Chapter 7: Fear & Determination

Mormont's heavy boots thundered across the marble floor as he charged at Shay and Han, blade raised high with a wild gleam in his eyes.

But just as the strike was about to fall, a small figure darted between them in a flash of wings and defiance.

"Stop!" Iselle's voice boomed louder than anyone expected from her tiny frame. She hovered in front of Mormont, arms outstretched. "Fighting between heroes is severely prohibited!"

"A f-fairy…!" Mormont's expression twisted into something between fear and hysteria. "I knew it! Some kind of mage lured us here! And you're here to protect his two lackeys!"

He snarled and shifted his stance, redirecting his sword straight toward her. "Then I'll cut you up as well!"

It was the last mistake he'd ever make.

Before his blade could even reach her, a sharp metallic sound rang through the air. A blur—too fast to be seen.

His head detached cleanly from his shoulders.

It hit the ground with a soft thud, rolling a few inches before coming to a stop, lifeless eyes wide in frozen disbelief.

[Mormont (☆☆) has returned to the Goddess' embrace. His fighting spirit will be remembered for eternity.]

[Cause of death – Suicide due to stress]

Silence swallowed the chamber whole.

Iselle's wings buzzed softly as she lowered her arms. Her face, once filled with her usual playful mischief, now bore a cold, murderous glare. Her eyes slowly scanned the remaining heroes, resting briefly on each of the ones who had sided with Mormont just seconds ago.

"It was self-defense," she said quietly. Her tone was calm, but her eyes told a different story—eyes that promised pain.

"Got it?" Her voice sharpened like a dagger.

No one dared speak.

Then the panic erupted.

"Kyaaah!!"

"Wh-What?! He's dead?!"

"He's dead! What the hell is this?!"

"Wh-What did you do?! You should just tell us what you want!"

The group fell into disarray, panic spiraling into a full-blown breakdown. Some backed away, others dropped to their knees, trembling. A few clung to each other, whispering incoherently.

Suddenly, a new system message popped up in front of Han.

[A party has been formed. Drag and drop the heroes! ]

[Rail (☆) has joined 'Party 2' ]

[Ranto (☆) has joined 'Party 2' ]

[Madelyn (☆) has joined 'Party 2' ]

[Kelcard (☆) has joined 'Party 2' ]

[Jaksen (☆) has joined 'Party 2' ]

"Huh?" Han raised an eyebrow. "Anytng's formed another party?"

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Don't tell me he's planning to throw them into a stage without me or Shay, just to see if they've got any talent? So he's really following that tip I gave him before, huh? He's quite talented as a master."

Iselle, seemingly back to business, floated in front of the heroes. "Everyone, get ready!"

Then, she turned sharply toward the massive metal doors that had long since sealed themselves shut and raised her hand with dramatic flair.

"Open up, crack of Space and Time!"

With a thunderous hum and a blinding pulse of magic, the doors slowly creaked open again—revealing the now-familiar swirling blue portal within.

Iselle spun mid-air and glared at the selected heroes with the same murderous aura she'd displayed not moments ago.

"Rail, Ranto, Madelyn, Kelcard, Jaksen!" she barked, voice sharp as a blade. "You see this gate, don't you? Go into it if you don't want to die like that last guy."

The five heroes flinched.

"W-Wait a minute, Iselle," Han said calmly, raising a hand to stop her. "Let's at least give them a fighting chance. They don't even have weapons. Why don't you send another tip to the master—ask him to summon and give them equipment?"

Iselle turned toward him with an instant change in tone and expression, her face suddenly beaming with affection. "Yes, Loki!"

With a flick of her fingers, she pulled up her virtual keyboard and typed out a message.

[Master, the heroes don't have equipment. ]

[How about summoning equipment for a smooth battle ahead?]

[Tips: heroes without weapons carry an 'Old Iron Sword (F)' into battle. If you place weapons into the weapon storage, they will be equipped. You can choose what weapons to be used. Please don't forget that! ]

A moment later, the system responded.

[ Master, starting ten consecutive equipment summons. 10x Summon – 50,000G ]

[Master Anytng has obtained 'Iron Sword (E+)' ]

[Master Anytng has obtained 'Low-Grade Bow (E–)' ]

[Master Anytng has obtained 'Morningstar (D+)' ]

[...]

"Okay, guys," Iselle announced, hovering above the group again. "You can now take your weapons from the weapons storage."

The already pale heroes looked at each other, confusion now mixing with terror.

"W-Why would we need weapons?"

"Are we… really going to fight something?"

"Shut up!" Iselle snarled, her eyes narrowing into slits. "Just choose something, or I'll kill every single one of you myself!"

"Y-Yes!" The five heroes scrambled toward the storage panel, snatching up the equipment as fast as they could—more to save their own lives than prepare for battle.

Once they were geared up—albeit clumsily—Iselle pointed toward the swirling blue portal again.

"Now enter the gate!"

The group hesitated, their legs stiff with fear.

Iselle sighed.

"Seriously… fine."

Without waiting another moment, she flew forward and kicked each of them squarely in the back—one after another—sending them all stumbling and tumbling headfirst into the portal with a chorus of panicked yelps.

They disappeared beyond the gate, swallowed by the light.

Han crossed his arms, watching the swirling blue portal. "Well… let's see what you can do, Party 2—"

But he didn't even finish his sentence.

[Madelyn (☆) has returned to the Goddess' embrace. Her fighting spirit will be remembered forever.]

Han blinked. "…This fast?"

The next notifications came one after another like a drumbeat of failure.

[Kelcard (☆) has returned to the Goddess' embrace. His fighting spirit will be remembered forever.]

[Jaksen (☆) has returned to the Goddess' embrace. His fighting spirit will be remembered forever.]

[Ranto (☆) has returned to the Goddess' embrace. His fighting spirit will be remembered forever.]

[Rail (☆) has returned to the Goddess' embrace. His fighting spirit will be remembered forever.]

[Party 2 has been annihilated. You lose!]

Han let out a sigh, rubbing his temples.

"Useless bastards!!" Iselle shrieked in frustration, her wings fluttering wildly. "How did they all die so fast?! It's the first fucking floor!!"

Then came a new system prompt.

[Forming a party. Please drag and drop the heroes.]

[Han (☆) will be temporarily removed from Party 1.]

[Han (☆), Jenna (☆), Dajeel (☆), Greet (☆), Cale (☆) – Party 2 has been formed.]

Iselle froze for a second, then flew in front of Han with panic in her eyes. "Loki! What's happening? Why did Master put you in a party with those scums?! Does that mean that he doesn't value your talent anymore?"

Han didn't flinch. "No, Iselle. That just means he values my talent more now. He knows the others would die again. So at least with me there, he can hope that one or two of the more promising ones make it back alive."

Iselle still didn't look convinced. "Then why didn't he put that bitch with them instead of you?!"

"That bitch, huh?" Shay, standing nearby, narrowed her eyes and muttered to herself in irritation.

"Because she's too strong," Han continued coolly. "She'd probably drag all of them back alive… and Master probably wants to filter out the trash. That can't happen if she's there."

Then, without another word, Han unsheathed his sword and began walking toward the portal.

"Come on, guys," he said to his temporary party, not even turning to look at them. "It's our turn."

"O-Our turn?" muttered Cale, the oldest of the group, his face pale. "Wait… what does that mean? Did the ones that went in before us… all die?"

Silence fell.

Han stopped in place, then turned slightly and simply said, "Yes."

That one word sent the group into instant panic.

"No, no, no! I don't wanna go!"

"This is insane!"

"They're sending us to die!"

"Let me out of here!"

Jenna, however, stood quietly, her gaze focused on the bow in her hands. Unlike the others, she didn't scream or tremble. She stared at her weapon, thinking deeply about Han's words.

Then, she stepped forward, voice steady. "I'll come."

Han glanced back, a flicker of interest in his otherwise cold expression. "So, there's someone with some guts after all."

But inwardly… Yes! I was really worried I'd lose a beauty with great 'assets' like her… but those eyes—she's not someone who'd accept death so easily.

The others, meanwhile, kept refusing, shouting and panicking even more now that one of their own had stepped up.

Han sighed again and turned toward Iselle. "Just force them in. I don't have time to babysit cowards."

With a wicked grin, Iselle was more than happy to comply.

"Understood~"

Han stepped through the portal without hesitation, the light engulfing him.

Right after, Jenna followed, bow in hand, silent and focused.

Behind her, the remaining three were mercilessly shoved in—screaming—by a giggling Iselle.

And just like that, Party 2 was inside the stage.

---

How was this chapter? It's a bit longer than usual.

Also, everyone seems to have misunderstood me. I didn't mean to bring over other characters from other anime, manga, manhwa etc... but to create some original characters (so with different names and without their powers, like, for example, if I want to bring Sakura from Naruto into this world, she won't have chakra, and she won't even be called Sakura since that wouldn't fit this world settings) and keep only their appareances and personalities. I hope to have been clear enough now.