"Hey, wake up."
Hearing a deep voice, I slowly open my eyes...
"Ouch..."
My body aches a bit because I slept in this wooden cart all night while it was moving.
"Damn..."
I am surprised by the scene in front of me...the first event of the game...the tribe selection event.
Here, all the kids showcase their skills, and based on these skills, they are accepted by a tribe.
But for those who aren't accepted, there's only one fate...death.
Of course, all the kids here receive training for a year before coming to this event...But now, I have a big problem.
"I haven't had any training!"
And now the chances of me dying are very high...But I just reincarnated and I don't want to die yet.
[System Suggestion: Would you like to enter the beginner layer? Yes/No]
Really?... Is such a thing possible?
Well, if it happens, it would be great...
"Yes."
[If the system puts you in the beginner layer before completing the missions, you will have to complete a mission in the future without receiving a reward. Do you accept? Yes/No]
I don't have time for future planning right now...I just need to ensure my survival as quickly as possible.
"Yes, I accept that damn offer."
[Congratulations, you have entered the beginner layer of martial arts.]
Great...I feel strange...but it's not a bad feeling...I feel my muscles are stronger, and energy is surging through my body.
[As a reward for entering a new layer, you are granted a beginner ability for free.]
[As a reward for entering the beginner layer, you are awarded 300 system points.]
Wow...this is great...but I still don't know what to do with the system points...
I have time to think about that later.
[You have gained the ability "Energy Discharge."]
[Name: Energy Discharge
Level: Beginner
Description: You can focus your internal energy and release it from a specific point on your body, which can act like a bullet.]
It's not super impressive...but having it will help me stay alive...so I should be grateful.
"Alright, you useless bunch...move on, we have to walk from here."
.....
Sounds are coming from everywhere...some people are shopping at the nearby marketplace, some are walking, and others are...well, engaging in intimate activities.
I don't have the patience to investigate them...I need to focus on the upcoming event.
There...at the first event...I have to fight someone.
That's right...it's a selection contest, where kids fight each other one-on-one...in front of thousands of eyes...just like gladiators.
And then, the tribe envoys choose the kids they want.
Most kids should be between ten to fifteen years old...but there are also some younger or older ones.
"Ouch..."
I look ahead and see a tall man I have just bumped into.
"Where's your mind, kid?"
The man looks at me with narrowed eyes...Honestly, I am a bit scared now...I unintentionally bow to him.
"Sorry sir...I didn't mean to offend."
The man takes his gaze off me.
"Alright...be more careful from now on."
And then the man walks past me...that was close.
"Hey kid, hurry up."
Hearing the voice of the bald man, I turn my attention to him.
"Yes, sir, I'm coming."
Then I head towards the bald man...Don't ask why I keep calling him the bald man...Well, because in the game, his name was also the bald man.
I ran slowly towards him.
....
"Wow...how magnificent."
I look at the arena in front of me...it's just like a gladiator battlefield...the kids are standing around the arena, and our group also enters.
"Alright...now get ready and go up to the stage when they call your number."
Number? What number?...I think to myself and say,
"Sir, what number do you mean?"
- Phew -
The bald man exhales in frustration and says,
"The number branded on your neck."
On the neck?
Ah, the numbers they branded with hot iron during training...but I can't see my own neck...better ask someone for help.
I look around and see something strange...was he here?
I just saw one of the most important characters in this world...
A little girl about 8 or 9 years old with short brown hair and eyes of the same color.
"Number 11 or better known as...Sayuri."
One of the most important female characters who plays a crucial role in the story...if I can connect with her, it would be great.
I slowly walk towards her and start talking with a smile.
"Hi...um...Number 11...excuse me, can you help me with something?"
The little girl, who was looking down at the ground until that moment, slowly raises her face and starts speaking hesitantly.
"H...Hi...what...do you need?"
From the way she talked, you could tell she was a bit scared.
I try to give her a sense of security by smiling and then start talking.
"Well...I don't know my number...can you read it for me?"
Sayuri looks at my neck and then says to me in a voice so soft it's almost inaudible,
"Seven...your number is seven."
I smile at her and say,
"Good luck...I hope you get accepted into a good tribe."
Sayuri gives a slight smile but doesn't respond. At that moment, I hear a voice,
"Number seven and number forty-two, come to the first platform."
"Seems like it's time..."