As soon as the timer began, everyone paused.
Not a single sound was made.
Every eye in the room focused on the timer as it slowly counted down.
Then, the eyes traveled down to the people in the room.
It had begun.
The hall fell into a strange, eerie stillness. It was so silent that you could hear your own heartbeat thumping as if it was about to jump out of your chest.
Arthur didn't move, but his expression changed. A slight smile graced his lips.
'I suppose its about now.'
Everyone in the hall was engulfed in a bright blinding light, the same light that the Academy's principal and his subordinates had used to enter and leave the hall.
In an instant, all life in the hall had vanished.
….
'Unlike the portals, this one doesn't actually give nausea.'
Art mused as he took a good look at his surroundings.
He found himself standing ankle—deep in soft, warm sand. The air carried the faint scent of salt, and in the distance waves lapped lazily on the rocky shoreline.
To the left was a dense forest.
"Since they told us not to go too deep, does that mean that everyone spawned at the edge?"
He wondered.
"No, they're too many applicants. If anything they just meant don't wander too deep."
Arthur shook his head.
'The monsters are probably deep in the forest, under some protective layer that won't allow them to leave their designated points but will allow
'Why am I overthinking this?'
From what he remembered there were only ten islands, the Academy placed the applicants on said islands to split them up.
There were at least over a thousand who passed the first exam.
People who used the short time allocated to them to form connections and make teams found themselves in a whole different area than their teammates.
By the time they found said teammates, that was if they even survived long enough for that, they would be out for each other to get more points.
"I better start looking for people before they kill everyone."
He murmured.
Arthur's original plan had been to ace the written exams and then enjoy himself during the physical. Unfortunately, he had gotten second, Art knew that he would have to rack up a lot more kills.
He took one step into the forest—
—Boom!
The ground trembled, a shockwave of dust and sand rushed through the air.
Arthur's eyes flicked towards the rising smoke inland.
"Well, that's convenient."
He sprinted.
His boots tore through the sand as he made his way towards his site of the explosion.
'Hopefully, I don't run into any of the main characters or him.'
If he actually did, Arthur would have no choice but to fight head on. But, in a fight like that, he would certainly lose his balls.
The smartest approach would be to run away and swim to the next island, but unfortunately, Arthur had never learned how to swim, it was quite unlucky as swimming was necessary for this exam.
'It shouldn't come to that.'
He hoped it wouldn't.
The closer Arthur got, the louder the shouts became. Not only that but he could feel the essence flaring the air.
Just then, a sudden movement in his peripheral caught his attention.
—Clink!
He jumped.
A thin, gleaming wire snapped out of nowhere, slicing through where he would have been.
Arthur twisted in the air, planting a foot on a tree trunk and pushing off to the side.
He landed with a crouch.
"Are those dangerous wires or the ones that just trip you?"
He asked.
The attacker—a boy with black hair—didn't retreat after seeing his surprise attack had failed, he quickly picked up his spear and charged at Arthur.
Arthur sidestepped slightly, purposely making his movement just enough for the weapon to go past him harmlessly.
Then he grabbed the spear's shaft, yanking it out of his hand and sending the boy stumbling forward like a drunk.
Arthur didn't hesitate, he spun around, landing a blow with the spear's side that sent the boy to the ground.
The boy groaned, rolling on the ground as the impact knocked the wind out of him.
"Now, do you want to answer? Is it a dangerous wire or the one that just trips you?"
He asked again.
"....It can cut limbs.... off."
He finally answered.
"Good."
The boy tried to get up, however Arthur quickly hit him smashed the spear at him.
The boy let out another groan.
"Don't move, it'll be over soon."
He threw the spear at the ground.
His attacker tried to reach for it, but before he could, Art stomped on the back of his skull.
His face slammed into the earth.
'So he can take a hit, that's good.'
Arthur raised him up and threw him into a nearby tree, causing him to lay on the ground. Then, before the boy could move out of the way he rammed his knee into his face.
There should have been blood.
His nose should have been broken from the force.
However, there was neither.
Instead, one of the orange balls on his belt broke, his body went limp.
"Finally."
He was afraid that he would have to fight the boy until one of them was eliminated—the person that
Arthur took a good moment to examine him now that he had fainted.
Relying on the game's mechanic in this wouldn't be his wisest option, and he was interested on how it worked in this sense.
'He's completely fine.'
He observed.
A portion of the pain was still pain.
But his body would shut down regardless of whether he felt the pain or not.
'So I'll be taking one.'
Arthur's hand went to the boy's belt, he carefully took one of his balls and popped it into his mouth.
"Oh God, I really need water."
He coughed as he patted his chest.
"Not to mention that if this doesn't come out in a few days, I'll have to see a doctor."
That was a future he hoped would not come to pass.
Arthur left the boy's body laying on the tree trunk.
—Boom!
"Oh, I almost forgot that fight there."
He murmured.
Surprisingly, the explosion had come from the very same place as before.
That meant the place had not been abandoned.
Arthur picked up the spear sprinting in the direction of the noise, and when he came close enough he hid behind one of the trees.
'More people came when they heard the noise.'
He mused.
At least ten people were engaged in a free for all.
None of them seemed to notice him due to their ongoing fight.
'It wouldn't be right if I interrupted.'
He activated one of his skills.
Then, he slowly rose the spear up until it was over his head.
"Over here."
He shouted out loud.
Every head snapped towards him.
Arthur threw the spear. It sliced through the air in the direction of a girl.
She dodged-just barely-only to feel her legs get trapped in something that felt wet.
Arthur stepped out of the trees.
"Don't mind me, I'm just here to collect taxes."