Today, everyone gathered in the main hall, and the buzz of excitement filled the air. I could see the thrill in their eyes—after all, it was their first time participating in the VR survival test. The idea of fighting in a virtual world where there were no real consequences was exhilarating. But beneath the excitement, I felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness.
Lost in my thoughts, I felt a presence beside me. I turned to see Scarlett standing there, her usual confident smirk plastered on her face.
"Ready for action?" I asked, trying to match her enthusiasm.
"Of course," she replied, her eyes gleaming with determination. "I won't hold back if we fight later."
"Heh, let's see who gets more points and wins," I said confidently, a competitive spark igniting between us.
"Sure, let's see," she shot back instantly, her smirk widening.
Just then, a commanding voice broke through the chatter, silencing the crowd. Miss Elsa stood at the front, her gaze sweeping over us.
"ATTENTION!" she called out, and the room fell silent.
"Students, today you are all going to participate in a VR island survival test. But what kind of island it is, you will have to find out for yourselves. Now, I will explain the rules: Every student must collect points by defeating monsters or by snatching points from other students. Since this is a VR world, you can kill other students to take their points, but remember, no torture is allowed. Failure to follow this rule will result in disqualification. I know some sadistic people might take advantage of such a situation," she warned, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"The test will continue until only one student remains as the winner, who will receive a Double Upgrade Scroll as a reward. So, I wish you all good luck. Now, let's get ready."
With that, we moved to our designated spots to receive our VR helmets. I took a moment to examine the sleek device before placing it over my head.
[ Preparing VR simulation ]
[ Student Noah Von Augustus ]
[ Retina test... done ]
[ Fingerprint test... done ]
[ 1%... 99%... done ]
[ You may open your eyes. ]
When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by a breathtaking view of a lush forest. The vibrant greens and the sounds of nature enveloped me, making it feel incredibly real. Using my mana sense, I quickly realized that this forest was larger than I had anticipated and teeming with monsters. Time to level up.
I unsheathed my sword, its crimson blade glinting in the sunlight. With my mana sense active, I began searching for monsters. I was determined to use my Sword Art as much as possible; I wanted to upgrade it with the rewards I earned. I could buy a new Grade Five Sword Art, but that would mean starting from scratch. If I upgraded my current art, I could master it much faster since it would be an evolution of what I was already using.
Suddenly, I spotted three Horn Wolves in front of me. One of them charged at me, and I instinctively closed the distance between us. I sidestepped, causing it to stumble in confusion. With a swift leap, I executed my sword.
"First form: Shadow Strike."
My sword cleaved through its neck, and it fell lifelessly to the ground.
The other two wolves lunged at me simultaneously. I activated Flash Step, propelling myself into the air. Mid-flight, I unleashed my sword.
"Second form: Gale Dance."
My sword whirled through the air, and both wolves were dispatched in a flurry of crimson.
[ 30 P ]
I glanced at the device on my wrist, noting the points I had earned. I wasn't sure how leveling up worked in this virtual world, but I was eager to find out. I needed to keep moving and gather more points. With 200 students in the test, I figured it would take more than a day for everyone to eliminate each other. I wanted to collect as many points as possible before the real fights began. I had some food in my inventory, so I was set for now.
As I continued deeper into the forest, my thoughts drifted to Scarlett. I hadn't spent much time with her lately, and I was already planning to take her on a date after this test. Just as I was lost in thoughts of our potential outing, a massive creature swooped down from above. It had black wings and two lion-like heads, its roar echoing through the trees.
Trusting my instincts, I jumped to my right just in time to avoid a massive fang that tore through the ground where I had been standing.
"Flash Step!"
Then I activated my Nature Magic, ensnaring its legs and body in vines. With a swift motion, I called upon:
"Third form: Phantom Edge."
My sword sliced through the creature's body, splitting it in two with a clean strike.
[ 60 P ]
Surprised by the points I received, I realized that not all monsters were created equal. I had expected more points for such a formidable foe, but I was still pleased with the outcome.
Determined to keep pushing forward, I ventured deeper into the forest, my senses heightened. The thrill of the hunt coursed through me as I scanned the surroundings for more monsters. I needed to stay ahead of the competition, and every point counted.
As I navigated through the dense foliage, I stumbled upon a clearing filled with strange, glowing plants. Curiosity piqued, I approached them cautiously. They seemed harmless, but I knew better than to let my guard down. I reached out to touch one, and to my surprise, it emitted a soft hum, resonating with my mana.
Suddenly, a notification flashed before my eyes.
[ New Item Acquired: Mana Bloom ]
[ Effect: Restores 20% Mana when consumed ]
I quickly added it to my inventory, feeling a surge of excitement. This could be useful later, especially if I found myself in a tight spot.
Continuing my exploration, I heard distant sounds of combat. The clash of swords and the roars of monsters echoed through the trees, reminding me that I wasn't the only one hunting for points. I had to be strategic; engaging in fights with other students could be risky, especially if they were more skilled than I was.
I decided to take a stealthy approach, using the cover of the trees to my advantage. As I moved silently, I spotted a group of students battling a large beast. They were working together, coordinating their attacks, and I could see the points they were racking up.
I weighed my options. I could join them and potentially earn points, or I could wait for them to weaken the creature before swooping in for the kill. The latter seemed like the smarter choice.
As I observed, I noticed one student getting too close to the beast, and in a split second, it turned and lunged at him. I felt a rush of adrenaline as I prepared to act.
"Now!" I thought, activating Flash Step to close the distance. I leaped into the fray, my sword ready.
With a swift strike, I aimed for the creature's flank, catching it off guard. The beast roared in pain, and the other students turned in surprise.
"Who are you?" one of them shouted, but I didn't have time to respond.
I focused on the creature, executing my Gale Dance once more. The combination of our attacks overwhelmed the beast, and it fell to the ground, defeated.
[ 100 P ]
The points flashed on my wrist, and I felt a surge of satisfaction. I had not only contributed to the fight but also secured a significant amount of points for myself.
As the other students began to regroup, I quickly made my exit, slipping back into the shadows of the forest. I didn't want to stick around for any potential conflict over the points I had just earned.
With my heart racing, I continued my journey through the island, eager to see what other challenges awaited me. The thrill of the survival test was just beginning, and I was determined to emerge victorious.