Dante formed a tight circle with his new team. He made sure no outsiders could overhear their conversation. The other students around the hall were scattered. They were whispering, scheming, and pretending they had control. But control came from knowledge, and Dante was gathering it.
"Listen carefully," he said. His eyes scanned their faces one by one. "This phase is crucial. We need to plan everything to survive. I've prepared questions for the Goddess. You'll ask them exactly as I say. Focus, listen, and remember."
He turned first to Erica. She stood nervously, her hands clasped in front of her.
"You'll go first," he said, his voice calm and steady. "Ask her about the forest. Specifically, its zones. Ask where the weak and strong monsters appear."
Erica nodded silently. The weight of the task seemed to settle on her, but she didn't waver.
Next, Dante looked at Masha. She stood with her arms crossed, her expression cool and analytical. "You ask her about the best way to grow stronger. Not some vague idea. Something practical we can use."
Jin stood tall beside him, his hand already resting on the hilt of a sword he didn't yet own. "You're up next," Dante commanded. "Ask about hidden artifacts or items in the forest. Anything that can give us an edge."
Edgar adjusted his glasses as Dante turned to him. "Your question is simple but important. Ask the Goddess what the final challenge is. The last obstacle we'll face before escaping this place."
Dante paused, taking a breath. The air was thick with tension and the low hum of the Goddess's fading presence.
"That's all for now," he said. "The rest of you, wait. Once these four return, we'll proceed. Now go."
They walked off toward the Goddess's glowing chamber. The rest of the small team waited, a silent, isolated island in a sea of chaos.
Erica returned first. Her face was pale, but her eyes held a new, determined light.
"I asked what you told me," she said, her voice soft but sure. "She explained the forest layout. The monsters are ranked from E to S. As we travel deeper, we'll face stronger ranks. E first, then D, and so on."
She took a shaky breath. "But some areas are abnormally dangerous. She said certain zones house monsters that surpass even ten S-rank threats combined. I memorized the coordinates so we can avoid them."
Dante nodded, impressed. "Excellent. We've just gained a major head start." He looked at her, his gaze sharp. "Now… what about your skill?"
Erica blinked, then a smile of nervous excitement touched her lips. "I got Pyrokinesis."
His eyes widened slightly. "Give me the description."
"I can manipulate and conjure fire," she explained, a flicker of newfound power in her voice. "For both offense and defense."
A grin tugged at Dante's lips. "That's monstrous. No, inhumane. You've got one of the most versatile and deadly abilities." He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. "With this, you'll be a core asset to the group. Don't hold back, Erica. What awaits us… is beyond horrifying."
Before she could reply, Masha stepped into their circle. Her usual, composed expression was tinged with a new, grim understanding.
"Your turn," Dante said.
She folded her arms. "To grow stronger, we must hunt. Kill monsters, or even humans. Their bodies release mana upon death. If we focus, we can absorb that mana. It makes us stronger. I don't fully understand it, but I repeated her words exactly."
Dante nodded slowly. The dark truth of this world was becoming clearer. Survival was a zero-sum game.
"That's enough," he said. "Now, your skill?"
"Cryomancy," she replied, her voice as cool as the power she now commanded. "I can harness the power of ice. To freeze enemies or shape the terrain."
'Fire and ice,' Dante thought, a flicker of satisfaction in his mind. 'We're stacking elemental supremacy already.'
"Incredible," he told her. "Just like Erica, you are a pillar of our survival."
Jin came in next. He was no longer empty-handed. A simple, but well-balanced, longsword was now sheathed at his hip.
"I asked what you said," he began. "She gave me coordinates for hidden artifacts and items scattered across the forest. I couldn't memorize all of them, so I asked her to help make a map. Here."
He handed a piece of worn, magically-etched parchment to Dante. His eyes skimmed over the ancient symbols and winding paths.
"You did well," Dante said. "And that sword? I assume your skill is weapon-based?"
Jin nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his new blade. "Swordsmanship. I've gained mastery over blades, with enhanced combat techniques."
Finally, Edgar returned. His face was a mask of disappointment.
"She said the final trial… is a Bone Dragon," he reported, his voice low. "A colossal monster. She said not even a large group can kill it easily. Not alone."
Dante inhaled sharply. "I had a feeling it would be something like that. Good work." He looked at Edgar's downcast face. "Now, what about your skill?"
Edgar shrugged, looking at the floor. "It's Appraisal. Pretty lame, I know. But I'll train harder to make up for it."
Dante stared at him. Then he laughed. It was not a mocking sound, but a short, sharp burst of pure, surprised delight.
"You think that's lame?" he asked. "Tell me the description."
"It reveals detailed information about a target," Edgar recited, his voice flat. "Health, stats, current condition, skill list. Just by saying 'Appraisal,' I can scan anyone."
"And you called it useless?" Dante shook his head, his eyes gleaming with a new, predatory light. "Edgar, that is not a lame skill. It is one of the most powerful tools we could have possibly asked for."
His brows furrowed, his expression one of pure confusion.
Only Dante understood what they had now. Real-time intelligence. A way to see the enemy's cards before the game had even begun. And he was about to put it to use.
"Scan the hall," he ordered, his voice a low, urgent whisper. "Check what powers people got. Don't be obvious. Just feed me keywords."
Edgar nodded, his disappointment slowly being replaced by a dawning understanding. He stepped back, melting into the chaotic crowd of students. A few minutes later, he returned, his eyes wide.
"Got a bunch of them," he said, his voice a hushed, excited thing. "Some highlights:"
"Electrokinesis – Wields electricity to shock, paralyze, or boost movement speed."
"Terrashaping – Shapes earth, stone, and metal for defense or attack."
"Umbrakinesis – Manipulates shadows to strike, hide, or bind."
"Sanctification – Channels divine light to heal, purify, or destroy evil."
"Maleficium – Forbidden magic: curses and destructive dark spells."
"Phantasms – Creates illusions to deceive or obscure."
"Toximancy – Uses poison and venom to weaken or kill."
"Graviton – Bends gravity to manipulate enemies or movement."
"Wardcraft – Casts protective barriers or sealing magic."
"Soulbind – Links souls to share fate, power, or pain."
"Warpstep – Instant short-range teleportation."
Then he paused. His expression turned serious.
"There's one more," he said, his voice dropping. "One more you'll want to hear."
Dante tilted his head. "Go on."
"Mimicry," Edgar whispered, the word seeming to suck the very warmth from the air. "It allows the user to copy and temporarily use any skill they have seen or experienced."
A chill, as cold and as sharp as Masha's ice, ran down Dante's spine.
That was the wildcard.
Someone in this group of frightened, desperate students had the potential to mimic their strongest skills. They could copy Erica's fire, Masha's ice, his own dark power. They could become a living arsenal, a perfect, unpredictable weapon.
Dante's eyes scanned the crowd, no longer seeing just students, but potential threats, potential assets.
'Whoever has that skill,' he thought, his mind a cold, calculating engine, 'is either our greatest ally… or our deadliest threat.'