Capítulo 4: Cellmate
Jamie staggered into the dim, narrow corridor, the stale air thick with an undertone of sweat and rusted iron. He could still feel the ache from his sewer "mission" throbbing in his ribs, his shirt clinging uncomfortably to his skin. For a brief moment, he stood there, barely catching his breath, before a familiar chime echoed in his mind.
Mission Complete. Status Update: F-Tier.
A list of stats scrolled briefly across his vision, words and numbers that made little sense, except for one glaring term: "F-Tier." The realization of his ranking sank in with a heaviness he hadn't expected. F-Tier, lowest of the low. He was at the bottom, with everything to prove. Or nothing to lose.
He took a moment, leaning against the rough stone wall, but the simulation wasn't letting him off that easily. Another prompt popped into his vision:
Cell Assignment: Block D-7. Cellmate Assigned: Alex Strider.
Before he could make sense of what that entailed, the heavy creak of a door opening pulled him forward. His steps echoed in the corridor as he approached the cell marked "D-7." He took a steadying breath and stepped inside.
The room was dark and narrow, with two cots pressed up against either wall and barely enough space to stand between them. One was already occupied.
"Look what the simulation dragged in," said a voice, warm yet edged with amusement. The figure sat up, letting the dim light reveal a face marked by sharp, inquisitive eyes that sparkled with an unplaceable hint of mischief. He had the kind of smile that seemed to invite you to play along, or maybe just roll your eyes. "Fresh meat?"
"How–" He wasn't able to complete the statement before he was cut off.
"You can always tell new players from npcs, npcs all have that dead look in their eyes, kinda similar to your but different."
Jamie looked back, taking in the sight of his new cellmate—a young man with a mop of unruly dark hair, tanned skin, and an easy, almost relaxed posture despite the setting. There was an energy about him, something almost out of place in this bleak environment, like he'd been dropped here by accident. Or maybe that was just how he made it look.
"Jamie," he said finally, stepping fully into the cell.
"Jamie, huh?" The guy's smile grew. "Alex Strider, in case you didn't read the memo." He stretched out on his cot, crossing his arms behind his head. "So, what's your tragic backstory? Got in trouble with the wrong people? Tried to rob a bank?"
Jamie's brow creased slightly. "No," he replied, unsure if Alex was being serious. "Just… sort of fell in, I guess."
Alex gave a low whistle, his eyes narrowing as he looked Jamie up and down with barely disguised curiosity. "So, you're new-new. The Simulation hasn't even broken you in yet."
"You… could say that." Jamie glanced around the cell. There was nothing remarkable about it; gray walls, barred window, the usual grimness he would've expected from a prison cell. "Not exactly what I imagined," he muttered.
"What, you thought the Simulation would start you off with a villa and a hot tub?" Alex snorted, clearly amused. "Nah, they like to start us out rough. Gives you character. Well, unless you die first."
"Comforting," Jamie replied dryly.
"Oh, I'm a comfort and a half." Alex gave him a once-over, his eyes sharp. "So, what's your plan, newbie?"
Jamie hesitated, thrown by the question. "Plan? I just got here. I don't even know the rules."
"Yeah, I noticed," Alex replied, his grin not quite masking a hint of pity. "Pro tip: figure them out fast. This place doesn't forgive rookies."
Jamie resisted the urge to bristle, reminding himself that Alex was the closest thing he had to a guide right now. "Anything specific I should know?"
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Depends. You, uh, planning to last longer than a day? Or are you one of those 'in and out' types?"
Jamie felt a rush of irritation. "I don't plan to die."
"Well, good luck with that," Alex said, still sounding amused. He pointed a finger at Jamie, wagging it like he was delivering sage advice. "Tip number one: don't trust anyone. Tip number two: don't get noticed."
Jamie's mouth twisted in a small frown. "And tip number three?"
"Tip number three…" Alex leaned in conspiratorially, his grin widening. "Don't tell anyone your skills, or you're as good as dead."
There was a pause, then Jamie nodded. "Guessing people don't exactly share their resumes here."
"Smart. See, you're already catching on," Alex said with a smirk, clearly entertained by Jamie's careful responses. "That'll keep you breathing a little longer. But don't let it go to your head, F-Tier."
Jamie's eyes narrowed at the term. "Did you actually know that or did my expression just give it away?"
"Half and half, nobody in here is above the D rank," Alex give him a toothy smile.
"That makes it easy to narrow down," Jaime muttered. "So everyone guesses each other's ranks?"
"Sure," Alex shrugged. "Easiest way to size someone up. Only thing people here like more than fighting is ranking. Gives everyone something to fight for."
Jamie mulled over that, absorbing each piece of information like it was a lifeline. Despite his casual, almost playful tone, Alex was shrewd, watching Jamie's every reaction with a quiet intensity.
"So, where do you rank?" Jamie asked, forcing himself to keep his voice even.
Alex's smile turned playful, but there was something guarded beneath it. "Now, that would be telling, wouldn't it?" he replied, winking. "But let's just say I'm higher than you, fresh meat."
"Good to know." Jamie gave a tight smile, noting Alex's reluctance to reveal any concrete information. For someone so relaxed, there was something careful, even calculating, about him.
"Now," Alex said, his voice adopting a mockingly formal tone, "seeing as we're going to be cellmates, and this little slice of paradise doesn't offer much in the way of entertainment, I'm afraid you're stuck with me. Hope you like sarcasm, because I got plenty to go around."
"Fantastic," Jamie muttered, though he couldn't deny that Alex's sarcasm was strangely reassuring. "Just what I wanted. A prison cell with bonus commentary."
"Trust me, it's the highlight," Alex replied, laughing. "If you're planning on surviving here, might as well get used to my charming personality." He stretched again, settling back on his cot. "So, let's see… you're new, you have no clue what's going on, and you've got that deer-in-the-headlights look." He gave Jamie an exaggerated sigh. "It's almost cute."
"Glad I can amuse you," Jamie replied dryly, but there was an unexpected flicker of humor in his tone. There was something oddly… refreshing about Alex's banter, even if it was mostly sarcasm.
Alex grinned. "See, you'll do fine. Just keep that sense of humor—you'll need it." He studied Jamie for a moment, his expression turning thoughtful. "But seriously. This place? It'll chew you up if you're not ready. So get ready, Jamie."
Jamie looked at him, feeling the gravity behind Alex's playful demeanor. "I'll be ready."
"Good," Alex replied, his voice softer but unwavering. "Because in here? It's survival of the smartest."
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder