The Multiverse, Starting from *Fullmetal Alchemist* to Become the Mastermind Chapter 33

"Is there a problem with our memories?"

Shiina Hiyori recalled the situation and realized that only Shiranami Chihiro, who had not followed the others to the rooftop like her, did not show a confused expression.

She speculated in a soft voice:

"Perhaps this is related to the 'hidden monster' of this exam?"

"Actually, verifying it is quite simple."

"We only need to compare the points we remember from hunting monsters with the final tally from the Gantz to see if there are any discrepancies."

"After all, Kabane are standard units; no matter how you look at it, their point values shouldn't be that high."

Ryuen Kakeru quickly reviewed the events.

"In our group, when we finished clearing the Kabane... I killed three, Albert killed two, and Shiranami killed one..."

"Ichinose took five, plus that special Dual-Blade Kabane."

He paused and cast his gaze toward Su Wei.

But before Su Wei could speak, Horikita Suzune was already impatient:

"On our side... Su Wei took two, Sakayanagi took three, I took three, and Kamuro Masumi... zero."

Ryuen Kakeru raised an eyebrow: "Were you pooling your points too?"

Horikita Suzune glanced at Kamuro.

She had assumed that Sakayanagi Arisu had some hold over Kamuro Masumi, which was why she was willing to let others take the monsters. So, it was a tactic?

Kamuro Masumi: "..."

It wasn't a tactic; she had truly been suppressed by that pair of adulterers working together!

She grumbled frantically in her heart, but on the surface, she maintained her cold, aloof persona, turning her head away, too lazy to explain.

Ryuen Kakeru didn't dwell on it too much.

"GANTZ! Start the scoring!"

The surface of the Black Sphere flickered, and white text appeared:

[A total of ten friendly units intruded during this trial. Seven were eliminated (dead/infected), and three survived.]

[One point awarded for each survivor, one point deducted for each casualty.]

[Therefore, everyone receives +3 base points and a deduction of 7 points.]

[Individual point rankings are as follows--]

[1. Ichinose Honami: 7 points (Cumulative 12 points)]

[2. Su Wei: 4 points]

[3. Horikita Suzune/Sakayanagi Arisu: 2 points (Cumulative 4 points each)]

[4. Yamada Albert: 1 point]

[5. Ryuen Kakeru: 0 points (Cumulative 3 points)]

[6. Kamuro Masumi: -1 point (Cumulative 1 point)]

[7. Shiina Hiyori: -2 points]

[8. Shiranami Chihiro: -3 points]

[Class rankings and bonus points--]

[Class A: 1035 (1030 + 1*500%), each student in the class receives 500 bonus points.]

[Class B: 732.4 (702.4 + 4*750%), each student in the class receives 3000 bonus points.]

[Class C: 505 (515 - 1*1000%), each student in the class is deducted 1000 points.]

[Class D: 150 (90 + 6*1000%), each student in the class receives 6000 bonus points.]

[S Points can be consumed at a 1:10 ratio to increase class points.]

"This... I thought it would be a percentage deduction at most, but I didn't expect it to be a head-count deduction!" Su Wei said in surprise.

"And when we arrived at the school building, they were already scattered; there was no way to save everyone... why be so ruthless?"

Ryuen Kakeru's expression was ugly; he nearly ground his teeth to dust.

After working himself to the bone, not only was his individual score zero, but he even had to pay out of pocket?!

"Heh, that's the Gantz style; this could have been anticipated."

Sakayanagi Arisu remained calm, even having the leisure to analyze:

"Perhaps it deducts by points when the total is low, and by percentage when our points are high."

Su Wei nodded to himself: A very good thought, well played!

Sakayanagi continued:

"However, looking at these rankings, everyone's scores have an abnormal surplus after the deductions."

"It seems that the value of those hidden monsters isn't low! Perhaps... there are even quite a few of them?"

"Monsters capable of affecting our cognition certainly wouldn't be anything trivial."

Horikita Suzune crossed her arms, commenting with a cold, detached air.

To be honest, she was frustrated.

This feeling of having won, yet not knowing how, was like an itch in one's imagination—unbearably irritating, yet impossible to scratch!

Compared to Horikita, Shiina Hiyori focused on more practical concerns.

"If the cumulative score isn't enough, it will be deducted into the negatives..."

"Then, besides deducting Class Points, what other impact will there be on us individuals who have negative scores?"

As if responding to her anticipation:

[As a Qualified One, having negative S Points means you are unqualified.]

[Qualified Ones who fail to meet the cumulative score requirement for three consecutive times will be stripped of their right to survive and undergo 'expulsion processing'.]

"Expulsion...?"

Shiina Hiyori asked instinctively: "What kind of expulsion?"

Gantz: [You are a smart girl; you may imagine it to your heart's content.]

A chill ran down everyone's spines.

In this place, what else could it possibly mean?

Aside from physical erasure, they could not think of a second possibility.

"How could this be..."

Ichinose Honami looked at the pale-faced Shiranami Chihiro and Shiina Hiyori, her heart filled with panic.

She looked sharply at the Black Sphere:

"Gantz! Can scores be transferred?"

"Can you distribute my scores to Shiranami and Shiina? Even if it's just enough to bring their scores back to zero!"

[What I love most is telling those who think they know better—NO!!!]

Ichinose Honami bit her lip, her chest heaving violently, and her eyes instantly turned red.

"It's okay, Ichinose."

Shiranami Chihiro forced a smile, attempting to comfort her:

"It's only negative three points; we still have two chances left! We'll just work hard to earn them back in the next exam; it'll be quick!"

"That's right, Ichinose-san."

Shiina Hiyori also chimed in softly, though her face remained pale, her logic was still clear:

"Even if they could be transferred, if you gave your points to us, wouldn't you then lack the points to buy a Reinforcement Suit?"

"I believe the reason Su Wei-san and Horikita-san were able to rank at the top this time is partly due to that Reinforcement Suit, right?"

Suddenly being cued, Su Wei decided to go with the flow.

"I suppose so, the Reinforcement Suit is indeed quite useful."

Although he couldn't say it was entirely the suit's credit, one couldn't say it had no credit at all.

Horikita Suzune remained silent.

There was no helping it; she didn't even remember what happened at the end, so what could she say?

She couldn't exactly act cute and say, "Even without the Reinforcement Suit, I could have annihilated the enemy forces," could she?

That would be too nauseating.

She lacked social grace, but she wasn't a complete idiot.

At this moment, the usually reticent Yamada Albert suddenly interjected:

"There are three survivors left... it seems Hirata Yosuke is fine."

"Then, what about those who died during the exam?"

Ichinose Honami hurriedly took out her phone to ask Amikura Mako.

A few seconds later, she looked up, her expression slightly relieved:

"Mako says those students are all still alive, they have just lost their memories regarding this exam."

"And, Hirata-kun's injuries healed automatically once the exam ended."

"As expected." Ryuen Kakeru snorted, "I knew it would be like this."

"Gantz... truly terrifying."

Sakayanagi Arisu sighed with emotion:

"This is only the third exam, yet it has already caused such a massive stir."

"And yet, in the end, it can easily smooth everything over and return the world to tranquility."

"A god with such power, and yet so capricious—what will happen next..."

Everyone fell silent for two seconds.

It was a fear of the future, as well as the helplessness of their own insignificance.

"Tch."

Ryuen Kakeru curled his lip, turned around, and walked straight out of the Black Sphere Room.

His retreating figure looked slightly lonely, somewhat desolate, enough to make one's heart ache...

Sakayanagi Arisu shook her head, withdrew her gaze, and turned to look at Kamuro Masumi, who was still in a daze.

"Kamuro-san."

"...Ah? What is it?" Kamuro Masumi jumped in surprise.

"My apologies."

Sakayanagi Arisu's tone was uncharacteristically sincere:

"I hadn't expected there to be such an expulsion mechanism for negative points."

"Dragging you into this and saddling you with negative points was my mistake."

"We were fortunate this time that no irreversible consequences occurred."

She paused, then said softly:

"You don't need to participate in the exams anymore. From now on... I will no longer force you to enter this place."

"Eh?"

Kamuro Masumi froze.