Battle Royale (1)
My vision warped. Light bled outward, spreading like ink in water—then vanished in an instant. The sensation beneath my feet changed completely. I opened my eyes.
“...Where am I?”
An endless plain stretched in every direction. The plaza where I had stood moments ago was gone without a trace, replaced by this unfamiliar expanse. New students stood scattered across the field at irregular intervals.
“Is this teleportation magic…?”
“They’re really starting it right away?”
Voices thick with confusion rose around me. Above them all—
“It appears everyone has arrived safely.”
“We will now begin the freshman evaluation.”
The voice rang out with perfect clarity, as though echoing across the entire space.
“This is an independent testing dimension created by the academy.”
I clenched and unclenched my fist experimentally. The sensation was indistinguishable from reality. The brush of wind against my skin, the texture of the ground beneath my boots—everything felt completely natural.
But—
“Your physical bodies remain exactly where they were.”
Several students stiffened at those words.
“Only your senses and consciousness have been linked to this virtual space.”
That was when it clicked.
My body is still outside… and only the sensations are being recreated here.
Valterion’s explanation continued.
“Therefore, any damage sustained in this place will have zero effect on your actual bodies.”
A short silence fell. Then—
“However.”
That single word tightened the air like a noose.
“Pain from any injuries will be transmitted at a fixed ratio.”
Someone spat a low curse. Valterion’s tone remained utterly calm.
“It is not identical to real pain. But it will feel sufficiently agonizing.”
“Furthermore, once a certain damage threshold is reached—you will be automatically eliminated.”
“The eliminated will return immediately to their original positions. No trace will remain on their physical bodies.”
In other words, the wounds here were nothing more than an experience. But the pain would register as real.
I exhaled sharply.
So they have no intention of going easy.
The rules are simple.
In exactly one minute, your positions will be randomly redistributed throughout this space.
Form teams or move alone—your choice will also factor into your evaluation.
Teams formed before redistribution will be placed together.
This examination will proceed in battle royale format.
Eliminating other freshmen grants points.
Points are proportional to the opponent’s entrance ranking. Higher ranks yield greater rewards.
You will also absorb all points your opponent has accumulated.
The test continues until only the last individual—or last team—remains.
The bracelet I’d received before the entrance ceremony rested on my wrist. A faint pattern shimmered across its silver surface.
“You may check your personal score through the bracelet you received prior to the ceremony.”
“If two or more students form a team, touch your bracelets together for ten seconds or longer.”
Simple. And because it was simple, it was perfectly clear.
I lifted my gaze and scanned the area. Several students were already approaching one another. Their eyes glittered with cold calculation—deciding whether to ally or keep their distance.
The air grew heavy.
“This test will proceed as a battle royale.”
Someone swallowed hard.
“Eliminating another student grants points. The acquired points are proportional to the opponent’s entrance ranking. The higher their rank, the more points you obtain.”
In other words, the stronger the opponent, the greater the reward.
“Additionally—” Valterion’s voice dropped slightly. “You will absorb every point your opponent currently holds.”
The atmosphere shifted at once. This wasn’t a simple elimination match.
It’s a system that lets you steal what others have built.
The longer it lasted, the wider the gap between survivors would grow. I swallowed a quiet laugh.
“The eliminated are immediately removed from the testing ground. Evaluation will be based on the points held at the moment of elimination.”
Even if you couldn’t survive to the end, your points would remain. However—
“The examination will not conclude until only the final person or team remains.”
That single statement made everything clear. In the end, the one who endured would win.
A brief silence fell.
“Forty seconds remaining.”
The countdown had begun. At the same moment, the air itself seemed to surge. Some students rushed toward each other while others deliberately created distance.
“Let’s go together.”
“Teams have the advantage right now.”
Bracelets touched. I watched for a moment before turning away.
I could form a team. But—
No need.
There was no reason to tie myself down this early. We knew nothing about one another yet. It would only create unnecessary variables.
I gripped the bracelet on my wrist once, then released it.
“Ten seconds.”
The surrounding air grew taut with tension. Some were still agonizing over their choices while others had already decided.
And then—
“Begin.”
My vision distorted again. The space folded in on itself as my body floated upward. I clenched my teeth and steadied my balance.
Then I stood on solid ground once more.
This time, no one was near me.
“...They really scattered us.”
I slowly turned, taking in my surroundings. The presences of the other freshmen I had sensed earlier were gone. Only unfamiliar terrain remained: gentle hills, scattered trees, and rocky outcrops that blocked line of sight.
It wasn’t a simple plain.
They want us to make use of the terrain.
I regulated my breathing and sharpened my senses. The whisper of wind. The faint rustle of grass. And—
There.
A very faint presence. Not perfectly concealed. Someone else was searching the area, just like me.
I let my gaze drift naturally and locked onto the direction. Left, beyond the rocks. Roughly several dozen meters away.
I spotted them first.
No need to rush. First, I needed to determine what kind of opponent I was dealing with.
I began walking deliberately—making just enough noise to be noticed, but not so much that it seemed aggressive.
The response was immediate.
A figure stepped out from behind the rocks. A young man holding a sword. His eyes locked onto me at once.
Our gazes met. A short silence passed. His eyes wavered slightly.
The uncertain type.
A truly strong opponent wouldn’t hesitate. I took one more step forward. Tension flooded his shoulders.
“...”
No words. But the decision had already been made.
I lowered my stance. At the same moment—
He charged. Kicking off the ground, he drove straight forward. His sword thrust toward my throat in a clean line.
Not bad speed. Solid fundamentals. A straightforward stab.
I twisted my body a half-beat late. The blade’s tip grazed my skin as it passed. Close enough to nearly draw blood.
In that instant, a sharp pain flared across my arm.
“...It really does register.”
It wasn’t a deep cut. But the unmistakable sensation of skin tearing had been transmitted perfectly. There was no actual wound, yet the pain felt entirely real.
The opponent’s eyes widened.
“You dodg—”
Before he could finish, I slipped inside his reach with my already-twisted posture. I closed the distance completely. Before his sword could reset, my body was already inside his guard.
I drove my shoulder in, hooked his leg, and shattered his balance.
“Urk—!”
A choked gasp. He tumbled across the ground. I raised my sword to finish it—
My vision flashed white.
And then he was simply gone.
...
Silence settled. I stood motionless, staring at the empty space where he had been. Nothing remained.
Automatic elimination before a fatal blow lands.
At that moment, the bracelet on my wrist vibrated faintly. A soft light brushed across its surface.
It wasn’t a huge number. But considering the structure of this test, the fewer participants remained, the more valuable each point would become.
“...”
The first battle had ended almost disappointingly easily. Yet—
This is only the beginning.
The longer it continued, the more dangerous it would become. The truly strong had yet to show themselves, and the more points one accumulated, the more attractive a target they became.
I slowly lifted my head. Wind brushed past my face. In the distance, the faint sound of another clash reached my ears. Fights had already broken out across the field.
I turned toward the noise and began walking.
The sound of metal striking metal. Short, explosive impacts. I tilted my head.
That way.
No reason to hesitate. The moment I planted my foot, my body leaned forward naturally. I accelerated. Wind whipped past as I cut through the trees, heading straight for the source of the commotion.
It grew clearer. The sounds of clashing blades sharpened—then the forest opened into a small clearing.
In the center, two students were fighting. Sparks flew as sword met sword. Their ragged breathing echoed. They had already exchanged several blows. The one whose balance had broken first was beginning to crumble.
I slowed my steps and assessed the situation.
Then—
“Ha—!”
One swung his sword in a wide, reckless arc. A clear opening appeared.
I didn’t miss it. I kicked off the ground and intervened. My field of vision narrowed instantly as I drove between them.
“...!”
“What the—”
Both reacted too late. A third party entering a duel they were already committed to—they had no preparation for it.
I moved toward the one whose balance had already collapsed. As his sword came down, I slipped beneath its arc. His posture was already broken. Even a light touch was enough.
Short. Decisive.
“Urk—!”
His body crumpled. Light flashed, and he vanished.
One down.
The remaining student bared his teeth.
“You—!”
But it was already too late. The moment his focus wavered, I closed the remaining distance. Once I was inside his range, the fight was over.
Before his sword could rise, I struck first. A short, sharp blow. His breathing cut off. His body froze.
And then the second one disappeared as well.
Silence descended over the clearing.
I let out a slow breath. My wrist trembled faintly. The bracelet.
“Definitely different.”
Those two had been stronger than the first opponent. Their points reflected that.
I scanned the area once more. The earlier clamor had vanished as if it had never existed. But—
It wasn’t over. In fact—
This is where it truly begins.
I wasn’t the only one drawn by the sound of battle. Others were definitely nearby.
I lowered my body and expanded my senses. At that exact moment, an extremely faint presence brushed against my awareness. Someone holding their breath. Not perfectly hidden.
I lowered my wrist and swept my gaze across the surroundings again. It was quiet. Too quiet. The silence felt unnatural after the fight that had just occurred.
But that very silence—
Is dangerous.
I dropped my stance faster than my conscious thought. In the same instant—
Whoosh.
Something sliced through the air. The attack passed through the exact spot where I had been standing. A spear glowing with golden light now quivered, embedded in the ground.
I slowly raised my head.
On a branch above, hidden within the shadows, someone was looking down at me.
“You dodged that?”
A low chuckle.
“...As expected, you’re quite strong.”
As the figure stepped out of the shadows and caught the light, golden hair fluttered in the wind.
I said nothing and simply assumed a combat stance.