"Why do you keep your unique skill a secret?"
Kuro asked Jose.
"I don't like to stand out. Everyone in Ark is trying to compete with each other. Anyone who chooses to compete for the top is bound to have rivals trying to step on you. Do you know class A's Simon Dell? He had transferred together with you guys. Everyone refers to him as a genius, but in turn everyone in class A sees him as nothing but a rival. Instead, by following the pace of the crowd, I can get promoted with ease and comfort. The key point is to make sure you're never at the top until the very last moment.
"Is that so?"
Kuro said, unable to understand. Han however, understood within moments.
Han was finally able to understand why Jose had such a relaxed, my-pace air about him. Jose never let himself stand out from the crowd. He always did things averagely.
Nobody ever hated him. This was Jose's method of survival.
"Han, you understand me don't you? You're also part of the prominent crowd. Your psychic skills are low, but you're very fast to pick up everything else. There was also that time you had battled with Dmitri, many people are wary of you and consider you their rivals. In class D, everyone's ranks were far too low that they looked up to you with honor and respect, but don't expect anything like that in class B. Everyone will only consider you their stepping stone."
"My psychic skills are nonexistent. If I don't show them good results in other subjects, it's impossible for me to become promoted. I can't do things in your way."
Jose's fire skills were extremely valuable here on this deserted island. Just these points made him easily climb up the ranks.
With fire, food can be easily consumed.
'It's possible. We just need Kuro's skills.'
Han fell asleep while lost in his own thoughts.
The next day , Han took Kuro out to the ocean. Jose had remained in the hideout due to his injury.
Instead, Jose was in charge of keeping their hideout safe and gathering dried firewood.
"We must catch fish."
It was not possible to consume fish without fire. However, it was a different story because they did have fire.
"Han, do you know how to fish?"
Kuro asked. Han shook his head.
"I won't be the one to catch fish, you will be. Kuro. You're very good at psychokinesis. With your skills, it's possible to catch fish as long as you focus a little bit."
Lifting out a living fish from within the water is considered a high level technique.
Han believed it was possible for Kuro. Kuro had been assigned into class B based on his psychic powers alone. His mastery of psychokinetic powers had also been very fast.
His case had been the complete opposite of Han Lee.
"I-I'm going to catch it? I can't!"
"You have to. If you don't we will end up starving. I'm going to share my remaining food rations with Jose as well."
"Uu,uuu."
Kuro groaned. He had beads of sweat dripping down his skin.
"You can do it, Kuro. You're a genius of psychic powers."
Han grabbed Kuro's shoulder and spoke. Kuro blinked.
"I'll try."
Han watched Kuro from behind. Kuro stood atop a boulder and looked down into the water.
'As long as Kuro focuses, it's possible. He can use foresight and his psychokinetic powers. He'll be able to read the fish's movements.'
Han had realized Kuro's potential powers. Although his personality was on the weak side, the drill instructors had not failed him due to his future potential.
Kuro's curly hair danced as a gust of wind passed. He mumbled something in Japanese as if he was chanting a spell. It was a strong hint. Blue psychic energy spilled out of Kuro's black eyes.
The ocean splashed violently due to Kuro's psychokinesis. The first time, he had failed.
"It's okay, Kuro. Just try again."
Han cheered for Kuro. Kuro received courage from Han and continued to challenge himself.
Psychic skills require much mental strength. Kuro felt dizzy but he wished to meet Han's expectations.
'He's my first friend who believes in me. I can't let him down.'
This was the first time Kuro had focused all his strength toward his own psychic powers like this. The fishes movements seemed to flash in his mind like instinct. He understood which direction the fish would move by reflex.
'Now!'
He waved his arm in the air and suddenly made a tight fist.
Splash!
A fish rose from within the water. The fish rose up toward the boulder and was dropped to the ground. It flopped around on the ground.
"I did it!"
Kuro felt ecstatic joy. Han roared out with laughter.
"Good job! Kuro, you did so well!"
After Kuro grasped the method, he easily caught four more. He wanted to catch more but he had already used his psychic powers to its limit.
"This much is enough."
"I've helped, right?"
Kuro said with a tired voice.
He had a relieved expression. He felt like he repaid some of the debt he had occurred with Han. Kuro's heart felt a lot lighter with this.
"Of course."
Han spoke honestly.
Kuro had accomplished a very important task. If Jose and Kuro used their skills together, they didn't have to worry about food at all. The future road ahead that seemed full of thorns was no more.
"Let's hurry back to eat. I'm starving."
Han packed the fishes and hurried his steps.
The cave's camouflage looked a degree upgraded. Han almost couldn't find it himself. Jose already prepared the fire.
"We got fish, Jose!"
Han cheered. Jose's eyes widened in shock.
"How did you catch it?"
"Kuro caught it with his telekinesis. He has amazing skills."
"Kuro did?"
Jose had an disbelieving expression. He understood Kuro's psychic talent was like no other, but he didn't realize it was to this degree.
Catching a moving target with telekinesis was a high level technique. It's not something first years could accomplish easily.
"Hehe."
Kuro scratched his head while laughing.
The youths clumsily prepared the fish. They cut out the inner organs and stuck it onto a stick to roast over the fire.
A delicious smell wafted across the cave. It was torture waiting until the end. Everyone had been starving for days.
"It's done."
As those words were spoken, everyone couldn't mind the hotness of the fish and tore through their fish in seconds.
They decided the order for the nightwatch and comfortably fell asleep. If the three of them stuck together, the remaining 4 days could be passed with success.
On the fourth day of the deserted island survival drill, Han's team couldn't eat to their fill, but they continued to consume consistent amount of protein so getting by everyday wasn't so bad.
Kuro used his psychic powers to catch about four to six fishes a day. Shared among the three youths, it was plenty to stave off hunger.
Woosh!
Kuro stood atop of a boulder and used his psychic powers.
He used elaborate telekinetic techniques to trap the fish and raise it out. It was a rare scene among first years.
"Kuro, your condition today is very good."
Han said.
This was Kuro's seventh fish today and he looked like he still had powers left to spare.
"I've grown used to it. I got another one."
Kuro said and suddenly fished another one. He gained much confidence through this experience and his expression seemed much brighter than before.
"This much is enough for today. We finished here much faster than expected. Jose should be happy."
Han's party all had their own role.
Han was in charge of guarding and refilling drinking water, Kuro fishing, and Jose was in charge of keeping up the camouflage of their hideout.
On their fourth day, the cave felt like home. It felt like they made a safe house for themselves.
'But I wonder how the other kids are fairing.'
Han understood the pain of starvation. The children who couldn't eat should be reaching their limits about now.
Theoretically, everyone should be able to survive without food for a week. But, in reality three days without food would bring intense pain through the entire body.
"Han."
Kuro suddenly stopped in his tracks. Han looked on quizzically.
"Why?"
"I have a bad feeling."
Kuro's expression darkened. Han felt an ominous feeling and hurried forward. He ran through the forest to return to the cave. He was completely out of breath when he returned.
"JOSE!"
The cave entrance's camouflage was broken down and messed up. He called out to Jose, but nobody answered back.
Han and Kuro walked inside. Jose was unconscious on the ground. The two could see evidence of the beating Jose had endured.
"They stole all our equipment," Kuro said.
They didn't have a single water filter nor water jug. The parachute that had blocked out the wind had been torn to shreds.
Evidence of violence could be found all around the cave.
"uuugh."
Jose moaned and opened his eyes. His swollen face appeared to be a complete mess.
"Damn, who was it? Tell us, Jose."
Han who had been calm all these days, shouted.
Jose used the wall as support and stared out vacantly for awhile. Jose looked to be close to tears as his face drooped, looking to the ground.
"It's Karl's gang."
"Karlheinz?"
"There were seven of them. They caused a havoc and left. They scavenged for our remaining food stock and left. They still don't know we've been eating fish. I scattered the fish scents. They stole our crackers and chocolate bars, but the outcome is satisfactory. We should move our hideout."
Jose said reassuringly. He had been ruthlessly beaten, regardless of his injury, by Karl's gang.
"There's no reason they should have beaten you to this state though."
Kuro said while looking over Jose's swollen face.
"Karl's gang hates me. I had rejected his offer to join his gang. Everyone in Karl's gang seemed to have much national pride being from Central Europe, they'd only discriminate against me. Karl hates Asians and blacks. After many clashes, I guess his temper finally blew up."
Han's piercing gaze reflected a chilling madness.
He could understand having their food stolen. This had been the point of the survival drill. However, there was no reason for them to beat Jose to this degree.
This was unnecessary violence.
"We will be the ones to attack this time. Anyway, they have an upper hand in numbers so they won't go around trying to hide."
Han said. Kuro and Jose's eyes grew wide in surprise.
"Just ignore them. They're just desperate for food. All we got to do is find a new hideout." Jose tried to dissuade Han.
"Maybe that might be the case in this drill… but how about in the future? If we gloss over this event, they will look down on us. They will think of us as easy prey. It's game over when we let others look us down."
This was Han's personal experiences in the past. Homeless orphan gangs also had a designated territory. They frequently fought to gain ownership of the richer neighborhoods.
"Han, no matter how good you are with your spear, they have seven people on their side. You're by yourself."
Han shook his head. He grabbed Kuro's arm.
"I'm not alone. We have Kuro."
Kuro fell into shock. Kuro had ranked last for fighting skills.
"M-me too? You're joking right?"
"Kuro, when are you going to stop people from walking all over you? Show them a thing or two this time around. You're stronger than anyone in class B. I guarantee it. Believe in yourself as much as you believe in me."
Han's voice planted a sense of reassurance in the youths' hearts. This voice spoke with solid will and a clear heart.
"Just let it go, Han. Let the sleeping dogs lie."
Jose continued to try and dissuade Han until the end.
"We've stayed together for only a short while on this deserted island. If I'm not mistaken, we've already become friends. Right?"
The youth's friendship had been tightly bound with this drill.
It had been a short few days, but the deserted island had been hard. Through the toil the seeds of their friendship had sprouted. They had become friends that could lean on one another for support.
"Amigo…" (friend)
Jose spoke in Spanish. Han grasped Jose's swollen face.
"I'm not such a nice guy to let my friend get beat up in front of me."
Han carved a spear handle and refined it.
He dropped off Jose in their new hideout location and moved out together with Kuro to follow Karl's tracks.
"Kuro, your telekinesis is very strong. Plus, you can predict their next moves to a certain degree, right? Throw rocks at them with your telekinesis. Since you're able to pull out living fish from within the water, you should be able to do it."
"Okay."
"I'll remain in the front to block out everyone who comes to attack you. I won't be able to do anything alone, but the two of us will be able to flatten Karl's gang flat."
Han had already been accustomed to fighting even before learning weapon arts.
First fighting is required when your home is in the streets. Time to time, he had to face against adults as well. He already mastered recognizing all the vital points and using any cowardly means to his advantage.