Chapter 1

The blaring horn of the delivery truck was the last thing Maya remembered.

One second, she was a nineteen-year-old college student stepping off the curb with a gym bag slung over her shoulder, fresh from her kickboxing class. The next, there was a blinding flash of headlights, a sickening sensation of weightlessness, and then-darkness.

When she finally opened her eyes, she wasn't in a hospital. And she certainly wasn't dead.

"We did it! The summoning was a success!"

Maya blinked against the harsh, flickering torchlight. She was lying on a cold stone floor etched with glowing, intricate geometric runes. As her vision cleared, she saw a group of men wearing heavy, dark robes. They looked like extras from a low-budget fantasy movie, their hands raised in awe.

"O brave Cardinal Heroes! Please, we beg of you, save our world!" one of the robed men cried out, dropping to one knee.

Heroes? Maya pushed herself up. That was when she noticed two things. First, she wasn't alone. Four young men were standing around her within the glowing circle.

One held a sword, another a spear, the third a bow, and the fourth-a scruffy-looking guy with messy black hair-had a small silver shield strapped to his arm.

The second thing she noticed was her own right arm. Enclosing her hand and forearm was a sleek, metallic gauntlet. It was forged of a silver-white metal, intricately plated for joint mobility, with a glowing sapphire embedded right on the knuckle guard.

"Wait, where are we?" the guy with the shield asked, his voice cracking slightly with panic. "And what's with this shield?"

"Is this… a VR game?" the guy with the sword muttered, analyzing his blade with an experienced eye.

Maya stared at her gauntlet. She clenched her fist, hearing the satisfying clack of the metal joints sliding perfectly together. It was heavy, yet it felt like a natural extension of her body. Suddenly, a translucent, glowing blue screen materialized in the corner of her vision.

[Legendary Weapon Acknowledged.]

[Class: Cardinal Gauntlet Hero]

[Level: 1]

[Equipment: Small Leather Gauntlet (Default)]

[Attack: 5 | Defense: 3 | Agility: 10]

A status menu? Maya thought, her heart hammering against her ribs. I died. I definitely died. Which means… I've been isekaied.

The head priest stepped forward, his eyes sweeping over the five of them, lingering on their weapons. "According to the ancient texts, we have summoned the Sword, the Spear, the Bow, the Shield, and… the Gauntlet. The Five Cardinal Heroes. Our world, Melromarc, stands on the brink of ruin from the apocalyptic Waves of Calamity. We used an ancient ritual to summon you five here."

"Waves of Calamity? Look, buddy, we don't have time for this," the guy with the spear sighed, tossing his hair back arrogantly. "What's in it for us? You can't just drag us here and expect us to work for free."

"Yeah," the bow wielder added, puffing out his chest. "We have rights."

Maya looked at the other four. They were adapting to this way too fast. She looked down at the guy with the shield, who seemed just as overwhelmed as she felt.

"If you will please follow me to the throne room," the priest urged, bowing low. "The King of Melromarc will explain everything, including your compensation and the support you will receive."

As the group began to follow the priests up a winding spiral staircase, Maya fell in step beside the guy with the Shield.

"Hey," she whispered. "You have no idea what's going on either, right?"

He jumped slightly, turning to look at her. "Yeah. I was just reading a book in the library, and now I'm here. I'm Naofumi Iwatani."

"Maya Lin," she replied, offering her non-gauntlet hand for a shake. "Looks like we're the defensive and close-combat duo of the group. Let's hope this King is actually helpful."

The heavy wooden doors at the top of the stairs groaned open, revealing a massive, opulent throne room lined with guards in shining armor, nobles in velvet finery, and a man with a crown and a stern, weathered face sitting on the throne: King Aultcray Melromarc XXXII.

The King's eyes drifted over the group. He nodded at the Sword, the Spear, and the Bow. His gaze hit Naofumi with a barely concealed flash of disdain. Then, his eyes landed on Maya and the gleaming silver weapon on her arm. His expression shifted to one of intense calculation.

"So, the legends of the forgotten Fifth Hero are true," the King murmured, leaning forward. "Welcome, Heroes. Step forward and declare your names."

Interactive Choice: How should Maya introduce herself to the King?

Your choice will affect how the King, the nobles, and the other heroes view her right from the start!