Chapter 5: Gathering the Team
Ava blinked at the holographic interface, stretching her arms. The sunlight had shifted, painting the room in soft gold, and a faint breeze fluttered the curtains. She yawned and looked around, realizing something important.
"How long have I been in here?" she muttered, glancing at the system stats. "Seriously… hours? Maybe even the whole morning?"
The cream puff bobbed beside her, its little face concerned. "Host, your activity duration exceeds safe thresholds. You have been in the Refuge simulation for six hours continuously."
Ava's eyes widened. "Six hours?!" She stumbled back, nearly tripping over her chocolate stash. "No wonder my stomach is begging for mercy!" She clutched her belly dramatically. "ECHO… we need a break. I need… the real world."
[Warning: Extended isolation may cause mild obsession with system tasks.]
Ava groaned, rubbing her temples. "Obsession… minor? Maybe for you, tiny cream puff, but for me? It's called dedication. Absolute dedication. And chocolate. Don't forget chocolate."
With a final dramatic sigh, she stepped away from the glowing interface and toward the apartment door. The world outside looked… normal. Mundane, even. But after hours of system immersion, even the ordinary felt strangely exciting.
She dug her phone out of her pocket and tapped a few names. "Lyra… Alyssa… Kael… Zephyr… Brian… everyone, group meeting at my apartment. Now. Bring snacks. Mandatory attendance. And yes, Lyra, I mean you too."
A flurry of messages appeared in response:
"On my way."
"Snacks? Count me in."
"Are we being raided or…?"
"Don't tell me you've been talking to that cream puff again…"
Ava grinned. "Yes, yes I have. And yes, it's adorable and terrifying. But mostly adorable." She twirled a piece of chocolate between her fingers, imagining their reactions when she told them what she'd discovered in the system.
Within half an hour, the apartment buzzed with energy. The door swung open, and her friends—Lyra, Alyssa, Kael, Zephyr, and Brian—filed in, each carrying some form of snack, coffee, or energy drink. Ava's eyes sparkled at the sight.
"Perfect," she announced, clapping her hands. "Everyone is here. And yes, we're starting with snacks because if we don't eat first, chaos will reign. Trust me."
The cream puff floated above the table, hovering near the snacks like a tiny guardian. "Host, group coordination may improve with nourishment. I recommend chocolate."
Ava nodded solemnly. "Exactly what I was thinking. Chocolate first. System confirmed."
Once everyone had settled, Ava stood in front of them, tapping her chocolate dramatically on the table. "Alright, team. You all know me. You know my quirks, my sense of humor, and my… slight obsession with snacks. But today, I need your attention because things are about to get interesting."
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Interesting how? Are we talking apocalypse interesting or… normal interesting?"
Ava grinned wickedly. "Both. But mostly apocalypse interesting. You see…" She gestured at the cream puff, floating like a tiny ambassador of chaos. "I've been using a system. Yes. A system. For hours. And I think… I think we can actually do something amazing together."
Brian leaned forward, intrigued. "A system? Like a game system?"
"Exactly," Ava said, eyes sparkling. "Except it's real. Sort of. And I've been running simulations, planning, and leveling up… all while you guys were out living normal life. But now… now it's time for a team meeting."
Kael's expression remained calm, but his eyes flickered with interest. "So this is why you called us?"
Ava nodded vigorously. "Yes! We need to discuss strategies, potential missions, and most importantly, snacks. Oh, and possibly training plans, resource management, and survival tactics. But mostly snacks."
Lyra groaned. "Classic Ava. Apocalypse and chocolate. Got it."
Ava ignored the groan, turning to the cream puff. "System, summarize key points for team briefing."
[System Summary:]
Refuge exploration underway
Resource collection and skill training available
Lord Token protocols active, hidden
Team coordination essential for future missions
Nutritional status impacts performance (priority: chocolate)
Ava clapped her hands. "See? It's already organized. And yes, chocolate is officially part of the operational protocol."
Zephyr laughed. "I swear, only you could make a system meeting sound like snack time."
Ava winked. "Exactly. Efficiency and fun. Now, let's plan. First order: what we want from the Refuge, how we survive, and how we don't starve."
Her friends exchanged smiles, and even Kael cracked a tiny grin. Ava leaned back, satisfied. The first real step toward teamwork, strategy, and, of course, snacks had begun.
For Ava, stepping out of her bedroom didn't just mean leaving the system behind temporarily. It meant bringing the real people who mattered into her world—her friends, her team, her refuge, and eventually, her adventures. And she couldn't wait to show them everything.
The apocalypse could wait a little longer. For now, it was chocolate, friends, and planning time.