Chapter 109

〈Chapter 111〉 Got it? Now, kill each other!

Chul-soo carefully examined the rules that had just appeared in front of him.

【Academy Representative Selection Tournament Rules】

1. All participants are given a base of 240P. If your points reach 0, you’re automatically disqualified.

2. After entering the tournament area, participants must pay 10P every hour.

3. You can earn points by defeating monsters, incapacitating other participants, capturing flags, or completing missions.

4. The top 10 teams with the most points will be announced at regular intervals.

5. All participants will receive common missions at set intervals.

6. Teams that fail missions will be disqualified regardless of remaining points or face penalties.

7. The competition continues until only two people remain.

8. After the match ends, physical and magic damage scores will be calculated separately. The student with the highest damage score will be selected as the representative.

【Tournament Notes】

– Participants must form teams of two before the tournament begins and share points.

– Teams cannot be changed mid-tournament.

– Participants must not leave the designated competition area.

‘What is this ridiculous condition…?’

Though the rules were explained at great length, the conclusion was simple:

“From now on, kill each other.”

An endless war in a confined space until only two remain – basically Battle Royale!

With so many participants and a fairly large area, it’s natural the match could last several days.

Which means accumulating battle fatigue while having limited time and places to rest comfortably.

If we’re talking difficulty alone, this is hell mode.

‘There’s no point hiding forever since our points will hit zero and we’ll get disqualified… And even if we maintain points but fail missions, we’re out too.’

Those missions are surely designed to provoke fights between students.

A rule that doesn’t allow hiding or running away.

‘The professors have us all figured out.’

Most students would probably make hiding their primary strategy early on.

That’s actually the most rational choice.

After all, in a kill-or-be-killed tournament, fighting early on would mean losing strength.

You’d get tired quickly and risk elimination.

Worse, you might become a target for concentrated attacks.

Even if not, taking down many opponents means more points – making you the most tempting target for other point-hungry students.

…

Ultimately, the better you fight early on, the more disadvantageous it becomes.

But according to the rules, avoiding fights altogether isn’t an option either.

‘Thought there might be fairness issues, but they really planned this out.’

The biggest flaw of this tournament is that top students could get eliminated early by concentrated attacks.

However, with these rules, other students would likely play cautiously.

Who’d want to fight Kim Yu-jin and his ilk early on?

‘The key here is this final rule…’

“Hey Chul-soo, what do you think?”

Young-hee called out to Chul-soo who was deep in thought.

She had already reviewed the rules and seemed ready.

“Are the rules tough?”

“Nah, with these rules… honestly, we’re in the best position.”

“Hehe, I thought the same.”

Young-hee nodded with a smile.

This tournament would ultimately be a war of attrition.

And with constant battles against monsters, healers like Young-hee who can heal effectively would shine.

Especially since Young-hee could even defeat the class president, a skilled mage, in one-on-one combat.

Not only can she heal, but her combat skills surpass average fighters.

Naturally, she’d be considered top-tier talent in this tournament.

“But the real issue might be water and food.”

“Yeah, except for minimal weapons, we had to surrender everything else.”

All participants underwent baggage inspections beforehand.

While some basic gear was allowed, food was strictly prohibited.

There’s a rumor that a student who tried to negotiate with emergency rations was left devastated.

This survival challenge on an island where preparation was possible is now even harder.

‘Plus, unlike a jungle, there’s nothing to hunt in a city. Survival issues will stand out even more.’

We can somehow manage water, but food is the problem.

They wouldn’t let us starve and eliminate us that way, so there must be something.

But it definitely won’t be easy to obtain.

“With 240P given initially, we can last a day. Killing monsters along the way will also give us points.”

“Right.”

Most students will probably worry about running out of points.

Honestly, the chances of getting disqualified due to zero points are low.

More likely, disqualifications will happen through other participants or mission failures.

With some leeway, we don’t need to overly concern ourselves with points.

“So, points are kind of a trap?”

“I think so. Or maybe bait to make participants fight each other early on.”

Chul-soo nodded slowly.

The pressure of having points continuously decrease to zero and seeing the top-ranked point leaders regularly…

‘While they keep emphasizing points, they’re ultimately just participation qualifications.

Having high points doesn’t bring you closer to victory.

Meaning there’s no need to strain ourselves earning points early on.

Rather, exploration would be the right move.’

“Alright, then let’s avoid combat as much as possible early on?”

“Yeah, and I assume food and such are hidden somewhere via gimmicks. Or given through missions.”

“Then early on, finding and securing those resources would be most effective.”

“When other participants are focused on fighting, that’s when resources are most abundant.”

Both nodded simultaneously.

These two have worked together long enough.

Understanding each other’s thoughts and reaching agreements happens instantly.

Thus, even before the match began, they had their strategy set and stood at their starting position.

Like last time on the island, the start location would be completely random.

Probably unlikely to meet other participants immediately.

“Let’s conserve stamina and avoid combat as much as possible early on.”

Ultimately, the basics don’t change.

Getting swept up in the tournament rules and losing our rhythm could lead to instant disqualification.

With that mindset, Chul-soo and Young-hee entered the competition area…

“KREEEEEE!”

“Damn it.”

A monstrous grasshopper-like creature, as big as a streetlight pole, swung its front legs.

Sighing, Chul-soo drew his sword.

‘Sure, why would things go as I plan?’

Immediately, the grasshopper’s scythe-like limbs clashed with Chul-soo’s blade.

This happened just moments after entering the tournament…

…

Meanwhile, as Chul-soo struggled with unexpected combat…

Yu-jin was enjoying a peaceful moment.

‘This is quieter than expected. Though, naturally so at the beginning, right?’

Looking around, the city was literally in ruins, exuding an eerie atmosphere.

Just like those typical zombie or apocalypse movie settings.

Apparently abandoned for years due to game development difficulties.

Is this what happens to a city when people stop living here after just a few years?

Thinking about that is kinda scary.

‘We’re supposed to stay here for a few days.’

Not only that, he’d have to meet Soo-hyun eventually.

Finding each other in an unfamiliar place would be inefficient.

So they agreed to head to the dungeon separately and meet up there.

Until then, gathering as many points as possible might be wise.

‘Also, that succubus queen or whatever is around here, right? She apparently looks like a normal female student. Maybe I should be careful?’

Well, considering her preferences, she probably wouldn’t target him.

The succubus wouldn’t know his thoughts anyway, so no need to worry too much.

‘The only possibility might be if the class president falls under a charm spell?’

Thinking that, Yu-jin glanced at the class president.

The president seemed extremely tense due to the tournament.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her breathing was rough.

Though, ironically, it was for an entirely different reason than Yu-jin imagined.

‘Yu-jin and me alone… Yu-jin and me alone… Yu-jin and me alone… Yu-jin and me alone…’

Being partners, she hadn’t fully realized the implications until now.

Just the two of them, alone in a desolate city.

‘Aren’t we practically Adam and Eve at this point?!’

Her heart pounded uncontrollably.

The thought of spending several days alone with Yu-jin filled her with blissful dizziness.

“President?”

“Yes, yes! Should we find a place to sleep? Let’s bathe right away!”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

Yu-jin chuckled softly.

Seeing the usually composed model student flustered was oddly cute.

“Don’t be so tense. Nothing’s going to happen from the start.”

“U-Um…”

Carefully nodding, the president noticed something.

A wolf-like monster sneaking up silently from the alley.

[Intermediate Magic: Silent Arrow]

The president immediately cast a spell.

Though somewhat weak, it was a completely silent intermediate magic!

The magical arrow flew soundlessly and pierced the wolf behind Yu-jin’s back.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nope! Nothing at all!”

The president replied with a bright smile.

Such a rare happy few days.

Anything that gets in the way, whether monsters or not, will be torn apart!

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