Though no bell rang at five in the afternoon on the deserted island, the changing light precisely marked the passage of time. The sun gradually sank westward, drawing in its scorching, dazzling rays and instead splashing the sky with a rich, warm orange-red hue. The island's light became soft and layered, as though veiled in gauze. The shadows among the trees stretched long, intertwining as they slowly swallowed the brightness of day. The temperature quietly fell as well, bringing a faintly cool, damp evening breeze that stirred the high leaves, producing an endless, soothing rustle that heralded the approach of night.
Shimiya Kuki walked along the forest path back to Class B's camp beneath the dimming, gentle light. His steps retained their usual steady, silent rhythm, but deep in his mind, he was efficiently sorting through and organizing the vast amount of information he had gathered that afternoon.
Five strongholds... he mused, and a detailed 3D map unfolded clearly in his mind. Of them, the two strongholds closest to Class B's camp had already been successfully activated, earning the class two exam points. The exact location and features of the natural cave stronghold occupied by Class A's Katsuragi team had also been identified. Of the other two strongholds he had discovered, one was near Class A's camp, while the other lay in the buffer zone between the camps of Classes A and B.
Combined with the traces he had picked up by observing Katsuragi's team's route and his brief encounters with Ayanokoji and Sakura from Class D, he had also formed a preliminary judgment regarding the general location of Class D's camp. These seemingly scattered fragments of intelligence were rapidly being consolidated and pieced together in his calm mind, gradually forming a dynamic panoramic map that covered the entire island