The chaos outside our circle had only grown louder. Students argued. Friends turned against each other, trying to decide who to include and who to abandon. The realization that only six people would ultimately survive had torn through their fake camaraderie like a blade through silk.
But inside our group, silence reigned—because we had purpose.
I crossed my arms and looked around. So far, things were going according to plan. But I wasn't foolish enough to think we were prepared. Not even close.
"Alright," I said, loud enough for my team to hear but not attract outsiders. "It's time for the rest of you to get answers. I've come up with more questions. We'll need every scrap of intel before we make our first move."
I pointed to Eric, the most physically capable among us.
"Ask her this: What types of physical threats exist in this forest? Are there natural hazards—traps, terrain dangers, poisonous flora? We can't afford to be ambushed by something other than monsters."
Next, I turned to Juno, the artist—quiet but always observant.
"Ask about the rules of skill evolution. Can our powers grow? What determines that growth? Practice? Killing? Emotional states?"
Neil adjusted his glasses, already brimming with unspoken theories.
"Neil, your turn. Ask the Goddess about the other worlds—has she summoned others before us? Did any of them survive? If so, what became of them? Any history we can learn from?"
Finally, I looked at Rina.
"Ask her this: What kind of beings or factions rule the kingdoms we'll be sent to? Are they hostile to summoned heroes—or do they use them as tools?"
They nodded, understanding the weight of each question. I gave them one last glance and said, "Stick to the script. Absorb every word. Don't ask anything extra, no matter how tempting."
They left.
I waited, pacing, mind churning.
'Necromancer. Pyrokinesis. Cryomancy. Swordsmanship. Appraisal.'
We were stacked with talent. But raw power didn't mean survival. We needed precision. Strategy. Adaptation.
While I waited, I reviewed the map Jin gave me, tracing paths with my finger. I marked zones Erica said to avoid, circled areas Jin noted as artifact sites, and began mapping potential campgrounds.
'This is war,' I thought. 'And wars aren't won by brute force. They're won by information and decisions.'
Eric returned first.
"Done," he said. "I asked exactly what you said. The forest has many natural dangers—sinkholes, poisonous mushrooms, acidic lakes, even cursed fog. The deeper we go, the worse it gets. She said staying in one place too long is dangerous. Monsters migrate. Some even hunt in packs across zones."
I cursed under my breath.
"So mobility is essential. No static base camps. Constant relocation."
Juno came next.
"Skill evolution exists," he said. "She explained that each skill has a core stage. Growth happens through milestones—achievements, emotions, near-death experiences. For example, Pyrokinesis can evolve into combustion-based sub-skills. Cryomancy might evolve into Absolute Zero if triggered right. There's no set rule—but survival and emotional thresholds play a role."
I smiled.
"Good. We're not capped."
Neil returned, looking both intrigued and disturbed.
"There were others before us. Every fifty years, remember? She said only once did all six heroes survive the full journey. Most generations fail halfway. One even ended in a mass betrayal where only two survived. One hero went rogue, wiped the others out, and claimed multiple kingdoms."
I narrowed my eyes.
"So history repeats. And betrayal is a tradition."
Rina was the last to return. Her expression was grim.
"She said the kingdoms we're sent to are each ruled by different factions—some are run by nobles, others by warrior clans or magic sects. They all want heroes for different reasons. Some worship them. Others control them. One even enslaved theirs last time."
The pit in my stomach sank deeper.
"So this team won't last forever. At best, we're preparing each other for solo survival."
They nodded.
I sat down and looked at each of them. Our faces reflected the same thing: acceptance of fate, and a refusal to bow to it.
"Alright," I said. "Here's what we do next."
We moved quickly.
Using Jin's map and Erica's coordinates, we selected a direction with minimal monster threat but ample resource opportunity. We'd make for an abandoned elven camp about six kilometers northeast. According to the Goddess, the mana residue there could help enhance training speed.
We scavenged food, filled canteens from the forest stream, and I led the group in setting watches. By sundown, we moved as a unit.
I noticed something odd as we traveled.
Some groups followed us.
Three teams, to be exact—staying just far enough not to provoke us, but close enough to study our movement. Some held grudges. Some feared our competence. One had a smug bastard who seemed to challenge my every glance.
I didn't confront them—not yet. But I made a mental note of their members. One of them had the Mimicry skill.
And that was a problem.
That night, as we camped near the ruins of a tree village long claimed by moss and silence, I sat by the fire and finally let myself exhale.
The wind was cold.
Everyone was quiet.
Then Erica sat beside me.
"You're not scared, are you?" she asked.
I stared into the flames. "I am. I'm terrified."
She blinked.
"Then why do you act like this?"
I turned to her.
"Because fear isn't weakness. Fear is fuel. I don't ignore it. I plan around it. I'm not strong. I just refuse to die."
She smiled, small and sad.
"Then I'll survive too. As long as you lead."
I didn't reply.
Because deep down… I knew the time would come when I'd have to leave them all behind.
Only six. Only six would remain.
And I would be one of them.
No matter the cost.
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Author's Note – Just a Little Help
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