One piece: Without a system, I have to survive!

The jungle was still.

Smoker's words hung in the air like a blade at my throat.

"I want answers," he repeated, his tone firm.

"And I think you want them too."

I clenched my fists, trying to keep my breathing steady.

Shira shifted beside me, her dagger still in hand.

She didn't trust him.

Neither did I.

But he was right.

I needed to know the truth.

The Weight of the Unknown

I exhaled slowly.

"...What do you know?"

Smoker studied me for a moment before flicking the ash from his cigarette.

"Not much. But I know this—"

He took a step closer.

"That thing back there? It wasn't some random monster. It was looking for you."

I swallowed hard.

I already knew that.

But hearing it from Smoker made it feel real.

Shira's eyes darted between us.

"And why the hell do you care?" she snapped.

Smoker sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Because I've been tracking strange cases like this for months. People disappearing. Entire islands wiped out. And every time—"

He looked directly at me.

"There's a connection."

I stiffened.

"...To me?"

Smoker nodded.

A Dangerous Proposal

Shira scoffed. "So what, you want us to just walk into Marine HQ and hand ourselves over?"

Smoker smirked.

"If I wanted you in chains, you'd already be in chains."

Shira tensed.

But I knew Smoker wasn't lying.

If he had really wanted to capture us, he wouldn't have wasted time talking.

That meant—

He needed us.

Or more specifically—

He needed me.

Smoker took another drag from his cigarette.

"Here's the deal. You help me figure out what's going on, and I help you stay one step ahead of whatever's coming for you."

I hesitated.

This was dangerous.

Trusting a Marine was the last thing I wanted to do.

But the truth was—

I didn't have many options.

Because whatever was coming for me—

It was getting closer.

And I wasn't ready.

Not yet.