There was chaos all around. Some were sobbing, others whispering prayers, while a few had already begun forming factions. Everyone was seeking safety in numbers, desperately clinging to familiarity. I stood alone, as always.
No one dared step into the divine room where the Goddess had moved to offer her blessings. Fear shackled their feet. Eyes darted from one another, waiting for someone else to make the first move.
So I stepped forward.
Every gaze snapped to me. Whispers began to stir, but I ignored them all. Without a word, I approached the door and opened it.
The room glowed with a warm celestial light. At the center, the Goddess of Light, Liora, waited with that same ageless grace. She smiled gently.
"Hero, come forth. I will bless you with one random blessing."
I walked up to her. As she placed her hand on my head, an otherworldly energy surged into me. Pain shot through every nerve. My head felt like it was splitting open; my limbs threatened to tear apart from the pressure. Then, just as suddenly, the pain vanished.
"All done," she said. "You have been gifted a skill. Let me check... Your skill is Necromancer. It allows you to bring back the dead—any beings you kill can be reanimated and added to your army. They will obey your commands without question. However, every power has its limits. You will come to understand them once you use it."
She stepped back.
"Now, onto your question. You may ask one."
I didn't hesitate. I already knew what I needed to ask. I had a plan. This was my game now.
"Goddess," I said calmly, "how many people will make it out of this mess?"
She smiled, a tired kind of smile, and said, "Straight to the point, I see. Well, I suppose I can't hide it anymore. Only six of you will survive. There are six kingdoms, and each will receive one hero. That's all I can say. No more questions. I have many to attend—you wouldn't believe how busy I am."
With that, she waved me off. I turned and walked out of the room.
Every single person outside had been watching.
I could feel their stares—their curiosity, their envy, their fear.
'Necromancer,' I thought. 'A powerful skill… but in practical terms, I'm weak. I can't fight head-on. At least not yet. In this early phase, I'll be the weakest among them.'
I needed power.
Stepping forward, I faced everyone. The room fell silent.
"I know many things about this world," I began, letting my voice carry. "Or rather, I know the future that awaits us. The chaos that will soon follow. I know how to survive."
They listened, some with doubt, others with open ears.
"I want people with strong willpower. People who won't break. If you want to live, join me. The teams you've formed already? Useless. Most of you won't make it. Don't waste time."
Murmurs broke out. Confusion. Anger. A few gasps.
Someone shouted, "How do you know all this?!"
I stared him down. "It doesn't matter how I know. What matters is that I, along with my team, will survive. The rest of you? You'll die here."
The room went cold. No one spoke.
'I didn't lie,' I thought. 'Only six will survive. I'm just preparing for that.'
"I need nine more people," I said aloud. "If you trust me and want to live, come now."
There was silence.
Then someone stepped forward.
A girl. Shy, hesitant. I knew her. Erica. From college. She kept to herself, much like I did. Always in the back rows. Always quiet.
"I… I'll come," she murmured.
Right behind her came another. Confident, graceful. A figure everyone recognized—Masha, the student council president. Respected, admired, and popular. She stood beside Erica, placing a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Where she goes, I go," Masha said simply.
That alone triggered a shift. Soon, more people stepped forward. Curious. Hopeful. Desperate.
I didn't stop them.
A girl with short silver hair and a sharp gaze joined next. Her name was Talia—known for her fencing skills in college.
Then another girl: Rina, the top biology student, soft-spoken but brilliant.
Five more boys followed:
Jin, a martial arts practitioner and national-level competitor.
Edgar, an engineering student with a tactical mind.
Juno, a quiet, artistic guy who carried a sketchpad even now.
Eric, known for his endurance and athleticism.
Neil, a science fiction nerd with encyclopedic memory of weapons, creatures, and survival tactics.
They all stood behind me, waiting.
I sighed.
'This is a weak team… at least for now. But that's the point. I'll take ten… and only six will make it. I won't allow emotions or sentiment to cloud my decisions. The weak will be eliminated. That's the law of this world now.'
'No mercy. No attachments.'
This is survival.
Many others went to the goddess one by one. Each returned with a skill and a secret. Some kept their powers quiet. Others looked smug or shaken. A few even asked questions like, "Is there a way home? Can we return somehow?"
We all knew better now. That door had closed.
But from my own answer—and their behavior—others began to guess. If only six would survive, and I took ten... perhaps there were more than six. Maybe ten. That theory spread quickly.
Groups began forming with numbers in mind. Most teams had around ten people, trying to balance strength with survival odds. Some had fewer. Some had more. Then came the fights—whom to choose, whom to leave. Tears flowed. Friends shouted at each other. Not everyone could stay together.
'They're already fracturing,' I noted. 'And the trial hasn't even begun.'
Your Author here,
If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to drop a power stone or send a small gift if you can! It really helps me stay motivated (and survive on coffee 😅). If you're broke, don't worry—your comments and support mean just as much! ❤️ More chapters coming soon, so stay tuned!