Outside the Sword Graveyard's portal, the atmosphere had turned tense.
Injured warriors staggered out, some covered in burns, others bleeding from deep wounds, and a few dragging unconscious comrades.
A crowd quickly formed—merchants, spectators, and fellow warriors, whispering among themselves.
"What's going on in there?"
"Why are so many people coming out half-dead?"
"Did a monster appear? Is there a test of survival too?"
The guards stationed near the portal remained completely unfazed.
One of them, an older man with a bored expression, crossed his arms. "This is normal."
A younger guard nodded beside him. "We've warned them. The Sword Graveyard is dangerous."
The older guard sighed. "And yet, every time it appears, people rush in, thinking they'll walk out with a legendary sword."
Another injured man collapsed just a few feet away from them, groaning.
The younger guard cleared his throat. "Ahem. As I was saying, we have no responsibility for what happens in there."
The older guard nodded. "We told them. They signed up for this. Not our fault."
Meanwhile, the Mercenaries of Mayhem were getting nervous.
Jim paced back and forth, arms crossed. "Alright, it's been way too long. I'm going in."
Bob nodded. "Yeah, Derek might be in trouble."
Marcus adjusted his crossbow. "I'd rather not wait until someone drags him out."
Bam simply stated, "We should act."
But when they stepped forward, the guards blocked them.
The older guard sighed heavily. "Nope."
Jim frowned. "What do you mean nope?"
The younger guard shook his head. "You guys are not swordsman."
Bob huffed. "That's a dumb rule."
The older guard shrugged. "Not our rule. Magic rule."
Marcus narrowed his eyes. "So what, if we step through, we just get rejected?"
The younger guard nodded. "Pretty much."
Jim clenched his fists. "Alright, then let me rephrase—I don't care. Let me in."
The older guard snorted. "What are you gonna do? Punch the magic?"
Bob cracked his knuckles. "We've punched weirder things."
The younger guard leaned forward. "Look, I get that you're worried, but the portal doesn't care about your feelings. It only lets swordsmans in."
Jim crossed his arms. "So, basically, we're useless out here?"
The older guard nodded. "Exactly."
Marcus sighed. "I hate when bureaucracy wins."
Bob groaned. "Fine. But if Derek dies, I'm blaming you."
The older guard shrugged.
Just as the argument was about to escalate—
The portal shimmered.
A figure stepped through.
Derek emerged from the portal, bruised, sweaty, and looking emotionally drained.
But what caught everyone's attention wasn't him—
It was the sword in his hand.
Or rather… what was left of it.
Jim blinked. "Derek… is that… a broken sword?"
The group stared.
Derek looked down at the weapon in his hands—a simple, normal-sized sword, but the blade was snapped near the middle, jagged and uneven.
Bob scratched his head. "Did you… accidentally grab a trash sword?"
Marcus tilted his head. "Where's the big, majestic greatsword you wanted?"
Derek's eye twitched. "I don't want to talk about it."
Jim smirked. "Lemme guess—you went in hoping for a legendary weapon, and this is what you got?"
Derek sighed. "..."
Silence.
Then Bob burst out laughing.
"Oh gods, that's the saddest thing I've ever seen."
Jim grinned. "All that effort… for half a sword."
Bam nodded. "Poetic."
Derek, ignoring them, exhaled. "Well… at least I got something."
Marcus nodded. "That's… one way to look at it."
Derek, inspecting the broken blade, muttered, "I guess I'll just keep this as a memory. An achievement, at least."
Jim patted his back. "Yeah, buddy. You didn't fail. You just… got severely disappointed."
Bob grinned. "Hey, look at the bright side. It's still better than what we got."
Marcus raised a hand. "Which is nothing."
Derek sighed. "That doesn't help."
And just like that, Derek returned from the legendary Sword Graveyard… with a broken sword, a bruised ego, and a newfound understanding that fate had a sense of humor.