As the students gathered on the beach, several teachers stepped forward.
One of them spoke through a microphone.
"Listen carefully, students."
The noise immediately died down.
The teacher pointed toward a large camp that had been set up near the shore.
"This will be the starting point and medical station. The teaching staff will remain here for the entire examination."
Several students sighed in relief.
At least there was somewhere safe to go.
The teacher continued,
"If any student is seriously injured, becomes ill, or encounters an emergency, report to us immediately."
Another teacher stepped forward.
"Now for the rules of the examination."
Large screens were set up near the beach.
The rules appeared on them.
Island Survival Test Rules
Students must form groups.
Groups may contain students from different classes.
Groups will compete against one another.
Special contests and missions will appear at different locations around the island.
Completing contests earns points.
Points earned belong to the group.
At the end of the examination, groups will be ranked according to total points.
The students began whispering among themselves.
Then another rule appeared.
Elimination Rule
The bottom 3 groups in the final rankings will be expelled from the academy.
The entire beach became silent.
Then chaos erupted.
"Expelled?!"
"Three whole groups?!"
"That's insane!"
Even Anshuman's smile disappeared.
Kira looked worried.
Ryan frowned.
Rina immediately began calculating possibilities.
Meanwhile, Ayaan remained calm.
"Now the real exam begins."
The teacher raised a hand.
"Silence."
The students quieted down.
"The rewards are equally important."
The next rule appeared.
Rewards
1st Place Group: Massive class-point bonus and private points.
2nd Place Group: Large reward.
3rd Place Group: Moderate reward.
Lower rankings receive fewer rewards.
The teacher then revealed another requirement.
Supply Registration
"Every group must submit a complete list of supplies."
The screen changed again.
"You must declare all items brought to the island."
Students exchanged nervous looks.
The teacher continued,
"The list must include:
Item name
Quantity
Purchase price"
A student raised his hand.
"Why?"
The teacher answered immediately.
"To prevent hidden supplies, unfair advantages, and illegal trading."
The students groaned.
Everything would be monitored.
Finally, the teachers pointed toward a large board near the beach.
"Group registration begins now."
Students immediately started forming teams.
Anshuman looked at Ayaan.
"So what's the plan?"
Kira and Ryan moved closer.
Rina also approached them.
Before anyone else could speak, Ayaan looked at the group.
"We already have our core members."
Anshuman grinned.
"Us."
Kira nodded.
"Obviously."
Ryan crossed his arms.
"I'm in."
Rina smiled.
"I expected that."
At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind them.
"A group of ordinary people gathering together. How fascinating."
Everyone turned.
It was Koenji.
The muscular transfer student stood there with a confident smile.
Anshuman blinked.
"Oh no."
Ayaan narrowed his eyes slightly.
The island test had barely begun, and already another unpredictable variable had entered the game.
As the teachers finished explaining the rules, students immediately began forming groups.
The atmosphere on the beach had completely changed.
The mention of expulsion had erased any excitement about the island.
Anshuman looked at Ayaan.
"So what's our move?"
Ayaan looked across the beach.
"First, we observe."
Kira nodded.
"Most people are already rushing into groups."
"Which is exactly why mistakes will be made," Ayaan replied.
Nearby, Ryan was talking with several students from other classes.
He didn't approach Ayaan's group, nor did Ayaan pay much attention to him.
At that moment, a familiar voice sounded behind them.
"A beautiful island, a wonderful breeze, and a collection of ordinary students."
Everyone turned.
Koenji stood there with his usual confident smile.
Anshuman sighed.
"Here we go again."
Koenji ignored him.
"I assume you intend to compete seriously."
"We do," Kira answered.
"How admirable."
Koenji looked toward the forest.
"Personally, I have no intention of limiting myself by relying on others."
Without another word, he walked away.
Anshuman stared after him.
"He's weird."
"A little," Rina admitted.
Ayaan watched Koenji disappear into the crowd.
For the first time, he noticed that Koenji wasn't carrying many supplies at all.
"Interesting..."
The registration deadline was approaching.
Around them, groups continued to form.
The Island Survival Test had finally begun.
Ayaan looked at the registration form and then at the others.
"Before we start, I need to know exactly what everyone brought."
Anshuman nodded.
"Fair enough."
Kira sat down on a nearby log while Rina opened her backpack.
Ayaan began typing on his laptop.
"Remember, everyone keeps their own supplies. No shared inventory."
The others agreed.
Ayaan's Supplies
Personal Tent ×1 — 80,000 Points
Sleeping Bag ×1 — 20,000 Points
First Aid Kit ×1 — 25,000 Points
Water Purification Kit ×1 — 30,000 Points
Flashlight ×2 — 10,000 Points
Portable Battery ×2 — 15,000 Points
Total: 180,000 Points
Anshuman's Supplies
Personal Tent ×1 — 80,000 Points
Sleeping Bag ×1 — 20,000 Points
Food Packs ×10 — 50,000 Points
Water Bottles ×20 — 20,000 Points
Rope ×2 — 8,000 Points
Camping Stove ×1 — 35,000 Points
Total: 213,000 Points
Kira's Supplies
Personal Tent ×1 — 80,000 Points
Sleeping Bag ×1 — 20,000 Points
Medical Supplies ×1 — 40,000 Points
Emergency Rations ×10 — 30,000 Points
Raincoat ×1 — 5,000 Points
Utility Knife ×1 — 15,000 Points
Total: 190,000 Points
Rina's Supplies
Personal Tent ×1 — 80,000 Points
Sleeping Bag ×1 — 20,000 Points
Compass ×1 — 12,000 Points
Map Kit ×1 — 8,000 Points
Extra Batteries ×10 — 10,000 Points
Portable Tool Kit ×1 — 50,000 Points
Total: 180,000 Points
After recording everything, Ayaan looked up.
"Good. Everyone has their own tent and supplies. If we get separated, nobody becomes completely dependent on someone else."
Rina nodded.
"That's smart."
Then Ayaan asked,
"How many points do you have left?"
Anshuman checked first.
"About 2,487,000."
Kira checked hers.
"About 2,310,000."
Rina looked at her phone.
"About 1,700,000."
Finally, Ayaan checked his own balance.
After buying the laptop, clothes, and island supplies, he still had more than 2,100,000 points.
Anshuman shook his head.
"You're probably the only person on this island who can spend hundreds of thousands of points and still have over two million left."
Ayaan closed his laptop.
"That's because I avoid unnecessary purchases."
Just then, an announcement echoed across the beach.
"Group registration is now complete. Students have one hour to leave the starting area and begin the examination."
The beach immediately became busy.
Groups began gathering their equipment.
Some headed toward the forest.
Others moved toward the hills.
Ayaan stood up and looked at the map.
"The first objective isn't survival."
Anshuman grinned.
"Then what is it?"
Ayaan pointed toward a marked location deep in the island.
"Points."
Ayaan looked at the island map that had been provided to every group.
His eyes stopped at a specific location.
E5.
Anshuman noticed.
"What's there?"
"I don't know."
Kira raised an eyebrow.
"Then why are we going there?"
Ayaan closed the map.
"Because most students will head for the obvious locations near the beach. If E5 contains a resource zone or an event area, claiming it early gives us an advantage."
Rina nodded.
"That makes sense."
As they prepared to leave, Ayaan noticed someone moving toward the forest alone.
It was Koenji.
The tall transfer student wasn't carrying much equipment.
He wasn't part of any visible group.
He simply walked toward the trees as if he were taking a casual stroll.
Anshuman stared at him.
"Is he really going alone?"
"It appears so."
"That's insane."
Koenji suddenly stopped and glanced back.
A confident smile appeared on his face.
"Do not concern yourselves with me. A perfect individual requires no assistance."
Then he continued deeper into the forest.
Anshuman watched him disappear.
"I've known him for less than a day, and he's already giving me a headache."
Kira sighed.
"Same."
Ayaan looked at the map one last time.
"Forget Koenji."
The others immediately focused on him.
"We're moving."
He pointed toward the northeast section of the island.
"E5."
Rina adjusted her backpack.
"Let's go before another group gets there first."
Anshuman grinned.
"Now we're talking."
The four gathered their supplies and left the starting area.
Around them, dozens of groups were already scattering across the island.
Some headed toward rivers.
Some moved toward hills.
Others disappeared into the forest.
Meanwhile, Ayaan's group moved directly toward E5.
The deeper they went into the island, the fewer students they encountered.
After nearly an hour of walking, Ayaan suddenly stopped.
"What is it?" Kira asked.
Ayaan looked ahead.
Between the trees, a large clearing was visible.
And in the center of that clearing stood a strange electronic terminal.
Anshuman's eyes widened.
"Don't tell me..."
Ayaan smiled slightly.
"We got here first."
The first opportunity on the island had appeared before them.
After confirming that no other group had reached E5 yet, Ayaan decided they would establish their camp there.
"This will be our base for now."
Everyone agreed.
The location had several advantages.
There was open space for tents, plenty of trees for cover, and the electronic terminal was only a short distance away.
Soon, everyone began setting up their personal tents.
Ayaan set up his tent near the edge of the clearing.
Anshuman chose a spot close by.
Kira and Rina set up theirs on the opposite side.
Within an hour, the camp was complete.
As evening approached, Anshuman unpacked his camping stove.
"I'm starving."
Kira rolled her eyes.
"You've been talking about food since we left the beach."
"Because food is important."
Rina laughed.
"I can't argue with that."
The group soon began cooking dinner using the supplies they had brought.
For a while, the atmosphere was surprisingly peaceful.
The sounds of the forest echoed around them while the sun slowly disappeared behind the trees.
Meanwhile, Ayaan and Anshuman sat beside the electronic terminal with the island map open.
Several locations were marked on it.
Anshuman pointed at one area.
"Where do you think the first event will happen?"
Ayaan studied the map carefully.
The island was divided into multiple zones.
"Not near the beach."
"Why?"
"Too easy."
Anshuman nodded.
That sounded like something the academy would do.
Ayaan continued examining the terrain.
Mountain areas.
Forest zones.
River crossings.
Open fields.
Then he noticed something.
Three locations were connected by a rough triangle across the island.
Each location was difficult to reach but still accessible.
Ayaan narrowed his eyes.
"Interesting."
"What?"
"I think the academy designed the event locations to force groups to move."
Anshuman looked at the map.
"So staying in one place isn't an option."
"Exactly."
Just then, the electronic terminal beside them lit up.
A loud beep echoed through the clearing.
Everyone immediately turned toward it.
A message appeared on the screen.
Event Announcement
First Event Begins Tomorrow at 8:00 AM
Location: D4 River Zone
Reward: 500 Group Points
Participation Limit: 20 Groups
Anshuman immediately stood up.
"Five hundred points!"
Kira walked over.
"D4 isn't too far from here."
Rina nodded.
"If we leave early, we can get there before most groups."
Ayaan closed the map.
"Then that's our objective."
The others agreed.
Tomorrow would be the first real competition of the Island Survival Test.
And for the group that reached D4 first, it could be the beginning of a huge advantage.
The next morning, Ayaan's group woke up before sunrise.
They quickly packed what they needed, ate a light breakfast, and left their camp in E5.
The journey to D4 took less than an hour.
When they arrived, dozens of students were already gathered around a large river.
Several teachers stood nearby with registration tablets.
Anshuman grinned.
"Looks like we made it in time."
Ayaan nodded.
"Register."
The group quickly signed up for the event.
Once registration closed, a teacher stepped forward.
"This event is a swimming competition."
The students immediately began talking among themselves.
The teacher continued,
"There will be separate divisions for boys and girls."
A large scoreboard lit up beside the river.
1st Place: 500 Points
2nd Place: 300 Points
3rd Place: 150 Points
The atmosphere instantly became competitive.
As everyone waited for the event to begin, Anshuman noticed a familiar face near the starting area.
"Look."
Ayaan followed his gaze.
Koenji was standing near the riverbank.
The transfer student looked completely relaxed.
He removed his T-shirt and stretched as if he were preparing for a normal workout.
Several students glanced in his direction.
Koenji was noticeably muscular and athletic, making it obvious that he trained regularly.
Anshuman blinked.
"Okay, he's definitely in shape."
Kira rolled her eyes.
"Focus on the competition."
Rina looked toward the river.
"If he's entering, he'll probably be one of the favorites."
Meanwhile, Koenji appeared completely unconcerned about the other participants.
He simply stood there, looking at the river.
A few moments later, a teacher blew a whistle.
"Participants, move to the starting positions."
Students immediately began lining up.
The course stretched across the river and around several floating markers before returning to the starting area.
Anshuman stepped forward for the boys' division.
Kira and Rina moved toward the girls' division.
Ayaan remained near the sidelines.
"You aren't participating?" Anshuman asked.
"No."
"Why not?"
Ayaan looked at the competitors.
"There are enough strong swimmers already."
Anshuman laughed.
"Translation: you don't want to reveal your abilities."
Ayaan didn't answer.
The competitors took their positions.
Koenji stood calmly among the boys.
The whistle was raised.
The entire crowd became silent.
The first event of the Island Survival Test was about to begin.
As the participants lined up near the river, a teacher walked past them to check that everyone was following the rules.
When he reached Anshuman, he stopped.
"Participant, you'll need to remove your T-shirt. Swimming with it isn't allowed in this event."
Anshuman scratched his head.
"Oh, right."
He took off his T-shirt and placed it with the other belongings near the starting area.
A few nearby students looked surprised.
Although Anshuman usually acted carefree and cheerful, it was obvious that he trained regularly.
Kira blinked.
"Since when were you that fit?"
Anshuman laughed.
"I play sports all the time. What did you expect?"
Rina looked impressed.
"You're stronger than you look."
Meanwhile, Ayaan wasn't surprised at all.
He already knew how much physical training Anshuman did.
Nearby, Koenji glanced in Anshuman's direction for a moment.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Interesting."
Anshuman noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Koenji turned back toward the river.
The teacher then raised a whistle.
"All participants, prepare yourselves."
The swimmers stepped onto the starting platform.
The river current moved steadily ahead of them.
Students from every class watched from the shore.
Some were cheering for their classmates.
Others were studying their competition.
Ayaan calmly observed the lineup.
Among all the participants, two names stood out immediately.
Anshuman.
Koenji.
The whistle rose into the air.
The crowd became silent.
The swimming contest was about to begin.
The whistle sounded.
PHEEEEP!
All the swimmers dove into the river at once.
Water splashed everywhere as the competitors raced toward the first marker.
Anshuman immediately settled into a steady pace.
He wasn't in the lead, but he wasn't far behind either.
Meanwhile, Koenji surged forward with powerful strokes.
Within seconds, he was among the top swimmers.
From the shore, Kira watched nervously.
"Anshuman isn't trying."
Rina nodded.
"He's holding back."
Ayaan remained silent.
In the river, Koenji glanced sideways.
He had noticed something unusual.
Anshuman's technique was too clean for an average swimmer.
Even while supposedly holding back, he was moving efficiently through the water.
"Interesting..." Koenji thought.
He increased his speed slightly.
Anshuman noticed.
"He's testing me."
Instead of responding, Anshuman maintained the same pace.
Koenji smiled.
"So you're hiding your abilities as well."
The swimmers reached the first marker and turned around it.
Several participants were already falling behind.
Now only a handful remained near the front.
Koenji was in first place.
A student from Class 1-A was in second.
Anshuman was comfortably in third.
As they approached the halfway point, Koenji accelerated again.
This time he wasn't trying to win more points.
He was trying to see whether Anshuman would react.
But Anshuman simply continued swimming at the same speed.
On the shore, Ayaan watched carefully.
He could tell exactly what Koenji was doing.
"He noticed."
Kira looked at him.
"Noticed what?"
"That Anshuman is stronger than he's pretending to be."
Rina's eyes widened.
"You can tell that?"
Ayaan nodded.
"Koenji isn't interested in the competition anymore."
At that moment, Koenji glanced at Anshuman once more.
Then he laughed.
The sound carried across the water.
"What a fascinating person."
Anshuman sighed.
"Can this guy stop analyzing me during a race?"
The competitors continued toward the final stretch.
The crowd began cheering louder as the finish line came into view.
And for the first time, Koenji's attention wasn't on the race.
It was on Anshuman.
The final stretch of the race began.
The swimmers pushed themselves toward the finish line.
Koenji remained in the lead from start to finish.
His strokes were powerful and efficient, and nobody could catch him.
SPLASH!
Koenji touched the finish marker first.
A loud beep echoed through the area.
Boys' Results
🥇 1st Place — Koenji
500 Event Points
🥈 2nd Place — Student from Class 1-A
300 Event Points
🥉 3rd Place — Anshuman
150 Event Points
The teachers immediately recorded the results.
A few seconds later, all participants' phones vibrated.
Anshuman looked at his screen.
+150 Event Points
"Looks like the points are sent directly to our phones."
Ayaan took his phone out and examined the system.
After a few moments, he noticed something.
"Interesting."
"What?" Kira asked.
"The phones are restricted."
Everyone checked their devices.
Ayaan was right.
The only thing they could see was:
Event Points
Current Total
Group Ranking
Event History
Everything else was locked.
Anshuman frowned.
"So we can't contact anyone?"
"No."
"Can't use the internet?"
"No."
"Can't do anything except see points?"
Ayaan nodded.
"The academy wants students focused entirely on the exam."
Meanwhile, Koenji looked at his own phone.
He smiled.
"500 points already. A beautiful beginning."
Anshuman sighed.
"I was having a good day until he spoke."
Soon after, the girls' division was called.
Kira and Rina stepped forward.
Both looked determined.
The whistle sounded.
The girls dove into the river.
Unlike the boys' race, the lead changed several times.
Students from multiple classes fought for the top positions.
As the race entered the final stretch, a girl from Class 1-A pulled ahead.
Kira and Rina battled closely behind her.
The crowd cheered loudly.
In the end:
Girls' Results
🥇 1st Place — Class 1-A Student
500 Event Points
🥈 2nd Place — Kira
300 Event Points
🥉 3rd Place — Rina
150 Event Points
Their phones vibrated immediately.
Kira: +300 Event Points
Rina: +150 Event Points
Anshuman grinned.
"Not bad."
Kira smiled.
"We did alright."
Rina nodded.
"Could've been better."
Ayaan looked at their point totals.
Their group had earned:
Anshuman: 150 Points
Kira: 300 Points
Rina: 150 Points
Group Total
600 Event Points
Not the highest score on the island, but enough to put them near the top of the rankings after the first event.
As the students began leaving D4, a new notification suddenly appeared on everyone's phone.
New Event Announcement
Location: B7 Mountain Zone
Starts in 3 Hours
Reward: Unknown
The island test was far from over.
Ayaan looked at the notification carefully.
Next Event
Location: B7 Mountain Zone Registration Limit: 10 Participants
His eyes narrowed.
Then he turned toward Kira and Rina.
"You two go to F2."
Both girls looked confused.
Kira crossed her arms.
"Why?"
"Just do it."
"That's not an explanation."
Ayaan pointed at the map.
"F2 is close to a river and has good camping terrain. Set up the camp there and wait."
Rina looked at the map for a few seconds before nodding.
"Okay."
Kira sighed.
"If this turns out to be pointless, I'm blaming you."
"Noted."
The girls gathered their supplies and headed toward F2.
Meanwhile, Ayaan and Anshuman started moving toward B7.
As soon as they were out of sight, Anshuman spoke.
"Alright, now explain."
Ayaan unfolded the map while walking.
"B7 is one of the furthest locations from D4."
"So?"
"Most students can't reach it before registration closes."
Anshuman's eyes widened.
"Oh."
Ayaan continued.
"The event only allows a small number of participants."
"If the registration limit is ten, most students will arrive too late."
"Exactly."
Anshuman grinned.
"And because we're willing to use some of our actual abilities..."
"We can reach it in time."
The two immediately increased their pace.
They moved through the forest much faster than normal students.
Steep slopes that would slow others down barely affected them.
They climbed hills, crossed rocky terrain, and cut through the shortest routes available.
After nearly two hours of travel, the mountain finally came into view.
B7.
Anshuman looked at the timer on his phone.
"We're going to make it."
Ayaan nodded.
"That was always the plan."
As they approached the registration area, they noticed something interesting.
There were very few students.
Only a handful had managed to arrive so quickly.
Among them stood a familiar figure.
Koenji.
The muscular transfer student was already there.
He smiled when he noticed them.
"I was wondering who would arrive."
Anshuman sighed.
"Of course you're here."
Koenji laughed.
"A mountain is a beautiful thing. Why would I miss it?"
Ayaan ignored the comment and walked toward the registration desk.
The teacher looked surprised.
"Two more participants?"
Ayaan glanced at the board.
Only seven names had been registered.
Including Koenji.
Meaning there were only three spots left.
Anshuman smiled.
"You were right."
Ayaan looked toward the mountain peak towering above them.
"No."
"What?"
He pointed toward the event area.
"The real challenge starts now."
Because if the academy had placed a limited-participant event on the highest mountain of the island, the reward was almost certainly worth far more than the 500 points from the swimming contest.
The registration period finally ended.
Exactly 10 students had managed to reach B7 in time.
The teacher looked around at the participants and nodded.
"Registration is now closed."
A large screen beside the mountain lit up.
Event: Mountain Boxing Tournament
The participants immediately began whispering.
"Boxing?"
"A combat event?"
"Seriously?"
The teacher continued.
"You do not need to bring any equipment."
Several assistants stepped forward carrying gear.
"Each participant will receive standard boxing gloves, headgear, and a mouthguard."
The students relaxed slightly.
At least the event was being conducted safely.
The screen changed again.
Tournament Rules
Matches will be one-on-one.
Victory can be achieved by points or knockout.
Excessive violence is prohibited.
Participants must stop immediately when instructed by the referee.
The last 3 remaining participants will receive rewards.
The prize section appeared.
Rewards
🥇 1st Place: 1000 Event Points
🥈 2nd Place: 700 Event Points
🥉 3rd Place: 400 Event Points
The participants immediately became serious.
These rewards were much higher than the swimming contest.
Anshuman grinned.
"Now this looks fun."
Ayaan remained calm.
Nearby, Koenji looked completely relaxed.
As if he had expected something like this.
The teacher then handed out equipment.
Anshuman put on his gloves and tested their weight.
"Not bad."
Ayaan quietly adjusted his headgear.
He had no intention of drawing attention to himself, but he also wasn't planning to lose.
The tournament bracket suddenly appeared on the screen.
Quarterfinal Matches
Match 1
Koenji vs Class 1-C Student
Match 2
Anshuman vs Class 1-A Student
Match 3
Ayaan vs Class 1-D Student
Match 4
Class 1-A Student vs Class 1-B Student
The crowd immediately began studying the matchups.
Anshuman looked at Ayaan.
"Looks like we're on opposite sides of the bracket."
Ayaan nodded.
"Good."
"Why?"
"It means we won't face each other unless we both advance."
The teacher stepped into the center of the ring.
"Participants, prepare yourselves."
Koenji smiled.
Anshuman cracked his neck.
Ayaan silently tightened his gloves.
High above the island, the Mountain Boxing Tournament was about to begin.
The first match began.
Koenji vs Class 1-C Student
The student from Class 1-C immediately realized he was in trouble.
Every punch he threw missed.
Koenji moved effortlessly around the ring as if he were dancing.
The Class 1-C student became frustrated and rushed forward.
That was a mistake.
Koenji stepped aside and delivered a single clean punch.
THUD!
The student fell to the ground.
The referee immediately stepped in.
"Match over!"
The crowd was stunned.
Koenji had barely broken a sweat.
He simply smiled and left the ring.
Next came Match 2.
Anshuman vs Class 1-A Student
The Class 1-A student was tall and muscular.
As soon as the match started, he charged forward.
BAM!
A powerful punch flew toward Anshuman.
But Anshuman slipped away at the last second.
The fight continued for several minutes.
The Class 1-A student kept attacking aggressively.
Anshuman focused on dodging and countering.
The spectators gradually realized something.
No matter how hard the Class 1-A student tried, he couldn't land a clean hit.
Finally, Anshuman saw an opening.
BANG!
A sharp punch hit his opponent.
Then another.
And another.
The Class 1-A student stumbled backward.
The referee began counting.
The student couldn't recover.
"Match over!"
Anshuman had won.
The crowd applauded.
Then came Match 3.
Ayaan vs Class 1-D Student
The student from Class 1-D was known as a strong boxer.
As soon as the bell rang, he began attacking.
Ayaan calmly stepped back.
Every punch missed by the smallest margin.
The spectators couldn't understand how.
It looked as though Ayaan was predicting every movement.
The Class 1-D student grew impatient.
He threw a powerful right hook.
Ayaan leaned slightly.
The punch missed.
At the same moment, Ayaan struck once.
THUD!
The boxer lost his balance and fell.
The referee started counting.
By the time the student stood up, the match was over.
Ayaan had advanced.
The final quarterfinal match also ended shortly afterward.
Now only four participants remained.
Remaining Competitors
Koenji
Ayaan
Anshuman
Class 1-A Student
The crowd became excited.
All of the weaker participants had been eliminated.
Only the strongest remained.
The tournament bracket updated.
Semifinal 1
Koenji vs Class 1-A Student
Semifinal 2
Ayaan vs Anshuman
Anshuman looked at the screen.
Then at Ayaan.
"Well... this is awkward."
Ayaan adjusted his gloves.
"Indeed."
For the first time in the tournament, the two friends would have to face each other.
And both of them knew one thing.
Neither of them wanted to reveal their true strength in front of everyone.
The first semifinal began.
Semifinal 1
Koenji vs Class 1-A Student
The Class 1-A student was powerful.
Unlike Koenji's previous opponent, he wasn't intimidated.
The bell rang.
DING!
The Class 1-A student immediately attacked.
BAM! BAM!
Several punches flew toward Koenji.
For the first time in the tournament, Koenji was forced to defend seriously.
The crowd became excited.
The fight continued for several minutes.
The Class 1-A student landed a few solid hits.
But Koenji simply smiled.
"You are quite talented."
The Class 1-A student growled.
"Stop talking and fight!"
Koenji laughed.
"As you wish."
Suddenly his movements changed.
His punches became faster.
His footwork became sharper.
The momentum shifted completely.
The Class 1-A student began losing ground.
Then—
BOOM!
A clean right hand connected.
The Class 1-A student staggered.
Koenji followed with another punch.
The referee stepped in.
"Match over!"
The crowd erupted.
Koenji advanced to the final.
Then came the match everyone had been waiting for.
Semifinal 2
Ayaan vs Anshuman
The crowd immediately gathered around the ring.
Even Koenji stayed to watch.
He was especially interested in these two.
The bell rang.
DING!
Neither moved.
For several seconds they simply stared at each other.
Anshuman smiled.
"This is awkward."
"Indeed."
Then they attacked simultaneously.
BAM!
Their gloves collided.
The crowd gasped.
Both immediately retreated.
Neither had gained an advantage.
The fight continued.
Anshuman's speed was incredible.
Ayaan's reactions were flawless.
Every punch was dodged by the smallest margin.
Every attack was answered with a counter.
The spectators couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Even the teachers were surprised.
Neither fighter looked particularly strong.
Yet both displayed incredible technique.
Minutes passed.
The match became legendary among the students watching.
Neither side could dominate.
Neither side could predict the other's next move completely.
Outside the ring, Koenji's smile slowly widened.
"Interesting."
For the first time since arriving on the island, he was genuinely entertained.
The fight continued until both participants were breathing heavily.
Finally, Anshuman threw a powerful combination.
Ayaan narrowly avoided most of it.
But one punch connected.
At the same moment, Ayaan landed a clean counter.
Both stepped back.
The referee looked between them.
After a long evaluation, he raised his hand.
"Winner... AYAAN!"
The crowd erupted.
The match had been so close that either result would have been believable.
Anshuman laughed and shook his head.
"That could've gone either way."
Ayaan nodded.
"It could have."
The two bumped gloves before leaving the ring.
The tournament now had its final standings.
🥇 Finalists
Ayaan
Koenji
🥉 Third Place
Anshuman
Anshuman's phone vibrated.
+400 Event Points
He had secured third place.
Meanwhile, Ayaan and Koenji stepped toward the center of the ring.
The sun was beginning to set over the mountains.
The crowd grew silent.
Two undefeated fighters remained.
One was the mysterious transfer student.
The other was the hidden genius of Class 1-B.
The final match was about to begin.
The final match began.
DING!
As soon as the bell rang, neither Ayaan nor Koenji rushed forward.
Both stood calmly in the center of the ring.
Anshuman immediately noticed something.
"Neither of them is serious."
Koenji smiled casually.
"A beautiful evening for a match."
Ayaan didn't reply.
The fight began with light exchanges.
A few punches.
A few dodges.
Nothing like the level either of them was truly capable of.
Koenji wasn't trying to overwhelm Ayaan.
Ayaan wasn't trying to defeat Koenji.
Both were hiding behind a performance.
Several times, Koenji deliberately chose inefficient attacks.
Several times, Ayaan ignored openings that could have given him an advantage.
The teacher watched silently.
To an ordinary observer, it looked like a high-level fight.
But Anshuman knew better.
"These two are ridiculous."
Minutes passed.
Neither fighter seemed particularly interested in winning at all costs.
Instead, they appeared to be studying each other.
Testing.
Observing.
Gathering information.
Finally, Koenji threw a clean combination.
Ayaan blocked most of it, but one punch connected.
The referee awarded points accordingly.
The match continued for a little longer before the final bell rang.
DING!
The referee reviewed the scorecards.
Then he raised a hand.
"Winner... Koenji!"
Koenji had won by a small margin.
Not because he had completely outclassed Ayaan.
Simply because the points favored him.
The results appeared on the screen.
Final Results
🥇 1st Place — Koenji
1000 Event Points
🥈 2nd Place — Ayaan
700 Event Points
🥉 3rd Place — Anshuman
400 Event Points
Their phones vibrated as the points were added.
Koenji picked up his shirt and put it on.
Then he looked at Ayaan.
"For someone who wasn't trying very hard, you're quite interesting."
Ayaan looked back calmly.
"You weren't trying either."
Koenji laughed.
"A fair observation."
For a brief moment, both smiled.
Neither had learned the other's true limits.
Neither had revealed their own.
As Koenji walked away, Anshuman approached Ayaan.
"So who would win if both of you got serious?"
Ayaan started walking down the mountain path.
"I don't know."
In reality, neither Ayaan nor Koenji had given enough information for anyone to know the answer.
And that was exactly how both of them preferred it.
As the sun began to set, Ayaan and Anshuman left B7 and headed toward F2.
The trip took a while, but eventually they reached the campsite.
Kira and Rina had already finished setting up their tents near the river.
When they saw the two approaching, they stood up.
"Finally," Kira said. "How did the event go?"
Rina looked past them.
"So... who won the final?"
Anshuman dropped his backpack beside his tent.
"Koenji."
Kira nodded immediately.
"I knew it."
Rina agreed.
"He's incredibly muscular. It would've been surprising if he lost."
Anshuman laughed.
"If only it were that simple."
Ayaan sat down near the campfire without commenting.
Kira noticed.
"Wait, did you make it to the final?"
Anshuman grinned.
"Both of us did."
"What?!"
Rina's eyes widened.
"You both reached the final four?"
"Yep."
Anshuman took out his phone.
"And we got points."
Kira and Rina immediately checked the event rankings.
Mountain Boxing Tournament Rewards
Koenji — 1000 Points
Ayaan — 700 Points
Anshuman — 400 Points
Kira looked impressed.
"Seven hundred points?"
Rina nodded.
"That's a huge amount."
Anshuman pointed at his own score.
"Don't forget my four hundred."
"Not bad," Rina admitted.
Kira smiled.
"Looks like sending us to F2 was the right decision."
Ayaan looked toward the river.
"It was."
Then all four checked their current event totals.
Current Event Points
Ayaan — 700
Anshuman — 550
Kira — 300
Rina — 150
Group Total
1,700 Event Points
For a moment, everyone was silent.
That was much more than they had expected to earn in just two events.
Anshuman leaned back.
"We're probably near the top rankings."
"Probably," Ayaan replied.
Just then, all four phones vibrated at the same time.
A new notification appeared.
Special Announcement
Group Rankings Updated
The academy had finally revealed where every group stood after the first day of competition.
The four immediately focused on their screens.
All four immediately opened the ranking screen.
The updated rankings appeared.
Island Group Rankings
🥇 1st Place — Saki Group (Class 1-A)
🥈 2nd Place — Class 1-A Group 2
🥉 3rd Place — Class 1-B Group
...
The rankings continued down the list.
Ayaan calmly scrolled through them.
Anshuman suddenly stopped.
"Wait."
Kira looked over.
"What?"
Anshuman pointed at the screen.
His eyes were wide.
"Look at Rank 8."
The others checked.
Rank 8
Koenji Group
Group Members: Koenji
Total Points: High Enough for Top 10
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Kira blinked.
"That's impossible."
Rina checked again.
"No... that's really him."
Anshuman laughed.
"He's alone."
Kira looked shocked.
"An entire group with one person?"
"And he's in the Top 10," Rina added.
Even she couldn't hide her surprise.
Most groups had four to eight members.
Some had even more.
Yet Koenji had managed to outperform dozens of them by himself.
Anshuman shook his head.
"That guy is ridiculous."
Ayaan looked at the ranking without showing much reaction.
"Interesting."
Koenji's results suggested he had been earning points elsewhere in addition to the events.
That was information worth remembering.
Kira continued scrolling.
Then she saw the top ranking.
Rank 1
Saki Group (Class 1-A)
The group's score was significantly ahead of everyone else.
Rina frowned.
"Saki..."
Ayaan looked at the name.
"So that's the leader of Class 1-A."
Kira nodded.
"I've heard of her."
"What have you heard?" Anshuman asked.
"Top grades. Top event results. Good leadership. Most people in Class 1-A follow her."
Rina folded her arms.
"If she's leading the first-ranked group, she's probably the biggest obstacle on the island."
Ayaan looked at the screen.
The rankings told him several things.
Class 1-A was as strong as expected.
Koenji was far more dangerous than most people realized.
And their own group still had a long way to go.
Anshuman grinned.
"So our targets are Rank 1 and Rank 8?"
Ayaan closed the ranking screen.
"No."
The others looked at him.
"Our target is Rank 1."
The campfire crackled in the night air.
Far away on another part of the island, Saki's group sat comfortably at the top of the rankings.
But the exam had only just begun.