Chapter 58
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Midterm Evaluation (4)
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Right as the midterm evaluation kicked off and the mass teleportation by class wrapped up.
"Did all those people really just teleport? That's insane...!"
Most of the first-year cadets, yanked from their classrooms to some unfamiliar terrain in a blink, were oohing and aahing over it.
Not only had they been dropped onto a massive island in class clusters, but they'd even been positioned to keep a set distance from each other.
It was impossible not to marvel at the sheer wizardry of the magic.
"Is this the principal's doing?"
"Nah, this has gotta be a group cast. Either way, it's nuts."
"So this is the survival test we've only heard about..."
That's why, the moment they hit the island, the cadets weren't rushing into prep—they were too busy scoping out the surroundings.
But that wasn't weird at all. It wasn't just sightseeing; they were sizing up the terrain too.
In a way, it was like touring while getting work done.
"Probably no one's moving out right away, so let's build our base nice and solid first."
"Anyone good with earth magic, over here! We'll start with the foundation!"
The main task kicking off everywhere was setting up sleeping quarters and such.
An essential job for thirty-ish people to crash comfortably.
In fact, eleven out of the twelve classes were pouring everything into it.
"No clue how long this'll drag on, so make it tough."
"What about food?"
"The briefing said use local plants and animals to fend for ourselves."
"There's a big river nearby, so fishing there or setting traps..."
With no real gauge on how long the survival would last.
The cadets focused on making their base safe and sturdy.
They needed space for thirty to sleep, so first off, clear a wide area.
Plus, to keep watch from on high, they had to erect a watchtower on elevated ground.
"Oh yeah, when's the alliance meetup?"
"Two days from now. Till then, we fortify our turf."
The alliance against Class 1 was set for two days after landing.
Until then, they had to keep building up their stronghold.
That way, after taking down Class 1 and getting worn out, they wouldn't get stabbed in the back.
"Ah, so till then it's foraging, building, that kinda stuff?"
"Yeah, something like that. Boring or not, it's already settled between the class reps."
"Feels like a two-day truce, then?"
"Truce in name only—everyone's gonna be busy prepping. It's like an unspoken rule."
When it came to battles, it wasn't just the fighting itself that mattered.
Terrain, geography, and supply lines using them were huge factors too.
Everyone knew that, which is why they started basing up the second survival began.
But there's always exceptions.
"Me? I don't really vibe with following those rules."
"Huh?"
The casual chit-chat turned to horror in a snap—realizing the guy chatting you up wasn't one of yours anymore.
The cadets happily building away shot glances at the unidentified intruder.
"You—you...!"
"Guess there's a reason those old-timers beat the crap outta him."
-For a hunter, stealth and infiltration are basics among basics. Ferocious Tiger Step is specialized for it.
Unidentified intruder—no, Kim Geon-ho recalled his master's words and unleashed his footwork.
"Wh-what?! It's Kim Geon-ho! Kim Geon-ho's here!"
"Where?! He was just here!"
"Can't see him! Can't pinpoint his location!"
"Cast detection magic!"
His presence was so ghostly, you doubted your own eyes even staring right at him.
Ferocious Tiger Step didn't just hide presence—it concealed life force itself.
Without that vital energy any creature should have, he was a ghost to detect.
As the cadets froze, unsure what to do.
Kwachik!
"Gahhh!"
Kim Geon-ho didn't hesitate to throw down violence.
Too heavy, too raw for that word to cover it.
Terror by a lone wolf.
Overwhelming force, casually crushing dozens.
A wolf among sheep.
Amid the chaos, cadets still hunted for their class rep.
Even as friends who'd been building together dropped one by one.
They needed to report the attack.
If they could.
"Your class rep's already out."
Fastest, most efficient way to gut a group? Take the head.
Tough to pull off, but if you could, peak efficiency.
For Kim Geon-ho with Ferocious Tiger power? Piece of cake.
He'd mastered all nine forms and needed practice dummies anyway—perfect timing.
-Sp... spare...
-It's not real death, so why the fuss.
Kim Geon-ho recalled his chat with Class 8's rep minutes ago and chuckled softly.
Clueless that their boss was gone, still searching desperately.
The dumbstruck faces when he broke the news—nearly cracked him up big time.
'Hang on, do I look like the villain here? Nah.'
Kim Geon-ho shrugged after a quick self-assessment.
Protagonist material like him couldn't look villainous, right?
Decision made, he kept swinging.
Pak!
"Ugh!"
Kwang!
"Gyyyaaah!"
Thud!
"Krrraaah!"
One swing, one down.
After about thirty swings, Class 8 was wiped clean.
Ten minutes into survival.
Word of a whole class wiped spread to the instructors fast.
Well, they'd been watching live anyway, so they knew.
But hearing it outright? Big difference.
"Class 8 eliminated. Cause: raid by Kim Geon-ho."
"...? Ah—huh?! Aaaaah!!!"
Shock and horror.
Class 8's instructor reacted first, ripping at his hair in disbelief before slumping into his chair, accepting reality.
"Wh-what the..."
"Don't take it too hard. It's just this one test, right? Plenty more chances later."
"Class 3 eliminated. Cause: raid by Class 1."
"Kyaaaaah!!!"
The consoling instructor screamed at the next report.
Not just Kim Geon-ho rushing early—Class 1 as a whole was on the move?
"How do they even strategize like that...!"
While others built foundations, they invaded?
No retreat, no backup plan.
"They're throwing the whole class into attacks!"
"If even one raider gets taken alive and spills intel, it's total ruin...!"
Win big or crash hard.
If they didn't dominate early, no base meant sleeping rough.
Yet Kim Geon-ho pulled it off casually.
First midterm eval, and a class-vs-class showdown at that—high stakes.
No-safety-net strat? Not anyone could.
"Humans naturally want insurance..."
Avoiding the bottom was as key as topping the board.
That's why eleven classes built bases—not for nothing.
"Cadet Kim Geon-ho seems to see this survival as super short."
"Pardon?"
Most figured survival meant at least a week.
But Kim Geon-ho saw that as a gap, opting for early aggression.
Instructor Ran, knowing his mindset best, beamed proudly at Class 1's crisp moves on screen.
"No need to build when you can just take someone else's."
Why bother?
Other classes would build while Class 1 raided.
Steal 'em done.
Plunder solved it.
Kim Geon-ho planned that from jump, blitzing weaklings early.
Strong bases? Smash, then chill on their foundations.
A strat built on assuming total victory.
Absurd on paper, but it exploited survival's flaws perfectly.
"...Class 2 and 5 eliminated."
"No! No way! My class in the bottom ranks?!"
"Waaah! Kids!!! My kiiiids!!!"
One hour in, four classes down.
Instructors who'd pegged Class 1 first out were now eyeing Instructor Ran nervously.
Wastrel's blade spares no eyes.
Can't dodge if you try.
Face it, end it.
The stampeding disaster had hit survival.
The island where survival raged.
In that coastal sprawl, an uninvited guest appeared.
"...So this is where the first great justice will unfold."
The novel's true story was gearing up.