Dozens of figures appeared around them in the ruins of a massive, broken castle.
"My name's Arsilver Baltrun, heir of the Baltrun family. I work as a mercenary. Can anyone tell me where the hell we are?"
Arsilver didn't look intimidating, but with a sword at his hip, no one dared argue. They went quiet and followed his lead.
"I'm Cryle," said a man nervously. "I run a shop in Galara. About where we are… I don't have the slightest idea. And… I don't remember anything after a bright light engulfed me."
"I'm Lysera," said a woman with twin ponytails, her hair a faint blue. "I'm a mercenary too, though my real job is blacksmithing. No one can beat me if I have the right materials. Quality over quantity, always."
A woman stepped into the group. Her hair was bright blonde, and her eyes shone like crimson jewels.
"I'm Althea," she said. "I'm a knight. Normally, I wear full armor, but… when the light brought me here, it disappeared. So, for now, this is all I have."
"I'm Adrian Alistair," a man spoke next. "I live in the forest and work as a farmer. About where we are… I have no idea. But one thing—don't do anything reckless that could put others in danger."
Arsilver counted the people around them and frowned. "So… all twenty of us were summoned here. And none of us has the slightest clue why?"
"Where are we?" someone muttered.
"Wish I had just fainted and was dreaming," another groaned.
"I need to get to my daughter. She's sick," a third added, worry clear in his voice.
"Were we dragged through space? Or summoned by some mage to be lab rats?" someone said.
"Don't —" Adrian cut in, flat. "If you say stuff like that, it won't help any of us."
"It's weird," Cryle said. "Everyone here woke up in the same place. If we keep exploring, we might find a way back."
"What nonsense," a voice interrupted.
Adrian pointed with disgust. "A… giant fly?" He wrinkled his nose. "Does it—does it suck blood or something?"
The insect hissed. "I'm not a fly!" It smacked Adrian's finger aside in one quick motion. "I'm a pixie, you idiot. A high-ranking one. I'm the Pixie Queen!"
"Is that so?" Adrian said, putting a finger in his nose as he stared at the pixie.
"Ugh." The pixie cleared her throat. "My name is Faye. In front of you is a tower. It—bent time and space to call you here. That's why you're all here. You need to be ready to fight."
She straightened with sudden, dangerous calm. "I repeat. I am Faye — the pixie who manages this place. I serve the one true master: THE WORLD. Stay in line if you value your lives."
"So you're the one who summoned us?" Arsilver asked as he stepped closer to the tiny winged figure.
"That's none of your business," Faye snapped, her wings flicking in irritation.
"Then bring us back to our world." Arsilver drew his sword with a sharp shing. "I'm not asking. I'm ordering. Consider it a warning." His glare locked onto her.
Faye sighed, crossing her arms. "Stop acting stupid… unless you want to die."
"You sure talk big for someone your size," Arsilver said. "What, gonna suck me to death or something?"
Adrian broke the tension and said, "Well, that's the only thing she can do cuz she can't suck the another thing we male had."
"Oh, sorry." Adrian waved his hand. "I muttered too loud and let my intrusive thoughts win."
"HEY! I heard that!" Faye yelled, buzzing up to his face. "Just because I'm small doesn't mean you can belittle me! You people were given a chance—a new power—and all you do is complain and run. Why are you acting like cowards?"
Arsilver's stance shifted, his tone turning cold. "I'll teach you some manners. First, I'll cut your wings. Then, I'll stomp you to death."
Faye's wings spread wide, glowing faintly as a ripple of energy burst from her. The air shimmered around her body, and text flickered in front of everyone's eyes like a faint hologram.
[SYSTEM]
Dark Queen Pixie – Faye
★★★★★★★ (7★)
The group froze. Even Arsilver blinked, his expression tightening for the first time.
Faye's voice came low and sharp. "You really shouldn't have said that. This tower answers to me. And if you're not careful…" her crimson eyes glowed, "…it'll be the last thing you ever see."
The air grew heavy. The ground rumbled faintly beneath their feet.
"It's… a status?" someone muttered, staring at the floating text.
"But what's with the stars?" another asked. "When a status shows up, it should only display levels, right?"
Faye smiled faintly. "Normally, yes. But this place doesn't follow your world's rules."
Then she lifted her hand.
FWOOOSH!
Dark flames erupted at Arsilver's feet. His eyes widened, but before he could react, the fire devoured him whole. The others could only watch in horror as his body turned to ash, vanishing into the cold air.
A moment later, glowing text appeared where he once stood:
[SYSTEM]
Name: Arsilver Baltrun
Level: 15
Class: Warrior
Rank: ★
Status: Deceased
His soul returns to the World's embrace...
The words flickered for a few seconds before fading away completely.
Faye crossed her arms, her expression calm but cold. "Let that serve as a warning," she said. "This world doesn't care who you were. Here, only your star decides whether you live or die."
The group stood frozen. No one dared to speak, the silence heavy with fear.
"But what's with the star?" another asked, voice trembling. "I've never seen something like that before…"
Adrian rubbed his chin and looked at the fading light where Arsilver once stood. "Stars are like levels," he said calmly. "But they define your worth. That mercenary guy… having one star means he was already a veteran swordsman."
The group fell silent. The thought sank in—if someone that strong was only worth one star, then what about the rest of them?
Faye let out a small chuckle. "At least one of you understands," she said, her wings glimmering faintly in the dim light. "In this world, stars measure potential, strength, and fate. The higher your star, the closer you are to true power."
Her crimson eyes scanned the group. "But don't misunderstand. Even a one-star can change the world… if they survive long enough."
The others looked at each other nervously, the weight of her words pressing down on them like a curse.