The stone chamber fell eerily quiet after the system's announcement. Dust motes danced in the dim light filtering through cracks in the ceiling. Ren slumped against a moss-covered wall, clutching his bandaged arm. "Safe zone? Feels more like a tomb," he muttered, crimson energy flickering weakly around his wound.
Yui stood at the center, her Strategist of the Mind aura pulsing like a metronome. "Listen carefully," she commanded, her voice cutting through the whispers. "This room is our sanctuary—for now. We regroup here after every floor. Use it wisely."
She traced a glowing blue map in the air using Zone Control, marking exits and hazards. "Ren, guard the east tunnel. Hana, shield the wounded. Saki, scan for hidden threats." Her eyes narrowed. "And Koji? You're on cleanup duty."
Koji flinched, avoiding every gaze. His Karma score (-28) pulsed like a bruise only Ayato could see.
The Role Revelation
A sudden hiss filled the air. The bloodstained chalkboard shimmered, transforming into a luminous panel:
[Name: Role
Yui Nakamura: Strategist of the Mind
Ren Tanaka: Crimson Berserker
Mio Suzuki: Archivist of the Forgotten
Kenji "Clown" : Illusionist Jester
Riku "Bully" : Executioner
... ...]
Gasps erupted. Kenji—the class clown—stared at his trembling hands as colorful sparks danced between his fingers. "Illusionist Jester? I'm not funny anymore… I'm terrifying."
Riku, the school's top bully, grinned as a spectral axe materialized in his grip. "Executioner. Now that fits." His gaze swept the room, lingering on weaker students.
Ayato scanned the list. His name wasn't there.
Why am I invisible even to the system?
As students clustered around the panel, Ayato noticed what others couldn't:
Kenji's Karma (+5): His illusions could save lives… or trap allies.
Riku's Karma (-15): His "Executioner" title glowed with predatory hunger.
Koji's Hidden Role: Poison Whisperer—visible only to Ayato.
A whisper brushed Ayato's mind:
🩸 System Message (Warden of Shadows):
[Roles are masks. You see the faces beneath.]
Koji approached Kenji, voice dripping with false concern. "Your illusions could distract monsters, right? We'd all feel safer…" His Karma ticked to -30 as he planted seeds of doubt.
Yui's voice turned brittle. "We need unity! Riku, put that axe away. Kenji, focus!"
Riku scoffed. "Why follow you, Strategist? My Role's stronger." He slammed his axe into the floor, cracking stone. "I say we take the dungeon head-on. Weaklings stay behind."
Mio, the Archivist, stepped forward, her glowing tome open. "The system rewards cooperation. Look—" She pointed to a passage:
[Group Karma affects loot drops and survival rates.]
Kenji laughed hysterically. "Cooperation? Watch this!" He snapped his fingers. Illusions of screaming monsters flooded the room. Students panicked, scrambling over each other.
Yui's calm shattered. "Kenji, STOP!"
Ayato watched from the shadows:
Yui's Karma dipped to +10 as her authority crumbled.
Riku's Karma sank to -20, his grip tightening on his axe.
Koji smirked, Karma now -35, as chaos served his hidden agenda.
A prompt seared Ayato's vision:
🩸 Warden's Insight:
[Koji Tanaka (Poison Whisperer)
Skill: Corrupting Touch – Steals Karma by spreading paranoia.]
Koji brushed against Kenji. "They'll blame you for the panic," he whispered. Kenji's Karma plummeted to -10.
Ren lunged at Riku. "Put the axe down, psycho!" Crimson energy flared.
Riku swung. "Make me, mutt!"
Stone shattered as their powers collided. Hana threw up her shield, but a shockwave sent students tumbling. Mio's tome spilled pages across the floor.
Yui screamed, "ENOUGH!" Her Plan Ahead skill flared blue, freezing both fighters mid-strike. "The next person who attacks an ally," she panted, "gets left behind."
Silence fell, heavy with tension. The glowing role panel flickered ominously.
Ayato remained unseen, his shadow-cloak absorbing the dim light. He watched:
Kenji rocking in a corner, whispering to his illusions.
Riku sharpening his axe, eyes burning with violence.
Koji slithering toward Mio, ready to poison another mind.
The system's final whisper echoed in Ayato's skull:
🩸 [You are the Observer. Watch them fall.]
As the class split into warring factions, Ayato realized the cruel truth:
The dungeon didn't assign him a role… because he was the dungeon's eyes.
(Chapter 3 End)