Riot (I)

(Note: The author added a descriptive paragraph at the end of the previous chapter to help with understanding, so feel free to take a look.)

And so, with the arrival of the second day, the four classes of the first year officially began their joint physical examination.

However, the location of this exam left everyone feeling quite puzzled; despite having perfectly good stadiums available, the school had chosen a newly constructed stadium on the far edge of the campus.

Furthermore, because it connected to an undeveloped jungle in the back, the area was not only desolate and dangerous, but the network signal was also intermittent.

Many people actually didn't want to participate, but the school had issued a strict order: unless one had a hospital certificate proving they were truly unable to participate, anyone who dared to openly refuse or make excuses would be punished to the maximum extent possible for an individual.

"Basically, not only will you have all your private points deducted, but the school will strip away all the rights you are entitled to as a student, and your respective class will also have their monthly point allocation reduced."

"You could say that once you're targeted, you won't be able to survive without dropping out."

"T... teacher, is it really okay to hold the exam here?" Just then, a physically frail girl from Class C bit her lip and, gathering her courage, asked in a trembling voice, still clearly afraid.

Feeling the various chaotic scents in the air, the others were already uncomfortable, and upon hearing this, they all cast sympathetic glances in her direction.

However, the teacher, who was usually calm and gentle, suddenly whipped his head around and shot her a cold, murderous glare. This not only frightened the girl into tears but also silenced the rest of the group, who had been on the verge of complaining, causing them to lower their heads.

There was no other way; no one dared to openly defy or oppose the decision. After all, the examples that occurred during the drawing of lots had made it clear to everyone that such actions were undoubtedly playing with fire.

Moreover, there were no surveillance cameras installed here, and the network was terrible. If you really angered a teacher, they might target you in the shadows, and you would likely be forced to drop out even if you didn't want to.

Of course, that is how it is said, but those selected to be teachers naturally have their own basic principles.

It was just that, due to mild hypnotic suggestion, they had subconsciously elevated those who defied this physical exam to the level of people who had crossed their bottom lines, which was why they were all acting abnormally cold and irritable.

However, as long as one did not touch upon that bottom line, they would remain as they usually were, feeling that nothing was wrong with them, and even finding everything to be perfectly reasonable.

This is the terrifying aspect of this type of hypnosis. Although it consumes a tremendous amount of the perpetrator's mental energy and is easy to backfire if not controlled properly—causing severe brain damage or even brain death—the feedback effect is also very significant.

Although, in the end, before the exam began, the homeroom teachers of each class still provided a barely reasonable explanation.

The general meaning was: "The original stadium needs to be prioritized for the graduating senior class, so in order not to affect their training and to avoid delaying our own concurrent exam schedule, we had no choice but to choose this location."

In the end, a middle-aged man who had recently joined the school's leadership team, and who was also the chief examiner for this joint physical exam, even expressed his apologies to the teams of each class below with a look of deep shame.

It was just that, with that exaggerated acting... perhaps only those with poor eyesight would believe that the other party was apologizing sincerely.

On the other side, on the highest circular spectator stand of the massive stadium, even though everyone had already begun competing on the first level, two women and one man were not only not joining in, but were looking down at the crowd below and exchanging glances.

"Kushida, is the camera ready?"

"Mm~"

"But Master~ why do we have to hide so far away? If Hirata-kun finds out later, he will blame us." Kushida Kikyo said, looking somewhat puzzled.

"It doesn't matter~ Hehe, the good show is about to begin." Rinya's mouth curled slightly.

On the other side, Ibuki Mio, who had been called over, also had her doubts, but after seeing the playful expression on her master's face, she quickly sensed that something might go terribly wrong with this exam.

So, she simply stayed there as well, waiting to see how things would unfold.

And so, with anxious hearts, as the four classes finished their preparations.

The middle-aged man from the school's upper management also stood up and began to announce the rules for this exam.

As follows: "The content of this exam consists of eight events in total."

"Each person is limited to participating in only two different physical exam events."

"During the exam, you must not cheat or interfere with others in any form. Once discovered, not only will that student's qualification be cancelled, but the corresponding class will also have their exam points deducted."

The reward points for this exam are as follows: "First place will receive five points, second place three points, third place two points, fourth to tenth place will each receive one point, and anything below that will receive zero points."

"Alright, that's all for now. The exam begins!" As the man's voice fell.

The first exam event was the most physically demanding: the men's 1000-meter run.

Each class had to send three people to compete, making a total of twelve people from the four classes.

Because of the terrible environment.

Wanting to end the battle quickly, both Class A and Class B each sent three tall, thin boys who looked to have impressive explosive power.

And because the disadvantaged Class C and Class D had no other choice, in order to preserve their remaining strength.

For the first match, the leaders of the two classes had to use the strategy they had discussed earlier, employing the "Tian Ji Horse Racing" method by sending out a few boys with very average physiques.

And because the few people sent by Class C and Class D were all of the hardcore otaku type.

Once they were on the field, seeing the disdainful and mocking gazes all around them, they were already socially anxious, so how could they focus on the race?

"Whoosh!"

As the exam whistle blew, the boys from Class A and Class B instantly turned into arcs and surged forward.

The result for the boys from Class C and Class D, who hadn't even reacted yet, goes without saying...

After about ten minutes, they finally stumbled to the finish line, becoming the laughingstock of the event. But regardless, for the sake of the two points they could guarantee according to the exam rules, this persistence already earned them applause from their classmates.

"I'm sorry, everyone~" The three from Class D lowered their heads bitterly after returning to the team.

Although no one blamed them, as running was naturally their weak point.

But now everyone understood that once you were selected to participate in a weak event, the greatest pressure you faced might not just be losing, but perhaps the endless ridicule and disdain from those around you.

It was just that not everyone could, like the few classmates just now, endure the trampling of their dignity and persist to the end.

As a result, for the next three test events—long jump, shot put, and push-ups...

Classes C and D, even after throwing in half of their main force, had only barely managed to scrape together 18 points, while Classes A and B had already reached a staggering 50 points.

With half of the events now over, there was essentially no suspense left regarding the outcome.

Even the leaders of Classes C and D were beginning to sigh in resignation.

Suddenly!

At that very moment, a girl's terrified scream instantly drew everyone's attention.

"Ugh... help, help me~"

Looking toward the sound, it turned out that the tall, sturdy boy who had just won first place in the shot put was gripping a petite girl and applying constant force.

Seeing this, everyone was stunned, unable to believe their eyes.

That tall, sturdy boy was known throughout the class for his good temper; how could he possibly just start attacking someone?

However, right at that moment, some of the people in the crowd who had just finished competing seemed to have their expressions gradually undergo an abnormal change...

"What... what is wrong with him?"

"Everyone, let's stop him together!" a male student from Class A with a chauvinistic streak shouted loudly.

As he spoke, he prepared to step forward to intervene.

But the next second, just as he turned his head to see if anyone else was following him, the look of righteous indignation on his face instantly froze.

He saw that the entire class, which had been orderly and chatting happily just moments ago, had descended into chaos in an instant.

Some were being directly attacked by classmates who had suddenly turned violent, while others were knocked to the ground by the chaotic crowd before they could even react.

"How... how could it suddenly be like this~"

"Teacher, teacher, call the police quickly."

The boy tried to look toward the teachers' area, only to discover in despair that even the teachers were...

"Ah, how could this..."

"Bang!"

Before the boy could even finish his desperate words, he was tackled to the ground by another violent individual.

This was followed by a series of muffled sounds of punching and kicking, accompanied by intermittent screams...

The other three classes were in the same state; the sounds of fighting, cursing, and smashing were endless.

More and more people were being infected one after another by the scent emanating from the equipment.

With faces red as blood, they fought increasingly viciously, seemingly oblivious to pain.

Although the effects of this liquid would wear off in about ten minutes as it evaporated into the air, it was extremely difficult to neutralize before then.

"What... what is wrong with them..." On the second-floor spectator stand, Kamuro Masumi, who was pushing a wheelchair, looked on with a face full of terror.

"Heh~ who knows." The white-haired girl in the wheelchair smiled slightly.

Her beautiful, tranquil face did not seem to change in the slightest despite the fighting unfolding below.

Only in her cold, sharp eyes did a hint of playfulness gradually emerge.

"Ayanokoji-kun... I feel a little sorry for you~ hehe."