The noise in the hall grew louder by the minute.
Students shouted, argued, and cursed under their breath. Fear had turned them all into desperate animals, trying to decide who to trust and who to throw away.
The moment Liora had said only six will survive, the illusion of friendship shattered.
Inside Dante's small circle, however, silence ruled.
They were the only ones not wasting time pretending this was still school.
Dante stood with his arms crossed, watching the chaos with calm precision.
The plan was holding, but they were still weak, still blind. Information was their real weapon, and they didn't have enough of it yet.
"Alright," he said quietly. His tone made everyone focus instantly. "Time for the rest of you to get your answers. We need every single detail this world is hiding."
He pointed at Eric, the solid, broad-shouldered one who looked like he could block a bear if he had to.
"You ask about the forest. Not just monsters. Traps, poisons, terrain, anything that kills. I don't want to die because of some deadly flower or hole in the ground."
Next, he turned to Juno, the quiet artist who seemed to notice everything.
"You ask about skill evolution. Can powers grow? How? Through training, emotions, or fighting near death?"
Finally, he looked at Neil, who was already tapping his temple, eyes full of curiosity.
"Your question is about the world itself. Has she summoned others before us? Did they survive? What happened to them? I want history, not myths."
They nodded. No one argued.
"Stick to the plan," Dante warned. "No extra questions. Not even one."
They left, disappearing into the crowd.
The hall felt heavier now. Dante paced slowly, the sound of his boots lost under the rising noise of panic. His mind worked faster than his heartbeat.
He took out the map Jin had given him and spread it open on the floor.
His finger traced routes, danger zones, and points of interest that Erica had described. Small, glowing lines pulsed faintly across the leather.
'This is not survival anymore,' he thought. 'This is war. And wars are won with information.'
Eric returned first, his face grim. "The forest is worse than it looks," he said. "There are sinkholes, acid lakes, poisonous mist, and fog that curses you if you stay too long. It keeps changing too. Monsters move zones, so we can't camp in one place for long."
Dante nodded. "Good. Anything else?"
"She said I have Reinforcement. I can push energy through my body to boost my strength and defense. Basically, a walking shield."
Dante's expression softened. "Perfect. You'll be the line that keeps us alive."
Juno came next, quiet as always. His eyes were sharp and calm. "Skills can evolve," he said. "They grow when we push them beyond limits. She said emotions, near-death fights, or big accomplishments can trigger evolution. The stronger the risk, the stronger the reward."
He paused. "She also mentioned Pyrokinesis can turn into something explosive, and Cryomancy can eventually reach absolute zero."
Dante raised a brow, impressed. "So it's not static. That means everyone here can keep changing."
Juno hesitated, then added, "My own skill is Soul Etching. I can sense the surface thoughts and emotions of people nearby. It's like reading their intent before they act."
That made Dante grin. "Perfect balance. Edgar gives facts. You read feelings. Together, you'll make sure we never get surprised."
Neil arrived last. His expression was torn between fascination and unease.
"There were others," he said. "Every fifty years. She's been doing this for centuries. Most groups failed. Only one time did all six survive."
He swallowed hard. "Another time, they all killed each other. One hero lost control and hunted down the rest."
The room felt colder.
"And your skill?" Dante asked.
"Lore Archive," Neil said. "I can understand the history of anything I focus on. Items, creatures, even ruins. It connects me to the world's past."
Dante leaned back slightly, thinking. "So betrayal isn't just possible. It's built into the system."
He glanced at his team. The realization was written on every face. They weren't just fighting monsters. They were fighting the same story that had repeated for centuries.
"Alright," Dante said, voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "We have what we need."
He didn't move to leave. Around them, the other students still argued, panicked, and split into messy groups.
Some clung together like terrified children. Others shouted about leadership and strategy.
Dante's eyes caught one boy across the room—a tall, confident figure surrounded by strong recruits. His smile was smug, his confidence too clean.
For now, they would wait. Let the others burn energy and fight over scraps.
His team gathered quietly near the stage, creating a small, silent circle while chaos ruled the rest of the hall.
Erica sat beside Dante. The fire in her palm flickered faintly, casting light across her face.
"You're not scared, are you?" she asked softly.
Dante stared at the crowd of arguing students. Some of them were already dead—they just didn't know it yet.
"I am," he said quietly. "Terrified."
Erica blinked, surprised. "Then why do you act so calm?"
He looked at her, his eyes reflecting the faint red glow of her flame. "Because fear isn't weakness. It's fuel. It keeps me awake. It makes me plan. I'm not fearless, Erica. I'm just too stubborn to die. Well at least now in this isekai thing"
For a second, she said nothing. Then she smiled a small, tired smile. "Then I'll survive too. As long as you're leading."
Dante didn't answer. His gaze went distant, past her, past the hall, past everything.
He already knew what the ending looked like.
Only six would make it.
And he intended to be one of them, no matter what he had to do to get there.
The chaos around them grew louder again.
But in Dante's mind, everything was silent except for one thought:
The real game hasn't even started yet.