Becoming a Behind-the-Scenes Mastermind from The Fruit of Evolution

"Just luck."

"A simple poke, a quick extension... I told you, I just picked up the kill."

"Luck, you say?"

Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled, clearly not buying it.

"Being able to skillfully control a katana that extends and retracts at will... that isn't something that can be explained away by mere luck, Su Wei."

Su Wei remained noncommittal.

In truth, Sakayanagi wasn't wrong.

An ordinary person might struggle to even hit a target with a handgun, let alone manifest Ichimaru Gin's Kamishini no Yari.

To pull off that strike, he had simultaneously activated the "Future Sight" of the Spectator to predict the trajectory, while using Psychokinesis to forcefully control the Parasite.

Looking back at it, good heavens... that required way too much micro-management!

"That doesn't matter."

A cold, crisp voice cut into the conversation.

Horikita Suzune noticed the black spear in her hand had vanished, and she turned her gaze toward the Black Sphere, her eyes filled with apprehension.

"Since the exam is over, shouldn't it be time to tally the scores?"

As if responding to her anticipation.

The surface of the silent Black Sphere rippled with light, and rows of glaring white text emerged.

[Now, let the settlement begin~]

[The contribution ranking for this trial is as follows:]

[Individual Score Ranking]

[1. Su Wei: 7 points (Cumulative 10 points)]

[2. Ichinose Honami/Katsuragi Kohei: 5 points]

[3. Ryuen Kakeru: 3 points]

[4. Horikita Suzune/Kamuro Masumi/Sakayanagi Arisu/Shiranami Chihiro/Shiina Hiyori: 2 points]

Immediately following that, the more critical class data appeared.

[Class Ranking and Bonus Points--]

[Class A: 1030 points (940+9*1000%), each student in the class receives a bonus of 9000 private points]

[Class B: 702.5 points (650+7*750%), each student in the class receives a bonus of 5250 private points]

[Class C: 515 points (490+5*500%), each student in the class receives a bonus of 2500 private points]

[Class D: 90 points (0+9*1000%), each student in the class receives a bonus of 9000 private points]

[*Additional S-points can be consumed to increase class points at a 1:10 ratio]

"9000 points..."

Horikita Suzune bit her lip, her finger swiping across the Black Sphere to open her own profile.

[Horikita Suzune: 2 points]

[Evaluation: All that effort for nothing... wait, that's only two points. A classic case of wanting everything, yet lacking the ability to obtain anything.]

Looking at the biting commentary, the corner of Horikita's mouth twitched.

A wave of intense shame made her ears burn, yet she found herself unable to refute it.

"Um..."

Shiina Hiyori stepped forward, looking at the pitifully low individual score with a hint of confusion.

"This was a battle where we risked our lives, after all... with everyone only getting a few points, compared to this hellish difficulty, isn't the reward a bit too small?"

"That is not the case, Shiina-san."

Sakayanagi Arisu looked at the leaderboard, explaining with a pleasant mood.

"Setting aside the so-called class ratings, which value the overall capability of the class, the fact that these points can be exchanged for class points at a ten-to-one ratio—a mechanism where 'individual performance' overrides 'collective rules'—is where the true value lies."

"Besides..."

Sakayanagi Arisu paused deliberately, casting her gaze toward Su Wei standing to the side.

"Have you all forgotten?"

"The initial instructions for this game."

Su Wei didn't move, maintaining his calm and composed demeanor.

It was Ryuen Kakeru who walked up to the Black Sphere instead.

"...The points can be used to purchase equipment."

"Gantz, list the equipment you have for sale. Let me see exactly what these S-Points are worth!"

Before the words had even faded.

The Black Sphere's screen flickered, and a page of the exchange list unfolded.

[Gantz Suit: 10 points]

[X-SHOT GUN: 10 points]

[Controller: 40 points]

[Z-GUN: 100 points]

[Hard Suit: 100 points]

[Gantz Mecha: 100 points]

"Oh my~"

Looking at the extravagant mecha illustration at the end of the list, Sakayanagi Arisu remarked with amazement:

"You even have Gundams available to pilot?"

"Now this finally feels a bit like futuristic technology."

Katsuragi Kohei was more pragmatic.

He clicked through each piece of equipment to inspect them, only to find there were no descriptions, eventually fixing his gaze on the cheapest Gantz Suit.

"Looking at it this way, this Gantz Suit... is it a perk for newcomers?"

"It only costs 10 points; that seems quite conscientious, doesn't it?"

Su Wei, standing to the side, silently gave a thumbs-up.

He was indeed quite conscientious.

Although the Gantz Suit was free in the original Gantz series.

But within a modern system, the Gantz Suit was still too overpowered; selling it for 30 points wouldn't be expensive, let alone giving one to everyone for free.

Even the rules in Gantz... once you reached 100 points, the equipment was considered unlocked for subsequent missions.

No, how could he allow that?

If he did that, what would become of those who worked hard to save up points? Would they just be considered "hard workers"?

There was no help for it; as the Main God, who else could understand his bitterness, hardships, and struggles?

For the sake of fairness, he had no choice but to usher in the era of major patches...

You can use them, but no free rides!

Only by paying a price for power will one learn to cherish it, right?

"Um, Gantz?"

Just as everyone was studying the equipment, Ichinose suddenly spoke up.

"I would like to ask, since 100 points can redeem our own lives."

"Then, if a companion truly dies during a mission, can we also use points to resurrect them?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent.

The next second.

[Of course you can (^_^)/]

[As long as you have 100 points, no matter who it is—even if they are just a pile of minced meat or nothing but ashes—I can bring them back completely unscathed.]

"To think that even life and death can be traded?"

Shiina Hiyori covered her mouth, her eyes filled with shock.

Ryuen Kakeru let out a self-deprecating laugh, his words cold and detached:

"What does resurrecting a few humans even matter?"

"Hasn't our life and death already been played with in the palm of its hand?"

Although the words were cynical, everyone who had died once couldn't help but fall silent.

Only Shiranami Chihiro looked at the girl beside her, her face full of emotion.

She naturally knew who Ichinose was really asking this for.

"Ichinose... you really are the best little angel in the world!"

Ichinose felt a bit embarrassed.

Suddenly noticing that Horikita Suzune was using her phone to take pictures of the Black Sphere's equipment list and taking notes, she pulled out her own phone and suggested:

"Should we all exchange contact information? It will be easier to coordinate if we need to form teams in the future."

"No need."

Sakayanagi Arisu reminded them:

"Didn't Kushida-san create a group earlier? Just post the QR code and everyone can join."

"We can exchange information in that group and conduct point transactions occasionally. As for private contact details..."

She hinted pointedly: "It's better to save those for people closer to you."

No one objected.

After the group finished asking the Black Sphere a few more questions regarding equipment durability and resurrection details, people began to leave in trickles.

Having experienced such a heart-stopping battle, all they wanted now was to return to reality and get a good night's sleep.

Soon, only Su Wei, Sakayanagi Arisu, and the forced-to-stay "crutch" Kamuro Masumi remained in the room.

Sakayanagi Arisu looked at Su Wei with a beaming smile.

She didn't speak, just watched him quietly.

That gaze, like one looking at prey, made Kamuro Masumi, who stood beside her, feel completely uneasy.

"Um..."

Kamuro finally couldn't stand the eerie atmosphere and asked Su Wei:

"Why are you still hanging around... everyone else is gone, shall we head out together?"

Su Wei ignored Kamuro.

He crouched in front of the Black Sphere and tapped the screen a few times at random.

"Hum--"

Accompanied by the teleportation light effect, a black briefcase with his name written on it appeared out of thin air at his feet.

He picked up the case and glanced at Sakayanagi, who was still playing the riddle-maker: