A person hurried in with a printed sheet containing the rules and format.
This was someone Skye had ordered to wait for Viper's notification.
After Skye received the document, he dismissed the person.
Then, he began reading the paper's contents.
"The format of the final test is survival in the wild, and it will take place across the entire Challenge Island for one week."
Survival in the wild across all of Challenge Island? For a week?
Hearing this, Cain frowned slightly.
The format of this final test was completely different from his past life, even from what Viper had originally said.
Was it because those high-ranking members intervened forcibly? Or was it an order from an even higher authority, or perhaps Viper altered the content himself?
Cain said nothing; he just waited for Skye to continue with the rest of the content.
"The ranking rules for the final test are based on a points system. Tomorrow, before leaving the base, each person will receive a points device. According to each one's rank, the initial points displayed on the device will vary."
"The top three will each receive ten points; from fourth to tenth, five points each; from eleventh to twentieth, three points each; from twenty-first to fiftieth, two points each; and those after the fiftieth, one point each."
"These are the initial points, and the task will be to seize points from others."
"Since this points device is not tied to a specific user, any method can be used in the wild: stealing, tricking, ambushing, scamming, killing—anything goes."
"Only the results matter; at the end of the seven days, the one with the most points will be first, and so on."
In other words, participants would be allowed to use any method, whether ambush, deception, murder, or even poison. The sole objective: obtain the opponent's points device and transfer their points to oneself.
With this approach, would there even be fifty people left at the end?
At least half of these people would likely die, wouldn't they?
But it's not so simple either; everyone will gradually group up according to their influence. Is Viper's purpose to get participants to team up to resist the high-ranking members' subordinates?
After all, in terms of strength and resources, most participants can't compare to them.
However, participants in this test have one advantage: the power groups are already deeply entrenched, and outsiders can't interfere easily.
But will everyone really join together in the end?
Will those who can't reach the top fifty be willing to sacrifice themselves for others?
Don't be naive; this rule only makes the test crueler and bloodier.
Skye also thought of these aspects, and after hesitating, continued, "But the points aren't only with the participants. Viper has arranged for point cards to be buried in various places around Challenge Island."
"There will also be map fragments indicating the location of these point cards at some spots on the island. If you want to quickly obtain these point cards, those map fragments will be the key."
"Additionally, the exact location of these map fragments will be announced publicly. If you want them, you can go directly to find them. However, I don't think it will be that easy; there are likely powerful Pokémon guarding those map fragments."
Fox and Kai nodded repeatedly; it would be great if it were that simple.
"Therefore, to get a good ranking, you can not only obtain others' points devices but also search for these point cards, which offer a second option."
"To ensure fairness, Viper has directly invited members of Team Rocket's psychic team. Their goal is to randomly teleport each participant anywhere on Challenge Island."
"If someone's luck is bad, they might be teleported directly in front of a powerful Pokémon, which could endanger their life."
As Skye continued reading, his expression became more severe.
Until he reached the last line, his face darkened even more.
Closing the paper, Skye said quietly, "In the final test mission, it's not just our island's participants who will take part. Team Rocket's high-ranking members will also send some of their trusted subordinates to enter Challenge Island and participate alongside us in this mission."
"But I heard from some veterans of Team Rocket who've been working on Challenge Island for a long time that final tests have always been reserved solely for those who entered the island from the beginning."
"Additionally, in previous years, final tests weren't as complicated as this. They were usually more like arena fights to decide between life and death, but this time..."
Skye didn't continue talking; some things, when spoken too much, can cause trouble.
"As I told you before, this test isn't as simple as you think. For the most part, Team Rocket's high-ranking members are playing their own chess game, and we are just insignificant pieces on the board."
"No, if you don't have the strength to be in the top ten, you can't even be considered as pieces; at best, you're just food for the pieces." Cain spoke calmly.
He was prepared for these things ever since Umbra first told him this test wouldn't be easy.
Fox and Kai also had grim faces. They barely had the ability to make it into the top ten and thought they were already safe, thinking that as long as they didn't face the top five, they could survive. But the last line of the rules completely shattered their hope.
No one knew how many trusted subordinates the high-ranking members would send this time.
Their confidence was shaking.
However, with Lord Cain present, they thought that as long as they could find him, completing the mission shouldn't be a problem, right?
"Don't harbor any hopes. The last ones to enter will have, at minimum, the strength of the top ten. Their average level might be among the top three, or even higher."
"There will probably be around ten of them who are stronger than Xander. There are some whose strength I don't even dare to guess."
Hearing Cain's words, the three finally abandoned all hope.
Even someone like Cain wouldn't dare to say he could win, and he wouldn't even dare to make guesses—how far did the limit go?
Cain also felt frustrated. Umbra hadn't revealed any information to him about how strong these trusted subordinates of the high-ranking members would be.
If they were only trained regularly, they would be about at his level, but if they were trained with full effort...
There would be no real limit; even assuming they'd have the strength of an average Captain would underestimate them.
He just didn't know if there would be someone like that.
"Therefore, tomorrow, don't fight for points without thinking it through. If you can keep calm, keep it. Since these are the rules, I won't insist that you make the top ten. Everything must be done with caution; it would be better if you could meet in one place. After all, there's more safety in numbers."
(End of chapter)