Test and the Tested

"Ayanokoji..." Ken Sudo sounded somewhat nervous.

"Sudo, you take on Ishizaki. Horikita, Takumi Oda is yours. Karuizawa, you are responsible for keeping watch and preventing others from ambushing us," Ayanokoji quickly assigned the tasks. "I will handle Mio Ibuki."

"Are you sure?" Ibuki looked at the makeshift wooden stick in Ayanokoji's hand (which he had picked up along the way). "I'm using a real knife."

"It's enough."

Before the words had even faded, Ibuki had already lunged forward. Her movements were swift, the blade aiming straight for Ayanokoji's shoulder—clearly holding back to avoid a fatal wound, but enough to render him unable to fight.

Ayanokoji sidestepped, his wooden stick striking toward her wrist like a viper.

Ibuki twisted her wrist, changing the angle of the blade to slash at the stick. Had it connected, the wood would surely have been severed.

But Ayanokoji was faster. The instant before the blade touched the wood, he flicked his wrist, changing the stick's trajectory to strike at Ibuki's elbow from a different angle.

"Snap!"

With a soft sound, Ibuki felt a numbness in her elbow, and the knife nearly slipped from her grasp.

Her pupils constricted, and she immediately retreated to readjust her stance.

"Your form is standard, but too rigid," Ayanokoji said calmly. "Martial arts isn't about copying routines; it's about adapting to the changes of your opponent."

"Cut the chatter!" Ibuki attacked again, her blade work even more ferocious this time.

But the result remained the same. No matter how she attacked, Ayanokoji always managed to evade with minimal movement, using the stick to strike her joints or pressure points, causing every attack to fail while her arm grew increasingly numb.

On the other side, the fight between Ken Sudo and Daichi Ishizaki was far more intense. Both were power-based fighters, trading blow for blow as dust swirled around them.

Suzune Horikita, meanwhile, was completely suppressing Takumi Oda. Although she had no specialized combat training, her excellent reaction speed and physical fitness allowed her to easily dodge his wooden stick attacks before tripping him to the ground with a leg sweep.

Three minutes later, the battle was over.

Daichi Ishizaki was pinned to the ground by Sudo, gasping for air; Takumi Oda had his hands and feet bound by Horikita with vines; Mio Ibuki was still standing, but the hand holding her knife was trembling slightly, rendering her unable to continue the fight.

"Do you want to continue?" Ayanokoji asked.

Ibuki stared at him intensely before finally letting go, the knife clattering onto the sand.

"We'll return the supplies," she said through gritted teeth. "But this won't end here. Ryuen will hear about this."

"Then tell him," Ayanokoji put away his stick. "If Class C wants to play these kinds of games, Class D will see it through to the end."

The three of them left in a disheveled state. Ayanokoji had Sudo and Horikita move the supplies back to the camp while he remained behind, watching the direction in which the three from Class C had disappeared.

"What are you thinking about?" Karuizawa asked as she walked over.

"Ryuen is testing us," Ayanokoji said. "He wants to know our reaction speed and combat strength. Today's incident was both to seize supplies and to gather intelligence."

"So, did we pass the test?"

"For now." Ayanokoji turned around. "But the real trial is yet to come. Ryuen won't let this go easily."

When the two returned to the beach camp, the sky had already begun to darken.

Yosuke Hirata had organized everyone to move most of the supplies and personnel to the new camp inland. Satsuki Shinohara's injured arm had been bandaged, and her emotions had stabilized.

In the jungle camp at night, a bonfire had been lit.

Gathered around the fire, the students of Class D sat together, sharing a simple dinner—a paste made from compressed biscuits, supplemented with some edible wild vegetables gathered by the stream.

The atmosphere was more relaxed than it had been during the day. After all, they had successfully established a camp, repelled the provocation from Class C, and no one had been seriously injured.

"Everyone did a great job today," Yosuke Hirata stood up. "Although we encountered difficulties, we made it through. This proves that as long as we stay united, nothing is impossible!"

His words were met with a positive response from everyone. At this moment, the cohesion of Class D reached an unprecedented height.

But Kiyotaka Ayanokoji sat at the edge of the fire, watching the dancing flames, while his mind pondered deeper questions.

The conflict during the day was just the beginning. Ryuen's probing, Class A's secret observations, the potential cooperation invitation from Class B... the next thirteen days would each be a test.

Furthermore, the system had not yet issued specific tasks regarding this exam. This meant the real challenge had likely not arrived yet.

"What are you thinking about?" Suzune Horikita sat down beside him.

"I'm thinking about the rules," Ayanokoji said. "The manual says the winner will be decided based on the 'comprehensive score' of each class at the end of the exam. But what are the criteria for a 'comprehensive score'? Camp construction? The number of tasks completed? Or... other factors we don't know about?"

Horikita was silent for a moment. "Are you saying there might be hidden scoring criteria?"

"It's highly likely," Ayanokoji nodded. "The designers of this school love to test a student's comprehensive abilities. Wilderness survival is just the surface; the real test questions might be hidden in the details."

"For example?"

"For example, the level of unity within the class, the response to unexpected events, the fairness of resource allocation..." Ayanokoji listed, "It might even include—what kind of moral choices one makes when facing extreme situations."

Horikita's pupils contracted slightly. "Are you saying the school might be observing our every move?"

"Not might, but definitely." Ayanokoji looked toward the dark jungle. "Although they claim the school won't intervene, do you really think they would completely leave four hundred students on an uninhabited island for two weeks? There must be some kind of monitoring mechanism."

This speculation left Horikita deep in thought.

Just then, the system's notification sound finally rang out.

[Ding! Detected that the host has entered the core area of the special exam, main quest activated.]

[Quest Name: Trial of the Uninhabited Island]

[Quest Objective: Lead Class D to achieve a ranking of no lower than second place in this special exam.]

[Task Reward: A large amount of points and special abilities based on the final ranking. If first place is achieved, an additional reward of "Leadership (Intermediate)" and "Strategic Thinking (Beginner)" will be granted.]

[Task Failure Penalty: A significant deduction of Class Points, a decrease in the host's personal reputation, and the requirement to accept one random negative effect.]

[Current Progress: Day 1/14]

[Hidden Objective Detecting...]

A hidden objective. As expected, this exam is not simple.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked up at the starry sky, the corners of his mouth curling upward slightly.

"Interesting," he whispered to himself. "Then let me see the true face of this trial."

The night deepened, and the campfire gradually flickered out.

On the first night on the uninhabited island, the students of Class D huddled together under a makeshift canopy to sleep. Although conditions were harsh, they at least had a relatively safe campsite.

On the other side of the island, in the Class C camp, Ryuen Kakeru was listening to Mio Ibuki's report.

After hearing it, he was not angry; instead, he wore an excited smile.

"As expected... that Ayanokoji is no simple character." He licked his lips. "This makes it interesting. Notify everyone: starting tomorrow, target Class D across the board. I want to see just how far he can protect his class."

"Understood."

Under the moonlight, the uninhabited island was quiet and mysterious.

Four classes, four hundred students, and a fourteen-day survival test.

The real game has only just begun.

Sleepless Night

The second dawn on the uninhabited island.

Before the sky was fully bright, a thin layer of mist shrouded the woods. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka woke up at the edge of the camp—he had barely slept, partly to keep watch and partly to think.

[Insight (Beginner)] became particularly sharp at night. He could hear the rustling of wild boars in the bushes far away, distinguish the first calls of different birds at dawn, and even sense... a continuous, faint sound of breathing in a certain direction outside the camp.

Someone was watching.

He rose silently, bypassed his sleeping classmates, and reached the edge of the thicket on the east side of the camp. There, Suzune Horikita was sitting against a tree, her eyes half-closed, but her breathing was shallow—she hadn't slept either.

"You noticed?" Ayanokoji lowered his voice.

Horikita opened her eyes and nodded: "Two people, behind the trees across the stream, about fifty meters away. They have been there for two hours."

"Which class?"

"Their footsteps are light, but I can occasionally hear whispers—they are girls. Class B is the most likely; the girls in Class C wouldn't be this quiet."

That made sense. If Class C sent people to monitor, they would be more likely to provoke or steal directly like they did yesterday, rather than lurking patiently like this.

"Let them watch," Ayanokoji said. "What we need to show is normal camp construction, not excessive defense. Excessive defense would only arouse more suspicion."

Horikita was silent for a moment: "What do you think is Class B's goal? Honami Ichinose doesn't like direct conflict like Ryuen does."

"Cooperation," Ayanokoji guessed. "Or at least assessing the possibility of it. Although Class B is stronger than us overall, they know they are no match for Class A, so they might be looking for allies."

"Are we going to cooperate with them?"

"Wait and see for now," Ayanokoji said. "Cooperation requires bargaining chips, and we don't have enough yet. Let's build the camp, complete a few tasks, and accumulate some points first."

The sky grew brighter, and the people in the camp woke up one after another.

The first task of the morning: collecting food.

The distributed compressed biscuits and energy bars would only last three days; they had to find a stable food source as soon as possible.

"There are fish in the stream, but not many," Ken Sudo reported his discovery from the morning. "I saw a few, but they're hard to catch by hand. We need a fishing net or a spear."

"There are plenty of wild vegetables, though." Kei Karuizawa returned with a few girls, holding various plants in her hands. "I recognize some that are edible, but these can only serve as a supplement at most, not a staple."

"What about bird eggs?" Kanji Ike asked. "I saw bird nests in the trees."

"Taking bird eggs would disrupt the ecological balance, and it's too time-consuming," Ayanokoji rejected the proposal. "We need a more efficient food source."

He looked into the distance: "The wild boar tracks we found yesterday... perhaps we can set traps."

"Traps?" Haruki Yamauchi's eyes lit up. "Like the ones where you dig pits on TV?"

"That takes too much time and effort, and it's easy to be discovered," Ayanokoji shook his head. "We need a simpler and more practical method."

He walked to the pile of supplies and rummaged through them. In addition to tents and tools, they had also brought some rope and wire.

"Use this," he picked up a length of wire. "Make a snare trap. If the wild boar follows a fixed route, there's a chance to catch it."

"You know how to make traps?" Sudo asked in surprise.

"I read it in a book," Ayanokoji answered simply. In reality, [Wilderness Survival Knowledge (Basic)] contained methods for making various traps.

Under his guidance, a few people quickly made three snare traps and set them up along the path where the wild boar tracks were found yesterday.

"Now, we need another water source," Ayanokoji turned to Hirata. "Although the stream water is clear, for safety, it's best to find a second water source as a backup."

"I'll go look," Horikita volunteered.

"I'll go with you," Ayanokoji stood up. "Hirata, the camp is in your hands. Sudo, take a few people to reinforce the canopy; it looks like it might rain tonight. Karuizawa, continue collecting edible plants, but be careful to identify them correctly."

"Understood!"

With their roles clearly defined, Ayanokoji and Horikita departed from the camp.

Deep in the jungle.

The two followed the stream toward its upper reaches. The further they went, the denser the vegetation became, and the terrain began to undulate.

"Stop." Ayanokoji suddenly raised a hand.

Horikita stopped in her tracks immediately, scanning the surroundings with vigilance.

"It's not danger." Ayanokoji crouched down, pointing at the ground. "Look here."

There were several clear footprints in the soil—human footprints.

"They aren't from our group." Horikita judged immediately. "The prints are older than ours, at least from yesterday."

Ayanokoji observed them carefully. The prints were small; they likely belonged to a girl or a boy with a slight build. The tread pattern on the soles was distinct—it was the standard-issue hiking shoe provided by the school.

"One person, light weight, walking very slowly..." he analyzed. "And the gait is hesitant; they probably aren't familiar with the wilderness."

"A scout from another class?"

"Possibly, but if it were a scout, they wouldn't be moving this slowly." Ayanokoji stood up and looked in the direction the footprints led. "It looks more like... they're lost."

The two exchanged a look and decided to follow.

The footprints were intermittent but eventually extended behind a dense thicket. When Ayanokoji pushed the bushes aside, the scene that greeted him left him stunned.

A girl was leaning against a tree, her face pale and her lips chapped. Her right ankle was visibly swollen, making it impossible for her to walk.

What surprised Ayanokoji even more was that he recognized this girl—Hiyori Shiina from Class B.

In the original story, Hiyori Shiina was a quiet girl who loved to read. Her physical stamina was poor, but her powers of observation and analysis were exceptional. How could she be here alone? And injured, at that?

"Shiina-san?" Horikita clearly recognized her as well.

Hiyori Shiina looked up. When she saw the two of them, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, followed by an expression of relief.

"Horikita-san... Ayanokoji-kun?" Her voice was very weak. "How... are you here?"

"We're looking for a water source." Ayanokoji walked over to her and checked her ankle. "A sprain? When did this happen?"

"Yesterday... afternoon." Shiina bit her lip. "I got separated from my classmates... I was trying to find the way back, and I missed my footing."

"You spent the night here alone?" Horikita frowned.

Shiina nodded, a flicker of lingering fear crossing her eyes.

"Didn't your classmates come looking for you?" Ayanokoji asked. This was strange; Class B was centered around Honami Ichinose and should be quite united. It was unlikely they would leave a classmate behind.

"They... they should be looking, too." Shiina lowered her head. "But I strayed too far from the main route... and I intentionally didn't leave any obvious markers."

"Why?" Horikita was puzzled.

Shiina remained silent for a few seconds before whispering, "Because... I didn't want to become a burden to the class."

This answer left both Ayanokoji and Horikita silent.

Hiyori Shiina was a unique existence in Class B—she was physically weak and unskilled at sports or outdoor activities, but her intellect was high. In an environment like this deserted island, she might indeed be viewed as a "burden."

"Your ankle needs treatment." Ayanokoji took bandages and anti-inflammatory medicine from his backpack. "It might hurt a little."

He treated the wound with practiced hands, using the bandages to stabilize her ankle. Throughout the process, Shiina only gritted her teeth, not letting out a single cry of pain.

"Thank you..." Shiina whispered after he finished.

"Can you walk?" Horikita asked.

Shiina tried to stand up, but her face turned pale from the pain immediately.

"It seems not." Ayanokoji made a decision. "I'll carry you."

"What?" Shiina and Horikita looked at him simultaneously.

"Her ankle will need at least two or three days before she can barely walk; we can't leave her here." Ayanokoji said. "Besides, bringing her back might allow us to establish a connection with Class B."

"But she's from another class..." Horikita reminded him.

"The rules don't forbid helping students from other classes." Ayanokoji said. "On the contrary, if we see someone in distress and don't help, we might be penalized in our evaluation if it's discovered."

This reasoning convinced Horikita.

And so, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka hoisted Hiyori Shiina onto his back. The girl was very light, weighing only about forty kilograms.

"I'm sorry... for causing you trouble." Shiina whispered in his ear.

"It's fine."

The three began to head back. With an injured person, their speed slowed down significantly.

On the way, Shiina suddenly spoke up: "Ayanokoji-kun... yesterday, you repelled the attack from Class C, right?"

Ayanokoji's footsteps faltered: "How did you know?"

"Someone from Class B was observing nearby." Shiina said candidly. "Ichinose-san is very attentive to the dynamics of each class. She said... Class D is different from before."

"Different how?"

"Cohesion, initiative... and you." Shiina's voice was very soft. "She said you are a variable, a variable that could potentially break the existing balance."

Horikita glanced at Ayanokoji, her eyes complex.

"What else did Ichinose say?" Ayanokoji asked.

"She said... if possible, she hopes to cooperate with Class D." Shiina paused. "But not now. Right now, Class D has not yet demonstrated sufficient value."

A very realistic judgment. But at the very least, Class B's attitude was open.

"Then what is your opinion?" Ayanokoji countered. "Do you think Class D has value?"

Shiina remained silent for a long time, so long that Ayanokoji thought she wouldn't answer.

"Yes." Finally, she said softly. "At least... you didn't abandon a 'burden' like me."

This answer caused all three of them to fall into silence.

After walking for another stretch, Ayanokoji suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Horikita asked.

"A water source." Ayanokoji looked to the left. "There is the sound of flowing water there, and... the sound is different from the previous stream."

They deviated from the original path and walked toward the sound. After passing through a patch of woods, a Small Waterfall appeared before them.

The waterfall was not large, only two or three meters high, but the water was clear, forming a small pool below. More importantly, some stones by the pool had been worn very smooth—indicating that animals frequently came here to drink.

"A second water source." Horikita's eyes brightened. "And it's cleaner than the stream water."

Ayanokoji set Shiina down and walked to the edge of the pool to inspect it. The water quality was indeed excellent and could be consumed directly.

"Mark the location, we'll go back and get people to fetch water," he said.

Just then, the system's notification sound rang out.

[Ding! Host has discovered hidden resource point "Small Waterfall", triggering hidden quest: Controller of Resources.]

[Quest Requirements: Before the exam ends, ensure this water source is not completely controlled by other classes.]

[Quest Rewards: Reward "Geographical Advantage" points and special abilities based on the degree of control.]

[Note: This water source may become a focal point for subsequent conflicts, please handle with caution.]

Sure enough, this water source would become a target for contention.