Did you ever run east when you get the forking room? There might be some help there :D My idea was that with the stationary enemies you have to think about maneuvering the small ones to them to get the best reward! The sword in the first room is a guaranteed drop in the first room as it gives the most visual feedback instead of random stat increase! Weird it should work if you kill them close enough to each other :think:
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My first playthrough I didn't get the sword, I didn't kill them on top of each other and got 2 hearts, which I didn't need at the time. I played 4 times and couldn't get past that 3rd room. I tried again and went to the east side of the room but all I found was locked door. Nothing I killed in that room dropped anything any time I played