The students rested beneath the shade of tall trees, the air humid with tension. Riven stood and clapped once, drawing everyone's attention.
"Gather round," he said.
One by one, the students circled him. His voice dropped slightly as he continued, "For us to move forward… I believe we need to understand who among us is predator, and who is prey. If we don't, the enemy will. And if all the prey in our class are marked first… we lose."
The group fell into an uneasy silence.
"Who will go first?" Riven asked.
No one answered.
Kairon narrowed his eyes. No one will say anything, he thought. Someone could be listening. No one wants to take the risk of exposing themselves to hungry predators... and even the predators won't risk becoming prey.
He sighed. Then, raising his hand, he declared clearly, "I'm a predator."
The students gasped. Aria stepped forward, eyes sharp. "You fool. Why would you do that?"
"If I didn't," Kairon replied, "would anyone else have stepped up?"
Silence answered him.
"Then it's settled."
Riven nodded in approval. "Thank you for that bold step."
"No problem," Kairon replied coolly.
Lucien grinned and raised his hand. "I'm a predator too. Don't worry, my children. I need no protection—I am the king of the jungle!"
Ashir snorted with amusement. "I'm a predator as well."
Then Kei stepped forward hesitantly. "I… I'm a prey."
Riven nodded. "That gives us three predators and one prey so far. I suppose I'll go next—"
But Kairon raised his hand. "No. That won't be necessary."
Riven blinked. "Why not?"
Kairon folded his arms. "The reason everyone stayed silent is because of the risk of exposure. Even if you say your role, that won't magically make others speak up. The fear remains."
Juro chimed in. "He's right."
Riven frowned. "Then what do we do?"
Kairon looked at him. "They fear someone is watching. So I'll say it in a different way. I'll send the message through your watch."
Riven nodded. "Alright."
Tapping his wristwatch, Kairon typed swiftly. Aria watched him suspiciously.
"Do you know what you're doing?" she asked.
Kairon didn't look up. "That depends on the class's cooperation."
Aria sighed, glancing at their classmates. "I doubt it'll work. Everyone sees things differently."
"You're right. But that's why I'm sending it to two idol figures in the class."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "Ivy and Riven?"
Kairon calmly. "You're following."
Beep.
Both Riven's and Ivy's watches lit up. They read the message, exchanged a glance, and nodded at Kairon.
Riven turned to the class. "Everyone, please bring out any cloth or blankets you have. We're going to set up two tents—one for boys and one for girls."
They quickly got to work. Students donated cloths and blankets, and within minutes, two makeshift tents were set up under the canopy.
Riven handled the boys' tent. Ivy took charge of the girls'. Each student entered one by one.
Caden frowned. "What's with this line-up?"
Torin shrugged. "Doesn't matter. If Riven's behind it, it must be worth it."
Aria watched quietly, then turned to Kairon. "You… You're using the two most loved students in the class to make everyone cooperate."
"Exactly," Kairon replied. "Riven, the natural leader, respected by all. Ivy, the cheerful friend loved by everyone."
"Not bad."
"I just hope it works."
"So… what did you send them?" Aria asked.
"Curious about me now?" Kairon teased.
"I just want to cross-check for flaws."
"There's no need."
Soon, the process ended. Ivy and Riven stepped out. All the students wore navy-blue bands—some on their right wrists, others on the left.
Riven raised his voice. "Then that ends it. Now we know who the predators and prey are."
Aria looked at her band on her left wrist. I'm a prey... She scanned the crowd. Riven's band was also on his left. Prey. Ivy wore hers on her right. Predator.
She turned to Kairon. "Isn't this too obvious? Left and right bands…"
Kairon raised both his empty hands. "That's what they'll think. But what about those of us without bands? Me, Lucien, Ashir, Kei—we already revealed our roles. They won't be able to tell who's who."
"I see… You're confusing them."
"It may not work perfectly," Kairon said. "But it's better than nothing."
Aria narrowed her eyes. "Then why go through with a plan you're not sure of?"
"Do you have a better one?" Kairon asked.
"Well…"
"Thought so."
Riven returned, holding a bucket of paint. He read aloud from the rule book, "Predators must mark the prey with this paint. Each class is assigned a different color."
Juro adjusted his glasses. "It looks like Class D's color is red."
Meira groaned. "Red? I hate red! Why not blue?"
Juro sighed. "This isn't based on your preferences."
"You—!"
"Let's not argue," Riven interrupted with a smile. "We should focus. I suggest we start looking for prey from other classes."
"That's no good," Aria cut in.
"Huh? Why?" Ivy asked.
"Yeah, what's your problem?" Meira added. "Didn't you say you wanted nothing to do with us?"
"Let's just hear her out," Riven said calmly.
"Thank you," Aria said. "This is a hunter's test. Predators are hunters. And what's a hunter's ace card?"
"Traps," Juro answered.
"Exactly. We don't know the jungle well. If we move carelessly, we could be ambushed. I suggest we stick to our original plan—find a hideout."
Riven nodded. "Good point. Thanks, Aria."
He clapped. "Alright. Who's coming with me to find a suitable location?"
Hands went up: Caden. Kei. Lucien. Torin. Juro. Ivy. Kairon.
Aria raised an eyebrow. "Surprising to see you willing to help."
Kairon shrugged. "Might as well do something useful."
"You should try associating with your classmates more."
He says and walked off.
Akira raised her hand next.
"Ashir?" Riven asked.
Ashir scoffed. "I work alone." And just like that, he dashed into the forest.
Sena sighed. "Well… it can't be helped."
"Then it's settled," Riven said. "Nine of us. Let's split into three teams and spread out."
Kairon, Akira, and Lucien's Team
Lucien took the lead, swinging through trees with ease.
"We need to catch up," Kairon said.
They ran, but Lucien was already far ahead.
"Lucien!" Kairon called. "Wait up!"
Lucien turned mid-swing. "Don't worry! I'll find a spot and come back!"
"That defeats the purpose of teamwork! You could be ambushed!"
Lucien winked. "As handsome as I am, nature welcomes me. I am the king of the jungle!"
And he vanished into the canopy.
Akira sighed. "Sorry…"
"Why apologize?"
"I'm slowing us down."
"Don't think of it like that. Everyone moves at their own pace."
She smiled softly. "Thanks…"
They kept moving until they found a cave.
Akira lit up. "A cave! We found a good spot—"
Suddenly, voices echoed from inside.
"Down!" Kairon hissed, pulling Akira into the bushes and covering her mouth.
Her cheeks flushed red, but Kairon's gaze was fixed on the cave.
Adams and Adrien emerged, talking.
Akira's breathing slowed under Kairon's hand. She tapped him, and he gently removed it.
They stayed hidden.
A twig snapped beneath Akira's foot.
Adams paused. "Shh… someone's there."
He and Adrien checked the surroundings—but found nothing.
Inside the bushes, Kairon was on top of Akira. Her face was bright red. Kairon didn't notice.
When the coast was clear, he stood, dusting himself off.
"You okay?"
"Huh? Y-Yeah! Totally fine!"
"Let's go. It's dangerous here."
They returned to the hideout.
At Class D's Hideout
Ivy and Riven welcomed them back. Lucien was already lounging.
Kairon looked around. "Caden, Kei, and Torin aren't back yet?"
Riven shook his head. "No. What took you?"
"We found a cave—but it's already occupied by Class A."
Shock rippled through the group.
Meira clenched her fist. "Let's attack now while they're inside!"
Aria stepped in. "Don't be foolish. They could've set traps."
Meira glared at her. "You—!"
"She's right," Riven said calmly.
"Oh, so you're calling me foolish?"
"No! That's not what I meant—"
Meira stormed off before he could finish.
Just then, Caden, Kei, and Torin arrived, breathing hard.
"We found a hideout!" Caden said.
"And there's a river next to it!" Kei added.
Sena's eyes lit up. "Really?! Let's go there now!"
Riven didn't waste a second. "You heard her. Everyone, pack your things. We move now."
No hesitation.
Bags slammed shut. Tent poles collapsed. Boots stomped into position. Class D moved like a single unit—sweaty, tired, but focused. Each of them knew: time was everything.
The sun was brutal, pouring down like fire from above. Sweat soaked their sport wares. As they marched through the rough terrain, Yua dragged herself forward and groaned, "Aren't we there yet?" She wiped her forehead, lips cracked from thirst.
Caden, Riven, and Kei were at the front, moving with purpose. Kei suddenly raised a hand.
"Stop here."
Riven looked around. "This? It's just trees."
Kei smirked. "Wait for it."
Without a word, Caden stepped forward. With a grunt, his hands worked fast, shoving aside a wall of branches. Sunlight burst through the gap like a spotlight from the heavens.
A gasp rippled through the group as they stepped forward, one by one, into the hidden space.
A dry clearing stretched before them—flat land, soft sand under their boots, no leaves, no debris. Just ahead, the faint sound of running water echoed. A stream. Clear and real.
Sena and Yua sprinted ahead.
"Wait!" Juro shouted, stepping in front of them. "Don't drink it yet! We don't know if it's safe!"
But it was too late. Caden dropped to his knees and dipped his hand in the stream. Without a moment's pause, he drank.
"Are you insane?!" Juro barked, stepping toward him. "Were you even listening?!"
Caden wiped his mouth and looked up calmly. "Relax. It's safe."
Juro's brow furrowed. "How the hell do you know that?"
Caden stood up, stretching. "Back home, I used to go hunting with my dad. Taught me how to follow clean water sources. This stream—" he pointed, "—it flows from a river. No algae, no dead fish, no oil streaks. It's good."
Ivy blinked, surprised. "Wait… really? That's actually kinda cool."
Caden scratched the back of his neck, a bit bashful. "Heh. Thanks."
Juro still didn't look convinced, but before he could speak again, Yua cupped her hands and drank.
" I'm famished!" she said with a giggle.
Aria knelt quietly and joined her, drinking with care, her eyes scanning the area even as she sipped. Discipline, as always.
Riven nodded. "Water problem solved. Now for food. We save our points by surviving off the land."
Caden raised a hand. "We passed a bunch of fruit trees earlier."
Riven's eyes lit up. "Perfect. Who's going with Caden?"
Without hesitation, Ivy, Yua, Kairon, Aria, and Sena stepped forward.
"Let's move," Caden said. He slung his bag over his shoulder and disappeared into the trees, the others right behind him.
Riven turned to the rest. "Alright. Let's set up camp."
And they did.
8:00PM
The sun had fallen. The flashlight in the center of camp cast a pale white glow over their circle. Fruits—bananas, wild oranges, even some berries—were stacked neatly on a tarp. They passed them around, eating in silence, the fatigue of the day finally catching up.
And then—BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
All their watches went off at once. The same alert. The same message:
A student has withdrawn from the test
Class D — 100 points deducted
The air turned cold.
Everyone looked around.
Ivy's voice trembled. "Where's Lucien?"
Eyes darted across the camp. The shadows. The tents.
Nothing.
He was gone.
"That bastard," Kei growled, fists clenched. "He ran."
"He… just left?" Yua said, stunned. "He took 100 points with him?"
Torin shook his head. "At this rate, we're going to fail."
"Not if we adapt," Riven snapped, stepping into the light, voice firm. "Listen up."
Everyone turned to him.
"We survive this. We don't spend another single point. No medical requests, no supply calls, nothing. We eat off the land. We boil water. We trust no one, not even each other—unless they've earned it."
His words hit like thunder.
Juro clenched his jaw and nodded.
Kei's shoulders relaxed, just a bit.
Even Sena, usually bubbly, looked deadly serious now.
No one spoke after that. They just moved. Quiet. Focused.
The girls took one tent. The boys another.
Inside, bedrolls were unrolled. Shoes kicked off. Bodies dropped.
No one said goodnight.
They just stared up at the thin tent fabric above them, sleep pulling at their tired limbs.
No one moved.
Lucien was gone.
100 points… gone.
And the real test?
Had only just begun.