A heavy silence spread across the place, as if time itself had stopped. Everyone ceased fighting, hands frozen in place, while many faces turned pale, drowned in fear and terror.
One of them said in a trembling voice,
"Impossible… how are we supposed to fight a C-rank monster? We're doomed."
Another added, already starting to step backward,
"I… I have to withdraw immediately."
Within moments, some of them began pressing the withdrawal button, but the instant they did, the blood froze in their veins.
"What's happening?! I can't withdraw… why isn't it working, damn it?!"
"You're right… I can't either. Is the same thing happening to you?"
The others slowly nodded in agreement, terror clearly etched across their faces. Then one of the students stepped forward with hesitant steps and said in a tone he tried to keep rational despite the confusion,
