Lyle came up to me.
So, you're Han, right? Do you have any knowledge about this place?
I haven't been here for long, so I don't know much either. It's risky to speak if you're not certain about something. So, everyone.
I gestured towards the open armory door.
It's better for you to grab weapons from there. The battle will commence soon.
What's starting?
A fight.
A-A fight, did you say fight?
If you don't like it, you can stay here.
I entered the armory.
Various weapons were stuck in the old display cabinets. They were the ones Anytng obtained from the 10 consecutive equipment summons: iron swords, bows, maces, and spears. There were different kinds.
Not long after, people started gathering at the armory.
Can we choose weapons from here?
A worried middle-aged woman asked me.
I nodded.
I-I don't know anything about fighting! I've never fought before, even when I was young!
Just choose. Choose now and think later!
This one's mine!
With excitement, nine people began searching through the armory.
The mace Lyle held was the best weapon available. It had an iron ball with spikes on the end.
[Grade: D+]
Lyle seemed nervous when our eyes met, as if he thought I wanted to take it. I reassured him and grabbed a shield from the armory.
[Crude Wooden Shield]
[Grade: E+]
I knew shields were crucial for survival in battle, especially for low-level heroes. Time to get started! Iselle was already excited in the square.
Each person took their own gear and left the armory. Malmont's body, blood, and debris had vanished from the square.
What's going on here?
Could it be a miracle?
Hey, didn't I call your names before? Lyle, Ranto, Marlin, Kelkeld, Jackson! You five, go through that door and take action!
The five hesitated but eventually went through the door. Iselle followed them, and the door closed behind her.
Silence.
The other four stayed put.
I sat by the rift in space-time, inspecting my shield for any damage.
No problems.
It was a simple wooden shield, but it should be able to withstand goblin weapons.
How will things turn out for us, big brother?
A girl with a bow came up to me.
She had red hair, freckles, and a tan complexion, standing a bit shorter than me.
I'm not sure.
What will happen to us? Why do we need weapons? Where are we? Who is that Fairy?
She bombarded me with questions.
That's why I pretended not to know. My earlier actions weren't for their benefit, but for my own survival. Malmont, a seasoned mercenary, had perished, and the remaining four didn't seem like strong fighters.
Gael, the elderly cart driver who had spent her entire life driving carts.
Grete, the traveling merchant who boasted about never getting into fights.
Dajil, a plump pig who questioned his own ability to run fast.
And then there was Jenna, the arrogant girl.
That's why they only have a one-star rating.
If luck wasn't on our side, we might die on the first floor.
I gave a vague response.
We'll soon be entering the battlefield. We just need to defeat the enemies there. As for the rest, I don't know either, so figure it out yourselves.
The battlefield?
I kept my mouth shut.
Jenna continued to pester me with more questions, but I didn't answer. Eventually, she gave up and sat against the wall.
[Marlin () has returned to the goddess's embrace. Her determination will be remembered forever.]
Is she already dead?
The monsters that appear on the 10th floor or lower are mostly goblins.
I wanted to see a battle scene, but the footage didn't show up. The system only provided the battle results.
[Kelkeld () has returned to the goddess's embrace. His determination will be remembered forever.]
[Ranto () has returned to the goddess's embrace. His determination will be remembered forever.]
I couldn't help but stand up from my seat.
Sure, here's a simpler version:
---
Are we really gonna get wiped out on the first floor?
[Jackson () is gone. Determination remembered.]
"What's happening?" Jenna asked, sounding scared.
"Shh," the master hushed her.
[Lyle () is gone. Determination remembered.]
[Party 1 is toast.]
[You lose!]
"That useless brat!" Iselle stamped her foot, mad.
The master couldn't believe it. Getting wiped out on the first floor shouldn't be so easy. Maybe it's 'cause of those rare free heroes. Shay could've handled this alone.
[Make a team.]
[Drag heroes!]
[Han () joins!]
[Jenna () joins!]
[Dajil () joins!]
[Grete () joins!]
[Gael () joins!]
Six out of eleven heroes gone. Only five left.
Now, the master had three choices.
First, use the 500 gems for better heroes.
Second, spend the gems on training to boost the heroes.
Third, stick with what they got and try again.
"What now?" Jenna asked, shaky.
"Let's try again," the master said firmly.
Iselle rolled her eyes. "Up to you," she mumbled.
With a deep breath, the master made their call and gathered the heroes. No turning back now. They were ready to face whatever's next.
Third, simply use the last 1-star heroes.
[Open, the rift of space and time!]
It seems like the third option is the way to go now.
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