John was resting on a large moss-covered rock, partially hidden among bushes and the roots of a fallen tree.
He was relaxing after a well-deserved effort: during the first eight days of the exam, he had pushed himself to the limit to accumulate 150 points. Once achieved, he had spent his time searching for a safe place to rest until it was all over.
John had never been an ambitious person. He wasn't interested in climbing to the top of the rankings or asserting himself over others. For him, the goal had always been simple: survive, do what was necessary, and, amidst the tension of the exam, find a moment of peace until the ex am is over
.
Then, John caught sight of four figures moving toward him through the underbrush. Just as he was about to react, he realized who they were.
They were his classmates. He understood immediately: if they had truly wanted to attack him, they would have done so more stealthily, taking advantage of surprise and the terrain. They wouldn't have come straight at him, head-on, as if they weren't afraid of being seen.
He relaxed slightly, lowering his guard, though not completely. He knew that even among classmates, caution was essential in the middle of the exam.
Marcus glanced across the clearing and frowned when he saw John still lying on the rock. He nudged Liora with his elbow.
—Oi, Liora —he said low—, are you sure you want to recruit this guy? He's lying down in the middle of the survival exam.
Liora followed his gaze and shrugged, a small, confident smile tugging at one corner of her mouth.
—He may look lazy, sleepy, or even incompetent —she replied—, but don't be fooled. He's got deadly aim. Precise, calculated, and incredibly patient. When it matters, he's like a walking artillery piece — quiet until the moment he unloads. His monstrous form excels at long-range attacks, so you want someone like that on your side.
Marcus blinked, unconvinced but intrigued.
—Alright —he murmured—. I'll take your word for it.
They moved slowly through the trees until they reached John, who was still lying on the rock, partially hidden by the undergrowth. His relaxed posture contrasted with the alertness in his red eyes, which kept watch over everything around him.
Liora sat on a nearby root, crossing her legs and taking a deep breath.
—Wow… —she said, looking at the forest—. What a mess these past few days, huh? There's not a single spot where you can just relax.
John tilted his head, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
—You can imagine —he replied—. You learn to find safe spots. This one seems as good as any other.
Marcus, leaning against a tree, murmured:
—I'm sure more than one person would love to be as calm as you.
John shot him a quick, relaxed glance, keeping his smile:
—Bah, everyone manages the best they can.
Liora chuckled softly, then looked at him more seriously, though still friendly:
—Yeah… speaking of managing, we've been planning something. We want to take on an organized team, and we think you could help us.
John frowned slightly, curious but not alarmed.
—I'm not interested —he said calmly—. I don't care about climbing the ranking or getting involved in trouble.
Liora leaned toward him, smiling, a playful spark in her eyes:
—Really? —she asked—. Are you really going to force me huh?
John put on his usual teasing grin, pretending to be oblivious:
—Huh? Force you do what? —he said, relaxed.
Liora winked at him, both playful and determined:
—Fine —she said—. If you come along and stick to the plan, I'll go on the mission with you. But if you bail at the last minute… don't expect me to let you near me again.
John stayed silent for a few seconds, weighing the offer, and finally his half-smile widened, more genuine this time.
—Alright —he said—. Let's see how it goes.
As he spoke, he slowly pushed himself up from the rock, brushing off his clothes and getting ready to move.
After closing the deal with John, the group continued moving through the trees, sunlight filtering through the leaves and the crunch of dry branches under their feet.
They soon spotted Emma. She was sitting on a fallen log, small and slight, enthusiastically devouring the leg of a deer. She seemed completely absorbed in her meal, unaware of the others.
Liora approached calmly, a light smile on her face:
—Hey, Emma —she said—, there are a few people we want to hunt. You in?
Emma lifted her head from the log, setting aside a piece of meat, her eyes shining with excitement.
—Hell yeah! —she replied, grinning widely—. When do we start?
The group made their way to Liora's cave, a hidden refuge among roots and rocks that offered privacy and enough space to plan without distractions. There, they could focus on reviewing makeshift maps drawn on the ground and discussing the movements of other groups in detail. The cave quickly became their operations base: a safe place to analyze information and adjust strategies without interruptions.
Adrian, with his ever-watchful crimson eyes, focused on investigating the other group they planned to attack. He observed every pattern, every step, every small signal that could indicate their future moves. He recorded details that went unnoticed by the others, from habits to potential weak points, building a precise mental map that he then shared using gestures and signs. Marcus and Liora used this information as the foundation for designing the main strategy. Together, they discussed ambush routes, assigned roles, and planned contingencies for every possible scenario. Liora was quick to adapt the data to new situations, while Marcus contributed tactical analysis and a survival-focused perspective, anticipating risks and optimizing every move.
Meanwhile, Rylan, John, and Emma spent their days hunting monsters around the cave, accumulating points in the traditional way. Whenever they earned points, they transferred half to the rest of the group so that no one lost the efforts of those days entirely. Mornings were spent exploring and hunting, afternoons in the cave reporting findings, and each night reviewing progress, fine-tuning strategy, and evaluating new opportunities. Day by day, the group became more coordinated and efficient, learning to combine fieldwork with strategic planning.
It was during this period that Marcus noticed something he had previously overlooked: Adrian was mute. It wasn't shyness; he simply couldn't speak. To communicate, he used sign language, something Liora knew and skillfully leveraged. Her timely knowledge of sign language allowed them to convey instructions discreetly, coordinate movements, and maintain communication without alerting other groups.
With each passing day, the group's dynamics strengthened: the combination of Liora and Marcus's planning, Adrian's research and stealth, and Rylan, John, and Emma's strength and skill gave them an edge. Day by day, they prepared with precision, becoming an increasingly synchronized team ready to execute their plan effectively.