Chapter 104

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 104

Chapter Title: Island of Sacrifices

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Shwaaah—

The familiar sound ringing in my ears was the waves.

As it reminded me of the Crimson Sea Cliffs, but relatively calmer, I snapped to my senses standing on some beach.

White sand stretched out far beneath my feet, while palm trees inside the island extended their long trunks, bowing their heads toward the sea.

A gentle breeze made their leaves sway leisurely.

An island.

Yeah, this was an island. Looking back at the sea, emerald waters spread out beautifully.

Of course, strictly speaking, the site for this trial wasn't exactly on the ocean side.

'First, let's find the others who might've landed nearby.'

I'd just had that thought when—

I stared blankly at the notification in front of me.

Favorability changes.

In the Selection Process, there were abilities to gauge others' favor. Though non-combat, they were quite popular—simple reason: incredibly useful.

'Even taming and training monsters becomes a breeze if you can check their favorability.'

Take harpies, for example. You could easily see how they felt about you, their mood, physical condition, favorite foods, preferred pranks—all under the favorability metric.

'She had something like this.'

The named tamer [Beast Tamer], famed for successfully training not just intelligent demi-humans but even beasts incapable of speech.

She possessed a similar ability.

Of course, mine was far superior.

'This might make taming monsters way easier from now on.'

"Dickhead!"

A urgent voice called out then. Quickly scanning around, I spotted my party rushing over from afar, taking position beside me and scanning for threats.

The beach had plenty of others besides us.

"What the hell are you bastards doing?! Kraak!"

"Wh-what?!"

"Die!"

"Gurk."

On the open beach, crowds were swinging weapons at each other. No—looking closely, the majority were systematically slaughtering the minority.

"Y-you sneaky bastards…!"

Two or three ganging up from front and back to hunt one by one. They resisted somehow, but in the Selection Process, numerical superiority was a wall hard to overcome. Inevitably, a one-sided massacre ensued, ending the fight swiftly.

"Pl-please spare me! Please, aaak!"

"M-my fingers!"

After killing all the men and taking the women as spoils, they turned toward us one by one.

"Oh, what about those chicks?"

"Fuck, they're smoking hot."

GREedy eyes ogled my women, licking their lips.

'…As expected, the other rest areas must be crawling with [Human Hunters].'

The early Selection Process was the era of Human Hunters.

Horrific acts devoid of morality unfolded, crumbling everything built as civilized Earthlings.

Like chicks tossed into a chicken coop,

men were slaughtered, women reborn as livestock.

No discrimination. Only the logic of power.

'But that era ends.'

When grand lords rise, humanity unites, the bloodwinds calm—then the Human Hunters' reign ends, ushering prosperity.

Humanity's leap begins then.

Of course, still distant now.

"Dickhead, they look like the same pack, right?"

"Yeah."

About three hundred Human Hunters approached with blood dripping from their blades, grinning menacingly.

Behind them, twenty-odd fingerless slave women huddled with the new recruits, trembling—as if sensing the horrors ahead.

"Kya, look at those pretty faces."

"Check her out. Tits like a milk cow."

"She an actress or idol? Anyone know that scene?"

My party readied for combat against the approaching foes.

Honestly, stranded on a remote island with enemies swarming everywhere was disorienting enough, yet our training showed—no need for discussion, they smoothly formed ranks.

Saintess and Shin Seo-yeon behind me; Han So-hee and Yi Sera flanking protectively.

'Worth every penny. No need to micromanage teaching this stuff.'

A satisfied smile briefly, then eyes forward again.

'That said, never seen Human Hunters banded this big before.'

Large numbers, mixed gender even. Decent weapons too—must've looted plenty.

Probably scarfed tons of stat shards.

Their leisurely moves hinted at how often they'd done this, how strong they'd grown.

"What now?"

Han So-hee, who'd grown wary of PvP after sparring me one-on-one, asked.

"Back's sea, fully surrounded, outnumbered. They'll tighten the noose, make it worse. Strike first."

Unfortunately, I agreed. Up close, Shin Seo-yeon couldn't shine. Ideally, they'd retreat seeing flames on her arms.

"Hey, fire magic. Careful."

"Tch, annoying—got a mage."

They hesitated but didn't back off. Even as we shifted sideways, they mirrored, encircling without gap.

"Heh heh, about time for those punks to flail. Get ready, all."

Veterans, even timing it.

"Dickhead, shouldn't we break through now?"

"We need to decide."

"Min-jun."

Time ticking, my party suggested breaking out while trusting invincibility. But attuned to the surroundings via my overwhelming stats, I replied flatly.

"No, everyone stay put."

"What?"

"Stay put?"

I stowed my weapon in inventory. Eh? Party panicked at my sudden move; Human Hunters eyeing us for a chance blinked wide-eyed.

"What."

"Surrendering?"

"Smart bastard. Yeah, no point charging—would just get wrecked otherwise."

The human Hunters relaxed, baring their teeth as if easy prey was caught. My women shook my shoulders, scolding.

"Hey, what're you doing? Are the numbers too much? Pfft, I could handle 'em solo."

"I know."

"Then why?"

I raised index finger, pointing right along the shore.

Sand, sand, sand—

Far off in the distance, a massive presence with footsteps approached.

"Huh?"

"What're those?"

Not just my party—even Human Hunters voiced confusion at the beach intruders.

They were human. Or rather, pointy ear tips, thick lips, Eastern European vibe overall.

Armed, all burly-muscled.

They have an odd attire: loincloths of cloth for bottoms only. Wearing uniforms as well, clearly an organized army.

"Foreigners over there!"

Spotting us, they sped up.

"Grab 'em!"

The voices barely reached my ears; others missed it. But the vibe alone clued them in.

"Fuck, what're those?"

"Dunno. Sheep? Beat them first, then ask later."

…Oh, bad idea.

Human Hunters reformed against the five hundred charging foes. Shin Seo-yeon grabbed my arm quick.

"Hey, now's our chance. Let's just run."

Crimson Flame Witch's sturdy mentality and her sharp instincts shone. But I held her back from fleeing.

"No."

"Huh?"

"Everyone, stay still like me. Hide your weapons."

"What? We'll get swept in the battlefield. Once those two clash, it's instant chaos. No escape by then."

True. But I stood firm, so the women gradually stowed their weapons in their subspatial pouches.

Life-or-death stakes, no detailed explanation—yet they trusted me and stayed put.

I felt their faith and it was bone-deep.

"But you didn't mention this scenario back at the lodge."

"Nope."

I hadn't thought of it then.

Never imagined tangling with Human Hunters from other rest areas right at start.

Especially since my 1st round survivor memories had a different spawn point.

"Ha, bastards cocky on their numbers. Time to school 'em."

"Kekeke. Been ages since we've had fresh sheep meat. Slaves up front as meatshields first. Move, you lots!"

—A bit of an unusual start. We were captured.

Survivors started with those soldiers. As captured prisoners, no less.

What’s that mean?

"Come on, bastards!"

"Fuck, let's see what you—guwek?"

Getting caught and dragged as POWs was the standard route.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Waaaaah!

Five hundred soldiers ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠barreled in brutally, pounding Human Hunters mercilessly.

"Kuaak."

"Sp-spare me!"

"Wh-what is this?"

Strutting to clash, they gawked, crushed by overwhelming force. Not fighting—smacked down in one hit, some curling on the sand screaming.

Obviously.

Those are the stats of one soldier fighting the Human Hunters. Comparable to Han So-hee buffed 20 across the board by the mythic skill [Sword Empress].

A single grunt with those stats. Five hundred of them charging in—how could they even compete?

"Kuaaaak!"

"St-stop! It hurts! Hurts!"

"Wh-what?! Why're these bastards so strong?!"

The human Hunters, who'd dismissed them as ordinary humans, got crushed instantly.

Arrogance from nonstop wins shattered under the metal clubs, their bodies sprawling.

"Guk."

"Pl-please mercy…! Ack! Ack! Aaak!"

I quickly raised my empty hands, signaling no fight. My party swiftly followed, palms up.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Seeing us, rear Human Hunters pondered surrendering like us.

"F-fuck, run!"

"Y-yeah! Run first!"

Choosing freedom over chains—even ditching their humanity—they fled again.

"Y-you bastards! Where!"

"T-take us too!"

Ditching even their mid-fighting allies, they bolted the opposite direction.

"Hey, Dickhead. Is this the right call?"

Shin Seo-yeon stomped, urging we flee too.

But her anxiety vanished instantly.

"Leave no fleeing bastard alive!"

Soldiers hurled spears en masse. Filling the sky in arcs, they skewered escaping Human Hunters' backs.

"Keurk."

Three hundred ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠javelins—eighty percent of escapees skewered on sand.

"F-fuck, survived."

"Run!"

Still twenty percent left—pity, most would die or be recaptured.

The trial structure demanded it.

"Bind these and take 'em."

A dapper mustachioed middle-aged man—with a Hitler 'stache vibe—ordered, eyeing our compliant group. Soldiers roped our wrists tight.

"Sp-spare me. Never run again. Please… guwek."

Spear through the leg, he limped begging—but his head was lopped clean. Hitler-stache raised his sword, bellowing.

"No need for the impaired. Execute on site."

Soldiers drew blades, mercilessly beheading wounded Human Hunters.

"Pl-please forgive…!"

Begging mercy, but their swords knew none. Slash—then gutted like cattle, harvesting the stat shards.

Idle soldiers menaced the prisoners meanwhile.

"Hey, you. All weapons here."

"No hiding. Unless you wanna die."

The terrified bound ones surrendered their gear. Soldiers looted the spoils.

"You…? Hm."

They approached us, puzzled at no usable gear.

"Why no equipment?"

"We're pilgrims. We don't carry weapons."

"I see."

Eyeing our robes—[Robes of Lumina], Shin Seo-yeon's mage garb—they nodded, convinced, and passed.

Objectively, we had only clothes and unassuming leather pouches.

"Alright, let's return then."

Hitler-stache ordered the march back.

On the vast beach, players popped up sporadically en route.

"Wh-where's this?"

"Eek! What're they? R-run!"

The fresh trial arrivals. Soldiers, sated on captures, ignored them.

"Damn, warped in at the worst time. If it was a little later…"

"Tell me about it. Wouldn't be caught like this."

The captured lamented, envying those hiding in the palms and fleeing to the opposite direction.

Did they know? It was much better to be caught early.

Thus while we were beach-walking—

"H-hey, look ahead."

Turning to the shoreline bend, an unseen vista emerged.

"That's…"

"A city…?"

Enormous wall.

Stretching endlessly along the shore—like encircling the whole island. A flawless fortress vista.

"…Huge."

Looking closer, the huge scale sank in: the sheer cliff was high. Beyond majestic—soul-stirring awe fills us. So tall, and yet distant.

"This way."

With bound hands, we gathered at the wall gate—passing the sand-grass border. Others were already there.

"Stay quiet, or die."

"Wh-what'll you do with us?"

Someone asked; soldier pointed club. Row of impaled player heads lined there.

Shut up, basically.

"……."

Instant silence.

My women huddled close to me.

"Dickhead, this what you meant?"

"Yeah."

And here began my remembered [Island of Sacrifices] start. Prisoner start. The third trial's curtain rose in earnest, starting now.