The noise in the hall got louder every minute.
Students shouted, argued, and cursed under their breath. Fear had turned them all into desperate animals. They tried to decide who to trust and who to throw away.
The moment Liora had said only six will survive, the idea of friendship broke.
Inside Dante’s small circle, however, quiet ruled.
They were the only ones not wasting time pretending this was still school.
Dante stood with his arms crossed. He watched the mess with a calm look.
The plan was holding, but they were still weak. They were still blind. Information was their real weapon. They did not have enough of it yet.
"Alright," he said in a quiet voice. His tone made everyone focus right away. "Time for the rest of you to get your answers. We need every single detail this world is hiding."
He pointed at Eric. Eric was solid and broad-shouldered. He 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 do not want to die because of some deadly flower or hole in the ground."
Next, he turned to Juno. Juno was 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. Neil was already tapping his temple. His eyes were 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. They disappeared into the crowd.
The hall felt heavier now. Dante paced slowly. The sound of his boots got lost under the rising noise of panic. His mind worked faster than his heartbeat.
He took out the map Jin had given him. He 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 was 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 cannot camp in one place for long."
Dante nodded. "Good. Anything else?"
He said "I have Reinforcement. I can push energy through my body to boost my strength and defense. Basically, a walking shield."
Dante’s look softened. "Perfect. You will be the line that keeps us alive."
Juno came next. He was 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. He was impressed. "So it is not static. That means everyone here can keep changing."
Juno waited a second, then added, "My own skill is Soul Etching. I can sense the surface thoughts and emotions of people nearby. It is like reading their intent before they act."
That made Dante grin. "Perfect balance. Edgar gives facts. You read feelings. Together, you will make sure we never get surprised."
Neil arrived last. His look was torn between fascination and unease.
"There were others," he said. "Every fifty years. She has 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 his mind 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 a little. He was thinking. "So betrayal is not just possible. It is built into the system."
He glanced at his team. The realization was on every face. They were not just fighting monsters. They were fighting the same story that had repeated for centuries.
"Alright," Dante said. His voice cut through the tension like a knife. "We have what we need."
He did not move to leave. Around them, the other students still argued, panicked, and split into messy groups.
Some held on together like terrified children. Others shouted about leadership and strategy.
Dante’s eyes caught one boy across the room. He was tall and confident. He was surrounded by strong recruits. His smile was smug. His confidence was too clean.
For now, they would wait. Let the others burn energy and fight over scraps.
His team gathered quietly near the stage. They created a small silent circle while chaos ruled the rest of the hall.
Erica sat beside Dante. "You are not scared, are you?" she asked in a soft voice.
Dante stared at the crowd of arguing students. Some of them were already dead. They just did not know it yet.
"I am," he said in a quiet voice. "Terrified."
Erica blinked. She was surprised. "Then why do you act so calm?"
He looked at her. His eyes reflected the faint red glow of her flame. "Because fear is not weakness. It is fuel. It keeps me awake. It makes me plan. I am not fearless, Erica. I am 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 will survive too. As long as you are leading."
Dante did not answer. His gaze went distant. It went 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 has not even started yet.