[Processing student data…]
[Retinal scan… verified]
[Fingerprint… verified]
[Genetic test… confirmed]
[Loading: 57%… 87%… 94%…]
[User data loaded]
The visor display slowly came to life, until lines upon lines of data flooded my vision. It took me a moment to mentally adjust to the new environment before pressing the S key to confirm.
A cheerful jingle, oddly familiar, echoed in my ears, and an involuntary smile slipped out. Even after reincarnating into a dangerous world, the technology here still insisted on reminding me of anime openings from my previous life.
The pre-simulation procedures were standard. With technological advancement, forging an identity had become as easy as unlocking a phone. A custom-made mask was all it took for anyone to pass as someone else.
Fortunately, detecting a Djinn was far simpler. After all, forming a pact with a demon wasn't exactly something the human body welcomed with open arms. The genetic alterations left deep, permanent marks.
Picture an empty balloon being filled with air.It inflates smoothly, spinning and floating lightly.That's how the human body reacts when its mana increases.
Now replace the air with water. The balloon loses its shape, becomes heavy, unstable, on the verge of bursting.
Demonic energy worked the same way, dense, viscous, forcing the body to warp just to endure its power. That was why a simple retinal, fingerprint, and genetic scan was enough to detect ordinary Djinns. Their bodies had already been rewritten at a fundamental level.
Of course, that only applied to the weak ones.The strongest could suppress those changes, stabilizing their bodies until they appeared human once more.
Luckily, Djinns of that caliber rarely bothered with disguises. And even so, the tests were mandatory—a necessary precaution considering what could happen if one of them infiltrated the system.
Just imagine it: a Djinn inside a VR capsule, gaining access to the equipment's energy core. One single discharge would be enough to fry the brains of everyone connected, turning an entire class into vegetables.
And yes, that kind of accident had already happened.More than once.
It was enough to force corporations to implement strict protocols in an attempt to restore public trust.
"And what about Professor Thibaut?" you might ask. Technically, he had the power to do exactly that. But in practice… he couldn't.
His role was different, to turn heroes into Djinns. To act as a recruiter, exploiting resentment, envy, and frustration until students gave in to the temptation of a pact. A dirty job, but an essential one.
Besides, releasing a surge of electricity inside Lock, the academy where high-ranking heroes lived, would be suicide. Any abnormal energy accumulation would be detected instantly.
And Thibaut wasn't stupid enough to risk blowing his cover just to kill someone…Unless, of course, that order came directly from the demon he had contracted with.
And that was exactly what happened to Kevin.
The memory made me sigh.
Before I could dig any deeper into that train of thought, my surroundings began to distort. A white light swallowed everything, forcing my eyes shut.
When I opened them again, blinking against the brightness, I realized I was somewhere else.
A void. No ground, no sky, just endless, pure white.
If I focused, I could make out distant silhouettes on the horizon, blurred like reflections on the surface of water.
But near me, there were only five people.
They slowly moved closer, grouping together. I recognized two of them immediately, though I had no time to speak.
Before anyone could open their mouth, a translucent window appeared in front of us, floating, glowing, waiting for confirmation.
======
[Group 9]
[Rank 2] Melissa Hall
[Rank 18] Troy Derekz
[Rank 92] Jack Lovart
[Rank 136] Anthony Morter
[Rank 152] Jenna Morello
[Rank 2055] Kazehara Yuto
======
"Ah… great. A troublesome group."
— Melissa Hall, Rank 2. Don't slow me down.
She introduced herself bluntly, as if speaking at all were a favor. The cold gaze, the disdainful tone, the air of superiority—it was obvious she wasn't here to make friends.
— Yoo! Troy Derekz, Rank 18. Nice to meet you all!
The other familiar face was Troy Derekz, one of Jin's lackeys alongside Arnold. Black hair, yellow eyes, a sharp smile. The kind of guy who always seemed to be enjoying himself at someone else's expense. But that smile wasn't kind—it was serpentine.
I already knew who he was.In the original story, Troy became a Djinn, consumed by envy and an inferiority complex toward Jin.
The remaining three looked like random students, but their ranks proved they weren't weak. Still, standing next to Melissa and Troy, they seemed cornered—sweating, stumbling over words, unsure of themselves.
— I'm Anthony Morter, Rank 136. Nice to meet you.
Tall, average-looking, clearly intimidated.
— Jack Lovart, Rank 92.
Short green hair, serious eyes. A sword at his waist—he seemed more composed.
— M-my name is Jenna Morello, Rank 152. I-I hope we get along…
Small, messy hair, a staff far too big for her body. She stuttered so badly she almost couldn't finish.
Three average students trying not to disappear in front of two sharks.But the moment I said my name, everything changed.
— Kazehara Yuto, Rank 2055.
The tension on their faces shifted into a mix of relief and contempt. Melissa glanced at me with irritation. Troy, of course, was the first to approach, wearing that same venomous smile.
— Hehe, looks like they really worked hard on group balancing, huh? Guess this is the price of having someone like Melissa Hall on the team!
He chuckled casually and placed a "friendly" hand on my shoulder. I could feel the poison behind his words, the fake cheer masking a desire to humiliate.
A vein throbbed at my temple. My mood soured instantly.
— You're too close. Get off me.
The words slipped out before I could stop them, cold, emotionless, slicing through the air like a blade. Troy blinked, surprised, as if his brain needed a moment to process.
— Huh?
CLAP!
The sharp sound echoed. A quick, precise slap, and his hand was no longer on my shoulder. In the same calm, almost lazy motion, I was standing beside the group, as if nothing had happened.
— Don't touch me. We're not that close.
I pulled a small bottle of alcohol from my pocket, pressed the spray, and began disinfecting the spot where he'd touched me. The sharp scent spread between us.
The entire group fell silent. A heavy, thick silence, almost tangible.
Eyes widened. Troy froze. I kept cleaning, calmly, like someone removing filth from a valuable object.
Then I looked at him.
It wasn't my usual bored gaze. It was pure disgust. Even though I was shorter, it felt like I was looking down on him.
It wasn't anger. It was contempt. The kind of look Troy had never received before, not from Jin, not from Melissa, not from anyone above him.
The vein on his temple pulsed.
His smile faltered.
For a brief moment, it was almost possible to hear his ego cracking… and his blood boiling with rage.
Then a metallic voice cut through the tension.
[Ehem… Ehem… Group 9, can you hear me?]
Professor Thibaut.
[If you can hear me, say "Verify."]
"Verify."
"Verify."
"Verify."
"Verify."
"Verify."
"Verify."
[One… two… three… four… five… six. Good. Everyone's present. Now listen carefully—I'll explain the rules only once.]
[Since this is likely the first virtual session for some of you, today's class will be lighter.]
[The people around you are the group you'll be working with.]
[Before anyone complains, the groups were balanced by the system. Most of the time it works well… though there are exceptions beyond my control.]
He was obviously referring to Kevin and the other top ten monsters.
[Each group will be deployed into a remote terrain, randomly generated by the computer.]
[The objective is simple: survive for one hour.]
[Extra points will be awarded for completing hidden tasks.]
[Simply surviving guarantees a pass. Bonus points are granted for each group member who remains alive at your side.]
[You have two minutes to discuss strategy. Good luck.]
As soon as the voice faded, I turned around and walked away. No warning. No ceremony.
— Hey! Where do you think you're going? Aren't you going to discuss strategy?
Jack's voice came from behind me. It didn't sound concerned—it sounded authoritative. The kind of confidence he'd only show toward someone he considered weaker.
Five people in the top 200, including Melissa Hall. Did they really need me to talk strategy?
Give me a break.
Without turning back, I replied flatly.
— Feeling lonely? Go buy a hamster.
…
The silence that followed was… strange.
Even though the remark was directed at Jack, it felt like everyone had been pricked. I could almost sense veins throbbing at their temples.
But I was already too far away to hear whatever they said next.