First Trial (Part II)

"Leave? You monkeys don't deserve mercy. You're lucky that the gods themselves didn't obliterate your world like it was nothing. If you want to leave, all you have to do is survive this trial." Compared to the angel before, this one was more sadistic and was more expressive as a being.

"The second trial is simple. You will be expected to survive in the jungle for the next two hours." Fighting the goblins took about a quarter of an hour to clear, and a survival trial would stress anyone if there were monsters that anyone would be on the constant lookout for.

"You will be given ranks like the tutorial you have done. The stronger the monsters, the more points you will earn. Even monkeys like you should be able to understand something so simple. The prize here would be worth much more, and those ranked in the bottom thirty would die." Belittling us with her racist remarks, she chuckled, seeing how panicked most of us were.

"We will be killed??? Surviving for two hours alone is hard! Why do we have to fight!?" The familiar fat businessman who spoke up earlier shouted angrily, obviously hating this idea.

"Yeah! Why do we have to do such a thing?" When one steps up, this would give more people courage. A rally might start, and I don't know why they would complain to a being that could kill us like bugs.

"Do interrupt me once more, and I will be forced to give out punishment." Her words made her sound angry, but I felt she wanted us to continue. For an angel, her behavior wasn't what she should have.

"Since humans excel at ending lives, you might as well excel here. There are no rules. You can form alliances with anyone in the room, but the points you earn will be divided in half."

It sounded like she was finished explaining, so I started observing anyone I felt would be a competitor of some sort.

The other three safe zone groups had much tougher people but were only in the minority, and for the most part, the ones who were afraid were those who went into the safe zone.

One particularly imposing figure caught my eye. The burly, bald man exuded an aura reminiscent of that of a seasoned boxer.

"Oh, right. If you think you're not satisfied with the points you're earning, you can kill your competitors for points. Now that all of you know what to do, the timer starts now." Without letting us ask, the angel disappeared, like it was never here in the first place.

As the round commenced, those who lacked combat prowess immediately sought out capable allies, hoping for acceptance.

"Kid, how about we team up?" The old, overweight man I had glimpsed on several occasions approached me, extending an invitation to join forces. He had evidently taken note of my performance, making it a logical choice.

However, the fat businessman wasn't the sole individual seeking to form an alliance with me. Many others from my zone expressed interest in teaming up. This garnered some attention, starting with curious questions.

As someone aiming for a high rank, the logical decision would be to decline his offer. My skill, which would attract conflict, would surely be executed if I did it with anyone else.

Who would have thought I would tell myself I wasn't afraid of trouble? Worst comes to worst. We could just throw hands.

"No thanks. There's no benefit for me in teaming up with someone," I replied firmly. Without someone willing to transfer their points to me, I couldn't discern a reason to collaborate. Among the million individuals summoned, my stats should rank among the highest due to my skill. Unless there were any unforeseen circumstances, I doubted I would come to harm. The top rankers likely shared my sentiment, unless compelled to assist others.

"A young man like you shouldn't think so narrowly. How about this? I've achieved considerable success in the real world. If you're willing to share some of your points, I can offer you a few million." He proposed, resorting to bribery when he realized I lacked motivation to cooperate.

A few million did seem appealing, but wealth wasn't something that attracted me. I may be lacking in cash, but I had a feeling that would change in the future.

"No matter what you offer, my answer remains the same. And that applies to everyone else." If I was going to rank highly, there was no need for me to say more.

"How can you be so selfish? Can't you lend a hand to those in need?" Hostility crept into his tone, and the old man began to sway the crowd against me.

"If aiding the needy results in indirectly harming others, then what's the point? While those at the bottom may lack quality, it would be futile to assist individuals who contribute nothing but occupy space. Besides, old man, you've been getting on my nerves since we first met." Since hostility was shown, I could claim my rewards.

Becoming the target of hatred for those in desperation was ideal. Unsure if my ability would permit multiple rewards for additional targets, now was the opportune moment to test it. I doubted anyone would object if I incapacitated these individuals. In fact, they should be grateful that I was eliminating individuals who weren't them.

Twelve individuals had shown hostility. As hostility emerged, "Loved by Conflict" activated, enveloping them in a dark aura, reminiscent of the first person who attempted to push me aside.

"What are you doing!? We can talk this out." As I walked toward them, the axe in my hand looked ready to strike. Too intimidated by my actions, the old man and his goons stepped back.

"What's the point of talking? The best choice of action is to shut you up. I'm sure no one will be missing you." With my axe slanted on the side, I bopped them in the head instead of cleaving them. Even if I didn't stain my blood, they would die due to the time. Worst case, to a cruel monster.