As usual, he let things flow the same way without interrupting.
He watched a few fall to their deaths, then listened to the muscle man spout nonsense once again. However, one thing was different.
When he asked for someone with mapping skills or something similar, Raive stood up and spoke.
"Isn’t that unfair?" He said.
"You’re asking them to reveal their skills, but you don’t even dare tell us what your skill is. If you want them to reveal their skills, everyone should reveal their skills first."
"You are..."
Feeling all gazes land on him, Raive smiled and declared.
"I’m Raive Asterates. My ability is called limited premonition, allowing me to see snippets of the future. However, I can’t control which future I can see."
As if to represent his point, Raive introduced himself, along with his skill—a bald-faced lie—but...
"As proof, I can tell you where the exit is. It’s through that path, about a three-minute jog away." He said. "Though all I confirmed from the premonition is the direction. I can’t tell anything else, like the dangers waiting ahead."
When he mentioned the word "danger," he saw everyone flinch, making him smile.
Things were going just as he planned.
After he finished, murmurs spread from all around. Everyone was wondering what to do, and seemed to be gauging the muscle man’s face to see what he would do.
Of course, Raive was sure he would proceed with it.
After all, gaining information on everyone was definitely a good thing overall.
"I understand your point. Then, I’m next." He said, stepping forward. "I’m Gray Stone. My skill is Power Surge. I gain strength equivalent to ten people when I activate my skill."
BAM!
As if to prove his point, he punched the floor directly below him. The solid ground cracked almost as if a meteor fell, making everyone nearby fear him slightly.
The strength was beyond what a normal human could produce, so there’s no doubt his ability was real.
After that, everyone revealed their abilities one by one, along with a demonstration. Of course, Raive wasn’t sure if they were telling the truth or not, since he himself went with a fake skill, but... As long as he could gauge their personality and ability, that’s all he needed.
In the end, his list of "members" was finalized.
The first one he selected was a key personnel.
A woman named Shymine Azure, who controls the ice element. She had long blue hair and silvery-white eyes, along with an aloof personality, cool but decisive.
However, despite not showing it, Raive saw her compassionate side from the previous loop.
She was the one who froze those sacrificed to the throne, after all. And despite having a stoic expression, tears fell from her eyes nonstop as she did.
The second person was a man named Khamish Maturr. A plain-looking man with balding brown hair and sunken brown eyes. His skill was a Spatial Bag able to fit anything and everything.
As long as it could fit the opening of his bag, he could literally put anything—aside from living things.
The third one was a little girl named Hershey Quant. Roughly 8-10 years old with golden hair tied in twin pigtails. A cute girl who was blessed with a healing ability. Exact details still unknown for now.
Finally, a widowed woman named Therese Blackveil. She had black hair extending to her lower back, tied in a long, loosely braided ponytail. Her ability was pretty straightforward too—able to create and manipulate metaphysical blades in the air.
One offensive mage, one physical damage, and three support. It was the best lineup that Raive could choose. One where everyone had a lot of potential for improvement.
The best pick on who should be allowed to survive.
’Now, time for some groundwork.’
With his list made, the next step would be to pull them all to his side.
And to do that, he sat down, grabbed a pen from his pocket, and a sticky note—something he always brought with him for taking notes—and wrote four identical messages.
Then, while keeping his movement stealthy, he contacted each of them. He made sure to make a shush gesture to ensure they stayed silent, of course.
What he wrote was simple—the only path for survival.
He wasn’t sure how they would respond to his message, though. If it was himself, he would be skeptical of a note given by a stranger. There’s no way he would fall for such a trick.
However, just as he knew they would think this way, he also had ways to make them believe. And that was already planted in the note he wrote.
With that, he was 100% sure that as long as they reached the exit, then there was no doubt those four would believe him.
Just like that, after everyone told their names and skills, the team began moving as one, heading for the exit that Raive pointed out.
They walked, and walked, and walked.
Everyone was silent the entire way, almost as if they were wary of danger suddenly coming their way. However, no such danger came, and they safely arrived at the circular room with the five thrones.
"This is...!"
As soon as they arrived, the four who received Raive’s note were shocked.
After all, the scenery was exactly as he described. Almost as if he saw it beforehand... Proof that his "ability" was real. And with that proof as a basis, the "second half" also gained more credibility, making them hesitate less.
"The exit is closed..."
Gray said with a solemn tone, before glancing at the five seats spaced evenly around them. "It looks like we need five people to sit on those for the exit to open. Any volunteers?"
At this point, Raive stayed silent.
You might think that raising his hand here would be for the best, but no. If he raised his hand, people would wonder if sitting on the chair was required before you could exit safely. After all, he introduced himself as some sort of fortune teller.
Raive glanced around and waited, and soon enough, a few volunteers appeared.
Two of them were the ones that Raive gave his sticky note to.
’The other two still seem skeptical.’ He thought, but smiled sinisterly. ’But as soon as they see what happens next, they have no choice but to believe.’
The two, Hershey and Therese, sat down on the throne together with three other randos. As soon as they all sat down, the exit began to glow, showing that it was "ready."
WHOOSH!
And just like before, a few quick on their feet exited immediately.
A sight that soon started a race toward the exit.
Though it was cut short.
"Ah, it really closed..."
Hershey stood up from the throne and watched in shock after seeing the exit close up.
At that point, four people became fully convinced.
That there was only one way to survive!