1… 2… 3…
[Simulation initialized. Good luck, player.]
A robotic voice echoed inside my head. It was the last thing I heard before everything dissolved into a white blur. The ground vanished, sound faded, and suddenly it felt like I was floating in a sea of warm water.
Strangely enough… it was comfortable.
That comfort didn't last long.
A blast of scorching wind cut against my skin, and the world began rebuilding itself before my eyes, cracked earth stretching endlessly, withered trees, massive stone formations, and a blazing sun that burned just to look at.
Within seconds, I was standing in the middle of an arid desert.
The heat felt almost too real. I crouched down and touched the ground, feeling the coarse texture of the sand, the warmth seeping into my fingers. All of this… was just code. Endless lines of programming simulating a dry hellscape.
The technology of this world was, frankly, terrifying.
[Rank 2055 — Kazehara Yuto | Team Points: 6]
While I was still taking in the scenery, a translucent window appeared in front of me. I swiped it aside to close it.
The system was simple.
Each student was worth one point.
If someone in the group died, everyone lost a point.
Hit zero? Elimination.
The only way to recover points was by completing hidden objectives scattered across the map. At the end, teams would be ranked based on overall performance.
I looked around. No one in sight.
As expected. The professor never said we'd start together, which pretty much confirmed my suspicion—everyone had been thrown into a random location.
The objective itself was straightforward. Survive for one hour.
My weapon materialized at my waist: a black katana, identical to the one I used during classes.
Shua.
Shua.
I swung the blade a few times, testing its balance. Perfect. I sheathed it again, satisfied. Still, staring at the lifeless landscape, I couldn't help muttering to myself.
— Damn it…
Professor Thibaut had explained the bare minimum. Not a single word about what "survive" actually meant.
And that was the trick.
When someone deliberately leaves out something as obvious as "don't kill each other," people naturally assume the worst, or whatever is most convenient. It was intentional.
He wanted to see who would keep a cool head… and who would give in to fear.
This test wasn't about endurance.It was about instinct.
Separating the "capable" from the "useless," or something along those lines.
And beneath it all, there was something darker at play.
This kind of environment… it was perfect for cultivating resentment, envy, despair. Everything he needed to create Djinns.
People who couldn't bear their own inadequacy, who would accept any kind of power just to feel less insignificant.
Take Kevin, for example.
If someone ranked within the top hundred challenged Kevin and lost miserably, their pride would turn into resentment, not because Kevin was strong, but because of what he represented.
Some would quit immediately, sure. But the proud ones? The arrogant ones? They would never accept defeat. They'd cling to revenge at every opportunity.
As time dragged on and the gap between them and Kevin's overwhelming talent became impossible to ignore, they'd sink deeper into frustration and despair.
And once they reached that breaking point, Professor Thibaut would make his move—offering power.
Tempted by the offer, a pact would be formed.
And a new Djinn would be born.
In short, this test was packed with ulterior motives.
As for my complaint about the environment, it was much simpler. Hot air scorched my face, the sun felt like it was actively trying to roast me alive, and the surroundings weren't helping, rocks everywhere, barely any trees. A forest of stone.
From what I remembered of the original test, Kevin and Jin spawned in the northern mountains. Melissa and Amanda started in the west, near the ocean. Ren appeared in the eastern forests.
And me?
Of course, I ended up here. The southern desert.
If my memory served me right, Emma also started in this region… but she bolted within minutes.
Smart girl.
That was actually one of the desert's few advantages. Being the harshest environment, most people didn't stay here long. And those who did… were definitely not main characters.
Which was perfect for me.
Less chance of running into someone. More chance of surviving a full hour without having to talk to anyone.
The problem was… well, it was a desert.
The dry air scratched at my throat, the heat made me sweat within minutes, and honestly, I was already tired of existing under that sun.
I kept walking aimlessly, wondering if it might be worth heading toward another biome. But the thought of running into another human being filled me with existential laziness.
— Hah…
I sighed.
That's when I noticed something odd in the air. A scent that didn't belong.
Sniff.
Sniff.
Lately, my senses had been unusually sharp, touch, hearing, sight, smell. Maybe it was a side effect of getting stronger, or something related to the breathing techniques. Either way…
At that moment, I could swear I smelled wet sand.
Wet sand. In the middle of a desert.
That alone was enough to spark my curiosity.
I followed the scent through a maze of rocks and dead trees. This part of the desert felt almost claustrophobic, massive stone blocks blocked the horizon, and the path twisted like a natural labyrinth.
The smell grew stronger. Soon, I could hear it too, the faint sound of moving water. My heart picked up pace.
No way…
When I rounded the final rock, I stopped dead in my tracks.
The sight stole my breath away, and a genuine smile escaped before I could stop it.
A small lake of crystal-clear water shimmered under the sun. Around it, patches of yellowed grass and a few palm trees cast shadows over the hot sand. On the far side, a dark cave opened between the rocks, its interior swallowed by darkness due to the contrast with the outside light.
An oasis.
I sat beneath one of the palm trees, relief washing over me. A few coconuts lay near the trunk. One clean cut with the katana was enough to crack one open.
And for a few minutes, I experienced peak irony.
Sitting in the shade, drinking coconut water, admiring a peaceful lake, during what was supposed to be a survival test.
Ren was probably in the eastern forest, completing some hidden objective for bonus points.
Me? I couldn't care less.
My group had five people ranked within the top 200. To them, a bottom-tier nobody like me probably wouldn't last twenty minutes. If I survived an hour, I'd already be exceeding expectations.
Besides, the oasis was hidden, and the desert was practically empty. I doubted anyone would find me here.
Maybe I could even take a nap.
I stretched, took the last sip of coconut water, and tossed the empty shell into the lake.
Ploc.
The sound broke the silence, echoing softly between the rocks. I smiled, satisfied, and leaned back into the shade, ready to doze off.
The noise reverberated through the stone corridors.
And disturbed someone.
…
Deep inside the nearby cave, something moved.
Six crimson eyes opened in the darkness, reflecting hunger and rage.
An unwelcome visitor had just woken it up.