"Class B."
Han stared at his own promotion announcement. He had skipped over class C into class B. Such a case had been extremely rare.
Han understood his promotion had been decided after much discussion. The first years stared toward Han.
"It's about time. Everyone already realized it."
Class D's student spoke.
Han's level of expertise was too great compared to class D for him to remain here. Han had long passed class D's skills.
"Thank you for everything. Let's meet again later."
Han said shortly before officially leaving the class D dorms. During these 3 months, he had sent off many students. Many students were promoted, but many of them had also been sent home.
Class D had the most fluctuations throughout Ark. In such a place, Han had perfectly overseen the position of class president. Everybody agreed that he had been an amazing class president.
Han walked to class B's dormitories. When he walked out to the common corridor, the surrounding students started murmuring amongst themselves.
Ark's structures were built to be pragmatic and basic. The place had been built without an ounce of artistic sensibility.
'It's fine. I can do this. I've done it in class D. I've come to class B with my own efforts.'
Han opened the door to class B's dormitory. He spotted a few of the problematic students he happened across a few days ago.
Their leader, Dmitri, had been promoted to class A.
Han glanced over all the student's faces. He didn't avoid their gazes and stood tall with pride.
"Han."
Kuro spoke when he saw Han.
"Hi Kuro."
Han gave a short greeting with his eyes and passed Kuro.
He looked to his bracelet to figure out his spot in the dorms. The hologram projected his assigned place. But suddenly, he found a familiar face.
"Jose."
"Long time no see, Han. I knew you'd be promoted."
The previous class D president, Jose, was on the bunk bed above his. His tan skin made his teeth almost blinding as he smiled.
Jose, who had been promoted to class C was now in class B. His promotions were going along smoothly. Jose didn't particularly stand out, but he was no push over.
"Welcome to class B, Han."
Class B's president said. The president had come to greet him only out of formality's sake.
It seems he had already been informed of his promotion to class A on the next round of transfers. Class B was filled with many factions vying for the class president position.
The position of class president isn't too grand, but they have many special privileges. Ark makes every little aspect of life into a group competition. No matter how cruel, the students quickly learn to adapt to the adult world.
'I'm already used to this.'
Han mumbled.
He already understood this survival game. One must advance, while others die out one by one. There was no meaningful story where everyone learns to co-exist.
'If I get to eat my fill today, someone in the world is starving.'
Han had always lived in a world of survival of the fittest. This was the main reason he could quickly adapt while making himself stand out from the crowd.
Han laid in his bed while reading the mail from Major Kang. This was the only time he could completely relax and feel at comfort.
"They're living very well."
Han flipped through the photos of his younger siblings one by one. The youngest of the bunch was six, while the rest were seven to eight years old. When the orphanage was closed down, most of the kids of age went their own road to support themselves. Nobody dared to care of the younger ones while they didn't have the ability to even take care of themselves.
It had only been Han that didn't abandon the younger children. They were a family of eight children, and although they put in a lot of effort to survive together, three children had died of starvation and illnesses.
Han had already felt despair at such an early age.
"Major Kang must have already received the news of my transfer to class B. I'm sure my siblings will be given better treatment.'
The Republic of Korea in the North East Asian Alliance had fared the worst and was known as hell on earth.
Ever since the waves of aggression, Japan had remained fairly safe while China had such a large population that they were able to make a swift recovery.
'If I were to become an official psyker, even after the end of the waves of aggression, I could live a stable and comfortable life. The psykers who had graduated from Ark were important figures to society.
Han focused his heart and closed his eyes. His bed felt unfamiliar, but easily fell asleep.
"It's time for parachute landing training."
The drill instructor said. The children looked nervous as they were lectured.
"At any moment, you could possibly die or break a leg. If your neck becomes tangled while this drill, we have no method to save you. Become well acquainted with the method and make sure to practice repeatedly to train your muscle memory. We will be take off at 1630.
The children received their own parachutes one by one. They read the instructions thoroughly. There had never been a class requiring parachutes up until today. Nobody had any experience, so their expressions remained tense.
"If your neck gets strangled, cut the rope with the knife we have provided you. A few broken strings won't cause you to go crashing down."
The drill instructor began handing out knives to each student.
While Han had been checking his parachute, he noticed biscuit crackers in the accessory pocket.
Several of the children secretly ate the chocolate snacks provided.
'The drill instructors of Ark can't be this unguarded. They must have some secret intention for this.'
Han made sure not to touch his emergency food supply. He looked over his parachute and compared them with the instruction manual for any irregularities.
The drill instructors lectured on how to deal with several situations in case of an accident during a fall, then played a video of an accident following the lecture."
"That's terrible."
"Didn't that person die for real?"
The children mumbled.
The accident footage was brutal. One person broke both his legs while trying to land, another simply smashed to the ground. There was even a scene of someone's head smashing open.
The children who were not prepared to see such a video threw up in horror.
"Ugh."
Han forcibly endured the nauseousness rising inside his chest. The drill instructors had purposely showcased many accidents consecutively.
Throughout his training in Ark, Han realized the drill instructors didn't carry out useless activities.
"Everyone aboard."
The drill instructor lead the students into a cargo helicopter with two propellers that could carry about 40 adults.
Han followed their directions and marched into his assigned helicopter. One drill instructor was already seated inside for each helicopter.
"We are on our way towards a deserted island. This island is not too far away from Ark, but I don't suggest attempting to swim back onto Ark. Unless you're happy becoming shark food, that is."
The students all carried a disturbed look in their eyes. The drill instructor looked over the assembly of students and spoke once more.
"You must survive for six nights and seven days." Everyone must have thought this was a parachute training drill. However, this is actually a survival training drill.
Many of the children could be seen trembling. Up until today, the drill instructors of Ark had always been next to them. The drill instructors were to be feared, but at the same time they gave the children a sense of safety.
'We must survive on a deserted island for a week without the drill instructors?'
"That sounds fun. It will be like camping."
The drill instructor watched the children's night and day reactions and roared with laughter.
"I advise that you be wary to not break your legs upon landing"
Soon, the helicopter seemed to pause and instead propelled higher into the air. Han's ears felt muffled. He listened to the drill instructors murmuring words. The drill instructor shouted loudly.
"It will be good if you can land safely, however, in unexpected situations make do by landing in water or on the beach! I wish you luck young brats!"