On an open field just outside of an ancient forest hundred a of students stood outside the forest. The students stood on the field vand then Elijah came to address them
"Alright, today your exams begins, we have several perception type ability users monitoring while you are in the forest, and just in case any of you endd up in any form of danger..."
Several soldiers walked towards the students sand distributed badges to them
" This badge will insure your protection on times of emergency, it is voice activated and it also monitors your body condition in real time plus it functions as a tracker too, when the badge is activated it will pull up a shield that would protect you until help arrives"
"There are soldiers positioned across different locations in the forest as an extra precaution and emergency situations. With that I will now tell you all about your exams"
The students were silently paying attention to all he was saying as it will help them in there exams, seeing them paying attention Elijah nodded his head and continued talking
"You exams are simple, all you have to do is survive."
The students were confusedand they started whispering, seeing the look on their faces Elijah cleared his throat and the small disturbance shimmered down
"It's quite simple actually, survive in this forest for ten days and you pass"
A female student raised her hand to which Elijah nodded at her
"Sir, how are we scored and how do we know the top scorer from just surviving in this forest?"
Elijah looked the girl then to the students and proceeded to answer her questions
"I was going to say even if you didn't ask, anyways just know that there will be several servant-rank monsters scattered around the forest we made sure that they are evenly distributed and spread out"
"Also there are a few warrior-rank monsters and as a bonus one commander-rank monster" Elijah said with a smile
Gasps of surprise sounded from the students as they were shaken by the thought of a commander-level creature, Ignoring the ruckus Elijah continued to say
"You will be ranked with points for every monster you kill. Servant-rank are worth 1point, Warrior-rank 10points and that Commander-rank monster is worth 200points if you can kill it"
"That brings us to another function of the badge, it allocates points according to the level of monsters killed"
"Along with monster hunting, performance in battles, adapting to situations and things like that can also affect how you are graded, so...any more questions?" Elijah asked
None of the students answers but Kaito raised his hand and Elijah nodded at him
"A commander-level monster is equal to and advanced ability user, so do you think it's safe in that forest anymore?"
Elijah eyes showed a tinge of approval as he began talking
"I don't know if it's you kids underestimating the power of a commander-level monster, I was actually expecting this question the moment I mentioned it, well better late than never"
"Now to answer your question, there are measures in place to ensure your safety, the commander-level monster is confined to a particular part of the forest of which you will be alerted by your badge if you approach within 200meters of it's confined space"
"Any other questions?" Elijah asked
After waiting for a few seconds
"If there are none, then you exams has began" Elijah said
The students poured into the ancient forest like a restless tide, their eager voices and rustling footsteps echoing through the trees. Kaito and Miguel lingered at the edge, their eyes scanning the chaotic scene before they slipped in, their movements quiet and deliberate.
As they walked, Kaito's gaze followed the students disappearing into the underbrush.
"These guys have no idea what they're up against," he said, his voice low and even. "No rules but survival, and monsters they've never even seen before."
Miguel nodded, his eyes narrowing as he considered their situation.
"That means we can play it any way we want," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Form teams, steal kills...the possibilities are endless." Together, they stepped into the forest's shadows, their footsteps silent on the damp earth.
....
Elijah walked into the conference room with a female soldier. A man stood at the far end of the conference table, checking a document. He wore a suit with a tie, like the other soldiers, but the edges of his suit were inlaid with gold. His expression was indifferent, and his square face made him look resolute. He was the military chief inspector of this outpost city, Raphael Donald.
The conference room was empty, except for the man in the gold-edged suit, who stood at the far end of the table. Elijah saluted respectfully. "It's ready, sir. The exams have begun."
Rafael looked up, his eyes meeting Elijah's, and nodded curtly. "Proceed."
The female soldier beside Elijah walked up to the conference table, her eyes fixed on the surface. A visual keyboard flickered to life before her, and she began typing rapidly. The empty chairs around the table sprang to life, their seats glowing with a soft blue light. Projections of figures coalesced on the chairs, their faces and bodies taking shape as if conjured from thin air. A giant screen takes yo space in the middle flickered on, displaying a panoramic view of the forest, with tiny figures of students milling about the entrance.
Six holographic projections materialized on the chairs, their faces and bodies taking on a lifelike quality. The first was the Deans of the Fifth Base two schools: one specializing in combat-oriented ability users, the other in support. Next to them sat the head of the Wasser family branch in the Fifth Base. Beside him was the leader of an innovative company that utilized monster parts to advance technology. The Life Foundation's CEO, a company dedicated to medical pursuits using monster materials and human abilities, sat next to the company leader. At the far end, the Military Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Base Military gazed out from his projected form.
"So, it has begun, huh?" The leader of the Life Foundation's Fifth Base branch, a charming woman with glasses and a gentle face, spoke up. "I wonder if I could see a talent worth recruiting?" She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with interest, Emile was her name
The head of the Wasser family, a middle-aged man in a blue robe, nodded thoughtfully. "Well, it just started, so let's wait and see." The others remained silent, their attention fixed on the screen at the center of the table.
The screen displayed a live feed of the students in the forest, where they had just encountered their first monsters. Some students faced off against giant rabbits, while others confronted rodents, boars, and other creatures. The monsters, of course were just Servant-class
...
In the ancient forest, the elimination site, students faced their first encounters with the twisted creatures. Reactions varied wildly. Some students froze in terror, unable to move, and quickly quit. Others, equally frightened, turned and ran, fleeing from the monsters. The scene was chaotic, with students scattering in all directions.
However, amidst the chaos, a few students stood out. They reacted calmly, their composure unwavering as they faced the monsters. With calculated movements, they fought back against the creatures. These students were the exceptions, their skills and training evident in their poised demeanor.
The monsters they faced were relatively weak, mere seventh-rate creatures, but they still posed a formidable challenge to the untested students.
Kaito and Miguel walked slowly, their footsteps quiet on the forest floor. They had yet to encounter any creatures, and the silence was a welcome respite. "I think we should forget about looking for creatures for today," Miguel said, his voice low.
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Other people will get ahead of us..."
After a brief moment Kaito nodded.
"But I think you're right. After all, the goal is about more than just ranking higher." Kaito's eyes narrowed, recalling Mister Blade's words in China. "The exam is to survive. Ranking isn't everything."
Miguel's voice was measured as he continued, "We're in the woods without supplies. Everything we do to survive will be monitored, and that will be part of how we're judged as a whole...minus ranking."
"If what you said is true, then we should spend the rest of the day looking for a place to camp for these ten days," Kaito said.
Miguel nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it should be easy to defend, and protect us from the terrible weather."
Kaito's face set in determination. "Alright, then let's do it." As he spoke, bandages extended from his arms, wrapping around his body from below his eyes to his torso.
Miguel's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he said "Any monsters we encounter along the way will be a bonus."
With a shared sense of purpose, both Kaito and Miguel increased their pace, their footsteps quiet and deliberate as they pressed deeper into the forest.