Noticing that they were beginning to show some concern, I took the initiative to try and calm them down.

"Even though I said that, you don't need to worry about any of this. I've already found a solution to this problem."

When I said those words, both Liam, who looked hopeless on the ground, Ronnie Anne and the others began to glimpse a new light of hope.

"What would that solution be?"

Ronnie Anne asked, as she got up from the floor.

"It's simple: you take care of fifty of these hundred monsters, and I'll take care of the other fifty. Any questions?"

I asked that with a neutral face, as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

"Man, you say it like it's easy to handle 50 of these monsters with such ease."

Rusty commented, looking at me with a disbelieving countenance at what I had just said.

"I'm not saying it like it's easy. I'm saying it because it's easy for me."

I said it with a great deal of confidence. After all, I had full confidence in the skills and experience I had acquired before returning.

"And how are we going to do that? We can barely kill one of those green monsters properly."

Ronnie Anne asked, slightly worried. After all, if they faltered against one of these monsters, this time they wouldn't have their friend to save them.

"Simple, I'll come up with a plan for you to follow. And don't worry, I'll only send you in the direction the goblins are. I believe that, with the skills you have now, you should be more than enough to handle a few goblins. Am I wrong?"

I asked the question with a neutral countenance, trying to convey a bit of calm and credibility.

As soon as they heard that, I could see the change in their expressions, which became a little calmer. However, I could see that, deep down, there was still significant concern present in each of them.

"You have a point. If you compare us now with when we killed those monsters, we really are much stronger than before, because of this system."

Ronnie Anne, with her hand on her chin and slightly pensive, commented without dismissing what Lincoln had said.

"See, there's your chance to get stronger."

I said this, keeping my expression as neutral as ever, while trying to convey calm to them. However, Clyde, being the good friend that he is, decided to keep retorting to everything I said.

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"Still, Lincoln, that's no comparison. Last time, it was you who caught the monsters for us. This time, however, it'll be the five of us alone against fifty of them. What are the chances of us getting out of this unscathed?"

Clyde asked, his face serious, hoping that I wouldn't lie in my answer and would be as honest as possible.

"Do you want me to tell you the truth, just the truth?"

I asked, still facing them with my neutral countenance.

Clyde was about to answer my question, but Ronnie Anne interrupted him and answered instead.

"Yes, Lincoln. We want you to be as truthful as possible with us. What are our chances of survival?"

"Fine, you asked for it."

I say as I let out a short sigh before continuing what I was saying.

"The chance you have of surviving at the moment is [3%]. However, that only applies if you don't have my supervision. But, as I will guide you and tell you everything you should do, then that percentage rises to [50%]."

As soon as they heard this, they were relieved for the moment, but not relieved enough. After all, there was still that other fifty percent that could make the whole plan go wrong, and that's exactly what Liam decided to ask me.

"Lincoln and those other [50%], what can we do to make sure we don't fail and end up ruining everything?"

Liam asked, looking at me, and apparently, that was the other guys' question too. After all, when he asked that question, everyone started staring at me too.

"If you follow my plan, nothing bad will happen. You can trust me."

They didn't really want to believe that my plan would work, but the only problem standing in their way was that they had no choice: it was accepted or accept, simple as that.

***

After almost half an hour of Lincoln's friends giving up, he had finally succeeded in getting his friends to accept the plan, and all after much insistence.

"Since we have no other option, we'll go along with your plan."

Said Ronnie Anne, who then received approval from both Clyde and the others. They were still a little scared, but after everything they had just seen, they knew that the best option would be to follow Lincoln's orders, who knew a lot more about what was going on than they did.

As soon as they accepted my plan, that female voice, which I was getting used to, echoed in my mind again.

Ring ~

[ATTENTION:]

After I saw that message appear right in front of my eyes, I have to be quite honest: I was really a bit confused by the whole thing, but I waited to see what would happen.

*SFX to something disappearing and reappearing*

[A new 'Task' has just been generated.]

(What do you mean, 'new task'?)

I thought to myself, still not understanding what was happening, after all, this was the first time this had happened to me.

As soon as I thought about it, the system decided to give me an answer.

[Second mission: One against all.]

Objective: Kill all the monsters within the specified time.

Time required: 2 hours

Time remaining: 2 hours 0 min 0 sec

Monsters defeated: [0/50]

[ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:]

[You won't be able to receive help from anyone.]

When I read that, I didn't know whether to laugh out loud or at the trick the system was trying to play on me.

(Fuck, system! Are you trying to fuck with me?)

I thought to myself as I stared at the screen.

"Since I can't reject anything, let's go. At least I'll be able to combine the useful with the pleasant. After all, I was already going to do that, the only difference is that now I'll have an extra incentive to do so."

I whispered to myself as I turned to the others who were still talking.