when faced with stronger, faster enemies, they would struggle without someone to hold the front line.

Eric looked over at her, his brow furrowed. "What about me?" he asked, a hint of defiance in his tone. "I've been fighting up close since we started. I know I'm supposed to be an Elemental Mage, but if I focus my points into strength and agility, I can still hold my own in melee."

Laura considered his words for a moment. It was true—Eric had adapted well to close combat despite his class's intended role. His stats were already high enough to give him an edge, and he had shown a willingness to push himself harder than the others. Maybe, just maybe, he could fill that gap in their formation, at least temporarily.

"You're right," she finally said, her tone softening. "You've done well so far, but once your class abilities unlock, you'll need to start training in magic. We'll still rely on you for close combat when necessary, but I want you to focus on balancing both roles."

He nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "I'll make it work," he promised.

Laura turned back to Essei and Miara. "For now, we need to stay alert," she said. "The sixth-hour mark is coming soon. When it hits, we'll get our skills and see what rewards the system gives us. After that, we'll need to start preparing this place for defense. If we're going to stay here, we'll have to fortify it as best we can."

Essei glanced around the rooftop, then at the surrounding ruins. "So, what do we do first?" she asked, her voice betraying a mixture of anxiety and hope.

"First, we set up some basic barriers," Laura replied. "Block off the stairwells to make it harder for anything to get up here. Then we'll start scavenging for materials to reinforce the lower floors. We'll take turns keeping watch while the rest of us work."

As the group set to work, Laura couldn't shake the sense of urgency that pressed down on her. The apocalypse had only just begun, and things were about to get much worse. They had managed to survive the first few hours, but the real test was still ahead.

The sixth-hour mark would bring new abilities, new threats, and perhaps new opportunities. Laura intended to be ready for all of them.