The Island (1) - 44
A/N: If y'all didn't notice, I changed the name of the novel. If you're mad, blame it all on Alekzi, he told me to, something about the algorithm... Also, due to Alekzi's direct comments, Solo Tower Ranker is gonna be getting republished, under the name, "Omniscient Tower Ranker" with a new commissioned cover, but due to that, I won't be posting any new chapters until Friday, I have to proofread every single chapter of STR again, I mean, I just found out that I had typos in the author's comments, I mean, what's up with that?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All of us were soundlessly kidnapped from the comfort of our beds early in the morning, before the sun could even peek its first rays over the horizon.
As the blindfolds were removed, we found ourselves staring at a vast expanse of blue.
'The ocean look particularly black and ominous today.' I thought, taking a look up at the stars, still shining brightly in the abyssal sky.
As all the other students fervently looked around worriedly, trying to figure out what had happened, a particular girl stood out who, for some reason, had been wearing a girl's top hat and a black dress to sleep.
Looking around and quickly finding Ms. Krenshaw, I started staring at her, waiting for her instructions.
"CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!"
Ms. Krenshaw's three claps resounded over the stern, causing everybody to turn their head's to her and quiet down.
"Students, I know you are all confused and are wondering what in the world is going on, but worry not, well, you might want to worry, because this is your first test of the year!"
"Just so you know, all physical tests will be sudden, so always be prepared, as I can tell some of you are." As she said this, she looked at me and a few others, who had also slept prepared. They had probably taken advice from someone older than them who had experienced the same thing before.
"This test is special because it will test how well you survive in an unexpected situation, surrounded by your peers, who might not be so inclined to help you."
Hearing this, everyone looked warily from side to side, unconsciously distancing themselves from the people next to them.
"The test is simple, we will be making each of you a castaway on an uninhabited island in the middle of the sea."
"On the island are 3 open gates that have already broken, so monsters are running rampant on the island."
"Your task is simple, survive for a two whole weeks on the island."
Hearing this, there was a collective sigh of relief from the students.
"Of course, we will be tracking how many monsters you kill and other such things, to contribute to your rankings. Obviously, because this is your first test, it will greatly affect your rankings."
"We will also be testing if you students are able to build a society in this time, living peacefully without fear of monster attacks, and each other. Those that are part of what we deem a "society" will gain an extra 500 points on the test."
"For comparison, killing one (F) ranked monster is 10 points."
"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention this earlier, but there are two (F) ranked portals and one (D-) ranked portal."
Hearing this, instead of a collective sigh like earlier, their was a collective gasp this time.
"How the heck do you expect us to fight (D-) rank monsters? Not to mention, the boss is probably (D+) ranked!" Shouted a student that had bigger balls than the rest of us, asking what everybody else wanted to ask.
Ms. Krenshaw calmly replied to her question. (A/N: She didn't even have balls :) !!!)
"Remember, you don't have to fight them, you just have to survive. The boss monsters won't come outside of the portal. Of course, because you're doing something extra, if you go in, fight it, and beat it, you'll get 1000 points."
Another collective gasp occurred, this time due to the number of points, instead of shock and surprise.
"Well, are there any more questions?"
This time, I was the one that stepped up and asked one.
"Do we get to use all the things on our person, or will we be stripped? Also, are you going to provide us with any supplies to survive?"
"The answer to your first question is yes, and the answer to the second is no."
As some people started to cry out, Ms. Krenshaw once again clapped, silencing them.
"You are all powerful enough to survive with your stigmas! Just use your brains a little and you'll be able to do anything!"
After that outburst, nobody said anything.
Ms. Krenshaw took a few seconds to calm herself down before asking again, "Does anybody have any more questions?"
"..."
"If not, then let the test start!"
Suddenly, a blue light enveloped all of us as we were mass teleported to various random spots on the island, which most hadn't noticed the boat approaching, being too focused on Ms. Krenshaw.
As I landed into the hot, humid jungle, I couldn't help but think about the future of the students on the island.
As they would soon find out that any person could also get points from acting nefariously, things like stealing somebody else's food or even injuring another person would add more points to their rank than killing monsters.
The whole island would become a lawless zone, where the powerful ruled over the weak, injustice and depravity around every corner.
The only "light" in this sea of darkness would be the protagonist and some other future party members, diligently fighting in the portals, trying their best to earn points the "right" way.
'Maybe,... maybe there is a beast... maybe it's only us. And in the middle of them, with filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose,... wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart. William Golding' I thought.
That was my final thought of the future before I came back to the present.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also, I wanna shout out Moon_Senpai's newest novel. The concept's unique and I think it's really good. Check out "Author's Reincarnation in a Fantasy Setting". I promise you won't regret it.