As the unfamiliar figure walked closer, Demos' instincts ignited like wildfire.
Even with his body shattered—bruised, broken, and barely holding together—his survival instinct refused to die.
His muscles screamed in protest as he forced them to move.
Then—
He moved.
Demos launched himself off the rough stone ground with a sharp burst of strength.
"RAAAH!"
His voice echoed through the cave.
He landed hard in a battle stance—feet planted, fists clenched, shoulders tight, eyes burning with pure determination.
He didn't know who this was.
He didn't care.
He was ready to fight.
The elderly woman stopped immediately.
A flicker of surprise crossed her face.
But it didn't last.
Slowly… it softened.
A warm smile appeared instead.
"Ah… Demos," she said gently, her voice calm and steady. "You are indeed a true warrior."
She tilted her head slightly.
"But there is no need for battle stances here. I come in peace."
Demos didn't move.
His stance didn't loosen.
His eyes stayed locked on her every movement.
Trust was not something he gave freely.
"I'm Akira," she continued. "A healer of this dying tribe."
That phrase struck something deeper than expected.
Dying tribe.
Demos' expression didn't change—but his mind sharpened instantly.
A healer…? And a dying tribe?
Akira stepped forward carefully, palms open in a calming gesture.
"I am not your enemy, Demos. I'm here to help you."
His gaze flicked to her hands.
Then back to her face.
Still guarded.
Still tense.
But slightly less explosive.
"What do you mean," Demos asked slowly, "by 'dying tribe'?"
Akira's smile faded.
Her eyes darkened with sorrow.
"Our tribe is on the brink of collapse."
The cave seemed quieter as she spoke.
"We've been plagued by hunger… illness… and attacks."
Demos' eyes narrowed slightly.
"Attacks?"
Akira nodded.
"The Tall People."
That name hung in the air like a curse.
Demos' mind immediately reacted.
Tall… People?
Akira continued, her voice growing heavier.
"They are a ruthless tribe. They have terrorized us for thirty moons."
Demos' jaw tightened.
His fists loosened slightly—but only because his mind was working faster than his body.
"Why did they attack you?" he asked.
Akira shook her head slowly.
"We don't know. They came out of nowhere."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"Their warriors tower over us like trees. They bring destruction wherever they step."
Demos' eyes sharpened.
"How many remain?"
Akira hesitated.
That hesitation said everything.
"…We once had five hundred people."
Silence.
Then she whispered the truth like a wound reopening.
"Now we are fifty."
For a moment, even Demos didn't speak.
Fifty.
From five hundred.
His mind immediately calculated survival rates, strength loss, leadership collapse.
That wasn't just loss.
That was near extinction.
How is this tribe even still alive?
His expression hardened.
"What happened?" he asked again, voice deeper now. "Tell me everything."
Akira looked down.
Pain flickered across her face.
"Our tribe is dying," she whispered. "The Tall People didn't just attack us. They destroyed everything."
She clenched her hands.
"They burned homes. They spread sickness. They killed without mercy."
Demos' jaw tightened.
"Go on."
Akira swallowed hard.
"We tried to fight back… but we were outmatched. Fifteen of their warriors wiped out nearly all of ours."
The cave felt smaller.
Heavier.
"We knew we couldn't win."
Demos exhaled slowly through his nose.
"And your leader?"
Akira's voice dropped.
"Our leader… Gorlack… made a choice."
Her eyes dimmed.
"He sacrificed most of our warriors to slow them down."
Demos' gaze sharpened.
"He sent five warriors to fight… while fifty others—children, women, elders—escaped."
Silence again.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Demos finally understood the full weight.
This wasn't just a weak tribe.
This was a tribe that had already been broken.
But still survived.
Somehow.
Akira had been watching him the entire time.
Searching.
Waiting.
Hoping.
When she finished speaking, she suddenly dropped to her knees.
"Demos!"
Her voice cracked violently.
Then—
She slammed her forehead into the stone floor.
CRACK!
Blood splattered against the rock.
"Great Warrior of Sparta!" she cried. "I beg you!"
Her body shook.
"As the new leader… please save us!"
Her voice broke completely.
"I don't want to watch our people disappear!"
One by one, movement filled the cave.
Forty-nine survivors stepped forward.
Then—
They all dropped to their knees.
Foreheads to the ground.
Silence.
Submission.
Hope.
Demos stood frozen for a moment.
Then—
A glowing white light appeared in his vision.
Floating.
Stable.
Unreal.
A system interface.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
He reached out.
And to his shock—
It responded.
It was real.
He turned slightly.
"…Can you see this white box?"
Akira lifted her head quickly.
Her expression tightened.
A mix of confusion and disappointment.
"No," she said. "I can only see you."
Demos turned his head toward the others.
"Can anyone see this white box floating in the air?"
The tribe members looked up.
Blank faces.
Confused silence.
"What white box?" one man asked. "Can it be eaten?"
Demos' eyes narrowed slightly.
They can't see it.
Only he could.
His attention snapped back to the interface.
He pressed it.
Name: Demos S. Sparta
Age: 15
Level: 1
Health: 26/100
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Intelligence: 10
Abilities: (Sealed)
Unique Abilities: (Locked)
Five-Colored Lightning – Sealed
Ice Age – Sealed
Language Pack: Azuran Language Installed
Skill: Hand-to-Hand Combat (Level 1)
Mission Completed:
Survive for 20 minutes
Reward: +2 Strength, +2 Agility
NEW MISSION ACTIVE:
BECOME THE LEADER OF A DYING TRIBE
Reward: One-Handed Axe
Punishment: Instant Death
Demos stared at the screen.
Unmoving.
Unblinking.
The weight of it pressed down on him.
Not fear.
Not doubt.
Decision.
He closed the interface.
Then turned to the kneeling tribe.
His voice was steady.
Absolute.
"As of today," he said, "I, Demos S. Sparta, will lead this dying tribe to greatness."
A beat of silence.
Then—
Relief exploded.
Some laughed.
Some cried.
Children looked up with hope for the first time in a long time.
Akira lowered her head in respect.
Demos turned slightly.
"Where is Gorthok?"
Akira quickly responded.
"He is outside the cave… with the others… roasting Harn boar."
Demos nodded once.
"Good."
His voice lowered slightly.
"I will rest here for three moons."
Akira hesitated only a second.
Then bowed deeply.
"Yes… Tribe Leader."
She looked up.
"I will send food."
Demos nodded.
"Do it."
Akira stood.
Slowly, the tribe began to leave the cave.
One by one.
Leaving their new leader in silence.
As the cave emptied…
Demos finally allowed his body to relax.
Just slightly.
But his eyes remained open.
Watching.
Thinking.
Calculating what it meant to lead a dying tribe in a world that already tried to erase them.