The test is simple.
5000 students. 7 days.
To pass, you need to be in the top 10%.
But it's also not as simple as it might sound.
In 7 days, you need to secure shelter, gather food, defeat monsters, and collect points. And more than anything, you have to fight against other students.
"Shit. This is the worst."
The robotic voice on Kardama's watch spoke.
{Students are given 1 hour.}
{Within 1 hour, fighting is forbidden. Assaulting will cause elimination.}
{You have 10 minutes to ask any questions. After 10 minutes, the mother AI will shut down.}
The AI will shut down. In other words, communication will also shut down. So will the internet.
"In other words, I need to be quick and ask the right questions. First question: where am I? Tell me everything I need to know about this place."
{You are currently on Nirvana Island. The size of the island is about 14,576 square metres. Every 10 hours, a certain circle will appear on the map. Unable to move into a circle before the time limit will cause elimination. In the next 10 hours, a new, smaller circle will appear, and the map will gradually...}
"Battle royale. It's like a safe zone. I get it."
{That's correct.}
"Now tell me about the test."
{The objective is to be one of the last 500 surviving students. There are many types of monsters who will give different amounts of points on subjugation. So subdue monsters to collect points. Exchange points for foods and necessities. Upon elimination, students will be transferred to a safe location.}
Kardama pretty much got all the information he needed. He could manage the rest on his own. But...
Other students will normally call their friends and form a group. Or tell them to come to a specific location. But Kardama doesn't have anyone to group up with.
"Can I ask any questions?"
The AI said "Any questions".
{For the next 9 minutes, yes.}
"Even if it's secret information that requires authority I don't have?"
{Yes.}
Kardama realised a hidden trick of the academy. When there were 1 month of time given to them as newcomers protection, they had hidden some loopholes. No one can use skills, mana, or ability; the seniors cannot get in contact with newcomers or fight them. This made the newcomer feel reassured. But they never said newcomers could not fight newcomers. international loopholes for students to exploit. Since then, Kardama has been looking out for loopholes.
"What is the range of information that I can get?"
{As long as it's anything related to the test, I can answer.}
"How many awakened are there among students in this test?"
{27.}
"Give me all their information."
A large list of holograms appeared with all the details about Damian, Holmes, Gavin, and all the others awakened. Even information that was not something he could find anywhere From their birthday to every notable incident inside the academy, everything was recorded. Even the slightest rumours about them. What affinity someone had, who had a conflict with whom, and what arts they have displayed till now But nothing about their families, past, or anything that happened outside the academy was mentioned.
"Ja....JACKPOT!!!"
Kardama originally tried to try his luck. But what he got was classified information. Only the teachers should be able to get them.
There was so much information that he couldn't even finish reading within 9 minutes.
"Forgot it. Give me everything about everyone in the test."
Information about 5000 students appeared on the hologram. Kardama scrolled down the list and recorded everything with his souvenir ability. Even his own information was there.
{Kardama Drogo. Rank : 2897
Age : 15 Years old 8 months.
Affinity : None Element User .
Potential: B+ Rank.
Current Rank : Mortal Rank.
Kardama's mana poll is smaller than average but he has exceptional talent with sword. He has mastered a rank 3 sword art in just the age of 15. He has displayed high charm attack resistance. He has a howling like ability to stun his opponent.}
Different people had different types of profile. Some peoples profile ended with just few lines while some had paragraph like profile.
"There may be so much useless information that I may never need. But who knows what might come out as useful?"
After all, the abilities of almost everyone were recorded in the information.
{10 minutes are over. The AI will now shut down. The functions of the watch will be limited to the test. Make a team with at most two other students. After 50 minutes, the penalties for fighting with other students will be lifted.}
Now a new problem arises.
"Ah shit. I don't have anyone to team up with."
***
The island is about 14.5 Square Km. The number of students are 5000.
Everyone was teleported here randomly. But in 9 places 100-200 people were summoned all together. Those students formed team of 3 people each. All the rest of the students were teleported all around the island.
One of them was Actaeon Lucas.
"Ah shit. I just had to be one of these people."
Lucas discovered himself in a forest. The biggest disadvantage of not being teleported in a group is fighting monsters alone. A normal student would have panicked by now.
But Lucas knew the watch has a monster repelling system that will work for one hour. And if someone is unable to form a team it will be active for few more hours.
Lucas's main plan was to get out of the jungle and find someone to team up with. But his body didn't share the same plan. In Lucas's eyes the world was spinning. Lucas drank a little bit of water but he started to feel like vomiting.
So all he could do was sit down and wait for someone without a team to find him.
***
"Fuck! Just where the hell am I?"
Kardama was walking around a snowy mountain. In the last 50 minutes the number of encounter he had was zero.
He didn't see a single monsters nor another student. Now the penalties has been lifted. If he encounter another group now it will be his doom. Before he was able to win 6 vs 1 only because they couldn't use mana.
But now that penalty has been lifted as well. And there is another quest.
[ Main Quest.]
[ Objective: Pass the test.
Reward : Depends on contribution.
Current Contribution : 0
Failure Penalties: ??? ]
[ Emergency Quest ]
[ Objective : Recruit two teammates.
Reward : Healing Totem F rank × 10
Failure Penalties : None ]
[ Healing Totem : Heals all team members with in 10 metre radius. ]
"Healing Totem ? Sounds quite useful. It could be a good support for teammates. But what's the point? I can't even see a fly anywhere...."
Suddenly bush around him moved a little. As soon as Kardama noticed movement there he pulled out a sword from system's weapon storage.
A black haired boy with needle on his hand walked out. Watching Kardama's sword pointing at him he also got into a fighting position.
Kardama looked at the boy's face and recalled his profile.
{Kenny. Rank : 15
Age : 15 Years old 5 months.
Affinity : Poison user.
Potential: S Rank.
Current Rank : Mortal Rank.
Kenny, also known as the lunatic of Pendragon. He is the only son of the head of Pendragon family. But Kenny left the Pendragon family and remove the name Pendragon. He is known as the Poison Maniac inside the academy....
....
He made a huge rumpus on the newcomer welcoming ceremony...
.....
He used needles to create terror on his victim's mind...
....
He is exceptionally talented with footwork. None of his peers had been recorded being able to land a hit on him....
...
On first day between the Class A-1 Vs B-1 Duel.....
....
....}
Kardama remembered a huge list on the hologram with the size of 10 peoples profile that only described Kenny's profile. Most of it was record of his misdeeds.
Kardama also remembered the day he saw him spraying mayonnaise and tomato ketchup on crowd that gathered to beat him up. But none of them was able to even touch a single hair of him.
Kardama realised, this guy infront of him was a very dangerous person. And no matter what happens, he must not get stabbed by that poisonous needles.
Kardama focused on the guy's movement. Currently the range of his soul sense has been rised to 3 metres. He was ready to dodge any sudden attack he receive.
10 seconds passed. None of them made a move.
15 seconds passed. Both of them were closely observing the opponent.
30 seconds passed. Still nothing.
One minute passed. Then they realised that both of them were waiting for the opponent to make the first move and dodge it.
The black haired boy opened his mouth.
"Haha brother, looks like we are both dependent on our lower part the most."
'That's a quiet weird way of saying we specialise in footwork.' thought Kardama.