In the middle of a crystal-clear lake of a deep blue color, which stretched until it disappeared into the horizon as if it had no end, all the heroes were standing on the surface of the water.
None of them were sinking.
Their feet rested gently on the lake as if the surface were solid, even though the water remained perfectly transparent beneath them.
There were no waves.
There was no wind.
The water was so calm that it looked like an enormous natural mirror reflecting the sky with an almost unsettling precision.
White clouds slid slowly above their heads, floating with an almost hypnotic calm, while the sunlight fell gently over the lake. That light spread across the crystal surface, creating small sparkles that looked like fragments of stars scattered over the water.
The entire place was wrapped in a deep silence.
A silence so absolute that it felt almost sacred.
At first glance it looked like a beautiful place. It could even have been mistaken for a paradise forgotten by the world.
But the tension that could be felt among those present transformed it into something completely different.
There was something heavy in the air.
Something invisible.
Something that none of them mentioned, but that all of them could feel.
The heroes remained standing, spread across the lake, watching one another.
Thirty-seven people.
Thirty-seven heroes.
And then, without any warning, the water began to move.
Not as if a wave were forming, but as if something were emerging from the depths.
One by one, enormous thrones began to slowly rise from the lake.
First the bases appeared.
Large blocks of black stone that broke through the surface of the water without making any sound. Then the backrests began to rise, tall and massive, until finally the complete thrones emerged from the lake as if the world itself were summoning them.
Thirty-seven thrones.
They slowly arranged themselves in the space, forming a perfect circle.
There was no table in the center, but the arrangement of the seats created the sensation that everyone was gathered around an enormous invisible table.
Each throne was identical.
They were enormous structures of dark stone, carved with almost ceremonial care. Ancient engravings ran along their edges, forming patterns that looked like symbols forgotten by time.
At the top of the backrest there was a carved figure in the shape of a cross.
The symbol of the goddess.
The same goddess who had summoned them to that world.
For several seconds no one spoke.
Silence ruled the place while the heroes observed the thrones that had appeared before them.
Some exchanged curious glances.
Others did so with clear distrust.
Some simply looked with indifference, as if the scene were not particularly surprising.
After all… many of them had already experienced things far stranger.
One by one they began to walk toward the nearest thrones.
The sound of stone echoed softly each time someone took a seat.
A low echo.
Heavy.
As if each throne accepted its occupant.
No one spoke.
No one asked anything.
But all of them were waiting for the answer to a single question.
Why had they been called to that place?
Finally, a voice broke the silence.
—It seems that everyone is here… well… those of us who are here now.
The one who spoke was a man with a cold gaze and dark hair.
His eyes slowly traveled around the circle of heroes while he counted each of those present with almost meticulous attention.
Thirty-seven.
His expression changed slightly.
Two were missing.
His eyes immediately stopped on one person.
The heroine Towa.
The way he looked at her was so intense that it seemed as if he wanted to pierce her with his gaze.
—Tell me, Towa… —he finally said, with a firm voice—. Where are Rika Fuuma and Yoru Sumeragi?
The silence of the lake became even heavier.
—Weren't those two part of your group?
The man's eyes hardened slightly.
—You were the leader… so tell me.
He made a brief pause before finishing the question.
—Where are they… or what happened to them?
Immediately, all the gazes of the circle turned toward Towa.
The young woman remained seated on her throne with an elegant posture, almost perfect. Her hands rested calmly on the stone armrest while she kept her gaze fixed on the man who had asked the question.
She did not seem nervous.
Nor surprised.
Not even uncomfortable.
After a few seconds, she let out a small sigh.
—I'm sorry for not saying it earlier… leader Akira Hanzo, of group one of the heroes.
Her voice was soft.
Calm.
Too calm.
—But now I will say it.
She lowered her head slightly.
—Unfortunately… the two of them have fallen in battle.
Some heroes slightly frowned.
—A strong wave of enemies fell upon us —she continued—. It was a terrible ambush… far too sudden.
Her voice began to tremble slightly.
—And unfortunately… I was the only one who managed to come out alive.
Towa slowly raised her hands to her face.
As if she were trying to hold back tears.
—You don't know how much my heart hurts from such a difficult loss… —she whispered—. They were my most precious companions.
She wiped her eyes in front of everyone.
—They were like sisters to me…
For a few seconds no one said anything.
The scene seemed completely convincing.
Until a calm voice spoke from one of the thrones.
—It's alright… it's alright.
A man with brown hair leaned slightly forward.
—Don't worry so much.
He smiled kindly.
—Sometimes very unfortunate things happen in the middle of a battle.
Towa lifted her gaze slightly.
—Thank you very much… hero Daiki Jō for being so kind to me.
—Don't worry —he replied—. That's what we are here for.
He made a small gesture toward the other heroes.
—To help each other.
But when he said that…
No one responded.
The other heroes remained completely silent.
The atmosphere became heavy.
Strange.
As if something invisible had fallen over the place.
Some avoided looking at one another.
Others stared fixedly at the surface of the water.
And some simply smiled.
But they were not normal smiles.
There was something strange in them.
Something uncomfortable.
It seemed that everyone was thinking the same thing.
Something that none of them were saying out loud.
Finally, another hero broke the silence.
—Silence, please.
His voice was strong and authoritative.
—I think it is already time for them to tell us why we were called to this place.
His eyes moved across those present.
—I don't think it was to share with us the location of the Demon King.
His lips curved slightly.
—Or am I wrong?
It was the hero Kai Nomura.
No one responded.
But then a woman slowly stood up from her throne.
Her long hair moved gently, even though there was no wind.
—I will say it.
All eyes turned toward her.
—So pay very close attention.
It was the heroine Hana Mizuki.
Her eyes were calm.
But her expression was completely serious.
—Before killing the former Demon King… —she began— the heroes who were still standing made a decision.
She made a small pause.
—A small agreement.
Some heroes slightly tilted their heads.
—We decided that… when we were summoned again…
Her eyes slowly traveled around the circle.
—Each group of heroes would do whatever they wanted.
The silence became absolute.
—Whatever they considered right.
Some heroes began to show small smiles.
—As everyone knows… we have been returning to this world again and again to defeat the Demon King.
Her gaze became distant.
—So many times…
—That I no longer even remember what the first time was like when all of this began.
Some heroes lowered their gaze.
Others simply watched.
—So this time… —Hana continued— you can do whatever you want.
Her voice was completely indifferent.
—I don't care if you want to kill each other.
Some heroes began to smile.
—I don't care if you want to kill other heroes.
Someone let out a small laugh.
—I don't care what you do.
Her eyes shone slightly.
—Because in the end… all of this will end when the Demon King dies.
She paused.
And then said with absolute calm:
—So I… the heroine Hana Mizuki… will do whatever I please.
A deep silence fell over the lake.
—After all…
A smile appeared on her face.
—The goddess will know what to do.
She looked at everyone.
—Don't you think?
Then she slightly raised her hand.
—That's why…
—From this moment…
Her eyes shone with a dangerous intensity.
—All of us become common enemies.
Her smile widened.
—So… I wish you luck, comrades.
For a few seconds no one spoke.
But then…
The heroes began to smile.
They were not smiles of fear.
Nor of anger.
They were wild smiles.
Smiles similar to those of beasts that had finally found freedom.
Some began to laugh.
Others looked at the rest with an obvious thirst in their eyes.
A thirst for blood.
A thirst for combat.
A thirst for power.
All of them…
Absolutely all of them…
Had lost something a long time ago.
Something called common sense.
And now…
Finally…
They no longer had any reason to hide it.