The main hall had turned ice cold. Calling the situation tense was an understatement; everyone could feel the aggression Parabellum directed towards Marshmallow, and for starters, it wasn’t clear why, nor did anyone seem either able or willing to break the palpable tension. That is, until Raven took a step forward, shifting his gaze from Parabellum and addressing the group.

"Allow me to break the ice," he began, his tone immediately easing the atmosphere. "I want to introduce you to a crucial member of our team, Elwinner."

Next to Raven, a younger figure stepped forward, bringing with him an air of lightness that seemed out of place in the tension-filled room. Elwinner, a boy with youthful features and an open expression, smiled with infectious energy. Holding a scepter that seemed too ornate to be a weapon, he almost looked like a rookie among veterans.

"Hello everyone," he said in a clear, friendly voice with a slightly aristocratic accent that hinted at a high-level education. "As Raven mentioned, my name is Elwinner. I'm here to help you get your bearings. Literally."

With a smooth motion, Elwinner twirled his scepter, and a detailed, glowing holographic map appeared in front of him. The group members leaned in, intrigued, all except Parabellum, who remained in his place, observing with a neutral expression.

“This,” Elwinner continued, pointing at the floating map, “is a representation of where all the Wyolanders are at this moment.” His eyes sparkled as he demonstrated his capability, and his enthusiasm effectively cut through the room’s solemnity. “My Unique Skill, Wyolander Prescience, allows me to visualize them. It’s a bit like having a treasure map with you at all times, but instead of looking for gold, we’re tracking our comrades.”

Samantheye, captivated by this power, was visibly impressed. “It’s rare to have such a talent, I envy you. Could you show us where we are exactly?”

Elwinner, sensing the genuine admiration in Samantheye’s words, responded with an even wider smile. “Of course, with pleasure,” he said, as his fingers pinched and zoomed on the map with the agility of a kid far too accustomed to electronic devices, revealing a detailed depiction of the Overblown Castle. With a final touch, five little bright points appeared on the map, highlighting their current location inside the main hall.

The Goat Horse, who had been watching with a mix of curiosity and amusement, leaned forward for a better view. “Impressive,” he murmured. “This place is really huge, and you manage to keep track of everyone so easily.”

Marshmallow, intrigued, moved even closer to the map, studying the glowing dots of various hues. "Can you distinguish between the different ranks just from the map?" he asked, fascinated by the precision of the tool.

"Certainly," Elwinner replied with pride, pointing to the different colors representing the ranks. "The colors help me understand who might need more help and who might be on a critical mission. It's a powerful tool for coordinating our efforts."

Lynx, who had been following the conversation from the side, couldn't contain her admiration. "That's why you're so valuable to us, Elwinner. Your ability to connect the Wyolanders, to keep us united even when we're scattered, goes beyond mere strategic value."

Elwinner blushed slightly at the compliments, but his smile remained. "Thank you, Lynx. I just try to do my part. After all, in this world, unity is our greatest strength." His statement, simple yet laden with truth, resonated in the hall, bringing a fresh wave of optimism and determination among those present.

"Let's talk about the map and the world we find ourselves in," Elwinner began, shifting the focus to the vast holographic representation floating before them. With a gesture, he expanded the view to show the entire world of the Survivor Game. "You can see here the ten major areas of the game. As you know, each one is unique, with its own dangers and wonders."

The room was wrapped in attentive silence, and all eyes were fixed on the map as Elwinner skillfully manipulated it.

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"If I were to describe the layout of these areas," he continued, "I'd say it's like placing ten cars scattered across a soccer field. The cars represent the macro areas, while the rest of the field consists of vast prairies, areas where... well, there isn’t much."

The Goat Horse chuckled, amused by the unusual comparison. "A bit of an odd analogy, but it works. Are you a soccer fan by any chance?"

Elwinner responded with an embarrassed smile. "Yes, I admit it. Soccer has always been my passion. Sorry if it’s not the most academic analogy in the world, but it’s what came to mind."

Lynx clapped her hands as if to bring the focus back to the present. "Alright, now that we have an idea of how this world is structured, can you tell us more about these macro areas?"

Elwinner nodded, eager to share his knowledge. "Of course! Let's start with Ashenwood and Gear Savannah. The first is an area almost none of you know, perhaps only Marshmallow. It’s an area where the system has sent hardly anyone, possibly because it’s the smallest. It’s a forest covered in a shroud of gray mist. Then there’s Gear Savannah, well… you all know it. After all, you come from there."

Samantheye leaned forward, interested. "And the other eight?"

"We have the Dragon Valley, a place where winged lizards of every kind are constantly seen flying around. Then there’s Echo Maze, a place where every whisper inevitably turns into a scream. Here we have the Sunken City, hidden beneath a gigantic lake. To reach it, you must dive underwater, and once there, somehow it’s enveloped in a breathable bubble. On the opposite side, there's the Mirage Desert, where reality and illusions are constantly blurred. Over here, we have the Ruins of Aeterna, an ancient city full of enigmas. Next, there’s the Enchanted Mountain, a place teeming with magic in every blade of grass. Far to the north, we find the Oblivion Glacier, cold and inhospitable, and finally, far to the south, there is the Vesuvietna Volcano. The heat there is deadly."

Elwinner, noticing the growing interest of his audience, decided to delve deeper into demonstrating his abilities. "Now, let me show you something even more special," he said with a pleased smile. With a series of elegant and precise gestures, he began to manipulate the hologram of the map, highlighting a multitude of brightly colored dots scattered across the virtual world.

"Each bright point you see represents one of our Wyolander comrades," he explained, his voice vibrant with excitement. "And thanks to my Wyolander Prescience, I can distinguish the different ranks based on the colors of the dots. It’s quite a handy feature for quickly understanding the distribution of our forces."

The group members crowded closer, keenly observing the different colors shimmering on the map. "So, these white dots are the E Ranks?" Samantheye asked, pointing to a cluster of lights in one of the macro areas.

"Exactly," Elwinner confirmed, "and the green ones are D Ranks, blue are C Ranks, purple are B Ranks, and the golden ones are our precious A Ranks." As he spoke, his finger traced the outlines of some golden dots, making them glow brighter for a moment.

Then, with a mischievous smile, he pointed to a single bright red dot shining intensely in the heart of the Overblown Castle. "And this, as you might guess, is our Jolly Rank, Marshmallow. Unique in the entire game."

Caught off guard by how clearly he was represented on the map, Marshmallow laughed nervously. "Well, looks like I won't be hiding easily, eh?"

Elwinner shook his head affectionately. "Don't worry, Marshmallow. Being the Jolly Rank has its perks, but I assure you that here you are among friends. And with this map, we can ensure that none of us gets lost or faces trouble without being able to intervene."

With the map still glowing before them, Raven concluded, "Our purpose here at the Overblown Castle is clear: to gather every Wyolander and unite with every single player who belongs to our faction. Only then can we plan and execute an effective counteroffensive against the forces of Novgovia. I have no intention of leaving anyone behind."

This statement infused Marshmallow's group with a sense of determination. The chance to fight united, as a true army, was exactly what they had hoped to find at the Overblown Castle.

As the meeting drew to a close, Parabellum spoke up with his authoritative tone. "Tomorrow," he announced, "a general assembly will be held here, in the main hall. It will be the opportunity to officially introduce the Jolly Rank to all present Wyolanders." His expression was inscrutable, but the tone indicated the significance of the event.

Marshmallow's group couldn't hide their excitement at the announcement. The idea of participating in such a significant assembly, seeing all the Wyolanders gathered in one place, was thrilling.

Parabellum continued, adding a detail that further heightened the anticipation. "All five A Ranks will also be present. It will be a unique opportunity to see the strength of the Wyolands united."

That news struck a bolt of excitement through Marshmallow and his friends. The idea of meeting five of the nine A Ranks gathered in one place, filled the air with palpable anticipation.