Every minute, the noise in the hall grew louder.
Students were shouting, quarreling, cursing under their breath. Fear had turned all into desperate animals. They debated amongst themselves, weighing who to trust and who to discard.
It was the moment when Liora had mentioned only six would survive that faith could be considered broken.
In small circles of Dante, however, silence reigned.
They were the only ones not wasting this time pretending this was still school.
Dante stood with his arms crossed. His eyes wandered over the mess with a calm look.
So far, the plan was holding, but still weak. They were still blind. Information was his final weapon, but they did not possess enough of it just yet.
"Alright," he said quietly, and the tone of his voice immediately focused everyone's attention. "Time for the rest of you to get your answers. We need every last detail that the world has chosen to keep secret from us."
He pointed at Eric. Broad-shouldered, solid; he looked like a guy who could block a bear if it came down to it. "You will inquire about the forest. Not merely monsters. Traps, poisons, terrain. Anything that causes death. I refuse to die because of some flower or hole in the ground."
Now, he turned to Juno. The quiet artist, the type who seemed to notice everything. "You will ask about skill evolution. Can powers grow? How? By training, emotions, or fighting near death?"
Finally, he regarded Neil. Neil was already rapping his temple, a look of great curiosity in his eyes. "You will ask about the world itself. Has she ever summoned others before us? Did they survive? What happened to them? I want actual history, not fairy tales."
They nodded. No one dared to contradict him.
"Stick to the plan," Dante warned. "No extra questions. Not even one."
They moved out, disappearing into the mass around them.
The hall felt heavier now. Dante began to walk slowly. The sound of his boots faded under the rising noise of panic. His thoughts raced faster than his heartbeats.
He pulled out the map Jin had given him. He unfolded it onto the floor.
His fingers traced routes, danger zones, and points of interest as described by Erica. Small glowing lines pulsed faintly along the leather.
This is no longer survival, he thought. This is war. Wars are won using information.
Eric was back first. The grimness on his face said it all. "The forest is worse than it looks. There are sinkholes, acid lakes, poisonous mists, and fogs that put curses on you if you stay too long. It keeps changing all the time. Monsters move zone, so we cannot camp in one place for long."
Dante nodded. "Okay. 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 expression softened. "Great. You will be the one line that keeps us alive."
Next was Juno. As ever, he was silent. His eyes remained sharp and calm. "Skills can evolve. They grow when we push them beyond limits. She said emotions, near-death fights, or big accomplishments can trigger their evolution. The greater the risk, the bigger the reward."
He paused. "She also said that Pyrokinesis can develop into something explosive. And that Cryomancy may eventually reach absolute zero."
Dante raised an eyebrow. Pretty impressed. "So, it is not static. Meaning every one of them here can keep on changing."
Juno waited for a second and then added, "My own skill is called Soul Etching. I am able to perceive surface thoughts and emotions of people that are around me. It's kind of like reading their intent before they act."
That brought a grin to Dante's face. "Perfect balance. Edgar gives facts. You read feelings. Together, you will make sure we are never surprised."
Neil came in last. His expression was a mixture of curiosity and dread.
"There were others," he said. "Every fifty years. She's been doing it for centuries. Most groups failed. Only one time has all six survived."
He swallowed again. "Another time, they all killed each other. A hero lost control and hunted the rest down."
The room felt colder.
"And what about your skill?" Dante asked.
"Legend Archive," Neil said. "I can learn about the history of anything I put my focus on. Objects, creatures, even ruins. It connects me back to the past of the world."
Dante reclined a bit. He was thinking. "So, it appears betrayal isn't just possible. It is systematized."
He glanced across at his team. The realization dawned on each of their faces. They were not only fighting monsters. They were fighting the same story that had been repeating for centuries.
"Okay," Dante said, cutting through the tension. "We have everything we needed."
He made no move to leave. Students still argued in a panic, disbanding into disorganized groups around them.
Some stayed together like frightened children. Others shouted about leadership and strategy.
Dante's gaze fell on a scrawny boy across the room. He was tall and confident; strong recruits surrounded him. His smile looked almost smug. His confidence appeared too clean.
For now, they would wait. Let the others burn energy; let them bicker 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. The fire in her palm flickered faintly. It cast light across her face.
"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.