Meanwhile, Michael looked at Tohira, who was smiling at him. Michael felt something was very off and was aware of where Tohira was going with this.
"Shut it, sleepy bastard. How about we get rid of you instead?" Jake snapped, his desperation to survive rising—a feeling he had never experienced before.
"Damn this sleepy bastard," Jake thought, despite the smug expression masking his inner desperation.
"After all, a witty individual like you is more dangerous than a snake!" he added with a smirk.
"Not to mention, your true motives might be hidden!"
"Whooo! Whooo! Accusations are flying here like a kite," Tohira teased, licking his lips in delight as he saw through Jake's facade, enjoying his inner desperation.
Then he turned to look at the rest of the group.
"Anyway! What will it be? An individual who could kill us all in one blow and become the next big thing, or a harmless sleepy boy who only wishes for survival?" Tohira said with a grin.
"The choice is yours, everyone!" Tohira added. The tension in the room grew thicker.
Meanwhile, Takihi, watching the teams on his massive screen, was captivated by Team A's drama. Every other team seemed to have already eliminated one of their members.
"Tohira Claudson. You're certainly a prize!" Takihi smiled.
"I expect nothing less, kid. After all, you're one of a kind!" he chuckled slightly.
"Anyway, let's see how many monsters will join him."
Back in Team A's trial room, the tension grew even heavier. Just then, Michael grinned menacingly, aware of what Tohira was doing.
"Sleepy boy, you sure are a strange individual—Incredibly witty and cunning, aren't you?" Michael thought, observing Tohira as if he were mirroring his own inner self.
"Sleepy boy, count me in," Michael said, struggling to get up after the choking from Jake earlier.
"I like you, Mister Defenseless Red Pupils," Tohira said with a thrilled smile, offering Michael a hand.
"Even though it was way too obvious you'd join me," Tohira added, smiling freely and friendly at Michael.
Just then, Jake roared in rage, looking at Michael and Tohira.
"Bastard, you're the one supposed to be eliminated. So—"
"How the tables turn quite fast, Jake," Michael grinned menacingly, looking coldly at Jake and cutting him off.
"Indeed. That desperation is what I thrive for. The arrogance of strong individuals is annoying and cringeworthy to watch," Tohira said, thrilled.
"Watching it crumble brings joy to my heart!"
Tohira looked back at Joann.
"We've made up our minds, mister or miss."
"He is the chosen one!"
Tohira pointed at Jake, smiling sweetly and mockingly.
Jake looked shocked at this unbelievable sight, his heart dropping in terror as Tohira pointed at him.
"The hell gives you the authority to decide on behalf of the team?!"
Jake yelled desperately as he moved angrily toward Tohira.
"The team, of course!"
Tohira smiled, enjoying Jake's expression.
"Or can't you read the room?"
Jake looked at everyone for disapproval. From Christopher, the light pink-haired boy with pink pupils, who seemed nonchalant and unbothered as he just glared at him, to Bruise, the white-haired boy with purple pupils, who looked away; to Rode, the black-haired boy with blue-highlighted stripes and blue pupils, watching nervously as he turned his head; to Gin, the light purple-haired boy with matching purple pupils, who faintly smirked at the situation; to Starter, the snowy-white-haired boy with ocean-blue pupils, who looked nonchalantly at the scene; and finally to Nishi just glared angrily.
In no time, Jake screamed in desperation, his fear now heightened as he rushed to grab Tohira.
"Shut it, annoying retard!"
Nishi said coldly and angrily.
Just then, a loud bang of a gunshots echoed through the room, drawing everyone's attention.
They all looked on with various expressions of shock, fear, disbelief, and nonchalant. Joann's bullet struck Jake rapidly, each shot landing mercilessly as his body jerked with every impact. Jake screamed in agony with each piercing blow.
Joann then fired a final bullet, aimed directly at Jake's forehead. The bullet tore through his skull, and Jake's body collapsed to the floor, lifeless. His once strong frame was now riddled with bullet holes, blood spilling from every wound as it pooled around him. His body was a gruesome mess, a shattered, bloodied heap on the white marble floor, the blood staining the pristine surface like a horrific painting.
"Alright, congratulations, team A. You've successfully passed the first round of your trial, called the selfish decision," Joann said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion.
Before the gravity of Jake's death could fully settle in and the team's expressions could solidify into shock or horror, they felt the floor beneath them suddenly give way. In an instant, they were falling into the pit below.
"Farewell, Team A," Joann's voice echoed coldly from above as he watched them plummet.
He then turned his gaze back to Jake's bloodied, battered body, as other guards entered the room to remove the corpse, cleaning up the gruesome scene for disposal.