The hum of the observation room was constant. The students had been whittled down to seven, their icons glowing faintly on the interactive map. Around the room, data streamed in real-time—heart rates, stress levels, and gem counts.
Ms. Ariancie leaned against the sleek metal console, her arms crossed as she surveyed the screens. Her sharp eyes flicked between the students' profiles, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "Seven left," she said, her voice smooth and precise. "It's remarkable how predictable and yet unpredictable this game becomes at this stage."
Mr. Ulysses, seated at the head of the room, tapped his fingers rhythmically on the armrest of his chair. "Predictable in what way, Ms. Ariancie?"
She gestured to the map, where two glowing icons representing Yuri and Axel moved in synchronized precision. "Yuri and Axel. They're efficient, ruthless, and practical. Strong contenders. They've hoarded enough gems to ensure their survival, and their alliance remains stable—though for how long, I wonder?"
Mr. Ulysses chuckled softly, his tone laced with amusement. "Strong alliances often crumble under pressure. Greed and paranoia are natural in this setting. But yes, they've been... entertaining."
Her gaze shifted to another icon, flickering faintly—Nazuyami's. "And then there's Nazuyami," Ms. Ariancie continued. "A master manipulator, but she's running out of time. Her charm only works when she's in control, and right now, she's barely holding on."
"Ryu complicates her situation," Mr. Ulysses added, leaning forward. "He's durable, physically unmatched. But emotionally? He's unraveling. Marielle's death hit him hard, and I'm curious to see if that will break him—or forge him into something stronger."
Ms. Ariancie moved to another monitor, her lips pressing into a thin line as she observed Asahi and Mikayla. "These two are fascinating in their own way. Asahi's strength is impressive, but his hesitation is his greatest weakness. And Mikayla... she's resourceful, determined, but also alone. Survival is a skill, yes, but without allies, her odds are slim."
Mr. Ulysses tilted his head, his gaze narrowing. "Sometimes, the weakest links surprise us, Ms. Ariancie. Desperation makes for excellent improvisation. They may not have the numbers, but they've lasted this long."
Finally, their attention turned to the brightest icon on the map—Yuki. Ms. Ariancie's smirk returned, this time with a hint of intrigue. "And then there's Yuki," she said, her tone shifting to one of curiosity. "He's peaking, just as I predicted. The loss of his navigator hardened him. The boy who hesitated to kill now obliterates his enemies without a second thought."
"Explosions as a weapon," Mr. Ulysses mused, steepling his fingers. "Unpredictable, powerful, and utterly destructive. Yuki has become the perfect embodiment of our experiment's intent."
Ms. Ariancie nodded, though her gaze lingered on Yuki's icon. The two fell into silence, their eyes fixed on the monitors as the final seven moved across the island. Each step they took, every decision they made, brought them closer to the end—and the game makers knew that the best was yet to come.
"Let's see how far they're willing to go," Ms. Ariancie murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes," Mr. Ulysses replied, his tone calm and assured. "Let's."
Ms. Ariancie tapped a screen, pulling up a detailed tally of the gems distributed among the final seven. Her sharp gaze narrowed as the numbers flickered.
Mr. Ulysses leaned back in his chair, his expression unbothered. "Ah, the beauty of human unpredictability. Not all outcomes are so clean, Ms. Ariancie."
She scrolled through the data, her tone turning analytical. "Yuri and Axel each hold eight gems, ensuring their survival. Yuki has five—barely scraping the requirement. Nazuyami holds three, which puts her at risk, and Ryu clings to two. Meanwhile, Asahi and Mikayla have none." She paused, a shadow of curiosity crossing her face. "That's only twenty-six gems accounted for among the living."
"Which means seven are unaccounted for," Mr. Ulysses added smoothly.
Ms. Ariancie pulled up additional logs, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Some of those gems have been lost. There were reports of students jumping from the cliffs into the ocean—most likely to escape, though their bracelets activated before impact. The gems would be unretrievable at the bottom of the sea."
"And let's not forget," Mr. Ulysses interjected, "there were students who fought near the edges of the island. Some gems were likely knocked loose during those battles and fell into unreachable terrain."
Ms. Ariancie tilted her head thoughtfully. "We also saw corpse eaten by animals before their gems could be collected. Nature is another variable we cannot completely control."
"Exactly," Mr. Ulysses said with a faint smile. "The numbers are incomplete because life—and death—rarely fits into neat equations."
Her gaze returned to the map, watching the icons of the remaining seven students shift and move. "It does, however, make the stakes more dire for some. Asahi and Mikayla, in particular. Without gems, they'll be disqualified when the timer runs out. Desperation will push them into risky situations."
Mr. Ulysses chuckled softly. "Survival isn't always about strength. Sometimes, it's about luck. Or cunning."
"And yet, Yuri and Axel seem untouchable," Ms. Ariancie said, her tone tinged with both admiration and disapproval. "Their collection of eight gems each ensures they can coast through this phase."
"For now," Mr. Ulysses added. "Overconfidence has been the downfall of many contenders before them. And then there's Yuki."
Both turned their attention to Yuki's icon on the screen.
"He's the most intriguing," Ms. Ariancie said. "He's no longer playing to survive. He's playing to win—and to destroy."
Mr. Ulysses smiled faintly. "Every game has its wild card. Yuki may be ours. But his next moves will determine whether he's the catalyst for change or just another victim of the system."
Ms. Ariancie leaned forward, her voice softening into a thoughtful murmur. "And we need more than just a survivor. We need someone who can endure... the next step."
Mr. Ulysses's fingers steepled as he regarded the monitors. "This is just the beginning, Ms. Ariancie. They don't realize how small this game truly is. But they will."
Her smirk returned, the faintest glint of anticipation in her eyes. "Then let's see which of them is strong enough to move forward. The true test begins now."
Mr. Ulysses's gaze remained fixed on the screens. "Indeed. Let's see how far they're willing to go."
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The jungle was quiet, the usual sound of insects and rustling leaves subdued under the weight of the looming deadline. Yuki moved cautiously through the underbrush, his hand resting near the blade strapped to his belt. The faint glow of his bracelet reminded him of the stakes: 10 gems or death.
He had only five gems— not enough to survive. He knew the deadline wasn't just about survival; it was about staying ahead. And in this game, staying ahead meant being prepared for what came next.
As he pushed through a cluster of thick vines, he froze. Just ahead, a figure stood near a tree, their posture tense but alert. Yuki recognized him instantly—Ryu.
Ryu's broad shoulders and confident stance were unmistakable, even in the dim light filtering through the canopy. Yuki's grip on his blade tightened instinctively, but he hesitated. Memories of school flashed in his mind—Ryu offering a helping hand during gym class, a rare moment of kindness in a sea of indifference.
"Yuki," Ryu said, his voice calm but wary. He didn't move, his dark eyes scanning Yuki carefully.
Yuki straightened, keeping his distance. "Ryu. Didn't expect to see you here."
Ryu let out a faint chuckle, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Small island, I guess."
There was a brief silence, the tension between them thick but not hostile.
"What do you want?" Yuki asked, his voice steady.
Ryu's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. "I'm looking for Nazuyami."
Yuki raised an eyebrow. "Nazuyami?"
"She killed Marielle. And Angel." Ryu's voice was low, filled with a quiet fury that made Yuki pause. "I can't let her get away with it."
Yuki regarded him for a moment, his mind racing. He didn't trust anyone—not anymore—but Ryu's hatred for Nazuyami wasn't hard to believe. And Yuki had his own reasons for going after her.
"She has three gems," Ryu said carefully, watching Yuki's reaction. "Four if you count her own."
Yuki nodded. "We need those gems to survive. But this isn't just about gems for me."
Yuki considered his options. He could fight Ryu now and take whatever gems he had, but that wasn't who he was—or at least, it wasn't who he wanted to be. And while he didn't trust Ryu completely, their shared goal presented an opportunity.
"If we work together," Yuki began slowly, "we can take her down. Split the gems."
Ryu studied him, his expression unreadable. "And why should I trust you?"
"You shouldn't," Yuki admitted. "But I'm not your enemy. Nazuyami is."
Another silence stretched between them before Ryu gave a curt nod. "Fine. We'll work together. But once this is over, we go our separate ways."
Yuki smirked faintly, though his eyes remained serious. "Agreed."
They turned and began moving through the jungle, their shared goal pulling them deeper into the shadows.
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Nazuyami moved through the dense underbrush, her steps careful and deliberate. The jungle was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls, but her mind was far removed from her surroundings. She had spent the past day alone, her senses honed and her paranoia heightened.
The announcement of the new gem requirement had shaken her. With only three gems to her name, she was dangerously close to disqualification. And while her ability to manipulate others had carried her this far, the cracks in her strategy were beginning to show.
Her failure with Ryu's group still gnawed at her. A reminder that even her cunning had limits. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "No. I won't fail again."
Nazuyami's strength had always been her ability to adapt, to weave herself into others' plans and subtly steer them toward her benefit. But the dwindling number of survivors made that strategy increasingly dangerous. With fewer targets, alliances were less about trust and more about power—a game she couldn't afford to lose.
She paused at the edge of a small clearing, her sharp eyes scanning the area. There was no one in sight, but the faint tracks on the ground suggested recent activity. A scavenger had passed through here—someone desperate, someone vulnerable.
Her lips curved into a cold smile. Vulnerability was an opening, and she intended to exploit it. She knelt, studying the tracks more closely, her mind racing. If she could find a weaker player, she could rebuild her position. And if not... well, the jungle was an excellent place to leave no witnesses.
For now, Nazuyami pressed forward, her mind working through every possible scenario. The island may have stripped her of comfort and certainty, but it had not robbed her of her will to survive. "Three gems isn't enough," she thought grimly. "But it's more than some of them have."
And that was a start.
Her sharp eyes scanned the tracks she had been following—evidence of someone moving alone. Small footprints, uneven strides. Someone vulnerable, or so it seemed.
She crouched low as she neared a clearing, her instincts on high alert. The jungle fell eerily silent, the absence of sound putting her on edge. As she moved closer, she spotted the figure she had been tracking—a girl crouched by a stream, washing her hands.
It was Mikayla.
Nazuyami's lips curled into a predatory smile. She recognized her immediately—the quiet one, the one who had separated herself from others. But something about Mikayla's posture, the way she moved with purpose, told Nazuyami this wouldn't be an easy target.
Mikayla stiffened, her hand instinctively going to the knife strapped to her hip. "I know you're there," she said, her voice low and steady.
Nazuyami stepped into the clearing, her movements graceful and deliberate. She held her hands up in mock surrender, her expression calm. "Relax, Mikayla. I'm not here to fight."
"Liar," Mikayla shot back, rising to her feet. Her eyes were sharp, scanning Nazuyami's every move. "You're always looking for a fight—or someone to manipulate."
Nazuyami's smile didn't waver. "That's a little harsh. I'd say I'm more of a survivor."
Mikayla drew her knife, her grip firm. "And I'd say you're a snake."
The tension snapped like a wire stretched too tight. Nazuyami lunged, her hand darting for Mikayla's wrist, but Mikayla was faster. She sidestepped, slashing toward Nazuyami's arm. The blade grazed her, drawing a thin line of blood, but Nazuyami didn't falter.
The two clashed with brutal intensity, their movements precise and instinctual. Mikayla's strikes were quick and calculated, each one aiming to disable or disarm. But Nazuyami was slippery, her agility and cunning keeping her just out of reach.
They tumbled to the ground, wrestling for control. Mikayla managed to pin Nazuyami for a moment, her knife pressed against her throat. "This ends here," Mikayla growled, her breath labored.
Nazuyami's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a dangerous smile. "Not quite."
Using her free hand, Nazuyami grabbed a fistful of dirt and flung it into Mikayla's face. Mikayla recoiled, coughing and blinking furiously to clear her vision. It was all the opening Nazuyami needed.
With a swift movement, she twisted out from under Mikayla and drove her knee into her opponent's stomach, forcing her to the ground. Before Mikayla could recover, Nazuyami's nails raked across her neck—a calculated move, injecting just enough of her venom to take control.
Mikayla's struggles slowed, her body stiffening as the venom took effect. Her knife slipped from her hand, clattering uselessly to the ground.
"Shhh," Nazuyami whispered, brushing the dirt from her opponent's face. "You fought well, but it's my turn now."
Mikayla's eyes were wide, her breath shallow, but her limbs refused to obey her commands.
Nazuyami leaned close, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "You're mine for the next few minutes. Let's make it count."
She pulled Mikayla to her feet, her grip firm as she assessed the girl's belongings. "Now, let's see what you've been hiding," she murmured, her fingers deftly searching Mikayla's pockets and pack.
To her disappointment, there were no gems beyond the one Mikayla already carried. Nazuyami frowned, her mind racing. "One gems isn't enough."
The jungle seemed to hold its breath as Nazuyami considered her next move, the controlled Mikayla standing silently at her side.
The jungle was thick with tension as Yuki and Ryu moved deeper into the underbrush, their eyes sharp and alert. The air felt heavier, thick with humidity and the weight of impending confrontation. They had been tracking Nazuyami for hours, the scent of her venomous presence lingering in the air like a faint, dangerous whisper.
They pushed forward, each step calculated, each breath measured. The jungle seemed to watch them, as though holding its breath, waiting for the moment of inevitable conflict.
Then, just ahead, a rustle broke the silence.
Yuki's eyes flicked to Ryu, a silent confirmation passing between them. They both moved as one, slipping through the foliage with practiced precision.
And there she was.
Nazuyami stood in a small clearing, her back to them, her posture graceful yet tense. Her eyes were scanning the area, her sharp senses alert, but she hadn't noticed them yet. Her cold smile was directed at something in her hands—Mikayla, who stood beside her, stiff and unmoving, like a puppet under the control of her puppet master.
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