System: Ordinary Schoolboy's Level-Up

FIVE

The next day, the hidden rock was all Robert could think about. It was a secret and a small piece of the pits that the Wardens did not control.

It was power.

Robert drew his hands out of the shirt he wore, trying to confirm his strength. "I don't know my limit yet."

During the shift, he watched the blind spot by the pump. He timed the Wardens again. His mind, sharp from years of study, tracked their movements like a math equation. Two minutes and seven seconds of freedom was enough.

At the meal break, he whispered to Garret. "We need to get more," Robert blinked, his face twisted with an uncertain frown.

"More what? Rocks?" Garret looked confused. "Why? They're already everywhere."

"I don't mean you should get more of them for our use. Just to hide," Robert explained. "We can take small pieces when we are able to. We hide them in the crack and nobody will know."

Garret thought about it. "What for? It's just another way of exhausting our strength."

"I don't know yet," Robert said, his voice deep. "But it is a resource. Maybe we can use it to block the door or throw it as a distraction. To me, gaving a secret stash is better than having nothing."

Garret finally nodded. "Okay. Yeah. It's something to do. I think it's better than just swinging a pick."

So, they began to gather the pieces of rocks for hiding. It was a dangerous activity and there was silence as they continued. If a Warden saw them pocket even a tiny piece of crystonium, the punishment would be harsh. They had to be careful.

Robert would break off a small, sharp shard. When the Wardens were not looking, he would quickly bend down and pretend to tie his shoe. He would slip the shard into a small fold in his pants he had made. His heart pounded every time.

Garret did the same. He was slower, less smooth than Robert. But he managed to continue.

Over the next few days, they added to their hidden stash. One small piece at a time. The crack behind the pump slowly filled with blue rocks.

It was a step to their first level of victory. But it made Robert feel alive. He was using his brain again. He was solving a problem.

It was afternoon, when a new worker arrived.

They heard the noise first. A loud, angry voice. "Let me go! You can't do this!"

As the workers all looked up, two Wardens appeared, dragging a young guy into the cavern. He was fighting them, kicking and shouting. He had wild, curly hair and glasses. He looked like a student.

"Let me go! I have rights!"

The Wardens threw him to the ground near an empty work station. They flung a pickaxe at his feet. "Work," the strong voice commanded.

The new guy stood up. He brushed the dust off his clothes. "I will not do that! This is illegal! Just let me speak to whoever is in charge!"

Robert watched, his stomach tight. He knew what was coming already. His system stat increased from 0.03 to 1 and he heard the echo coming from his chest. "System succesfully activated. Attention on the future calculations levels up."

Only him heard the voice and felt the strength that formed up in him. He turned his face to the scene again and continued watching.

A Warden walked forward. The energy rod came up and the blue lightning snapped. The new guy screamed and collapsed, his body shaking.

The Wardens stood over him until he stopped moving. "You're too stubborn..." Then they walked away.

The buzzer sounded for the end of the shift. The workers lined up to leave. The new guy still lay on the ground.

Robert looked at Garret. Quic Garret shook his head, a warning in his eyes.

But Robert walked over. He knelt down. "Hey," he said quietly.

The young man groaned. He opened his eyes. They were full of pain and fear behind his cracked glasses.

"Wha... What was that?"

"Get up," Robert said. "You have to get up now. Or they will leave you here. It will be worse."

He helped the new guy to his feet. The young man swayed, but he stood.

"My name is Robert," he said as they joined the line.

"Leo," the new guy mumbled. "I... I was actually in a library..."

"I know," Robert said. "It doesn't matter now. Just do what they say and be quiet."

That night, in their stone room, Leo was a mess. He sat in a corner, rested on his knees. He was shaking. "This can't be real," he whispered. "This is a nightmare."

"It's real," Garret retorted, his tone temperate. "You need to get used to it."

"I'm a history student!" Leo said, his voice cracking. "I can't do hard labour here!"

Robert looked at him. He saw himself on the first day. "You can," he blurted, voice firm and deep. "You will. You have no other choice but to do it, only if you agree to die. It is that simple."

Leo just put his head in his hands.

Robert knew they had a choice. They could leave Leo to figure it out alone. It would be safer for them and they could help him.

Robert made his decision. He looked at Garret. "We should show him the blind spot."

Garret frowned. "He's weak and even npisy. He will get us caught easily."

"He is smart," Robert countered, his voice humbly lowered to a whimper. "He was in a library. He can help us think. One more person is one more set of eyes. One more brain."

Garret thought for a long moment. He looked at the wounded guy in the corner and expressed a slight pity for him. He sighed. "Okay, I agree. But if he messes up, it's on you."

Robert walked over and sat next to Leo. "Listen to me, Leo. You want to get out of here?"

Leo looked up, his eyes wide. "Of course I do!"

"Then stop feeling sorry for yourself," Robert added. It was a hard thing to say, but it was true. "Your old life is gone. Your only job now is to survive and to watch. Can you do that?"

Leo took a deep, shaky breath. He nodded.

"Good," Robert said. "Tomorrow, we will show you something. But you must do exactly as we say."